PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has won The Players Championship in a three-hole playoff against J.J. Spaun that lacked any real drama. McIlroy blasted a drive down the 16th fairway to set up a birdie. And then Spaun sailed over the island green on the par-3 17th and into the water for a triple bogey. McIlroy is the eighth multiple winner of the PGA Tour's premier championship. It's also the first time in his career he has won twice early in the season before the Masters. It was the first Monday finish in three years because of a four-hour rain delay on Sunday.
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow will have his top two targets with him for some time. A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, earning $161 million, including $112 million guaranteed. That surpasses the $40 million per year average by Cleveland pass rusher Myles Garrett. Higgins will get $115 million. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins, but were hopeful of getting a new deal done. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.
There was concern that attendance and overall interest in women’s college basketball would drop this year with the departure of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and other stars for the WNBA. Both took a dip -- but only a dip. With JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers among those leading the way, attendance across the country was just short of last season’s record numbers. More networks showed more games on TV this season and ratings were strong heading into March Madness.
Auburn is the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, with Duke, Houston and Florida joining the Tigers on the No. 1 line in the March Madness bracket. The NCAA selection committee favored the regular-season champs of the record-setting Southeastern Conference despite three losses in their last four games, along with a loss to Duke back in December. A record-setting 14 teams from the SEC made the tournament.
Before we begin, a disclaimer: Your bracket will probably be a mess by Saturday. Or by Friday. And let’s be honest, some of us will out of the running by Thursday night. Welcome back to the world’s largest lottery, the NCAA tournament and all of its various bracket pools that millions of people will be joining over the next few days. Some will play for fun, some for a few bucks, some for big bucks. No matter the stakes, we encourage you to remember that you are not an expert — and even the experts didn’t know much this season.
UMEA, Sweden (AP) — A transformation of women’s soccer in Europe is well under way. The elite, big-money clubs already established in the men’s game such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea have begun pouring money, resources and extra focus into their women’s teams and are taking over. Umea and Turbine Potsdam, European champions only 20 years ago, are among the unfashionable relics of yesteryear who know they can no longer compete. But they seem OK with that and are adjusting to a new reality in a changing financial landscape as women's soccer grows. Umea sporting director Jorgen Crovin says “I’m not in the least envious because these clubs are at a different level than we can ever achieve now.”
UCLA is the top overall seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Bruins were joined by South Carolina, Southern California and Texas as No. 1 seeds that the NCAA revealed Sunday night. It’s the first time in school history that the Bruins are the top team in the tournament. They had two losses on the season, both of which came to the Trojans.
Congratulations to the 12 teams left in the chase for the women’s Division I national championship. Wait. We mean 68, right? Not really. Technically, yes, there are 68 teams in the women’s tournament field, but history tells us that only 12 have a chance to be the last team standing in Tampa in a few weeks at the Final Four. Since the NCAA women’s tournament was born in 1982, there have been 32 No. 1 seeds that have gone on to win the national championship, along with seven No. 2 seeds and three No. 3 seeds. That’s it. No other seeds need apply.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Caitlin Clark drew lots of eyeballs to women’s basketball when she led Iowa to consecutive national-championship games. She also attracted a lot of bettors who otherwise might have put their money elsewhere. Clark is starring for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. But her impact is still being felt in women’s college basketball. BetMGM Sportsbook said it received 35% more money being bet on the sport this season, 39% more female bettors and 32% more customers regardless of gender. The NCAA Tournament begins this week.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers says he saw star potential in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while coaching him as a rookie before the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to Oklahoma City. But the veteran coach concedes that Gilgeous-Alexander has drastically outperformed those expectations. Rivers was speaking before his Milwaukee Bucks lost 121-105 to Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder on Sunday. Rivers said that "I don’t think anyone can honestly say they knew he was going to be this special.” Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging an NBA-leading 33 points and has scored at least 20 points in 62 consecutive games.
