Zach Johnson in Safeway Open
Two-time major champion Zach Johnson committed to play in next week’s Safeway Open, the PGA Tour’s season-opening event at Silverado Resort in Napa. This will be Johnson’s first appearance in the tournament.
Also on Tuesday, two recent college players — Sacramento native Cameron Champ (Texas A&M) and Beau Hossler (Texas) — accepted sponsor exemptions to play in the event.
— Ron Kroichick College basketball: A former San Jose State player is suing former head coach Dave Wojcik and former assistant Tyler Ojanen, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Gary Williams Jr. alleges in his suit that he wasn’t allowed to play or practice after he complained about homophobic remarks and discrimination by the coaches, the newspaper said.
The Mercury News reported that the school investigated Wojcik, but he resigned July 10, before the findings of the probe were divulged. Hockey: Sharks forward Joel Ward told the Mercury News he might take a knee during the national anthem at an upcoming game, becoming the first NHL player to join the protests that started in the NFL and drew criticism from President Trump.
Ward, one of about 30 black players in the league, is from Canada. Asked by the newspaper if he would consider kneeling during the anthem, Ward said, “It’s definitely something I wouldn’t cross out.”
The U.S. women’s team will host Canada on Dec. 15 in San Jose as part of six tuneup matches for February’s Winter Games in Pyeong-Chang, South Korea. The U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland also will face each other, Nov. 5-12 in Tampa, Fla., in the Four Nations Cup. Football: Running back Trent Richardson, who attempted an NFL comeback with the Raiders in 2015, has signed with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. Richardson, 27, was the third pick in the 2012 NFL draft but has not played in the league since 2014. Tennis: Top-ranked Garbiñe Muguruza advanced to the third round of the Wuhan (China) Open by beating Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-4. Second-ranked Simona Halep and fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki lost their matches.