GOLF
Six fans hurt by lightning
Six spectators were injured on Saturday when lightning struck a tree during the third round at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. The strike occurred after play was halted when thunderstorms hit the East Lake Golf Club, Tour rules official Mark Russell said on the NBC broadcast. The PGA Tour said two lightning strikes hit the course. Russell said officials were aware of possible thunderstorms, but elected not to change the tee-times. “When one did form right over the top of us we suspended play immediately,” he said.
Photo: USA TODAY
TABLE TENNIS
Taiwan duo falls in final
Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju and Liao Cheng-ting on Saturday fell short in their bid to clinch the Czech Open men’s doubles title when the duo lost to the South Korean pairing of Cho Dae-seong and Lee Sang-su 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6. Lin and Liao cruised through the first three rounds, beating each of their opponents in three straight sets.
INDY CAR
Sato wins Bommarito 500
Japanese driver Takuma Sato on Saturday snatched a thrilling victory in the Bommarito 500 Indy Car race, just one week after crashing out at Pocono Raceway. Former Formula One driver Sato held off a furious last lap charge by Ed Carpenter to take the line in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 53.4687 seconds, less than four-hundredths of a second ahead of Carpenter. “The team made this happen,” Sato said. “The last couple of days, it was tough, but we kept our heads down and did our job.
GOLF
Taiwan’s Hsu grabs fourth
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling on Saturday moved steadily up the leaderboard, reaching fourth place with a seven-under-par 65, as World No. 1 Ko Jin-Young and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen set up a final-round duel at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Overnight leader Broch Larsen carded a six-under-par 66 to finish the day on 18 under par alongside South Korean star Ko, who posted a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 in perfect conditions at the Magna Golf Club outside Toronto, Ontario. However, both players can expect a strong final-round challenge from Canadian defending champion Brooke Henderson.
TENNIS
Hurkacz wins first ATP title
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday outdueled top seed Benoit Paire to earn his first ATP title with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win in the Winston-Salem Open final. Hurkacz, 22, steadied himself through a roller-coaster affair, which included a brief rain delay after the second set, and came out on top after two hours, nine minutes. Hurkacz is the first Polish winner of a tour-level event since Wojtek Fibak at WCT Chicago in 1982. “I hope many more guys will join me soon and that I will win some more,” Hurkacz said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely