Two players with direct ties to Africa represented the continent in the 75th NBA All-Star Game last Sunday – Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers, Cameroon) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, ties to Democratic Republic of the Congo) – which introduced a USA vs. World format.
USA Stars dominated the championship game with a 47–21 win over USA Stripes, led by a standout performance from Anthony Edwards, who was named the 2026 Kia All-Star MVP. It was the most-watched NBA All-Star Game in the U.S. in 15 years.
The weekend tipped off with the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and Castrol Rising Stars showcase on Friday night, where Team Vince clinched a narrow 25–24 victory over Team Melo in a competitive finale.
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Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat) won the AT&T Slam Dunk, Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) edged Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) to take the State Farm 3‑Point Contest, and Team Knicks triumphed in the Kia Shooting Stars competition on Saturday night.
As part of this year’s All-Star, seven top African prospects from or with direct ties to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal participated in the 10th annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) All-Star Camp.
Obinna Ekezie Jr., son of former NBA player Obinna Ekezie (Nigeria), was awarded the Defensive MVP and formed part of the camp’s All-Star Team alongside Cheickh Niang (Italy; ties to Senegal) and Caleb Ourigou (Côte d’Ivoire).
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Photo: Obinna Ekezie Jr. at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Pascal Siakam at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
In the lead up to its sixth season which will tip off in South Africa on March 27, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) celebrated the continent’s culture and impact on the sidelines of the global showcase. The BAL Business Cocktail gathered more than 300 cultural taste makers, global entertainers, NBA legends and industry leaders, including representatives of BAL Foundational Partner Rwanda Development Board, highlighting the continent’s rising influence in sports, culture and creative industries, while emphasizing ongoing conversations around African investment, ownership, and the future of basketball.
Notable attendees included Rwanda Convention Bureau CEO Janet Kamerera, 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli, NBA legend Charles Smith, Somali-American basketball influencer Jamad Fiin and Kenyan singer and songwriter Bien.
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Photos: 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall at the BAL Business Cocktail in Los Angeles, California (left) and Bien and Jamad at Intuit Dome (right) on Feb. 13, 2026
Among global icons attending this year’s All-Star were also South African rugby champion Siya Kolisi and Grammy Award winner Tyla.
The fight was set up between second-ranked Prochazka and third-ranked Ulberg after former champion Alex Pereira vacated the title to move up to heavyweight.
With 31 finishes from 39 fights, Prochazka is regarded as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and went into the contest as the favourite.
Ulberg, meanwhile, who grew up in foster homes before transitioning to martial arts after a spell in rugby league, earned the opportunity after knocking out former title challenger Dominick Reyes in September.
Fan favourite Prochazka was serenaded by “let’s go Jiri” chants in the early stages, as Ulberg attacked with leg kicks.
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But Ulberg was soon in difficulties with his knee following an awkward landing while falling backwards.
Prochazka appeared to invite Ulberg to stand and trade blows, with the New Zealander ignoring the offer.
With Ulberg backing up against the cage, Prochazka stepped in while throwing punches but was caught by a flush counter left hook.
With fans at octagon-side on their feet in shock and excitement, Ulberg then pounced on the fallen Prochazka to reign down punches as the referee stopped the fight.
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UFC president Dana White said in his post-fight news conference that the injury could be Ulberg’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), while commentator Daniel Cormier said Prochazka would have won had the fight gone past the first round.
“If he went to his corner, this fight would have been done. His knee is blown out, he can’t even stand,” said Cormier.
The UFC will be hoping Ulberg’s injury is not serious, with ACL tears usually taking more than nine months to heal fully following surgery.
SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford singled home the winning run after Bryan Abreu walked the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning, and the Seattle Mariners rallied past the skidding Houston Astros 8-7 on Saturday night.
Cal Raleigh homered and had three RBIs for the Mariners, who trailed 7-2 before scoring five times in the fifth. Crawford hit a two-run single, Raleigh followed with a sacrifice fly and Julio Rodríguez tied it with a two-run homer.
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The 426-foot shot to center field was Rodríguez’s first home run this season.
