Jacksonville Jaguars helmets sit along the sideline on Nov. 3, 2024, during a road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Jaguars entered the 2024 season attempting to solidify themselves as annual AFC contenders, leaning on a young core and offensive continuity to remain competitive within the conference playoff picture. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.
By now, former Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah has been all over the place, this time signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2026 campaign.
Abdullah has another NFL stop, and the Jaguars have another veteran in the mix.
Abdullah, a speedy and savvy veteran, will fight for a 53-man roster spot at training camp and in the preseason.
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Jacksonville Adds More Experience behind Bhayshul Tuten
Make that seven NFL teams in 11 years for the 32-year-old.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah carries the football on Oct. 18, 2020, during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Abdullah spent several seasons contributing as a reserve running back and special teams performer for Minnesota, bringing versatility and veteran reliability to the Vikings’ depth chart. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
JAX Signs Abdullah
Evidently needing another dependable RB body, Jacksonville took the plunge on Monday, and NBC Sports‘Myles Simmons wrote, “Jacksonville has added a veteran running back. The Jaguars announced on Monday that they’ve signed Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah, who turns 33 in June, spent last season with the Colts, mainly playing special teams.”
“However, he did have 60 yards rushing with one touchdown, along with 16 catches for 99 yards. Abdullah spent the previous three seasons with the Raiders, tallying 311 rushing yards with two TDs plus 40 catches for 261 yards with three touchdowns in 2024.”
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Once upon a time, Abdullah was a 2nd-Round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2015. He’s known for his game speed.
Career Production and Stop in MIN
Abdullah played in 45 games over four seasons with the Vikings, establishing himself as a versatile contributor on both offense and special teams. As a rotational back, he recorded 38 carries for 187 yards and 27 catches for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Former Vikings skipper Mike Zimmer primarily used Abdullah for kick returns and special teams, a role in which his speed and reliability were crucial to securing his roster spot for multiple seasons.
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All told, Abdullah has played 11 seasons in the big leagues, with 154 games, 2,054 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 1,567 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns. He returned a punt return touchdown, too, with the Panthers in 2021.
This is his full resume:
Detroit Lions (2015–2018)
Minnesota Vikings (2018–2021)
Carolina Panthers (2021)
Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2024)
San Francisco 49ers (2025)
Indianapolis Colts (2025)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2026-now)
The Jaguars’ RBs
The Jaguars don’t employ the league’s most elite running back corps, but the unit has potential, especially if Tuten pops off into stardom.
Here’s a look at the Jaguars’ lay of the land at RB:
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Bhayshul Tuten
LeQuint Allen
Chris Rodriguez
DeeJay Dallas
Ameer Abdullah
Ja’Quinden Jackson
J’Mari Taylor
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah scores a touchdown on Jan. 3, 2021, during a road matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. Abdullah provided rotational offense and receiving depth for Minnesota while also handling return duties and core special teams responsibilities throughout his Vikings tenure. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports.
Following the Abdullah addition, BlackandTeal.com‘sCarlos Sanchez insisted that the club needs pass-rushing help: “After trading for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro one week before the NFL Draft, the pass rush appeared to be the biggest priority for the Jaguars. However, they didn’t address it until they took Wesley Williams and later Zach Durfee in Rounds 4 and 7, respectively. Both Williams and Durfee could turn out to be solid contributors.”
“Heck, the latter got the Project X moniker because he flew under the radar during the draft process. Having said that, it may be a while before either one hits his stride. This is where it might have come in handy for Jacksonville to bring in a veteran pass rusher to round out their rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.”
The Jaguars’ defense ranked sixth in the NFL last season per DVOA.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah celebrates after a play on Nov. 3, 2019, during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Abdullah carved out a long NFL career through versatility, serving as a depth running back, return specialist, and trusted special teams contributor during his years with Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports.
Sanchez continued, “On the other hand, sophomores Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II flashed potential last year, but neither has shown enough to make you think that they could be the No. 3 pass rusher Jacksonville was missing in 2025. The good news is that it may not be too late for the Jaguars to add a proven veteran to round out their pass rush. Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney remain unsigned after the draft.”
