Maui golf pro Matt Walsh, the former New England Patriots employee said to have tapes of illegal spying by the team, is close to an agreement to turn over information to the NFL.

The NFL said in a statement last night that in the last week, lawyers for Walsh and the league have made "substantial progress toward an agreement that will allow Mr. Walsh to be interviewed."

"Both sides are optimistic that any remaining issues can be addressed successfully and they are committed to reaching a full agreement as promptly as possible," the statement added.

Walsh, a golf pro at Ka'anapali, has been seeking protection from lawsuits and other legal action, whether by the Patriots or other parties. The two sides have been negotiating for almost a month after reports surfaced just before the Super Bowl that Walsh videotaped a walkthrough practice of the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 title game. It was won by the Patriots, 20-17, over the Rams, who were favored by more than two touchdowns.

Walsh's lawyer, Michael N. Levy of the Washington firm McKee Nelson, confirmed last night that an agreement was near.

"I have consistently asked the NFL to provide appropriate legal protections for Mr. Walsh," Levy said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said Walsh was not interviewed as part of the league's investigation into "Spygate," which involved the league confiscating tapes from a Patriots employee who recorded the New York Jets' defensive signals from the sideline during the opening game of the 2007 season.

DOG RACE

MACKEY LEADS IDITAROD

Defending champion Lance Mackey beat four-time champion Jeff King out of the Unalakleet, Alaska checkpoint last night, launching the last leg of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Mackey said he was striving for a repeat of last year's race, when he trailed King into the village of Unalakleet on the coast and went on to win the 1,100-mile race.

"We all know how that story ends," Mackey said. "If history repeats itself, things are looking good."

King was first to reach Unalakleet, arriving with all 16 dogs at about 2 p.m., an hour-and-a-half ahead of Mackey. But Mackey was first out of the community.

Unalakleet is 261 miles from the finish line in Nome.

TENNIS

SERENA WINS IN INDIA

Serena Williams won her first title in 11 months, defeating Patty Schnyder, 7-5, 6-3, yesterday in the Bangalore Open (India) final.

Williams dominated the final with powerful serves and groundstrokes. Schnyder committed several unforced errors in trying to hit deep and keep Williams at the baseline.

"It's good to be a champ here, it always feels good to win," said Williams, who won her 29th career title. "I did not want to make too many errors. That was my game plan, but I did not stick to it."

ELSEWHERE

Slalom: Bode Miller sat out the slalom and Manfred Moelgg of Italy won the World Cup event yesterday with a combined time of 1 minute, 42.29 seconds at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. Miller's closest rivals missed an opportunity to gain ground when Didier Cuche of Switzerland did not race and Benjamin Raich of Austria failed to finish the first run after missing a gate. Miller decided not to start after watching Raich ski out, according to the USA Ski Team Web site.

Nordic combined: Petter Tande won the event yesterday at Olso, Norway to clinch second place in the overall World Cup standings ahead of American Bill Demong. The Norwegian finished the 7.5-kilometer cross-country ski race in 20 minutes, 43.2 seconds. Earlier, Tande took fifth in the opening ski jumping event. Ronny Ackermann of Germany clinched his third overall title last week. Demong tied for the highest overall finish by an American.

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Harrison was arrested Saturday after hitting 29-year-old Beth Tibbott at her home in Ohio Township, according to a police affidavit.

Tennis: American Sam Querrey won the Tennis Channel Open at Las Vegas for his first ATP title yesterday, rallying to beat South African qualifier Kevin Anderson, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.