Head coach Julian Nagelsmann picked two new names for his latest squad, announced on Thursday. Bayern Munich’s high-flying 18-year-old attacking midfielder Lennart Karl and 22-year-old goalkeeper Jonas Urbig have been included for the first time. The pair can now both have legitimate hopes of making Germany’s World Cup squad this summer given that Nagelsmann has already admitted that the squad for these matches would be very similar to the one for the summer tournament.
“The decisive factor is that we have a core group of players, but can also see a few players who aren’t part of the squad yet,” Nagelsmann said at the announcement, adding that Stach and Vagnoman had a chance to impress.
Karl, who only this week became the youngest German player and youngest Bayern Munich player to score and assist in a Champions League match, has been closing in on a Germany spot for the last few weeks.
“I expect him to bring his youthful carefree spirit onto the field. He likes to play centrally, but we’ve also planned to use him on the right. I won’t put any pressure on him to perform miracles, though. He should bring exactly what a young player embodies and play football freely from the heart,” Nagelsmann said of Karl.
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Urbig has become the new number one in place of an injured Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich and has impressed. Even though Oliver Baumann remains Germany’s number one, Urbig’s inclusion is also a look to the future in a position of need for Germany. “He has shown exceptional mental resilience,” said Nagelsmann. “He came in and was completely dominant, handling one or two situations on the fly very well.”
Germany’s head coach also admitted that the strength of the Bayern grouping played a role. “Bayern is having a top-notch season both domestically and internationally; they embody a great attitude,” Nagelsmann said. “That’s why we were happy to call on this group of players.”
Returnees to the squad include Kai Havertz, who comes back after a long injury lay-off, Pascal Gross, Anton Stach, Antonio Rüdiger, Deniz Undav and Josha Vagnoman.
Jamal Musiala has been left out as the Bayern star continues to re-build his fitness following a recent injury. Cologne’s Said El Mala, who was included in Germany’s World Cup qualifier squad in November last year, was not picked this time and will play for the U21s. Angelo Stiller and Maximilian Mittelstädt missed out, with Nagelsmann admitting that the former is a notch behind Aleksandar Pavlovic.
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“Some players are cut out for certain roles, and others simply aren’t. We have to decide whether a player fits the role we have in mind for him,” Nagelsmann said.
At just 22 years of age, Jonas Urbig has a chance to cement a place in the Germany squad for years to comeImage: Ina Fassbender/AFP
Germany’s program until World Cup
Germany will play Switzerland in Basel on March 27 before returning to Stuttgart to play Ghana on March 30. Both opponents have also qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The last time Germany faced Switzerland was a 1-1 draw at the 2024 Euros. Germany have only faced Ghana three times in their history, with the last being a thrilling 2-2 draw in the 2014 World Cup group stage.
This is the last international break before the 2026 World Cup. Germany’s tournament preparation begins in late May with the announcement of the 26-man World Cup squad and then a friendly against Finland in Mainz. After that, the team heads out to America. They will play a final warm-up game against hosts the USA on June 6 before heading to their base camp in North Carolina. Germany’s World Cup starts on June 14 against Curacao in Houston.
“War always affects people’s moods,” Nagelsmann said. “But unfortunately, I’m no fortune-teller. If I had a button that would end all wars, I’d press it. But unfortunately, I don’t have one.”
The 38-year-old though, says he is focused on the sport.
“I’ve never participated in a World Cup before, so I’m extremely excited about it,” Nagelsmann added. “We will try to play a good tournament and, for those who are still skeptical, put on a good show and lift the spirits.”
Legendary golfer Tom Watson offered a blunt take on the new program that paved the way for Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour.
Koepka left LIV Golf in December 2025. At the time of his departure, the three-time PGA Championship winner had roughly one year remaining on his contract with the Saudi-backed circuit.
Koepka applied for PGA Tour reinstatement and quickly gained approval under the tour’s new Returning Member Program. Watson, a two-time Masters champion who participated in Thursday morning’s ceremonial tee off at Augusta National, voiced strong criticism about the process.
