Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs walks off the field after a game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium, Nov 12, 2023, in Minneapolis. Dobbs reflects following another start during his midseason stint, helping stabilize the Vikings offense during a stretch of quarterback uncertainty. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL’s quarterback free-agent pool received an injection on Monday after the New England Patriots cut ties with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The 31-year-old will now scour the league’s lay of the land for his 10th employer.
New England moved on, and Dobbs is back on the market again.
The Patriots will also need a QB3 for the 2026 campaign, or at least for the summer, so the Dobbs release is a bit strange.
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NE Moves on from the Former Vikings QB
The Patriots have passed on the Passtronaut for 2026.
New England Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs goes through pregame warmups before facing the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium, Nov 2, 2025, in Foxborough. Dobbs prepares for action as part of the Patriots quarterback room, getting loose ahead of a regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Dobbs Dropped by NE
Dobbs lasted a year in Foxborough. ESPN’s Mike Weiss wrote Monday, “The New England Patriots released quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Monday. Dobbs, 31, served as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drake Maye in the 2025 season. He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $3.2 million in 2026 and carried a $4.75 million salary cap charge. The deal included per-game roster bonuses of $25,000 (up to $425,000) and a $75,000 workout bonus.”
“Dobbs’ signature game with the Patriots came in a 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 19 when Maye left early in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Dobbs entered and on third-and-5 completed a 12-yard pass to receiver DeMario Douglas before Maye returned on a drive that ended with a touchdown. That put the Patriots ahead 24-13, and they cruised from there.”
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For what it’s worth, Dobbs should have no problem finding work as a QB2 or QB3 as early as now.
Tommy DeVito Wins for Now
The Patriots recently added DeVito, formerly of New Giants mini-fame, and that was apparently the catalyst for Dobbs’s release.
Weiss noted on DeVito, “The Patriots’ decision comes after the club signed No. 3 quarterback Tommy DeVito to a two-year deal with a base value of $4.4 million after not tendering him as a restricted free agent. DeVito’s deal includes incentives that could increase its value to $7.4 million.”
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“The team now projects to bump DeVito, on a cheaper contract, to the No. 2 role. A No. 3 quarterback is expected to be added later in the offseason.”
DeVito turned heads as a rookie in 2023 when the Giants went 3-3 on his watch, while the youngster delivered an 8-touchdown to 3-interception split. Oozing machismo, some bought into DeVito as the next big thing, but his undrafted Cinderella streak eventually ran out.
New England must believe it can resurrect DeVito in a QB2 capacity.
Dobbs’ Career
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For starters, here’s Dobbs enormous resume so far in his career:
Pittsburgh Steelers (2017–2019)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2020–2021)
Cleveland Browns (2022)
Detroit Lions (2022)
Tennessee Titans (2022)
Cleveland Browns (2023)
Arizona Cardinals (2023)
Minnesota Vikings (2023)
San Francisco 49ers (2024)
New England Patriots (2025)
In a remarkable three-week stretch in 2023, Dobbs led the Vikings to unexpected victories against Atlanta and New Orleans. These wins kept Minnesota’s playoff hopes alive, increasing their chances of making the postseason to over 80%.
It all unfolded rapidly. After Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in late October 2023, and with Nick Mullens also unavailable, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah quietly traded with Arizona, acquiring Dobbs for a 6th-Round pick and a conditional 7th. The condition for the 7th-Round pick was never met because Dobbs didn’t play enough for Arizona to trigger it, making the trade a minimal investment for Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs drops back to pass during first-half action against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, Nov 19, 2023, in Denver. Dobbs scans the field while managing the offense during his midseason stint with Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dobbs’s debut was unforgettable. Jaren Hall started against Atlanta that day but suffered a concussion, forcing Dobbs into action with limited knowledge of the playbook. His performance ignited “DobbsMania” in Minnesota. The following week, he replicated that success, leading the Vikings to a win against New Orleans.
However, the magic soon faded. The passing game struggled. Dobbs and Jordan Addison couldn’t establish a consistent connection, his accuracy faltered, and a critical miscommunication with Justin Jefferson in Denver proved costly. The following week in Las Vegas, head coach Kevin O’Connell replaced Dobbs with Mullens mid-game. The Vikings won, marking the abrupt end of Dobbs’s brief but memorable tenure in Minnesota.
