Curry’s PGA event likely a goner
A PGA Tour event hosted by Warriors star Stephen Curry in San Francisco likely won’t be taking place, after all.
Thursday, the tour announced that Workday had signed a 10-year contract to become the new presenting sponsor of the Memorial Tournament — Jack Nicklaus’ annual event at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio — starting in 2022.
The tour also announced that the Memorial would partly benefit the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation that was started by Curry and his wife, Ayesha.
“We applaud Workday and the importance they place on helping children,” Nicklaus said in a statement. “That commitment is reflected in their support of Eat. Learn. Play. We are delighted to join Workday in welcoming Stephen and Ayesha, as well as their foundation, to our family, and we know the Memorial will assist in furthering their mission.”
Workday’s involvement with the Memorial probably ends any chance of the tour coming to TPC Harding Park anytime soon. There had been speculation that Workday, a Pleasanton-based financial management firm, was going to be the title event of a San Francisco tour stop hosted by Curry, an avid golfer who has promoted message of accessibility to the sport to the Black community. TOP-RANKED JIN YOUNG KO TAKES LEAD IN LPGA TOUR FINALE » Top-ranked Jin Young Ko took the lead
into the weekend in the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship, putting herself in position to win the season money title in only four events.
Ko shot a 5-under 67 in chilly and breezy conditions at Tiburon Golf Club to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Sei Young Kim and 2018 winner Lexi Thompson in the season-ending event.
College football
SUN BELT FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CANCELED » The Sun Belt Conference football championship game Saturday between No. 9 Coastal Carolina and No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette was canceled because of a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program.
An entire position group would have been unavailable to play because of contact tracing.
Both schools were in con
tention for a New Year’s Six bowl spot with a victory in the first Sun Belt title game featuring a matchup of ranked teams.
Coastal Carolina (11- 0, 8- 0, No. 12 CFP), the Sun Belt’s first top 10 team, was set to host Louisiana-Lafayette (9-1, 7-1 No. 19 CFP). WASHINGTON TO FOREGO BOWL SEASON » Washington announced it will not pursue a bowl bid after a COVID-19 outbreak kept the Huskies (3-1) from playing their regular-season finale against Oregon and the Pac-12 title game against USC.
The school said the decision was for medical reasons. Washington’s opt out of the bowl season leaves the Pac-12 with only three teams available to play in the postseason: Southern California, Oregon and Colorado.
Utah, UCLA and Stanford have also said they will not participate.
MLB WHITE SOX-ANGELS OPEN ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT SLATE ON APRIL 4 »
ESPN will open its “Sunday Night Baseball” schedule on April 4 when the Los Angeles Angels host the Chicago White Sox.
The game will feature the last two American League MVPs, with the Angels’ Mike Trout facing reigning MVP and White Sox first baseman José Abreu. The following week will feature National League MVP Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves hosting the Philadelphia Phillies.
NFL
RAIDERS LOSE CARR, FALL IN OT TO CHARGERS » Justin Herbert scored on 1-yard plunge to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 30-27 overtime victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday.
The Chargers (5- 9) snapped a nine-game losing streak against their AFC West counterparts. The Raiders (7-7) lost quarterback Derek Carr to a left groin injury in the first quarter. They have lost four of five, all but killing their playoff chances.
Moments after Daniel Carlson’s 23-yard field goal on the Raiders’ first possession put Las Vegas ahead 2724, Herbert found wideout Jalen Guyton streaking by cornerback Keisean Nixon for a 53-yard reception to set up for the winning score.
In relief of Carr, Marcus Mariota finished 17 of 28 for 226 yards with one TD and one interception. He also rushed for 88 yards on nine carries, including a touchdown.