Next weekend, a classic Cinco de Mayo showdown takes place, as David Benavidez steps up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto Ramirez for the unified world titles in the 200lb division. Now, two-division world champion Andre Ward has provided his prediction for the bout.
A move up to cruiserweight soon followed and ‘Zurdo’ has since won four straight contests by unanimous decision; including the dethroning of both Arsen Goulamirian (WBA) and Chris Billam-Smith (WBO) to become the unified champion of the division.
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Yet, despite losing only once in his 49 career fights and being the reigning champion, Ramirez enters his showdown against divisional debutant Benavidez as the underdog.
Speaking on the All The Smoke Fight podcast, Ward agreed with the oddsmakers’ assessment, admitting that he makes undefeated two-division world champion Benavidez the favourite ahead of next weekend’s intriguing scrap.
“He has got the age advantage, he is younger, he is 29 years old. He has less miles [on the clock], he has never been beaten. Anytime you have been knocked down or beaten, that is a scar that you have to wear – he don’t have that scar going into this fight, but Zurdo does.
“I think that it’s going to be a great fight, that I give David Benavidez a slight edge to. This is a 60/40 situation for me, maybe a little more in his favour, maybe 65/35, but that is just because he hasn’t lost.
“We haven’t seen that blueprint [to beat him] and, even if guys have good rounds, they don’t have good fights against him. Ultimately, they are worn down, mentally, physically and emotionally, and David Benavidez takes over. Ultimately, he stops guys or he beats them up and gets his hand raised.”
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will need to win all their remaining games to claim the Premier League title after moving top on Wednesday.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal as City continued their recent charge to hit the summit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Burnley, who were consequently relegated.
It is the first time City have led the table since August and, with five games to play, they appear to be timing their run perfectly.
Yet their lead over Arsenal is slender, on goals scored only, and with the Gunners in action twice before City’s next league outing, Guardiola recognises the pressure is still firmly on.
The Spaniard said: “Now we have the FA Cup on Saturday and after that we have five games. The only chance is to win all the games.”
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Haaland also hit a post and Rayan Cherki had an effort deflected on to the woodwork but Burnley, battling to delay their return to the second tier after a single season in top flight, fought to the end.
Guardiola felt his players performed well so soon after Sunday’s victory over title rivals Arsenal.
He said: “It was such a demanding game on Sunday. It is not easy after three days, but in the Premier League you have to adjust.
“Winning is the main target and, considering the last three days and the emotion and physicality in the game we played, we made an extraordinary game.
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“With the chances we created we could have scored more goals, but the important thing is winning every game. Five games in the Premier League – we see what happens.”
With the race so close, Guardiola admitted he would have liked to have improved the goal difference.
He said: “Yes, we had chances – but we have to win the games. It was clear, clear, clear.
“We did not have ‘umph’ in the last part of the shots and sometimes that’s the fatigue. I had the feeling if we scored at 2-0 it would be more relaxed and we could be more composed in the final third.”
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City’s attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley and Guardiola will consider making changes.
“Now we have to think about it a lot because I had a lot of doubts about the line-up today because of the fatigue,” he added.
“Now it will be three in a row in three days, go to London. I have to think about it.”
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama has been named the 2025–26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The San Antonio Spurs star was a unanimous choice, receiving all 100 first-place votes from the media panel and finishing with 500 points.
Wembanyama becomes the youngest player to win the award and the first to do so within his first three seasons since David Robinson. He is also the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner since the award was introduced.
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Behind him in the voting were Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson, who finished second and third respectively.
The award recognises the best defensive player over the regular season, and Wembanyama’s impact on that end of the floor made him the clear choice this year.
Each year, in addition to various Minnesota Vikings-themed mock drafts, we get one on record for all the league. This is the last mock draft of 2026 — the leaguewide version for Round 1.
The board is set. Pandemonium is next.
This year may be more unpredictable than most, as the NFL shortened the clock between picks, and several teams are hoping to trade down.
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Final Forecast for Every Pick in Round 1
Not limited to the Vikings, here’s a full NFL mock draft.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) watches from the sideline during a tense moment late in the game on Nov. 28, 2025, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, as the Hoosiers battled Purdue in a rivalry matchup, with Mendoza tracking the action and awaiting his next opportunity. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images.
