Brooks Koepka sees a silver lining during one of the worst stretches of his career.

The four-time major champion's year has been plagued by injuries. A knee injury sidelined him this spring and because of the time off then, Koepka, now fully healthy, revved up his schedule this fall to find his form. 

In eight Tour starts since finishing T-6 at The Open in July, Koepka hasn't registered a top-20, the longest span of his Tour career. But coming off a beatdown of rival Bryson DeChambeau in "The Match" and a solid first round at the Hero World Challenge, in which he sits one shot off the lead at 5 under, Koepka finally has something to hang his hat on. 

"I worked my tail off over the last two months and I see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "I'm damn close and it was nice to come out today and see the shots that come out the right window, right flight, right shape, everything, right spin. Just go work on it here for a little bit more and just getting better and better every day."

After Round 1 at the Houston Open, Koepka had a range session with veteran swing coach Randy Smith where they worked on getting Koepka more “underneath” the ball while in a more athletic position, though Smith called the session just a "look-see." But if he can eliminate his mistakes, the world No. 16 sees his game going in a better direction. 

This past year, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Tony Finau ended long winless droughts that went back as far as 2016 (Finau). Although Koepka's last win came in February at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he'll keep working to make sure he doesn't suffer a prolonged setback like his three Hero World Challenge competitors. 

"Trying to [improve my game], man. It's been one of those things the last, I don't know, it feels like the last two years have been a struggle except for the majors or WGCs. I think four top-20s in the last two years that are outside of WGCs, it's not been very good. Just trying to figure it out," he said.

"I think obviously there's been some unfortunate things that have happened to me and it's – just got to grind through it. I'm finding ways just to get through it and figure out my golf swing again and just get out and go play. Sometimes when you don't have it, it feels like you're never going to get it again, but just got to keep going, keep fighting and figure it out."

After the next three days in the Bahamas, the 31-year-old will shelve his new Cleveland Golf and Srixon clubs for three weeks until the Sentry Tournament of Champions, where he'll begin his quest to earn a ticket back to Hawaii in '23. Though a good showing this week will get him even closer to the light he sees at the tunnel's end. 

Justin Thomas saw the course differently than ever before in Round 1 of the Hero World Challenge and that was reflected on his scorecard. 

Thomas signed for a 5-under 67, one shot off a three-way tie lead, and that may be thanks to a special procedure that he finally had time to have done. 

The 28-year-old had LASIK surgery a little over a week ago, which was why the five-time Tour winner, who usually wears contacts, was donning shades Thursday in the Bahamas' sunshine – a rarity for him. 

"I've been wanting to do [LASIK] for a while and it finally just worked out with the schedule to get it done," Thomas said. "That's why I keep walking around with the sunglasses. I don't wear those too often, just trying to protect the eyes. Yeah, it was nice to get that done a week and a half ago and try to put it to the test here this week." 

Thomas added that his eyes look "terrible," but his game didn't. Through 18 holes, the reigning Players champion breezed through his "test" on Thursday, aside from a mishap off the tee on No. 18 that resulted in a double-bogey, dropping him out of the lead.

"It obviously was a poor finish, but I mean, I played well," Thomas said. "Got off to a good start and just kind of hit a lull there in the middle, but hit a lot of really, really good putts that didn't go in or felt like it could have been a really, really low round."

NASSAU, Bahamas – Rory McIlroy has gone from tears at the Ryder Cup to some of his best golf of the year, and right now his only complaint is the calendar.

“I wish it was the end of March,” McIlroy said Thursday after a 6-under 66 to share the lead with Daniel Berger and Abraham Ancer in the Hero World Challenge.

McIlroy was referring to the Masters, the only major keeping him from the career Grand Slam, and there is plenty of golf to be played between now and the first full week of April. But he’s been on a roll since spilling his emotions about how much the Ryder Cup means after a rough week at Whistling Straits.

He won the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. He was leading the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai after 68 holes until a bad break led to a sloppy finish and Collin Morikawa passed him by.

