English Football League clubs are set to cast a crucial vote on Thursday concerning a significant expansion of the Championship play-offs for the upcoming season.
The proposal aims to increase the number of participating teams from four to six, mirroring the National League’s model.
Should the motion pass, the top two teams in England’s second tier would still secure automatic promotion, but the play-off spots would extend to those finishing between third and eighth.
This would be a departure from the current system, which involves only teams placed third to sixth.
The vote, scheduled for late Thursday morning, requires a majority from all EFL clubs, alongside a separate majority among Championship clubs, to be carried.
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Oldham got promoted via the National League play-offs last year (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)
Thursday’s decision, it is understood, will focus solely on the principle of expanding the play-offs, with the precise format to be determined at a later stage, potentially during the league’s annual general meeting this summer.
The National League’s six-team format sees clubs finishing fourth and seventh, and fifth and sixth, face off in single-leg eliminators.
The winners then progress to join the second and third-placed teams in the semi-finals.
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Last season, Oldham Athletic notably triumphed in the National League play-offs despite finishing 23 points adrift of second-placed York, a result that intensified discussions around the limited two promotion spots from the fifth tier to League Two.
While a debate concerning a potential increase of National League promotions to three teams is anticipated, no vote on this matter will take place this week.
Such a decision would necessitate the prior distribution of full briefing papers and voting slips.
The two-day all-club meeting, which commenced on Wednesday, also includes addresses from David Kogan and Richard Monks, the chair and chief executive of the Independent Football Regulator.
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Kogan recently called for a new financial settlement to be agreed between the Premier League and EFL amid fears that relegation is a “near death sentence” for some clubs.
Ademola Lookman played his part as Atlético Madrid survived a fierce fightback from FC Barcelona to seal a place in the Copa del Rey final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Heading into the second leg with a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first meeting, Diego Simeone’s men were pushed to the limit in Barcelona. The hosts came out aggressively and dominated large spells of the contest, scoring three times to ignite hopes of an extraordinary turnaround.
Despite the pressure, Lookman remained a lively outlet for Atleti on the counterattack. The Nigerian forward had a decent opportunity during the first half but dragged his effort wide as the visitors looked to relieve the mounting tension.
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Barcelona reduced the deficit with two goals from Marc Bernal and a Raphinha penalty, throwing everything forward in the closing stages. However, Atlético stood firm under intense late pressure to protect their aggregate lead and crush the holders’ hopes of defending their crown.
Lookman and his teammates will now turn their attention to the final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final clash between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club.
Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces an 80-game suspension, according to the New York Post. Rojas is appealing the suspension, but if it’s held up he faces a suspension that’ll cost him around a half-season of salary.
Rojas, 25, hit. 224/.280/.289 (57 OPS+) with 12 stolen bases in 172 plate appearances across 71 games last season. He had a promising start to his career, slashing .302/.342/.430 with 2.4 WAR in just 59 games in 2023, but has been disappointing since.
The expected plan entering the season for the Phillies was to have Rojas either backup or platoon with rookie Justin Crawford in center field. Adolis García is set to take over in right field while Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp play left field. Marsh can swing over to center if need be while Edmundo Sosa can get some reps in left field. In other words, the Phillies have options to deal with the loss of Rojas.
It’s also possible this suspension would open the door for someone like Bryan De La Cruz, Pedro León or Gabriel Rincones Jr. to make the Opening Day roster, too.
The Phillies have made the playoffs in four straight seasons, as well as having secured back-to-back NL East titles. They won 96 games last season, their best regular-season total since 2011.
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Players suspended for PED use are ineligible for the playoffs, even if their suspension has ended by then, so Rojas will not be available if the Phillies make the postseason.
The Indianapolis Colts placed a transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, and the New York Jets used the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall as teams beat the deadline Tuesday to place tags on potential free agents.
The Colts opted to use the $37.8 million transition tag instead of the $43.9 million franchise tag, opening up the possibility that he could still leave without compensation for Indianapolis. Jones can sign an offer sheet with another team once free agency officially starts on March 11, with the Colts having five days to match or allow him to leave.
Hall got the $14.3 million franchise tag from New York, meaning the Jets would get two first-round picks as compensation if they didn’t match any potential offer sheet.
Dallas receiver George Pickens and Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts had the franchise tags placed on them well before the deadline.
