May 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) drives in a run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Houston Astros were a season-worst 11 games under .500 four times this month and have been as many as six games out of first place in the American League West.
However, with the division devoid of a juggernaut, the Astros just needed one hot streak to climb back into contention. That stretch came via a 7-3 road trip capped by a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday that allowed Houston to close to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Seattle Mariners.
The Astros will open a nine-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, revitalized and surprisingly in the mix.
“That’s the whole idea of putting April behind us,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Make every month better, every day better. And we’re not done. We’ve got to get ready for a good Brewers team that’s coming to town.”
Added Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena, who returned from the injured list for the start of the road trip: “We are showing up. We have guys that show up to compete. Our pitchers have done a phenomenal job, our defense has been great. We’re taking good at-bats and we’re feeding off the momentum.
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“We’re going to keep it going. We’re going home, and let’s get it.”
Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.19 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Friday.
It will mark the fourth consecutive start and fifth overall for Teng, who is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA since joining the rotation on May 10. He threw a season-high 89 pitches over a season-best six innings in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six.
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Teng, who is 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA as a starter this season, will make his first career appearance against the Brewers. He is 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in nine career interleague outings, including two starts.
Rookie Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61) is scheduled to make his third start in the interleague series opener for the Brewers.
The right-hander made his major league debut on April 17 against the Miami Marlins and did not factor into the decision of a 7-5 victory after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Crow yielded one run on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks across five-plus innings on May 15 in the Brewers’ 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. He has a 4-1 record and a 4.89 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) with Triple-A Nashville this year.
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The Brewers continued their torrid play by rallying for a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The result secured a three-game series sweep and Milwaukee’s 15th win over the past 19 games.
Center fielder Garrett Mitchell ignited the Brewers’ two-run, eighth-inning rally with a leadoff double, extending his individual hot streak at the plate. Mitchell will enter the Houston series with a .357/.400/.679 slash line over his past nine games, a span in which he collected three doubles, two homers and six RBIs.
“Mitchell has been putting things together, and it’s fun to see him after the years he’s had injured and everything else,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s fun to see him kind of come into his own and gain some confidence. It was great.”
USA vs Paraguay Live Updates, FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D: After a breathtaking opening ceremony, the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D match between USA and Paraguay begins. The two sides are familiar foes, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men securing a 2-1 victory in Chester, Pennsylvania, in November. Paraguay, who are making their first World Cup appearance since South Africa 2010, qualified for the global finals with a sixth-place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying, registering some eye-catching victories along the way. History was made when the USA and Paraguay locked horns at the inaugural global showpiece in 1930, the only occasion the two sides have met in the global finals. (MATCH CENTRE)
Here are the Live Score and Updates of USA vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D:
While the United States possess one of the most exciting attacks in Group D, defensive frailties remain a major concern heading into the tournament.
Pulisic, McKennie and Balogun provide pace, creativity and goals, and the Americans will hope to settle nerves by striking early against Paraguay.
However, the backline has struggled for consistency, with goalkeeper Matt Freese expected to face a stern examination. The Americans have managed only one clean sheet in their last 13 matches and have conceded 11 goals in their previous four outings, raising questions over their ability to withstand pressure against stronger opponents later in the competition.
Pochettino has sought to improve defensive organisation since taking charge, but the opening match will provide an early indication of whether progress has been made. A convincing performance could ease concerns and provide a confidence boost for the remainder of the group stage.
Team USA takes centre stage on Friday evening as the 2026 World Cup’s third opening ceremony unfolds at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, featuring pop star Katy Perry. The USMNT faces Paraguay in their tournament opener, a moment of reckoning for American soccer on home soil amid visa concerns, soaring ticket prices, and competing sports dominating the conversation. Follow our blog to learn more.
Official lineups for USA-Paraguay:
United States: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Omar Alderete, Juan Jose Caceres, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Gomez, Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Andres Cubas, Damian Bobadilla, Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso
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Let’s go!
Referee Danny Makkelie blows the whistle and the match is underway.
