You never know what you are going to see at the ballpark.
During the ninth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Busch Stadium, fans started migrating to an empty section in right field and took their shirts off.
The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning when the group of fans made their way to the empty section. About 100 fans first started the movement, and as the game went to extra innings, the entire section was packed with shirtless fans, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
St. Louis Cardinals’ Yohel Pozo celebrates after hitting a walk-off single to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the 11th inning of a baseball game in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026.(Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
Caleb Cummings, a 20-year-old on the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team, came up with the idea.
“I looked at my buddy and said, ‘What if we go up there to right field bleachers and start waving our shirts?” Cummings told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “They’re like, ‘You know what, that’s a good idea.’ We had no intentions of it getting that big — we were just going out there to have fun. We got up there, and we’re all standing there, and we’re like, ‘Who’s gonna do it first?’”
Bryce Bradford was the first to remove his shirt and wave it around, and it quickly drew a crowd.
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“He started waving it and going crazy,” Cummings said. “So then it just spread, and then there are a few kids in the section next to us who came to join. And soon, I see people from the ages of like 80 years old to kids doing it. Dads coming over with their kids, running over with their shirts off.”
St. Louis Cardinals’ Yohel Pozo celebrates with teammate Masyn Winn after hitting a walk-off single to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the 11th inning of a baseball game in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026.(Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
When Yohel Pozo smacked a pinch-hit line drive on a 100 mph fastball to win the game in the bottom of the 11th inning, the shirtless crew in the right-field stands went ballistic. It was the Cardinals’ fourth walk-off win of the season.
Cardinals manager Olli Marmol opened his postgame news conference with praise for the energy the shirtless fans brought.
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“Whoever started that in right field, I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure they come to every game,” Marmol said. “Because that was awesome. Not only them, but everybody that showed up today. That was a fun environment.”
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Gordon Graceffo celebrates after getting Kansas City Royals’ Maikel Garcia to ground out, ending the top of the 11th inning in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 15, 2026.(Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)
The manager said the fans had a real impact on the game.
“It creates an environment where, it’s not only filling this place up, it’s making it a tough place for other teams to come in and play,” Marmol said. “That was pretty damn cool. I’ll sign up for that, any day.”
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The Cardinals (26-18) will look to keep their momentum rolling when they play the Royals (19-26) again in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during second-quarter action at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Dec. 24, 2023. Jefferson energized the home crowd following the scoring play as Minnesota battled Detroit in a pivotal NFC North matchup during the closing weeks of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The NFL released the full schedule on Thursday night, allowing each team to reveal its own docket with fancy social media videos. The Minnesota Vikings featured kicker Will Reichard and wrestler Chris Jericho. The league may never, ever, be the same eh-gain.
Minnesota’s toughest tests are easy to spot.
That was a Chris Jericho reference for the non-wrestling fans, but we digress. The following is a list of the best games on the Vikings’ schedule, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top game).
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Five Matchups That Will Highlight the Vikings’ Season
What games have you circled?
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey catches a pass against the Minnesota Vikings during fourth-quarter action on Oct. 23, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCaffrey remained a focal point of San Francisco’s offense throughout the primetime matchup, using his versatility as both a runner and receiver against Minnesota’s defense. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
5. Week 11 | at San Francisco 49ers (SNF, Mexico)
This game feels like the season’s midpoint, though it’s mathematically closer to the finish line.
On November 22nd — four days before Thanksgiving — this contest should be a fantastic indicator of whether the Vikings are “for real” or merely sputtering around .500 while hoping to keep things interesting. The Vikings have played the 49ers well with Kevin O’Connell in charge and seem to have Brock Purdy’s number.
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We know for sure that San Francisco won’t be a joke, so at a neutral site, this is a wonderful barometer in late November to determine whether the Vikings can be a real contender.
