Garrett Willis, Chris Couch tied for lead at Transitions Championship

Garrett Willis and Chris Couch are tied for the lead following the second round of the Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla. Willis had a four-under 67 and Couch had a 64 as both finished the second round at nine-under 133, one shot clear of Garcia and Webb Simpson, who had a 67 in the afternoon. Paul Casey, who led after the first round, had a 71 and was two shots behind, along with Justin Rose (65) and Gary Woodland (68).

Among those missing the cut were three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and John Daly, who failed to make it to the weekend for the fifth time in six tournaments this year.

Angela Stanford takes first-round lead in LPGA Founders Cup

Angela Stanford holed out from a fairway bunker for eagle on the par-four ninth hole and shot a six-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Founders Cup at, the tour’s play-for-free U.S. opener in Phoenix.

Instead of paying the players, the tournament honoring the 13 tour founders is donating $1 million to charity — half to the LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program and half to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities.

Brittany Lincicome matched Aree Song at 67, and Juli Inkster, Sophie Gustafson, Beatriz Recari, Amelia Lewis, Mina Harigae and Nannette Hill followed at 68.

Anaheim may seek to help Sacramento Kings make move

In another move boosting the momentum of the Sacramento Kings’ relocation to the Honda Center, the city of Anaheim is poised to take its first public step to assess possible financial assistance of the endeavor.

A city agenda item posted Friday referenced a future City Council discussion about the “proposed financing of costs of certain improvements to the Honda Center.”

Two major-league sports authorities familiar with the proposal but unauthorized to discuss it publicly told The Times that making such “improvements” is an action consistent with those an NBA team moving to the area would likely require.

One obvious need in Anaheim is an NBA-caliber practice facility.

Honda Center officials declined to comment, and city officials could not be reached late Friday.

The agenda topic is currently scheduled to be discussed at the City Council’s April 5 meeting.

— Lance Pugmire

Bin Hammam to challenge Blatter for FIFA leadership

Mohamed Bin Hammam, the 61-year-old Qatari who is president of the Asian Football Confederation, said he will try to unseat Joseph “Sepp” Blatter as the president of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body.

Making the announcement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bin Hammam said Blatter had held onto the post long enough and that it was time for a change. “I believe my chances are 50-50,” he said.

Blatter, 75, has been FIFA’s president since 1998.

— Grahame L. Jones

Ligety wins World Cup giant slalom title

Ted Ligety of the United States won the World Cup giant slalom title at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, adding to the world championships gold medal he earned last month.

Ligety completed a season sweep of titles in his specialist event when the final World Cup GS race was canceled by poor weather and snow conditions.

Ligety won his third World Cup crystal globe trophy in four years, beating Phil Mahre’s U.S. men’s record of two giant slalom titles in 1982 and ’83.

Jacobellis wins in Italy

Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States won a World Cup snowboard cross race at Valmalenco, Italy.

Jacobellis finished ahead of Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic and Deborah Anthonioz of France.

Alberto Schiavon of Italy topped the men’s competition ahead of Americans Jonathan Cheever and Nate Holland.