He spent a season in San Francisco in 2024 and on to New England, where he lasted as another one-hit wonder.
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The Patriots’ FA Moves in March
In addition to the Dobbs release, the Patriots did not re-sign these players:
Alex Austin (CB) NE → MIA
K’Lavon Chaisson (ED) NE → WAS
Jack Gibbens (LB) NE → ARI
Jaylin Hawkins (S) NE → BAL
Austin Hooper (TE) NE → ATL
Vederian Lowe (LT) NE → SF
Khyiris Tonga (DL) NE → KC
Former Vikings center Garrett Bradbury was traded to the Chicago Bears a couple of weeks ago, so in addition to Dobbs and Bradbury, New England is basically getting rid of all its former purple players, including OT Vederian Lowe, DT Khyiris Tonga, and WR Stefon Diggs, who was also released.
New England Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs speaks with media members at the Santa Clara Marriott, Feb 5, 2026, in Santa Clara. Dobbs addresses reporters during a team-related media session, discussing his role and outlook as part of the Patriots organization. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
In return, the Patriots added these newcomers via free agency and re-signed these men:
Kevin Byard (S) CHI → NE
Mike Brown (S) TEN → NE
K.J. Britt (LB) TB → NE
Romeo Doubs (WR) GB → NE
Reggie Gilliam (FB) BUF → NE
Julian Hill (TE) MIA → NE
James Hudson (LT) NYG → NE
Dre’Mont Jones (ED) BAL → NE
Alijah Vera-Tucker (T/G) NYJ → NE
Kindle Vildor (CB) DET → NE
Oddsmakers expect the Patriots to win nine or ten games next season.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) celebrates after the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings drafted nine players during the 2026 NFL draft. Each of those Vikings rookies will go on their own journey, with expectations for a first-round draft pick wildly different from those for a seventh-round pick.
Caleb Banks Headlines Minnesota’s Rookie Outlook
The purpose of this article is to set realistic expectations for each of the non-Vikings rookies that were selected in the draft. Minnesota also hit the undrafted free agent market hard, making 19 signings. Those players won’t be included here, but their aim should be to surprise everyone and make the final roster. We turn our attention now to the draftees.
Pick 18: DI Caleb Banks, Florida Gators
The choice of Caleb Banks has come under criticism and is seen as a sign, largely due to his injury history, which includes a current foot injury. Banks is a risk, but he showcased his talents at the combine despite carrying the foot injury.
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He is a good fit in Brian Flores’ defense and if he can stay healthy, he should see plenty of opportunity in his rookie season. Banks’ length and strength give the Vikings a unique presence on the defensive front, allowing them to move across a variety of alignments. A healthy Banks can make an immediate impact in Minnesota.
Pick 51: LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati Bearcats
Minnesota used its second-round pick to add much-needed depth at linebacker. Jake Golday has intriguing length and athleticism with starter potential.
He will have time to develop his weaknesses, such as his instincts and anticipation, with veteran LB Eric Wilson returning this year as the placeholder at the position. Golday should shine on special teams early and look to make his mark when he gets the chance in the rotation on defense.
Pick 82: DI Domonique Orange, Iowa State Cyclones
Selecting another DT with their third pick in the draft, the Vikings seemed to be making this draft about making Flores happy. Domonique Orange is a massive defensive line prospect with elite power potential, supported by impressive weight-room strength.
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His first-step explosiveness allows him to generate strong speed-to-power as a bull rusher. Expect Orange on the field on early downs and short yardage. His overall playing time this year may hinge on the health of Banks, but Orange can be a reliable lineman for the Vikings from Day 1.
Pick 97: T Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern Wildcats
The first offensive pick of the draft, being a tackle, was a bit of a surprise. Still, Caleb Tiernan is a smart, balanced, and experienced player whose limitations stem from a naturally high pad level and shorter arm length.
That could see him kick inside to guard, where the Vikings seriously lack depth with Blake Brandel on course to be the new starting center. Tiernan’s technique and football IQ give him a path to a starting role, but early in his career he can cover multiple positions, where his value this season lies.
