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Aston Villa win Europa League: Emi Martinez plays despite breaking finger

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez revealed he broke his finger during the warm-up before his side’s Europa League final win against Freiburg.

The Argentine suffered the injury moments before kick-off in Istanbul and had to be checked over by a physio.

But he managed to play the entire match on Wednesday as Villa won 3-0 to secure their first European trophy for 44 years.

The 33-year-old did not have much to do, as goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers ended Villa’s 30-year wait for a major trophy, but still managed to make two saves.

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He said: “Today I broke my finger during the warm-up and for me, every bad thing brings something good. I’ve done this my whole life and I’ll keep doing it.

“Should I be worried? Well, I’ve never had a broken finger before. Every time I caught the ball, it went the other way. But these are things you have to go through, and I’m proud to defend Aston Villa.”

The injury also did not stop Martinez from joining in the post-match celebrations as he jumped into the Villa fans before hoisting manager Unai Emery aloft.

Argentina will hope Martinez’s injury is not too serious with their World Cup squad set to be announced before next month’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

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The former Arsenal keeper has now won every final he has played in during his career, including the FA Cup final, the World Cup final, two Copa Americas and now the Europa League.

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Travis Kelce shares Taylor Swift’s hilarious reaction to Jerome Bettis

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Although Travis Kelce agreed to a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs that will bring him back for a 14th NFL season, much of the recent attention surrounding the star tight end has focused less on football and more on his relationship with Taylor Swift and the couple’s reported wedding plans.

Swift’s ties to football date back years. According to the 14-time Grammy winner, her father, Scott Swift, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid have long shared a friendship. Since beginning her relationship with Kelce, the music superstar has frequently appeared in luxury suites at Kansas City games.

The three-time Super Bowl champion recently revealed his fiancée also made a sharp observation about a legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back.

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Taylor Swift celebrates with Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium

Taylor Swift celebrates with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 26, 2025. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

On a recent episode of New Heights, the podcast he co-hosts with brother Jason Kelce, Travis shared Swift’s amusing observation that Jerome Bettis looked “like an offensive lineman running with the football.”

AARON RODGERS CONFIRMS HE’S RETIRING AFTER UPCOMING SEASON WITH THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Jason’s mention of Bettis’ upcoming golf tournament prompted Travis to share a story about unexpectedly running into the Hall of Famer during a dinner with Swift.

“He is just the best dude ever. I got to run into him at dinner. I was like telling Tay about him like, ‘That dude was a beast.’”

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Kelce later showed Swift highlights from Bettis’ Hall of Fame career, which stretched from 1993 to 2005.

Running back Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with football during game.

Running back Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Championship game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 11, 1998. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

“I showed her a Jerome Bettis highlight tape and she was like ‘Why does he look like an offensive lineman running with the football?’ Because he was ‘The Bus,’” Kelce said.

Bettis, a six-time Pro Bowler, was listed at more than 250 pounds for much of his decade-long run with the Steelers, earning him the nickname “The Bus.” He began his career with the Rams, who selected him in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

Jerome Bettis signing a football at Topgolf Las Vegas

Jerome Bettis signs a football during Touchdowns on the Green, the inaugural Tim and Sherice Brown Celebrity Golf Invitational to Blitz Human Trafficking before Super Bowl LVIII at Topgolf Las Vegas on Feb. 8, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

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Bettis won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers.

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LeBron James free agency rumors: Which suitors could be out due to contract demands?

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LeBron James for a minimum salary? For most of his career, that seemed like a fantasy. With his 2026 free agency approaching, the concept seemed at least somewhat plausible. Though James is worth a good deal more, he is 41 and seemingly eager to contend for a championship. The sort of teams that are capable of doing so tend not to have much more available money than that to offer and, unlike his prior free agencies, he is likely too old at this point for teams to justify moving heaven and earth in order to create the money needed to pay him appropriately.

James is the highest-paid player in NBA history by a wide margin at this point, and he’s earned even more money off the court. Anything he earns now, by his standard, is effectively pocket change. But that doesn’t mean interested parties should expect the discount. In fact, insider Jake Fischer said Wednesday that James taking a minimum salary  “does not sound like that is actually in the cards at all.”

