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PGA Tour Faces Calls for Putting Rule Change After Matt Fitzpatrick Slow Play at Memorial

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Matt Fitzpatrick

MURFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — Sky Sports commentator Jay Townsend has called on the PGA Tour to tighten rules on marking and replacing balls on the green after English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick was criticized for slow play during the third round of the Memorial Tournament.

Fitzpatrick, who has enjoyed a strong 2026 season with three victories and a rise to world No. 4, took considerable time lining up a birdie putt on the par-5 15th hole on Saturday. Townsend expressed frustration on the broadcast, arguing that once a player replaces their ball after marking it, they should not be permitted to lift and re-mark it again.

“He’s certainly taking a lot of time,” Townsend said. “It comes back to what I was saying yesterday. You shouldn’t be able to mark it again after replacing your ball on the green. When you put the ball down, take your hand off, it’s in play. This is just too slow. They’re playing within the rules, okay. I’m just saying that when every four years they come out with updated rules and stuff, they need to take that away.”

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about pace of play on the PGA Tour, where slow rounds have long frustrated players, fans and broadcasters. Fitzpatrick’s deliberate routine on the 15th drew particular attention as he ultimately missed the putt, contributing to a round that left him tied for 32nd at three-over par heading into the final day.

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Despite the slow start at Muirfield Village, Fitzpatrick has produced strong results this year. His three wins demonstrate consistency and scoring ability, though recent form has been uneven following a driver change before the Truist Championship. The Englishman has been open about making equipment adjustments to regain his best performance.

Pace of play remains a persistent issue across professional golf. The PGA Tour has implemented various measures over the years, including timing players and issuing penalties, but many observers believe further rule tweaks could improve flow without compromising fairness. Townsend’s suggestion targets a specific loophole where players lift and replace balls multiple times while reading putts, adding minutes to rounds.

Experts note that the current rule allows players to mark and lift their ball to clean it or for interference, but repeated re-marking for alignment and reading extends decision time significantly on the greens. A change limiting players to one replacement before the ball is in play could reduce delays while maintaining strategic depth.

Fitzpatrick has faced similar criticism before. In April at the RBC Heritage, his deliberate pace drew negative attention from fans and commentators. The 2026 season has shown flashes of his major-winning form from 2022 at the U.S. Open, but consistency and speed of play have been points of discussion.

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The Memorial Tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus, traditionally attracts a strong field and tests players on a demanding Jack Nicklaus-designed course. Slow play becomes particularly noticeable on broadcast when groups fall behind pace, affecting television scheduling and viewer experience.

PGA Tour officials have not commented directly on Townsend’s suggestion, but the organization periodically reviews rules and procedures. The current rules of golf, jointly maintained by the USGA and R&A, allow flexibility on the green, but tours can implement additional pace-of-play policies.

Supporters of stricter rules argue that professional golf should set an example for amateurs and that excessive time on putts disrupts the rhythm of competition. Critics of change worry that limiting options could disadvantage players who rely on meticulous green reading, particularly on complex surfaces like those at Muirfield Village.

Fitzpatrick’s season highlights the balance between preparation and execution under pressure. His three victories demonstrate scoring prowess, while world ranking gains reflect sustained excellence. However, equipment changes and occasional slow play incidents have drawn scrutiny during tougher weeks.

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The broader conversation around pace of play includes shot clocks on certain shots, group timing and penalties for repeated offenses. Some players have self-policed, while others push boundaries within existing regulations. Townsend’s call for a specific green rule adjustment targets a visible pain point for viewers.

Golf analysts suggest that implementing such a change could be straightforward and effective. Once the ball is replaced and the marker removed, the ball would be in play, forcing quicker decisions. This would align with efforts to keep rounds moving while preserving the skill element of putting.

Fitzpatrick has not publicly responded to the latest criticism, focusing instead on his final round performance at the Memorial. The tournament remains a key event in the lead-up to major championships, with strong fields and historic significance.

