Sports
Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool closing in on agreement with world-class star
Liverpool are now closing in on an agreement to secure the services of a world-class star.
An era is drawing to a close at Anfield.
The expected departure of Mo Salah this summer alongside Andy Robertson very much feels like the final chapter of one of the greatest periods in the club’s history.
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Salah has been the face of Liverpool’s modern golden years. Robertson was the charming backbone of the dressing room.
Together they formed the symbol of what Liverpool represented. These were players who were never supposed to be superstars. Players with humble backgrounds who were able to conquer the world and achieve success beyond their wildest imaginations.
Their departure will leave merely just a few players left from the team that won the Champions League in 2019.
It follows a major exodus last summer, when several key players moved on including the likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and others. That was the beginning of the process of transition.
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And it’s set to continue this summer.
Sadly, football moves quickly, and even the most successful cycles must come to an end. Liverpool cannot mourn the end of an era, they have to start a new one.
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes will be looking to rebuild the team and create a new team at the club but that will also require some continuity.
While some players will inevitably move on, it’s just as important that Liverpool hold on to the right ones.
Keeping players in their prime who bring stability and continuity has never mattered more. That’s why tying down Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is due to expire this summer, should be right at the top of the club’s priority list.
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Konate isn’t just a promising talent anymore, he’s a proven, established figure both at Liverpool and on the European stage.
The Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the top centre-backs in the game right now. He’s a key part of the France setup and very much in the picture as they push to win another World Cup. There’s no doubt about it, he’s a world-class player now.
After several years at Liverpool, he knows exactly what’s required, the pressure, the expectations, and the intensity needed to compete at the highest level. With experienced players starting to leave, that kind of understanding becomes even more valuable.
On this week’s Fully Equipped podcast with Johnny Wunder, we talked about Tommy Fleetwood’s 9-wood in the bag for the Masters. Fleetwood has said the addition of the 9-wood is to make sure the ball is getting high enough and landing steep enough to battle the increasingly tough greens at Augusta. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should run out to buy a 9-wood. I’ve already gotten roasted in our YouTube comments, but I stand by my explanation of where I feel the club category falls.
My argument is that the 9-wood is great for either the player who has tons of control, or the player who needs all the help they can get to launch the ball. It’s the group in the middle that may have a hard time finding ultimate success with a 9-wood. I fall into this bucket. I am also a big fan of hybrids, so I don’t really ever have moments where I wish I had a 9-wood or a 7-wood in the bag. So let’s talk about the two sides of the game for a second.
First, we’ve got the tour-level guys who are putting high-lofted fairways in the bag. Fleetwood’s got one, Scottie Scheffler has messed around with it, and Dustin Johnson is the original high-speed 9-wood player. The reason they choose to put a 9-wood in the bag has been to make sure that they are getting enough height on the club at the distance they need with their stock shot. And that’s an important designation. The stock shot. By starting with a club that’s going to launch higher than any other alternative, these pros and their elite ball-striking can figure out how to bring flight down or add spin when they need to. These 9-wood builds going in their bag have a bit of versatility, but they are really meant to do a specific job. And that job is to get high up in the air with little effort and enough spin to fall softly onto firm greens just like this week at Augusta.
;)
Chris Condon
The reason tour pros and other high-skill golfers can get away with this, though, is because it’s situational and they treat it as such. It’s a tool in the bag to do a job. When a situation comes up for that distance, but the tool can’t fulfill the outcome with a stock shot, they are able to manipulate that offering to do what they need it to do. The best example, of course, would be into the wind. For an amateur, any amount of wind in the face would normally take the fairway wood out of the hands. It’s simply too high and produced with too much spin for the ball to fly properly. It is quite fun to watch a high-lofted fairway get hit into the wind because it’s almost an exaggerated penalty, but again, not useful. And this is where the middle ground of players begin to falter. Fleetwood has no problem controlling the flight and spin of his 9-wood. He may find a situation where he chooses to go with another option for the shot he needs to create, but it’s not out of the question for him to flight the 9-wood to a more reasonable peak height window if he’s battling some mild elements. For the average 10 handicap though? Likely not an option. They’re better off with a large, driving-iron style club in that area of the bag, or my choice: a hybrid.