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The four total tags surpass last year’s total of two. There had been an average of more than nine franchise tags handed out each year from 2020-24, with two other players getting the transition tag, with the previous one going to New England’s Kyle Dugger in 2024.
The move by the Colts means coveted receiver Alec Pierce could hit the open market next week if he doesn’t sign a deal with Indianapolis before the start of the new league year.
Among the other prominent players who didn’t get tagged and could hit the open market next week are Cincinnati edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, Seattle’s Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III, Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum, Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh and Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne.
Jones had a promising start to his first season with the Colts, helping the team get off to an 8-2 start before being slowed by a leg injury and then going down with a torn right Achilles tendon in a Week 14 loss to Jacksonville.
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The Colts lost the final seven games of the season and missed the playoffs for a fifth straight year, becoming the first team since the 1995 Oakland Raiders to miss the postseason after starting the season 8-2 or better.
Jones set career highs in passer rating (100.2) and completion rate (68%) as Indianapolis ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring at 28.9 points per game before he went down with the season-ending injury.
Jones threw 19 TD passes with only eight interceptions, while also rushing for 164 yards and five TDs.
The Colts are uncertain when Jones will be ready to play again after getting hurt on Dec. 7. The team has 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard on the roster, as well as 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson, who has been given permission to seek a trade.
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Hall, who turns 25 in May, was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa State, but didn’t receive a contract extension last offseason as first-rounders Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson did. That caused some uncertainty about Hall’s future with the franchise, and he was mentioned in trade rumours leading up to last year’s deadline.
But coach Aaron Glenn insisted the Jets wanted to keep Hall as the engine of their offence. New York planned to use a three-running back approach with Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis sharing carries, but Allen injured a knee and landed on injured reserve, and Davis remained a clear No. 2.
The Jets, with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, will be looking for a new quarterback this offseason, but the franchise tag on Hall gives New York the chance to keep the playmaking running back in its backfield while also trying to negotiate a contract extension.
Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025 despite missing the final game with a knee ailment, becoming the first Jets player to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Chris Ivory in 2015. Hall has 1,000 yards from scrimmage in three straight seasons, just the sixth player — and fifth running back — in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
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Hall said on social media that he’s willing to “bet on myself.”
The only three running backs in the NFL who have contracts with an average annual value of more than the $14.3 million Hall are former AP NFL Offensive Players of the Year Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry.
Pickens’ tag is worth about $27.3 million for next season as the Cowboys look to retain him after acquiring him in a deal from Pittsburgh last offseason.
Pickens, who turns 25 on Wednesday, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offences in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.
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Pitts’ tag is worth about $15 million for next season. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft earned second-team All-Pro honours after he had a career-high 88 receptions and five touchdowns last season. His 928 receiving yards were the second most among NFL tight ends, behind only Arizona’s Trey McBride.
Teams can sign players on the tags to long-term deals between now and July 15, otherwise players can only play on one-year deals for 2026.
The Chicago Bears reportedly lost a big piece of their offensive line on Tuesday.
Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman informed the team that he would retire at just 27 years old after five seasons, according to ESPN.
The Bears signed Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract last offseason as they overhauled the interior of their offensive line in head coach Ben Johnson’s first season. They signed Dalman and traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and saw great results.
Drew Dalman (52) of the Chicago Bears exits the field after warmups prior to an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 28, 2025.(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Dalman played in all 17 games and didn’t miss any of the team’s 1,154 snaps, and made his first career Pro Bowl. The Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North in large part because of the team’s revamped offensive line.
The running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai was highly effective last season. Swift ran for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns while Monangai ran for 783 yards and five touchdowns.
Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) takes the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 20, 2025.(Mike Dinovo/Imagn Images)
In 2024, before Dalman, Jackson and Thuney were brought in, quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times. In 2025, he was sacked just 24 times.
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Dalman was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He played four seasons with the Falcons before departing in free agency to join the Bears.
Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) practices against the New Orleans Saints before the game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 19, 2025.(Mike Dinovo/Imagn Images)
Free agency officially begins March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, and the Bears will look to replace him with a free agent center or in the NFL draft.
Bears left tackle Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoffs last season, so they will also have to address that position as well this offseason.
Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), check out the hybrids and utility irons that each of our Fully Fit 2026 panelists chose for their golf bags. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:
The spot between a player’s fairway woods and irons can be tricky, and for many of our Fully Fit panelists, hybrids and utilities were where they had to make the toughest decisions.
