GOLF: Steele wins in Texas

Brendan Steele shot a 1-under 71 to win the windy Texas Open in San Antonio by one shot over fellow PGA Tour rookie Kevin Chappell. The tournament featured the Tour’s highest scoring average, 73.665, so far this year and Steele’s 280 overall was the highest winning score at the Texas Open since a 283 won the 1934 edition.

* Italian teenager Matteo Manassero shot a 4-under 68 to earn a one-stroke victory over Gregory Bourdy at the Malaysian Open. Rory McIlroy had a 69 and finished two shots back. Masters champ Charl Schwartzel shot a 70 and finished in a tie for 11th.

* John Cook won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am for his second Champions Tour victory of the year, rebounding from a double bogey on the final hole of regulation with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff against Jay Don Blake in Lutz, Fla.

TENNIS: Nadal cruises

Rafael Nadal won his seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters title yesterday by beating David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5 in an all-Spanish final. This was his first tournament victory since October, ending a run of three consecutive defeats in title matches. The top-ranked Nadal won for the 37th straight time at this clay-court event, where he has not lost since 2003. It was his 44th career title.

* The U.S. was bounced from the Fed Cup when Germany’s Andrea Petkovic beat Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-3, and Sabine Lisicki beat Christina McHale 6-3, 6-4 yesterday in Stuttgart. Germany completed the 5-0 sweep when Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld took a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 doubles victory over Vania King and Liezel Huber.

AUTOS: Johnson rolls

Jimmie Johnson won at Talladega (Ala.) yesterday, edging Clint Bowyer by about a foot. The official margin was 0.002 seconds, tied for the closest finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup history.

* McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton overcame a pre-race mechanical drama to win the Chinese Grand Prix yesterday in Shanghai, passing Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel with five laps remaining.

* Mike Conway made a late pass on Ryan Briscoe to win the Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.), earning his first career IndyCar victory in just his third race since a horrific crash last year in the Indianapolis 500.

SOCCER: Stoke advances

Stoke routed Bolton 5-0 yesterday at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final for the first time in the team’s 148-year history. Stoke, the Premier League’s oldest club, will play Manchester City for the title at Wembley on May 14.

ETC.: Wade has migraine

Dwyane Wade did not practice with the Heat yesterday because of migraine symptoms. His status is unclear for Game 2 tonight of Miami’s first-round playoff series against the 76ers.

* Barry Zito (0-2, 6.23 ERA) was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Giants a day after the left-hander hurt his right foot attempting to field a bunt.