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Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leolia Jeanjean preview
Tomljanovic at the Miami Open (Image Source: Getty)
Ajla Tomljanovic will take on French player Leolia Jeanjean in the qualification second round at the Italian Open. The duo will be in action on court number three at the Foro Italico at 10:00 AM local time on Tuesday, May 5 as they look to battle their way into the main draw.
Tomljanovic has struggled to find her winning form in recent tournaments. The Australian made opening round exits in three consecutive tournaments before arriving in Rome, losing to Donna Vekic at the Charleston Open and going down against Dalma Galfi and Sara Sorribes at the Madrid Open and a WTA 125 event in La Bisbal d’Empordà respectively.
However, the 32-year-old snapped her losing streak on Monday, ousting Marta Lombardini at the Italian Open in straight sets.
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Meanwhile, Jean delivered an impressive performance at the Madrid Open last month, moving past Rebeka Masarova and Oksana Selekhmeteva to enter the round of 64, where she fell short against two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff. In Rome, the Frenchwoman began her campaign against compatriot Diane Parry, defeating the 15th seed 6-1, 7-6(0).
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leolia Jeanjean head-to-head record
Jeanjean in action at the Mutua Madrid Open (Image Source: Getty)
Tomljanovic and Jeanjean have never faced each other on the WTA Tour. Their upcoming meeting in Rome will mark their first clash against each other.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leolia Jeanjean odds
Player Name
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Ajla Tomljanovic
-160
-2.5 (-118)
Over 21.5 (-118)
Leolia Jeanjean
+120
+2.5 (-120)
Under 21.5 (-120)
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leolia Jeanjean prediction
Tomljanovic at the Mutua Madrid Open (Image Source: Getty)
Going into the upcoming clash between Ajla Tomljanovic and Leolia Jeanjean at the Italian Open, the Australian will be the favorite for the win. Despite her recent dip in form, the 32-year-old’s extensive experience on court, which includes three quarterfinals finishes at Grand Slam events, will tip the scales in her favor on Tuesday.
Pick: Ajla Tomljanovic to win in straight sets.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Leolia Jeanjean betting tips
Tip 1: Both players to win at least one game.
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Tip 2: Tomljanovic to win at least one set 7-5 or better.
While Diego Simeone is trying to ratchet up a lot of noise around Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has been quietly repeating the same message over the past few days. He has reminded his players they have a home game to get to a Champions League final. The biggest fixture of their club careers, from the most familiar environment.
“It’s amazing to play this game at home,” Viktor Gyokeres said of the second leg. “We know what’s at stake, and of course, we have an amazing opportunity.” A staff member went even further, stating, “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
You might have a different opponent, though. If the setting sounds so enticingly simple, Simeone has been doing his best to complicate it.
The belief from insiders at both clubs is that the Atletico manager wants “Arsenal to lose their heads” – to make the game a battle. The great challenge for Arteta and his squad, then, is to stay composed.
It wasn’t for nothing that Simeone said “we noticed their fatigue” after the first leg, adding that “it gets accumulated from so many games, so much pressure, so much responsibility that’s on them to win the Premier League… and the pressure on them to win the Champions League”.
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“It all adds up,” he remarked. Simeone was of course trying to add on even more, to plant more seeds of doubt. He is also trying to play on that perceived tiredness, and make Arsenal tetchy so they lose their way – and potentially lose the tie.
While Simeone would attempt similar with almost any big game, there was already a significant edge to this one from Arsenal’s 4-0 win in October. Some heated moments were made worse by Atletico complaints about cold showers.
So, to an even greater degree than against Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, the Madrid side wanted to make the Metropolitano intimidating for the first leg. Some at Arsenal felt it went way beyond the atmosphere, to the point the bad feeling arguably shapes this second leg as much as the 1-1 scoreline.
After many Barcelona and Spurs players slipped at the Metropolitano, Arteta’s staff wanted to be vigilant about the pitch. Arsenal sources felt the grass was a few millimetres over the Uefa regulations of 30.
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The Emirates pitch is likely to be a mere 20mm for Tuesday night. There wasn’t just suspicion about the height of the grass at Atletico, though, but also the slickness.
Arsenal players and staff – and even some media – thought that the Atletico sprinklers didn’t seem to be distributing the same amount of water to either half, even though Uefa regulations also dictate that’s exactly what they must do.
