And Keegan Bradley talked about Bud Light and cereal.
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Talk, talk, talk, talk. It can be cheap, as the saying goes — but major championship press conferences are more than sessions full of other commonly spoken phrases. Maybe that’s due to what’s at stake. Maybe that’s because of the questions. But the answers are more than thoughts about the need to keep the ball in the fairway and the desire to make putts. There’s occasional gold spoken from the dais.
After 15 press conferences over the past three days at the PGA Championship — should you be curious, the pressers lasted nearly five hours — here, then, are a few things that were spoken:
Cam Young was asked about his iPhone
Young is reserved, but an easy way into a person’s personality is through a question into how long they scroll.
“It depends,” he said. “If I’m on my own on the road, it’s a lot more. It’s probably four hours or something. And if I’m at home with my family, it’s probably more on the order of half that.
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“I try to be conscious of it. So I know when I’m by myself, it’s somewhere in the four, four-and-a-half range, and when I’m not, when I’m at home, it’s usually two or under two.”
What does he look at when he’s on his own?
“I don’t know,” Young said. “I go on YouTube. I like to read articles. I look at golf swing videos for more time than I’d like to admit, yeah.”
Luke Donald was asked whether he brings Ryder Cup talk to the dinner table
To best capture the moment, here is the complete exchange between European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and a reporter, with the reporter’s question in italics.
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Luke, you’re clearly a firmly organized fellow and very good at details and things. I’m just wondering how you cope with all the issues of the Ryder Cup? I mean, you must have had hundreds of questions before Bethpage, before you took the job on and since you agreed to do it. I’m wondering if you and Diane [his wife] have an agreement that over dinner you’ll talk about wine, painting and the family and anything other than the Ryder Cup?
“I think the dynamic between Diane and I is interesting,” Donald said. “I don’t get too involved — especially when it comes closer to the Ryder Cup.
“Right now we’re certainly having some discussions together at dinner whenever the time is right about the team spaces. Certainly I don’t talk to her about the golf course. She doesn’t really talk to me about ladies clothes.
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“I just have complete trust in what she does, and she has complete trust in what I do. There are some overlaps. Like right now we’re talking about team spaces. There’s a distinct difference between part of the hotel to the other. One’s a ballroom, one’s sort of part of the old hotel, and which might be better for our team. Those are things we would discuss together.
“But there’s definitely stuff that I have complete faith in what she does, and she has complete faith in what I do. So we don’t need to go into too much detail then.
You don’t have a feeling, ‘Look, we have to stop talking about this. There are other things going on.’
“I mean, we talk about other stuff as well,” Donald said. “If something is needed [to be] discussed with the Ryder Cup that involves both of us, then we talk about it. If not, we’re just dealing with everyday life.”
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Scottie Scheffler talked about why Masters practice rounds are so calm
Scottie Scheffler was asked whether he treats major weeks the same as normal tournament weeks, and he said that wasn’t possible, as each environment is different — and the one at Augusta National was especially so.
“When you look at the Masters,” he said, “you look at the practice rounds there, and the Masters is like the only place on earth where people actually follow the rules because they’re just afraid to get kicked out all the time. So those practice rounds are actually quite calm in terms of there’s not a lot of yelling, there’s nobody running around, there’s not a ton of noise. Except when you’re swinging, there’s camera clicks on every single shot because people are allowed to have real cameras out there. So you’re at the top of your backswing, for every practice round, it’s just camera clicks.
“You come here and there’s a lot of noise and a lot of energy. That’s why you can’t treat them quite the same because there’s so much energy around the tournament. You come into the press room, there’s more people, more fans, more noise. There’s just a lot more stuff going on.”
Xander Schauffele was asked about trees
To set this up, a topic this week has been the trees at Aronimink Golf Club, or the absence of a few, following a renovation. That led to this back-and-forth between Xander Schauffele and the Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson, who are friendly with each other. Ferguson’s comments are in italics.
“I do like trees, Doug” Schauffele said. “Do you like trees?”
I like trees, too, Xander. Let’s do ‘Cat in the Hat’ next. In terms of a golf course …
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“I know where you’re going,” Schauffele said. “Go ahead.”
Go somewhere then. Keep making me work.
“Yeah, when I hear certain designers saying, ‘I’m going to restore this course to 1915,’ I’m like, ‘Well, it probably takes a good 100 years for a nice tree to grow, just to take it out, just to say it was where it was before,” Schauffele said.
