Starting at 4pm, the runners will gallop four miles, 2½ furlongs and jump 30 fences before crossing the finish line. The Grand National offers a £1m prize fund with the owners of the winner scooping £500,000.
However, millions watching at home will also be hoping to win some money by placing bets in the hope of backing the winning horse.
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As well as betting on a winner, people can also place each-way bets – which can win punters cash even if their horse doesn’t finish first. Instead, the bet is on the horse to finish among the top handful of places, the specific number of which is determined by the bookmakers
If you bet to win outright – or “on the nose” – you either win or you lose. But if you bet each-way, you are making two bets with the bookie.
So, for example, if you bet £1 each-way, you’ve made two bets, which overall will cost you £2.
It means that if your horse wins at 12/1, and you put £1 on it to win outright, then you get your £12 returns plus your original £1 stake.
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However, if you backed it each way, then you’ll get £12 returns plus your £1 stake. In addition, if the bookies offer 1/4 the odds for a place, then you’ll get another £3 plus your £1 stake. That means in the each-way bet you will win a total of £15 plus get the £2 you staked back.
If your horse finishes placed but doesn’t win, you’ll also just get your £3 returns and your £1 stake back.
Typically, bookies tend to pay out on at least the first five places for the Grand National. However, given the larger field and the nature of the event, the odds for a placed finish, and how many places pay out, vary depending on the bookmaker – so it is always worth checking your betting slip.
Here are what some of the major bookies said they were paying out ahead of the race this year as of Friday afternoon:
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Bet365 – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
Betfred – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
William Hill – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
Coral – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
Ladbrokes – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
Sky Bet – Seven places each-way, 1/5 odds
Paddy Power – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
888 Sport – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
Unibet – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
Betway – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
VirginBet – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
Remember to gamble responsibly. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit begambleaware.org.
Brady Tkachuk was forced to leave Saturday’s game after he appeared to take a stick up high around his eye in the second period.
Tkachuk was posted up in front of the Islanders’ bench when Ryan Pulock hopped over the boards. Pulock’s stick seemed to clip Tkachuk in the face, and the Senators captain then stumbled back to his bench.
Tkachuk attempted one more shift before walking down the tunnel. He then returned to the bench to start the third period, but managed just one quick shift before going back to the room.
The 26-year-old has been banged up this season, failing to reach at least 71 games played for just the second time in his career. In 60 games, Tkachuk posted 22 goals and 37 assists.
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The Senators are in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, needing a win vs. the Islanders and a little outside help from the Devils on Saturday to clinch a berth.
Ottawa made the post-season for the first time during the Tkachuk era last season, where the captain logged four goals and three helpers as the Sens fell in six games to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
TaylorMade’s Tour Team and McIlroy have made a few changes to McIlroy’s bag from last season, including a new driver, 5-wood and wedges. He even tried out new irons earlier this season before returning to his RORS PROTO blades.
In the video below, watch as GOLF’s Johnny Wunder and TaylorMade’s Adrian Rietveld go through each club in McIlroy’s bag to see how he got there.
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Rory McIlroy’s WITB at the 2026 Masters
Johnny Wunder/GOLF
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D FCT Sleeve: Two clicks lower (1.5˚ sleeve) Actual Loft: 8˚ Face: Grey with fiducials and topline Front weights: 4g toe, 4g heel Back weights: 11g toe, 11g heel Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X Length: 45.75″ EOG Tipping: 1″ Swingweight: D5
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TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Driver
SHAPED FOR SPEED
The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations.
FACE FOR DISTANCE
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60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
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New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
The Fujikura Ventus Black utilizes a Tour-inspired profile and the first to include Fujikura’s VeloCore Technology in an accelerated taper, ultra stiff tip profile. Maximum energy transfer from the tip section boosts the clubhead’s performance and a straight taper design enhances loading and feel. You can purchase the Fujikura Ventus Black in the following models: 6, 7, and 8. You can buy the Fujikura Ventus Black with the adaptor sleeve of choice built to your requires specifications.
JOCKEY TIP: The Fujikura Ventus Black is ideal for the player looking for a low launch, low spin shaft that was designed to significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed especially on off-center shots.
TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts.
REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES
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Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence.
Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels.
TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
Irons: TaylorMade P760 (4), RORS PROTO MB (5-9) Shaft: Project X 7.0 Lie: Standard Length: 37″ 7-iron EOG Loft Progression: 23/26/30/34/38/42 Swingweight: D4
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TaylorMade P7MB Custom Irons
TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING
Direct input from Tour inspired the new shape of P•7MB, crafted for ultimate workability. The new design uses a shorter blade length, narrower sole width, and progressive offset design.
FACETED MUSCLE BACK GEOMETRY
A seamless blend of traditional muscle back iron performance with a contemporary look and design. The updated back bar now uses symmetrical geometry to create a timeless look both in the playing position and in the bag.
COMPACT GRAIN FORGING
1025 carbon steel is 5X forged using a 2,000-ton press engineered to produce a tighter, more compact grain structure with fewer defects. It is designed to provide the most solid, consistent feel possible.
MACHINED FACE & GROOVES
Precision is paramount. Machining the face ensures precision and quality with our mostaggressive MX9 score line geometry for exacting shot making.
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 Raw Lofts/Grinds: 46/09SB, 50/09SB, 54/11SB, 60/08LB @ 61 Length: Standard Lie: Standard Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60) Swingweights: D4
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TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 Custom Wedge
FORGED FEEL
Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback.
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MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions.
PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS
RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions.
CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY
Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time.
CHARCOAL FINISH
MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
Putter: Spider Tour X Loft: 2.5˚ Lie: 69˚ Length: 34 1/2″ EOG Finish: Torched Hosel: Short Slant Sightline: Full Line Insert: Pure Roll 80/20 Shaft: Black Stepless Swingweight: E0 Grip: SuperStroke Synergy Pistol
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TaylorMade Spider Tour X Custom Putter
THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION
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We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
STEEL WIREFRAME
Allows engineers to better control weight distribution and CG location.
HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER
HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
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Each Spider Tour model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting.
TSS WEIGHTING
TSS weights provide balanced weighting and help optimize performance for all various putter lengths.
GUNMETAL PVD FINISH
The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment.
REFINED HOSEL DESIGNS
Spider Tour Series includes two different hosel shapes and designs. The small slant produces toe hang, and the double bend produces a face balanced design.
The best players in the world, like 2025 champion in Augusta and career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa have already made the switch to the fastest ever TP5. It’s time for you to make the switch, too.
Microcoating
No two golf balls are the same, but the all-new TP5 sets out to solve an invisible problem through our revolutionary microcoating finish process. Uneven paint and excess pooling in the dimples can compromise distance and accuracy. Microcoating uses precision application technology to ensure uniform coverage across the ball’s entire surface. Click on the video for a deep dive.
Thinner Than a Human Hair
Microcoating is thinner than a human hair and delivers measurable performance advantages: more consistent ball flight, optimized distance, and tight left-to-right dispersion.
The Fastest TP5 Ever
TP5 has long been our softest five-layer Tour ball, but now it’s faster than ever. Employing our largest Tour core to date, the TP5 retains more energy at impact, which results in faster ball speeds and more distance at the top of your bag.
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Tour Flight
The reengineered Tour Flight Dimple Pattern features new dimples that when combined with microcoating, promote a more predictable, penetrating ball flight with optimized peak height performance and increased accuracy.
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Black/White 60 Rib, 1+1 Wraps
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Golf Pride MCC Grip
The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an innovative hybrid grip that fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord. The MCC boasts the Golf Pride® exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control, and a performance rubber material in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness.
Oct 16, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning during game four of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Welcome to the upside down, where four Major League Baseball teams that made the playoffs in 2025 find themselves in last place heading into action Friday.
The postseason underachievers include the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners in the American League, along with the Chicago Cubs in the National League. Also off to a sluggish start are the reigning AL champion Toronto Blue Jays, who aren’t in last place but do have a -22 run differential.
The division races are subject to some volatility, given that we’re not quite two weeks into the regular-season schedule. The sample is small. But, as the saying goes: Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. Some of these slacking teams have real reason to worry their disappointing starts have staying power.
Feelin’ Blue Jays
The Jays not only own the ugly run differential, but they already have some serious injuries to overcome. Even before Opening Day, right-handers José Berríos, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage were absent from the starting rotation. Yesavage is working his way back with optimism, but the other two bring lingering doubts. The Jays also lost Cody Ponce to knee surgery because of a sprained ACL.
