NICKLAUS: WOODS’ STATUS IS PUZZLING
palm beach gardens, fla.» Jack Nicklaus said he was “painting a picture” when he suggested after a practice round with Tiger Woods at the 1996 Masters that Woods had the game to win at least 10 green jackets.
He referred to Woods as a “puzzle” Sunday at the Honda Classic.
In an interview before making an appearance in the NBC Sports broadcast booth, Nicklaus was raving about the growing number of young players who can win major championships. He said they learned to win because Woods no longer was dominant as he recovered from a litany of injuries.
“And now, I don’t know about Tiger,” Nicklaus said. “That is the biggest puzzle to me that I know. I just don’t know where he is and where his mind is. I don’t know.”
Day withdraws with sickness
B ponte vedra beach, fla.» Jason Day withdrew from the Mexico Championship because of an infection in both ears and the flu.
The World Golf Championship, to be held in Mexico City this week for the first time and featuring the highest altitude (7,870 feet) for a PGA Tour event, was poised to have all the top 50 golfers in the world. Day is No. 2 in the world. He lost his top ranking last week to Dustin Johnson, who won at Riviera.
Day said the ear infections and flu kept him from preparing properly.
Elam arrested on drug charges
B miami beach, fla.» Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam faces oxycodone, marijuana and reckless driving charges after being arrested in Miami Beach.
Miami-Dade County jail records show Elam was arrested Sunday. He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver or sell and possession of a controlled substance, oxycodone. He was being held on $15,500 bail.
Pritchett goes back to back
B chandler, ariz.» Leah Pritchett raced to her second straight top fuel victory to start the season and successfully defended her NHRA Arizona Nationals title.
Pritchett beat Brittany Force in the final for the second year in a row at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports, finishing in 3.705 seconds at 328.22 mph. Pritchett has three career victories, also winning the season opener two weeks ago.
Tsonga makes it 2-for-2
B marseille, france» Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his second title in two weekends by defeating fellow Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 in the Open 13 final.
• Dominic Thiem claimed his eighth ATP singles title and his sixth on clay with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the Rio Open final.
• Top-seeded Timea Babos of Hungary, defeated No. 2 Lucie Safarova from the Czech Republic, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 to win the Hungarian Ladies Open.
• Top-seeded Milos Raonic withdrew from the Delray Beach Open final after injuring his hamstring a day earlier, giving the title to Jack Sock.
• Top-seeded Andy Murray said he was back to his best ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships after struggling with shingles following his early exit from the Australian Open.
Pacquiao, Khan to fight April 23.
WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan said they agreed to terms for a fight April 23.
The boxers’ promoters are yet to announce any details. Golden Boy Promotions, Khan’s promoter, didn’t reply to a request for confirmation.
Footnotes.
Former NHL enforcer Andrew Peters was suspended indefinitely as coach of a youth hockey team pending a Buffalo police investigation into his role in an on-ice brawl. … The VF-17 car was unveiled on the team’s website and social media platforms.