James hasn’t taken a substantial pay cut since he left the Miami Heat in 2014. It therefore shouldn’t be all that surprising to hear that he’s not eager to do so now. For some suitors, this registers as a mild disappointment. For others, it functionally removes them from serious contention for LeBron’s services. So, whose hopes of securing James just took the biggest hit?

  • The Knicks and Nuggets are probably out. New York is already roughly at next season’s first apron before re-signing Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet or Mo Diawara. The Nuggets are basically at the second apron before re-signing restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Both teams likely would have been thrilled to secure James at the minimum. Neither really has the means to create much more room to pay him.
  • The Warriors and Cavaliers have work to do, but both have feasible, albeit difficult, paths to either a mid-level offer or a somewhat hefty sign-and-trade. Cleveland is above next year’s projected second apron, but could use James Harden’s player option to lower his cap figure in exchange for more guaranteed years. From there, the idea would probably be to dump one mid-sized salary (like a Dennis Schröder or Max Strus) and then trade Jarrett Allen to the center-needy Lakers for James at a number below the $28 million Allen will make next season. If they get James via sign-and-trade, they will have to stay below the first apron. The same is true for the nontaxpayer mid-level exception, which would be Golden State’s target. Golden State has about $21 million in room below that line for now, but that doesn’t include a new contract for Kristaps Porziņģis or filling out the roster. Still, the Warriors can use the same player option trick with Draymond Green that Cleveland can with Harden, and they can save money in other ways, like trading Moses Moody or attaching picks to Jimmy Butler in some sort of trade for a healthier star.
  • If money is a major factor, the Clippers, with a path to $28 million in space in James’ current home market, get interesting. The Nets and Bulls have significant cap space, but likely aren’t good enough to attract James without further, unforeseeable upgrades. Detroit has about $25 million in cap space even with Jalen Duren‘s cap hold accounted for, so in theory, the Pistons could pay James real money to replace Tobias Harris, but there has been no reporting linking James to Detroit and market size makes it unlikely.

The Lakers are in financial poll position unless they decide not to be. They have full Bird Rights and can pay James anything up to the max. Their interest in doing so will depend on how they choose to spend their potential $48 million in cap space. If they use all of it on external additions, they’d be limited to the cap room mid-level exception (roughly $9 million) for James. If they use some space on an outside player or two, they could save the rest of it for James. And if they operate above the salary cap, they can run back last year’s roster with minimal changes and pay James whatever it takes to keep him.

What exactly they plan to do is not yet clear and depends on a number of variables that aren’t yet predictable. In a perfect world, the Lakers likely would have hoped to retain James with as much of a discount as possible. Now, it seems as though keeping him will at least mean devoting real financial resources, but if this postseason was any indication, he’s still well worth doing so.

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Why Macklin Celebrini Is Fast Becoming Hockey’s Next Great Obsession | NHL

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Macklin Celebrini is 19 years old and already carrying the weight of a comparison that no player in hockey ever escapes easily. Brady Tkachuk called him Sidney Crosby 2.0 on a recent episode of the Wingmen podcast, and the hockey world has been talking about it ever since.

The comparison did not come out of nowhere. Celebrini produced 115 points in his sophomore NHL season with the San Jose Sharks, finishing as a Ted Lindsay Award finalist and establishing himself as one of the most complete young centres the sport has seen since Crosby himself arrived in Pittsburgh two decades ago.

The Crosby Parallel Is Already Undeniable

Matthew Tkachuk put it plainly on the podcast. Players who remember Crosby as a teenager see the same qualities in Celebrini, including the skating, the puck protection, and the ability to control the tempo of a game through the middle of the ice.

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Brady went further. “It’s not quite changing of the guard because Sid’s still Sid,” he said. “But it’s just like, holy cow, this kid is going to be 2.0 for the next 20 years.” That kind of praise from opponents carries enormous weight. 

Brady Tkachuk is not in the business of building up rival players without reason, and the respect in his voice was unmistakable. When Team Canada assembled for the World Championship in Switzerland, Celebrini was named captain before Crosby joined the roster. 

Rather than reclaiming the armband, Crosby encouraged Celebrini to keep the captaincy and accepted an alternate captain role himself. Celebrini responded by scoring twice against Italy. Crosby then produced four assists against Denmark as Canada rolled through group play unbeaten. 