Also: Catcher Alejandro Kirk broke his left thumb on a foul tip. Outfielder Addison Barger sprained his ankle. Great gosh almighty, it’s not even mid-April.
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No, Cubs, No
Jun 24, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a three run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Cubs are set to receive good news Friday with the anticipated return of slugger Seiya Suzuki, who injured his knee on an awkward slide in the World Baseball Classic in March. Suzuki’s return should take some pressure off Pete Crow-Armstrong to break out of his early season slump (which actually goes back to August).
The Cubs have some serious pitching woes. Three-fifths of the starting rotation is on the shelf, though left-hander Justin Steele has started to face live hitters in his return from elbow surgery. Less-happy news includes recent injuries to left-hander Matthew Boyd (biceps strain) and season-ending UCL surgery for right-hander Cade Horton.
Tigers stuck in cage
The Tigers don’t have a lot of obvious reasons for concern, but their slump and collapse in 2025 wasn’t 100% logical either. This group can just get out of whack for a couple of weeks at a time. Overall, they haven’t played that badly so far, and come in with a -1 run differential. They’ve also only played three home games. The WBC business might have knocked Tarik Skubal off his ideal prep schedule.
Something to keep in mind for the long haul: Injuries have picked away at the Tigers pitching depth, with Justin Verlander joining Reese Olson and Troy Melton on the injured list.
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Sawx need a good warshing
Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws a pitch in the second inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The game was scoreless after three innings.
The Red Sox always seem to be looking for ways to disappoint. They have not played poor defense so far, so they got that going for ’em. Other than that, it’s spotty. He surely will start to hit soon, but whatever is going on with Roman Anthony’s throwing arm bears watching. It looks like the top of the rotation is starting to take shape with Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray stepping forward, but Ranger Suárez and Brayan Bello have been disastrous.
They’re not scoring a lot of runs, they’re not hitting a lot of home runs (as many projected). Aroldis Chapman’s velocity is down (he is 38 years old, after all), and the bullpen depth looks shaky for either performance or injury reasons. The Red Sox looked like an oddly constructed team during Spring Training and now they have a disappointing record to reflect it.
Don’t get rattled, Seattle
The Mariners have the worst record and the fewest actual concerns of any of these teams.
Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor and Julio Rodrígez are all slumping, but it won’t last. They’re 1-5 in one-run games, a stat that’s sure to improve. They’re sixth in starting pitcher ERA, which is the expected strength of the team anyway. They’re also playing better defense than they did in ’25. They’re about to rattle off 20 wins in 28 games, or something.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Come Sunday night at Augusta National Golf Club, someone will win the Masters green jacket and their life will change forever.
It’s the most coveted jacket in all of sports, but it’s definitely not your ordinary coat. Let us explain.
First, the color. You know you were wondering. It’s Pantone 342, also known as Masters Green. (Your new basement hue? Smart choice.)
The club bought its first jackets from Brooks Uniform Company in 1937, but members, who were encouraged to buy them so patrons could identify reliable sources of information, were not thrilled about how warm they were. There have been a few different suppliers since then, but Hamilton Tailoring Co. has made them since 1967. (No, you can’t buy one.) Besides the club logo on the left chest pocket, it’s also on the brass buttons.
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The jackets weren’t given to Masters champs until 1949, when Sam Snead won. They were awarded to all previous winners retroactively.
And you probably know this one, but Masters tradition is that the previous tournament’s winner puts the jacket on the new champ every Sunday night. But what about back-to-back winners? In 1966, when Jack Nicklaus repeated as champion, club co-founder Bobby Jones suggested, jokingly, that Nicklaus handle both roles and slip it on himself. The last two times there was a repeat champion, with Nick Faldo in 1990 and Tiger Woods in 2002, the club’s chairman assisted with the jacket. Although, with the 2026 tournament nearing its finish, there’s a chance we have our fourth repeat winner in tournament history.
Jackets are reserved for club members and Masters winners. That’s it. And don’t even think about taking them off the grounds. That right is reserved only for the reigning champ after their victory. But when their year is up and they return next April to defend their title, the jacket stays put as soon as the new champion puts theirs on. Three-time champ Gary Player forgot the rule one year and took his back to South Africa. When he heard from chairman Clifford Roberts, Player joked, “Well why don’t you come get it?”
