Feb 23, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) grabs a defensive rebound against Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Jabari Smith Jr. scored a game-high 31 points, Kevin Durant and Tari Eason chipped in double-doubles and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 125-105 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Monday.
Smith shot 12 of 17, drilled six 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds to ignite the Rockets, who won for the fourth time in six games. Durant paired 18 points with a season-high 12 assists while Eason logged 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Amen Thompson added 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds for the Rockets, who dominated the glass with a plus-16 margin.
Houston’s Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double (16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists). Reed Sheppard tallied 15 points on five 3-pointers off the bench.
Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points but missed 9 of 10 from behind the arc for the Jazz, who played without Keyonte George (ankle), their second-leading scorer. Brice Sensabaugh posted 26 points and four treys as Utah took its third loss in a row.
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Behind Smith, the Rockets erased an early turnover-fueled deficit with a hail of 3-pointers. Utah, courtesy of its full-court pressure, seized a quick 9-6 lead before Smith caught fire. Smith scored 14 first-quarter points on four 3-pointers and a fastbreak dunk, and Houston carried a 38-22 lead into the second period after drilling 8 of 13 from behind the arc.
Durant, who nailed a 3-pointer just before the period expired, and Sheppard hit two 3-pointers each in the first.
The Rockets missed all three of their 3-point tries in the second but countered with a whopping 26 points in the paint. The Jazz opened the second with a 13-2 blitz that shaved the deficit to 40-35, only for the Rockets to respond with a flurry of transition baskets.
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Durant was the catalyst of the fastbreak attack. He recorded six assists in the second quarter, and Houston scored 14 fastbreak points in the period. Thompson sank a floater in the lane off a Sengun screen for a 58-37 lead with 3:58 to go in the second, and Houston took a 68-47 lead into halftime.
Smith gave the Rockets an 86-56 advantage on a fadeaway jumper with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Houston eventually led by as many as 33 points. On the plus side for the Jazz, they converted 27 Rockets turnovers into 34 points.
NEW DELHI: Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stirred debate at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after urging Pakistan to make a bold selection call ahead of their must-win Super 8 clash against England in Pallekele on Tuesday. Taking to social media, Ashwin advised Pakistan to promote Fakhar Zaman to the middle order if they are serious about staying alive in the tournament.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“If Pakistan are serious about this World Cup campaign, they need to think about giving Fakhar Zaman a go in the middle order,” Ashwin wrote on X. He emphasised Fakhar’s ability to counter England’s spin threat, particularly leg-spinner Adil Rashid and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.
T20 World Cup: Sahibzada Farman press conference ahead of Pakistan vs England
“He can sweep and use his feet against Rashid and Dawson to inflict some serious damage through the middle overs. This was Nepal’s success formulae against Rashid and there are some key learning’s that the other teams can try to imbibe. Access the square boundaries to earn balls in the step hit zone,” Ashwin added.Ashwin pointed to Nepal’s success against Rashid, even sharing a wagon wheel graphic to illustrate how accessing square boundaries and using footwork disrupted England’s control in the middle overs.The suggestion comes as spin is expected to dominate at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where slowing surfaces have already influenced results. England’s spinners, supported by pacer Jofra Archer, played a decisive role in their commanding win over Sri Lanka, while their batting has found unlikely heroes.Despite inconsistent performances from senior players like Jos Buttler, England have continued to win, with captain Harry Brook backing his experienced core to deliver soon. Opener Phil Salt has also rediscovered form at a crucial time.Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, face a far more precarious situation. Their opening Super 8 match against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them with little margin for error. While their spin attack offers variety, their batting has struggled for consistency beyond leading scorer Sahibzada Farhan.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation, led by Fouzi Lekjaa, has opened talks with former FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández to become the new head coach of the Atlas Lions.
Morocco and Walid Regragui parted ways last week after the national team failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. The team went into the tournament with high hopes but could not secure the continental title.
People close to the federation say negotiations with Xavi are moving forward, with the former Spain midfielder viewed as a top choice to lead the team into a new phase.
