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For the second time in the last four years, Patrick Reed has captured the first FedExCup playoff event. Here's how things ended at Liberty National, where Reed won The Northern Trust by a shot for his first win since the 2018 Masters:

Leaderboard: Patrick Reed (-16), Abraham Ancer (-15), Jon Rahm (-14), Harold Varner III (-14), Adam Scott (-13), Jordan Spieth (-12), Rory McIlroy (-12)

What it means: Reed started the day with a one-shot lead, and despite a wobbly start that included three bogeys over his first six holes he managed to get things back on track thanks to a bogey-free back nine. It's the highlight of a clear trend for Reed, who won this event in 2016 when it was at Bethpage and who entered with five straight top-25 finishes dating back to June. Reed struggled in the wake of his Masters win, going nearly eight months without a top-10 finish and making a much-publicized instructor switch this spring. But he's now back in the winner's circle for the first time since last April, and he'll start the BMW Championship behind only Brooks Koepka in the points race.

Round of the day: Six years after winning a playoff event here, Scott made the day's big move with a 6-under 65 that took him into fifth place. The Aussie carded seven birdies against just a lone bogey for his lowest score of the week by three shots, and after moving to 14th in the points race he's assured of a trip back to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2016.

Best of the rest: Kevin Tway won the first event of the season back in November in Napa, and he matched Scott's 65 to tie the low round of the day. Tway managed to stay bogey-free around Liberty National while moving up nearly 40 spots in the standings, but after a slow start to the week his sterling close still only left him in a tie for 24th and with more work to do in Chicago in order to make the Tour Championship.

Biggest disappointment: While one former Masters champ thrived, another stumbled. Danny Willett appeared in position to crack the top 70 in points and earn a trip to Medinah in the process, but it all came apart for the Englishman during a final-round 75. Willett played his first five holes in 4 over, made only one birdie and despite a top-25 finish he ended the week 85th in points and well shy of a BMW berth.

Top-70 bubble: Varner (102nd to 29th), Troy Merritt (72nd to 59th), Wyndham Clark (90th to 68th) and Joaquin Niemann (74th to 70th) all moved inside the number and will play next week in Chicago. Conversely, the season is now over for Sergio Garcia (65th to 72nd), Danny Lee (66th to 73rd), Matthew Wolff (70th to 74th) and Kevin Streelman (68th to 75th).

Quote of the day: "To feel like I've been playing some solid golf and finally have it kind of pay off, and for it to come out as a victory, it's been a while. It's been a little too long, honestly." - Reed

Martinez sets pair of MLS records in Atlanta win

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 11 August 2019 16:04

Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez scored in his 10th consecutive MLS game on Sunday to set a league record in his team's 2-1 win over New York City FC.

Martinez, who overcame an adductor injury to face New York City FC, headed home in the 42nd minute to give United a 1-0 lead at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to break the consecutive-games scoring record he shared with Portland's Diego Valeri.

Martinez had tied Valeri's record last season before scoring in nine straight games again ahead of Sunday's game.

With the goal, Martinez also set the MLS record for the most combined goals in three-straight MLS seasons with 69, taking him past the record he shared with the New York Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Martinez added a second goal from the penalty spot in the second half to take his tally to 20 goals this season, with 15 of those coming in his last 10 matches.

Neymar out banners flown as PSG ease to win

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 11 August 2019 15:29

Paris Saint-Germain's star-studded attack brushed off the absence of Neymar as Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and substitute Angel Di Maria all got on the scoresheet in a comfortable 3-0 home win over Nimes in their Ligue 1 opener on Sunday.

The champions left the 27-year-old Brazil forward out of their squad as he continues to be linked with a move away from the French capital, and PSG fans on the terraces waved banners containing messages to signal their displeasure with him.

Derogatory chants in Spanish rang out amid rumours of a Barcelona return, or a Real Madrid switch, and banners were flown that took direct aim at the wantaway Brazilian.

Neymar did not play after Thomas Tuchel and sporting director Leonardo both publicly admitted that a mixture of fitness problems and the ongoing question over his future dictated that he could not feature.

The German tactician also addressed the €222 million man's situation in a pre-match interview with Canal+.