The two have developed immediate chemistry on the top line together, a development that feels almost cinematic given the circumstances. Celebrini already skated alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon at the Winter Olympics in a line nicknamed the Mac Attack. 

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At the World Championship, he is now linemates with Crosby himself. The San Jose Sharks are still building around their young core, but Celebrini has already outgrown the rebuild narrative. He is not a prospect anymore. He is a star, and the sport is beginning to treat him like one.

The torch has not officially changed hands. Crosby is still Crosby. But the next era of Canadian hockey has a face, and at 19 years old, Macklin Celebrini is only getting started.

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IPL 2026 Playoffs Scenario After KKR Beat MI: Fight For One Spot Gets More Intense

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Kolkata Knight Riders, after five losses in their first six games, were virtually counted out of the IPL 2026 playoff race. However, they are now on a winning streak. Kolkata Knight Riders lived to fight another day with a crucial four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians after Sunil Narine-led bowlers once again delivered on a testing Eden Gardens surface to keep their IPL playoff hopes alive on Wednesday. Needing nothing less than a win to remain in contention, KKR rode on a clinical bowling effort to restrict the already eliminated five-time champions to a modest 147/8 after Ajinkya Rahane won an important toss.

All teams have now played 13 games. Three playoff spots are already sealed: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (18 points), Gujarat Titans (16 points) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (16 points). Five teams are vying for the one remaining spot: Rajasthan Royals (14), Punjab Kings (13), KKR (13), Chennai Super Kings (12) and Delhi Capitals (12). All of them need to win their last match to advance.

However, there is a remote possibility of RR qualifying for the playoffs even with a loss in their last game, but for that to happen, they need to have a strong run rate and hope that other teams in contention lose their matches. DC play KKR in their final match and the winner of that game must have lesser run-rate than RR for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s side to progress even with a loss.

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In reply, veteran Manish Pandey (45 off 33 balls; 6×4) finally got an opportunity to bat at No. 3 with talented keeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi injured and anchored a tense chase with a 33-ball 45.

He, along with Rovman Powell (40; 30b, 4×4, 2×6), shared a crucial 64-run partnership to set it up as the hosts overhauled the 148-run target in 18.5 overs.

The victory lifted KKR from eighth to sixth in the standings with 13 points and kept their slim playoff hopes alive with six wins from 13 matches.

However, their fate is no longer in their own hands as KKR will now closely follow Rajasthan Royals’ clash against Mumbai Indians on Sunday afternoon before they face Delhi Capitals in the evening clash.

A Royals win would seal their qualification and eliminate KKR, rendering Kolkata’s final league game against DC inconsequential.

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For MI, it was their ninth defeat in 13 matches as the five-time champions remained second from bottom with one game left.

On a surface where strokeplay remained difficult, KKR began shakily and lost both openers inside the powerplay.

Finn Allen, coming off a blistering 35-ball 93 in the previous match against Gujarat Titans, started aggressively with two boundaries before Deepak Chahar cleaned him up for 8.

Ajinkya Rahane survived an lbw review via umpire’s call but never looked comfortable during his 17-ball 21 before edging Corbin Bosch in the final over of the powerplay.

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Bosch struck again in the eighth over when Cameron Green (4) miscued a poor delivery down the leg side straight to fine leg as KKR slipped to 54/3.

Mumbai sensed an opening but let the game drift through sloppy fielding.

Jasprit Bumrah, enduring another forgettable outing, leaked 14 runs in his second over as KKR steadily rebuilt through Pandey and Powell.

There was further frustration for MI in the 10th over when Powell top-edged a pull off Hardik Pandya.

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Deepak Chahar at fine leg appeared set for the catch but left it for Robin Minz running across from deep square leg, only for the ball to land safely between them.

Pandey, however, could not complete the chase and was cleaned up by Bumrah, while in the next over, Powell fell to AM Ghazanfar.

But with hardly any scoreboard pressure – KKR needed 19 from the last four overs – Rinku Singh (nine not out) and Anukul Roy (four not out) sealed their seventh win in the last eight matches.

