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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Down to his last chance to earn a PGA Tour card, Ashley Hall opened the Web.com Tour Championship with his second-best score of the year -- even though he called a penalty on himself when he noticed his ball slightly move. Hall bounced back from that penalty shot to birdie two of his last three holes for a 7-under 63 on the Valley Course at the TPC Sawgrass. That gave him a one-shot lead Thursday over Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Mark Anderson, who already is assured his PGA Tour card. Karlsson, a former Ryder Cup player, also needs a big week to get back PGA Tour card back. The Web.com Tour Championship is the last of four tournaments for 25 players to earn PGA Tour cards for the 2013-14 season. The top 25 are decided by a money list from the four tournaments. Players who already finished in the top 25 on the Web.com Tour money list from the regular season are assured a card. Hall was in dire need of a round like this. The 29-year-old Australian had a chance to earn his card from the Web.com Tour money list last month until he missed the cut in the final regular-season event and missed out on the top 25 by $1,922. If that wasnt bad enough, he missed the cut in the last three events. Because of rain all week and still some in the forecast, players competed under preferred lies. Hall placed his ball in the 15th fairway, and after grounding his club, noticed the ball move slightly downward. He called for an official and gave himself a one-shot penalty for his only bogey of the round. "I put it on a good a lie and the Bermuda grass wasnt strong enough," he said. "I could tell as soon as I put my club on the ground that I moved the ball." Hall has never had a PGA Tour card and would need a top finish this week at Sawgrass. "Its going to be nice to get out in the morning," he said. "Hopefully, it is still soft." Karlsson is only slightly better off. He was at No. 72 on the special money list -- about 22 spots away from getting one of the 25 cards on offer -- was nearly $13,000 away from at least having a mathematical chance at his card. "A couple of years ago I didnt want to step foot on a golf course," the Swede said. "But now Im playing well and had a good run recently." Karlsson opened with five birdies in seven holes and kept bogeys off his card on a cloudy day at PGA Tour headquarters. "Its quite a tricky course," Karlsson said. "Its typical Pete Dye, you have to use all the clubs in your bag. I really like it." Anderson, who earned his card by finishing No. 8 on the regular-season money list, also opened with a 64. He aced the 202-yard 14th hole with a 4-iron. "Its all about improving your position because these finals events are extremely important," Anderson said. "If you can get that exempt status and get into The Players thats a tremendous advantage and a nice perk." Shane Bertsch, at No. 97 on the special money list, joined Chesson Hadley at 65. The group at 66 included Henrik Norlander and Billy Hurley III, both of whom need a strong finish to get their cards. It was a rough start for Steve Wheatcroft, who didnt make a single birdie in his round of 74 and was in danger of making the cut. Wheatcroft came into the Web.com Tour Championship holding down the 25th spot on the money list among players who dont already have a card. If he fails to make the cut Friday, he is assured of not getting a tour card for next year. Vaughn Taylor, another former Ryder Cup player, was 21st on the list of those who dont have a card. He opened with a 71 and was outside the cut line. The top 60 and ties make the cut on the Web.com Tour. The field over the last month was for the top 75 players from the Web.com Tour and players who finished No. 126 through 200 in the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour. Cheap Fake NBA Jerseys . 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Discount Fake NBA Jerseys . - While he appreciates suggestions from Packers fans of remedies for his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers is not necessarily going to listen to the advice.CLEVELAND - LeBron James sat in his corner cubicle with a towel wrapped around his waist and a look of satisfaction on his face that had been missing for weeks.His body, recovered from a two-week break, has refreshed the way he hoped. So has his team after two trades improving Cleveland at both ends of the floor. And two weeks after being thought of as dysfunctional and in disarray, the Cavaliers have won six straight games and are climbing in the standings.James wasnt ready to talk about the playoffs or NBA titles just yet after beating Oklahoma City 108-98 on Sunday. But he senses the Cavs are back on track.Theres such a long road ahead of us, Im not going to get too ahead of myself personally, said James, who scored 34 points including a personal 8-0 run early in the fourth to keep the Thunder at a distance. Weve played some great basketball as of late.Not surprisingly, James is at the heart of Clevelands turnaround.The four-time league MVP recently missed eight games to rest a strained back and left knee. The time away clearly revived the 30-year-old, who may want to consider a January retreat in upcoming seasons. Hes running, jumping, cutting, scoring — doing everything at his own towering standards. Hes physically stronger, mentally recharged.On Monday, he was named the Eastern Conferences player of the week after averaging 27.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.3 steals in leading the Cavs to a 4-0 record since Jan. 19.James, recently named to his 11th straight All-Star team, has averaged 30.3 points in his past seven games and hes leading the Cavs defensive resurgence. As the wins have piled up, questions about James relationship with first-year coach David Blatt — who never misses a chance to compliment his star player — have silenced. The two appear to be connecting better. The winning certainly helps.Blatt insists he hasnt changed as a coach.Ive got all my players, he said. It makes it easier.So does a healthy James. The Cavs are 1-8 without him and 24-12 when James is on the floor, a contrast that perhaps underscores his value better than any statistic. Make no mistake, the Cavs have good pieces around James, but hes the centerpiece to everythiing.ddddddddddddAlong with James being back on his game, the recent acquisitions of centre Timofey Mozgov and guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert have made a huge difference.The 7-foot-1 Mozgov has given the team an inside defensive presence and offset the loss of Anderson Varejao, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Mozgov, who played for Blatt on the Russian national team, has helped space the floor on offence, allowing forward Kevin Love to play more comfortably away from the basket.Mozgov, too, has shown a nice shooting touch and a nasty streak when needed. He has brought the Cavs a needed toughness. Mozgov didnt much statistically Sunday — 2 points, 6 rebounds in 28 minutes — but he threw himself around down low and drew a technical foul after an exchange with Thunder enforcer Kendrick Perkins.We got his back, guard Kyrie Irving said of the big man nicknamed Mozzy. Its great to have a big guy like that whos not going to take any nonsense.Smith has also been a welcome addition, making a seamless transition since coming over with Shumpert from the New York Knicks. A prolific scorer, and prodigious outside shooter, Smith is relishing a chance to help a contender. Hes been starting, but could have his role changed when Shumpert, who has played just two games after being out with a dislocated shoulder, gets better conditioned.Smith said he wont mind coming off the bench.As long as we get that gold ball, it dont matter what I do, he said, referring to the Larry OBrien Trophy. I could sit out for all I care, as long as we win.That gold ball is why James plays. He made four straight trips to the NBA finals with Miami and its hard to imagine the leagues ultimate showcase without him. The Cavs remain a work in progress, but because theyre in the weaker Eastern Conference, they are title contenders when James is healthy.For now, their confidence is growing. And with a soft schedule ahead — only three of their next 10 games are against teams with winning records — the Cavs may continue rolling.Weve shown we can play with the best teams, Love said. Hopefully were starting to put this thing together.The look on James face said thats happening. ' ' '