“The former tallied 10.5 sacks with the New Orleans Saints last year, while the latter had eight for the Dallas Cowboys. Both of them remain productive, so either one could immediately step into the No. 3 role alongside Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.’
New Arrivals in JAX
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Finally, a glance at all of Jacksonville’s newcomers. These men arrived in free agency:
Ameer Abdullah, RB (IND to JAX)
Chris Rodriguez, RB (WAS to JAX)
And via the draft:
Round 2: Nate Boerkircher (TE | Texas A&M)
Round 3: Albert Regis (DT | Texas A&M)
Round 3: Emmanuel Pregnon (G | Oregon)
Round 3: Jalen Huskey (S | Maryland)
Round 4: Wesley Williams (DE | Duke)
Round 5: Tanner Koziol (TE | Houston)
Round 6: Josh Cameron (WR | Baylor)
Round 6: CJ Williams (WR | Stanford)
Round 7: Zach Durfee (DE | Washington)
Round 7: Parker Hughes (LB | Middle Tenn. St.)
Abdullah will turn 33 this summer.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
May 12, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile (4) hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Washington outfielder Daylen Lile looks to continue his successful homecoming when the Nationals continue their series against the host Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
Lile, who grew up in nearby Louisville, Ky., made his Great American Ballpark debut on a Tuesday night to remember. With a contingent of about 70 friends and family on hand, Lile hit a three-run homer, a two-run shot and a single in Washington’s 10-4 win.
“It means so much,” Lile said postgame. “I just feel so loved and cared (for) from my hometown and the people that along the way have watched me grow into the person I am. It’s just awesome.”
Luis Garcia Jr. hit two solo home runs, and James Wood and Brady House also homered for the Nationals, who have won four of six. It was the 12th six-homer game in Nationals history (2005-present).
Washington right-hander Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.22 ERA) opposes Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo (0-1, 6.75) on Wednesday in the middle game of the series.
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On May 7 against the Twins, Irvin allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings of a no-decision in his second sub-par outing in a row.
Irvin is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in five career starts against the Reds.
In Lodolo’s first start of the season after dealing with a blister issue, he gave up four runs on five hits (two of them home runs) and a walk over 5 1/3 innings in a 10-0 loss to the Houston Astros on May 8, striking out two.
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“Obviously, the two home run pitches you’d like to have back,” Lodolo said. “But overall, I thought I threw the ball better than what I feel like I probably did, just because those two definitely stand out. Two two-run homers is going to definitely put you in a tough spot. So overall, though, just move on in the next one.”
Lodolo is 1-0 with a 4.23 ERA in four starts versus Washington.
He will try to tame a Washington lineup that pounded out 13 hits on Tuesday.
Lile is now 9 for his last 25 with three doubles and two homers. Garcia, who recently missed time with a minor right wrist sprain, is 8-for-15 with two homers, a double and a triple since his return.
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“It’s pretty awesome,” Lile said of Washington’s Tuesday offensive explosion. “Just to see everybody capitalize and pass it down the line. Our pitchers do what they need to and our defense backing them up, just team baseball. It was great.”
Sal Stewart had three hits, and JJ Bleday had two hits and two RBIs for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz also had two hits to extend his hitting streak to five games. During that span, he is 10-for-22 (.455).
The Reds appeared to catch some luck when starting pitcher Brady Singer was hit on the right foot by a scalding grounder off the bat of Lile in the second inning Tuesday. He stayed in the game but left in the fourth.
“He was hurting, and he’ll never say a word, but I know he was feeling it,” manager Terry Francona said. “That was the (right) foot he drives off of. You can see his velocity dip a little bit right after that happened. … We’ll keep an eye on him.”
Rory McIlroy defied underwhelming pre-Masters form to clinch back-to-back green jackets at Augusta and his bid to climb up the list of all-time major winners continues. The Northern Irishman’s sixth major triumph drew him level with Nick Faldo and adding a third US PGA Championship crown would make him the most successful European of the modern era, drawing level with the great Arnold Palmer, among others, on seven majors. World number one Scottie Scheffler is out to defend his title.
Where is this year’s championship?
