National Sports

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Hideki Matsuyama showed he could handle Augusta National when he first showed up as a 19-year-old amateur. Ten years later, the Japanese star put himself on the cusp of a green jacket Saturday at the Masters.

TORONTO — Laurent Dauphin scored twice in the first period Saturday, leading the Laval Rocket to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Marlies in American Hockey League play.

CALGARY — The men's world curling championship in Calgary remained in a holding pattern Saturday just short of its finish line because of positive tests for the COVID-19 virus.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have placed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the injured-reserve list. The 27-year-old centre missed Edmonton's game against the Ottawa Senators Thursday with an upper-body injury.

Canadian centre Khem Birch is joining the Toronto Raptors. The 28-year-old Birch joins fellow Montrealer Chris Boucher on the Raptors' roster after the Orlando Magic waived the undrafted Canadian earlier this week.

LAS VEGAS — Veteran Montreal lightweight John (The Bull) Makdessi won a split decision over Chile's Ignacio Bahamondes on a UFC Fight Night card Saturday.

EDMONTON — Over 100 martial artists from different corners of the world screamed one loud "kihap" and broke wooden boards in half as a symbol of breaking free from their pandemic fatigue.

CARDIFF, United Kingdom — Canada coach Bev Priestman got the offence she wanted with three classy goals in a decisive 3-0 win over Wales on Friday, but it came with a scare in the first half.

MIRAMAR, Fla. — Canada's Christabel Nettey won the women's long jump at the Miramar Invitational Grand Prix on Saturday. The 29-year-old from Brampton, Ont., leapt 6.63 metres, giving her valuable world ranking points toward Tokyo Olympic qualifying.

RED DEER, Alta. — Brent Sutter has stepped down as head coach of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels, which is a team he owns. Sutter has run the Rebels for 20 seasons and coached them for 15.