I suffer nerves on every first tee ... I'm sure i will be nervous at carnoustie Paul Lawrie believes he will ride a rollercoaster of emotions when he returns to play the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Paul Lawrie believes he will ride a rollercoaster of emotions whenhe returns to play the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

The Aberdonian's life changed forever on that famous Sunday eightyears ago.

Lawrie came from 10 shots back - the greatest third-round deficitby anyone to go on to win a Major - with a magnificent four-under 67to force a four-hole play-off with Jean Van de Velde and JustinLeonard, the 1997 champion.

After defeating the Frenchman and the American, Lawrie drovenorth to the Granite City with the famous claret jug on the back seatof his car.

Lawrie said: "When I'm announced on the first tee at that coursewhich is only a hour from my home, I'm bound to be a bit emotionalbecause of the memories.

"I think it would be impossible not to recall what happened in1999.

"Every time I stand on the first tee I become nervous. If anyonetells you different then they are fibbing.

"I'm nervous every tee shot I hit but I'm sure I'll be more thannervous at Carnoustie because of what happened.

"And I'm sure it will be difficult not to relive what happened.

"I'm bound to remember where I was and what I hit on that lastday. What club I hit and where I hit it to. It would only be natural.It will be difficult not to, but that is my goal.

"It's my job to concentrate on taking one shot at a time thisyear.

"I'm going to treat it like any other normal tournament - or tryto.

"It's difficult, but the Open is the tournament you want to win ordo well in. I must get the best bit of my game going that week."

"I've been doing this a long time and I hope I know what to do onthe first tee. It will be a three wood or rescue club down thefairway for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"One thing is certain, it'll be easier than the first tee-shotthat I opened up with at the Ryder Cup at Brookline later that year,I hope.

"You can't get any more nervous than that.

"Everyone was shaking there but I hit a good shot and I think Idid all right."

Protests over Gaza turn violent in Athens

A protest march at the Israeli embassy in Athens has turned violent as protesters throw stones and fire bombs at riot police, and they retaliate with tear gas and stun grenades.

An estimated 5,000 protesters marched from the city center to the Israeli embassy on Saturday demanding that Israel end its week-old bombardment of Gaza. Police cordoned off the embassy.

Most of the protesters were Palestinians but leftist organizations and union members also joined in. Outside the embassy, anarchist youths joined the fray, targeting Greek police rather than the embassy. An Israeli flag was burned by demonstrators.

The march to the embassy, located 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city center, had passed without major incident. Some protesters threw stones at the U.S. embassy without causing damage.

Warnock to explain call for linesman to be banned

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock was asked to explain his comments Tuesday after calling for an assistant referee to be banned following his team's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Aston Villa equalized in Sunday's fifth-round match with a late goal off a corner that Warnock claimed should not have been awarded. Warnock later called for assistant referee Trevor Massey to be banned.

The Football Association said officials will decide whether Warnock receives an improper conduct charge in a week's time.

In an appearance on BBC Radio Five Live on Monday, Warnock said he had calmed down since the match but didn't retract his comments.

"I do think they should get banned," Warnock said of referees who miss an important call. "Only for two or three games, but they have to realise the importance of concentrating at that level for the 90 minutes and not just a period."

Warnock also said he was mad that the referee was smiling.

"I just hate officials smiling when they have done something wrong," he said.

Info from Osama raid shows interest in US trains

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the first information gleaned from Osama bin Laden's compound indicates al-Qaida considered attacking U.S. trains on the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. But counterterrorism officials say they believe the planning never got beyond the initial phase and have no recent intelligence pointing to an active plot for such an attack.

As of February 2010, the terror organization was considering plans to attack the U.S. on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. One idea outlined in handwritten notes was to tamper with an unspecified U.S. rail track so that a train would fall off the track at a valley or a bridge, according to a joint FBI and Homeland Security bulletin sent to law enforcement officials around the country Thursday. The al-Qaida planners noted that if they attacked a train by tilting it, the plan would only succeed once because the tilting would be spotted the next time.

The warning, obtained by The Associated Press, was marked for "official use only."

Information on the train plot appears to be the first widely circulated intelligence pulled from the raid this week on bin Laden's secret compound in Pakistan. After killing the terror leader and four of his associates, Navy SEALs confiscated a treasure trove of computers, DVDs and documents from the home where U.S. officials believe the al-Qaida chief had been hiding for up to six years.

