Kuchar grabs 3-shot lead at Riviera

Matt Kuchar had the game to match the ideal conditions Thursday morning at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, opening with two straight birdies and never letting up until he had a 7-under 64 and a three-shot lead over five players at the Genesis Invitational.

Tiger Woods, the tournament host, played in afternoon and shot a 69 as he tries to set the PGA Tour record with his 83rd victory. He has never won in 10 previous tries at Riviera as a pro.

“To shoot a number like this, you kid of do most things well,” Kuchar said. “I didn’t find myself in much trouble today.”

Rory McIlroy opened with a 68 in his return to No. 1 in the world.

Phil Mickelson was off to a decent start until he hit a tee shot so wildly to the right on No. 3 that a search party of players, caddies and three dozen fans couldn’t find it. He had to settle for a 72.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England shot an opening-round 7-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Inbee Park and U.S. Open champion Jeongeun Lee6.

NFL: Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said QB Tyrod Taylor will have an opportunity to earn the starting job next season.

Longtime QB Philip Rivers, 38, will enter free agency after 16 seasons. Taylor, 30, was the Bills starter from 2014-17 before spending one season with the Browns before backing up Rivers last season.

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late penalty in stoppage time to help visiting Juventus salvage a 1-1 draw with 10-man ACMilan in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal. The second leg is March 4. Milan will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of a suspension. Napoli beat host Inter Milan 1-0 in the other semifinal first leg Wednesday. The second leg is March 5. ... Martin Odegaard scored in the 42nd minute to lift host Real Sociedad over second-tier club Mirandes 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal. The second leg is March 4. Athletic Bilbao beat visiting Granada 1-0 in the other semifinal first leg Wednesday. The second leg is March 5.

Tennis: No. 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece fell to 52nd-ranked Aljaz Bedene of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the Rotterdam Open.