Off the wire

GOLF

Hoffmman leads Travelers

Charley Hoffman couldn’t help but think about last year as he stood on the 17th tee Thursday at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. A year ago, Hoffman hit a similar tee shot right and into the water, staring at a double-bogey, bogey slide on the final two holes of the tournament in which he lost a two-stroke lead and eventually the title. This time, his drive stayed on the fairway. He finished with a par and then a birdie to complete a first-round 61, one shot off the course record. His 28 on the back nine was the lowest nine holes on the PGA Tour this year, and puts him one shot up on Hunter Mahan, who posted an early 62. Bubba Watson was two strokes back. Sixgolfers were four strokes back. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) had three birdies and a bogey for a 2-under 68. Glen Day (Little Rock) shot an even par 70. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had four birdies and three bogeys for a 1-under 69. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had two birdies and four bogeys for a 2-over 72. Bryce Molder (Conway) had four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under 67. Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) had four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under 68. The biggest ovation of the day came when Justin Rose was introduced on the first tee as the U.S. Open champion. Rose went on to shoot a 67, leaving him in good shape heading into today. The round marked the pro debut of Chris Williams, the top ranked amateur in the world the past season. The former University of Washington star shot a 1-over 71, with two bogeys and a single birdie.

Ernie Els shot a 9-under 63, making an eagle and seven birdies, on Thursday to hold the clubhouse lead in the opening round of the BMW International Open in Munich. The South African, who won the British Open in 2002 and 2012and the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997, almost had a second eagle on the last hole that would have equaled a course record. He settled for a birdie that gave him the overall lead. Els is one stroke ahead of Matthew Baldwin of England, Alex Noren of Sweden, Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands, and Martin Kaymar, who delighted the home crowd by finishing in the afternoon with three successive birdies, nine in all. Baldwin and Noren both holed eight birdies in the morning, while Derksen had six, as well as an eagle. English pair Matthew Nixon and Tom Lewis, and Alexander Levy of France are next after shooting 65s.

Andrew Putnam shot a blistering 9-under 62 on Thursday and is in the lead in the first round of the Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C. Chesson Hadley was alone in second with an 8-under 63. Seven players were tied for third at 65 in the Web.com Tour event. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) had two birdies and three bogeys for a 1-over 72.

TRACK AND FIELD

Tyson Gay (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Justin Gatlin breezed through the first round of the 100 meters Thursday, turning in rather pedestrian performances at the U.S. Track and Field Championships at Des Moines. Fast times were hardly the point on this windy day, only advancing. Gay and Gatlin remain on course for a meeting in today’s final. His surgically repaired hip fully mended, Gay powered down his lane to win his heat in 10.28 seconds. Later, Gatlin cruised across the line in 10.37, taking second in his heat. Dentarius Locke had the top time of 10.19, just ahead of Jeff Demps. The women’s 100 lacked some star power as world champion Carmelita Jeter was out with a sore right quadriceps and Allyson Felix skipped the race to save energy for the 200. Barbara Pierre won in 11.18.

TENNIS

Fifth-seeded Chardy upset

Stanislas Wawrinka defeated fifth-seeded Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-6 (2) Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Topshelf Open at Rosmalen, Netherlands. In the women’s draw, Dominika Cibulkova lost 6-4, 6-4 to Garbine Muguruza. Simona Halep defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-3, 6-1 to set up a semifinal with Carla Suarez Navarro, who rallied past Tsvetana Pironkova 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Wawrinka lost his service in the first game of the second set before Chardy reeled off three consecutive service games at love to reach 5-3. Wawrinka broke back and easily won the tiebreaker. He’ll play Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the semifinals today after the Spaniard beat Jan Hernych 6-4, 6-1. Xavier Malisse of Belgium edged Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 and will face Nicolas Mahut after the Frenchman defeated Evgeny Donskoy 6-3, 7-6 (1). Kirsten Flipkens overcame a sore back to stop last year’s finalist Urszula Radwanska 6-4, 6-4. She’ll play Muguruza in the semifinal. Flipkens was up 3-2 in the second set when she called for a medical timeout and received treatment on her back.

MOTOR SPORTS Yaaman’s probation extended

Grand-Am has extended the probation for driver Gustavo Yacaman for an additional two races. It brings the total races of probation to four for the Colombian driver. Yacaman was first placed on probation for his involvement in various incidents on June 1 at Detroit. Grand-Am said Thursday the probation was extended because race officials were unable to evaluate Yacaman at Mid-Ohio last week because he was involved in an early accident. Yacaman made contact with Memo Rojas racing for position on the first lap. It caused a cut tire that sent him into the gravel. That cut his oil line and caused significant fire damage to his Michael Shank Racing entry.

HORSE RACING

Bigger better at Belmont

Bigger is Bettor was best on Thursday, beating stablemate Papa Tom by 2 ¼ lengths in the $64,000 allowance feature for New York breds at Belmont Park. Bigger is Bettor went off as the 2-1 favorite in the race.Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo enjoyed a 1-2 finish. The horses were uncoupled in the wagering. Jose Lezcano was aboard the gray 5-year-old who improved to 3 for 25. The time was 1:37 for the mile. Bigger is Bettor paid $6.30, $4 and $3. Papa Tom returned $14.40 and $9.50, and Cousin Michael paid $4.20 to show.

FOOTBALL Broncos re-sign Koppen

The Denver Broncos signed free agent center Dan Koppen, bringing the 11-year veteran back after J.D. Walton had off season surgery on his left ankle. Koppen signed with the Broncos last October and started 12 regular season games after Walton first hurt his ankle. Walton was expected back this season but needed more surgery this off season. Koppen played his first nine seasons with the Patriots. The Broncos have injury issues on their offensive line, with guard Chris Kuper (ankle) and tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) still recovering from surgery. Backup Manny Ramirez took most of the snaps at center during Denver’s off season practices, but the Broncos decided to bring back Koppen, whose teams have gone 108-28 in games he has started.

MOTOR SPORTS

Formula One tribunal set

PARIS - A hearing to determine whether Mercedes and Pirelli broke Formula One rules by holding in-season tire tests has opened in Paris.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) convened the tribunal hearing to determine whether Mercedes gained a competitive advantage from the testing session in Barcelona last month.

Laying out the case for the FIA, lawyer Mark Howard said Pirelli tried out a variety of tires in the test using Mercedes’ 2013 cars, driven by current drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

Pirelli organized the tests and paid for the Barcelona circuit where they were held, Howard said. But he argued that the testing could still have provided Mercedes with potentially valuable information about its cars and their reliability.