Other intelligence information gathered at the compound represented a terrorist wish list but has revealed no specific plan so far, a U.S. official said. He said documents indicated a desire to hit the U.S. with large-scale attacks in major cities and on key dates such as anniversaries and holidays. But there was no sign those plans were anything more than ambitions. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Intelligence analysts have been reviewing and translating the material, looking for information about pending plots and other terror connections. Even before the raid, intelligence officials for years have warned that al-Qaida is interested in attacking major U.S. cities on holidays, anniversaries and other dates that are uniquely American.

"While it is clear that there was some level of planning for this type of operation in February 2010, we have no recent information to indicate an active ongoing plot to target transportation and no information on possible locations or specific targets," the warning Thursday said.

The FBI and Homeland Security told local officials to be on the lookout for clips or spikes missing from train tracks, packages left on or near the tracks and other indications that a train could be vulnerable.

Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said, "This alleged al-Qaida plotting is based on initial reporting, which is often misleading or inaccurate and subject to change." He said the government has no plans to issue an official terror alert because of it.

An official with the Association of American Railroads said the organization has received warnings from the federal government and is sharing the information throughout the railroad network. "We are always making sure that the system is run as safely and securely as possible," the organization's spokeswoman, Patricia Reilly, said.

U.S. officials have disrupted other terror plots that targeted rails, including a 2009 plan to blow up the New York City subway system.

On Monday the FBI and Homeland Security warned law enforcement officials around the country that bin Laden's death could inspire retaliatory attacks in the U.S., and terrorists not yet known to the intelligence community could be operating inside the country. The transportation sector — including U.S. rails — remain attractive targets for terrorists.

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Associated Press writers Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo contributed to this report.

Follow Eileen Sullivan at —http://twitter.com/esullivanap

Victims can apply for federal aid now: Locally, cleanup effort needs some helping hands

Now that President Clinton has named six West Virginia countiesfederal disaster areas, flood victims can start applying for disasterhousing, grants and low cost loans.

Braxton, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane and Wood counties areeligible for federal disaster assistance. Victims should call theFederal Emergency Management Agency at (800) 462-9029.

The number for the hearing and speech impaired is (800) 462-7585(TTY).

Federal damage assessment teams were to spread across the statetoday to estimate the amount of damage in the six counties wheredisaster has been declared.

The teams were planning to inspect additional counties to decidewhether to add others to the list of disaster areas. Gov. CecilUnderwood declared a state of emergency in 24 counties this week.

Although the initial emergency is over, state officials said muchwork is yet to be done cleaning homes and businesses devastated bythe flooding.

"We're going to be doing a lot of trash hauling today," said ClayCarney, a spokesman for the state Office of Emergency Services.

"We'll be hauling the debris out of there to make sure therearen't any health problems."

The best way people can help is with their bodies, said JeffHarbour, the director of support services for Kanawha CountyAmbulance.

Harbour urged people to take some time out of their IndependenceDay celebrations and travel to hard-hit areas like Frame, whereresidents face the daunting task of cleaning up.

Most cleanup efforts are being coordinated out of local volunteerfire stations. Frame's is on Poca Fork Road, and Harbour suggestedvolunteers report there.

"The big thing people need is a helping hand," Harbour said.

Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance can include:

- Low interest loans

Most, but not all federal assistance, is in the form of lowinterest loans to cover expenses not covered by state or localprograms or private insurance.

People who do not qualify for loans may be able to apply for acash grant. If you qualify, your check will be issued in about threeweeks.

The Farm Service Agency and Small Business Administration offerlow interest loans to eligible individuals, farmers and businesses torepair or replace damaged property not covered by insurance.

Loans are available up to $200,000 for primary residences and$40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.

Loans are available up to $1.5 million for business propertylosses.

Loans may be up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquacultureoperators to cover production and property losses, excluding primaryresidence.

- Cash grants for up to $13,400 adjusted annually for inflation

People who don't qualify for a Small Business Administration loanmay be eligible for these grants from FEMA and the state to helprecover uninsured property losses.

The grants can include rental payments for temporary housing forthose whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance is up to threemonths for homeowners and one month for renters.