And then on a warm and blustery day in the Bahamas, he had six birdies and chipped in for eagle on the reachable par-4 14th for another good start.

It was far from perfect, and he only has to point at a double bogey on the par-5 ninth when he hit his second shot into the water. He failed to birdie two other par 5s, so this wasn’t exactly a round where he got the most out of it.

But it was enough to make him slightly wistful the year was coming to an end.

“I wish it was a different time of the year the way I’m playing,” McIlroy said. “But there’s no reason why I can’t pick up again in January and keep playing the way I’m playing. I’m still going to keep myself ticking over these next few weeks. I’m not going to completely shut the clubs away. ... My game’s in good shape and I want to keep it there.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Berger, who hasn’t even played since the Ryder Cup. He showed up on the practice range at Albany on Monday, cell phone resting on his bag to play music, striped one drive and proudly announced, “Still got it!”

He was kidding on Monday, not so much on Thursday.

Berger birdied his opening four holes, made an eagle on the par-5 11th and stayed ahead of the 20-man field most of the day until the end. From the 18th fairway, into the wind with water guarding the left side of the green, he missed well to the right, his chip didn’t reach the green and he had to make a 5-footer to escape with bogey.

It was the first time every shot counted on his card since Sept. 4 when he closed with 64 at the Tour Championship. There’s been a lot of pool time, and more time on the tennis court than the golf course. He played with his father, former Davis Cup player Jay Berger.

“It’s probably the longest break I’ve had in my professional career,” he said. “It was a little scary taking over a month off because I haven’t done that in a while, wondering if you’re going to come back and still have it. But mentally and physically, I needed the break.”

Collin Morikawa had a reasonable start in his bid to cap off his year with a win that would take him to No. 1 in the world. He shot 68 with a pair of sloppy 8-iron shots from the fairway that led to bogey. No matter what he does on the course, his year keeps getting better.

The Open champion got engaged Tuesday night.

“I’m just happy,” he said. “It’s going to be a special date for us. It’s going to be a great week no matter what.”

Webb Simpson one-putted his last seven greens, five of them for birdie, one for bogey on the 18th after hitting his tee shot into a palmetto bush. He was one shot behind along with Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas, who suffered a worse fate than Simpson.

Thomas, wearing sunglasses for the first time because of laser surgery on his eyes a few weeks ago, reached 7 under for the round until also taking a penalty shot from the bushes right of the 18th fairway. He failed to get up-and-down and made double bogey.

Koepka played with him and was keeping pace until he bogeyed the 13th, failed to birdie the reachable par-4 14th and the par-5 15th and had to settle for 67.

“Trying to find it, man,” Koepka said. “It feels like the last two years have been a struggle except for the majors or WGCs.”

He left out the whipping he put on Bryson DeChambeau in the made-for-TV match in Las Vegas last week.

“Sometimes when you don’t have it, it feels like you’re never going to get it again,” Koepka said. “But just got to keep going, keep fighting and figure it out.”

MANCHESTER, England -- Michael Carrick has decided to leave Manchester United following his stint as caretaker manager, the club have announced.

United released a statement within minutes of the final whistle after their 3-2 win over Arsenal to reveal Carrick has decided to step down from his role as first-team coach and will leave the club with immediate effect. Ralf Rangnick, who was watching from the stands, will take the reins on Friday until the end of the season.

"My time at this great club will always rank as the best years of my career," said Carrick. "When I first signed over 15 years ago, I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined winning so many trophies and I will certainly never forget the fantastic memories both as a player and as a member of the coaching team.

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"However, after a lot of thought and deliberation, I have decided that now is the right time for me to leave the club. I want to place on record my thanks to all of the players and a special mention goes to the backroom staff, working long hours with such a great group of people has been a real pleasure and I have made some long-lasting friendships.

"I am, and will always be, a Manchester United fan and will come to as many matches as possible. I would like to wish Ralf, the staff, the players and the fans all the best for the future and I look forward to being in the stands and supporting the boys as a fan."

