Sports
2026 World Baseball Classic: Venezuela stuns defending champion Japan, will face Italy
Japan’s World Baseball Classic title defense is over. Saturday night at loanDepot Park in Miami, Venezuela rallied from behind to eliminate Japan (VEN 8, JPN 5) and advance to the semifinals. Venezuela is one step away from Tuesday’s Championship Game and Japan will head home following its worst World Baseball Classic finish ever.
Saturday’s game started with a bang. Two bangs, actually. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani have combined to win the last three NL MVP awards and they opened Saturday’s game with leadoff home runs. Acuña did the honors in the top of the first inning, then Ohtani responded in the bottom half. It’s the first-ever WBC game with two leadoff homers. This, right here, is the good stuff:
Reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto got hit hard early against Venezuela. Acuña tagged him for the leadoff homer and three of the first six batters he faced had extra-base hits. Yamamoto did eventually settle down, though. He retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced, including five via strikeout. Yamamoto finished with two runs allowed in four innings.
Venezuela took a 2-1 lead into the third inning before Japan jumped on starter Ranger Suárez. Four of the first five batters they sent to the plate in the third inning reached base, and one batter who didn’t reach laid down a sacrifice bunt. Center fielder Shota Morishita, who replaced the injured Seiya Suzuki (right knee discomfort) in the second inning, slugged a three-run homer to end Suárez’s night.
Morishita’s home run gave Japan a 5-2 lead and it felt like they were in control of the game, but once the bullpen door swung open, it was advantage Venezuela. Maikel Garcia got Venezuela to within 5-4 with a two-run homer in the fifth, then Wilyer Abreu clobbered a three-run blast to turn the 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 lead in the sixth inning in an electric moment.
That’s a brand name Abreu took deep. Hiromi Itoh was the 2025 winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award, which is Japan’s Cy Young. Yamamoto held Venezuela to two runs in four innings. Five Japan relievers were charged with six runs in five innings the rest of the night. The game swung when five of eight Venezuela hitters reached base, spanning the fifth and sixth innings.
Venezuela’s bullpen, meanwhile, stood tall behind Suárez. Six relievers held Japan scoreless across 6 ⅓ innings, and retired 13 straight at one point. Japan’s best chance to get back into the game came in the eighth inning, when Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami strung together back-to-back two-out singles. Andres Machado got Shugo Maki to ground out to end the threat.
Tigers minor-league lefty Enmanuel De Jesus did the heaviest lifting out of the Venezuela bullpen, soaking up 2 ⅓ scoreless innings in the middle of the game to give the offense a chance to rally. He struck out three, including Ohtani with two runners on base in the fourth inning. De Jesus was awarded the win for his effort.
Ohtani went 1 for 4 with the leadoff homer and an intentional walk against Venezuela. He struck out twice and popped up behind second base to end the game.
Venezuela will play Italy in the semifinals Monday night in Miami after Italy continued its Cinderella run Saturday with a nail-biter 8-6 win over Puerto Rico. The winter of Monday’s Italy vs. Venezuela game will advance to the Championship Game and face the winner of Sunday’s highly anticipated USA vs. Dominican Republic game.
This is Japan’s lowest-ever finish in the WBC. They won the 2006 and 2009 events, finished third in the 2013 and 2017 and won the 2023 WBC. Japan will finish either fifth or sixth in the final standings this year, depending on how Sunday’s USA vs. Dominican Republic game plays out.
As for Venezuela, this is the first time they’ve advanced to the semifinals since 2009, when they lost to Korea and finished fourth in the tournament. That is Venezuela’s best WBC finish ever. Saturday’s win also clinched a berth in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Chicago Sky star Angel Reese called out a fake quote that was posted on social media and attributed to her on Saturday.
The post on X attributed a quote to Reese that talked about how much money she earns in a week compared to those who earn in seven days. It appeared to be a slight toward Reese’s intelligence.
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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese warms up before a game against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena on Sept. 3, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)
“Here we go again. Rent must be due,” she wrote in response.
Reese is set to enter the WNBA for her third season, though it’s unclear when the year will tip off as the players union and the league have yet to come to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
For now, Reese is competing with Team USA in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying games. The Americans defeated Italy, 93-59, on Saturday. Reese had five points and seven rebounds in the victory.