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Yordan Alvarez homered and had three of Houston’s 17 hits, but the Astros lost their sixth straight game. Taylor Trammell delivered an early three-run double, and Cam Smith had a career-high four hits — including a two-run single that capped a 13-pitch at-bat.
Alvarez has six homers and 14 RBIs already this season.
Carlos Correa also had three hits and scored twice for the Astros, who loaded the bases in the top of the ninth before Alvarez flied out against Andrés Muñoz (2-1).
Abreu (0-2) walked Cole Young, pinch-hitter Brendan Donovan and Leo Rivas in the ninth before Crawford lined a single into left field. It was his seventh walk-off hit, tying Jim Presley for the team record.
Manchester City are away at Chelsea in the Premier League today as they battle Arsenal for the Premier League title.
Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Stamford Bridge as they seek to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table.
City impressed in brushing Liverpool aside 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals last time out and will hope to maintain that momentum when they travel to Chelsea.
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The Blues know they need a win to keep alive their chances of overhauling league leaders Arsenal, who visit the Etihad next week.
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Pep Guardiola confirmed Ruben Dias and John Stones are not yet fit to feature with the defensive duo having missed the win over Liverpool. That means Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov will continue in the centre of defence. Nico O’Reilly has produced back-to-back starring performances from left back, while Matheus Nunes is established as first choice on the right.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to return in goal despite James Trafford keeping successive clean sheets and impressing against Arsenal at Wembley and Liverpool at the Etihad.
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In midfield, Rodri and Bernardo Silva look set to partner each other in the middle of the park, allowing Rayan Cherki the chance to hurt Chelsea from an attacking role. Antoine Semenyo has been a consistent performer since arriving at the Etihad in January while Jeremy Doku gets the nod on the other flank. Erling Haaland, fresh from a hat-trick last time out, will lead the line.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson recently competed in the Suburban Propane 300 held on April 11, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Later, during the post-race interview, Larson opened up about a heartbreaking finish despite dominating the race.
Larson piloted the #88 Chevy Camaro SS for JR Motorsports and qualified third for the main event. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing driver William Sawalich secured the pole position. Later, the 2025 Cup Series champion took command of the pack and won both stage one and two of the 300-lap race.
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Kyle Larson dominated the Bristol Motor Speedway race, leading 230 laps, but a late-race error changed the outcome for him. After the white flag was waved, Larson was chasing Connor Zilisch and lost control of his #88 Chevy. This gave Zilisch enough time to extend the gap between them and take his first win of the season.
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Speaking on the same, the Hendrick Motorsports driver told the press the following:
“I needed Connor around the bottom, like one more corner maybe. And I could have gotten control of his outside, but, yeah, he moved up at the right time. I tried to move around a little bit for your lap and a half behind him, and it was just not going to work.”
“So needed him to make a mistake, but I made the mistake behind him, not that it probably would matter anyways, but I had fun, so I mean, obviously I wish I would have gotten the win, but oh no, it’s another fun Bristol race, and I got to work through traffic, a lot. Connor kept me really honest, you know, that last run too, so I had to pick through it really good,” he added.
Connor Zilisch crossed the finish line 0.703 seconds ahead of Kyle Larson at Bristol Motor Speedway. Meanwhile, Brent Crews secured the last podium place, followed by two more JRM drivers, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil in P4 and P5.
“I was just a average mid-pack guy”: Kyle Larson got candid about his season’s first O’Reilly Series victory
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson won his season’s first triumph at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Series. Later, during the post-race interview, Larson shared his racing experience at the 1.5-mile tri-oval track.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a dominant qualifying session and began the race from the front row alongside pole sitter Sam Mayer. Later, Larson struggled a bit in the race but was able to lock in a P4 and P5 finish in stages one and two.
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Later, in the final stage of the race, Kyle Larson took the lead and won the first race of the 2026 season. The #88 Chevy Camaro SS driver celebrated his triumph with his son. Following that, Larson told the press:
“Well, I was seeing a lot of racing on a windshield because I was just an average mid-pack guy for most of it. and it was good. It was really good racing.”