Home inspections are normally conducted before a check is issued.FEMA funds 75 percent of the grant program's eligible costs with theremaining 25 percent covered by the state. The state administers theprogram.

Grants can also help meet medical, funeral and transportationcosts not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Typical grantsaverage about $2,500.

- Housing assistance

FEMA's Disaster Housing Assistance Program makes funds andtemporary housing available to individuals whose home is unlivablebecause of a disaster.

- Veterans benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides death benefits,pensions, insurance settlements and adjustments to home mortgages forveterans.

- Tax refunds

The Internal Revenue Service allows certain casualty losses to bededucted on federal income tax returns for the year of the loss orthrough an immediate amendment to the previous year's return.

- Unemployment benefits

Benefits up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobsbecause of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits.

- Crisis counseling

The state Department of Health and Human Resources, the AmericanRed Cross and local churches and synagogues may offer counseling topeople who have experienced disaster.

- Free legal counseling

The Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association,through an agreement with FEMA, provides free legal advice for lowincome individuals regarding cases that will not produce a fee.

Cases that may generate a fee are turned over to the local lawyerreferral service.

- State and local governments

State and local governments may receive payment of 75 percent ofthe costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergencymeasures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.

The payments also may extend to hazard mitigation projects toprevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural ortechnological disasters.

Underwood praised the decision to name the six counties disasterareas.

"West Virginians have suffered greatly over the past few days, andI am heartened to see that federal aid is now becoming available,"the governor stated in a news release.

Reporter Karin Fischer contributed to this story.

Brad McElhinny can be reached at 348-1244.

Iraq: Police, medical officials say bomb kills head of US-allied Sunni group south of Baghdad

Iraqi police and medical officials say a bomb has killed the head of a U.S.-allied Sunni group south of Baghdad.

The police officer says Ali Abdul Ridha al-Badri was the head of an awakening council in Iskandariyah, 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Baghdad, and was killed after meeting with U.S. forces.

The officer says the bomb was attached to al-Badri's car.

The police and medical officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

OSU's Pryor throws and runs for TDs vs. MSU

Terrelle Pryor showed some of his potential during a spectacular start Saturday that gave No. 12 Ohio State at least a share of first place in the Big Ten.

Pryor ran for a score and threw for another in the first half, helping the Buckeyes build a four-touchdown lead on the way to a 45-7 win Saturday over No. 20 Michigan State.

The freshman quarterback finished 7-of-11 for 116 yards and a TD and had 72 yards rushing on 12 carries, including an 18-yard for a score early in the game. Pryor showed poise and touch when he threw before sitting on the big lead with handoffs. When he ran, Pryor displayed speed and power by running past defenders and stiff-arming some to the ground.

Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells had season highs with 31 carries, 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) entered the game tied with Penn State and the Spartans (6-2, 3-1) atop the conference.

Ohio State led 28-0 midway through the second quarter and made a big play to end Michigan State's comeback hopes early in the fourth.

After allowing backup quarterback Kirk Cousins to drive the Spartans down the field for a TD to open the second half, Malcolm Jenkins' sack forced Cousins to fumble and defensive end Thaddeus Gibson scooped up the football and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Buckeyes kicked a field goal and returned another fumble for a TD to finish the rout of Michigan State, which hadn't lost a game by more than seven points in coach Mark Dantonio's first 20 games as head coach.

Spartans running back Javon Ringer was held to season lows with 67 yards rushing and 16 attempts a day after the school launched a Web site to tout him as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

The Spartans were off to their best start since 2003, but seemed to show they're not ready to be a contender in a conference dominated recently by the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is shooting for its fourth straight Big Ten title and perhaps a third straight appearance in the BCS national championship game, winning five straight since getting blown out at USC.

Pryor helped the Buckeyes score 21 points in the first quarter against a team that hadn't allowed a point in its first four home games this season and was giving up less than 17 points a game overall.

He was 5-for-5 for 86 yards in the first quarter and ran for 62 yards on four carries, including a 32-yard gain.

Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer didn't start the second half against because of an injured right hand, but returned in the fourth quarter.

Hoyer finished 5-of-13 for 27 yards and an interception. Cousins was 17-of-24 for 161 yards with a TD, interception and fumble.