Reuters Sports News Summary

Vegas acquired him from the Calgary Flames in a three-team trade that also included the Philadelphia Flyers days before last month's NHL trade deadline. Golf-LIV's DeChambeau storms into Masters lead, Scheffler one back LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau used a sizzling burst of late birdies to muscle into a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler on Thursday as Spaniard Jon Rahm's Masters title defence got off to a shaky start.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Japanese interpreter charged with stealing $16 million from MLB star Shohei Ohtani

Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter was charged on Thursday with bank fraud for stealing $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger to cover gambling debts, according to court documents. According to a 36-page criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Ippei Mizuhara embezzled the money from an account of Ohtani's that Mizuhara had helped set up and sent the funds without Ohtani's knowledge to an illegal sports gambling operation.

Houston consensus All-American Jamal Shead declares for NBA draft

Houston consensus All-American point guard Jamal Shead said Thursday that he's entering the 2024 NBA Draft. The National Defensive Player of the Year guided the Cougars to the Sweet 16 in what turned out to be his final college season. Houston had a 120-18 record when Shead played.

Golf-McIlroy satisfied after carding best Masters start since 2018

Rory McIlroy has often jettisoned himself out of contention in the first round of the Masters but the Northern Irishman managed to flip the script on Thursday and pump life into his hopes of completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy, playing in conditions made tougher by shifting winds, carded a one-under-par 71 at Augusta National that was his lowest opening-round Masters score since 2018 and left him six shots back of leader Bryson DeChambeau.

Golden Knights, D Noah Hanifin agree to eight-year, $58.8M deal

The Vegas Golden Knights agreed to an eight-year, $58.8 million extension with defenseman Noah Hanifin on Thursday. Hanifin was slated to become an unrestricted free agent following the season. Vegas acquired him from the Calgary Flames in a three-team trade that also included the Philadelphia Flyers days before last month's NHL trade deadline.

Golf-LIV's DeChambeau storms into Masters lead, Scheffler one back

LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau used a sizzling burst of late birdies to muscle into a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler on Thursday as Spaniard Jon Rahm's Masters title defence got off to a shaky start. After a storm delayed the start of the year's first major by 2-1/2 hours, 2020 U.S. Open champion DeChambeau thrived in the softened but windy conditions and mixed eight birdies with one bogey for a seven-under-par 65.

Athletics-USATF proud of Olympic prize money plan

USA Track & Field (USATF) praised on Thursday the decision by World Athletics (WA) to give prize money to Olympic gold medallists and end a 128-year tradition. Athletics became the first sport to offer prize money to Olympic champions when WA President Sebastian Coe announced on Wednesday that gold medallists in Paris this year will earn $50,000 each.

Motor racing-Alonso extends Aston Martin contract

Fernando Alonso has signed a new contract with Aston Martin, the Formula One team said on Thursday. The deal tied Spaniard Alonso, 42, to Aston Martin for at least the next two seasons.

Iowa to retire Caitlin Clark's No. 22

Iowa will retire the No. 22 jersey of Caitlin Clark, college basketball's all-time leading scorer in Division I. The school made the announcement Wednesday at a celebration of Iowa's trip to the national championship game of the NCAA Tournament, won by South Carolina 87-75, and the record-setting achievements of Clark.

Tigers, Twins postponed in rainy Detroit

Rain and chilly weather Thursday pushed the opener of a four-game series in Detroit between the Tigers and defending AL Central champion Minnesota Twins back one day. There is more rain in the forecast on Friday, which could further dent plans for Detroit kickstarting a four-game homestand that includes four games with the Texas Rangers.

Tennis-Medvedev dumped out of Monte Carlo Masters by Khachanov, Sinner and Djokovic advance

Daniil Medvedev was again drawn into a heated exchange with an umpire before crashing out of the Monte Carlo Masters in a 6-3 7-5 defeat by Karen Khachanov in the last 16 on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner advanced to the quarter-finals. Fourth seed Medvedev, who had reached at least the quarter-finals in his last two appearances at Monte Carlo, never truly got going against fellow-Russian Khachanov.