Earlier, KKR’s bowlers had exploited the sticky conditions superbly as Cameron Green (2/23; three overs), left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey (2/34) and Sunil Narine’s exceptional figures of 1/13 choked MI.

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Green was exceptional on the field and with the ball, striking twice in the space of three deliveries to remove Ryan Rickelton (6) and Naman Dhir (0).

He then pulled off a stunning running catch from midwicket to dismiss Rohit Sharma (15) off Dubey just when the Indian stalwart was looking to break free.

MI went on to lose three wickets for six runs in the space of eight balls.

After a one-hour rain interruption, KKR’s spin duo of Narine and Varun Chakravarthy tightened the screws further, conceding just 14 runs in their first four overs while bowling in tandem.

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Narine, in particular, was menacing with his turn and variable bounce, repeatedly troubling Tilak Varma before taking the prized scalp of MI skipper Hardik Pandya (26; 27b), beating him with a delivery that drifted in and stayed low to crash into the stumps.

Chakravarthy was unlucky not to dismiss Tilak on 12 after spilling a return catch following a collision with wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Raghuvanshi hurt his hand in the process and had to walk off the field, with Tejasvi Dahiya coming on as a substitute.


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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

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Dodgers vs. Padres MLB picks: Shohei Ohtani, off to historic pitching start, will be dual threat Wednesday

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The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani will be back on the mound Wednesday vs. the Padres

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Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers says 2026 will be final season

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Syndication: Beaver County TimesPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on January 12, 2026.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed in a press conference Wednesday that the 2026 season, his 22nd in the NFL, will be his last.

“Yes. This is it,” the four-time NFL MVP said when asked if this would be his final season.

Rodgers, 42, officially signed a one-year, $25 million contract to return for a second season in Pittsburgh on Monday after months of uncertainty about a potential retirement.

He led the Steelers to an AFC North title in his first season, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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He admitted in the press conference that he thought former Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin’s retirement meant a similar end for his tenure and likely career as a whole.

But when the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, who coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay, that line of thinking shifted.

“When the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers, the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by Green Bay, has made 10 Pro Bowls, four All-Pro teams and led the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV championship over his 21 seasons. He’s the active leader in career passing yards (66,274, fifth-most in NFL history) and passing touchdowns (527, fourth).

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IPL 2026 | Will MS Dhoni play CSK’s final league match vs Gujarat Titans? Franchise shares big update | Cricket News

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IPL 2026 | Will MS Dhoni play CSK's final league match vs Gujarat Titans? Franchise shares big update
MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: When will MS Dhoni return for Chennai Super Kings this season? It is a question that has followed the franchise throughout IPL 2026, but there is still no definite answer.CSK, currently placed sixth on the table with 12 points from 13 games, will face Gujarat Titans in their final league-stage fixture on Thursday. Ahead of the match, batting coach Michael Hussey once again addressed Dhoni’s availability. Hussey confirmed that Dhoni will miss the GT clash because of a thumb injury but added that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter could return if CSK qualify for the playoffs.A victory against Gujarat Titans would take CSK to 14 points, though they would still need favourable results from other remaining league fixtures to stay alive in the playoff race.“I can confirm he is not here with the team, but if we do happen to qualify, then he will definitely join back up with the team. He has got a bit of a sore thumb, so it is recovering nicely, but he would not be ready for this match. But hopefully, if we can manage to get through to the playoffs, then hopefully he will be alright,” Hussey said.CSK head into the game against GT on the back of consecutive defeats. They first lost to Lucknow Super Giants before suffering a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad.Speaking about the loss to SRH, where Ishan Kishan starred with a match-winning half-century in a successful chase of 181, Hussey admitted the result was disappointing but stressed the need to move on quickly.“Obviously, it has made it more difficult for us to get through to the top four. Individually, everyone will take a few little learnings from it, but we have to move on quite quickly. We were all very disappointed, obviously, after the match,” he said.“We were a bit flat in the dressing room. But coach spoke to us about, OK, come on, we have got one more game, one more chance, so we have got to make sure we move on from this very quickly. It is all about our attitude moving forward,” he added.

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Colts’ free agent running back reportedly signs with new team

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Former Indianapolis Colts’ running back Salvon Ahmed has signed with a new team.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Ahmed is signing with the Chicago Bears. Ahmed was a free agent this offseason.