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Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns world No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final | Badminton News
India’s Ayush Shetty produced a remarkable performance to book his place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday, overcoming top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a gripping three-game contest. The victory ensures Ayush will return with at least a silver medal. Ranked world No. 25, Ayush relied on a combination of sharp attacking play and solid defence to overturn a slow start and claim a 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win over the Paris Olympics silver medallist and 2023 world champion. In doing so, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the tournament. Khanna remains the only Indian to have secured gold in the event, achieving the feat in 1965, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the doubles title in 2023. The US Open Super 300 champion will next face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yu Qi in the final. Ayush had progressed through the tournament without dropping a game but had previously lost to Vitidsarn in straight games at the Arctic Open last year. The semifinal began with the Thai dictating proceedings, using pace and precision to move into an early lead and dominate the opening game comfortably. After the interval, however, Ayush raised his level significantly. He began the second game with intent, building an early advantage as Vitidsarn’s unforced errors increased. Displaying excellent court coverage and quick counter-attacks, Ayush maintained control despite a brief dip that allowed his opponent to close the gap. He eventually forced a decider with a composed finish under pressure. In the final game, Ayush carried that momentum forward. He tightened his defence, retrieved difficult shots, and consistently applied pressure with aggressive strokes. Reading his opponent better, he maintained a steady lead before taking full command in the closing stages. Despite a late fightback from Vitidsarn, Ayush remained calm, creating multiple match opportunities and eventually sealing a memorable victory with a precise down-the-line smash to complete a stunning comeback.
Apr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder reacts on the sideline during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images CJ McCollum scored 25 of his game-high 29 points in the first half and Dyson Daniels collected 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists as the Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff spot with a 124-102 rout of the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Jalen Johnson had 18 points and nine rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 for the Hawks (46-35), who will finish either fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference. Southeast Division champion Atlanta missed the playoffs in the last two seasons.
Daniels posted his second career triple-double and McCollum drained 6-of-8 3-point attempts. The Hawks built a 92-59 lead in the third quarter, when Alexander-Walker and Johnson each had 11 points to deliver the knockout blow.
James Harden scored 20 points and dished out five assists, and Tyrese Proctor had 15 points in the final quarter for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers (51-30). Cleveland will have home-court advantage in the first round against either Atlanta or the Toronto Raptors.
Lakers 101, Suns 73
LeBron James scored 28 points and dished 12 assists to become the fourth player in NBA history to top 12,000 in a career, leading Los Angeles to a convincing victory over visiting Phoenix.
Luke Kennard added 19 points in the victory that assured Los Angeles will finish no lower than fourth place in the Western Conference and have homecourt advantage in a first-round playoff series. The Lakers remain one game behind the third-place Denver Nuggets with one game to play, and Los Angeles owns the tiebreaker edge.
Dillon Brooks scored 12 points and reserve Royce O’Neale added 11 for the Suns, who were without star Devin Booker (ankle). Phoenix scored just 25 second-half points in a contest that meant nothing after it previously locked up the No. 7 spot in the West and a home play-in game. Grayson Allen exited in the second quarter due to a left hamstring injury and didn’t return.
76ers 105, Pacers 94
Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, Andre Drummond posted a double-double off the bench, and Philadelphia assured itself of finishing no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference after beating Indiana in Indianapolis.
With Joel Embiid out due to appendicitis, Drummond produced 10 points and 16 rebounds. The 76ers ended a three-game skid and stayed alive in the chase for the East’s sixth and final automatic playoff berth.
Jarace Walker’s 17 points led the Pacers, who have lost four of the past five. Micah Potter finished 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Pistons 118, Hornets 100
Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and Detroit rode a strong stretch early in the fourth quarter to a win over host Charlotte.
Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons, who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference. The outcome means the Hornets will be in the East’s play-in tournament.
The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket. LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six 3-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench.
Bucks 125, Nets 108
AJ Green scored a career-high 35 points to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Brooklyn in Milwaukee’s final home game of the season.
Milwaukee snapped a two-game skid as Green also became just the third Buck ever to make 10 or more 3-pointers in a game (11-for-16). Cormac Ryan added 28 while Taurean Prince scored 18 with 10 rebounds. Jericho Sims posted a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Tyson Etienne led Brooklyn with 23 points. Malachi Smith nearly contributed a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Nets only played seven players and each contributed double figures. Reserve Nolan Traore scored 14 points in just over 16 minutes of action.
