File photo of MS Dhoni© AFP

For as long as this sport has existed, golfers have chased daylight. And for as long as there have been lists, golfers have chased those, too.

The latest adventurer on such a quest is Daniel Belk, a 32-year-old Denver-based entrepreneur who recently sold two companies, leaving him with free time and money in the bank.

“Everyone kept asking me, ‘Daniel, what’s next?’” Belk says. “I was like, Y’all gotta stop asking me what’s next. It’s starting to stress me out. Let me just take a week to play some golf.”

A week turned into two weeks, which gave rise to an idea: play GOLF’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play in less than a year.

“I’ve always been someone who has loved to travel, and golf courses are epic destinations. It’s a super-fun way to see many parts of the country,” Belk says.

Easier said than done.

It is, for starters, an expensive project; Belk has budgeted $85,000 for it. It also requires planning. Tee sheets get crowded. Weather turns sour. Belk began his odyssey in April and, as of this writing, has knocked off 12 courses. Only 88 to go.

His schedule is shaped by the seasons. Springtime has found him in the Southeast. Summer will take him through the Midwest — he and his friends have a Ryder Cup-style match slated for Sand Valley. Come winter, he figures to make his way through California and Hawaii.

Belk has a few things working in his favor. His brother has a pilot’s license and access to a plane, which allows for some surgical strikes. And despite the name, the Top 100 isn’t spread evenly across the map. More than half the courses on the list are concentrated in just seven states: California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Then there’s this advantage.

“I’m in the perfect spot in life where I don’t have kids and I don’t have a job, clearly,” Belk says. “Instead of waiting until I’m 60, let me shoot a couple of sub-80 scores, have some fun and do it while I’m young.”

Not a bad reason to chase a list.

To learn more about Belk’s journey, watch the video above.

It will open fully for the first time on Sunday when a new attendance record will be set for the stadium

Manchester City fans said they were ‘very impressed’ as they were allowed into the Etihad Stadium’s newly expanded North Stand for the first time – just days before it opens on what promises to be a momentous day for the club.

More than 7,000 seats have been added to the stand’s second tier as part of a huge £300 million revamp.

It will open at full capacity for the first time for Sunday’s final game of the Premier League season at home to Aston Villa. That will see the club set a new attendance record for the stadium of over 60,000.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Despite their lingering title hopes being officially ended with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday night, it will be an emotional day for all those of a Blues persuasion.

Terrace heroes Bernardo Silva and John Stones will play their final games for the club, while it is also been widely reported it will be boss Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge at the Etihad after a trophy-laden decade at the helm.

That has not yet been confirmed, with the Spaniard saying at the Vitality Stadium that he would speak to the club’s chairman before announcing any decision on his future.

Blues supporters got their first look inside the new-look stand last night (Wednesday). More than 3,500 fans were invited in for a test event, which was required for the club to obtain clearance to open it on Sunday.

Advertisement

Supporters spent time wandering around and eating and drinking on the new-look concourse, complete with self-service screens and pickup kiosks.

They also got their first peak of the hallowed turf from the more than 60 rows of seats.

In contrast to the South Stand, which was also expanded a decade ago and is spread across three tiers, the club decided to add the new seats to the North Stand’s second tier, creating a steep, sloping upper tier, which it was said it was hoped would become ‘the Blue Wall’ – a reference to the ‘Yellow Wall’, a steep single–tiered stand at Borussia Dortmund’s stadium which is famous for its atmosphere.

Advertisement

More than 3,000 of the new seats are rail seats, which allow for safe standing, and a new singing section is to be established. City say the stand has allowed them offer more than 4,000 new ‘flexi-gold’ season tickets around the stadium for next season.

And those were in attendance on Wednesday got their first taste of what the action will look like from the seats.

A stage was erected where the goal is usually situated. There was a performance from City supporting indie band The Lilacs as well appearances from members of the academy and women’s teams, former players, and a quiz.

Advertisement

There were loud cheers when the goals from City’s recent FA Youth Cup victory against Manchester United and the FA Cup win over Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday were shown on the big screen.

Chris Warburton, 70, from Sale, said: “I think it’s really good. It’s a lot more spread out. The facilities are really, really good.

“And the views are sensational. It’s great everywhere but this really is a step up. I’m a season ticket holder in the East Stand but I’d be interested in moving over here.”

Advertisement

Alicia Eden, 36, from Oldham, who was with son Joshua, 10, said: “We like it. We have our seats in the Family Stand below but he already wants to relocate.

“There’s a lot going on. The kiosks are great. I just think the whole layout feels a lot better. It feels a bit like Wembley. I’m very impressed.”

Speaking from the stage, the club’s Managing Director Danny Wlson said it was a ‘big statement of (their) ambition’ and ‘a big milestone’ for the club.

Advertisement

City said in a statement issued afterwards that the stand had ‘passed all operational checks’ following the ‘successful’ event.

Around 3,500 tickets for the new stand have already been sold for the Villa game, and the club said the remainder would go on sale to members this afternoon (Thursday).

“We wish to thank all the fans who attended tonight’s test event,” they said. “Their support and cooperation have been vital in enabling us to operate at full capacity on Sunday.

Advertisement

“We also look forward to welcoming fans back to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for what promises to be a special occasion.”

