Redman in 3-way tie for lead at RM Classic.
Doc Redman is playing his best golf, priming him to perhaps earn his first PGA Tour victory.
Redman shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead with Scott Stallings and Kevin Kisner in the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Bryson DeChambeau, the only player with top-10 finishes in each of the last three tournaments, topped the group a stroke back.
The 22-year-old Redman closed with four straight birdies and seven over the last eight holes at the Detroit Golf Club. Last year, he went from being a Monday qualifier to finishing second at the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic.
At last week’s Travelers Championship, Redman closed with a 63 to tie for 11th — his best performance this season — after tying for 21st the RBC Heritage.
TEXAS A&M, JIMBO FISHER
HANDED RECRUITING PENALTIES BY NCAA >> Texas A&M’s football program was placed on probation and coach Jimbo Fisher given a sixmonth show cause order by the NCAA after the Aggies were found to have violated recruiting and other rules beginning in January 2018.
Fisher, who had just been hired by Texas A&M, and an assistant coach had impermissible contact with a recruit, the NCAA said without identifying the coaches by name. The assistant, Jay Graham, is now a member of Jeremy Pruitt’s staff at Tennessee.
Colleges
BOISE STATE CUTTING BASEBALL, WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING >> Boise State is discontinuing its baseball program just months after the school was forced to cut short its first season in 40 years with only a handful of games played.
The school has also cut women’s swimming and diving because of budget issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boise State said cutting the two programs along with additional department and program operating reductions will reduce the overall athletic budget by nearly $3 million.
Soccer
AMERICAN WOMEN HIRE APPEALS LAWYERS IN EQUAL PAY LAWSUIT >> Even before a trial, American women players suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal pay have hired a pair of appellate lawyers.
Nicole A. Saharsky, cohead of the Mayer Brown’s U.S. Supreme Court and appellate practice, joined the legal team on Thursday along with Brian D. Netter, a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice who clerked for Supreme Court
Justice Stephen Breyer. Both are based in Washington, D.C.
Players sued in March 2018 under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and they sought more than $66 million in damages.
Baseball
CUBS’ QUINTANA CUTS THUMB WASHING DISHES, UNDERGOES SURGERY >> Already concerned about the depth of their rotation, the Chicago Cubs will have to get by for at least a little while without one starter because of a freak injury.
Left-hander José Quintana had surgery to repair nerve damage in his pitching thumb after he cut himself washing dishes.
Chicago did not have a timetable for his return. TIGERS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH SPORTSBOOK OPERATOR >> The Tigers became the first Major League Baseball team to reach a deal with a sports gambling company, announcing a multiyear partnership with PointsBet.
Detroit said the agreement will “enhance fan engagement and game-day excitement by providing access to unique experiences, content, promotions and more, in and around Comerica Park.”
As part of the deal, PointsBet will have branding at Comerica Park and will be featured on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network.
Track
WORLD ATHLETICS FREEZES RUSSIA PANELS BECAUSE OF UNPAID FINE >> The program allowing Russian track athletes to compete internationally will be frozen because the country’s federation failed to pay a fine on time, World Athletics said.
The Russian track federation, known as RusAF, owes a $5 million fine and another $1.31 million in costs for various doping-related work and legal wrangles. World Athletics said RusAF missed Wednesday’s deadline to pay.