Nuggets 127, Thunder 107
Jonas Valanciunas amassed 23 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs, and Julian Strawther added 22 points as host Denver beat Oklahoma City in a matchup of benches.
Denver clinched at least the fourth seed in the Western Conference with its 11th straight win. The Nuggets can still capture the No. 3 seed with a win Sunday in San Antonio or a Los Angeles Lakers’ loss. Denver rested its entire starting five and Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson, both of whom have been sidelined with hamstring strains.
Oklahoma City has secured the top overall seed. The only starter dressed for either team was Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, who was required to play at least 20 minutes in each of the final two games to qualify for postseason awards, according to coach Mark Daigneault.
Jazz 147, Grizzlies 101
Rookie Blake Hinson scored a career-high 30 points and two Utah reserves logged triple-doubles, helping the Jazz snap a 10-game losing streak with a demolition of Memphis in Salt Lake City.
Rookie Bez Mbeng logged 27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals for his first triple-double. John Konchar registered a triple-double for a second straight game, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. Kennedy Chandler added 26 points and 10 assists to help the Jazz get in the win column for only the second time in 16 games.
Dariq Whitehead led Memphis with a career-best 21 points. Rookie Toby Okani had a career-high 20 points and Adama Bal added 18 for the Grizzlies, who used just six players while losing their seventh straight game.
Kings 124, Warriors 118
Devin Carter set career highs with six 3-pointers, 29 points and nine rebounds as Sacramento beat visiting Golden State.
Carter shot 11-for-18 from the floor and 6-for-11 from 3-point range for Sacramento, which avenged a 110-105 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday in San Francisco. Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points, Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden scored 20 apiece, and Malik Monk added 11.
Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with a career-high 30 points and De’Anthony Melton added 17. The Warriors lost for the sixth time in their past seven games, and they will compete in the play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West. Heat 140, Wizards 117
Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scored 24 points each as Miami snapped a two-game losing streak, crushing host Washington.
Bam Adebayo added 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, who are locked into a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Adebayo scored a franchise-record 83 points against Washington on March 10. Miami completed a 4-0 season sweep of Washington. The Heat, however, have just four wins over the past 14 games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points for the Heat, and Kasparas Jakucionis had 16.
Bub Carrington led Washington with 30 points, matching his season high. Bilal Coulibaly added 25 points and five assists and Will Riley scored 16 points for the Wizards, who have the NBA’s worst record as they fell for the 25th time in 26 games. Knicks 112, Raptors 95
Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the third quarter as New York clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory over visiting Toronto.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds while Mikal Bridges logged 13 points for New York, which has won seven straight home games and five games in a row overall. The Knicks have a 30-9 home mark this season.
Sandro Mamukelashvili produced 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Toronto, which fell into a tie with the Orlando Magic for the sixth and final automatic playoff spot in the East. The Raptors hold the tiebreaker edge. Brandon Ingram had 16 points and six assists for the Raptors. Ja’Kobe Walter went 4 of 7 from beyond the arc en route to 15 points. Trail Blazers 116, Clippers 97
Deni Avdija scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and helped fuel a crucial run as Portland powered past visiting Los Angeles.
The teams are now tied with 41-40 records and one game to go, but the Trail Blazers own the tiebreaker, which would leave them eighth in the Western Conference. Donovan Clingan added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Portland.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds. Brook Lopez knocked down five 3-pointers on the way to 21 points. Magic 127, Bulls 103
Franz Wagner scored 25 points and Jamal Cain added 20 as visiting Orlando stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory against Chicago.
Orlando remained alive for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference — which would allow the Magic to avoid the play-in tournament — with one game remaining in the regular season. Goga Bitadze posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Magic. Paolo Banchero scored 14 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists.
Chicago suffered its eighth loss in 10 games despite 23 points from Tre Jones. The Bulls have lost 50 games for the first time since 2018-19. Matas Buzelis had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. Spurs 139, Mavericks 120
Victor Wembanyama showed that he is playoff ready after an injury by amassing 40 points and 13 rebounds as host San Antonio pummeled Dallas.
