OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — The toughest test in golf is underway at the course reputed to be the toughest in America. Matt Vogt has hit the opening shot at Oakmont to start the 125th edition of the U.S Open. It was a fitting start for the Indiana dentist who once caddied at Oakmont. Vogt is among 16 players who paid an entry fee and made it through 54 holes of qualifying. And his tee shot found the notorious rough at Oakmont. That's been on everyone's mind this week. Scottie Scheffler goes after his second straight major. Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 off the bench, Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 and the Indiana Pacers reclaimed the lead in the NBA Finals by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Haliburton also had 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who got 21 points from Pascal Siakam and enjoyed a whopping 49-18 edge in bench points on their way to a 2-1 lead in the series. The Pacers, who lost Game 2 in Oklahoma City, improved to 10-0 in mid-March in the game immediately following a loss. Jalen Williams scored 26 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 and Chet Holmgren had 20 for the Thunder, who led by five going into the fourth.
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — The star of this U.S. Open is Oakmont. Rory McIlroy had a peaceful start to his final day of practice with the sun rising on the horizon. The chaos begins when the score starts to count in the opening round Thursday. Oakmont is reputed to be the toughest course in the land. The U.S. Open prides itself on being the toughest test in golf. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite. He's coming off three wins in his last four starts. That includes the PGA Championship. U.S. Open official says they don't try to protect par. Oakmont usually does that for them.
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — On the 25-year anniversary of Woods’ historic dismantling of Pebble Beach in the U.S. Open — a milestone win that some thought might puncture golf’s stereotype as a sport for rich, white men — Chase Johnson is the only player of Black heritage in the 156-man field at Oakmont. The last man to qualify for this year's Open, Johnson says he's trying to build his profile so maybe he can inspire young players the way Woods once inspired him.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Rick Carlisle used the line after the Indiana Pacers won the Eastern Conference title earlier this month, the one that is the official motto for the state’s basketball Hall of Fame and surely has been uttered for generations. “In 49 other states, it’s just basketball,” Carlisle said. “But this is Indiana.” It’s true: Basketball never loses importance here. But these days, the state — and Indianapolis especially — probably feels like the center of the basketball universe.
Just weeks after winning the Champions League for the first time in its history, Paris Saint-Germain’s eyes are now on FIFA’s shiny new Club World Cup. The newly-crowned European champion can add the world title to a trophy haul that also included a French league and cup double this season. But it must come through an exacting test against some of the best teams in the world from Europe, Latin America, Asia and beyond - as well as a Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami.
Eight female athletes have filed an appeal of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement. They argue that women would not receive their fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week. The athletes who appealed the settlement Wednesday competed in soccer, volleyball and track. An attorney representing the women says the settlement violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. The attorney says female athletes are being deprived of $1.1 billion.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When the 2026 World Cup begins across North America one year from this week, sports figures from across Los Angeles are hoping the global soccer community will find the U.S. both inspiring and welcoming. The Fox network marked the one-year milestone Wednesday night with a big party at its studio lot in Century City. The attendees all expressed excitement about the return of the world’s premier soccer tournament to the U.S. while acknowledging the uncertainty of whether the nation’s fraught political climate could present challenges to the teams, the World Cup organizers and the network that will broadcast the tournament domestically.
DENVER (AP) — Deion Sanders posted on social media that “everything is OKAY” after not being able to attend football camps in Boulder, Colorado, so far this spring. The Colorado coach’s health has come into question because of his extended absence. Sanders thanked al the well wishers on X for all their thoughts and prayers. He added that once he arrives back in Boulder he will give updates. The 57-year-old Sanders has dealt with issues surrounding his left foot since having two toes amputated in 2021 because of blood clot issues while at Jackson State.
BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins made some headlines prior to his first career start against the Yankees last week when he said he’d rather retire than pitch for New York. Now he’s explaining why the claims he made about his father once playing in the minors for Boston’s longtime rival aren’t the intentional fabrication that a New York newspaper report says. Dobbins says the references he made stemmed from stories passed along from his father when he was a kid and nothing more. He says he understands the fervor his comments created and says his focus now is on his upcoming matchup with the Yankees this weekend.
INTERLEAGUE
Final Cleveland 11 Cincinnati 2
Final Toronto 5 St. Louis 2
Final Arizona 5Seattle 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final L.A. Angels 6Athletics 5
Final Baltimore 10 Detroit 1
Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 3
Final Minnesota 6 Texas 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Kansas City 3
Final Houston 10 Chicago White Sox 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 5 Miami 2
Final Philadelphia 7 Chicago Cubs 2
Final Atlanta 6 Milwaukee 2
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 San Diego 2
Final N.Y. Mets 5 Washington 0
Final San Francisco 10 Colorado 7
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Indiana 116 Oklahoma City 107