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This category is crucial for players to gap out the rest of their bag. Have a utility club that goes too far and you’ll struggle to gap your iron set after it. Have one that goes too short, and you’re going to be left with lots of awkward fairway wood yardages.
Not everyone will need a club in this space, but all six of our panelists did.
Everyone was looking for something different. Johnny and Sean wanted 4-iron replacements that went higher and farther. Johnny stuck with his longtime gamer hybrid, while Sean found a new utility iron. Wadeh and I were looking for secondary wood options that we can land softer than our mini drivers.
There was something for everyone.
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After fittings with six manufacturers, here are the hybrids and utility irons our six panelists chose for their bags in 2026.
The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.
FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT
Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.
ROUNDED SOLE
Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings
CARBONFLY WRAP
Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG.
Why it’s in my bag: I struggled to find a replacement for my 3-wood for a long time until I got fitted for this hybrid last year at the Proving Grounds. Surprisingly, during Fully Fit 2026, I walked away with three other really good options for this spot in the bag, including a 21-degree Callaway UW, an 18-degree Cobra OPTM hybrid and a 19-degree TaylorMade Qi4D hybrid. But honestly, the G440 has such an advantage with a year of playing with it already in my back pocket.
I’m stoked to have four great options here, so while I’m happy with the Ping right now, I wouldn’t be shocked if I make a change when I start playing more regularly again in the spring. I do have some lead tape on the toe just to guard against that left miss, but for the most part, it keeps me on the right side of the golf course. This thing also explodes off the face.
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1 key data point: 254 to 224 yards carry distance. That big of a carry dispersion is usually not considered a good thing, but the fact that I’m able to dial up a 250-plus carry out of a club that fills my 240 gap is super advantageous when I’m far away from the green. While I’m rarely hitting the mini off the deck, knowing I can still get pretty close to the target if I’m just inside a comfortable yardage and even chase it up with the hybrid is awesome. That shot is pretty low spin, but when I’m trying to close the gap between my Mini driver and 4-iron, versatility is key.
*Utility Iron swapped for hybrid on a course/conditions-dependent basis
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
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Head: Titleist U505 3-iron Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Hybrid Gen. 4 80 g 6.5 Loft: 20˚ Lie: 58.5˚ Length: 39.25″ EOG Swingweight: D4
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Titleist 2025 U•505 Custom Driving Iron
U505 plays like an iron but performs like something more. From threading the needle off the tee to getting home from unfathomable distances, U505 gives players the speed and control to hit clutch shots with confidence.
Pure Muscle Look
A hollow high-strength steel body concentrates immense power in a pure package.
Long-Range Speed
A new forged L-Face design heightens ball speed and launch to take on distant targets with confidence.
Consistent Performance
Improved Max Impact Technology helps generate consistent launch, speed, spin, and carry to expand your shotmaking ability.
Controlled Trajectory
Split high-density tungsten produces optimal CG with high stability for more forgiving shotmaking.
Iron Set Blending
The U505 and T250U feature a player-preferred profile with minimal offset, allowing you to blend into the top end of a mixed setup seamlessly.
Why it’s in my bag: If I’m going to play a utility iron, then I want it to actually be a utility club and not a one-trick pony. Yes, hitting it high is almost never an issue for me, but the shots I can hit with the U505 are just silly. I can hit as high as all of my other irons, and I can hit down below 70 feet when I need to hit a frozen rope into the wind. I really just didn’t hit anything that has come close to it. I got fit for this club when the 2025 T-Series was launched and it took about three swings.
1 key data point: 157 mph ball speed. This was the fastest ball speed number I’ve recorded with this 3-iron. I was trying to get this number, but I’m more typically in the lower 150s. Just to be able to have that kind of speed with an iron tells me I can hit it off the tee and not have to worry about leaving myself way far back.
Head: Ping iDi #3 Shaft: Ping Tour 2.0 Black 90 X-Stiff Loft: 20º Lie: Black Color Code – 59º Length: 39.25″ Swingweight: C9+
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PING iDi Custom Driving Iron
The iDi marks a big step forward in driving iron and long-iron performance, giving better golfers the flexibility of three loft choices to fit their distance number and trajectory window.
