ABC 7 O'CLOCK NEWS |
7PM SHOW OPEN
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FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES ARE IN FULL EFFECT TONIGHT, AND THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR TONIGHT'S FIREWORKS FINALE.
FORT MYERS BEACH VERY BUSY TODAY WITH LIVE MUSIC AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THE CELEBRATION ENDS WITH A 20-MINUTE FIREWORKS SHOW KICKING OFF FROM THE PIER AT 9:30 TONIGHT.
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IN NAPLES -- THE PARTY CONTINUES WITH FIREWORKS AT CITY PIER AT NINE THIS EVENING.
EARLIER TODAY -- THOUSANDS LINED THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE DURING THE PARADE THERE.
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BUT IT IS THE CAPE HOSTING THE BIGGEST PARTY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA!
MORE THAN *20 THOUSAND* PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO PACK CAPE CORAL PARKWAY FOR
THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL 'RED WHITE AND BOOM.'
ABC 7'S SARA MILES JOINS US LIVE FROM THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE IN WHAT'S ANTICIPATED
TO BE THIS YEAR'S LARGEST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
SARA --
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FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS RUMBLED THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY.
SOME SERIOUS LIGHTNING.
J-P -- HOW IS THE FORECAST LOOKING FOR TONIGHT'S FIREWORKS?
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We had an early start to the expected storms today. Most of the time this signals a fairly quiet evening, which should be good for the fireworks shows around southwest Florida. I can't completely guarantee that there won't be any more rain. But the chances for evening rain is lower when the afternoon storms fire up early. Temperatures will likely be in the lower 80's and upper 70's for fireworks shows and skies will feature passing clouds.
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THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN U-S ARE SPENDING THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY JUST LIKE AMERICA'S FOUNDERS - WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND AIR CONDITIONING.
"It's 104 degrees up in the shade at our house right now."
MANY WERE FORCED TO SWEAT IT OUT FOR A FIFTH DAY IN A ROW AFTER POWERFUL STORMS PUMMELED SEVERAL STATES.
AND TRAGICALLY, A WOMAN FROM FLORIDA HAS BECOME THE LATEST FATALITY AS THE DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN TO 26.
JACQUELINE GREEN-- A UTILITY WORKER FROM MILTON -- WAS HELPING WITH POWER RESTORATION IN VIRGINIA WHEN SHE WAS KILLED IN A TRUCK CRASH.
THIS HEAT WAVE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FROM THE BIG APPLE TO WASHINGTON D-C THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.
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MEANWHILE OUT WEST -- THE BIG CONCERN CONTINUES TO BE WILDFIRES.
SEVERAL ARE STILL BURNING IN COLORADO.
TODAY FIREFIGHTERS NEAR LOS ANGELES MADE QUICK WORK OF A RAGING BRUSH FIRE IN PALMDALE.
MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES ARE BANNING FIREWORKS THIS FOURTH OF JULY OVER FEARS *NEW* FIRES MAY SPARK.
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SOT -- Zachary Dalton/Beech Grove, Indiana Police "It's pretty much going to be a cat and mouse game--especially once the word gets out that it could be a $2500 fine or a B misdemeanor."
ONE STUDY FOUND FIREWORKS CAUSED MORE THAN 15- THOUSAND FIRES IN 2010.
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A GUNMAN REMAINS ON THE STREETS IN FORT MYERS TONIGHT FOLLOWING A SHOOTING IN THE PINE MANOR AREA.
BRAND NEW AT 7 -- WE'RE HEARING FROM THE VICTIM OF THE SHOOTING WHO SAYS HE LEARNED A BIG LESSON.
I was thinking, oh Lord, i hope I was doing good before i'm going to them gates
ED PLACIDE SPENT MOST OF HIS FOURTH OF JULY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER.
DEPUTIES SAY HE WAS SHOT THREE TIMES YESTERDAY BEFORE GETTING HELP AT THE PIZZA HUT ON CLEVELAND AVENUE IN FORT MYERS.
