Man Utd consider swoop for Liverpool‘sAlexis Mac Allister, Man City not keen on James Trafford sale, Nicolas Jackson to return to Chelsea from Bayern Munich.
Manchester Unitedare considering a move to sign Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 27, from Liverpool with the World Cup winner potentially set to leave Anfield this summer. (Star), external
Nicolas Jackson, 24, is expected to return toChelsea this summer because his lack of game time at Bayern Munich means the Bundesliga club are unlikely to trigger an obligation-to-buy clause in the Senegal forward’s loan agreement. (Times – subscription required), external
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Arsenal have been told by intermediaries that Spain winger Nico Williams, 23, is ready to consider a summer exit from Athletic Bilbao. (Teamtalk), external
Brightonhave made Said El Mala, 19, a dream summer target and have submitted a written offer to Cologne for the Germany Under-21 winger. (Sky Germany), external
Napoli have made it their top priority to keep Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 29, out of the clutches of several Premier League clubs this summer by offering him a lucrative new deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Manchester Unitedhave denied making contact with Jurgen Klopp’s agent after he said the club made an enquiry about the 58-year-old former Liverpool manager taking over at Old Trafford. (Sky Sports), external
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Real Madrid are thought to be in pole position to sign Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, 26, from Borussia Dortmund this summer with Barcelona also vying for his signature in a 50m euros (£43.4m) deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick wants to reinforce his defence with the signing of Borussia Dortmund and Norway full-back Julian Ryerson, 28. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony got his spot on Team USA’s roster in the World Baseball Classic. Anthony’s sister Lia re-posted the announcement on her Instagram story on Monday.
The post featured a graphic of Anthony in a Boston Red Sox uniform.
(Image source- Lia Anthony/Instagram)
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Anthony has been added to the roster for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, who underwent hamate bone surgery on Wednesday. Anthony addressed the media to share his feelings on his WBC selection.
“Amazing,” Anthony said. “It was one of those opportunities that you dream of as a kid.Obviously it’s super unfortunate what happened [to Carroll], and hoping for the best for him with a speedy recovery, but it was exciting on my end to be able to just get that call.”
Anthony made his MLB debut in 2025 and posted a .292 batting average in 71 games with eight home runs. He finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year rankings.
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He signed an eight-year contract worth $130 million with the Red Sox in August.
Roman Anthony’s sister Lia enjoys clubbing in Boston
Lia posted a photo dump of memories in Boston on Instagram. On Jan. 28, in the first photo she wore a white crop sweater, blue denim jeans, a muffler, and paired it with a brown winter cap.
She was drinking coffee on the streets of Boston. In another slide, a blurred image of Roman Anthony clubbing with her sister.
“Reminiscing Boston #shocker 🤭” Lia captioned it.
Anthony and Lia also went to a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed party in November. Lia donned a white bralette, a netted skirt, and accessorized with shell accessories.
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Kyleigh wore a black bralette and wrap skirt withBohemian-stylee accessories. Both MLB players Anthony and Dana wore satin half-sleeve shirts and black pants.
“🧜🏼♀️🫧🦪” Lia captioned it.
Kyleigh Dana commented on her post:
“Wait, are you a loan? Cuz you’ve got my interest.”
(Image source- Lia Anthony/Instagram)
In April, Lia graduated from Florida University and called it the best four years of her life. She was also spotted cheering Anthony from the stands in June.
Freestyle skiing Women’s aerials qualification, 4:45 a.m. Men’s aerials qualification, 1:30 p.m. * Men’s big air final, 1:30 p.m.
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Men’s curling (scores, schedule, standings) Czechia vs. Germany, 3:05 a.m. Switzerland vs. Sweden, 3:05 a.m. U.S. vs. China, 3:05 a.m. Canada vs. Great Britain, 1:05 p.m. Germany vs. Switzerland, 1:05 p.m. Sweden vs. Norway, 1:05 p.m. U.S. vs. Italy, 1:05 p.m.
Men’s hockey (standings, scores) Qualification round: Germany vs. France, 6:10 a.m. Qualification round: Switzerland vs. Italy, 6:10 a.m. Qualification round: Czechia vs. Denmark, 10:40 a.m. Qualification round: Sweden vs. Latvia, 3:10 p.m.