Pick 98: S Jakobe Thomas, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Many thought that Minnesota would prioritize the safety position and look for a starter to replace Harrison Smith. Instead, they waited until late on Day 2 to draft Jakobe Thomas.
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He offers intriguing size and physicality as an enforcer-type safety, but inconsistency in his play means plenty of development is needed for him to handle more than a rotational role, which is what he will be in his rookie season.
The Vikings selected Max Bredeson as a fullback. He never had a single rushing attempt in his college career. However, he did show he can catch passes. His value is rooted in his blocking ability, highlighted by a career-best 85.2 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025. The retirement of C.J. Ham has left the Vikings with holes at FB and on special teams that Bredeson should be able to fill.
Pick 163: CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Cornerback was another position the Vikings were expected to look at early by many, but instead, it was a late-round developmental prospect that landed in Minnesota. Charles Demmings drew attention at the Combine with an explosive athletic profile and strong testing numbers.
He measured 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds and ran a 4.41 40-yard dash and posted elite explosiveness with a 42-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump. His ball skills and tackling efficiency support sleeper potential, though he will require development at the next level. His rookie year will likely be spent in the shadows.
Pick 198: HB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Demond Claiborne gives the Vikings an interesting third option at running back. With a sprinter’s track background that clearly translates to the field, his speed and acceleration can stress defenses. Claiborne offers solid receiving upside and can be the team’s RB3 with special-teams value.
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Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) awaits the snap in the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images.
With Aaron Jones’ recent injury history, he might be thrown in for a bigger workload. If Kevin O’Connell uses him smartly, he can be effective.
Pick 235: C Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati Bearcats
Gerhardt brings extensive experience, having played 3,374 career snaps. In 2025, he earned a 68.4 overall grade from PFF with a 75.2 pass-blocking mark and a 66.1 run-blocking grade. He allowed just seven pressures and no sacks across 426 pass-blocking snaps, including only one pressure on 99 true pass sets.
His job is to make sure he’s second in line behind Brandel for the center job, and if the switch for Brandel doesn’t work he might get his chance.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
MLB’s hardest-throwing pitcher lived up to his reputation on Friday and then some, firing 36 pitches measured by Statcast at 100 mph or faster. Ten of them came in the first inning, when he blew away the top of the Yankees order.
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Per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, the previous fastest pitch ever record by a starting pitcher was Jordan Hicks with a 103.2 mph fastball on July 12, 2022 (with data going back to 2008). Misiorowski threw seven pitches harder than that on Friday.
The results matched the velocity, as he struck out 11 Yankees in 6 scoreless innings while allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks. That’s a strikeout for every letter in his last name.
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For those curious, the overall fastest pitch ever tracked by MLB is 105.8 mph from Aroldis Chapman (Sept. 24, 2010).
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The most cruel moment came in the second inning. Friday marked the MLB debut of Yankees prospect Spencer Jones, who has many fans excited about a power-speed combination that saw him post 11 homers and 7 stolen bases at Triple-A before his call-up.
Here is what Misiorowski did to him in his first big-league plate appearance: 103.6 mph up and in for a called strike, 102.3 mph up and in for a swinging strike, 103.6 mph up and in fouled off, 89 mph curveball in the zone for a foul-tip strikeout.
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It’s like the Yankees outsourced his rookie hazing.
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To Jones’ credit, he did better next time, drawing a walk in the fifth inning.
Misiorowski was already well-known as a flamethrower — Friday just represented his peak (so far) when it comes to velocity. His actual results have been up and down through about a full year in MLB, but he’s been absolutely terrifying for most of 2026. He leads all qualified MLB starters with a 39.5% strikeout rate through Friday, plus a 2.43 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Despite pleas from Joel Embiid and the best efforts of the 76ers’ ticket office, plenty of Knicks fans — including celebrity supporters Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Fat Joe — populated Xfinity Mobile Arena and provided loud support for the road team. Once again, the Sixers’ home court sounded like Madison Square Garden East.
