Most weeks, televised golf looks like an unfamiliar sport.
The shots fly higher, stop quicker and bend in ways the rest of us can only dream of emulating. We may play by the same rules, but we get nowhere near the same results.
Every now and then, though, the universe rips open, parallel worlds collide and the game broadcast into our homes becomes almost … recognizable.
This weekend was one of those times.
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Across the Atlantic, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler approximated a mere mortal at the Genesis Scottish Open by missing the cut for the first time in 78 starts. At the Evian Championship in France, meanwhile, Nelly Korda put up the putting numbers of a mid-handicapper — she took 64 of them over two days — to wind up with a rare weekend off herself. Last but not least, along the shores of Lake Tahoe, Charles Barkley, the world’s most famously improved bad golfer, reverted to his old ways, piling up bogeys before punctuating a miserable hole with a club-flinging fit after a chunked chip.
Talk about kindred spirits.
But the week’s most relatable story didn’t belong to Scheffler, Korda or Sir Charles.
It belonged to Aaron Wise.
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Not because he played poorly. The opposite, in fact. Wise got it around quite nicely, firing his way into Sunday’s final pairing with Lucas Glover at the ISCO Championship in Louisville and fighting to the finish, falling shy of a playoff by a single shot.
It wasn’t the near miss that resonated, though. It was everything that came before it: the openness and introspection of a player who has spent the past few years confronting challenges that had nothing to do with his swing.
What would it mean to him, he was asked late Saturday afternoon, if he could get back in the winner’s circle for the first time in more than eight years?
“I feel a long ways from there but it would mean the world,” Wise said. “That’s the dream when I was going through what I was going through. That’s the end goal and the dream. There was a lot of times I never knew if I would even be able to play out here again, so to have that opportunity’s amazing.”
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What a long and arduous trip it’s been.
After winning the NCAA individual title in 2016, Wise turned professional and wasted little time making good on his promise. He captured the 2018 Byron Nelson in just his 26th PGA Tour start, earned Rookie of the Year honors that season and climbed as high as No. 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Then the trajectory changed.
Just days before the 2023 Masters, Wise announced that he was withdrawing from Augusta National to focus on his mental health, acknowledging that the game had become an overwhelming psychological strain. He made only a handful of starts over the next two seasons as he stepped away from full-time competition to focus on getting well.
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His return has been gradual.
This week marked only his eighth PGA Tour start of the 2026 season, and his second made cut of the year. But the encouraging signs extended beyond the leaderboard.
Through his comeback, Wise has spoken of a journey that has taken far longer than he expected. There was a point, he noted, when competing had become “harmful,” when he no longer recognized himself or enjoyed playing. Time away, along with the help of people he met during his break, allowed him to develop healthier ways of managing the pressures that come with playing for a living.
The work, he said, helped him rediscover something he’d lost: the simple enjoyment of the game.
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“I look at tomorrow morning as whatever happens, it’s just going to be a learning experience,” Wise said on Saturday. “I’m going to stick to my process, do what I’ve been doing and then look at it after tomorrow ends and chips fall where they do and try to learn from it for the future.”
On Sunday, Wise stepped onto the first tee of the HCC Championship Course with the same caddie he has leaned on for much of the season: his wife, Reagan.
“It’s really just a comfort thing for me,” he said before the round. “It’s someone I feel like I can trust and just enjoy spending my time out there with.”
Sunday unfolded the way golf often does. There were mistakes, recoveries and opportunities. Wise hung around all afternoon, needing birdie on the last to make a playoff that was ultimately one by Steven Fisk, who edged Taylor Penrith on the third extra hole.
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Wise walked off with a tie for third. Not a win, but victory of a different kind.
In a week when some of golf’s biggest names did their best impressions of the rest of us with wayward irons, three-putts, chunked chips and, yes, club-tosses, Wise came off as something even more familiar: a golfer on the course with a close companion, wrestling with ordinary human questions, trying to do his best but also understanding that there’s more to the game than the score you shoot.
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — A funny thing happened Sunday at the Scottish Open: after a star-studded leaderboard had built throughout the week, a whole lot of the best players in the world left … disappointed.
Rory McIlroy was caught on camera berating himself saying, “I’m so bad at golf.” Chris Gotterup’s title defense ended in a disappointing one-over final round. Scotland’s own Bob MacIntyre held the solo lead on the final day, only to mutter under his breath across four bogeys in seven holes, surrendering all hope. There was more frustration than happiness at Renaissance Club, it seemed. And then there were those three pregnant seconds when we saw total despair.
