In brief: He’s back? Tiger Woods has best round in two years
GOLF: Tiger Woods had his best round in more than two years Thursday, shooting a 6-under 64 in the first round of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, William McGirt and Tom Hoge shared the first-round lead at 62.
It was Woods’ lowest score on the PGA Tour since a 61 in the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2013.
He and the others took advantage of a low-scoring day at what he called a “tricky” Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club that gave up bunches of birdies after morning showers softened the fairways and greens.
Spokane native Alex Prugh shot even-par 70.
• Icher off to hot start in LPGA event: Karine Icher had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch and shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Coquitlam, British Columbia.
The 36-year-old Frenchwoman, winless in 253 career LPGA Tour starts, birdied Nos. 2, 5-6 and 8-11 at Vancouver Golf Club, then closed the bogey-free round with seven pars.
Two-time champion Lydia Ko was second after a 67. Ko won in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club at 15 years, 4 months to become the LPGA Tour’s youngest winner and fifth amateur champion.
• ASU’s Rahm reaches US Amateur quarterfinals: Arizona State senior Jon Rahm won two matches to advance to the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals at Olympia Fields, Illinois.
Rahm, the Spanish player who tops the world amateur ranking, beat Wake Forest freshman Cameron Young of Scarborough, New York, 7 and 6 in the second round, and topped Xavier of Ohio freshman Daniel Wetterich of Cincinnati 3 and 1 in the third third.
Shooter Smith returning to Cavaliers
BASKETBALL: J.R. Smith looked around and realized there was no place like Cleveland.
The free-wheeling and enigmatic shooter has agreed to re-sign with the Cavaliers, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press. Smith, who declined his $6.8 million player option shortly after the season, considered other options before returning to Cleveland, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not yet been signed.
Smith averaged 12.7 points in 46 regular-season games with Cleveland, and seemed to fit in nicely as well as bond with star LeBron James.
• Wolves add veteran: The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced the signing of veteran forward Tayshaun Prince.
The Wolves agreed to terms last week with Prince on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, giving the Wolves another veteran to mentor a young roster.
Prince averaged 7.5 points in 58 games last year for Memphis, Detroit and Boston. He spent three years playing for Wolves coach Flip Saunders when the two were together in Detroit.
• Raptors sign Valanciunas: The Toronto Raptors have signed center Jonas Valanciunas to a four-year contract extension.
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri calls the 7-foot, 270-pound Lithuanian “a significant part of what we are building in Toronto.”
• Support for Johnson denied: A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has denied Glory Johnson’s request for $20,000 a month in spousal support from WNBA star Brittney Griner after their 28-day marriage.
Johnson announced this week that she’s having twins and had been seeking financial support from Griner because she is unable to play for the Tulsa Shock while she’s pregnant. She also asked for attorney fees and for Griner to make payments on Johnson’s Mercedes Benz.
Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, contended she could not afford to pay Johnson $20,000 a month.
Djokovic, Serena reach quarterfinals
MISCELLANY: Novak Djokovic smacked his racket on the court after losing serve, seemingly headed for another unexplainable loss at a tournament that has eluded him. In the end, he stopped fuming and started playing like the best.
The top-ranked Serb rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the final set to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory over David Goffin, reaching the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. Serena Williams also advanced while losing only two games in her match.
Djokovic has never won Cincinnati. He’s trying to become the first player to win all nine ATP Masters events in a career.
“It was a solid first set, but whatever happened in the next 45 minutes – I don’t want to remember it,” Djokovic said. “I wasn’t on the court. You know, I just lost the intensity and concentration. Luckily for me, I managed to bounce back, dig myself out of this hole I was in.”
On the women’s side, Williams needed only 54 minutes to beat Karin Knapp. She lost just 12 points while winning the first nine games.
Williams, the defending Cincinnati champion, is using the tournament as a final tuneup for the U.S. Open, where she’ll try to complete a calendar Grand Slam sweep. Her quarterfinals opponent is Ana Ivanovic, who Williams beat to win her first Cincinnati title last year.
• Chelsea signs forward Pedro from Barcelona: While Chelsea awaits a first win on the field this season, the Premier League champions scored a satisfying victory in the transfer market by beating Manchester United to the signing of Pedro Rodriguez from Barcelona.
A fee worth 30 million euros ($33 million) was agreed to bring the 28-year-old forward to Chelsea, with 3 million euros dependent on his performances, Barcelona said.
The high-profile recruitment of a player who has won every major honor shifts the narrative at Chelsea following an unruly start to the season, particularly as it left United reassessing its transfer targets.
• Dennis nabs overall lead at USA Pro Challenge: Rohan Dennis rode to victory in Stage 4 of the USA Pro Challenge in Breckenridge, Colorado, grabbing the overall lead by adding his name to the list of BMC Racing riders to capture a stage.
Dennis managed to open a gap on a select bunch on the downhill into Breckenridge, and wound up holding off Robbie Squire and Brent Bookwalter.