MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Denny Hamlin earned his fifth pole position at Martinsville Speedway and 49th of his Cup Series career, tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Isaac for 10th all-time.
The Joe Gibbs Racing star turned a 98.241-mph lap Saturday in the No. 11 Toyota to beat William Byron, whose No. 24 Chevrolet qualified second at 97.957 mph for Sunday’s 400-lap race.
With his win two weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hamlin, 45, broke a tie with Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time win list in NASCAR’s premier series. He is two poles away from tying the career total of Ryan Newman, one of the greatest qualifiers in NASCAR history.
“It’s pretty awesome,” said Hamlin, who grew up a few hours east of Martinsville in the Richmond, Virginia, suburb of Chesterfield. “Really with age, the hardest part is still having the fast time. It’s one thing to be able to manage races and use your experience to your advantage. But usually the first thing to go is your all-out speed, and we’re still knocking off poles, which is really good. I was around when Newman was just unstoppable in qualifying. So damn, I didn’t know he had that many.”
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Hamlin has six wins at Martinsville, and his victory last season broke a 10-year drought at the 0.526-mile oval.
Byron won the most recent race at Martinsville last October and has victories in three of the past eight races there.
“I feel like our race car is going to be really good tomorrow,” said the Hendrick Motorsports driver, whose previous best start this season was ninth at Phoenix and Las Vegas. “We’ve learned a lot this year. It seems like Saturdays have been a struggle for us this year and not as consistent as we’d like.”
Josh Berry qualified third, followed by Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen.
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Brad Keselowski, who will make his 600th career start Sunday, qualified 23rd.
Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) intercepts a deflected pass during fourth-quarter action against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the play unfolding on Aug 24, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, as Ward tracks the tipped ball and secures the turnover late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.
Aside from signing quarterback Kyler Murray two weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t do much in free agency, constrained by a tight salary cap situation and needing existing players to step up in 2026. So, it’s time for the annual breakout player article, keeping tabs on the purple team four weeks before the draft.
Minnesota has young players poised for bigger roles this season.
This go-round, Minnesota has plenty of options for breakout personalities on both sides of the ball.
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Five Vikings with a Real Chance to Level Up in 2026
Ranked in ascending order — No. 1 is the top breakout candidate — here’s the list.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton works through drills and timing sessions during rookie minicamp, getting his first on-field reps in purple and beginning his development within the offense on May 2025 at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, as the third-round pick starts carving out a long-term role in the team’s plans. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
5. Tai Felton | WR
With Jalen Nailor, the WR3 for 2024 and 2025, now out of the picture, the Vikings opted not to sign a free agent to fill the void. Numerous options were available, with players like Hollywood Brown, Kendrick Bourne, Romeo Doubs, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk signing elsewhere.
Minnesota passed on them all. Therefore, barring a new acquisition, the WR3 role is open. If Felton doesn’t emerge as a viable contender, the remaining free agent pool looks something like this:
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DeAndre Hopkins
Deebo Samuel
Keenan Allen
Stefon Diggs
Tyreek Hill
The list reflects the current point in the offseason more than it reflects actual available talent. Had the Vikings been genuinely concerned about the WR3 position, they likely would have already made a move. Their patience suggests confidence in Felton or a specific draft strategy.
As of March, Felton has already cleared two significant hurdles: Nailor’s departure and the absence of a veteran signing. The opportunity is there; it’s now up to him to seize it.
4. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DT
The 2025 5th-Rounder played 250 defensive snaps last season as a rookie, a noteworthy figure for a late-round pick. For his troubles, he banked a 58.3 Pro Football Focus grade — not very good but also not heinous for a lottery draft pick.
This month, Minnesota said goodbye to Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the two men directly in front of Ingram-Dawkins on the depth chart. Assuming the Vikings don’t sign Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader from free agency or draft Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, Caleb Banks, or Lee Hunter early next month, the seas have parted for Ingram-Dawkins to play a more meaningful role.
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3. Jay Ward | S
Ward flashed so much down the stretch of 2025 that he took Theo Jackson’s job, who began 2025 as the starter next to Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus.