4. Week 14 at New England Patriots (TNF)
Minnesota hasn’t played at New England in eight years, and the last time they visited, Tom Brady still ran the show, and Kirk Cousins played poorly that contest. This time is different. The Patriots don’t have Brady but are still the Super Bowl runner-up. Vikings fans will also get to see Drake Maye, whom much of the fan base wanted for Minnesota’s roster from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Of all games on the schedule, this one has the biggest underdog point spread for Minnesota from a May perspective — 4.5 points in favor of the Patriots.
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Sportsbooks do not think the Vikings will win this one.
PatsPulpit‘s Brian Hines predicted a New England win on Thursday night, writing, “Following a big win over the Bills, New England will have a short week for their second Thursday night game of the season — which will take place at Gillette Stadium against another NFC North opponent.”
“The big question for Minnesota will be who is starting at quarterback by Week 11: 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy or free agent addition Kyler Murray? With either operating on a short week and on the road, the Patriots take care of business. | Prediction: Win (8-5).”
3. Week 1 | vs. Green Bay Packers
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It’s Kyler Murray’s — probably — first game as a Minnesota Viking, and he will see his old head coach, Jonathan Gannon, who is the new defensive coordinator for the Packers. Meanwhile, the Vikings have opened the season at home against Green Bay just twice in franchise history: a loss in 2020 and a win in 2022 to start the O’Connell era.
This one is must-see television for these reasons:
Week 1 is always must-see television.
Murray’s first game in purple.
Murray vs. Gannon.
The natural MIN-GB rivalry
A quasi-primetime feel at 3:25 pm CST
It’s at home.
2. Week 15 | vs. Detroit Lions (SNF)
At this point on the schedule, if the Vikings are good, they could have a 10-3, 9-4, 8-5, or 7-6 record. Taking on the Lions, who might have a similar record and a roster that remains impressive, will have heavy implications for the NFC North and the playoff picture.
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph high-fives teammates during pregame warmups before a matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 8, 2023, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Joseph prepared for another NFC contest after emerging as one of the Lions’ ascending defensive playmakers during Detroit’s rise under head coach Dan Campbell. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Until last year, Dan Campbell utterly dominated O’Connell; it was embarrassing. But O’Connell took down Campbell twice in 2025. Maybe a new day is on the horizon.
Circle this one because it is late in the season, it’s at home, and it will probably drip with playoff implications.
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1. Week 9 | vs. Buffalo Bills (MNF)
A rematch of one of the best Vikings’ regular season games of all time from 2022 — perhaps the single best Vikings regular season game ever.
That dub occurred in Buffalo; this contest will shake out in Minneapolis. The Vikings drew the Bills on Monday Night Football on November 9th, right after the World Series and the 2026 midterm elections, and a few weeks before Thanksgiving.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks recovers a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 13, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Kendricks helped spark one of the Vikings’ most dramatic victories in franchise history during an overtime thriller against Buffalo on the road. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo is basically guaranteed to be a contender if Josh Allen is healthy. Allen returns to the spot of his career win at U.S. Bank Stadium when he and the Bills stunned Kirk Cousins‘ Vikings in 2018.
Suppose Minnesota has a winning record heading into Vikings-Bills. This game will teach you a lot about the team’s upside.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Belgium head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup looking to begin a fresh chapter after finally moving beyond the long-standing “golden generation” label that defined the previous decade of Belgian football.
The Red Devils struggled to let go of several aging stars during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a decision that ultimately contributed to an early and disappointing exit. Although signs of transition began to emerge at Euro 2024 under Domenico Tedesco, it is now under new coach Rudi Garcia that Belgium appear ready to fully embrace a younger and more dynamic era.
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While experienced figures from Belgium’s most successful generation still remain part of the setup, the spotlight has now shifted towards a new wave of talent eager to establish its own identity on the world stage. Entering the tournament without overwhelming pressure or expectations could work in Belgium’s favour this time around.
Belgium enjoyed another unbeaten qualification campaign, finishing with 5 wins and 3 draws while scoring 29 goals and conceding just 7. Kevin De Bruyne once again proved decisive, finishing as the team’s top scorer with six goals, while Alexis Saelemaekers led the assist charts with four.
