GOLF
Hahn leads Phoenix
James Hahn shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 on Friday to take the lead in the suspended second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Hahn had a 10-under 132 total on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course to enter the weekend a stroke ahead of Rickie Fowler and Danny Lee. Fowler birdied his final hole for a 68, and Lee had a 66. After playing his first eight holes in 5 under to take the lead, Phil Mickelson dropped four strokes in a two-hole stretch and finished with a 69. Bryce Molder (Conway) bogeyed his final hole Friday morning in the completion of play to finish with a 67. He was one of 33 players to finish his round Friday. David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) had three birdies, one bogey and two double bogeys for a 2-over 73 (145). Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey for a 1-over 72 (147).
Lydia Ko putted on one green and played six holes in a span of 11 hours before ending a long Friday in the same place she started — with a share of the lead in the Coates Golf Championship. Ko three-putted from 15 feet for bogey in frigid morning weather to complete the rain-delayed second round. In the afternoon, she made one birdie to get back to 7-under par through six holes. Ko was tied with Ha Na Jang, who played 24 holes on Friday. The third round resumes this morning, with the tournament finishing in the afternoon. Jang shot 72 in the second round and was even par through six holes. Lexi Thompson was among five players one shot behind. No one completed the third round. Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) was 2 over through 10 holes and Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) was 3 over through 13 holes.
Ernie Els surged into contention Friday at the Dubai Desert Classic, while Rory McIlroy struggled just to make the cut. Els, 46, who has dropped to 205th in the world after struggling with the yips over the past year, shot a 5-under 67 to move to within one shot of the lead at the halfway stage of a tournament he has won three times. Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, winner here in 2012, shot his second consecutive 67 to grab a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend. Els, who was tied with compatriot Trevor Fisher Jr. and England’s Danny Willett at 9-under, made several crucial par putts to keep a bogey-free round. Defending champion McIlroy shot a 72 to finish at 4-under 140 after two rounds, six shots off the lead. He had three birdies in his last three holes.
Sebastian Munoz shot a second-round 5-under 66 and was the clubhouse leader Friday at the Club Colombia Championship at Bogota. Round 2 was suspended because of darkness and will resume at 8 a.m. local time today. Munoz is tied with Zack Fischer (Little Rock), who will complete his round this morning. Rodolpho Cazaubon, Brett Drewitt and Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) completed their Friday rounds and are one stroke off the lead. Trey Mullinax, Max Homa, Craig Barlow and first-round leader Miguel Angel Carballo are also at 6-under and will return this morning to finish their rounds. Matt Atkins (Henderson State) had five birdies and a bogey for a 4-under 67 (140). Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had a birdie and five bogeys for a 4-over 75 (146). Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) did not finish his round.
BASEBALL
Arrieta, Cubs agree
Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta has agreed to a $10.7 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the highest one-year deal for a pitcher with four years of major league service, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced by the team. Arrieta, who turns 30 in March, had a breakout season last year, helping the Cubs to an NL wild card. The NL Cy Young Award winner finished with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA, easily cruising past most of his previous career highs. Arrieta made $3.63 million last year. He had asked for $13 million and the team had offered $7.5 million, the largest gap among players who filed for arbitration.
FOOTBALL
Haden to retire
University of Southern California Athletic Director Pat Haden said he will retire on June 30. USC President Max Nikias made the announcement Friday. Haden has run the athletic department for 5 ½ years, leading the Trojans through a multiyear stretch of NCAA sanctions against its vaunted football program. He created a large NCAA compliance program and improved graduation rates and grade point averages across the athletic department. The former USC quarterback also received criticism for the football program’s relative underachievement and for his handling of Coach Steve Sarkisian, who has sued the school over his termination last year. Haden will start a one-year job guiding the renovation of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the football team plays, after he retires.
TENNIS
Gasquet advances
Defending champion Richard Gasquet of France defeated Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Open Sud de France semifinals at Montpellier on Friday. The top-seeded Gasquet, who is ranked 10th, took control of the first set — where he did not face a break point and secured a break of serve. A three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Gasquet is chasing his 13th career title and next plays Germany’s Dustin Brown, who won his quarterfinal against Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-3. Earlier, teenager Alexander Zverev beat Michael Berrer 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-5 in an all-German match to reach the last four. He next plays Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who had 17 aces in a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3 quarterfinal victory against John Millman of Australia.
FOOTBALL
Manziel’s father worried about son’s safety
CLEVELAND — With Johnny Manziel’s professional career in doubt and his personal life crumbling, his father fears for his safety.
The troubled quarterback was under investigation by two police departments following allegations that he hit his former girlfriend last weekend in Texas. Manziel, 23, was dropped by his agent Friday and will be released by the Cleveland Browns next month after two tumultuous seasons.
“I truly believe if they can’t get him help, he won’t live to see his 24th birthday,” Paul Manziel told The Dallas Morning News.
Manziel’s father said the family has made two unsuccessful attempts in the past week to get the player into a rehab clinic. Paul Manziel said he told a Denton County sheriff’s officer that he believes his son to be suicidal.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, who entered the NFL with a party-boy reputation, spent 73 days last winter in a Pennsylvania treatment center specializing in care for alcohol and drug dependency.
A disturbing portrait of Manziel comes as his agent dropped the quarterback as a client. Erik Burkhardt said that with “deep regret” he has ended the business relationship. He added that he made his decision after “several emotional and very personal discussions with his family, his doctors, and my client himself.”
Manziel was under police investigation for allegedly hitting ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley. She told police the former Texas A&M star struck her “several times” at a Dallas hotel and later when they drove back to her apartment in Fort Worth. The police departments in both cities said Thursday that their investigations were closed, but the Dallas department said Friday it is reopening its investigation after receiving a complaint of a domestic violence assault.
On Tuesday, the Browns released a statement in which the team indicated it will release Manziel as early as March 9, when the league begins its new calendar year.
Also, the league is looking into whether Manziel violated its personal-conduct policy. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday that the inquiry is “ongoing.” Manziel was cleared of any wrongdoing last year after he and Crowley got into a roadside argument near the player’s home.