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Embiid returned to the Sixers’ lineup after missing Wednesday’s Game 2 loss. He tussled early on with Karl-Anthony Towns in the post, though the Knicks center pulled Embiid toward the perimeter to create lanes to the basket and offensive-rebound opportunities. Sixers coach Nick Nurse adjusted by putting Dominick Barlow on Towns, allowing Embiid to roam near the basket for rim protection and rebounding.
But Towns still grappled with Embiid while playing defense and the two fell to the floor at least two times while fighting for position. That got Towns into foul trouble, putting him on the bench with three personal fouls as eight minutes remained before halftime.
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Knicks took control in second quarter
The 8:20 mark of the second quarter is also when the Knicks took their first lead of the game on a 3-pointer from Jose Alvarado putting them ahead, 38-35. That was part of an 11-3 run that included a ferocious poster dunk by Mitchell Robinson over Embiid on a lob from Brunson. Eventually, the Knicks outscored the Sixers 26-7 to take a 54-42 lead.
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Paul George got off to a scorching start, shooting 6-for-9 in the first quarter and hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers for 15 points. Yet he went scoreless in the second quarter as the Knicks surged ahead. George also showed zero defensive effort after his bad pass was picked off by Bridges for a fast-break layup.
The Knicks got a surprising spark off the bench late in the first quarter and midway through the second with nine points from Shamet, who hit four of his first five shots. That led to New York’s bench outscoring Philadelphia’s 16-0 in the second quarter.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a Kawhi Leonard-like 3-pointer from the wing as time expired to cut the Knicks’ halftime lead to 60-52. But despite the score, New York seized control on the court and in the crowd, not letting go on either front.
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Philadelphia cut the Knicks’ lead to 78-76 with 2:28 in the third quarter, helped in part by frequently fouling Robinson and hoping he would miss free throws. However, the reserve center somewhat negated that strategy by swishing four of his eight attempts. New York built its lead back up to six points at the free-throw line before Shamet knocked down a 3 to give the Knicks a nine-point advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday with tip-off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Danhausen made an insane demand from Nick Aldis ahead of tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown. Tonight’s show is the final episode of the blue brand ahead of Backlash tomorrow night.
Ahead of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Danhausen shared a video featuring Nick Aldis. In the video, the former AEW star demanded a lifetime supply of Slim Jims from the General Manager of SmackDown. You can check out the hilarious video in the veteran’s post below.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Snap into a @SlimJim or You….Are….Cursed!” he wrote.
The former AEW star debuted with the promotion at Elimination Chamber 2026 earlier this year in Chicago. He was revealed to be inside the mystery crate at the PLE and was booed by the fans in attendance.
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However, The Very Nice, Very Evil star has developed a connection with the WWE Universe since his shaky debut and has become a fan favorite. He will be teaming up with a mystery star tomorrow night at Backlash against The Miz and Kit Wilson. There was a report earlier today revealing the promotion’s plans for the 35-year-old’s mystery tag team partner at Backlash.
Former WWE star pitches Lio Rush as Danhausen’s replacement in AEW
Wrestling veteran Stevie Richards recently suggested that Lio Rush could become Danhausen’s replacement in All Elite Wrestling.
“I’ll tell you what, Lio Rush was smart—and you know why? Who was the last person to pull off a larger-than-life, ridiculous character and get super over in AEW? Toni Storm. It was so off the charts. When he did that run into the dive, the crowd actually reacted—and this is Collision, where the energy is usually pretty quiet. You could feel it lift. They lost Danhausen to WWE, but this could be a viable replacement. Like we said about Danhausen, wrestling needs more absurdity—and this is exactly that,” said Richards.
NORMAL LIO RUSH SHOWED UP ON ROH. During Action Andretti’s match this week, regular Lio Rush without his BLACKHEART persona came at ringside and then left. The split personality gimmick is official.
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Only time will tell who the popular star’s mystery tag team partner will be at Backlash tomorrow night in Tampa, Florida.
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The second-seeded San Antonio Spurs look to retake control of their best-of-seven series when they take on the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup on Friday night in the 2026 NBA playoffs. San Antonio evened the series 1-1 with a 133-95 win on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards (knee) is available for Minnesota, while Ayo Dosunmu (heel) is listed as questionable.