There are certain times when Masters champions get to wear their jacket off grounds, but it’s only when they might be representing the tournament or club at a function or event, and of course, they’d need permission to do so.
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As the Masters nears its finish every year, the club selects a few jackets that might fit the potential winner. The jacket the winner gets the night of their victory is not usually the one they keep. They are fitted immediately after their win and receive a new one.
These jackets aren’t found in the wild often, but when they are, the price tag is high. Back in 2013, Green Jacket Auctions sold inaugural Augusta National Invitational winner Horton Smith’s jacket for $682,229.
So while you likely won’t win the Masters to get your own green jacket, you could always just get asked to join the club. Although that might be even less likely. The LA Times published a story in 2023 that detailed an exclusive vault beneath the members’ pro shop that the club calls the “Green Jacket Experience” and “Green Jacket Vault,” where new club members are joined by chairman Fred Ridley and a tailor to get fitted for their own jackets.
McIlroy in more trouble on two as Masters third round continues
Scheffler on 13, with his feet below his ball, this one will swing viciously from right to left.
It plummets into the greenside bunker and that’ll pose a fiddly one with little green to work with.
Burns lays up on two, from the bunker, ideal. Maybe 120 yards left.
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McIlroy on the pine straw for his second, just a few inches from the tree trunk. It shouldn’t be an issue, 254 yards away… OUCH!
It sprays out to the left and crashes into a pocket of patrons. There’s room to work with, but that’s not ideal, even after just two shots.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 20:11
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McIlroy bogeys first to hand hope to rivals at Masters
It was a tester and it misses, McIlroy with a bogey on one. Tough.
The lead is down to four.
Hatton a little riled by a birdie miss there, but we’re just getting footage of Fleetwood on two, simple enough birdie.
Burns on one… Beautiful birdie, he’s at -7 now too.
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Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 20:02
Fleetwood and Lowry narrow gap to McIlroy at Masters
Some more movement here, Lowry and Fleetood with birdies… They join the cluster at -6. Six behind McIlroy.
McIlroy with the putter from off the back of one, he’s quite a bit short, a tester to make par.
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(Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 20:00
Reed closes gap on McIlroy to move into solo second at Masters
Scheffler spins one back on 12, a beautiful tee shot to the iconic par three.
Reed drains a birdie and moves to solo second at -7, just five behind McIlroy.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:54
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McIlroy avoids trouble after tee shot on one
McIlroy with a big fade on one, it bends along the treeline, settling short of the pines.
It nestles in the second cut. That’s fine, but a nervy one as it came down.
Burns with a better one, a high, arching fade, it’s perfect and in the middle of the fairway.
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Rose can’t convert on one, a simple par though.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:53
Li moves to tie for second at Masters 2026
Haotong! The Chinese star is also on the move, he joins the group at -6.
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Loud cheers for McIlroy on the first tee…
And Scottie is up to -6, too, what a remarkable round. McIlroy was 12 clear of him this morning, he’s yet to take a shot in this third round and the world No 1 is just six back.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:48
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Rose eyes birdie on one as Young launches bid after chip-in
Tyrrell on the second, laying up and then a short iron… But it doesn’t spin enough. A missed opportunity for the Englishman, he’ll likely stay at -4.
Rose, on one, sublime iron to about 12 feet, the perfect start after two shots…
Cam Young chips from off the green on four… It’s in! Stunning, the American moves to -6. What a shot.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:46
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Scheffler carves out fresh chance as McIlroy walks to first tee
Scheffler on 11, tackling Amen Corner, a big, high iron that hops and skips onto the lip of the green.
It fizzes back at a right angle and trickles towards the hole. Exquisite. Birdie try to move to -6 coming up.
Lowry missed a good-looking putt on one, he stays at -5.
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Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:42
Scheffler and Fleetwood set up birdie chances at Masters
Cam Young, -1 today now, and -5 overall.
Scheffler on the 10th… Wonderful, seven feet for birdie, he couldn’t, could he?
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Fleetwood out the bunker and he’s got a long-range birdie chance on one.
Lowry is closer, though, lovely wedge from the Irishman and he has that to move up to -6 alongside Reed and Burns.
Jack Rathborn11 April 2026 19:35
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Fleetwood begins third round at Masters
Tommy Fleetwood is out, as is Shane Lowry.