Kyle Larson crossed the finish line with a margin of 2.55 seconds over fellow Cup Series driver Christopher Bell. Meanwhile, Sheldon Creed secured the last podium finish, followed by Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith in fourth and fifth place.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Eric Simons praised both MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson for their composure and deep understanding of the game. He described Dhoni as one of the calmest players he’s ever worked with, and noted that Samson shows a very similar mindset, remaining unflustered, confident, and not overdoing preparation. “I’ve had the privilege to spend many years playing, being involved with Dhoni, he’s one of the calmest cricketers I’ve ever come across. And Sanju Samson’s not far behind that, he just understands the game from that perspective, I’ve seen no panic, no sense of practising more, doing more, maybe even less,” Simons said in the post-match press conference.
After three failures for his new Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Samson announced his arrival with a majestic hundred against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday in Chennai.
Simons emphasised that a player of Samson’s class will inevitably bounce back from poor form. Simons stressed there was never any doubt about Samson’s ability, highlighting that top players must trust their skills, stay confident, and remain patient, as success will follow.
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“When you’ve got the class of a player like him, you know it’s just temporary if you have a bad run of form and sometimes it’s about luck, he got a great delivery from (Nandre) Burger at one game, it’s just the way it goes, one ball goes for four to the boundary, he edges one, he gets caught, so there was never any doubt that this was coming and I think the mindset of a cricketer of his stature is important, you’ve just got to keep trusting him, believing in your quality and certainly he’s got that sort of an abundance,” Simons added.
Samson made history on Saturday, becoming the first batter in the history of the IPL to score centuries for three different franchises after he brought up his maiden century in CSK.
Samson, after three bad outings, roared back into form with an unbeaten 115* in 56 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes, at a strike rate of 205.36. Out of his four IPL hundreds, Samson has scored two for Rajasthan Royals (in the 2019 and 2021 seasons) and Delhi Capitals (in the 2017 season).
Samson also completed 400 sixes in T20S, becoming the fourth Indian to reach the milestone following Rohit Sharma (554), Virat Kohli (441), and Suryakumar Yadav (442). He now has 401 sixes in the shortest format of the game.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans
Gerald Ryan possesses extensive involvement across various iterations of the Champagne Stakes minus a triumph, though the flawless colt Southend convinces him of impending success.
Williamsburg notched his peak placing third to She’s Extreme in 2022, as Flying Snitzel earned a gritty fourth behind Pierro during 2012.
Victories in the Baillieu (1400m) preceded their Group 1 efforts for both, a blueprint Southend follows having just captured that race ahead of Saturday’s Randwick showcase.
In partnership with Sterling Alexiou these days, Ryan confesses to being enchanted by the colt upon viewing him as a yearling, rendering his initial racing signs wholly unsurprising.
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“I have been excited about him ever since we bought him at the sales,” Ryan said.
“He has been so straightforward, great natured, easy to get on with. And he’s a lovely horse to look at. He reminds me of Lonhro.
“There’s a photo when he won (the Baillieu) going past the post and he dead-set looks like Lonhro. Just his colour and his action and his ears.”
Southend’s Baillieu conquest established him as the first Australian stakes winner from Darley’s premier miler Palace Pier, who boasts dual championship honours.
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It built on a winning bow in the Paul Perry (1300m) at Newcastle back on March 6, with the trainer noting ongoing improvement as the long-range plan crystallises.
“This horse was never going to go to the Sires’ (Produce Stakes) He was always going to those two runs and if he was alright, to the Champagne,” he said.
“He has come out of his last win terrific. He looks well. He’s enjoying life, and he’s a straightforward little horse.”
The ride stays with Dylan Gibbons, successful aboard Southend for his two victories, heading to Randwick next Saturday.
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The Champagne Stakes (1600m) joins the All Aged Stakes (1400m) as Group 1 highlights, the latter signalling Fangirl’s anticipated reappearance.