Brooks Koepka of the United States reacts on the fifth green during the third round of the Valspar Championship 2026 at Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club March 21, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla.(James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“The tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV. They felt that the compensation that he’s paid is good enough,” Watson said at the 90th edition of the Masters.
Watson then laid out what he believes should happen going forward.
“I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life. If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do. I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.”
Koepka addressed his return to the PGA Tour in a post on social media.
“When I was a child, I always dreamed about competing on the PGA Tour, and I am just as excited today to announce that I am returning to the PGA Tour,” Koepka said in a statement posted to X Jan. 12.
“Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me. I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors, and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.
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“I also understand there are financial penalties associated with this decision, and I accept those.”
He agreed to five years in the player equity program, a penalty worth up to $85 million, according to tour CEO Brian Rolapp. The pro golfer also committed to $5 million in charity donations and will have to earn his way into the tour’s signature events.
Brooks Koepka reacts after missing a putt on the eighth hole during the third round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa.(Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Several LIV golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith, rejected the PGA Tour’s controversial offer. Hideki Matsuyama and Wyndham Clark, who reportedly passed on financially advantageous LIV deals, said Koepka’s move left them conflicted.
Matsuyama told Golf Digest Japan he was “shocked” by Koepka’s return, adding he respected the decision but was discouraged by what he saw as a lack of communication from the tour.
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Watson joined the PGA Tour in 1971, winning eight majors during his storied career.
Tom Watson smiles as he walks past the Claret Jug on the first tee during the Celebration of Champions Challenge during practice for The 150th Open Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews July 11, 2022, in St. Andrews, Scotland.(Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour)
He also suggested that LIV defections created a fundamental breach of the sport’s core principles.
“When the players left, they violated the No. 1 rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors,” he said. “Sponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments.
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“If the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting-event rule — where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament — the sponsors would be hurt by that. I think we all understood that.
“When the players left for LIV, I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine. But to return to the tour, I thought, was a nonstarter. But apparently it’s not.”
Watson last played competitively at the 2019 Senior Open Championship and continues as an honorary starter to open the Masters a fifth consecutive year.
Kisvarda, a town of 15,000 inhabitants in northeastern Hungary is quiet, rural – and football crazy. Its professional team, Kisvarda FC, is the surprise success of Hungary’s first division. With more than two thirds of the season’s games in the books, Kisvarda finds itself in third place in the standings. But the club is also sensitive to world events, with the Ukrainian border just a 20-minute drive away from the town.
Kisvarda’s sports director, owner, and now coach, Attila Revesz, has strong ties to Ukraine. Almost a third of his first-team players are from there and Ukrainians make up almost half of the players on his youth teams. Revesz also helps run a partner football academy in Ukraine.
When the war started, Revesz knew that many players in Ukraine would no longer get paid, so he started a donation drive of both non-perishable goods and especially cash donations to support them. So far, about €10,000 ($11,000) has been raised to help the families of more than 70 footballers. The money is collected and then dispersed by a third party after a committee has reviewed the needs of the families the club is supporting.
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However, Revesz is realistic about what that money can — and cannot — do.
Attila Revesz has been at Kisvarda for more than a decadeImage: Arpad Oliver Szoczi/DW
Stopgap measure
“This money is just temporary help, it won’t solve the real problems in their lives,” Revesz told DW. “It’ll just make things a little bit better and easier. But for us it’s the right way to go. The real help is when we get monetary donations that can be passed on to them. The money that we collect is minor financial aid that they can really use. In certain cases they may use it to make their way here (to Hungary).”
Revesz was in the western border region of Ukraine called Zakarpattia on February 24, when Russian troops launched their invasion. He quickly came up with the donation-drive idea after talking to Ukrainian football officials. Next, he tasked the Hungarian Professional Players Association to pitch in, which it did. The organization wrote a letter to all professional clubs asking them to do their part, too. Many are, either by helping support the families of Ukrainian players in their squads or by sending off shipments of goods.
