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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team needs to work to restore George Russell’s confidence after the British driver blamed a lack of speed for the collision that ended his Belgian Grand Prix and damaged his Formula 1 title chances.

Russell was trying to retake fourth place from Lewis Hamilton around the outside when the Ferrari driver clipped his rear wheel and sent him spinning into the gravel trap, putting him out of the race on the first lap.

In an expletive-filled message to Mercedes over the radio, Russell directed the blame at the car, not Hamilton, saying it was “unacceptable” he’d had a dramatic loss of speed on the previous straight, dropping him from third to fifth behind Hamilton.

“It was a new problem but it wasn’t only on George’s side. Instead, it affected all the Mercedes engines, some more, some less, and Kimi (Antonelli) too,” Wolff told Sky Sport Germany, suggesting a software problem was to blame.

“We have an engine that’s incredibly strong, a car that is fast but simply not stable enough and we need to get on top of that because we’re losing valuable points in the constructors’ championship.”

Wolff added: “We just need to try to make the best possible equipment available for him. That’s not just a fast car and a good engine but something that holds up and gives him confidence in the car again.”

Antonelli went on to win the race, doubling his advantage over Russell to 50 points. Russell is now third in the standings, five points behind Hamilton, who got a five-second penalty for causing their collision.

“Car crossed over right in front of me,” Hamilton said, adding he’d lacked front-end grip to avoid the collision because he was following another car closely.

Russell has been struggling to match Antonelli’s pace in recent races and, even before Sunday’s race, had suggested an issue with the Mercedes car may be holding him back after he lost out in straight-line speed to Antonelli in qualifying.

Russell told Sky Sports he had “no words at the moment” after the incident, when asked about the impact on the title race.

“The incident shouldn’t have happened if I had the speed down the straight,” he said.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett and selected the contract of veteran right-hander Elieser Hernández before Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Murphy, 22, allowed three runs, two earned, in 2 2/3 innings in Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the Rangers in his first major league start.

Braves manager Walt Weiss said Murphy “threw fine” but “left some pitches over the plate. It was more about execution than anything else.”

Hernández, 31, last pitched in the majors in 2024, when he compiled a combined 6.32 ERA in nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. In six seasons, Hernández is 10-22 with a 5.10 ERA in 99 games, including 49 starts.

Weiss acknowledged the Braves have some important decisions to make regarding their pitching staff before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Left-hander Martín Pérez, who has been on the injured list since July 6 with a left forearm contusion, threw in the bullpen on Sunday. Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver may be close to completing his rehabilitation following right elbow surgery.

Weiss said Saturday that Pérez “is on the radar” and close to coming off the IL. Weiss said Smith Shawver “will be in the conversation” after throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start for Gwinnett.

“We need to take a step forward with our starting pitching,” Weiss said. “The guys have done it. They’ve been good this year, especially early on for a few months. So it’s certainly in there. But yeah, we’ve got to put together some good starts.”

The Braves’ lineup also could receive a boost within a few days. Ronald Acuña Jr. (strained left hamstring) could be close to coming off the injured list as he continues his rehab at Gwinnett.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña and first baseman Christian Walker were out of Sunday’s starting lineup against the Baltimore Orioles because of injuries.

“Hopefully this is something that is probably only going to take a day or two,” manager Joe Espada said. “They’re going through some baseball right now. Hopefully they can be available.”

Peña left Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles after suffering a right hamstring cramp during his at-bat in the third inning. It was the second time this season a hamstring cramp has forced him out of a game.

Walker left during his fourth-inning at-bat with right hip tightness.

Peña is batting .295 with six home runs and 22 RBIs this season, but two injury list trips have limited him to just 53 games. He missed more than a month after suffering a right hamstring strain on April 11, and a left calf strain sidelined him again earlier this month.

Walker is batting .234 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs this season.
Ronel Blanco set to start on Monday

Also, right-hander Ronel Blanco will make his return from Tommy John surgery and start Monday’s game against the Miami Marlins.

Blanco was 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in nine starts last season before undergoing surgery in June. In his first full season as a starter in 2024, he finished 13-6 with a 2.80 ERA, second best in the American League.

The Astros hope Blanco’s return can boost a rotation that entered Sunday with a 5.18 ERA, third worst in Major League baseball. He allowed two earned runs over 17 innings in five minor league rehab appearances.