Team pursuit semifinals Men’s: Netherlands vs. Italy, 8:30 a.m. Men’s: China vs. U.S., 8:36 a.m. Women’s: Canada vs. U.S., 8:52 a.m. Women’s: Netherlands vs. Japan, 8:58 a.m.
Placement races Men’s: Japan vs. Germany, 9:24 a.m. Men’s: Norway vs. France, 9:30 a.m. Women’s: Kazakhstan vs. China, 9:43 a.m. Women’s: Belgium vs. Germany, 9:49 a.m.
Women’s curling (scores, schedule, standings) Denmark vs. U.S., 8:05 a.m. Italy vs. Japan, 8:05 a.m. South Korea vs. Switzerland, 8:05 a.m. Canada vs. Sweden, 8:05 a.m.
At Caulfield, jockey Declan Bates shared a gallop with Pride Of Jenni, both dropping pounds as they prepare to unite for the All-Star Mile.
Ciaron Maher assembled a small, high-quality string of horses for Tuesday’s gallop at Caulfield, prominently including Pride Of Jenni who targets a first-up run in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 7.
Bates hasn’t raced since December 6, when a barrier setback at Ballarat jump-outs injured him; he rode the mare in the workout to enhance his readiness for a track return, perhaps at Terang on Friday.
The incident left the Irish jockey with fractures to his pelvis and sacrum, which he termed ‘a nasty one’.
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“It’s a frustrating injury because you can’t give it any relief,” Bates said.
“Sitting down you’re putting pressure on it and even lying in bed you’re putting pressure on it.
“That’s why in the first month you don’t feel like you’re healing at all, so I was a little bit worried with the injury at first, but once it started coming good, in the last month especially, there has been rapid improvement and luckily, I’ll be back ahead of schedule.”
Bates returned to trackwork riding over a week ago and worked ‘eight or nine’ horses during Monday’s Cranbourne jump-outs.
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He’s excited about getting back to competitive riding and peaking his fitness in time for the All-Star Mile with Pride Of Jenni.
“My fitness needs to tighten up a bit, but that’s going to come as I go along,” Bates said.
“I was keen to get back racing two weeks before the All-Star Mile and that way it gives me a good two weeks of race riding before then.
“Like me, she’s got a bit of fitness to come on, but she feels her usual self, enthusiastic in her work, and that’s what I wanted to see.
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“It’s good to have a nice horse to look forward to. You always want to get back as quick as possible and when you have a nice horse it really helps the motivation to get back as strong and healthy as possible.”
In 19 of Pride Of Jenni’s 43 starts, Bates has been aboard, delivering four Group 1 successes such as the mare’s thrilling 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. For the All-Star Mile, punters should review the top online bookmakers.
The C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2026 Group Stage has come to an end after intense battles among 24 teams. The top six from the overall standings have secured spots in the Grand Finals. Those ranked seventh to 18th have advanced to the Relegation Stage, where they will compete for the remaining six places in the Grand Finals.
RUSH emerged as the top-performing team in the Group Stage, collecting 301 points, 182 eliminations, and four Booyahs across 18 matches. LOS also delivered strong performances, finishing second with 288 points, 165 eliminations, and five Booyahs. Virtus claimed third place with 266 points and six Booyahs.
Overall standings of C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2026 Group Stage
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Here are the overall standings at the end of the C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2026 Group Stage:
RUSH Gaming – 301 points
LOS – 288 points
Virtus.pro – 266 points
Fluxo W7M – 265 points
E1 Sports – 260 points
LOUD – 258 points
Team Solid – 224 points
SX10 – 213 points
Alpha7 Esports – 204 points
INTZ – 201 points
Antisocial Team – 197 points
Civis – 193 points
Loops Esports – 190 points
Rise Gaming – 185 points
Alfa34 – 181 points
Vasco eSports – 165 points
Influence Rage – 160 points
XLD Gaming – 160 points
AXS – 150 points
iNCO Gaming – 148 points
Outplay Esports – 139 points
MG7 – 139 points
Six Eight – 137 points
DR3 PIT – 137 points
Defending champion Fluxo finished fourth in the Group Stage, with 265 points and two Booyahs. E1 Sports and LOUD secured the fifth and sixth positions with 260 and 258 points, respectively.
Team Solid had a moderate run, finishing seventh with 224 points and three Booyahs. LINE10 ranked eighth with 213 points, while Alpha7 and INTZ secured the ninth and 10th spots with 204 and 201 points, respectively.
