Off the wire

GOLF

Kaymer leads by six

Martin Kaymer turned what promised to be an exciting weekend duel with Rory McIlroy into a procession at the Abu Dhabi Championship. Seeking a fourth title in eight years in Abu Dhabi, Kaymer shot a 7-under 65 in the third round Saturday to extend his overnight lead from one stroke to six. He moved to 20-under 196 overall -- a record-low total here after 54 holes. The U.S. Open champion's pace was too hot for McIlroy, whose putting failed to match his tee-to-green play as he shot 71. The top-ranked McIlroy cut a forlorn figure at the end of his round, having dropped eight shots behind Kaymer and going from third place into a share of fifth. Belgium's Thomas Pieters shot 70 to stay in second place. The numbers Kaymer is putting up in the United Arab Emirates capital are mind-boggling. He is 107 under here in his last 31 rounds, hasn't dropped a shot in 43 holes and can break his record score of 24 under -- set in 2011 -- with a 67 or less today. Kaymer's three victories in Abu Dhabi -- the opening event of the year for many players -- came in 2008, '10 and '11 and he also has a second and fifth place. The German birdied five of his first eight holes and somehow escaped dropping a shot for the first time since Thursday after hitting his second shot at No. 10 into a bush. He took a drop, chipped from the desert into a greenside bunker, only to find the cup from the sand for the second consecutive day on that hole. It brought a fist pump from Kaymer, who birdied Nos. 11 and 13 before parring his way home on a third consecutive day of sunny skies and just a slight breeze. He opened the tournament with rounds of 64 and 67. McIlroy's only birdies came at Nos. 6 and 12, and he is 12 under alongside France's Gary Stal (67) and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (65). Austria's Bernd Wiesberger (66) and France's Alexander Levy (67) are tied for third at 13 under.

Defending champion Jimmy Walker one-putted his last 11 holes Saturday on his way to an 8-under 62, giving him a two-shot lead in the Sony Open at Honolulu and a chance to become the first back-toback winner since 2004. On a day in which six players had at least a share of the lead at some point, Walker began his surge with a wedge to 5 feet on the eighth hole. He twice saved par, escaped with a bogey after two shots from a plugged lie in a bunker on the 17th and made birdie everywhere else. Matt Kuchar, one of three players tied for the lead at the start of Saturday, birdied two of his last three holes for a 68 and was two shots behind. Walker was at 16-under 194. Brian Harman (64) and Troy Merritt (67) were three shots behind, while Tim Clark (68) and Justin Thomas (70) were another shot behind. Max Homa, a former NCAA champion from Cal, had a 63 and was five shots behind.

BASEBALL

Cuban prospect signed

The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced an agreement with 21-year-old Cuban pitching prospect Yoan Lopez. The team said Saturday that Lopez had a deal for a minor league contract. The 6-foot-4 right-hander played three seasons in Cuba's top league, going 15-13 with a 3.76 ERA. Lopez got an $8.27 million signing bonus, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press earlier in the week. Last month, Arizona agreed to terms with Cuban third baseman-outfielder Yasmany Tomas on a six-year contract worth $68.5 million. Diamondbacks senior vice president of baseball operations De Jon Watson says Lopez is a "good-looking young starter with good upside potential." Watson says Lopez features an outstanding fastball and slider.

Anthony Bosch, the convicted Coral Gables, Fla., steroid dealer who shook up Major League Baseball, has hogged the spotlight during the federal probe of his ring that sold unlawful muscle-building drugs to pro ballplayers. Bosch's onetime business partner, Carlos Acevedo, has drawn far less media attention. Acevedo -- who rose from being Bosch's customer to deliveryman to business partner to starting his own anti-aging clinic -- was sentenced Friday to 3 1/2 years in prison in Miami federal court. Acevedo, 36, must surrender to prison authorities on March 16. But the Miami-Dade steroid entrepreneur is expected to receive a reduced sentence for cooperating in the high-profile case against others charged with distributing the illicit drug in the Bosch-led network. So far, six of eight defendants have pleaded guilty, including Bosch and Acevedo. Bosch, who implicated 14 Major League ballplayers as his customers, including New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17. Bosch's anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis of America, shut down in early 2013 just before a media report exposed his sale of banned MLB performance-enhancing drugs to Rodriguez and other ballplayers.

HOCKEY

Timonen questionable

Kimmo Timonen's blood clots have cleared from his lungs but not his legs, and it is still questionable whether the Philadelphia Flyers' veteran defenseman will be able to play again. General Manager Ron Hextall relayed the doctor's medical report Saturday. He said Timonen was still optimistic about playing but that a final decision probably will be made after a conference call Wednesday with multiple doctors. Timonen, 39, is still hopeful of returning, and Hextall said the defenseman had "guarded optimism." Without Timonen, the Flyers' defense has struggled. "He's the piece that we've been missing," winger Jake Voracek said. But if the Flyers continue to be far from the playoff race, is it worth it to bring Timonen back? "That's a legitimate question, and that's one of the things that will certainly be discussed," Hextall said.

TENNIS

Watson wins Hobart

Britain's Heather Watson defeated American Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to win the Hobart International title in Hobart, Australia, without dropping a set. The players traded service breaks early in the first set with wind gusts impacting the strength of serves. But Watson's powerful baseline play saw her prevail, giving her a second WTA tournament title along with her Japan Open win at Osaka in 2012. Watson became the first British woman in more than 30 years to have two career WTA titles. Anne Hobbs won at Auckland, New Zealand, in 1985 and at Indianapolis in 1983. "It's all coming together, I'm feeling very confident, very fit," Watson said. The 22-year-old Watson plays Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round of the Australian Open, which begins Monday. Brengle takes on 13th-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany. "I know her game well," Watson said of Pironkova. "She always has a good run in Australia. She's a toughie but in a Grand Slam, everybody's a toughie."

BOXING

Wilder gets piece of title

Deontay Wilder became the first American to win a piece of the heavyweight title in nearly a decade Saturday night, staggering Bermane Stiverne in Las Vegas early on his way to a 12-round unanimous decision that kept him unbeaten in 33 fights. Going deep into a fight for the first time in his career, Wilder controlled the bout with a big left jab, often followed by right hands up the middle as he piled up points early on his way to the biggest victory of his career. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, who had never been past the fourth round in winning all 32 of his previous fights, had to go the distance in this one. But the payoff was the WBC heavyweight title and a chance to be a big man on a big stage.

BASEBALL

Wrigley bleachers still a work in progress

CHICAGO — The bleachers at Wrigley Field will not be ready for opening day.

Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Chicago Cubs, said the target date for the opening of the left field bleachers is early May and late May for the right field bleachers.

Bleacher season-ticket holders have three options for home games through May 11 — seek a full refund for games through May 11, ask for a credit for home games through May 11 or ask to be relocated for games through May 11.

Those affected have until Jan. 29 to decide.

“It’s looking like the bleachers won’t be ready for opening day,” Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said. “We just want to make sure everyone who has season tickets in the bleachers feels like they’re made whole. There will be some options for everyone.

“We’ll take care of it.”

About 1,000 season-ticket holders (covering about 2,000 seats) are affected.

“There’s incentive to get it done as soon as possible, but you’ve got to do it the right way,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts vowed the Cubs wouldn’t relocate their home games elsewhere.

Ricketts also confirmed a Chicago Tribune story that reported he bought rooftops around the ballpark and plans to operate them as a business. Ricketts added the JumboTron boards and signage will be ready by the Cubs’ April 5 opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sports on 01/18/2015

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