Tipoff from Target Center in Minneapolis is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. The Spurs are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Spurs vs. Timberwolves odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 216.5. Before making any Timberwolves vs. Spurs picks, check out the Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 26-9 roll (74%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Spurs vs. Timberwolves, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (216.5). The Under has hit in five of the last seven San Antonio games, and in four of the last six Minnesota games. The Under has also hit in 30 of the last 44 Timberwolves home games. The Under has also hit in 25 of the last 45 Spurs road games, with one push.
The SportsLine model is projecting the Spurs to have just three players scoring 15 points or more, led by Victor Wembanyama’s 23.3 points. Edwards is projected to lead the Timberwolves with 20.5 points scored, as only two Minnesota players will score 14 points or more. The teams are projected to combine for 211 total points as the Under hits in 59% of simulations, making it a great selection for anybody targeting NBA parlay betting. See the Spurs vs. Timberwolves spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Under in Spurs vs. Timberwolves at FanDuel here:
ENGIE Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 9 AFL game between GWS Giants and
Essendon Bombers. The game kicks off at 4:15 pm with GWS Giants heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the GWS Giants vs.
Essendon Bombers
game and give you our free tips and bets.
GWS returns home on Saturday afternoon looking to reignite its season against a struggling Essendon outfit. The Giants have found life difficult away from home in 2026, but a return to ENGIE Stadium could provide the perfect opportunity to reset after last week’s loss to Gold Coast. GWS has dominated Essendon in recent meetings in Western Sydney, winning its last four home games against the Bombers by hefty margins. Essendon’s problems deepened again during a heavy defeat to Brisbane, leaving the Bombers with just one win from eight matches this season. Defensive issues and a lack of midfield consistency continue to haunt Brad Scott’s side. While injuries have impacted GWS at times, the Giants still appear far more settled structurally and will see this fixture as a valuable chance to keep pace with the top-eight race.
Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Everyone wants to get better at golf. Even the best players in the world are always looking for any edge they can find to shoot lower scores.
The problem with most recreational golfers is that they don’t fully understand why they shoot higher scores than better players. Sure, they recognize the macro-level differences — longer drives, closer approaches, fewer putts — but they don’t always understand how better golfers consistently put themselves in position for success.
As you might expect, low-handicap golfers are more accurate off the tee than their high-handicap counterparts. But the gap between the two is smaller than you might think.
According to Arccos’ data, low single-digit handicaps (0–5) hit 50 percent of fairways across all age groups, while high-handicap players (30+) hit 40 percent. So, over the course of an average round, a low-handicap player will hit only one or two more fairways than a high-handicap playing partner.
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That’s likely a much smaller discrepancy than you expected (it certainly surprised me). But if you dig a little deeper into the data, you’ll see the biggest difference between these groups comes from the severity of their misses.
Wayward drive percentage
Arccos Golf
The table above charts the percentage of wayward drives across handicap groups, and it highlights one of the clearest differences between good and bad golfers.
According to Arccos, a “wayward drive” is any tee shot that results in either a penalty stroke or a recovery situation, such as a punch-out or layup. And as the chart shows, better golfers hit far fewer wayward drives than higher-handicap players.
A low-handicap golfer hits only about 12 percent of tee shots into this wayward category, while high-handicap golfers hit 45 percent of their drives wayward. Over a typical round, that means a low-handicap player hits only one or two drives into serious trouble. A high-handicap player, on the other hand, hits six or seven wayward drives — nearly half of all tee shots.
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So what does this mean for you? If you want to shoot scores like a low-handicap golfer, you need to drive the ball like one — and that means keeping the ball in play. You don’t need to hit every fairway, but you do need to avoid the big miss. Do that consistently, and lower scores will follow.
Juveniles Uncertain Glory along with La Barrita faced mixed results at Warwick Farm, but opportunities in Queensland await both this winter.
Warwick Farm’s two-year-old fillies maiden could become a benchmark for Brisbane’s winter carnival, with the top finisher and third both earmarked for northern campaigns.
Tommy Berry guided Michael Freedman’s Uncertain Glory ($3.90) to claim the Ranvet Plate (1000m), prevailing by a long neck over Palmanova ($11), as favourite La Barrita ($3) stormed home third, beaten by a mere short half-head.