India’s emerging badminton talent Ayush Shetty is on the cusp of a historic achievement as he gears up to face China’s Shi Yu Qi in the men’s singles final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday.The 20-year-old has been the breakout star of the tournament, putting together an impressive run against some of the world’s best. Now, just one victory separates him from a landmark title that would mark a defining moment in his young career and a significant milestone for Indian badminton.
Semifinal heroics: Shetty stuns world No. 1
Shetty delivered a performance of immense character in the semifinal, overcoming reigning world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a gripping three-game encounter. After a one-sided opening game, the Indian showed resilience and tactical maturity to fight back, turning the match around with aggressive shot-making and improved control in the rallies.
Shi Yu Qi cruises into final
In contrast, Shi Yu Qi had a far more straightforward passage to the final. The Chinese star produced a dominant display in his semifinal, winning in straight games with authority. His control over rallies, sharp net play, and ability to dictate tempo ensured he rarely allowed his opponent any foothold in the match.On Saturday, the 20-year-old Ayush dethroned Kunvalut 10-21, 21-19, 21-17, while world No.2 Shi outclassed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-9, 21-13 in the semifinals of Badminton Asia Championships.
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When and where to watch live
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM IST
Live Streaming: Available on Badminton Asia’s official Facebook and YouTube channels
TV Broadcast: No live telecast in India
China’s Shi Yu Qi leads the head-to-head record against India’s Ayush Shetty 2-0 . The two shuttlers are scheduled to meet for the third time today. While Shi Yu Qi has won both previous encounters, their last meeting at the Malaysia Open in January was a closely contested three-game battle, suggesting Shetty is closing the gap.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Scottie Scheffler had a memorable Saturday at Augusta National. He eagled the par-5 2nd, made five birdies and no bogeys and signed for his lowest-ever Masters round, a sublime seven-under 65 that propelled him into contention in this 90th playing of the tournament; at day’s end he was seven under for the week, just four back of Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. It would surprise no one if Scheffler cards another 65 Sunday and slips on his third green jacket in five years.
When Scheffler had tended to his post-third-round scoring duties on what was a warm, still day at Augusta, he met with a small scrum of reporters in the interview pen by the clubhouse.
“That was a 65 today,” a reporter said. “What did it feel like it could have or should have been?”
As Scheffler processed the inquiry, he scratched his neck and shook his head. Then he dropped the hammer.
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“That’s just a terrible question,” he said. “Next question. Awful.”
It wasn’ta terrible question. Minutes earlier, in an interview with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, Scheffler himself had said he had “left a few shots out there.” And he had. For one, for the third straight round he’d failed to birdie either of the back-nine par-5s. Scheffler also acknowledged as much later in the session with reporters when he said of his round, “it definitely could have been lower.”
But this is this thing with Scheffler. He can be thoughtful and introspective; he can be fun and goofy; but he also can be bracingly direct and even a bit dismissive. If a media member’s query is not to his liking, he’ll say so. At the BMW Championship last year, after months of sharing his opinions about the Ryder Cup in the lead-up to the event, Scheffler told a reporter: “I love answering questions about the Ryder Cup, but this is ridiculous. We’re at the BMW Championship.” A couple of months later, after the third round of the Hero World Challenge, Scheffler fielded a question about a couple of loose tee shots he’d hit earlier in the event. “So you’re asking me about two drives I’ve hit in the last three days?” Scheffler said. “Next question. That’s ridiculous.”
And that was before questions and analyses started coming about his decline in form. When Scheffler, after opening his 2026 season with a win and two top-five finishes, finished — gasp! — outside the top 10 at Riviera and Bay Hill and then opened with a ho-hum 72 at the Players Championship last month, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee said, “I don’t even recognize this golf swing from Scottie Scheffler. It’s a foot and a half shorter than it was last year and the face is wide open.”
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Scheffler, you could sense, wasn’t wild about the armchair autopsies. When early in the week at the Players a reporter teed up a question to Scheffler with the phrase “this season probably hasn’t gone as well as you would like,” Scheffler called the question “funny,” and he didn’t mean in the ha-ha sense.
