Off the wire

GOLF Murray out front

Grayson Murray fixed a flaw in his swing and hit the ball well enough that blustery conditions didn’t matter at the PGA Tour’s Texas Open in San Antonio. He made seven birdies in his round of 5-under 67 for a oneshot lead. Of the five players at 68, only Chesson Hadley played in the morning side of the draw Thursday. He said it was among his best rounds of the year. The wind died in the afternoon and scoring improved on the AT&T Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio. Keegan Bradley, Ryan Moore, Billy Horschel and Matt Atkins (Henderson State) each posted a 68. Sergio Garcia, playing the Texas Open for the first time since 2010, had a 74. Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) was tied for 7th at 3 under. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Razorbacks) was tied for 12th at 2 under. Ethan Tracy (Razorbacks) shot even-par 72.

Maggert, Parnevik lead

Jeff Maggert and Jesper Parnevik shot an 8-under 63 in better-ball play Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s Legends of Golf. Playing together for the first time in the team event, Maggert and Parnevik eagled the par-5 eighth and had six birdies in the cool and breezy conditions on Big Cedar Lodge’s Buffalo Ridge course at Ridgedale, Mo. Mark Calcavecchia and Woody Austin were a stroke back. Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman were at 65 along with Davis Love III-Scott Verplank, 2015 winners Billy Andrade-Joe Durant, Paul Broadhurst-Kirk Triplett and Steve Flesch-David Toms. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) and Michael Allen were at 66. Glen Day (Little Rock) and Wayne Levi were at 67.

TENNIS Nadal advances

Rafael Nadal remains on course to retain his Monte Carlo Masters title and won’t have Novak Djokovic standing in his way. The top-ranked Nadal beat big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 on Friday to reach the quarterfinals, clinching

victory with a clinical smash at the net. The 10-time champion next faces fifth-seeded Dominic Thiem, who earlier won 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3 against Djokovic. Third seed Alexander Zverev beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, but missed out on facing his older brother Mischa Zverev in the last eight. He lost 6-2, 7-5 to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

BASEBALL Rangers sign Cuban OF

Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez has signed as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers, and will make his debut for the organization in the Dominican Summer League. The Rangers announced the signing of Martinez, 22, on Thursday, more than four months after he held an open tryout for all teams and about six weeks after he could sign with an MLB team. Martinez debuted with the Cuban national league at age 16, and hit .293 over five seasons. In his final season with Guantanamo and Camaguey, the speedy left-hander hit .333 with 6 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 61 games. He had 52 walks and 30 strikeouts.

Kahnle has tendinitis

Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle will be shut down for 10 days and likely miss a few weeks after being diagnosed with biceps and shoulder tendinitis. New York Manager Aaron Boone revealed the diagnosis Thursday before a game against the Blue Jays. Kahnle had an MRI this week that revealed the tendinitis. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list Tuesday. Kahnle is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA in 6 appearances. With his velocity down this season, he has struck out 9 and walked 8 in 71/ innings.

Freeman’s hand OK

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is listed as day to day after he avoided serious injury when hit by a pitch on his left wrist. The Braves said tests showed no structural damage. The pitch by Phillies left-hander Hoby Milner on Wednesday night hit Freeman near the base of his left hand. Freeman missed seven weeks in 2017 after fracturing his left wrist when hit by a pitch at about the same spot.