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Rose remains atop bunched Masters leaderboard

Published in Breaking News
Friday, 11 April 2025 18:44

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Justin Rose did just enough to keep the lead Friday in the Masters, but he suddenly has a lot of company going into the weekend at Augusta National.

Bryson DeChambeau became the only player with consecutive sub-70 rounds and got within one shot, putting him in the final group. Right behind was Rory McIlroy, who tried to erase from his memory that sloppy finish in the first round and roared into contention to put the career Grand Slam back into view.

Scottie Scheffler started his title defense with 24 straight holes without a bogey. He then made five bogeys over the last 12 holes to slow his progress. He still was only three shots behind.

"The leaderboard is stacking up very favorably for what looks like world-class players right up there," Rose said after his 1-under 71, which featured birdies on the par 5s on the front nine and on the par 3s on the back nine.

"So you're going to have to play great golf, and you're going to have to go out there and want it and go for it and get after it," he said. "It's as simple as that, really."

Rose took a three-shot lead into the second round and had the advantage of playing early, before the wind became strong enough to make flags snap and create just enough indecision.

He hit a 9-iron over Rae's Creek to 4 feet for birdie on the par-3 12th, and he stuffed his tee shot on the par-3 16th for another birdie. That allowed him to atone for a few mistakes.

He was at 8-under 136, the third time he has had the 36-hole lead at the Masters.

The buzz came from behind him.

DeChambeau picked up an unlikely birdie by holing a bunker shot on the par-3 fourth hole on his way to a 32 on the front nine that kept him on Rose's heels the rest of the way. He wound up with a 68 for his best start ever in the Masters.

"This is what golf is about," DeChambeau said. "Got a lot of great names up there, and looking forward to an unbelievable test of golf."

And then there was McIlroy, who had two double bogeys over the last four holes Thursday, the latest frustrating chapter for him at the Masters. This time, he managed to forget about it and move on. He went birdie-birdie-par-eagle to start the back nine and was on his way to a bogey-free 66.

"I had to remind myself I was playing well," McIlroy said. "I couldn't let two bad holes dictate the narrative of the 16 good ones. I also had to remind myself this morning not to push too hard too early."

Corey Conners of Canada quietly put together a 70 and joined McIlroy at 6-under 138.

The group three shots back included Scheffler (71), former British Open champion Shane Lowry (68) and Tyrrell Hatton, who got within one shot of Rose until a pair of three-putts. One of them did a U-turn down the hill at the 16th. The other was a sleepy tap-in that lipped out.

It shapes up for a wide-open weekend, led by a 44-year-old from England who has gone a dozen years since winning his only major at the 2013 U.S. Open. Rose spoke last year about finding another stretch of magic in his career, and opportunity awaits.

That's also the case for DeChambeau, the U.S. Open champion; for McIlroy, the sentimental favorite of so many at Augusta National as he tries to get the last leg of the career Grand Slam; and for Scheffler, who coped with plenty of stress the course gave him Friday.

"That's the company that I expect to keep, and that's where I have tried to be my whole career," Rose said. "I've been a top-10 player in the world for a decade or more. So yeah, this is nice to be back in that mix."

The cut was at 2-over 146, marking the end of 67-year-old Bernhard Langer's Masters career. He needed to make a 10-foot par putt on the last hole, only for it to tickle the right side of the cup.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka might have had the most shocking departure. He was in good shape, needing a bogey on the 18th. He made a quadruple bogey, starting with a tee shot into the trees and ending with a three-putt from 10 feet.

Now the attention shifts back to the top, where 16 players were separated by five shots going into the final two days.

Rose is atop the leaderboard after a round for the 10th time at Augusta, without a green jacket to show for it. He will try to become the second-oldest player at 44 to win the green jacket behind Jack Nicklaus (46) in that mystical 1986 Masters.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Embiid undergoes surgery on injured left knee

Published in Basketball
Friday, 11 April 2025 16:07

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and will be reevaluated in roughly six weeks, the Philadelphia 76ers said Friday.

