Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has spoken out against racism after he was targeted with abusive messages on social media following Wolves’ 1–0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
Arokodare missed a first-half penalty at Selhurst Park, with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson saving his effort shortly before half-time. After the match, the forward revealed that he received racist messages online.
“It’s still unbelievable to me that we are playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences,” Arokodare said in a social media post.
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“These individuals should have no place in our game and we all have to take action to punish anyone who behaves like this.”
The missed penalty was Wolves’ best chance to take control of the match. Henderson also saved a long-range effort from Arokodare as Wolves tried to respond to an early strong start from Palace. Yeremy Pino and Ismaïla Sarr both went close for the hosts in the opening minutes.
Wolves’ situation worsened just after the hour mark when Ladislav Krejčí was sent off for a second yellow card. Substitute Evann Guessand later scored from close range to secure the win for Palace and end their eight-match winless run at home.
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The result moves Crystal Palace up to 13th in the Premier League table, while Wolves remain in the relegation zone and are still without an away win in 16 league matches.
For years, super heavy and stout steel shafts like Dynamic Gold X100s or Project X 6.5s have dominated the PGA Tour.
But could lightweight and softer graphite shafts eventually capture some of the market share on Tour? Given the fast swings at the game’s highest level, it seems unlikely, but you never know until you try.
“So they built up a 7-iron, and Jimmy’s normal ball speed with like a 7-iron is like 128 to 130 mph,” Wunder said. “So he doesn’t hammer his irons, but like he’s not like one of the holy gods where they’re like 140. He’s a normal tour player with his irons.
“He’s getting 135, 136 out of these regular shafts, but the ball’s still spinning 7-iron at 6,600, launching high. He’s like, I can turn them over, but I’m swinging 80 percent. I don’t have to work hard.”
So the real question is, how did Walker even arrive at the possibility of testing a shaft designed for much slower players?
Turns out, he took a couple rips with his father’s driver, which had a regular flex Fujikura Ventus shaft, and found that despite the soft flex, he was able to maintain the same ball speeds as his gamer.
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His initial fears of hitting the ball way left were unfounded. So he went to a golf shop and asked someone to build him a 7-iron with lighter steel shafts, but someone suggested he try the Axioms.
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Fujikura Axiom Iron Shaft
AXIOM introduces an unparalleled level of iron shaft performance. For the first time, Fujikura’s proprietary VELOCORE TECHNOLOGY has been integrated into an iron shaft that delivers the same industry-leading performance gains initially introduced in VENTUS and VENTUS TR. Extreme accuracy and consistency combined with unmatched workability provide golfers the same level of confidence they’ve come to expect from VeloCore-powered products. Whatever the shot requires, AXIOM delivers.
VeloCore Technology is the engine that drives AXIOM iron performance. An extremely stable platform delivers optimized results on every shot through tightened dispersion, increased ball speeds, and improved accuracy. AXIOM is designed in a unique 3-parallel system that creates constant weight and decreasing torque values throughout the set. Comprised of a long parallel (#2, #3, #4), a mid parallel, (#5, #6, #7), and a short parallel (#8, #9, W), AXIOM allows for more versatility in design and material integration versus a single blank iron shaft. Each iron is specifically tipped to compliment each design, reducing SKU count while maximizing results.
To Wunder and fellow co-host Jake Morrow, the idea is tempting, especially for days when you aren’t feeling your best and swinging 80 percent might be the limit. The issue is you have to swing 80 percent all the time, something Morrow said he could struggle to do.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has approved another major cash injection into LIV Golf, committing about $266.6 million to the league.
The approval was signed by PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan on February 1, 2026, according to Money In Sport. The latest funding pushes the fund’s total investment in LIV Golf to roughly $5.3 billion, and at the current pace it could exceed $6 billion by the end of 2026.
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LIV Golf’s spending has remained high. Instead of receiving one big payment each year, the league has been funded through regular cash injections, averaging about $100 million a month during 2024 and 2025.
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Prize money has also gone up for the 2026 season. According to Money In Sport, the overall prize fund for 2026 has risen by about $65 million. Total purses now sit at $32.3 million per event, up from $25 million previously. Individual prize money remains at $20 million per tournament, but the team component has grown significantly.
The PIF has approved $267M in fresh capital for LIV Golf, per Money in Sport
The team prize fund has doubled to $10 million per event and is now shared across all 13 teams. In addition, a new $2.3 million “individual prize via team” pool has been introduced. Captains of the top three teams can award bonuses from this fund with $1 million for first place, $800,000 for second and $500,000 for third.
