Sports

Is the Summer of Nelly Korda upon us?

Published

1 hour ago

27 April 2026

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Nelly Korda’s second turn of dominance, the new Ryder Cup captain and its exorbitant ticket prices.

Nelly Korda won the Chevron Championship, blitzing the field to win by five and claim the first major of the year, the third of her career. Two years ago she won seven times, but followed it up with a winless 2025. This year she has already won twice. Is a summer of Nelly Korda dominance ahead? What’s changed?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): It is the hardest thing in golf to win a tournament. And yet, it is very, very hard to lose golf tournaments when you’re playing the way Nelly did this weekend. On the front nine on Sunday with a five-shot lead, feeling all of the pressure in the world to close it out, Korda made seven pars and two birdies. There’s a maturity in that kind of sensibility on Sunday at a major, and I think it explains a lot of her success in Houston.

Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): I think Nelly has settled in to a comfortable spot with what she wants to be to the game. When she last went on a run like this, there was immense pressure for her to carry the entire women’s game. To try and live up to cross-sport comparisons to Caitlin Clark. I’m not sure Korda ever really felt great about all of that.

To answer the question, I hope a Summer of Nelly is upon us. She is unquestionably one of the best golfers we’ve ever seen, which just makes me want to see what she’s capable of achieving at her very peak. This comes the same week that DataGolf launched its women’s rankings. I want to see her take off and plant her flag with one of the best seasons of all-time. And then, if I can be greedy, I want to see Jeeno Thitikul go toe-to-toe with her.

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): Here in Houston all week, it was very apparent that Nelly Korda is at peace with who she is, and her maturity on the golf course stems from both personal happiness and a decision that she and caddie Jason McDede made to approach things differently after 2025. She’s made a concerted effort to play smart golf, not take on unnecessary risk and not let negativity, both internal and external, seep into her game. McDede told me that the loss last year at Erin Hills was really the catalyst for the changes she made to her mentality, and I think there’s reason to believe she could rip off several more wins this year. Every part of her game is firing, and her decision to hire a “no nonsense” putting coach has helped address what was the Achilles’ heel of her game. The hype train leading into Riviera will be out of control.

A pre-tournament talking point at the Chevron was if the winner’s leap into Poppie’s Pond should continue with the tournament now taking place at a new venue, Memorial Park. A small pool was built as a placeholder this year (which Korda splashed into) until a more natural water feature is built by Tom Doak before next year. Should the winner’s leap have stayed put at the previous venue, Carlton Woods? Is it gimmicky? Or is it a fun tradition and important to preserve?

Temporary plunge pool at the Chevron Championship — Curious addition at LPGA’s first major has deeper meaning

By:

Josh Schrock
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Colgan: Golf people get so worked up about the dumbest things. I’d argue sports are fun precisely because of our stupidly blind adherence to totally outrageous (and often watered down) traditions like the winner’s leap. We’re investing emotionally into someone’s capacity to put a white ball into a hole in the ground in fewer lashes than their opponent. That’s as dumb as it gets. If the winner wants to jump into a kiddie pool or battle an orangutan after, we should be unmoved.

Zak: If they battle an orangutan, I’m gonna be moved by that. Sorry, James. But I actually kinda dig this tradition, mostly because … who cares? Bring your hate elsewhere. There are more important — and way more gimmicky — things to get angry about. Nelly’s team seemed to enjoy the leap.

Schrock: Completely agree. What was all the fuss about? The players want to keep tradition alive and the LPGA created a stopgap move to allow it. There’s way too much hand-wringing about dumb things in golf. This was much ado about nothing. Korda was one of the players who wanted the tradition kept alive. She dove in. We move on. It’s sports. Go take a lap if you’re so aggrieved, maybe in a pool.

The PGA of America announced Jim Furyk as its Ryder Cup captain for 2027, and he’ll become just the fourth repeat captain in the modern era. While we already discussed the news earlier this week, Furyk has had plenty of experience since his 2018 loss (as Ryder Cup assistant and Presidents Cup captain). What do you think his biggest learning from Paris has been that will be most beneficial next year?

Colgan: Don’t allow yourself to start the Cup by getting punched in the face. A fast start is the biggest asset for any road team, and it’s especially true at the Cup.

Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, wearing a red, white, and blue jacket and cap, smiles and points while standing on a golf course near a PGA sign, with spectators and trees in the background. — Is Jim Furyk the right pick as Ryder Cup captain? Our writers discuss

By:

Sean Zak
,
James Colgan
,
Dylan Dethier
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Zak: Here’s what the biggest learning needs to be: pairings decided weeks in advance. Perhaps months in advance. The Euros have trotted out pairs they knew would be playing together back in June. It seems like a strategy that keeps working.