She’s averaging 7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1 steal per game over the course of three qualifying games. She had six points against Senegal and 10 points against Puerto Rico.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese on the sidelines before a New York Liberty game at Wintrust Arena on Sept. 11, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)
CAITLIN CLARK REJECTS ANGEL REESE HIGH-FIVE AT FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Reese entered the WNBA in 2024 as the Sky selected her with the No. 7 overall pick of the draft. She’s been an All-Star in each of her first two seasons. She’s averaging 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in 64 career games.
The clock is ticking on a new CBA deal to get done or the start of the 2026 season could be postponed.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said progress in negotiations and a deal are needed by Monday to avoid any possible disruptions.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese watches an NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic at United Center on Jan. 2, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)
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“I’ve never been a betting woman in my life and I’m not going to start now. But we have to get a deal done by Monday,” Engelbert said Friday. “We have to get it done without disrupting some part of the fact that we’ve got to run this two-team expansion (draft). We have to get expansion going. We got to get free agency going. We gotta get the college draft.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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On Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, players will be fighting for the enormous 2026 Players Championship purse, with payouts breaking seven figures for several finishers.
With 18 holes to play, Ludvig Aberg seems to have his eye on his first Players Championship trophy. With a victory, Aberg would take home the largest Players payout of them all, a gargantuan winner’s share of $4.5 million.
That’s the biggest winner’s check in professional golf, as it was last year when Rory McIlroy took home the Players title.
You can only extract the largest winner’s share from the biggest purse in golf; the total Players Championship purse equals $25 million.
;)
At Players, two leaders have a fascinating past — and present
Aberg’s biggest winner’s prize so far in his career came at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. That week he took home $4 million for his troubles. Heading into Players week, Aberg’s career earnings on the PGA Tour stood at $22,793,388.
That means if he hoists the Players trophy on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, he’ll increase his career earnings by nearly 20 percent.
Michael Thorbjornsen heads into Sunday in second place, three shots behind Aberg. If Thorbjornsen were to overcome Aberg and steal the win, the impact on his career earnings would be even more dramatic.
A 24-year-old Ohio native, Thorbjornsen has already played 51 PGA Tour events in his career (Aberg, 26, has played 61 events). Over those tournaments, he’s earned $4,281,178.
A Players Championship triumph on Sunday for Thorbjornsen, which would be his first PGA Tour win, would more than double his career Tour earnings.
But if he plays well, Thorbjornsen will do just fine even if he doesn’t beat Aberg. Payouts for the top-five finishers at this year’s Players Championship all exceed $1 million.
You can see the full 2026 Players Championship payout breakdown below.
2026 Players Championship payout for every player
1st: $4,500,000
2nd: $2,725,000
3rd: $1,725,000
4th: $1,225,000
5th: $1,025,000
6th: $906,250
7th: $843,750
8th: $781,250
9th: $731,250
10th: $681,250
11th: $631,250
12th: $581,250
13th: $531,250
14th: $481,250
15th: $456,250
16th: $431,250
17th: $406,250
18th: $381,250
19th: $356,250
20th: $331,250
21st: $306,250
22nd: $281,250
23rd: $261,250
24th: $241,250
25th: $221,250
26th: $201,250
27th: $193,750
28th: $186,250
29th: $178,750
30th: $171,250
31st: $163,750
32nd: $156,250
33rd: $148,750
34th: $142,500
35th: $136,250
36th: $130,000
37th: $123,750
38th: $118,750
39th: $113,750
40th: $108,750
41st: $103,750
42nd: $98,750
43rd: $93,750
44th: $88,750
45th: $83,750
46th: $78,750
47th: $73,750
48th: $69,750
49th: $66,250
50th: $64,250
51st: $62,750
52nd: $61,250
53rd: $60,250
54th: $59,250
55th: $58,750
56th: $58,250
57th: $57,750
58th: $57,250
59th: $56,750
60th: $56,250
61st: $55,750
62nd: $55,250
63rd: $54,750
64th: $54,250
65th: $53,750
File photo of Anil Kumble.© AFP
After winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released their captain Shreyas Iyer and star opener Phil Salt. The two players thus went under the hammer in the mega auction later that year for the next edition. Iyer went to Punjab Kings, leading the side to the final, while Salt was part of the title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru side. Reacting to KKR’s idea of letting go of both the players, former India captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble said that it was a “wrong decision”.
“Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go. There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave (and) that has left them without an IPL-winning captain,” Kumble said as per a JioHotstar release.
Apart from captaincy, Iyer scored 351 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 146.86 for KKR in IPL 2024. The same season saw Salt scoring 435 runs at an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 182.01 for the franchise.
After winning the title in 2024, KKR fared poorly under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane in the following season. The side finished at eighth position with only five wins from 14 matches.
“Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as (a) captain (yet). Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” Kumble said.
Rahane is most likely to lead KKR in IPL 2026 as well. The side begins its campaign this year with a match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.
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Mar 14, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard-forward DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots against LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images The two worst teams in the Western Conference will square off Sunday night when the Sacramento Kings host the Utah Jazz.
The Kings are showing life with three wins in their past four games, including an impressive takedown of the host Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night during the front end of a back-to-back. That was Sacramento’s 17th triumph of the season.
The Jazz, who were off Saturday, have dropped 10 of their past 12 games. They have 20 victories.
Utah was fined $500,000 in mid-February for tanking – “conduct detrimental to the league” was the official declaration – but apparently Sacramento won’t have any such worries based on its 118-109 victory over the Clippers.
The Kings led by as many 20 points and shot a sizzling 58.5% from the field while outrebounding the Clippers 48-35.
DeMar DeRozan recorded 27 points and seven assists, Precious Achiuwa had 25 points and 13 rebounds and Maxime Raynaud added 23 points. That trio combined to make 32 of 40 shots (80%).
“It was a collective effort,” DeRozan said of the victory. “I know where we’re at record-wise. Me being one of the veterans, we’re just trying to build winning habits and tell the young guys we have to go there and compete every night.”
Russell Westbrook was just 4-of-15 shooting but had 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double in three games to extend his NBA career record to 209.
One of Westbrook’s six triple-doubles this season came in a 128-119 road loss against the Jazz on Nov. 28. He had 16 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds that night.
Utah has won two of the teams’ three meetings heading into Sunday’s final matchup of the campaign. DeRozan is eyeing a split of the season series.
“We go back home, feed off our crowd and try to get another win,” DeRozan said.
Utah is experiencing a dreadful season and it continued with Friday night’s 124-114 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers in the opener of a three-game road trip. The Jazz led by 18 in the first quarter but couldn’t emerge victorious despite racking up 16 steals and forcing 24 turnovers.
“The activity and the aggressiveness is exactly how we want to play,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “Sixteen steals for us is an incredibly high number.”
Third-year pro Brice Sensabaugh made six 3-pointers for the second straight game and had 31 points. He scored 29 two nights earlier in a 134-117 home loss to the New York Knicks.
Cody Williams, in his second season, added a career-best 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting against Portland. “Cody has grown up a ton,” Hardy said. “For him to take 17 shots in this game, it’s showing that he’s growing in the variety of shots he can get off and the aggressiveness in playing towards the rim. Cody has grown a lot as a player and young man, and with that comfort you’re seeing more aggressiveness on the court.”
Season-long bright spot Keyonte George (right hamstring) will miss his second straight game and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
That’s a rough blow for George, who is among the leading candidates for the league’s Most Improved Player award.
The third-year guard is averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists and has made 37.1% of his 3-point shots, all representing career-best stats. George has played in 54 games and needs to play in 65 to be eligible for NBA awards. Counting the clash with the Kings, Utah has just 15 games remaining, which means George can only miss four more games.
–Field Level Media
A highly anticipated meeting between Argentina and Spain — and with it the prospect of Lionel Messi facing teenage star Lamine Yamal — has been called off after organisers abandoned plans to stage the 2026 Finalissima. The match between the reigning champions of South America and Europe collapsed after efforts to relocate the fixture from Qatar failed and negotiations between UEFA and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) reached a dead end.