This Zoustar daughter Uncertain Glory debuted successfully, and Berry believes she will thrive over extended trips.
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“The biggest query today was the 1000 metres. She will be better at 1100 and 1200,” Berry said.
“She was just a bit impatient in the gates. She was the same at the trials and she’s not pinging the barriers, but she has got good speed after that.
She got a little bit lost at the furlong, but I loved that when Kerrin McEvoy’s filly (La Barrita) came to her outside, she really knuckled down late.”
Michael Freedman did not attend, yet stable spokesperson Sophie Johnson shared that plans include possible Brisbane raids for the filly during the carnival.
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“He’s got a couple of options and her owner is here and he’s quite keen on the idea of going to Queensland,” Johnson said.
From Victoria came La Barrita, handled by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, as a trial run before Queensland ambitions.
Denied the win, the filly nevertheless impressed by overcoming a wide draw and hitting the line hard.
“She did everything but win,” Calvin McEvoy said.
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“She made a couple of mistakes and from a wide barrier, it was always going to be tough if she didn’t fly the gates.
We wanted to come here as a bit of a fact finding mission, hoping she could win and get the prizemoney for the $1 million Magic Millions race. That’s going to be a bit difficult now, but she is a filly that is going to love 1200 and 1400 metres.
It’s all a bit open now, but we are going to go to Queensland.”
This week, Justin Thomas made a switch to an essential copy of the putter after Young won the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship over the past month and a half.
Justin Thomas has a new Phantom 9.5R putter that is basically a copy of Cam Young’s putter.
“You want Cam’s putter? We were going to get Cam’s putter,” Scotty Cameron rep Brad Cloke told me.
Thomas switched from his Phantom 5.5 gamer midway through the RBC Heritage last month… pic.twitter.com/bSLJteD7HQ
It’s Thomas’ second switch in a month after he benched his Phantom 5.5 gamer midway through the RBC Heritage last month and played well on the weekend using a backup Newport 2 GSS blade.
He continued using that putter last week, but at Quail Hollow, he wanted to find something that would stick long term. He had worked himself nearly back to 0 strokes gained: putting after a disastrous start to his season at Bay Hill, before a rough opening two rounds at Harbour Town. He lost strokes with the blade last week in Miami.
“Some of it is just calibration. … some of it is just, he, you know, the potential of making good putts but not seeing anything go in type of thing,” Scotty Cameron Tour Rep Brad Cloke told GOLF. “It just seemed like he kind of wanted to start a little bit from scratch this week.”
So he asked for a couple of new putters, including some 9.2Rs, a shape he used previously, and a copy of Cam Young’s 9.5R.
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“I literally texted Cameron’s guys and said, ‘Just give me Cam’s putter,’” Thomas said Friday, who played with Young the first two days.
“Obviously, with the success that Cam is having … these guys are as they see success and they want to see what it’s all about potentially,” Cloke said.
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In addition to having a low-bend shaft that mimics the look and toe hang of a jet neck, Thomas’s 5.5 also has smooth face milling that makes it a bit louder-sounding and firmer.
His new putter matches Young’s so it has mid-milled face, but he’s actually preferred the milling on the new 9.5R.
“It was more so of like, ‘Hey, this is different, but I’m kind of liking it,’” Cloke said. “The comment that I heard from him was about feel, but it was more so like, ‘I’m actually surprised I like the way this feels.’”
While the putter is Thomas’ spec length and has his grip, it has the same graphite shaft Young uses and a full-length sight line. Thomas found that made it super easy to line up.
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“It’s just so hard to putt well if you don’t have confidence, and so hard to have confidence unless you’re seeing it go in more often,” Thomas said. “So I really, really worked hard Monday through Wednesday on my speed and start line and everything to where I just felt like I was in a better place and more freed up when I was putting.”
Through two rounds, it’s been highly successful as Thomas sits at seven under going into the weekend and is gaining nearly three strokes on the field, good for top 10 in the stat.
While the biggest story in Ping putters was Tony Finau’s bizarre technique with a prototype Oslo Onset long putter early in the week, he ended up going back to the Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue Onset he switched to in February.
