Spieth shoots 63, shares lead at low-scoring Nelson

Jordan Spieth had his longest stretch all day of mere pars — a whopping four holes — on the besieged new home course of the AT&T Byron Nelson when the local favorite stepped over a 55-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.

Nothing but the bottom of the cup, and a share of the first-round lead with J.J. Spaun at 9-under 63 on a nearly wind-less Thursday.

Spieth, Spaun and plenty of others had little trouble with TPC Craig Ranch north of Dallas. There were 132 players in the field of 156 under par, with 94 of those in the 60s on the third venue in the past four Nelsons.

After last year’s COVID-19 cancellation, the Nelson returned to the suburbs at McKinney’s Craig Ranch after two years at Trinity Forest, a treeless links course in Dallas. The Four Seasons resort in Irving was home for more than 30 years.

Rafa Cabrera Bello was the first to post 64, soon joined by Aaron Wise, still looking for his second career PGA Tour victory three years after his first at the Nelson, and Doc Redman. Joseph Bramlett joined them frpm the afternoon session.

Texas Speedway’s Gossage retiring

Eddie Gossage, an old-school promoter mentored by NASCAR’s pioneers, will retire after 25 years as president of Texas Motor Speedway following next month’s NASCAR All-Star Race.

Gossage has spent 32 years working for Speedway Motorsports and learned the art of selling tickets, packing grandstands and turning races into spectacles from company founder Bruton Smith and longtime executive Humpy Wheeler.

Now 62, Gossage is one of Speedway Motorsports’ longest-tenured employees. His final event will be the All-Star race on June 13, held for the first time at Texas to bring Gossage’s career full circle.

Pac-12 picks MGM executive Kliavkoff as next commissioner

The Pac-12 hired George Kliavkoff to be the conference’s next commissioner, replacing Larry Scott with another college sports outsider and charging him with rebuilding the league’s football brand.

Kliavkoff has been the president of MGM Sports & Entertainment in Las Vegas since 2018. Kliavkoff has previously worked with Major League Baseball Advance Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, and was also the chief digital officer with NBC Universal Cable.

Nadal rallies past Shapovalov

ROME >> When it comes to long, grueling clay-court battles, nobody is better than Rafael Nadal. Nearing his 35th birthday, the Spanish great showed he’s still got the stamina to withstand much younger challengers in a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) comeback win over 22-year-old Denis Shapovalov that secured him a spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals.

Nadal roared back from 3-0 down in the second set and then saved two match points on his serve at 6-5 in the third.

Nadal, a nine-time champion in Rome, will next face Alexander Zverev. Zverev also won in a comeback, beating Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Cameron signs with Cincinnati

CINCINNATI >> Former U.S. national team defender Geoff Cameron has signed a two-year contact with Cincinnati of Major League Soccer. The team said the deal includes a 2023 option.

Cameron, 35, scored four goals in 55 appearances for the U.S. from 2010-17 and started three matches during the 2014 World Cup.

He has played for Houston (2008-12) in MLS and Stoke in England’s Premier League (2012-18) and second-tier League Championship (2018-19).