Weekend Sports In Brief
GOLF
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Jordan Spieth tapped in his final putt to cap off a record performance and bent over in relief. He just as easily could have been taking a bow.
This was a Masters for the ages.
Not since Tiger Woods in 1997 has a 21-year-old faced so little stress while making a mockery of par in a major. Not since Raymond Floyd in 1976 has anyone withstood the pressure of leading for all four rounds at Augusta National. Only one other Masters champion - Craig Wood in 1941 - has never let anyone closer to him than three shots the entire way.
Spieth took his place among the best in the game Sunday when he closed with a 2-under 70 for a four-shot victory over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, becoming the second-youngest champion behind Woods to wear a green jacket.
Spieth missed a 5-foot par putt on the final hole that only kept him from breaking another record this week at the Masters. He tied the 72-hole scoring mark that Woods set at 18-under 270.
It was still enough to easily beat Mickelson (69) and Rose (70).
AUTO RACING
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Jimmie Johnson was still chasing Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick, trying to get back in front as the laps wound down at Texas Motor Speedway.
Then Johnson got the break that led to his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory at the track.
Johnson passed both of them Saturday night, regaining the lead for good with 14 laps left. He held off Harvick and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his second victory this season - and 72nd of his career.
Johnson led nine times for 128 laps. He also won in November at Texas, where all four of his previous wins had been in fall races.
The runner-up finish for Harvick comes after he was eighth in Martinsville in the last Cup race two weeks ago. That ended his run of eight consecutive races finishing first or second, the longest such stretch since Richard Petty did it 11 times in a row in 1975.
AVONDALE, La. (AP) - James Hinchcliffe cruised to what may go down as the easiest victory of his IndyCar career Sunday at the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana.
The Canadian had a wet track and a fortunate pit strategy to thank for his fourth career victory.
Hinchcliffe, racing for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, pitted only once on Lap 13, and then spent much of his day leading the field around the NOLA Motorsports Park under a full-course yellow flag.
Because of several wrecks in the traffic behind him, 25 of 47 laps were run under caution. The race was supposed to run 75 laps, but ended - fittingly under caution - as a timed race.
NFL
CLEVELAND (AP) - Johnny Manziel has taken the first steps in his comeback.
The popular Browns quarterback was released from a rehab facility Saturday after more than 10 weeks, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M entered the undisclosed clinic, which specializes in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, on Jan. 28 for treatment of an unspecified problem. Manziel is expected to participate in Cleveland's offseason workouts beginning April 20, the person said.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - James Casey brings both versatility and familiarity to the Denver Broncos.
The free-agent tight end who agreed to a one-year deal with the team on Saturday played for coach Gary Kubiak in Houston from 2009-12.
He spent his last two seasons in Philadelphia, where he worked primarily as a run-blocker in Chip Kelly's offense and made his mark on special teams. He led the league last year with 439 special teams snaps, collecting 13 tackles and blocking two punts.
BASEBALL
CLEVELAND (AP) - Yan Gomes could be out of the Indians' lineup for two months, a major blow to a team expected to contend this season.
Gomes, one of the Indians' best players, sustained a ''moderate'' sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on a play at the plate Saturday. The team expects him to be out at least six weeks. An MRI at the Cleveland Clinic on Sunday revealed the sprain.
Gomes' leg was jolted violently by Detroit outfielder Rajai Davis, who slid hard on a force play and clipped the catcher's right leg. Gomes was extended at the time like a first baseman making a catch.
Before Sunday's game Gomes was placed on the 15-day disabled list and he hobbled onto the field on crutches to receive his Silver Slugger Award from last season.
HOCKEY
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Two last-place finishes and an imperfect working relationship led Sabres general manager Tim Murray to the conclusion to fire coach Ted Nolan on Sunday.
The decision was made after a lengthy evaluation which ended with Murray's exit interviews with Sabres players, a day after Buffalo (23-51-8) closed its season with a 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh.
Murray also felt the move to fire Nolan, a little more than a year after the coach signed a three-year contract, was needed to improve a team in the midst of a rebuilding process.
Nolan was in good spirits but declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.
TORONTO (AP) - Changes were expected from the Toronto Maple Leafs after their worst season in almost 20 years. Team President Brendan Shanahan didn't waste any time making them.
The Leafs fired general manager Dave Nonis and interim coach Peter Horachek and his entire staff Sunday, beginning a tumultuous offseason that could also bring wholesale roster changes.
Nonis was fired with three years left on his contract after the Leafs went 30-44-8 to finish with 68 points, the fewest in an 82-game season since 1996-97.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Chattanooga has hired Florida assistant Matt McCall as its men's basketball coach.
Athletic director David Blackburn announced McCall's hiring Sunday night in a release. A news conference is scheduled for Monday.
McCall replaces Will Wade, who went 40-25 in two seasons. Chattanooga went 22-10 in 2014-15. Wade left Chattanooga to take over at VCU, where he had previously worked as an assistant.