Welcome! Where are you, you ask. I’m calling this the Weekend 9. Think of it as a spot to warm up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have thoughts. We’ll have tips. We’ll have tweets. But just nine in all, though sometimes maybe more and sometimes maybe less. As for who I am? The paragraphs below tell some of the story. I can be reached at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
“Golf is a game played by human beings. Therefore, it is a game of mistakes. Successful golfers know how to respond to mistakes.”
I’ve always liked that thought. It comes from “Golf Is Not A Perfect Game,” the well-read book from Dr. Bob Rotella, the famed sports psychologist. And over the past week, we saw some of that play out — from three golfers, interestingly. One rebound has been seen over the past few weeks. Another played out over a few years. The third, even longer.
What the struggle was: Slow starts. Two weeks ago at the WM Phoenix Open, Scheffler opened with a 73. Last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Scheffler opened with a 72. This week at the Genesis Invitational, more of the same — Scheffler shot a 74 in the first round.
What followed: At Phoenix, Scheffler tied for third, and at Pebble Beach, he tied for fourth. On Friday, he shot a second-round 68.
How he responded: Scheffler said he stayed calm. And calm is not panicking. And panicking is blowing things up.
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“I think these are some of the weeks when you look back,” Scheffler said Sunday, “I’m very proud of sticking with it, not giving up even when I felt like things were going against me this week. Just kept fighting, kept trying to hit shots, kept trying to execute.”
He added this, too: “Sometimes it’s just scoring stuff. Like we came around here the first round and I looked at Teddy [caddie Ted Scott] about the 15th, 16th hole and I feel like I’m doing kind of good and I’m 10 shots back. It’s a funny game. Sometimes things go your way and sometimes things don’t.”
Collin Morikawa’s two-plus-year winless drought
What the struggle was: Morikawa won the 2023 Zozo Championship. Then he searched for two-plus years.
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What followed: Morikawa won last week at Pebble.
How he responded: Morikawa said when he was young, he played golf. Then he got older, and he went fishing, looking for new methods. All of it was in good spirit — he wanted to win more. But one thought, he said, helped him win again: Just play golf, man.
“I think I’ve been trying to make golf so perfect trying to hit these shots and trying to make these putts in a certain way,” Morikawa said Sunday, “that maybe others are doing it that you forget how to play the game of golf.
“I think looking back when I was 10, 12, 15 growing up on Chevy Chase, playing 10 holes, dropping three balls, like I played golf.
“And I’ve gone so far away from that, that creativity that I think the last two days, I went to go play golf. I caught myself today even after the bogey on 5 — I was like, man, I love being in this position. Like I hadn’t felt that in such a long time. And you feel that in the team events, you feel that here and there, but I just told myself like, man, like it just felt so good to be in that position.
“And I knew when I was able to convince — not convince myself, but just talk to myself in my head that way that I was ready. Whether it went great or it didn’t go great, I was ready to go execute the shots, play golf and not worry about the wind, not worry about the rain, not worry about, man, if I make bogey on 8 and I go try and make pars on 9 and 10 — it was very in-the-moment stuff. But I think it all comes back to how you start the day. I started the day this morning telling myself, yeah, let’s go out and win this thing.”
Anthony Kim’s 12-year absence from golf
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What the struggle was: Anthony Kim returned to pro golf in 2024 following a 12-year absence. His last win came in 2010.
What followed: On Sunday at LIV Golf’s Adelaide event, Kim won.
How he responded: I learned this from my interview this week with Matt Killen, Kim’s swing coach. Much like Scheffler, they didn’t deviate from who he once was. They just worked to find that again. Ahead of an event in early January where Kim needed to finish in the top three in order to play another season with LIV, Killen and Kim had this conversation:
“I don’t think either one of us was like, ‘OK, I hope you play good.’ We were like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go do this. Like, how are you going to do it?’ And he said he’s going to do it. And so then backtracking, like what shots do you need, how are you going to manage that, what information do we put in that is helpful but doesn’t take away the ability for him to be an athlete.
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“And what that means is letting subconscious take over. You don’t even think about positions or complex swing thoughts when you need to hole it. … You’ve got to play golf.”
