National Sports

Patton Kizzire hugged a tree on the way to the first tee Friday as part of a mental exercise, then patiently worked his way around Silverado to take the lead into the weekend in the FedEx Cup Fall series opener.

TORONTO — After a long 11 innings behind the plate, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk had enough stamina to notch his first career walk-off hit on Friday.

GUADALAJARA — Canada's Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland's Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday. The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont.

CALGARY — Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game. It won't be an easy assignment.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames signed winger Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday. The contract has an average annual value of US$800,000.

QUÉBEC — Australian road cyclist Michael Matthews raced to victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday. Matthews earned a record third career victory in Quebec City. He was previously tied with Slovakia's Peter Sagan with two wins.

Braxton Whitehead said Friday he has verbally committed to Arizona State, making him the first member of a Canadian Hockey League team to attempt to play the sport at the Division I U.S.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have loaned midfielder Jay Herdman to Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League and rewarded two Whitecaps FC 2 players with MLS contracts.

Tiger Woods had yet another surgery on his lower back on Friday morning. This one he hopes will relieve some of the spasms he experienced this year. It was the sixth surgery on his lower back in the last 10 years.

BRUSSELS — Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton rebounded from a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics by capturing Diamond League gold on Friday. Mitton, of Brooklyn, N.S.