Some of the increased prize money could be balanced by recent player exits. Brooks Koepka has already returned to the PGA Tour while Patrick Reed is expected to rejoin once his suspension ends in August.
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At the same time LIV Golf appears to be cutting back on event costs. Money In Sport reported that spending on tournament staging is being reduced.
Performance 54 Group, the UK company that organizes LIV events, said in financial results for the year ending April 30, 2025 that it handled slightly more events but with smaller budgets overall which led to a slight drop in revenue. The company also said its contracts have been renewed in all markets for several more years.
LIV Golf explores selling stakes in teams to new investors
LIV Golf is preparing to open its team model to outside investors, with plans to sell minority stakes in some of its franchises for the first time. Reports suggest the Saudi-backed circuit is aiming for valuations of up to $300 million and could look to sell shares in two teams later this year.
Citigroup has reportedly been hired to handle the process. While the teams involved have not been named, one scenario being discussed includes the possibility of a controlling stake being sold rather than just a small share. LIV Golf and Citigroup have not commented publicly.
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League officials have made it clear they see long-term value in the team structure. Executives said earlier this year that the goal is for each of the 13 franchises to eventually be worth about $1 billion. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia remains the primary owner of LIV Golf, while team captains hold roughly 25 percent ownership in their respective sides.
Off the course, LIV continues to focus on building commercial revenue streams around the teams. Katie O’Reilly, LIV Golf’s executive vice president of business operations, said,
“Right now we are focused on things like driving sponsorship revenue – additionally we are building new businesses under the teams and we are leveraging and using our NIL rights.”
The league also expects strong income from major partners. Chief executive Scott O’Neil said last year that deals with companies such as Saudi Arabian Oil Co., HSBC, MGM Resorts and Salesforce could generate more than $500 million in revenue.
Franchise value is closely tied to star players and broadcast exposure. Big names such as Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm headline several teams while media agreements with DAZN, TNT Sports and FOX Sports help expand the league’s global reach.
A consequential week awaits in Europe as the UEFA Champions League’s knockout phase playoffs continue with a batch of second leg matches, several of which will be fiercely contested with spots in the round of 16 on the line.
Three first leg matches concluded in a draw or with a team boasting a narrow one goal advantage, a trip to the next round no sure thing for several high-profile teams. The list includes Real Madrid, who have just a 1-0 lead over Benfica before Wednesday’s second leg at home, and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Monaco 3-2 last week. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have all to play for after a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge in the first leg.
A handful of teams, meanwhile, will hope their sizable first leg advantages make for a strong foundation as they target spots in the round of 16. Newcastle United have the largest lead after a 6-1 win at Qarabag, while Galatasaray head to Juventus with a 5-2 advantage. In the surprise of the first leg, though, Bodo/Glimt visit Inter after their surprise 3-1 win on Wednesday.
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Knockout phase playoffs second leg schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
Tuesday’s storylines
Atletico Madrid’s dominance in question: Since returning to the Champions League after several years away in the 2013-14 season, Atletico Madrid have become one of the competition’s fixtures. They have made it to the round of 16 on all but two occasions in the last 12 seasons and are still the favorites to advance on Tuesday but after last week’s 3-3 draw at Club Brugge, reaching the next round is no guarantee. The Belgian side went toe-to-toe with Atleti, revealing some of their opponent’s shortcomings in the process. Diego Simeone’s side still boasts a handful of talented goalscorers, headlined by Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez, the pair supported by impactful players like Alexander Sorloth and new signing Ademola Lookman. Their defensive performances, though, have been all over the place – they have one clean sheet in their last five, a 4-0 win against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, conceding nine goals in that stretch. Brugge have sneakily been a strong attacking side in the Champions League with 15 goals in eight league phase matches, gifted at finding a way to exploit vulnerable defenses.
Are Italian sides in trouble?: Coupled with Juventus’ first leg capitulation at Galatasaray, Inter’s tie with Bodo/Glimt will serve as a bellwether for the state of the game in Italy, the pressure fully on the Serie A leaders after losing 3-1 in Norway last week. Glimt are riding a high after beating both Manchester City and Atleti in recent weeks and have the benefit of a familiarity with Aspmyra Stadion’s artificial turf but even then, Inter failed to match the tempo of the opponent in the first leg and return home with a sizable disadvantage. They rebounded in domestic play with a 2-0 win at Lecce but may have to cope without Lautaro Martinez, who came off with a calf injury at Glimt and missed Saturday’s match and may be at risk of missing Tuesday’s Champions League encounter. They will likely count on Marcus Thuram to lead their attacking charge but Inter have not exactly an attacking force in Europe with 15 goals during the league phase, an average tally during those eight games, a worrying sign for a team in need of goals on Tuesday.
