National Sports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Pato O'Ward ran three blistering laps around Barber Motorsports Park to win the pole for IndyCar's season-opening race and make good on his promise to become a headache that series veterans must deal with all year long.

LAS VEGAS — Canada's Adam Svensson is one shot back heading into the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour's MGM Resorts Championship at Paiute. Svensson, from Surrey, B.C.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — San Jose forward Patrick Marleau tied Gordie Howe’s NHL record for career games played, appearing in his 1,767th on Saturday as the Sharks faced the Minnesota Wild.

MONTREAL — Drake Batherson followed the Montreal Canadiens religiously growing up in Nova Scotia. He's making of habit of filling their net in 2021.

NAPLES, Fla. — Fred Couples took 11 holes before making a birdie Saturday and then made birdie on his last two holes for a 3-under 69 and a share of the lead with Robert Karlsson in the Chubb Classic.

VANCOUVER — Running the Vancouver Canucks practice Saturday left Travis Green's voice hoarse. It was the first time the head coach had taken to the ice with his players since the team was ravaged by a COVID-19 outbreak caused by the aggressive P.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Stewart Cink is having a great time playing at the RBC Heritage with his son, Reagan, as his caddie. He's winning, too.

RICHMOND, Va. — John Hunter Nemechek passed teammate Chandler Smith with 17 laps to go and outran team owner Kyle Busch to win the NASCAR Truck Series race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Canadian sprint star Andre De Grasse opened the outdoor season with a fast time on Saturday. The three-time Olympic medallist from Markham, Ont., ran 9.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — CF Montreal rose to the occasion. Toronto FC didn't. Mason Toye, Romell Quioto, Victor Wanyama and Djordje Mihailovic scored Saturday as Montreal rolled over Toronto for a 4-2 win in the Canadian rivals' MLS season opener.