Carrick took over as caretaker boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal on Nov. 21. In his three games in charge, he led United to wins over Villarreal and Arsenal and a draw against Chelsea.

"He just spoke to us in the dressing room, an emotional dressing room really, as he's been a big part of this club for a large number of years as a player but also as a coach," United captain Harry Maguire said after the match. "He's been a great player for this club, a legend at the club, he's won everything at the club and he's been a fantastic servant in terms of his coaching.

"He's a really likable man, all the lads respect him and he's been amazing with each and every one of us. We're going to miss him, of course we're going to miss him, and we wish him well for the future."

Carrick, who worked as a coach under Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho after ending his playing career in 2018, was the last to leave the pitch after victory over Arsenal, spending time to applaud the Stretford End.

Football director John Murtough added: "Michael leaves with the sincerest thanks and best wishes of everyone at Manchester United after 15 years of exceptional service to the club as a player and as a coach. While we are sad to see him go, we respect and understand Michael's decision.

"He will always be known as one of the finest midfielders in the history of Manchester United, and, more recently, as an excellent coach who has worked tirelessly under two managers to help develop the strong squad which Ralf will now take charge of. We are grateful for the steady leadership Michael has shown through this period of managerial transition, and, while he is now stepping away from day-to-day involvement, he will always be welcome back as a legend of the club."

There's a new boss at Manchester United, but Ralf Rangnick already knows that Cristiano Ronaldo is still the main man.

Who knows how Rangnick's six-month stint as interim manager at Old Trafford will ultimately turn out, but two goals from Ronaldo -- the 800th and 801st of his career -- in a 3-2 win against Arsenal proved that he simply cannot be overlooked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's temporary successor.

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Rangnick, the former Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig coach, will officially replace caretaker-manager Michael Carrick, who announced his departure from the club after the game, when he takes his first training session on Friday. The German watched from the directors' box as his new team emerged triumphant in an eventful clash against the Gunners and he will have left with his notebook full of issues to address.

He needs to deal with a goalkeeper in David De Gea whose fragility in a packed penalty area once again contributed to a goal being conceded when, in farcical circumstances, Arsenal took the lead after Emile Smith Rowe scored while the Spaniard was lying on the floor following a "foul" by United teammate Fred. VAR had to confirm the visitors' goal due to the confusion surrounding the incident.

And aside from De Gea, who went on to make a series of outstanding saves, Rangnick will be concerned about the quality in both full-back positions, Fred and Scott McTominay's limitations in midfield and the inconsistency of Marcus Rashford up front.

But while Ronaldo, who is 37 in February, cannot expect to play every game between now and the end of the season, his performance against Arsenal will have banished any doubts Rangnick may have held over his value to the team.

As the man credited as being the so-called "Father of Gegenpress," the high-energy pressing game which requires forwards to be the first line of defence, Rangnick is unlikely to abandon his philosophy simply to accommodate Ronaldo in his team.

Rangnick may bend slightly and make allowances for Ronaldo because of his peerless ability to score crucial goals, but it is the player who will have to measure up and prove himself in the end.

Ronaldo's sharp exit down the tunnel at Stamford Bridge following Sunday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea, when he was dropped to the substitutes' bench by Carrick, highlighted how the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward will never accept a bit-part role.

But if anyone was expecting Ronaldo to sulk in response to being dropped, he did the opposite in a man of the match performance against Mikel Arteta's team.

His goals are almost expected now, but the accusation levelled against Ronaldo is that he doesn't work for the team -- any team -- and that everything has to go through him and be devised to suit his strengths and weaknesses.

Rangnick saw a different Ronaldo than the stereotype, though. The Portugal captain chased down defenders, forced them into mistakes and gave a perfect display of "gegenpressing."

His work-rate was exceptional. Two moments late in the game highlighted the effort and determination he displayed.

The first saw Ronaldo close down defender Gabriel and bundle him to the ground on 85 minutes. It was a foul and he conceded a free kick, but that Ronaldo was prepared to do that in the closing stages showed he is ready to what Rangnick wants.