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If both parties reach an agreement, Xavi is expected to guide Morocco to the next FIFA World Cup in the summer. The federation wants to build on the country’s recent progress in world football and keep Morocco among the strong teams on the global stage.
Great Britain’s Menna Fitzpatrick will compete in the Winter Paralympics, almost three months after suffering a significant knee injury.
Para-alpine skier Fitzpatrick, Britain’s most decorated Winter Paralympian with six medals, sustained the injury in training in December but opted against surgery in a bid to compete at the Milan-Cortina Games, which start on 6 March.
The 27-year-old and her guide, Katie Guest, are among the second wave of athletes named in the GB team., external
Fred Warburton and guide James Hannan, Sam Cozens and guide Adam Hall, Hester Poole and guide Ali Hall, and Dominic Allen also make the Para-alpine team.
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Snowboarder Davy Zyw has been included and is thought to be the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease (MND) to compete at the Games.
In doing so, the 27-year-old became a three-division world champion and cemented himself as a top 10 pound-for-pound star, with many considering him the flagship fighter at 147lbs.
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But despite having only just made his mark on the welterweight division, Haney must now turn his attention towards a selection of fearsome rivals.
Top of his list, according to Bill, is Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who was stripped of his WBA lightweight title last month following a series of domestic violence charges. Even if the controversial Davis returns to the sport, he would face a big size disadvantage against Haney.
Elsewhere on the list is WBO super-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, yet the four-division world champion has said he would only fight Haney at a catchweight of 144lbs, or at welterweight with a 10lbs rehydration clause.
Even so, it appears the American has afforded himself plenty of alternative options, with Bill Haney revealing several of them to ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT.
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“I think ‘Tank’ is at the top of [Devin’s list], maybe Shakur is next.
“Jaron Ennis; Conor Benn might be on there towards the bottom. I think Ryan Garcia is No.10; Brian Norman was on there.
“Keyshawn Davis is on there too. He can get it too.”
With Ennis campaigning at 154lbs and aiming for his own intriguing contest with Vergil Ortiz Jr before targeting belts, Haney is unlikely to deliver on that particular fight just yet.
Potential bouts with Garcia, Keyshawn Davis and Benn, however, could soon become far more realistic, especially now that Garcia offers a unification as well as a storyline from their first controversial encounter.
Mar 22, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Rebeka Masarova (SUI) hits a forehand against Danielle Collins (USA)(not pictured) on day five of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova overpowered third-seeded Xinyu Wang of China 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the ATX Open on Monday in Austin, Texas.
Masarova won 85.7% of her first-serve points (30 of 35) and saved four of the five break points she faced. She avenged a loss to Wang three weeks ago in the second round at Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The only other seeded player in action on Monday, No. 7 Anna Bondar of Hungary, lost to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 7-5.
In a matchup of U.S. qualifiers, Whitney Osuigwe rallied past Elizabeth Mandlik 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
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Taylor Townsend of the United States edged the Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, but two other U.S. players lost. Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova beat Katie Volynets 6-4, 7-5, and Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva defeated Alycia Parks 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Merida Open Akron
Marina Stakusic, a 21-year-old Canadian ranked 142nd in the world, upset fifth-seeded Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 in the first round at Merida, Mexico.
The result was the first tour-level win for Stakusic this year. She fell in the first round at Canberra, Australian, then qualified for the Australian Open before losing in the first round at Melbourne. Stakusic was aided on Monday by Yastremska’s six double faults.
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Great Britain’s Katie Boulter and Colombia’s Emiliana Arango earned straight-set wins, while Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva eked out a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Dynasty ranking changes from January to February are generally pretty minimal. They are mostly influenced by the smattering of news we get and my first run at 2026 Fantasy Football projections. This year, at quarterback, the changes in the rankings are almost completely nonexistent. Just don’t get used to this static situation because before I release my March rankings, there are at least eight quarterbacks who could change uniforms and their Dynasty outlook radically altered.
My way-too-early 2026 quarterback projections are here.