This is the moment where the six-shot lead could narrow a touch before McIlroy even hits that first tee shot at 7:50pm BST.
Reed (-6) and Rose (-5) out next in seven minutes.
A boxing promoter has spoken about a possible fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
Boxing promoter Kalle Sauerland has claimed that the date and location for a future clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have already been decided. The two British heavyweights are long-standing rivals but have never met inside the ring.
As both men approach the end of their glittering careers, there has been increased speculation about a fight later this year. It has previously been discussed on multiple occasions but ultimately failed to materialise.
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As Fury prepares to face Makhmudov, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken about his client possibly fighting Deontay Wilder this summer. The Matchroom boss recently dismissed claims that an agreement was already in place to face Fury, but fellow promoter Sauerland has suggested it is essentially a done deal.
“I think Fury-AJ is done for the Autumn in Dublin,” Sauerland told iFL TV. When asked for further clarification, he added: “That’s what I’ve heard, done for Dublin in I think September/October. Have I put my foot in it? That’s what I’ve heard, word on the street.”
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Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.
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It is worth noting that Sauerland is not associated with either fighter, and the promoter’s comments sharply contrast with Hearn’s stance last month. In an interview with The Stomping Ground, he said: “There is absolutely nothing signed with Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury next. There is nothing agreed.”
Hearn outlined that, prior to Joshua sustaining injuries in a car crash, the plan had been for AJ to fight in the spring before a showdown with Fury. Joshua is now expected to return in the summer as he steps up his recovery.
“This is what I want. We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “Because AJ is coming off the accident. He’s rehabilitating his body. We will take Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fight. And then we will fight Tyson Fury in December.”
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He continued: “By the way, I respect Wilder, and I think he looked much better in that fight than he has done previously. But let me tell you… Anthony Joshua will walk through Deontay Wilder within three rounds. We’re going to fight before Tyson Fury.”
However, Fury has called for Joshua to ditch plans of a comeback fight before facing him. The 37-year-old is keen to reach an agreement with AJ as he fears that waiting any longer than necessary risks derailing their plans once again.
“That fight was supposed to happen so many times over the last 10 years,” Fury said. “But then someone has had one more fight in between, or someone has been knocked out or injured.
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“Forget Wilder, the man is a shell of himself, and forget anyone else. Let me get through Saturday, and then we will do the fight before the end of the year.”
Before the NFL turned its attention to the upcoming draft, the offseason chatter was heavy on whether or not the league should expand its schedule from 17 to 18 regular season games. That subject was a popular topic at the annual league meeting in March.
There’s no doubt an 18-game regular season schedule is what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants. That would increase revenue – remember, it’s always about money – and allow the league to move the Super Bowl to Presidents’ Day weekend. It would likely mean the NFL would add international games (one for each team) and perhaps another streaming service as well.
It would also mean reducing the preseason from three games to two, and (hopefully) adding a second bye week.
“It would allow us to also grow the game internationally,” Kraft continued. “Every team in the league would play a game overseas. I think it would be a lot more exciting to the fans to have an extra game rather than the way our preseason games stack up.”
Why NFL’s 18th game is a bad idea
Typically, more football is a good thing. In terms of adding an 18th regular season game, however, more would be less.
Of the four major sports the NFL has the most meaningful regular season. Why? Because it plays the fewest regular season games. Each NFL contest carries more weight than a game in the NBA, NHL or MLB.
The NFL went from 16 to 17 regular season games in 2021. Lengthening the season in any way would be adding to an already saturated product.
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Don’t fall for the talk that eliminating a preseason game and adding a game to the regular season is an even trade, since key players typically see little playing time during the preseason. That’s like comparing apples to dump trucks.
Another strong argument against going to an 18-game schedule is player health. NFL bodies are already being pushed to the limit. The fear here is that adding to the regular season would be the tipping point that leads NFL players to start taking games off, like you see in today’s NBA.
NFL load management? No thanks.
“From playing in the league, and I played 16 [games], it was a long season,” Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So to play 17 is long, 18 is just adding more games. It’s definitely harder on the players. You think about the guys, and if you see what guys go through on a day-to-day basis, week-to-week basis, just to get ready for football games, adding another game is definitely going to be hard on the players.
“It’s not my decision to make, but just my perspective and what these guys have to go through and what they put their bodies through, it’ll be really tough to ask the guys to go do another one.”