And then two minutes later, Ronaldo headed an Arsenal corner clear at the near post to launch a counter-attack and he proceeded to sprint to the other end of the pitch in a desperate effort to score his hat-trick goal after earlier netting from a Rashford pass and a 69th minute penalty.

Ronaldo was exhausted by the end of his run and was immediately substituted, but if he had to prove a point, he did that in typical fashion.

With a game against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday, recovery will be the key for Ronaldo over the next 48 hours, but Rangnick should do all he can to ensure that the Portugal captain is fit and fresh to start his first game in charge.

And he can thank Carrick, leaving the club 15 years after arriving as a player from Tottenham Hotspur, for the winning platform he can now build upon.

Under Carrick, United have won twice and drawn once to halt the run of defeats under Solskjaer. Bruno Fernandes' equaliser in the first-half, prior to Ronaldo's second-half double, proved enough to win the game, despite Martin Odegaard making it 2-2 on 55 minutes.

Confidence is returning, but United remain a team in need of structure and organisation. Delivering that is now Rangnick's job, but at least he knows he can rely on Ronaldo.

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James has been cleared to return to the lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the LA Clippers on Friday after a brief stint in the NBA's health and safety protocols, the league announced Thursday.

James has returned eight negative tests since returning to Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, sources told ESPN, after the Lakers star tested positive for COVID-19 in Sacramento on Tuesday morning.

The Lakers beat the Kings without James, 117-92, and had an off day on Wednesday, during which James took to Twitter to hint at his displeasure with the protocols.

James did not practice with the Lakers on Thursday, as the health and safety protocols required him to be isolated from the team until returning two negative tests within a 24-hour window.

The league released a statement on Thursday detailing the chain of events that led to James missing the Kings game and being reinstated for the Clippers game:

"Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA's Health & Safety Protocols," the NBA said in its statement.

"James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on November 29. Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case.

"In accordance with the Protocols, and the consistent testing practice that has been in place since the 2019-20 Season Restart in Orlando, the sample that produced the initial positive test was re-run twice and returned one negative and one positive result on two different PCR instruments. As a result, James underwent additional testing on November 30, with one test returning a negative result and a second test resulting in a clinically inconclusive result."

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Sabres addressed their suddenly thin depth in goal by acquiring Malcolm Subban in a trade with the Blackhawks on Thursday.

The move became necessary when goaltender Dustin Tokarski was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was recalled from AHL Rochester to join the Sabres for their game at Florida later in the day.

The Blackhawks acquired future considerations for Subban, who had a 2-2-1 record and 3.38 goals-against average in five games this season with Rockford, Chicago's AHL affiliate.

The struggling Sabres were already without starter Craig Anderson, who has missed 12 games with an upper-body injury. Tokarski is 3-4-2 since Anderson got hurt, while Aaron Dell is 0-4 and has allowed 15 goals in five appearances since being called up from the minors.

Buffalo also activated top-line center Casey Mittelstadt off injured reserve. Mittelstadt missed 21 games with an upper-body injury.

Subban is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban. He was selected by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2012 draft and is joining his fourth team after being traded to Chicago by Vegas in February 2020.

Malcolm Subban, who turns 28 on Dec. 21, has a 36-31-8 record in 82 career NHL games with a 3.02 GAA and .899 save percentage.

Tottenham Hotspur moved up to sixth in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Brentford in north London on Thursday night.

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Spurs took the lead just past the 10-minute mark when a dangerous Son Heung-Min cross deflected off Bretford's Sergi Canos into the net for an own goal.

Brentford's Alvaro Fernandez did well to block a Harry Kane strike early in the second half after the Tottenham captain had broken in behind the defence and ran onto a through ball with only the keeper to beat.

Tottenham doubled their lead in the 65th minute on a quick-hitting counter-attack when Sergio Reguilon picked out Son at the back post for the easiest of finishes into an open net.