Arsenal felt the grass was too long in Madrid last week, and was left dry in patches on purpose (AP)
One figure in the Arsenal camp was even laughing about how there was very little power for one side of the pitch and the sprinklers didn’t rotate. A “token effort” was the description.
If a focus on such details seem absurd before a game of such scale, these are the margins that those involved immerse themselves in.
The details also just served to spike the mood, so that it was inevitable there would be some kind of confrontation like that surrounding Ben White walking on the Atletico crest. The Independent has been told the moment even saw Arteta’s assistant Gabriel Heinze go face to face with his compatriot, Simeone.
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Some at Arsenal were initially perplexed about the controversy. They’d seen people walk on the crest moments beforehand, but there’s since been a feeling that the Atletico side were waiting for exactly to happen so as to rev themselves up. Simeone’s team had been flat in the first half. They came out for the second half roaring. It is a typical Atletico tactic.
Arsenal are now conscious not to fall into such a trap for the second leg.
Arsenal accused Simeone of provoking the referee during the on-pitch review of the Eze penalty incident (AP)
While Arteta’s subsequent focus on the decision was fired by genuine anger, there is understood to have been a calculation, too. Arsenal want to undercut Simeone’s attempts to create any of the sense of grievance he usually tries. They might also frustrate the Argentine’s intent to add to “pressure”.
The mood among Arteta’s squad has been much more relaxed since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, which many described as a “weight” that hung over the club for months. The manager has also given them more days off, with the admittedly arduous 1-0 win over Newcastle United freeing them so they finally felt released against Fulham at the weekend. That 3-0 victory was their most expansive and assured performance this year, probably since the second half of the 4-1 over Aston Villa.
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It helped that Arsenal did feel they largely controlled the first leg, outside that 20-minute spell from which Atletico did secure a crucial equaliser. Simeone’s camp would respond they had the better chances, and they felt just as confident coming out of the game.
Other details have changed. The return of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori makes Arsenal a different team, while Martin Odegaard is fit again. Arteta will be able to attack with more incisiveness.
A deeply determined Simeone naturally has a plan for that, too, however. These are the sort of games he loves.
Bukayo Saka’s return inspired Arsenal to their best performance in months in the 3-0 win over Fulham (PA Wire)
With the emphasis on Arsenal to take the initiative, Simeone can be perfectly prepared to just sit and wait for that one error. It’s where that pressure can again ratchet up in a different way.
These second legs can take on a life of their own, after all, which is pretty much why the Champions League semi-finals have served up the highest level of club football over the past decade.
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It’s like being so close to the final without actually being the final drives everyone to higher levels, because there isn’t the same gripping tension as when the trophy itself is on the line.
Both teams go in refreshed. Even before Arsenal beat Fulham, Atletico were able to rest their best XI for the 2-0 win away to Valencia at the weekend.
There is certain to be some key tactical moves, too, of the type that really elevate these games. Simeone can keep Arsenal guessing about his formation after the success of the second-half switch to five at the back. Arteta can now completely change the emphasis of his midfield by bringing in a resurgent Myles Lewis-Skelly, to go with how Havertz gives a different dimension to the attack than Gyokeres.
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Both sides also know that Arsenal have a much stronger bench, that can make a difference late on.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta challenged his team to play like ‘beasts’ (PA)
All around, though, you can just sense why the Champions League is what it is – especially for the two biggest clubs that haven’t yet won it.
“I want it so much,” said Antoine Griezmann, who is hoping the actual final will be his last in the competition, rather than this. “I have so much excitement, to live it, to play it, and hopefully we can succeed.”
Arteta’s words were similar.
“I can’t wait, I feel the energy in and amongst the team,” the Arsenal manager said. “They have been waiting a long time to have this kind of night. Something amazing can happen.”
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That anticipation is really all the emotion you need. And yet this one has even more.
The challenge might actually be not giving into it, to take that final step.
NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians received a timely boost on the field with a crucial win in IPL 2026, but concerns around captain Hardik Pandya continue to linger after he missed the clash against Lucknow Super Giants due to a back spasm. MI opener Ryan Rickelton offered the latest update, admitting uncertainty over the severity of the issue while remaining hopeful of a quick return.Speaking after the match at the Wankhede Stadium, Rickelton revealed he had only recently become aware of Pandya’s condition. “I don’t know when he’s expected to be back. I found out this afternoon that he had back spasms, so I’m unaware of the extent of it. I don’t want to call it an injury; I’m unaware of the extent of how bad it is or what he’s feeling. But I’m sure he’ll be with the group again as we head to Raipur this week,” he said.In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as stand-in captain, confirming the situation at the toss. “Hardik’s not well tonight, so I’m going to step into his shoes,” he said.The franchise had earlier issued a brief statement: “Hardik Pandya is unwell with back spasm, hence Suryakumar Yadav is captain for today’s game.” The development added to a challenging season for Pandya, who has struggled both as captain and all-rounder.Despite the off-field concern, MI delivered a commanding performance. Chasing a daunting 229, Rickelton led from the front with a blistering 83 off 32 balls, while Rohit Sharma’s 84 powered the side to victory in just 18.4 overs. The dominant chase kept MI’s slim playoff hopes alive.Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants posted 228/5, courtesy of explosive knocks from Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh. However, MI’s batting firepower proved too strong on the night.While the result offered relief, the focus now shifts back to Pandya’s fitness. With the team set to travel to Raipur, Rickelton’s update suggests cautious optimism — but no clear timeline yet.
Manchester United are set to revamp their squad in the summer transfer window
Manchester United are set for a summer of change as the end of the season approaches. The team’s win over Liverpool ensured Champions League qualification and attention will soon turn to revamping their squad.
While Michael Carrick waits to see if he will remain United manager next season, there are several players who could leave in the summer. With just three matches remaining, it is possible some have already played their final game for the club.
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The transfer window will provide an opportunity for those already on the fringes to seek moves elsewhere as the United hierarchy focuses on bringing in new signings. Here is a look at nine players who could be set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.
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Marcus Rashford
The forward has been the subject of transfer speculation since joining Barcelona on loan last season. The Catalan club have the option to make his move permanent for around £26million and Rashford has been clear about his desire to stay at the Camp Nou.
If Barcelona decide against making his move permanent, there will be plenty of other suitors for the England international, who has scored 13 goals and provided 14 assists during his loan spell. While it is still possible he could remain at United, it feels inevitable that Rashford is set to finally part ways with his boyhood club.
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Manuel Ugarte
The midfielder has not had the desired impact since joining from PSG in 2024. The 25-year-old should be primed to take Casemiro’s spot next season but has struggled to show his best form during his time in English football.
Ugarte has already been linked with a move to AC Milan and would only fall further down the pecking order if he stays at Old Trafford. He has started eight league games this term and could benefit from a fresh start elsewhere to rejuvenate his career.
Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee has failed to establish himself as a first team regular in his two years at United. The Netherlands international has scored nine goals in 72 appearances and has seen several forwards leapfrog him in the pecking order.
The 25-year-old previously attracted interest during the January transfer window and has continued to struggle for minutes during Carrick’s reign. A return to Italy could help the former Bologna star regain form.
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Altay Bayindir
The former Fenerbahce goalkeeper would have had ambitions of becoming United’s first-choice. However, Senne Lammens’ subsequent success has delivered a major blow to those aims this season.
The 28-year-old has not featured since Lammens was snapped up from Royal Antwerp. While next season could offer more opportunities for Bayindir, the experienced shot-stopper may wish to prove himself as the number one for another club.
Rasmus Hojlund
The young striker is set to leave United on a permanent basis in the summer. Hojlund joined Napoli on loan, who have an obligation to sign him for £38m if the club secure a Champions League place.
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Antonio Conte’s side are second in Serie A and eight points ahead of fifth-placed Como, meaning qualification is virtually guaranteed with three games to go. The Denmark international, who completed a big-money move to United in 2023, has scored 14 goals this term.
Jadon Sancho
The winger was a marquee signing when joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. Sancho has played just 81 games for United and is currently on loan at Aston Villa, his third spell away from the club.
He is set to become a free agent in the summer and has been linked with a return to Dortmund. The 26-year-old flourished for the German side early in his career and briefly returned on loan in 2024.
Andre Onana
The former United number one is unlikely to regain his place next season. Lammens has thrived after being brought in as Onana’s replacement last year.