The 108th edition of the PGA Championship takes place at Aronimink Golf Club in south west Philadelphia. It will be the second time the course has hosted the event, the first in 1962 when Gary Player clinched the third of his nine majors. Justin Rose won the AT&T National at the course in 2010 and Keegan Bradley the BMW Championship in 2018.
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What is the course like?
Aronimink is characterised by its long par-threes and the way it forces players to pull off tough approach shots and think their way around the course. A number of players in the build-up have picked out the greens as Aronimink’s “greatest defence”. McIlroy said: “The greens seem to be the big talking point of the golf course. They can really tuck the pins away with some of these slopes.”
Three of the four par-threes are over 200 yards. Testing rough will catch out errant tee shots, while the vast, undulating greens will make approach play and putting key elements of the championship.
What are the key holes?
Hole one: A daunting opener, the 434-yard par four plunges down into a valley before rising to a green surrounded by bunkers.
Hole eight: The longest of the par-threes, standing at around a challenging 242 yards, downhill, for the 2026 championship. Club selection will be key and this is a hole which will test accuracy.
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Hole nine: Aronimink makes you wait for its first par-five and it is a whopper at over 600 yards. The longer hitters will be licking their lips as they take aim with a second shot to a generous green. Eagle and birdie opportunity.
Hole 10: The turn for home begins with a serious challenge. The tee shot will need to flirt with the fairway bunkers before attacking a sloping green guarded by thick rough and water.
Hole 17: Could be where the trophy is won and lost. A long, downhill, par-three set up to create drama with a pond front and left of the green and a tricky surface which makes two-putting far from certain.
The standout tee times
11.45am – Alex Fitzpatrick, Branden Shattuck, Ben Griffin (hole one) (all times BST).1.18pm – Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Rickie Fowler (hole 10).1.29pm – Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Tyrell Hatton (hole 10)1.40pm – Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth (hole 10).6.43pm – Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Chris Gotterup (hole one).7.05pm – Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose (hole one).
For the first time in the history of IPL, a bowling pair bowled in the entire powerplay – five games in a row during the GT vs SRH fixture at Ahmedabad on Tuesday. This shows how deadly, and lethal Mohammad Siraj and Kagiso Rabada have been in IPL 2026 dominated by the top-order batters. The pair have evolved into the league’s most prolific new-ball bowling pair, with GT claiming 25 wickets during the powerplay. They have struck every 17.2 balls in the first 6 overs; Rabada’s 16 wickets in this phase are the joint second-most by a bowler in an IPL season.
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IPL 2026: Sai Kishore on GT’s winning formula under Ashish Nehra, Shubman Gill
In a wicket tailor-made for the tall fast bowlers in Ahmedabad, Rabada and Siraj consistently hit the hard lengths and ripped through the SRH batting lineup. At the end of the powerplay, their score was 34 for 4 with Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan back in the dugout early. GT bowlers have bowled on good and back-of-length areas 84.3% of the time in the powerplay, which is the league’s highest among all the teams. And against the destructive SRH top-order, the same skillset reaped the rewards. Siraj opened the first over with one swinging away, then another from the good-length, and on the 4th ball, he swung one into the pads of Head, who could only manage a top-edge into the hands of Nishant Sindhu at deep backward point. A wicket maiden from Siraj set the tone, and also the template for Kagiso Rabada to test Abhishek Sharma from the same length in the second over. Rabada pitched the first delivery up front, and Sharma lofted him for a six over long-off. But in the second, the South African returned to his usual length, and off the 4th delivery, Abhishek was cramped for room off a back of length delivery despite moving from the stumps and dragged the ball into the wicket. Rabada then went on to pluck out Ishan Kishan in his next over from yet another hard-length delivery that, after pitching, moved away from the SRH’s wicketkeeper-batter, who could only manage to chase it and edge to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. At the end of the powerplay overs, SRH were reeling with 4 wickets down in the chase of 169 courtesy Siraj and Rabada’s stellar spell up front. GT’s success this season has been completely driven by their bowling attack. In eight wins, their bowlers have claimed the Player-of-the-match award seven times. The common thread is simple: bowlers capable of relentlessly hitting the much talked about ‘test-match length’, essentially hitting the good and back of length areas – which is extremely tough to do in a T20 environment. Rabada and Siraj, with their skills and high pace, persisted with their plans and proved good ol’ Test match bowling in T20s can get you wickets. In the seven matches that GT has won, the pair has taken 21 wickets at an average of 14.85.GT has been one of the few sides, who built their identity around the bowlers even after the impact player rule. With the bowlers driving Gujarat Titans’ surge in the second half of the season, it has not only taken them to the top spot in the IPL 2026 Points Table, but has put them firmly on course for a top-two finish as well.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the against the Oklahoma City Thunder Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder sent the Los Angeles Lakers home in brutal manner, completing a 4-0 playoff sweep with a 115-110 win in Game 4.
