GOLF

Billy Horschel has never won a PGA Tour event in his home state of Florida. His quest to change that is off to a fine start.

Horschel shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday, tying him with Joseph Bramlett for the first-round lead in the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Bramlett had a bogey-free round; Horschel had six birdies and one bogey.

Horschel’s 65 was his best score in 33 rounds as a pro at PGA National. He’d shot 66 on two previous occasions.

Bramlett scrambled nicely when he needed. He missed six of 14 fairways and hit 13 of 18 greens. Pierceson Coody – a sponsor exemption playing his first PGA Tour event as a professional – finished the first round at 4 under, alongside Justin Suh. Coody has two wins in 15 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour since turning pro in June.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Yannik Paul birdied his last four holes to shoot 7-under 65 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Indian Open at New Delhi.

The No. 119-ranked German’s hot finish lifted him above Honey Baisoya, who was leading a contingent of Indian players making a fast start at DLF Golf and Country Club.

Baisoya was in second place at 6 under while compatriots Angad Cheema and Shubhankar Sharma were tied for fourth place after shooting 68s.

LPGA: Jennifer Kupcho of the United States fired a bogey-free 7-under 65 to share the lead alongside four other golfers after the opening round of the LPGA Thailand at Pattaya, Thailand.

Kupcho’s round was highlighted by a birdie-birdie finish and an eagle on the par-5 10th hole at Siam Country Club.

With her in the lead were 2014 champion Anna Nordquist of Sweden, six-time USLPGA Tour winner Nasa Hataoko of Japan, local hope and tour rookie Jaravee Boonchant, and last year’s runner-up, Lin Xiyu of China.

HOCKEY

ECHL: Jordan Kawaguchi scored two goals as the Idaho Steelheads beat the Maine Mariners 3-1 on Wednesday night in Boise, Idaho.

The Steelheads have an ECHL-high 81 points this season.

Mitchell Fossier scored in the first period for Maine, which plays at Idaho on Friday and Saturday nights.

Janis Svanenbergs added an empty-net goal in the final minutes.

SOCCER

OBIT: John Motson, the BBC soccer commentator who was one of the most well-known voices in British sport for 50 years, has died. He was 77.

The BBC announced the death of Motson without giving any details.

Fondly referred to as “Motty,” Motson called games for Britain’s national broadcaster from 1968-2018, covering 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals.

He commentated on almost 2,500 televised games, the BBC said, before retiring at the end of the 2017-18 Premier League.

Motson was known for his passion and knowledge of soccer, and was synonymous with wearing a sheepskin coat in the commentary box.

HORSE RACING

BREEDERS’ CUP: The Breeders’ Cup has selected Del Mar to host the 41st world championships next year, marking the third time the picturesque Pacific track will stage the season-ending graded stakes races that feature the top thoroughbreds.

Del Mar will present 14 Grade 1 races with purses worth more than $31 million on Nov. 1-2, 2024.

TENNIS

AWARDS: Serena Williams will be honored for her tennis achievements, business success and efforts to uplift the community at the NAACP Image Awards this weekend.

The NAACP announced Williams will receive the Jackie Robinson Sports award during the ceremony, which will air live Saturday on BET. The award recognizes individuals in sports for high achievement in athletics along with their pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement.

Previous honorees include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson, Wilma Rudolph and the Harlem Globetrotters.

DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIPS: Coco Gauff set up a semifinal match against top-ranked Iga Swiatek by beating Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5.

Swiatek, who reached the last four in a walkover after Karolina Pliskova withdrew because of an illness, is 5-0 against Gauff and beat the 18-year-old American in last year’s French Open final. Gauff is yet to win a set against the three-time Grand Slam champion.

Barbora Krejcikova upset second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was on a 13-match winning streak and led 3-1 in the second set before Krejcikova’s comeback. It was Sabalenka’s first loss this season.

Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, will face Jessica Pegula of the United States in the semifinals. Pegula, who is ranked No. 3, advanced by a walkover after Karolina Muchova withdrew because of an abdominal injury.

Copy the Story Link