As the PGA Tour continues evolving its policies, incidents like Fitzpatrick’s on the 15th hole fuel discussions about balancing player needs with spectator and broadcast interests. Rule changes occur periodically, with input from players, officials and stakeholders.

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The 2026 season has already featured several notable pace-of-play conversations, underscoring that the issue persists despite previous initiatives. A targeted adjustment on the green could represent a practical step forward without overhauling broader timing systems.

For Fitzpatrick, the remainder of the season offers opportunities to build on early wins and address areas of improvement, including pace. His talent and work ethic have positioned him among the world’s best, with potential for further major success if consistency returns.

The Memorial Tournament continues through Sunday, with leaders chasing the $4 million winner’s share and valuable FedEx Cup points. Regardless of rule change discussions, the focus remains on performance under pressure on one of golf’s premier venues.

PGA Tour leadership will likely monitor fan and commentator feedback as it considers future adjustments. Townsend’s straightforward suggestion provides a concrete proposal amid ongoing efforts to enhance the fan experience while respecting the game’s traditions.

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As professional golf grapples with modernization, small rule tweaks on the green could yield meaningful improvements to pace of play, benefiting players, broadcasters and audiences alike.

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AI advances are set to reshape healthcare by 2030, IEEE report finds

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AI advances are set to reshape healthcare by 2030, IEEE report finds

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are set to help reshape the healthcare industry in the years ahead, a new report finds.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the largest group of technical professionals that’s dedicated to advancing technology to benefit humanity, released its Technology Megatrends 2030 Report on Wednesday after it was reviewed exclusively by FOX Business.

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The report looked across five core areas, including AI, energy, health and biotech, space tech, and robotics and assessed the potential of each to reshape human life by 2030. The experts whose insights were used to compile the report ranked developments in health technology as having the largest potential impact on humanity.

Dejan Milojicic, IEEE fellow and chair of the IEEE Future Directions Committee Industry Advisory Board, told FOX Business that within the megatrends analyzed in the report, “health technologies emerge as among the most transformative and humanity-beneficial, driven by a fundamental shift from reactive treatment to proactive protection.”

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Two clinicians using Collaboration Live while patient is on the table undergoing an ultrasound scan.

Advances in healthcare technology have the greatest potential to impact humanity in the next five years, IEEE found. (Philips)

IEEE’s report identified several technological areas that can advance the healthcare industry, including personalized medicine; genetic engineering and gene therapy; accessible early disease diagnostics and biomarkers; molecular therapeutics; protein synthesis; and understanding life.

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Of those six areas, IEEE graded personalized medicine, genetic engineering and gene therapy, and accessible early disease diagnostics and biomarkers the highest in terms of their impact, likelihood of success, maturity and adoption.

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Doctor prescription medication medicine patient

AI and similar breakthrough technologies can transform how illnesses are detected and treated. (iStock)

Over the next five to 10 years, IEEE sees advances in health tech leading to impacts like the reduction of preventable chronic diseases, personalized clinical outcomes, improved food safety and increased access to high-quality, nutrient-dense foods.

“As populations age, using physical AI technologies, such as virtual nursing and intelligent monitoring, will become vital to supporting the needs of an expanding revitalized economy,” Milojicic said. “At the same time, we see food systems being reimagined as core healthcare infrastructure, using AI-enhanced tools like smart traceability to deliver personalized nutrition and curb chronic disease at scale.”

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Personalized medicine and healthcare is an area where technological advancements could reshape the industry. (Joseph Branston/Future via Getty Images)

IEEE identified several enablers for advancements in healthcare tech, including biotechnology, digital health, and things like agricultural drones and personalized nutrition.

Inhibitors to the impact of health technology advancements include privacy and security for data used for public health prevention through epidemiology and surveillance, as well as status quo culture.