ONE OF THE THREE BULLETS HIT HIS ARM.
THE OTHER TWO GRAZED HIS CHEST.
PLACIDE SAYS HE WAS ARGUING WITH A MAN HE KNEW IN THE PINE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE THE SHOTS WERE FIRED.
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we were arguing, the words, and then I'm looking into a gun. it went from words to I'm looking at the end of a gun.
i didn't know words could cut so deep that another man could get pissed off and pull a firearm on me
PLACIDE SAYS THE ARGUMENT WASN'T RELATED TO DRUGS, MONEY OR GANGS - JUST WORDS.
THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS STILL LOOKING FOR THE SHOOTER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION -- CALL CRIMESTOPPERS.
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A NAPLES FATHER AND SON ARE STILL IN THE HOSPITAL, RECOVERING FROM BURNS AFTER A BOAT EXPLOSION.
ABC SEVEN CALLED TAMPA GENERAL TODAY.
THEY TOLD US ALEX SEMPF IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH BURNS OVER 75 PERCENT OF HIS BODY.
HIS SON 11-YEAR-OLD KRISTOFF SEMPF IS STILL IN FAIR CONDITION.
WITNESSES TELL US THEY WILL FUELING UP THEIR BOAT LAST FRIDAY, GETTING READY FOR THE HOLIDAY WHEN GAS SPILLED.
ALEX USED A VACUUM TO CLEAN UP THE SPILL.
INVESTIGATORS STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT SPARKED THE FIRE.
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PRICES AT THE GAS PUMP ARE OFFERING A SPECIAL TREAT FOR TRAVELERS THIS HOLIDAY.
PRICES ARE 20 CENTS CHEAPER THAN THE LAST FOURTH OF JULY.
IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, YOU'LL PAY 3-16 ON AVERAGE.
THAT'S SEVEN CENTS CHEAPER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
COMPARE THAT TO A YEAR AGO WHEN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S AVERAGE WAS 3-51
RESIDENTS SAY THE CHANGE IS A BIG HELP THIS HOLIDAY.
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Take sot-8 sec Betty Hemmingway, resident " I can kinda spend more money toward family stuff like for the holidays, the 4th of July get more fireworks, get more groceries."
BUT DRIVERS MIGHT FACE ANOTHER HEADACHE-TRAFFIC.
TRIPLE A ESTIMATES THIS HOLIDAY WEEK COULD BREAK THE RECORD OF 42-POINT-3 MILLION AMERICANS DRIVING 50 MILES OR MORE.
THAT WAS SET IN 2007.
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A RE-LAUNCHED MARVEL COMICS SUPERHERO SET A BOX OFFICE RECORD TODAY FOR A TUESDAY RELEASE.
"THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN" EARNED $35 MILLION DOLLARS IN NORTH AMERICA ON ITS OPENING DAY.
THAT'S $7 MILLION DOLLAR MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS RECORD, HELD BY "TRANSFORMERS", WHICH CAME OUT JULY 3RD, 2007.
THE SPIDERMAN FRANCHISE STARTED OVER WITH A NEW CAST AND DIRECTOR FIVE YEARS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE LAST SPIDER-MAN MOVIE.
THIS ONE STARS ANDREW GARFIELD, WHO YOU MIGHT KNOW FROM THE SOCIAL NETWORK, AND EMMA STONE.
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NEXT AT 7 OPEN
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This is telling us something that is key to the structure of the universe."
UNTIL TODAY -- THE KEY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE EXISTED ONLY IN THEORY. NOT ANYMORE.
THE DETAILS BEHIND WHAT SCIENTISTS BELIEVE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK OF OUR GALAXY.
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IT COULD BE THE DISCOVERY OF OUR LIFETIME!
SCIENTISTS SAY THEY'RE PRETTY SURE THEY'VE FOUND THE SO-CALLED GOD PARTICLE--
IT'S THE SUB-ATOMIC PARTICLE THAT GIVES EVERY OTHER PARTICLE IN THE UNIVERSE ITS MASS.
