Digest

GOLF

Mickelson among 11 players suing PGA Tour

A cadre of golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Wednesday.

Eleven golfers now on the LIV Golf Series joined the lawsuit, which challenges their suspension from the PGA Tour. Three of the 11－Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones－are seeking a temporary restraining order to be allowed to participate in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin next week.

That trio qualified for the playoffs but were banned after joining LIV, a competing circuit considered a direct threat to the PGA Tour.

In addition, Abraham Ancer, Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, Ian Poulter and Peter Uihlein are listed along with Mickelson and DeChambeau in the lawsuit.

Multiple media outlets obtained copies of the lawsuit, first reported on by The Wall Street Journal.

"As part of its carefully orchestrated plan to defeat competition, the tour has threatened lifetime bans on players who play in even a single LIV Golf event," the lawsuit says. "It has backed up these threats by imposing unprecedented suspensions on players (including the plaintiffs) that threaten irreparable harm to the players and their ability to pursue their profession."

TENNIS

Top-seeded Pegula in shock exit at Citi Open

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula is out of the Citi Open after losing in straight sets to Australian Daria Saville in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

Pegula, the defending champion of the tournament that serves as a hard-court tuneup for the US Open, lost 7-5, 6-4, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. The Buffalo, New York, native who's ranked seventh in the world won in Washington the last time the WTA played there in 2019 and was coming off reaching the last 32 at Wimbledon this year.

"I was really excited to play against a top-10 player again," Saville said. "It was a great challenge. To get away with a win is even better."

Second-seeded Emma Raducanu beat Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2. Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 3-6,6-1, and will next face Saville.

"I feel like I'm playing really good tennis right now," Saville said. "I'm excited for more."

BASKETBALL

NBA Canada Series to return in October

The NBA will resume playing Canadian preseason games beyond Toronto in October, with the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz meeting the Toronto Raptors in October, the league announced on Wednesday.

The eighth NBA Canada Series will see the Raptors face Utah on Oct 2 at Edmonton before taking on the reigning Eastern Conference champion Celtics on Oct 14 at Montreal.

It marks the first time since 2019 such games will be contested following COVID-19 concerns the past two years. The Raptors feature 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam and 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes as well as Canadians Chris Boucher, Khem Birch and Dalano Banton.

The Jazz roster includes three-time NBA All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and Canadian forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Celtics will make their second appearance in Montreal after 2012 in the NBA's sixth contest in the city.

Boston's lineup includes three-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, 2021 All-Star Jaylen Brown and 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.

CYCLING

Commonwealth riders hurt in serious crash

Three cyclists were taken to hospital after a serious crash during the second heat of the men's scratch race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

The remainder of the morning session was canceled and spectators were asked to leave the velodrome after Team England's Matt Walls and the Isle of Man's Matt Bostock were involved in the crash along with several other riders.

Walls was catapulted over the barriers and into the crowd at the Lee Valley VeloPark, the 24-year-old receiving treatment for more than 40 minutes before leaving in an ambulance.

Spectators were also hurt after Walls and his bike came over the top of the barriers on the high banking at a corner of the track.

"Following a crash at the morning session of track and para track cycling at the Lee Valley VeloPark, three cyclists and two spectators have been treated by the on-site medical team," a Birmingham 2022 spokesperson said in a statement.

MOTOR SPORTS

Rossi penalized over water-bottle violation

IndyCar on Wednesday fined Andretti Autosport $25,000 because the team used a water bottle to make weight in the car Alexander Rossi drove to end his 49-race losing streak.

Rossi's car failed inspection following Saturday's win on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IndyCar said the water bottle was used instead of ballast to ensure the car met the minimum weight requirement.

"From a sporting perspective, the car met minimum requirements," said IndyCar president Jay Frye. "From a technical perspective, the way they achieved the weight is not allowed. To meet minimum weight, the drink bottle and its contents were used as car ballast, which is not permitted and why the team is being fined and penalized."

Rossi was also docked 20 points in the standings, but he ranked eighth in the standings before the penalty and is long out of IndyCar's title race. Rossi is set to leave Andretti at the end of the season to drive for Arrow McLaren SP.

Agencies