In fact, Ping’s Ally Blue headshape had a solid week, earning two high-profile conversions, one so surprising Ping Tour Rep Kenton Oates didn’t even take it seriously.
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Sahith Theegala, who, as we profiled in Bag Spy this week, loves to practice with random putters every week on the PGA Tour before returning to his longtime Anser gamer, was losing a putting contest on the practice green using an Ally Blue H when Oates hollered over for him to try his gamer.
“He goes, ‘This is what I used Sunday of Cadillac,’” Oates said. “And I go, ‘What? He goes, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to use it on Thursday.’”
Theegala followed through on Thursday in the first round of the Truist Championship and kept it in the bag for Friday as well.
Turns out, this wasn’t another random practice putter for Theegala; this is something he worked on with Ping Principal Design Engineer Tony Serrano. He’s actually had the putter for over a year.
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Theegala started working on a mallet putter with Serrano, feeling like he could gain forgiveness over his Anser blade.
“The key thing for him is, he has a certain stroke, a certain rotation in his stroke that requires something with some toe down,” Serrano said. “He’s always played an Anser 2 that hang at that 40 or 42 degrees that work perfectly for his stroke.”
The Ally Blue H has the same plumber’s neck hosel Theegala is used to and similar CG and toe hang properties, making it a more natural transition.
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At the RSM Classic last November, Serrano and Theegala spent lots of time with a Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue H, but it was the PLD Milled version that ended up going in the bag. Theegala ended up putting a counterbalance grip on it as well, but Serrano didn’t know when or why he added that himself.
A new Ally Blue H is also in the bag of Kristoffer Reitan as the PGA Tour rookie finds himself three off the lead heading into the weekend.
Reitan’s PLD Milled Ally Blue H is virtually identical to the Scottsdale Tec version, complete with the aluminum head, steel sole plate and PEBAX insert. But it was made from scratch to have an uninterrupted sight line.
A new Ally Blue H is in the bag of Kristoffer Reitan as the PGA Tour rookie finds himself three off the lead heading into the weekend.
Reitan’s PLD Milled Ally Blue H is virtually identical to the Scottsdale TEC version, complete with the aluminum head, steel sole plate and… pic.twitter.com/cUYx30Selx
After visiting Ping’s PLD Putting Lab in February, the Ping team discovered that Reitan needed a putter with more toe hang than the face-balanced model he was using. He loved the Scottsdale TEC feel and visual with the white head, but just wanted a full sight line.
Serrano said it was simply easier to make him a new PLD head than repurpose an existing Scottsdale TEC.
Rory McIlroy returns to Qi4D 3-wood
In his first event back since winning his second green jacket, Rory McIlroy changed the one club he switched out for his his big Masters win.
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After using a Qi4D fairway wood since November, McIlroy went back to his Qi10 3-wood for the Masters, and promptly won his fifth straight major for the club.
But that turns out to be a short-term reversion for McIlroy as he’s back in a Qi4D 3-wood at Quail Hollow, where he’s won four times.
Rory McIlroy is back in a Qi4D 3-wood this week after a one-tournament revert back to the Qi10 when he won the Masters.
“I had been using the 4D 3-wood at the start of the season,” he said on Wednesday. “I noticed that it just had a little bit of a left by as in it. So I went… pic.twitter.com/F2kRlsFrsW
McIlroy said on Wednesday the switch was made because his Qi4D had a bit of a left miss.
“I had been using the 4D 3-wood at the start of the season. I noticed that it just had a little bit of a left bias in it,” McIlroy said. “So I went back to an old Qi10 for a while. But that wasn’t, it really wasn’t spinning enough. It’s more like a mini driver than a 3-wood.”
McIlroy actually said that kind of club could be useful at the Memorial, seemingly teasing he’ll use it at Muirfield Village next month, but for this week at Quail Hollow and next week at the PGA Championship, he wanted something with a bit more spin.
He started working on a new 3-wood with the TaylorMade team.
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TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Fairway Wood
PROVEN RECIPE
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TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts.
REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES
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Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence.
Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels.
TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
“Post-Augusta we went back and looked at the data and he was actually getting center strikes that were drawing too much,” TaylorMade Tour rep Keith Sbarbaro said. “So the club was acting like he was toeing it. It was kind of gear-affecting left.
