Sales of the book, which sees the return of fictional symbologist Robert Langdon, have already reached the highest level of customer pre-orders at retailer Waterstones since the release of Harry Potter author JK Rowling's adult fiction "The Casual Vacancy" last year.

"We think it's going to be the fastest and biggest-selling book of the year because Dan Brown is in a league of his own," Waterstones spokesman Jon Howells told Reuters.

"The early word is that it's darker, which will whet the appetite for everyone because this is the fourth appearance of Robert Langdon and I think giving it that sort of twist, freshens it up for long-term readers," Howells added.

Brown, who is famous for his love of puzzling codes, conspiracies and other symbols, said the subject matter for the book was so vibrant and horrifying that it helped do a lot of the work for him.

"I'm not writing about the masons and ancient histories, which is kind of ethereal. I'm writing about Dante's vision of hell," he told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.

"It wasn't until the 1300s and this version of Inferno that it became terrifying. Dante has had enormous influence on the Christian view of hell."

The author, who said he tries not to read reviews of his books, also spoke of his unique way of dealing with writer's block, by suspending himself upside down to help get his creative juices flowing.

"It does help. You've just got to relax and let go. The more you do it the more you let go. And then soon it's just, wow," he said.

Brown's religion-themed mystery novel "The Da Vinci Code," was published in 2003 and was made into a hit film starring Tom Hanks. It spent more than a year atop the New York Times bestseller list.

(Reporting by Li-mei Hoang, editing by Paul Casciato)

Goaltender Tuukka Rask made an astonishing 53 saves to keep the Bruins in the contest before Bergeron's tip-in at 15:19 in the second overtime period earned Boston a third straight win in the series.

Boston now leads the best-of-seven affair 3-0 and have a first opportunity to book a Stanley Cup Finals berth in Game Four at home on Friday.

The top-seeded and favored Penguins have been second best in the series so far, scoring just two goals in three games with the threat of elimination looming large on the horizon.

Pittsburgh has not been swept out of the playoffs since 1979.

Their latest disappointment was not the result of a lack of effort, with goaltender Tomas Vokoun stopping 38 shots one game after he was pulled early.

David Krejci put the Bruins ahead just 1:42 into the game, whipping the Boston crowd into a frenzy with his NHL-leading ninth goal of the post-season.

Chris Kunitz's snap-shot tied the game at 1-1 in the second and the teams remained deadlocked through the third period and opening overtime session.

The Penguins piled intense pressure on Rask throughout the third period and both overtimes but could not find a decisive breakthrough.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby remains without a point for the series against a Bruins team that has successfully stifled the potent Pittsburgh offense.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 26 (Reuters) - Italy's Matteo Manassero saluted the knowledgeable Wentworth crowds after pulling off the biggest victory of his short career by winning the prestigious PGA Championship on Sunday.

The 20-year-old landed the all-important blow with a birdie four at the fourth hole of a playoff with Britain's Simon Khan after the pair had finished the tournament tied on 10-under-par.

Briton Marc Warren also recorded a 278 total but he dropped out of the playoff after hitting a wayward drive at the first extra hole and having to go back to the tee for his third stroke.

"The crowd in general this week have been unbelievable," the 20-year-old Manassero told reporters after becoming the youngest winner in the 58-year history of the European Tour's flagship event.

"I think the weekend action they got to see was a reward for the people that were here on Friday," he added referring to the eight degree Celsius temperatures, driving rain and winds gusting up to 25 kms an hour that took a hold in the second round.

"There were a lot of people watching in that weather and they helped me a lot over the weekend and in the playoff, shouting my name and supporting me.

"That's important, if it had been the opposite it would have been really hard to take. They were looking for some good golf and that's because here they really understand what golf is about," added Manassero.

"They don't really care if you're British or European or whatever, they just look for some fun and that's what makes this week special."

Former world number one Lee Westwood started the final round one shot off the lead, and as the title favourite, but said he had to battle against technical faults on Sunday.