"It is very difficult, but it is a challenge (coping with Neymar rumours)," he said. "I love Neymar and I always want to play with him, with Kylian -- everyone.

"That is the reality. We must find solutions without Neymar. It is not a personal thing and it is possible that he stays.

"Now, it is between Neymar and PSG, as well as the other club that wants to buy him or not. That is the situation."

Tuchel then joked that losing Neymar this summer would disrupt his sleeping patterns because of his decisive nature -- when fit.

"I have no news on Neymar's future! He is a super decisive player -- he has been super decisive for us," he said before smiling. "If we lose him, perhaps I will not sleep too well at home."

Tuchel also called for realism over the fact that if Neymar goes, PSG will not be able to replace with a similar player, as his ability is unique.

"It is not possible to lose Neymar and find another guy who does the same things as him. It is not over -- we need to be realistic."

Solskjaer hails United's 'risk and reward' football

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 11 August 2019 13:30

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United's 4-0 demolition of Chelsea is proof that cavalier attacking football is back at Old Trafford, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United occasionally rode their luck against Frank Lampard's side, but eventually ran out comfortable winners thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford and one each from Anthony Martial and summer signing Dan James.

Solskjaer has made a point of employing a more attacking style after supporter criticism of the football under both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho and the Norwegian insists he is happy for his team to take risks in the search for goals.

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"As we said to the boys before the game, we have found the way we want to play and a way we believe in," Solskjaer told a news conference at Old Trafford.

"You've just got to go out and do the same. We took risks but that's the way here. You have got to go for it. It's risk and reward and today we were rewarded."

United went in at half-time a goal up thanks to Rashford's 18th-minute penalty, but were fortunate to see both Tammy Abraham and Emerson hit the post when presented with good chances.

Solskjaer admitted his team had been "lucky" to keep their lead before a clinical second half that saw Rashford, Martial and James score three times in 16 minutes.

"You take a win because it's about points," said Solskjaer. "The performance in the second half was very pleasing, that was the big plus.

"Coming into half-time we were a bit lucky. They pinned us back and created chances, but we settled a few nerves [in the second half]."

Paul Pogba was key to United's second-half performance after setting up Rashford's second and a debut goal for James after a driving run through midfield.

He has been linked with a move away after saying publicly he wants a "new challenge" but Solskjaer insists he could not be happier with the Frenchman.

"He's a top, top lad and such a pro," said Solskjaer. "He loves playing football and when he gets onto that pitch he grows more. He's a World Cup winner, he's come so far in his career and there's no point letting yourself down.

"He lost it a couple of times but it doesn't matter -- get on the ball and play."

Solskjaer has another good start; Lampard chastened

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 11 August 2019 13:30

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was renowned for finishing well during his playing days, but the Manchester United manager is beginning to develop a reputation for impressive starts.

Solskjaer won his first eight games as caretaker boss last season, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, and despite supporters' concerns that United had not done enough in the transfer window to challenge for a top-four finish, he saw his team make a rampant start to the new Premier League campaign by inflicting a 4-0 hammering upon Chelsea in Frank Lampard's first game as manager.

His early promise last season ultimately fizzled into a dismal run-in that saw United win just two of their last 12 games, but the early momentum was enough to secure him the top job on a permanent basis and restore some sense of positivity around Old Trafford.

Momentum is a big word in any professional sport, and Solskjaer has plenty in the bank after this stunning start to the season, which could carry his young team a long way.

For the first time in months, United played with verve, ambition and a carefree sense of enjoyment; even Paul Pogba, who made clear his determination to leave this summer, performed as though he was happy to be where he was rather than sulking in a bid to go somewhere else.

But while Solskjaer has given himself a crucial springboard ahead of the trip to Wolves on Aug. 19, Lampard will find that nobody wants to be on the flip side. No Chelsea manager has had a worse debut since Danny Blanchflower suffered a 7-2 defeat against Middlesbrough in December 1978. There can be no hiding place for Lampard.

"We made four mistakes, and they put them away," he said. "It is a reality check for us all. We are Chelsea. We don't want to come here and lose 4-0. It wasn't a 4-0 game for long periods, but we need to accept it."

