Scheffler and Lowry rally to share top spot

Scottie Scheffler was six shots behind, losing ground and nearly losing his mind on another tough day at Bay Hill. What saved him was his putter — yes, his putter — that allowed him to end Saturday with a share of the lead with Shane Lowry.

Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, one-putted his final seven greens, four of them for birdie, for a 2-under 70. Lowry also bounced back with two late birdies, one from just outside 30 feet on the par-3 17th, for a 70.

They were at 9-under 207, one shot ahead of U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark.

Auto racing: Denny Hamlin will start on the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Phoenix Raceway, capping a stellar qualifying session for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota on Saturday. Toyota got four of the top six spots after Hamlin ran his lap in 132.655 miles per hour.

College basketball: Jamal Shead had 13 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Damian Dunn added 12 points and No. 1 Houston claimed the Big 12 regular-season title in its first season in the conference, dominating No. 14 Kansas 76-46 on Saturday. ... Cormac Ryan scored a career-high 31 points, including a huge 3-pointer with 1:38 left, to help No. 7 North Carolina beat No. 9 Duke 84-79. The victory gave UNC the Atlantic Coast Conference’s regular-season title outright for the first time in seven years.

NBA: Luka Doncic became the first NBA player to record six consecutive 30-point triple-doubles as the Mavericks pulled away in the second half and beat the Pistons 142-124 on Saturday night . ... Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.

NFL: The Broncos have agreed to send wide receiver and former firstround pick Jerry Jeudy to the Browns for a pair of 2024 draft picks.