The cancellation ends hopes of a rare encounter between two players from vastly different eras of football. Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain and one of the sport’s most decorated players, was set to face Spain’s emerging talent Yamal in what many expected to be a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment.
Regional tensions derail original Qatar plan
The Finalissima had initially been scheduled for March 27 in Qatar. However, organisers were forced to reconsider the venue after tensions in West Asia raised concerns over staging the match in the region.
Following discussions between UEFA and authorities in Qatar, it was concluded that the fixture could no longer be hosted there on the planned date. The decision triggered an urgent attempt to identify an alternative venue that could accommodate both teams within the tight international calendar.
Madrid option fails to secure agreement
With Qatar ruled out, UEFA proposed shifting the match to Spain, suggesting Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium as the replacement venue. The plan aimed to retain the original date while offering equal ticket allocations to supporters from both nations.
Hosting the game at the Bernabeu — one of football’s most iconic stadiums — was viewed as a practical solution that would preserve the prestige of the event. However, the proposal did not receive backing from Argentina’s football federation, which declined the offer.
The rejection stalled negotiations and complicated efforts to keep the one-off contest on the international calendar.
Two-match compromise also rejected
In an attempt to rescue the fixture, UEFA later suggested a revised format that would involve two matches rather than a single final. Under the proposal, Spain would host the first leg in Madrid, with Argentina staging the return game in Buenos Aires during a future international window before the 2028 European Championship and Copa America.
The arrangement was intended to ensure competitive balance by allowing both teams to play at home while also easing concerns over venue neutrality.
Despite the compromise, the AFA again turned down the proposal, leaving organisers with no viable option to stage the match.
Fans miss out on generational duel
With no agreement reached, the Finalissima has been abandoned altogether. The outcome deprives fans of what could have been one of the most compelling international fixtures of the year.
Beyond the trophy at stake, the contest had generated excitement because of the potential meeting between Messi and Yamal. The Argentine captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, would have faced Spain’s teenage winger, who has quickly emerged as one of the sport’s most promising young talents.
Igor Tudor set to roll dice on Archie Gray at centre-back against Liverpool
Igor Tudor has hinted Tottenham will stick with a back-three for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, with “beautiful guy” Archie Gray in line to play centre-back.
A feature of Tudor’s disastrous four-match tenure at Spurs has been his tendency to put square pegs in round holes, with midfielder Joao Palhinha and right-back Pedro Porro used out of position in the Croatian’s favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.
Palhinha played centre-back in Tudor’s debut 4-1 loss to Arsenal and Porro was used there for last week’s worrying home defeat to Crystal Palace. Even though Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Palhinha are absent at Anfield, the 47-year-old looks likely to keep faith with a three-man defence.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:40
Arne Slot provides Liverpool injury update with Alisson Becker doubtful to face Tottenham
The Brazil shot-stopper was missing in the 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray, with Arne Slot’s side left with a last 16 deficit before next week’s return leg at Anfield.
Giorgi Mamardashvili deputised for Alisson, but Arne Slot has provided an update on his No 1’s condition and the chances of facing relegation-threatened Spurs.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:30
When is Liverpool vs Tottenham?
Liverpool’s meeting with Tottenham kicks off at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 15 March at Anfield.
Fans in the UK can watch the clash on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm GMT. The match can also be streamed on Sky Go. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:20
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Tottenham XI: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Danso; Porro, Gallagher, Sarr, Spence; Kolo Muani, Solanke, Simons.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:12
Team news
Tottenham’s injury list remains extensive, not helped by Micky van de Ven’s silly red card against Crystal Palace which sees him suspended for this clash. Cristian Romero and Palhinha’s availability is up in the air after a clash of heads against Atleti, forcing both off the pitch. Destiny Udogie is also a doubt with a thigh problem, while Guglielmo Vicario will surely return to the starting XI after Antonin Kinsky’s disaster in Madrid.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:08
Team news
Alisson could return for Liverpool after missing the defeat at Galatasaray through injury, while Arne Slot also added that Federico Chiesa could also return to contention following illness. Slot also provided an update on Alexander Isak, who is still managing his rehabilitation and is hopeful of a return in the coming weeks.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:06
Liverpool vs Tottenham live
Igor Tudor is hoping for a drastic change in fortunes to save his and Tottenham’s skin as the relegation-threatened giants travel to Liverpool.