Wembanyama, back after missing a game and a half with a left rib contusion, reached the 65-game requirement for league postseason awards. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won 14 of their past 15 games.
Cooper Flagg put up 33 points and Max Christie had 16 for the Mavericks, who have lost three in a row. Celtics 144, Pelicans 118
Boston tied an NBA record by making 29 3-point field goals and secured the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating visiting New Orleans.
Boston took 59 3-point shots but didn’t put up a shot on its final possession. The record for made 3-pointers in a game is also shared by the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2024 Celtics and the 2026 Memphis Grizzlies.
The Celtics received 24 points from Sam Hauser, who was 8 of 12 from 3-point territory. Jaylen Brown scored 23 and Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists. Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 36. Timberwolves 136, Rockets 132
Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 of his 18 points to spark a fourth-quarter rally, and Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in 23 points off the bench as short-handed Minnesota snapped host Houston’s eight-game winning streak.
Anthony Edwards scored 22 points in his return after missing 10 of the previous 12 games. The Timberwolves, playing without starters Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert and sixth man Naz Reid, shot 57.3% from the floor, including 15 of 30 from behind the arc.
Amen Thompson scored a career-high 41 points to pace the Rockets and added nine rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant posted 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Alperen Sengun totaled 22 points and eight assists. –Field Level Media
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SRH vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad meet undefeated Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh
Punjab Kings Squad: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey, Harpreet Brar, Ben Dwarshuis, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Vishal Nishad
The Atlanta Hawks secured a spot in the NBA play-offs and the Southeast Division title with a 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
The Hawks, who only needed to win one of their remaining two games to guarantee a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference, blew away the already qualified Cavaliers in the third quarter, scoring 35 points to extend their 61-48 half-time lead to 96-65.
Guard CJ McCollum scored a game-high 29 points for the Hawks, who clinched their first divisional crown since 2021 and avoided having to come through the play-in tournament, for teams finishing seventh to tenth in each conference, for the first time in five seasons.
Veteran LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to record 12,000 career assists as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers secure home-court advantage in the first round of the play-offs with a 101-73 win against the Phoenix Suns.
James made 12 assists in addition to 28 points and six rebounds as the Lakers recorded their 15th win in 19 games to guarantee a top-four finish in the Western Conference.
Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton is the NBA’s career assist leader, with 15,806, with Chris Paul (12,552) and Jason Kidd (12,091) also ahead of James (12,010).
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with an emphatic 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 18-time NBA champions scored a record-equalling 29 three-pointers, forward Sam Hauser leading the way with eight, as they wrapped up the Atlantic Division title.
That result means the New York Knicks, who beat the Celtics in their previous match, will have to settle for being third seeds despite beating the Toronto Raptors 112-95.
The Raptors slipped down to sixth place following the defeat, with an identical record (45-36) to seventh-placed Orlando Magic with one match to play in the regular season. The Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 127-103 to extend their winning streak to five matches.
Victor Wembanyama, returning from a one-game injury absence, starred for Western Conference second seeds San Antonio Spurs in their 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old Most Valuable Player contender made 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Denver Nuggets remain in the hunt for third place in the Western Conference after beating reigning champions and top seeds Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107.
Phillip Stokes hopes the Listed Adelaide race proves ideal for his durable galloper Arran Bay.
Saturday’s Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1529m) at Morphettville takes precedence over Caulfield’s Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m).
Carrying 61kg as topweight in Adelaide compared to 57.5kg at Caulfield, Stokes still prefers the home track option.
The approaching eight-year-old captured the Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on March 9 and was fourth on a yielding track at Flemington March 28.
Contributing to the Morphettville choice is Adelaide-born jockey Lachlan Neindorf, available locally on Saturday.
“We just feel the City Of Adelaide Handicap over the 1500 metres, it suits him better,” Stokes said.
“Lachie is going over also and couldn’t ride him at Caulfield, so it works out well.
“While I think the mile is OK and earlier in his career he won over further, I think the 1500 metres to the mile is his go now being a bit older.
“I feel going over there it will be a softer option for him to try and get another win.
“He tried hard at Flemington the other day and the drier ground suits him better that soft now being an older horse.”
