Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Monday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:
- SOUTHPORT, England - The start was not what anyone expected out of Jordan Spieth. All that mattered to him was how he finished the British Open. And that might have been the biggest surprise of all.
- SOUTHPORT, England - Jordan Spieth was thrilled enough to see his name on the claret jug without wondering where he fit in among the rest of the British Open champions whose names are engraved on the oldest trophy in golf.
- NEW YORK - Dale Earnhardt Jr. will join NBC Sports Group's coverage of stock car racing next year - and there may be more options for NASCAR's most popular driver once he retires.
- CHICAGO - Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 4.09 ERA) makes his first start since June 4 when the Cubs host righty Miguel Gonzalez (4-9, 4.89) and the crosstown White Sox. Hendricks, who won 16 games last season and led the majors with a 2.13 ERA, was sidelined by pain in the middle finger of his right hand. Game starts 2:20 p.m.
- SAN FRANCISCO - Right-hander Matt Cain (3-8, 5.49 ERA) tries to avoid matching the longest losing streak of his career at eight games when he pitches the series opener against Gerrit Cole (7-7, 4.18) and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Game starts 10:15 p.m.
- OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi interim coach Matt Luke discusses the upcoming season for the first time since taking over for Hugh Freeze, who abruptly resigned last week. News conference 2 p.m.
- CHICAGO - Urban Meyer of Ohio State and Mark Dantonio of Michigan State are among the coaches featured on the opening day of Big Ten football media days, along with a state of the conference from Commissioner Jim Delany.
- Stories from various NFL camps.
- BUDAPEST, Hungary - Katie Ledecky has the night off at the world championships after finishing more than 17 seconds clear of the field in the preliminaries of the 1,500-meter freestyle, leaving the spotlight to home country favorite Katinka Hosszu and world-record holders Adam Peaty and Sarah Sjostrom. Finals begin 11:30 a.m.
- PARIS - Maybe the drought will be over soon for French riders at the Tour de France. It is 32 years since the Tour had a home winner, but a pair of riders has emerged to rekindle French hopes.
- TOKYO - Japan begins its three-year countdown to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with relays, concerts and dancing events meant to help drum up public enthusiasm for a games which has been troubled by soaring costs.