Liverpool will see the visit of a Spurs side devoid of inspiration as the perfect chance to get back to winning ways, while Tudor will know the walls are already closing in on his interim tenure.
Defeat at Anfield could see Tottenham, winless in 2026, finally drop into the drop zone, having gone into the weekend a mere point ahead of Nottingham Forest and West Ham below them.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 14:03
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham.
The Reds hope to take another step toward European football next season, while Spurs hope to stave off the threat of relegation with a much-needed win.
We’ll have all the latest team news and updates right here.
Chris Wilson15 March 2026 13:58
Sports
IPL 2026: No change to Guwahati games despite Assam polls, says BCCI’s Devajit Saikia | Cricket News
Mumbai: There will be no change in the IPL-2026 schedule in Assam, with Guwahati on track to stage three matches involving the Rajasthan Royals, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to TOI after the Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the Assam elections in a single phase on April 9.According to the schedule of the first 20 matches of IPL-2026 released by the BCCI, Guwahati is scheduled to host two IPL matches around the election period in the state, with RR set to take on the Mumbai Indians on April 7 and then Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10. Guwahati will also host the opening match of the Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings on March 30.
“There will be no rescheduling of IPL matches in Guwahati in Assam. I have already spoken to the honourable Assam Chief Minister (Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma) and the Guwahati Commissioner of Police, Partha Sarathi Mahanta. Both have assured me that they will manage (to conduct the matches), and there’s no need to change (the schedule),” Saikia told this paper.On Sunday, the ECI announced the election schedule of the five poll-bound states. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will go to vote on April 9, Tamil Nadu on April 23, while the West Bengal elections will be held in two phases — April 23 and 29. “In due course, we will announce the schedule of the remaining IPL matches. After some preliminary discussions with the concerned associations (the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and the Cricket Association of Bengal), we will announce the remaining leg of the IPL. However, we can’t give you a timeline. So, the IPL goes on smoothly and seamlessly,” Saikia said.
Sports
Abhishek Sharma Reveals ‘Social Media’ Advice From Gautam Gambhir, Suryakumar Yadav Amid Poor T20 World Cup Form
File photo of Abhishek Sharma© AFP
Indian cricket team star batter Abhishek Sharma did not have the best of starts to the T20 World Cup 2026. The youngster was struggling massively after a hat-trick of ducks in the group stage. However, he slowly regained his form and slammed a brilliant half-century in the final to guide his team to victory over New Zealand. During the tough period when Abhishek was struggling to score runs, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir stepped in to support the opener. During his appearance at the India Today Conclave, Abhishek revealed the advice that he received from Gambhir and Suryakumar before admitting that he was close to an ’emotional breakdown’ after registering his second consecutive duck.
“Slowly you get used to it. But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]’,” Abhishek said.
“That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people. That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” the left-handed batter added.
Earlier, Sanju Samson praised his opening partner Abhishek Sharma, describing their partnership as effortless and balanced. He highlighted their combination as “fire and fire”, with both taking turns leading the attack.
Samson noted the natural Kerala-Punjabi friendship that underpins their understanding. Samson admired Sharma’s bravery and composure, saying he enjoys both their on-field and off-field camaraderie.
“We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. He asks me, ‘How is the ball coming?’ I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field,” Sanju Samson said at the India Today Conclave.
(With ANI inputs)
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The title of this story says it all and I will raise my hand as someone who has done it wrong for YEARS.
Whenever I have had the opportunity to watch great wedge players in person, it was apparent to me that they had different wedges for different shots — unlike my way of making the 58 or 60 do literally everything from 80 yards and in.
This video with Vokey’s Aaron Dill is a masterclass (from him not me) in how to use your entire set around the greens. Keep in mind that it’s not even really to mitigate trouble (i.e. forgiveness), it’s to give yourself the opportunity to hit the best shot possible. There’s a difference.
“>
These are the my three biggest takeaways from my short game test with Mr. Dill.