Arran Bay kicked off in Adelaide, winning two of his first four, then moved to Melbourne, clinching the Flemington Silver Bowl Final during his three-year-old campaign.
Mainly Melbourne-based since, he returned for last Carnival, runner-up in April handicap and in the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) in May.
The Cummings Stakes occurs May 9 this year.
Arran Bay’s record stands at 43 starts, 10 triumphs, 13 placings, with prizemoney surpassing $1 million.
Visit top racing betting markets ahead of the City Of Adelaide Handicap.
The 2026 Masters heads for the weekend with a star-studded leaderboard battling for the green jacket at the 90th edition of golf’s most prestigious tournament. Reigning champion Rory McIlroy created separation from the field as he followed his first-round 67 with a second-round 65, taking a historic 12 lead for the tournament. Patrick Reed and Sam Burns are tied for second at 6 under, with nine other golfers at either 5 under or 4 under waiting to make a move if McIlroy falters over the weekend.
The 2026 Masters odds heading into the weekend list McIlroy as the -280 favorite (risk $280 to win $100). That leaves a big list of Masters longshots on the board with Tommy Fleetwood and Reed at +1800, Justin Rose at +2000 and Burns at +2200. Before locking in any 2026 Masters picks heading into the weekend, be sure to see the 2026 Masters predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen huge returns on betting sites.
Now that the first two rounds of the 2026 Masters are in the books, the model simulated the weekend 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.
Top 2026 Masters predictions
One surprise the model is calling for at the 2026 Masters: Burns, who enters Saturday tied for second, stumbles down the stretch and barely cracks the top 10. The 29-year-old American surged into an early tie for the lead following Round 1 after shooting a 67 on Thursday. He cooled off with a second-round 71 on Friday. That’s enough to keep him tied for second with Reed, but now, he sits six shots off the lead.
Instead of Burns making a weekend run, the model is projecting that he’ll largely fall out of contention. He has a poor historical track record at Augusta, missing two cuts in his four appearances and never finishing higher than T29. The model doesn’t like his +2200 odds to win outright, and also advises fading him in top-five bets. See who else to fade at SportsLine.
Another surprise: Scottie Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion who is T24 and at even par, surges over the weekend and makes it back into the top 10. It was a forgettable Friday as Scheffler shot a 74, his second-worst round ever at Augusta National.
His track record, however, can’t be ignored, as he’s won two of the past four Masters and has finished in the top 10 for four straight years. Scheffler provides some value as a +6000 longshot to come back and stun with an outright victory, but he’s also a strong play at +100 to finish in the top 10. See who else to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2026 Masters picks
The model is targeting a massive triple-digit longshot who surges up the leaderboard this weekend and get back into contention. Anyone who backs this golfer could hit it big. You can only see the model’s Masters picks here.
So, who will win the Masters 2026, and which longshot will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Masters odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected 2026 Masters leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including four straight Masters.
2026 Masters odds, contenders
Get full 2026 Masters picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)
Rory McIlroy -280
Tommy Fleetwood +1800
Patrick Reed +1800
Justin Rose +2000
Sam Burns +2200
Cameron Young +2700
Shane Lowry +3300
Brooks Koepka +5000
Jason Day +5500
Scottie Scheffler +6000
Tyrrell Hatton +6500
Xander Schauffele +6500
Hideki Matsuyama +10000
Chris Gotterup +10000
Wyndham Clark +10000
Ben Griffin +12500
Haotong Li +10000
Matt Fitzpatrick +12500
Jake Knapp +12500
Kristoffer Reitan +12500
Ludvig Åberg +17500
Collin Morikawa +22500
Max Homa +50000
Russell Henley +50000
Sam Stevens +100000
Sungjae Im +100000
Adam Scott +100000
Michael Brennan +100000
Sepp Straka +100000
Harris English +100000
Nick Taylor +100000
Keegan Bradley +100000
Aaron Rai +100000
Dustin Johnson +100000
Patrick Cantlay +100000
Jacob Bridgeman +100000
Marco Penge +100000
Matt McCarty +100000
Jordan Spieth +100000
Brian Campbell +100000
Justin Thomas +100000
Jon Rahm +100000
Ryan Gerard +100000
Gary Woodland +100000
Viktor Hovland +100000
AUGUSTA, Ga. — After a bogey on the 10th hole Friday, Rory McIlroy’s momentum had fully halted. As he strode to the 12th tee in the second round of his green jacket defense at the 2026 Masters, the Northern Irishman was tied with Patrick Reed for the lead at 6 under, erasing the advantage he took early in his second round.
