In Gee Chun leads in Portland; Brooke Henderson shot back
PORTLAND, Ore. - In Gee Chun shot a 6under 66 on Thursday in the Cambia Portland Classic to take a one-stroke lead over twotime defending champion Brooke Henderson and five others.
Playing the event for the first time, the sixth-ranked Chun had seven birdies and a bogey at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater.
The South Korean player tied for third last week in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and has four runner-up finishes this season. Both of her LPGA Tour victories have come in majors — the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2016 Evian Championship.
Henderson had six birdies and a bogey to match Cheyenne Woods, Cindy LaCrosse, Moriya Jutanugarn, Nicole Broch Larsen and Nasa Hataoka at 67. Lexi Thompson had an eagle and a double bogey in a 68.
Woods posts video practicing short game
JUPITER, Fla. - The latest image of Tiger Woods looked more familiar. The 14-time major champion had a golf club in his hand.
Woods tweeted a short video on Thursday showing him hitting a chip shot with a message that said, “Dr. gave me the ok to start pitching.”
He had a fourth surgery on his back to fuse disks in April. Woods last played a tournament in early February when he shot 77 and withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic.
He most recently made news from a DUI arrest on Memorial Day that included a mug shot from the Florida jail where he was briefly held. Woods said it was a mix of painkillers, and a toxicology report issued earlier this month showed he had the active ingredient for marijuana, two painkillers and two sleep drugs in his system.
Woods went to a drug treatment center in June.
Lakers fined $500K by NBA for tampering involving George
NEW YORK - New Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka’s contact with Paul George’s agent violated the NBA’s anti-tampering rule and resulted in a $500,000 fine for Los Angeles on Thursday.
The league said a law firm’s independent investigation didn’t find evidence of an agreement or an understanding that the Lakers would sign or acquire George, who was with the Indiana Pacers at the time. George later was traded to Oklahoma City.
“We respect and accept the NBA’s decision regarding this matter,” Pelinka said in a statement. “On behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers, I want to express our regret over this unfortunate
The league said Pelinka’s contact with George’s agent “constituted a prohibited expression of interest in the player while he was under contract.”
Attorney Adam Streisand, who represents the Lakers, called the investigation thorough and said, “We can assure the fans that the Lakers will be hyper-vigilant going forward to make sure this is never an issue again.”
The NBA’s anti-tampering rule prohibits teams from interfering with other teams’ contractual relationships with NBA players.
Irving doesn’t mention LeBron in his goodbye to Cleveland
CLEVELAND - Kyrie Irving did not mention LeBron James, now his former teammate, while thanking Cleveland fans after his trade to Boston was finalized.
Irving, who is now officially a member of the Celtics after the teams completed a blockbuster deal that had stalled, posted a lengthy thank-you note and video on his Instagram account Thursday. While somewhat vague about his intentions, the All-Star guard explained some the reasons that led to him requesting the Cavaliers trade him following six seasons — and three straight trips to the NBA Finals.
Irving also thanked Gilbert and Cleveland’s ownership group for taking “a chance on a 19-year-old kid that was coming off a stubbed right toe, of being in a very, very immature place at the time.”
He did not acknowledge his relationship with James, with whom he won an NBA title.
Source: Pelicans trade veteran forward Pondexter to Bulls
NEW ORLEANS - A person familiar with the situation says the Pelicans have agreed to trade veteran forward Quincy Pondexter and second-round draft choice to the Chicago Bulls — a move that will give New Orleans more financial flexibility to round out their roster with a small forward after Solomon Hill’s offseason hamstring tear.
The person also says rookie Frank Jackson, acquired with the first pick in the second round of this summer’s draft, needs surgery on the same foot he broke this year and previously had surgery on in May.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither development has been announced.
The person says what the Pelicans’ compensation in the Chicago trade is still being determined.