The only annual regular event in golf that is co-sponsored by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour is the Scottish Open, and the 2026 version tees off at 2 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday from North Berwick. It’s the fifth year in a row both Tours sponsor this, and it was a smart change to make back then, with so many good USA players often heading over to Europe anyway two weeks ahead of the British Open, which is next week.

What is perhaps most unusual about this year’s event is that there are seven players from LIV in the field, led by Spain’s Jon Rahm, who is a +1500 third favorite to win it for the first time. And I think he will be mega-motivated for the rare chance to face off against stars from the PGA Tour for the first time outside of a major championship since the 2023 Tour Championship. The majors are each run by independent organizations and haven’t placed any bans on LIV players like the PGA Tour has.

There are seven LIV guys in this year’s field – also Tyrrell Hatton (could see him contending, too), David Puig, Tom McKibbin, Laurie Canter, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk – and they are competing as DP World Tour members. Earlier this year, they paid outstanding fines for leaving for LIV and were given conditional DP World Tour membership back.

It was crucially important for Rahm to get that so he could be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup (must be a DP World Tour member to play for Europe). Rahm actually has talked about investing his own money to keep LIV afloat. This is a great British Open tune-up for the LIV guys, especially because it’s a typical 72-hole stroke-play event with a 36-hole cut, things that don’t exist in LIV.

Rahm has been dominating LIV in 2026 with two wins and four runners-up in nine starts but missed the cut at the U.S. Open in his last worldwide start. In two career outings at the Scottish Open, he has been seventh (2021) and T-55 (2022). I think a Top 10 at +155 works this week, but a win would not surprise me. Rahm’s eight PGA Tour wins this decade are still third-most on the Tour in that span. He is among the last to tee off in Round 1 at 9:05 a.m. ET on Thursday.

The top three finishers at this event get into next week’s British Open if not already qualified, and normally the victor would also earn a PGA Tour card through at least the 2027 season. But the LIV guys are not eligible for that.

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Seven of the world top 10 are teeing it up this week (Rahm is 11th). Will No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+550) finally win for the first time since January? He has been close so many times, including four runners-up since then – dropping two of those in a playoff.

Those four second-place finishes are most by a PGA Tour player since the 2021-22 season. Scheffler hasn’t won this tournament but has been eighth and third his past two trips. I do wonder if he’s more focused on defending his British Open title next week.

Americans have won this event only six times, but the defending champion is rising American star Chris Gotterup … who also happens to come off a win Sunday at the John Deere Classic (35 players from there are teeing it up here). The 26-year-old is +2700 to repeat, which no one has ever done in the Scottish Open. Gotterup’s three wins this year are tied for the PGA Tour lead with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (+2000).

No doubt the biggest Horse for the Couse is No. 2 Rory McIlroy (+1000), but being from Northern Ireland you’d expect he thrives in conditions like Scotland. McIlroy has a win (2023) runner-up and T-4 in his past three starts here and is the only golfer to finish top five at the past three. McIlroy tries to become the first golfer in history to win the Masters and Scottish Open in the same year.

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The Renaissance Club hosts for the eighth year in a row and is a par 70 at 7,282 yards. The course record is 61, which Gotterup tied in Round 2 last year. CBS has weekend coverage from noon-3 ET with the time difference.  

The NFL regular season is about nine weeks away, and in the meantime, the Minnesota Vikings are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams, according to Bleacher Report. Kristopher Knox at that website ranked the league’s most intriguing teams, and Minnesota made the cut.

The analysis checks out, as Minnesota is one of the few squads with a high-profile quarterback battle this summer.

QB Battle Gives Vikings a Main Hook

BR: Vikings One of the NFL’s Most Interesting

The Vikings checked in at No. 4 on Knox’s list of eight intriguing teams, and he wrote, “This is mainly about the team’s acquisition of Kyler Murray, which paves the way for an intriguing quarterback battle involving the 2019 No. 1 overall pick and third-year first-rounder J.J. McCarthy.”

“Both face immense pressure to get it together for a team that contains arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, a great offensive line and a high-quality defense.”

The Vikings’ quarterback battle will continue at training camp in three weeks.

Knox continued, “Kevin O’Connell’s squad is barely a year removed from a 14-win season and is built to win right now, but those major quarterback questions are likely to linger throughout the summer.”