Johnny Keefer, 25, had just played the best golf of his season, finishing T3 and earning one of three spots remaining in next week’s Open Championship. He took pictures with the yellow flags that will dot the course at Royal Birkdale next week. He did interviews with the widest grin imaginable. And then he listened as an R&A staffer leaned in close with 10 words.
“Oh, one other thing, Johnny. Have ye entered The Open?”
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Keefer’s face went from elation to anguish. Had he missed some deadline … for an event he was only hoping to play? His panic was palpable.
“Yeah, my heart rate probably spiked a little bit,” Keefer said moments later. “Probably could have played a little rookie card. There’s not many things that I know — he could have played a nice little prank on me.”
Luckily, Keefer was assured, it’s all good, there’s a spot waiting for you. But now you do, indeed, need to formally sign up for next week’s Open, about 200 miles away on the west coast of England. The R&A were not out to play pranks. Rather, they were there to help make sure everyone had accommodations and transportation sorted. Keefer’s mind was still racing and non-committal when they offered him a late-night shuttle ride down to Southport.
He’d be forgiven for being a step slow. Open Qualifying comes at you fast. And this was a week of newness for Keefer, who had never played links golf before July, 2026. He arrived Monday morning fresh off a redeye from the John Deere Classic, and instead of heading to Renaissance Club, he elected to make his links debut on the nearby North Berwick in 30 mph wind.
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“You kind of get off the plane and try to tire yourself out in Edinburgh,” he said. “Then try to tire yourself out more at North Berwick, which is kinda hard because you’re like eyes wide open, this is sick. Conked out and then played two practice nines out here.”
Oh, and then 72 holes in 13 under par and a top-3 finish.
What Keefer now reaps is the result of betting on himself, something plenty of other pros balked at this week. For one reason or another, a dozen Tour pros with some status had the right to enter the Scottish Open, but ultimately withdrew from the field, many of them to stay back and play their more native style of American golf at the ISCO Championship. Taylor Pendrith, Chad Ramey, Chandler Phillips, Adrien Dumont de Chassart. Whether they were in pursuit of all-important FedEx Cup points, less travel or just familiar golf, they took a familiar route this week. Keefer considered it, too, but opted for something newer, riskier, more invigorating.
“If you have a good week, it’s better off over here than it is over there,” he said Sunday night. By which he means, a good week with a bigger purse and more points on offer — that’s better.
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“And yeah, it kind of paid off,” he continued. “It’s a little 2-for-1. Got more points and got a spot in The Open.”
Where there’s even more money and points on offer. With that sorted, all that was left for him to figure out was where he’d be sleeping next week.
It was a day of joy, drama and celebration as El-Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa Amazons were crowned champions of the 2026 President Federation Cup after exciting finals at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
For El-Kanemi Warriors, one goal was enough to bring back the famous trophy to Maiduguri.
The men’s final against Ikorodu City was closely contested, with both teams fighting for every ball from the opening whistle. The breakthrough came in the first half when El-Kanemi Warriors were awarded a penalty. Muktar Ismail stepped forward and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to score what turned out to be the winning goal.
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Ikorodu City pushed hard after the break in search of an equaliser, creating pressure on the El-Kanemi defence. But the Maiduguri club stayed organised and defended strongly until the final whistle to secure a 1-0 victory.
The win completed an impressive Federation Cup campaign for El-Kanemi Warriors and earned them a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup. Although they finished as runners-up, Ikorodu City also qualified to represent Nigeria in the same continental competition.
The triumph marks another proud moment in the club’s history as they reclaimed one of Nigeria’s biggest domestic football trophies.
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Earlier in the day, the women’s final produced even more drama as Nasarawa Amazons defeated Heartland Queens 8-7 on penalties after both sides played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The first half was a tense affair, with both teams showing respect for each other and creating only a few clear chances. The goalkeepers were kept busy as neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval.
The match came alive in the second half. Heartland Queens opened the scoring with a well-worked goal, but Nasarawa Amazons refused to give up. They fought back and found the equaliser to force the final into a penalty shootout.
The shootout was full of tension as both teams converted important spot-kicks. After the first five penalties, the score remained level at 5-5, sending the contest into sudden death.