Next up for Chelsea is Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup clash against Liverpool in Istanbul, a game that has become more important because of the need to slam brakes on any negative momentum before the visit of Brendan Rodgers' ambitious Leicester City to Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

Having spent 13 years at the club playing under several managers, Lampard knows Chelsea well enough to understand that a juggernaut going in the wrong direction can be difficult to stop. He needs to find a way to win quickly, even though Eden Hazard has gone to Real Madrid, while N'Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger and Willian are not fully fit.

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Lampard simply has to get on with it after a bruising experience at Old Trafford, where he won last season with Derby in the Carabao Cup. His second visit as a manager was a bruising experience because he faced a home side that played with pace, energy and hunger.

It is true that Chelsea went close to opening the scoring when Tammy Abraham hit the post and later, at 1-0, saw Emerson Palmieri strike the woodwork, but the story of United's winning performance was twofold, as Solskjaer was vindicated for giving young players a chance to impress and for working hard on the squad's fitness in preseason.

"The fitter you are, the more you can do," he said. "It's as simple as that. The boys have been working hard, but this is still the start. We can still get some hard work in."

United's outfield starting lineup had an average age of just under 24, and that showed at times, with a rawness in midfield and up front, where the partnership of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial offered more pace and movement than any forward line that included Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Inter last week.

It was not until the second half, with Chelsea chasing the game, that the qualities of Rashford, Martial and Pogba truly came to the fore. Meanwhile, the presence at the back of Harry Maguire, the world's most expensive defender at £80 million, made a huge difference to United's solidity, with right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka also improving the defensive unit.

The beauty of momentum is that, when it is in your favour, good things happen; confidence flows and players perform as their talent suggests they should. For example, Pogba's long-range pass to Rashford to set up United's third goal -- some 95 seconds after Martial had made it 2-0 -- was the French midfielder at his best.

And with nine minutes remaining, Pogba showed his quality again as he broke forward before releasing substitute Daniel James to score. The debutant's goal, like those it preceded, was celebrated by all 10 outfield players as a group. To cap the occasion, goalkeeper David De Gea kept a clean sheet in the league for the first time since February.

This was Day 1 for both teams, and it is true that the score flattered United as much as it was harsh on Chelsea, but Solskjaer has positive momentum, which must be harnessed to ensure there is no repeat of last year's false dawn. As for Lampard? He was shown the size of the task he faces.

Surrey 155 for 3 (Stoneman 53) beat Glamorgan 152 for 6 (Ingram 41) by seven wickets

Glamorgan's abysmal season in the T20 Blast continued at Sophia Gardens where they were beaten by Surrey with six balls of an entertaining game remaining. The home team were some 30 runs short of a competitive total, with their top order batsmen - apart from Colin Ingram - again failing to lay foundations.

Despite losing Aaron Finch in the first over, the other batsmen contributed for Surrey, Man-of-the-Match Mark Stoneman top-scoring with 53. Surrey moved on to five points, some way adrift of the qualification spots, while Glamorgan remain bottom without a win in this season's competition.

With Surrey needing to score at seven-and-a-half runs an over, Ruaidhri Smith, playing his first Blast game of the season after injury, gave Glamorgan the perfect start by dismissing the dangerous Finch with the final ball of the opening over.

Will Jacks and Stoneman soon settled, however, with Jacks the more aggressive, and the second-wicket pair had taken Surrey to 70 for 1 by the halfway stage. After adding 82, Jacks then surrendered his wicket by edging to the wicketkeeper from a wild heave.

Stoneman was the next to go, caught on the long-on boundary after scoring 53 from 49 balls, with Smith taking his third wicket. Surrey required a further 46 from the remaining five overs, then 19 from two, but de Lange was struck for 21 by Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes to secure victory, Pope finishing things with his second six.

Glamorgan, who were put in, were soon in trouble, stumbling to 34 for 3 in the 6th over, which included the wicket of Australian batsman Shaun Marsh, playing his first game since breaking his arm during the World Cup. Marsh was out third ball, giving Imran Tahir a return catch, then the club's second overseas player Fakhar Zaman, who has contributed only 100 runs from six innings at an average of 16, poked a simple catch to short third man.

Much depended on Ingram and Chris Cooke. After adding 27, Cooke, who had been dropped earlier in his innings, holed out on the mid wicket boundary. Surrey's fielding was sloppy throughout with Finch letting a ball go through his legs for four, with others dropping three catches.