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Ahmed suffered a season-ending ankle injury in training camp last summer, following a hip drop tackle that was made during practice.

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2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, predictions, field: PGA picks this week from 10,000 simulations

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Two majors are now in the books, and up next on the PGA Tour schedule is the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Play begins on Thursday, May 21 with the first tee times at 8 a.m. ET. Some of the PGA’s top players have opted to skip this tournament, but Dallas-area natives Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth are both in the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson field. They’re also two of the top three favorites in the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, with Scheffler, the defending champion, favored at +160 (risk $100 to win $160) and Spieth third at +1600, with Si Woo Kim at +1500.

Brooks Koepka is next on the PGA odds board at +2200, with no other golfer lower than +3500, leaving plenty of longshots on the board to consider. Before locking in any 2026 Cj Cup Byron Nelson picks, or any PGA DFS picks or One and Done selections, be sure to see the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable. 

This same model has also nailed a whopping 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters — its fifth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites

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Now that the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson field is set, the model simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, which you can use for PGA picks, one and done contests or PGA DFS lineups. 

2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2026: It is fading Spieth at +1600, saying he finishes outside the top 5 despite playing a course he’s very familiar with. Spieth’s game has shown some promising signs this year as he’s finished inside the top 20 in both majors. However, he’s still looking for his first top-10 in any event since the 2025 Memorial Tournament and his first win since 2022, so the model isn’t confident backing him with the third-lowest odds this week. See who else to fade here

Another surprise: The model is high on Pierceson Coody as a +4000 longshot. The 27-year-old Texan has seven top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour this season, including a pair of top-10s as he’s putting together his best professional season. He’s extremely strong off the tee, ranking 26th in strokes gained in that category. He’s also 14th on tour in average driving distance. His ability to shrink the course is a big factor in why the model projects him as a top-5 contender this week. See who else to pick here

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How to make 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson picks

The model is also targeting several other longshots, including one going off around 70-1 who makes a stunning run for the title. You can only see the model’s picks here

Who will win the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 17 golf majors, including three in 2025.

2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, favorites 

Get full 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)

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Scottie Scheffler +160
Si Woo Kim +1500
Jordan Spieth +1600
Brooks Koepka +2200
Ryo Hisatsune +3500
Michael Thorbjornsen +3500
Taylor Pendrith +4000
Davis Thompson +4000
Pierceson Coody +4000
Keith Mitchell +4500
Austin Eckroat +4500
Rasmus Højgaard +5000
Wyndham Clark +5000
Tom Kim +5500
Eric Cole +5500
Michael Brennan +6000
Sungjae Im +6000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6500
Blades Brown +6500
Mac Meissner +6500
Max Greyserman +7000
Stephan Jaeger +7000
Jordan Smith +7000
Richard Hoey +7000
Matti Schmid +8000
Beau Hossler +8000
Adrien Dumont de Chassart +8000
Max McGreevy +8000
Johnny Keefer +10000
Taylor Moore +10000
Zecheng Dou +10000
John Parry +10000
William Mouw +10000
Thorbjørn Olesen +10000
Patrick Rodgers +10000
Chris Kirk +10000
Kevin Yu +10000
Tony Finau +10000
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +10000
Karl Vilips +10000
Haotong Li +10000
Kevin Roy +10000
Doug Ghim +10000

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Ex-WWE announcer pulls back curtain on one of the best jobs she’s ever had

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Former WWE broadcaster Kayla Becker spent eight years with the company before departing to broaden her outlook on the sports spectrum in general.

Becker recently partnered with BZZR as she continues her broadcasting career. Pro wrestling fans who tune into Becker’s sportscasts will certainly be reminded of the days she was behind the broadcast desk for pre-shows, backstage for interviews or even ring announcing.

She explained how she was able to get the WWE gig in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. She said she was hosting a travel segment for a local station before someone from WWE reached out to her and asked whether she would be interested in announcing.

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“So, I knew someone who was working there and they knew who I was because I was an ‘Orlando personality.’ And they were like, ‘Hey, would you be interested in joining our announce team. And I never watched wrestling a day in my life. And I was like, I just don’t know that’s where my career is headed,” she said. “And they sent me there one day to Full Sail (University) where they were doing some tapings and immediately I was just enthralled.

