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Ex-Flames Tkachuk, Bennett still hold love for Calgary years after departures

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CALGARY — No one knows how to antagonize an opponent, a team, or even a nation quite like Matthew Tkachuk.

But in his first game back in his old stomping grounds since Milan, the game’s most decorated player the last three years chose not to bring attention to the Olympic gold medal his American squad ripped from the hands of Team Canada.

“It’s the only trip I didn’t bring it on. I think my dad’s got it right now. I wasn’t showing it off in this place.”

A wise, respectful move by the longtime Flame who knew better than to rub anything in the faces of those who treated him so well the first six years of his career.

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They treated him well again Friday, with only smattered boos sprinkled in on a night in which Tkachuk and his defending champs showed very little bite.

Flames fans would have lost their minds if he’d strutted into the Dome with Olympic hardware dangling from his neck. And he knows that too.

Instead, he arrived with nothing but memories, and a whole lot of enthusiasm for something Calgary hasn’t hosted in decades: meaningful international hockey.

Because if there was one topic that lit him up more than the gold he didn’t bring, it was the World Cup of Hockey landing in Calgary and Edmonton in 2028.

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“I think it’ll be really good for the new building,” he said while champing at the bit to catch up with Ryan Lomberg and get out on the town with teammates.

“I’m excited. I love this building. I love having the memories here, but I think it’s gonna be great for the city now that they can get all the concerts and the stuff that they’ve been missing.”

Then he went full Calgary ambassador.

“Because, to me, this is the best city in the area, by far,” he smiled, unable to resist yet another shot at Edmonton.

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“And now, with this new rink, it brings just that much more traction, and I think a lot more people outside of Calgary will see what a great city Calgary is.”

One night earlier his beleaguered club turned on the jets to run the Oilers’ show once again.

But on either side of that game, the battered Panthers were beaten soundly by the 32nd and 31st place teams in the league, as part of a western Canadian tour that started in Vancouver and ended in the city Tkachuk was drafted and broke in.  

There’s a respect factor for Tkachuk in Calgary that’s clearly mutual.

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Even though he informed the team he wouldn’t re-sign here in 2022, he did so a year ahead of time, giving the club ample time to get something meaningful for him in return.

He still talks about Calgary like a guy who knows the shortcuts, the late‑night eats, and the best patios. And, no matter the circumstances, he understands he broke a few hearts on the way out.

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“We got a couple boos the last few games, but nothing crazy,” shrugged Tkachuk, who has been a shadow of his irritating self since he returned from major surgery in time to play in the Olympics.

“It’s pretty good here. I love the fans here and I’ve got so many good memories with them. Still got some boos here.”

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“Actually, (I was) surprised I got some boos in Vancouver.”

You can expect Tkachuk and his brother to be in the eye of the storm in 2028 when the eight-team best-on-best tourney will feature Canada and the U.S. playing round-robin games at Scotia Place, less than 6 months after it’s expected to open.     

“I’m kind of surprised that there’s not a game in the U.S. at some point, if I’m being honest,” he said. 

“But Calgary was my home for six years. With the round robin here we’ll be here for a few days, so make the team, and show a few guys some great spots.”

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Another former Flame thriving in Florida, Sam Bennett lit up when asked about the World Cup coming to Alberta.

“Obviously it’s awesome,” said one of Team Canada’s gold medal heroes at the last incarnation of the World Cup, which was the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“I think it’s great for Calgary. I know how passionate the fans are here, so it’s great to see them get that experience. And I’m sure it’ll be awesome in that new building as well.”

But Bennett, unlike Tkachuk, allowed himself to get sentimental about the Saddledome, the rink that introduced him to the NHL and will soon be reduced to rubble.

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“I mean, it’s where I got introduced to the NHL here, so obviously a lot of nostalgia coming back into this building,” said Bennett.

“This building will always be special to me. It’ll definitely be a sad day when this building goes down.”

Tkachuk didn’t say it outright, but you could feel it: He feels the same way.

The Dome is where he became Matthew Tkachuk, the villain, the hero, the entertainer.

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The Olympic gold medalist who knew better than to remind everyone of it.

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Sporting KC eager to pick up steam vs. Rapids

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MLS: Sporting Kansas City at LA GalaxyMar 14, 2026; Carson, California, USA; Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Lasse Berg Johnsen (4) celebrates his goal during the second half against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

With both teams led by first-year coaches, Sporting Kansas City host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Kansas City, Kan.