Schrock: There has to be a better strategy with the pairings than letting guys play with who they want to and flying by the seat of their pants as the competition goes on. The U.S. has the talent but they are lacking in every other area.

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, tickets for 2027 in Ireland were recently announced as $585, which is more than double the cost of the last European Ryder Cup (in Rome in 2023). It also comes a year after $750 tickets caused an uproar at Bethpage. The PGA of America said then it’s a “Tier 1” sporting event and priced accordingly. What say you? Is it good for golf that prices (and demand) for Ryder Cup tickets are soaring? Or outrageous that it’s boxing out certain fans?

Colgan: Oh, it’s totally pathetic and completely antithetical to the spirit of an exhibition meant to celebrate golf’s best virtues. If the Euros don’t ask for payment to play in the Cup after the latest ticket news, they’re being naive.

Zak: So is this price…Tier 2? Or is it still Tier 1, but in Ireland? I feel sad for those locals who have had this event circled on their calendars for years — after a very rich businessman won the bid to bring a now impossibly rich event to his very expensive resort. There’s a long tail of benefits that follow the Ryder Cup and make it worth everyone’s cause, but a lot of it now starts with fans paying a ton on the front end. It feels changed.

Schrock: Completely outrageous. Ticket prices for everything have unnecessarily gone through the roof, but for an exhibition match for a sport that is supposed to be about egalitarianism, this is pretty brutal.

It’s official — for the first time in nearly six decades, the PGA Tour will not stop in Hawaii during the 2027 season, a domino of the forthcoming schedule change. Will you miss Hawaii? And what was your favorite moment during the Tour’s time in The Aloha State?

Colgan: I’ll miss Hawaii. The golf course was fun and distinct, and the vibes were aspirational in a way few events on the golf calendar are. In a lot of ways, it feels like this is the moment we’ll look back upon as the Tour’s defining shift toward commerce in the mid-2020s. Not a bad thing, but a thing worth noting!

Zak: It’s okay to miss Hawaii as a season-starter and also know it was not an economically viable tournament. We live in an era of sports that will squeeze plenty of Things We Like out and replace them with Things We Still Like But Are Better Funded. It is what it is. This is a strictly commercial move and I think we’ll look back on it in five years in a totally accepting way. That said, the Tiger-Ernie battle from 2000 was one of the best mano a mano golf moments we’ve ever had.

Schrock: I’ll miss Hawaii for sure. Kapalua was a great course and it gave everyone buried in snow in the northeast an escape. That being said, I completely understand why the decision was made from a financial standpoint. Agree, this decision feels like a notable moment in the PGA Tour’s for-profit journey.

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Oleksandr Usyk told that he ‘cannot run’ from newly emerged title contender: “I’ll bully him”

Published

5 minutes ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

While Oleksandr Usyk may have outlined his three-fight plan, a new contender has entered the fray, with the hope of landing a shot at the Ukrainian and claiming the unified heavyweight world titles.

Next month’s meeting with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven kickstarts what Usyk anticipated to be a run of three fights of his choice before a planned retirement in 2027, with the victor of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois expected to be his next dance partner.

However, the WBC are expected to demand that Usyk fights mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel in his next fight, with promoter Frank Warren believing that he will be stripped if he fails to face the undefeated German.

Meanwhile, the WBA and the IBF titles are not on the line against Verhoeven and fight fans therefore wonder if Usyk could also soon be stripped of those belts.

Although, should Usyk retain the WBA crown, Jarrell Miller will be waiting for him, after winning a WBA final eliminator against Lenier Pero on Saturday night to rise into title contention.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV after his victory, ‘Big Baby’ told Usyk that there is nowhere to run or hide when you are facing him.

“He is a great fighter, man, but when you are fighting a bully like me, there ain’t nowhere to run or hide. Usyk doesn’t really have crazy punching power and he has a problem with guys that go to the body and throw a lot of punches.
That performance [against Pero] was just a glimpse of what I can do. So, the main thing is going and getting the drawing board back, let’s work and be ready for anybody.
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After the Rico fight, I want Usyk to come back and I can spank him.”

If Usyk loses his WBA title, Miller could be in line for a title challenge against current WBA Regular titleholder Murat Gassiev, who would expected to be elevated to full champion. Although, Moses Itauma would likely get the first opportunity at a proposed scrap with the Russian.

