Tiger, chasing history, off to good start at Torrey Pines
Tiger Woods had his lowest opening round of the year since 2011. It wasn’t enough to be among the leaders Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open, but it was fine with him.
Coming off his recordtying 82nd victory in his last PGA Tour start three months ago in Japan, Woods handled the par 5s on the easier North Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego and limited mistakes for a 3-under 69.
Sebastian Cappelen and Keegan Bradley had the low scores of the opening round, which was not the same as sharing the lead. Cappelen had eight birdies for a 66 on the South Course, which played about three shots tougher than the North, where Bradley shot his 66.
Rory McIlroy, who played in the group in front of Woods, was among those at 67. Jon Rahm, playing alongside Woods, was in the large group at 68.
Woods hasn’t broken 70 in his first round of the year since a 69 on the North at Torrey in 2011.
“It was nice to kind of keep the round going a little bit,” Woods said. “Overall, pleased to shoot something in the 60s.”
Bubba Watson had a 67 on the South, while three other players broke 70 on the South, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2008 and gets another U.S. Open next year.
Woods has won this event seven times. At stake this week is a chance to set the PGA Tour career victories record with No. 83.
Along for the ride was Cal’s Collin Morikawa, who wasn’t even born when Woods made his pro debut. The 22-year- old Morikawa shot 70.
“I had to tell to tell myself to just focus on golf after that first hole because I could just focus on Tiger and watch him the entire day and realize I forgot how to play golf,” Morikawa said. “And that’s what I’m out here to do, I’m out here to win. It’s really cool to play with him finally and to get a round in with him because crowds are different.”
KORDA SHOOTS 66, TAKES 2-SHOT LEAD »
Jessica Korda shot a 6-under 66 in high wind to take the first-round lead in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, the tour’s first full-field event of the season and first official event in Boca Raton, Florida, in more than 30 years.
From Bradenton, the fivetime LPGA Tour winner is staying at home this week.
Tour rookies Yui Kawamoto of Japan and Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand were two strokes back with South Korea’s Sei Young Kim.
Horse racing
OMAHA BEACH, SPUN TO RUN
SCRATCHED FROM PEGASUS WORLD CUP »
The Pegasus World Cup Invitational took two major hits, with the top choices for the race being scratched over health concerns.
Heavily favored Omaha Beach was scratched from the race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, because of concerns over swelling in his right hind leg, and that means his career is now over since Saturday was going to be his final race before retiring to stud. Spun to Run, the second favorite after the postposition draw earlier this week, was pulled out after his connections noticed he was warm and dealing with some soreness.
Omaha Beach retires with five wins, four seconds and a third in 10 career starts, with $1.65 million in earnings. He was the morning- line favorite for last year’s Kentucky Derby as well, before getting scratched in the final days before the race because of a throat issue that necessitated surgery and kept him out of the entire Triple Crown series.
Baseball
GIANTS REPORTEDLY SIGN PLAYER FROM KOREAN LEAGUE » According to published reports, outfielder Darin Ruf agreed to terms on a minor league deal with the Giants and will likely receive an invitation to major league spring training. Ruf has hit 35 career home runs in parts of five seasons with Philadelphia but spent the past three years in the Korean Baseball Organization where he slugged 86 home runs.
Olympics
NCAA TO ALLOW POTENTIAL OLYMPIANS TO RECEIVE
MORE BENEFITS » The NCAA will now permit elite athletes to be paid for training expenses by the U.S. Olympic Committee and other national governing bodies.
The Division I Council adopted the legislation Wednesday at the NCAA convention and it is effective immediately.
Previously, college athletes could compromise their eligibility to compete for their schools by accepting some benefits that are provided to potential Olympians.
Under the new legislation, athletes designated elite by the USOC or other organizations such as USA Swimming or USA Track and Field can have travel expenses paid for parents, coaches or trainers. The new rules also will allow potential Olympians to spend more time working with their college coaches without breaking NCAA rules regarding practice limits.
College football
STANFORD LINEBACKER WITHDRAWS FROM TRANSFER PORTAL » Stanford’s leading tackler has reportedly withdrawn his name from the NCAA transfer database. Inside linebacker Andrew Pryts will return to the Cardinal for his final season in 2020, 247Sports. com reported. The redshirt junior registered a teamhigh 71 tackles.
Men’s college basketball
UTAH RALLIES TO STUN WASHINGTON » Riley Battin scored 17 points, and Rylan Jones hit several critical free throws in the final minutes to help Utah rally for a 67-66 victory over Washington in Salt Lake City.
INDIANA UPSETS NO. 11 MICHIGAN STATE» Center Joey Brunk and guard Al Durham made big baskets down the stretch, lifting Indiana to a 67- 63 home win over No. 11 Michigan State (14- 5, 6-2 Big Ten). Brunk led the Hoosiers (15- 4, 5-3) with 14 points.
Cassius Winston led Michigan State with 17 points and five assists.
BIG TEN SUSPENDS ILLINI’S GRIFFIN 2 GAMES » Illinois guard Alan Griffin was suspended two games by the Big Ten Conference for stepping on the chest of an opponent during a game on Tuesday night.
Griffin’s indiscretion occurred midway through the first half of a 79-62 road victory at Purdue. Sasha Stefanovic fell to the ground after driving to the basket and sinking a layup for the Boilermakers. An agitated Griffin, whose right foot temporarily was stuck under Stefanovic, stomped on the guard’s chest with his left foot.