“He feels good. His stuff looked really good in his (rehab) outings. Excited to have him back,” Espada said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ATLANTA (AP) — After returning from an oblique injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a month, Braves catcher Drake Baldwin said he found himself desperate for a hit.

On Sunday, in the finale of the Braves’ three-game home series against the Texas Rangers, Baldwin had no problems making contact. The catcher was a career-best 5 for 5 at the plate and homered twice in Atlanta’s 8-5 win.

“Baldwin, he’s back. He’s back to form. I think it’s official now,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after the game. “He was on an MVP-type trajectory before he got hurt, and he’s looking like that again.”

In the Braves’ first games back from the All-Star break, the club clinched its 21st series — tying its total from the 2025 season.

Baldwin spent his days off as the National League’s starting catcher in his first All-Star game. Third baseman Austin Riley’s break looked a little different, but it proved just as efficient in being the reset he needed to get back on track.

“I actually didn’t do anything over the break. Just more of a mental break. … Went home, hung out with my family, chased my boys around,” Riley said after his first two-homer outing since April 17. “After a couple of days off, coming back and just kind of a little recharged, it’s nice to see that we’re kind of firing on all cylinders with the offense there.”

On Sunday, Riley homered twice and had four RBIs, including a clutch two-run single in the seventh inning to put the Braves up 6-3. Weiss said it’s hard not to root for a player, teammate and person like Riley.

“That’s a great sight to see Riley swinging the bat like that,” Weiss said. “He’s been taking better swings lately, and he’s hit the ball really hard. … He’s shown some really good signs, and that’ll be huge for us.”

After a difficult June, Weiss hopes a series victory against the AL West-leading Rangers is enough for his team to turn the page. The Braves have a three-game lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NL East.

“Our team had a rough June, but we’ve come out the other side still in first place, and we’re playing better now,” the first-year Braves manager said. “Those things are deposits in the bank as far as your mental toughness and being battle-tested — as long as you come out the other side, and I think we have.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

HOUSTON (AP) — Baltimore Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman missed Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Houston Astros with left wrist discomfort, and his replacement, Samuel Basallo, left in the second inning because of right shoulder discomfort.

Manager Craig Albernaz did not disclose how Rutschman injured his wrist or how long he might be out, only that he wanted to avoid playing him on Sunday.

Rutschman is batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games this season. He was named to his third American League All-Star team.

After catching the bottom of first inning, Basallo grounded out to first base to begin the second.

“It’s just been a lingering thing, and obviously, it just aggravated today,” Albernaz said.

Sam Huff, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, replaced Basallo behind the plate and was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Basallo, 21, is batting .241 with 16 home runs and 46 RBIs in his first full major league season.

The Orioles won their seventh straight game on Sunday, matching their longest winning streak since 2023.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Kimi Antonelli always believed he had the momentum in the Formula 1 title race even when results didn’t go his way. He made it count with a dominant win Sunday as his teammate and title rival George Russell failed to finish.

Antonelli saw off a challenge from Charles Leclerc to get back to winning ways at the Belgian Grand Prix after reliability issues had allowed Russell to whittle down his lead in recent weeks. Russell was left fuming in a gravel trap at his Mercedes car’s shortcomings.

Antonelli started on pole but lost the lead to Leclerc when a virtual safety car slowdown allowed the Ferrari driver to save time during his pit stop.

Antonelli sped back past Leclerc with 10 laps remaining and cruised from there to his sixth win of the season — and his F1 career — and first since last month’s Monaco Grand Prix. It gives him a 45-point overall lead after recent reliability problems and keeps the 19-year-old firmly on target to become F1’s youngest-ever champion.

“The momentum has always been there despite what happened in the previous races, and that’s why you just need to take one weekend at a time, because you never know what can happen,” Antonelli said. “With these new cars, new regs, there’s so much going on and so much unpredictable.”

With six wins, Antonelli is now joint-second all time among Italian F1 drivers, behind only Alberto Ascari, a 13-time Grand Prix winner and two-time champion in the early 1950s. In a marker-pen message on a champagne bottle, Antonelli dedicated the win to his father, former sportscar racer Marco Antonelli, whose birthday was on Saturday.
Leclerc strong again

Leclerc was second after avoiding a penalty for a collision which damaged Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, and Max Verstappen was third after briefly taking, then losing, the lead from Antonelli on a hectic opening lap.

