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Departing Antoine Griezmann Back At Barcelona In Search Of Atletico Grand Finale

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Antoine Griezmann’s Barcelona story ended in the depths of misery but as he returns to Camp Nou in the Champions League quarter-finals, the French forward is desperate to close out his time with Atletico Madrid on the greatest of highs. Diego Simeone’s side, defeated in the 2014 and 2016 finals, have never lifted the trophy and veteran forward Griezmann, who will move to MLS side Orlando City at the end of the season, has not won a trophy with Atletico since the 2018 Europa League and subsequent UEFA Super Cup.

Griezmann switched Atletico for Barca in 2019, lasting just two years in the Catalan capital before returning to Simeone’s side on loan, and making the return permanent in 2022.

During that short stint in Barca colours Griezmann missed out on Atletico’s La Liga title win in 2021, a trophy that has eluded him through his career.

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At Barca he was on the receiving end of the brutal 8-2 thrashing by Bayern in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals, and failed to fit into the team alongside Lionel Messi.

Griezmann wants to leave Atletico, where he is the all-time top scorer with 211 goals, with major silverware in his hands at last, to add to the 2018 World Cup he won with France.

The first step towards that, since announcing the decision to depart last week, is at Camp Nou on Wednesday in the fifth meeting between Atletico and Barca this season.

Orlando wanted him to join by the end of March, but Griezmann said he would stay at Atletico, in no small part for a final shot at biggest trophy in the club game, as well as the Copa del Rey final.

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The 35-year-old, one of Simeone’s very greatest soldiers during the coach’s 14-year reign, combined the work ethic the Argentine demanded with immense skill and quality.

“Griezmann is a maverick, it’s unbelievable how he plays football,” enthused Barca coach Hansi Flick last week. “It seems so light, it’s like he’s dancing.”

‘Something big’

Griezmann may not have won as many trophies as he would have liked, but has often dazzled with his elegance and vision.

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“I hope we can do something big,” said Griezmann after helping Atletico crush Spurs 5-2 in the last 16 first leg, netting his side’s second goal.

Griezmann has rocked Barca before, scoring twice in the 2016 quarter-finals a decade ago to send Atletico through and knock out Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Co, although that campaign ended in tears in the Milan final at the hands of rivals Real Madrid.

After Griezmann started in the 2-1 La Liga defeat by Barca on Saturday, there is the chance he may be used from the bench on Wednesday.

For much of this season Simeone has been sparing with his minutes, perhaps tipping him towards the decision to leave.

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Another Atletico player who might one day follow the Frenchman’s path to Barcelona is striker Julian Alvarez, who is likely to start at Camp Nou and has been frequently linked with the Catalans.

The Argentine caused consternation in the Spanish capital earlier this season when he said “maybe yes, maybe no” over whether he was planning to stay at the club beyond the summer.

Barca, still not in a healthy financial position, may not be able to produce the hefty transfer fee the Rojiblancos would demand, after Alvarez arrived from Manchester City for £81.5 million ($108m) in 2024.

Alvarez has had a mixed bag of a season, but Simeone has repeatedly backed the forward who is in better form after a winter drought.

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“Thank God he is back,” said Simeone after Alvarez netted against Barca in a 4-0 win in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg in February, with Griezmann also on target as Barca collapsed at the Metropolitano stadium.

Five-time winners Barca may be favourites for the tie but between Griezmann’s desire for a grand finale and Alvarez’s chance to dazzle his suitors, Atletico have the tools they need to cause an upset.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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How long is the Masters course?

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Augusta National Golf Club has played home to the Masters since the 1930s. The iconic course has stood the test of time. However, the course has been lengthened significantly over the years as players hit it farther and farther.

So what is Augusta National’s length now? Here’s a complete review of the total length, and the distance of each hole at Augusta ahead of the 2026 Masters.

Augusta National distance: What you need to know

Modern pros like defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy have gained tremendous length on their historic predecessors. With equipment innovations, new swing techniques and intense fitness routines, today’s Masters participants simply bomb the ball.