The Cameroon international has since impressed on loan at Trabzonspor as he looks to get his career back on track. The former Ajax and Inter Milan should not be short of offers, given his vast experience.
Tyrell Malacia
The full-back is set to leave United at the end of his contract this summer. The 26-year-old, who has been at the club since 2022, has featured just twice this term.
Tom Heaton
The veteran goalkeeper is another whose deal is up at the end of the season. The 40-year-old has been third choice since rejoining United in 2021, last featuring in February 2023.
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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.
Pro wrestling stars Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo are set to bring the pain for a live viewing audience in New Jersey next month – for a good cause.
Maclin, who performs for TNA Wrestling (TNA), and Purrazzo, Ring of Honor (ROH)’s current women’s pure champion, will host the Battle for the Brave: Wrestling Showcase for Heroes, which will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The bell will ring at 7 p.m. ET at the Rahway Rec Center in Rahway on June 6. Purrazzo said she and Maclin got the idea to put on a wrestling benefit show after working with Josh Lentin of the Heroes Cup Hockey Tournament. Being wrestlers for over a decade, Purrazzo told Fox News Digital she wasn’t sure if promoting an event would really be their cup of tea but took the challenge head on especially for a great cause.
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Purrazzo said she wasn’t exactly sure how the pro wrestling world would respond to the event, but added the support has been tremendous.
Pro wrestling stars Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo will throw an event to benefit the Tunnels 2 Towers foundation.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
“It’s a great cause just because that entire New York/New Jersey area, the Tri-State area, has really been affected by 9/11. It affected both of our lives,” Maclin told Fox News Digital. “I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005. It just affected everyone. So, especially a lot of the talent that’s on the card as well, everybody has some type of story or link toward 9/11.
“And with Tunnel to Towers, a lot of people in that area love the cause and love what Tunnel to Towers does for the community by giving back to first responders’ families, paying off mortgages, smart homes for veterans who have been wounded and now paying off college tuitions for first responders’ and veterans’ families who have lost some loved ones.”
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Maclin shed light on his service as a U.S. Marine. He served in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Weapons Company as a machine gunner. From 2007-2011, he did tours in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
“Like I said before, 9/11 was a big part of my life as a kid growing up,” he explained. “I grew up just outside of New York City. So, when 9/11 happened, I was in home room. It just pulled me in that direction. It changed a lot of people’s lives. And for me, for the better, because it instilled what I always knew I needed to do and that was to go serve and fight for my country no matter what.
“I chose the Marines because the Marines are the best. And that’s just how I’ve always been. I just try to work hard and put one foot forward and keep moving forward and it’s been a roller coaster ever since. Now, here we are, almost 25 years later, and we’re running a wrestling show in honor of 9/11 and our first responders”
The Battle for the Brave will coincide with America’s 250th birthday and America 250 celebrations across the U.S. The UFC is hosting an event at the White House in June, while IndyCar is set to race on the streets of Washington, D.C., in August.
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Purrazzo and Maclin shared what being an American meant to them as pride in the U.S. starts to come into full focus.
“Growing up in New Jersey as well, 9/11 was such a big deal. For me, I was in second grade. I didn’t understand what was going on but in the days after, I felt a sense of unity in that everyone came together, everyone was proud to be an American, and we were going to fight back and stand together and be one, united country. And I think that, that feeling has always stuck with me but being a veteran’s wife, it’s taken on a completely different role.
“Steve opening up about his service and things he’s seen and experienced with me has given me a new passion to let veterans know that, yes, war will always come home with you but it doesn’t have to define you. Steve was so lucky that he was able to find wrestling right after he got out of the Marine Corps and it saved him, in a way, from falling down the unknown path of ‘What am I? Who am I next?’
Pro wrestling stars Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo stare at each other.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
“And I think that’s something that our veterans deal with unbeknownst to the rest of the public. It’s not talked about enough. They say 22 veterans but right now the math is leading toward 44 veterans a day lose their lives to that battle – an identity crisis of who am I after service. So, that’s what it means to be American for me now, is showing that support for our veterans, showing that our country is here for them and we’re here to support them and we’re here to give them the resources that they need to live healthy and successful lives after service.”
