Day aiming for victory in Houston
Jason Day, eyeing his first PGA Tour victory in more than two years, was tied for the lead at the Vivint Houston Open on Saturday, shooting a 3-under 67 less than two weeks after withdrawing during the final round at the CJ Cup because of neck discomfort.
The Australian was in front with second-round leader Sam Burns, who began the day in the lead and ahead by two strokes. He overcame back-to-back early bogeys to salvage a 69.
Day and Burns were at 201, one stroke ahead of Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz. Ortiz, tied for second after each of the first two rounds, also put up a 67. Like Burns, he and several other contenders are chasing their first PGA Tour title.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson was another two shots back after a bogey-free 66. This was his first start since the U. S. Open following a six-week break brought on by a positive test for the novel coronavirus.
■ Kevin Sutherland shot a 7-under 64 to take a five-stroke lead over Wes Short Jr. into the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix. He had a 13-under 129 total. ... Nineteen players advanced to the Sunday shootout in the Cyprus Showdown, with Johannes Veerman and Matthew Jordan entering the final day after shooting the lowest score in the third round. In a first-of-its-kind format on the European Tour, the scores were reset after the first two days’ play and will be again after Saturday’s round. Veerman and Jordan both shot 7-under 64 and will tee off as part of the first group in Sunday’s final. All players who shot 69 or more missed the tournament’s second cut.
Auto racing: Austin Cindric charged on fresh tires to his first NASCAR championship with a gutsy overtime drive to win the Xfinity Series finale at Phoenix Raceway. Cindric was already headed toward the win when title-favorite Chase Briscoe spun with six laps remaining. It brought out a caution that forced Cindric and Team Penske into a bold race-deciding strategy call.
Baseball: Pitcher Robbie Ray and the Blue Jays reached agreement on a one-year, $8 million deal, making him the first of 181 free agents to get a new contract. Ray accepted a 15% percent cut from his one-year, $9.43 million deal with the Diamondbacks last year, which turned into $3,492,593 in prorated pay in the virusshortened season. The Diamondbacks traded him to the Blue Jays on Aug. 31. The 29-year-old lefty was a combined 2-5 with a 6.62 ERA in 2020.
NFL: Jets QB Sam Darnold is doubtful to play Monday because of an injured shoulder, with Joe Flacco expected to start in his place against the Patriots. Coach Adam Gase said Darnold would sit out practice after he had some issues throwing Friday. Darnold sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder against the Broncos on Oct. 1 and missed two games. He reinjured it last Sunday in Kansas City when he took a hard hit, but he remained in the game. Flacco has thrown for 397 yards with one touchdown and one interception. ... The Steelers added LB Avery Williamson to their 53-man roster while releasing veteran OL Stefen Wisniewski. ... The Titans signed P Ryan Allen and placed three-time Pro Bowl P Brett Kern on injured reserve.