51.   Haas won his quarterfinal when top-seeded Pete Sampras withdrew with an aching back.

52.   He found himself in an eerily similar position Wednesday, this time talking about his aching back as he readies for his first tournament since the Masters.

53.   He has no intention of playing the Masters as long as an aching back prevents him from being competitive.

54.   He missed his second consecutive game Thursday night in Houston because of an aching back.

55.   He took the week off to rest his aching back.

56.   He pulled out of the Barcelona, Spain, clay event in mid-April with an aching back and has not played since.

57.   Kermit Zarley, who was just three strokes off the lead after the second round, withdrew at the first tee Sunday because of an aching back.

58.   Rookie Joe Chustz, a fourth-round draft pick, also pulled up lame Monday, with an aching lower back.

59.   The German player, ranked fourth in the world, dropped out a doubles match Friday at the Eurocard Open because of the aching back.

60.   The practice came two days after Aikman received a second round of injections in the lower left side of his aching back.