“I think people keep talking about distance and how the game is played, but just put a bunch of trees on a course — I think Hilton Head is a good example. Do I like Hilton Head? Not really. But it’s hard. It’s kind of crazy, if you look at the winning score at Hilton Head and the winning score at Doral — one’s called Hilton Head, and one’s called the Blue Monster — you’re like, I think the winning score at Miami is lower. It’s just funny when you kind of look at it in that sense.”
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“That’s all I have to say to your tree question.”
Is it more framing, or is it more trouble?
“It’s just hard,” Schauffele said. “I think when you have — like this rough, for example, if we had trees in the rough and you hit it in it, this week you’ll see guys kind of gouging it towards the green. If there’s a tree there, you’d be chipping out sideways. This is the type of rough where you can’t get a ball to curve at all. You just grab a high-lofted club and hit a knuckleball and have it kind of trundle somewhere.
“There’s certain weeks where the rough is, you can kind of curve it a little bit. But there’s reasons guys are praying to be on the pine straw or dirt when they hit it off line, versus being in thick rough, just because you can get some movement on the golf ball.”
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Collin Morikawa talked about his caddie’s help with his water bottle
Collin Morikawa has been battling a back injury, and he noted who’s been helping him through it, including his caddie, who did a relatively simple task in which Morikawa was appreciative.
“Yeah, it’s everyone,” Morikawa said. “I’ve got great physios at home, I’ve got a great physio on the road. Rick Sessinghaus and I have been working for quite some time and talking about the mental game and finding ways to feel comfortable out there. He’s a big, big proponent and component of me being able to play out here, so I owe a lot to him.
“But I owe a lot of credit to Mark Urbanek, my caddie. At the Masters, we were doing things that just didn’t make sense from simply like him handing me my water bottle. I think it’s ridiculous for him to hand me my water bottle, but if it was going to save me one extra bend that was going to make me uncomfortable, he’s going to do it. So I give him a lot of credit over the last few months of sticking with me through the chaotic things I’m asking for.”
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Jesse Droemer was asked about broken bones and snakes
Jesse Droemer, one of the 20 club pros in the field, went into detail about previous injuries.
“Yeah, I would say the biggest injuries that affected my golf,” he said, “I broke my left wrist pretty bad when I was probably 10. I broke three bones in my ankle in football. That was pretty rough. But yeah, it’s been 13 broken bones. It’s been a battle. But at the end of the day, it just makes me feel grateful to be healthy and to not have to deal with pain anymore.
A reporter then asked Droemer to confirm whether he had also once been bitten by a snake.
“Yeah, I was in my backyard, I was like 12 or so and stepped on a water moccasin,” Droemer said. “My mom didn’t believe me. I told her I just stepped on a snake, and she just kind of shrugged it off. Then I actually fainted, and my toe was about this big [a couple of inches]. So she had to rush me to the hospital. And then I used to go down into the Brazos River with a machete and boots and look for golf balls. So I had to fight off snakes for that.”
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“But, yeah, that was pretty serious. But after that, I don’t really have a fear of it anymore, so …”
Fighting snakes?
“Well, I couldn’t afford Pro V1s back then,” Droemer said, “so I would sell the kind of beat-up ones and I would keep the best ones. So in tournaments I wasn’t going to lose a golf ball that I fought off snakes for.”
Rory McIlroy was asked about Scottie Scheffler
Rory McIlroy, the world’s second-ranked player, was asked about what he admires about Scheffler, the top-ranked player. Answers to this type of question are oftentimes good, as they’re complimentary — and they give a peek into what the player would want for themselves.
“I think it is, it’s his relentlessness,” McIlroy said. “It’s his — the comfort in which he does the same things over and over. It’s the little — it’s not flashy, but he dots his I’s and crosses his T’s and does all the right things.
“Yeah, I just think it’s that relentless pursuit of the process and not just letting the outcome happen. Whatever that means is what it means.
“I’ve said, again, I think his faith has a big part to do with how comfortable he is with doing that because he accepts whatever happens, whatever comes his way, and he moves on.
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“He just doesn’t seem — there’s not a lot of volatility there in his life and in his game, and I think that sets him up so well for the future.”