1 — Las Vegas Raiders
The Pick: Fernando Mendoza (QB) | Indiana
The first pick of the draft is inevitable. Mendoza gives the Raiders a legitimate shot at their quarterback of the future, which in turn allows the rest of their plans to fall into place. Any other choice would be an earth-shattering surprise; Las Vegas didn’t clear the runway solely for Kirk Cousins or a mid-round QB.
2 — New York Jets
The Pick: David Bailey (EDGE) | Texas Tech
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This debate — Bailey or Reese — has actually become annoying because it’s so difficult to decipher. The Jets ultimately roll with Bailey. He’s a purer pass rusher.
3 — Arizona Cardinals
The Pick: Arvell Reese (LB) | Ohio State
Pundits have teased Jeremiyah Love going here, but we’re just not buying it, not when the Cardinals have James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson on the roster. This feels like a textbook smoke-filled rumor reserved for draft week.
4 — Tennessee Titans
The Pick: Jeremiyah Love (RB) | Notre Dame
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Tennessee effectively signaled this move by passing on top-tier running back help in free agency. Players like Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, or Javonte Williams could have addressed their RB needs rather easily. Instead, the Titans left the door open for a premium runner, and Love walks right in. He’s explosive, elusive, and perfectly built to be a game-changer.
5 — New York Giants
The Pick: Sonny Styles (LB) | Ohio State
With Bobby Okereke off the roster, the Giants can approach the linebacker position from a fresh angle, prioritizing youth. Styles possesses the range, size, and play style that will integrate seamlessly in New York. He feels like a quintessential John Harbaugh defender.
6 — Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Spencer Fano (OT) | Utah
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Dawand Jones offered little to Cleveland last season, and his limited sample size didn’t inspire confidence. Tytus Howard is also on the roster, but the Browns still require a long-term solution on the offensive line. Fano perfectly addresses that need, bringing youth, consistent play, and a quicker-than-expected path to a starting role.
7 — Washington Commanders
The Pick: Caleb Downs (S) | Ohio State
It’s tempting to roll with a wide receiver here because the Commanders’ cupboard is a bit barren, but at the end of the day, Dan Quinn is a defense-first head coach, and he just can’t leave Downs on the board.
8 — New Orleans Saints
The Pick: Carnell Tate (WR) | Ohio State
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Next to Chris Olave, the Saints need another weapon for Tyler Shough. As the first wideout off the board to get the party cracking, it’s Tate to the Bayou.
9 — Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE) | Miami
Kansas City will be elated that Bain Jr. fell this far, and he’ll instantly swipe Ashton Gillotte’s job.
10 — New York Giants (via Cincinnati Bengals)
The Pick: Francis Mauigoa (OT) | Miami (FL)
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A best player available pick, general manager Joe Schoen takes the plunge with Mauigoa, sending Jermaine Eluemunor to RT2.
11 — Miami Dolphins
The Pick: Mansoor Delane (CB) | LSU
Head coach Lane Kiffin speaks with cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) during a break in play, offering instruction and feedback on Sep. 27, 2025, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, as LSU and Ole Miss squared off in a physical SEC matchup with both sidelines fully engaged. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images.
Miami arguably needs every position on the draftboard, but as No. 11, Delane is the best pick and the first corner off the board.
12 — Dallas Cowboys
The Pick: Dillon Thieneman (S) | Oregon
Daniel Jeremiah chirped this week that Dallas could pounce on Thieneman “early,” and we believe it. His Combine was that fantastic.
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13 — Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)
The Pick: Makai Lemon (WR) | USC
The Rams’ deep roster allows them to make a luxury pick here. Lemon provides Sean McVay with another dynamic weapon, converting that Atlanta trade from last year into a receiver with significant upside. Puka Nacua, Davate Adams, and Lemon will cook.
14 — Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Olaivavega Ioane (G) | Penn State
Tyler Linderbaum’s departure created a significant void in Baltimore’s interior. The Ravens require significant power and consistent play inside, qualities Ioane provides. This feels like a classic Baltimore selection, one that makes too much sense to overthink.
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15 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Kenyon Sadiq (TE) | Oregon
Yes, the Buccaneers just extended Cade Otton to a handsome contract extension. No, that doesn’t matter.
16 — New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts)
The Pick: Jermod McCoy (CB) | Tennessee
McCoy didn’t play at all last year due to an ACL tear, so he carries some risk. Sounds like a Jets draft pick to me.
