THE WOODLANDS, Texas >> Yan Liu had an albatross to offset three front-nine bogeys and rebounded from a late bogey for an even-par 72 and a one-stroke lead over four players Friday in the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major tournament of the year.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda rallied late in the afternoon to make the cut in her title defense, following an opening 77 with a 68. She won last year at The Club at Carlton Woods for the last of her record-tying five straight victories.

Fog delayed the start of play, with nine players unable to finish the round because of darkness.

Liu, the 27-year-old Chinese player who shared the first-round lead with Haeran Ryu after a 65, admitted she would feel some pressure Saturday.

Hyo Joo Kim (71) was a stroke back with Lindy Duncan (66), Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Mao Saigo (68). Kim won the Ford Championship a month ago in Arizona for her seventh LPGA Tour title, while the other four players at the top of the leaderboard are winless.

PGA Tour rookies atop Zurich Classic leaderboard >> PGA Tour rookies Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo shot a 3-under 69 in alternate-shot play to remain atop the leaderboard in the Zurich Classic, and leave defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry six strokes back.

Salinda and Velo had a 17-under 127 at the breezy TPC of Louisiana after breaking the tournament better-ball record with a 58 on Thursday in the tour’s only team event. Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin were a stroke back after a 66.

Hockey

Canadiens beat the Capitals 6-3 to cut their series deficit to 2-1 >> Christian Dvorak broke a tie at 4:17 of the third period and Montreal beat Washingtonto cut their deficit in the first-round series to 2-1.

Dvorak fired shot from the far left side that hit Washington forward Brandon Duhaime and deflected past goalie Logan Thompson. Juraj Slafkovsky made it a two-goal game with 6:37 remaining, with Capitals forward Dylan Strome crashing into Thompson on the play and injuring him.

Thompson put no weight on his left skate while being helped off, leaving his status Sunday night for Game 4 in Montreal in doubt. Montreal also lost its starting goalie, with goalie Sam Montembeault leaving in the middle of the second period because a lower-body injury.

Judge declares mistrial in Hockey Canada sexual assault case >> A judge declared a mistrial in the sexual assault case involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

The ruling from a judge in Ontario means a new trial will be held for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote, who have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

College basketball

USC recruit Arenas is out of an induced coma >> Alijah Arenas, the Southern California basketball recruit who was involved in a fiery vehicle accident, is out of an induced coma, his family said in a statement.

The 18-year-old Arenas remains intubated, his family told ESPN, but has “shown significant signs of progress within the last 24 hours.”

The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday to single-vehicle collision in the Reseda area of the San Fernando Valley. The LA Fire Department further said the vehicle was a Tesla Cybertruck that crashed into a tree and a fire hydrant with fire involved.

College football

Former Georgia, Arizona State quarterback Rashada heading to Sacramento State >> Former Georgia and Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada is heading to Sacramento State.

Rashada did not appear in any games for the Bulldogs after spending his freshman season at Arizona State. He started three games for the Sun Devils, throwing for 485 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Pro basketball

Morant listed as doubtful for Game 4 >> Memphis guard Ja Morant is doubtful to play Saturday when the Grizzlies face elimination in Game 4 of their Western Conference series against Oklahoma City because of a bruised hip.

Morant was injured when he crashed to the floor in Game 3, an injury that contributed to the team’s 114-108 loss.

Despite reports that Morant would be out for Game 4 on Saturday, interim coach Tuomas Iisalo declined to confirm that.

Baseball

Pham suspended 1 game >> Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for inappropriate actions toward Los Angeles Angels fans during a game on Wednesday night.

Pham reportedly made an obscene gesture to a fan who touched him while tracking down a ball in the left field corner in the fifth inning of a 3-0 win over the Angels.

Mets activate Alvarez, McNeil >> The New York Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil from the injured list, and both were in the lineup to make their season debut in the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Skiing

French skier dies after crash >> A promising 18-year-old French skier has died in training, the national ski federation said.

It said Margot Simond died at Val d’Isere.

The French under-18 slalom champion was training for this weekend’s Red Bull Alpine Park event at Val d’Isere.

Tennis

Top seeds Zverev, Sabalenka advance >> Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open.

Zverev cruised past home favorite Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, while Sabalenka triumphed against qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-4.