The team's statement said the surgery was deemed successful and was performed by Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow at NYU Langone Sports Medicine Center.

Embiid was ruled out for the season back in late February as he and the Sixers weighed their options for his balky knee. They announced last week that he would have surgery for the second time in a little more than a year.

The 2022-23 NBA MVP and seven-time All-Star played in a career-low 19 games in 2024-25, first due to knee soreness and a three-game suspension for shoving a columnist in the locker room. His other injury absences this season included a sinus fracture.

When on the court, Embiid averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

It's the latest chapter of a disappointing season for the injury-plagued 76ers, who came into the season with championship hopes after signing All-Star Paul George and extending young star Tyrese Maxey. The trio of Embiid, George and Maxey played in just 15 games together, and Philadelphia (24-56) enters Friday in 13th place in the 15-team Eastern Conference.

Maxey was ruled out for the remainder of the season Wednesday after reinjuring his sprained right finger. George played in just 41 games this season, then was shut down for the year after receiving injections in his left groin and left knee.

Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells is expected to miss the rest of the season after breaking his right wrist and sustaining a concussion and facial laceration, the team announced Friday. Wells was hurt when he suffered a hard fall in Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Wells is the Grizzlies' top perimeter defender and one of the league's top rookies. He averages 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The team expects him to make a full recovery.

Wells caught an outlet pass from Ja Morant in the second quarter against the Hornets and was going up for the jam when Charlotte's KJ Simpson caught up and inadvertently undercut him. Wells lost his balance and landed awkwardly on his side as his head hit the court near the baseline.

Wells was attended to on the floor for eight minutes. Medical personnel placed him on a stretcher and immobilized his head before he was taken to the hospital.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Royals place reliever Harvey (shoulder) on IL

Published in Baseball
Friday, 11 April 2025 19:13

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals placed reliever Hunter Harvey on the 15-day disabled list on Friday because of a right shoulder injury.

The team said Harvey is dealing with a strain of the teres muscle in the shoulder.

Harvey has allowed just one hit with no walks and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings across six appearances so far for the Royals.

The 30-year-old Harvey, acquired from Washington last July, has spent the last few years dealing with various health issues. He missed time during the late stages of the 2024 season due to a back injury and also had problems with his right elbow and his right arm.

Kansas City recalled right-handed reliever Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha to take Harvey's roster spot. The Royals are scheduled to play in Cleveland on Friday night.

Padres' Cronenworth latest to IL with rib fracture

Published in Baseball
Friday, 11 April 2025 19:13

SAN DIEGO -- The depleted San Diego Padres placed infielder Jake Cronenworth on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a right rib fracture.

The move with Cronenworth came after center fielder Jackson Merrill went on the 10-day IL on Tuesday because of a right hamstring strain. The IL stint for Cronenworth was made retroactive to Wednesday.

The Padres also are playing without right-hander Yu Darvish, who began the season on the IL because of elbow inflammation.

They did get some good news Friday when star Fernando Tatis Jr. returned to the lineup and batted leadoff and played right field in the opener of a weekend series against Colorado. Tatis left Tuesday night's game against the Athletics after experiencing left shoulder discomfort stemming from a slide.

Cronenworth also left Tuesday night's game after taking a swing. He was hit by a pitch Sunday in a game at the Chicago Cubs. He said he had an MRI on Thursday, a day off.

He thought it was a bruise and could play through it. He homered on Monday in a 5-4 win against the Athletics.

"It's frustrating, but it happens," Cronenworth said. "It didn't feel great Sunday when it happened, even Monday, then water over the boat on Tuesday and kind of just the tip of the iceberg."

The 31-year-old Cronenworth is batting .257 with two homers and five RBIs in 12 games this season. The two-time All-Star hit .241 with 17 homers and 83 RBIs in 155 games in 2024.

Even with all the injuries, San Diego became the first major league team with 10 wins after it beat the Athletics 2-1 on Wednesday.

