Murray reaches first final since hip surgery

ANTWERP, BELGIUM >> Andy Murray is back in an ATP tour final for the first time since March 2017 after beating Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the European Open semifinals.

Murray will face fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who beat Italian 18-year-old Janik Sinner 6-3, 6-2.

For Murray, it’s his biggest success since having hip surgery in January, an injury that him contemplating retirement at one point. He sealed the win against Humbert after 2 hours, 22 minutes with an easy volley winner at the net.

“It’s been a long road to get back to this point,” Murray said. “I certainly didn’t expect it to come so soon since I started playing again. It’s been a big surprise to me and I’m happy to be through to the final.”

Thomas, Lee tied for 3rd-round lead

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA >> Justin Thomas was looking at a three-stroke lead after three rounds at the CJ Cup with one hole to play, which would have set him up nicely for his second win in three years at South Korea’s only PGA Tour event.

But the 18th hole saw a big swing in the scoring at the Nine Bridges course.

South Korean-born New Zealander Danny Lee holed a long eagle putt to finish with a 68. Thomas, who won the inaugural CJ Cup in 2017, bogeyed the 18th for a 70 and he and Lee were tied with a three-round total of 15-under 201 after three rounds.

Australian Cameron Smith was in third place, three strokes behind, after a 68. Jordan Spieth shot 70 and was in a three-way tie for fourth, four behind.

Korda up one

SHANGHAI >> Jessica Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the third round, with eight birdies and two bogeys, to take a one-shot lead at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Korda, who has a 15-under total of 201, is making her first start since the Solheim Cup, where she went

3-0-1 last month in Scotland in the United States’ loss to Europe. She has three LPGA Tour victories in Asia.

Defending champion Danielle Kang is in second place after a 66 at Qizhong Garden in the first of four straight events in Asia. Second round leader Brooke Henderson (73) dropped back to third place.

Bencic reaches Moscow final

MOSCOW >> Belinda Bencic booked the last spot at the season-end WTA Finals after beating Kristina Mladenovic in the Kremlin Cup semifinals.

Bencic’s 6-3, 6-4 victory set up a Moscow final with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1.

Parel, Tolles top playoff opener

RICHMOND, VA. >> Scott Parel shot his second straight

6-under 66 on Saturday for a share of the lead with Tommy Tolles in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first of three tournaments in the PGA Tour Champions’ Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.

Parel rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 15th with birdies on the par-5

16th and 18th at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course.