Odom reportedly wakes and speaks

Former NBA forward Lamar Odom has regained consciousness, speaking and even offering a thumbs-up from his hospital bed, just days after being found in critical condition at a Nevada brothel.

Alvina Alston, publicist for JaNean Mercer, Odom’s maternal aunt and godmother, said that Odom spoke a greeting and gave a thumbs-up Friday morning, his first communication since being hospitalized in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Odom had been unconscious since being found Tuesday at the Love Ranch brothel in Pahrump. Golf: England’s Andy Sullivan carded a 7-under 64 for a second straight day to take a three-shot lead at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters is second at 11 under.

Lydia Ko took advantage of Sung Hyun Park’s struggles to take the lead in the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea. The second-ranked Ko made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 7-under 65 and at 10-under 134 holds a one-stroke lead over Lexi Thompson. Park followed her course-record 62 with a 74 to drop two shots behind.

Wes Short Jr. birdied three late holes for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke lead over five others after the first round of the Champions Tour’s San Antonio Championship.

James Mason of Georgia shot a 3-under 69 to share the lead with Chris Starkjohann of Oceanside (San Diego County), who shot 70, in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship in Seaside (Monterey County). Auto racing: Brad Keselowski won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway with a lap of 195.503 mph.

Mason Mitchell won the ARCA Racing Series season finale, edging Kyle Weatherman at Kansas Speedway for his second victory of the year. Grant Enfinger secured the season championship and finished third. Baseball: Texas Rangers hitting coach Dave Magadan and bullpen coach Andy Hawkins are not returning next season. Tennis: Rafael Nadal beat a top-five player for the first time in more than a year with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic also advanced, holding off Australia’s Bernard Tomic in a first-set tiebreaker before closing it out 7-6 (6), 6-1.

Venus Williams closed in on a spot in the season-ending WTA Finals by beating Alize Cornet 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Hong Kong Open semifinals, where she’ll face Jelena Jankovic.