Matsuyama sets record to par in win

Hideki Matsuyama opened the new season with a record performance, though it was hard to tell from his emotions. He was a machine at The Sentry, with 35 holes at birdie or better to finish at 35-under par, both PGA Tour records. He only broke into a wide smile when his caddie, Shota Hayafuji, spoke to him on the side of the 18th green Sunday at Kapalua after one final birdie gave Matsuyama the scoring records and a three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa. “Otoshidama arigato gozaimasu.” It translates roughly to thanks for a traditional Japanese gift to children in the new year to wish them luck and prosperity. Matsuyama, 32, won $3.6 million from his 11th career victory. There was little luck involved over four days on a Plantation course in Hawaii that was vulnerable as ever without hardly any wind for which it was built. Matsuyama made only one bogey over the final 59 holes to finish at 35-under 257. He closed with an 8-under 65 and his 35 under broke by one the record to par Cameron Smith set at Kapalua in 2022.

Djokovic: Deportation still traumatic

Novak Djokovic said he still feels “a bit of trauma” when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19. “The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration, I had a bit of trauma,” Djokovic said in a newspaper interview published Monday, ahead of the Australian Open. Djokovic, who has won 10 of his record 24 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park, continued: “The person checking my passport — are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling.” Back in 2022, Djokovic obtained an exemption that would allow him into the Australian Open — and the country — even though there were rules requiring vaccination. But he was detained at the airport, his visa was canceled and he was sent to an immigration hotel. A judge later reinstated the visa, ruling he wasn’t given enough time to speak to his lawyers. Australia’s immigration minister then took away the visa again. Djokovic’s appeal of that ruling was denied by a three-judge panel, and he was deported.

Bayless faces $1.5M harassment suit

A woman who worked as a hairstylist for Fox Sports alleges in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including an offer of $1.5 million to have sex with him. Noushin Faraji, who was a hairstylist at Fox for more than a decade, is seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports and its parent company, Fox Corporation, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed late last week in California Superior Court in Los Angeles. The complaint claims Fox executives fostered a hostile work environment that allowed senior managers and on-air personalities to abuse workers without fear of punishment. Faraji claimed that the advances by Bayless included lingering hugs, kisses on the cheek and comments from Bayless that he could change Faraji’s life if she had sex with him. In 2021, she claims, Bayless offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex and, after she refused, later threatened her job. Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024 when his show was canceled. Faraji said she was fired in 2024 based on “fabricated” reasons. —AP