In brief: Rory McIlroy keeps on rolling at Memorial
GOLF: One week after finally getting a big win, Rory McIlroy showed Thursday that he might be ready for another in the Memorial.
McIlroy made two eagles on the back nine at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, and opened with a 9-under 63 — despite making a double bogey with a wedge in his hand on the 14th hole. That gave him a three-shot lead over Masters champion Bubba Watson, Paul Casey and Chris Kirk.
Adam Scott, the Colonial winner last week in his debut at No. 1 in the world, had a 69. Phil Mickelson was within range of McIlroy until dropping five shots on the last three holes for a 72.
• LPGA, PGA of America get new partners: The LPGA Championship is getting a new name, two big partners and a lot more exposure.
In what amounts to a merger announced, the LPGA Tour and PGA of America have become partners in the Women’s PGA Championship. It will be the first women’s major run by the PGA of America starting in 2015 at Westchester Country Club in New York.
KPMG will be the title sponsor and use the week to host a major conference that brings together top female executives from business, politics, sports and media.
Two Pacers fined
NBA: Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers have both been fined for flopping in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Stephenson was fined $10,000 for his second violation of the playoffs. Hibbert was fined $5,000.
• NBA expands global schedule: The NBA will play regular-season games in Mexico City and London as part of its extended global schedule for next season.
The Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves will play at the Mexico City Arena on Nov. 12. The Milwaukee Bucks will face the New York Knicks at The O2 on Jan. 15.
Dempsey cleared
SOCCER: U.S. captain Clint Dempsey’s sore left groin has improved and coach Jurgen Klinsmann plans to start him in the Americans’ second World Cup warmup this weekend against Turkey.
The 23 players arrived for their final workout at Stanford, a quick session in the pool, before leaving the Bay Area. Klinsmann says Dempsey did “a lot of work yesterday” but the forward didn’t do any sideways cuts or runs during the training to avoid re-aggravating the groin.
Arredondo prevails
CYCLING: Julian Arredondo claimed a solo victory on the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rifugio Panarottia, Italy, while Nairo Quintana retained the overall leader’s pink jersey as the race returned to the mountains.
Arredondo had been part of a breakaway and made his move with just under 4 kilometers remaining to ride alone up the summit finish to Rifugio Panarotta.
Quintana remained 1:41 ahead of fellow Colombian Rigoberto Uran.