AP Sports

Schauffele gets another major scoring record and sets the pace at PGA Championship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Xander Schauffele has set the PGA Championship record with a 62. He also ties a major championship record that he shared last year in the U.S. Open. Schauffele took advantage of rain-softened conditions at Valhalla. And he’s been playing some good golf. Schauffele was runner-up last week in the Wells Fargo Championship. Schauffele played the back nine in 31. He ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine to get in range of the record. The previous mark at the PGA was a 63. One of those was Jose Maria Olazabal at Valhalla 10 years ago.

Simone Biles is stepping into the Olympic spotlight again. She is better prepared for the pressure

SPRING, Texas (AP) — Gymnastics star Simone Biles says she is better equipped to handle the challenges that await as she prepares for a third Olympics. The 27-year-old became a touchstone for the discussion around mental health at the Tokyo Games in 2021 when she pulled herself out of several competitions because of mental trauma that made it difficult for her to compete. Biles says she now works with a therapist regularly, even during meets, to help her deal with whatever may come. The seven-time Olympic medalist begins preparations for Paris at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.

Top tennis players say they’re playing too much because the tournaments are too long

ROME (AP) — The long-sought upgrade for the tennis tournaments in Madrid and Rome has been a bonanza for the organizers by expanding them from one to nearly two weeks. There are more competition days which means more tickets sold, more TV time and more money. But the players haven’t been as enthusiastic. Recent Monte Carlo Masters champion Stefanos Tsitsipas says “You got to be some type of superhero to be consistent back-to-back 10 days in each event getting to the very end of it.” Adds former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, “We stretched the drama a bit too much” and “it kind of becomes like the ‘telenova’ that was too many seasons.”

Marcus Ericsson has no regrets headed into Indy 500, even as he struggles with new Andretti team

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Ericsson returned to the Indianapolis 500 with zero regrets. He’s moved past the controversial ending to last year’s race that cost the Swede a second consecutive win in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Ericsson has made up with teammate Colton Herta following their spat last weekend. And as for his move from powerhouse Chip Ganassi Racing to Andretti Global, where Ericsson’s results have shown a sharp drop-off? Nope. Nothing to be concerned about there, either. Ericsson will try to win his second Indy 500 in three years on May 26 after last year’s controversial runner-up finish.

Ganassi rookie Linus Lundqvist first driver to crash in Indianapolis 500 practice

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Linus Lundqvist became the first driver to crash in Indianapolis 500 preparations when the Swedish rookie for Chip Ganassi Racing spun into the wall on Thursday. Lundqvist lost the rear of his Honda-powered Ganassi entering Turn 2 just under 2 hours into the practice session. It’s the first day drivers got any real activity as rain washed out Tuesday and most of Wednesday. Lundqvist’s car spun into the wall and then shot across the track into the infield grass. The 25-year-old dropped his head in disappointment as he awaited the medical team.

NFL schedule makers didn’t seek out a Chiefs game close to a Taylor Swift concert

Creating the NFL schedule is a complicated process that requires tens of thousands of computers coming up with countless possibilities over a process that lasts about four months. There are several sometimes competing factors at play from keeping all of the television partners happy, to competitive balance for teams to stadium availability. Doling out games involving the uber-popular Kansas City Chiefs to each partner was also a key consideration with all five major partners getting at least one game involving the team that has won three of the past five Super Bowls and is the favorite of one of the world’s biggest pop stars in Taylor Swift.

The NFL schedule-makers have the Chiefs playing on every day but Tuesday next season

With their record-setting quarterback and pop-star dating tight end, the Kansas City Chiefs were the NFL’s version of the Beatles last season. This season the Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs will as close to matching the Beatles famous song “Eight Days a Week” than any NFL team in nearly 100 years. Along with the traditional Sunday games, Kansas City is also set to play games this season on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in an odd occurrence that has happened only once before in the NFL in 1927 with the New York Yankees.

FIFA wants global standard for punishing racist abuse and urges players to use crossed hands sign

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA will urge all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense. Soccer’s world body also suggests “a global standard gesture for players to communicate racist incidents” to referees. It’s hands crossed at the wrists and raised in the air. A five-pillar pledge on tackling racism will be put to FIFA member federations on Friday at their meeting in Bangkok. FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised months ago to make a worldwide proposal. He consulted Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who is Black and has been repeatedly abused by fans in Spain.

‘Stepchild’ of the Triple Crown? Debate lingers over restoring the prestige of the Preakness

BALTIMORE (AP) — Talk of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan not running in the Preakness raised questions about the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, which has in recent years fallen on hard times. The gimme of horses winning or even running in the Derby going to Baltimore is no longer the case. That has led to debate over whether the race should be moved back a week or more and what can be done to restore the prestige the Preakness had for nearly 150 years. The Belmont is not facing those questions this year or next given the novelty of moving to Saratoga for 2024 and ’25.

Atlanta Dream moving two games vs Caitlin Clark-led Fever to NBA arena

ATLANTA (AP) — To accommodate much larger crowds, the Atlanta Dream are moving their two regular-season home games against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to the downtown home of the NBA Hawks. The Dream’s regular venue, 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena near the city’s airport, is the smallest in the WNBA. The Hawks play at State Farm Arena, which can hold more than 17,000. Atlanta is scheduled to host the Fever on June 21 and Aug. 26. The games will feature the last three No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA draft: Clark and her teammate Aliyah Boston as well as Dream star Rhyne Howard.