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Like having an extra dessert, an 18-game regular season schedule would be too much of a good thing.
Being crowned world champions in front of a record women’s rugby crowd of 81,885 at Allianz Stadium set the bar very high for John Mitchell’s England.
As an occasion, it does not really get much bigger in any sport.
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The Red Roses have played across the country in order to build a loyal fan base, which all came together in September as they defeated Canada to claim a first World Cup in 11 years.
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So, what was next? Was it too big an ask to try to fill Allianz Stadium again?
With the momentum of record-breaking World Cup viewing figures, England called on their supporters to return to Allianz Stadium for their opening game of this year’s Women’s Six Nations against Ireland.
It was a bold call, and one that delivered, as a crowd of 77,120 turned out to see Mitchell’s side defeat Ireland in their first game since becoming world champions.
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A one-off home World Cup final was always going to draw a large crowd, but to back that up with a record crowd for a Women’s Six Nations game – beating the 58,498 who watched the Grand Slam decider in 2023 – is just as important for the sport’s growth.
“You can never replicate a game that has happened before [the World Cup final],” England full-back Ellie Kildunne told BBC Sport.
“The World Cup final is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life and I don’t want to compare the two things.
“We have to get used to this. We sold out then [the World Cup final] and we nearly sold out now, this is going to become the norm.
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“This shows where the women’s game is going and long may it last.”
A decade ago, a crowd of 2,500 watched England narrowly beat Ireland at the same venue.
Hooker Amy Cokayne is the only player from that game to feature in the back-to-back wins at Allianz Stadium.
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If you had asked the then-teenager if that would be possible, her likely answer would have been more out of hope than expectation.
But this is now where the Red Roses are, they are world champions and expectations are at an all-time high.
‘I just dropped the ball’
Mitchell’s side were far from perfect in their five-try win over Ireland, but they were always in control as they extended their record-breaking winning run to 34 matches.
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Three first-half tries opened up a 21-point lead before Kildunne dropped the ball over the tryline.
Ireland and England then each scored two second-half tries, as the encounter in front of a record crowd failed to catch fire.
The 2024 world player of the year Kildunne remained calm after her error and showed her searing pace to finish in the corner.
Rather than learning from losing control while putting the ball down with one hand, Kildunne again confidently placed it down in the same manner.
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“People will want an explanation as to what happened – I just dropped the ball,” she added.
“It shows that we are just people and mistakes will happen, and we always talk about how quickly you can recover.
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“I brushed my shoulders off and just went again.”
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Despite butchering an England try, Kildunne impressed throughout the game [Getty Images]
Talling & Hunt set to miss rest of tournament
England, who have not lost a Six Nations game since 2018, are seeking an eighth consecutive title and a fifth Grand Slam in a row.
Prior to the tournament, Mitchell lost four of his matchday squad from the World Cup final to pregnancies.
Three of those – Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan – have all played in the second row under Mitchell.
Lock Morwenna Talling was carted off on a stretcher against Ireland, with Mitchell confirming that she and replacement scrum-half Natasha Hunt will likely miss the rest of the tournament through injury.
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Loughborough Lightning’s 19-year-old Haineala Lutui, who has mainly been deployed in the back row for her club, came off the bench to make her debut as Talling’s replacement.
“We must adapt, as we have lost four international locks – we will be a team of back rowers by the end of the tournament,” Mitchell said.
“If that is the way it is going to be, then so be it. There are different ways to play this game, and if that means using back rowers, then we will make it work.”
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Megan Jones replaced Stratford as England captain and stepped up with a strong defensive performance, picking up the player of the match.
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“There were always going to be nerves coming into this campaign off the back of an amazing World Cup, so there was always going to be that expectation,” Jones told BBC Sport.
“We want to play in front of big crowds like that, and sometimes the game can get stuck, but we found ways through, and that is what a winning team does.
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“Some nerves, but we will brush up on that.”
Mitchell made eight changes from the World Cup final starting XV, which resulted in a lack of cohesion at times as his side attempted to play an open and expansive brand of rugby.
Scrum-half Lucy Packer, who played second fiddle to Hunt during the World Cup, looked lively throughout, while 22-year-old lock Lilli Ives Campion also stepped up in the line-out.