We’re not critiquing Scheffler’s impatience with questions he deems inadequate so much as merely making note of it. But on Saturday, he was objectively edgy. When asked how he would describe the color of Augusta’s unusually brown greens, he said, “Grass.” He added, playfully, “I already ripped on one question that wasn’t that bad, so I’m not going to rip on another one.” Scheffler, it should be noted, is generally for more expansive with his answers than he is short or judgmental. He was at times unfairly curt on Saturday, but maybe he was just tired or irritated that he’d pushed a seven-footer for birdie on 17 or had to punch out of the left pine straw on 18. When a reporter asked Scheffler whether he thought he’d be able to play with the same aggressiveness in the fourth round that he had in the third round, the world No. 1 provided great insight.
“It depends on what the leadership here wants to do,” he said. “It was crazy firm Thursday afternoon when we were coming in. There were virtually no birdie opportunities. If you look at the scores from late in the day on Thursday, there were not many birdies made in fairly similar conditions. A little less wind, and the greens were fairly soft yesterday, so you saw a lot of scoring late in the day. Then today there was a little bit of opportunity early. You saw my front nine. There was definitely some opportunity going out. Not much wind. Softer greens, but they firmed up a little quicker. It really depends on what they decide to do with the greens.
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“If they want to see some lower scores, they can make them softer if they want. I mean, they’re already pretty firm, so they can just go full Bay Hill and just let them die. It’s Augusta. They’ll figure it out.”
Win or lose Sunday, Scheffler will face yet more questions. Here’s hoping his answers are all as generous and nuanced as that one.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Is that Dwyane Wade watching his uncle?
Sure is, Brent Holtz told his son, Bryson.
Should he say something?
Sure should, Brent said.
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Then he did.
“Yeah, so he went up to Dwyane Wade,” Brent said, “and said, ‘Thank you for coming out to watch my uncle play in the Masters.’”
What a collection of words. What a week. Bryson’s uncle, Brandon Holtz, did play the Masters, shooting an 81 in round one on Thursday and a 78 in round two on Friday. And folks did come out to watch at Augusta National, just as Holtz used to do, as late as just last year, through the badges his dad won 22 years ago.
But what about Saturday?
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Would the 39-year-old family man and real estate agent, who once played Division I college basketball and mini-tour pro golf before winning last year’s U.S. Mid-Am, still come back after missing the cut? Would he replace golf pants for shorts and walk among the patrons again, albeit as someone who just played what they are going to watch? Would he go back to how he does the Masters, including proudly making closest-to-the-pin bets from just behind the green on the par-3 6th, with losers walking over to concessions and springing for beers? Holtz and his wife, Liz, had promised they would. You text. The thought was that if you believed it was rare that a patron got to play the Masters, then returning to be a patron in the same tournament is a unicorn, akin to finding a weed at ANGC.
The Holtzes text back.
Sure are.
See you at 6 green at 11.
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Bring money.
“WHO DO YOU GOT?! WHO DO YOU GOT?! SERGIO? MCNEALY? SERGIO? MCNEALY? WHO’S IN?” You find about a dozen members of the Holtz squad at 6. Brandon and Liz. His brother, Brent. Other family members. High school and college friends. Members of his club back in Bloomington, Ill. Others are coming later. All found tickets. All are in on the bet. Sergio Garcia hits first on the 180-yard par-3, then Maverick McNealy. You pick McNealy. Holtz takes Garcia. You lose. Garcia’s closer. The gang heads over for beers, though not before Holtz sees former NBA star Richard Hamilton, goes over to him and thanks him for his alma mater, the University of Connecticut, beating the University of Illinois in the college basketball Final Four, as Illinois is unloved by Holtz’s school, Illinois State University.
You, of course, didn’t play 6, and Brandon did. How’d that go? Depends on the day. On Thursday and Friday, he made par. He says you can’t go long, and he didn’t. But you shouldn’t shank right, either. During his practice round on Monday, Holtz’s ball darted through the trees and over the water to the left of the adjacent 16 green. Tommy Fleetwood, Holtz’s playing partner, begged him to hit it, but Holtz begged for him to stop. Helluva story. And just name-dropping the fourth-ranked golfer in the world like he’s Tommy from down the street.