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“Our panel of experts is clear that none of this works without robust trust, privacy, and safety standards guiding how these technologies are built and deployed,” Milojicic said.

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Veralto Corporation (VLTO) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Operator

Hello. My name is Nikki, and I will be your conference operator this morning. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to Veralto Corporation’s Second Quarter 2026 Conference Call.

[Operator Instructions]

I will now turn the call over to Ryan Taylor, Vice President of Investor Relations. Mr. Taylor, you may begin your conference.

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Ryan Taylor
Vice President of Investor Relations

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us on the call. With me today are Jennifer Honeycutt, our President and Chief Executive Officer; and Sameer Ralhan, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Today’s call is simultaneously being webcast.

A replay of the webcast will be available in the Investors section of our website later today under the heading Events & Presentations. A replay of this call will be available until August 7. Yesterday, we issued our second quarter 2026 earnings news release, earnings presentation, prepared remarks and supplemental materials, including information required by the SEC relating to adjusted or non-GAAP financial measures. These materials are also available on the Investors section of our website, www.veralto.com, under the heading Quarterly Earnings.

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Miami’s tallest new tower nears sellout as execs fuel wealth migration

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Miami's tallest new tower nears sellout as execs fuel wealth migration

EXCLUSIVE: By next summer, Miami’s skyline will be shaped by a new architectural landmark, bringing a fresh wave of corporate titans and global elites into the heart of South Florida.

As Cipriani Residences Miami officially topped off its approximately 950-foot construction project — the tallest residential tower in the city — the 85-story tower stands as a physical monument to the Magic City’s evolution from a sun-soaked vacation spot into a permanent capital for international wealth.

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Cipriani revealed to Fox News Digital that its first ground-up residential development in North America is more than 80% sold, and will welcome buyers from over 30 countries who are now calling Miami their primary home.

“Residential living is a natural extension of hospitality, but it was important to us to do it in the right way,” Giuseppe Cipriani exclusively told Fox Digital. “With Cipriani Residences Miami, we found the right city, location and a great partner… Our family has been closely involved in shaping the design and the overall experience so that it reflects the same traditions we have carried with us for generations. For us, it is not simply about putting the Cipriani name on a building. It is about creating a home where the way you live is the way we would live.”

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“Every time I drive by it, my emotional reaction is, ‘Wow.’ I am humbled by the fact that we’re building something of this scale, because when I started my business, although I always aspired to get here, I didn’t know when it would happen — and it has happened,” Mast Capital founder and CEO Camilo Miguel Jr., the developer behind the building, also said. “One of the biggest challenges was actually the upfront planning part, because when you’re building a 950-foot building… the engineering that goes into that is quite different than building something that’s 20 stories.”

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Cipriani Residences in Miami skyline

Cipriani Residences Miami just recently topped off the 950-foot project, making it the tallest offering in the Brickell skyline. (Photo courtesy: Inflight / FOXBusiness)

The leading international markets for buyers, in order, come from Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Canada, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Domestic buyers continue to flood in from high-tax states like New York and California, too.

“There are countries that are having a lot of their own economic challenges and headwinds and political challenges and headwinds, as well… And people are not only buying in Miami as [an] investment, but people are actually buying in Miami to live. And people were looking at Cipriani and saying, ‘This is going to be home,’” Miguel said.

“We have some buyers who have bought for their whole family and intend to move everybody into the building,” he added.

“Every city has its own character, but what people appreciate about Cipriani is remarkably consistent: warmth, discretion, good service and a sense of familiarity,” Cipriani said. “Miami is a very international city, and that has always felt natural to us. People come here from all over the world, just as they do in Venice or New York. The lifestyle naturally is shaped by its beautiful weather, its connection to the water, its seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. Cipriani Residences Miami brings that way of living into our world.”

“People are increasingly choosing Miami not only as somewhere to visit, but somewhere to live,” Cipriani continued. “They want privacy, comfort, good service and a quality of life that feels effortless.”