Loft offerings are optimized for launch and spin in 2, 3 & 4 irons with a thinner, forged maraging steel face that flexes to increase ball speed and distance. The 2 is a traditional driving iron, delivering low launch and spin. The 3 (mid launch, mid spin) is designed as a driving iron or long-iron replacement. The 4 launches higher with more spin, making it easier to hold greens and is also recommended as a long iron replacement.
The 17-4 stainless steel head is both deeper front to back and shallower, which allows for 15% higher MOI on high/low impacts, and makes room for the new inR-Air technology. inR-Air is a pocket of air in the clubhead that damps sound and improves feel. The covered cavity and i-Beam structure help reduce vibration. In addition, iDi is shorter heel-to-toe to make it easier to tun over. For control in shot making, each iDi is approximately 1/4″ shorter and 1° flatter.
Why it’s in my bag: I haven’t had a driving iron in the bag for a while. I’ve toyed with the Mizuno FliHi (the new one is really good, fyi) and the older Ping iCrossover (of which I was internally at Ping called the biggest fan of), but they just didn’t really stick after I found love in the Qi35 5-wood and a Ping G440 hybrid. When we tested the iDi, though, it just felt super easy. I could choke up and hit low cutty fairway finders or play it at length and hit super high draws. It also feels much better off the face than you might expect. I have to give credit to Adam Harding on the Ping PGA Tour truck for this. He’s the one who told me that I absolutely needed to hit it, and that’s really the only reason that I did when we went for our fittings. Turns out, he was correct.
1 key data point: Not really a data point, but how easy it is to change flights is what ended up selling me. The one downside to hybrids is that they are sort of one-trick ponies. Into the wind, or shots where you have to make a certain flight happen, aren’t really their strong suit. The iDi checks that box.
Head: Ping G430 4H Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI HY 9X Loft: 22 Setting: Flat Length: 39.5 EOG Tipping: 0 Swingweight: D3
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PING G440 Custom Hybrid
The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.
FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT
Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.
ROUNDED SOLE
Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings
CARBONFLY WRAP
Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG.
Why it’s in my bag: Security blanket. I’ve had this in the bag for two seasons now, and it’s become my favorite club. It can get up, go down, hold ball speed up and down the face, and it spins. It’s the most efficient 4H I’ve ever tested, and I really tried to kick it out. Contenders were Cobra OPTM (really close) and a TaylorMade Qi4D (also really close). Where they fell short was on their ceiling, with the 430, I can chip it and hit it 205, or munch it and hit it 225. The other had the floor, but the ceiling was 218. I’ll take the extra few yards.
Why it’s in my bag: I’ve never had the kind of reliability with other hybrids that the Quantum Max gives me. Standing over shots, I feel confident because I don’t have to worry about my ball speed dropping on off-center hits. It also launches the ball high with a penetrating trajectory, making it easier to carry hazards on the course. Between the forgiveness, consistent speed and high launch, I can see this quickly becoming a club I rely on round after round.
1 key data point: I’ve always struggled with consistency when hitting hybrids, especially on off-center strikes. But the Quantum Max was a different story. Even on shots that were slightly off the toe or low on the face, the ball still carried with consistent, predictable speed. This makes it easy to trust the club from both the fairway and off the tee. That kind of reliability will be a game-changer for me —especially in competition rounds.
Head: TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron Shaft: KBS Tour Lite S Loft: 22° Lie: Standard Length: 38.75″
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TaylorMade P-UDI Custom Utility Iron
Tour inspired shaping for a playable and balanced look at address. Strategically positioned CG for a penetrating ball flight with backspin for players who demand shot making with long irons.
INDIVIDUAL MASS OPTIMIZATION
Featuring advanced thick-thin back wall construction, sound stabilization bar, and deliberately distributed mass to maximize forgiveness. Each iron is uniquely designed with every gram strategically placed to achieve specific performance goals with premium forged feel.
OPTIMAL LAUNCH AND FORGIVENESS
Designed to deliver easy launch, increased forgiveness and enhanced consistency. The new internal weighting structure combines with proven technologies such as the forged 4140 OptiFace, Speed Pocket™ and up to 26g of tungsten.
THRU-SLOT SPEEDPOCKET
The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ provides increased face flexibility while preserving ball speed and distance on low face strikes.