"I'm struggling in my swing a little bit at the moment and when you're in the last round it just gets found out," said the Florida-based Briton after finishing three strokes off the playoff with a 73.

"I have to play a cautious game when I haven't got much control and aim away from the flags. My technique's not sound at the moment, it's very handsy and a bit flicky," added Westwood who is still searching for his first victory of the year.

Sergio Garcia, who captured most of the attention this week after his racism row with world number one Tiger Woods, was five strokes off the playoff after closing with a 72 and said he simply ran out of gas.

"I wasn't really on my best game today but I guess it's been a long week," said the Spaniard. "There's been a lot of emotions going on and today I felt it a little bit." (Editing by John Mehaffey)

(Reuters) - Nike Inc is dropping its partnership with the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity founded by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, the latest repercussion from the doping scandal that last year stripped him of his titles.

Nike said on Tuesday it would end production of its Livestrong gear and apparel after the 2013 holiday line, concluding a long-standing licensing agreement for footwear and apparel between the two that helped Livestrong raise a total of $100 million over the course of the partnership.

"We expected changes like this," Katherine McLane, a Livestrong spokeswoman, said in a conference call with reporters. "Could there be fallout? Of course," she said. "We remain enormously confident...We are in strong fiscal shape."

When Armstrong left Livestrong's board, Nike said it would still back the charity, but no longer sponsor the man behind it.

However, Nike spokeswoman Mary Remuzzi told Reuters late on Tuesday that the decision to drop the partnership was taken as sales of the products had not met company's expectations.

Nike also distributed Livestrong's ubiquitous yellow wrist-bands, of which 87 million were sold.

Armstrong founded Livestrong in 1997 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. The group flourished during his cycling career in which he won the Tour de France seven times.

The cyclist, who stepped down from Livestrong's board last October, admitted in January to systematic use of banned, performance-enhancing drugs after years of denials.

"This does show there are pros and cons of (a philanthropic foundation) being so closely associated with one person," said Patrick Rooney, associate dean of academic affairs and research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Still, Rooney predicted a large enough number of people would be able to separate Armstrong's misdeeds and the foundation's good works that it could survive.

Livestrong said its 2013 budget is $38.4 million, a 10.9 percent reduction from 2012, but that revenue projections were ahead by 2.5 percent.

Livestrong has similar licensing deals with sports eyewear maker Oakley, owned by Italy's Luxottica and others.

Nike will benefit from distancing itself from the charity and from the scandal-tainted athlete, said Robert Boland, a professor of sport management at New York University's Tisch Center.

"Their relationship with Livestrong was so based on Lance Armstrong and his story that it's almost impossible to separate them from a branding standpoint," Boland said. "The chief thing that is motivating Nike is they're looking to move on and put their years with Lance Armstrong behind them."

(Reporting by Phil Wahba, Ellen Wulfhorst and Scott Malone; additional reporting by Sakthi Prasad; Writing by Ellen Wulfhorst; Editing by Leslie Adler, Marguerita Choy and Dan Grebler)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- State leaders stand ready to commit up to $15.4 million in taxpayer subsidies to a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company they hope will put an outpost in Minnesota, according to a document made public Wednesday.

After declining to provide details the day before, Gov. Mark Dayton's office released a February letter from the governor and top legislators to a site hunter for Baxter Healthcare Corp. The Deerfield, Ill.-based company is eyeing a property in Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis suburb, for an expansion that could result in 200 good-paying jobs.

The initiative was dubbed "Project Fern" in the official communications, because the Dayton administration signed an agreement that barred it divulging Baxter's identity or interest in the state. That agreement was waived late Tuesday as questions began to swirl about the offering and the covert courtship. The process is raising concerns that the pressure to attract jobs is overwhelming transparency at the Capitol.

The letter from the state's political powers went to a Minneapolis consulting firm that is advising Baxter as it considers branching into Minnesota.

