DeChambeau joins Saudi golf series; Schwartzel leads in UK
Former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau became the latest big name to sign on with the Saudifunded breakaway series LIV Golf, and Charl Schwartzel remained on course Friday to win the maximum prize of $4.75 million at its inaugural event outside London.
That kind of big money has already convinced a long line of leading golfers — although none from the top 10 so far — to accept offers from the series bankrolled by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. DeChambeau is yet to explain why he made an about-turn to join that list, having previously said he would continue playing on the PGA Tour. That may not be possible now, as the PGA Tour announced Thursday that players who defect to the renegade series will face banishment from future tour events.
DeChambeau will be joining a series that already features Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who are also among the golfers to have spent the week facing questions about the decision to sign up given Saudi Arabia's human rights violations.
On the course, Schwartzel shot a 4-under 66 to take a three-shot lead over fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis in the fight for the $4 million individual first prize at the 54-hole event, which will be decided on Saturday. Both players are on the Stinger team which is leading the way to share a $3 million purse for the best four-man team.
DeChambeau's signing was announced as the second round was taking place. FLESCH SHOOTS 65, TAKES CHAMPIONS LEAD IN WISCONSIN >> Steve Flesch shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions' American Family Insurance Championship.
Flesch chipped in for eagle on the par-5 11th and had six birdies and a bogey at University Ridge.
The 55-year-old lefthander
won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic a month ago in Georgia for his second victory on the 50-andover tour after winning four times on the PGA Tour. He also won the Georgia event in 2018.
NFL
CHARGERS OWNER ACCUSED BY SISTER OF FIDUCIARY MISMANAGEMENT >>
Los Angeles Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos has been accused of repeated breaches of fiduciary duty and misogynistic behavior in a lawsuit filed by his sister.
The filing escalates the ongoing battle among the four Spanos siblings over control of the franchise.
Dea Spanos Berberian filed a petition Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court seeking sole control of the family trust that has a 36% stake in the ownership of the Chargers. The lawsuit also asks the court to suspend and remove Dean Spanos as a cotrustee in the trust and for the disqualification of Michael Spanos as successor co-trustee.
DEL RIO FINED $100K FOR COMMENTS ABOUT CAPITOL RIOT >> Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been
fined $100,000 by the team for his comments about protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Coach Ron Rivera announced the fine in a statement Friday after meeting with Del Rio earlier in the day. He said Del Rio's statements were hurtful to members of the local community and did not reflect the views of the organization.
Colleges
AAC DEAL LETS UCF, CINCINNATI, HOUSTON JOIN BIG 12 IN `23 >>
The American Athletic Conference announced an agreement with Cincinnati, Houston and UCF that paves the way for the schools to join the Big 12 in 2023.
The three schools announced in September they had accepted invitations to join the Big 12, which moved quickly to a rebuild its membership after Texas and Oklahoma revealed they planned to join the Southeastern Conference in 2025.
Along with the addition of BYU in 2023, the Big 12 is set to be a 14-team conference for two years.
The American requires its members give more than two years' notice before they can leave the conference, plus a
$10 million exit fee.
Boxing
CROWDED DAIS AS BOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTS THREE CLASSES >>
The International Boxing Hall of Fame might have to build a new wing to host all the inductees after this weekend's ceremonies.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. alone makes Sunday's event one of the most anticipated in years. Add in fighters like Roy Jones Jr., Andre Ward and Bernard Hopkins — as well as some pioneering women — and the boxing hall in tiny Canastota, New York, figures to fill up quickly.
Tennis
MURRAY BEATS TSITSIPAS FOR 1ST TOP 5 WIN SINCE 2016 >>
Andy Murray claimed his biggest win more than five years on when he defeated the top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (4), 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open.
The 35-year-old Murray saved a set point in the first set against the fifth-ranked Tsitsipas and powered on to claim his first win over an opponent ranked in the top five since beating Novak Djokovic at the World Tour Finals in London in November 2016.