IT'S A GROUNDBREAKING FIND.
AND IT MAY HELP EXPLAIN HOW THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WORKS.
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TO CHEERS AND STANDING OVATIONS -- SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING THEY FOUND A NEW SUBATOMIC PARTICLE -- KNOWN AS THE HIGGS-BOSON PARTICLE -- THAT COULD HELP UNLOCK THE MYSTERY OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE TINY PARTICLE IS NAMED AFTER THE 83-YEAR-OLD BRITISH PHYSICIST PETER HIGGS WHO THEORIZED ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO WHY ATOMS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE, HAS WEIGHT.
for me personally it's just the confirmation of something that I did 48 years ago and it's very satisfying to be proved right in some way.
THE HIGGS BOSON IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE "GOD PARTICLE" BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED TO GIVE MASS TO *ALL* OTHER PARTICLES, THUS EVERYTHING THAT MAKES UP THE UNIVERSE.
" this is not like other ordinary particles, it really is, we're reaching in to the fabric of the universe at a level we've never done before. This is telling us something that is key to the structure of the universe."
"It may be that we would understand the next secret of the universe; that we would know -- we'd be another step closer to knowing where we came from. We'd be another step closer to understanding the universe itself, which is ultimately quite a mystery to us." 16
DESPITE THE FINDING, SCIENTISTS ARE NOT SAYING THAT THE NEW PARTICLE IS INDEED THE ELUSIVE HIGGS BOSON. THEY ARE ONLY SAYING THAT THE NEW PARTICLE IS "CONSISTENT WITH IT."
THE NEXT STEP WILL BE FOR SCIENTISTS TO DETERMINE THE PRECISE NATURE OF THE PARTICLE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE.
sot/ Peter Higgs/ Physicist:31
"It seems to me that it's in one way it's the end of an era in that it seems to complete the Standard Model.
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NEXT AT 7 OPEN
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MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER DRENCHING THE STATE --
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS *STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF DEBBY.
07:04:11 people better be really careful really i mean, because of the low tide
HOW THE STORM IS TAKING A TOLL ON PEOPLE OUT ON THE WATER.
AND AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES OUTSIDE --
DEALS ARE DROPPING TO HELP GET YOU IN SHAPE!
A LOOK AT WHERE IT'S COSTING LESS TO STAY FIT.
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WEATHER TEASE
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AFTERNOON STORMS CONTINUE
We had an early start to the expected storms today. Most of the time this signals a fairly quiet evening, which should be good for the fireworks shows around southwest Florida. I can't completely guarantee that there won't be any more rain. But the chances for evening rain is lower when the afternoon storms fire up early. Temperatures will likely be in the lower 80's and upper 70's for fireworks shows and skies will feature passing clouds.
Tomorrow's forecast looks exactly like today. We will start off Thursday with mostly sunny weather and hit 94 in the afternoon. Downpours and storms will develop later in the day and there could be periods of heavy rain and frequent lightning near the storms.
Looking ahead to the weekend, there does not appear to be any significant change in the weather. Each day will be in the 90's and we will track afternoon thunderstorms through the weekend and beyond.
The tropics remain quiet and there are no organized storms in the Gulf, Caribbean or Atlantic.
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IF YOU'RE READY TO JOIN A GYM BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO IT, NOW'S THE TIME!
LOCAL GYMS ARE GIVING SPECIAL DEALS RIGHT NOW TO ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS DURING THE SUMMER.
WE CHECKED WITH MANY GYMS THROUGHOUT OUR AREA AND FOUND OUT THEY ARE REDUCING OR WAIVING NEW MEMBERS FEES.
THEY SAY IT'S TIME TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS BECAUSE SEASONAL RESIDENTS ARE GONE AND FEWER NEW MEMBERS JOIN IN THE SUMMER.