As for Kisvarda’s Ukrainian players, the war has been devastating. Star forward Anton Kravchenko is so upset that he can’t play. His parents are in a region just west of Donetsk. They have told him that they aren’t moving and are ready to die there. Revesz respects Kravchenko’s situation.
“Kravchenko’s parents live in the region of Dnipropetrovsk,” Revesz explained. “At the beginning there was no fighting there, but recently that’s changed, so maybe they’ll have to re-think things, but we can’t use him now anyway. He’s also fallen ill. We just haven’t been able to include him in the team recently, he’s been deeply affected by what’s happening.”
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Worrying about loved ones
Goalkeeper Artem Odyntsov is among Kisvarda’s Ukrainian players. Both of his parents and his younger sister are trapped in Donetsk.
“I don’t know how to put it into words,” Odyntsov told DW. “It’s very difficult – when you talk with them and day and night they just say, ‘We’re fine’, ‘We’re being careful.’ Well that’s … very difficult.”
Artem Odyntsov is worried about family members back homeImage: Arpad Oliver Szoczi/DW
He also wants to remain strong despite what is happening and focus on his sport.
“The first few days were very difficult,” Odyntsov said, “but now I understand that this is my job. I only have this and I have to give my full concentration for the two hours here during a game. After a game or practice I can think about other things.”
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New arrivals
The Kisvarda team is also continuously bringing in junior players and their families from Ukraine. So far, hundreds of Ukrainian youth players have arrived in the city. Some stay while others move on to teams in Budapest, Sopron and other Hungarian cities.
Kisvarda is by no means a rich club, so funding the aid effort is making a significant impact on its budget. However, for sporting director Revesz, taking this financial hit is a no-brainer.
“We’ve taken the decision to finance this effort from our own budget, and we’ll worry about how to try to compensate for the losses at a later date,” he said. “This is our highest priority right now because it’s important to give needy people a new opportunity.
“There are already a whole lot of people in this city whose homes have been bombed. They won’t be able to return, they will have to start a new life. This will be the start of a new era for them.”
Bryson DeChambeau had a tumultuous first round of the Masters.
DeChambeau, 32, who shot 4 over par on the day, hit a patron with a tee shot on the sixth hole before later struggling to get out of a bunker on the 11th hole, hitting out of the sand three times before escaping the trap.
On the 180-yard, par 3, DeChambeau pulled his tee shot toward the left and hit a patron in the leg. The ball bounced back toward the hole and ended up settling off the green.
Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026.(Eric Gay/AP Photo)
DeChambeau covered his mouth with his hand when he saw the ball strike the patron. When he walked toward the green, he found the patron, gave him a golf ball and shook his hand.
DeChambeau, who was even par at the time, made an outstanding recovery, chipping the ball to three feet from the hole despite being 24 yards out and eventually saved par by making the ensuing putt.
The Clovis, California, native, remained at even par until the 11th hole, when he had difficulty escaping a greenside bunker.
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DeChambeau’s second shot was from the fairway, hitting down toward a green that was flanked by a pond and a bunker. DeChambeau stayed far away from the pond, and his ball ended up rolling in the bunker.
Bryson DeChambeau hits from the bunker on the 11th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026.(Eric Gay/AP Photo)
The LIV Golf star hit his first bunker shot just three yards, not even nearing the lip of the bunker. His second bunker shot went nowhere, and he appeared to completely miss the ball.
DeChambeau finally escaped the bunker on his third attempt, hitting the ball just over the ledge of the sand trap before letting it roll about 15 feet away. He ended up two-putting for triple bogey, bringing him to three over par for the day.
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His struggles continued on the 16th hole, when he three-putted for bogey to bring him to four over par on the day. DeChambeau erased the stroke gained with a birdie on the 17th hole after a great iron shot from the rough left him eight feet from the hole.
Bryson DeChambeau hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026.(Eric Gay/AP Photo)
However, DeChambeau bogeyed the 18th hole, finishing with a 4-over 76 for the day.