After a last-place finish in the Western Conference table in 2025, Sporting KC (1-2-1, 4 points) hired Raphael Wicky to turn around the team’s fortunes. Kansas City picked up its first win under Wicky, a 2-1 decision at the Los Angeles Galaxy last Saturday.

Dejan Joveljic scored in first-half stoppage time and Lasse Berg Johnsen netted what proved to be the game-winner in the 74th minute. The Galaxy found the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

“In terms of togetherness, of trying to be a team when we are in possession, when we aren’t in possession, when we press high, when we are suffering together in a low block, we have to have everyone helping each other,” Wicky said. “When you have that foundation with talent you can win football games …We need to keep working on the culture and togetherness and what we want to do on the field.”

Meanwhile, the Rapids’ two-match winning streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss at Eastern Conference co-leader New York City FC last Saturday. Darren Yapi scored off an assist from Rafael Navarro for Colorado.

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Goalkeeper Zack Steffen missed his second straight match with a shoulder injury, and is listed as day-to-day.

Even though the Rapids (2-2-0, 6 points) maintained 59.3% of the possession, they couldn’t net the equalizer against NYCFC. Colorado coach Matt Wells said Rob Holding and Keegan Rosenberry used well-placed passes to set up midfielder Paxten Aaronson with transition opportunities.

While he said Colorado arrived in better attacking positions than NYCFC, the Rapids’ leading scorers, Navarro and Yapi, who each have two goals on the season, “weren’t able to find the right action.”

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“We are an attacking team that is going to create numerous opportunities for our wingers and forwards because of the nature at which we play,” Wells said. “We attack with numbers; we attack with speed. Which is exactly the team we want to be.

“I want more from both those guys (Navarro and Yapi) and will keep demanding it. They have incredible potential and great mindsets.”

-Field Level Media

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Ligue 1: Lens Run Riot Against Angers (5-1) to Reclaim Top Spot

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Elsewhere in Ligue 1, all eyes turn to Saturday’s clash in Nice, where Paris Saint-Germain must respond. Sitting two points behind Lens, the Parisians need a win to reclaim first place, but will have to do it without in-form Bradley Barcoley, sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury.

In Monaco, Paul Pogba may finally be nearing a return. The 2018 World Cup winner is back in full training with the Principality club. No official comeback date has been set, but April 5, against Marseille on Matchday 28, is being targeted.

In the Premier League, no Arsenal or Manchester City in league action this weekend, the top two meet instead in Sunday’s League Cup final. Manchester United were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Friday, leaving the door open for Aston Villa and Liverpool to close the gap. The Reds, meanwhile, will be without Mohamed Salah for their trip to Brighton.

On the international stage, France are gearing up for a US tour next week, but head coach Didier Deschamps will be without Manu Koné, injured in Europa League action with Roma. Les Bleus face Brazil on Thursday and Colombia on Sunday.

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In tennis, Arthur Fils made a perfect start at the Miami Masters, setting up a third-round clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who knocked out world No. 6 Alex de Minaur. Casper Ruud and Jack Draper, meanwhile, crashed out early.

And finally, in EuroLeague basketball, it was a night of fireworks: leaders Fenerbahçe beat Milan, while Kaunas stunned Real Madrid, inspired by a standout performance from Sylvain Francisco.

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Justin Timberlake’s star-studded golf experience returns to Las Vegas

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There are golf tournaments — and then there are experiences.

The 8AM Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas, hosted by Justin Timberlake, has quickly carved out a lane of its own: part competitive golf, part cultural moment, and entirely unlike anything else on the calendar.

Now entering its fifth year, the event has become one of the most anticipated annual gatherings in the game — bringing together a curated mix of athletes, entertainers, actors and cultural icons for a weekend that blends golf, entertainment and philanthropy at the highest level.

A one-of-a-kind setting — and an unmatched field

Set against the backdrop of Wynn Golf Club — the only course on the Las Vegas Strip — the Invitational delivers a setting that feels as premium as the guest list.

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And the guest list is exactly what sets this event apart.

In recent years, Timberlake has welcomed an eclectic and electric mix of talent, including Jimmy Fallon, Michelle Wie West, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, Michael Phelps, J.J. Watt, Blake Griffin and Michael Strahan, along with Matthew Stafford and Colt McCoy.

