WESTWOOD, POULTER MUM ON TOUR’S SAUDI LEAGUE STANCE
MCKINNEY, TEXAS » Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter didn’t want to talk about the PGA Tour’s decision to deny releases to members who asked to play in the first of a series of Saudi-funded tournaments next month in England.
Tour loyalists were happy to weigh in at the Byron Nelson on Wednesday, the day before the Dallas-area event. Their theme: more power to anyone who wants to join Greg Norman’s latest bid to create a lucrative rival league.
“Look, if you want to go, go,” said Justin Thomas, the eighth-ranked player in the world. “There’s been plenty of guys that have been advocates of it and have just talked it up all the time and they have been guys behind the scenes that are saying,
‘I’m going, I’m doing this.’
“And, like, my whole thing is, like, just go then,” Thomas said. “Stop going back and forth. Everybody’s entitled to do what they want.”
Westwood, who has confirmed seeking releases from the PGA and European tours, responded to a reporter by saying didn’t want to answer questions on the topic.
Poulter is among those identified by The Daily Telegraph as seeking releases. He hopped in a golf cart after his Nelson pro-am round and said he had to be somewhere.
Derby-winning rider Leon serving suspension by Ohio stewards.
» The jockey of Kentucky Derby upset winner Rich Strike is serving a four-day suspension handed down by Ohio racing stewards that his agent says won’t prevent him from riding the horse in next week’s Preakness.
Stewards suspended Sonny Leon last week for careless riding during the third race on April 27 at Thistledown Racecourse, east of Cleveland, during which they determined he “deliberately and aggressively” steered One Glamorous Gal toward the rail to block other horses. It is Leon’s fifth suspension since last fall.
Guardians hit with COVID-19 outbreak, manager Francona out.
CHICAGO » The Cleveland Guardians are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has sidelined manager Terry Francona and several of the team’s coaches, leading to the postponement of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
It’s the first coronavirus-related postponement since the season started on April 7.
Padres manager Bob Melvin has prostate surgery.
SAN DIEGO » San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin had prostate surgery Wednesday.
The team announced Melvin’s surgery during its 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It had no further details and said it likely won’t have any updates until next week.
Melvin said Tuesday that he didn’t think he had cancer, but the doctors wouldn’t know until the surgery.
Braves catcher Piña to have season- ending left wrist surgery.
ATLANTA » Atlanta Braves catcher Manny Piña will have season-ending surgery after tests revealed ligament and cartilage damage in his left wrist.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Wednesday night’s game that the loss of Piña means William Contreras will continue to serve as the top backup to starter Travis d’arnaud. Piña, 34, signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Braves before the season.
Ukraine returns to soccer field with friendly win in Germany. MÖNCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY »
Ukraine is back on the soccer field.
The Ukrainian men’s national team returned to action Wednesday for the first time since the invasion by Russia, beating German club Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in a charity fundraiser.
The friendly was a chance for the Ukrainians to get back into form ahead of a World Cup qualifying playoff game against Scotland next month, but also just to show their team is still going, despite everything.—