For all the hype around the Lakers entering the postseason, the series turned into complete control from Oklahoma City. The Thunder won every game, exposed the Lakers defensively, and looked more organised from start to finish.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way with 35 points, while Chet Holmgren delivered the dagger late in the fourth quarter with a huge go-ahead dunk.
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Even when the Lakers made one final push, OKC held still.
LeBron James finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, but missed an important shot late in the game that could have changed everything.
The sweep is now the fourth playoff sweep of LeBron’s career:
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2007 vs Spurs
2018 vs Warriors
2023 vs Nuggets
2026 vs Thunder
And this one may have looked the worst.
Meanwhile, the Thunder looked like they are ready to run the NBA for years.
Eight games against the Lakers this season. Eight wins for Oklahoma City.
The 2026 PGA Championship is being played this week at Aronimink, and if you want to stream the action online, you’re going to be happy with the streaming options. Here’s all the information you need to watch the PGA Championship streaming live online.
How to stream the PGA Championship online
Who will win this week’s PGA Championship? The best golfers in the world are playing well heading into Aronimink, including Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Whatever happens this week, you can watch the entire tournament streaming online.
ESPN+ and Paramount+ will provide golf fans with extensive online coverage of the 2026 PGA Championship all week long. Fans can stream live featured group coverage and featured hole coverage for each round on ESPN+.
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Get ESPN+
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
In addition, ESPN+ will offer exclusive early coverage throughout the tournament before the TV coverage begins.
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Live simulcasts of CBS’s TV broadcasts will be provided online by Paramount+.
Check out the complete PGA Championship streaming schedule below.
Long home winning streaks, extending over more than one season, signal a significant and intimidating home-field advantage.
Thirteen programs in the West have compiled home winning streaks of 20 games or more, ranking them in the all-time Top 100 in college football history.
Of those 13 schools, six have logged more than one such streak, with California and Oregon leading the way with three each.
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Washington owns the region’s most recent streak (from 2022 to 2025) as well as its longest (45 games).
The streaks in the table below date back as far as 1893 and include the length of the streak, the dates it begun and ended, and its national rank.
Longest College Football Home Winning Streaks in the West
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to strengthen their hold on a top-two finish when they face a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders side in IPL 2026. RCB climbed to the top of the table after a thrilling last-ball win over Mumbai Indians in Raipur, but they now face a KKR team that has rediscovered form at a crucial stage of the season.
KKR’s turnaround has been remarkable after managing just one point from their opening six matches. The side has bounced back with four consecutive wins to revive their playoff hopes, drawing comparisons to RCB’s memorable comeback in IPL 2024 when Bengaluru recovered from seven losses in eight games to qualify for the playoffs.
While RCB have been among the most consistent teams this season, there are signs of concern in their batting lineup. With Phil Salt sidelined due to injury, Jacob Bethell has struggled to make an impact in recent matches. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s back-to-back ducks have exposed the middle order earlier than expected. Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd have also found runs hard to come by, leaving RCB searching for greater stability at the top and through the middle overs.
For KKR, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been central to their resurgence, taking eight wickets in his last four games. However, his availability for the upcoming clash remains uncertain after suffering an apparent injury during recent matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals.
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KKR’s batting unit, though, has found much-needed rhythm, with the top order contributing consistently. Finn Allen starred in their previous outing with an unbeaten 47-ball century, further boosting the team’s confidence heading into this crucial encounter.