Third baseman Tyler Wade was promoted from Triple-A El Paso before Friday night's game. Right-hander Matt Waldron, who has a left oblique muscle strain, was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Nearing return, Strider to join Braves in Tampa

Published in Baseball
Friday, 11 April 2025 19:13

TAMPA, Fla. -- Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider is going to join the team during its weekend series at Tampa Bay, marking another step in his comeback from elbow surgery.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Strider felt good after he struck out 13 during a dominant rehab appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Strider, 26, is going to have a bullpen session on Sunday in Tampa and then travel with the team to Toronto for the second half of its six-game trip. While the club has not made an official announcement, Strider could return during the series against the Blue Jays.

Strider last appeared in the majors on April 5, 2024, against the Diamondbacks in Atlanta. He had the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow repaired with an internal brace a week later.

The Braves are off to a slow start, and the return of Strider could provide a big lift. He went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 2023, finishing with a major league-best 281 strikeouts in 186 innings.

He pitched 5 innings in his rehab start on Thursday, allowing one run and three hits. He threw 90 pitches, 62 for strikes.

"He felt really good," Snitker said before Atlanta's series opener at Tampa Bay. "He said he felt good, so he'll come here and throw his bullpen Sunday."

Raducanu discussing coaching job with Petchey

Published in Tennis
Friday, 11 April 2025 09:53

The biggest impediment to a more enduring partnership appeared to be Petchey's commentary role with the Tennis Channel. That is one of the details which will need to be resolved as the two try to reach agreement on the number of weeks they will work together.

Raducanu has not had a full-time coach since January, when Nick Cavaday stood down for health reasons, and ended a two-week trial with Vladimir Platenik on the eve of the Miami Open.

She had previously worked with a wide range of coaches including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson - who was in charge during her run to the US Open title - Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs.

She pulled out of the Great Britain team for this week's Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round in The Hague to train and "look after her body".

Raducanu has not yet decided whether to play at this month's Madrid Open but is expected to compete at next month's Italian Open in Rome before the French Open begins in late May.

17 Full-Time Drivers For ASCS National Tour

Published in Racing
Friday, 11 April 2025 11:00

CONCORD, N.C.  The American Sprint Car Series National Tour continues its 34th consecutive season at Salina Highbanks Speedway on Saturday, featuring 17 drivers committed to chase the coveted Emmett Hahn Trophy.

Four past National Tour champions, seven returning drivers from the 2024 roster, four Rookie of the Year contenders, one regional ASCS champion and one past National Tour regular make up the Series refreshed look for 2025  all of whom will compete in the remaining 33 races on the schedule in pursuit of the points championship.

Heres a look at the ASCS National Tour full-time roster:

Seth Bergman | Snohomish, Wash. | Bergman Racing No. 23

The 2024 ASCS National Tour champion is back to defend his crown in 2025. Bergman, 37, comes into his 10th season as a member of the Tours full-time roster, piloting his own Victory Fuel, Oklahoma Chiller, Triple X Race Cars No. 23. Last year, the present-day Oklahoma resident won a personal-best seven features en route to his first ASCS championship.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. | Sunnyvale, Texas | Hills Racing Team No. 15h 

Hafertepe and the Ontario-originated Hills Racing Team returned to the national 360 sprint car ranks last year after spending the 20212023 seasons focusing on their 410 sprint car program. In 33 main event starts on the 2024 Tour, the 39-year-old five-time Tour champion won 12 of them  three shy of the single-season wins record he tied at 15 in 2017 and finished runner-up in the season points championship.

Blake Hahn | Sapulpa, Okla. | Blake Hahn Racing No. 52 

Hahn and his signature yellow/pink No. 52 car won back-to-back National Tour championships in 2021 and 2022 before leaving the 360 world to concentrate on a 410 sprint car program. The 30-year-old grandson of ASCS founder Emmett Hahn returns to the National Tour in 2025 after making 15 starts last year, winning once at his home track of Creek County Speedway in November.

Jason Martin | Liberal, Kan. | BM Motorsports No. 36 

Now in his fourth full-time season on the Tour, the 42-year-old champion of the 2023 ASCS National Tour aims to get back to the top after a fifth-place finish in points last season, which featured only one main event victory.

