GOLF-PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
McIlroy tops crowded leaderboard
LOUISVILLE. Ky. (AP) β Rory McIlroy has the upper hand heading into the third round of the PGA Championship, but there are plenty of golfers in position to rattle the world’s No. 1 player.
McIlroy takes a one-shot lead into today’s play as he tries to run his winning streak to three straight tournaments and earn his fourth career major championship.
Australia’s Jason Day and veteran Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) starts play tied for second, with Rickie Fowler and Ryan Palmer just two shots off the lead. Only Furyk has a major championship win to his credit.
Phil Mickelson is in search of his first win since last year’s British Open, and is among those who are three shots back.
LPGA-MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC
Park at the top
BELMONT, Mich. (AP) β Inbee Park is positioned to go after her second win of the season. A six-time winner last year, Park heads into the third round of the Meijer (MAY’-ur) LPGA Classic with a one-shot lead. Suzann Pettersen seems refreshed after taking three weeks off. She’s in second place after a course-record tying 64 yesterday. South Korea’s Mirim Lee is two back and fellow countryman Amy Yang is fourth, three shots off the lead.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Division leaders meet
UNDATED (AP) β The match-up of NL division leaders between the Dodgers and Brewers continues tonight in Milwaukee.
Los Angeles goes with 12-game winner Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee), who sports a 2.71 ERA and is third in the league in strikeouts with 158.
Max Scherzer tries to become the American League’s first 14-game winner when he gets the start for Detroit at Toronto. The 13-4 right-hander is coming off his first loss since June 17.
A couple of personal winning streaks will be on the line when Cleveland visits the Yankees this afternoon. The Indians’ Corey Kluber takes a five-game winning streak into his start. He’s 12-6 and has a 0.36 ERA over his last three starts. Brandon McCarthy has won his last four starts and the Yankees have won in each of his last five since he was acquired in a trade with Arizona.
Cincinnati’s Alfredo Simon (SY’-muhn) earned his first All-Star berth based on a strong first half. It’s been all downhill since then. The right-hander takes the mound for the Reds against Miami this afternoon with an 0-4 record since the All-Star break. Simon is 12-7.
Action in the bigs takes place in 15 ballparks today and tonight.
NASCAR-WATKINS GLEN
Qualifying is set for today
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) β The Sprint Cup drivers will be winding their way through the twists and turns at Watkins Glen during qualifying today for tomorrow’s road course race.
Jeff Gordon heads into the weekend with a 17-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the standings.
Past history indicates that Gordon could be adding to that lead this weekend. He has a record nine victories on road courses with four of them coming at the Glen.
Tony Stewart has a record five wins on the track. He’s winless this season.
TENNIS-MONTREAL
Williams sisters meet
MONTREAL (AP) β The Williams sisters renew their sibling rivalry in semifinal play at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Serena and Venus are meeting for the 26th time, with Serena holding a 15-10 edge, including victories in the last five. The last time Venus won was in 2009.
Serena is the defending champ and has won 14 straight matches in the tournament
NFL-PRESEASON
Manziel expected to see action
UNDATED (AP) β Cleveland fans will get their first look at Johnny Football under fire.
Top draft pick Johnny Manziel (man-ZEHL’) is expected to see action in the Browns’ exhibition game against Detroit tonight. His performance could go a long way in determining if Manziel is close to challenging Brian Hoyer for the starting quarterback job. Hoyer will get the start against the Lions, and Manziel isn’t expected to get any plays with the starting unit.
New Texans coach Bill O’Brien makes his head coaching debut when Houston visits Arizona. It could also mark the NFL debut of No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon (juh-DAY’-vee-uhn) Clowney, although O’Brien seemed surprised when the linebacker announced that he would start.
Pittsburgh takes on the Giants and Tennessee hosts Green Bay in the other games.
BASKETBALL-HALL OF FAME
Class of 2014 being inducted tonight
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) β The induction ceremonies for the class of 2014 at the Basketball Hall of Fame take place tonight in Springfield, Massachusetts. Among those being honored are former college basketball coaches Gary Williams, and Nolan Richardson. NBA stars Mitch Richmond, Guy Rodgers and Alonzo Mourning and former NBA commissioner David Stern.
