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Jeeno Thitikul trying to ‘beat the course’ in hot Open start

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Jeeno Thitikul is well aware of the conversation that surrounds her every major championship.

But that doesn’t mean she’s buying into it.

In a year where World No. 1 Nelly Korda won the first two majors and World No. 3 Haeran Ryu won the next two, Thitikul, the World No. 2, is still hunting for her first.

After a round in which Thitikul parred her first three and last three holes and birdied seven of the 12 in between them, she was willing to admit she was pleased with a strong performance in one of golf’s biggest events.

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“I knew I hit some good shots, but some of the best shots luckily bounce over the pot bunker,” she said with a laugh. “When it’s your way, it’s really your way. And I knew I had a really good putter today, too.”

As for the big-picture question? Thitikul, who’s 23, demurred.

“It’s nothing. I feel like, I know that I haven’t won one yet, but I feel like I’m so young and then I still have I don’t know how many majors ahead of me,” she said. “I feel like one day it will come if I do my job, like keep improving at my job and then … when my game is ready, I’ll win it. Because when my time comes, it should be sweeter than what it felt.”

The key, Thitikul says, is not to show up thinking about the trophy at the end but focusing on the controllables.

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“What I can control is if I’m beating the course every day, I should have a really good chance to be on the leaderboard,” she said. “Because, you know, if you can put a red number on your scorecard every day, which means you beat the course, right, and the golf course in a major week isn’t that easy to be beating.”

On Thursday, just 25 players from the 144-player field finished in red figures. Korda posted two-over 73, while Ryu sits among the group at five under par, T2.

Thitikul’s close calls are well documented; her top finishes at majors date back to her fifth-place finish at the 2021 Evian Championship. She’s logged 11 top-10s since then, her closest call coming in a playoff loss at last year’s Evian, when she lost to Grace Kim’s eagle on the second playoff hole.

She comes into this week in strong form, off consecutive top-10s in majors and with two tournament wins already this season, at the Honda LPGA Thailand and the Mizuho Americas Open.

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Now comes her last and biggest test.

“I think majors really tests our games, mentally-wise, physically-wise,” Thitikul said.

So far, so good.

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2026 AIG Women’s Open Friday TV coverage: Watch Round 2

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The second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open kicks off early Friday morning at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full AIG Women’s Open TV coverage, streaming info and Round 2 tee times.

How to watch AIG Women’s Open on Friday

LPGA star Jeeno Thitikul fired a Women’s Open record seven-under 64 on Day 1 Royal Lytham and St. Annes to charge into an early two-shot lead.

The former World No. 1, who is 23, has an accomplsihed career so far, having already won nine LPGA events. But there’s one thing missing from her resume: a major championship title.

With 54 holes to go, Thitikul is in great shape to make it happen this week.

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You can watch the second round of the AIG Women’s Open on TV via Golf Channel and USA, with Golf Channel opening the coverage at 4 a.m. ET on Friday. USA’s telecast will start at 8 a.m. ET.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open.

How to watch on TV Friday

USA and Golf Channel will air second-round TV coverage of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open. Golf Channel’s Friday telecast runs from 4-8 a.m. ET, followed by USA from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.

How to stream online Friday

Additional streaming coverage for the second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open will be available via Golfchannel.com, the Golf Channel App and the NBC Sports App.

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2026 AIG Women’s Open Round 2 tee times (ET)