The man will enter Year No. 4 in 2026, hoping to capitalize on a third season when he tallied a PFF grade north of 70.0. Ward played about the same number of snaps as Ingram-Dawkins in 2025. If the Vikings don’t draft Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, Ward could be looking at a clear path to a starter’s job in September.
Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward aligns along the boundary in coverage, tracking pre-snap motion and settling into position against Philadelphia during a primetime matchup on Sep. 14, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the defense prepares for the snap in a loud and demanding road environment. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Our Janik Eckardt called Ward a “free agency winner” earlier this month, explaining, “Safety Jay Ward had his workload raised at the end of last season, consistently getting more snaps in Brian Flores’ unit after seemingly earning his trust.”
“Ward, a 2023 draft pick, is in line for a promotion. Harrison Smith is currently unsigned and might retire. The Vikings didn’t acquire a safety to take his spot, perhaps because they trust Ward. Flores’ trust and the depth chart uncertainty give him a clear path to doubling or tripling his snaps in 2026.”
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2. Donovan Jackson | LG
Despite battling numerous injuries this season, including a wrist injury requiring surgery in September, Jackson demonstrated remarkable toughness, returning to the starting lineup within weeks of undergoing surgery in Los Angeles the day after the injury occurred.
He allowed 2 sacks as a rookie and was generally accepted by fans as a worthwhile 1st-Round draft pick. Jackson will start at left guard once again in 2026 and seems primed for a second-year jump.
Jackson should also benefit from Christian Darrisaw’s return to the full-time lineup at left tackle — the guy right next to him.
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1. Dallas Turner | OLB
Turner finished 2025 strong, recording 8 sacks and anchoring the defense after Jonathan Greenard’s December injury. The second-year pass rusher’s performance demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion when Minnesota needed him most.
Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) applies the pressure on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Still early in his career, Turner has significant potential for further development. If he were entering the league in 2026, his age would align perfectly with that of incoming rookie EDGE prospects. With time on his side, increased playing time could lead to a significant leap in performance.
His current production already hints at this trajectory. Turner earned a 70.2 pass-rushing grade from PFF and ranked second among all EDGE defenders with 4 forced fumbles.
Virat Kohli once again showed why he is the heartbeat of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, steering his side to a dominant six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 season opener on Saturday. The former India captain hit an unbeaten 38-ball 69 as RCB chased down 202 in just 15.4 overs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Reflecting on his performance, Kohli said, “It’s good to get back out there. The last T20 game I played was the final last year, but the way I batted in the recent one-day series really helped me stay in that momentum. I wasn’t playing shots that I don’t usually play… these breaks help me mentally. I stay fresh, I stay excited. Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120%.” The chase was powered by a brilliant 26-ball 61 from impact substitute Devdutt Padikkal. Kohli lauded his young partner’s performance: “Outstanding knock. Right from the word go, I had plans of going aggressive in the powerplay. But when I saw him play, I was like, just keep putting him back on strike. He completely took the game away from the opposition. I even told him, that shot he hit off the slower ball over mid-on for six… just keep going. He’s hitting the ball amazingly well.” Kohli also emphasised the importance of team contribution over individual records: “As a player, you don’t want to just hold on to a spot; you want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team.” RCB’s chase was anchored by Kohli and Padikkal’s 101-run stand for the second wicket, after the team lost opener Phil Salt early. Kohli’s innings included five fours and five sixes, with some trademark shots like the straight six that hit the sight screen, and a swat flick executed with minimal movement, demonstrating his mastery of timing and placement. Earlier, SRH had posted 201/9, with stand-in captain Ishan Kishan top-scoring with 80 off 38 balls, including eight fours and five sixes. Jacob Duffy, on IPL debut, impressed with figures of 3/22, dismantling SRH’s top order. Phil Salt also took a stunning one-handed catch in the deep to dismiss Kishan. Kohli, who now plays only 50-over cricket for India after retiring from Tests and T20Is, remains a key figure for RCB. “The kind of scheduling over the last 15 years meant there was always a risk of burnout. These breaks help me mentally… as long as you’re physically fit and mentally excited, both things come together nicely, then you’re able to contribute to the team’s cause,” he added. With this victory, RCB began their IPL 2026 campaign in style, honouring the 11 fans who tragically lost their lives at last year’s title parade with black armbands, empty seats, and a minute’s silence before the game.
Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson miss out on an ice dance world medal by less than a fifth of a point after having two points deducted for an “illegal element”.
GIO Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 4 NRL game between Canberra Raiders and
Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Canberra Raiders heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canberra Raiders vs.
Cronulla Sharks
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Melbourne hosts a side looking to test itself against one of the competition’s most consistent performers. The Storm have once again demonstrated their trademark discipline, combining structured attack with a reliable defensive system. Their opponents have shown promise, particularly with ball in hand, but face a significant challenge in matching Melbourne’s consistency. Recent matchups have generally favoured the Storm, especially at home where they rarely relinquish control. The contest through the spine will be key, with Melbourne’s experience often proving decisive. A strong start will be vital for the visitors if they are to remain competitive deep into the match.
Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks Teams
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Morgan Smithies 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Joseph Roddy 18. Daine Laurie 19. Jed Stuart 20. Owen Pattie 21. Matthew Timoko 22. Chevy Stewart
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Chris Veaila 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Mawene Hiroti
Jaron Ennis and Xander Zayas appear to have quietly announced that their fight is now a done deal.
‘Boots’ Ennis unified titles at 147lbs before stepping up in weight, where he made an immediate statement with a stoppage win over Uisma Lima in October last year. He had been targeting a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr, but issues between Ortiz and his promoter, Golden Boy, saw those plans fall apart.
Enter Zayas, boxing’s youngest male unified world champion at 23. The Puerto Rican claimed the WBO super-welterweight belt with victory over Jorge Garcia Perez in July last year, and added the WBA strap by beating Abass Baraou in January.
With both fighters now publicly signalling that an agreement has been reached, attention will quickly turn to official confirmation in the coming days.
If indeed finalised, the clash represents one of the most significant fights in the super-welterweight division this year, pitting one of the sport’s most complete operators against one of its youngest champions. For Ennis, it is a chance to cement his status at a new weight, while for Zayas, it marks a defining step up, despite entering the ring as the champion.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without their captain once again. Sidney Crosby has been ruled out for Saturday night’s matchup against the Dallas Stars, the team announced just hours before puck drop.
The Penguins’ official account confirmed the news early Saturday afternoon:
“Forwards Sidney Crosby (lower-body) and Evgeni Malkin (upper-body) will not play today versus Dallas and both remain day-to-day.”
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Head coach Dan Muse addressed the media before Saturday’s game but offered little clarity on the nature of Crosby’s injury or a potential timeline for his return.
“Same thing, day-to-day for the health today,” Muse said when asked about his captain’s status.
When pressed on whether this injury is connected to Crosby’s previous ailment suffered during the 2026 Olympics in February, Muse gave a cryptic response
“It’s an old body, and so I think not just for all the guys that are out right now. I’ll tell you how they’re listed, but not gonna go into it any other than that.”
This is Crosby’s second consecutive game on the sidelines after he exited Thursday’s contest against Ottawa with a lower-body injury. The Penguins captain played just 6:39 before leaving the game managing only a single 38-second shift in the second period.
Sidney Crosby’s injury woes started at the Olympics
Crosby’s injury woes began on Feb. 18 when his leg bent awkwardly during Canada’s quarterfinal game at the Winter Olympics. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the remainder of the tournament including Canada’s run to the gold medal.
Adding to Pittsburgh’s injury concerns, star center Evgeni Malkin will also miss Saturday’s game with an upper-body issue. The dual absences leave the Penguins without their top two centers at a critical juncture in the season.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Pittsburgh. The Penguins (36-20-16, 88 points) sit second in the Metropolitan Division but hold just a one-point lead over both Columbus and the New York Islanders in a tight playoff race.
Manchester City‘s James Trafford remains a potential target for Newcastle, while Real Madrid are among the clubs interested in Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton.