Jordan Spieth was asked about grilling meat and his swing
To properly capture this moment, here is the complete exchange between Jordan Spieth and a reporter, with the reporter’s question in italics.
I read something where you used an analogy of grilling meat to describe the process of working on getting your swing back to where you want it to be. Where did that analogy come from and how is it going?
“I was just kind of thinking,” Spieth said, “I was smoking chicken in the fall on a big smoker I have and it got up to 155 quickly and then takes awhile. I was like, man, this kind of feels like — I was working on stuff and I was — it kind of feels like what I’m trying to do in the swing. I go play and it’s a little bit out of the barriers that we call sustainable. Kind of outside the margins that we call OK.
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“So, I don’t know, I kind of was just thinking about it one day and came to me.
“But yeah, it seems to be — I don’t know how — if it’s that way for everybody and just seemed that way for me right now where, you know, it’s there, it’s there. It’s like close. It’s matching what I want to do. It feels good and it’s producing right stuff.
“And then, you know, if it just gets — it’s just not quite consistent enough yet to be able to be contending week in and week out.
“But I know what to do and how to get there. It’s just I have to stay the course and just trust that it will happen.”
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Is [smoking] a hobby of yours?
“Not really,” Spieth said, “I’m very average. Probably a 15-handicap at it. In the fall, it’s fun sometimes.”
Bradley was asked how he celebrated his win at the 2011 PGA Championship, and he answered this way:
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“So after the PGA in ’11, my mom and sister were there, and I remember my agent, Ben, was there, and I remember driving out of the Atlanta Athletic Club with the Wanamaker in my lap, holding it like this [in his lap], and we were looking at each other like, this is crazy. Like I was holding it.
“And then I went — we tried to — it was Sunday night. We were trying to get some beers or something. Everything was closed. And we went back, and I had Bud Light and cereal for dinner. We still have a picture of it in my house somewhere.
“And then I took the trophy and put it right next to my bed. I remember waking up in the morning and looking at it, like this is crazy. I can’t believe this.
“And then I got back, and a few of my buddies picked me up. I was single and 25 years old, and all my buddies picked me up from the airport. We went on a few-day celebration tour with the trophy, bringing it everywhere.
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“One of those moments that you get to share with people, and you know, some of the fondest memories of my life.”
Did he remember the cereal?
“I forget what it was,” Bradley said. “… Whatever — I was starving. It was midnight. After you’re done with media, and I just remember like thinking, how surreal this was. It was Bud Light and cereal. It was the best meal of my life. Like one minute I’m a rookie and now I’m a major champion and I’m looking on my Twitter and every couple minutes, I’ve gotten 1,000 new followers. It was crazy, the night and the next following couple weeks.”
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Lakers ended their season on Monday night, after getting swept by the Thunder, losing game four 115-110. Without Luka Doncic, the Thunder just had too much firepower for 41-year-old LeBron James and company to handle, and that leads to some very tough questions.
LeBron proved once again that there is absolutely still gas left in the tank, willing the injury-riddled Lakers past the Rockets in round one; however, it’s too early to say where he will be playing basketball at the start of next season.
Of course, James might have played the final game of his illustrious career, but I would be quite shocked if that’s the case. Kalshi really only has three teams with legitimate chances of signing LeBron. There’s a 58% chance he returns to the Lakers or retires, 24% chance he has one last run in Cleveland, and a 12% chance he partners up with Steph Curry in Golden State.
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The final option seems unlikely, and I really only think there are two options for James at this point in his career.
Los Angeles has not seemed all that interested in retaining LeBron. Honestly, since acquiring Luka last year, the franchise’s future has seemed to shift toward building around him.
Would LeBron go back to the Cavs?
Throughout different points this year, LeBron has been at odds with the Lakers organization. I’m unsure the Lakers would be willing to re-sign LeBron at the $52.6 million he made this season. Even if he takes a decently sized pay cut, I don’t think they’ll be able to find enough in free agency to build a contender in the 2026-27 season.
If LeBron wanted to return to Cleveland, he would also need to take a pay cut to make it happen. Cleveland already has the highest payroll in basketball, and if they plan to run it back with James Harden, that will remain the case.
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LeBron could do one thing to open a lot of doors at this point in his career. He could sign a veteran minimum and give himself another chance at a ring. The Players’ Association might not let that happen, or at the very least, would be furious if it occurred. But from LeBron’s point of view, he’s made over a billion in his career through playing and endorsements, would he be willing to join a team like Cleveland for cheap and take them back to the promised land?