For DeChambeau, his start to the Masters was similar to last year’s, when he shot an opening-round 73. DeChambeau rallied in the second and third rounds, and he entered the final round in the final pairing with Rory McIlroy before shooting a 75 on Sunday to end in a tie for fifth place.
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DeChambeau will look to turn things around Friday, when he tees off at 1:20 p.m. ET.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson (WO40) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Jordyn Tyson scheduled a workout for NFL teams six days before the 2026 NFL Draft as the Arizona State wide receiver attempts to answer questions about his health, according to multiple reports.
The April 17 workout became necessary because Tyson was nursing a hamstring injury that prevented him from taking the field for testing at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
Initially projected as a first-round pick when he declared for the draft, Tyson could fall to the second round in a draft well-stocked with wide receivers.
He played in nine games last season and had 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight TDs while fighting the soft-tissue challenges. Tyson reeled in 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024.
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But his injury history isn’t limited to his hamstrings. A transfer from Colorado, Tyson had MCL, ACL and PCL tears with the Buffaloes in 2022 and broke his collarbone in 2024.
There were 31 teams accounted for at the Arizona State pro day on March 27, but Tyson wasn’t a participant.
He has smaller hands for his 6-foot-2, 203-pound frame and durability no doubt will be a factor as teams decide where Tyson falls on their draft board. A redshirt junior, Tyson turns 22 in August. He’s the younger brother of 2024 NBA first-round pick Jaylon Tyson, who was selected 20th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mayo and Galway have secured their places in the knockout stages of the Connacht U20 Football Championship with a round to spare after impressive victories on Wednesday evening.
The Western rivals now move forward with momentum ahead of the final group fixtures, while Leitrim and Sligo have been eliminated from contention.
Mayo Dominate Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon
Mayo delivered a powerful attacking display to defeat Leitrim by 3-21 to 1-12 in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Early goals from Dylan Flynn and Kobe McDonald set the tone for a one-sided contest, putting Mayo firmly in control from the outset.
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Further scores from Tom Lydon, who finished with an excellent tally of 0-7, alongside two two-pointers from Colm Lynch, helped Mayo build a commanding 2-12 to 0-5 lead by half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Darragh Beirne adding a third Mayo goal in the 47th minute to extinguish any hopes of a Leitrim comeback.
Colm McLoughlin did manage a consolation goal for Leitrim, but it proved little more than a footnote on a dominant Mayo performance.
Galway Survive Sligo Comeback in Tuam Thriller
Galway were pushed all the way by Sligo before securing a narrow 1-13 to 0-15 victory in a gripping encounter at Tuam Stadium.
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The Tribesmen looked comfortable at the interval, leading 0-11 to 0-5 after a composed first-half display.
However, Sligo responded superbly after the break, firing over six unanswered points to level the contest and swing momentum in their favour.
Conor Walsh, Matthew Walsh, Aaron Lang (three points) and Eamon Keane were all on target during a blistering spell from the Yeats County.
Galway regrouped at a crucial moment, with Eoinín Ó Cualáin first restoring the lead with a point before rattling the net to deliver a decisive blow.
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Ciaran Mulhern extended the advantage to five, and although Sligo rallied again through late scores from Cian Nicholson (two-pointer), Lang and Dara Mostyn, they ultimately fell just short.
With one round of fixtures remaining, both Mayo and Galway have booked their places in the knockout stages and will now look to build further momentum ahead of the semi-finals.
For Sligo and Leitrim, attention now turns to rebuilding after competitive but ultimately unsuccessful campaigns.
Match Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS @Galway_GAA just hold on to defeat @sligogaa after a cracker in Tuam in Round 4 of the Dalata Hotel Group Connacht U20 Championship! #ConnachtGAA
Former UConn star Sue Bird and her wife, ex-soccer star Megan Rapinoe were critical of Bird’s former coach, Geno Auriemma, after he got into a shouting match with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley following their Final Four bout.
Rapinoe said the coach put “you all in a really tough spot.”