The pitch at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur is expected to be a balanced, black-soil surface that offers a stern test for batters. Unlike the ultra-high-scoring flat tracks seen across other venues this season, Raipur provides noticeable assistance to disciplined bowlers.
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RCB vs KKR IPL Match: Raipur Weather Update
Clear and dry conditions are forecast for tonight’s match. Despite recent unseasonal rain disrupting practice sessions earlier in the week, weather systems have fully cleared. A full 40-over game is guaranteed with 0% chance of rain during match hours. As temperatures cool down to 27°C under clear night skies, moderate dew is expected to develop during the second innings.
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131059062
RCB vs KKR: Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer/Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
The RCB vs KKR clash will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
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IPL Toss Today Timing
The toss for today’s IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at 7:00 PM IST, while the match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Oct 14, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Brandon Zylstra (15), running back CJ Ham (30), wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Moore (56) and linebacker Dennis Gardeck (92) pose for a photo following the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that superstar running back Adrian Peterson would be the next inductee into their Ring of Honor. Of course, the future Hall of Famer is a worthy candidate, and his celebration will be met with raucous applause.
Who gets the next nod has been a topic of debate since Peterson’s name was announced. Harrison Smith will get there one day, but it’s still entirely plausible that he plays for Minnesota again this season. There is also a typical waiting period post-retirement, but that shouldn’t stop either C.J. Ham or Adam Thielen from eventually getting their due.
Thielen and Ham Built Deep Minnesota Football Roots
Both Ham and Thielen played for the Vikings last season, and both opted to hang up their cleats this offseason. It can be argued what level of production they provided over the course of their careers, but there is no denying that both should be enshrined amongst Minnesota royalty.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer and wide receiver Adam Thielen walk together following the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The postgame moment showed the two discussing plays as the stadium atmosphere settled after the AFC-NFC contest, reflecting the interaction between quarterback and veteran receiver as they exited the field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Ham, a Duluth native, spent nine seasons with the Vikings. He played the unsexiest position, fullback, and was twice named to the Pro Bowl. He scored in his final career game and logged 141 games with Minnesota, remaining incredibly durable.
Minnesota utilized Ham as a blocker for Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones. He was a captain and a fixture in the locker room. The fact that he went from an undrafted afterthought to a roster linchpin only cements his legacy in purple.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Like Ham, Thielen was an undrafted talent who forced his way onto the roster. Like Ham, he earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections and finished with over 8,400 receiving yards. The Vikings brought him back as depth to start last season, and then let him go ring chase with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Detroit Lakes native and Minnesota State Mankato product, Thielen’s story was one of great perseverance. He became a star in his own right next to Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson. He helped to keep the Vikings offense humming despite consistent quarterback turnover.
Neither Ham nor Thielen will ever sniff a call from Canton, and they shouldn’t. Being inducted among the best to ever play for the Vikings is a must, though, and while their connected ties help the case, it’s only a footnote among the reasons why they should eventually be there.
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Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — If one were to rank the seven days of a major championship week, the competition days on the weekend obviously come first. That’s when the golf matters. But when it comes to the non-competition days — Tuesday is filled by press conferences and Wednesday is the last hurdle to golf that matters — Monday is a surprising favorite. It is marked by the arrivals, newness and anticipatory energy. All of which makes a Monday evening walk around the property some of the most delightful time of the week, particularly if Mother Nature plays along.
This week, we got our first look at Aronimink during a sunny back-nine stroll with Dustin Johnson and Thomas Detry. Below are some early observations from that trek, and the 24 hours that followed.
1. The main reason this will be a proper championship
If you want a compelling championship golf test, everything starts with the greens.
Andy Johnson of the Fried Egg told me that once, and it has crystallized pro golf tournaments ever since. It’s not the tee shots, the width of fairways, the thickness of the rough or even the firmness of the fairways and how they send balls into bunkers. All those things are just window dressing to the core of what matters: the greens. If the putting surfaces are firm and challenging, they determine so much about every other decision between players and their caddies. Bunker shots, fairway shots, approaches from the rough, from behind a tree, from a tee box, etc. Good greens impact everything, and every Aronimink conversation seems to come back to its greens.