“It’s funny that we sit here and say Tommy, like they’re my best buddies,” Holtz said. “And that’s how I was like, Tommy. I played with Jordan [Spieth]. I’m calling him Tommy. I’m calling him Bubba [Watson].
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“These guys are the best players in the world and I’m sitting here calling them by their first name.”
What about the ball?
“Oh, hell no,” Holtz said. “I wasn’t going to get that.”
You, the patron, have more patron questions as you drink your Crow’s Nest wheat beer. The biggest surprise? The speed — in the fairways, around the greens, on the greens. And the idea that a 160-yard shot is a 160-yard shot; “if you hit it 161 or 159, you’re in trouble,” Holtz said. No course he’s played, he said, has demanded more. His most intimidating moment? A sequence on the par-4 7th on Thursday. He was short and right after two shots. His third went 50 yards and onto the green, but “I needed to hit it 52.” From there, he had a choice with his ball about 50 feet to the right of the hole. He talked it over with his dad, Jeff, whom he picked as his caddie. “If you look at that green, literally you’re putting up a hill,” Holtz said. “And then after that hill, it is straight down the hill. I said, ‘Dad, I think I’m gonna leave this like 10 feet short because if I try to go after it, it’s an instant 6. So putted up there to 10 feet for my par, and then I missed my 10-footer for bogey.
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“Easy 6, I guess. But if I tried to go after it, it would have been a hard 7, right?”
What he and others can’t forget came on the par-5 15th.
But who are the others?
Those were the patrons seated past the green and to the right of it. Holtz was there in 2. He had 35 yards left. He was on an upslope, and the green feeds back down to a pond. Holtz talked with his dad again.
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“These guys were just dying laughing,” Holtz said.
“Because I’m over there, I’m like, Dad, do I putt it? Do I like hook it? Do I hit an 8-iron? Do I throw it in the air? These guys — and then I asked them, I said, what would you guys do? And they’re just dying laughing. And I’m just like, you know what, at the end of the day, there’s a lot of points in this golf course where you have to just commit and hit the perfect shot.
“I hit the perfect shot.”
Birdie.
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Another group comes to the 6th tee.
Another bet is placed.
Tommy Fleetwood and Brandon Holtz on Monday at Augusta National.
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“BRIDGEMAN OR RAI? I’LL TAKE BRIDGEMAN. YOU LIKE RAI? RAI. CAN’T BEAT A GUY WHO WEARS TWO GLOVES. WAIT, WHO’S UP ON THE TEE? BRIDGEMAN. OK, READY. ” Aaron Rai is closer than Jacob Bridgeman. You win this one. But you buy beers for everyone for their time, though you get the feeling that Holtz wouldn’t have to pay for much on Saturday.
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There are several interactions between patrons and the patron-player-patron again. Near the concession stand, Mason Howell, the U.S. Amateur winner who also played during the first two rounds, stops to talk. Along the rope line to the right of the seventh fairway, a man taps him on the shoulder, says he went to high school with him and says he and his wife have been watching him since last September, when he earned his Masters spot through the Mid-Am win. A volunteer on 7 remembered him from Thursday and Friday, too. “I was his favorite golfer,” Holtz joked. Then another volunteer comes over and says he’s an agent at State Farm, which sponsored Holtz.
Holtz looks out and sees Adam Scott and Sam Stevens walk past. He’s just a few hours removed from that spot. He’s got another story. Three kids were standing to the right of the tee on 16 on Friday, and they’re hollering at Holtz’s playing partners: Watson, the two-time Masters winner, and Nico Echavarria. They ask for a ball. Holtz said maybe.
“And that’s when we started chatting, right?” Holtz said. “So we all hit our shots. And kid comes up to me after Bubba hit, comes up to me and says, ‘Play rock, paper, scissors for a ball.’ I say, ‘That’s not good for you, though.’ He says, ‘Why?’ I say, ‘Because I don’t lose rock paper scissors.’