Ingram, who has also experienced a disappointing tournament by his standards, revived the innings by scoring 41 from 33 balls, which included two sixes, but with 5.3 with overs remaining Ingram was deceived by Tahir, giving Foakes a simple stumping.

Glamorgan were indebted to Dan Douthwaite and Graham Wagg at the end of the innings - Wagg striking three sixes in his unbeaten 36 - but the total still turned out to be below par.

Adam Hose catches fire as Bears hold off Glenn Maxwell

Published in Cricket
Sunday, 11 August 2019 15:06

Birmingham 179 for 6 (Hose 65, Sibley 51, Parkinson 3-23) beat Lancashire 164 for 7 (Maxwell 79) by 15 runs

Birmingham Bears sealed a convincing 15-run win over Vitality T20 Blast North Group leaders Lancashire Lightning.

Adam Hose starred with the bat for Bears - hitting a mighty seven sixes in an innings of 65 from just 34 balls. But, after losing their first three wickets for 28, Lightning staged a superb recovery with Glenn Maxwell and Keaton Jennings putting together a century stand which threatened to earn Lancashire an impressive victory.

Maxwell's dismissal for 79 - when he was bowled by Will Rhodes - brought an end to Lightning's hopes And when Jennings also fell to Rhodes in the final over for 35 it sealed a much-needed win for the Bears who are now fifth after reviving their own hopes.

Dom Sibley and Sam Hain staged an opening stand of 53 to provide the base for their victory as the Bears produced an improved batting display.

Birmingham moved up a gear in the fourth over, which produced 18 runs - including two wides from pace bowler Richard Gleeson. And they passed the 50 mark two overs later, but it was legspinner Matt Parkinson who claimed the first wicket of the day when he had Hain stumped after making 21.

Hain had been promoted to open the batting following his innings of 49 against Nottinghamshire and he scored a four and a six before departing.

In came Man of the Match Hose whose innings was to prove crucial. But Sibley continued his progress with two boundaries in successive deliveries.

Offspinner Liam Livingstone was introduced in the 11th over introduced and was hit for two sixes by Hose.

The Bears passed the 100 mark in the 12th over before Sibley reached 50 off 38 balls. But Hose had his eyes on sixes and he drove Maxwell to bring up the half-century partnership with Sibley.

Then Parkinson tempted Sibley into a shot which saw him caught by Steven Croft on the long-on boundary.

That signalled a wobble for the Bears with Rhodes falling to Livingstone for a duck after facing only two balls. But Hose put them back on track and brought up his half-century with a well-placed four - the only one of his innings - and followed it up with two successive sixes.

Parkinson brought an end to Hose's innings with the first ball of his return to the Lightning attack. And Livingstone slammed the brakes on in the final over with two wickets in successive balls.

In reply, Lightning were reduced to 28 for 3 by the sixth over. But then Maxwell and Jennings steadied the innings in style.

Maxwell was the dominant batsman and he reached 50 with his sixth four of the day after facing 28 balls. Maxwell then brought up a nine-over century stand when he pulled Oliver Hannon-Dalby for a six over square leg in an over that produced 22 runs.

But then Rhodes produced the wicket that the Bears wanted in the 16th over when he bowled Maxwell with Lightning on 135 for 4 - still 45 runs short of their target.

Maxwell's innings came off 39 balls and included eight fours and four sixes. But the Bears claimed quick wickets after that and Jennings was unable to respond.

Nadal beats Medvedev for 5th Rogers Cup title

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 11 August 2019 16:18

MONTREAL -- Rafael Nadal won his fifth Rogers Cup title, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday in just 70 minutes.

The 33-year-old Nadal won the event for the third time in Montreal. The first came in 2005 at age 19 over Andre Agassi, and the second in 2013. Nadal won in Toronto in 2008 and 2018.

The second-ranked Spanish star won his 83rd singles title and third of the year, following clay victories in Rome and at the French Open. He extended his tour record for Masters 1000 titles to 35, two more than top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

Nadal had a walkover in the semifinals Saturday when Gael Monfils withdrew because of an ankle injury.

Medvedev, from Russia, was seeded eighth.