Maclin recalled working at some of the Tunnel to Towers events earlier this year, which underscored what he had fought for in Afghanistan.
“No matter who it was, male, female, Black, White, it didn’t matter the race, gender, nothing. It was everybody praising our country, waving the American flag – that red, white and blue,” he said. “I know there’s an animosity toward certain views nowadays, and for me, that’s what I fight for, that’s what I still fight for.
“And once we do have children in this world, however, we can pass knowledge onto others, I always, no matter what, want to keep that pride in our country and fight for what we’re actually fighting for and that’s for our brothers and our neighbors.”
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Americans’ pride in their country is declining, a Gallup poll revealed last June, while a Fox News poll showed that about six in 10 are proud of the U.S. today.
Pro wrestling stars Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo were champions at TNA.(Provided to Fox News Digital)
Fox News Digital asked Purrazzo and Maclin how can Americans get that pride back.
“I think like Steve said, the connotation of having American pride is so negative in our country right now. And I think that having patriots who stand up and say, no I believe in our country, I believe in the ideals of it, I believe in the foundation of what we were built on – fighting for our freedom, fighting for what we believe in, fighting for our neighbors, fighting to support one another. I think just being able to be comfortable and vocal in that is the first step.
“We shouldn’t be ashamed to be American. We shouldn’t be ashamed to support our military, to support the ideals of this country and what it was founded on.”
Maclin told Fox News Digital exclusively that he will be a part of the Battle for the Brave Cup Gauntlet Match. He said he will be the first competitor in the match, which will also feature Richard Holliday, Megan Bayne, BDE and others.
“Everybody’s been asking me, ‘Why would you not want to wrestle on your own show, especially for such a great cause?’ So, as of now, officially, I am entering as the No. 1 entrant in the Battle for the Brave Memorial Cup,” he said. “I’ll be taking on 12 other competitors. It’s an over-the-top battle royal and the final two competitors turns into a match.
“I’m going to take the tough road and the hard road of going No. 1 and trying to make my way all the way through to be the (last) one.”
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Purrazzo said she, as of now, isn’t in a match. But didn’t rule out getting involved in commentary in some way.
Legendary pro wrestling tag team Jeff and Matt Hardy, known as the Hardy Boyz, will also be a part of the event.
“My brother and I are both very excited to be headlining Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo’s very special Tunnel to Towers event. Tunnel to Towers is a very special organization that helps take care of people who have been injured on the job protecting us – people like the military, first responders and police,” the Hardys said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We are very grateful for all of these people’s services and efforts in keeping us all safe and healthy. We look forward to raising as much money as we possibly can.”
Floor seats for the event are completely sold out. There are still general admission tickets and meet-and-greet tickets with the Hardy’s still available.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
As Manchester City’s Under-18 players wheeled away celebrating a second successive title, manager Oli Reiss stood smiling. He wanted the youngsters to enjoy the moment. It didn’t stop his players spraying him with water but the affable Reiss had no complaints. This was their time.
The German coach is proud of what his squad has achieved but perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the class of 2026 is the camaraderie. The youngsters are friends first and footballers second.
That formula is not easy to cultivate but City have managed it. Their talent and ability is clear to see but the togetherness and spirit is what many inside the Etihad believe has yielded their success at this level. For the second successive season they have won the league title and so reached the national final. They are in the Youth Cup final for a third straight year. It is a consistent success story.
But the players and staff know there is much more to it than putting in performances on a weekend. The environment at the CFA gives them the best chance to succeed, they have their own analysts, their own chef, a bespoke training and education schedule. It’s an elite environment but no amount of money or facilities can forge a strong group. That comes down to the players themselves. And this bunch of City youngsters are a tight-knit group.
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“It helps a lot,” forward Kylan Midwood, who scored a hat-trick in the weekend win over Derby, told the Manchester Evening News. “It builds trust and if you can do that off the pitch then it naturally comes on the pitch. We are always there for each other and as a team you need togetherness. A football team is not full of individuals and I think that is important.”
In this day and age, young footballers can be bombarded with information, offers, incentives and off-the-pitch temptations. They have to navigate far more than their progress as a footballer. City strive to ensure they grow and mature as people, while also accepting that social media and image play much more of a role in the modern world.
For boss Reiss, it is important that he and his staff strike a balance between instilling the standards required to make it in the game, and understanding the pressures that come to any teenager.