The anthems ring out
Paraguay’s national anthem fills SoFi Stadium, followed by the “Star-Spangled Banner” as the crowd joins in unison. Thousands of voices echo through the arena!
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Katy Perry takes the stage
@Gary Vasquez, Reuters
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About 10 minutes to kick off!
Flag-bearers from all countries process across the SoFi stadium.
@Daniel Cole, Reuters
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“La Albirroja” during warm up
@Matthew Childs, Reuters
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Official lineups
Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Omar Alderete, Juan Jose Caceres, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Gomez, Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Andres Cubas, Damian Bobadilla, Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso
United States: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
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Anitta adds Brazilian fire
Brazilian sensation Anitta brings the energy and rhythm of Latin America to the stage, a fitting tribute to the tournament’s North American hosts.
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Lisa brings K-pop royalty to SoFi
BLACKPINK’s Lisa is a global phenomenon. The Thai-born superstar has transcended music to appear in HBO’s hit series White Lotus. Her presence signals the World Cup’s embrace of global pop culture.
@Lisi Niesner, Reuters
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A galaxy of global stars takes the stage
Future and Tyla kick things off with high energy.
@Lisi Niesner, Reuters
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Paraguay’s starting XI
Team USA starting XI
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Trump called US World Cup team before first match
President Donald Trump called the US World Cup squad ahead of their debut match against Paraguay, the team said Friday.
In a video shared on social media, the US Soccer Men’s National Team said the 79-year-old leader called Thursday night with a message of support.
Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, can be seen speaking with Trump on speakerphone, telling the president: “I’m standing in front of 26 champions and a great coach,” before handing the phone to US head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
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“I just called to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach, and you’re all about your record and your success, and I know how great the players are. I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way,” Trump said.
“I just want to wish you a lot of luck,” he added.
“Thank you so much for your support, Mr. President,” responded Pochettino.
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The World Cup returns to America
The United States launch their World Cup challenge on Friday, taking on Paraguay in the first game in the tournament on US soil for 32 years.
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Welcome soccer/football fans!
Welcome to our liveblog covering the third opening ceremony of the World Cup and the first match of Group D between the USA and Paraguay!
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For the first time since 1994, the United States hosts the World Cup. On Friday at 9:30pm ET, Team USA takes on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for their Group D opener.
The USMNT and Paraguay have faced each other three times in competitive matches, with the US holding a 2-1 record. Their most recent encounter came during World Cup qualifying in 2021, when the Americans won 3-0 in Columbus. Paraguay, ranked 69th in the world, will be looking to pull off an upset on American soil.
The US enters the tournament with growing momentum, having won their last four friendlies and boasting a squad that blends experienced European-based talent with emerging MLS stars. Coach Gregg Berhalter has overseen a team seeking to prove that American soccer belongs on the world stage. Over 70,000 supporters are expected to fill SoFi Stadium for what promises to be a charged atmosphere – a test of whether US.soccer can capture the nation’s imagination.
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The match will be preceded by a 15-minute opening ceremony featuring American pop icon Katy Perry and performances celebrating the host nation’s diversity and soccer culture.
The flags are laid and the teams are making their way out to the centre circle for their national anthems.
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:56
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Katy Perry headlines opening ceremony
One song and that’s your lot. Was expecting something a bit over-the-top and self-indulgent from the Americans but, if anything, that was very lowkey.
A quick Google search reveals that the boy was Tias Luka, a young Norwegian singer who features on the song “Wonder”. Should’ve known!
(AP)
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:55
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Katy Perry headlines opening ceremony
It’s not just international pop star Katy Perry singing the US into their World Cup opener – she’s joined by a little boy!
Why he’s there I’m not sure, but he can sing so fair play.
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:53
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Katy Perry headlines opening ceremony
Your headline act is here!
Katy Perry is at the centre circle with mic in hand and is performing her song “Wonder”.
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:50
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Parade of nations now… Katy Perry next?
About 15 minutes until kick-off here and we are embarking on a parade of nations, ushered in by Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, with each of the 48 teams’ flag being carried out to the centre circle.