AXS finished 19th with 150 points, missing qualification for the next stage. INCO Gaming, Outplay, and MG7 followed in the 20th, 21st, and 22nd places with 148, 139, and 139 points, respectively. DR3 and Six Eight occupied the bottom two spots with 137 points each.
Teams ranked 19th to 24th were eliminated from the Free Fire tournament.
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Canada’s Indian-origin batter Yuvraj Samra created history by becoming the youngest player to score a century at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, blasting a career-best 110 off 65 balls against New Zealand cricket team in a Group D match, at 19 years and 141 days. The youngster, who was named after Indian swashbuckler Yuvraj Singh by his cricket fan father Baljit Samra, was playing in only his 19th T20 International since making his debut in March last year.
What will Team India do today in Ahmedabad? Practice timing, Playing XI, press conference and more
Samra struck 11 fours and 6 sixes to power Canada to 173, setting a new mark as the youngest centurion in the tournament and recording the highest individual score by a batter from an Associate nation.He is also the third Canadian to register a half-century in this edition.The record for the youngest hundred in the T20 World Cup was previously held by Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad, who was 22-year-old when he touched the milestone in 2014.After his record-breaking century, Yuvraj Samra said the moment was something he had long imagined and worked towards.“Honestly, I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every single day, I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage. To do it here, in my first appearance, and as the youngest player in this World Cup – it’s truly a dream come true.” he said. On being compared to Yuvraj Singh, Samra said: “It feels incredible. There are so many emotions right now, I can’t really put them into words. Yuvraj Singh is someone I’ve looked up to since I was a kid, so to even be mentioned in the same breath is special. I just wish my dad was here today watching me from back home – this one’s for him.” he added.Highest individual scores for Associate teams in T20 World Cups:
110 – Yuvraj Samra (CAN) vs NZ, Chennai, 2026*
94* – Aaron Jones (USA) vs CAN, Grand Prairie, 2024
86 – Michael Jones (SCOT) vs IRE, Hobart, 2022
84 – George Munsey (SCOT) vs ITA, Kolkata, 2026
80* – Andries Gous (USA) vs SA, North Sound, 2024
Samra smashed six sixes and 11 fours in his 65-ball knock, taking full advantage of a depleted New Zealand attack minus Lockie Ferguson (personal leave) and Mitchell Santner (indisposed).He set the tone early, taking on pace spearhead Matt Henry in the opening over with back to back fours.He then shifted gears in the final over of the powerplay, hammering James Neesham for 18 runs.After two dot balls, he unleashed a sequence of 4, 4, 4, 6 — pulling behind square, muscling one over mid-wicket, drilling a straight drive and finishing with a stunning upper-cut over point — to race to 29 off 17 balls.Samra brought up his fifty off just 36 balls and found solid support from skipper Dilpreet Bajwa as the duo stitched together a 116-run opening stand — the highest first-wicket partnership by an Associate team against a Full Member in men’s T20 World Cups.Bajwa was clearly overshadowed and got out for 36 off 39 balls.Samra also had luck on his side, dropped on 91 when Henry failed to hold on at deep extra cover and again on 107 off Neesham.However, New Zealand found some relief in the final three overs, conceding just 23 runs and picking up two wickets to deny Canada a 180-plus total.
This week the PGA Tour heads to Riviera in Los Angeles for the 2026 Genesis Invitational, and the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the Official World Golf Ranking lead the betting favorites. Here is everything you need to know about the Genesis Invitational odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
Genesis Invitational betting favorites
For the second week in a row, we have a PGA Tour Signature Event on the schedule with the Genesis Invitational. And the two best golfers in the world are at the top of the pre-tournament betting odds.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is once again the betting favorite, with +330 odds-to-win at Riviera this week. Scheffler won his first event of the season, then backed it up with top-4 finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Alternatively, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has only one PGA Tour start under his belt this season. The 2025 Masters champ fired a final-round 64 to finish T14 at Pebble Beach.
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Following that duo in the odds is the last player to win the Genesis at Riviera, Hideki Matsuyama at +2200 (the 2025 Genesis Invitational was moved to Torrey Pines due to the Los Angeles wildfires).
Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele is tied with Matsuyama at +2200 odds-to-win. Tommy Fleetwood (+2400) fills out the top 5.
You can see the top 20 and ties in the 2026 Genesis Invitational betting odds as of Monday morning below, or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.
