younger, having to grind out for spots on Ryder Cup tea

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez ended his extended and acrimonious fight with Major League Baseball on Friday, withdrawing a pair of lawsuits and accepting a season-long suspension that marks the longest penalty in the sports history related to performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. "A-Rod had no chance legally, and the commissioner got his authority validated." Rodriguez was among 14 players suspended last summer following MLBs investigation of a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned substances. Given the harshest punishment, A-Rod was the only player to contest his penalty. The Major League Baseball Players Association filed a grievance, arguing Rodriguezs 211-game ban was unwarranted or at the very least excessive. Rodriguez also sued MLB and Selig in October, accusing them of "vigilante justice" as part of a "witch hunt" against him. Horowitz presided over 12 days of hearings last fall highlighted by Rodriguezs decision not to testify. Horowitz concluded on Jan. 11 there was "clear and convincing evidence" Rodriguez used three banned substances over the course of three years -- human growth hormone, testosterone and Insulin-like growth factor 1. Horowitz also ruled A-Rod twice tried to obstruct baseballs investigation, but he nonetheless reduced the suspension to 162 games plus the 2014 post-season after weighing it against baseballs "just cause" standard. Rodriguez sued MLB and the union two days later in federal court in Manhattan, claiming the arbitration process was flawed. But the Supreme Court has established narrow grounds for overturning arbitrators decisions, and legal experts said Rodriguez had virtually no chance of succeeding in his attempt to have Horowitzs decision vacated. Without making any admissions, Rodriguezs lawyers filed notices of dismissal in both cases Friday. MLB issued a low-key statement calling the decision to end the litigation "prudent." "We believe that Mr. Rodriguezs actions show his desire to return the focus to the play of our great game on the field and to all of the positive attributes and actions of his fellow major league players," the sport said. "We share that desire." Rodriguez had angered many of his fellow players by suing his own union in an attempt to avoid a suspension. Withdrawing the lawsuits was perhaps the start of mending relationships with fellow players. "Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit," the union said in a statement. "His decision to move forward is in everyones best interest." Rodriguez in 2009 admitted he used banned substances from 2001-03 while with Texas, before baseball had penalties in place for PEDs. After MLBs investigation was sparked 13 months ago by a report in Miami New Times, Rodriguez repeatedly said he had not failed any drug test and claimed evidence provided to MLB by Anthony Bosch, founder of the Biogenesis of America clinic, was not trustworthy. When Horowitz issued his decision, the three-time AL MVP defiantly proclaimed, "No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with." He announced, "I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players contracts and rights are protected." But a few hours after the Arizona Diamondbacks became the first team this year to start spring training workouts, and with the Yankees a week from opening camp, Rodriguez folded quietly. He was in Miami on Friday and made no public remarks. "The statements that were issued say everything that needs to be said. We have no further comments on this matter," Joseph Tacopina, one of Rodriguezs nine attorneys, said in an email. Tacopina said Rodriguez no longer intended to report this month to the Yankees training camp in Tampa, Fla. Suspensions only cover regular-season games and the post-season, with exhibitions specifically exempted. Rodriguez will lose most of his $25 million salary -- Horowitz ruled he is entitled to 21-183rds, which comes to $2,868,852.46. The third baseman will be 39 when he is eligible to return in a year, and he has incentive to play during the final three seasons of his contract. The Yankees owe him $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the final two seasons of the record $275 million, 10-year deal. But the 14-time All-Star has been hobbled by injuries in recent years and has not played a full season since 2007. The timing of Rodriguezs decision was set in motion by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who on Jan. 30 told the players lawyers to respond by Friday to arguments from MLB and the union that the case should be dismissed. Rodriguez does have one lawsuit remaining. He sued Yankees physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York State Supreme Court in October, claiming they mishandled his medical care during the 2012 AL playoffs. Rodriguez later was diagnosed with a hip injury that required surgery and did not return to the Yankees until Aug. 5 -- hours after his suspension was announced by Selig. 