Presumably Katy Perry is imminent…
Lawrence Ostlere at SoFi Stadium13 June 2026 01:45
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Ream: ‘We expect to see a full stadium’
US captain Tim Ream says he “expects to see a full stadium” when the team steps out onto the pitch ahead for kick-off.
“We expect to see a full stadium, an incredible crowd, an incredible atmosphere and an opening ceremony for us that will be the culmination of a lot of hard work and decisions that we have made to get to this point,” he said.
Currently still a lot empty seats with about 20 minutes until we get underway.
(AP)
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:41
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Pochettino: ‘The time is now’
“I trust in my players, I trust in the process,” said US manager Mauricio Pochettino. “We are very confident. We know the game is about competing and the time is now. We need to deliver the show.
”The first game is difficult for everyone. Paraguay is a very good team with very good players and very good coach. They are very competitive.
“We want to play well, win games and compete. They are going to show aggression.”
(Reuters)
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:36
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Pulisic getting the love
Huge cheer as Christian Pulisic’s name is read out over the SoFi PA during the US line-up announcement.
He’s the American hero of this World Cup.
(Reuters)
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:32
Who are Paraguay’s ones to watch?
Let’s take a look at Paraguay’s team, shall we.
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They’ve got a couple of current Premier League names, one of which was Sunderland centre-back Omar Alderete who starred for the Black Cats in their first season back in the top-flight.
Diego Gomez has also become a regular at Brighton, starting alongside former Seagulls man Julio Enciso.
But the most recognisable name in their team will be former Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron, who now finds himself back playing in the United States with Atlanta United.
We’ll always remember that purple patch in 2023…
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(Reuters)
Will Castle13 June 2026 01:25
Opening ceremony gone quiet
So, this now feels much less like a World Cup opening ceremony and more like a normal pre-match build.
The likes of Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are pinging balls to each other, fans are slowly filtering into the ground, and “Freed From Desire” is blaring over the speakers. Feels like I’m at Craven Cottage in 2024.
Every UFC Freedom 250 fighter, including Alex Pereira and Josh Hokit, will visit the Lincoln Memorial for Friday’s press conference
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1 min read
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The UFC Freedom 250 stars are headed to the Lincoln Memorial. Every athlete competing on Sunday’s monumental card will take part in a pre-fight press conference on Friday at the historic site
Tensions are flaring in the lead-up to what many are calling the biggest spectacle in UFC’s history. The lightweight title unifier between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje took a dramatic turn this week as the subject of family gave their feud an ugly hue. Friday’s press conference marks the first time they’ll address each other in person since the tension picked up.
“If you want to be disrespectful to me, I’m not going to stay quiet. I’m not that kind of person,” Topuria told CBS Sports about the increasingly hostile rivalry with Gaethje’s team. “They were the ones who started to cross the line.”
Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane fight for the interim heavyweight title, but “Poatan” will have a hard time trying to ignore a loud presence on the card. Heavyweight contender Josh Hokit was physically removed from an earlier press conference setting with all of the fighters after remarks about Pereira’s mom. Pereira refuses to acknowledge Hokit’s existence. Fortunately, Topuria has that covered. Topuria was so incensed about the remarks that he tried to pick a fight with Hokit, who competes four divisions above him, hurling a water bottle at his head.
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Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC Freedom 250 live for no additional fee — every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!
Plus, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley returns to take on rising contender Aiemann Zahabi. Rising lightweight contender Mauricio Ruffy hopes to keep rolling against veteran Michael Chandler. Rising middleweight prospect Bo Nickal looks to take the next step up in his rise when he takes on veteran Kyle Daukaus. And featherweight sluggers meet in the opener when Diego Lopes battles Steve Garcia.
Friday’s press conference will stream live on Paramount+ and the official UFC YouTube channel.
Where to watch UFC Freedom 250 press conference
Date: Friday, June 12 Location: Lincoln Memorial — Washington, D.C. Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET Watch live: YouTube and Paramount+
Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, have stepped up their preparations for the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Championship with an unbeaten run in a series of friendly matches in Abuja.