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Sports

Motor sports betting guide: Best NASCAR betting strategies, F1 betting tips, more

Published

19 minutes ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Motor sports have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, which has brought mainstream sports fans to F1 betting and NASCAR betting through pop culture, including the Daytona 500. We’ll take a look at how sportsbooks operate when it comes to motor sports, how bettors can wager on racing events and go over some of the best strategies and tips when it comes to racing betting.

Finding the best sportsbook promos for motor sports betting

Here’s a look at some of the promotions going on at top sportsbooks for fans interested in getting into motor sports betting.

Brand	Promo Advertisement	CBS promo code
DraftKings	Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins	Just click here Advertisement
FanDuel	Bet $5, get $250 in bonus bets if your bet wins	Just click here
Caesars Advertisement	Bet $1, double your winnings on your next 10 wagers	CBSDYW
BetMGM	Up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses Advertisement	CBSSPORTS
Fanatics	10x$100 Bet Match in FanCash OR 100% Profit Boost Token for 5 days	CBSFAN Advertisement
bet365	Bet $10, get $200 in bonus bets, win or lose	CBSBET365

The DraftKings promo code, FanDuel, and bet365 are all offering “bet and get” promotions where users receive bonus bets after an initial wager. DraftKings and FanDuel both require a $5 bet to get started — DraftKings rewards new users with $300 in bonus bets if that first wager wins, while FanDuel returns $250 in bonus bets on a winning first bet. bet365 takes a different approach, handing out $200 in bonus bets after a $10 wager regardless of the outcome.

The BetMGM bonus code and Fanatics Sportsbook promo structure their offers around what happens after you place your first bet. BetMGM covers a user’s first bet up to $1,500 with bonus bets if that first bet loses, but users must wager at least $1,500 to be eligible for the full amount. Fanatics gives new users a choice between a 10-day bet match — up to $100 per day in FanCash — or a 100% Profit Boost Token each day for five days.

Caesars Sportsbook offers to bet $1+ and double your winnings on your next 10 bets, in the form of ten 100% Profit Boost Tokens. The first bet must have a minimum -10,000 odds.

Before you get into motor sports betting, it’s important to find a sportsbook that consistently provides odds for races. There’s always value in shopping around multiple sportsbooks for the best lines, but some platforms do not offer extensive betting markets for motorsports compared to others.

What do motor sports odds mean?

When it comes to motorsports and racing markets, odds are displayed and read similarly to how they are for most sports. Let’s say a driver is priced at -150 to win the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7th, and the next best driver has +200 odds. That means the driver at -150 is a decent favorite to win, and you’d have to risk $150 to win $100. The second driver is a contender but is unlikely to win in the eyes of oddsmakers, but you’d win $200 after risking $100 if he does indeed pull off the upset.

When you can bet on motor sports odds

The racing schedule varies across NASCAR, F1 and IndyCar but there are usually weekly races with occasional breaks. NASCAR has multiple series, so there’s usually at least one race across the series every weekend. F1 has a set calendar for the year with some breaks in between, but there are junior Formula racing series that might be going on in some of the gaps on the main circuit.

Typically, the actual race will take place on a Sunday. There will be practice on either Thursday or Friday, with a qualifying event to set up the grid on either Friday or Saturday depending on the race schedule. Qualifying usually takes place the day before the race. Bettors can wager on qualifying outcomes as well, and those results will shift the race odds.

Biggest races for motor sports betting

Arguably, the biggest sporting event in the racing world is the Indianapolis 500, which is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend. That’s the premier IndyCar event.

NASCAR has several big races, with the Daytona 500, a Crown Jewel event, regarded as the richest race on the circuit. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the Brickyard 400 are also considered Crown Jewel events. Talladega Speedway is a widely known track thanks to the movie “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, but it is not a Crown Jewel event.

Every F1 race has its unique twist, as the tracks are different in each city, but Monaco is considered the biggest spectacle of the season. The race itself is somewhat mundane, as there’s little opportunity for drivers to pass each other. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and the Singapore Grand Prix are considered some marquee events on the F1 calendar. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is also a high-profile event as it is typically last on the calendar and could decide who wins the drivers championship and constructors championship. F1 has also added special events like Miami and Las Vegas.

Types of bets and how motor sports betting works

Like all sports betting markets, there are a variety of ways prospective bettors can wager on motor sports. Here’s a look at some of them.

Outright/To Win odds

This market is straightforward. Users are betting on which driver will win the event. There are also markets here for which team/constructor car will win the event, which will have multiple cars involved.