“So what we did is we moved the CG a little more toward the toe to try and square that up. The other thing he was getting some under-spinning shots that were knuckling a little bit.”
With the new 3-wood, Sbarbaro said McIlroy hit eight shots that all spun between 3,100 and 3,300 RPM and flew right on target. That’ll do!
Check this out
This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out Justin Thomas’ 10-plus-year old Titleist 915Fd 5-wood.
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Justin Thomas’ 5-wood is one of the oldest clubs on the PGA Tour.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
Odds and Ends
Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.
Reitan also has a new Ping G440 K driver with a Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White shaft. … Titleist launched the GTS300 Mini Driver on the PGA Tour this week, with the name suggesting it’s larger than its predecessor. … Brooks Koepka began his post-Srixon era with a new Grove XXIII staff bag and set of Vokey SM11 wedges, along with a rare WedgeWorks 60B Lob Wedge. … Lucas Glover added new GTS2 15.0 and 21.0 fairway woods. … Five players added new TaylorMade Qi4D fairways: Nico Echavarria (Qi4D 3-wood), Jason Day (Qi4D 9-wood), Robert MacIntyre (Qi4D 7-wood), Denny McCarthy (Qi4D Tour 3-wood) and Matt Wallace (Qi4D 7-wood) … McCarthy also switched to a Spider Tour X L-neck.
Angel Canino and the La Salle Lady Spikers during a game against NU Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Perfect in the elimination round and perfect in winning Game 1.
With that, La Salle is eyeing nothing but staying the same as the Lady Spikers try to wrap up the Season 88 UAAP women’s volleyball Finals against back-to-the-wall National University on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
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A 13th title in a spotless 16-0 campaign is within reach and the Lady Spikers won’t let their guard down against a bounce-back-seeking Lady Bulldogs in their 5 p.m. duel as NU tries to keep a “three-peat” bid alive.
Angel Canino, whose generational Rookie-MVP season three years ago was also the last time La Salle won a title, is determined to finish the season with a championship and add to the Lady Spikers’ rich winning tradition.
“I really want to end this in a good way, something we can be proud of,” said Canino in Filipino after delivering 17 points in a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 Game 1 ripping of the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday. She wants nothing but to end a two-year wait for another championship, especially after being swept by National U last season when Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomona still bannered the Bulldogs.
“Now, I’m trying to be more patient with myself and with my teammates,” Canino said. “I think that’s what will carry us to a championship, not just skills, but how we carry ourselves and handle everything so we can finish the season the right way.”
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La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus reminds his wards, also bannered by Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, Shane Reterta and rookie setter Eshana Laput, not to be complacent, with the Lady Bulldogs looking to force a rubber match—which would be the first in the tournament since 2019 when Ateneo beat UST for the Season 81 crown.
“We’ll just stick to our preparation. NU doesn’t really change how they play, win or lose—they’re consistent,” De Jesus said as he tries to end the season of former player and now NU counterpart Regine Diego. “Their setter is very experienced, their spikers are solid and even their second stringers are strong.
“NU played really well, but our players just wanted it more,” said De Jesus, who eyes his second tournament sweep since 2004’s 14-0 run.
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True enough, Diego won’t back down, as she and the Lady Bulldogs remain optimistic despite getting swept in Game 1.
“I knew they weren’t going to give it to us easily, which is why it was such a tough game,” Diego said. “But for sure, we’ll bounce back in the next one.”
Vange Alinsug, who had 12 points in Game 1, is eager to keep their “three-peat” bid alive.
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“Right now, I’m just trying to lift up my teammates because I can see that we all want this badly,” said Alinsug. “We just need to play with even more heart. It’s not over yet. We still have work to do.
“We need to give even more, especially now that La Salle’s confidence is really high,” she added. “We have to polish the things we need to improve on. We really need to stay consistent, especially in the stretch.”
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National U will continue to turn to Arah Panique, who led the team with 18 points and fifth-year setter Lams Lamina. Top rookie Sam Cantada, who struggled in her Finals debut with two points on a 1-of-18 attacking clip, vowed to show up.nu
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