Johnson quits PGA; Woods to skip U.S. Open

Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson has 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.

“Ultimately, I decided to come and do this,” Johnson said at Centurion Club in St. Albans, England. “I’m excited about this. Obviously, the Ryder Cup is unbelievable and something that has meant a lot to me. … Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to do that again, but I don’t make the rules.”

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.

⏩ Woods withdrew from the U.S. Open, saying that his damaged right leg, 16 months removed from a car crash, needs more time to get stronger.

At last month’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills, he was limping badly on Saturday and withdrew after the third round.

Woods said he hopes to play next month at the British Open at St. Andrews, where he won two of his three claret jugs.

ELSEWHERE NWSL coach on leave: retaliation

Orlando Pride coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant Sam Greene have been placed on administrative leave while the National Women’s Soccer League and its players’ association investigate allegations of retaliation, which violates a league policy intended to prevent and eliminate workplace discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Last year, the league was rocked by scandal when North Carolina coach Paul Riley was accused of sexual coercion and harassment. He was fired, and NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird stepped down. Four other NWSL coaches were either fired or resigned last year amid misconduct allegations.

⏩ A late deflected goal from Ajdin Hrustic secured Australia’s 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates in Qatar in an Asian playoff to set up a matchup with Peru for the final spot at the World Cup in Qatar.

⏩ In Nations League group play, Harry Kane’s late penalty earned England a 1-1 draw in Germany. Boxing: Japan’s Naoya Inoue stopped Bay Area fighter Nonito Donaire midway through the second round in Saitama, Japan, unifying three bantamweight world titles.

Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs) added Donaire’s WBC belt to his own WBA and IBF 118-pound straps. Donaire, 40, dropped to 42-7.

WNBA: The Los Angeles Sparks (5-7) fired head coach and general manager Derek Fisher, who went 54-46 as coach. Assistant Fred Williams will become interim head coach.

⏩ Miramonte-Orinda alum Sabrina Ionescu had 26 points, including hitting a shot from halfcourt at the end of the second quarter, and eight rebounds and eight assists to help the host New York Liberty rout the Minnesota Lynx 88-69.

“If I can be a threat offensively, it opens up the floor for everyone else,” Ionescu said.