"We, leadership of the state of Minnesota, greatly value your investment and by receipt of this letter, state our commitment to pursuing the following special legislation for Project Fern during the 2013 legislative session," the letter reads. It goes on to list five programs the officials were prepared to tap to deliver tax exemptions, forgivable loans, per-job tax credits, working training grants and special assistance on road, sewer and water construction.

House Speaker Paul Thissen, a Minneapolis Democrat, has said he signed the letter without knowing the identity of the company or the full scope of its plans. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, a Democrat from Cook, said sensitivities involved in recruiting a large company makes the discretion understandable.

Baxter is a $14 billion-a-year company that makes devices and drugs to treat hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease and other acute conditions. It recently bought a building vacated by another biotech company and is considering a two-phase expansion, which could add $300 million in space and equipment to the property and result in permanent jobs that would average $75,000 in base salary plus benefits.

Baxter could also qualify for city subsidies, making the public's commitment to the project even more.

Lawmakers had begun voting on the subsidies without knowing which company could land them. Some now say they are uncomfortable with the secrecy involving a request for taxpayer dollars.

Democratic Rep. Ryan Winkler, a Golden Valley Democrat, said he might have opposed a larger economic development package the House passed Monday if he knew what was transpiring privately. That bill contained $5 million in forgivable loans plus another $2 million incentive based on the number of jobs the company adds to its Minnesota payroll.

"It's a problem that we didn't know and weren't told what the subsidy deal was because most of these are not very good, and without some public scrutiny, we just start throwing money around in an even more egregious fashion than we typically do with these kind of subsidies," Winkler said.

Winkler said the state appears to be bowing too readily to a company for the sake of attracting jobs. "It's a certain kind of desperation to agree to their confidentially terms when they're asking for the taxpayers to give them free money," he said.

Blake Chaffee, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said the non-disclosure agreement was meant "to protect the business and their competitive interest in terms of proprietary information." He didn't have immediate information on how often such agreements are used, but he stressed that the incentives themselves are subject to public disclosure and examination.

Rep. Kurt Zellers, a former Republican House speaker, said the way this deal played out could come back to haunt state leaders if Baxter wins its subsidies. He predicted more companies and their search firms will insist on non-disclosure agreements that prevent a full public vetting of their requests.

"It's a new precedent for those that do these searches for these companies," Zellers said. "If you go to Minnesota that's what you do."

Amid a series of recent positive economic reports, the GOP is revving up its portrayal of the Obama administration as scandal-ridden and inept, while largely abandoning the party's where-is-the-recovery criticism.

Republicans had little choice, given that the economy has gained considerable strength over the past 18 months. Today, the federal budget deficit is shrinking rapidly and tax receipts are rising. Consumer confidence and spending are up, as are auto and housing sales. Stocks are near all-time highs.

Such improvements give U.S. policymakers some rare breathing room, even if the nearly 12 million people still out of work don't discern the brighter picture.

While unemployment is at 7.5 percent, it's down from the 10 percent of October 2009. Also, recent job creation in the private sector has been relatively strong.

Republicans, who earlier stressed the weak recovery and what they depict as Obama's economic mismanagement, are now busy denouncing his administration on several fronts: for allowing the IRS to target conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny; for engaging in an alleged cover-up on the nature of a deadly terrorist attack on a U.S. post last September in Benghazi, Libya; and for secretly seizing records of journalists from The Associated Press and Fox News.

Obama and Democrats are trying to look beyond the ethics investigations to talk up the recent economic gains and the president's efforts to promote more jobs. He's been trying to draw attention to his job-creation ideas in a series of out-of-town events before audiences of workers.

As a result of fiscal improvements, the annual federal budget deficit will drop this year to $642 billion after four straight years of $1 trillion-plus annual shortfalls, the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office reported this past week.

The Treasury says it will pay down a small portion of the national debt this quarter for the first time in six years.

As the rebound gains steam, Republicans stand to lose what had been one of their strongest hands for the 2014 elections: asserting ineffective economic stewardship from the Democrat in the White House and those on Capitol Hill.