The first two obvious names are Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa. Both of their respective teams have new coaches and have expressed at least some interest in moving on from their very expensive quarterbacks. The risk of them not finding starting jobs has already been factored in to some degree, but it could be worse. For either of these quarterbacks, if their situations are unresolved a month from now, I will be more nervous. At the same time, if they find a new home as a starter in March, they could be risers. I am more optimistic both about Murray’s chances of finding a starting job and his Fantasy upside if he does, which is why he is ranked considerably higher than Tagovailoa.
Earlier in February, I had Jay Felicio from QB List on Fantasy Football Today Dynasty to discuss the state of the quarterback position. Check it out:
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The free agent I am most interested in monitoring in the next month is Malik Willis. From my view, those two teams we just talked about, the Dolphins and the Cardinals, are the two most likely to give Willis a starter’s contract in 2026. The path to him being a riser in the next month is if Willis receives a contract that offers him more long-term security than what Justin Fields received last year. These two coaching staffs have close connections to the Packers, so if anyone is willing to take that risk, it should be them. Over the past two seasons, Willis has thrown 89 passes and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Combine that with his rushing upside, and if Willis gets a three-year deal, he could vault into the top 20 in the rankings below.
Other quarterbacks who could see the biggest gains or losses in the next month are Jacoby Brissett, Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, and Geno Smith. Of course, we have no reason to expect Rodgers to make a decision that fast, and we’ll have to wait until August at least to see how Jones’ rehab is coming. One thing is for sure: We should expect far more changes in the Dynasty QB rankings next month than we got this month. We may even get to add Derek Carr back in if he decides to return to the NFL.
I don’t rank rookies until they are drafted, but I have already started to think about where I will put them. Assuming Fernando Mendoza is taken first overall by the Raiders, I anticipate he will rank somewhere between QB15 and QB18 in the rankings below. I would be surprised if any other rookie cracks the top 25.
The World No. 4 German is the top seed in Acapulco, and the ATP 500 hardcourt event will mark his first competitive outing since his heartbreaking loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Zverev finished as the runner-up in Acapulco back in 2019, but two years later, managed to win the title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
Moutet, the World No. 35 from France, like Zverev, was beaten by Alcaraz in Melbourne. The crafty Frenchman then took a short break before featuring in ATP Tour-level action once more at the recently-concluded Delray Beach Open. Here, eventual runner-up Tommy Paul dashed his hopes in the very first round.
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Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet head-to-head
Moutet in action at the 2026 Delray Beach Open (Source: Getty)
Zverev and Moutet have locked horns twice in the past and on both occasions, the German has come out on top. Their first meeting, at the ATP 250 tournament in Stuttgart last year, resulted in a straight-set win for Zverev. However, their second clash, at last year’s China Open, went the distance, with the German ultimately downing the Frenchman 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet odds
Player Name
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Alexander Zverev
-500
-4.5 (+105)
Over 21.5 (-125)
Corentin Moutet
+340
+4.5 (-150)
Under 21.5 (-115)
(Odds via BetMGM)
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet prediction
Zverev is a heavy favorite to defeat Corentin Moutet in their upcoming first-round match at the 2026 Mexican Open. The German, the 2021 champion in Acapulco, has started 2026 strongly, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and boasting a 5-1 record in his recent matches.
Conversely, Moutet has struggled with form, losing four of his last six matches, and has never defeated the German. Zverev’s superior power, consistent serving, and experience on the hard courts of Mexico make him far too strong for the Frenchman.
While Moutet is talented, he is unlikely to break through Zverev’s defense. Expect a dominant performance from Zverev, cruising to a straight-sets victory.. The match should confirm Zverev’s status as a top contender for the 2026 Acapulco title.
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Pick: Zverev to win in straight sets.
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet betting tips
Tip 1: An upset is possible given Zverev’s return from a break, making ‘Corentin Moutet +4.5 Games’ a potential alternative for those expecting a closer contest than the straight-set prediction.