The seven-time African champions have played three warm-up games since opening camp and have recorded two wins and one draw. They have scored nine goals and are yet to concede.
The Flying Eagles started their friendly programme with a comfortable 4-0 win over SiaOne Football Academy before following it up with an impressive 5-0 victory against AAFC.
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However, they were held to a goalless draw by Galadima FC on Thursday in a more competitive contest.
Forward Abdul Muiz Adeleke has been one of the team’s standout players during the build-up to the tournament. The youngster has scored four goals in three matches and has shown good form in front of goal.
The team’s preparations began on May 16 in Abuja, with head coach Abdu Maikaba inviting 35 players to camp as he works towards selecting a strong squad for the competition.
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The 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Championship will take place in Côte d’Ivoire from July 26 to August 9. The tournament will also serve as a qualifying competition for the next U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will compete against hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Togo and Benin Republic in what promises to be a tough and exciting championship.
With less than two months to the start of the tournament, the Flying Eagles appear to be building confidence and momentum as they aim for regional success and a place at the continental competition.
German club FC Schalke 04 have strengthened their attack with the signing of Austrian forward Junior Adamu from SC Freiburg.
The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract that will keep him at the club until June 2029 as Schalke continue to build their squad for the new season.
Adamu arrives with experience at both club and international level. He has made nine appearances for the Austrian national team and is expected to bring pace, energy and versatility to Schalke’s attack.
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The striker spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic FC, where he enjoyed a successful spell.
During his time in Scotland, Adamu helped Celtic win the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish Cup, adding more trophies to his career.
Schalke will be hoping that his quality and winning experience can help the team achieve its goals in the coming season.
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones (82) warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings’ search for a promising WR4 is ongoing.
At the top of the list of contenders is Tai Felton. The sophomore boasts elite speed and great length, meaning he offers obvious upside as a burner to take the top off the defense. Where he struggled in minicamp, though, was with securing the ball. Eliminating drops is hugely important for him.
Otherwise, there has been some optimism for what Myles Price can do since he was so impressive as a punt returner in 2025. Likewise, Dillon Bell is creating plenty of fans due to his ability to shake corners out of their cleats.
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Somebody who’s missing in the above consideration is Jeshaun Jones, who his entering his third season as a Viking.
The Vikings’ Search for a WR4 Brings Jeshaun Jones into Mix
At the risk of venturing into the obvious, the Vikings’ top trio of receivers consists of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. Only some form of extenuating circumstances — injury, suspension, and so on — will dislodge these three from the top three spots. Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings, that’s the order to remember.
Boasting such an elite trio means not having too many targets left over for others. That’s especially true upon considering the presence of T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, and Aaron Jones to siphon off even more targets. Still, there’s no such thing as too much weaponry.
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Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones (82) runs a reception back for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
When I asked him who stood out, Jefferson offered a mostly upbeat, vague answer. Essentially everybody has been working and improving, Jefferson said.
He did, however, identify a pair of names: Tai and J2. He’s referring to Tai Felton and Jeshaun Jones.
Ironically, the NFL teammates were college teammates, both putting in work in Maryland. Jones arrived in the Twin Cities as an undrafted add in 2024. Felton got to Minnesota as a 3rd-Round selection in 2025. Neither have fully established careers.
To my eye, Felton had a tough few days of minicamp. His speed is evident, capable of burning it down the field to create separation. It’s possible that he’s trying too hard, though. A couple occasions involved him dropping balls that were put onto him.
Jones therefore has an opportunity. Felton’s rookie season was modest on offense. If he has a poor training camp — far from a guarantee; ideally, he comes back and thrives — then Jones has a window to assert himself.
