Off the wire
Compiled from Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Mickelson closes in
Phil Mickelson had six consecutive birdies and shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to pull within two strokes of leader Sepp Straka in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Safeway Open at Napa, Calif. Coming off a winless performance in the U.S. Ryder Cup loss to Europe, Mickelson, 48, birdied Nos. 9-14 and closed with four consecutive pars on the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa. Straka birdied the final three holes for a 63. The Austrian played alongside Mark Mulder, the former major league pitcher who opened with a 75. Chase Wright had a 64, playing the last three holes in 4 under with an eagle on the par-5 16th and two birdies. He’s playing in his second career PGA Tour event after earning a card in the Web.com Tour Finals. Brandt Snedeker, Alex Prugh, J.T. Poston, Mackenzie Hughes, Sam Saunders, Sungjae Im and Adam Long shot 66. Two-time defending champion Brendan Steele had a 67, playing alongside Mickelson. Fred Couples, the Hall of Famer who turned 59 on Wednesday, had a 73 in his first PGA Tour round since the Masters in April.
Hatton in running
Defending champion Tyrrell
Hatton bounced back from a poor start, including a wayward tee shot that struck a spectator on the head, to shoot a 2-under 70 and move within two strokes of the first-round lead at the Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday at St. Andrews, Scotland. A female fan was pictured bleeding from a head wound after being hit by a drive from Hatton on the 15th hole at Kingsbarns, one of three courses staging the event. She was later seen walking to a golf cart and smiling as she was taken to an on-site medical center. The incident took place less than a week after a spectator was struck by a tee shot by Brooks Koepka at the Ryder Cup. According to French media reports, doctors said she has lost sight in one eye and is considering legal action. Hatton bogeyed the 15th hole — his sixth of the day after starting at No. 10 — following bogeys at Nos. 11 and 13, but he eagled the 16th and made four birdies on his back nine. Marcus Fraser of Australia and Matt Wallace of England shot 68s at Carnoustie and St. Andrews, respectively. All 168 players in the field will play a round on each course, before the final round takes place at St. Andrews on Sunday.
U.S. mixed at Crown
The United States had a mixed start on the opening day of the UL International Crown team golf tournament at Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday, splitting the fourballs against Sweden, while favorite South Korea collected a maximum four points with two wins over Taiwan. Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson gave the U.S. a winning start in the eight-nation, 32-player tournament against Pernilla Lindberg and Madelene Sagstrom to win 2-up. The defending champion’s other pairing, Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda, had a disastrous start, however, and was 4 down after five holes against Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall. The American pair rallied to become all square by the 13th hole, only to lose 2-up. The results left the U.S. and Sweden with two points each. After three days of fourballs, the top two teams from each pool and one wild-card team progress to the singles event on Sunday with the team collecting the most points over the four days taking the title. Teams get two points for a win and one if the match is halved. Dad: Son offered thousands
The father of a top college basketball prospect testified Thursday that his son was offered thousands of dollars to play at several major programs. Brian Bowen Sr. testified at a federal trial in New York that aspiring agent Christian Dawkins told him he could get $50,000 to play at the University of Arizona, $150,000 to go to Oklahoma State or $100,000 to go to Creighton. He said there was interest from Oregon but he didn’t recall a cash offer. Bowen was testifying at the New York City trial of Dawkins and two other defendants accused of making secret payments to recruits’ families. Prosecutors said Bowen’s son ended up signing with Louisville after a deal was struck to pay the family $100,000. Brian Bowen Jr. now plays professionally in Australia.
Sponsors concerned Pressure built on Cristiano Ronaldo from his sponsors Thursday after Nike joined EA Sports in expressing its deep concern with the rape allegation facing the soccer star. The five-time world player of the year has denied the claim. Late Thursday night, he received public backing from his Italian club, Juventus, shortly after Nike issued its statement to The Associated Press. Nike has had a contract with Ronaldo, 33, one of the wealthiest and most famous soccer players in the world, since 2003. The latest terms signed in 2016 are worth a reported $1 billion and Ronaldo has suggested that it was a deal “for life.” But the Beaverton, Ore.-based apparel maker has indicated it is troubled by the details emerging in a lawsuit filed last week in a Nevada state court by a woman who alleges she was raped by Ronaldo in Las Vegas in 2009. Ronaldo wears Nike boots and appears in its advertising. He also is the face of the EA Sports FIFA video game franchise, appearing on the cover of the 2019 game that was released worldwide last week.
WR Williams returns Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams was back at practice with the team Thursday but worked to the side with the strength coaches on his now ailing left foot. Williams missed practice last Friday and was not present for last Sunday’s 26-24 victory against the Detroit Lions dealing with personal issues. He returned for meetings on Tuesday but didn’t practice Wednesday, per Coach Jason Garrett because he is working through a myriad of off-the-field issues. Those things include bracing for a looming suspension of up to four games from the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Williams was arrested in Frisco, Texas, last May for public intoxication, stemming from a car accident in which his blue Lamborghini colluded with a light pole and he fled the scene. But what’s also at work is that Williams is now bothered by an ailing left foot that he fractured and had surgically repaired in the spring. Williams missed the entire offseason program and mini-camp before being cleared to work back into football during training camp. He has played through pain and has been limited in what he can do the field, although he has never been listed on the injury report. He is unlikely to play against the Houston Texans on Sunday and there is a chance the Cowboys could put him on injured reserve.
Pats activate Edelman The New England Patriots activated receiver Julian Edelman to the 53-man roster, making him eligible to make his season debut Thursday night when the Patriots hosted the
Colts. Edelman was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers. He sat out last season after suffering a preseason knee injury. Edelman is in his 10th NFL season. To make room on the active roster, the Patriots released running back Kenjon Barner. Barner was signed to this second stint with the Patriots on Sept. 26. He played in last week’s victory over Miami, finishing with three carries for 11 yards.
Dave Anderson dies Pulitzer Prize-winning sports columnist Dave Anderson of The New York Times died Thursday. He was 89. The newspaper said he died at an assisted living facility in Cresskill, N.J. Anderson worked at the Times from 1966 to 2007. He wrote elegant, descriptive commentary, displaying a wealth of expertise in baseball, the NFL, boxing and golf. Anderson wrote 21 books and received the 1994 Red Smith Award for outstanding contributions to sports journalism from the Associated Press Sports Editors. He was inducted into the National Sports Writers and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1990. He was known for his warmth to friends and strangers and his unflagging politeness. His Pulitzer cited six columns from 1980, notably “The Food on the Table at the Execution.” It portrayed the scene at George Steinbrenner’s office when the New York Yankees owner forced out rookie manager Dick Howser.