In brief: Golfer Dustin Johnson denies cocaine rumors
Golf: Golfer Dustin Johnson says in a magazine interview that cocaine is not the reason he chose to sit out the last six months to get his life in order.
“I did not have a problem,” Johnson told Sports Illustrated when asked about cocaine. “It’s just something I’m not going to get into. I have issues. But that’s not the issue.”
Johnson, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, said in August that he was taking a leave of absence from the PGA Tour to seek professional help for what he called “personal challenges.” Golf.com reported that he had failed a drug test for the third time and had been suspended. The PGA Tour denied he had been suspended.
He missed the final major, the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Ryder Cup. He is not expected to return until his fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, has their first child. She is due within the next month.
He said he didn’t go to rehab during his break from golf, instead hiring a team of experts, such as a life coach, to help him understand how to get the most out of his talent. Johnson is regarded as one of the best American players and the most athletic.
He said he learned he didn’t handle stress the right way.
“My way of getting rid of it was drinking or partying,” he told the magazine.
Kentucky defeats Vanderbilt
College men: Kentucky twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison combined for 11 points down the stretch that were key in helping the top-ranked Wildcats (18-0, 5-0 SEC) hold off pesky Vanderbilt (11-7, 1-4) 65-57 at Lexington, Kentucky.
• Davidson upsets Dayton: Freshman Peyton Aldridge had 22 points and senior Tyler Kalinoski added 21, as sharp-shooting Davidson (14-4, 4-2 Atlantic 10) knocked off No. 22 Dayton (15-3, 5-1) 77-60 at Davidson, North Carolina.
• Wisconsin pounds Iowa: Frank Kaminsky had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and No 6 Wisconsin (17-2, 5-1 Big 10) relied on tough defense to rout No. 25 Iowa (13-6, 4-2) 82-50 at Madison, Wisconsin.
Thunder move over .500
NBA: Russell Westbrook scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Kevin Durant added 19 points and Oklahoma City moved over the .500 mark for the first time this season with a 94-86 win over host Miami.
Durant also had eight rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who’ve won 18 of their last 26 games.
• Leonard powers Spurs: Kawhi Leonard had 17 points and 15 rebounds in another strong outing since returning from a hand injury, and visiting San Antonio won its fourth in a row by beating Denver 109-99,
Tampa Bay takes over first
NHL: Alex Killorn had two goals, Valtteri Filppula added a goal and an assist, and Tampa Bay took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-1 victory over Vancouver at Tampa, Florida.
Memphis will discipline 12
College football: Memphis will punish 12 Tigers for their role in the brawl after their double-overtime win at the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl following an internal review by the university. BYU officials aren’t saying how many Cougars will be disciplined or how.
Punishment for the Tigers includes being suspended from practices and scrimmages and up to two games, though which players will be suspended from games will not be announced until the start of the 2015 season.
Other penalties include mandatory anger-management counseling.