North Carolina passed a significant test without star forward Caleb Wilson on Monday night, as the No. 18 Tar Heels toppled No. 24 Louisville 77-74. The win improved the Tar Heels (22-6, 10-5 ACC) to 3-1 since Wilson suffered a fractured hand in a Feb. 10 loss at Miami.
Between the uncertainty around Wilson’s potential return and a subsequent injury to starting center Henri Veesaar, UNC’s trajectory seemed uncertain less than a week ago. Those concerns were laid bare in blowout loss at NC State on Feb. 17.
But Veessar’s return in Saturday’s win at Syracuse, Monday night’s victory over a quality ACC foe and Wilson’s apparent progression have steadied the waters in Chapel Hill. North Carolina hopes to have Wilson back for its regular-season finale against Duke on March 7, ESPN reported during the broadcast of the game .
The Tar Heels are squarely in the hunt for a double-bye at the ACC Tournament and expected to remain a No. 6 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology on Tuesday following their sixth Quad 1 win.
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Seth Trimble paced North Carolina with a career-high 30 points as UNC kept Louisville at arm’s length for most of the second half. The Cardinals closed within a possession on two occasions in the final minute, but a pair of Trimble free throws with nine seconds left helped UNC escape.
In his second game back since a two-game absence due to a lower-extremity Veesaar added 12 points for North Carolina. Mikel Brown Jr. paced Louisville (20-8, 9-6) with 24 points for the Cardinals.
Games against Virginia Tech and Clemson still await before Wilson’s expected return. But the light is now at the end of the tunnel, and the Tar Heels are proving they can manage without their leading scorer and rebounder. Wilson, who is a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, averages 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.
In his absence, UNC has leaned more on junior forward Jarin Stevenson and Montenegrin import Luka Bogavac. Both carried their weight against Louisville by combining for 21 points on 4 of 9 shooting from 3-point range.
Seth Trimble’s star gear
While having Veesaar back and getting Wilson healthy are pivotal for North Carolina’s aspirations, UNC’s ceiling may ultimately be determined by the sort of guard play it gets in March. Trimble showed he can put UNC on his back, if needed, by turning in the best offensive game of his four-year Tar Heels career.
His steal and breakaway dunk at the 13:38 mark gave North Carolina its biggest lead at 56-40. Trimble outplayed Louisville’s formidable star tandem of Brown and Ryan Conwell, which was an accomplishment considering those two combined for 47 points. Once Wilson is back, less will be required of Trimble offensively. But this game was a reminder of his capabilities and could be a confidence booster for the team’s third-leading scorer.
Jack Draper recorded his first tour-level win in 182 days as he defeated French qualifier Quentin Halys in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, while unveiling a new buzz cut.
He made his comeback in the Davis Cup last week as Great Britain defeated Norway, but Draper’s victory in Dubai was his first on the ATP since the US Open in August, where he withdraw after beating Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round.
Draper, who remains ranked 15th in the world despite his long absence, required one hour and 39 minutes to defeat the 68th-ranked Halys 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.
The 23-year-old was forced to save two set points in the first-set tiebreaker, before finding the only break of serve of the match midway through the second set.
“It feels so good, honestly. To be out here, to be competing in front of people. I’ve been craving the feeling of competing for, for a very long time,” Draper said.
“It just felt normal. It felt like, I was coming back to doing what I love, which is, which is being out here competing and having that adrenaline winning and losing points.
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(REUTERS)
“A lot of people have helped me to get back to this position after a lot of down moments in the last eight months. It’s really not been easy to be back here, that’s something I can be really proud of and long may it continue.”
Draper said he had been hitting a “sh*tload” of serves over the past eight months and has looked to change part of his service motion since he started working with new coach Jamie Delgado.
“It’s more serving than I’ve ever done in the past because I’ve had to get my arm back to being 100 per cent and that takes time.”
He will face either Fabian Marozsan or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.
My heart remains at Riviera Country Club, but my body is in a middle seat en route home. What better time to reflect on the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing — the good, the bad, the rumored, the mysterious.
