Getty Images This week’s Hero World Challenge, which began Thursday, marks the final time most of the best golfers in the world will tee it up in 2021. Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau headline one of the best small-field events of the entire …

PUNE: Rookie Kartik Sharma returned a sizzling nine-under 60 to take a two-shot lead on day two of the Pune Open Golf Championship here on Thursday. Gurugram’s left-handed 21-year-old Kartik (66-60), lying tied second and three shots off the lead after round one, moved his total to 13-under 126 after …

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Golf: McIlroy defends players’ right to compete in Saudi Arabia Rory McIlroy said he viewed golfers as “independent contractors” and that the PGA and European tours should allow players to compete in the Saudi International in February. The Saudi International, which …