Taylor, Hadwin lead PGA event
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Morning frost gave way to gusting wind Thursday in the WM Phoenix Open, leading to tricky scoring conditions at TPC Scottsdale.
The frost delayed the start for 1 hour, 50 minutes, with the wind picking up from the northeast and gusting to 25 mph. The temperature climbed from the low 40s in the morning to the high 60s in the afternoon as golf ’s biggest party kicked off Super Bowl week in the Valley of the Sun.
Canadian friends Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin shared the lead at 5-under 66 when play was suspended because of darkness with the entire afternoon wave unable to finish.
U.S. Open adds exemptions
The U.S. Open has added the NCAA champion and Latin America Amateur champions to the list of exempt players, along with making slight tweaks to categories for players who don’t have to qualify.
Some of the changes were due to golf coming fully out of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for qualifying to be held in England and Japan for international players.
The U.S. Open is June 15-18 at Los
Angeles Country Club.
Mckibbin takes Singapore lead
SINGAPORE — Tom Mckibbin was a surprise first-round leader of the Singapore Classic after shooting 8under 64 on Thursday. Mckibbin led by a stroke from four players — Matthieu Pavon of France, Sami Valimaki of Finland and Swedish pair Joakim Lagergren and Simon Forsstrom.
Ruffels up by two in Australia
BARWON HEADS, Australia — Ryan Ruffels had seven birdies and two eagles in a course record-equaling 61 on Thursday, taking a two-shot lead at 11-under after the first round of the Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links on Thursday.
Padres extend Darvish deal
SAN DIEGO — Yu Darvish has agreed to a new contract with San Diego that guarantees the 36-year-old ace an additional $90 million and will keep him with the club through the 2028 season, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said Thursday.
The right-hander, who has a baffling array of pitches, will make $108 million over six years, including the $18 million he was already due in 2023 before he was set to become a free agent. He’s set to stay under contract with San Diego until he’s 42.
Indiana, Notre Dame, Miami win
Grace Berger scored 26 points and Mackenzie Holmes added 24 as No. 2 Indiana topped No. 5 Iowa 87-78 . ... Sonia Citron scored 20 points, Maddy Westbeld added 17 and No. 10 Notre Dame beat Pitt 69-63 . ... Haley Cavinder made eight straight free throws in the final 30 seconds and finished with a career-high 33 points to help Miami beat No. 19 Florida State 86-82.
Rangers trade for Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko is going to the New York Rangers in a trade that answers another big move by a rival and sets the stage for more to come before the March 3 deadline. The Rangers acquired the prolific scoring winger and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Thursday for conditional 2023 first- and 2024 fourth-round picks, forward Sammy Blais and prospect Hunter Skinner.
Burakovsky placed on IR
NEWARK, N.J. — The Seattle Kraken placed leading scorer Andre Burakovsky on injured reserve Thursday with a lower body injury.