Another instruction tip for your weekend
2. Let’s stick with instruction. I thought the video below (in the second slide), shot after Morikawa’s win, was good.
Another instruction tip for your weekend
3. I thought the video below was good. It came from the “All Square” show on SiriusXM, and it features GOLF Top 100 Teacher Adam Schriber — and a talk he once had with Michael Jordan.
One takeaway from the week that was
4. The 2024 Genesis was the last event Scheffler played with a blade putter — and he’s since gone on to win 14 PGA Tour events with a mallet, including three majors.
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Why has it helped him so much?
“So going to mallet where I don’t have to line the ball up,” Scheffler said, “and it gave me a better visual for what I wanted to see really just freed me up to where I don’t have to — I was never really a guy that was super good at, like — I don’t know if lining things up is the right word, but for me less is more typically.”
One takeaway for the weekend
5. Should you be looking for someone to watch this weekend, Njoroge Kibugu might be your player. The 22-year-old Kenyan will be playing in front of his home crowd at the DP World Tour’s Magical Kenya Open — and below are two videos showing how he made the cut:
Tony Johnstone’s description of the shot is good, too. “Oh, it’s heaven. You little beauty.”
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Five stories (!) that interest me
6. I thought this story here, which was first spotted by My Golf Spy’s Brittany Olizarowicz, was interesting. Written by 11 authors for the European Journal of Sport Science, it looks at riding a cart versus walking.
7. I also thought this story here, written by John Garlock of KTVO, was interesting. It explains why firefighters in northeast Missouri purposefully set a golf course on fire.
8. And I thought this story here, written by Maggie Kent of 6ABC, was interesting. It describes how a woman in Roxborough, Pa., said her house is being hit by golf balls, even though she doesn’t live by a golf course or driving range.
9. I thought this story here was interesting, too. Written by Marc Fortier of NBC Boston, it describes how a New Hampshire man was sentenced after fraudulently obtaining Covid relief funds and using them to buy a golf course.
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10. Let’s do 10 items! I also thought this story here was interesting. Written by Golf Business News, it describes the life of Jeremy Chapman, who recently died — and was once called the “Tiger Woods of golf tipsters.”
What golf is on TV this weekend?
11. Let’s do 11 items! Here’s a rundown of golf on TV this weekend:
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Italian freeskiers Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni won gold and silver for the Winter Olympic hosts after dominating the men’s skicross final held under snowy conditions on Saturday.
Deromedis, the 2023 world champion, took an early lead and stayed well in front of his other three racers over the banks, rollers and jumps of the course in Livigno. These were the 25-year-old’s second Games.
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Tomasoni made it an Italian one-two by stretching to the finish line to beat out Switzerland’s Alex Fiva in a photo finish.
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The 40-year-old Fiva added the bronze medal to his silver from Beijing 2022.
Satoshi Furuno of Japan missed the podium finishing fourth.
Defending gold medalist Ryan Regez was eliminated in the semifinals after he was yellow carded for impeding another skier.
On Friday, Daniela Maier of Germany won gold in women’s skicross ahead of Swiss freeskier Fanny Smith.
Man Utd U18s are flying this season and exciting youngster JJ Gabriel has been prolific in front of goal.
Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel continued his hot streak by scoring an excellent goal for the Under-18s against Wolves on Saturday. Gabriel opened the scoring in the 24th minute from an improbable angle in the box, hitting the underside of the bar with a powerful strike.
“That’s absolutely incredible, what a finish, Gabriel laces it from the underside of the bar from the narrowest of angles,” said Liam Bradford on commentary duty for MUTV. “He just puts his boot right through it and surprises everybody,” added former United defender Arthur Albiston.
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Gabriel scored his 15th goal of the season when he opened the scoring against Wolves. The youngster also struck the bar at the end of the first half, coming inches away from a brace.
Noah Ajayi extended the U18s’ advantage shortly after Gabriel’s goal, calmly finding the bottom right corner after being played through into the box by a well-weighted pass from Jayirah Shah.
Gabriel and Ajayi were also on the scoresheet as the U18s beat Oxford 4-1 in the FA Youth Cup fourth round on Wednesday night. Darren Fletcher hopes his side can extend United’s rich history in the competition, but the U18 boss’ focus this weekend is on the league campaign.