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2026 Genesis Invitational betting odds (top 20 and ties)
Scottie Scheffler (+330) Rory McIlroy (+1200) Hideki Matsuyama (+2200) Xander Schauffele (+2200) Tommy Fleetwood (+2400) Cameron Young (+2800) Patrick Cantlay (+2800) Russell Henley (+2800) Si Woo Kim (+3000) Ben Griffin (+3500) Chris Gotterup (+3500) Collin Morikawa (+3500) Sam Burns (+3500) Viktor Holland (+3500) Jake Knapp (+3750) Matt Fitzpatrick (+4000) Rickie Fowler (+4000) Robert MacIntyre (+4000) Adam Scott (+4500) Harris English (+4500) Justin Rose (+4500) Ludvig Aberg (+4500) Maverick McNealy (+4500) Min Woo Lee (+4500)
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Kevin Cunningham
Golf.com Editor
As senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.
Sep 27, 2025; Dubliln, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings former defensive tackle John Randle during NFL Live at Whelan’s Pub. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.l
The Minnesota Vikings are not far from revealing their quarterback plan, either to sign a veteran as insurance for 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy or to bring in a competitor who could take his job. And in the last few days, we learned Hall of Famer John Randle’s stance — add a competent veteran, but not one like Derek Carr or Kirk Cousins, as the end-all solution.
The Vikings can’t treat the QB2 spot like an afterthought, and John Randle opined on that situation.
Randle sounded wildly unimpressed with the idea of landing Carr or Cousins. He wants a game manager for support, not an old retread QB1 with limited upside.
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Randle Wants a Veteran Safety Net Behind McCarthy
Everyone has a Vikings quarterback opinion, as free agency looms three weeks away.
John Randle patrols the line on December 20, 2010, at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during second-quarter action against the Chicago Bears, wearing No. 93 as the former Vikings defensive lineman battles in the trenches on a cold night that ended in a 40-14 Chicago victory. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
Randle on the Vikings’ QB Strategy
Foremost, Randle said on SKOR North airwaves about Carr and Cousins: “I mean, like, Derek Carr? I’m like — I’m not a big fan of Derek Carr. I’m sorry. He retired. He said he wanted to come back, and then retired on the guys. Talking about Kirk Cousins coming. We’ve been down that road before. No.”
“We want to move on from you. You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more. It’s finding a quarterback — maybe he’s not that great of a quarterback — but a guy who can manage on the offense.”
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Randle also said about McCarthy’s stakes: “If I was the GM, I would definitely give him competition. I’m bringing in competition for him. I would tell him, ‘Last year, you had your chance. We gave it to you. But you didn’t prove that you could really handle it, so we’re gonna bring somebody in who’s definitely gonna give you competition.’”
It’s worth noting that Randle’s opinion isn’t far off from the collective fan sentiment. Most hope McCarthy succeeds, and to do that, he’ll need another audition.
The Comments Translating to This List?
If Randle prefers a quarterback who will merely manage the game and not truly threaten McCarthy’s QB1 post, his list would have to look like this:
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Carson Wentz
Case Keenum
Davis Mills (trade)
Drew Lock (trade)
Gardner Minshew
Jake Browning
Jameis Winston (trade)
Jimmy Garoppolo
Joe Flacco
Kenny Pickett
Marcus Mariota
Mitchell Trubisky
Russell Wilson
Teddy Bridgewater
Tyrod Taylor
Otherwise, with more popular targets like Kyler Murray and Mac Jones via trade, those men would assuredly push McCarthy to the edge and take his job.
Probably a Step up from Carson Wentz
After McCarthy’s high ankle sprain last September, Carson Wentz took over as quarterback. Minnesota managed only two wins in his five starts, and their season quickly declined. By mid-December, their playoff aspirations were dashed, effectively rendering Weeks 15 through 18 meaningless. The 2025 season later ended with a 9–8 record.
The disappointing result stemmed from a series of questionable choices: the Vikings hesitated during free agency, bypassed more dependable backup quarterback options, traded for Sam Howell late in the process, and ultimately, when Howell didn’t pan out, signed Wentz as a last resort. This sequence of events drew considerable criticism, which their final record did little to quell.
