Johnson resigns as PGA Tour member
Two-time major winner
Dustin Johnson resigned his PGA Tour membership to participate in the new golf series backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
The first LIV Golf Invitational, which offers $25 million in prize money, is taking place outside London starting Thursday.
Johnson said Tuesday he “had to think long and hard” about leaving the PGA Tour, seemingly ending his hopes of competing in the Ryder Cup for the United States.
Johnson, whose last victory was the Saudi International in 2021, is No. 15 in the world, the highest-ranked player in the field. He has held the No. 1 spot in the world longer than any player since Tiger Woods.
Speaking alongside Johnson, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell said he had yet to give up his PGA membership.
Phil Mickelson and Johnson are welcome to play the U.S. Open next week under a United States Golf Assn. decision that puts the open nature of the championship over a player’s decision to play in a Saudifunded rival league. Mickelson and Johnson are among a dozen players in the LIV Golf Invitational this week who are exempt for the U.S. Open on June 16-19 at the Country Club outside Boston . ... Woods withdrew from the U.S. Open, saying that his damaged right leg needs more time to get stronger to contend in the majors . ... The Club at Carlton Woods is the new site for the Chevron Championship, the first LPGA Tour major of the year that is moving after 51 years at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.
Rich Strike third pick for Belmont
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is the third betting choice on the morning line for the Belmont Stakes, with Triple Crown newcomer We The People installed as the favorite.
Rich Strike opened at 7-2 odds and drew the fourth post position in a field of eight horses for the 11⁄2-mile third leg of the Triple Crown. We the People drew the rail and opens at 2-1, with Todd
Pletcher-trained No. 6 Mo Donegal set at 5-2.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray defeated Australian qualifier
Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Stuttgart Open . ... Alexander Zverev underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle . ... U.S. Open champion Emma
Raducanu has “no idea” if she’ll be ready for Wimbledon in just under three weeks after retiring from her opening match at the Nottingham Open with a “freak injury” to her left side.
Astros pitcher Hector Neris was suspended four games and Houston manager Dusty Baker was banned one game by Major League Baseball after both were ejected from a game Monday night against Seattle in which Neris plunked one hitter and nearly hit another in the head . ... The Texas Rangers placed reliever Brett Martin on the COVID-19 list before the first game of a doubleheader against the Guardians . ... Washington Nationals righthander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
The Walton family has won the bidding to purchase the Denver Broncos in the most expensive deal for a sports franchise anywhere in the world. The Broncos announced late Tuesday night they had entered into a sale agreement with the Walton-Penner ownership group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton, his daughter,
Carrie Walton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner. Terms of the sale weren’t disclosed, but KUSA-TV in Denver reported it was for $4.65 billion.
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard will miss this week’s three-day minicamp and the start of training camp after having back surgery.
The Seattle Kraken will be without goalie Chris
Driedger for most of next season after he underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
No 15-year-old figure skaters will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Olympics following the controversy surrounding Russian national champion
Kamila Valieva at this year’s Beijing Games. A new age limit for figure skaters at senior international events was passed by the International Skating Union in a 11016 vote that will raise the minimum age to 17 before the next Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Angel City FC played the Houston Dash to a scoreless draw at Banc of California Stadium . ... Orlando Pride coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant Sam Greene were placed on administrative leave while the NWSL and its players’ association investigate allegations of retaliation, which violates league policy. Assistant Seb
Hines will serve as interim coach.