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Although Belgium only secured top spot in Group J on the final matchday, they consistently showcased attacking quality throughout qualifying. A commanding 4-2 victory over Wales in Cardiff perfectly highlighted the balance and attacking intent of this evolving Belgian side, while effectively sealing their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Belgium’s Group G in FIFA World Cup 2026
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Belgium
Iran
Egypt
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Will Belgium’s next gen spring a surprise?
Jérémy Doku enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Belgium’s biggest attacking weapon and a true game-changer on the wings. The Manchester City star is known for his explosive pace, dazzling footwork, and fearless dribbling, consistently troubling defenders in one-on-one situations and bringing excitement every time he touches the ball.
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Alongside him, Malick Fofana is emerging as one of Belgium’s brightest young talents. Much like Doku, Fofana thrives in direct attacking situations and possesses the ability to unsettle defenders with his unpredictability. Although an ankle injury briefly slowed his progress, the young winger continues to attract strong interest from several top European clubs.
Belgium schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 Belgium schedule
Fixture
Date
Venue
Belgium vs. Egypt
Monday, June 15
Lumen Field
Belgium vs. Iran
Sunday, June 21
SoFi Stadium
New Zealand vs. Belgium
Friday, June 26
BC Place
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Belgium Strengths
Belgium are expected to operate in a possession-based 4-2-3-1 system under Rudi Garcia, built around technical quality, midfield control, and attacking fluidity. One of the team’s biggest strengths is its balanced and deep midfield unit, capable of dictating tempo while also providing defensive stability.
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Kevin De Bruyne remains the creative heartbeat of the side, but Belgium’s attacking threat is heavily driven by its dynamic wide players. Jérémy Doku’s explosive dribbling and ability to dominate one-on-one situations make him a constant danger, while Dodi Lukébakio’s tendency to cut inside from the right creates additional attacking variety. Combined with elite talent in the final third, Belgium possess the firepower to overwhelm opponents when their attacking system clicks into place.
Belgium Weaknesses
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Despite their technical quality, Belgium have often struggled mentally against the strongest teams in world football. There remains a lingering inferiority complex in high-pressure matches against elite opposition, something that has affected them in previous major tournaments.
Another issue has been their tendency to start games slowly, occasionally allowing opponents to settle into matches before Belgium can establish control. Against top-tier sides, these sluggish openings can prove costly and place unnecessary pressure on the team later in matches.
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Belgium squad for FIFA World Cup 2026:
Goalkeepers
Mats Sels — Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
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Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid (LaLiga)
Senne Lammens — Royal Antwerp (Belgian Pro League)
Defenders
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Arthur Theate — Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
Brandon Mechele — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)
Nathan Ngoy — Luton Town (Championship)
Koni De Winter — Genoa (Serie A)
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Zeno Debast — Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Maxime De Cuyper — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)
One of the most anticipated events of the year is here. Ronda Rousey, after a decade away from mixed martial arts, makes her return on Saturday night in Los Angeles when she takes on another legend of the sport off a long time away from the sport in Gina Carano. The two headline Netlfix’s first MMA event, set to take place inside the Intuit Dome.
Rousey rose to prominence with Strikeforce where she quickly climbed the ranks to become women’s bantamweight champion. She impressed UFC president Dana White enough for him to back off his stance of never having women fight for the promotion when she made her debut in 2013 as the inaugural champion. She defended the title six times before a stunning knockout loss to Holly Holm in 2015 and followed that up with another knockout loss to Amanda Nunes in 2016, which led to her departure from the sport.
Carano is widely considered the pioneer of women’s MMA. The Strikeforce and Elite XC alum brought new eyes to women’s MMA. She rode that popularity to an inaugural Strikeforce women’s featherweight title fight. Carano faltered to Cyborg, one of the most dominant fighters of any gender, before retiring.
Rousey and Carano haven’t fought in 10 and 17 years, respectively. They return in a long-lost dream match in Los Angeles.