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Fly-half Holly Aitchison was another player who struggled for starts at the World Cup but was handed the number 10 role from the outset.
“This is a new team, a fresh start and a learning process, and we have learned a lot today,” Mitchell told BBC Sport.
“Ireland were taken out of the match in the first half, but we let them back in, so we will learn from that.
“There is a huge amount of growth still to come – we are exposing youngsters and challenging the nine-ten axis.
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“Players will be better for today’s performance.”
It will be interesting if Mitchell continues with his rotation policy or build cohesions, as England next face Scotland (13:30 BST) at Murrayfield next Saturday.
Apr 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; A bronze statue of Seattle Mariners former outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (51) stands outside T-Mobile Park before a game against the Houston Astros. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Perhaps what the Seattle Mariners needed most Friday was a laugh.
Saddled with a five-game losing streak, the Mariners returned home to face Houston with the team unveiling a statue of franchise legend Ichiro Suzuki outside T-Mobile Park before the opener of a four-game series.
As fellow Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez pulled off the tarp to unveil the work of art, the bat that Suzuki holds in the statue snapped.
“I didn’t think Mariano (Rivera) would come out here,” Suzuki said with a smile, referring to the former New York Yankees closer, “and break the bat.”
As Suzuki saw it, the broken bat was fitting.
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“In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,” Suzuki said. “Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.”
The Mariners seemed inspired, scoring three first-inning runs in Suzuki style without hitting the ball out of the infield. Seattle used four bases on balls, a hit batter and an infield single to take a 3-0 lead off Houston starter Tatsuya Imai, who lasted just one-third of an inning.
The Astros tied the score in the second on a three-run double by Christian Vazquez before Seattle’s Randy Arozarena hit a mammoth two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the fifth.
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The Mariners tacked on four runs in the seventh, which were needed after Houston’s Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run shot to right in the eighth.
Seattle’s Matt Brash came in and got an inning-ending double play to close the eighth and Andres Munoz escaped a ninth-inning jam to earn his first save of the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada wasn’t happy with the 10 bases on balls issued by his beleaguered pitching staff, but considered it a moral victory that his team forced Seattle to use their highest-leverage relievers in what looked like a blowout.
“Just having a tough time as a unit, throwing strikes,” Espada said. “We were working to make our adjustments but it takes a toll on our staff and our offense keeps grinding … the fact that we got Brash and Muñoz in that game, I take that as a win for us. Four-game series, you get two of their high-leverage pitchers in the game. Kept fighting till the end.”
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Saturday’s pitching matchup is scheduled to feature a pair of right-handers in Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 3.27) and Seattle’s Luis Castillo (0-0, 2.79).
Both pitched well in their first starts of the season but failed to make it through five innings the last time out in extra-inning defeats.
McCullers beat Boston 8-1 on March 30 as he allowed one run on four hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts. He took a no-decision Sunday in a game the Astros lost 12-10 in 10 innings to the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., when he lasted just four innings, giving up three runs. McCullers is 10-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 20 career starts against Seattle.
Castillo pitched six scoreless innings but didn’t get a decision in his first start of the season against the New York Yankees in a game the Mariners eventually won 2-1. He went 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the host Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in an 8-7 loss in 11 innings. Castillo is 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in nine previous starts versus Houston.
Fury, 37, is still desperate for a trilogy bout with Usyk, who holds the unified belts, after the Ukrainian handed the “Gypsy King” (34-2-1, 24 KOs) the first losses of his professional career.
Tyson Fury (left) and upcoming opponent Arslanbek Makhmudov (Getty)
Whether or not that match-up awaits in Fury’s future, he will first have to overcome Russia’s Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs). The pair will clash in a main-event bout in London, with Conor Benn in action in the co-main event.
Fury vs Makhmudov will take place on Saturday 11 April, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The main card is due to begin at 7pm BST (11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET), with main-event ring walks from 10pm BST (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET).
How can I watch it?
The event will stream live exclusively on Netflix worldwide. It will be available to all existing subscribers; in other words, the event will not be a pay-per-view.
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Odds
Fury – 2/9; Makhmudov – 7/2; draw – 20/1
Benn – 1/12; Prograis – 13/2; draw – 25/1
Via William Hill, accurate as of 10 April.
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Conor Benn (pictured) will take on Regis Prograis in the co-main event (Getty Images)
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