The crossover doesn’t stop with sports. The field has also featured entertainers and personalities like Nate Bargatze, Andrew Santino, Brian Baumgartner and Michael Peña, alongside actors like Chace Crawford and a new generation of golf and lifestyle voices including Kira Dixon and Erin Lim Rhodes.

Michael Phelps hits a shot during the 2025 8AM Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas.
Michael Phelps hits a shot during the 2025 8AM Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas.

8AM Golf

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Add in names like Ryan Sheckler, Sean Malto, Chandler Parsons, Trey McBride, Courtney Lee and Dexter Fowler, and you get a lineup that feels less like a tournament field and more like a perfectly curated cultural moment.

This isn’t a traditional event. It’s a collision of worlds, where elite competitors, entertainers and personalities all show up with something to prove — and have a great time doing it.

More than a tournament — it’s a full weekend experience

What makes the 8AM Invitational truly unique is that it doesn’t stop when the last putt drops.

Select sponsor guests are invited inside the ropes, gaining rare access to both the competition and the personalities that define it. That includes watching the tournament up close, playing in a celeb-am leading into the event, and attending two unforgettable parties hosted at Wynn alongside the players and talent.

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And in a nod to one of golf’s most iconic traditions, the Invitational enforces a strict no-phone policy — both on the course and at the parties — creating an atmosphere that feels present, private and refreshingly unplugged.

From left: Michelle Wie West, Erin Lim Rhodes and Kira K. Dixon.
From left: Michelle Wie West, Erin Lim Rhodes and Kira K. Dixon.

Jeff Marsh

Where entertainment and golf collide

From competitive moments during the day to late-night performances and stories that rarely leave the room, the energy of the 8AM Invitational is constant.

It’s golf — but louder, more social and unmistakably modern.

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Yet beneath the spectacle is real competition. Many of these names can play, and pride is very much on the line when they tee it up at Wynn.

Driven by purpose

At its core, the 8AM Invitational is about more than just the experience.

To date, the event has raised more than $1 million for the American Skin Association, using its platform to drive meaningful impact beyond the ropes.

The can’t-miss event on golf’s calendar

In a sport rooted in tradition, the 8AM Invitational is something entirely different.

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An epic annual gathering. A one-of-a-kind golf experience. And a weekend at Wynn Las Vegas that continues to redefine what a golf event can be.

Interested in experiencing the 8AM Invitational yourself? Click here to get in touch.

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Cameron McEvoy claims 50m freestyle world record in record-breaking swim | Other Sports News

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Olympic and world champion swimmer Cameron McEvoy has broken the men’s 50-meter freestyle world record which had stood for 17 years.


The 31-year-old Australian posted a time of 20.88 seconds on Friday at the China Open in Shenzhen, taking 0.03 second off Brazilian Cesar Cielo’s previous mark.


Cielo set his world record of 20.91 during swimming’s so-called “super suit” era in 2009. Those suits were later banned because they increased buoyancy and reduced drag, resulting in nearly 150 world records falling in 2009 before being prohibited in 2010.

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“I knew I had a chance to do a PB (personal best),” McEvoy said. “My old PB was 21.06, so maybe 20.99? But doing ?20.88 is unreal. It’s crazy.” 
Cielo was quick to congratulate McEvoy on social media, tweeting: “Congrats, Cam.

 

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mar 21 2026 | 1:22 PM IST

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Saurav Ghosal hails Olympic debut as watershed, urges ecosystem growth | Other Sports News

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Former India No. 1 Saurav Ghosal termed squash’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics a watershed moment and emphasised the need to expand access, improve coaching, and strengthen the ecosystem to sustain the sport’s growth.


Recently appointed Sports Commissioner of World Premier Squash, Ghosal said the role is a culmination of his journey in the sport.


“I played professional squash and for India for more than 20 years… it’s been a blessing. This phase is a coming together of all those experiences and I’m excited to hopefully make a contribution at the global level and democratise the sport,” he said.


“I’ve always viewed pressure situations as opportunities… this is an opportunity to do something substantial in the sport,” he added.

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On India’s rise in squash, Ghosal underlined the importance of participation.


“Strength lies in numbers… if you have more players playing, the probability is that you will produce champions,” he said.


“The upward trajectory is very heartening… and this is an attempt to democratise the sport, get more kids, more people and recreational players involved because the entire ecosystem has to be involved,” he added.

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He also highlighted the role of exposure and opportunity.


“There are so many players who haven’t had the financial backing or the right guidance. This can give them a window to showcase their talent on the world stage,” he said.