The Italian stretched his standings lead after Russell was left stuck in the gravel on the first lap after he was pushed into a spin by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli went into the race with a 25-point lead over Russell after recent reliability issues for the Italian had cut his advantage. That has now nearly doubled. Antonelli will leave Belgium with a 45-point gap over Hamilton, who moved up to second, and is 50 ahead of Russell.

In a sign of tension at Mercedes after a heavy blow to his title chances, Russell seemed to blame his car, rather than Hamilton, for the incident. Russell said the incident wouldn’t have happened if his car hadn’t lost speed on the straight into the corner, dropping him behind Hamilton. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested it was a software problem affecting multiple cars with Mercedes engines.
Hamilton not at fault after crew member struck

Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari after an eventful race including a five-second penalty for colliding with Russell, verbal spats with Ferrari over strategy and car setups over the radio, and knocking over a Ferrari mechanic as his car started to leave the pits.

Hamilton immediately asked after the team member’s health and was told he was OK. A post-race inquiry by the stewards found Hamilton was “in no respect at fault” and fined Ferrari 30,000 euros ($34,300), with 10,000 euros of that suspended for a year.

Oscar Piastri was fifth for McLaren and Isack Hadjar was a strong sixth for Red Bull despite starting at the back of the field because of a penalty.

Lando Norris started 13th for McLaren thanks to a grid penalty but sliced through the field and even briefly led the race when others pitted. A pit stop delay dropped him back but he still finished seventh.

Gabriel Bortoleto placed eighth for Audi, Arvid Lindblad ninth for Racing Bulls and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto took the final point in 10th.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — The image of Scottie Scheffler at Royal Birkdale might be the world’s No. 1 player missing one birdie chance after another to waste a great week from tee-to-green in the British Open.

All he could think about Sunday when he finished were the bounces that didn’t go his way.

Scheffler managed to stay in the game until the very end and capitalized on a huge break — which followed another unfortunate bounce — with a birdie on the par-5 17th hole. Needing birdie to have any chance of a playoff, he missed a putt from off the green, missed the par putt that followed and settled for a 3-under 67 to tie for fourth behind Ryan Fox.

“I guess it just wasn’t my week,” said Scheffler, who had top 4-finishes in three of the four majors.

Scheffler, who began the final round six shots out of the lead, quickly made up ground with three birdies in five holes — as many birdies as he had made in the previous two rounds combined. And when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 12th, he was at 8 under and closing.

And then he was chasing after a few frustrating bounces.

His tee shot right of the fairway on the 13th headed for the wispy grass but wound up in a deep hole, leaving him no chance but to advance it about 5 feet. Scheffler did well to make an 8-foot putt to escape with bogey.

Scheffler thought his drive was ideal on the par-5 14th until it bounced just enough to the left to catch a pot bunker, leaving him no shot at the green. A potential birdie turned into par.

“That stuff hurts,” he said. “My ball on 13 goes into that hole. It wasn’t my best tee shot, but it was a time where I needed to be aggressive, and I saw some good stuff happening with guys that hit the ball over there the last few days, and it didn’t happen for me today. Just those little bounces.

“My ball on 14 I think is in the fairway, I come up there, it’s in the pot bunker,” he said. “Little stuff like that over the course of the week tends to add up.”

His frustration boiled over on the par-5 17th when his tee shot moving left-to-right looked as though it would kick into the fairway leaving him a shot at the green. But it bounced left and stayed in the rough in front of a steep mound.

“WHY?” Scheffler screamed at himself. “Why does this happen?”

Welcome to links golf, which he conquered a year ago at Royal Portrush.

Remarkably, the bad bounce led to birdie. He tried to go over the mound and the ball went so far to the left that he figured it was never to be found, He hit a provisional for a lost ball, and that wasn’t much better, And then luck seemed to finally show up.

The entire area near a massive hospitality structure was deemed a temporary immovable obstruction. Spectators said they saw the ball disappear into gorse and rough. A security guard and NBC reporter John Wood began searching.

But once a golf ball has been identified going into the TIO, it does not have to be found.

