Furyk builds lead at Firestone

Jim Furyk is two rounds away from erasing a couple of bad memories at Firestone.

Even with a bogey on his last hole for the second straight day, Furyk did plenty right Friday in the Bridgestone Invitational for another 4-under 66 that gave him a four-shot lead going into the weekend of this World Golf Championship in Akron, Ohio.

Furyk ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch late in his round to reach 8-under 132.

It's a familiar position for Furyk at Firestone, but he hasn't won. He lost a seven-hole playoff against Tiger Woods in 2001 and lost on a double bogey on No. 18 three years ago.

"It's another year and opportunity," Furyk said.

• Colin Montgomerie birdied three of the final four holes for an 8-under 62 and the first-round lead in the Champions Tour's Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta. Australia's Peter Senior was a stroke back.

Louise Suggs, an LPGA founder and among the best women to ever play with 61 wins and 11 major championships, died Friday in Sarasota, Fla. She was 91.

"I feel like the LPGA lost a parent," Commissioner Mike Whan said.

Linebacker Aldon Smith was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, just hours after he was let out of jail after his latest arrest.

Smith was arrested Thursday night, the fifth legal run-in since the team drafted him in 2011. Santa Clara, Calif., police accused of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism.

Smith denied he drove under the influence.

"Justice will be served, the truth will come out," Smith said as he walked out of jail.

Removing any uncertainty about how ready he'll be for the Rio Olympics, Michael Phelps turned in his fastest time in the 200-meter butterfly since setting the world record in a high-tech suit six years ago.

Phelps' stunner — 1 minute, 52.94 seconds at the U.S. national championships in San Antonio — came after months of lackluster performances and problems away from the pool.

"This next year is going to be pretty damn fun," Phelps said after posting a time that would have won at the 2012 London Olympics and at this week's world championships.

Australian Bronte Campbell led all the way against a strong field at the world championships in Kazan, Russia, winning in 52.52 seconds to take the title away from older sister, defending champion Cate Campbell. Cate finished third.

Wild unsigned defenseman Jon Blum said Friday night that he has signed a contract to play next season with Admiral Vladivostok of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.

MICHAEL RUSSO

• The St. Paul Saints scored seven runs in the first inning — three on Angelo Songco's 13th homer — to defeat the visiting Lincoln Saltdogs 9-2 for their seventh consecutive victory. Kramer Sneed scattered four hits in seven scoreless innings to improve to 11-2.

Auto racing: The family of Kevin Ward Jr., a young driver struck and killed by Tony Stewart's car on an upstate New York sprint racing track a year ago, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NASCAR star. A grand jury declined to indict Stewart, who was accused of driving toward Ward intentionally.

Soccer: The playoff game between the United States and Mexico for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup berth will be Oct. 10 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The game was originally planned for Oct. 9.

Water polo: The U.S. women's team won the world championship for the first time since 2009, beating the Netherlands 5-4 in Kazan, Russia.

NHL: Right wing Jakob Silfverberg agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks. He was a restricted free agent.