By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Sports news briefs
Placeholder Image

• Garcia goes 1 up on Tiger at Players Championship: PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Sergio Garcia had one of those stretches where it felt like every putt was going to drop. He needed every one of them Friday for a 7-under 65 to match his best score on the TPC Sawgrass and take a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods among early starters at The Players Championship.

Garcia didn’t miss a fairway and putted for birdie on every hole on the back nine and wasn’t gaining any ground. That changed on the front nine when he made seven straight putts — five of them from about 15 feet or longer — to race by Woods and into the lead.

Woods looks like he’s having a good time on the course that has vexed him more than any other on the PGA Tour, and he could be the greater threat on the weekend. Already a three-time winner this year on tour, Woods has rarely put himself in trouble and had his second straight 67.

Woods was at 134, his best 36-hole total by six shots at this tournament, including the year he won.



• Mayweather-Guerrero fight draws 1 million PPV: LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s win over Robert Guerrero was an artistic success, but not a box-office smash.

The Showtime network said Friday that early tallies show the fight will exceed 1 million pay-per-view buys. That’s short of the 1.5 million buys for Mayweather’s previous fight against Miguel Cotto.

The fight last Saturday was the first for Mayweather on Showtime under a six-fight deal that lured the boxer from his former home at HBO. Mayweather won a unanimous 12-round decision to remain unbeaten in 44 fights.

Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza says the lack of a big-name opponent and Guerrero’s arrest on gun charges in New York were factors in the fight not doing better.

The fight drew 15,880 fans for a live gate of $9.9 million.



• Kyle Busch wins 5th Nationwide race this season: DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch took the lead from Joey Logano 18 laps from the end to win his fifth Nationwide race this season and second in three years at Darlington Raceway on Friday night.

The victory also capped a dominant showing by the Busch boys at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” Older brother Kurt set a qualifying record to win the pole for the Southern 500 on Saturday night. Kyle was third in Sprint Cup qualifying before dominating the Nationwide race.

The younger Busch started from the pole and was the strongest car throughout. He led for 107 of the 147 laps and finished about a second in front of Elliott Sadler. Joe Gibbs Racing placed three in the top five, Busch’s teammates Brian Vickers taking third and Matt Kenseth fifth.



• San Jose’s Marvin Chavez suspended 2 games: SAN JOSE (AP) — San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marvin Chavez has been suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount by MLS for violent conduct that endangered the safety of an opponent.

The decision was announced by the MLS Disciplinary Committee on Friday.

Chavez elbowed Toronto FC’s Logan Emory in the head during San Jose’s 2-1 victory Wednesday. The MLS Players Union has informed the league that Chavez will appeal the second game of the suspension.

Chavez will serve the first game of his suspension Saturday when the Earthquakes play at Seattle. The result of the appeal will be announced at a later date.