Our intro here pertains to Aaron Rai’s iron covers and his two gloves and his other unique characteristics, so I can understand if you want to click away, as the subject, while charming, has been talked about a bit excessively at this point. But there’s been something else going on with his quirks. I think it tells the bigger story.
It’s the thought of why he never changed.
After all, we’re a society of mostly conformists. There’s comfort in that — and the absence of discomfort. Golf and life can be hard enough, but sticking out adds another element.
Unless, of course, you don’t give a you-know-what.
“I think my dad played a really big role in that,” Rai said Sunday night. “For the most part, it was just the two of us who used to go onto the golf course and practice together, probably up until I was 13 or 14. So I think he was very much an advocate to really just stay in your lane, focus on the things that you can do.
“And I didn’t really mix with a lot of other junior golfers, which didn’t give me a perspective of what was normal. So I think he kind of sheltered me to be able to develop in a way that made sense for me, in a way that I guess was a little bit unique with two gloves, with iron covers, et cetera.
“I think by the time he probably allowed me to play more kind of club golf, play professional golf, I felt like I was strong enough in why I did certain things to be able to continue to move that forward. I knew the reasons why I do them. I believe in the reasons why I do them. So I had no reason to really shift from that as I got older. So, yeah, that’s probably the main reason behind it.”
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That all said, I think it’s OK to emulate this thought.
As we look back at the PGA Championship week that was at Aronimink Golf Club, let’s make that observation No. 1 then. We’ll try for 49 more, and, to help the mood, we’ll mix in some Philly music.
2. My grandpa had iron covers. Red ones even.
3. Let’s talk more about Rai. I liked this answer when he was asked about his wife, Gaurika, who’s also a pro golfer:
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“She’s been incredible. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I wouldn’t be here without her. Both as a companion, as a friend, as someone I’m sharing my life with, but also as a real support system for my game. She’s a professional golfer herself. So her mindset, her advice, her thoughts, whether it’s technique or the way I’m holding myself is absolutely invaluable. She encompasses so many different sides in her opinions.
“We even had a conversation yesterday for probably 30 minutes in the car just before we got back to the hotel, just speaking a little bit about today. Again, some of the things that she mentioned in the conversations were really with me today.
4. What was that conversation in the car about? The Athletic’s Gabby Herzig wrote about that, and you can read her story here.
5. Who wins in a match between husband and wife?
“We practice quite a lot together. Honestly she beats me more times than I beat her,” Rai said. “When we have putting contests, chipping contests, we do some wedge games on TrackMan, I do well to keep up with her. She really is that good.
“We play a little bit on the course, but I’ve played Sawgrass — that’s where we live — a little bit more than her, and I think that little bit of experience helps. But it’s still very close with us even on the course.”
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6. How did the Rais meet? Golfweek’s Adam Schupak wrote about that, and you can read his story here.
7. Where was Rai planning to celebrate after his win? As he said he wasn’t sure, Gaurika shouted at his press conference, “He’ll probably have Chipotle.”
“I do love Chipotle on the road,” Rai said. “So we’ll probably go to Chipotle.”
8. I also thought Rai’s story on how he played courses growing up was interesting.
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“Up until the age of around 12 years old, I used to play off basically a customized course length, which gradually got longer and longer every year from the age of kind of 7 to 12,” he said. “… I was playing off the fairways and trying to make the course short enough for me to score par or better even as an 8-, 9-, 10-year-old.
“I thought it was a great idea. My dad thought it was a great idea.”
As he aged, Rai farther and farther moved back.
“My dad really thought that idea was great in terms of just installing the abilities and the skills to be able to score and the distance would just follow with age and with growth.”
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9. Of course, if you’re going to read just one Rai story today, please make it be this one here. It’s about the time Rai and I hunted for ghosts. Seriously.
10. You can learn a lot about a person through the thoughts of others, and I liked this one here, from pro Paul Waring.
I’ll never forget watching Aaron Rai do putting drills at 7pm on the Wednesday of the 2022 Irish Open. It was hammering down, he was soaked and still stayed out.
I cheered every putt he holed with a Guinness in my hand under cover of the terrace.
12. The week-long talk of no one pulling away on the leaderboard? Behind a four-under 31 on the back nine on Sunday, Rai ended it, along with the tournament itself. His 68-footer for birdie on 17 will also go down as one of the PGA’s all-time moments.
13. So why were there so many players at or around the lead throughout the tournament? Certainly, there’s always the possibility of that happening — who’s to say that the best in the world can’t all go out and shoot the same score?