Carson Wentz goes through pregame warmups on October 19, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before the Vikings host the Eagles, loosening his arm and moving through throwing drills under the lights as fans file in for the matchup between his current team and former franchise. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Therefore, the question heading into 2026 is: if Wentz or somebody similar remains the backup, what will realistically change? The same team structure, the same backup plan, the same potential limitations. To expect a different outcome with the same approach would require a significant leap of faith.
Therefore, according to Randle, the Vikings must find a better quarterback than Wentz, but not an old-ish option like Carr or Cousins.
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That’s probably code for someone like Garoppolo or Minshew.
Win-Now Mode?
Of course, the Vikings face this quarterback conundrum at an awkward time for head coach and de facto team CEO Kevin O’Connell. The skipper has been in charge of the enterprise for four seasons, reaching the postseason twice, notching zero playoff wins, and boasting the NFL’s fifth-best regular season win percentage since the start of 2022.
O’Connell may not have the luxury of rolling with McCarthy and a Wentz type. Very few coaches enter Year No. 5 with a team that has no playoff wins to show for it. So, while no member of the Vikings’ ownership has expressly said it, O’Connell is probably on the hot seat to win a playoff game in 2026.
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Kyler Murray surveys the field on August 8, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale before a preseason contest against the Chargers, the Cardinals rookie quarterback taking in the scene and preparing for his early professional action during Arizona’s exhibition opener. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
That outlook would suggest he needs a solid quarterback addition — not just Brett Rypien or Sam Howell.
That’s why the offseason is so fascinating — what caliber quarterback will O’Connell seek? A sure-fire starter via trade like Kyler Murray? Or a game manager like Garoppolo?
Randle says a wily game manager behind McCarthy is the special sauce.
The 2026 Genesis Invitational goes down this week at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour tournament, including a full Genesis Invitational TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds once they are released.
Host Tiger Woods will be there to welcome the event home, though he won’t be teeing it up as he recovers from surgery. But the best Tour pros —including all of the Top 10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking — will be in the field.
That includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has looked strong to start the season. He was three top-4 finishes and one win in three starts. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is making his second start of the season at Riviera following a T14 finish in his 2026 debut at Pebble Beach.
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This week’s tournament is another PGA Tour Signature Event, featuring a limited field and a $20 million purse, with $4 million going to the winner.
CBS and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Genesis Invitational, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Paramount+ will air simulcasts of CBS’s coverage.
You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.
What: 2026 Genesis Invitational Where: Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif. When: Thursday-Sunday, February 19-22 Purse: $20 million ($4 million winner’s share)
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How to watch on TV
CBS and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Genesis Invitational this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.
Thursday, February 19: 4-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Friday, February 20: 4-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Saturday, February 21: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-7 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, February 22: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the 2026 Genesis Invitational online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET Thursday-Saturday and 9:45 a.m. ET on Sunday. ESPN+ will also provide featured hole and featured group coverage all four days of the tournament. You can stream CBS’s coverage on Paramount+.
After closing with a 67, in which he picked up more than 1.6 Strokes Gained: Putting, Morikawa got his first victory since October 2023 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this weekend. He revealed the putter was actually made for Kitayama on Saturday night, after he lost strokes on the greens, but still managed a 62 to climb into contention.
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Then he said he’d probably be “unsettled” with his putter for the rest of his career.
“It’s a comfort thing for me. I think I play a lot with my feel and I play a lot with my gut, and unfortunately, that changes a lot,” he said Saturday night.
That was after his debut at the Sony Open and before his next start at the Phoenix Open and when he said he played a match with Kitayama, his brother Daniel and Min Woo Lee at home in Las Vegas. The wide blade and he weren’t getting along, before he spotted the flow neck Spider Daniel was using.
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“I was putting with it, didn’t make anything. I looked at Daniel, his brother, his caddie. I said, ‘Oh, let me try it.’ I tried it on maybe the 13th hole,” Morikawa said Sunday. “Felt great. I was like, I jokingly said I might have to take this. Then the rest of the round I only putted with that putter.”
Collin Morikawa’s new Spider Tour X.
TaylorMade
Morikawa said he was drawn to that particular putter because of the back “T” alignment aid and the unique flow neck as he wanted to feel more of a release through impact.
“It’s kind of settling nice to where it allows it to flow a little bit but it doesn’t have as much toe hang as the neck assumes just because of the mallet look,” Morikawa said Saturday.
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That weekend before the WM, Morikawa said all he did was roll putts with that Spider and he put it in the bag that week and it stayed in the bag at Pebble.