Kayla Becker attending Five Nights At Freddy's 2 premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

Kayla Becker attends the “Five Nights At Freddy’s 2” premiere presented by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Dec. 2, 2025. (Savion Washington/Getty Images for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse)

PRO WRESTLING PODCASTER DWAYNE SWAYZE TALKS TEAMING WITH MVP FOR SHOW, PARTNERSHIP WITH BZZR

“I was like this is the craziest, coolest world I’ve ever experienced, been a part of. All the wrestlers who were superstars, behind the scenes they were so cool, so knowledgeable, so exciting. So, literally, I was like, let’s do it. Maybe I’ll be here for a year or two. And fast forward, eight years, basically, kicking and screaming, I finally had to walk out of those doors. That was the coolest part of my career bar none.”

For someone who had never watched wrestling in their entire life, getting thrust into WWE was like being thrown into the deep end of a pool when you’ve never swam before.

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Becker was in for a treat.

She recalled to Fox News Digital the moment that got her hooked.

“I think the first pay-per-view I remember, maybe the first one that I attended, was the Royal Rumble,” she said. “At the time, I think I was just attending. I worked there but I still wasn’t on the main roster yet. So, I kinda just got to be there as a fan and the excitement in the building of a Royal Rumble, if you never experienced it, there’s nothing like it. In that moment, I remember getting goosebumps and then I was like, wait, I work here. I’m a part of this world now. One day, I’ll get to announce, which I did. I was a part of many Royal Rumbles. I think that was probably one of the first moments I was like dang, this is kind of a cool place to be.”

Becker’s job was way different from the athletes that perform in the ring.

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Kayla Becker standing at the HIM Training Camp Creator Event in Venice, California

Kayla Becker attends the HIM Training Camp Creator Event in Venice, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2025. (Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)

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She got a taste of doing in-ring announcing before becoming a backstage interviewer and hopping on pre-show broadcasts. She said she didn’t really enjoy her time as a ring announcer and felt like she performed better as a backstage interviewer.

“I think my first gig I was an NXT backstage interviewer and I did ring announcing for house shows. So, we’d go around to the small armories around Florida and I’d ring announce,” Becker told Fox News Digital. “And I never was a great ring announcer. Never really loved it. The fans, I’ve been gone for two years, they love to remind me on Twitter, that I wasn’t a good ring announcer. OK, pipe down guys. You try doing it. It’s not easy. But those days I think were some of the most stressful. Any ring announcer will tell you. You mentioned Alicia Taylor, we have Mike Rome, Samantha Irvin was there for a while, that is one of the most difficult jobs, I think, across the board. People underrate the ring announcers and the referees because that I think is so stressful, so on the fly. As a ring announcer, we don’t have cards. You have to memorize hometowns, weights, monikers, the cadence in which you say their names. I remember just like spending hours beforehand just kind of saying these things over and over to myself. And when you get in there, you’re live. I remember this one time, I was supposed to say, ‘The first one to incapacitate,’ I said, ‘decapitate.’ And you’re live and honestly, would also work. If you’re decapitated, you can’t continue wrestling.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

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Kayla Becker standing at the world premiere of Black Phone 2 in Hollywood

Kayla Becker attends the world premiere of “Black Phone 2” presented by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Oct. 8, 2025. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse)

“But then as a backstage interviewer, as an actual ‘journalist’ of the company, it was a lot different. I think a lot more creative went into it in my part. I got to talk to the superstars, talk to the writers, how to best put forth the stories they’re trying to tell on screen. I think I had a lot more fun in that role because I think … I had a lot more fun trying to tell the story versus screaming into a microphone.”

Becker credited John Cena’s mentorship with helping her become the best she could be in her position.

“Listen, John Cena will be synonymous with wrestling and Hollywood for all of time,” she said. “John Cena was one of the first mentor-type people I’ve ever experienced when I first started in WWE. I was ring announcing house shows and he was giving me advice on how to be better and it kinda went on throughout the years. He’s such a good mentor and example backstage.”

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Now, Becker gets to be front and center in all sports with BZZR as the new social media platforms looks to unite sports fans from all fandoms into one spot.

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