Golf
Spieth struggles in 1st round since Masters win
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Jordan Spieth had a post-Masters letdown Thursday, shooting a 3-over 74 at the RBC Heritage to end his run of 16 consecutive rounds under par.
Spieth vowed his whirlwind, two-day celebration tour of New York after winning the green jacket Sunday wouldn’t affect his focus. But it was apparent early on at Harbour Town that Spieth was not at his Augusta National best.
Spieth visibly was frustrated on the eighth hole when his second shot from pine straw landed well short of the green.
The 21-year-old Texan was eight shots behind leaders Graeme McDowell and Matt Every, who were at 5-under 66.
Huang Wenyi labors to 1-stroke lead in Shenzhen
SHENZHEN, China – Huang Wenyi, a former laborer from China who didn’t start playing golf until he was 22, shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Shenzhen International.
The 34-year-old Huang had eight birdies to go along with two bogeys. He leads Felipe Aguilar, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Byeong Hun An and Peter Uihlein by one at Genzon Golf Club.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (70) was four shots off the pace at 2 under.
Two South Koreans share second-round lead at Lotte
KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Sei Young Kim shot her second consecutive 5-under 67 on Thursday for a share of the lead with fellow South Korean player I.K. Kim halfway through the second round of the breezy Lotte Championship.
Sei Young Kim, the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic winner in February in her second start as an LPGA Tour member, began the round two strokes behind I.K. Kim. Sei Young Kim bogeyed her opening hole at Ko Olina, rallied with four birdies before the turn and added three consecutive birdies on her second nine.
Track and Field
World Championships are coming to Tracktown, USA
BEIJING – The IAAF awarded the 2021 world athletics championships to Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday, the first time the event will be held in the United States.
The IAAF said the decision, which bypassed the usual bidding process, was driven by the popularity of track and field in the American market.
It said the financial support offered by the governor of Oregon and the United States Olympic Committee, as well as NBC’s commitment to produce and broadcast the event, led to the decision.
While cities usually compete to hold such events, the IAAF also awarded the 2007 world championships to Osaka, Japan, without opening it to bidding.
WNBA
Seattle Storm nab Jewell of draft with No. 1 overal pick
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Jewell Loyd was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft.
Loyd, who was chosen by the Seattle Storm on Thursday night, decided to skip her final season at Notre Dame and enter this year’s draft. She’s the first Fighting Irish player to be taken with the top pick.
Fellow underclassmen Amanda Zahui B. was taken by Tulsa with the second pick. Minnesota’s red-shirt sophomore and Loyd were eligible to be drafted because they turn 22 during this calendar year.
Seattle took UConn forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis third, Connecticut Sun selected 6-foot-3 center Elizabeth Williams of Duke fourth, and Chicago took 6-foot-4 forward Cheyenne Parker of Middle Tennessee State fifth.
Associated Press
