Associated Press stories, Page 971
One for the aged: Fred Couples oldest to make cut at the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples had played mediocre golf by his standards the past four years, and though the 1992 champion had come close to making the cut at the Masters on one occasion, he hadn’t played the weekend since 2018. Well, Couples got to play Saturday. Then keep playing...
Tiger Woods makes cut at rainy Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It even sounds odd to say it: Tiger Woods is last among those still playing at the Masters. But after Woods made the cut at Augusta National on Saturday, it all went downhill from there. Slogging through a rain-drenched, 49-degree day proved too much for the aching...
Rules, appeals and penalties talk of NASCAR at Bristol
Defending Bristol dirt race champion Kyle Busch wonders if NASCAR drivers need a refresher course on the rules. Busch, who’ll try and make it two in a row on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, acknowledged NASCAR’s rules process is front-and-center these days of punishment and appeals. Last...
Brooks Koepka leading Jon Rahm by 4 on a short Saturday at Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Moving day at the Masters was mostly about everyone leaving Saturday. A cold, relentless rain was too much for Augusta National to handle, leading to one of the earliest finishes for a Saturday — just 15 minutes after CBS came on the air — and setting up...
Cyclist Ethan Boyes dies after being struck in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — Award-winning cyclist Ethan Boyes died after being struck by a car at a national park in San Francisco, the U.S. Park Police said Saturday. The athlete was hit while riding his bike Tuesday afternoon around Presidio, a historic park south of the Golden Gate Bridge, authorities said....
Competing abortion pill rulings sow broad alarm, confusion
Emma Hernandez is defiant even if she fears what may come in the latest stage of the nation’s fight over abortion: a widening prohibition to safe and legal ways to end unwanted pregnancies, including access to abortion pills. Competing rulings by two federal judges over the availability of the abortion...
Police: 6 people wounded in shooting on South Carolina beach
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. — Gunfire erupted on a South Carolina beach during a “senior skip day” event involving numerous teenagers Friday, wounding six people and prompting charges against two for unlawful possession of guns, police in South Carolina said. The shots broke out around 5:20 p.m. on Isle of...
Justice Thomas says he didn’t have to disclose luxury trips
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as “among our dearest friends,” Thomas said in a statement that he...
Survival at Masters as Jon Rahm stays close, Tiger Woods makes cut
AUGUSTA, Ga. — No one had an easier time Saturday morning at the Masters than Brooks Koepka. He didn’t have to play, and he still had the lead going into a cold, soggy and brutally difficult weekend at Augusta National. Jon Rahm did remarkably well to stay close. Tiger Woods...
Utah man who killed family vented his anger in suicide note
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man who fatally shot his wife, her mother and the couple’s five kids after he was investigated for child abuse left a suicide note saying he “would rather rot in hell” than continue enduring what he called controlling behavior by his wife, investigators wrote...
‘A Thousand and One’ is Teyana Taylor’s answered prayer
NEW YORK — Pulpits across America this Easter Sunday are sure to be filled with pastors preaching the longtime adage that “God may not be there when you want Him, but He’s always on time.” If they’re in need of a witness, Teyana Taylor would surely testify. “I just have...
WWE apologizes for using Auschwitz image in WrestleMania
LOS ANGELES — World Wrestling Entertainment apologized Friday for using an image from the Auschwitz concentration camp to promote one of its matches during the first night of WrestleMania 39 last weekend. The image was used in a promotional package for the match between Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio on...
U.S. Amateur champ Sam Bennett in contention at MastersVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sam Bennett wants to be known for more than the tattoo he carries on his left forearm, the poignant story of his late father that led to it and the ever-present advice it offers that has carried him around Augusta National. “Don’t wait to do something,” the...
Access to abortion pill in limbo after competing rulings
AUSTIN, Texas — Access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. plunged into uncertainty Friday following conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone that has been widely available for more than 20 years. For now, the drug the Food and Drug Administration...
Brooks Koepka a major presence again, leads the MastersVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The notion that players who joined LIV Golf would risk being sharp and properly prepared for the majors doesn’t apply to Brooks Koepka. It never really mattered how much or how well Koepka was playing. The majors always seemed to bring out his best. Based on two...
Storms bring down trees at Masters, play halted in 2nd roundVideo
Three towering pine trees fell near patrons as storms rolled through Augusta National on Friday, though nobody was hurt, and the second round of the Masters ground to a halt as heavy wind and rain rolled through the area. The course was cleared once for 21 minutes by an earlier...
Caleb Love transferring to Michigan from North CarolinaVideo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Caleb Love plans to transfer to Michigan from North Carolina, giving coach Juwan Howard some much-needed talent for his roster next season. The 6-foot-4 guard announced his decision on social media Friday. The Wolverines also added former Seton Hall guard Tray Jackson, who shared his plans...
UConn guard Jordan Hawkins declares for NBA DraftVideo
STORRS, Conn. — UConn guard Jordan Hawkins announced Friday he will leave college and enter the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Gaithersburg, Md., averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this past season, helping lead the Huskies to the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament title. Hawkins also averaged 16.3...
Biden sports plan angers transgender advocates, opponents
A Biden administration proposal to forbid outright bans on transgender athletes sparked outrage from conservative leaders while also angering trans rights activists who note schools could still prevent some athletes from participating on teams that align with their gender identity. The proposed rule, which still faces a lengthy approval process,...
McIlroy grand slam on hold, likely to miss Masters cutVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy’s bid to complete a career grand slam will have to wait yet another year as the world’s No. 2 player is almost certain to miss the cut at the Masters for the second time in three years. McIlroy needs a win at Augusta National to...
Study says warming may push more hurricanes toward U.S. coasts
Changes in air patterns as the world warms will likely push more and nastier hurricanes up against the United States’ east and Gulf coasts, especially in Florida, a new study said. While other studies have projected how human-caused climate change will probably alter the frequency, strength and moisture of tropical...
Russia hits illegally annexed Ukraine areas from ground, air
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesn’t fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and...
Bengals’ Joe Mixon charged again with pointing gun at woman
CINCINNATI — Bengals running back Joe Mixon is again facing a misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing over allegations that he threatened and pointed a gun at a woman in Cincinnati earlier this year. City police issued a statement Friday announcing that they had refiled the charge “following the discovery of...
Report: Russia formally charges Wall Street Journal reporter
MOSCOW — Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial, Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday. Tass said a law enforcement source informed the news agency that Russia’s Federal Security Service officially charged the American journalist with...
What’s next for Tennessee’s expelled lawmakers?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Republicans have expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest calling for more gun control. Here’s a look at what could happen next: What happened? Republicans voted Thursday to expel two Black lawmakers who last week approached the front of...

