SPORTS HEADLINES

Tiger Woods had hydrocodone pills in his pocket and bloodshot eyes at crash scene, authorities say

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A sheriff’s office report says Tiger Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had hydrocodone pills in his pocket when interviewed at the scene of his car crash last week in Florida. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office report released Tuesday said Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies and told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning. Neither Woods nor a second driver were injured. Woods’ agent at Excel Sports has not responded to multiple messages seeking comment.

Tiger Woods is a big topic again for the wrong reason as the Masters nears

Tiger Woods is dominating Masters talk again, but for all the wrong reasons. His latest car crash puts his legacy front and center. On Tuesday, an incident report was released detailing his Friday DUI arrest after Woods flipped his SUV in Florida. Deputies say he drove at a high speed and refused a urine test. Woods told them he looked at his phone and adjusted the radio before the crash. He also said he took prescription medication that morning. Deputies found hydrocodone pills in his pocket. Woods now faces an April 23 court date. Golf leaders and sponsors who have a stake in Woods have stayed quiet.

NFL approves 1-year rule allowing replay center to correct mistakes by potential replacement refs

PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL’s competition committee has approved a one-year rule for the upcoming season that would allow the replay center in New York to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” in case of a work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association. It was one of multiple rules changes announced Tuesday at the league’s annual meetings. The league is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions have told The Associated Press.

Italy-Bosnia World Cup playoff going to extra time at 1-1 with Azzurri reduced to 10 men

It’s a decisive day for one of soccer’s historic powers. Struggling Italy visits Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European qualifying playoffs with the four-time champion desperate not to miss out on a third straight World Cup. The match was headed to extra time with the score 1-1 and Italy down to 10 men. Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups and has not appeared at soccer’s biggest event since 2014. In Tuesday’s other European playoff finals, Sweden and Turkey each qualified. Sweden beat Poland 3-2 and Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0. The Czech Republic vs. Denmark game was also locked at 1-1 and heading to extra time.

Iran soccer players meet FIFA head Infantino before World Cup warmup and honor child victims of war

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to “continue to support” Iran’s preparations for the World Cup. Infantino met Iran’s players and soccer federation officials in Turkey where the team played one of its last warmup games for the tournament, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. He wrote on Instagram that “FIFA will continue to support the team to ensure the best possible conditions as they prepare for the World Cup.” As the Iranian anthem played before the friendly against Costa Rica, players and officials including coach Amir Ghalenoei and federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since Feb. 28.

Pioneering female NFL official sues league over her treatment and firing

NEW YORK (AP) — In a new lawsuit, one of the first three women to officiate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal. Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league official. The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, filed Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages. An NFL spokesperson said DeLorenzo was terminated following three seasons of underperformance and called the lawsuit baseless. A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak doesn’t want a rookie QB to start Week 1 in right scenario

PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Mendoza won’t start right away for the Las Vegas Raiders if coach Klint Kubiak has his way. The Raiders are expected to select the Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next month. Mendoza led Indiana to its first national championship and became the overwhelming favorite to go first. Aidan O’Connell is the only other quarterback currently on the Raiders after the team traded Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett. Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are among the veterans who remain unsigned.

March Madness: After so many blowouts, fans should be treated to tighter games in women’s Final Four

An NCAA women’s basketball tournament marked by blowouts is down to the Final Four. The teams in Phoenix are the ones everybody expected to be there back in November. This year marks the first time since 1996 that the Final Four is made up of the same teams as the previous year and first time since 2018 that all four No. 1 seeds made it this far. The first national semifinal Friday pits South Carolina against UConn in a 2025 championship game rematch. Texas meets UCLA in the second semifinal. The championship game is Sunday.

Miracle shot has Braylon Mullins’ hometown eager for a Final Four reunion with the UConn star

GREENFIELD, Ind. (AP) — UConn guard Braylon Mullins might be this week’s new, shiny college basketball star. He’s still just a small-town Indiana guy at heart. In his hometown of Greenfield, the usually low-key city of 25,000 was thrilled to see Mullins hit the game-winning shot against Duke. The 19-year-old freshman was a star for Greenfield-Central and he has now helped UConn reach its third Final Four in four years. The semifinal against Illinois will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, just 25 miles away.

World’s tallest basketball player, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, is transferring from Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The world’s tallest college basketball player is on the move. Florida’s Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and the most popular athlete on campus, says he is entering the transfer portal. The portal officially opens April 7. Rioux played sparingly in two years with the Gators. He played 15 total minutes, finishing with seven, six rebounds and an assist. He set a Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest teen before he stepped foot on campus. Now 20, he’s looking for a chance to play more as a sophomore.