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But Aronimink seemed to dictate play — there weren’t many ways to approach holes, other than the safe route, so most everyone did that. Find the fairway, find the safe pocket on the green, hit a couple of putts and move on.
The question is, how much of that is the course’s fault, and how much of that is the players’?
14. Let’s talk more about Aronimink — and two of the big questions of the week: Was it a good course for the PGA? And was it set up properly?
Hmm, how much time do you have?
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But maybe the answer is easier than you think, if you ask yourself this:
Did you like watching?
I think that’s mostly what matters in this. Golf is entertainment.
15. I did laugh when I heard Brandel Chamblee say on Golf Channel’s “Live From” show that a course manager knows they’ve set up a course right when the players start to [expletive].
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16. Here are a couple player thoughts on Aronimink and the setup that I thought were interesting:
Said Rory McIlroy on Saturday: “Look, when you have a set of greens like this, you can start to frustrate people pretty easily, I think. You heard it in me last night. You heard it in Scottie [Scheffler]. I saw some of his comments. Shane [Lowry]. I think there was a lot of guys that were frustrated yesterday coming off the course.
“Again, it’s frustrating to us, but at the same time, it creates a helluva entering championship. If I wasn’t playing this tournament, I’d love what’s going on this week, but watching and playing are two different things.”
17. Said Patrick Reed on Saturday: “It’s just different. I mean, I think that’s the easiest way. It’s a different challenge, and that’s the cool thing about it is it’s on its own.
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“But the great thing about all the golf courses we play, no matter where it is, whatever major championship we’re playing, if you’re hitting the ball well and you’re putting well, you’re going to be able to handle anything. We’re the best players in the world, so when they throw a really hard challenge at us, that’s when the top players are going to show up.”
18. Music break! The Roots’ “The Seed (2.0)” was heavily played during ESPN’s and CBS’ coverage, so let’s use it here. It’s a favorite.
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19. What would I, the 15-or-so handicap, shoot, with the wind, the rough and the pin locations, along with just the course itself?
How much time do I have?
20. But man, a lot of folks were wrong about how the course would play. The predictions of low numbers had Jon Rahm feeling strange.
“I would like to know who came up with that, by the way,” he said on Saturday. “Honestly, when I heard people talking about 20-under par, it made me question my ability to read a golf course, because I was looking at the greens and where they could put pin locations, and possible wind, I just — my mind was never — I actually got worried. I’m like if somebody shoots 20-under, the amount of records they’re going to break this week would be unheard of.
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“You know why I think that can happen is also the fairways up here by the numbers are probably wide. They don’t play as wide as they really are. Holes like 7, 10, 15, with how much slope you have to the fairway, you have to hit a very accurate golf shot to be in it. Like that, you can add 2, too, 4 — maybe not on 6, but like I said, 10, 12, 15, 16, right?
“You need to hit — with the slope of the fairway and the wind going with the slope of the fairway, it plays a lot more difficult than I think a lot of people would have foreseen at first with how much they’re rolling out.”
21. Let’s talk about some players.
In the first major since LIV Golf learned that it was losing its funding from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Rahm, one of LIV’s biggest stars, tied for second. I thought one of the more interesting quotes of the week came during his pre-tournament press conference, where he was asked what he learned from a strong showing at last year’s PGA.
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“It was really fun to be out there in the landscape nowadays in which as players in LIV we hear a lot of things from articles, from social media, from comments,” Rahm said. “While I understand why things are being said, it’s something you have to deal with.
“To go on that Sunday playing against Scottie, that has the lead, and to feel the support and love from the crowd is what made it really enjoyable. To realize that sometimes the truth is very different from what this makes or made up to be. When I made that birdie putt on 11 and I hit those good shots on 12 and 13 and almost made the putt on 13, the support from the crowd and the cheering from the crowd was what made it so much fun.
“It was a realization of having such support from the crowd and playing good golf that made me realize in a way how I’m truly perceived from the public, as opposed to what I read sometimes.”
22.Bryson DeChambeau, another LIV star, shot seven-over over two rounds and missed the cut, after missing the cut at the Masters.
What are your expectations for him at the U.S. Open, where he’s won twice?
23.Cam Smith had missed four straight cuts in the majors, then tied for seventh at the PGA. He recently started working with swing coach Claude Harmon III, after moving on from Grant Field, whom Smith had been guided by since he was 9.
“Probably one of the most difficult phone calls I’ve ever had to make,” Smith said Sunday.
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“And, yeah, it’s still kind of lingering, but I feel like I’ve made the right call, and I can see it in my golf and just my strike of the ball and seeing some different shots. It’s been nice.”