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Donald Ross designed this golf course long before Gil Hanse and Co. recently renovated it, but he seemed to understand the importance of green complexes as the central challenge of a golf hole. At Pinehurst No. 2, his most famous design, the greens are turtle-backed in shape, where players fear falling off the edge. At Aronimink, there’s some of that, but more of an understanding of complexes as full structures — the way a company’s headquarters is also a complex, all connected but with different subsections.
Take the 14th, for example, a long par 3 with a back-right hole location that is difficult to access. Players will be thrilled to reach the center of this green off the tee. But from that center-green spot, Detry raced one putt past the hole and off the green. Clearly flummoxed, he dropped another ball and hit a softer putt. It also rolled off the green.
There’s an equally difficult-to-access part of the 11th green, too, on its left side. From the center of the green, Johnson and Detry angled themselves away from the hypothetical flag, right up to the curtain of the green. Anything less than that was rolling off the green, too. There is just a lot of clear thought required to find the right spots of greens on different days, and while we won’t see pins like the above early in the championship, they’re out there and at the PGA of America’s disposal, likely over the weekend after they’ve trimmed the field.
2. The best view (isn’t) in the house
A dark, temporary fence has been erected around the property, closing off the golf course to Aronimink’s (presumably wealthy) neighbors who normally get to watch the course from their backyard. One such neighbor — who lives along the short, par-4 13th — is ahead of the game, building a platform of their own above the fence, just tall enough to see most of the entire property. It will offer the best, widest view of the PGA Championship, and I’m not sure it’s close.
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From the platform, where a trio of high schoolers hung out Monday evening, you can see the entirety of the drivable 13th and a view from above the 14th tee. You can peer through the trees and see players make putts on the 11th, 12th and 15th greens, and with a pair of binoculars, you can watch the same on the 8th and 10th greens. This private view will cost its viewers nothing, of course … besides the millions invested into acquiring the property in the first place.
This view with a pair of binoculars will be better than any other spot at Aronimink.
Sean Zak
3. Aronimink’s variety
On paper, Aronimink could appear a bit cookie-cutter. Its first four holes are all par 4s between 413 and 457 yards. But as the photos above can hopefully suggest, working your way through those holes means sliding along the edge (and eventually dropping into) a central valley. And with a routing that is as scattered as can be — it goes out, back, out some more, across, across some more, backward, then inward — the natural contours of that valley mean successive approach shots from the same distance are nothing alike.
It may seem oversimplified, but Aronimink creates differences in successive holes to the extent that players will never be on autopilot. They may hit driver just about everywhere, as Rory McIlroy suggested Tuesday morning, but if the greens are as difficult as they portend to be, solving the problem from where those drivers end up will be a helluva battle in itself.
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4. Bryson’s ratings?
Among the topics that “Live From the PGA Championship” delved into enthusiastically Monday evening was the hypothetical boost Bryson DeChambeau would offer the PGA Tour in a world where he returned. One of the panelists suggested that since he didn’t bring significant ratings juice to LIV Golf, most of what he can offer is via YouTube views.
We’ll never know for sure until he makes that hypothetical a reality, but you can really see his power in person, and I was reminded of it Monday evening. Frankly, the “Live From” panelists could have seen it themselves — Paul McGinley and Brandel Chamblee sat in their Golf Channel tower while DeChambeau played the 17th and 18th holes right beneath them.
DeChambeau enjoys a Monday afternoon walk around majors, and he was out playing the back nine, flying his driver 30 yards past Scioto club pro Jared Jones. There couldn’t have been many more than 1,000 spectators still on property, and half of them had to be following DeChambeau. Maybe that’s not surprising, but it’s through this horde that you can see his value personified. None of the shots matter, there’s no one else of substance in the group, it’s Monday evening at suppertime and the fans on site want to see him. I don’t care if that hasn’t worked out in LIV’s favor or on FOX — it would work out on the PGA Tour in a demonstrable way. Major weeks — like the 2024 U.S. Open, or even the 2024 PGA Championship — have proven that.