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17 — Detroit Lions
The Pick: Kadyn Proctor (OT) | Alabama
Relying on Giovanni Manu as a starting tackle presents a precarious situation for a contender with Detroit’s strong roster. Proctor rectifies this immediately; he can step in right away, providing the Lions with a powerful bookend opposite Penei Sewell.
18 — Minnesota Vikings
The Pick: Peter Woods (DT) | Clemson
Two recently jettisoned defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, played a combined 1,300+ defensive snaps last year. Do you really think Levi Drake Rodrgiuez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will split that new workload? We say no. The pick is Woods, the first DT of the night.
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19 — Carolina Panthers
The Pick: Jordyn Tyson (WR) | Arizona State
The Panthers’ brass love drafting wide receivers, and the pattern doesn’t stop in 2026. Tyson’s tumble ends, becoming Tetairoa McMillan’s running mate.
20 — Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers)
The Pick: Keldric Faulk (EDGE) | Auburn
Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk addresses reporters, discussing his development and outlook on Jul. 18, 2024, at the Omni Dallas Hotel, as part of preseason media availability, providing insight into his role and expectations heading into the upcoming college football season. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images.
This is the beginning of the plan to erase the sins of the Micah Parsons trade.
21 — Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Omar Cooper Jr. (WR) | Indiana
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Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Ty Simpson, or Garrett Nussmeier will hope to feast with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and Omar Cooper Jr.
Cooper Jr. will be a stud. Remember it.
22 — Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) | Miami
Khalil Mack remains a factor, but Father Time is an inevitable force. The Chargers require another solution on the edge, and Mesidor is their choice. At 25, he’ll be an older rookie, which might deter some teams, but Los Angeles can accept that if he’s ready to make an immediate impact.
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23 — Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: Monroe Freeling (OT) | Georgia
The University of Georgia fetish continues.
24 — Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Pick: Kevin Concepcion (WR) | Texas A&M
Cleveland’s wide receiver room is in desperate need of assistance. Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Isaiah Bond form a group that doesn’t exactly strike fear into opposing defenses. Concepcion alters this equation, providing the Browns with another solid target and injecting much-needed energy into the position.
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25 — Chicago Bears
The Pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S) | Toledo
Tell us this doesn’t feel like a Bears pick. We won’t believe you.
26 — Buffalo Bills
The Pick: T.J. Parker (EDGE) | Clemson
Buffalo’s new-look OLB corps:
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Bradley Chubb
Greg Rousseau
T.J. Parker
That might just work.
27 — San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Caleb Lomu (OT) | Utah
Trent Williams cannot play forever, so San Francisco must plan ahead at premium positions. Lomu embodies the 49ers’ “next-man-up” strategy; he can integrate into the system now, positioning himself to take over when the time comes.
28 — Houston Texans
The Pick: Kayden McDonald (DT) | Ohio State
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates a fumble recovery with teammate Jermaine Mathews Jr. (7) after a forced turnover on Oct. 11, 2025, at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, as the Buckeyes capitalized on a key defensive play against Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images.
Houston’s defense, thanks to DeMeco Ryans, boasts virtually no weak spots. However, if pressed to identify one, it would likely be defensive tackle, a spot where McDonald fits beautifully.
29 — Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams)
The Pick: Chris Johnson (CB) | San Diego State
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After Kansas City traded Trent McDuffie, cornerback immediately became their top priority. This makes Johnson a straightforward choice, as he fills that void and provides the Chiefs with a young defensive back to address a suddenly critical position.
30 — Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos)
The Pick: Denzel Boston (WR) | Washington
The Dolphins need WRs after booting Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Boston is the last remaining option for Miami who deserves a 1st-Round pick.
31 — New England Patriots
The Pick: Blake Miller (OT) | Clemson
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Miller will eventually take over for Morgan Moses, possibly this summer.
32 — Seattle Seahawks (Pick Traded Elsewhere)
The Pick: Ty Simpson (QB) | Alabama
No, the Seahawks won’t draft Simpson, but someone will trade into the 1st-Round’s last spot — probably the Arizona Cardinals to capitalize on Simpson’s fifth-year option, if applicable, in 2030.
Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Nandre Burger was fined 10 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday. The South Africa international admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5-pertaining to using language, actions, or gestures which disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in the match-and accepted the sanction suggested by the match referee. In the match itself, RR defeated LSG by 40 runs.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant did not have any answer for his team’s defence after a morale-crushing 40-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match, other than accepting the responsibility that his side didn’t read the surface properly.