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Jones spent 2024 on the practice squad. In 2025, he occupied the same spot apart from a late-season bump to the active roster. Jones finished off with a pair of punt returns for 5 yards. Do note, though, that he has previously done damage in the preseason, creating optimism about some potential to put up production in more meaningful games.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones celebrates a first-down reception during first-half action against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 22, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones continued making his case for a roster spot by contributing in the passing game as Minnesota evaluated depth options and young talent during the preseason matchup. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
Furthermore, Jones earned $235,000 in guaranteed money in his UDFA contract (OTC). That’s a beefy commitment, suggesting the Vikings were serious about bringing him to town. Maybe that upside that Minnesota saw in him turns into a larger job in 2026. After all, Justin Jefferson has noticed some improvement.
Jeshaun Jones, 26, comes in at 6’1″ and 190 pounds. Proving to be capable of catching a pass or two, blocking his tail off, and then helping on specials will be the keys to make the final roster.
Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.
Viktor Hovland showed up to this week’s RBC Canadian Open with one driver. Normally, that wouldn’t be much of a story, but the driver Hovland brought wasn’t the same one he used in his last start at the PGA Championship or for the last six years.
“That’s one way to switch,” Ping Tour Rep Kenton Oates told GOLF. “Leave your security blanket in Oklahoma and call it a day.”
Oates was not on site at TPC Toronto this week. The Canadian Open is typically a quiet week in gear on the PGA Tour, as the Tour trucks that typically service players don’t make the trip north of the border for logistical reasons. That also means companies send a much more limited Tour staff.
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This week, Ping sent Spencer Rothluebber, who texted Oates earlier this week to tell him that Hovland did not even bring his longtime Ping G425 LST gamer to Canada.
The only driver he had was a Ping G440 LST, a driver Hovland has been working toward getting in the bag for much of the past two seasons.
Hovland has worked with Ping’s team every few months recently in testing the G440 LST and newer G440 K drivers. He even has gamed both the new models at different points, with the LST seeing the bag at last year’s Masters and the K going in play at this year’s WM Phoenix Open. But he keeps reverting back to his safety net of the G425 that he’s captured all but one of his seven PGA Tour victories with.
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PING G440 LST Custom Driver
The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control in 9° and 10.5° lofts with the three-position back weight.
HIGHLY FORGIVING
Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight.
FASTER FACE
Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch.
SOUND DESIGN
New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face.
Oates said the 440s outperform the 425 in every category in testing. The hold-up was peak height.
“I tried out the new 440 last year because it is faster,” Hovland said earlier this year in Phoenix. “The spin consistency off the face is a joke. If I hit it off the heel or the toe with a 425, the spin discrepancy is very large. Like if I hit it off the toe, I can spin it under 2000. If I hit it off the heel, I can maybe get up to 3000. Versus the 440, it’s very tight. It goes from maybe 2000 to 2600, so a huge gap.
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“However, the problem is it launches a little bit higher for me. And for some reason, just with the setup that I’ve tested with, it tends to go a bit more to the right. Right now with my golf swing, when I get stuck, my miss is already a high right miss. If I hit this driver, it’s just getting exenuated.”
When Hovland last tested at the Truist Championship and PGA Championship, Oates initially thought the 440 K would have the edge, but as they went on, the LST had a clear advantage in start line, just a touch more right than the K.
Viktor Hovland is in a Ping G440 LST this week for the first time since playing the model at the 2025 Masters.
Hovland has been testing 440 LST and 440K every few months in hopes of finding the replacement for his longtime G425 LST gamer.
Hovland finally became comfortable at home in his three weeks off between the PGA and this week. A big factor was a shift to the Fujikura Ventus TR Black+ 6-X shaft, which has a stiffer mid-section, more like the Speeder 757 shaft he plays in his 425.
“As he tightened his swing up a little bit, to me it felt like it was just coming out of the proper start line every time,” Oates said. “TR Black Plus was a home run on paper right away because it should have dropped his spin, and it should give him a better feel.”
With the new build, Oates said Hovland could finally take advantage of the 3-4 mph of extra ball speed he got from the 440 head.
This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. This week, check out 2024 Canadian Open winner Robert MacIntyre’s highly customized Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R putter.
Robert MacIntyre’s Phantom 9.5R has a couple of unique modifications.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
Odds and Ends
Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.