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Michael Carrick made the 300-mile round trip to Oxford to watch that Youth Cup clash, and the interim head coach was spotted, alongside his assistant Steve Holland, watching the U18s against Wolves.
Carrick has been a visible presence at academy games since his appointment last month. Ruben Amorim once strolled over to watch some of an U21 match but never properly attended a fixture.
Gabriel has trained with the first-team on several occasions, despite only turning 15 in October. The talented teenager has been tipped for a bright future and has been in prolific form for the U18s this season.
“Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed it,” Carrick told MUTV about his trip to Oxford. “We went down, there was a number of the staff that went down and yeah it was always something we were trying to do and as much as we can, we’ll do that in between our fixtures.
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“In the Youth Cup, I’ve got great memories personally of the Youth Cup when I was younger. [It is] such an important competition and so for us to go and watch, it’s good to get our eyes on some of the younger players and how they’re doing.
“For them to feel that connection. I was really pleased with Colin [Little] and Fletch [Darren Fletcher] and the boys and I thought they played really well in tough conditions, actually. So to get a good result and move on was a good night.”
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The No. 17 St. John’s vs. Creighton basketball game is set to be played on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s will be looking to continue its Big East dominance as it welcomes the Bluejays to Madison Square Garden.
The Red Storm are on a 12-game winning streak, which they will hope to extend, while Creighton tries to avoid losing its second straight game. Below are some details ahead of the important matchup between St. John’s and Creighton.
How to watch St. John’s vs. Creighton
When is the game?
Tipoff for the game is at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Where to watch the game
The St. John’s vs. Creighton basketball game will air live on FOX. There are also multiple streaming options to catch the game live. It can be livestreamed on FOXSports.com, the FOX Sports App, and FOX One.
What is at stake in the St. John’s vs. Creighton game?
Saturday will mark the second time St. John’s and Creighton are facing off this season. Their last meeting on Jan. 10 ended up in a victory for the Red Storm with a 90-73 scoreline.
While St. John’s is on a 12-game win streak, averaging 81.4 in its last 10 games, Creighton is 4-6 in its last 10 games. The Bluejays have conceded an average of 82.0 points over the last 10 games.
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St. John’s will have at least one important absence, as Ian Jackson is set to miss the game after picking up an ankle injury. The sophomore guard sprained his ankle during St. John’s win over Marquette on Wednesday, as he attempted a rebound late in the first half.
Jackson left the game before returning to play about three more minutes in the first half and 11 minutes in the second half. He sat out the final five minutes of the game, however. Rick Pitino didn’t give a timetable for Jackson’s return and said he could be out for multiple games.
“His trajectory is going the right way as a basketball player, learning to do the right things,” Pitino said. “He’s improving the other areas that he was basically missing, so we’re going to miss that because he has improved.”
It’s not yet clear who will replace Jackson in the Red Storm’s lineup, although sophomore guard Joson Sanon is a top option.
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Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey – who is NCAAW’s highest-paid coach? Find out here
Carlos Alcaraz beats Royer to reach Doha Quarterfinal
After defeating Andrey Rublev 7-6, 6-4 to reach the Doha final, Carlos Alcaraz reflected on his level, his mindset, and the consistency he’s building.
The win sends Alcaraz into his first Doha final and improves his 2026 record to 11–0. He has now reached the final or better in 12 of his last 13 events. It is also the 34th final of his career, tying him with his former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero for the sixth most finals by a Spanish man, behind Rafael Nadal, Manuel Orantes, David Ferrer, Carlos Moyá, and Sergi Bruguera.
After the match, Alcaraz was asked whether he ever amazes himself with some of the shots he produces.
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“Not really to be honest,” he said. “Because I know what I’m able to do every time that I step on court. For me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m approaching every match. I’m just really proud about it. I’m trying to be better at that… it’s paying off. All the focus and attention.”
He added:
“I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m getting better and getting mature I guess.”
Team USA started one of the final days of the Winter Olympics on Saturday with a gold medal.
The group of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Christopher Lillis captured the gold medal in freestyle skiing mixed team aerials. The trio scored a combined 325.35, which was more than good enough to defeat Switzerland, China and Australia.