Earlier this month, the New York Post reported that soccer superstar Lionel Messi had purchased four units in the building, followed by a wave of other Argentine players. Buyers also allegedly include executives from Citadel and Amazon who are relocating from New York and California.

“We don’t change who we are depending on the guest. That has never been our philosophy,” Cipriani said. “For nearly a century, our family has welcomed people from many different countries, culture[s], generations and paths of life. Royals, aristocrats, powerful businessmen but also writers, intellectuals and all kind[s] of interesting people have been coming to our locations — as human beings.”

“That sense of warmth and understated elegance that comes from our Italian heritage, and it remains at the heart of everything we do, fortunately has appealed to many of them,” the grandson of the Cipriani patriarch added.

“One of the main reasons that people are choosing Miami over New York City right now is the pro-business mentality. I mean you live in a business-friendly city and a business-friendly state, and the growth and the global nature of our city,” Miguel explained. “And you realize quickly that as a hedge fund or a financial institution, you no longer just need to be in New York City to be relevant and be successful.”

“These are big companies that are moving here, signing leases, taking space, and moving their top executives to Miami, their high-income earners. And these individuals are buying homes and condos across Miami,” Miguel said.

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The development is also on track to become the only new residential tower in the Brickell neighborhood, delivering completed homes in 2027.

“We are very proud, of course, of what has been built, and of where the company is today, 95 years after the opening of that small bar in Venice. Seeing the tower reach its full height makes us even more excited to bring that spirit to life for the residents who will call it home,” Cipriani nodded to his grandfather’s founding of Harry’s Bar in 1931, where the Bellini was born and “warmth, simplicity and genuine care” became Cipriani’s brand.

“The principles have never changed,” he said. “Whether it is a restaurant, a club, a hotel or now a residence, the idea is the same: people should feel comfortable, free and at home. The world changes, but our hospitality values do not.”

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“This is really about heritage, about people, about a family,” Miguel agreed, recalling his first time at a Cipriani restaurant. “What I really liked about it is that subtle elegance that you feel when you walk in, and the fact that everybody that works there is smiling, everybody that’s there is welcoming and everybody that is there is hyper-focused on making sure that you have a positive experience.”

“I never dreamed of Miami being what it is today,” Miguel said, “and I think the sky’s the limit.”

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Opinion: Enthusiasm tempered by experience

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Opinion: Enthusiasm tempered by experience

OPINION: While founders’ age gaps have risks, they also create a more interesting mix of experience.

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Saturn to raise up to $105m

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Saturn to raise up to $105m

Saturn Metals has announced its third significant capital raise in just over two years, at it aims to fast-track development at its Apollo Hill gold project in the Eastern Goldfields.

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Slideshow: PepsiCo focusing on functional innovation

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Slideshow: PepsiCo focusing on functional innovation

Offerings across the company’s portfolio lean into protein content, gut health and more.

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Frontier forecasts third-quarter profit above estimates on higher airfares after Spirit’s exit

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Frontier forecasts third-quarter profit above estimates on higher airfares after Spirit’s exit

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Middle-earners ‘struggling’ over Jersey schools bonus cap

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A woman with dark hair and blue eyes in a plain white T-shirt sits at a desk in a wood-panelled home office, facing the camera. A computer monitor, notebook, water bottle, phone and glasses are visible on the desk, with framed artwork hanging on the wall behind.

Middle income families who are struggling with the cost of living are being “failed” by the government, a Jersey parent has said.

It comes as families have shared frustration that a means-tested benefit to help buy school supplies has not been made available island-wide.

Mum of two Lisa McCabe said not being able to access the back to school bonus was a “kick in the teeth” for working parents just above the income threshold.

The social security minister said she would review the back to school bonus ahead of next year and that the government was looking at ways to make life more affordable for parents in Jersey.

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McCabe runs a private health screening clinic in Jersey.