Why it’s in my bag: I play a lot of golf in Scotland. Have been making the annual (and privileged) Open Championship pilgrimage for the last four years, and I find myself hitting a lot of 4-irons on that trip. It’s such a great exercise — to play firm courses for weeks at a time. It forces you to understand your carry distance, but also to understand how far your shots can run if you just get them started on the right line. So I really enjoy having a club I can hit extra shots with, low and hooking at times, higher and fading at others. This club has a good bit of meat on the bone, if you will. Some real mass that sits behind the clubface and helps me launch it. But I can also get plenty of distance out of that mass simply by pulling it back in my stance a bit and stinging one low and striking. Versatility is what we love.
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1 key data point: This may not feel like a data point, but there is something particularly pleasing about just filling in the gap, loft-wise, in my bag. If we were to remove that Adams driving iron, which I really should have done years ago, then there was about a 13-degree gap in my set when it came to modern clubs. The 22-degree 4-iron (and the 16.5-degree 5-wood) work hand-in-hand to make my gapping more sensical. We like that!
The Apex UW is designed for serious, avid golfers seeking the perfect blend of a fairway wood’s power and a hybrid’s versatility. Engineered with Tour feedback and loaded with performance technologies, it delivers a higher, more neutral ball flight with the control all players demand.
TUNGSTEN SPEED WAVE
A dynamic, 41g+ tungsten wave structure positions mass low and forward, enhancing ball speed and launch—particularly on low-face strikes where players tend to lose distance.
STEP SOLE DESIGN
A redesigned sole with a stepped geometry reduces turf interaction, helping to maintain swing speed through impact and promoting more consistent contact across different lies.
TRIAXIAL CARBON CROWN
The lightweight carbon construction allows for strategic weight redistribution, creating a more forgiving clubhead while refining launch and spin for greater shot-making control.
TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING
Designed with input from the world’s best, the compact, refined shape and neutral face angle inspire confidence at address and deliver workability from tee to turf.
Why it’s in my bag: This has been in my bag for three years now, and it is my most trusted club in there. I use it for 240-yard distances, mostly hitting into greens on par 5s. The new 2025 UW is great. I just have so much confidence in this club; I didn’t feel the need to make a switch.
1 key data point: The north and south dispersion is so tight that a fitter from a different OEM, who will not be named, said, “If anyone tries to tell you they can beat this club, they are lying to you.”
Why it’s in my bag: Living in Arizona, you play a lot of desert golf, which usually means tight and hard fairways. I have this in my bag for when I am playing tight courses where I need 240+ off the tee and I know it is going to go straight. I do not use this a lot as it’s very much the “15th” club and used on a course-by-course basis.
1 key data point: Ball speed was the highest out of any of the driving irons I hit. I also love the mirror on the back, which removes the bulk through an optical illusion.
*Utility iron goes in for UW based on course/conditions
Barcelona’s defense of the Copa del Rey title has ended at the semi-final stage thanks to a 3-0 win second leg win over Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou that wasn’t enough to turn around the 4-0 deficit from the first leg. Barça dominated the entire match and came very close to pulling off a miraculous Remontada, but Diego Simeone’s troops found a way to hold on to a narrow margin and move on to the Spanish Cup Final.
Reactions & Observations
Diego Simeone is a master at defensive gameplans in knockout matches, and his strategy was pretty clear from the start: Atleti set up in a 5-4-1 with Giuliano Simeone as a wingback, and the Colchoneros parked the bus looking to limit Barça’s attack and trying to create danger on the counter.
Barça came out with a very solid attacking plan and passed the ball quickly and with purpose all over the pitch, and were not afraid to take early shots from distance to test Juan Musso in goal. There was some bad news when Jules Kounde had to be replaced by Alejandro Balde due to injury, but that moved João Cancelo to right-back and made the team even more offensive.
The Catalans were really good with the ball, but it took them a half-hour until a short corner routine ended with a beautiful move and assist by Lamine Yamal for a Marc Bernal tap-in. That woke up a Camp Nou that started super hot but quickly became nervous as Barça struggled to score, but the stadium was alive again.
Atlético had a good response to going behind and created a couple of chances with Antoine Griezmann, but Barça controlled the visitors’ counter-attacking pretty well for the most part.
Then came a gigantic sequence in the game: Ademola Lookman missed a wide-open header inside the six-yard box on a counter that would have put the tie to bed, and Barça immediately earned a penalty on the other end when Pedri was taken down by Marc Pubill inside the box. Raphinha scored from the spot, and Barça went into halftime with a precious two-goal lead that gave them a real shot at a comeback.