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With the pressure at its highest, Nasarawa Amazons kept their composure. They scored their next penalty before Heartland Queens missed theirs, sealing an 8-7 shootout victory.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Nasarawa Amazons players, coaches and supporters as they lifted the 2026 President Federation Cup trophy after a thrilling contest.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy stands on the sideline at AT&T Stadium during a late-season matchup with Dallas, listening to teammates and staff between possessions. On Dec. 14, 2025, McCarthy remained engaged as Minnesota worked through the road contest against the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, during the closing stretch of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
After a break, VikingsTerritory has reopened the mailbag, answering questions from the masses and posting them weekly in a single article. The time feels appropriate, with training camp getting underway in about 2.5 weeks.
We picked the main questions from folks’ submissions, and below are our answers.
Vikings’ Summer Picture Remains Far from Settled
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson secures a pass against Arizona at U.S. Bank Stadium, working into open space as the offense advances during the home matchup. On Oct. 30, 2022, Jefferson finishes the reception while Minnesota attacks the Cardinals’ secondary and keeps another drive moving in Minneapolis that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Question: Do you think the Vikings will reach the playoffs this year?
Answer: Yes.
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The only scenario preventing the Vikings from a somewhat obvious playoff push — the roster is good enough for it — is the level of competition in the NFC North. Throughout the division’s history, there’s always at least one “pushover” team — usually the Detroit Lions or Chicago Bears. Sometimes even the Vikings.
Those don’t exist anymore.
If Minnesota can conquer the strength-of-schedule concern, they can finish at least 10-7 this season. How do we know that? Simple — the club finished 9-8 last year while showcasing bottom-of-the-barrel quarterback play. If the Vikings could be 9-8 with a rollercoaster version of J.J. McCarthy, they can secure a Wildcard playoff berth with a steady version of Kyler Murray.
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Never forget: Minnesota already has a championship-caliber defense, thanks to Brian Flores. Now, Kevin O’Connell must do his part on offense, empowering Murray to cook.
We say an 11-6 record for the Vikings, with a Wildcard playoff game, probably against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints.
Question: If Minnesota signs any free agents, who will it be?
Answer: Leonard Floyd.
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O’Connell and Floyd won a Super Bowl together in 2021, and five years later, O’Connell arguably needs a third pass rusher. You can pretty much “take your pick” at outside linebacker in free agency — Floyd, Von Miller, or Jadeveon Clowney would do the trick for OLB3.
So, we expect Minnesota to sign an extra EDGE, either in the next few weeks or at the end of August when a barrage of unemployed pass rushers hit the open market amid roster trimdowns.
Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd and safety Jordan Poyer line up against Washington at FedExField, preparing for the next snap during an early-season road matchup. On Sep. 24, 2023, the veteran defenders settle into position as Buffalo’s defense reads the Commanders’ formation and gets ready to attack from the line. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports.
A guard, too, would make sense because the primary backup guard right now is Joe Huber. The Vikings are one injury away from an offensive line that looks like this Week 1:
In years past, Brandel would be nominated for backup guard duty, but that won’t work anymore. He can’t start at guard and center.
Thankfully, as with the OLB spot, a handful of reputable depth guards are available, such as Will Hernandez and James Daniels.
Question: Any word on Harrison Smith? Is he coming back?
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Answer: We think so.
About a month ago, one of our sources told us, “Hitman is coming back,” but that was prefaced with the caveat that “the announcement is coming soon.”
Here we are, less than three weeks before training camp arrives, and Smith has not announced his decision. Smith turned up the gas in December last year, leading the masses to believe he could still perform decently, even if the Vikings nominated him for a situational role in 2026.
The telling part here is that Minnesota’s roster is quite impressive. Would Smith really want to miss out on a playoff or Super Bowl push the moment Kyler Murray came to town? We think not.
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It’s unclear when the announcement will hit, but VikingsTerritory operates under the assumption that Smith will return last time in 2026.
Question: Who will win the quarterback battle at training camp?
Answer: Kyler Murray.
This is probably the easiest question this week; we don’t consider the quarterback competition a big or mysterious thing. Since entering the NFL, Murray has a better EPA+CPOE than Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, and Daniel Jones, among others. We do not believe that Murray needs a significant push to put himself over the top as a worthwhile starter. He’s already there.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray delivers a pass during minicamp at the team’s practice facility in Eagan, working through another offseason rep in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. In June 2026, Murray continues learning the system after signing for $1.3 million while preparing for a high-profile quarterback competition before training camp later that summer in Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
We also maintain that J.J. McCarthy still has time to develop and become an honest-to-goodness starter in the big leagues. Sometimes quarterback maturation takes longer than 10 starts, which McCarthy has under his belt.
Both men also have a recent history of injury. Whoever wins the battle will probably get hurt, at least for a game or two, enabling the other guy to get under center and shine.