24.Patrick Reed played the Masters in April, didn’t play for four weeks, then tied for 10th at the PGA. Interestingly, he’ll have the same schedule heading into the U.S. Open — no tournaments for four weeks — as he’s been mostly playing a DP World Tour schedule while serving a PGA Tour suspension due to his time with LIV Golf.
“Yeah, this year’s a little different,” he said. “Honestly, I enjoyed my time at home. I enjoyed actually getting to grind, to prepare, and work on things and get ready for this week. … Who knows, it might be a new thing.”
25. My favorite exchange of the week? This one:
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Moderator to McIlroy, after he shot a four-over 74 in the first round: “How would you describe your opening round?”
McIlroy to moderator: “Sh*t.”
26. My favorite story this week? This one, from Justin Thomas, who was asked on Sunday if there was an “art” to sitting on a clubhouse lead.
“I don’t know if there’s an art,” he said. “I can tell you how there isn’t because it happened to me one time in Hartford, Conn., one year. It was actually the same day that [Jim] Furyk shot 58, I think it was. I shot like 61 or 62, and I finished pretty similar, like the leaders were on the middle of the front nine.
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“I had a buddy that was out there watching me, and we went in the clubhouse and probably had like four or five beers at lunch. Next thing you know, it’s two-and-a-half hours later, and I’m still the leader in the clubhouse. The wind picked up 15, 20 mph, and the leaders were on like 15. Jimmy [Johnson] was caddieing for me at the time. He’s at a Subway like an hour and a half away. He’s like what do we do?
“I’ve never not wanted to be in a playoff before, but I kind of didn’t want to be in a playoff then. That wouldn’t have been a good situation.”
27. It’s strange not seeing Scottie Scheffler in the top three or so, right? That’s Tiger-like.
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28. Alex Smalley will win a major. Maybe this year still.
29. I think Xander Schauffele will win another major. Maybe this year still.
30. I think Ludvig Aberg will win multiple majors. Maybe this year still.
31. I think Garrick Higgo will never miss another major tee time again. Notably, Golfweek’s Schupak reported here that Higgo has also parted ways with his caddie.
37. The video below, as always, is great. Padraig Harrington’s social media accounts shared it on Saturday night — after Harrington finished his third round. A true content machine.
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38. Here are a few of my favorite reads this week from the GOLF.com staff. From Michael Bamberger, his story here that wrapped up the tournament was great.
39. From Dylan Dethier, his story here on Rai was great.
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40. From Sean Zak, his story here on the PGA at Aronimink was great.
41. From Josh Schrock, his story here on Cam Smith was great.
42. Those four jawns above were pretty good jawns, right?
43. Music break! I mean, if I didn’t go with the “Rocky” theme song, what am I even doing here?
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44. With that comes an admission: I’ve never seen the original “Rocky.” I’ve watched “Rocky III” and “Rocky IV” about 3 million or 4 million times each. But never the original. (Or “Rocky II,” for that matter.) I have no excuse. I’m watching it tonight.
45. Or maybe I should watch “The Dark Knight” like McIlroy. He said he was going to watch the movie on Saturday night.
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46. Another admission: I’ve never had a cheesesteak. My dad was a meat butcher for 50 years, and I like sub sandwiches, but somehow it’s escaped me. That won’t change tonight — because I want the best. Where should I go both in Philly and outside of Philly? My email is nick.piastowski@golf.com.
47. Who wins the next two men’s majors? Let’s go with Aberg at the U.S. Open, and Matt Fitzpatrick at the Open Championship.
48. Who wins the next four women’s majors? Let’s go with Nelly Korda at the U.S. Women’s Open, Lydia Ko at the Women’s PGA (which would give her four of the five women’s majors), Charley Hull at the Evian and Minjee Lee at the Women’s Open (which would also give her four of the five women’s majors).
49. A quick and deserved nod to Leonie Harm, who, on Sunday, won the Amundi German Masters — 13 years after she suffered multiple injuries after she was hit by a drunk driver while running. In 2023, she wrote a story for Golf Digest about her experience, and you can read that here.
Senne Lammens was part of the Manchester United team that won against Nottingham Forest on Sunday
Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens underlined the squad’s togetherness through his celebrations against Nottingham Forest. Michael Carrick’s side produced a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford as Bruno Fernandes equalled a Premier League record with his 20th assist of the season.
Luke Shaw opened the scoring for United and Matheus Cunha later restored the team’s lead early in the second half before Bryan Mbeumo added a third. Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White halved United’s lead but the home side hung on to claim the win and secure a third-place finish.
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Mbeumo’s goal ultimately ensured three points for the club but the goal scorer was not the centre of the team’s celebrations. Instead, United players ran to congratulate Fernandes for providing the assist and equalling Thierry Henry’s record assist tally for a single season.
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The United squad were clearly aware that the 31-year-old was on the cusp of the record and were eager to congratulate the skipper. The team’s positivity was exemplified by Lammens, who ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with Fernandes. The goalkeeper’s enthusiasm was spotted by several United fans and praised on social media.
One United fan wrote on X: “Lammens came all the way to congratulate Bruno. The vibes are immaculate.” A second fan posted: “Lammens coming up to celebrate with Bruno. MY GOAT.” A third social media user said: “Lammens running up the pitch, this really is a club of love.”
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A fourth added: “Lammens running the length of the pitch to celebrate Bruno equalling the assist record. Look how chuffed they all are for him man.” A fifth United supporter wrote: “The way they all celebrated with Bruno when he wasn’t even the goalscorer, even Lammens joined in.”
Others focused on Fernandes’ importance to United, with one fan stating: “Lammens running to celebrate with Bruno… this is what it means (also shows what an amazing captain he is..).” Another wrote: “The way everyone went to congratulate Bruno after his assist, even Lammens came up…I love this club.”
The win over Forest was the latest sign of how Carrick has rejuvenated the squad during his reign. The 44-year-old has won 11 of his 16 games in charge, guiding United to Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, Lammens has enjoyed an impressive first season at the club after signing from Royal Antwerp last summer, making 31 league appearances. The 23-year-old has previously spoken about Fernandes’ influence as captain and how the midfielder helped him settle in at United.
“I mean, he’s the way I like it, to be honest, he’s not always the most vocal,” Lammens said of Fernandes last month. “He speaks when he needs to, especially before big games or when we have maybe more difficulties.
“He’s also someone who’s very, very hard on himself and on everybody else, which is why maybe sometimes he can look a little bit frustrated when it’s not going our way, but that’s also the way it has to be at this level, I think, because he wants to win Champions Leagues and he wants to win the Premier League.
“So that’s what he’s thinking about and that’s what he tries to give us as well, and tries to take us to his level as well. So, yeah, he’s a leader on and off the pitch, and also like personally, he’s always very nice to me when I came in here.
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“In my first days, he showed open arms to me, so it’s always a nice feeling when that comes from your most important player, the captain as well. It’s always a nice feeling.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
A recent (unverified and disputed) report indicates that the Pac-12 will be distributing more than $13 million to each of its full members under the new media rights deal.
That would be a massive win for the league.
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin discusses some of the biggest games of the 2026 season.
With no restrictions, what are the must-see games this Fall?
Memphis enters its first year under HC Charles Huff as a program that is perennially in the running for a G6 Playoff spot.
Will that be the expectation again in 2026?
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00:00 Discussing PAC 12 financial insights 05:56 PAC 12 coaching salaries and strategy 13:16 College football game performances 16:51 Ohio State vs USC stakes 19:11 Discussing college football game times 21:54 Choosing hypothetical college football games 24:36 Charles Huff’s coaching journey 30:44 Quarterback options for Memphis
The Gunners are just one game away from winning their first title in 22 years after Kai Havertz’s first-half header secured a 1-0 victory against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Arsenal will be crowned champions on Tuesday night – and avoid the anxiety of a final-day shootout – if Bournemouth stop Manchester City from winning at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries have not lost a home game in the eight fixtures since their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on January 3.
And when asked if he is now a Bournemouth fan for the next 24 hours, Arteta said: “The biggest ever.
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“(Bournemouth manager) Andoni (Iraola), and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all fans because we know what it means if they get a result.
“I don’t think (a text to Iraola) is needed. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else. When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they show, how difficult they made it, imagine tomorrow.”
Pressed as to whether he would watch the match with his players, Arteta replied: “I haven’t planned to do that.
“I am planning to watch it with my family. I don’t know for how long. I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I am going to be able to watch it, and that is the reality.”
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Havertz’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner in the 36th minute proved enough for Arsenal, who face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, to beat an already-relegated Burnley side.
Arteta’s players could complete a historic double this month with a Champions League final against Paris St Germain to follow in Budapest on May 30.
Prior to leading his side on a lap of honour to mark the club’s final home game, captain Martin Odegaard said: “I am really proud. It has been an amazing season so far.
“We have one big one left and then the Champions League final and we want to take the trophies home.
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“I can promise you all that we will give everything we have and keep going until the very end. With your support we are going to be ready.”
Burnley rarely looked like spoiling Arsenal’s party, but the hosts could count themselves fortunate to end the game with 11 men following Havertz’s high tackle on Lesley Ugochukwu.
