Dustin Johnson back in swing of things with 65
Dustin Johnson, coming off a week in the Bahamas and switching back to his old putter to rely more on feel, ran off three birdies over his last six holes at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, and finished with a 5-under 65 to trail Russell Henley by one shot after the opening round of The Northern Trust. Johnson, winner of three straight tournaments in the spring, hasn’t played well since falling and injuring his back in the week leading up to the Masters.
The first of four FedEx Cup playoff events moved this year to Glen Oaks, a course no one in the field knows particularly well. It is spacious and immaculate, the contoured greens that can be difficult to negotiate outside of close range.
Scott Brown, Camilo Villegas and Chris Kirk were at 66, and it was an important start for Villegas and Kirk.
The top 100 in the FedEx Cup after this week advance to the second playoff event at the TPC Boston. Kirk is at No. 97, Villegas is one spot behind. It was even better for a few players who opened with a 67, such as Bubba Watson (No. 113), Martin Flores (No. 118) and Harold Varner III (No. 123).
Hideki Matsuyama, the No. 1 seed going into the PGA Tour’s version of the postseason, didn’t make a birdie and opened with a 74. GOOD START FOR ALEX » Marina Alex shot a 5-under 66 to take the lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa, Ontario, while Canadian star Brooke Henderson was in danger of missing the cut after a 74.
College basketball
CLARKE HAS FAVORITES » Former San Jose State player Brandon Clarke has narrowed his transfer options to three schools in the Pacific Northwest. The junior forward, granted permission to seek a transfer by the Spartans, listed Oregon, Washington State and Gonzaga as his three finalists. Clarke will have to sit out the 2017-18 season before he can resume playing with two years of eligibility remaining. GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT
TO END » This year’s 40th edition of the Great Alaska Shootout — which features Santa Clara — will be the last.
The University of Alaska Anchorage said it can no longer sustain funding for the annual Thanksgiving week tournament.
NBA
GINOBILI SIGNS » Manu Ginobili re- signed with the Spurs for his 16th season with San Antonio. Ginobili will become the eighth player in NBA history to spend his entire career with one team and play at least 16 seasons, joining Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, John Stockton, Reggie Miller and John Havlicek.
Tennis
NADAL AT THE TOP » Rafael Nadal is seeded No. 1 at the U. S. Open for the first time since 2010. Karolina Pliskova is making her debut as the topseeded woman at any Grand Slam tournament. The U. S. Tennis Association announced the seedings Thursday, strictly adhering to this week’s ATP and WTA rankings. The U. S. Open draw is Friday; play begins Monday.
Track and field
FARAH’S LAST HURRAH » Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah’s track career ended with a thrilling win in a sprawling fourman finish to the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Zurich. Farah clocked 13 minutes 6.05 seconds, 0.04 ahead of Paul Chelimo of the United States.
Justin Gatlin of the U. S. was never in contention in the 100, clocking 10.04. Britain’s Chijindu Ujah won in his season’s best of 9.97.
Soccer
RONALDO THE BEST » Cristiano Ronaldo won his third UEFA men’s player of the year award in four seasons, beating Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Buffon to get the trophy. IBRAHIMOVIC IS BACK » Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a one-year deal with Manchester United, returning to the English club that released him during the summer while he recovered from a serious right knee injury.
Cycling
FROOME GETS ROOM » Chris Froome maintained his lead of the Spanish Vuelta after Tejay van Garderen crashed twice during the sixth stage, a 127-mile run from Vilareal to Sagunt.
Van Garderen entered the stage in second place at 10 seconds behind Froome. But the American slipped to fourth, 30 seconds back, after his error-prone day.