“I don’t have answers. Batting has let us down. We are disappointed as a team, as a group,” Pant said after his team were skittled out for 119 chasing a small 160-run target.
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“You have to look for answers inside, not outside. We could have taken some time while batting. No excuses out there. Including myself, we could have taken it deeper. As a batting group, we have to put our hands up,” Pant offered a feeble explanation.
Mohammed Shami’s bowling effort stood out and Pant found that to be a silver lining.
“We have to look at positives. We have to keep our head high and look for answers inside. We have the firepower to turn the season around.” Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag knew that there was help off the surface.
“We knew it would swing, the lines and lengths they (Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer) bowled, impressive. The message on the groups have been very positive,” Riyan said after the match.
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On his own poor show, Riyan said that he has been going through some personal crisis and the team stands firmly behind him.
“I had gone through something, even now I am going through something and everyone understands that,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
While visiting Cobra HQ to film our 3DP feature, I was able to spend some time hitting prototype irons built for a few different Cobra staff players on the PGA and LPGA Tours.
This is probably the most unique feature of Cobra’s 3DP process. They can make one-of-one sets for Tour players in just weeks, rather than retooling a head for a new forging, which would take months. This turnaround ability has vaulted Cobra to the top of the list for free agents seeking a new set of irons, and it’s likely we’ll start seeing more players on major tours switch to their own 3DP customs.
Let’s break down my favorites from testing at HQ.
Max Homa’s solid MBs
Max Homa signing with Cobra was big news, and Max has repeatedly said that the process of building his own 3DP iron was one of the reasons he was so excited to sign with Cobra. He was a big fan of the standard King MB forged irons that Cobra was making, and a lot of what he did with his 3DP.MH irons (which you have also seen in some images as the 3DP.MB.s) were to emulate the feeling he got from those, while adding a bit of forgiveness thanks to the increased mass properties of the 3DP heads. He also adds a touch of offset to his set compared to the standard forged offerings. The biggest difference for Max? He doesn’t have an internal lattice system with his irons. He chose to create his set as a solid-printed set that gives him the feel he’s been looking for, matching the irons he’s played most of his life. The advantage for him? He still gets the shape, visual package and performance he’s after to his exact specifications.
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One of the original prototypes made for Max Homa, the 3DP.MB.s
John Sodaro / GOLF
Rickie Fowler’s 3DP King Tour Love
Rickie Fowler has an interesting equipment story on tour. He’s an unabashed golfer who wants to use the best tools for his game, and over the last several years, he has made a few changes you might not expect from a Tour player. He started playing AeroTech graphite iron shafts and a “player’s distance” iron in the Cobra King Tours. The combination has been great for Rickie, and he’s been nothing but complimentary of the more forgiving build. When Cobra introduced him to the 3DP program, he really didn’t want to change much from the King Tour heads. So the 3DP.RF (which you’ll also see in photos as the 3DP.KT for King Tour) is based heavily on the King Tour, but again, with better mass properties that increase the MOI of the head. His irons are a combination of the King Tour and the 3DP Tour. Offset from the King Tour, MOI from the 3DP Tour, a touch higher toe height compared to the 3DP Tour and the coolest part of his build is they didn’t add any tungsten to Rickie’s 3DP irons. They achieved a higher MOI design with just the internal lattice structure. The combination of which allows them to hit Rickie’s preferred launch properties.
The toughest switch: Lexi Thompson
Lexi Thompson likes the weirdest iron ever — the Cobra S2 Forged. This is an iron that came out over a decade ago, and she has been so in love with it that she still has them in the bag. The problem? Cobra doesn’t make the iron anymore, and they don’t even have a stash. But there’s a simple fix: 3D printing. I actually think this is where Cobra’s 3D-printing ability really shines. They can take a player like Lexi Thompson and give her the exact iron shape and visual that she wants with more performance. In very simple terms, they can scan the old S2 Forged, then take that model into their new software and create an internal lattice structure that gives her a higher MOI design with a bit more ball speed, while keeping the exact offset, sole and loft package she has desired for years.
Lexi Thompsons 3DP.LEXI irons, a modern day version of her Cobra S2 Forged irons
John Sodaro / GOLF
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You can watch our full Cobra 3DP Feature on YouTube!
If you’ve been pining for a break from the slog of stroke-play events on the PGA Tour schedule, this is your week.