In the end, Murray has the experience, arm strength, passing accuracy, and speed to win this competition. We don’t spend much time thinking, “I wonder who will be the QB1?” To us, it’s Murray, and McCarthy will need a massive upset to change that.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and runner-up Alexander Zverev of Germany pose with their trophies after the men’s singles final at Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
LONDON — Alexander Zverev is used to being “the third guy” in tennis.
After following up his French Open title with a run to his first Wimbledon final, he’s hoping to be more than that in the future.
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Despite losing to Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Sunday, the 29-year-old Zverev thinks he is closer than ever to challenging the top-ranked Italian and his main rival Carlos Alcaraz and giving tennis a Big Three again.
Sinner and Alcaraz had won the last nine Grand Slam tournaments between them before Zverev won his first major at Roland Garros this year.
“There was always this conversation, ‘who will be the third guy?’” Zverev said. “I’ve always been the third guy, but I was just far away from those two. But I’ve always been No. 3 in a way. So if I get closer to them … it would be great.”
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Alcaraz missed this year’s French Open — and Wimbledon — with a wrist injury, and Sinner was eliminated in the second round in Paris after wilting in the heat. Zverev lost in five sets to Alcaraz in the semifinals at the Australian Open this year and lost 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 to Sinner on Sunday after overextending his knee in the third set.
“I think I’ve been pushing those guys,” Zverev said. “I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits, I would say.”
He may have been able to push Sinner even more had it not been for a slip during the third set, on Zverev’s only break point of the match. The German fell to the ground and clutched his right knee in pain, with Sinner coming over to check on his opponent before helping Zverev up off the grass.
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Zverev said he overextended his knee and that it hampered his serve — his biggest weapon — after that.
“I was struggling to push off on the serve a little bit. So my serve speed went down,” he said. “But everything else went fine. I was moving fine from the baseline and playing from the baseline fine.”
Despite the loss, Zverev will shed the “third guy” moniker in at least one way — he will overtake Alcaraz as No. 2 in the rankings on Monday.
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Zverev had never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon before this year, but seems to have finally figured out how to play on grass.
“I’m 29 years old and this is the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev told the Centre Court crowd after his defeat.
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Sinner seems to share that belief.
“Today you were so, so close. If you play like this, I’m very, very sure you’re going to have this (trophy) at home as well,” Sinner told his opponent. “I know the goal is for you to become the No. 1 in the world. You’re very, very close. So we have to be very careful now.”
Luke Pettitte, the son of Yankees legendary pitcher Andy Pettitte, was selected by his father’s old ballclub in the eighth round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
Luke, a two-way player for Dallas Baptist University, was named to the Second Team All-Central Region (ABCA) and First Team All-Conference USA during his 2026 season.
Orleans Firebirds pitcher Luke Pettitte poses for a portrait before a game against the Falmouth Commodores in Falmouth, Mass., on July 17, 2025.(Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe)
While he has pitching roots like his father, though from the right side, Luke was the Conference USA Hitter of the Week (Week of May 11) during the season, while hitting .341 with 16 homers and 48 RBI across 186 plate appearances.
On the mound, Luke was efficient with a 3.19 ERA, striking out 56 batters faced across his 48 innings total during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The 21-year-old was unable to pitch in 2026 due to Tommy John surgery, but he was able to hit.
If Luke ends up signing on with the Yankees, it will be interesting to see how they wish to utilize him, though he is highly touted for his pitching accuracy.
Orleans Firebirds pitcher Luke Pettitte poses for a portrait before a game against the Falmouth Commodores in Falmouth, Mass., on July 17, 2025.(Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Andy, a three-time All-Star, five-time World Series champion and ALCS MVP, was a 22nd round pick in 1990 out of Deer Park High School in Texas. While he had a three-year stint with the Houston Astros from 2004-06,
Andy spent 15 of his 18 MLB seasons wearing pinstripes and becoming one of the best left-handed starters in the game.
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He owned a career 3.85 ERA with 2,448 strikeouts, many of which coming on a wicked, 12-6 curveball that became a patented pitch.
Orleans Firebirds pitcher Luke Pettitte poses for a portrait before a game against the Falmouth Commodores in Falmouth, Mass., on July 17, 2025.(Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe)
And both of the year’s two-time major winners won their titles using TaylorMade Qi4D drivers. In fact, every major played this season, men’s or women’s, has been won with a TaylorMade driver, continuing an impressive run for the brand.
