Matsuyama leads after two rounds at The Sentry tourney

SPORTS BRIEFING

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, hits a shot at the 11th hole during Friday’s second round of The Sentry golf event at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. MATT YORK — ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image

Hideki Matsuyama is leading The Sentry at the halfway point of the start to the new PGA Tour season.

He had a bogey-free 65 Friday for a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa with eight other players within three shots of the lead.

Morikawa did his work late. He’s been around Kapalua enough to know there’s no need to panic. Morikawa was seven shots behind at one point. He ran off five straight birdies late in his round.

It was the eighth time Morikawa had 65 or better at Kapalua, the most of any player since 2020 when the two-time major champion made his debut.

The scoring average was 68.1 on a perfect day for scoring. And more low scores are expected on the weekend with moderate wind.

PGA pondering changes to Tour Championship

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan told his staff that everything is on the table. That includes the format for the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship.

Two officials at the PGA Tour say they are contemplating another change to the format to decide the $25 million winner of the FedEx Cup.

Among the ideas are creating seeds and a bracket nearer the conclusion. That could involve medal matches so all 18 holes are played.

One official directly involved says there are a number of formats being considered.

Any change would require approval by the PGA Tour board. The Tour Championship currently begins with the FedEx Cup leader at 10 under par.

College hockey

Mercyhurst proves to be no trouble for Gophers

Minnesota got on top early and didn’t let up in a 6-2 win over Mercyhurst at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Jimmy Snuggerud and Connor Kurth scored for the Gophers to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Brody Lamb’s power-play goal less than two minutes into the second opened a scoring fest that saw Minnesota and Mercyhurst combine for five total tallies in the stanza. Matthew Wood and John Mittelstadt logged goals for the Gophers.

Erik Pahlsson’s short-hander late in the third period brought the score to its eventual final tally as the Gophers improved to 16-3-2 on the season.

— From staff report

college football

Texas State wins First Responder Bowl

Texas State held off a furious fourth-quarter comeback by North Texas to win the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

Bobcats running back Lincoln Pare logged 143 yards rushing with two touchdowns to pace his team to victory.

North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker was pass happy for the Mean Green, logging 393 yards on a 26-for-41 day with a pair of scores to go with two interceptions.

Texas State finished the season with an 8-5 record, while North Texas fell to 6-7 to wrap its season.

MLB

Morton joins Orioles on one-year deal

Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract.

The 41-year-old Morton, the hero of Game 7 of the 2017 World Series with Houston, will try to fill a hole in Baltimore’s rotation. It will be Morton’s 18th major league season.

The Orioles also signed 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano of Japan this offseason to a $13 million, one-year deal. Baltimore lost its ace from 2024 in Corbin Burnes, who signed a $210 million contract with Arizona last month.

Morton has a career record of 138-123. He pitched 165 1/3 innings for Atlanta last year, going 8-10 with a 4.19 ERA.

In addition to the Braves and Astros, Morton has played for Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Hernandez officially re-ups with Dodgers

Teoscar Hernández will be in right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers next season when the World Series champions try to defend their title.

The outfielder was at Dodger Stadium, agreeing to rejoin the team on a $66 million, three-year contract.

He played last season on a $23.5 million, one-year deal and proved his value by becoming an All-Star and winning the Home Run Derby along with a third career Silver Slugger, which earned him a $1 million bonus.

He capped it all by helping the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Hernández said he had offers from other teams that would have gotten him an additional $5 million to $6 million.

NBA

Rockets’ Smith out 4-8 weeks with injury

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. fractured a bone in his left hand and needs surgery that will keep him out four to eight weeks.

Coach Ime Udoka announced the injury before a game against the Boston Celtics, adding that he was waiting on a second opinion before surgery would be scheduled.

Smith has started every game for the Rockets this season, averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Smith, the third overall pick in the 2022 draft, has averaged 13 points and 7.4 rebounds in his three-year career.

Heat suspend Butler for seven games

The Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games on Friday and said they will seek to trade him.

The Heat said the suspension was for “conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”

“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the Heat said in a statement, one day after Butler said in a postgame press conference that he does not believe he can be happy playing in Miami going forward.

The Heat will seek to trade Butler before his suspension is projected to expire on Jan. 17.

— From news services