U.S./World Sports category, Page 337

AUSTIN, Texas — Kevin Kisner made it to the WGC Match Play final for the second straight year, and this time he got it right. A week that began with a loss ended with the biggest victory of Kisner’s career when he holed a 20-foot birdie putt to close out...

Denny Hamlin had such a fast car at Texas Motor Speedway that he was able to win even after two penalties on pit road and some other issues during green flag conditions. While Hamlin was reviewing all that happened, crew chief Chris Gabehart leaned forward and said, “I think you...

SAKHIR, Bahrain — Lewis Hamilton’s surprise win for Mercedes at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday was the latest present from rival Ferrari, served on a silver plate and wrapped with a red ribbon. Hamilton won at a canter despite the Silver Arrows lagging behind the red Ferraris for most...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The confetti was still swirling around Auburn coach Bruce Pearl when he gazed over a team headed to the first Final Four in school history and declared, “This one was for Chuma.” “The next two,” Pearl added with a triumphant grin, “are for Auburn.” Drawing inspiration...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — From embarrassment to exhilaration. From early exit to regional champ. From bracket busters to net cutters. Virginia, the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed a year ago, survived overtime and Carson Edwards’ staggering 3-point show Saturday night to make it to the Final...

AUSTIN, Texas — Tiger Woods finally met his match Saturday, and it wasn’t Rory McIlroy. Lucas Bjerregaard delivered the clutch shots so often seen from Woods to tie the match on the 16th hole and beat him on the 18th hole in a shocking conclusion when Woods missed a 4-foot...

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Texas Tech is heading to its first Final Four thanks to a kid from Italy who made the big shots and a defense that refuses to rest. Davide Moretti opened up a late lead with the two most important 3-pointers of his life, Tariq Owens came up...

WASHINGTON — Zion Williamson watched in awe in 2015 when Duke and Michigan State met in the Final Four. When he steps on to the court for another Duke-Michigan State NCAA Tournament showdown Sunday with a Final Four spot at stake, the fabulous freshman will feel grateful to be a...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Auburn insisted all along it wouldn’t change its style against up-tempo North Carolina. Turns out the SEC Tournament champs can run a bit, too. Auburn earned its second trip to the Elite Eight by coasting to a to a 97-80 victory over the No. 1 seed...

WASHINGTON — Matt McQuaid could not believe LSU was giving Michigan State freshmen Aaron Henry and Gabe Brown so much room at the 3-point line. “They were like 3 or 4 feet off Gabe on that one 3,” McQuaid said. “I was like, ‘Dang, do they know he can shoot?’...

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse star Tyus Battle is not coming back for his senior year. In an open letter to fans published Friday in The Post-Standard of Syracuse, Battle made his decision after reports he’d leave surfaced when the Orange were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament....

WASHINGTON — Zion Williamson soared for a two-handed, rim-rattling, crowd-thrilling alley-oop that gave Duke its biggest lead during a tight tussle against Virginia Tech in the East Region semifinals. He is known for his dunks, to be sure, but he can do more. So much more. And now Williamson and...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Carsen Edwards scored 29 points as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000, needing overtime to beat Tennessee, 99-94, on Thursday night after blowing an 18-point lead. The third-seeded Boilermakers (26-9) will play either top-seeded Virginia or No....

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Gonzaga is in the Elite Eight for the fourth time following a 72-58 victory over Florida State in the opening West regional semifinal on Thursday night. Rui Hachimura scored 17 points to lead the top-seeded Bulldogs, and Brandon Clarke had 15 points and 12 rebounds as Gonzaga...

AUSTIN, Texas — The magical escape by Tiger Woods didn’t keep him from losing Thursday in the Dell Technologies Match Play. He just didn’t lose hope of playing on the weekend. The same couldn’t be said for defending champion Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and a host...

JACKSON, Miss. — ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann has apologized for insulting and threatening a Mississippi turkey hunter who killed a rare white turkey. The Clarion Ledger reports the former MSNBC political commentator tweeted Wednesday that he was sorry for his earlier tweet that threatened 22-year-old Hunter Waltman. The threatening tweet...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An entire generation of NASCAR has spent its life tuned to a schedule so predictable events could be planned years in advance and race dates marked milestones. Daytona meant the beach — a week out of school in February, the Fourth of July for vacation — and...

DURHAM, N.C. — When Duke needs a clutch 3-pointer, the best option might be Cameron Reddish. The freshman has been solid overall, hitting one-third of his 3s, but that number jumps to 42 percent in the second halves of games that are either tied or within a possession. And as...

AUSTIN, Texas — Tiger Woods made a successful return to Dell Technologies Match Play with a victory. Jordan Spieth found some success with a tie. The most unpredictable tournament in golf began Wednesday with only a few surprises as only four of the top 16 seeds in group play failed...

HOUSTON — When the Houston Cougars were last in the Sweet 16, Hakeem Olajuwon starred and coach Guy V. Lewis stalked the sideline in his trademark plaid jackets. Thirty-five years later, a new generation of Cougars led by Houston native Galen Robinson Jr., Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr. finally...

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Phil Cofer is not with Florida State, but he was very much on the minds of his teammates as they practiced Wednesday. The Seminoles are in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, but the senior forward is in Georgia preparing for his father’s funeral Saturday....

Last year’s NCAA Tournament was an epic ride for the underdogs, from UMBC’s historic takedown of No. 1 Virginia to Loyola-Chicago’s march to the Final Four. This year, Cinderella stayed home to get some beauty sleep. Top seeds and power programs only, please. The top three seeds are still alive...

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man has made history with a March Madness bracket that’s perfect through 48 games on the NCAA.com’s “Bracket Challenge,” according to the NCAA. Gregg Nigl of Columbus told the Columbus Dispatch he almost didn’t fill out his bracket last week, saying he was home sick...

When leaders at Gonzaga were looking to sweeten the pot for their basketball team in exchange for staying in the West Coast Conference, they knew where the money might come from. NCAA Tournament payouts. With the perennially contending Zags being courted by the Mountain West, athletic director Mike Roth sought...