Unlike Korda and men’s major winners Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark, Ryu plays the Qi4D LS model. PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai used an older model TaylorMade M6.
For more on Ryu’s detailed setup, keep reading below.
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Haeran Ryu’s winning WITB at the Evian Championship
TaylorMade
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS 9.0 FCT Setting: 1 click lower Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue OG 5-S Length: 45.5″ EOG Swingweight: D1
Traditional address shape based on feedback from world-class players helps create confidence on every shot.
Qi4D LS is the lowest spinning option in the Qi4D lineup.
FACE FOR DISTANCE
Qi4D LS drivers feature a new and improved roll radius, yielding more consistent spin across vertical impact locations.
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4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
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Based on the game-changing VENTUS Blue profile originally launched on global tours in 2018, the all-new 2024 VENTUS captures the same incredible player-trusted feel as the original model, with improved material integrations and layouts. The first profile to incorporate Fujikura’s newest evolution of VeloCore Technology provides players even greater overall performance results.
The next generation of Fujikura’s ground-breaking proprietary key technology. VeloCore+ is a multi-material bias core construction technique that not only increases and enhances the original combination of Pitch 70 and 40 Ton materials, but incorporates an all-new third premium material to give players even tighter dispersion and increased ball speeds.
VeloCore+ takes all the benefits of the original VeloCore configuration and enhances performance even further by strengthening and tightening the overall structure.
PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER
Inspired by one of the most iconic models in TaylorMade history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what’s come before, while creating its own modern identity in the same breath. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give golfers versatility and playability.
R7 QUAD WEIGHTING SYSTEM
The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide the ultimate in spin management and shot shape control. Forward CG creates a penetrating flight best suited for maximizing distance whereas rear CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. Shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustability.
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The Qi4D Rescue™ is designed to hit desired carry yardages while maintaining a steep landing angle, providing golfers the ultimate tool to hold greens with added utility from any lie.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System (TAS) weight (8g) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
3° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
CG OPTIMIZATION
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Engineers achieved a balanced CG placement for optimal flight and workability by utilizing an ultralight carbon crown and strategically positioned TAS weight for more iron-like performance.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
Cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade rescue performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
SOLID FORGED FEEL
Improved for a more solid feel like never before. The 2024 P•770 has been strategically tuned using a player’s forged construction and modal analysis to create a notable improvement and the best feeling P•770 to date.
MODERN PLAYERS IRON
TaylorMade’s FLTD CG™ coupled with precision milled face and grooves, deliver the launch and spin modern players demand. Designed with forgiving, high launching long irons and lower launching, high spinning scoring irons for accuracy and control.
CONSISTENCY
Consistent ball striking and accurate shot making from a forged iron construction designed with meticulous mass optimization and an updated tungsten weight design for more forgiving long irons.
REFINED SHAPING
Refined shaping for a cleaner look and improved turf interaction. The 2024 P•770 has a thinner topline visual balanced with a confidence inspiring, compact head shape. A newly modified leading edge design helps deliver consistent shot making and crisp turf interaction.
FORGED FEEL
Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback.
MAXIMUM SPIN
MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions.
PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS
RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions.
CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY
Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time.
CHARCOAL FINISH
MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
Inspired by prototype models made for tour players, the Phantom 11R OC—“R” for “round” and “OC” for “onset center”—is a new Phantom mallet with rounded corners in a revolutionary low torque package. With a straight shaft installed directly in line with the model’s CG, the Phantom 11R OC is designed with a heavier head to provide high stability while maintaining very low torque through the stroke.
CHAIN-LINK FACE MILLING TECHNOLOGY
The texture of chain-link face milling technology reduces the putter face’s touch points with the ball to soften sound and improve roll characteristics while preserving feel and optimizing feedback.
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CUSTOM BLACK SHAFT
Custom made for the new OC putters, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unimpeded alignment and precise feel.
CUSTOM MATADOR GRIP
With a debossed chain-link texture built-in, each new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch mid-size Matador grip in black with racy red and cool gray accents.
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Alejandro Garnacho has struggled at Chelsea with the former Manchester United winger potentially set to be on the move again this summer amid interest from Italy
Manchester United could be set to bank a second sizeable sell-on clause with Alejandro Garnacho’s potential Chelsea exit following Mason Greenwood’s move to Fenerbahce. Garnacho has struggled since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Old Trafford last summer for £40million.
The Argentine made little impact in west London as the Blues finished 10th in the Premier League – missing out on Europe altogether. It has led to speculation that the 22-year-old could be shown the exit door, with reports from the Press Association that Chelsea are ready to sell him and will listen to offers of around £42.5m.