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Alex Noren returned to the Quantum Max D after a brief stint back in the Paradym Ai-Smoke Max D … Nick Taylor and Taylor Moore joined Hovland in moving to the 440 LST … Wyndham Clark went back to his Ping G440 Max 3-wood and went from 10.5˚ to 9.0˚ loft on his Qi4D driver … Hovland also added a new TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood … Harry Hall, after using Callaway Rouge ST for his past two starts, is back in a GTS3 driver … Tom Kim re-added his Titleist 20˚ GT1 hybrid alongside his GTS3 5-wood, opting for a three-wedge setup … Kensei Hirata added the new TaylorMade Spider Tour V Torched … Michael Thorbjornsen added a TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood.
The next match of the League of Legends LCK 2026 Road to MSI puts Gen.G vs KT Rolster in a best-of-five elimination series. While the losing team will be knocked out, the winner will advance to the next stage and face T1 for a chance to book LCK’s second spot at the MSI 2026. Earlier, HLE defeated T1 to secure the first seed at MSI.
With that said, here are the details regarding the Gen.G vs KT Rolster clash in the League of Legends LCK 2026 Road to MSI on June 13.
Gen.G vs KT Rolster in League of Legends LCK 2026 Road to MSI: Which team is expected to win?
THE FIRST #LCK TEAM AT #MSI2026: Congratulations to @HLEofficial on qualifying for MSI for the first time in the organization’s history!
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With HLE defeating T1 earlier and booking its spot at MSI 2026 as the first seed, only three teams remain: Gen.G, KT Rolster, and T1. That said, only one of them can qualify as the second seed.
Gen.G is currently on a four-series win streak and looked absolutely phenomenal in those series. While the middle part of the LCK Regular Season was a difficult phase for the team, the team has bounced back greatly, and players are also showing top-notch form.
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Gen.G’s mid laner, Chovy, has consistently delivered brilliant performances throughout the split and has the highest number of MVPs (9) so far. However, the current LoL meta heavily relies on the bot lane, so Ruler-Duro must excel in the 2v2 to help the team succeed.
On the other hand, the top lane matchup between Kiin and PerfecT will also be quite interesting. While Kiin is exceptional at playing weak side, carry, and whatever role the team needs, PerfecT has also been a powerful top laner recently. His champion pool and dynamic playstyle can certainly catch Gen.G off guard.
When players are performing on their usual level, Gen.G’s macro adjustments are possibly the best in the world, and it should outclass KT Rolster’s overall game plan. That said, the KT Rolster has Bdd, who can single-handedly turn the tide of a series. All in all, the series will be a treat to watch for the fans.
Prediction: Gen.G 3 – 1 KT Rolster
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Head-to-head record
These two organizations have faced each other 40 times in the past, with Gen.G securing 26 wins and KT Rolster 14 wins.
Previous results
Gen.G won its previous series 2-0 against BRION in the LoL LCK 2026 Regular Season.
On the other hand, KT Rolster won 3-2 against Dplus in its earlier series in the Road to MSI event.
Rosters
Gen.G
Top: Kiin
Jungle: Canyon
Mid: Chovy
ADC: Ruler
Support: Duro
Head coach: Ryu
KT Rolster
Top: PerfecT
Jungle: Cuzz
Mid: Bdd
ADC: Aiming
Support: Effort
Head coach: Score
How to watch Gen.G vs KT Rolster in League of Legends LCK 2026 Road to MSI
The next two series of the Road to MSI event will begin two hours before the usual LCK time. The scheduled starting time of Gen.G vs KT Rolster is at the following times:
PDT: June 12, 2026, at 11 pm
CEST: June 13, 2026, at 8 am
IST: June 13, 2026, at 11:30 am
Beijing CST: June 13, 2026, at 2 pm
KST: June 13, 2026, at 3 pm
To watch the League of Legends series live, visit the following websites:
Aside from the official LCK stream, fans can also tune in to Caedrel (Twitch)for an interesting watch party.
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Check out more League of Legends news and updates:
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