GOLF
Joaquin Niemann of Chile was headed to Boston on Monday for the next LIV Golf event, which would give the Saudi-funded league its youngest PGA Tour winner as it fills out its roster for the rest of the inaugural season.
“Going but has not signed it yet,” Carlos Rodriguez, his manager at GSE Worldwide, said in a text to The Associated Press.
The 23-year-old Niemann, who is No. 19 in the world ranking, was the most prominent name mentioned in various reports over the weekend to leave the PGA Tour. The most notable was British Open champion Cameron Smith, which The Daily Telegraph reported three weeks ago.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy led a private meeting among top players on Aug. 17 during the BMW Championship in which they discussed a new tournament model for the PGA Tour. Niemann took part in that meeting, and he would be the only one of the 23 players in attendance to defect.
The move would not be a surprise, mostly because Niemann’s closest friends in golf already have joined LIV Golf. Sergio Garcia is a mentor. Carlos Ortiz of Mexico is his best friend in golf and they often stay in the same house and bring their own chef.
Niemann had been contemplating an offer since the start of the year. But early plans for the rival league were stalled in February with Phil Mickelson’s derogatory comments about the Saudis and the PGA Tour, even saying his end game was to get leverage for change.
Also leaving for LIV are Harold Varner, Cameron Tringale, Marc Leishman and Anirban Lahiri.
BASKETBALL
U.S. MEN: John Jenkins scored 26 points and the U.S. defeated Colombia 95-77 in a second-round qualifying game at Barranquilla, Colombia. The win put the Americans in position to clinch a spot in the World Cup – to be held a year from now in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia – when the next window of games takes place in mid-November.
Langston Galloway and DaQuan Jeffries each scored 14 points for the U.S., which gave up the game’s opening basket, then scored the next 12 points and never trailed again.
The U.S. is 7-1, two games ahead of Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay (all 5-3) in Group F. Puerto Rico is 4-4 and Colombia is 3-5. There are only four qualifying games left for each team.
SOCCER
WEST HAM: Brazil international Lucas Paqueta joined West Ham for a club-record fee of 61.6 million euros ($61.6 million), ending his two-year stint at French team Lyon.
Lyon said the fee included 18.7 million euros in bonuses spread over the player’s five-year contract.
The signing of Paqueta, a silky attacking midfielder who can play anywhere across the forward line or deeper in central midfield, is another statement of intent by West Ham, which has also bought Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca for 30 million pounds ($36 million) from Sassuolo in this transfer window.
MIDDLESBOROUGH: American goalkeeper Zack Steffen missed Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win over Swansea because of a knee injury but could return for Tuesday night’s match at Watford.
Steffen went on loan to the second-tier team by Manchester City in hopes of getting regular playing time ahead of the World Cup. The 27-year-old Steffen started the first five matches of the League Championship season and was replaced by Liam Roberts against Swansea on Saturday.
ENGLAND TRANSFERS: Heavy-spending Nottingham Forest still isn’t done in this transfer window.
The promoted club announced the signing of Brazil left back Renan Lodi from Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan, taking the number of players signed since sealing a return to the Premier League to a staggering 18.
The 24-year-old Lodi has played 15 times for Brazil and is on course to make its squad for the World Cup. He made 118 appearances in three seasons with Atletico.
BARCELONA: A group of masked men broke into the house of Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and attacked and robbed him early Monday, the club said.
Barcelona confirmed the incident and said the player and his wife were doing well.
Authorities told the Spanish daily El Pais that Aubameyang was hit and forced to open a safe where the couple kept jewelry. The attackers allegedly threatened him and his wife with guns and iron bars.
Authorities said at least four men entered the player’s home and then escaped in a car.
HOCKEY
WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS: The United States warmed up for its group showdown with Canada by blitzing Switzerland 9-0 at Copenhagen, Denmark.
The U.S. matched Canada with 3-0 records. Their Group A closer on Tuesday, also in Herning, is expected to be a preview of the final on Sunday.
Seven Americans scored, including two each for Hilary Knight and Taylor Heise, who scored her first goals for the U.S.
NHL: The San Jose Sharks traded goalie Adin Hill to the division rival Vegas Golden Knights for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
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