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And the Reds could be in line for an additional payday from Garnacho’s transfer last year, having negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal, entitling them to a slice of any future transfer fee should Chelsea decide to move him on.
Recent reports from Italy have claimed that Roma are interested in the Reds academy graduate. It is claimed that the Serie A side’s qualification for the Champions League will allow them to pursue a permanent deal if they so wish, but they would prefer to get the forward on loan with an option to buy.
And because Garnacho was an academy product – having joined United from Atletico Madrid for just £100,000 in 2020 – the initial £40m fee paid by Chelsea was recorded as pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The same accounting benefit would apply to any sale-on income they receive down the line.
It comes after reports from Turkey that Fenerbahce are expected to sign Greenwood for €40m (£34m) plus €2m in bonuses. The Reds sold the forward to French Ligue 1 side Marseille in the summer of 2024.
United also secured a sell-on clause for that deal, which entitles them to a major portion of any future transfer fee which Marseille may receive from a sale. While initial reports varied, the clause is widely understood to be between 40 and 50 per cent.
According to ESPN, both Fenerbahce and Atletico Madrid have agreed deals with Marseille. United would receive €14m (£11.9m) if Greenwood opts to move to Turkey, or €15.7m (£13.3m) if he returns to Madrid, having had a loan at Getafe while he was still registered at Old Trafford.
Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.
“He has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. It will be up to him to decide whether he wants to do everything he can to fight for it or not. At the level of the qualities that nature has given him, that his parents have given him, I think he is worthy of the Ballon d’Or.
“I would like him to be more consistent. I know he needs to press with more intensity, he needs to manage the ball better when the team is in trouble, not lose the ball easily, but keep it to allow the team to move up because he has the ability to do it.”
After two hours and 42 minutes of play in a Wimbledon final that felt as dry, slow and wind-swept as a desert, Alexander Zverev finally sensed his opportunity. At long last, the 29-year-old German’s immaculate, imposing serving and brave attacking play paved the way to a first break point, midway through the third set. By then, Jannik Sinner was past the stage of looking hot and tired, and his Wimbledon defence felt on the edge.
But from his toolbox, Sinner produced a drop shot that swept Zverev’s legs from underneath him. He held serve, then rose from the dust. On the very next game, Sinner scrambled to his right but fell to the grass, only to spring back up and stay alive in the point long enough for Zverev to make the crucial error. It was one of only two breaks in a three-hour 46-minute final that was dominated by serve, and which will hardly be remembered as a classic, but was gripping in stages – especially as Sinner brought some touches of magic in the closing moments.
Sinner falls onto his back after beating Zverev in four tight sets (Reuters)
It was the 24-year-old Italian who endured, who responded to countless moments of potential danger by firing unerringly powerful, clean serves past his opponent at speeds of up to 134mph. Anything the 6ft 6in Zverev could do, Sinner could do too. Then, in the biggest moments, Sinner defied Zverev on the defence. He eventually ground down the second seed on the return, and then struck for the finish line. A 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 victory secures a second consecutive Wimbledon crown and fifth grand slam title.
This time, Sinner fell to his back onto the grass. Last year, he stood with arms aloft when beating Carlos Alcaraz, but this was a marathon effort and he had been pushed all the way. The defending champion had always expected to face a “different” Zverev in the Wimbledon final even though he had won nine matches in a row against the German, and his last six without dropping a set. Their previous grand slam final, at the 2025 Australian Open, left Zverev at one of his lowest points and remarking Sinner felt in a “different universe”.
Yet he had not stood across the net from Zverev since ended his long wait to win a grand slam title at last month’s French Open and received an injection of confidence. Could Zverev take that into the Wimbledon final and turn a new page in their rivalry? Even though the result remained the same, the answer was yes. This was a gruelling, almost suffocating barrage of serving from both sides, an onslaught of power and accuracy. The wind swirling around Centre Court ensured that almost every game was its own battle, with the final prolonged by both players firing almost 50 per cent unreturned serves throughout the match.
The new world No 2 Zverev pushed Sinner all the way in his first Wimbledon final (Getty)
Zverev was playing in his first Wimbledon final having previously failed to advance past the fourth round in nine attempts. He was aiming to become the first man in the open era to win his second grand slam title immediately after his first, but his appearance in the Wimbledon final was also clouded by the domestic abuse allegations he has faced from two former girlfriends, Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, who is also the mother of his daughter. Zverev had strenuously denied all the accusations and reached a financial settlement with Patea in 2024, while a 15-month investigation from the ATP concluded in 2023 after finding “insufficient evidence to substantiate” Sharypova’s allegations.