Burnley interim boss Mike Jackson said: “It is a red card. It is dangerous, he is leaving the floor, and it is cynical foul to break up play.
“We are disappointed it wasn’t given because it changes the game for the last 20 minutes in our favour.
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“When you look back at it and watch it frame-by-frame, and second-by-second, you must be able to see that.”
FIFA finally sealed a World Cup broadcast rights deal for China on Friday, just 27 days before the opening game and at a much lower reported price than the soccer body wanted.
The overall agreement with China Media Group covered the next four World Cups – two each of the men’s and women’s – through 2031, FIFA said in a statement. It includes the 48-team, 104-game men’s tournament in North America starting on June 11 that China did not qualify for.
Chinese state-affiliated media reported on Friday the 2026 World Cup rights were valued at $60 million.
FIFA originally sought $300 million, Chinese media reported in recent weeks as the deadline to strike a deal drew closer.
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A rights deal for India has not been confirmed.
“It’s a real pleasure that we have found an agreement with CMG,” FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said in the soccer body’s statement. He was in China this week, also for meetings with officials from the Chinese soccer federation.
FIFA’s leverage in China was less because of the time difference of up to 15 hours from Beijing to the 16 host cities spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Chinese companies have already made a big investment in the 2026 World Cup which is set to earn FIFA more than $11 billion.
Technology firm Lenovo is one of FIFA’s eight top-tier sponsor partners, and second-tier deals were signed by dairy firm Mengniu and electronics manufacturer Hisense.
Chinese conglomerate Wanda signed a long-term deal with FIFA in 2016 which was terminated two years ago.
The value of the TV rights were not disclosed for the 2030 World Cup, which once might have been hosted by China and which Wanda said was part of its strategy with FIFA. The country’s ambitions to host international soccer competitions stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The 2030 men’s tournament will be mostly hosted in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with single games currently scheduled to be played in Argentina, Paraguay and the original 1930 World Cup host Uruguay.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be played in Brazil and the 2031 World Cup mainly in the United States, along with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica.
That hosting decision with no rival candidate is due to the confirmed in November by FIFA member federations.
Though most individual half-innings over the course of a 162-game grind aren’t often remembered, Monday’s bottom of the fourth inning will be one to remember for the Toronto Blue Jays — painfully.
After taking a 3-1 lead thanks to an Ernie Clement three-run shot to left-centre field in the top of the fourth, Toronto immediately gave that lead right back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to some bizarre occurrences.
First, Toronto left fielder Davis Schneider made what looked like an awesome diving catch on Anthony Volpe. But the call on the field was overturned after a review determined the ball peeked out just a little from Schneider’s glove after he crashed to the ground.
This allowed Volpe, who was scored as hitting a double on the overturned play, to then steal third base and cash in on a sacrifice fly by J.C. Escarra.
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Volpe was nearly tagged out on the sac fly as Myles Straw delivered a throw from right field that was in time and on the money to Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela. However, thanks to a great slide and some good evasive maneuvers by the Yankees shortstop, as well as some fumbling of the ball by Valenzuela, Volpe managed to score.
After that, Max Schuemann scored to tie the game up at 3-3 after he managed to steal second because of an error from Valenzuela, where he booted the baseball and temporarily lost track of it. Schuemann came home on an RBI double from Paul Goldschmidt.
Toronto ultimately managed to re-take the lead in the top of the fifth with a George Springer home run, but that bottom of the fourth inning is one the team will likely want to forget.
TaylorMade’s Spider putter line keeps racking up majors, although this time it’s not from Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler or any contracted TaylorMade player.
The TaylorMade Spider Tour V Flow-neck putter Aaron Rai used to nail the 68-foot birdie putt on the 71st hole to slam the door shut at the PGA Championship is a putter he uses completely by choice.
Rai’s Spider Tour V was part of the 2024 edition of Spider putters and has found the bags of several players at times, including Collin Morikawa and Nelly Korda. Shane Lowry has had one in his bag since the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which he won with McIlroy. The Tour V model has a more tapered body than the Spider Tour or Tour X models and features adjustable weights just behind the face, giving it a more forward CG.
In using a TaylorMade Spider Tour V, Aaron Rai is going to become the fifth major winner in the last six to use a Spider putter in the last six.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy won the other four with the Spider Tour X.
That more forward CG helps to emulate the CG location of blade putters, making the Tour V a great option for players seeking to move into the Spider platform from a blade.
Rai’s putter features a unique flow neck, similar to the one Morikawa has on his Spider Tour X, that gives the putter a bit more face rotation to the stroke.