“So we all hit our shots, and I’m like, all right, I grab three balls. So I go down there and I’m playing rock, paper, scissors. She throws the paper, I throw the scissors. I say, ‘Boom, I told you I don’t get beat.’ And I’m walking away, and as I’m walking away, I throw the three balls behind me.
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“And the crowd went wild. So, just moments like that, experiences like that, you just remember for the rest of your life. It made those kids’ days. Made my day.”
At this point, you’re standing in line with Liz. She watched him on Thursday and Friday, after watching with him for 10-plus years at the Masters. What was that like? There’s layers to that, she said. She knew the days were coming. She’d helped with arrangements. And there Brandon just was, with her at the Masters, though sometimes hundreds of yards away.
“I don’t know that I’ve processed that as I’m walking as a patron and I’m instinctively looking like, ‘Oh, where’d B go?’” she said.
“And I look out in the fairway and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s out there with Bubba.’”
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There’s about a half-cup of beer left.
Brandon Holtz on Wednesday at the Par-3 Contest.
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TO THE RIGHT OF THE SECOND FAIRWAY, AN AUGUSTA NATIONAL MEMBER’S FAMILY MEETS THE HOLTZES. They’d been following Brandon’s story all week. You don’t hear that he missed the cut; instead, they tell him he ranks as one of their favorite invites. They tell him not to forget to go back to the members’ pro shop, and when Brandon says he has, they tell him to go back again.
On Friday, everyone went to sleep at 2 a.m., and Brandon and Liz were up around 5. He’s processed some of the rounds, but won’t fully for a while. He’s texted some people back. On Saturday, they drove friends and family to the course, made their way in, then planned to stay the full day. They also dropped off his 6-year-old son, Baker, and his 2-year-old daughter, Millie, at a daycare. Earlier in the week, they were part of the gang during the Par-3 Contest. They’re maybe too young to be awestruck by dad or Dwyane Wade, and you’re curious what they made of the week.
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“Well, Baker put some pressure on me, my son. He’s like, ‘Dad, can we go do that putting thing again?’” Holtz said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, s—, OK.’ So, yeah, they love it. Millie, I mean, she’s 2, she doesn’t really know what’s going on, but she was really loving it, and then we had a little meltdown. Gave her to my aunt and my cousin, so they went and got her a snack, and she was fine with it. She’s a big snack girl. And then we met her again on 9, and I’m just looking at her, and I’m like, ‘Here we are.’’
“And I got Jason Day back there, you know, recording it. And I’m like, ‘What the hell? Jason Day recording my wife and my son hit golf balls. Like, who am I? What the hell is this?”
Here, you let Brandon go. He’s revealed enough. He walks away.
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman (DB52) takes part in drills during the NFL Scouting Combine, with Feb 27, 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana highlighting his movement and coverage skills in front of scouts and evaluators ahead of the upcoming draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t far from the NFL Draft — 12 days — where they have nine picks on the menu and a new general manager, interim boss Rob Brzezinski, running the show. So, it’s time to look at the Vikings’ shopping list.
Minnesota’s 2026 draft menu is wide, with multiple roster spots in play.
Here’s what the club needs roster-wise and who’s available.
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Six Positions Stand Out on Minnesota’s Pre-Draft To-Do List
Auburn Tigers offensive lineman Connor Lew (75) lines up and prepares the snap on Sep 27, 2025, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, during a matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies. Lew anchored the offensive front, helping Auburn manage pressure in a challenging road environment against a physical SEC defense. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
Center
Minnesota lost 2025 starter Ryan Kelly to retirement last month after the poor guy sustained three concussions in one season alone.
Now they need a new center, assuming Blake Brandel isn’t the long-term solution. Rounds 2 through 4 are likely the sweet spot.
The Options: Jake Slaughter (Florida) Logan Jones (Iowa) Connor Lew (Auburn) Sam Hecht (Kansas State)
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Cornerback
The Vikings didn’t particularly “care” about cornerback depth last year, and they got away with it, as Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers stayed upright and healthy for all 17 games. That may not happen again.