The final began under a gorgeous blue sky, with the scorched grass behind the baseline a dusty shade of brown after a dry fortnight. In the throwback final of two massive servers, the first two tiebreaks felt inevitable – but the margins remained razor thin. Zverev roared as he found the breakthrough to win the first, a thunderous forehand winner flashed down the line. The second tiebreak felt pivotal for Sinner, who was growing increasingly agitated, but, from nowhere, he found his moment as Zverev served into the wind and he pinged a return onto the baseline to draw the forehand error. Suddenly, Sinner had something to work with. He looked alive.
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Sinner found improved returning to win the second-set tiebreak (PA)
Two hours in, with the sun setting and the shadows creeping across Centre Court, Zverev managed to quell some of Sinner’s momentum. He faced three consecutive games where he lost the first point on serve but came through them all. Then, at 3-3 in the third, after two hours and 42 minutes, Zverev finally saw a break point. Sinner, though, did more than keep his cool. He pulled the rug from Zverev’s feet to save. Then, on the very next game, as errors from Zverev left him in a hole, Sinner lost his own footing as he scampered wide to his right. Somehow, he kept the point alive to find the crucial break. Zverev flung his racket away in disgust.
“If he serves like this, it’s so tough to get into the rally,” Sinner said later. “I had my chances, I felt like, in the third set in the beginning, was 0-30, where I made a couple of wrong choices. That’s tennis, because you cannot be perfect for four hours, five hours. Honestly, I just tried to accept the situation and be as present as possible with the right attitude. I think this today was the biggest key, to be honest.”
Zverev fell as he slipped behind the baseline trying to chase down Sinner’s drop shop (Reuters)
Sinner scrambled to his feet as he won the crucial break point in the next game (Reuters)
As the wind picked up and gusted around Centre Court, Sinner denied Zverev again as he pounded two excellent serves down 0-30 early in the fourth. Then, at 3-3, Sinner played his best point of the match, turning defence into attack by playing a subtle lob over Zverev’s head and then showing the softest of hands at the net. It moved Sinner ahead and although Zverev saved two more break points, he could not hold on following consecutive forehand errors. Sinner pinned a return return onto the baseline and advanced to put the winner down the line.
Sinner had still not dropped serve as he entered his 22nd service game of the match and stood four points from the title. For one last time, Zverev threw everything he had at the 24-year-old and stretched him wide to his backhand corner. Zverev thought he had done enough, and yet there Sinner was, sprinting to his right to flick the angled volley over the net.
(Reuters)
This was a cathartic victory for Sinner. He has been the dominant force on the men’s tour this season, setting records for winning five Masters titles in a row and building a 31-match streak. Yet two of his three defeats came at the most important stages, in five sets to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and, shockingly, from two sets up against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the French Open. Sinner had been the overwhelming pre-tournament favourite in Paris. After Sinner’s early exit and in Alcaraz’s absence, Zverev swept up the title.
But over the past four weeks, Sinner has once again demonstrated his ability to reset from disappointment. His victory over Alcaraz in last year’s final came after blowing three championship points to the same opponent at the French Open. After his glaring weakness was exposed so publicly in the heat at this year’s Roland Garros, Sinner simply got back on track and did what he does best. “For me this one means a lot because was a tough one after Paris again,” Sinner later confirmed.
The wins came after Sinner made the bold choice to not play a warm-up tournament on grass before Wimbledon. In the first round, he had to fight from two sets to one down to avoid a major scare against Miomir Kecmanovic. But Sinner ensured he peaked when he needed to, with his destruction of Djokovic in the semi-final, and in the closing moments of a titanic battle on Centre Court. He proved why he is the best in the world once again.
Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel now finds his own tenure in jeopardy following an investigation into the culture of the Wolverines’ athletics department.
The university’s Board of Regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the findings of the independent investigation and consider a response, sources told CBS Sports. Manuel is also weighing his options, which include retirement, a source said Sunday.
CBS Sports granted sources anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Michigan’s board authorized Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block in December to conduct an “open-ended” review of the athletics department amid the fallout of the Sherrone Moore scandal, a source told CBS Sports at the time. Later, university president Domenico Grasso confirmed the investigation would expand into “an independent evaluation of culture, conduct and procedures throughout our athletics department.”
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Grasso said the school would “act swiftly” if the investigation produced findings that warranted additional terminations.