Martin pilots his own Bybee Electric, Don Ott-powered Schnee/Eagle Chassis No. 36 as one of the most seasoned veterans on the road with ASCS, and even boasts some national 410 sprint car experience as a former World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series regular in 2006.

Matt Covington | Glenpool, Okla. | Covington Racing No. 95 

Covington is the longest-running ASCS driver on the full-time roster, having competed every season consecutively since 2014. In that time, hes amassed 17 feature wins (19 career total) and a legion of fans around his native Oklahoma but still has yet to top the championship standings. His familiar red/white Reece Construction Co. No. 95 will try again in a 13th full season.

Zach Blurton | Quinter, Kan. | Zach Blurton Racing No. 2J 

A graduate of the regional 305 and 360 sprint car ranks, Blurton is back for his sophomore campaign on the National Tour. The 30-year-old made the decision to start traveling last year and finished 2024 ranked eighth in the points standings, now in search of his second career feature win with the Tour after getting his first in 2022.

Landon Britt | Memphis, Tenn. | LB Motorsports No. 10 

Britt rekindled his racing roots in the late 2010s, racing sprint cars regionally before embarking on his first campaign with the Tour in 2022. The 27-year-old former rugby player broke through for his first career Tour victory in 2023 and garnered a seventh-place finish in the championship standings last year, and this Saturday begins his fourth-straight campaign with the National Tour.

Terry Easum | Broken Arrow, Okla. | Easum Racing No. 88 

Easum begins his second full season on the National Tour after a rookie campaign full of ups-and-downs. In only the second race on the schedule last year, Easum drove from seventh on the starting grid to his first career Tour victory at Red Dirt Raceway. Though he finished 10th in the standings, hes since hired veteran crew chief Jimmy Jones to the team for this season, giving him a trusted source of expertise in the pits.

Kyler Johnson | Quinter, Kan. | Kyler Johnson Racing No. 45x 

At only 19 years old, Johnson set out on his first full-time campaign with the National Tour and has steadily seen his skills in the seat grow. Now 21, Johnson is set for his fourth full ASCS campaign this season and knocking on the door of his first Tour victory, having accumulated multiple top-five and podium finishes in his last two seasons.

Austyn Gossel | Windsor, Colo. | Austyn Gossel Racing No. 16G 

A former racer of both pavement and non-winged sprint cars on the dirt, Gossel has found his place in winged 360 sprint car racing with ASCS after a rookie season last year full of learning opportunities. This year, the 24-year-old second-generation driver aims for more consistent results as he continues to carve his skills behind the wheel of his signature white/orange No. 16G.

Bradley Fezard | Bonnerdale, Ark. | V&H Fresh Racing No. 938 

Fezard is a former NOW600 and POWRi Micro Sprint champion who took the biggest step in his open-wheel racing career last year, setting out for his rookie National Tour campaign. While a 12th-place finish in the final points wasnt the result he was looking for from his first year on the road, he and team owner Vince Rosa are making some changes for 2025, switching to Triple X Race Cars and hiring crew chief and shop manager Jesse Barstad.

Harli White | Lindsay, Okla. | Big Sky Speedway No. 17w 

White spent four consecutive seasons racing as part of the full-time roster from 20172020 and is transitioning back to full-time ASCS competition this year after scaling back to focus on her personal life. The 29-year-old made history in her last full season on the Tour, becoming the first female to win an ASCS National Tour event by taking the checkered flag at Riverside Intl Speedway in Arkansas. This year, shes reinforced her partnership with Big Sky Speedway owner Jerry Brey and crew chief Chris Stivers, who will support her comeback tour.

Casey Wills | Sperry, Okla. | Wills Racing No. 31 

Wills was crowned champion of the ASCS Sooner Region in 2024 and had his most consistent season as a localregional racer, posting three-straight top-10s at Creek County Speedway, 81 Speedway and Enid Speedway in August and September. For 2025, hes stepping out of his comfort zone and into the national 360 sprint car ranks with ASCS, checking off a bucket-list item to race the entire schedule behind the wheel of his self-owned Ameriflex No. 31.