Needing a credible youth fix at CB, Brzezinski probably needs a corner before the end of Round 4 to avoid a lottery ticket from Round 5, 6, or 7.
The Options: Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) Avieon Terrell (Clemson) Colton Hood (Tennessee) Brandon Cisse (South Carolina) Chris Johnson (San Diego State) D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana) Keith Abney II (Arizona State) Keionte Scott (Miami) Treyden Stukes (Arizona) Davison Igbinosun (Ohio State) Julian Neal (Arkansas) Malik Muhammad (Texas) Chandler Rivers (Duke) Devin Moore (Florida) Will Lee III (Texas A&M) Daylen Everette (Georgia) Tacario Davis (Washington) Ephesians Prysock (Washington) Hezekiah Masses (California)
Defensive Tackle
Minnesota said goodbye to starting defensive tackles in March: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. That’s a smoking-gun sign that they plan to draft a rookie.
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The Vikings haven’t used 1st-Round draft capital on a DT in 13 years. For this section, they likely need one before the end of Round 3 for that man to trend as a promising starter.
The Options: Peter Woods (Clemson) Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) Caleb Banks (Florida) Christen Miller (Georgia) Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) Domonique Orange (Iowa State) Gracen Halton (Oklahoma) Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State)
Running Back
Speaking of draft droughts, Minnesota hasn’t drafted a productive running back early since 2019, when Alexander Mattison was selected. Before that, Dalvin Cook worked out pretty damn well.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) carries the ball on Nov 8, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen. Price showed burst and vision as he pushed through defenders, contributing to the Fighting Irish ground attack in a key late-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images.
This go-round, the Vikings need a running back who can perhaps watch and learn in 2026 behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason but be ready for the RB1 job in 2027. That leaves about a half-dozen options.
The Options: Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) Jonah Coleman (Washington) Emmett Johnson (Nebraska) Nick Singleton (Penn State) Kaytron Allen (Penn State) Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
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Safety
The safety spot is different than many positions. Startable safeties can be easier to find. That is — if the Vikings draft one in Round 4, well, that guy could be the starter before too long. It’s a long way of saying safety isn’t considered a premium position.
For example, in free agency, a team can sign a good safety for $8 million. The same caliber EDGE rusher might cost $20 million.
Before the end of Round 4, these are Minnesota’s rookie safety avenues.
The Options: Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) A.J. Haulcy (LSU) Kamari Ramsey (USC) Bud Clark (TCU) Zakee Wheatley (Penn State) Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina) Genesis Smith (Arizona) VJ Payne (Kansas State)
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Wide Receiver
There’s no more Jalen Nailor on the Vikings’ depth chart; he’s a Las Vegas Raider, who might even hold the WR1 job on Klint Kubiak’s team.
Without Nailor, Minnesota will be forced to turn to Tai Felton, a 2025 rookie, who played about as much on offense as a house cat takes baths in the tub. It’s unclear if the Vikings trust Felton as the WR3 in 2026. If they do, this section of the article may be moot.
Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst (16) secures a touchdown catch on Nov 1, 2024, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, during the second quarter against the UConn Huskies. Hurst’s play highlighted his scoring ability, finishing the drive with a clean reception in the end zone during the Panthers’ road matchup. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images.
Still, O’Connell and Co. are doing their homework on WRs, meeting with several that possess Round 2 and 3 draft stock. A new receiver is probably on the way.
The Options: Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M) Denzel Boston (Washington) Chris Bell (Louisville) Chris Brazzell (Tennessee) Germie Bernard (Alabama) Zachariah Branch (Georgia) Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) Antonio Williams (Clemson) Ted Hurst (Georgia State) Elijah Sarratt (Indiana) Skyler Bell (UConn) Bryce Lance (North Dakota State) Deion Burks (Oklahoma) Ja’Kobi Lane (USC) Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State) De’Zhaun Stribling (Mississippi) Jeff Caldwell (Cincinnati)
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota hasn’t drafted a wide receiver in Round 2 since Sidney Rice in 2007. Maybe it’s time to take the plunge.
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