Placement/Top Finish odds

Motor sports betting offers users the ability to wager on drivers or teams having a certain placement or finishing within a certain range. For example, you can wager on drivers to place in the top 5 or top 10 of the event. You can do the same with teams/constructors.

While it rarely occurs in racing, there’s a possibility of multiple drivers tying for a position. In this case, technically there are multiple winning bets but sportsbooks grade dead heats differently and the payouts can be different. If FanDuel declares a dead heat, half the stake is applied at the original odds and half the stake is lost. If there are more than two dead heats, the stakes are proportioned accordingly.

Dual Forecast

This is where bettors can place a wager on which drivers will finish first and second. Both drivers must finish in the correct order for this wager to be paid out as a win. For example, you can wager on Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to finish first and second, respectively in a Dual Forecast market in F1 betting. However, if Verstappen finishes second and Norris finishes first, your bet will lose even though you did correctly pick the top two drivers for the race.

Each Way Betting

This might not be as common in motor sports but can be applied to racing betting. An each way bet basically places two wagers: a driver to win and to finish above another position. If the driver wins, both bets get paid out. The same applies for team bets in this market.

Stage Winner

This is prevalent in NASCAR and IndyCar, which has more laps than Formula One. You can bet on which driver or team will be in the lead after 25 laps, 50 laps, 100 laps and so on. These are the stages.

Matchups/Head-to-Head

Sportsbooks will put two drivers or two teams against each other and bettors can choose which one will place higher. For teams, the bet is usually on the highest-placed driver for that particular team. For example, if a market was being offered on F1 to see if Ferrari or Mercedes placed higher, a winning Ferrari driver would give Ferrari bettors the win even if the Mercedes drivers combined to finish higher than the Ferrari drivers.

Group Winner

This is offered in NASCAR. Sportsbooks will put a handful of drivers in groups and ask which will be the winner of the group.

Top Car Make Driver

This is also specific to NASCAR, where you can bet on whether the winning driver will be in a particular car manufacturer, like Ford or Chevy. It’s more applicable here since there are only two drivers on each F1 constructor, while car brands can span several NASCAR teams.

Team of Race Winner

This is similar to Outright Winner for drivers but applies to teams and constructors.

Qualifying Bets

Bettors can wager on who will take pole position and which cars will be on pole. These are determined during qualifying racing, which typically takes place the day before the race. You can also bet on markets offering odds for who will finish in the top 5 or top 10 in qualifying, though these necessarily aren’t available for every race. The results of qualifying will often shift the race odds.

Motor sports futures betting

Formula 1 betting

In most cases, F1 futures usually apply to the next race. However, you can bet on season-long futures for the drivers and constructors championships. The drivers championship is straightforward as it will be given to the driver who accumulates the most points over the season. The constructors championship takes into account the points for both team drivers. Only the top 10 finishers in each race score points, and those points are tallied over the season. The winning driver can be part of a constructors championship, but that’s not always the case.

NASCAR betting

NASCAR has different portions of the season. There are also different circuits like the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series and Truck Series. You can bet on marquee races for NASCAR in the futures market, and you can also wager on winners for these particular series.

IndyCar

The major marquee futures market for IndyCar is the Indianapolis 500. Other than that race, there are season-long championship odds for the circuit.

Can you parlay wagers in motor sports betting?

While parlaying is generally not advised, as you don’t get appropriate odds from sportsbooks that correspond to the actual chance of your bet winning, you are able to parlay outcomes in motor sports betting. While you can’t pick multiple drivers to win an event in a parlay, you can pick multiple drivers to finish in the top 5 or top 10. You can also pick teams to finish in the top 5 or top 10.

How to bet on motor sports live during a race

Sportsbooks do offer live odds for motor sports, though this is likely a more prominent feature for NASCAR and IndyCar as opposed to F1. Driver and team odds will shift based on where they are in the grand scheme of the race. NASCAR and IndyCar allow for more leeway since there are more laps, while F1 can sometimes shift quickly towards one driver or team.

Tips and strategies for how to bet on motor sports

Driver form does matter when it comes to racing, but the biggest predictor of success is usually how each team can adjust to conditions. Races can take place in all kinds of weather and team strategy can make or break the day. There are some teams that struggle to adjust, and bettors should know which teams those are before placing wagers.

Historical track success does matter, but it often takes a back seat to current form. For example, Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix three years in a row and was a contender after starting second behind George Russell in 2025. Russell has had mixed results in Montreal historically, but wound up winning the race after winning qualifying to take pole position.

Longshots don’t usually win races, but it’s not uncommon to see them do well in the Placement markets. You can usually back drivers who have had success on certain tracks or who have routinely finished just outside of a certain position market to break through eventually.