He nailed a go-ahead 30-foot birdie putt on 15 and then another 8-footer on 16, before using the putter from off the green on the 72nd to 2-putt for the clinching birdie to hold on for a one-shot win over Lee.
He joked he’s not sure if the putter has any staying power right now — he lost .05 strokes putting for the week — but it seems like it’s his to keep.
“I don’t know if he’s going to want it back,” Morikawa said of Kitayama. “He looked at it again this week. I think he’s trying to replicate it with maybe a different club or whatever.
Fans packed U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Minnesota Vikings hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a high-energy NFC matchup. The home crowd reacted to a tense first half defined by missed opportunities and questionable calls that shaped the game’s momentum. Excitement and frustration blended across the stands as fans anticipated a second-half turnaround. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Sometimes, different doctors offer different medical opinions. So, too, do national NFL analysts, but most would agree with the prescribed medicine.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Vikings aren’t looking too shabby. In fact, Fowler drops the 9-8 Vikings down into his “Few Moves Away” category for teams that missed the playoffs. Is that an accurate assessment of where Minnesota finds itself? Or, perhaps, is a more robust roster remodel needed?
NFL Analyst on Vikings’ Top Weakness
Currently, the Seahawks are the envy of the NFL. The reigning Super Bowl champions have the league’s best defense, a 28-year-old passer on a bargain of a deal, and more than $60 million in cap space.
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In the words of Shrek, that’ll do, donkey.
The Vikings aren’t in a world of hurt but they’re not travelling without any wounds. Coming off a 9-8 season, Minnesota fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah before then hiring Matt Thomas to help bridge the gap to a full-time GM replacement (formerly of the Seahawks). Best case involves one major free agent signing, some savvy, punch-above-their-weight-class deals for other veterans, and then a 2015-level draft haul. Maybe there will even be a slobberknocker of a trade that helps Minnesota.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Fowler sees things in a glass-half-full manner.
Consider the initial assessment: “The hope for a quick turnaround: Kevin O’Connell’s 43-27 record through four seasons suggests the Vikings will be in the thick of the NFC North race yet again. The defense is among the league’s most physical and opportunistic. The offense is still full of playmakers, and the offensive line should be healthier.”
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Some further thoughts: “Why it might take longer than hoped: The quarterback position remaining a huge question entering the fifth season of this regime is concerning. It looks like Minnesota will add a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy. Several benched starters have resurrected their careers recently — including Sam Darnold with this franchise — and Minnesota offers a stable environment. But this is the one area holding the team back from major progress. That and an offensive line that couldn’t stay healthy.”
Fowler, to his credit, gives voice to both sides of the argument. What stands out, though, is a belief that Minnesota’s talented roster alongside Minnesota’s coaching staff will get things figured out. The key is competent play at quarterback.
Maybe that’s true.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) slaps hands with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
DC Brian Flores has proven to be an exemplary strategist. Sp/T Coordinator Matt Daniels doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but he has coaxed excellence out of LS Andrew DePaola, PR/KR Myles Price, P Ryan Wright, and first-team All Pro K Will Reichard.
Coach O’Connell, meanwhile, is better than most. A good coach. Very good, even. He won’t remain in that category for much longer unless he begins winning in the playoffs. Nobody will be impressed by going 12-5 to claim the No. 5 spot in the NFC before getting eviscerated in the playoffs. The Vikings need to do far more.
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The Vikings, like every NFL team, would benefit from improved QB play. Banking on competition for J.J. McCarthy is essentially a foregone conclusion. All that remains is who will get added, why that person gets added, what it costs to add that person, and how that person will play in the Twin Cities.
Seeing the OL get (and stay) healthy will be massive, as Fowler notes. Likewise, the defensive line needs a bounce back. Last year, the Vikings had top corners Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers stay healthy all year; can that occur yet again?
Seeing the run game become respectable, Justin Jefferson return to elite, and Blake Cashman play a complete season would be similarly huge.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell showed visible emotion Sep 8, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, during second-half action at Soldier Field against the Bears. O’Connell’s reaction on the sideline reflected the intensity of the divisional contest as Minnesota worked to maintain composure and adjust strategy on the road in the NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
The Vikings are sitting on more than $40 million in cap debt. A path exists to clear out a huge amount of open cap space. After the frenzy that is free agency, the Vikings will look to use their nine draft picks wisely, especially the No. 18 selection.
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