Personally, I don’t see a world where he stays in Los Angeles unless he’s that sold on the LA lifestyle. Also, just from a million-foot overview of his career, it just makes more sense for him to finish his playing career back in Cleveland.
Lakers’ fans have never fully bought into LeBron as Cleveland fans did. He is, and will always be, the savior of all Cleveland sports with his 2016 title. Partnering with this iteration of the Cavs to make one more run at the finals feels like a storybook ending to his career. Now might be the perfect time to bet on a return to Cleveland, especially with markets as favorable as this towards his return.
After Cal Raleigh walked, struck out and flew out in his first three plate appearances Tuesday, his hitless streak stretched to 38 consecutive at-bats.
The Seattle Mariners’ catcher, runner-up to Aaron Judge in the American League MVP vote last year after hitting 60 home runs, had Major League Baseball’s longest single-season hitless streak since Craig Counsell went 0-for-45 in 2011.
But in the top of the seventh, Raleigh finally broke out of his slump, singling to center field. He stayed hot in the ninth, singling to left.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, on May 12, 2026.(Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Derek Jeter once famously wore a gold thong, at the behest of Jason Giambi, to break out of an 0-for-32 slump.
He homered with it on.
Raleigh didn’t quite reach that mark, but he did have an unorthodox way of helping him break out of the slump.
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“Logan (Gilbert) gave me some good advice to wash off the bad mojo or juju from the baseball gods,” Raleigh said.
How exactly did he do that? Well, pitcher Bryan Woo was the one who initially told reporters that Raleigh showered in full uniform Monday night.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs to first base on a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, on May 12, 2026.(Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
“So, yeah, it worked. He was right. So, I got to give him credit where credit’s due,” Raleigh added.
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“We were all screaming for him, and it was a lot of relief for sure. And I know it felt good for Cal,” manager Dan Wilson said.
Ending the slump did not come without some pain, though, after Raleigh took a foul tip near his manhood.
Raleigh led the American League with a Seattle-record 60 home runs and 125 RBIs last season. But he’s batting just .166 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games this year.
Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners bats in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, on May 11, 2026.(Tim Warner/Getty Images)
TNT Tropang 5G’s Bol Bol and Jordan Heading during a game against NLEX Road Warriors in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT managed to force another playdate into its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign by coming up with a tournament-saving victory on Wednesday.
Now, the Tropang Giga will have to squeeze out one more win against a formidable top seed to validate its preconference status as a favorite to win the title.
And it’s not going to get easier.
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“We’re happy with this win, but we need a lot of improvement to get to the next stage,” coach Chot Reyes said after TNT’s 96-93 victory over NLEX at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
For starters, the Tropang 5G led by as many as 10 and were up seven midway through the fourth, but lost control of the match amid a furious rally by the Road Warriors.
And to think that somewhere at the tail end of that fight-back, NLEX lost main man Robert Bolick to fouls.
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Bol Bol had a split at the stripe for a 94-93 lead, and the Tropang 5G survived a crucial turnover by veteran Jayson Castro to forge the victory and force NLEX to fish out its twice-to-beat card.
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NLEX had two chances to reverse the outcome, but LJ Gonzales missed a pressured four-pointer, and Schonny Winston blew a midrange jumper he had a clean look at, allowing TNT to set another practice date.
A first for TNT
Bol finished with another double-double, collecting 34 points and 14 rebounds to lead TNT, which also got solid support from its locals. Calvin Oftana chipped in 19, RR Pogoy had 15 and Castro added 14 for the Tropang 5G.
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“I think this is the first game in the whole conference where we had those three guys hit double digits,” said Reyes.
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“The three of them got double figures, and as long as we can get that help around Bol, then we give ourselves better chances of winning.”
Bolick finished with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds for NLEX.
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“It’s a big factor that Bolick wasn’t there in the endgame,” Reyes said.
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Cady Lalanne led the Road Warriors with 17 points and 15 rebounds, but missed a free throw that would have put his team up by one late in the game. Young guns Xyrus Torres and Gonzales added 14 and 13, respectively.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning a point against Jessica Pegula of United States in the Women’s Singles Quarterfinal match on day nine of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia at Foro Italico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Iga Swiatek delivered one of her best performances of the season with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Jessica Pegula to reach the semifinals of the Italian Open.
