National sports briefs

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw accepted the Warren Spahn Award on Thursday night as the best left-handed pitcher in baseball.

“It’s the biggest trophy I’ve ever gotten,” Kershaw said, laughing. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to carry it on the plane.”

Kershaw, the National League Cy Young winner, led the NL with a 21-5 record, 248 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA. He also was selected to his first All-Star game and won his first Gold Glove.

“It’s been a progression. I think a lot of it has to do with being more comfortable and getting more experience,” Kershaw said. “It’s just a lot of things coming together. Once you have some success you gain some confidence and you expect to do that every time out.”

The Spahn award is based on a pitcher’s wins, strikeouts and ERA. Spahn won 363 career games in his Hall of Fame career. He died in 2003.

Kershaw is eligible for salary arbitration. After earning $500,000 last season, Kershaw and agent Alan Hendricks have asked the Dodgers for $10 million next season. The Dodgers have countered at $6.5 million.

“I’m not worried about it at all,” Kershaw said. “My court date was set. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully, it will be settled before then but you never know.”

NBA

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely after fracturing his left ankle Wednesday night in Houston.

It’s another injury setback for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Bogut’s left foot came down awkwardly on a Houston player’s foot after Bogut tried to block a shot in the first quarter. The Bucks said Thursday an MRI found Bogut fractured his ankle.

“I will get back from this,” Bogut posted on his Twitter account Thursday night. “Injury was beyond my control.”

The 7-foot center was playing in his 400th career NBA game. He left with three points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.

GOLF

SAN DIEGO — Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley knew they had to post low scores on the easier North Course at Torrey Pines to get off to a good start Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open. It went even better than they expected.

Stanley made eagle on his final hole for a 10-under 62, his best score in two years on the PGA Tour. Levin shot 29 on the back nine and had a 62, matching his career best on tour.

They were a shot ahead of FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas, who had a double bogey on his 15th hole and still managed a 63. The top 12 on the leaderboard played the North, which played slightly more than 3 1/2 strokes easier than the South Course, which hosted the U.S. Open four years ago.

The best score from the South was Marc Turnesa at 66.

Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, went south on the South. The three-time champion and San Diego favorite thought his game was rounding into form when he came home from the Humana Challenge. Instead, he hit into 11 bunkers, missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the final hole and signed for a 77. It was his highest score at Torrey Pines since a 78 in the third round of 2005.

A year ago, the fairways were pinched in and the rough was unusually high on the North Course, helping to make up for the 604-yard difference between the two courses. Based on the scores, that’s no longer the case.

Vijay Singh, Rod Pampling, Josh Teater and PGA Tour rookie John Huh were at 64, with Huh making three eagles. Camilo Villegas and Justin Leonard were among those at 65.

ABU DHABI GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy outplayed Tiger Woods in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, shooting a 5-under 67 for a share of the lead with Robert Karlsson.

Woods shot a 70 in a threesome with McIlroy and top-ranked Luke Donald, who finished with a 71.

Gareth Maybin, Richard Finch and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet shot 68.

Woods played bogey-free golf that produced few momentous shots and two birdies. He missed several birdie chances, including a 6-footer on his ninth, the 18th hole.

McIlroy, the U.S. Open champion who has had three top-five finishes in Abu Dhabi, made three birdies on his first four holes but erratic driving led to two bogeys on the next four. He steadied himself with three birdies on his back nine, including a chip-in on No. 8 from just off the green.

RACING

CHARLOTTE — Former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton is getting back behind the wheel in NASCAR. He’s bringing his son along, too.

Burton signed with Hillman Racing and will drive in next month’s season opening Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Hillman also agreed to start a driver development program for Burton’s 19-year-old son, Jeb.

Jeb Burton has been racing in NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series and eventually will drive Hillman’s No. 27 Chevrolet in the Truck Series.

Ward Burton last competed in a Sprint Cup race in 2007. He has made 375 starts at NASCAR’s top level, earning five wins and 24 top-five finishes. Burton also has four Nationwide Series victories in 161 starts.

Driver details for the rest of the season will be announced later.