“Throw in the fact that Minnesota will be tested every week in the overwhelmingly strong NFC North, and you have a recipe for intrigue in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

Offense

What’s interesting on offense? Damn near everything. At quarterback, onlookers will watch as Murray attempts to forge a Sam Darnold-like season (2024) in 2026. Darnold had no problem asserting himself and utterly thriving in Minnesota; there’s no reason to believe that Murray can’t follow suit. If it’s not Murray, well, it will have meant that McCarthy turned the corner, dethroning Murray for the QB1 job and hoping to resume his path as the Vikings’ quarterback of the future.

The team also has naturally intriguing and explosive playmakers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson. Murray had decent weapons in Arizona over the last seven seasons, but he never really had a stable four-deep like the Vikings offer in 2026.

For running backs, the outlook is different. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are back for shared RB1-RB2 duty, while Minnesota drafted Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne in Round 6 in April. Claiborne could emerge as a late-round stud, or he could emulate former Vikings running back Ty Chandler’s career, where fans saw glimpses of promise but never the total package.

Defense

The defense is fascinating because it’s straight-up good. Since Brian Flores arrived in Minneapolis, his group ranks second leaguewide in EPA/Play, and recently, the unit held the 2025 season together when the quarterback performance faltered.

There are also newcomers. Minnesota drafted Caleb Banks (DT, Florida), Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati), Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State), and Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami) in the first three rounds a couple of months ago; the Vikings’ most defense-oriented draft (in the first three rounds) in franchise history. So, there are many new faces to monitor.

It’s also time to get a verdict on outside linebacker Dallas Turner. Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles on April 24th for two 3rd-Round picks, one of which has already been used on the aforementioned safety Thomas. Another will transfer to the 2027 draft bucket.

Too, the Vikings may field a defense without Harrison Smith for the first time since 2011. Intrigue aplenty.

Expectations for the Head Coach

O’Connell has unequivocally proven his ability to win from September through early January.

Since he arrived in 2022, he has transformed the Vikings into one of the league’s more constant winners, earning the NFL Coach of the Year award in 2024 — a testament to Minnesota’s success and O’Connell’s role in stabilizing the franchise. The Vikings have the league’s fifth-best win percentage on his watch.

Meanwhile, Flores has constructed a formidable defense, and O’Connell’s offense has typically provided the team with enough resilience to remain competitive. The next crucial step for O’Connell is securing a playoff win.

It’s no longer sufficient to state that the Vikings are well-coached and competitive; that much is understood. The pressing question now is whether he can deliver when the postseason tournament begins. It’s where the 2026 season becomes particularly intriguing. Minnesota’s roster appears capable of contending, with a defense that should perform well on the road and dangerous offensive playmakers. Should the quarterback situation be resolved, the Vikings are expected to be in the playoff hunt from the outset.

When January arrives, the dynamic shifts. Can O’Connell overcome formidable opponents like the Los Angeles Rams in high-pressure situations? Can his offense avoid faltering in a playoff game? Can he win at all? Legitimate concerns

O’Connell has earned oodles of trust and goodwill, but he must win in mid-January.

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Switzerland completed the quarter-final line-up after prevailing in the Round of 16’s first and only penalty shootout, setting up four blockbuster last-eight clashes.

But how did each of the Round of 16 matches pan out? This is how:

Morocco’s impressive run continues

Canada pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, only to leave gaps at the back. Ounahi capitalised again in the 82nd minute with his second goal of the night before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory in stoppage time, finding the net in the 90+8th minute. 

The convincing win extended Morocco’s remarkable run in the tournament and set up a quarter-final meeting with France as Walid Regragui’s side moved another step closer to history.

France survive Paraguay’s physical challenge

Despite dominating possession, France found it difficult to create clear-cut chances as Paraguay defended in numbers and remained organised. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute when captain Kylian Mbappe found space inside the penalty area and clinically converted the game’s only goal.

France then managed the closing stages professionally, denying Paraguay any route back into the contest. The narrow victory kept Les Bleus’ hopes of another World Cup crown alive and booked a fascinating quarter-final showdown against the tournament’s surprise package, Morocco.

Haaland ends Brazil’s sixth trophy dream

Norway remained compact defensively and waited patiently for openings before Erling Haaland changed the game in spectacular fashion. The Manchester City striker broke the deadlock in the 79th minute before adding his second in the 90th minute to leave Brazil on the brink of elimination.

Neymar reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 90+10th minute after Brazil were awarded a late spot-kick, but there was little time left to complete the comeback.

The defeat ended Brazil’s hopes of a record-extending sixth World Cup title, while Neymar confirmed after the match that this had been his final appearance for the national team. Norway, meanwhile, marched into the quarter-finals brimming with confidence.

