Korda six back in record pursuit

Nelly korda is going to have some work to do to win a record sixth straight lpGA tour title, especially the way Rose Zhang is playing. Korda shot a relatively mistake-free 3-under 69 early in the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Clifton, n.J., thursday and then could only watch as the 20-year-old Zhang tied the tournament record with a 63 in the afternoon to take the lead. In her winning streak, Korda has never trailed by more than eight strokes after the opening round. the 25-year-old was six back in this one with a slew of players ahead of her heading into the second round at the Upper Montclair Country Club. Zhang had a two-shot lead over Madelene sagstrom of sweden, who set the tournament record in 2022. leona Maguire of Ireland, stephanie kyriacou of Australia, and Narin An of south Korea were three shots back and one ahead of lindsey Weaver-Wright and Mel Reid of england.

McIlroy (67) in position

Rory McIlroy positioned himself for a run at a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship title, opening with a 4-under-par 67 that left him three shots behind leader Xander schauffele. collin Morikawa and Alex Noren also shot 67, and Justin Thomas topped the group at 68. Quail Hollow in Charlotte, n.C., is one of McIlroy’s favorite courses, and with good reason. In 2010, McIlroy closed with a 62 that including six straight 3s on his card to win his first pGA tour title two days before he was legally able to purchase an alcoholic beverage in north Carolina. the star from northern Ireland followed that with a seven-shot victory in 2015, shattering the tournament record at 21-under 267 after a course-record 61 in the third round. He added his third title in 2021. Hideki Matsuyama, the world’s 15th-ranked player, withdrew prior to the tournament because of a back injury.

McIlroy on subcommittee

McIlroy and Adam scott are joining Tiger Woods on the subcommittee directly involved in negotiating with the saudi backers of lIV Golf, an addition to what the pGA tour previously disclosed even though McIlroy says he’s been involved in discussions. McIlroy said while he is not on the pGA tour enterprises board, “I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee.” It was yet another twist in the players’ involvement on the board. McIlroy resigned in november, and the other player directors voted to replace him with Jordan spieth.

NFL

Db Johnson dead at 86

pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-pro and member of the All-Decade team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. Johnson’s family told the pro Football Hall of Fame that he died Wednesday night. Johnson, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, played his entire 16-year pro career with san Francisco. He appeared in 213 games, more than any other 49ers player when he retired.

giants sign WR Robinson

the Giants signed wide receiver Allen Robinson to a free agent contract with the hope he can help boost the team’s struggling offense. the Giants announced the signed two months after Robinson was cut by the steelers in a cost-cutting move. the 30-year-old Robinson is a veteran presence in a receivers room adding first-round draft pick Malik Nabers, the all-time leading receiver at lsU.