“Listen, I think what Coach Auriemma did last night was obviously wrong and disappointing,” Bird said on her and Rapinoe’s podcast before praising the coach for apologizing rather quickly.
Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 3, 2026.(C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“We’re so used to him speaking his mind in those moments, especially in a press conference, that it did feel out of character on some level. But I am glad he came out with a statement and apologized.”
Rapinoe took it a step further, saying that because Auriemma is an important presence as a White man in a “predominantly Black space,” “it matters” how he represents himself.
“No matter the growth, investment, and success, women’s basketball sits at the intersection of gender, race, sexuality, and diversity, because of who he is in this sport — and he absolutely deserves respect for his success — it matters how he shows up,” Rapinoe said.
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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a women’s NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026.(Rick Scuteri/AP)
“It matters that he acknowledges South Carolina’s players and says, ‘You beat me.’ It matters that he shows up for his staff, his players, Dawn Staley, and her team. Not being there in that moment didn’t honor the space he’s been given. He didn’t show that respect back, and I think that’s what struck a nerve with people.
“As a highly successful White figure in this space, there’s an added responsibility to lead by example in allyship and stewardship of the game. He missed the mark on that. He has apologized, which is important, and hopefully he continues to take responsibility and repair.”
Auriemma said after the game he was upset Staley had not shaken his hand before the game (the two were seen shaking hands pregame, but Auriemma said he waited several minutes before seeing Staley).
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“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,” Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a women’s NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026.(Rick Scuteri/AP)
“It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
South Carolina wound up losing to UCLA in the national championship.
Morgan Rogers likely to be centre of transfer tug of war this summer, Juventus gaining hope of signing Alisson Becker and Liverpool owners believe Arne Slot will still be head coach next season.
Enzo Fernandez and his agent have apologised to Chelseafor comments the 25-yar-old midfielder made while on international duty in Argentina about a potential move to Real Madrid. (Sky Sports), external
Real Madrid could intensify their efforts to sign Bayern Munich and France winger Michael Olise, 24, who is also a target for Liverpool, in the summer transfer window. (Christian Falk), external
FIFA has announced the list of match officials who will take charge of games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a detailed selection process that lasted more than three years.
A total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials have been chosen from all six confederations and 50 Member Associations. This marks the largest group of officials ever selected for the tournament.
The selection was based on quality and consistency, with performances at top-level competitions carefully assessed over time. The officials were also monitored during FIFA tournaments, as well as domestic and international matches.
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FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, said the selected officials are among the best in the world. He explained that they have gone through extensive preparation, including seminars and regular performance checks, to ensure they meet the highest standards.
He added that the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across three host countries. According to him, this has led to the need for a larger group of referees compared to previous editions.
Collina also confirmed that six women match officials have been included, continuing the progress made in recent tournaments to promote women in refereeing.
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The officials will be based in Miami, where they will begin a ten-day preparation seminar on May 31. During the competition, they will train daily, with support from fitness coaches, medical staff and match analysts to keep them in top condition.
Video match officials will later move to Dallas, where the International Broadcast Centre will be located, while referees and assistant referees will remain in Miami.
Technology is expected to play a key role during the tournament. Goal-line technology, an improved semi-automated offside system and connected ball technology will all be used to support decision-making. Fans will also be able to see the game from the referee’s perspective through new camera technology.
FIFA’s Director of Refereeing, Massimo Busacca, said the journey to the 2026 World Cup began immediately after the last edition, with continuous training and monitoring of candidates to ensure they reach the highest level.
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FIFA also confirmed that new measures aimed at improving match tempo and reducing time-wasting will be introduced, along with updates to the video assistant referee system.
With preparations now in place, FIFA believes the selected officials will play a key role in delivering a successful and historic World Cup.
Chris Jericho made his return to Dynamite recently. He has now sent a message to Chris Benoit’s son.
Chris Jericho spent the better part of the past year on the shelf. As a result, there was a lot of speculation about his future. Many reports suggested that the former World Champion could be leaving Tony Khan’s company for WWE. Jericho also teased returning to his previous employer by posting clips from his time in the sports entertainment juggernaut. However, this was not what happened. Last week on Dynamite, Jericho made his return to AEW in Winnipeg and addressed the fans. Now, he is set to face Ricochet in a singles match at Dynasty 2026.
