GOLF

Stadler finishes long day in the lead at Barclays: JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — It took Kevin Stadler nearly 11 hours to open with a 7-under 64 at Liberty National. And he’s not even guaranteed to be the first-round leader at The Barclays.

Two rain delays that lasted a total of six hours put a damper on the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Stadler teed off just after breakfast and finished his round right before dinner. Only half the field finished. Stadler had a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson, Ryan Palmer and Camilo Villegas.

Tiger Woods ran off three straight birdies before the second delay. He only made one after returned, though he still had a 4-under 67.

It was a good start for Stadler, who is No. 87 in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 100 advance to the second event.



Defending champ Ko tied for early lead in Canada: EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Lydia Ko is back on top of the Canadian Women’s Open leaderboard.

The 16-year-old Ko, the winner last year at Vancouver Golf Club at an LPGA Tour-record age of 15 years, 4 months, shot a 5-under 65 on Thursday at Royal Mayfair for a share of the early first-round lead. The South Korean-born New Zealander had six birdies and a bogey.

Angela Stanford also opened with a 65, and Paula Creamer shot 66.

Charley Hull, the 17-year-old English player coming off a strong performance last week in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory, had a 69 playing alongside Ko.

Top-ranked Inbee Park, a six-time winner this year, was playing in the afternoon.



TENNIS

Murray could face Djokovic in US Open semifinals: NEW YORK (AP) — Defending champion Andy Murray could face top-seeded Novak Djokovic only in the U.S. Open semifinals, while Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — who have never played each other at Flushing Meadows — might meet in the quarterfinals.

Murray beat Djokovic in the 2012 final.

Thursday’s draw for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament also set up these possible men’s quarterfinals: 2011 champion Djokovic vs. 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, No. 3 Murray vs. No. 5 Tomas Berdych, and No. 4 David Ferrer vs. No. 8 Richard Gasquet.

The potential women’s quarterfinals are No. 1 Serena Williams against No. 8 Angelique Kerber, No. 2 Victoria Azarenka against No. 7 Petra Kvitova, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska against No. 5 Li Na, and No. 4 Sara Errani against No. 6 Caroline Wozniacki.



BOXING

Back in boxing, Tyson ready to promote with pride: VERONA, N.Y. (AP) — When Mike Tyson returns to boxing on Friday night, he’ll be on the outside of the ring looking in.

More than two decades after a social worker introduced him to trainer Cus D’Amato, Tyson will return to his roots in this sport, but this time as a promoter. The former heavyweight champion has a new enterprise, Iron Mike Productions, and will present his first fight card at Turning Stone Resort.

The main event features an IBF super bantamweight title fight between champion Argenis Mendez and challenger Arash Usmanee.

Tyson says he’s ecstatic to be back in the sport. He says his fighters won’t be subjected to what he went through in his heyday and hopes to provide a structured environment for success inside and outside the ring.



FOOTBALL

Congress could ‘intervene’ on HGH testing in NFL: NEW YORK (AP) — The top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says the NFL players’ union “is now holding HGH testing hostage” and that could “force Congress to intervene.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland says in a statement emailed by his office to The Associated Press on Thursday that the “NFL Players’ Association continues to disregard its promise to implement HGH testing.”

The oversight committee held a hearing in December to take a look at the science behind blood tests for human growth hormone. HGH is a banned performance-enhancing drug that is hard to detect and has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, cardiac dysfunction and arthritis.

Two full NFL seasons have passed without a final agreement on HGH since the August 2011 labor deal paved the way for testing.



SOCCER

Solo, Wambach highlight US roster: WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. national team stars Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo are among 18 players chosen by coach Tom Sermanni to play Mexico on Sept. 3.

Due to limited training time, Sermanni did not call up any European-based players with the exception of Yael Averbuch, who already will be on the East Coast to attend a wedding.

Wambach set the career goals mark earlier this season, surpassing Mia Hamm, and has 160 international goals. Morgan is recovering from an injury suffered while playing for Portland of the National Women’s Soccer League. Solo was the anchor of the Americans’ gold medal run at the London Olympics last year.



CYCLING

Tejay van Garderen takes USA Pro lead: BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Janier Acevedo of Colombia won the hilly and rainy fourth stage of the USA Pro Challenge on Thursday, and Tejay van Garderen finished second to take the overall lead.

Acevedo, riding for Jamis-Hagens Berman, completed the 102.9-mile stage from Breckenride to Beaver Creek in heavy rain in 4 hours, 9 minutes, 8 seconds.

Van Garderen, the American BMC rider who began the day in fourth place, conceded the stage win to the Colombian but was given the same finishing time.

Van Garden took a 4-second lead over teammate Mathias Frank of Switzerland. Frank finished third in the stage, 13 seconds behind.