The victory gives Swiatek her first semifinal appearance of 2026 and also her first top-10 win of the year.
The former world No. 1 completely controlled the match from the beginning, putting constant pressure on Pegula and barely allowing the American any rhythm. Swiatek has now dropped just seven games across her last three matches in Rome.
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After the win, Swiatek said recent work behind the scenes is finally starting to show on the court.
“For sure the stuff we did the last weeks helped a lot,” she said. “I feel much better. A lot of confidence on my shots.”
“I was using that from the beginning of the match today and putting pressure on Jessie. So I’m really happy with the way I played.”
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The result also adds another impressive milestone to Swiatek’s clay-court activities. She now owns the second-most wins in a player’s first 50 WTA 1000 clay matches in history, behind only Serena Williams.
With the French Open approaching, Swiatek appears to be finding her best form at exactly the right time.
The league announced Wednesday its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game will be played this year between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams on Netflix.
A few years ago, the NFL realized Black Friday could be an option for fans to gather around their televisions, and it found another because hometown bars will be packed the night before the big holiday.
Teams line up at the line of scrimmage during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 6, 2024.(Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)
The Packers and Rams played each other each season from 2020 to 2024 (the 2020 campaign bout was during the playoffs) but did not face off in 2025.
The Packers have walloped the Rams in recent memory, winning 16 of their last 21 meetings dating back to 1992, including 10 of their last 11.
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Netflix and NFL signage advertises the NFL’s two Christmas Day marquee games streaming live on Netflix in New Orleans Dec. 1, 2024.(Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Oddly enough, before their 2024 bout, each of their prior four meetings was in Green Bay, but this will now mark back-to-back contests in Los Angeles.
The last time the two teams met Oct. 6, 2024, Tucker Kraft had two touchdowns for the Packers, including one that went for 66 yards.
An NFL game ball rests on the turf before a play during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit Nov. 27, 2025.(Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire)
The Rams tried their best at a fourth-quarter comeback, but Green Bay came away with a 24-19 victory on the road.
The game will be broadcast on Netflix. The streaming service will also broadcast the Rams’ Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, two Christmas games and a Week 18 Saturday game.
Nikita Shulchenko is the MPTC Tour of Luzon champion. –JONAS TERRADO
BAGUIO—Nikita Shulchenko admitted he felt the pressure when Antoine Huby launched a desperate attack that won the final stage of the MPTC Tour of Luzon on Wednesday here.
But the Russian rider of Filipino-owned LCW UAE Cycle had built enough of a cushion to withstand Huby’s late charge and secure the title in this year’s revival of the country’s premier cycling race, which he had controlled almost from the start.
“Yes, it was very dangerous,” Shulchenko said after emerging as the newest champion of the summer cycling spectacle with an aggregate time of 41 hours, 11 minutes and 10 seconds.
“But I had a [big] gap [going into the last stage],” he added.
The 26-year-old held off the French rider from 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines by one minute and 34 seconds to pocket the P1 million prize and, perhaps, earn lasting recognition among Filipino cycling fans who had hoped a local rider would repel the foreign challenge.
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Shulchenko also earned himself a neat early birthday gift ahead of his 27th birthday on May 31—even if he will have little time to celebrate.
Back home in Russia, Shulchenko said the calendar quickly shifts to more multistage races at this time of year, leaving little opportunity to savor a conquest that saw him dominate the Philippines’ great cycling odyssey.
Nikita Shukchenco at the finish line during Stage 14 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon. –CONTRIBUTED PHoTO
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“In Russia, we have to do multi-stage races at this time of the year, so there’s plenty of work to do,” he said after completing the two-week test of speed and endurance that covered 1,825.10 kilometers across 13 provinces.
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Shulchenko stamped his authority on the race with a victory in the Stage 7 individual time trial in Pagudpud, while adding five runner-up finishes along the way.
He first donned the symbolic yellow jersey after Stage 3, wresting it from Syrian teammate Ibrahiem Alrefai—whom he had allowed to win the opening stage in Tagaytay—and never surrendered it again.
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The early threats came from the Filipino contingent, particularly the brash crowd favorite Mervin Corpuz and fellow 7-Eleven standout Ronnilan Quita.