“I think the development in academies at the moment, with social media, agents, everything around the players, they are starting earlier thinking more about themselves and their career. This is just part of development,” he said, speaking to the MEN moments after winning the league title.
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“And that is why it is something special, I think that I can see a team where I have the feeling that we are not just a group of high-potential players where everyone is thinking about themselves. We are not just a team, we are mates and friends who celebrate together.
“We had to find the balance, you can take everything seriously but we had some sessions where it was a bit more fun or silly sometimes and that should be normal. That is exactly what you need as a group to come together as friends.
“We did well as a staff to find the balance between when is the moment to be really focused and serious and how much do we accept that they are friends and 16 and 17 years old.”
That approach has yielded success. City won the league a year ago and plenty of this year’s title winners were part of that group. There was a drive towards ensuring they could go again.
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“This is one thing: not getting complacent in terms of playing more EDS (Under-21 football) and less in the Under 18s,” added Reiss. “We have kept the hunger of winning titles and there are also two or three players who were not so much on the pitch last season – for example Tyrone Samba – and for them it was a chance to say last season was not my season but this season I want to be part of a successful team and this combination, this was the result.”
City were able to celebrate their title triumph on Saturday afternoon with each other on the pitches at the CFA. Then it was off for food as a group and back to it. They play again today in their final home game of the season and have one more league match, a national play-off final and an FA Youth Cup final to come. It’s a daunting and exciting schedule but even with those massive matches on the horizon, Reiss wants to allow the squad to enjoy their league-winning campaign, insisting just because success is expected at City, that doesn’t make it easy.
“I think it is important to mention that yes, we are Man City and, along with other big clubs and academies, everyone is expecting the title or at least fighting for the title,” he said. “So when it happens then sometimes the feeling is ‘okay’ but no, this was a tough season.
“There were phases where we struggled, we came back, we had to be strong. There were tough games in the first half of the season where we won games at the end so it was not easy. From outside sometimes it looks easy but it wasn’t because of the opponents, strong opponents and tough games so at the end it is not just ‘oh carry on,’ it is well deserved in terms of the performances and I am really happy.”
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City are happy now, they could be delighted if they add two more trophies to the collection in the coming weeks.
I’ve now played five rounds of golf with the new Arccos Air and Arccos Smart Laser in conjunction with the updated app features, and I’ve definitely learned some things about my game. I’m going to use this as a monthly update blog to keep not only myself in check on my performance and things I may need to change in my game or gear, but also so you can read along and learn yourself. Let’s get to it.
What the data is telling me
As Arccos would have it, I need work between the tee box and green. I have it set to compare myself to a scratch golfer, and at the moment I’m losing over 4 strokes. Off the tee I’m seeing semi-decent performance (more on this later), and on the greens I’m losing less than a stroke. The bigger problems are on the approach and in my short game. If I’m being honest about the approach shots, they are mostly coming from bad tee performance, but there’s no real excuse for some of the short-game stats.
Missing greens from less than 25 yards is unacceptable. I’d love to blame my gear, but not in this case. I’m also missing too many greens from 100 to 150 yards, which to me might say a lot about shot selection since those are distances I go after with my wedges, not any irons. I have a tendency to try and get a little bit too cute with anything 150 yards and in, and I think this is a great way of realizing that I need to be more aggressive with my distance choices and club selection and less focused on “creating a shot,” which is usually what ends up getting me in trouble.
A look at my overall Strokes Gained data from the month of April.
Arccos Golf
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The driver quandary
If you look at the data, Arccos isn’t that upset with my driver performance on the surface, but there’s a level to the data that can’t be seen. I’m making up for it because of how far I can hit my driver. It’s actually offsetting the penalties that I take with the driver off the tee, but to me it’s unacceptable to hit anything out of bounds.
It starts to show a more clear picture when I look not just at my driving stats, but my specific stats with the driver itself — going from gaining .8 strokes to losing .8 strokes; only hitting 43% of fairways and the dreaded two-way miss. That also hurts the confidence — I don’t really know where the ball is going to go. At the very least it would be nice to have a one-way miss. So far this season, stepping on the tee box with a driver has been a pretty bad feeling. Hopefully that changes soon with a new driver in my hands.