THAT LEAVES A LOT OF EQUIPMENT UNUSED.
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05:24:55 AMBER GOODBERRY WORLD GYM
"We have a ten dollar enrollment fee instead of the usual 59."
05:35:02 JEFF FALZONE PLANET FITNESS
"When you're seeing the clientele drop by 50 percent there are less people coming through the door."
WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING YOUR BEST GYM-
IN ADDITION TO COST - TRAINERS SAY CONSIDER WHAT SERVICES YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR LIKE SPECIFIC CLASSES, LOCATION, AND ATMOSPHERE.
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BOATERS ON FORT MYERS BEACH SAY THEY'RE STILL FEELING THE AFFECTS OF TROPICAL STORM DEBBY.
SOME SAY THE NORTH END OF MATANZAS PASS -- NEAR BOWDITCH POINT -- BEGAN FILLING IN WITH SAND MONTHS AGO.
THE STORM SEEMS TO HAVE PUSHED SAND FURTHER INTO THE CHANNEL MEANING BOATERS HAVE LESS WATER TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.
JOHN MURRAY TOOK HIS 28-FOOT SEA RAY FROM FORT MYERS TO SAN CARLOS ISLAND TODAY-- AND SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THE CHANNEL JUST HALF AS DEEP AS IT WAS WEEKS AGO.
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John Murray, Fort Myers
07:02:05 it was a little shocking i just couldn't believe it was gonna be that shallow that quick even my son and law made the comment, he said god this looks like its awful low 07:02:13:02
SEA TOW TELLS US THE NUMBER OF BOATS RUN-AGROUND THERE, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN CALLED FOR HELP, HAS DOUBLED SINCE THE STORM.
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IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A UNIQUE TRADITION TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY.
DECKED OUT IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE, HUNDREDS TURNED OUT FOR THE ANNUAL FREEDOM SWIM.
WITH STORM CLOUDS LOOMING - FOLKS SWAM, CANOED AND BOATED ACROSS THE PEACE RIVER TO FISHERMAN'S VILLAGE IN PUNTA GORDA.
SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND THE COAST GUARD WATCHED ON FOR SAFETY.
AN EVENT HELD IN THE COUNTY SINCE 1992.
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interview two swimmers together, both from Charlotte County
18.00.35 - 18.00.45
Pamala Staik: "I've never done it before. The Freedom swim is just an event you have to do at least one time in Punta Gorda, so here we go. "
Lorraine Schneeberger: "And this is my 5th time, so let's do it together "
THE FIRST SWIMMER ACROSS FINISHED IN 36 MINUTES.
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MORE THAN TWO-DOZEN SERVICE MEMBERS ARE THE NEWEST CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.
FIRST 4 SECS OF MUSIC
PRESIDENT OBAMA SPOKE AT THE NATURALIZATION CEREMONY HELD AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS MORNING.
THE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICEMEN CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING NIGERIA, RUSSIA, CHINA, AND THE PHILIPPINES.
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A TOUCHING SIGHT AT THE 9-11 MEMORIAL AT GROUND ZERO ON THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE MEMORIAL HAS BEEN OPEN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
WOUNDED VETERANS WERE AMONG THE VISTORS TO THE MEMORIAL TODAY.
MANY OF THEM TRIPLE OR QUADRUPLE AMPUTEES WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY AFTER NINE ELEVEN.
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AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE FOURTH OF JULY WITHOUT THE ANNUAL NATHAN'S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST.
FOR A SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR -- JOEY CHESTNUT ATE HIS WAY THROUGH A PLATE OF 68 HOT DOGS IN TEN MINUTES TO WIN THE COMPETITION.
THE 28-YEAR-OLD TAKES HOME 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE COVETED MUSTARD YELLOW BELT FOR HIS FIRST PLACE FINISH.
IN THE WOMEN'S CATEGORY -- SONYA THOMAS -- THE BLACK WIDOW!! -- SCARFED DOWN 45 DOGS TO TAKE HOME THE PINK CHAMPIONS BELT AND 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
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AMERICA'S PASTTIME ON AMERICA'S HOLIDAY.
THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. RAYS AND RED SOX PLAYING TODAY. TIGER WOODS FEELING GOOD.
WE'RE DOWN TO THE FINAL FOUR AT WIMBLEDON. WHY ONE GUY HAS EXTRA PRESSURE TO WIN.
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TONIGHT AT 11 OPEN
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SPORTS OPEN
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THERE'S A NEW YORK YANKEE T-SHIRT FLOATING AROUND THAT SIMPLY SAYS. DO THE MATH. REFERRING TO THEIR 27 WORLD SERIES TITLES. CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT. YANKEES HAVE ALL THE TRADITION IN THE WORLD.RAYS. NOT EVEN CLOSE BUT THEY ARE STARTING SOMETHING NICE. LOOKING TO GET BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 5 YEARS.
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LET'S KICK THIS OFF WITH A LITTLE BASEBALL HISTORY.
DAVID ORTIZ.BIG PAPI. BIG FLY. GIVING THIS PITCH A RIDE. THAT'S CAREER HOME RUN NUMBER 400.
ORTIZ NOW 49TH ALL-TIME IN HOME RUNS.
RED SOX LOSE 3-2
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NEXT STOP THE TROP. NOT A GOOD DAY TO BE A HOTDOG. RAYS LOOKING FOR THE SWEEP
DAVID PRICE PITCHED A DANDY. WENT 7. GAVE UP 1. STRUCK OUT 8.
4TH. SEAN RODRIGUEZ SERVES ONE TO RIGHT. BEN ZOBRIST SCORES. 1-0 RAYS.
YANKEES SCORE 3 IN THE 8TH. THEY WIN 4-3
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SPEAKING OF TAMPA. THE LIGHTNING ARE HOLDING THEIR DEVELOPMENT CAMP THIS WEEK. WHICH INCLUDES A COUPLE EVERBLADE PLAYERS.
OF COURSE THE BLADES ARE THE ECHL AFFILIATE OF THE LIGHTNING. AND TAMPA SAYS IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP
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THE MINNESOTA WILD. WENT WILD WITH THE OLD POCKETBOOK
TODAY MINNESOTA SIGNED RYAN SUTER AND ZACH PARISE. TO IDENTICAL CONTRACTS. BOTH GUYS GETTING 98 MILLION DOLLARS OVER 13 YEARS.
THAT'S 200 MILLION ON TWO ALL-STARS.
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AT 6 FOOT 3. ANDY MURRAY HAS SOME PRETTY BROAD SHOULDERS. BUT THEN AGAIN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE. THE GUYS CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF A NATION ON THOSE SHOULDERS. NO BRITISH TENNIS PLAYER HAS WON WIMBLEDON. SINCE FRED PERRY DID IT BACK IN 1936. MURRY TRYING TO CRACK THAT CODE THIS YEAR.
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MURRY IN A BATTLE WITH DAVID FERERER.
BIG POINT HERE IN THE 4TH SET. MARRAY HAMMERS A BACKHAND FOR THE POINT. TO WIN THE GAME.
THEN FOR THE MATCH. GETS THE ACE. MURRAY WINS IN 4 SETS. HE WILL FACE JO-WILFRIED TSONGA IN THE SEMI-FINALS.
NOVAK DJOCOVICH AND ROGER FEDERER WILL SQUARE OFF IN THE OTHER SEMI-FINALS
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FRESH OFF HIS WIN AT THE AT&T NATIONAL. TIGER WOODS BACK ON THE COURSE THIS WEEK FOR THE GREENBRIER CLASSIC.
IT'S A COURSE HE'S NEVER PLAYED BEFORE BUT. COMING OFF HIS 3RD WIN OF THE YEAR. TIGER IS PRETTY CONFIDENT NO MATTER WHERE HE PLAYS.
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ADLIB POINTS
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