She said “every day” she was seeing parents struggling with the cost of raising a family in Jersey: “There’s the level of stress and burnout from people who are on what would have been considered very good wages a few years ago that just aren’t making ends meet.”

She said many middle-earners in the island had been squeezed by an increase in interest rates and the end of mortgage interest tax relief for homeowners.

For many working parents, she said, this was made worse by expensive nursery fees and the cost of covering children’s hot lunches and after school clubs.

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“There are some really difficult decisions to be made,” she said.

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Humana (HUM) earnings Q2 2026

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Humana (HUM) earnings Q2 2026

Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Humana on Wednesday reported second-quarter results that topped estimates, as the health insurer’s spending on medical services came in line with expectations. 

The company also maintained its 2026 adjusted profit outlook of at least $9 per share. 

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The earnings beat was driven by strength across Humana’s insurance business and CenterWell healthcare services unit, Humana CFO Celeste Mellet said in an interview. She said medical and pharmacy cost trends tracked in line with Humana’s expectations across new and existing members. The company saw “slight favorability” in medical costs in the inpatient space, particularly among members receiving care from value-based providers, she added. 

Still, in a Wednesday note, Cantor Fitzgerald analysts called the unchanged profit outlook a “disappointment” after recent earnings beats and guidance raises seen by other insurers overseeing privately run Medicare Advantage plans. Investors have been ratcheting up their expectations for the industry as some companies hike their outlooks and get a better handle on rising medical costs in those plans – an issue that has been dogging the broader sector for more than two years. 

Shares of Humana fell more than 4% in premarket trading despite the solid quarter. The company is one of the largest Medicare Advantage providers serving people aged 65 and older as well as people with ​disabilities.

Here’s what the company reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

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  • Earnings per share: $7.61 adjusted vs. $7.22 expected
  • Revenue: $40.87 billion vs. $40.61 billion expected

The company posted second-quarter net income of $694 million, or $5.73 per share, compared with $545 million, or $4.51 per share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding items like amortization and impairment charges, Humana earned $7.61 per share.

Revenue climbed to $40.87 billion from $32.39 billion in the prior-year quarter. The company’s insurer and Centerwell unit both topped analysts’ sales estimates for the quarter, according to StreetAccount. 

Insurers, particularly those that run Medicare Advantage plans, have been pinched by an influx of people seeking care they delayed post-pandemic and high-cost specialty drugs like GLP-1s, among other factors. 

But Humana’s medical benefit ratio — a measure of total medical expenses paid relative to premiums collected — came in at 91.2% for the second quarter, which is in line with what analysts were expecting. Mellet said the ratio also matched the company’s expectations for the quarter across both new and current members. 

“I think that it’s a combination of just [medical cost] trend stabilizing and then our actions as well to help drive better health outcomes for our members and our patients,” Mellet said. 

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Still, the ratio is slightly higher than the 89.9% reported in the year-earlier period. A lower ratio typically indicates that the company collected more in premiums than it paid out in benefits, resulting in higher profitability.

Mellet said medical cost expectations for next year are “fairly consistent.” The company is watching to see if services such as inpatient admissions will continue to decline this year, but she said “at this point, we call medical costs more stable.” 

Meanwhile, pharmacy medical cost trends remain “very elevated,” driven by drug prices and the launch of new medicines, Mellet noted. She said those costs will be slightly higher next year compared to 2026, but added that it’s a broader drug cost issue, not a question of member demand. 

Mellet said Humana expects changes to its 2027 Medicare Advantage plans to help improve profitability and put the company on track to reach a sustainable pretax margin of at least 3% by 2028. She said the insurer also remains confident in its ability to boost earnings by expanding membership, improving the quality ratings of its Medicare Advantage plans, maintaining pricing discipline and controlling costs.

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CNX Resources earnings ahead: Can hedges offset weak gas prices?

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CNX Resources earnings ahead: Can hedges offset weak gas prices?

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