Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

LPGA will play for record $70 million, but long way from parity

The LPGA season kicks off on Thursday for a season that will comprise 34 events and distribute some $70 million in prize money, a record amount for the circuit although it is still barely one-fifth on offer on the PGA Tour. The discrepancy roughly parallels the difference in television ratings in the United States between the tours, according to LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, with the women mainly shown on the smaller audience Golf Channel while the men's circuit is broadcast on free-to-air network television.

Swimming: FINA clears swimmers to compete in independent events

FINA on Tuesday allowed athletes to take part in independent competitions in a bid to settle a financial dispute, but the world swimming federation said results from those events will require its approval to be considered as official. FINA has been under growing pressure from competitive swimmers, including Britain's Olympic and world breaststroke champion Adam Peaty, who are demanding a bigger financial share from the revenues the sport generates.

Japan's Olympic Committee head denies impropriety in 2020 bid procedures

The head of Japan's Olympic Committee confirmed that he had been questioned by French authorities in December on Tuesday but repeated his denial there was anything improper about Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Games and vowed to prove his innocence. French financial prosecutors investigating a multi-million dollar payment made by the bid committee to a Singaporean consultancy questioned Tsunekazu Takeda in Paris and he was placed under formal investigation for suspected corruption on Dec. 10, a judicial source told Reuters on Friday.

Motor racing: Red Bull retain Buemi as reserve for ninth year

Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi will continue as Red Bull's Formula One reserve this season, his ninth year carrying out the backstop role. The 30-year-old is also competing in the all-electric Formula E series, which he won in 2015-16, and World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Evans shoulders slim British hopes against Federer

Nine months after returning from a doping suspension, Dan Evans will look for his biggest victory when he takes on holder Roger Federer at the Australian Open on Wednesday. After Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie all bit the dust on Monday, Evans continued to carry the flag for Britain as he beat Japan's Tatsuma Ito 7-5 6-1 7-6 (8).

NBA roundup: Harden (57) lights up Grizzlies

James Harden scored a season-high 57 points, and the host Houston Rockets survived their first game without center Clint Capela, pulling away in the second half for a 112-94 victory over the reeling Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Harden recorded his 17th consecutive 30-point game, the longest such streak since Wilt Chamberlain had a 20-game run in 1964. Kobe Bryant had a stretch of 16 straight 30-point games in 2003. Harden scored 36 points in the first half.

Ruthless Serena makes strong start in Melbourne return

Serena Williams made a ruthless start to her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 6-0 6-2 victory over unseeded German Tatjana Maria in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. The seven-time Australian Open champion was pregnant when she won the last of her 23 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and showed she has lost none of her brutal power and athleticism in the match between the two mothers at Rod Laver Arena.

Venus Williams secures come-from-behind win

Venus Williams celebrated her 19th main draw appearance at the Australian Open with a come-from-behind 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2 victory over 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu on Tuesday, marking a successful day for some of the sport's oldest active competitors. The 38-year-old, who is unseeded for the first time since 2014 and is the oldest player in the women's draw, will meet France's Alize Cornet in the second round.

Kings G Shumpert prevented from entering Blazers’ lockerroom

Sacramento Kings guard Iman Shumpert was prevented from entering the Portland Trail Blazers locker room to confront Jusuf Nurkic after Monday night's game. Shumpert was still upset from a hard screen that Nurkic put on Shumpert in the first quarter of the Kings' 115-107 victory over the Blazers in Sacramento.

Dominant Djokovic shines in Melbourne Park opener

Top seed Novak Djokovic looked every inch the Australian Open favorite as he kicked off his bid for a record seventh title at Melbourne Park with an emphatic 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over American qualifier Mitchell Krueger on Tuesday. Soaking up the Rod Laver Arena limelight, the Serb moved superbly in his opener and hit 42 winners to wrap up the one-sided clash in little more than two hours.