Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — GOLF

Love, son win challenge

Davis Love III had a nice pitch shot on No. 18 and son Dru finished off the birdie to capture the Father-Son Challenge title Sunday in Orlando, Fla. With Larry and Josh Nelson already in at 22 under par for the two-day scramble format, both Loves misfired in trying to reach the green in two at the par-5 finishing hole. Dru,an Alabama freshman who won five Georgia state titles in high school, went long and right near the grandstand at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. Davis watched his ball roll onto the bank of a green side pond. But the elder Love found the right touch on his pitch from Dru’s position and his son made the winning putt. The Loves teamed for an 11-under 61 in the final round.

Sergio Garcia won the rain shortened Johor Open on Sunday, closing with an 11-under-par 61 for a three-stroke victory in the Asian Tour’s season-ending event in Johor, Malaysia. The 32-year-old Spanish star finished at 18-under 198 at Horizon Hills for his second victory of the year and 24th international title. He also won the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship in August. Garcia had the lowest final round by a winner in Asian Tour history. He birdied seven of the first nine holes to make the turn in 7-under 29, added birdies on 13 and 14 before a long rain delay, then returned to make it four in a row with birdies on 15 and 16.

American Jonathan Moore also shot a 61 to finish second. John Daly (Dardanelle/Arkansas Razorbacks) finished with a 65 to tie for 15th at 8 under.

Rookie Daniel Popovic completed an improbable wire-to-wire victory in the Australian PGA, shooting a 3-under-par 69 for a four stroke victory Sunday in Coolum, Australia. The Australian finished at 16-under 272 at Palmer Coolum resort. Rod Pampling birdied the first six holes to take the lead after nine holes, but dropped four strokes on the final three holes - making bogeys on 16 and 17 and a double bogey on 18 - to fall into a tie for second with fellow Australian Anthony Brown. Pampling had a 69, and Brown shot 71.

Charl Schwartzel was the runaway winner for the second consecutive weekend, coasting to a 12-shot victory Sunday at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on the European Tour in Malelane, South Africa. The 2011 Masters champion finished at 24-under 264 - the lowest at Leopard Creek Country Club. He won by 11 strokes in Thailand last weekend. Schwartzel shot a 69 in the final round. The runner-up was Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg, who finished at 12 under.

FOOTBALL Vols hire WR coach

Zach Azzanni has been hired to coach wide receivers and serve as the recruiting coordinator for Tennessee. New Vols Coach Butch Jones made the announcement Sunday. Azzanni was the wide receivers coach for Big Ten conference champion Wisconsin this year. He also served on Urban Meyer’s staff at Florida in 2010.

North Carolina State has hired former NFL receiver Frisman Jackson to coach receivers for the Wolfpack. Jackson spent last season working under new N.C. State Coach Dave Doeren at Northern Illinois. Jackson had coached receivers for two seasons at Akron and also at Western Illinois, his alma mater.

Michigan Coach Brady Hoke has suspended cornerback J.T. Floyd, punter Will Hagerup and linebacker Brandin Hawthorne for a violation of team rules. Hoke said Sunday the three players will not travel with the No. 18 Wolverines for the Outback Bowl against No. 10 South Carolina because each of them used poor judgment. He didn’t specify which team rules were broken. Floyd is a starting cornerback and Hagerup is the team’s top punter. Hawthorne is a backup linebacker.

Iowa State running back Shontrelle Johnson will miss the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 against Tulsa because of a knee injury. Cyclones Coach Paul Rhoads said Johnson injured his right knee making a cut during practice Saturday. Rhoads said Johnson likely will have surgery in January. Johnson started six games this season and leads Iowa State (6-6) with 504 yards rushing.

BASKETBALL Przybilla suspended

Milwaukee Bucks center Joel Przybilla has been suspended by the NBA for one game without pay for throwing a basketball that hit a referee during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Stu Jackson, the NBA’s executive vice president for basketball operations, announced the suspension Sunday. The incident occurred with 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter of Milwaukee’s 111-85 loss to the Clippers on Saturday night. The 7-foot-1 center will serve his suspension Tuesday when the Bucks host the Indiana Pacers.

WRESTLING Ohio State, Iowa win

Iowa and Ohio State each won a pair of duals as 14 teams competed in what organizers said was the first college wrestling competition in the history of Madison Square Garden in New York. Iowa won 18 of 20 matches while defeating Hofstra 42-0 and topping Bucknell 34-9 in the inaugural Grapple at the Garden on Sunday. Ohio State routed Hofstra 38-3 and Maryland 34-3.

SWIMMING Lochte wins 5th gold

Ryan Lochte captured his fifth gold medal at the short-course world championships in Turkey by winning the 100-meter individual medley Sunday, a day after he broke the world record in the event in Instanbul. The five-time Olympic champion finished in 51.21 seconds, ahead of Kenneth To of Australia and George Bovell III of Trinidad and Tobago. Earlier Sunday, the American won silver in the 200 backstroke. Lochte broke the world record in the 100 IM with a time of 50.71 in the semifinals Saturday, eclipsing the mark set by Peter Mankoc of Slovenia in December 2009. On Friday, the American broke the world record in the 200 IM.

BASEBALL Mets, Blue Jays nearing deal for Dickey

The New York Mets took significant steps toward resolving a protracted contract standoff with pitcher R.A. Dickey on Sunday, agreeing in principle to trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The deal is contingent on Dickey and the Blue Jays’ agreeing on a contract extension during a 72-hour negotiating window, according to several reports.

It has been widely reported that the centerpiece of the return package would be highly regarded minor-league catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and it appeared the Mets would receive top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, veteran catcher John Buck and another minor-league prospect. The Mets would send to Toronto catcher Josh Thole and a prospect of their own.

Dickey, 38, was 20-6 for the Mets this season with a 2.73 ERA and won the National League Cy Young Award.

During long and sometimes awkward negotiations with the Mets, Dickey, who has one more year left on his current contract,asked for two additional years for about $26 million.

Dickey, a knuckle baller, compiled a league-high 233 2/3 innings pitched and 230 strikeouts last season, and his 2.73 ERA was second in the National League.

If the deal is completed, Dickey will become the fourth pitcher to be traded immediately after winning the award.

The trade comes after protracted negotiations this winter, an off season that began with the Mets saying that finding contract extensions for third baseman David Wright and Dickey, their two stars, would be their top priority. Wright’s situation was settled quickly enough - he negotiated an eight-year contract worth $138 million - but Dickey’s dragged on.

Dickey was signed for 2013 at a bargain salary of $5 million and was seeking a two-year extension worth about $26 million. The Mets countered with an offer that they eventually raised to about $20 million.

Dickey is 39-28 with 2.95 ERA in 94 appearances over three seasons with the Mets.