India currently has multiple players in the top-50, including teenager Anahat Singh.


“It’s great that we have four boys in the top-50 we also have Anahat in the top-20. Success breeds success and that will help the overall ecosystem,” Ghosal said.

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“She has everything going for her – talent, mentality, support… if she continues the way she is, there’s no reason she cannot be a mainstay in the top-10,” he added.


“I don’t want to put undue pressure on her, she’s still 18 and needs to enjoy this time,” he said.


On squash’s Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Ghosal said it marks a defining moment.


“It’s a watershed moment, not just for Indian squash but globally, the Olympics is the biggest platform and the epitome of sporting excellence,” he said.

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“It’s only befitting that squash gets the chance to showcase its athletic excellence on the biggest stage… and I’m sure it will be a very entertaining show,’ he added.


“I really hope we have Indians making a dent in that 16-player draw, that’s what everyone is gunning towards,” he said.


On pathways to the Olympics, he pointed to the Asian Games and called it an opportunity for the players to book their spots.


“The winner (at Asian Games) will be the first confirmed spot. Winning gold is not easy, no Indian has done it before, but it is definitely within reach.

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“The idea is not just to qualify but to put yourself in a position to be a realistic medal contender,” he said.


Despite progress, Ghosal highlighted structural gaps in Indian squash.


“You can’t train in India 365 days at the highest level… even the top players train abroad because the quality of the highest echelon of coaches is not there in India today.


“That is something we need to work towards… getting people from abroad and having Indian coaches work with them so they understand what it takes at the highest level,” he said.

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Drawing comparisons with other top squash playing nations, he said: “If you look at Egypt, most players train at home, you have top players training together and pushing each other constantly.” 
He also stressed the need to expand grassroots access for the sport to become bigger in the country.


“It has been a slightly elitist sport… access to courts has not been easy, though that is slowly changing.


“Junior programmes and more tournaments have helped… kids see it, get into the competitive feeling and play more.


“To really explode in numbers, taking it into schools is important, and using digital platforms to reach players even in far-flung areas.

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“Getting it on TV is extremely important… it gives kids that aspirational value to take up the sport,” he said.


On the format and innovation in World Premier Squash, which uses AI enabled qualification pathways, he said it will be “extremely different” from traditional squash.


“Short, sharp and entertaining, and as inclusive as possible across age groups.


“There are so many players who are extremely talented but may not travel… this gives them a chance to qualify from wherever they are,” he said.

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“All you need is a phone and the app, and you could be on a global leaderboard and even stand on the same court as the top players,” he added.


“It’s about bridging the gap between the professional tour, juniors and recreational players… a 360-degree effort to elevate the sport,” he said.


Asked about India’s maiden Squash World Cup triumph, Ghosal said it was a step forward but bigger goals remain.


“It’s a good achievement, but there are bigger things to win. The Olympics is the epitome and players now have the opportunity to do something substantial there,” he said.

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Ghosal stressed that collective effort will be key going forward.


“We are talking about five players today, we need to aim for hundreds. If all stakeholders work together over the next five to 10 years, there’s no reason why we can’t get there,” he said.

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'Wowzer!' – Shoes fly and athletes collide in mixed relay

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Belgium win a chaotic 4x400m mixed relay final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland.

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2026 Valspar Championship Saturday TV coverage: Watch Round 3

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The third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship begins Saturday morning at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Saturday, including full Valspar Championship TV coverage, streaming details and Round 3 tee times.

How to watch Valspar Championship on Saturday

Sungjae Im followed up a first-round 64 with a second-round 69 on Friday to take the Valspar Championship halfway-point lead at nine under par. Im is one shot clear of his closest competitor, David Lipsky, and two shots ahead of Doug Ghim and Chandler Blanchet.

Im is seeking his third career Tour victory, and first since his win at the 2021 Shriner’s Childrens Open. Lipsky has yet to notch a PGA Tour title.

On Saturday, Im and Lipsky will play in the afternoon’s final pairing at 1:55 p.m. ET.

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You can watch the third round of the Valspar Championship on TV via Golf Channel beginning on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the NBC broadcast at 3 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage starting at 7:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day Saturday.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship.

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How to watch on TV Saturday

Golf Channel will carry third-round TV coverage of the 2026 Valspar Championship from 1-3 p.m. ET on Saturday followed by the NBC broadcast from 3-6 p.m. ET.

How to stream online Saturday

You can stream the third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET in addition to featured group and hole coverage.

