Month: January 2022

By ROB HARRIS, AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Once Hakim Ziyech's curling, dipping strike landed in the Tottenham goal, Chelsea never looked back. Sure, it took until two minutes into the second half to break the deadlock and the Moroccan was justified in ranking it “10 out of 10." But the space gifted for Thiago Silva's header from Mason Mount's free kick in the 55th minute to seal a 2-0 win on Sunday was a snapshot of this most lopsided of London rivalries. Chelsea should never have doubted its four-match winless run in the Premier League would end on Sunday. Not even with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte going nine league matches unbeaten at the start of his Tottenham reign before the visit to Stamford Bridge. It's now 33 wins for Chelsea a...

By JEFF BABINEAU, Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Danielle Kang readily admits she, and her golf game, remain a constant work in progress. She spent much of the offseason finding a way to be “comfortable being uncomfortable.” It seems to be working. On a difficult championship test at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Kang ran off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch in the middle of her round, posted the low score Sunday at 4-under 68 and sprinted away to a three-shot victory at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. “My mental game was really good,” said Kang, who was winless Hey Dude Sneakers  in 2021 after having won in each of her previous four LPGA seasons. “I had a really good attitude all day today and yesterday. I know I ...

By ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — If Tom Brady played the last game of an unprecedented career, he ended with one of his toughest losses after a stunning comeback. Bloodied and battered by the Los Angeles Rams, the 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back from a 27-3 deficit, only to see the defense surrender a big play in the final minute to set up Matt Gay's winning 30-yard field goal. The Rams' 30-27 victory Sunday sent Los Angeles home to host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game next week. They ended Tampa Bay’s bid Skechers Shoes  to become the NFL’s first repeat champions since Brady led New England to consecutive titles following the 2003-04 seasons. Have the Rams also...

By JOHN NICHOLSON, AP Sports Writer LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Hudson Swafford thought about his late father Sunday at PGA West in his second victory in The American Express in five years. “I had a couple moments where I looked up and knew that he was following and knew that he was there," Swafford said. "I could just hear his voice saying, ‘Just be confident in what you’re doing. You’re playing great.’ And he goes, 'Just play to win.’” David Swafford died Dec. 6 at age 83. He gave Hudson his first clubs at age 2. “One of the best people I know and he taught me everything I know,” Swafford said. “How to be a dad, how to be a friend, how to be a champion and how to play golf. Chaco Sandals He’s the one that got me into golf when I was young. He gave me ever...

By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Stafford stood on the sideline helplessly watching Tom Brady be Tom Brady, leading another exhilarating comeback. This time, though, the seven-time Super Bowl champion left too much time on the clock, giving Stafford a chance to create some playoff magic of his own. Turns out, 42 seconds was just enough for the Los Angeles quarterback to pull off a Brady-like finish that sent the Rams to the NFC championship game for the second time in four seasons with a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Stafford said. “I mean, we sure let ’em back in the game with a bunch of mistakes on offense. Our defense played outstanding. We’ve got to clean some ...

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Ayoka Lee broke the NCAA women’s single-game scoring record for Division I with 61 points to help Kansas State romp to a 94-65 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma on Sunday. She made 23 of 30 shots from the floor — all 2-pointers — for the Wildcats (15-4, 5-2 Big 12 Conference). Lee topped the previous record on a layup with 2:53 remaining in the game. Cindy Brown of Long Beach State scored 60 against San Jose State on Feb. 16, 1987 and Rachel Banham had 60 for Minnesota on Feb. 7, 2016 against Northwestern. “I didn't come in expecting to break a record,” Lee said. “I think (it was) just sticking to our game plan, running what we needed to run and our guards did amazing.” Lee had 32 points in the first half to help Kansas State take a 51-...