Occasionally, a caution flag comes out when there’s a crash on the track, which makes racing conditions hazardous for everyone. When this happens, there will be a safety car deployed, and all drivers must line up behind the safety car until the wreck is managed. This has sometimes happened on the last lap of the race, which can completely eliminate the leader’s edge on the field.

There are different rules for each association and sometimes the race organizer makes a call in the moment, but usually, the race cannot end on a caution flag. If the wreck is too big to clear in a reasonable amount of time, the race will end despite the caution flag being signaled. Overtime doesn’t really exist, but usually there will be at least one additional lap of racing should the fallout of the crash get removed in a timely manner and the safety car gets taken off the track.

FAQ

Can you bet on motor sports?

As long as you are of legal age in a state where sports betting is legitimate, you should be able to find a sportsbook which provides racing and motor sports odds.

Who to bet on for the Indy 500?

Because the Indy 500 typically takes place over Memorial Day weekend, you’ll have to wait for a bit before placing wagers on who will win the signature event. Josef Newgarden won the Indy 500 in 2023 and 2024 but Alex Palou won in 2025 and is the reigning champion.

Can you bet on SuperCross?

SuperCross is a type of motorcycle racing and some sportsbooks do offer SuperCross odds in certain states.

Can you bet on motocross at DraftKings?

DraftKings does provide SuperCross odds, which is a motocross competition, in select states. You must be of legal age and residing in those states to bet on motocross at DraftKings.

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Elena Rybakina has no trust in electronic line-calling system after Madrid Open controversy

Published

32 minutes ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Elena Rybakina said she did not trust the electronic line-calling system at the Madrid Open following a disputed decision in her three-set win against Zheng Qinwen on Sunday.

The Kazakh remonstrated with the umpire after Zheng was awarded an ace for a serve when the Chinese player was 30-0 up and 4-3 down in the second set.

Rybakina, who went on to win 4-6 6-4 6-3, pointed to the mark and asked umpire Julie Kjendlie to come down to have a look at it on the clay court, but the official said she could not do so.

“The system is wrong, this is not a joke,” Rybakina told the official, who said she had to go with the electronic line-calling system.

“Well with this thing, I won’t trust it at all, because there was no mark even close to what the TV showed.”

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‘We’re battling’: Canadiens fall short in Game 4 as coin-flip series continues

Published

46 minutes ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

MONTREAL — Let’s not pretend there was some deep lesson for the Montreal Canadiens to learn from their Game 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Both teams fought hard — against each other, and against the officials — and the one that needed to win more ultimately did.

The Lightning erased the first two-goal deficit of this series and won 3-2 to wrest back home ice advantage. It was the fourth of four games decided by one goal, even if it was the first that threatened to be taken completely out of every player’s hands by some remarkably incompetent officiating.

But in the end, the penalties cancelled each other out, both teams traded power-play goals, and the difference ultimately came down to an even-strength play that saw Nikita Kucherov turn and fire the puck off Brandon Hagel and in.

“I don’t know,” said Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle. “Hopefully next time, the puck doesn’t go off a guy’s face and in the net.”

Could the Canadiens have prevented the one that went off Jake Guentzel’s stick with 54 seconds remaining in the second period? Ideally.

“We were in good position,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, who wasn’t wrong about that.

Jayden Struble was right there with Guentzel, but he just got beat by the player who’d previously scored 41 goals through his first 77 career playoff games.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper referred to Guentzel as “a weapon” on Sunday morning, and then he deployed him as one at four-on-four and watched him score his first of the series when they needed it most on Sunday night.

It capped a wild momentum swing that started with Max Crozier’s devasting hit on Juraj Slafkovsky and ended with Hagel’s fifth of the series 1:40 into the third period.

Maybe it never gets there if Dominic James doesn’t sell a phantom high stick from Oliver Kapanen after actually taking one that went unnoticed just seconds before. We’ll never know.

Just like we’ll never know if momentum lost and gained on both sides of all the other laughably bad calls from Brandon Blandina had any impact on the outcome.

The 37-year-old official sent Tampa’s Yanni Gourde to the box in the 11^th minute of the game for crosschecking on a play where he barely pushed Montreal’s Mike Matheson. He evened it up 10:24 into the second by calling a phantom hook on Alex Newhook.

Then late in the third, with Matheson serving a deserved penalty for high-sticking Guentzel, Blandina took the bait of Kucherov diving into the boards on a shove from Jake Evans he called a cross check.