“We tried to figure it out. I said: ‘If I find it, does that help me? Can I drop it since that would be about 50 yards closer to the hole?’” Scheffler said about his conversation with the rules official. “He said, ‘Yes, you can then use that spot, but you might have to go to the other side of the TIO.’ I didn’t know exactly where that would be, and that’s not a great angle coming across there. So I decided to drop the search.”

Scheffler received a free drop 94 yards away on a baked, dusty lie. He hit wedge to 10 feet and made birdie.

The hope didn’t last long, and he walked off the 18th green knowing he would not get his hands on the claret jug he won last year, and it would be eight-plus months before the next major.

“I felt like this was a week I played a lot better than my score,” Scheffler said. “Thirteen and 14 really hurt, not being able to advance the ball. I feel good that I could compete when things weren’t going my way.”

Padraig Harrington remains the last player to win back-to-back in the British Open, in 2007 and 2008. It’s the longest such stretch in the majors. And now it falls to Fox near year at St. Andrews.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Oklahoma City traded starting forward and defensive standout Lu Dort to Atlanta as part of a three-team deal that also had the Hawks sending former No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas.

Atlanta also will receive Ryan Nembhard from Dallas and the Thunder will be getting three heavily protected second-round draft picks. The NBA signed off on the trade Sunday.

The trade allows the Thunder to shed the salary needed to get below the second apron, gives the Hawks another top defender in Dort and gives the Mavericks a third No. 1 overall pick — the most currently on one roster in the NBA. Risacher will be joining 2011 top pick Kyrie Irving and 2025 top pick Cooper Flagg in Dallas.

Dort averaged 11.6 points over his first seven seasons, all with the Thunder. Risacher — a runner-up for rookie of the year in 2024-25 — averaged 11.1 points in two seasons with Atlanta and Nembhard averaged 6.6 points for Dallas as a rookie this past season.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) – Two East Texas football coaches were inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Honor on Saturday, after making their mark in East Texas’ legendary football history.

Longview Lobos head football coach John King was inducted into the Hall of Honor on Saturday along with former Marshall High School head coach Dennis Parker.

King has served as the Lobos head coach since 2004 and has led the team to 17 district titles and the 6A State Championship title in 2018. In his time as the Lobos head coach, King has earned a record of 240-52, the best record of any coach in the school’s history.

King has also served as the president of the Texas High School Coaches Association and as one of their board members. King coached his son Haynes in 2018 when the Lobos won the 6A state championship. Haynes went on to play quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and is now with the Carolina Panthers.

Parker’s over 50 years in coaching started in 1972 and included a stint with Marshall High School where he coached the Mavericks to victory in the 1990 6A State Championship game. Parker also saw championship success with Converse Judson High School, and earned the distinction of becoming the youngest head coach of a 5A Texas football team at just 24-years-old.

“Known for his ‘Coaching to Change Lives’ philosophy, Parker’s lasting legacy lies in his commitment to character development, mentorship, and the profound impact of coaching on young lives,” the Texas High School Coaches Association said of Parker.

To learn more about the Hall of Honor, visit the Texas High School Coaches Association online.

ATLANTA — — Austin Riley and Drake Baldwin each hit two home runs and the Atlanta Braves beat the Texas Rangers 8-5 on Sunday to win the three-game series in a matchup of first-place teams.

Baldwin had a career-high five hits and became the first Braves catcher to hit two homers in a game since Johnny Estrada on May 15, 2004. Riley had three hits and drove in four runs.

The NL East-leading Braves took two of three from the AL West-leading Rangers. The Braves claimed their 21st series of the season, matching their total from 2025.

Wyatt Langford had three hits for Texas, including a homer in the ninth off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias.

Riley, who entered the All-Star break hitting only .207 with nine homers, had three homers in the series. He raised his average to .217 with the three hits, including a two-run single in the seventh. He also went deep in the Braves’ 15-1 win in the series opener Friday night.

Riley homered in each of his first two at-bats against Nathan Eovaldi (9-8). Eovaldi, who allowed four runs in four innings, has given up 22 homers this season, the third-highest total in his 15 seasons in the majors. He allowed 23 homers in 2016 and 2024.

