DeChambeau tied for BMW lead despite wild ride

From back-to-back eagles to back-to-back shots in the water, Bryson DeChambeau had a little bit of everything Saturday in the BMW Championship, a wild ride at Caves Valley that ended with him tied for the lead with Patrick Cantlay.

Right went it looked as though DeChambeau would use sheer power and a remarkable touch with the putter to run away from the field, his blunders on the back nine made him settle for a 5-under 67 and still looking like the player to beat.

Cantlay’s classic style worked just fine, too. He didn’t drop a shot until a tee shot into deep rough on the 18th that led to bogey and a 66.

They were at 21-under 195, and Sunday had the trappings of a two-man race.

Sungjae Im birdied his last two holes for a 66 and was three shots behind. The group four shots back included Rory McIlroy, who had a bogey-free 65 and only made up two shots on the lead.

Crisp-hitting Abraham Ancer of Mexico (66), Sam Burns (65) and Sergio Garcia (67) also were in the group four shots behind. The biggest disappointment belonged to Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 1 player, who had three bogeys and no birdies over the last six holes and shot 70. He fell five shots behind.

Sunday has more than just the trophy at stake. The top 30 in the FedEx Cup advance to the final event at the Tour Championship next week. Garcia was poised to moved into the top 30 with Hudson Swafford and Erik van Rooyen among those lurking.

As for the Ryder Cup, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele dropped out of the top 30 at Caves Valley, and Cantlay could grab the sixth and final automatic spot only if he were to win. CROCKER MOVES INTO TIE

FOR LEAD AT EUROPEAN MASTERS >> American Sean Crocker shot a 6-under 64 to move up and share the lead with Renato Paratore after the third round of the European Masters.

Twelve players are within three shots of the co-leaders. First-round leader James Morrison, who followed a course-record 60 with 74, shot levelpar 70 to be 6 under.

Paralympics

AFGANI ATHLETES ARRIVE TO COMPETE >> Two athletes who were evacuated from Afghanistan last week landed in Japan Saturday to participate in the Paralympics.

Zakia Khudadadi, 22, will compete in taekwondo, a sport that is making its Paralympics debut, and Hossain Rasouli, 26, will run in a men’s 400-meter event.

After evacuating from Afghanistan, the athletes spent a week in Paris training at the National

Institute of Sport Expertise and Performance.

NBA

RONDO HEADED TO LAKERS? >> The Memphis Grizzlies announced that they waived veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, and multiple reports indicate that Rondo is likely to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday once he clears waivers.

Memphis acquired Rondo from the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a trade announced Aug. 16 in which Eric Bledsoe went to Los Angeles. Rondo, 35, was part of the Lakers’ team that won the 2019-20 title.

REFEREES WILL BE VACCINATED >> The NBA announced it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association that all referees will be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season. Part of the referees’ agreement with the NBA also says that those working games will receive booster shots once they become recommended.

The NBA’s agreement with the referees was revealed one day after the league told its teams that anyone within close proximity — defined in most cases as being 15 feet — of players and referees will also have to be vaccinated. Players are not required to be fully vaccinated.

Motors

SAN JOSE’S ALLMENDINGER SECOND >> Justin Haley used a late push from Daniel

Hamric to edge Kaulig Racing teammate AJ Allmendinger and win the rain-delayed Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.

San Jose’s Allmendinger beat Justin Allgaier by a fender for second.

Series points leader Austin Cindric crashed for the second straight week, hitting hard into the outside wall on lap 28.

Little League World Series

MICHIGAN TO FACE OHIO FOR TITLE >> Cameron Thorning hit a two-run homer and struck out seven over 3 ⅓ innings as Michigan defeated Hawaii 2-1 in a semifinal at the Little League World Series, setting up a championship game today against Ohio, 5-2 winners over South Dakota. It will be the first-ever meeting between teams from the same region in the title game.

Hockey

KNIGHT BREAKS GRANTO’S SCORING RECORD >> Hilary Knight had two goals and an assist to break Cammi Granato’s U.S. points record in women’s world hockey championship play, helping the Americans beat Japan 10-2 in the quarterfinals.

The eight-time world champion has 79 goals, third overall behind former Canadian stars Hayley Wickenheiser (86) and Jayna Hefford (83).