But hey, he evened that one up by sending Kucherov to the box with 2:33 left in the frame for a supposed slash on Matheson that never connected with any body part.

St. Louis admitted his team didn’t exhibit enough composure to win the game, acknowledged it would’ve been nice to lock down the 2-0 lead Cole Caufield and Zachary Bolduc gave it with their first goals of the playoffs.

But that was in between digging his tongue deep into his cheek and blurting out in both French and English that the Lightning are “a veteran team with talent,” and a team that is “good at making us take penalties.”

The part St. Louis was joking around about was the part to be taken seriously.

Same goes for Cooper, who could barely keep a straight face after he said he leaned on his experience to properly manage the game of emotions that came with how a game of this magnitude was being called in order to keep his team in control of itself.

“Is there footage of me (losing control)?” he asked.

Yes, Jon, but only of you screaming yourself hoarse after Corey Perry was split open from a stick that clipped him above his eye and never even got a glance from either official. Oh, and there was also that shot of you hollering for a major while Kucherov lay writhing on the ice following the light push from Evans he somehow miraculously recovered from in time to participate in the five-on-three advantage that followed.

This was Cooper’s 159^th playoff game, and we’d not be talking about him learning to manage it better emotionally had he lost it.

We also wouldn’t be talking about how this Lightning team full of Stanley Cup winners need to avoid putting themselves in position to give the officials reasons to call penalties on them.

Even if the Canadiens do a better job toeing that line moving forward, it wasn’t the difference in this game.

This game was like every other one in this series to date minus the infused drama of bad officiating — a total coin flip.

The three prior to it were settled in overtime, and it’s hard to imagine the next three decided by wider margins.

Maybe it won’t go seven, but it sure feels like it will.

These two teams had 106-point seasons, and they have matched each other haymaker for haymaker, thunderous hit for thunderous hit, and goal for goal.

Literally! The score is 11-11 going back to Tampa, with each team holding 1-1 records at Benchmark International Arena and the Bell Centre after each going 1-1 against each other in their respective buildings during the regular season.

What have the Canadiens learned from it?

“They’re a tough team, and we knew it was going to be a tough series, and we’re right in it,” said St. Louis. “We’re in a battle. It’s a fine line between winning and losing in these games, but we’re battling.”

The Lightning feel exactly the same way about it.

And surely both teams will hope the officials will let them decide how it ends.

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Dalton Smith’s world title fight against Alberto Puello postponed due to injury

Published

59 minutes ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Dalton Smith‘s upcoming world title defence has been cancelled due to injury.

Smith became world champion back in January when he claimed a dramatic fifth round knockout win over Subriel Matias at the Barclays Center in New York.

There was plenty of controversy heading into the clash due to Matias being allowed to proceed with the fight after failing an anti-doping test, but the Sheffield man put in a stellar performance to get his hand raised.

The victory saw Smith solidify his status as one of the leading 140lb fighters in the world, and attention then turned to a planned first title defence against mandatory challenger Alberto Puello at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on June 6.

While it would have provided Smith the opportunity to have a homecoming bout in front of his loyal fans, the fight now won’t be taking place as planned, after he suffered an injury during his training camp.

ℹ️ An update to our June 6 card in Sheffield @galal_yafai unified World Title shot against Ricardo Sandoval will now headline at the @SheffieldArena
Wishing @daltonsmith08 a speedy recovery from injury 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Z1pnC1mjNo
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 27, 2026
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The rest of the card is set to go ahead, with the original co-main event bumped up to headline status, as Galal Yafai challenges Ricardo Sandoval for the WBC and WBA unified flyweight titles.

Elsewhere on the bill, Josh Padley and Aqib Fiaz square off for the European super featherweight title, Ibraham Nadim takes on Ibraheem Suaimann for the English super featherweight belt, plus the likes of Leo Atang, Adam Maca and Aaron Bowen are in action.

News is expected soon as to when Smith will be fully recovered and able to defend his belt.

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HR drought over, Shohei Ohtani leads Dodgers vs. Marlins

Published

1 hour ago

27 April 2026

NewsAdmin

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers

Apr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

As Shohei Ohtani emerges from an early-season downturn, the four-time MVP will now square off against a team that absorbed one of the best days of his career.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to open a three-game home series Monday against the Miami Marlins, who are midway through a six-game road trip in California.

Ohtani ended a 12-game home-run drought with a solo shot in a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. It was his longest run without a home run since joining the Dodgers before the 2024 season.

Heading into Sunday’s game, Ohtani was on an 8-for-44 (.182) slide with just one RBI.

