ASPEN, Colo. (AP) With the mountains closed and the halfpipes shuttered during a pandemic that turned the world and its sports upside down, Shaun White put double-corks on hold and saved his.
Several rounds of dark and stormies may have helped lighten the mood among New York Yacht Club team members Saturday after their elimination from the 36th America’s Cup. The popular sailor’s.
Australia proposes hosting Lions vs. Springboks series
January 31, 2021 GMT
SYDNEY (AP) Rugby Australia has officially offered to host this year’s test series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Sunday that Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has invited South African Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux to play the series in Australia in July and August. Rugby Australia has also sent a proposal to the chairman of England’s Rugby Football Union, Andy Cosslet, and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.
The newspaper said under McLennan’s plan South Africa and the Lions would share revenue from the three-test series and Australia would only take enough to cover costs. Australian Super Rugby teams might also play the Lions in matches outside the tests.
WTA players tuneup for Australian Open after quarantine
January 31, 2021 GMT
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Australians Sam Stosur and Daria Gavrilova had contrasting fortunes in their first matches at home after long absences Sunday in the first round of the Yarra Valley Tennis Classic at Melbourne Park.
Stosur, playing her first competitive match since March and now ranked 112, lost 6-2, 6-0 to 16th seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova in just over one hour.
The 2011 U.S. Open champion took a break from tennis in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and the birth of her first child. She didn’t hit a ball for two and a half months before returning to the training court in September, beginning to work towards next month’s Australian Open.
Viktor Hovland vaults into Farmers lead at wet Torrey Pines
January 30, 2021 GMT
SAN DIEGO (AP) Viktor Hovland birdied his final for a 7-under 65 on Torrey Pines’ tough South Course on a rainy, miserable Friday, giving him a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Hovland finished his round after play resumed following a suspension of about an hour due to wind and rain on the blufftop municipal course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The 23-year-old Norwegian closed with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth to reach 9 under.
Hovland leads a group of six at 8 under, including first-round co-leader Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm, who won this tournament in 2017 and finished second to Marc Fleishman last year.