Barça carried the momentum from Raphinha’s goal into the start of the second half and absolutely blitzed Atleti, and that’s when Juan Musso shined: the goalkeeper made some splendid saves and key interventions that stopped Barça from scoring at least once before the hour mark, which would have truly ignited the tie.
There was some more bad injury news as Balde was forced off with an apparent muscle issue as Barça lost both starting full-backs on the night, and things started to feel a little desperate and tense with 20 minutes to go.
And then, hope: another short corner led to an outstanding cross by Cancelo and a beautiful volley by Bernal, and Barça were 3-0 up with 20 minutes to go and just one more goal needed to force extra-time.
Hansi Flick made a couple of crazy tactical moves, putting Ronald Araujo up front as a striker and playing Pedri at center-back, and Barça had pretty much everyone forward looking for the miracle.
Barça tried absolutely everything: several crosses into the box, shots from distance, and a very strong penalty shout that was ignored by the referee and VAR when Matteo Ruggeri pushed Raphinha in the back, but the fourth goal never came and the Remontada attempt ended in heartbreak at the final whistle.
Despite the elimination, this was a tremendous performance that makes you proud and hopeful when it comes to this team’s chances for the rest of the season. Barça played with heart, passion and also displayed some fantastic attacking quality, and this is the kind of game that makes you fall in love with a team, even in defeat. Well done, boys.
Jun 27, 2025; Carrollton, Texas, USA; Caleb Surratt plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Dallas golf tournament at Maridoe Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
As of Tuesday, eight LIV Golf players reportedly have been unable to fly out of the Middle East ahead of this week’s tournament in Hong Kong.
Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Sam Horsfield, Anirban Lahiri, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Caleb Surratt and Lee Westwood were practicing in Dubai before Saturday’s U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran led to canceled flights and airport closures throughout the region, Flushing It reported.
Golf Channel exchanged text messages with Surratt, 21, who plays for the LIV Golf team Legion XIII.
“(The) world just came undone on Saturday,” Surrat wrote on Tuesday morning. “It was terrifying. But since then, it’s been OK. It was bad Sunday and Monday here with missile interceptions, but all day today was fine.”
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Surratt described Tuesday in Dubai as “totally normal life, people walking around and such.”
Surratt and other golfers are trying to catch a flight out of Dubai or perhaps from Muscat, in neighboring Oman, in time for the start of the Hong Kong tournament Thursday. The league has reserve players who could potentially substitute in if needed.
The U.S. State Department has urged American citizens to leave the region, however CNN reported Tuesday that a “wide corridor of airspace” in the Middle East remains closed to air traffic.
Westwood, Horsfield and Canter are teammates on the Majesticks. McKibbin is also part of Legion XIII, while Meronk plays for Cleeks GC, Detry for the 4Aces and Lahiri for Crushers GC.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner celebrates a defensive stop as Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff reacts following the play during the second half on Dec. 25, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The moment captured a turning point as Minnesota’s defense dictated tempo late against Detroit. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings are exploring the trade market for defensive standout Jonathan Greenard. The pass rusher signed with the Vikings two years ago as Danielle Hunter’s replacement.
If he’s out, Brian Flores’ unit would miss one of its key players. Fortunately, his successor is already around and could continue to thrive in Greenard’s role. That man is Dallas Turner, a 2024 1st-round pick.
While everyone was focused on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, his Draft classmate Turner was actually making major strides in the second half of his sophomore season. He benefitted from the five games Greenard missed with a shoulder injury, and the ones he appeared in when the veteran was clearly not at his full strength.
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Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
In his rookie season, Turner played a limited role as a rotational piece behind Pro Bowlers Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, as well as backup Patrick Jones. His output, therefore, was fairly quiet, as he tabulated 20 tackles and 3 sacks.
In his second season as a pro, Turner appeared in all 17 games, making 10 starts. He logged 8 sacks, 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and perhaps the best aspect of his numbers, a whopping 4 forced fumbles.