But as the race entered its decisive stretch, Huby emerged as Shulchenko’s biggest danger.
The former UCI World Tour rider captured the punishing Stage 10 and Stage 12 climbs at Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, and Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem, Pangasinan, slicing the overall deficit to just 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
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Still, Shulchenko responded when it mattered most.
He finished second in the second individual time trial in Lingayen while Huby could do no better than 13th, allowing the Russian to widen his lead to 3:50 heading into the final ascent through Kennon Road toward Baguio City.
That advantage proved too large to erase, even as Huby ended the Tour with three stage victories—the most by any rider.
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The Frenchman made one final gamble after passing the iconic Lion’s Head marker with 15 km remaining, breaking clear on the climb toward Camp John Hay.
Huby completed the grueling 181.8-km stage from Lingayen to Camp John Hay in 4:26:42, but his bid to steal the yellow jersey ultimately fell short when Shulchenko crossed the line 2:12 later.
“I’m happy to finish second, but the objective was to get the yellow jersey,” Huby said. “But I did my best.”
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As consolation, Huby secured the Eagle of the Mountain title as the Tour’s best climber.
Alrefai wound up third overall, 6:45 behind his teammate, while MPT DriveHub’s Nash Lim finished fourth at 9:13, emerging as the top Filipino rider after a late surge in the standings.
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Quita placed fifth overall, 10:34 off the lead, after arguably delivering the most consistent campaign among the local riders.
Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Levi Bell (98) and defensive end Jordan Ferguson (42) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
In 2024, the Vikings spent the tenth overall pick to acquire rookie passer J.J. McCarthy. He was supposed to be Kevin O’Connell’s big project, his first shot at finding a true franchise quarterback. So far, the results have been disappointing.
A year earlier, O’Connell had already drafted his first quarterback since joining the Vikings in 2022. Day 3 pick Jaren Hall was never expected to take over from Kirk Cousins, but at one point, he was actually asked to do just that.
Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) calls out before the snap against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
Hall has now announced his retirement on Instagram.
“There’s a lot I could say, but mostly I just feel grateful. Sports have been woven into nearly every part of my life — they’ve challenged me, humbled me, shaped my faith, introduced me to lifelong friendships, and given me experiences I never could have imagined.”
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With Cousins entering the final year of his contract (and getting up there in age), the Vikings took a shot late in the 2023 draft. Though not the greatest odds, there was still a chance he could be a massive hit and suddenly start for the franchise. They are rare, but Brock Purdys still exist. Even the normal outcome of him becoming a backup for years to come was an intriguing thought.
Hall’s first preseason was a little shaky and it was clear that he wouldn’t immediately unseat QB2 Nick Mullens for the backup job. Patience was required. Things changed a few weeks later when Cousins suffered his torn Achilles tendon. Mullens was on IR with a back injury at the time and Hall was suddenly asked to play meaningful NFL snaps.
Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) passes the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
A week after the Cousins disaster, Hall was the starter. Unfortunately, he lasted only two drives before suffering a concussion, as he attempted to find the endzone on a scramble. Joshua Dobbs entered the game, kicking off the Dobbs-mania storyline.
The Vikings then rotated through Dobbs and the recovered backup Mullens, but later in the season, ahead of a must-win contest against the Packers, O’Connell once again turned to Hall. Both Mullens and Dobbs had massive turnover problems; perhaps Hall could limit that, the idea went.
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That day, Hall looked like a fifth-round rookie, struggling to see the field and crumbling under the pressure of the situation, but also the pressure Green Bay’s defense provided. Mullens replaced him to start the second half.
After the season, Cousins and Dobbs dipped, while McCarthy and Sam Darnold arrived. With Mullens still in the mix, the sophomore out of BYU dropped to fourth on the depth chart and was eventually released despite McCarthy’s season-ending injury in favor of new signing Brett Rypien.
Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) passes the ball over Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (72) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports.
Hall then headed to Seattle’s practice squad and provided depth behind Geno Smith and Sam Howell, but never saw the field again. Last year, the Seahawks fired him in the offseason and he hasn’t been with a team since. A few try-outs didn’t lead to anything and neither did a move to the UFL earlier this year.