On Thursday, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans kicks off at TPC Louisianna, with self-selected two-man teams playing four-ball in the first and third rounds, and foursomes in the second and final rounds. Most of the squads’ origin stories don’t require much explanation: Matt and Alex Fitzpatrck? Brothers! Jacob Skov Olesen and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen? Fellow Danes! Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak? Defending champions! But there is at least one partnership that might give you pause: Brooks Koepka and . . . Shane Lowry?
Lowry gets it.
“To the outside it might not look like it makes sense,” he said from the tournament Wednesday, his odd-couple partner by his side, “but, you know, to us it does.”
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It might appear nonsensical because we’re more accustomed to seeing Lowry and Koepka locking horns than we are leaning on one another. They’ve never gone head-to-head in a Ryder Cup match, but they have twice played in the same Ryder Cup, including in the contentious edition outside Rome in 2023. That was the week when Day 2 of the matches culminated with Lowry and other Europeans chirping Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, on the 18th green. That tension spilled into the parking lot where Lowry had to hold back McIlroy from berating Justin Thomas’s caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay — and yet more ugliness back at the team hotel where McIlroy allegedly got into it with Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott.
None of this is to say that Lowry has ever harbored any beef with Koepka or vice versa, but given the history between their camps (or at least their continents), it’s still surprising on some level to see them syncing up.
Thing is, though, Ryder Cup rivalries can evaporate quickly under the warm South Florida sun, especially in the Jupiter Island area where palms trees are outnumbered only by multimillionaire Tour pros. Patrol the Bear’s Club, Medalist or Old Palm on any Tuesday morning during an off-week and you’re likely to spot a cluster of brand-name pros from both sides of the Atlantic enjoying one another’s company, if not taking one another’s money.
“Everybody plays the same golf courses, so we see each other pretty much every other day,” Koepka said Wednesday. “I don’t go a day without seeing a guy out here, so there’s always conversations. There’s always people talking, having lunch, doing whatever, practicing together. It happens way more frequently than I think people realize.”
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Also on the list of popular Tour-pro hangs in the neighborhood is Michael Jordan’s swank club, Grove XXIII, which is where Lowry and Koepka played a round together a few months back — and where Lowry popped the question.
“I said to him, ‘I might need a partner for New Orleans’” Lowry said. “He goes, ‘Well, I’m going to have to play there.’ That was it.”
Lowry played with McIlroy in the previous two Zurichs (they won together in 2024), but when McIlroy bowed out of this year’s edition, Lowry needed a date. Koepka, meanwhile, just needed starts. Since his January return from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour, he has lacked the necessary FedEx points to qualify for the Signature Events; he’s hopeful, with Lowry’s help, to improve his status this week.
Lowry and Koepka’s relationship extends beyond the borders of South Florida. They first got to know each other in 2012 and ’13 when Koepka was cutting his teeth on the DP World Tour. Lowry has known Elliot, Koepka’s looper, for even longer. When Lowry won the Open Championship in 2019, Elliott, who is from Portrush, was among a swell of well-wishers waiting to congratulate Lowry by the 18th green.
A few weeks after Lowry and Koepka’s round at the Grove, Lowry texted a follow-up note to both Elliott and Koepka to make sure they were still on for the Zurich. But Lowry said he didn’t have a firm commitment from Koepka until he ran into him several weeks later.
“I said, ‘Are we going to tee it up in New Orleans?’” Lowry said. “He said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”
The betting sharpies like Lowry and Koepka’s chances this week, setting their odds only behind favorites Matt Fitzpatrick, who has won twice in the last month, and his brother Alex, who won the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open last month. And on paper Lowry and Koepka do look like a good fit.
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Lowry is accurate off the tee and can work the ball in both directions. (“My job is to try and hit it in the fairway,” Lowry said.) Koepka’s iron play is nearly unrivaled (he’s 2nd in SG: Approaches). And Lowry has been holing putts (31st in SG: Putting).
The setup suits their eyes, too. “I like the way we’re going with him hitting off certain holes and me hitting off the other holes,” Koepka said. “Everybody feels comfortable on the holes that we’re going to play.” Koepka added, ”Then the best-ball side of this whole thing, he’s been playing great, so just let him go do him and stay out of the way.”
Lowry feels pretty good about his partner, too.