A breakdown of the driving stats.
Arccos Golf
What I’m working on this month
First and foremost, the number of missed greens from less than 25 yards needs to be zero. There’s absolutely no excuse for that. That will be a big stat I look at for the next update. I am also going to abandon the driver. I’ve been using one that gives me the most ball speed, and that’s still true, but it just doesn’t work for my game. Even after lofting up and adding weight to the crown of the driver, I just can’t seem to get the driver to create the amount of spin I am comfortable with. So I’ll have to sacrifice some ball speed, but I’d rather lose yardage and figure this out.
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Arccos Golf Smart Laser Rangefinder
More than a rangefinder. Smart Laser delivers precise “Plays Like” distances backed by live weather data, Green Maps and AI Strategy from the full Arccos app. Unlike traditional rangefinders, Arccos improves through software updates, unlocking new features and sharper AI after you buy it. New features added automatically. Millions of shots logged every month makes the AI smarter.
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The positives from this month? So far I feel very comfortable with everything between my driver and my wedges, which shows in the data. My irons are really great, and I have more confidence in my G440 4-hybrid and my Qi4D 5-wood than almost any other club in the bag. Being able to feel free going into par-5s or off the tee on short par-4s has been a big boost.
I’ve got plenty of golf lined up this month both on and off-camera, so we’ll see what sort of progress we can make before June. Time to figure out how to get dialed in.
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has sent a clear message about the club’s targets
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has set out his aspirations for the club. The team have clinched a Champions League place and currently occupy third spot in the Premier League.
United’s climb up the table has occurred during Michael Carrick’s time in the dugout. The 44-year-old has won 10 of his 14 matches at the helm, building a compelling argument to be handed the role on a permanent basis.
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A significant change the manager is lauded for is reinstating Kobbie Mainoo in midfield after the academy product was sidelined under previous boss Ruben Amorim. The 21-year-old scored the decisive goal against Liverpool at the weekend.
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Bruno Fernandes has been pivotal in transforming the side’s fortunes, recording 12 assists across 14 matches under Carrick. However, the 31-year-old has maintained that qualifying for the Champions League is the minimum expected of United as the captain sets his sights on a future title challenge.
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“We have to be the main character every time and not think, ‘Let’s try to do our best and see what’s coming,’” Fernandes told Gary Neville for Sky Sports. “We have to be the main character in the game and then we will see.
“Sometimes you’re going to struggle, sometimes you won’t, but you have to try to be the main character in the game because you play for a big club and play for a huge place.
“Not where we are at the moment, we want to be in the top four all of the time, that has to be compulsory, but it’s the first place that we want.”
Gary Lineker left baffled
Gary Lineker has admitted his disbelief at Ruben Amorim’s judgment following Kobbie Mainoo’s impressive performance against Liverpool. The midfielder got the decisive goal, leaving Lineker baffled as to why Mainoo failed to earn a single league start under Amorim during the first half of the campaign.
“Kobbie Mainoo, I thought [he] was the star of this game,” Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. “I am absolutely bewildered by the fact that he didn’t get a look-in under the previous incumbent. It’s incredible.
“I mean, what? What? I don’t get it at all. And even whatever system you play or anything like that, how can you not see how good that kid is?”
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.
If you ask different experts across the industry who makes the best hybrid, Ping won’t lack for votes. I’ve personally used a Ping hybrid since the G400 hit the market, and I have no desire to switch. There are other excellent hybrids on the market — PXG and Cobra specifically surprised me this year — but there’s just something about a Ping.
At the Ping Proving Grounds in Scottsdale, Ariz., I had a chance to hit my own personal hybrids (G440s 4- and 5-hybrid) and talk through them with Master Fitter James Lee and Travis Milleman, senior design manager. Here’s what I learned.
Shape
For me, the starting point that makes the hybrids so good is the shape. The Ping hybrids aren’t trying to be small, and they aren’t trying to “look like an iron.” They’re on the larger side, but with a shallower face profile, and they provide tons of confidence. It’s hard to set down the clubhead behind the ball and not feel good about the swing you need to put on it.