Hall added in his farewell post, “From growing up in this community, to representing my hometown, to having the opportunity to play in the NFL, it has all been a blessing. What I’ll carry most isn’t the milestones, but the people — teammates, coaches, family, and a community that supported me every step of the way. My heart is full as I close this chapter and finish my football career. I’m thankful to everyone who’s been part of the journey. The game has given me more than I could ever give back.”
In three NFL years, Hall played in three games, completing 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Hall just turned 28.
Minnesota Vikings fans cheer from the stands on Aug. 27, 2022, during a preseason matchup in Denver against the Broncos. Vikings supporters routinely travel well across the country, helping create a strong road-game presence during both preseason and regular season contests as excitement built around Kevin O’Connell’s first year leading the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason with a major question mark at center, and four months in, all signs point to longtime lineman Blake Brandel as the primary fix.
The Vikings passed on several outside options, leaving Brandel with a clear path to the job.
Minnesota could’ve signed a veteran in free agency, drafted a rookie center somewhere early in the event, or fired off a trade for a proven starter. They’ve done none of that.
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A Familiar Lineman Moves Into the Middle
Are you worried or excited about Brandel as “the guy” at center?
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Blake Brandel goes through pregame warmups before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Brandel continued to fill multiple roles along Minnesota’s offensive front during the 2024 season, providing the Vikings with dependable depth and lineup flexibility as injuries reshaped the protection unit throughout the year. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
Momentum Builds for Brandel at Center
Through the process of elimination, Brandel sure looks like the frontrunner to start at center in September.
Then, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis dropped this intel on Monday, “The Vikings could have selected a center in the early rounds of the draft, but they didn’t. Instead, the team doubled down on its long-held belief in Brandel.”
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“For years, coaches felt he had the physical traits to play center. They thought he could thrive if he ever got the full-time job. Brandel validated some of those opinions in 2025, when the Vikings tossed him into the fire against the Cleveland Browns’ vaunted front. He didn’t sink. He swam.”
There is a world where Brandel simply thrives at center this year, but that leaves a lot to chance for a team that can’t really afford offensive line uncertainty.
Lewis continued, “His 6-foot-7, 315-pound frame offers a sturdy barrier in the middle. Because Brandel has played every position on the offensive line, he has the pre- and post-snap understanding to handle whatever coach Kevin O’Connell throws at him.”
“As long as he doesn’t suffer a summer injury, he should enter training camp with a clear path to the starting job.”
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Brandel in 2025
Despite his initial depth chart position as a backup, Brandel’s 2025 season proved far more significant than anticipated. He participated in all 17 games, starting nine and playing 64% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps. This substantial workload stemmed directly from significant injuries to the Vikings’ offensive line, which forced heavy reliance on Brandel, who delivered solid play.
Brandel’s primary value lies in his versatility. Capable of playing guard, tackle, and center, he proved invaluable in 2025 by filling multiple roles. The Vikings didn’t require a superstar; they simply needed a reliable presence to stabilize the line amidst constant upheaval. That was Brandel in 2025.
His performance at center was particularly noteworthy. Playing 383 snaps there, Brandel showed marked improvement throughout the season, transforming his 2026 starting center prospects from an outside chance into a genuine possibility. Here we are a half a year later.
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Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel stands on the field during the NFL International Series game on Oct. 2, 2022, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Brandel provided depth along Minnesota’s offensive line during the overseas matchup as the Vikings continued expanding their international presence under first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports.
While his 61.4 PFF grade indicates a solid, rather than superstar, performance, the level of consistency is highly valuable. A member of the 2020 draft class (alongside Justin Jefferson), Brandel has quietly become one of the team’s longest-tenured players.
The Vikings Passed on These Men
It didn’t have to be Brandel or bust. Minnesota reasonably could’ve signed one of these free agents in March:
Tyler Linderbaum, the almighty OL prize from free agency, was out of the Vikings’ price range, but the five above were not.
Thereafter, the 2026 NFL Draft has a “Big Four” of centers. Minnesota drafted none of these men:
Jake Slaughter (Los Angeles Chargers)
Connor Lew (Cincinnati Bengals)
Sam Hecht (Carolina Panthers)
Logan Jones (Chicago Bears)
Interestingly, the Panthers doubled at center; perhaps Fortner could eventually be available via trade.
Wildcards at C
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While Brandel projects as the Week 1 center, he could be upended by two possible contenders if one assumes the Vikings don’t make any trades, such as deal for Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer.