But they pick up another compelling issue, one that touches directly on Obama's core 2008 campaign promise to restore public confidence in the ability of government to produce results in an effective and evenhanded way.

There's "no question" that the alleged scandals are taking the attention of many politicians away from economic concerns, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former director of the Congressional Budget Office and top economic adviser to Republican Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

"What's more politically potent? Another round of complaining on the budget and the economy or the IRS, AP and Benghazi? I think it's the latter," said Holtz-Eakin, who now heads the American Action Forum, a conservative public-policy institute. Besides, "both sides were tired of the budget battle," he added.

Holtz-Eakin and many other economists emphasize that the improvements probably will be short-lived because Congress has yet to seriously address tax overhaul or fast-rising costs of programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. "It remains an OK recovery, not a sterling one," he said.

Part of the deficit decline comes from the higher tax rates that went into effect this year and from improving corporate profits. But some is due to temporary events such as bailout paybacks by government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and higher tax payments from wealthy people and corporations shifting income into 2012 to avoid paying higher 2013 taxes. Also, U.S. borrowing costs are at historic lows.

For now, the three controversies plaguing the administration are consuming most of the political oxygen in Washington.

"Congress basically can't walk and chew gum at the same time, so they'll focus on these scandal things for a while longer," said veteran budget analyst Stanley Collender.

With annual deficits shrinking, Republicans are more likely to focus more on the $16 trillion national debt, which is still going up, instead of deficits, which are going down, Collender said.

The declining deficit also means that another knock-down partisan fight in Congress over raising the government's borrowing limit now won't happen until October or November instead of early summer as originally envisioned.

The present dynamic, with Obama and his Democratic allies forced onto defense in three separate matters, is not lost on Republican leaders hoping to pick up seats in the House and regain control of the Senate next year.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, opened a news conference Thursday by asserting that "jobs continue to be our No. 1 priority" before he quickly moved to "the IRS scandal" and other alleged administration improprieties.

The matters now being investigated by multiple congressional committee "all feed and fuel the narrative of government intrusiveness and a government that is too large," said Thomas E. Cronin, a presidential historian at Colorado College.

"To some extent, the Obama administration has accidentally given Republicans a whole new line of attack," Cronin said.

___

Follow Tom Raum on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum

San Francisco's leading wide receiver underwent surgery Wednesday, though the team is optimistic he will return at some point in 2013. Crabtree was operated on at Stanford by Dr. Tim McAdams one day after suffering the injury during 7-on-7 drills in an organized team activity.

"Michael Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon that he tore yesterday," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Surgery was successful and we do not anticipate it will be season-ending for Michael. It was completely torn, and completely repaired."

Harbaugh would not speculate when Crabtree might return to play.

The 25-year-old Crabtree, the team's 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs last season with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFC champion Niners, who lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.

USA Today first reported that Crabtree was hurt during Tuesday's OTA, citing an unidentified source.

Harbaugh said Crabtree went in motion, planted to begin a route and "felt like somebody kicked him in the Achilles, which sometimes people say that feels like." Having the operation right away was considered the best option so Crabtree has the chance to return this year unlike with running back Kendall Hunter last season, who had the same injury but the decision was made to wait some time before surgery.

"Good news is he woke up from the surgery and the first thing, asked the doctor how it went," Harbaugh said. "(The doctor) talked about the success of the surgery and he didn't anticipate he'd be out for the year. His comment to that was, 'Got no choice but to be back.' Every day now is a healing day, and that starts today."

This is a tough blow for the two-time defending NFC West champions after Crabtree's breakout 2012 season. He was one of the big reasons the franchise returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years, clicking with quarterback Colin Kaepernick after his promotion to starter in November over departed 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.

"It's a setback, but Michael's young, he's strong. Everything will be a positive approach to healing and we'll anticipate great things," Harbaugh said. "Another thing right now is if you look at the young receivers on our team that will emerge because they have to emerge. I'm excited to watch them compete for that spot."