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Keegan Bradley was leaving his home in south Florida for a critical two-week stretch of golf when he noticed a travel bag that hasnt been touched in nearly two years. He brought it home from Medinah in 2012 after his first time playing in the Ryder Cup. Hes not even sure whats in there beyond a lot of dirty clothes stained by bad memories of an American collapse on the final day. "For a split second, I thought about opening it and getting a little motivation," he said. Bradley got Ryder Cup fever that week, pumping his fists, waving flags and winning matches with Phil Mickelson. He wants nothing more than to be on the next U.S. team that tries to win back the cup in Scotland at the end of September. But he has work to do. Bradley is No. 16 in the Ryder Cup standings. Only the top 10 players -- now that Dustin Johnson is out of the Ryder Cup -- earn automatic spots, and qualifying for the American team ends after the PGA Championship. U.S. captain Tom Watson gets three at-large picks, and Bradley helped his cause by taking a scouting trip with the captain to Gleneagles. Still, he cant count on being picked. Not with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson among those not already on the team. "I know Ive got to play good golf the next two weeks," Bradley said. "Theres plenty of points available to make the team. My plan is to make the team on my own. The best thing I can do is play good rounds." Bradley is an example -- and there are a lot of them this year -- of how the PGA Championship features two tournaments in one every other year. The most important is getting that big Wanamaker Trophy from winning the final major of the year. The consolation prize is a spot on the Ryder Cup team. Because points count double at majors, and the PGA Championship offers $1.8 million to the winner, everyone at Valhalla has a mathematical chance of making the team. Brad Faxon once shot 63 in the final round of the 1995 PGA Championship, enough to get him the final spot on the team. Two years later, Jeff Maggert closed with a 65 in the final round at Winged Foot to clinch a spot. David Toms qualified for his first team by winning the 2001 PGA. Bubba Watson earned a spot on his first team when he lost in a playoff at Whistling Straits in 20010.dddddddddddd That took the sting out of losing out on a major. But this is not an enviable position. "Its brutal," Bradley said. "Its stuff you dont think about when youre younger, having to grind out for spots on Ryder Cup teams. All you think about is having fun out here. And its not very fun." Its not much fun for Watson, either. The 64-year-old captain has to make decisions about bringing Americas two biggest stars. Mickelson hasnt won since the British Open last year, and hasnt had a top 10 on the PGA Tour in nearly a year. Woods had back surgery and missed three months of the season. "If Phil and Tiger dont make it in the mix there, Ive got some real thinking to do," Watson said at the British Open. "Everybody is thinking that Im going to pick them automatically. I can assure you that Im not going to pick them automatically. I said about Tiger that Ill pick him if hes playing well and hes in good health. And Phil is the same way. If hes playing well, again, how can you not pick those two?" Woods was No. 70 going into the Bridgestone Invitational. What hurts his cause if that if he doesnt make it into the FedEx Cup playoffs after the PGA Championship, he will have gone six weeks before teeing it up in golfs most intense competition. Mickelson was in much better shape at No. 11. He would seem safe as a pick. Mickelson holds the U.S. record by playing on nine straight teams, and he earned his way on every one of them. "I have not had to rely on a captains selection in two decades," Mickelson said. "And Id like to keep that going." Among those in the best shape to make a move are Brendon Todd, Chris Kirk and Ryan Moore. None has ever played in the Ryder Cup. Moore was having lunch at the British Open when the captain pulled up a chair next to him to talk about the Ryder Cup. It was inspiring for Moore to realize Watson was paying attention to him. But for a guy whos never played in the Ryder Cup, he feels his only chance is to earn a spot. He had two weeks to play good golf without being consumed by making the team. "I simply want to play good golf," Moore said. "At the end of the day, if thats good enough to make the team, then great. If its not, then I tried my hardest." 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