Bellingham powers England to quarters

Heartbreak for Ronaldo as Spain march on

Spain, meanwhile, marched into the last eight, where they will meet an in-form Belgium side in one of the standout quarter-final clashes.

Belgium knock the hosts out

Belgium continued to dominate possession and dictate the tempo after the interval, and Hans Vanaken effectively ended the contest with a composed finish in the 57th minute. The United States searched for a route back into the game but struggled to breach Belgium’s organised defence.

Romelu Lukaku added the finishing touch deep into stoppage time, scoring in the 90+3rd minute to complete a convincing 4-1 victory that brought the home nation’s World Cup campaign to an end and sent Belgium into a heavyweight quarter-final against Spain.

Despite a thrilling display of football by Belgium, the game will be remembered for the controversy surrounding USA’s Balogun, whose red card in the round of 32 game was revoked a day before the Belgium clash, causing a major uproar in the football world, with many accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of rigging the tournament.

Argentina’s great escape vs Egypt

Egypt were unable to withstand the relentless pressure, and Enzo Fernández completed the turnaround with a dramatic winner in the 90+3rd minute, sealing Argentina’s place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland.

Switzerland survive game of patience

Rubén Vargas calmly converted the decisive penalty after Luis Díaz had kept Colombia alive, sending the Swiss into the quarter-finals, where they will take on defending champions Argentina.

FIFA WC 2026 quarter-finals full schedule:

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a “remake” akin to games like Resident Evil 4 or the Resident Evil 2 remakes. However, it’s not a one-to-one recreation of the 2013 classic. With Resynced, Ubisoft has taken a few liberties to bring the experience much closer to modern Assassin’s Creed standards.

And these “improvements” and “changes” aren’t limited to the gameplay aspects of Resynced. Instead, there are also a fair few changes made to the progression and story.

Here’s a look at all the major changes between Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and the 2013 original.

Gameplay changes in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

The biggest change between the original and Resynced is the combat and its pacing. In the original Black Flag, the combat was built primarily around the counterplay options, akin to games like Batman Arkham City. However, with Resynced, Ubisoft is using the hit-box-based system of the recent entries.

That said, the combat in Resynced is significantly faster than some of the recent AC games. Furthermore, since it’s not an RPG, there aren’t any “stats” to keep track of this time around.

Instead, the combat simply revolves around enemy HP and Defense gauges. Parrying an attack or performing a quick attack breaks the enemy’s Defense, opening them for a quick takedown. It’s a simple but very effective system that harkens back to the original AC games.

Additionally, the stealth is also much more pronounced in Resynced. Much like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, light and darkness play a vital role in stealth this time around, especially on Hard difficulty. Speaking of which, there are also difficulty presets in Resynced, which wasn’t a thing in the 2013 original.

Furthermore, the naval combat has also received major upgrades, as you have access to ammunition types for Heavy Shots and Mortars in Resynced. The Flaming Rounds, for instance, are an alternative to Heavy Rounds, which lack in range but make up for that with their DPS.

Additionally, you also get 3 Officers that you can recruit for the Jackdaw. These Officers grant active perks to naval combat, such as perfect blocking (Lucy Baldwin) or additional Heavy Rounds volley (Deadman Smith).

Story changes and additions in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

While Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced keeps the original’s story intact, it does add a few new branching narratives that further flesh out some of the key characters from the story. For instance, once you complete Sequence 8, you get access to the quest, In a World Without Gold. This is a fairly lengthy optional quest revolving around Blackbeard.

Furthermore, this quest not only offers you a good chunk of additional content, but also fleshes out the relationship between Edward, his crew, Anne, and most importantly, Edward Thatch.

In addition to this, there are also quests related to each of the three Officers. These are also side quests, but offer a substantial amount of backstory for Edward and how he eventually opens up to his crew on the Jackdaw. There are also some additional lines added to story quests.

That said, the original story and cutscenes are preserved in Resynced and are now presented with much better lighting and animations.

Miscellaneous changes in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced also features some minor changes, apart from its story and combat overhaul. For instance, in Resynced, there’s a dynamic time-of-day system, and also the ability to change it at any time (outside of story missions).

Additionally, much like the recent Assassin’s Creed games, the entire open world map (apart from Principe Island) is completely seamless. This means that you can travel between land and the Caribbean without having to contend with a loading screen.

Lastly, much like the recent AC games, there are microtransactions in Black Flag Resynced. However, these are mostly cosmetic-only and don’t necessarily affect gameplay.

Also, you can easily unlock a ton of outfits for Edward Kenway by simply playing the game and completing the main story quests.