Harbaugh wouldn't say whether the 49ers would look outside the organization for a replacement with Crabtree out, or even if the team would consider bringing back Randy Moss.

"We're excited for the young receivers that we have, and feel that somebody's going to emerge there," he said. "Competition will create that, and we'll look forward to watching that."

Anquan Boldin, acquired in a trade with the Ravens this spring, will be counted upon to carry a bulk of the load. Boldin missed Wednesday's practice for what Harbaugh called "some prior commitments for this week."

Boldin had 65 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns for the Ravens last season.

Kaepernick and Crabtree were eager to get back on the field together after falling just short in New Orleans back in February.

"It's an injury. Nobody wants it to happen no matter who it is," Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick's fourth-down throw into the end zone in the closing moments sailed over Crabtree. Harbaugh and the 49ers argued that Crabtree got held, bumped by cornerback Jimmy Smith with safety Ed Reed trailing the play.

Crabtree also had five TDs and 30 catches on third-down plays last season both stats among the top five in the NFL.

Kaepernick offered an easy explanation as to why they clicked so well: "He got open."

He has bounced back the past two seasons from several injuries.

After a 71-day contract stalemate as a rookie, Crabtree was sidelined during the 2010 preseason with a neck injury. Again a year later he was out with a broken foot sustained while working out in Alex Smith-organized practices during the NFL lockout.

In 2011, Crabtree led the team in catches (72) and yards receiving (874), but San Francisco came up short of a Super Bowl.

While he had four catches for 25 yards and a 4-yard touchdown reception in a 36-32 victory against Drew Brees and the favored Saints in the NFC divisional playoffs, it was the NFC championship game Crabtree remembers as a most disappointing day.

San Francisco's receivers had just one catch for 3 yards yes, it was by him and Crabtree was targeted four times in a 20-17 overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Crabtree said that performance helped fuel him last year.

"Obviously he's a great player, he's done a lot for this team," Kaepernick said. "We just have to have someone step up. He's not happy about it, he's just trying to get healthy now. Crab's going to work, he's going to be back."

Notes: The 49ers signed fourth-round draft pick WR Quinton Patton to a four-year contract. ... The team also claimed tight end/long snapper Kyle Nelson off of waivers from the San Diego Chargers and waived P Anthony Santella. ... Also gone Wednesday were S Darcel McBath, who Harbaugh said was ill; LT Joe Staley, C Jonathan Goodwin, CB Tarell Brown and LB NaVorro Bowman.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

The justices on Monday agreed to hear appeals from Jackie Hosang Lawson and Jonathan M. Zang. The two of them complained of retaliation for whistleblower activities from the privately-held parent company and subsidiary companies that run the Fidelity family of mutual funds.

Lawson resigned after complaining of harassment, and Zang was dismissed, and they both sued. A lower court refused to throw out their complaints, but that decision was overturned. The federal appeals court says only people who work for public companies are protected by the Sarbanes Oxley Act, which protects whistleblower activity.

The justices will review that decision.

An Oklahoma man captured on video what appears to be the formation of Monday's deadly tornado.

The incredible footage, , shows a swirling funnel cloud forming over a field near Newcastle, Okla. The man, identified as Charles Cook, shot the cell phone video from a parking lot while sitting in his car.

"The birth of the May 20, 2013 tornado," Cook wrote. "Moved from there to Moore where it turned into an F4. God be with its victims."

Aclaiming to be the man's son .

"Incredible video my Dad took of the May 20th tornado FORMING and destroying everything in its path near Newcastle," the user . "He was out that way for work today and just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He was worried it was going to come back at him and was searching for a way to scoot out [of its] way once he was able to gauge how insanely close it was to him. He hung in there, though. Unbelievable."

Fellow Reddit users noted Cook's remarkable composureand silencein the face of danger.

"Quiet intensity from my dad," his son wrote.

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