“Yeah, well, I think it’s been getting a little better since around (Saturday),” Ohtani said through a translator on the SportsNet LA broadcast. “So, I’d like to keep being patient while making further improvements.”

In 19 career games against the Marlins, Ohtani has eight home runs with 21 RBIs and had what was arguably one of the most historically significant games in MLB history against Miami two seasons ago.

On Sept. 19, 2024, Ohtani went 6-for-6 against the Marlins with three home runs, two doubles, four runs scored and 10 RBIs. It was also the game when he reached 50 home runs to become the first 50 homer-50 stolen base player in major league history.

Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.48 ERA) is set to take the mound for Los Angeles after he took the loss at San Francisco on Tuesday when he gave up three runs over seven innings. He won his lone start against the Marlins in 2024, allowing two runs over eight innings.

After consecutive losses at San Francisco, the Marlins will send right-hander Chris Paddack (0-4, 6.38) to the mound. Paddack gave up five runs over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Paddack’s outing came after he rebounded from a rough season-opening outing by giving up a combined four earned runs over his previous three starts.

“I thought Chris, for the most part, did a really nice job,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He threw some really nice changeups. They had a lot of depth at the bottom of the zone. I thought Chris threw well.”

Paddack is 1-4 with a 5.91 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers. He did hold Los Angeles to one run over six innings of a no-decision last season in his final start for the Minnesota Twins before he was traded to the Detroit Tigers.

On Sunday at San Francisco, Miami right-hander Max Meyer did not allow an earned run over five innings on 77 pitches before the bullpen failed to protect a 3-1 lead.

Marlins left-hander Andrew Nardi gave up a tiebreaking three-run home run in the seventh inning to Casey Schmitt in a 6-3 loss. Graham Pauley hit a three-run home run in the second inning for the Marlins, his first of the season.

Miami is 1-2 to open its six-game road trip and just 3-9 on the road for the lowest number of victories away from home in the National League.

–Field Level Media

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Rays’ Steven Matz looks for continued success against Guardians

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2 hours ago

27 April 2026

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Apr 21, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws a pitch during the first inning against Cincinnati Reds at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Guardians spent the weekend on a working vacation in Toronto, playing a series against the Blue Jays and attending Game 3 of the NBA playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

Now, they’re back at home to begin a three-game set Monday against the surging Tampa Bay Rays.

Guardians left-hander Parker Messick (3-0, 1.76 ERA) takes on Rays lefty Steven Matz (3-1, 4.81) in a matchup of pitchers whose teams have won nine of their 10 combined starts in 2026.

Their trip started on a high note as Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan posed on the court before cheering for the Cavaliers, while Austin Hedges was one of several players featured on social media videos from the stands.

Cleveland then won its series opener over the Blue Jays — thanks to Angel Martinez’s first career multi-homer game — before dropping the next two. Starting pitchers Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi unraveled in the sixth inning on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

“That’s two nights in a row we’ve gotten burned in that pocket in the sixth inning,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s a tricky situation because you don’t want to go to your bullpen too early, so you have to show some trust in your starters.”

The Guardians have won all five of Messick’s starts, each of which has occurred after a Cleveland loss — as will again be the case. The rookie had his first iffy outing in a no-decision against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, giving up three runs in five innings.

Messick made two late-season appearances against Tampa Bay last year, going 2-0 with a sparkling 0.69 ERA. He racked up 10 strikeouts without a walk over 13 innings, relying on his change-up to keep the Rays guessing.

“It’s been my pitch since I was a freshman in high school, so, hopefully, I can keep it rolling,” said Messick, who ranks third in the American League in ERA. “Every game is a new game, so I just trust myself to attack in a new way.”

Tampa Bay is rolling into town with a four-game winning streak, completing a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 4-2 victory Sunday. Yandy Diaz belted a two-run homer in the third, coming to the plate after Jonathan Aranda stroked a two-run single.

Matz is still building up his arm after spending the past two years as a reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. He took his first loss Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up four runs in three innings.

“It’s just not who I am as a pitcher,” Matz said of his rough game against the Reds. “I’m a strike thrower and I just wasn’t able to do that.”

The 34-year old has been terrific in eight lifetime appearances against Cleveland, posting a 3-0 record and 1.71 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. Matz’s wins all came against the then-Indians in 2016, 2019 and 2021.

Tampa Bay’s bullpen will be on call early as Matz has gotten through the sixth inning only once. Setup man Cole Sulser and closer Bryan Baker each pitched twice in the last two days against Minnesota, but the team traded for right-hander Casey Legumina after he was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.