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Wednesday’s storylines
Real Madrid’s up-and-down season: From a results standpoint, things were coming up Real Madrid last week – their win over Real Sociedad and Barcelona’s defeat to Girona meant they took top spot in LaLiga, while a 1-0 win at Benfica means they have an important advantage heading into the second leg. Their four-match win streak came to an end on Saturday, though, with a 2-1 loss at Osasuna, a game that served as a reminder of the team’s longstanding issues. There’s a longstanding imbalance to Los Blancos’ squad, even as coach Alvaro Arbeloa commits to playing Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior alongside each other. The strategy works sometimes but is far from foolproof, as was the case on Saturday – they only managed 1.7 expected goals from 15 shots at Osasuna, while the hosts had 2.29 xG from 13 shots. There is no reason to expect Arbeloa to drop Mbappe and Vinicius when Benfica come to town on Wednesday but against a visiting side that limited Madrid’s offense to just 0.89 xG from 17 shots, finding the correct balance may be an all-important task for the coach.
Paris Saint-Germain bounce back: Paris Saint-Germain entered their first leg at Monaco with just four wins in their last eight and a chance to end their rut, which they did – even if it was the hard way. An early brace from U.S. international Folarin Balogun ensured PSG had to come back from a 2-0 deficit in order to come out with a first leg advantage, while a 3-0 win over Metz on Saturday ensured they would have more wind in their sails in time for Wednesday’s second leg. They will have to manage against Monaco without Ousmane Dembele, who came off early in the first leg with an injury and may still be unavailable on Wednesday, leaving Luis Enrique to call upon the likes of Desire Doue and Achraf Hakimi to hold down the attacking fort.
Manchester City and Arsenal are locked in a Premier League title race battle and both teams face some important fixtures across the next couple of weeks
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter and Kieran King Football Writer
18:38, 22 Feb 2026Updated 18:38, 22 Feb 2026
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Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes were dealt a huge blow on Sunday, as Arsenal restored their five-point lead by beating Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
City had reduced the gap with a 2-1 win against Newcastle United on Saturday and that put the pressure back on the Gunners to respond as they made the short trip to arch rivals Spurs.
But, despite a mini-scare in the first-half, Mikel Arteta’s side responded in brutal fashion. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for the Gunners 31 minutes into the outing, before Randal Kolo Muani issued an instant response to level matters.
Viktor Gyokeres then gave Arsenal the lead once more as the second-half resumed, with Kolo Muani once again finding the back of David Raya’s net. However, the Frenchman’s second strike was ultimately ruled out due to a foul on Gabriel in the build-up.
Eze bagged his second of the afternoon 61 minutes into the match, before Gyokeres secured a brace of his own in the game’s final stages. As a result of the 4-1 win, Arsenal now sit five points clear of City in the Premier League standings, albeit, Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues have a game in hand on the Gunners to help close the gap once more.
With that in mind, here are Arsenal’s next five fixtures compared to Manchester City’s…
Leeds United (A) – Saturday, February 28 (5:30pm) – Premier League
Nottingham Forest (H) – Wednesday, March 4 (7:30pm) – Premier League
Newcastle United (A) – Saturday, March 7 (8pm) – FA Cup
West Ham (A) – Saturday, March 14 (12:30pm) – Premier League
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Arsenal (A) – Sunday, March 22 (4:30pm) – Carabao Cup
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Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Tariq Bugti resigned from his post on Thursday after imposing a two-year ban on national captain Shakeel Ammad Butt, following the fallout from the team’s troubled Australia tour during the FIH Pro League.
Bugti confirmed that he had sent his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as tensions escalated within Pakistan hockey over the recent controversy, according to a report by news agency PTI.
Hotel controversy sparks crisis
The latest developments come after videos circulated on social media showing Pakistan players standing on the streets with their luggage during the Australia leg of the Pro League, raising questions over accommodation arrangements. Initially, Butt released a clip stating that everything was fine, but after returning to Lahore, he criticised the federation and alleged serious mismanagement during the tour.
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Butt claimed the squad had to wander without confirmed hotel bookings and even carry out basic chores before matches, while also raising concerns about unpaid daily allowances for several players.
Ban imposed over disciplinary issues
Before stepping down, Bugti announced a two-year ban on Butt from international and domestic hockey, citing verbal misconduct and actions that he said had brought disrepute to Pakistan hockey. He maintained that disciplinary measures were necessary to maintain order within the team set-up.
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The media reports also state that the head coach expressed concerns about indiscipline within the squad and said certain players’ behaviour had affected the team’s performance during the Pro League campaign.