Alister Mackenzie, who designed Augusta National alongside club co-founder Bobby Jones, could never have envisioned how short their prized 18 holes would become in the face of the modern game.

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Largely beginning with Tiger Woods’ dominant 1997 Masters victory, for which he often hit driver-wedge into Augusta’s famed par-5s, the course has been lengthened (and lengthened again) to defend against long hitters.

Augusta National: Total length

The total length of Augusta National for the 2026 Masters will be 7,565 yards, with the first nine playing 3,775 yards and the second nine stretching to 3,790 yards. That will change slightly each day as tees are moved forward and back.

However, the course members play on a normal day is far shorter than what the pros play. If you were playing Augusta National from the members tees this year, you’d face a course closer to 6,400 yards. That’s over a thousand yards shorter than the pros will play at the Masters.

Augusta National’s longest hole (and shortest hole)

Unlike at many other tournaments, all players begin each Masters round on Augusta National’s 1st tee. But they quickly run into the longest hole they will face all day.

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The par-5 2nd hole, known as Pink Dogwood, could reach 585 yards during the 2026 Masters. Even so, many pros will attempt to reach the difficult 2nd green, found at the end of a long fairway that swoops downhill and to the left, in two shots.


The 12th hole at Augusta National during the 2026 Masters.

How Augusta National gets put to bed each night of the Masters


By:


Sean Zak



As for Augusta National’s shortest hole, it also happens to be the course’s most famous. That would be the par-3 12th, Golden Bell, which will play to 155 yards during this year’s Masters.

Despite its short length, the 12th is typically one of the toughest holes at the Masters thanks to the nervy tee shot over water amid swirling winds. Many Masters Sunday charges have met their ends on this hole.

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Augusta National hole-by-hole length for 2026 Masters

Here’s the standard length for each Augusta National hole at the Masters.

Hole No. 1 – Tea Olive, par-4: 445 yards

Hole No. 2 – Pink Dogwood, par-5: 585 yards

Hole No. 3 – Flowering Peach, par-4: 350 yards

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Hole No. 4 – Flowering Crab Apple, par-3: 240 yards

Hole No. 5 – Magnolia, par-4: 495 yards

Hole No. 6 – Juniper, par-3: 180 yards

Hole No. 7 – Pampas, par-4: 450 yards

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Hole No. 8 – Yellow Jasmine, par-5: 570 yards

Hole No. 9 – Carolina Cherry, par-4: 460 yards

Hole No. 10 – Camellia, par-4: 495 yards

Hole No. 11 – White Dogwood, par-4: 520 yards

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Hole No. 12 – Golden Bell, par-3: 155 yards

Hole No. 13 – Azalea, par-5: 545 yards

Hole No. 14 – Chinese Fir, par-4: 440 yards

Hole No. 15 – Firethorn, par-5: 550 yards

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Hole No. 16 – Redbud, par-3: 170 yards

Hole No. 17 – Nandina, par-4: 450 yards

Hole No. 18 – Holly, par-4: 465 yards

You can find more detailed information on each hole at Augusta National here on Masters.com.

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2026 Masters winner predictions, picks: One of these nine players will likely take the green jacket

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Who among the 91 players in this year’s Masters field has an actual chance to slip on the green jacket?

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Shane Mosley says injury could disrupt Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “He’s having complications”

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The Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao rematch promotional run is not going smoothly following the official announcement.

Mayweather and Pacquiao faced off back in 2015, where ‘TBE’ claimed a legendary decision win over the Filipino phenomenon before hanging up the gloves two years later.

‘Pac Man’ revealed that he had suffered a severe right rotator cuff tear before the fight and has later said opting not to postpone the clash was the biggest regret of his career. He had surgery on his shoulder shortly after the fight but was unable to secure a rematch, that was until earlier this year, with a shock second encounter announced for September – undoubtedly one of the biggest events of the 2026 boxing calendar despite disapproval from many fans.