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Chris Benoit’s son, David Benoit, recently posted a picture with Jericho backstage with the following caption:
“Welcome home to the greatest of all time always pleasure seeing you @chrisjerichofozzy @aew”
Check out his post here:
The AEW star commented on the post, saying it was great to see David Benoit. Check out his comment below:
“Great seeing you man!!! 🔥❤️”
Screengrab of Chris Jericho’s comment (Image via Instagram/@davidbenoit1)
Tony Khan revealed why Chris Jericho returned to AEW
Rumors were rampant for a very long time that Chris Jericho was done with AEW, and he could be returning to WWE. It was even reported that Jericho would return to the Stamford-based promotion when his contract was set to expire on December 31, 2025. However, he signed a new deal with Tony Khan’s company.
“I do know that Chris had a choice and he wanted to be in AEW. I’ve been in constant communication with Chris, and he definitely told me he wanted to be in AEW and very specifically in Winnipeg on that date. We’ve had that circled for a long time, going back to last year. It was a choice that Chris made that he’d rather be in AEW than wrestling anywhere else, and I think that’s awesome. He has always been consistent that he loves AEW.” [H/T @@TheDrainmaker on X]
It remains to be seen if Jericho will be victorious in his in-ring return.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Before it was warm enough to shed long sleeves on Thursday morning at the Masters, Jose Maria Olazábal, at 60 years old, was leading the tournament.
Plodding his way around Augusta National in the third group of the day, he made a birdie on 2 and another on 3. As more players started their rounds, they still couldn’t catch Olazábal, the two-time Masters champ.
Eventually, everyone started to take notice. Olazábal did too.
“Everybody was in shock,” he said, smiling, at the end of his round. “Of course, yes, I look at the leaderboard. I saw myself 2-under par, and for a little while I said to myself, hey, I’m leading the Masters. There you go. [Laughs] It’s one of those things. Obviously it was fun.”
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Olazábal is not currently leading the Masters. After a par-birdie-birdie start, he made 10 straight pars but struggled coming into the clubhouse.
He bogeyed 14 and made double on 15 when he spun his approach off the green and into the water. He made another bogey on 16 before finishing his round with two pars and a 2-over 74.
Still, it was a heck of a round for the 1994 and 1999 champion, who is making his 37th career Masters start this week.
“I started really well. I made a few putts, a few saves and I got the round going,” he said. “I mean, the only headache was 15, to be honest. I felt I didn’t mishit the shot, to be honest. I think a couple more yards, it would have been perfect, but it’s one of those things. I mean, you know, Augusta is like that. Five feet can make a huge difference. It was just a pity, but the rest of the round was pretty solid. I’m really pleased. I mean, I will take 2-over par every day over here.”
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Olazábal hit 11 fairways but just five greens. He’ll finish the first day ranked near the bottom for driving distance (271.5 yards) while one of his playing partners, 21-year-old Aldrich Potgieter, will rank near the top (332 yards).
Olazábal said Potgieter, who leads the PGA Tour in driving distance, was the longest pro he’s played with in his career. Olazábal beat Potgieter by 10.
“I mean, you just have to stay focused on your game. You cannot be distracted about that,” Olazábal said about the difference in driving distance. “You know, we have a job to do. You have to apply your game, simple as that. I mean, stay focused on what you have to do. Obviously you enjoy and you are mesmerized when you see the ball fly that far for that long, but obviously, you know, you have to stay focused on the job at hand.”
Although maybe Olazábal’s Thursday 74 will be good luck.
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“The first year I won, I shot 74 the first day, and I was really pissed off, you know, because I came to the tournament thinking that my game was all right, and that was it,” he said. “I was so upset with myself that I didn’t even go to the driving range. I went straight home, and that was it. Then, you know, the rest of the three days obviously I managed to play a little better.”
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