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The 31-year-old switched to this putter late last August from a face-balanced TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast DuPage mallet, which also featured a Pure Roll insert. This past week at Aronimink, Rai was fifth in SG: Putting, gaining 1.7 strokes per round on the field, including nearly four in the final round.
With the victory, a Spider Tour putter has not only won five of the last six majors, dating back to McIlroy’s 2025 Masters win, but it’s also won eight events already this season, including both major championships.
While the Spider Tour V Rai used is no longer available at retail, the Spider Tour and Spider Tour X head shapes are currently available and feature much of the same technology, most notably the Pure Roll insert. TaylorMade putter rep James Holley credited the insert with much of the Spider’s success on Tour.
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TaylorMade Spider Tour X Custom Putter
THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION
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We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
STEEL WIREFRAME
Allows engineers to better control weight distribution and CG location.
HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER
HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
DIFFERENT CG LOCATION
Each Spider Tour model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting.
TSS WEIGHTING
TSS weights provide balanced weighting and help optimize performance for all various putter lengths.
GUNMETAL PVD FINISH
The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment.
REFINED HOSEL DESIGNS
Spider Tour Series includes two different hosel shapes and designs. The small slant produces toe hang, and the double bend produces a face balanced design.
“Any of the guys that have switched like Scottie or Tommy, they see such a big improvement inside that 20 feet,” Holley, who fit Rai into his Spider, told GOLF. “Especially out on Tour, that’s where those guys make their money. Statistically, the best putter and the worst putter from 30 feet, there isn’t that big of a difference from a strokes-gained perspective.”
There’s also a new Spider Tour V shape that debuted on the PGA Tour last month, in what appears to be the next generation of the putter. Brooks Koepka put that model in play last week, which appears to also have the forward weighting based on the weight placement.
MS Dhoni finally returned to the MA Chidambaram Stadium on a matchday in IPL 2026. It was Chennai Super Kings’ final home match of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Dhoni returned to Chepauk. He joined the players on the ground and even took a round of the stadium, clicking photos and waving at the fans. There has been a lot of speculation around Dhoni’s career going forward, but on Monday, Dhoni looked calm as he interacted with the players. Even Sunrisers Hyderabad players were in awe of the India icon.
While Dhoni is yet to make a statement about his future, there’s speculation that the IPL 2026 season could be his last. With Sanju Samson taking his place behind the stumps and the franchise looking to build a new team around youngsters, Dhoni’s return next season looks highly unlikely. His actions after the match against the Sunrisers could be seen as a hint.
Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified for the Indian Premier League playoffs after Ishan Kishan anchored them to a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Monday. Hyderabad’s win also ensured Gujarat Titans a place in the four-team playoffs. Defending champions and league leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru were already through, meaning only one place remained to be filled in the knockouts.
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Five-time champions Chennai were still in contention but needed to beat Gujarat in their last league match on Thursday and hope for other results to go in their favour.
Hyderabad, playing its first game after a week’s rest, cruised to 181/5 with an over to spare as Kishan scored a breezy 70 off 47 balls and Heinrich Klaasen mastered spin with a knock of 47 off 26 deliveries.
Chennai made 180/7, struggling against the variations of the Hyderabad fast bowlers. Captain Pat Cummins led with 3/28, with support from Sakib Hussain‘s 2/34 and Eshan Malinga‘s 1/26.
On a slow pitch, Chennai were well served by Dewald Brevis (44) and Kartik Sharma (32), scoring at a healthy rate in the middle overs.
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But they were overshadowed by Hyderabad’s Kishan and Klaasen, with Klaasen having been dropped on 18. The pair combined for 75 for the third wicket until Klaasen was stumped. Kishan batted on to take his team to within six runs of victory.
With PTI inputs
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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
NEW DELHI: With 7 games remaining in the league stage of IPL 2026, LSG and MI are already out of contention for the playoffs. RCB, GT and SRH have now qualified. RR is best placed among the others followed by PBKS. KKR, DC and CSK are still in the mix but have slim chances. There are now 128 possible combinations of results, so nothing is for sure yet for any of the five remaining in the race. We look at the probabilities:
RCB are now sure to qualify and to at least finish tied for no.1 in terms of points. Their worst case scenario is a three-way tie for first place with GT and SRH
SRH’s win over CSK on Monday means that both SRH and GT have qualified and for both the chances of at least being tied for the second spot are a healthy 75%
RR have a 43.8% chance of ending up among the top four on points and they could still end up in a three-way tie for second spot with SRH and GT, but there’s only a 6.3% chance of that
PBKS can at best finish sole fourth (28.1% chance) or tie for fourth spot with KKR (10.9%)
KKR’s chances of making the last four singly or jointly are now at 20.3% and if they do tie for the last slot it will be with PBKS
DC’s chances of making the last four singly or jointly are now at 18.8%. Their best case is sole fourth (3.1%)
CSK’s best case scenario after Monday’s loss are tied fourth with RR or DC or both and even that is only a 14.1% chance
How we arrive at the probabilities: There are 128 possible combinations of results remaining with 7 games to go. For each team, we looked at how many of these end up with them being among the top four either singly or tied. We also looked at how many combinations put each team in the top two either singly or jointly. For instance, RCB finish at no.1 on points in all 128 possible combinations of match outcomes, in some of them as sole leaders and others as joint leaders.
Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Midwest modified drivers Darren Engesser of Gary (11S), Tom Neitzel of Watertown (2DR), Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen (15) and Scott Hansen of Garden City (31) battle in a heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Midwest modified drivers Darren Engesser of Gary (11S), Tom Neitzel of Watertown (2DR), Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen (15) and Scott Hansen of Garden City (31) battle in a heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Watertown late model drivers Curt Kranz (87) and Ryan Engels (1) race side-by-side during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Parker Gilbertson of Watson, MN (23JR), Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) and Tony Croninger of Watertown (8T) hit the pedal in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Matthew Moes of Watertown (0) and Dylan Tirrel of White (7) are pictured in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Coltyn Schuler of Montevideo, MN (16J), Al Schmidt of Watertown (12) and Adam Dehne of Medina, ND (77D) compete in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Watertown late model drivers Trevor Anderson (20) and Chad Williamson (57) hit the pedal during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
A group of Gen X late model drivers, including Bodie Croninger of Watertown (811), Curt Kranz of Watertown (87), Tyler McFarland of Goodwin (19), Blake Swenson of Watertown (10X) and Trevor Walsh of Watertown (15), are bunched together during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tony Miller of Browns Valley, MN (80) leads Chris Serr of Aberdeen (01) in a street stock heat during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Hornets drivers Paxton Tjaden of Boyd, MN (87TJR), Adam VanDerostyne of Canby, MN (3) and Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) battle for position during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tommy Nichols of Watertown won the Midwest modified feature during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Jake Wranek of Sioux Falls takes the checkered flag in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Tyler Peterson of Hickson, ND won a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Todd Stark of Watertown (33) holds a slim lead of Terry Reilly of Watertown in a Midwest modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Maria Broksieck of Goodwin leads Jason Marko of Watertown in a street stock heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Broksieck won this heat but Marko later won the feature.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Thomas Weisgram of Northville (16) held off Charlie Olsen of Henricks, MN (10CO) to win the first heat of late models during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Alex Tschakert of Kent, MN (01) and Ryan Nelson of Castlewood (73) turn a corner in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Six drivers kick of Casino Speedway’s 72nd season with feature wins
Tony Konold of Clear Lake (15) leads Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) in a modifed heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Konold won the heat and later also won the feature.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Hornets drivers Jesse Lindner of Watertown (11), Bradley Rossow of Florence (555), Brandon Downs of Milbank (21), Skylar Burgher of Watertown (front left) and Matthew Moes of Watertown get the green flag at the start of a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Late model drivers Chad Becker of Aberdeen (12) and Laela Eisenschenk of Fargo, ND head down the backstretch during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Jeff Rohner of Willmar, MN (08) leads Nathan Smith of Watertown in a hornets heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Rohner later won the hornets feature.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Andy Brooker of Tulare (8) and Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) turn a corner in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Six drivers kick of Casino Speedway’s 72nd season with feature wins
Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) leads Trevor Walsh of Watertown (20) in a late model heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown. Stearns went on to win the late model feature later in the evening.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Brittany Swenson of Watertown (11X) and Brandon Fisher of Miller battle for position in a Gen X late models heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
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Mother’s Day opener kicks off racing season at Casino Speedway
Nate Heinrich of Bellingham, MN (10H) pushes past Mike Stearns of Aberdeen (24S) in a modified heat race during the season-opening Mother Day’s racing program on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Casino Speedway in Watertown.
WATERTOWN — The second stock car racing progam of the season was wiped out by rain on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Casino Speedway.
The 11th Casino Speedway Memorial is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 and will feature all six regular classes of cars: late models, Gen X late models, modifieds, Midwest modifieds, street stocks and hornets.
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Racing is scheduled to open at 5 p.m.
Below are highlights from other weekend racing events throughout northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota (for complete results from all area races, visit myracepass.com).
ABERDEEN — The third weekly program of the 2026 season at Brown County Speedway was h3eld on Friday, May 15.