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However, in recent days the fight has been thrown into doubt after Mayweather said that the venue was not finalised and that it would be an exhibition, not a pro contest as announced. Pacquiao’s team say he is in breach of contract for that, as well as other reasons.

Now, in an interview with FightHype, Shane Mosley, who lost to Mayweather in 2010 and Pacquiao the year after, declared that he has heard rumours that Pacquiao’s shoulder is hindering him once again.

“Floyd’s not the same Floyd that he was … but Manny also has some complications. I don’t know if it’s his shoulder, in his sparring or something like that. There’s stuff going on with him too.

“I’m seeing that he [Pacquiao] is having complications with his shoulder and stuff, so I don’t think that he will be able to train the same way that he did to get ready for the [Mario] Barrios fight. So, that could be something.

“Before [hearing of the shoulder injury] I was saying Pacquiao [will win], now I am saying that I don’t really know because I don’t know what Pacquiao can do. I don’t know if he can still run or spar, he can’t do what he used to do.”

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It remains to be seen whether those whispers are true or not, with Pacquiao claiming to be fighting fit ahead of what is, until official word says otherwise, a professional rematch with Mayweather, scheduled for Saturday, September 19, live on Netflix.

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Coco Gauff drops 8-minute response to Miu Miu hair controversy after facing rampant criticism

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Coco Gauff released a shocking 8-minute response addressing the backlash to her Miu Miu campaign. The American star spoke out in defense of her natural hair and used the moment to stand up against the criticism faced by Black individuals.

The controversy around Gauff and Miu Miu started after their latest campaign began circulating online. While many fans loved seeing her step into the fashion space, the reaction quickly turned negative on social media.

A lot of the criticism was focused on her hair. Gauff chose a simple, natural look, where she put her hair in a bun, but some comments were unnecessarily harsh and crossed the line. Some users made offensive comparisons between the tennis star’s look and historical civil rights imagery, which many found deeply inappropriate.

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Initially, Gauff did not respond publicly. However, after returning to X following a month-long break, she came across the negative comments and called them out. A few days later, she addressed the backlash more directly, sharing an 8-minute video response on TikTok.

The two-time Grand Slam champ explained that the photoshoot was a simple setup in her parents’ backyard. The outfit choice, she made clear, was entirely hers.

“First of all, it’s Miu Miu. That’s their aesthetic. I love the Miu Miu aesthetic. So if you don’t like it, the girls who get it, get it. The girls who don’t, don’t. I picked the outfit out,” she said.

She also addressed comments about her hair, explaining why she chose the natural bun.

“I personally don’t like to slick back my hair super sleek because it does damage my hair.”

She added that she prefers to let her “4C hair” be natural, especially as a tennis player. Gauff emphasized representation as well, saying:

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“I’m not going to apologize for the way that my hair looks… There are other girls who have the exact same hair as me.”

She added that if her hair was good enough for a high-fashion campaign, “then yours is good enough” too.


“Black people are beautiful” – Coco Gauff’s positive message to people after Miu Miu controversy

Coco Gauff at the Miami Open - Source: GettyCoco Gauff at the Miami Open - Source: Getty
Coco Gauff at the Miami Open – Source: Getty

The latter half of Coco Gauff’s response video was filled with positive messages. She explained that people who criticize others are insecure about themselves, and no one should pay much heed to such criticism.

Sharing a beautiful and positive message for black people, Coco Gauff said:

“Black people are beautiful. Black hair texture, kinky afro hair texture is beautiful. You don’t need people on the internet who don’t like themselves, who are insecure about themselves to tell you that. Because, people who are secure will also find my shoot beautiful.”

On the tennis side of things, Gauff is gaining momentum in 2026. She started slowly but has reached the semifinal in Dubai and the final in Miami recently. She lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final in Miami, but will move into the clay season with confidence as she looks to defend her French Open title.