PHF and PSB trade blame
The resignation comes amid an ongoing dispute between the PHF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), with both sides holding each other responsible for the logistical breakdown during the Australia tour. Bugti stated that the PSB handled travel and accommodation arrangements, while questions were raised over funds released for hotel expenses.
Players questioned why logistical issues occurred despite government funding being allocated for the team’s participation across all phases of the Pro League.
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Poor results add to pressure
Pakistan’s struggles on the field have compounded the crisis, with the team losing all eight matches so far and sitting at the bottom of the nine-team standings. The disappointing run has intensified scrutiny of the federation’s management and the overall structure of Pakistan hockey.
What lies ahead
With Bugti’s resignation now awaiting formal approval, uncertainty surrounds the future leadership of the PHF and the national team. Pakistan are scheduled to travel to Egypt later this year to compete in the final World Cup qualifying tournament, even as the fallout from the Australia tour continues to dominate headlines.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway is the undisputed king of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games. With six gold medals, the 29-year-old cross-country skier equaled the record of US speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. With a total of 11 gold medals in his career, Klaebo is the most successful Winter Olympian in history.
His fellow Norwegian, Jens Luraas Oftebro, celebrated three Olympic victories in the Nordic combined. With three gold medals, Franjo van Allmen of Switzerland was the outstanding alpine skier. Among the women, Federica Brignone sparked euphoria among the Italian hosts with her victories in the super G and giant slalom – as did two-time gold medalist Federica Lollobrigida in speed skating.
Federica Brignone’s two gold medals gave the home fans something to cheer aboutImage: Michael Memmler/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance
Some gold medal dreams were spectacularly shattered. Figure skating superstar Ilia Malinin of the United States, who took a lead into the free skate, fell twice and plummeted to eighth place.
A similar fate befell skier Atle Lie McGrath in the slalom. The Norwegian started the decisive second run in first place but crashed out due to an error. Devastated, he fled the slope for the adjacent woods.
How was the atmosphere?
Many athletes complained that while the Games in northern Italy were well-organized, they lacked the true Olympic spirit. They said the large distances between the competition venues made it impossible for a lot of them to follow other disciplines.
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They also complained that in some sports, like alpine skiing, the spectators were too far away from the action.
“If this is what enjoying the Olympics is supposed to be like, I’m glad this was my last time,” lamented German skier Linus Strasser.
What were the biggest controversies?
Lindsey Vonn’s crash dominated the headlines on the first weekend of the Olympics. The 41-year-old had hoped to crown her illustrious career with a second Olympic gold medal in the downhill after 2010 – despite having a torn ACL, which she had suffered in her last race before the Games.
Lindsey Vonn sustained a complex tibia fracture in her attempted Olympic comebackImage: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance
A few seconds into the race, she crashed, suffering a complex tibia fracture and was forced to undergo multiple surgeries.
The disqualification of Ukrainian Vladislav Heraskevych sparked discussion beyond the world of sports. The skeleton racer was excluded from the event because he insisted on wearing a helmet bearing images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s full-scale war on his country.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarded this as a violation of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political statements at competition venues. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the IOC’s ban on Heraskevych’s participation.
How did Germany fare?
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) sent a record contingent of 185 athletes to Milan Cortina with the stated goal of finishing in the top three in the medals table – which it failed to achieve.
While Germany dominated in luge and bobsleigh, there were some bitter disappointments, including in biathlon, Nordic combined, and men’s alpine skiing, where Germany failed to win a medal.
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Germany’s luge relay team took home the gold medalImage: Matic Klansek/GEPA pictures/IMAGO
The results in ski jumping were also meager overall; apart from Philipp Raimund’s sensational gold, the team went home empty-handed. Germany’s men’s ice hockey team, featuring superstar Leon Draisaitl, fell to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.
What can the IOC learn for the next Winter Games?
The problem of long distances between venues is also bound to come up at the 2030 Games in the French Alps; the events are to be spread across the city of Nice and several ski resorts in the Alps, some of which are more than a six-hour drive away from the Riviera.
To improve the atmosphere on the ski slopes, the IOC should at least ensure closer proximity between the athletes and spectators. The Olympic rule-makers would also be well advised to agree on a clear policy beforehand to prevent a repeat of the communications disaster that occurred in the Heraskevych case.
Shortly after winning America’s first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years, members of Team USA honored Johnny Gaudreau, a former Team USA member who tragically died in August of 2024.
Zach Werenski, who played alongside Gaudreau during his final NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, held up Gaudreau’s Team USA jersey along with team captain Auston Matthews and assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk shortly after he fed Jack Hughes for the game-winning goal against Canada.
