In brief: Masters champ Jordan Spieth tied for lead at Colonial
GOLF: Masters champion Jordan Spieth got his homecoming off to a leading start with a birdie before dark.
Spieth made a 20-foot putt from just off the fringe on the final hole for a 6-under-par 64 and a share of the first-round lead Thursday in the rain-delayed Colonial at Fort Worth, Texas.
“I had a few of those on the back nine, a few good looks where I knew what the putt was doing, I just didn’t match the line and speed right,” Spieth said. “I was getting a little frustrated through 17 there. I was like just one more look. … I didn’t really count (18) as a look, but maybe more like luck, and we’ll take it.”
The closing birdie, just after 8 p.m., placed Spieth in a tie with Kevin Na, Boo Weekley and Ryo Ishikawa.
There was a huge roar at No. 1 when Spieth teed off in the first of consecutive events at home in North Texas since becoming a major champion. The Dallas player’s approach at No. 18 landed just off the back right edge of the green surrounded by family, friends and plenty of fans.
“I was little frustrated to see where my ball went, but I still was able to soak in kind of the welcoming to the 18th green,” he said. “I’m sure it will continue to grow.”
Spokane native Alex Prugh was eight shots back of the leaders.
• Kuramoto leads Senior PGA Championship: Massy Kuramoto had the only under-par round with a 1-under 71 to take the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Championship in cool, damp conditions on the testy Pete Dye Course at French Lick (Indiana) Resort.
The 59-year-old Kuramoto, a 30-time winner on the Japan Tour, is the chairman of the PGA of Japan and plays on the side, something he does well enough to have won the 2014 Japan Senior Open.
• McIlroy 6 shots off leader Molinari: Defending champion Rory McIlroy shot a 1-under 71, leaving him six shots behind leader Francesco Molinari at the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England, after a mixed performance he blamed on mental fatigue.
Playing for the fourth straight week, the top-ranked McIlroy failed to recapture the form that saw him surge to a record seven-shot victory at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow last week.
McIlroy had two birdies and two bogeys in his first five holes, missing a 12-foot putt for par at the first hole after failing to find the green with his approach. He went birdie-bogey-birdie from Nos. 12-14, and could not take advantage of par-5s on the final two holes.
“Physically I feel fine but mentally I could feel myself getting down on myself out there, which is not something I have been doing the last three weeks,” McIlroy said.
Hawks’ Carroll hopeful for Game 2
NBA: An MRI on DeMarre Carroll’s left knee showed no structural damage, and he hopes to play for Atlanta in tonight’s Game 2 against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, Carroll’s agent said.
Mark Bartelstein told The Associated Press that Carroll has only a knee sprain and “maybe a little” bone bruise. The Hawks confirmed the MRI showed only a knee sprain and said Carroll would be listed as questionable.
Asked about Carroll’s status, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said, “We’re very hopeful.”
• Warriors’ Gentry interviews with Pelicans: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that top assistant Alvin Gentry interviewed for the vacant New Orleans Pelicans’ job.
He said Gentry met with Pelicans officials earlier this week and he encourages all of his assistant coaches to “embrace any opportunity that comes their way.”
U.S. defeats Cuba in wrestling benefit
MISCELLANY: The U.S. beat Cuba 9-4 in a wrestling exhibition in Times Square.
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs beat Luis Quintana Martinez by technical fall at 163 pounds to wrap up the event, which benefits youth wrestling organization Beat the Streets.
This is the sixth straight year top American wrestlers have taken part in the fundraiser at a New York City landmark.
• Top-seeded Keys withdraws from Strasbourg: Top-seeded American Madison Keys withdrew from the Strasbourg International in Strasbourg, France, because of an elbow injury, giving French player Kristina Mladenovic a walkover into the semifinals.
Keys, who rallied from one set and 5-0 down to beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0) on Wednesday, pulled out as a precautionary measure ahead of the French Open, which starts on Sunday.
• Isner advances in Nice: Second-seeded John Isner of the United States beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 7-6 (3), 6-4 to reach the Open de Nice semifinals in Nice, France, while defending champion Ernests Gulbis lost 6-2, 6-4 against Austria’s Dominic Thiem.
Isner, who had eight aces and saved both break points he faced, next plays Thiem, who broke the third-seeded Latvian’s serve twice in each set in their quarterfinals.
• Contador extends lead in Italy: Alberto Contador extended his overall lead ahead of Fabio Aru to 17 seconds while Philippe Gilbert won the rainy 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia at Vicenza, Italy.
Gilbert, the 2012 world champion, attacked and surged ahead of a couple of breakaway riders to cross the line alone. The Belgian rider with BMC clocked nearly 4 1/2 hours over the 190-kilometer (118-mile) leg from Imola to Vicenza.