Here are some winners, losers and questions from the opening stretch of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
WINNER: The 26-year-olds
Chris Gotterup won two of the first four events on this year’s calendar (given unusual circumstances, we’re treating the Sony as a half member of this year’s West Coast Swing), playing his best when things got most chaotic at the WM Phoenix Open and establishing himself as a fan favorite, a proven winner and arguably the best player on Tour 26 years old or below.
His current competition for that extremely unofficial title includes the guy who just won at Riviera; Jacob Bridgeman, like Gotterup, is 26. And while Gotterup took the weekend off (he missed the Genesis cut) Bridgeman beat everyone’s doors off for three days and hung on on Sunday to establish that he, too, has what it takes.
Is the PGA Tour headed back to Hawaii? Next year? Ever? It skipped Kapalua this year under controversial circumstances. Its Sony sponsorship just ran out. As the powers that be continue to reimagine the Tour’s optimal schedule, Hawaii remains a logistical challenge lacking a “big market.” How highly will Rolapp and Co. value continuity, tradition and nostalgia? We’ll see.
QUESTION: Where are the 25-year-olds?
Speaking of age, it’s jarring to browse whichever version of the world rankings you’d prefer and marvel at the lack of young stars. The 26-year-olds may be having a moment, but we’re still waiting for the emergence of the next young wave. There’s no reason to despair: Akshay Bhatia (24), the Hojgaard twins (also 24) and the Michaels (Brennan and Thorbjornsen, each 24) could all be on the brink of a breakthrough. But with Tom Kim in a bit of a rut, it feels like we’re searching for Who’s Next. (Shoutout also to Blades Brown, who stole the show for much of the week in Palm Springs.)
WINNER: The 45-year-olds
OK, I promise this whole list won’t be about age. In fact, lemme start with some hypocrisy: I wish when we talk about Justin Rose and Adam Scott that we’d focus less on their age. But it’s a useful way to pair two particularly impressive West Coast showings; Rose’s blowout win at Torrey Pines is worth extra points, of course, but Scott’s Sunday 63 to finish fourth at Riviera was nothing to scoff at, either. These guys are remarkably similar ages, they’ve had remarkably similar careers and they’re performing at remarkably similar levels at the moment. Let’s get ’em on a remarkable leaderboard at the Masters.
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LOSER: The Scandinavians
While athletes from Norway and Sweden were dominating the Winter Olympics, their PGA Tour counterparts were having a slightly tougher time on the West Coast. Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are among the Tour’s biggest talents and fan favorites — but neither has had his best thus far this year.
Hovland had a strong start at the WM Phoenix Open (T10) but less so at Pebble Beach (T58) and Riviera (T41), where talk turned more to his training aids than his scores.
And Aberg got severely ill for a second consecutive West Coast Swing — though if there’s good news, it’s that he seems to be trending up. Going WD-MC-T37-T20 means I guess he’s headed for a Masters victory?
(In other Scandinavian news, Alex Noren went MC-MC in Palm Springs and San Diego, but his T12 at Riviera was encouraging, too. And representing Denmark, the Hojgaard twins have each showed encouraging signs; Nicolai finished T3 at the WM and was one blowup hole from contending to win.)
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QUESTION: Will Tiger Woods play the Masters?
Tiger Woods hinted that he’ll try. Then he hinted that he’ll try a second time. I don’t know if he will, but I think he’s told us the truth — if he can, he’ll do it.
LOSER: Scottie Scheffler’s Thursdays
Scottie Scheffler’s first Thursday of the season was a 63 at the American Express. So it’s particularly jarring that he’s just No. 116 on Tour in Round 1 Scoring Average. And it was strange to see him in last place when play was halted this past Thursday. Still …
WINNER: Scottie Scheffler’s other days
Considering he was in last place on Friday morning and needed to make a seven-foot curler on 18 just to stay inside the cut line, Scheffler’s T12 was another remarkable display of skill and determination. Sure, it snapped his streak of 18 consecutive Tour top-10s. But it only reinforced the idea that if you play enough rounds of golf, eventually Scheffler will rise to the top. Four tournaments in, here’s how his scoring average looks by round:
Round 1: 70.50 (116th)
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Round 2: 65.75 (2nd)
Round 3: 67.00 (7th)
Round 4: 64.50 (2nd)
(If you were wondering who could possibly beat that 64.5, Will Zalatoris has played one fourth round this year and shot 64.)