Ryder Laplante | Calera, Okla. | Ryder Laplante Racing No. 88r

Laplante comes into 2025 as the eldest Rookie of the Year contender on the National Tour roster at 18 years old. While hes made only seven career appearances with the Tour, the recent micro sprint graduate had a standout performance against the field last May at Rush County Speedway, driving from seventh to third behind Matt Covington and race winner Seth Bergman.

Brady Baker | Alexander, Ark. | Brady Baker Racing No. 71 

Baker shined on multiple occasions last season in Tour competition, posting four podium finishes in 10 Feature starts with a best finish of second to Jason Martin at Arrowhead Speedway in September. The 17-year-old rookie-of-the-year contender takes on his first full-time 360 sprint car campaign this year after several seasons developing in the karting and micro sprint ranks.

Garrett Benson | Concordia, Mo. | Nathan Benson Motorsports No. 2b 

Fourteen-year-old Benson is a graduate of the micro sprint ranks, having worked his way through the Junior, Restricted and 600cc divisions in the late 2010s through the 2023 season. 2023 also marked his debut in a 305 sprint car, which paved the way for his 360 sprint car debut with ASCS last season  highlighted by earning himself a starting spot on the outside pole for the main event at Arrowhead Speedway in September.

Brogan Carder | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Brogan Carder Racing No. 88c 

The second of two 14-year-old rookie contenders brings four years of Outlaw Kart experience in with him to begin his first full-time sprint car season. Carder finished his 2024 campaign with ASCS during Fuzzys Fall Fling at Creek County last November in his first taste of national 360 sprint car competition.

Big Money For CARS Tour Throwback Classic

Published in Racing
Friday, 11 April 2025 11:15

HICKORY, N.C.  FloSports and the zMAX CARS Tour are partnering for a unique collaboration that will elevate grassroots racing with a historic doubleheader event  The Throwback Classic presented by FloRacing  at the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway.

The Aug. 2 event will feature the biggest single night in pavement late model racing history with a record-breaking purse of more than $200,000.

The Throwback Classic presented by FloRacing boasts the richest purse ever for both CARS Tour divisions and the biggest late model stars on the national stage.

It will be the second event to feature a $50,000-to-win late model stock race and the first to pay $2,500 to start, while the Pro Late Model showdown will pay $30,000-to-win and $1,500 to start.

This payout is simply incredible for the series, driver, and teams, said Dale Earnhardt Jr., zMAX CARS Tour co-owner. Our goal is always to continue to grow the Series by putting as many eyes on it as possible. Our partnership with FloSports allows us to do just that. The Throwback Classic at Hickory has always been a special event for the CARS Tour. But with this announcement its now the biggest pavement short track event of the year, period.

IHRA Completes Purchase Of National Trail

Published in Racing
Friday, 11 April 2025 12:01

HEBRON, Ohio The International Hot Rod Assn has finalized the purchase of another first-class drag racing facility with National Trail Raceway.

The track located in suburban Columbus, Ohio, has a rich history, first opened in 1964, and now a bright future with todays announcement.

National Trail Raceway features a quarter-mile drag strip, which had its concrete ground just last week, and upgraded bleachers to make it more comfortable for spectators. Other amenities include a great variety of foods at concessions along with official merchandise at the National Trail Raceway (Pro Shop).

The IHRA is great. I think (IHRA owner) Darryl Cuttell is taking it to the glory days and making it bigger and better than ever, said NTRs Jay Livingston who is staying on as team manager.

National Trail Raceway is capable of hosting national events as well as being home to a strong bracket racing program. Its part of the appeal of the IHRA and its commitment to grassroots, Sportsman racing.

The racers have talked about IHRAs recent announcements of all-time membership coverages and significant purse increases to the IHRA Summit Team Finals and IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.

Weve already had a number of racers reach out to us, Livingston said. They have gone out and looked at the IHRA Team Finals held at Quaker (City Motorsports Park) and theyre excited. Theyre really excited about the IHRA World Finals in Alabama that pays $25,000 to win.

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