Associated Press

CULLOWHEE — Western Carolina point guard Kyle Greathouse was in critical condition Wednesday after a car in which he was riding hit a tree and ran into river, the state Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the car, Jaime Whitfield, 22, of Clyde, was charged with driving while impaired after registering a 0.15 on a breath alcohol content test, Highway Patrol Sgt. Matt Wike said. The legal limit for drivers in North Carolina is 0.08.

The car driven by Whitfield struck a tree about 2:20 a.m. on State Road 1002 near Cullowhee, Wike said. Greathouse, a senior, was riding in the front passenger’s seat. He was being treated at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Greathouse, from Lancaster, Ohio, has started 17 of 19 games this season and averages 6.2 points a game.

GOLF

SAN DIEGO — The Buick Invitational is Tiger Woods’ first tournament of the season, but he carries over from last year a PGA Tour winning streak that dates to July. He is going for his seventh in a row on the PGA Tour, and odds are in his favor as the two-time defending champion.

“It is meaningful because it’s not easy to do,” Woods said, and he should know because he won six straight PGA Tour events at the end of 1999 and beginning of 2000, the second-longest streak behind Byron Nelson’s 11 in a row in 1945.

BASEBALL

NEW YORK — The New York Mets and manager Willie Randolph agreed in principle Wednesday to a new three-year contract that runs through 2009.

Randolph, who last year led the Mets to their first division title since 1988, had been slated to earn $700,000 this year in the final season of a three-year contract.

* CHICAGO — Free agent outfielder Cliff Floyd agreed Wednesday to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs after spending four seasons with the New York Mets.

* CHICAGO — White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik will be out six to eight weeks after having groin surgery.

Podsednik, a star in the 2005 World Series is expected to be sidelined when spring training starts next month.

CLEMSON TAILGATING

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Clemson’s athletic department has tightened up its tailgating policy, banning items like trailers, tow cookers and golf carts from campus parking lots on football game days at Death Valley.

The changes take affect next fall.

BUSH INVESTIGATION

SAN DIEGO — The existence of taped conversations between Reggie Bush or family members and an investor in a failed sports marketing agency could confirm the New Orleans running back received cash and gifts while playing for Southern California, Yahoo.com reported Wednesday.