United States’ Connor Curran (5-2) hugs United States’ Kaila Kuhn (5-1) as Switzerland’s Pirmin Werner (3-2) reacts during the freestyle skiing mixed team aerials final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Lillis completed the back double full-full-full for a score of 117.19. Curran nailed the back full-double full-full and received a score of 113.72. Kuhn picked up a 94.44.
It’s the second consecutive gold medal in the event for Team USA. The event has only been around since the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Last time, it was Lillis, Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld who put together a score of 338.34. The Americans defeated China, Canada, Switzerland and the Russian Olympic Committee at the time.
United States’ Christopher Lillis (5-3) celebrates during the freestyle skiing mixed team aerials final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
It’s the first Olympic medals for Curran and Kuhn.
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It was Curran’s first Olympics as he competed in the junior world circuit before earning a spot on Team USA. At 21 years old, he’s the youngest aerialist in the Olympics.
Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics
Kuhn was chosen to compete in the 2022 Beijing Olympics in women’s aerials but finished in eighth place. She came back to win a gold medal at the 2025 Freestyle Ski World Championships in women’s aerials and the mixed team event.
From left, gold medalists United States’ Christopher Lillis, Connor Curran and Kaila Kuhn celebrate after the freestyle skiing mixed team aerials final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Feb 13, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Saint Louis Billikens head coach Josh Schertz reacts during the first half at Joseph J. Gentile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Kellen Thames scored 16 points and made five steals as No. 18 Saint Louis rallied past visiting VCU 88-75 on Friday night to remain atop the Atlantic 10 standings.
The Billikens (25-1, 13-1 A-10) trailed by 14 in the first half before outscoring the Rams (21-7, 12-3) by a 55-33 margin in the second half, snapping VCU’s 10-game winning streak. A 21-2 spurt started by seven straight points from Thames turned an eight-point deficit into an 11-point lead.
Amari McCottry, Ishan Sharma and Robbie Avila each scored 13 points and Quintin Jones added 11 for the Billikens, who rebounded from their first conference loss on Tuesday at Rhode Island.
Lazar Djokovic scored 19 points and Brandon Jennings chipped in 18 for the Rams.
No. 7 Purdue 93, Indiana 64
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Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 20 points and Fletcher Loyer and Omer Mayer each added 18 as the Boilermakers routed the Hoosiers in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue led by as many as 34, shooting 64.7% from the field and doubling up Indiana on the glass (30-15). Braden Smith had 15 points and eight assists, while Kaufman-Renn added six boards and five assists as Purdue leveled the in-state rivalry series this season.
Lamar Wilkerson led the Hoosiers with 20 points while Tayton Conerway (12), Tucker DeVries (11) and Reed Bailey (10) followed in double figures.
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No. 22 Miami (Ohio) 91, Bowling Green 77
Luke Skaljac racked up 24 points and Eian Elmer supplied 21 as the RedHawks kept the only perfect record in Division I men’s basketball intact with a win over the Falcons in Oxford, Ohio.
Skaljac shot 5 of 10 from 3-point range and Elmer went 5 of 8 to account for most of Miami’s 13 triples in 30 attempts. Peter Suder had 10 points and five rebounds while battling foul trouble, and Antwone Woolfolk added 10 points and eight boards to help make Miami (Ohio) four games away from a perfect regular season.
Javontae Campbell carried the Falcons (16-12, 7-8) with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Mayar Wol had 15 points and Josiah Shackelford added 12, each with three 3-pointers.
Just Fine’s form has wavered since his initial Australian hat-trick of dominant wins.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott gets the impression the sparingly raced eight-year-old is about to rewind to peak condition this autumn.
Tulloch Lodge enters Just Fine, Hoo Ya Mal, and previous season’s Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino into Rosehill’s Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) this Saturday, as Bott reminds punters to respect his chances.
“I feel he’s back to where we had him originally,” Bott said.
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“His last couple of trials have been encouraging. We’re pleased with him at home and in his work.
“Maybe out of our three, he seems the most forward, and the most suited by the race. Hopefully he can show that on his return.”
The Mornington Cup (2400m) in April marked Just Fine’s last run, well beaten, with Hoo Ya Mal likewise fresh off a long break.
