Akshay Bhatia has a charge that would make Arnie proud. He rallies from 5 down to win Bay Hill
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Akshay Bhatia has lived up to Arnold Palmer’s famous quote that “you must play boldly to win.” He was every bit of that at Bay Hill. The 24-year-old Bhatia rallied from five shots behind at the turn with four straight birdies and a 6-iron right at the pin to set up eagle. He shot 69 to force a playoff with Daniel Berger and beat him with a par on the first extra hole. Bhatia now has three PGA Tour titles and all of them have come in a playoff. Berger made bogey in the playoff, three-putting from 106 feet.
Blaney ends Reddick’s streak to give Team Penske a Phoenix weekend sweep
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Blaney completed a Team Penske sweep at Phoenix Raceway by winning the Cup Series race on Sunday. The victory that denied Tyler Reddick a fourth consecutive win to start the NASCAR season. Blaney passed 49 cars to earn his 18th career victory and second at Phoenix. The victory came during a weekend celebration of Team Penske’s 60th season of competition and during a “desert doubleheader” that bundled IndyCar and NASCAR together at Phoenix. David Malukas won the IndyCar pole for Penske and then Josef Newgarden won Saturday’s race; Joey Logano won the pole for the Cup race and then Blaney completed the sweep.
NFL’s free-agent spending frenzy begins first with a legal tampering period
Ready, set, negotiate multi-million contracts. The NFL’s free agency period opens Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period ahead of the official start of the new league year Wednesday. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III head the list of high-profile players who will be free to sign a contract with a new team. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray also will be seeking new teams because they’re going to be released by their teams.
Raiders acquiring cornerback Taron Johnson in trade with Bills, AP source says
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press the Las Vegas Raiders will acquire cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills after the teams agreed to a trade. The Raiders will also receive a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because Johnson needs to pass a physical. NFL Network first reported the trade, which can’t be finalized until the first day of the league’s new year Wednesday. The Bills announced Friday they were releasing Johnson but the move hadn’t yet become official and Buffalo found a trade partner for the 29-year-old Johnson, who played eight seasons with the Bills.
Rams, Trent McDuffie finishing up extension to make him the highest-paid CB in NFL, AP source says
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trent McDuffie and the Los Angeles Rams are closing in on a contract extension that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night because the deal had not been finalized. The Rams have yet to confirm they’ve even acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs for a package of draft picks in a trade. After falling one game short of the Super Bowl last season, the Rams have stepped up to address the most glaring weakness on their roster.
Iran soccer team exits Women’s Asian Cup and faces the prospect of a return home
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Iran’s national soccer team has finished the Women’s Asian Cup group stage in Australia and now faces a return home to a country embroiled in war. Iran lost 2-0 to Philippines after earlier losses to South Korea and Australia in the group stage. The squad arrived in Australia before strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran. Players have mostly declined to comment on the war, although a muted anthem moment has sparked debate. The Australian Iranian Council has urged Australia’s government to protect the squad while it is still in Australia. It has launched an online petition that had more than 50,000 electronic signatures by kick-off in Iran’s last group game.
Port Vale, Southampton stun Premier League opponents in the FA Cup to advance to quarterfinals
Third-tier Port Vale pulled off a massive FA Cup upset by beating Premier League Sunderland to advance to the quarterfinals of the historic competition. Ben Waine’s first-half header sealed a 1-0 win at Vale Park to book his team’s place alongside Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal in the last eight. Port Vale is bottom of League One and 57 places below Sunderland. But it frustrated its top-flight opponent, which had no response to Waine’s looping header from inside the box in the 28th minute. Earlier, Southampton produced another upset to knock out Fulham. Ross Stewart’s 91st-minute penalty sealed a 1-0 win for the Championship side at Craven Cottage and booked its place in the quarterfinals.
Bracket Watch: Semifinal win puts LIU in. Tennessee State qualifies for the first time in 32 years
The first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament came a little bit early. Long Island University claimed the Northeast Conference’s berth by beating Wagner in the semifinals of that league tournament Saturday. The Sharks will play in the NEC men’s title game Tuesday night, but their opponent (Mercyhurst) is ineligible for the NCAAs because it is still a reclassifying Division I institution. When Mercyhurst topped Stonehill to advance to the championship game, that meant the other semifinal between LIU and Wagner would determine who reached the NCAA field of 68. Later Saturday, Tennessee State beat Morehead State to win the OVC Tournament for that league’s automatic bid.