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SPORTS Friday 22 January 2021
Thomas to go on training program after anti-gay slur

By STEVE DOUGLAS par putt on the fourth hole level."
AP Sports Writer of Sentry Tournament of "Obviously people are go-
Justin Thomas intends to go Champions, "but for some ing to be a part of that
through an individual train- reason it was in there and process," he said. "But what
ing program to "become a that's what I'm trying to I'm doing I'd like to keep in-
better person" after he was figure out — why it was in ternally and just go through
picked up uttering a homo- there. the appropriate steps to
phobic slur under his breath "And like I said, it's going to get where I need to be
when he missed a putt at a be part of this process and and want to be, so people
tournament in Hawaii this training program, what- understand that's not the
month. ever I need to do, not only person I am, the character
Clothing brand Ralph Lau- to prove to myself but to I like to portray."
ren ended its long-time prove to my sponsors and The Abu Dhabi Champi-
sponsorship with Thomas prove to the people who onship starts Thursday and
following the incident two don't know who I am that is Thomas' first event since
weeks ago, which the No. that is indeed not the per- Justin Thomas waits to hit from the first tee during the final round the incident in Kapalua. He
3-ranked American golfer son I am." of the Tournament of Champions golf event, Sunday, Jan. 10, will be playing in the tour-
described as "humiliating Ralph Lauren, which has 2021, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. nament for the first time in
and embarrassing and it's sponsored Thomas since Associated Press what will be only his fourth
not me." he turned pro, said it was start in a regular European
Thomas has spoken to his "disheartened" by his lan- Lauren's decision. "I wasn't disappointed," Tour event.
other sponsors — Titleist, guage and made its deci- "I spoke with them, along Thomas added, "because I Rory McIlroy will play in the
FootJoy and global bank sion to end its association with all my sponsors, and put them in a terrible posi- same group as Thomas for
Citi are among those listed with the player because of although I apologized, just tion. I was just more upset. the first two rounds at Abu
on his official website — the responsibility it has to its like it was then it's an oppor- I had a great relationship Dhabi Golf Club, and does
and hopes they will stand stakeholders. tunity for me to grow and I with a lot of people there not expect the issue to af-
by him as he looks to edu- Speaking from the Abu felt like it was something we and like I said we had the fect the American's game
cate himself and restore his Dhabi Championship, could have done together opportunity to do it all to- "He maybe won't be as ig-
reputation. where he will be playing and gone through that pro- gether." norant to offend people —
"It's not a word I use," Thom- this week in a rare appear- cess," he said. "They just felt Pushed on the training pro- obviously what he said was
as said Wednesday, refer- ance on the European like they needed to move gram he intends to follow, offensive to a large portion
ring to the slur he blurted Tour, Thomas said he was on so that's exactly what Thomas said he would be of the population," McIlroy
out when missing a 5-foot upset but respected Ralph I'm doing as well. keeping it "at a personal said. q
NHL Capsules
Theodore scores 2 goals, Golden Knights top Coyotes 5-2

By The Associated Press the Sharks, who snapped Kaapo Kahkonen made 22
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Shea a six-game losing streak to saves.
Theodore scored two St. Louis that started in the Nicolas Deslauriers and
goals, Marc-Andre Fleury 2019 playoffs. Cam Fowler scored for
made 21 saves and the Ve- Jones denied all four Blues the Ducks, and Ryan Miller
gas Golden Knights defeat- shooters in the tiebreaker. stopped 29 shots.
ed the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 Brayden Schenn scored OILERS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 1
on Wednesday night. in his second consecutive TORONTO (AP) — Leon Dra-
It marks the first time the game and Jordan Binning- isaitl broke a tie on a power
Golden Knights have start- ton made 37 saves for the play midway through the
ed 4-0-0 in their four-year Blues. third period in Edmonton's
existence. They're the first San Jose appeared to get victory over Toronto.
team in the NHL to reach the game-winner with 11 Draisaitl, the reigning NHL
four wins this season. seconds left in overtime, MVP and Art Ross Trophy
Alex Tuch added a goal but the officials quickly winner, ended the Oil- Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) cele-
brates after scoring against the Arizona Coyotes during the first
and two assists, Mark Stone waved it off for goaltender ers' 0-for-12 power-play period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in
had a goal and an as- interference on Ryan Do- drought. Las Vegas.
sist, and Alex Pietrangelo nato. After a replay review, Kailer Yamamoto was cred- Associated Press
scored his first goal with Ve- the call was upheld. ited with the opening goal
gas. WILD 3, DUCKS 2 for Edmonton after the Ma- scored the shootout winner Motte also scored and J.T.
Nick Schmaltz and Phil Kes- ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — ple Leafs fumbled the puck and Vancouver overcame Miller had three assists.
sel scored for the Coyotes Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal into their own net in the first. Tyler Toffoli's hat trick to Braden Holtby stopped
(1-2-1). Darcy Kuemper and an assist, including the Mikko Koskinen made 25 beat Montreal. 31 shots in regulation and
made 24 saves. game-winning score early saves, and Josh Archibald Horvat, the Vancouver overtime.
SHARKS 2, BLUES 1, SO in the third period, and Min- scored into an empty net captain, put a shot be- Price made 23 saves for the
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tomas nesota capped a success- with 1:06 left. tween the legs of goalie Canadiens, unbeaten in
Hertl scored the only goal ful season-opening road Auston Matthews scored Carey Price to make the regulation this season. Jes-
in a four-round shootout to trip with a win over Ana- for Toronto, and Frederik Canucks winners in their per Kotkaniemi had a goal
lift San Jose over St. Louis. heim. Andersen made 19 saves. home opener. and an assist, and Brendan
Marcus Sorensen scored Ryan Hartman and Nick CANUCKS 6, CANADIENS 5, Horvat and Brock Boeser Gallagher scored his first of
the tying goal late in the Bonino also scored for the SO each finished with two the season.
second period and Martin Wild, who have won three VANCOUVER, British Co- goals and an assist for Van- Boeser forced overtime
Jones made 22 saves for of their first four games. lumbia (AP) — Bo Horvat couver in regulation. Tyler 16:51 into the third period.q