In years past, McIlroy may have felt pressed, like the tournament was slipping from his grasp once again. Memories of his 2011 collapse regularly haunted him as he made his way around the second nine at Augusta National Golf Club; however, these hallowed grounds no longer represent the depths of his misery.
Instead, Augusta, Georgia, has become the home of McIlroy’s greatest triumph, the place where he shed more than a decade of pain in one of the most cathartic victories in golf history. Augusta National is the place that finally, mercifully loves him back.
Buoyed by the green jacket sitting in his locker, a relaxed McIlroy stuck to his mantra of “keep swinging” and fired a dart at No. 12 to set up the first birdie of what would become a historic run to close out his second round.
He made six birdies in his final seven holes, including four in a row, to shoot a 7-under 65 and build a six-shot advantage heading into the weekend at 12 under — the largest 36-hole lead in the 90-year history of the Masters and the best two-round start by a defending champion.
“I’ve always felt like this golf course can let you get on runs if you allow it,” McIlroy said. “I talked last year about how I really won the tournament in a 14-hole stretch, the second nine on Friday and the first five holes on Saturday. I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie six of the last seven [today].
“It just shows what you can do around here. Even if you might hit it in the trees on 13, on 15 … and on 17 — 17 was obviously a bonus with the chip-in. But my wedge play today was really good. My short game the first two days has been amazing.”
What made McIlroy’s second-round run so remarkable is how different it felt from the way he dominated golf courses early in his career. His driver has been more of a liability than a weapon this week, but that’s of no matter to the defending champion, who calmly put himself back into position and trusts his wedges and short game to give him continued scoring opportunities.
McIlroy has long dominated the par 5s at Augusta National; he continued that trend this week with seven birdies in his eight attempts. However, he’s accomplished that feat without hitting a single fairway, only reaching one of those greens in two.
“Becoming a wily old veteran,” McIlroy explained when asked how he’s managed to score without his driver cooperating. “I remember, even going back to the final round in 2011, hitting it in that bunker off the tee at the 2nd hole and, like, not panicking but thinking, ‘oh, this isn’t good. I can’t go for this in two. How am I …’ And I walk up there today, and it’s like, ‘No, I lay it up to a good number, and I’ll have a good chance to make a birdie.”
As well as the career grand slam winner played par 5s, it was his pair of birdies on the final two par 4s that sent the biggest shockwaves around Augusta National.
A year ago, McIlroy made some miraculous escape from the trees by going up high through a window mere mortals would never even see. Faced with a similar challenge at the 17th on Friday, he opted to play more conventionally down low, kicking it out short and right of the green, 29 yards away from the hole. There, he put his short game prowess on full display, sending the largest roar of the week cascading through the Georgia pines as his chip found its way to the bottom of the cup.
McIlroy called that a bonus, but it felt like a little nod from the course — a reminder that McIlroy had finally made Augusta National his home away from home.
That’s a new feeling for McIlroy, who spent one trip after another trying everything he could to master the puzzle Augusta National presents. He tried coming early, arriving late, being open about how much he wanted it, ignoring the noise — nothing worked.
Finally, after exorcising all of those demons 12 months ago, McIlroy feels welcome among the pine straw and azaleas.
Experience is everything at the Masters, but McIlroy took that to an extreme by making sure he not only relied on his play over the last 17 years and got plenty of reps on this year’s version of Augusta National. His comfort on the greens this week has been particularly notable, as he’s rolled it better and more confidently than anyone else no matter where he’s pulled out the putter.
It is not a matter of coincidence.
“Just spending time here,” said McIlroy, crediting his improved stroke to teeing it up at Augusta National at least six or seven times since The Players Championship. “… I’ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks, and that’s been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out.”
McIlroy never would’ve made that many trips to Augusta National before becoming a champion, but he’s made the club a second home over the last month.