“He’s Brooks Koepka” Lowry said. “He’s got five majors. You know what I mean?”
Confidence exudes from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson when he’s on the field, and that carried over to the pre-NFL Draft process.
Simpson has steadfastly supported himself when asked if he can be a starting quarterback in this league, and he feels he has the first-round talent to do so.
Before he learns where he goes in the NFL Draft, whether it’s Thursday night in the first round or beyond, Simpson spoke with Fox News Digital about where his patented confidence comes from.
Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Feb. 28, 2026.(Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
“I think it goes with my faith,” he said, while discussing his partnership with Toyota ahead of the draft. “My faith is very important to me. I fully believe that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and knowing that football is just a minor stepping stone in why I’m on this earth. I feel like I’m on this earth for a bigger reason, to get people together to spread the word. The fact that I can do that on a huge stage, the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, that just gives me confidence.
“I get to play a kid’s game for fun, but I also know that everybody’s watching every move that I make. Understanding that I can impact so many people’s lives by spreading the good news.”
Simpson, who spent all four of his college seasons at Alabama, embodies the “Faith, Family, Football” motto, as he also talked about his hometown of Martin, Tennessee.
No matter where his NFL journey may take him, he will always be repping the place that made him who he is.
“I think that being able to impact my community is something I really look forward to because I know how much my community means to me,” he said when asked about charitable work off the field in the city he ends up in. “Martin, Tennessee is a special place. It’s where I grew up. The 713-area code, we take pride in it. We always say in our household, ‘Martin made.’ So, it’s something where I look forward to, wherever I end up, to be able to give back to my community.”
Simpson showcased his desire to give back Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, joining fellow NFL Draft prospect wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and members of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football team at Toyota’s NFL Draft Flag Football Training Camp for Pittsburgh-area high school girls. He was wearing the coach’s hat, helping coordinate drills and share some of his quarterback wisdom before preparing for the draft on Thursday night.
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Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs with the football against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2026.(Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“My sister was a basketball player and softball player growing up, so it’s really exciting and awesome to see Toyota put a spotlight on girls in sports,” Simpson added.
Toyota also covered NFL FLAG fall registration kit fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League coed youth and high school girls leagues as part of this activation before the live draft in the city.
Simpson waited until his fourth season to finally take the reins of the Alabama offense, and he made the best of the situation. He threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions across 15 games for the Crimson Tide. But the 6-foot-2, 211-pound quarterback, who has gotten comparisons to Mac Jones, a fellow Alabama alum, is all over the place in terms of mock drafts.
In short, not even Simpson has an idea where he might end up when the draft begins. But no matter where he goes, Simpson knows he can make an impact.
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Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2026.(CFP/Getty Images)
“The first round is great, [but] any time you get drafted is great. There’s so many different players that are great at my position that are from each different round of the NFL. So, I’m in the mindset of wherever I go, whenever that will be, I’m gonna put my best foot forward. Trust the process and be the best player I can be.”
Following Terence Crawford’s retirement, most fans are debating whether it is Oleksandr Usyk or Naoya Inoue that can be considered as boxing’s pound-for-pound number one. However, Tim Bradley believes that an another fighter deserves the top spot.
Crawford, Usyk and Inoue are the only three men to have become the undisputed champion in multiple weight divisions during the four-belt era; making all three worthy candidates of being recognised as the best fighter on the planet in recent years.
In 2025, it was ‘Bud’ who pushed ahead in the eyes of many, after becoming the second fighter in boxing history to claim the undisputed throne in three weight-classes and doing so with a stellar victory over Canelo Alvarez.
“Shakur Stevenson is the best fighter in the world. He ain’t got the accolades of an Usyk, in terms of undisputed and all of that s**t, he ain’t done all of that s**t that Inoue did in the lower weight classes.
“No, he ain’t done none of that, but he is a four-division world champion and he is the best fighter in the world. He gets touch the least, out of any fighter in the world.
“He the best fighter in the world. Period.”
Stevenson has built his reputation on control over power, combining a southpaw stance with sharp footwork and defensive awareness to dictate range and tempo.
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An Olympic silver medallist before turning professional, he has, as Bradley points out, consistently limited opponents to low output.
If the Newark native manages to land more fights against big names – the likes of Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney – more will begin to agree with Bradley’s take. However, he will still be competing with Usyk, who returns next month against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven, and Inoue, who has a mega fight in Japan against Junto Nakatani.
;)
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