A week after an embarrassing Europa Conference League group stage defeat at Slovenian minnows NS Mura and four days after a fruitless trip to Burnley for a game that was postponed due to snow, Spurs produced their best 90 minutes under Antonio Conte so far.

This was a far more measured victory than Tottenham's previous one at home against Leeds United.

In that game Tottenham, were appalling in the first half before responding with a much-improved second 45 minutes, while against Brentford they controlled the game throughout.

It was just the sort of response Conte would have demanded too after his harsh words following the last-gasp loss in Slovenia.

"It was a good performance against a dangerous team," Conte said. "I'm happy because I have seen a great commitment and a good passion about the players.

"It's a good reaction [after last week]. In a loss you learn a lot but now we have to think about another Premier League game on Sunday [against Norwich City].

A high-tempo display against Thomas Frank's team should have brought more goals, but it was a satisfactory night for Tottenham even though Kane's league scoring struggles continue. The striker has scored only one league goal this season and is being upstaged by strike partner Son.

Conte's side are now within reach of the top four after taking 22 points from 13 matches, while Brentford sit in 12th with 16 points in 14 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Manchester United's 3-2 win over Arsenal to surpass 800 goals of his career for club and country.

The 800th goal came in the 52nd minute of the match at Old Trafford when Marcus Rashford picked out Ronaldo on the right side of the box, who shot first time into the far bottom corner from about 10 yards out.

Ronaldo then scored No. 801 when he converted from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

The 36-year-old -- ranked as the No. 2 forward in ESPN FC 100 -- is the leading scorer in men's international football (115), the Champions League (140) and the European Championship (14).

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The goals came in the first Premier League match at Old Trafford since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left his role as United manager, with incoming interim coach Ralf Rangnick watching from the stands.

Ronaldo, who has previously finished as top goal scorer in England's Premier League, Spain's LaLiga and Italy's Serie A -- while also winning the respective leagues and domestic cups on multiple occasions -- is also the man with the most Champions League medals in the modern era with five victories.

The Portugal star is also the most capped European man with 184 international appearances. His tally of five Ballon d'Or awards and four European Golden Shoes is bettered only by Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo made his professional debut at Sporting Lisbon in 2002 and scored his first two professional goals in a 3-0 victory over Moreirense on Oct. 7 of that year. He joined United at the end of the season after scoring five goals in all.

He spent six seasons during his first spell in Manchester, scoring 118 goals in 292 appearances before signing for Real Madrid in a then-world record fee of £80 million.

During Ronaldo's nine seasons in the Spanish capital, he scored an astonishing 450 goals in 438 appearances across all competitions to become the club's all-time leading goal scorer.

He moved to Juventus in 2018 in a deal worth £100m and netted 101 goals in 134 matches for the Bianconeri. Ronaldo returned to United in August and has so far scored 11 goals to take him to 129 in total for the club.

Ronaldo's 800th goal came just over two years after he reached 700, and he has scored 337 goals in 372 matches since turning 30.

Lincoln Riley flipped another football recruit from Oklahoma on Thursday, when ESPN 300 running back Raleek Brown committed to USC.

Brown is the No. 60-ranked recruit overall and the No. 6-ranked running back, out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.

He had been committed to Oklahoma, but decommitted from the Sooners on Wednesday. Brown was vocal about the impact he felt when Riley left Oklahoma for USC.

"That changes everything," Brown said after Riley changed jobs. "I had a good relationship with all [the Oklahoma coaches], so that will really change everything."

Riley was also able to get a commitment from ESPN Junior 300 quarterback Malachi Nelson, the No. 3 recruit in the 2023 class, after Nelson had decommitted from the Sooners as well.

USC's recruiting class took a hit when the program announced it was firing Clay Helton in September. The Trojans lost commitments from ESPN 300 quarterback Devin Brown and five-star corner Domani Jackson after Helton left.

Jackson recently named the Trojans in his top two with Alabama, but Brown recently committed to Ohio State.

Now with Brown in the class, USC has five total commitments with two ranked in the ESPN 300.