Rahm has early lead at Palmer Invitational
Jon Rahm started his round strong and ended it even better Thursday, closing eagle-birdie-birdie for a 7under 65 and a two-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla.
Not even the brute test of Bay Hill was a match for golf’s hottest player.
“Amazing round of golf,” he said. “I wish all of them were as enjoyable as this one.”
Chris Kirk, Cameron Young and Kurt Kitayama all shot 67 to form the pack two shots behind Rahm.
A group at 68 includes defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, all among the top 20 in the world.
More golf
Carson Young gave his rookie season on the PGA Tour quite a spark when he made three eagles on his way to a 9-under 63, giving him a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Young has made only three cuts in 12 starts.
College football
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, one of the top prospects in the NFL draft, returned to the scouting combine a day after flying back to Georgia to turn himself in on two arrest warrants stemming from a car crash in January that killed a teammate and a team staff member. Carter was released after posting a combined bond of $4,000.
Hockey
Three-time Olympian Brianna Decker announced her retirement from the United States national team. She won gold in 2018, silver in 2014 and 2022 and was part of six world championships.
Pro football
Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday at age 86. He had a brief playing career in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts before turning to a business career that helped him land the expansion Panthers in 1993. Obituary, Page A-11
Soccer
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC.
Colleges
Blaire Ford was named associate athletic director for administration at Pitt. Ford will play an important role in the department’s daily operations. Ford joins Pitt from Duke, where she served as director of internal operations for the football program.