5. Brace for the pace
I find it extremely pleasing when spectators can stand in one spot and see a lot more than one shot, which is what makes properties like Aronimink delightful. You don’t need to build your own platform (like the one mentioned above); you just have to be choosy about where you stand.
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The only issue is that, at these century-old courses, the modern pro game has started to force courses to eat themselves, needing to lengthen holes but having no land to move back on. Look no further than the 10th tee, which has been backed up so much that it has to use the furthest extent of the 1st tee box. In the image below, the first hole moves forward, up and to the right, while the 10th hole crosses the photo (and the 1st tee) directly to the right.
The 1st and 10th tees at the PGA Championship could cause a bit of chaos.
Sean Zak
This will almost surely cause pace-of-play issues on Thursday and Friday, particularly with some rain in the forecast. But it’s not entirely new. At the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the rigid borders of the property meant that any lengthening would require tee boxes situated just off greens and criss-crossing holes as well. The 18th green at Aronimink is just a few steps off the 17th green, a par-3, which means approach shots and putts from the 17th will impact when players feel comfortable teeing off on the 18th, adding seconds and minutes to the pace of rounds. Getting through that 17 into 18 pace-of-play trap, for players who start on the 10th, will only push them toward that awkward 1st tee for their second nine. In other words, I’ll be shocked if Thursday and Friday don’t feel very slow at some point.
6. Talkative Rory
My, what a year can bring. Twelve months ago, Rory McIlroy was fresh off a Masters win and uninterested in chatting about much at all with the golf media. It was truly puzzling, it lasted longer than a month and I’m not sure we ever really earned an explanation for it. But today? McIlroy sat for a 19-minute press conference, meandered out for a sit-down with ESPN, then some time with other TV rights holders, some formal chats with Irish media, then some informal chats with Irish media, then some friendly chats about who knows what with even more media types, just outside the press conference tent.
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In total, McIlroy spent 90 minutes chatting with media members, producers and communications staffers before moving on with his Tuesday, and at one point was so jovial that his laughter was distracting from the Jon Rahm press conference that followed him. This is a small, esoteric and navel-gazing kind of information, but goodness, it’s a much different mood he is bringing to this championship than he did a year ago.
7. The Daniel Summerhays Rule
It was 10 years ago that, on the Wednesday afternoon before the PGA Championship, I watched Daniel Summerhays hit hook after hook on the Baltusrol driving range. It was about as late as it gets in the run-up to that week’s major, and it was so clear that Summerhays, then the 89th-ranked player in the world, was searching. If anyone was a surefire bet to miss the cut — I thought to myself — it was him.
Of course, Summerhays shot 70-67-67-66 to finish solo third that week, the best performance of his life and the best reminder to me that 1.) These guys are good, and 2.) What you see is not always what you get. And with that, I’d like to talk briefly about Dustin Johnson.
Johnson is by no means a betting favorite this week, but he is a two-time major-winner. He’s playing on a special invite and is, according to DataGolf, the 117th-ranked performer in the world. He’s past his prime, but he’s still a popular name and will no doubt fill the daily fantasy lineups for plenty of DraftKings sickos …
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… but he could not hit his driver on Monday. Johnson hit numerous tee shots on each hole, repeatedly blocking his drives out to the right. He even swapped out his TaylorMade driver for a different offering at times, tinkering with the club that was his greatest asset at the peak of his powers. Over and over again, the same blocky miss returned. When a shadow disturbed him, that same miss even showed up with his 3-wood.
All of which has me wondering … will Johnson do as he did Monday, which was the kind of golf that would have equated to something worse than 75? Or will the Daniel Summerhays Rule apply and serve as another reminder that practice is just practice, and observers know so little about what is really going on for these guys.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s actually only been three weeks since San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper became the youngest player in history to score 25 points off the bench in a playoff game. He did it in Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers in what was a monumental moment for these Spurs, who were tied 1-1 against the No. 7 seed and down 15 points in the third quarter.