Meanwhile, City are prepared to offer the Magpies a selection of players to help facilitate a potential deal for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, 25. (Teamtalk, external)
Liverpool and Chelsea are among the Premier League clubs with an interest in OH Leuven’s Swiss defender Roggerio Nyakossi, 22, who is approaching the final year of his contract. (Sun, external)
Versatile Spain international Marcos Llorente, 31, wants to stay with Atletico Madrid and is in talks to sign a new contract with the Spanish club, despite interest from the Premier League. (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)
Germany centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, 26, who was reportedly a target for Liverpool and Real Madrid, is close to agreeing a new contract with Borussia Dortmund until 2031. (Florian Plettenberg, external)
Fisch is a tycoon simulator on Roblox in which you explore a vast map, catch aquatic creatures of various species, and sell them to become rich. On March 28, 2026, this Roblox title released its Everturn Forest update, which introduced a new small island along with two new rods and several other features.
Spirit of the Forest is a new fishing rod that you can obtain by completing a questline given by the Thalor Virewood NPC, available at the Everturn Forest. In this guide, we’ll discuss everything that’s important.
What is the Spirit of the Forest rod in Fisch?
Spirit of the Forest rod (Image via Roblox)
Spirit of the Forest is a new fishing rod in Fisch that was introduced via the Everturn Forest update on March 28, 2026. It is a nature-themed rod shaped like a living tree branch, with lush green foliage, glowing spirit orbs embedded in its canopy, and a wooden trunk handle that looks magically alive.
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To obtain the Spirit of the Forest rod, you must visit the Everturn Forest island by heading towards the northwest from Moosewood Village and complete a questline of three missions given by the Thalor Virewood NPC.
Spirit of the Forest stats
Lure Speed: 40%
Luck: 70%
Control: -0.02, resulting in a bar of 28% of the reeling minigame.
Resilience: 10%
Max kg: inf kg
Line Distance: 60 m
How to get Spirit of the Forest in Fisch
Thalor Virewood NPC (Image via Roblox)
Step 1: Reach Everturn Forest
Everturn Forest is a new island on the map that you access by heading northwest from the shores of Moosewood Village. At this location, you’ll find the Thalor Virewood NPC who will offer you the questline for Spirit of the Forest. Here are some steps that’ll help you achieve this faster:
Spawn a boat at the shores of Moosewood Village and take a right turn after leaving the docks.
By heading towards the northwest, you’ll find the Everturn Forest located between Mushgrove Swamp and Castaway Cliffs.
Once reached, head straight into the island from Shipwright. At the first intersection, you’ll find the Thalor Virewood NPC dressed in green clothes.
Step 2: Complete Thalor Virewood quests
By interacting with the Thalor Virewood NPC, you can start completing his questline of three missions to obtain the Spirit of the Forest rod as a reward. Here are all of them:
Quest 1: Everturn Forest: Hidden Waters
Objective: Catch 5 unique Everturn fish
How to complete: Equip any of your high-luck rods and start fishing at the ponds of Everturn Forest to catch any five different aquatics.
Quest 2: Everturn Forest: Night Fisher
Objective: Perfect Catch 5 fish at night in Everturn Forest.
How to complete: During the nighttime, you have to fish at any of the Everturn Forest’s ponds to catch any five aquatics. Remember that all the Oaklings will collide with you to cause damage during this time.
Reward: 1x Everturn Cloak
Quest 3: Everturn Forest: Spirit Seeker
Objective: Catch and return 1x Rotting Glaciaseer Sturgeon, Floraseer Sturgeon, Solarseer Sturgeon, or Umbraleaf Sturgeon.
How to complete: Completing the second quest will spawn the Splitbranch Twig nearby a tree trunk. You can purchase it for 25,000 C$ and use it to obtain Rotting mutation on your catches.
FAQs on Spirit of the Forest rod in Fisch
What is the Spirit of the Forest rod in Fisch?
It’s a nature-themed fishing rod added in the Everturn Forest update. It features strong luck stats and a unique forest-based design.
How do you unlock the Spirit of the Forest rod?