This event is not just about the headliners. MVP is putting together an event filled with names familiar to many MMA fans. Look no further than the co-main event when Nate Diaz takes on Mike Perry at welterweight. Plus, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is back when he takes on Philipe Lins. Another former UFC heavyweight champion is also on the main card when Junior dos Santos returns to MMA to take on Robelis Despaigne.
Below is the complete fight card for MVP MMA, along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
Rousey vs. Carano fight card, odds, results
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
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Ronda Rousey -535 vs. Gina Carano +400, women’s featherweights
Mike Perry -218 vs. Nate Diaz +180, welterweights
Francis Ngannou -1450 vs. Philipe Lins +850, heavyweights
Salahdine Parnasse -1100 vs. Kenneth Cross +700, lightweights
Robelis Despaigne def. Junior dos Santos via first-round knockout (punches)
Namo Fazil def. Jake Babian via second-round submission (anaconda choke)
Adriano Moraes def. Phumi Nkuta via third-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Jason Jackson def. Jeff Creighton via first-round knockout (punches)
David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
The Vegas Golden Knights could still avoid losing their second-round pick despite the NHL handing down major penalties following the team’s playoff media access controversy.
NHL insider Andy Strickland suggested the league may eventually reduce that part of the punishment during the appeal process.
“Don’t be surprised if the NHL decides to remove the 2nd round pick as part of the penalty in Vegas appeal process,” Strickland wrote on X. “Bill Foley will make a call, if he hasn’t already. Can’t see the league making them lose a 2nd round pick, possibly a blue chip player down the road, because of a poor decision by Torts and the PR staff. Expect the 100k to stick.”
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That prediction comes after the NHL announced that Vegas would forfeit its second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft while head coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000. Vegas still has the option to appeal both penalties during an in person hearing scheduled for next week in New York.
What led to Vegas Golden Knights’ punishment from the NHL
Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 on Thursday night to win the series 4-2. But after the game, attention quickly shifted away from the result when head coach John Tortorella did not speak with reporters.
Under NHL playoff rules coaches are required to be available to the media following games. The NHL later explained the punishment in an official statement.
“The National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 of their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft,” the league said.
“In addition, Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella has been fined $100,000. The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.”
Neither Vegas nor Tortorella gave much explanation afterward about why the postgame media session was skipped. However Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that frustration over Brayden McNabb’s one-game suspension for interference may have contributed to the decision. Tortorella also avoided getting into details when asked about the situation later.
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“We put out a statement as an organization,” Tortorella said. “We’ll go by that.”
Vegas Golden Knights will next face the Colorado Avalanche as the franchise continues its push for another Stanley Cup after winning its first title against the Florida Panthers in 2023.
Rousey vs Carano will take place on Saturday 16 May at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The main card is due to begin at 2am BST on Sunday (6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET on Saturday), with the main event likely following at 4am BST on Sunday (8pm PT / 10pm CT / 11pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch it?
The event will stream live exclusively on Netflix. It will be available to all existing subscribers – in other words, at no additional cost.
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Odds
Rousey – 2/11; Carano – 4/1
Ngannou – 1/12; Lins – 7/1
Diaz – 13/8; Perry – 1/2
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Fight card in full
Francis Ngannou left the UFC as heavyweight champion before winning gold in the PFL (Getty)
Subject to change:
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano (women’s featherweight)
Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins (heavyweight)
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Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry (welterweight)
Salahdine Parnasse vs Kenneth Cross (lightweight)
Junior Dos Santos vs Robelis Despaigne (heavyweight)
UFC legend Nate Diaz left the promotion in 2022 (Getty)
Namo Fazil def. Jake Babian via second-round submission (D’arce choke, 0:58)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a first major trophy in Saudi Arabia continued when Al-Nassr lost to Japan’s Gamba Osaka 1-0 in the Asian Champions League Two final on Saturday. A first-half goal from Turkish forward Deniz Hammat helped Osaka secure Asia’s second-tier tournament despite Al-Nassr dominating possession and having more attempts on goal. The defeat came five days after Al-Nassr was seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League for the first time since 2019, only to concede in stoppage time and leave the title race to be decided on the final matchday on Thursday.