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QUESTION: So what the heck is going on with Scheffler on Thursdays?
My best guess is still some version of “nothing, really; this has just been a weird blip on the radar.” He led the Tour in first-round scoring last year, after all, and has had some funky starts in strange conditions. Let’s wait for a bigger sample size before we get panicky here.
WINNER: California kids
I’m thinking of two in particular: Collin Morikawa, who won for the first time in too long at Pebble Beach, and Jake Knapp, who just quietly put together the best stretch of golf of his life. Knapp hasn’t finished worse than T11 in five starts this year. Morikawa’s win was meaningful on several levels — because of how long it had been, because of where it took place, because of everything that went into it, because he and his wife have a baby on the way. It’s good to see West Coast kids eat up the West Coast Swing. And then of course there was another California sensation in the winner’s circle …
LOSER: Anthony Kim’s haters and doubters
I write this tongue in cheek; I think Anthony Kim‘s win showed just how many people have been on his side this entire time, rooting for something special. But he’s used a chip on his shoulder to get this far, and his shot at the haters showed he’ll keep drawing on that. Mostly it’s worth acknowledging that one of golf’s biggest moments this month happened on LIV Golf, with a one-of-a-kind comeback story capped off with an electric finish to a story a dozen years in the making.
QUESTION: What’s next for Jon Rahm, LIV and the DP World Tour?
Big picture, this is one of pro golf’s most compelling questions moving forward; LIV and the DP World Tour still seem in an uneasy coexistence and I’m curious how that will resolve. For now the DPWT has reached a temporary truce with several of its LIV members, allowing them to play both circuits and maintain Ryder Cup eligibility. But why isn’t Jon Rahm one of the players taking that deal, and is there any chance in the world he doesn’t play on next year’s European Ryder Cup team?
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WINNER: CBS golf coverage
These courses look awesome in person, they look incredible on television and CBS continues to innovate in order to dial in their coverage.
CBS is done until Augusta.
So they’ll go Pebble-Riviera-Augusta-Hilton Head. Might be the last time it happens.
Also, the little stuff continues to go a long way.
With Justin Rose up 6, shoutout to CBS going into commercial with ‘Ramble on Rose’ by the Grateful Dead. Good stuff on a few levels. The little things go a long way
There’s been plenty of discussion about moving these marquee West Coast stops to later in the PGA Tour schedule. A cold, soggy Pebble Beach followed by a cold, soggy Riviera made that case much more appealing, with fans shivering on the rope lines and golf balls plugging in greens. Two perfect weekend days capped the Genesis off in style, and wet and windy can be entertaining at Pebble, but each was still missing some of the firm, fast character it has at its best.
QUESTION: So are we doing the August West Coast thing?
I leave California more confused than I arrived. On paper it seems smart to have the best courses in the biggest spots on the PGA Tour calendar; what could be cooler than Pebble and Riviera as playoff venues? But there are issues with both sites that time of year. Pebble has a car show and a full tee sheet and it’s not near enough of a population center to draw a playoff-worthy crowd. In L.A., locals suggested that the golf-going crowd would be out of town in August and that its current spot on the calendar is actually optimal for getting people to actually attend.
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If I was in charge, my top priority would be to remove the playoff events from the hellish August humidity of Atlanta and Memphis. I don’t need them in California, though — Boston, Chicago and Seattle are calling, as are a dozen other medium-to-large cities with ideal summer days. I’m curious where they’ll land, though.
And what the West Coast Swing will look like next year, and the year after that, and when we’ll be gazing at golf’s glorious coastlines again.
;)