You must complete a 3-part questline from the Thalor Virewood NPC. This NPC is located on the Everturn Forest island.
Where is Everturn Forest located in Fisch?
It lies northwest of Moosewood Village. You can reach it by boat between Mushgrove Swamp and Castaway Cliffs.
The world-famous golfer has been the center of multiple scandals over the past two decades, including other vehicular collisions, arrests, injuries and extra-marital affairs.
Friday’s incident took place on Jupiter Island, in the same town where Woods lives, just after 2pm local time, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. It comes less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 Masters tournament.
A photograph shared of the scene showed a vehicle lying on its driver’s side, though authorities said two cars were involved in the collision.
A photograph shared of the scene showed a vehicle lying on its driver’s side (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Tiger Woods was involved in yet another car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon, adding another incident to a sprawling list of controversies that have marred his spectacular sporting career (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed that there were no injuries as a result of the collision.
Woods was driving a dark colored Land Rover at “high speeds” when he clipped a truck pulling a trailer, according to law enforcement.
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The driver of the truck said that he was starting to turn into a driveway off a two-lane road when he looked in his mirror and saw Woods driving towards him and tried to overtake him at the last minute and swerved to avoid a full crash at the last minute.
Woods’ SUV rolled on the driver’s door and he climbed out of the window, officials said.
Woods’ SUV rolled on the driver’s door and he climbed out of the window, officials said (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
“On scene we had DRE experts evaluating him and they believe from on scene that he was not impaired on alcohol,” Budensiek said. “They believe he was some type of medication or drug.” However, the golfer had cooperated with the breathalyzer test, he added.
It was confirmed that no medications were found in the golfer’s car.
California car crash 2021
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In February 2021,Woods was hospitalized with “multiple leg injuries” after being involved in a serious car crash in California.
Firefighters had to free the golf superstar from his Genesis GV80 SUV using pry tools and an axe following the incident in Rancho Palos Verdes, near Los Angeles.
Authorities said at the time that his car, which was the only vehicle involved in the crash, rolled over and sustained “major damage” in the incident near Rolling Hills Estates.
Woods was not competing at the time due to being in the middle of rehabilitation after undergoing his fifth back surgery of his career the month before. However, he did feature as the host of the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour, where he expressed hope he would be back for the Masters that year.
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The vehicle driven by Tiger Woods on the back of a truck in Los Angeles following his crash on February 23, 2021 (PA)
“I’m feeling fine, little bit stiff. Have one more MRI scheduled to see if the annulus has scarred over finally, and then I can start doing more activities,” he said.“Still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab, the little things before you can start gravitating towards something a little more.”
DUI arrest 2017
Woods was arrested in Palm Beach County, in Florida, in May 2017 after being found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz over Memorial Day weekend
A toxicology report at the time showed he had five different drugs in his system including traces of the painkillers Vicodin and Dilaudid, Xanax, sleeping drug Ambien and THC – the active ingredient in marijuana. Such a combination can cause unconsciousness and confusion.
The golfer was arrested in the early hours of the morning around 15 miles from his home in Jupiter after being found unconscious in the vehicle, which was parked awkwardly on the side of the road and had damage to the driver’s side. It was unclear how the vehicle became damaged.
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When asked by officers Woods stated he didn’t know where he was, CBS reported at the time, and stumbled through a sobriety test,
He told officers he was taking Vicodin and Xanax to cope with his fourth back surgery, which he had undergone in April that year. No alcohol was found in his system, the outlet reported.
Woods later agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving but undertook a diversion program to allow his record to be wiped clean if completed.
Cheating revelations 2009
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In 2009, Woods ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree with his SUV at Thanksgiving, which resulted in the revelation that he had cheated on his wife Elin Nordegren, with a string of women.
The golf pro had been driving from his Florida mansion in his Cadillac Escalade when he crashed. He was later treated for minor cuts to the face and received a ticket for careless driving.
Some reports of the incident speculated that Nordegren had been chasing Woods with a golf club just before the crash and smashed the back windows of the vehicle. Both Woods and Nordegren denied those claims, and Woods said that Nordegren had in fact, helped him out of the car after the accident.