Ravens trade kicker Vedvik to Vikings for pick

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 11 August 2019 12:30

The Ravens traded kicker Kaare Vedvik to the Vikings for an undisclosed draft pick, Baltimore announced Sunday.

A league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Baltimore will receive a 2020 fifth-round draft pick from Minnesota.

The trade is contingent on Vedvik passing a physical for the Vikings, the Ravens said.

Vedvik, a native of Norway, was 12-of-13 on field goals in the preseason the past two years for Baltimore after being signed as an undrafted kicker in 2018.

In Thursday's preseason opener, Vedvik increased his value by making all four of his field goals, including a 55-yarder, and had two punts over 50 yards.

"I'm really fired up for Kaare. He deserves it after everything he's been through. What an opportunity for him," Ravens special-teams coach Chris Horton said Sunday.

The trade creates a competition not only at kicker, but possibly at punter in Minnesota. Dan Bailey, the Vikings' incumbent kicker who was signed after rookie Daniel Carlson was released following three missed field goals at Green Bay in Week 2 last season, has yet to have a perfect practice in training camp.

On Wednesday, during the Vikings' final practice before their preseason opener in New Orleans, Bailey went 3-for-6 on field goals. Against the Saints, Bailey did not attempt a field goal but made all four of his point-after attempts.

The Vikings used a seventh-round pick on former Air Force long-snapper Austin Cutting in April, thus creating a competition at the position with veteran Kevin McDermott. Minnesota has also used several holders in camp, situationally, instead of punter Matt Wile.

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer noted some of the issues the entire kicking battery has had to work through during the first two weeks of training camp, and it pertains to the ups and downs Bailey has encountered.

"Honestly, I really like Dan Bailey," Zimmer said. "I think he's a very professional, mature kid. We've been having some issues with the snap, hold, kick kind of thing. Having two long-snappers, I think that's adding to it a little bit because the timing's different. The holding we're working on quite a bit, but I like Dan."

Four teams recently inquired about Vedvik, a source told Schefter earlier Sunday. Vedvik had made about 90% of his kicks in this year's training camp but missed a 33-yard field goal on Saturday.

In the middle of Sunday's practice, general manager Eric DeCosta spoke to coach John Harbaugh and assistant special-teams coach Randy Brown for a long time. Vedvik then left the field around 2 p.m.

Vedvik would've been traded last season, but he was assaulted in East Baltimore before the Ravens could deal him to another team. He was hospitalized in September after being found alone with multiple facial injuries. Vedvik, who had originally gone out with teammates that night, told the Ravens that he didn't remember how he ended up at the location where he was found. The Ravens placed Vedvik on the non-football-injury list, which began his yearlong comeback. Baltimore had the luxury to trade Vedvik because it has Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

The Ravens have a history of being a special-teams pipeline. Three current kickers -- the New Orleans Saints' Wil Lutz, Carolina Panthers' Graham Gano and Buffalo Bills' Stephen Hauschka -- all got their starts in Baltimore. Former special-teams coach Jerry Rosburg, who retired in June, had an eye for discovering kickers, and Brown has expertise in developing talent.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.

Cards exec Minegar arrested on DUI citation

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 11 August 2019 14:11

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals executive vice president and chief operating officer Ron Minegar was arrested late Saturday on a DUI citation.

Minegar, 60, was pulled over at 11:30 p.m. Saturday for "speeding, failure to drive within one lane of traffic and driving within the bicycle lane." He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI, cited and released.

The Cardinals expressed their displeasure with Minegar in a statement issued Sunday.

"Ron Minegar's actions last night are inexcusable," the team said. "He made the decision to drive after drinking alcohol and is fortunate that he was pulled over before injuring anyone or himself.

"According to MADD, drunk driving results in almost 11,000 deaths per year and is the number one cause of fatalities on roadways. We fully recognize the seriousness of these actions and they will have serious consequences."

As of Sunday afternoon, Minegar's name was still listed on the Cardinals' website.

Minegar becomes the second high-ranking Cardinals front-office executive to be arrested on suspicion of DUI in as many years. General manager Steve Keim was arrested last summer. He was suspended for five weeks and fined $200,000 after pleading guilty to extreme DUI.

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