“With where the bullpen is right now, we need to be opportunistic,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “And Casey is a guy we like. Hopefully, this helps him and he can help us.”

In one of the more quirky splits this season, Tampa Bay is 11-1 against AL opponents and 5-10 against National League Central foes.

–Field Level Media

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Jokić and Randle fined after Game 4 Incident

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27 April 2026

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Jokić and Randle fined after Game 4 Incident — MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 25: Members of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves get into a scrum in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves were ejected from the game. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle have been fined following an incident late in Game 4 between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jokić received a $50,000 fine, while Randle was fined $35,000 for their roles in the altercation.

The situation started in the final seconds of the game when Jaden McDaniels scored a late layup with the Timberwolves already leading comfortably. The Nuggets took issue with the play, which led to a confrontation.

According to the report, Jokić approached and shoved McDaniels, while Randle escalated the situation by getting involved and pushing Bruce Brown.

Both players were given technical fouls and ejected from the game.

“He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokić said after the game. “You guys saw what happened.”

Despite the fines, both players are expected to be available for Game 5.

Minnesota currently leads the series 3-1, putting them at an advantage, although injuries to key players could still affect how the series plays out.

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‘That’s a goal’: Hockey world reacts to Ducks’ controversial OT winner

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2 hours ago

27 April 2026

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Just 2:29 into overtime, Ducks forward Ryan Poehling jammed a puck through Oilers netminder Tristan Jarry to win it for his side and take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

After some hesitation, on-ice officials called it a good goal and there was an automatic review triggered by the league.

Since the call on the ice was a good goal, the NHL situation room needed conclusive evidence the puck did not cross the line. After a lengthy discussion, the call on the ice was confirmed and the Ducks had, officially, earned the victory.

As is the case with most controversial playoff winners, there were a variety of reactions from around the hockey world as the two-time Stanley Cup finalists were pushed to the brink of elimination.

Here are some of the best:

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Here’s everything a PGA Tour win gave Matt Fitzpatrick’s brother Alex

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2 hours ago

27 April 2026

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Matt Fitzpatrick will collect a check, but really, Alex Fitzpatrick will emerge from this week’s Zurich Classic as the winner.

You needed only to watch the scene on the 18th green on Sunday evening at the Zurich Classic to know that was true. It was there, on the 18th, that the Fitzpatrick Brothers emerged victorious after a glorious mid-range sand-shot from elder brother (and U.S. Open champ) Matt. And it was there, on the 18th, that Alex realized the fulfillment of his greatest life dream.

“Yeah, I’m still lost for words,” Alex Fitzpatrick said afterward, still gobsmacked. “Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness. Like Matt said, at the start of the week it was coming here to be a family and spend time with each other, eat Mr. B’s, and have a great week. To be sitting here now and done what we did, yeah, I’m pretty speechless.”

If you wanted to know why Alex Fitzpatrick was speechless, the trophy celebration didn’t provide all the answers. You see, his win was bigger than just a title at a PGA Tour event, and bigger than a winner’s check. By winning at the Zurich, the younger Fitzpatrick also clinched a series of career-altering perks, which we list in their entirety below.

What Alex Fitzpatrick really won at the Zurich Classic

1. A PGA Tour card

The biggest and most significant benefit of Alex Fitzpatrick’s victory is PGA Tour status. By virtue of a winner’s exemption, Alex earned full PGA Tour status through the end of 2028, giving him the rarest gift in pro golf — job security — for the next 18 months.

2. A PGA Championship invite

Hopefully Alex hadn’t planned out his spring break for the second week in May, because those plans went up in smoke the second his final putt hit the bottom of the cup. Fitzpatrick earned an invite into the PGA Championship at Aronimink with his win, giving him his second career major championship start, following only the 2023 Open Championship.

3. A Players Championship invite

Thanks to his victory on Sunday, Fitzpatrick will also play in the PGA Tour’s flagship event next March at TPC Sawgrass.

4. Signature Events!

If you’re a player with $3 million in career earnings and you’re hoping to multiply your bank account, the Tour’s $20 million Signature Events series is a pretty good place to start. Fitzpatrick will have the chance to do exactly that over the coming months thanks to the Signature Events invites he received on Sunday evening. Fitzpatrick will spend the rest of his 2026 teeing up in some of the most lucrative events in golf, including the Cadillac Championship, Truist Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.

5. $1,375,000

Fitzpatrick’s win wasn’t just about money, but it was a little bit about money. He’d won $3 million in his career as a pro prior to Sunday’s victory, and he won nearly half of that total on Sunday evening, adding $1.375 million to his career earnings with the win.

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