It was a frustrating night for the home side. Al-Nassr created multiple openings in the first half but Osaka took the lead in the 30th minute. Hammat turned and fired a low shot into the bottom corner from just inside the area. After a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal stood.
Ronaldo also refused to collect his runners up medal after the full-time whistle.
“I am happy to score and help the team and to do my best for this club,” said Hammat, who went off injured at halftime. “I was nervous watching in the second half but the most important thing is that we won and I am proud of my teammates. Now it is time to celebrate and enjoy.”
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Osaka defended in numbers and with discipline, making it difficult for Al-Nassr’s star-studded attack to create clear chances.
Ronaldo, who joined the club in December 2022, came close to equalizing just before halftime but his close-range header from a Joao Felix cross sailed wide. Felix, who signed from Chelsea in July, went even closer with 13 minutes remaining, striking the post with a low shot from outside the area.
Despite the double disappointment this week, Al-Nassr can still clinch the Saudi Pro League. It leads Al-Hilal by two points heading into the final game against Damac on Thursday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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An overview shows the boxing fight for the European IBF title at Sportcomplex De Wilgenring in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Nov. 29, 2025.(Jack Brekelmans/EYE4images/NurPhoto)
Jurk was rather nonchalant following the punch as Castillo lay on the floor, prompting an announcer to say the medics should be in the ring.
Medical staff did tend to Castillo as the referee walked away, but fans were quick to notice some oddities in the brief fight.
Jurk was almost immediately called out for duping Castillo into touching the gloves, a sign of respect, at the beginning of the fight. They did touch gloves before the bell rang.
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“He was trying to touch gloves and got sucker punchesd (sic),” one user on X wrote.
Three red BBE boxing gloves are displayed during the Joe Calzaghe open workout in Abercarn.(David Davies/PA Images)
“He ignored the gentleman tap to put this hook That’s super unfair…” wrote another.
“Looks like guy in the blue trunks put one glove up to tap for like sportsmanship and then when dud in red went to tap blue trunks swung with his other hand,” said one more.
However, others thought it was all part of a plan by both fighters.
“Fake as f—, look at how he put his arm down to break his fall, he should be in the Olympic swimming team with a dive like that,” a critic wrote.
One more said, “For the noobs. This is called, ‘taking a dive.’”
Others noted that Jurk’s punch did not connect solidly on Castillo’s head or face. Nonetheless, Castillo stayed on the canvas for well over two minutes.
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Boxing gloves lay on a mat inside a boxing ring during an amateur boxing night between boxers from Chile and Argentina.(Fernando Lavoz/NurPhoto)
In any case, it was the 12th knockout of Jurk’s career as he moved to 14-0. Castillo is now 13-3, with all three losses coming in his last four fights.
Rory McIlroy is three shots off the lead as American Alex Smalley took a late grip of the US PGA Championship.
Smalley birdied four of the last six holes to move two shots clear of a packed leaderboard at six under par ahead of what could be a thrilling battle on Sunday.
A five-strong group featuring Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg and England’s Aaron Rai are two shots adrift, with a staggering 21 players within four shots of Smalley.
McIlroy shot a four-under superb 66 to surge his way back into contention, having recovered from his disappointing opening 74.
As McIlroy walked off the course, the leading groups were just beginning their final round and he was left hoping they would be unable to stretch the mark too far.
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He remains firmly in the mix. As Rahm finished his media duties, he looked at the leaderboard and asked if anyone had seen anything like it.
Much of the talk over the first two days was about how tough a challenge Aronimink Golf Club has presented but it has created a thrilling final-day scenario.
“It’s frustrating to us but, at the same time, it creates a hell of an entertaining championship. If I wasn’t playing this tournament, I’d love what’s going on this week,” McIlroy said.
Rahm added: “As hard as it is to play, the challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well.
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“That’s probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up and it’s going to be such a good Sunday tomorrow. So in that sense, showmanship-wise, they’ve done a great job.”