Grant Holmes (6-4) allowed three runs in five innings. The Braves led 4-0 before Texas scored three runs in the fifth. Langford had a run-scoring double in the inning.

Up next

Rangers: Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (7-5, 3.49 ERA), who missed his last start before the All-Star break with a mild left glute strain, will return for Monday night’s home opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

Braves: RHP Bryce Elder (5-6, 4.12) will start against San Diego LHP JP Sears (2-2, 5.03) in Monday night’s series opener as Atlanta’s homestand continues.

HOUSTON (AP) — Brandon Young allowed one run over seven innings, Coby Mayo homered, and the Baltimore Orioles extended their season-best winning streak to seven games by beating the Houston Astros 5-2 on Sunday.

The streak is the Orioles’ longest since 2023.

Young (8-2) allowed five hits and one walk while striking out seven, which is one less than his season high. Yordan Alvarez’s third-inning RBI double accounted for the only run he allowed.

With Young out of the game, Rico Garcia allowed a solo home run to Jose Altuve in the eighth inning. Grant Wolfram pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first major league save.

Gunnar Henderson gave Baltimore the lead with a third-inning RBI single. He made it 2-0 later in the frame when he stole home on a double steal.

The Orioles finished with a season-high four stolen bases.

Leody Taveras increased Baltimore’s lead to 4-1 with a broken bat, two-run single in the fifth inning.

Mayo added his solo homer in the sixth.

Dylan Beavers was 2 for 4 with a double.

Orioles’ catcher Samuel Basallo left the game in the second inning due to right shoulder discomfort.

Houston starter Hunter Brown (1-1) allowed four runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He issued a career-high six walks and hit two batters.

Astros pitching combined for seven walks and four hit batters.

Houston has lost four straight games and seven of its last nine.

Up next

Astros RHP Ronel Blanco makes his season debut against Marlins RHP Janson Junk (4-5 4.57 ERA) in the first game of a three-game series Monday night in Houston.

Orioles RHP Shane Baz (4-9, 4.19) starts against Red Sox LHP Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.11) in the first game of a three-game series Monday night in Boston.

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — The hard work for Ryan Fox was just getting to the 18th hole in the British Open with a share of the lead. Still to come was the toughest hole at Royal Birkdale, which had yielded only four birdies to the 76 players who had already come through Sunday.

For a 39-year-old from New Zealand, the son of an All Blacks rugby star who once only dreamed of having a card on any tour, this was no time to back down.

“I did say to my caddie Dean (Smith) that we were going to take it on, that I was going to try to win the tournament, and I’d live with the consequences if I stuffed it up,” Fox said.

It turned out to be the stuff of major champions.

The drive was powerful and pure. The 9-iron from 175 yards looked good in the air and even better on the ground when it settled 12 feet below the hole. The birdie putt was the biggest of his life.

Fox closed with four birdies over his last six holes — and one bogey that felt equally important — for a 2-under 68 and a one-shot victory over hard-luck Cameron Young for his first major title.

This was pure theater to cap off a week of so much drama — three record-tying rounds of 62, Bryson DeChambeau’s animated protest over a two-shot penalty, Tommy Fleetwood thrilling and teasing his hometown crowd to massive ovations on every hole.

Four players had a share of the lead at some point in the final round. Young was atop the leaderboard for two hours without hitting a shot anywhere but the range because he finished his astonishing 6-under 64 as the last few groups were on the front nine.

Young was on the range when he heard the massive roar and knew it was over. He bowed his head, lifted his driver and tapped the ground before packing up when Fox made his final birdie.

“Everyone practices on the green — you’ve got a putt to win a major championship, to win The Open. It’s not like that in real life. It’s not a very comfortable feeling,” Fox said. “It’s certainly very enjoyable when you see it go in.”

He thrust those powerful arms into the air and was on the phone with his family moments later and was heard telling them, “You asked me to bring a trophy home, and I am, aren’t I?”

His name will go on the base of that shiny claret jug along with another Kiwi, Bob Charles, who won the British Open in 1963. Michael Campbell is the other New Zealand man to win a major at Pinehurst No. 2 in the 2005 U.S. Open.

Fox’s sterling moment brought more disappointment for Young. The American also finished one shot behind in the British Open at St. Andrews four years ago, and he had a Sunday lead on the front nine at the Masters until Rory McIlroy overtook him.