“We will leave no stone unturned, and any further action we take will be based on credible evidence and findings, developed through a rigorous investigation,” Grasso said in a December video statement.
Manuel, who has served as Michigan’s athletics director since 2016, fired Moore on Dec. 10 after evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Moore and a subordinate staff member was brought to the department that morning. Moore was arrested later that day after he entered the home of that staff member, who was later identified as Paige Shiver. He was charged with felony home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering.
Shiver, 32, said she endured “years of manipulation, harassment and exploitation” from Moore and that the university failed to protect its employee. Shiver’s lawyers said in March that she “believes strongly that she may not be the only person who experienced inappropriate, coercive, or predatory behavior” from Moore. Questions about the department’s broader awareness of Moore’s conduct during his two-year tenure fueled calls for a deeper institutional reckoning.
Moore eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing. A Washtenaw County judge sentenced him in April to 18 months of probation and a $1,000 fine. The felony and other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Manuel has managed more institutional turbulence than most athletic directors see in a career — a sign-stealing investigation during the Jim Harbaugh era, the arrest and firing of his football coach, a national basketball championship, a rejected private-equity bid and an Amazon streaming deal outside the Big Ten’s media agreement that sparked tensions within the conference.
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“I always aim for steadiness,” Manuel said in May at the Big Ten’s spring meetings in Southern California. “Believe me, this is not anything that I’ve desired or wanted or hoped for. But I deal with it. My goal as a leader is to provide the steadiness in the wake of dealing with issues to the rest of the department and my staff and student-athletes. We have done that as a department and an organization. I don’t take any of it lightly. It’s not something I welcome, but we’ve dealt with it.”
Manuel promoted Moore from offensive coordinator to head coach after Haraugh left for the NFL following the Wolverines’ first national championship since 1997. Moore went 16-8 in two seasons.
Utah‘s Kyle Whittingham was hired in January as the athletics department attempted to stabilize. Then, basketball coach Dusty May left the program in June for the NBA‘s Dallas Mavericks after winning a national title in April.
Manuel signed a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030, in December 2024. His average annual compensation is $1.9 million.
Sinner overcame a tough four-set battle against Zverev as the Italian managed to bounce back from a difficult French Open for a second year in a row to become a two-time Wimbledon champion.
The world No 1 had won his last nine matches in a row against Zverev, winning 14 sets in a row, but this was much closer that previous meetings and the the final could have gone either way until Sinner found the crucial break in the third.
Sinner and Zverev, who ended his long wait for a grand slam title at last month’s French Open, have split the major titles while Alcaraz has been sidelined due to a wrist injury. The Spaniard is attempting to return in time for the hard-court season and could play the US Open.
“Big, big respect to Sascha, because he’s doing something amazing. His game is growing and growing,” Sinner said. “In the same time, that’s exactly what’s good, because you have always someone who is pushing you to the limit.
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“We hope that Carlos is coming back, as well, because tennis needs him. Having Novak [Djokovic] still around, having all the young players coming, it’s really, really nice. At the same time, you always need to work hard and have moments like this.”
He arrived at Wimbledon without playing a warm-up tournament on grass and took his time to find his form, but stepped it up later in the tournament to thump Djokovic in the semi-finals and beat Zverev in the final.
(Getty)
Last year, Sinner recovered from a tough French Open final defeat to Alcaraz, when he squandered three Championship points, to beat the Spaniard and win Wimbledon for the first time.
“I think every grand slam is different, you know. Different story, different environment, different feelings before the tournament,” Sinner said.
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“For me this one means a lot because was a tough one after Paris again. Last year was also tough. But coming here, I tried to put myself in the best possible position to be as competitive as possible.
“We put in a lot of workdays in Monaco, very, very long. Definitely sacrificing a lot of my time and everything to be in this position Having this achievement, it means a lot to me. It was an amazing day today.”
Jannik Sinner lies on his back after beating Alexander Zverev (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)
Zverev was encouraged by his run to a first Wimbledon final and the new world No 2 felt the gap to Sinner was closing despite suffering a 10th defeat in a row to him.
“I think [so] yeah,” Zverev said. “He’s still the best player in the world. I do believe that. I think he is. I do believe there’s only two, maybe three guys – you have to give Novak that – who can challenge him.
“All of us have to be working for that goal. I’ll continue working for that goal. I think I’ve challenged him today. Not enough, obviously, because I still sit here as the loser, as the loser of the match. I will continue doing that. The big tournaments are still around the corner.”
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