WEEKEND SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Saturday's Games
L.A. Dodgers 5, Giants 1
Houston 6, Miami 4
St. Louis 9, Toronto 5
Atlanta (ss) 7, Boston 3
Pittsburgh 15, Baltimore 5
Detroit 2, Philadelphia 2
N.Y. Yankees 7, Tampa Bay 7
San Francisco 6, Seattle (ss) 2
Texas 4, Athletics (ss) 3
Chicago White Sox (ss) 2, Colorado 1
Kansas City (ss) 13, Cincinnati 7
Cleveland 7, Kansas City (ss) 5
Milwaukee (ss) 8, Athletics (ss) 0
San Diego 8, Seattle (ss) 3
Milwaukee (ss) 4, L.A. Angels 0
Arizona 9, Chicago White Sox (ss) 8
Minnesota 4, Atlanta (ss) 0
Washington 4, N.Y. Mets 1
Hanshin 3, L.A. Dodgers 0
Sunday's Games
Chicago Cubs 4, Giants 2
Baltimore (ss) 7, Detroit 1
Pittsburgh 4, N.Y. Yankees (ss) 3
Boston 6, Minnesota 5
Philadelphia 12, Baltimore (ss) 1
N.Y. Yankees (ss) 7, Tampa Bay (ss) 5
Tampa Bay (ss) 11, Washington 5
Toronto 6, Atlanta 2
Houston 5, N.Y. Mets 0
Miami 11, St. Louis 5
San Francisco 7, Athletics 3
Seattle 8, Cincinnati 3
Chicago White Sox 7, Texas 6
San Diego (ss) 4, L.A. Angels 2
Milwaukee 8, Cleveland 2
Kansas City 10, Colorado 2
Arizona 5, San Diego (ss) 4
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Sunday, Mar. 16
TOURNAMENT American Athletic Final
Memphis 84, UAB 72
Atlantic 10 Championship
VCU 68, George Mason 63
Big Ten Final
Michigan 59, Wisconsin 53
East Coast Second Round
St. Thomas Aquinas 79, Daemen 74
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Second Round
Lake Superior St. 83, Michigan Tech 73
Great Lakes Valley Second Round
Missouri-St. Louis 65, Missouri S&T 56
Gulf South Second Round
Ala.-Huntsville 97, Florida Southern 86
Ivy League Championship
Yale 90, Cornell 84
Lone Star Second Round
Dallas Baptist 80, Midwestern St. 54
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Second Round
Washburn 94, Concordia (St.P.) 78
Mountain East Second Round
West Liberty 89, Fayetteville St. 69
Northeast-10 Second Round
Assumption 81, Dominican (NY) 75
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Second Round
Minn. St. (Moorhead) 70, Winona St. 59
Peach Belt Athletic Second Round
Lenoir-Rhyne 91, SC-Aiken 87
UNC-Pembroke 91, Columbus St. 80
Pennsylvania State Athletic Second Round
Gannon 92, Virginia St. 66
Rocky Mountain Athletic Second Round
Colorado Mines 66, St. Mary's (Texas) 63
Southeastern Final
Florida 86, Tennessee 77
Sunshine State Second Round
Nova Southeastern 80, Lynn 72
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Sunday's Games
Philadelphia 130, Dallas 125
Orlando 108, Cleveland 103
L.A. Lakers 107, Phoenix 96
Portland 105, Toronto 102
Brooklyn 122, Atlanta 114
L.A. Clippers 123, Charlotte 88
Minnesota 128, Utah 102
Oklahoma City 121, Milwaukee 105
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAUGE
Sunday's Games
Detroit 3, Vegas 0
Colorado 4, Dallas 3, OT
Edmonton 3, N.Y. Rangers 1
N.Y. Islanders 4, Florida 2
Utah 3, Vancouver 1
St. Louis 7, Anaheim 2
Winnipeg 3, Seattle 2, OT