Earlier in the season, Turner stepped into the starting unit in place of Van Ginkel, who was slowed down by a neck injury and missed several games. Van Ginkel’s role is unique, with frequent coverage responsibilities, while Greenard operates primarily as a designated pass rusher. Turner appeared more comfortable in Greenard’s role, where he was able to consistently attack off the edge and maximize his burst.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (43) runs against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
“Turner,” PFF’s Dalton Wasserman recently wrote, “may have finally found his footing during the second half of this season. From Weeks 10 through 18, the former first-round pick racked up 24 pressures and seven sacks while ranking 16th among qualified edge rushers in PFF pass-rush grade (76.5). Turner also seemed to find further comfort in run defense, which could make him a more viable three-down player in 2026.”
Turner was flying off the edge in Greenard’s position. The explosiveness has always been there, but it’s fun to watch a young player turn that into production. He also provided solid help in the running game, something not all young edge defenders can do.
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Coming out of college, Turner had outstanding physical tools, as evidenced by a 4.46-second 40-yard dash. He was raw as a pass-rusher, and perhaps still is, but he’s slowly but surely growing.
In the second half of the season, he undoubtedly looked like a future difference-maker.
What makes Turner’s trajectory especially encouraging is how quickly the game seemed to slow down for him. Early in his rookie year, he relied almost exclusively on pure speed. By December, he was mixing in counters, adjusting his rush angles, and showing better discipline, setting the edge. That kind of refinement usually takes years, not months.
Flores also began trusting him in bigger moments. Turner wasn’t just cleaning up plays — he was creating them. Forced fumbles, third-down pressures, drive-killing sacks — those are impact snaps. The Vikings didn’t draft him to be a rotational spark; they drafted him to tilt games.
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Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) reacts after a tackle during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
If Greenard truly moves on, this won’t just be about replacing production. It will be about accelerating Turner’s arrival as a centerpiece defender rather than a complementary one.
With Greenard possibly leaving, the Vikings would hand the keys to Turner. Sure, they would acquire another veteran or even spend Draft capital on a rookie, but it’s unlikely that the new acquisition would be slotted ahead of Turner on the depth chart.
The 23-year-old was an expensive player to lure to the Twin Cities. First, the Vikings traded a pair of 2nd-rounders for the 23rd overall pick. That was expected to be used in a trade-up for a quarterback. However, the Vikings couldn’t land Drake Maye and only required a smaller trade for J.J. McCarthy. Suddenly, they were stuck at 23.
They didn’t stay there, however. Instead, the front office struck a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for pick 17. According to most trade charts, the Vikings used the value of two 1st-round picks to draft Turner.
So far, he has clearly not been worth that kind of investment, but an elevated role could bring him in position to change that. In the second half of the year, he certainly looked like a foundational piece on the defense for years to come.
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Still only 23 years old, the sky is the limit for the young defender.
Teams looking to get back on track battle when the 23rd-ranked Tennessee Volunteers face the South Carolina Gamecocks in a key SEC matchup on Tuesday. Tennessee is coming off a 71-69 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, while South Carolina dropped an 87-68 decision at Georgia that same day. The Volunteers (20-9, 10-6 SEC), who are tied for fourth in the conference, are 4-5 on the road this season. The Gamecocks (12-17, 3-13 SEC), who are tied for 15th in the league, are 11-7 on their home court. Tennessee’s Nate Ament (leg) will not play.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered Week 18 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 23-17 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (141.5 points). The Over hit in five of the last eight meetings between the teams. Tennessee is 5-5 against the spread in its last 10 games. South Carolina, meanwhile, is 4-6 ATS in its last 10.
The model projects the Volunteers to have three players score 9.8 points or more, including Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s projected 18.9 points. The Gamecocks are projected to have three players score 11.3 points or more, led by Meechie Johnson Jr., who is projected to score 17.8 points. The model is projecting 148 combined points as the Over clears in 67% of simulations.
Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martin Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday.
The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona.
Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind.
Soria turned over a shot from Arda Guler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal.
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Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead.
A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out.
It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window.
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Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half and Antonio Rudiger and substitute Rodrygo were among those who came close to grabbing an equalizer.
But it could not find a way past Getafe’s stuffy rearguard and an in-form Soria.
Madrid’s task became even harder when Franco Mastantuono was sent off for dissent in stoppage time and although the numbers were evened up in the last minute when Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also shown a red card it came too late to make any impact.
Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga.
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“Coming here is always very difficult,” Getafe defender Kiko Femenia told broadcaster DAZN. “We have to congratulate the team, we did a superb job at the back and we scored when had the chance. We might even have scored more on the counterattack.”
They jumped three league places into 11th and were eight points above the relegation zone.
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