Patience turns it for Tiger

GAINESVILLE, Virginia—Struggling tournament host Tiger Woods recovered from another woeful start with a back-nine birdie binge Thursday to spark some confidence that the form which won 14 major titles might return consistently.

The former world No. 1 opened with bogeys on three of his first four holes but rallied with four consecutive birdies to fire a three-under par 68 and share 27th at the US PGA Quicken Loans National.

“It was nice to actually turn it around,” Woods said. “I said stay patient and it will turn, which it did and I had a run there.”
That 68 left him five shots off leaders Retief Goosen and Ryo Ishikawa. AFP

Mavericks sign Tunisian giant

DALLAS—The Mavericks have signed Tunisian center Salah Mejri from Real Madrid in the Spanish League.

The 7-foot-2 Mejri averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 34 games for Real Madrid last season. Those averages went up to 5.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in eight games as Real Madrid won the Euroleague championship.

Mejri competed for Tunisia in the 2012 London Olympics. He was the MVP of the 2011 Fiba African Championships. AP

Trump steals show from Kim

TURNBERRY, Scotland—Donald Trump’s show-stealing arrival at the Women’s British Open on Thursday upstaged another strong start to a major by Korean Hyo-joo Kim.

Kim was midway through compiling a 7-under 65 in the first round when Trump, the American presidential candidate, landed in a helicopter to begin a visit at the tournament at his Turnberry resort in western Scotland.

Kim led Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Cristie Kerr of the United States by a shot. AP

N. Korean teener nails gold

KAZAN, Russia—North Korea won its first gold medal at the world aquatics championships through 16-year-old Kim Kuk-hyang in women’s 10-meter diving on Thursday.

In her first international competition, Kim produced a stunning final dive, earning two perfect 10 scores from the seven judges, for 397.05 points. The silver went to 14-year-old Chinese diver Ren Qian on 388. AP