Golf: Spain’s Sergio Garcia shot a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to grab the first round lead at the European Tour’s BMW Masters in Shanghai yesterday. The Spaniard produced nine birdies in his round at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai to sit one clear of South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and Victor Dubuisson of France in the penultimate event of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai series. Garcia is looking for his first win this year and was optimistic of breaking the drought after another trademark strong round tee-to-green.

Cricket: Umar Akmal has been dropped from the Pakistan Twenty20 squad to face England as he is under investigation for bringing the sport into disrepute in an off-field incident. Akmal, the flamboyant 25-year-old middle-order batsman, was not included in the 16-man squad announced yesterday for the three T20 internationals later this month following reports about his alleged behaviour at a dance party in Hyderabad.

Basketball, NBA: The Golden State Warriors moved to 9-0 as a 100-84 win over the Memphis Grizzlies saw them match this their best start to a season since 1960. Stephen Curry scored 28 points and Andre Iguodala added 20 for the reigning NBA champions, who last went 9-0 when the team was based in Philadelphia. It is all in stark contrast to Philadelphia’s current team as the 76ers suffered an 18th straight loss, going down 119-103 against the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry scored 23 points for Toronto while Luis Scola added 21.

Rugby Union: Wallabies fullback Israel Folau requires surgery on the ankle he injured at the Rugby World Cup and will be sidelined for at least three months, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said yesterday. The former rugby league international sustained the injury during the pool stage of the tournament but played through the pain in the semi-final against Argentina and the final, which Australia lost to New Zealand.