Cincinnati offensive lineman Gavin Gerhardt speaks with reporters during Big 12 Football Media Days on July 8, 2025, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Gerhardt addressed the media ahead of the 2025 college football season after developing into an experienced piece of Cincinnati’s offensive line rotation and drawing increased NFL attention entering his final campaign. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
The first is Michael Jurgens, a late-round pick in 2024, who saw a little action at center in 2025. Most consider a Jurgens a depth center, not a starter. Too, the Vikings drafted Cincinnati’s Gavin Gerhardt in Round 7 three weeks ago, and per the club’s post-draft commentary, it sounded like the coaching staff identified him as “the guy” at center for their rookie solution.
If Brandel falters or gets hurt, there’s a decent chance that Gerhardt is the go-to replacement.
It’s also worth noting that 2026 is scheduled to be Brandel’s final year in Minnesota. He could be eligible for a contract extension as early as now.
He’ll turn 30 in January.
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World record holder Tobi Amusan won Nigeria’s first gold medal at the ongoing African Athletics Championships after a strong display in the women’s 100m hurdles final on Wednesday.
Amusan controlled the race from the heats to the final and finished ahead of the rest of the field to claim the gold medal.
Nigeria also celebrated another success in the event as Adaobi Tabugbo won the bronze medal, her first individual medal for Nigeria at a major championship.
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Ashley Miller of Zimbabwe finished second to take the silver medal.
Team Nigeria had opened its medal campaign on Tuesday in the women’s discus throw event.
Divine Oladipo won silver, while Obiageri Amaechi claimed bronze.
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With Amusan leading the team, Nigeria will now look forward to more medals as the championships continue in Accra.
The top hurdler is also expected to return her focus to the Diamond League season after her successful outing at the continental championships.
South Africa pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has become the latest global star to be left stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting, with the Gujarat Titans quick admitting that the Rajasthan Royals teenager possesses a rare combination of power, confidence and natural flair. Rabada, who has been one of the standout fast bowlers of IPL 2026 with 21 wickets, briefly found himself under attack from the 15-year-old sensation during Gujarat Titans’ clash against Rajasthan Royals earlier this season. Sooryavanshi smashed Rabada for back-to-back sixes in a fearless display that once again reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most destructive young batters in world cricket.
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The teenager has already grabbed headlines this season for taking on elite bowlers without hesitation, including Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Against Gujarat, Siraj too was launched for a first-ball six as Sooryavanshi continued his astonishing rise. Speaking to PTI, Rabada admitted he has been fascinated by the youngster’s mentality and fearless approach at such a young age. “He’s a great talent. He’s got really fast hands. He’s fearless at the moment. There’s not an ounce of fear in his body. That’s how it normally is when you’re young, it’s really fascinating. I think it’s great to see in the game of cricket, in the IPL. It’s great to see the game is well and truly alive. Who else is going to come in and make headlines of that nature? Let’s wait and see,” said the South African quick. Despite the hype surrounding Sooryavanshi, Rabada said his mindset as a bowler remains unchanged while charging in to bowl. “What I’m thinking is just another batter. And try to get the better of him. It’s almost like a little bit of flair. He’s definitely an X-factor player. Someone that is drawing eyes to the game. Fantastic. Really fast hands. No fear. That’s one hell of a combination,” he added. Rabada himself has been operating at peak rhythm this season, consistently touching 150 kmph while forming one of the IPL’s most dangerous new-ball pairings alongside Mohammed Siraj. The duo has troubled batting line-ups throughout the powerplay phase, with Rabada generating steep bounce and seam movement through relentless Test-match lengths. The 30-year-old has now crossed the 20-wicket mark in an IPL season for the fourth time in his career, though he insisted he does not focus too heavily on personal milestones. “I just feel like coming into a season, whatever the team that you are playing for, this time it is Gujarat, I just feel like I am just going to be here to try my best and that is what I am going to leave it at. And whatever the outcome is, it is what the outcome is going to be,” he said. Reflecting on his partnership with Siraj, Rabada said their chemistry has developed naturally over the course of the season. “I guess it is forming a partnership and that is pretty much it. He has got a job to do and I have got a job to do. I guess we have bonded a bit off the field too but it is nothing orchestrated really. “We found out we are bowling together and we try to fulfil that role to the best of our ability. There is no real magic recipe,” he explained.
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