It’s easier to win a second Masters with a green jacket already in one’s locker, McIlroy claimed after Round 1. History has proven that to be accurate, considering how the game’s elite have been to hang subsequent green jackets after claiming their first.
It took McIlroy longer than anyone expected to put all the pieces to the Augusta National puzzle together, but as Phil Mickelson proved after his breakthrough in 2004, all it takes is one to heal decades of scar tissue. Mickelson won three Masters in his 30s, and McIlroy appears poised to go on a similar tear himself.
As difficult as the Masters is a physical examination of your golfing ability, it’s probably an even bigger test of your mental strength. For years, McIlroy wasn’t up to that challenge, but as he proved again on Friday, he’s now more than capable of handling what Augusta National throws at him.
“I think it was getting to the point where I would allow myself to play the course the way that I knew that I could,” McIlroy said. “So it was getting past myself. It was staying aggressive. Like my little mantra to myself today was, ‘Keep swinging, keep swinging hard at it even if you’re not hitting fairways. Just keep swinging.’ … My mindset hasn’t [always] been ‘keep swinging.’ It’s been guided, tentative. I think the experience I’ve accrued over the years, and obviously with what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging.”
History tells us this weekend should be a mere formality for McIlroy. All five players since 1934 to hold a six-shot lead or better at the Masters have gone on to win.
However, it has rarely been that simple for McIlroy, whose challenge on the weekend will be maintaining that aggressive mindset against the natural impulse to protect the lead. He said he has to keep his foot on the gas, noting the last time he tried to protect a big lead at Augusta National in 2011, it went poorly.
The next 36 holes will be the latest battle between McIlroy, himself and Augusta National. The crucial difference is that, a year ago, he finally won that internal battle, and in doing so, he seems to have pulled the golf course to his side.
Chris Waller plans to field more than a quarter of the competitors in the Sydney Cup, and assistant Charlie Duckworth highlights a common strength in their team.
“With all of our runners in this, there isn’t much of a query over the distance,” Duckworth said.
Out of 15 Sydney Cup entries, seven are untested beyond shorter trips to 3200m, yet Waller’s all possess relevant staying credentials.
River Of Stars was fourth in the previous Melbourne Cup (3200m), Valiant King has twice entered the iconic Australian staying test, Soul Of Spain won at 3319m in Ireland, and Hutchence succeeded in his lone two-mile run overseas.
River Of Stars ($7.50) rates as the outfit’s best shot, confronting a significant weight of 56.5kg.
Mares have won just five times since 1989, with Makybe Diva among them at 55.5kg in 2004 – bridging her debut and next Melbourne Cup conquests.
Duckworth admits the weight hurdle for River Of Stars but is certain her talent and grit will shine through.
“She’s the class horse in the race, which is why she’s got top weight,” he said.
“She’s got a lovely draw (barrier six) to try to offset that weight, and two miles isn’t an issue with her, she is a proper staying mare.”
Valiant King achieved third in the Caulfield Cup and, winless in three this prep, his camp is thrilled for Saturday’s chance after missing 12 months prior.
“He was awesome in the spring,” Duckworth said.
“He’s yet to hit that height this prep, but we’re hoping Saturday will be when he does.
“He was scratched from the race last year, so we’ve got some unfinished business with him.”
The Championships’ second day brings high stakes for Waller, with 14 across four Group 1s including star mares Autumn Glow and Aeliana targeting the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Aeliana follows victories in the Ranvet Stakes and Tancred Stakes, earning Duckworth’s acclaim despite Autumn Glow’s headline chase for 12 straight.
“She has been faultless,” he said.
“She’s such a terrific horse, and she stays very well.”
With Aeliana confirmed to 2400m, Autumn Glow’s Randwick middle-distance debut draws scrutiny.
James McDonald and Waller recently defended her stamina prospects, bracing for pace pressures from competitors seeking flaws.
“The query is how quick they do end up going in this 2000 metre race,” Duckworth said.
“Everyone in the race will, I imagine, want to make it a stamina test as that’s likely to be the only chink in the favourite’s armour.”
Lindermann from the Waller yard is the likely pacemaker, with Dubai Honour, Caviar Heights for Haggas, and Sir Delius able to take up the running.
Visit leading racing betting markets to wager on the Sydney Cup action.
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