Intense battle looming as Formula One heads home

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One heads home after four opening long-haul races with the championship finely balanced between champions Mercedes and Ferrari and the prospect of an intense battle stretching out ahead.

Motor racing: The first win is the hardest, Lauda tells Bottas

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Valtteri Bottas waited 81 races for his first Formula One win to come along but it will get easier for the Finn after Sunday's success in Russia, according to former world champion Niki Lauda.

Golf - Nomura beats Kerr at sixth extra hole at Texas Shootout

(The Sports Xchange) - In her first career playoff, Japan's Haru Nomura beat American Cristie Kerr on the sixth hole of the sudden-death playoff to take the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, on Sunday.

Rowing - Murray retires, ending unbeaten streak of 'Kiwi pair'

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - One of rowing's most dominant partnerships has ended with the retirement of double Olympic champion Eric Murray, who won back-to-back gold medals for New Zealand in the men's coxless pair with Hamish Bond.

Stunning eagle earns Kisner/Brown Monday playoff in New Orleans

(Reuters) - Kevin Kisner made a stunning eagle at the final hole to earn he and his partner Scott Brown a playoff against Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans title on Sunday.

Major League Baseball roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - New York Mets ace Noah Syndergaard left his start in the second inning Sunday against the Washington Nationals with an apparent injury to his right side.

National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley was fired Sunday, one day after the seven-round NFL Draft ended.

Soccer: Advocaat set to return as Netherlands coach

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dick Advocaat is poised to return as Netherlands coach amid public disapproval of such an appointment and media criticism of the process of finding a replacement for Danny Blind, who was sacked last month after a run of poor results.

Highlights of Sunday's NBA games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Sunday's National Basketball Association games:

Australian Porte pips Yates to victory in Tour of Romandie

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Australian Richie Porte snatched overall victory in the Tour of Romandie from overnight leader Simon Yates on Sunday after out-performing the Briton in the final time-trial stage.

Soccer: Chelsea on course for the title as Spurs beat Arsenal

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea remain on course for the Premier League title after a 3-0 win at Everton left them four points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who beat local rivals Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday.

Nadal eases to 10th Barcelona Open title

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal won a record-extending 10th Barcelona Open title on Sunday by thrashing Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-4 6-1, collecting his second claycourt title in a row.

Bottas takes his first F1 victory with Russian win

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Finland's Valtteri Bottas seized the first Formula One victory of his career at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday after jumping both Ferraris at the start and then holding his nerve over the tense closing laps.