With a 2022 English Derby second placing, Hoo Ya Mal’s standout Australian run was Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) runner-up status a year on, though Bott holds faith in the gelding’s ability.
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“The talent is there, but he’s a horse that does need a lot to go his way in the run,” he said.
“I want to see something from him first, but he’s got the potential to be very competitive in these types of races.”
First-up post his breakthrough Brisbane Cup (3200m) victory in June, ex-Kiwi Campaldino was trialled for spring but lacked sharpness.
Opting for extended rest, his connections eye autumn with the Sydney Cup (3200m) in view.
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“He showed enough potential for us to pursue him as a tried prospect out of New Zealand, and he went from strength to strength last campaign when he went through his grades nicely and finished up with a very good win in the Brisbane Cup,” Bott said.
“We might have to be a bit more negative from that draw, which will make the task more difficult for him, but he’s got a nice campaign ahead.”
Out in gate 14 of 14, Campaldino topped Tulloch Lodge betting at $7.50 midweek, Just Fine next at $9.50, Hoo Ya Mal $16.
The second edition of the Niger Delta Games has been officially declared open in Benin City, Edo State, with leaders calling for more investment in youths and women through sports.
The opening ceremony took place on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where Edo State’s culture and heritage were displayed in colourful fashion.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, said sports remain a strong tool for unity and empowerment. He praised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for sustaining the initiative and said his government is focused on developing people alongside infrastructure.
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“The maiden edition showed that when government provides the platform, youths will respond,” Tinubu said.
“Niger Delta youths are creative and ready to compete. Beyond medals and trophies, this game is about talent discovery. Nigeria must lead. Young talents must see sport as a pathway to career and global recognition.”
He added, “I must task the sponsors, NDDC, to expand its opportunities and invest in initiatives that empower the youths and women. Sports remained an instrument of unity and empowerment known to mankind.”
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, announced a reward of N20 million for the winning state and N10 million for the runner-up. He said the games represent more than competition.
“The games are a powerful statement that the Niger Delta is not only defined by its resources, but also by its resilience, talent, and boundless human potential,” Okpebholo said.
“Through sports, discipline is taught. Through sports, character is built. Through sports, boundaries disappear.”
He urged athletes to compete with pride and integrity, adding, “You are the pride of the Niger Delta. You carry the dreams of millions of young people who look to you for inspiration.”
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NDDC Managing Director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, called on state governors to support the games and confirmed the commission’s commitment to continue sponsoring the event.
“This competition is aimed at the amateur. From here they will be professional. All athletes come from their respective states. Let us use what we have to groom our athletes,” Ogbuku said.
“This competition has come to stay. This is part of our intervention in sports.”
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Asuquo Ekenyoung, also promised National Assembly support for youth development and entrepreneurship initiatives.
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More than 3,000 athletes from the nine Niger Delta states are taking part in the seven-day sports festival, which is organised by Dunamis Icons and sponsored by the NDDC.
LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic had 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch for a 125-122 victory Friday night.
LeBron James had 13 points and 11 assists for the Lakers in their return from the All-Star break. They blew a 15-point lead in the second half, but Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers split the four-game season series with their crosstown rivals.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points before missing the final 5:10 with an apparent ankle injury for the Clippers (27-29), who fell just short of getting back to .500 in incredible fashion after their 6-21 start to the season.
Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight outstanding game for his new team before fouling out with 1:49 to play. The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac dropped a career-high-tying 38 against Denver on Thursday.
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Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers’ lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James’ pass in the final seconds, but the Frenchman missed a tying three-point attempt with four seconds left.
Doncic, James and Reaves were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers’ 55 games this season, thanks to a rare moment of full health for the Lakers coming out of the break. They responded with a prolific offensive performance, even while James managed just two points in the second half.
In Doncic’s return from a four-game absence followed by a five-minute All-Star Game appearance due to a mildly strained hamstring, the Slovenian superstar scored 17 points with four 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter for the Lakers, who made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch.
Leonard, who had just one bucket in the first, answered with a 19-point second.
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The Clippers’ John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after he bloodied his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim.
;)
During that time, the Rams have compiled a 549–631–33 (.466) record through the 2025 season.