Another easy nod for the Ping hybrids is how they sound and feel off the face. The hybrids have never been cursed with the high pitched ringing noise that wasn’t solved in Ping drivers until the G430 line. They’ve always had a loud sound at impact with a bit of a firmer feel that rockets off the face, but it’s never accompanied by a high pitch. It’s a nice crack at impact with a short duration that satisfies even the pickiest of audible concerns.
Performance
As I noted above, I have been playing a Ping hybrid since I started playing golf. The first was a G400 that I bought used for less than $50. I quickly upgraded to a G410, then a G425, G430 and then a G440 at the start of 2025 when the new lineup was launched. I’m also eagerly awaiting the arrival of new woods from Ping early next year, assuming they stick with their normal 2-year cycle.
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PING G440 Custom Hybrid
The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.
FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT
Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.
ROUNDED SOLE
Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings
CARBONFLY WRAP
Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG.
For me, every iteration of Ping hybrids has improved in a key area. From G400 to G410, they sounded a bit better; from G410 to G425, ball flight was more consistent with the introduction of Spincistency Technology; and G430 saw a massive ball-speed difference over G425 — enough that many golfers had to go into higher lofted models to maintain the same gapping in the bag. When G440 came along, I didn’t notice a ton of difference in “launch-monitor performance,” but they made one huge change: a progressive face-angle across the lofts. This is massive, and a way that Ping is taking one more thoughtful step before releasing its products.
In the video above, which you can also watch on YouTube below, you hear Travis talking about the Ping team diving into Arccos player data when developing the latest lineup. The key point is that few players used a 2-hybrid and 5-hybrid in the same bag, so why were they designing them the same way? The 2-hybrid player is at higher speeds and longer distances, and they also want something that’s not going to go left. The 5-hybrid player typically struggles a bit more and needs help launching the ball up in the air and getting it to turn over.
With the introduction of the progressive face angle in the new G440 hybrids, Ping controlled those expectations. The 2-hybrid starts the most open and fade biased, leading all the way down to the 7-hybrid that is the most closed at address and helps to launch the ball high and mitigate a right miss. It’s a cool way to direct performance straight to the end user.
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Team hybrid for life
In the recent surge of high-lofted fairway wood use, I’ve been a staunch supporter for more golfers trying out the hybrid, and I’ve recommended Ping to all of them. What’s not to like? Plenty of launch help at lofts where it’s more needed; tons of ball speed; an easier-to-control flight window; and more playability from bad lies. If you’re a player looking to replace an iron, potentially even all the way down to an 8-iron, these clubs are terrific options that make the game easier.
When asked by McAfee about how her swing has changed since she started playing, Korda was quick to credit her swing coach, David Whelan, who she explained has played a critical role in shaping her current swing. Korda also placed emphasis on the early influence of her parents, saying it was a simple swing cue from her dad that has helped her maintain her smooth tempo throughout her career.
“[My parents] spent so many hours with me just working on tempo” Korda said, “that is the one thing they ingrained into my brain. My dad always referred to it as “coca-cola…”
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What started as a simple childhood cue for building rhythm became the foundation of Korda’s entire swing. Her “coca-cola” mantra isn’t about literal timing, but about preventing any sense of rushing. By anchoring her tempo to that easy, two-beat cadence, she developed the sequencing needed to swing smoothly.
“That was the key,” she continued, “It was super simple but it was the key to having a very fluid swing.”
If you want to build this into your swing, start at half speed. Make a few practice swings focusing only on a steady rhythm, not mechanics. Once that feels natural, gradually add speed while maintaining your tempo.
You can use your transition as a checkpoint. If your swing feels jerky or rushed as you start your downswing, your tempo is probably off. Remember, good swings stay smooth through that change of direction.
Before then, scorekeepers were apparently too busy to count anything but points, rebounds and assists.
That means that all those totals on the chart, like Wilt once blocking 16 shots in a playoff game, are unofficial, counted after the fact, not during the game.
So how do you handle a record?
Well, it technically belongs to Wemby after Monday night. That’s just how it works.
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But it also makes you wish you could go back in time and confirm just how good of shot blockers Chamberlain and Russell were.
They deserves spots on a list if they truly did all of that. There’s just not a ton of footage to make this an easier task.
Give Wembanyama all his flowers, for sure. Besides, he may someday block 17 shots in a playoff game. If anyone was ever going to break this Wilt mark, it’d be him.
;)
;)
;)
;)
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