The wider Medlock Square development also includes a new 3,000 capacity fanzone, new museum, City Store, and 401-bedroom hotel. These are due to open to the public before the end of this year.

Despite the weight limit previously being a major sticking point for a fight between Shakur Stevenson and Ryan Garcia, the pair seem to now be on the same page.

Stevenson comfortably overcame Teofimo Lopez back in January to capture the WBO super-lightweight world title and become a four-division world champion at the age of just 28, rising in the pound-for-pound ratings as a result.

Since then, Stevenson has been linked to a host of fights, perhaps none bigger than with Ryan Garcia, but the Newark southpaw has maintained that he would either like to meet at a 144lbs catchweight, or want a rehydration clause in any fights up at 147lbs.

However, speaking on ESPN’s ‘First Take’, Garcia revealed that he has been informed by his team that he would be able to move down to Stevenson’s division in a challenge for world honours at super-lightweight.

“My strength and conditioning coach thinks and believes that I can make 140lbs comfortably. I trust the people in my team around me, if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to fight Shakur.”

It may be wishful thinking, as Garcia’s last attempt to make the super-lightweight limit came against Devin Haney in 2023, when he tipped the scales 3lbs over.

Regardless, Stevenson responded quickly n social media, extremely keen to accept the challenge.

“So then what we waiting for? Let’s get active Ryan Garcia.”

Whilst Stevenson-Garcia would be a huge event, the Californian is expected to remain at welterweight to fulfil his WBC mandatory against Conor Benn, whom he has announced he will fight in September. 

It leaves options for Stevenson, who also has eyes on Devin Haney, requiring a move up, and Raymond Muratalla, meaning a drop back down to lightweight. In the end, he may decide to stick at 140lbs to defend his WBO belt.

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -1.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 1-1

Advertisement

BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the San Antonio Spurs for game three of the Western Conference finals with the series tied 1-1. The Thunder defeated the Spurs 122-113 in the last matchup on Thursday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points, and Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 25.

The Spurs are 36-16 in Western Conference games. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference scoring 119.8 points while shooting 48.3% from the field.

The Thunder are 41-11 in conference games. Oklahoma City scores 119.0 points and has outscored opponents by 11.1 points per game.

The 119.8 points per game the Spurs average are 11.9 more points than the Thunder give up (107.9). The Thunder average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.

Advertisement

TOP PERFORMERS: Castle is shooting 47.1% and averaging 16.6 points for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 22.5 points over the last 10 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 31.1 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Thunder. Alex Caruso is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 7-3, averaging 118.7 points, 48.9 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 8.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.2 points per game.

Thunder: 9-1, averaging 120.7 points, 41.0 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 11.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.2 points.

Advertisement

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), De’Aaron Fox: out (ankle), Dylan Harper: day to day (leg).

Thunder: Jalen Williams: day to day (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Khamzat Chimaev suffered the first defeat of his MMA career at UFC 328 against Sean Strickland. In the aftermath of the loss, ‘Borz’s’ team has maintained that a brutal weight cut severely hampered the Chechen-born Emirati’s performance inside the octagon. Dricus du Plessis, for one, is not buying it.

According to Arman Tsarukyan, Chimaev, who had originally planned to move up to 205 pounds, was forced to cut 40 pounds during his training camp for the middleweight matchup.

‘Ahalkalakets’ further claimed that Chimaev still had 13 pounds left to lose the day before the fight. While the first nine pounds came off with little trouble, what remained became a grueling ordeal that appeared to take a significant toll on the former middleweight champion.

Du Plessis, however, appears to have little sympathy for his fellow middleweight. The South African suggested that cutting 12 pounds in a day should not be overly difficult for a professional fighter. Speaking to Fight Forecast, du Plessis said:

“I think this whole weight-cut excuse is ridiculous. So he got 12 pounds in 24 hours? Those are rookie numbers. Twelve pounds in 24 hours? That’s not that bad. I have definitely cut more than that. Yes, sometimes I have had bad weight cuts too.”

‘Stillknocks’ added:

“Using a weight cut as an excuse when it comes to the fight, even if you had a bad weight cut? It’s fine. That happens to all of us. But you don’t go, ‘Oh, I lost the fight because of that.’ If you wanna change weight divisions, change weight divisions. Blaming a bad weight cut is like saying, ‘I lost the fight because I wasn’t fit.’ It’s on you. Be more disciplined.”

Check out Dricus du Plessis’ comments on Khamzat Chimaev below:

Dricus du Plessis argues Khamzat Chimaev does not deserve an immediate title rematch

Although Khamzat Chimaev initially asked Dana White to let him move up to 205 pounds in the aftermath of his UFC 328 loss, ‘Borz’ has since changed his stance and is now campaigning for an immediate title rematch against Sean Strickland. Dricus du Plessis, however, does not think that is fair.

During the aforementioned interview, du Plessis argued that Chimaev hardly deserves an immediate rematch, noting that he was not a long-reigning champion to begin with:

“He said he is moving up to 205 to Dana, but now he’s calling Strickland for a rematch. I don’t think he deserves a rematch. He definitely doesn’t because he has no title defenses. Zero. So it doesn’t justify a rematch at all.” [1:18 mark of the interview]