Following intense media speculation, he released a statement in which he called the incident a “private matter” and announced he would not be appearing in any more tournaments in that year due to his injuries.
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In 2009 Woods ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree with his SUV at Thanksgiving – which resulted in the revelation that he had cheated on wife Elin Nordegren with a string of women (Reuters)
However, days later, voicemail recordings were released by media outlets, forcing Woods to release a further statement in which he admitted to multiple affairs and later announced he would be taking “an indefinite break from professional golf.”
After the incident, Woods lost many of his lucrative corporate sponsorship deals, went to rehab in Mississippi and did not play golf for five months. The pair divorced in August 2010.
Career and injuries
A child prodigy, Woods burst onto the scene as a professional at just 19 years of age as an amateur, playing his first major championship at the 1995 Masters, finishing in a tie for 41st as the only amateur to make the cut.
Woods turned professional at 20 and immediately became a superstar. Augusta quickly became synonymous with him two years after his debut there when he won the first of what would become 15 major championships.
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His meteoric rise would include six consecutive wins on the PGA Tour in 2000, though his body would start to break down at the end of the decade, but not before a heroic effort.
Perhaps the signature moment of Woods’ career arrived on the sloping greens of Augusta in the 2005 Masters, with a masterful chip-in inspiring one of his five victories at the property. It included the iconic fist-pump celebration after the golf ball paused briefly on the lip of the hole, displaying the Nike swoosh logo.
Tiger Woods celebrates after winning the 2019 Masters (Getty)
He would emerge victorious at the 2008 US Open, too, despite subsequently requiring reconstructive knee surgery on a damaged ACL, as well as a stress fracture in his left tibia.
However, despite the injuries and his fraught personal life, Woods impressively emerged from his slump in 2012 and 2013 with three and five PGA Tour wins respectively, though his major drought continued, with no victory since battling on one leg to a play-off victory at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.
Woods’ body continued to betray him following his latest rise with his first back surgery in March 2014, which culminated in a lengthy period of inactivity and just one tournament between August 2015 and January 2018. It resulted in him tumbling down the world rankings and sitting on the outside of the top 1,000.
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His second back surgery came in September 2015, with a third attempt to cure his back in December 2016, resulting in a 15-month absence from the Tour. His persistent back problems staggered his return in 2017, with a fourth surgery in April of that year.
Alessia Russo’s 22-minute first-half hat-trick for Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby is a sign that she is “stepping up” at a crucial stage of the season, according to Renee Slegers.
Manager Slegers praised the England forward’s maturity after she inspired the Gunners to a 5-2 win over Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.
“In training, she is communicating more and instructing more, driving the team more by being more vocal. You can see that she’s stepping up,” Slegers told Sky Sports.
“She is also part of the leadership group at Arsenal now. She is always herself, wanting to bring her best version, and she is very humble.
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“She’s definitely developing that and we love to see it.”
A local derby always poses an element of jeopardy, but Russo’s relentless performance began eliminating Tottenham’s threat inside five minutes.
She then struck twice more before the half-hour mark to all but settle the contest.
Player of the match Russo told Sky Sports: “I love to score goals as much as I can and to do it here at the Emirates in a north London derby is really nice.
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“It’s a good three points moving on to the rest of the season.”
With three games to play, they sit in second place above rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, while also having two games in hand.
Captain Kim Little, who was celebrating her 400th appearance for the club, praised Russo for developing into one of the team’s leaders since her arrival in 2023.
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“This year, she has stepped up in terms of leadership as well. That in itself has brought out even more in her own game,” Little said.
“She is always great and always going to score, but I love how she presents herself and takes that leadership responsibility.”
In a fortnight where Europe-chasing rivals United drew two blanks in three league games, Arsenal hit 10 across two games to overhaul their goal difference deficit.
Of those 10 goals, Russo hit four.
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She now sits third on the Women’s Super League leading scorers’ chart with nine goals and four assists from 18 appearances – that’s a goal involvement every 1.38 games.
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