July 15, 2022 3:13 am
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) – Tiger Woods arrived at St. Andrews in shorts and a hoodie. He might also need an umbrella. The second round of the British Open began under a light rain. That is likely to take some of the fire out of an Old Course that was so fast that it make the rounds go atrociously slow. Of greater concern to Woods is making up ground. His 78 in the first round was good to beat only seven other players. Three of them were past champions in their 50s. Woods figures he needs a 66 to make it to the weekend.
July 15, 2022 3:14 am
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Ducks tight end Spencer Webb has died after falling and striking his head on rock slides at a popular swimming lake near Eugene, Oregon. Authorities say the 22-year-old was unresponsive when they arrived at Triangle Lake on Wednesday afternoon and found him about 100 yards (91 meters) ádown a steep trail. Lane County Sheriff’s Office says the death appears to be accidental. Webb was to play his fifth football season with the Ducks this fall and expected to compete for the starting tight end spot. During his four seasons at Oregon, Webb recorded 31 receptions, 296 yards, and four touchdowns.
July 14, 2022 3:53 am
The Columbus Blue Jackets landed the biggest prize on the opening day of NHL free agency by signing Johnny Gaudreau to a $68.25 million seven-year contract. The signing came a day after Johnny “Hockey” rejected an eight-year contract to stay in Calgary. Gaudreau’s signing highlighted a busy day. Claude Giroux is leaving Florida for a homecoming in Ottawa. The Washington Capitals landed Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Darcy Kuemper from Colorado. The New York Rangers signed forward Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year contract. There was also a big trade with 2017 Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Brent Burns going from San Jose to the Carolina Hurricanes. Top free agents Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg were still available.
July 14, 2022 3:50 am
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) – The silver claret jug was first awarded 150 years ago to the British Open champion. There it was Thursday morning on the first tee at St. Andrews as golf’s oldest championship began. Past Open champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland was selected to hit the first shot of this historic week that is all about the 150th edition at the home of golf. He used a yellow golf ball and found the wide fairway. The gutta-percha was the golf ball of choice in 1860, when the British Open began at Prestwick.
July 13, 2022 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Evgeni Malkin is staying in Pittsburgh after all. The Penguins and the Russian star have agreed to a four-year deal that will pay Malkin $6.1 million annually. The two sides reached an agreement just hours before the three-time Stanley Cup-winning center was set to become a free agent for the first time in his career. Instead, the 35-year-old Malkin will remain alongside longtime teammates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang as the trio head into their late 30s. Letang and the Penguins agreed to a six-year contract last week.
July 13, 2022 3:50 am
MIAMI (AP) – Rookie Oneil Cruz hit a tie-breaking RBI triple and Jake Marisnick homered for the second straight game, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 3-2. Diego Castillo had two hits for the Pirates in their fourth straight victory. Pittsburgh is 14-6 against Miami since 2018. Dillon Peters got the win with 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief. Cruz made it 2-1 when he tripled home Castillo in the fifth. Cruz then scored on Jason Delay’s single against Daniel Castano.
July 13, 2022 3:52 am
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) – Tiger Woods is showing how powerful his voice is in golf. His criticism of Saudi-funded LIV Golf was among his most passionate answers at the British Open. Woods says players who have taken the money are turning their backs on the tour that put them in that position. He questions the incentive of players working on their games with so much guaranteed money. But that big voice is missing a big stage, says AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Woods can only play a limited schedule because of injuries. What the tour wouldn’t give to have its biggest star showing up more than a few times a year.
July 12, 2022 3:49 am
MIAMI (AP) – Mitch Keller pitched one-run ball over seven innings, Jake Marisnick homered and doubled, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 5-1. Keller scattered five hits, struck out five and hit a batter in his longest outing of his career. Diego Castillo singled twice and drove in two runs, while Kevin Newman had three hits for the Pirates, who won their third straight. Newman is 7 for 18 since returning from the injured list Friday. The Pirates struck quickly on Castillo’s two-run single against Trevor Rogers in the first. Newman’s RBI double in the second increased Pittsburgh’s advantage.
July 12, 2022 3:55 am
One Russian Stanley Cup winner is staying put. Another who has won it three times is looking around the NHL for other options. The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche re-signed winger Valeri Nichushkin to an eight-year contract worth $49 million. A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Evgeni Malkin will test free agency rather than re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins before the market opens Wednesday. The Penguins later announced they agreed to a $30 million, six-year deal with winger Rickard Rakell.
July 12, 2022 3:51 am
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Former Michigan football coach Gary Moeller has died. The university says he died Monday at the age of 81. No cause was provided. Moeller coached the Wolverines from 1990-95, succeeding Bo Schembechler. He went 44-13-3 with three Big Ten titles and four bowl victories. After he resigned, he moved to the NFL and was an assistant for four teams. He coached the the Detroit Lions for seven games in 2000, going 4-3. Moeller’s first head coaching job was at Illinois from 1977-79. Moeller was from Lima, Ohio. He played linebacker and was a captain for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.