McIlroy was one of a number of morning starters who produced a low score on Saturday, with Justin Rose, Chris Kirk and Kristoffer Reitan all shooting 65 to close within two of the overnight leaders.
The later starters Rai and Rahm briefly nudged the lead to five under but both bogeyed the 18th as they carded excellent 67s.
Overnight co-leader Smalley, in just his fifth major championship, wobbled early with three bogeys in his first four holes but hit back brilliantly.
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The American bogeyed 17 to drop back to five under but held his nerve to birdie the last and stand alone at the top.
World number one Scottie Scheffler struggled and carded a one-over 71, which leaves him five back.
“Going into tomorrow, it’s quite literally anybody’s tournament,” Scheffler said. “There’s a lot of guys that have a chance.
“Somebody is going to have a great round and I’m going to make sure to do my best to give myself my the best shot at being the one who has a great round.”
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German Matti Schmid and Canadian Nick Taylor matched the lowest round of the week with 65 to sit two off the lead at four under.
Should any players still be tied at the conclusion of the final round, the winner will be decided by a three-hole aggregate score play-off.
With just 18 holes remaining at the 2026 PGA Championship and a crowded leaderboard setting the stage for a dramatic finish, it seems one hole could shape the outcome of Sunday’s final round: the par-4 10th at Aronimink Golf Club.
According to PGA Tour course statistics, the 472-yard par 4 is playing as the hardest hole on the course, averaging .386 strokes over par for the field. Much of that difficulty appears to stem from its demanding green complex — something that Smylie Kaufman highlighted during a recent episode of the Smylie Show.
In a clip from the episode, Kaufman, alongside co-host Charlie Hulme, broke down the challenges that this green presents, saying, “It’s probably the most difficult green that some of these players are going to play in their career.”
The reason this green is so challenging is because of the minuscule landing areas, something that’s more apparent when you look at a green map, like the one below featuring the third-round hole location.
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Heatmap of the 10th green at Aronimink
Arccos
As you can see, flat spots are sparse on the 10th green, with severe undulations (many exceeding 4-percent of slope) running through much of the putting surface. This makes it difficult to control where the ball finishes and find the “pro side” miss, a critical aspect of course management at major championships.
“It just requires you to be so accurate,” Kaufman says.
And when you consider that the 10th fairway slopes toward the water hazard lurking short and left of the green, this approach shot becomes even more daunting for players.
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“At the 10th hole, the ball is above your feet [for right-handed players], so it’s going to make the golf ball curve a little bit more to the left,” Kaufman continues, “If you have a right-to-left shot that’s riding a right-to-left wind, that golf ball is going to bounce left when it lands and from there, it’s off the green, to the left.”
And with the 10th marking the start of the back nine, it doesn’t just stand as a difficult hole in the final round — it becomes a pivotal moment where momentum can shift, and a champion can begin to separate from the field.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Let’s do an exercise in elevation here. Shall we? It’s getting near three o’clock on Saturday afternoon and here’s Rory McIlroy on 17, the last of Aronimink’s show-us-what-you-got par-3s. We’re looking down at the Masters champion, the only man in the world who can win the single-year Grand Slam in 2026. You can see the wee button on the top of his Nike baseball cap. His shirt tails are more out than in.
Rory is at the dead center of your clock dial here, let’s just say. Viewed that way, Brooks Koepka, McIlroy’s third-round playing partner, is at 10 o’clock, having already sauntered over to the 18th tee, and for a few longish moments McIlroy is standing all alone on the 17th green, not moving, not doing anything but holding a putter and looking at the hole, seemingly lost in time and space. He had just made a bogey, a good one, all things considered. From where he was in one (fried-egg lie in a greenside trap) and two (nasty lie in lush greenside rough)? It could have been worse.
That’s the micro view of the 4 he made there. Golf loves micro. You can get lost in golf as you can get lost in a movie, or in a dream. Modern life doesn’t give you that many opportunities to get lost, with our electronic leashes and all. There’s a movie about the jazz legend Chet Baker called “Let’s Get Lost.” Maybe you’ve seen it. At some of his gigs he played through sunrise.