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2026 Valspar Championship Round 3 tee times (ET)

Tee No. 1

7:35 a.m. – John Parry, John VanDerLaan 

7:45 a.m. – Andrew Novak, A.J. Ewart 

7:55 a.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Davis Thompson 

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8:05 a.m. – Matti Schmid, Mackenzie Hughes 

8:15 a.m. – Davis Chatfield, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

8:25 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Vince Whaley 

8:35 a.m. – Stefan Jaeger, Dylan Wu 

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8:45 a.m. – Michael Kim, Bud Cauley 

9 a.m. – Keegan Bradley, Lee Hodges 

9:10 a.m. – Justin Lower, Denny McCarthy 

9:20 a.m. – Isaiah Salinda, Jimmy Stanger 

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9:30 a.m. – Webb Simpson, Ryo Hisatsune 

9:40 a.m. – Rasmus Hojgaard, Joel Dahmen 

9:50 a.m. – Henrik Norlander, Chad Ramey 

10 a.m. – Karl Vilips, Kevin Roy 

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10:10 a.m. – Matt Wallace, Ricky Castillo 

10:25 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Takumi Kanaya 

10:35 a.m. – Kevin Yu, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen

10:45 a.m. – Sam Ryder, Justin Thomas 

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10:55 a.m. – Andrew Putnam, Kensei Hirata 

11:05 a.m. – Pierceson Coody, Matthieu Pavon 

11:15 a.m. – Chandler Phillips, Xander Schauffele 

11:25 a.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, S.H. Kim 

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11:35 a.m. – Seamus Power, Blades Brown 

11:50 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Tom Kim 

Noon – Hank Lebioda, Patrick Cantlay 

12:10 p.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Alejandro Tosti 

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12:20 p.m. – David Skinns, David Ford 

12:30 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Rico Hoey 

12:40 p.m. – Corey Conners, Nicolai Hojgaard 

12:50 p.m. Danny Walker, Brooks Koepka 

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1 p.m. – Jacob Bridgeman, Tony Finau 

1:15 p.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Gary Woodland 

1:25 p.m. Jordan Smith, Alex Smalley 

1:35 p.m. – Marco Penge, Matt Fitzpatrick 

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1:45 p.m. – Doug Ghim, Chandler Blanchet 

1:55 p.m. – Sungjae Im, David Lipsky 

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Hawkes pair Airman and Devil Night target 2026 William Reid Stakes

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Recently, the training venture run by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes has experienced up-and-down results.

Their freshest win in Victoria was a Kilmore maiden from earlier this month, alongside Stakes-level achievement with Gangsta Granny in Sydney on March 7.

The stable often delivers powerful teams for the Melbourne and Sydney carnivals, including participants in three of five Group 1 races at Rosehill.

On Saturday, Caulfield hosts the William Reid Stakes (1200m), wrapping up Melbourne’s Group 1 schedule, where the Hawkes have Airman and Devil Night entered.

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Airman remains winless approaching 18 months, penalized for his victory in the Group 2 Premiere Cup (1200m) at Randwick during October 2024.

Wayne Hawkes commented that Airman carries the class needed for Saturday’s event and has trialled sharply in readiness for his first outing post-November.

“He won the Premiere Stakes which is two weeks before The Everest and which is the best lead-up race to The Everest,” Hawkes said.

“You know he is up to that class of race, but he hasn’t won for 18 months, but I wouldn’t discard him.

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“He’s going pretty well.”

Devil Night has secured one win across seven runs, highlighted by his conquest of the Blue Diamond Stakes, Melbourne’s leading juvenile race, on start two.

Spring brought mixed fortunes for the three-year-old, though Hawkes cited his fourth to Giga Kick in the Schillaci Stakes as a key performance.

Devil Night began autumn placed second behind Pallaton in Caulfield’s Zeditave Stakes (1200m) last month, with a recent quiet trial at Flemington.

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“He’s going super and this is the race we’ve picked out for him,” Hawkes said.

“He was getting beaten in the spring behind Giga Kick, which isn’t bad for a three-year-old and Giga Kick is an Everest horse, and the bottom line is, there’s your form.

“Beau Mertens had a sit on him in his trial and I’m happy with the horse and how he’s going.”

Regarding which he prefers, Hawkes leaned marginally to Devil Night.

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“He’s the fitter one,” Hawkes said.

Compare the betting sites for William Reid Stakes racing odds.