Super stock driver Trevor Nelson of Warner won his third-straight feature of the season. Aberdeen drivers Chad Becker (late model) and Mike Stearns (modifieds) and Huron’s Nick Perry (Midwest modifieds) each won their second features.
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Broc Stout of Winner (street stocks) and Ryan Erdahl of Jamestown, ND (legends) also added feature victories.
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Area drivers who won heat races included Becker and Stearns, late models; Eric Cease of Bath, Taylor Schmidt of Aberdeen and Lorin Johnson of Miller, Midwest modifieds; and Stearns and Garrett Gross of Aberdeen, modifieds.
The field included 80 cars: 19 Midwest modifieds, 18 street stocks, 12 super stocks, 12 late models, 11 modifieds and eight legends.
Another weekly racing program is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
Watertown Gen X late model drivers Hope Swenson and Trevor Walsh (15) race during the season-opening racing program at Casino Speedway in Watertown on May 10, 2026. The May 17 program at Casino Speedway was wiped out by rain. Walsh did get some racing in over the weekend, winning the Gen X late model feature at I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN on Friday, May 15.
Dakota State Fair Speedway
HURON — Area drivers Maria Broksieck of Goodwin, Scott Hansen of Garden City, Brad Kopecky of Miller and Mike Stearns of Aberdeen each won feature races on Saturday, May 16.
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Broksieck won the street stocks feature, Hansen Midwest modifieds, Miller super stocks and Stearns late models.
Chad Becker of Aberdeen won a late model heat race during the program, which featured 58 cars (16 street stocks, 14 Midwest modifieds, nine super stocks and nine late models).
Another racing program is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m.
MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Ryan Flaten of Madison, MN won both the Midwest modified and modified features on Friday, May 15.
The Midwest modified feature win was his second of the season at FCS.
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Jason Best of Clarkfield, MN (pure stocks) and Keith Tourville of Janesville, MN (street stocks) each also won their seconds features in three weeks.
Bailey Rosch of Alexandria, MN (super stocks) and Williams Large of Staples, MN (hornets) also won feature races.
Flaten also won Midwest modified and modified heat races. Area hornets drivers Bradley Rossow of Florence and Adam VanDerostyne of Canby, MN also added heat wins.
There were 76 cars on hand, including 18 hornets, 17 Midwest modifieds, 16 street stocks, nine super stocks, eight pure stocks and eight modifieds.
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A Hornets Special kicks off the racing program scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
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I-94 Speedway
FERGUS FALLS, MN — Trevor Walsh of Watertown won the Gen X late models feature during the Wissota Late Model Challenge Series Special at I-94 Speedway on Friday, May 15.
Minnesota drivers won the other features, including Kevin Burdick of Proctor (late models), Tanner Bitzen of Brandon (Midwest modifieds), Kyle Dykhoff of Starbuck (street stocks) and Jeff Rohner of Willmar (hornets).
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The NRCA Late Models will be part of Military Appreciation Night scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
After drawing the highest bid at breeze-up sales, Tron Bolt is gearing up for a Group 1 challenge following his decisive midweek triumph at Randwick’s Kensington venue.
“There’s the Sires’ Produce in Queensland. It’s two-and-a-half weeks (away), or the same day at Rosehill there’s a 1300. It will be one of the two,” trainer Chris Waller said of Tron Bolt’s next start.
“Ideally, he can win then or run well and go to the J J Atkins.
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“He was a nice Ready-To-Run horse, and he’s impressed us since day one.”
This Toronado offspring, Tron Bolt ($2.70), ran third in his April debut at Kembla Grange but dominated Wednesday’s Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1400m).
With James McDonald aboard, he surged late to prevail by three lengths over Rolling Home ($8.50), as stable companion Unhinged ($2.50 fav) filled third a long head behind.
Chris Waller has proven adept at selecting two-year-olds that mature into Queensland carnival stars, notably for the J J Atkins, viewing Tron Bolt as ideal.
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“It works well, and we’ve had it in mind for him for a while,” he said.
“He obviously needed to win today. He is a lovely, scopey horse, that’s why I’m thinking a mile.”
This week’s announcement of a spell for St Gotthard, the Ken Russell Memorial Classic winner from Saturday, doesn’t weaken Waller’s Atkins assault.
Stormy Marco, victor of the Clarendon Stakes, and Nation’s League, the runner-up who scratched midweek at Kensington, accompany Tron Bolt towards the juvenile prize.
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“They need to keep improving,” Waller said.
“I like to give them a run or two at two, otherwise they find it hard to measure up at three.”
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Memphis enters its first year under HC Charles Huff as a program that is perennially in the running for a G6 Playoff spot. 
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