The gesture occurred with members of Gaudreau’s family looking on in the stands.
After receiving their gold medals, Werenski and Dylan Larkin, who played with Gaudreau at multiple world championships, brought Gaudreau’s young children out to the ice for a team photo.
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“It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” Larkin said of Gaudreau prior to the gold medal game. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”
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Johnny and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed after being stuck being an alleged drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey. Like his older brother, Matthew Gaudreau was also an accomplished hockey player who played professionally in the AHL and ECHL before becoming a coach.
A seven-time NHL All-Star, Johnny Gaudreau was a six-time All-Star for the Calgary Flames. He was the 2017 recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given annually to an NHL player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
In 2022, Gaudreau shocked most of the hockey world by deciding to sign with the Blue Jackets as a free agent. He was named to his seventh and ultimately final All-Star team during his first season in Columbus, who has continued to honor his legacy following his untimely death.
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Gaudreau helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Junior World Championships. He most recently played on Team USA during the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He never got a chance to play in the Olympics, though, as the NHL did not participate in the previous two Olympics.
“He wanted to be on this team,” his father, Guy Gaudreau, said during the third period of the America’s win over Slovakia. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”
Members of the Gaudreau family made the trip to Italy after being invited by Team USA.
“Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” said Gaudreau’s mother, Jane. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”
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Their presence was certainly felt by Team USA.
“It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski said prior to Sunday’s game. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”
Gaudreau served as inspiration throughout the Olympics for Team USA. His uniform was on the locker room throughout the Olympics, and it was on the ice on Sunday when the Americans made history by winning the gold medal for only the third time.
“He was one of America’s very best,” said Team USA coach Mike Sullivan. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”
And while Spurs briefly fought back to go level at half-time, the subsequent collapse and lack of threat in the second half will be cause for concern for Tudor, with the club now in 16th and in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, Redknapp called the game “a complete mismatch”, adding that Spurs could be relegated if they aren’t careful.
”They [Arsenal] were so much better than Tottenham, it was like two different leagues. If Tottenham aren’t careful, they might be in a different league.
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“They cannot keep performing like this. They’ve not had a win in 2026,” added the former England midfielder.
As mentioned by Redknapp, Tottenham are without a win in the league in 2026, while they have also exited the FA Cup at the hands of Aston Villa.
And though they have advanced to the knockout rounds of the Champions League, that will be of little consolation to a side that has four draws and five losses in nine league games in 2026.
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Spurs sit in 16th in the league, just four points ahead of West Ham in 18th (Action Images via Reuters)
But while the threat of relegation looms over the club, new manager Igor Tudor emphasised his confidence in Spurs escaping the drop, explaining that “these are good players with bad habits”.
“They are good players, nobody can tell me they don’t have quality. We need to change [a] mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game in the first to second minutes,” added the Croatian.
The result leaves Tottenham in 16th after 28 games, just four points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham with 10 games remaining, and Tudor’s side will face Fulham in the league next week before a string of potentially tricky matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul’s 2026 season is off to an impressive start, as the 23-year-old claimed her eighth career LPGA win at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Sunday — and her first-ever victory in her home country.
Thitikul fired rounds of 67-63-66-68 to reach 24 under, edging Japan’s Chizzy Iwai by one shot. Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim was third at 22 under.
Thitikul was three shots back at the tournament’s halfway point but entered the final round with a two-stroke lead after birdieing the final three holes of her third round. On Sunday, Thitikul made six birdies, bringing her tournament total to 25, which tied for the most of any player in the field.
Thitikul has competed in her home-country tournament a total of eight times, but until this year, her best finish was runner-up in 2021.
“I mean, I would rate it like A+++ something,” Thitikul said Sunday of where this victory ranks. “I mean, you know, like I know it’s not that big event like compared to the majors, but like for us, for me, winning in my home country just means a lot to me, sometime more than a major feeling.”
Another element adding to the momentousness of the occasion was the fact that Thitikul’s mother was onsite to watch her daughter win in person for the first time.
“Yeah, it’s mean a lot. My mom just came up to me when I finished 18 and she cried a lot, and then I told her, I finally won the tournament in front of you. Like you were here with me,” Thitikul said. “So she’s just really emotional. Make me emotional, too.”
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Thitikul has now won three times in five starts, and has earned $17,704,399 in just 86 total starts, bumping her to No. 7 on the LPGA’s all-time career money list. Annika Sorenstam is No. 1 with $22,583,693 in 308 starts.
This week, the LPGA heads to Singapore for the HSBC Women’s World Championship where Lydia Ko is the defending champion. The first round begins on Thursday, February 26.
;)