You probably remember the game, or at least the baseline dunk Harper threw down over Robert Williams — Harper’s first of what is sure to be a long list of signature postseason moments. Portland’s Scoot Henderson, having a signature game himself, got caught up in the duel and decided it was a good idea to talk trash to Harper. It wasn’t.
Harper proceeded to score 22 of his 25 points in the second half. He hit four of five 3s and five of his seven shots as the Spurs rallied for the victory.
“I got to shout out Dylan [Harper] though,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell said after that win. “… To come in with that type of confidence, he doesn’t start. He never complains. Scoot Henderson starts talking to him and the next thing you know, it’s like he woke up a monster.”
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Those who have watched Harper all season have known that monster was bound to come out. You saw it all year. The poise. The physicality. The elite creation and transition force. The shooting coming around rapidly. Only on a team as stacked as the Spurs would he not be the starting point guard right now.
Harper only had 12 points on Tuesday, but man, was he impressive in his 25 minutes as a plus-13. The skills are one thing, but it’s Harper’s solidness, for lack of a better word, that makes it almost impossible to believe he’s a rookie. He’s poised. He’s physical. He meets you in the air as a finisher, and it’s not him who ends up going backward. If you woke up from a coma and someone told you this dude wearing No. 2 for the Spurs was a 10-year vet, you’d believe it.
Again, the bag is one thing. But this here is a man’s work.
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That is Julius Randle, a tank of a 31-year-old man, that 20-year-old Harper went right through for that put-back. Harper’s size is a big reason why he’s destined for superstardom. Think Jalen Brunson’s craft but 6-foot-6 and a give-a-damn defender.
But right now, Harper isn’t afforded the usage rate of a Brunson. Right now, he has to be a jack of all trades, and it’s his ability to contribute all over the box score and thrive off the ball that is making him such an asset in these playoffs.
Yes, Harper is going to be San Antonio’s starting point guard very soon and for a very long time, but right now he needs to coexist with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, both of whom require the ball more to make their maximum impact, in a more secondary, albeit rapidly growing role.
These three-guard lineups only work if one of them can do a bunch of ancillary stuff, and Harper is suited for the job with his ability to offensive rebound, push and finish in transition (where he’s already operating like an All-Star) and attack the paint against scattered defenses consumed by Victor Wembanyama’s multi-layered gravity and all the other threats the Spurs have on the floor.
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You need him to score? Cool. He has the most points of any bench player in these playoffs (136). You need him to rebound? No problem. He had five offensive boards on Tuesday and is the first rookie guard in history to record multiple 10-point, 10-rebound playoff games. You need him to defend? Check him out as he fights over this screen and still gets back in front of Anthony Edwards to choke off the possession.
We’re going to look back on this time in Harper’s career and compare it to James Harden on the Thunder — a no-doubt future superstar cutting his baby teeth on a contender not yet in need of his full services. That said, it is clear that Harper is already a main guy, even as a fraction of what he is going to become.
He’s probably already better than Fox, all things considered, but it still makes sense for Fox to start. Let Harper be the Spurs’ new Manu Ginobili for the time being, the laughably overqualified bench player who is fine with his role because he’s on a championship-level team and is going to play all the important minutes. What a luxury to have this kind of player, at this stage of his career, on this kind of contract, as you stare down this heavyweight bout against the Thunder.
Yeah, yeah, I realize I’m looking past the Timberwolves, and let’s be clear: This series isn’t over yet. Edwards is going to have a lot to say in Game 6 back in Minnesota, and I would not be surprised if it comes back to San Antonio for Game 7.
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But assuming this ends up with the Spurs playing the Thunder in what many would call a de facto Finals, the one team that can come close to matching Oklahoma City’s depth is San Antonio, in large part because of Harper. He’s the Spurs’ version of Ajay Mitchell, OKC’s budding star who is temporarily, and circumstantially, assigned to the support staff. With Jalen Williams out over OKC’s last six games, Mitchell has been starting and starring. Harper would do the same if a Spurs starting guard went down.
But until then, he’s playing 25 minutes a game in these playoffs and the Spurs have won those minutes by 73 points. That is not an accident. Dylan Harper has turned into a monster, and he and the Spurs are only getting scarier as this postseason rolls on.
;)
;)
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