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Diana Taurasi reacts as WNBA, WNBPA reach landmark CBA agreement

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The WNBA’s milestone 30th season is scheduled to tip off in less than two months. On Wednesday, the marathon negotiations between the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association ended with an historic agreement on a collective bargaining agreement.

The two sides verbally agreed to a deal that would raise teams’ salary caps to $7 million, ESPN reported. Last season’s salary cap was $1.5 million. Players will be eligible for supermax deals starting at $1.4 million in 2026, up from $249,244 in 2025.

Every WNBA player will earn at least $300,000 under the new CBA, sources told ESPN.

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WNBA ball goes through hoop

A detail of the WNBA logo on a basketball during warmups between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Climate Pledge Arena on June 20, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.  (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Diana Taurasi, an 11-time All-Star and three-time WNBA champion, reacted to the latest development. The former Phoenix Mercury guard said she believes the deal is a step in the right direction.

“The WNBA has gone through a long journey over the last 30 years,” she told The Spun. “There’s a lot of hard work, grit, perseverance and determination. This is just another milestone for women’s sports. It’s nice to see the WNBA in a better place than where you left it.”

WNBA STARS’ ALL-STAR GAME MESSAGE ON PAY INCREASE DRAWS SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION

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The details of the term sheet are still being finalized. The next step is ratification by the players and the league’s board of governors.

Diana Taurasi during a press conference

Diana Taurasi speaks during a press conference at the Phoenix Mercury Practice Facility on March 13, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. Taurasi announced she was retiring after a 20-year career in the WNBA.  (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Taurasi’s sentiments echoed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s stance about what she described as a landmark deal.

“The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” Engelbert told reporters shortly after the deal was struck early Wednesday, “and it’s underscoring a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game.

“It’s [been] a process, but we’re very proud to be leading in women’s sports, and these players are amazing, and we’re going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May.”

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Cathy Engelbert speaks

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a news conference before the WNBA All-Star basketball game on July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Seattle Storm forward and WNBPA executive committee president Nneka Ogwumike, who participated in the prolonged bargaining sessions, commended the efforts that led to the new CBA.

“We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal,” Ogwumike said. “We’re proud of ourselves. And quite frankly, we always told you all we were going to stand on business, and that’s what this looks like.

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Once the new CBA is finalized, it will mark the sixth agreement in WNBA history, with the previous one reached in 2020. The full terms of the new deal are expected to reflect the league’s recent surge in growth, viewership and overall popularity.

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Where should the new PGA Tour season begin?

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Last week at the PGA Tour headquarters, new Tour CEO Brian Rolapp unveiled six themes for where the league is headed. One of them was a splashy start date on the West Coast, a way for the Tour to get fans excited and kick-start the year in a big way.

“We want to open big with a marquee event at an iconic venue in the west, among other things,” Rolapp said, “allowing us to finish on network television in primetime on the East Coast.”

How might that look? It’ll likely be in late January or early February, and we already know the Tour’s time in Hawaii is probably limited. That leaves a couple of current tournaments as the likely options: the Farmers at Torrey Pines in San Diego, the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, or the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the Monterey Peninsula. The Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles could also be an option.

We might not get an answer soon — and the Tour might still be figuring it out as well — but you could make a case for most of these spots, just as GOLF’s Subpar duo thinks their local event, the WM Phoenix Open, would be the ideal kickoff.

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“In my opinion this would go the week before the Super Bowl, in between the conference championships and Super Bowl, there’s that dead week,” said Subpar co-host Colt Knost, on the latest Subpar episode. “This is the week, let’s get the PGA Tour started, get everybody excited and then we take a week off for the Super Bowl — because there is no reason to go against that — and then we get going.

“Their goal long-term is to own the summer,” he continued. “They want golf to be must-see TV throughout the summer, going up against baseball, obviously some basketball. That is their big goal. But I love that we are going to open big.”

Co-host Drew Stoltz, who is also a member of the Thunderbirds, the organization that runs the WM Phoenix Open, agreed.

“I mean, what’s bigger?” he said. “There are some great venues, some great golf courses out west, but if you are going to make a big splash to open the season what would make more sense than that? I don’t have any insider information, not saying it’s a done deal, but if this is the way you are going, we will start basically when football ends, we will call it, even if it’s the week before the Super Bowl, this is the biggest you got.”

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For more on the latest Subpar episode, where they break down Cam Young’s Players win and talk more about Rolapp’s six themes, you can listen here or watch on YouTube below.

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