More loft doesn’t mean more spin
This was the hardest one for me to wrap my head around. Although in theory more loft DOES equal more spin, it’s not that simple around greens. The amount of face (i.e. grooves/surface area) you can apply to the ball makes a huge impact on wedge spin. I recall hearing Tiger Woods speak on this over the years, he always felt using a 56 out of the bunker was a more efficient play because of the forgiveness factor AND the fact he could always get more face on the ball.
Think of it like this: To hit the ball lower, the ball needs to stay on the face longer, higher loft means more of an open face and less time on the face. More time on the face means more spin, which means more control. Thats where terms like “Spin Loft” come to bear. It’s easier to get a 56 in the spin loft happy zone (45-55 degrees) than it is a 60. A rabbit hole, I know, but I now understand why Rocco Mediate doesn’t carry a 60.
Get the ball on the green rolling like a putt as often as you can
This is something I’ve heard Seve Ballesteros mention a bunch on YouTube. It’s much easier to roll it in than it is to fly it in AND it’s much easier to use the ground than rely on the perfect strike, carry number and spin to get it close. The less variables to manage, the better. Thats why Dill had me using 50 and 54 from just off the green, it’s not only more efficient and easier to play, the results were better. Who knew?!
;)
Fully Equipped
Your lob wedge is a speciality club — not your ONLY option
Again something I’ve heard but never accepted for my own game. It’s so easy to just keep it simple and make your lob wedge do 20 different things. I can attest that I have done it at a high level for years … until kids, lack of practice and bills were introduced into my life.
That lobber-or-die mentality only works consistently if you have hours a week to practice. Creating a solid wedge floor for yourself is essential. What that means in practice is building a set and a strategy for your short game that has safety built into it for the days you just don’t have it. Dill does it on Tour so it would make sense for us all to adopt.
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Driving the ball in the fairway and a great short game will ALWAYS ensure lower scores. Videos like this are meant to spark a thought in all of us. We all want to play better, shoot lower scores, etc. What Aaron and I displayed here is the path to do that. Your wedge set-up should be something you not only take seriously but also something you should protect at all costs. I’m a huge advocate for finding something that works and doing the old rinse-and-repeat for years on end. Although wedge technology has progressed over the years, it’s meant to really work once the fundamentals are in place. One of those fundamentals is knowing what to use, when to use it and how.
The best players on the planet trust Aaron and his tools more than anyone else in the world, his messaging has been the same for years, and as years go on, the tools may get slightly better as we go but the messaging and strategy are the same.
Happy short-gaming.
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SINGAPORE — Bryson DeChambeau hit his drive into the water and still won the playoff with a par Sunday at LIV Golf Singapore when Richard T. Lee of Canada missed a two-foot putt.
DeChambeau birdied the par-5 18th for a 5-under 66. Lee birdied four of his last six holes for a 66. They finished on 14-under 274 at Sentosa Golf Club.
Lee Westwood closed with a 70 and finished third, his best finish in LIV.
Lee was trying to become the first wild card — players not affiliated with a team — to win in the LIV Golf League. It looked certain the playoff would go another hole when Lee had a two-footer for par. He jabbed at it with a quick stroke and it spun out hard off the left lip.
“It was a short putt and I wanted to just hit it hard, and I hit it a little too hard,” Lee said. “I think the adrenaline was pumping a little bit.”
The 35-year-old Lee picked up $2,250,000 for his runner-up finish, the largest check of his career. He earned his spot in the Saudi-funded league by winning the LIV Promotions event.
DeChambeau put his hands over his head in disbelief when Lee missed the playoff putt. He said it reminded him of John Daly having a 15-foot birdie putt to beat Tiger Woods in a World Golf Championships playoff in 2005, only to three-putt by missing a three-foot par putt.
“To actually see that happen in front of you, for you to be the positive receiving side of it, it’s just a weird feeling,” DeChambeau said. “But it’s a win and something I’ll appreciate for the rest of my life. Even if I lost today, I was still looking pretty good at my game. I was excited the way I was striking it coming in the last couple days.”
It was DeChambeau’s first victory over 72 holes since he won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, and it was his fourth title on LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm finished fifth, ending a stretch of five tournaments he won or was runner-up.
The 4 Aces captained by Dustin Johnson won the team competition for the second straight week.
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