“I gave it everything I had all the way through,” Young said when he finished. He declined interviews when Fox ended the 154th Open.

Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader who was never planning to be at the Open until his wife gave birth to their daughter earlier than expected, lost a two-shot lead and didn’t make birdie over the last 12 holes to finish two shots behind.

“I just couldn’t find them today. Just didn’t have my best stuff,” Burns said. “Given the circumstances, I’m very pleased with the week. I’m looking forward to being home.”

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler somehow managed to stick around until the end, getting two bad bounces that cost him momentum, then getting one big break for a most improbable birdie. He closed with a 67 and shared fourth with Fleetwood, who fell back early but delivered a birdie-birdie finish for a 68.

Missing from all drama, remarkably, was DeChambeau. He lost a golf ball and made triple bogey on the 11th hole and didn’t make a birdie until he was well out of contention. That two-shot penalty he received Friday for improving the path of his swing wasn’t an issue at the end. DeChambeau shot a 72 and tied for 14th.

Fox won for the 10th time worldwide, his biggest title before Sunday coming at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023. He is the oldest first-time major champion since Henrik Stenson was 40 at Royal Troon 10 years ago.

Fox finished at 10-under 270, got his hands on the jug and heard those magic words when he was introduced as the “Champion Golfer of the Year.”

“I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18. Look, it is a dream come true,” Fox said. “Looking at that trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close. So it’s pretty amazing.”

Young was flawless until the final hole, his tee shot finding a pot bunker. He tried to open the face of a 6-iron but caught it thin and it smacked into the vetted wall and into the rough. He hit the next shot into a greenside bunker and nearly holed it for par. The bogey put him at 9-under 271.

Burns was losing ground quickly on the front nine with three straight bogeys, none more damaging than a pitch to the reachable par-4 fifth hole that went over the back of the green.

Si Woo Kim emerged as the leader going to the back nine until he made bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, and he fell out of contention for good with a pair of late bogeys that added to a 40 on the back nine for 72.

That left Young at the top of the leaderboard, waiting to see if anyone could match him.

Fox’s hopes took a nasty turn on the par-3 15th when his tee shot caromed off the side of a bunker and settled next to the lip, leaving him no stance and no shot. He smartly played away from the back pin to the fairway, chipped from 45 yards away to 6 feet and made bogey.

It was as big as any shot he hit until the last.

“To get that up-and-down really kept the momentum going,” Fox said. “I felt a whole lot better walking off that green making bogey that way than probably even if I’d have made par.”

Fox was a late bloomer, a European tour rookie at age 30 and a PGA Tour rookie when he was 37. His goal when he started was to have a tour card. Now he’s a major champion.

“I said to my team last night at dinner, if you’d have given me my career up until yesterday when I turned pro, I’d have jumped at that,” Fox said, speaking with the claret jug at his side. “I don’t know what to think now.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — — Paige Bueckers had 25 points before exiting following a scary collision, Arike Ogunbowale scored six of her 20 down the stretch and the Dallas Wings beat the Los Angeles Sparks 90-82 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to a franchise record-tying six games.

Bueckers hit a 3-pointer that capped an 14-5 spurt and gave the Wings an eight-point lead with 9:12 left in the game.

Jessica Shepard had 11 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Wings (17-8) and Azzi Fudd also scored 11.

The Sparks (10-15) have lost four consecutive games, all on the road.

LA’s Nneka Ogwumike was fouled as she ran downcourt and, as she fell to the ground, collided with Bueckers with about 3 1/2 minutes to play and Dallas leading by four. Both players remained down on the court for a couple of minutes. Ogwumike stayed in the game while Bueckers — who appeared to hit the back of her head on the floor — walked to the locker room and did not return.

Ogunbowale scored six points from there to seal it.

Ogwumike made 7 of 12 from the field and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Dearica Hamby added 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Cameron Brink scored 10 and Erica Wheeler had 10 assists to go with nine points for LA.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez said after the game that there was no immediate update on Bueckers, but the team expected to know more later Sunday.

Dallas beat the Sparks 104-96 in LA on June 5.

Up next

Sparks: Host Phoenix on Wednesday.

Wings: Host New York on Monday, a postponed game that had originally been scheduled for Thursday.