Hoffman takes 1st PGA Tour lead

ORLANDO, Fla. — Morgan Hoffmann’s day began with news that his 97-year-old grandmother had passed away. It ended with his first lead on the PGA Tour.

Hoffmann holed a bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 sixth hole and finished with a 9-iron that touched the hole before stopping inches away for a birdie. That gave him a 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead Thursday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Hoffman says he was in a strange place mentally before saying that his grandmother died. He hopes to get to a memorial service in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. It’s a short trip in his single-engine plane that he pilots. More than a golfer, Hoffmann is a man of many talents.

Kevin Na and John Peterson were among those at 67.

Rory McIlroy made his Bay Hill debut with a 70.

Djokovic reaches Indian Wells semis

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday when opponent Bernard Tomic withdrew because of a back injury.

Tomic’s withdrawal was announced about five hours before he was to play Djokovic, a three-time champion at Indian Wells who has won his first three matches in straight sets. He has beaten Tomic each of the three times they’ve played.

Tomic had gotten off to a strong start this year, reaching the quarterfinals at six of the seven tournaments he’s played. The exception was the Australian Open, where he lost in the fourth round. The Australian defeated sixth-seeded David Ferrer in straight sets in the third round.

Talladega plans to make track SAFER

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Talladega Superspeedway will add SAFER barriers in three places before NASCAR visits in May.

Talladega chairman Grant Lynch says the decision comes after an extensive safety review by track owner International Speedway Corp., NASCAR and ARCA.

All tracks are being looked at in the wake of Kyle Busch’s crash into a concrete wall last month at Daytona.

Busch broke his right leg and left foot when he hit a wall that lacked the energy-absorbing barrier.

Talladega will add SAFER barrier before the May 3 race to the inside wall at the entrances to pit road, Turn 1 and Turn 3.

OSU leads after 1 day of wrestling

ST. LOUIS — Ohio State carried the momentum of a strong start to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships into the evening session Thursday.

Ohio State leads the team points with 23, followed by Iowa (21), Oklahoma State (19.5), Penn State (18.5), Missouri (18) and Nebraska (18).

The Buckeyes went 5-2 in the second round in front of 18,414 at Scottrade Center and 6-4 for the entire session.

From wire reports