Year later, Thompson still has ANA nightmares
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Duke freshman F Marvin Bagley III is entering the NBA draft. Bagley announced his decision on his verified Instagram account, saying he “learned a lot this year on and off of the court.” Bagley didn’t say if he was signing with an agent, but he is expected to be a high lottery pick. The AP All-American and ACC player and rookie of the year led the conference in scoring and rebounding. He averaged 21.2 points and 11.3 rebounds for the Blue Devils . ... Michigan State G Miles Bridges is skipping his final two seasons of eligibility and entering the NBA draft . ... Texas junior G Eric Davis Jr., decided to turn pro after being held out several games late in the season after a report raised allegations that he’d taken money from an agent representative. Texas held Davis out of the Longhorns’ final six games after the allegations were raised in a Yahoo Sports report in late February . ... Auburn coach Bruce Pearl received a vote of confidence from the Tigers’ new athletic director. Allen Greene told WJOX-FM in Birmingham, Ala., that it’s “absolutely” his intention to stand by Pearl barring further developments from the FBI or NCAA . ... Daryl Thomas, an All-Big Ten forward for Indiana’s 1987 national champion team, died of a heart attack. He was 52.
NFL: The league’s new rule outlawing a player from lowering his head to initially make any sort of hit with his helmet likely will be included in replay reviews for officials . ... The Las Vegas Stadium Authority has signed the final documents necessary to build the future home of the Raiders. Team President Marc Badain and authority chairman Steve Hill signed the lease and development agreements in Las Vegas for the $1.8 billion, 65,000-seat stadium that is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, 2020. ... The Broncos acquired S Su’a Cravens from the Redskins for draft picks . ... The Jaguars acquired QB Cody Kessler from the Browns for a conditional 2019 seventhround draft pick to be the backup to Blake Bortles . ... Former Raiders QB David Humm has died at age 65. Humm was a star quarterback at Nebraska who went on to have a long career as a backup in the NFL. Humm had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988 and was confined to a wheelchair for more than 20 years . ... A second suspect charged in connection with a burglary at Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski’s Massachusetts home has been arraigned. Eric Tyrrell was held on $1,000 bail after pleading not guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property.
TENNIS: John Isner advanced to the semifinals of the Miami Open for the second time in the past four years after overpowering Hyeon Chung 6-1, 6-4 in just over an hour. On the women’s side, No. 6 seed Jelena Ostapenko ousted fourthseeded Elina Svitolina 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) to reach the semifinals.
ALSO: medical examiner determined Zeke Upshaw, a swingman for the Pistons’ G League affiliate, suffered a “sudden cardiac death” after collapsing on the court during a game Sunday . ... Michigan State spent roughly $500,000 for a public relations firm in January to track media coverage and social media activity related to the case of disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar, the Lansing State Journal reported.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Lexi Thompson still has occasional nightmares about last year’s ANA Inspiration.
“I’ve relived it for a while,” said Thompson, set to open play today at Mission Hills in the first major championship of the season. Thompson was penalized four shots with six holes to play in regulation because of a rules violation the day before, wiping out her threestroke lead. Playing through tears and feeding off the supportive fans, she rallied to force a playoff that So Yeon Ryu won on the first hole.
“The fans were the only reason why I finished the way I did,” Thompson said. “I heard them chanting my name on every shot, every tee. I heard them on the green chanting my name, and I was likeI, `have to finish strong for them.“’
She had a 15-inch par putt on the 17th hole in the third round when she stooped to mark the ball, and then quickly replaced it about an inch away. A television viewer contacted the LPGA Tour the next day, and officials determined it was a clear violation.
Thompson was penalized two shots for improperly replacing her ball and two shots for signing an incorrect scorecard, even though she didn’t know her thirdround score was incorrect when she signed the card.
Under changes made soon after the tournament, players can avoid a penalty if the violation couldn’t be noticed with the naked eye, and if officials deem players made a “reasonable judgment” in taking a drop or replacing a ball. The LPGA Tour adopted a local rule to get rid of the “wrong scorecard penalty,” and that will become a rule throughout golf on Jan. 1.
“I’m just happy that the rule changed so nobody else can be put through what I was put through last year,” Thompson said
She rebounded from the ANA loss to win two starts later at Kingsmill.
“I knew whatever I was challenged with, I could get through it,” Thompson said.
Thompson also won in Indianapolis, and took the $1 million bonus for the Race to the CME Globe and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average — all while coping with her mother’s successful fight with cancer and her grandmother’s death.
The second-ranked Thompson has played four events this year, tying for sixth in the Bahamas, second in Thailand, 31st in Singapore and 54th last week in Carlsbad.
“Two good, two bad, but I feel very good about where my game’s at,” Thompson said. “I feel solid, and I absolutely love this golf course. I get to hit a lot of drivers.”
“I didn’t have the best memories last year, but it’s just an amazing atmosphere this whole event,” Thompson said. “There is so much history behind this event. It’s an honor just to be playing in it and have my name on the trophy is a huge honor.”