Let’s head north, into the blue skies of this perfect May day, here on the edge of the Main Line horse country. You can see some ripples in the pond in front of the 17th green as the wind skims along the top of it. Two days of a cool wind and a warm wind on Saturday — perfect. The nearby grandstands are packed.
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Up we go and now the whole course is coming into view. It’s big and bold and hilly and features every shade of green. You can see the golfers moving through it, the parade of tournament golf. You can see the Tudor clubhouse with its red-tiled roof, 100 years old and seemingly airlifted from the English countryside. In quieter times — dusk on a quiet fall day, say — the locker room creaks as your foursome packs up and heads out. No creaking this week. Everything is buzzing. The clubhouse looks like the manor house in “Howards End,” if you know that movie.
The players, about 70 of them, are on the course. The second-round leaders are on the first hole. Jon Rahm is deep in the front nine, chasing. Elsewhere, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg are doing the same. Elsewhere, there’s Matti Schmid, Chris Gotterup, Maverick McNealy, doing the same. Golf thrives in this stew.
Whatever Gil Hanse and the Aronimink grounds crew did and are doing to this golf course, it’s working. You’ve been coming to this course for 40 years. It’s never looked better. All these exposed hilltops, all these windblown golfers trying to solve the puzzles of these knobby greens. It’s difficult, appropriately so. This is championship golf, the whole golf world coming together in the name of this odd pursuit that captivates so many of us. One major per month: April, May, June, July. It’s a short season. If you’re going to win the single-season Grand Slam, you gotta stay hot for 12 weeks. Rory is headlining that story, this year. It’s not impossible.
If there’s ever been a day better than this one, you can’t remember it. That’s how swept away you are by the proceedings here, here at top of funnel, peering into all of this golf.
You launch a booster rocket and now you’re above the Goodyear Blimp. There’s the Merion Golf Club and its two courses; there’s the Merion Cricket Club and its grass courts; there’s the Lower Merion High School campus and somewhere in there its gym, where Kobe launched all those 2s, his NBA dreams arcing alongside them. There are the steps of the Art Museum (“Rocky”), the train tracks into 30th Street Station (“Witness”), the wooden shingles atop Independence Hall (“1776”). Here we are, 250 years later.
Rory McIlroy, like other artists before him, can be hard to predict. He made a 5 on the par-5 16th, where he would have loved, and maybe half-expected, to make 4. He made a 4 on 17 where you’re one solid iron shot away from making a tap-in 3. Still, nice progress: 74, 67, 66. By the end of play on Saturday, he was three under for the tourney and three shots out of Alex Smalley’s lead. These leads can be frail things, as Rory McIlroy, among many others, has shown us.
He’s staying in a house near the course and is watching “The Dark Knight,” the Batman movie,at night, in pieces. The movie is two-and-a-half hours long, and it’s aptly named. On Saturday, McIlroy rolled out of bed and into all this golfing sunshine, sunshine in every sense of the word. The chaos of the world, for part of a day, anyhow, seemed far away.
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“You can, you can get into a cocoon,” Rory said Saturday, hanging out for a couple minutes, in no rush, really, to go anywhere, his mood buoyant, just like everybody else. “You do that more at the Masters than anywhere else — that whole week you seem to have no idea what’s going on in the rest of the world. It’s not quite the same here, but for us, this golf tournament is the most important thing in our lives right now. You still keep up with things: Trump’s trip to China and all of that. But when you’re here at the tournament, But when we’re here at the course, I don’t want to say it’s escapism, but for us, this is it.”
Us.
Rory’s us is likely the players and maybe the caddies, some coaches, families if they’re in tow. But from on high, from 30,000 feet, you can’t tell Jon Rahm from Crew Koepka, the golfer’s son, on hand on this Saturday afternoon. Us is the whole party that is gathered here, at this splendid course, in this splendid season, on this splendid day. The golf is giving us a break here. A break and a vacation.
;)
;)
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