Tee No. 1

1:30 a.m. – Jing Yan, Agathe Laisne, Lauren Walsh
1:41 a.m. – Kelsey Bennett, Weiwei Zhang, Kajsa Arwefjall
1:52 a.m. – Erika Hara, Chiara Tamburlini, Melanie Green
2:03 a.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Kana Nagai, Esme Hamilton
2:14 a.m. – Shiho Kuwaki, Helen Briem, Lucy Li
2:25 a.m. – Anna Huang, Jenny Bae, Paula Martin Sampedro (a)
2:36 a.m. – Lilia Vu, Shuri Sakuma, Rose Zhang
2:47 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, A Lim Kim, Casandra Alexander
2:58 a.m. – Hinako Shibuno, Georgia Hall, Valentine Delon (a)
3:09 a.m. – Gaby Lopez, Chisato Iwai, Celine Boutier
3:20 a.m. – Ruoning Yin, Nasa Hataoka, Jennifer Kupcho
3:31 a.m. – Miyu Yamashita, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin
3:42 a.m. – Charley Hull, Hannah Green, Brooke Henderson
3:58 a.m. – Maja Stark, Jin Hee Im, Allisen Corpuz
4:09 a.m. – Min-sol Kim, Patty Tavatanakit, Megan Khang
4:20 a.m. – Pajaree Anannarukarn, Youmin Hwang, Leona Maguire
4:31 a.m. – Ashleigh Buhai, Fuka Suga, Dewi Weber
4:42 a.m. – Min Sun Kim, Mi Hyang Lee, Nicole Broch Estrup
4:53 a.m. – Chanettee Wannasaen, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Yu Liu
5:04 a.m. – Ryann O’Toole, Robyn Choi, Charlotte Naughton (a)
5:15 a.m. – Nataliya Guseva, Noora Komulainen, Lauren Crump (a)
5:26 a.m. – Carla Tejedo Mulet, Diksha Dagar, Yana Wilson
5:37 a.m. – Daniela Darquea, Polly Mack, Gina Kim
5:48 a.m. – Aunchisa Utama, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Vanessa Bouvet
6:14 a.m. – Alice Hewson, Amanda Doherty, Chloe Williams
6:25 a.m. – Amelia Garvey, Leonie Harm, Smilla Tarning Soenderby
6:36 a.m. – Wei-Ling Hsu, Aditi Ashok, Darcey Harry
6:47 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist, Cassie Porter, Sayaka Takahashi
6:58 a.m. – Minami Katsu, Yealimi Noh, Stephanie Kyriacou
7:09 a.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Karis Davidson, Maria Jose Marin (a)
7:20 a.m. – Ina Yoon, Alison Lee, Yunseo Yang (a)
7:31 a.m. – Jiyai Shin, Auston Kim, In Gee Chun
7:42 a.m. – Linn Grant, Jin Young Ko, Kiara Romero (a)
7:53 a.m. – Sei Young Kim, Rio Takeda, Yuna Araki
8:04 a.m. – Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, Mao Saigo
8:15 a.m. – Lottie Woad, Aki Iwai, Andrea Lee
8:26 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Haeran Ryu
8:42 a.m. – Hye-Jin Choi, Grace Kim, Mimi Rhodes
8:53 a.m. – Somi Lee, Esther Henseleit, Ayaka Furue
9:04 a.m. – Lindy Duncan, Amy Yang, Julia Lopez Ramirez
9:15 a.m. – Sophia Popov, Jenny Shin, Perrine Delacour
9:26 a.m. – Yan Liu, Shannon Tan, Yuka Saso
9:37 a.m. – Yani Tseng, Nastasia Nadaud, Alexandra Forsterling
9:48 a.m. – Arpichaya Yubol, Cara Gainer, Minji Kang
9:59 a.m. – In Kyung Kim, Manon De Roey, Carolina Chacarra
10:10 a.m. – Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Anna Zanusso, Justice Bosio
10:21 a.m. – Sara Kouskova, Soo Bin Joo, Annabell Fuller
10:32 a.m. – Pia Babnik, Anna Foster, Bel Wardle

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NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell talking with Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski
Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell meets with Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski before the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

We have four more men to put in order after having spent the last month ranking all the position groups in the NFC North division. More specifically, it’s the men in charge: the NFC North head coaches.

NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026

— Check back on the position rankings through the following links QBRBWRTEOLiDLEDGELBCB, S —

In keeping with everything else in the division there is very little to choose between the four head coaches. All four have an NFC North division title to their name, and all four will be hungry for more post-season success, which is what will eventually separate these coaches.

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1. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)

NFL: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

It might be early to make this claim but any doubts that he could take his success from offensive coordinator to the head coach role were quickly put to bed. Ben Johnson led the Bears to an 11-win season that secured the division title (first since 2018) and then a playoff win (first since 2010) over the Packers. Chicago would eventually fall in the divisional round to a narrow 20-17 loss to the LA Rams in overtime.

Following up a great first season could be an issue especially with the Bears having a very tough schedule on paper, but Johnson has proven he can adapt his offense in the past. If Johnson can keep the good times rolling in Chicago in his second year, he will quickly thrust his name into the conversation about the best coaches in the league.

2. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell against the Dallas Cowboys in 2025
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.

He has his flaws but dragging his team to nine wins last season should be seen as impressive as the 13 and 14-win seasons of 2022 and 2024.

Kevin O’Connell has a new QB to work with in 2026 in Kyler Murray. O’Connell has had lots of success with many different QBs but the fact that there have been so many is also the problem. The Vikings are in desperate need of stability at the QB position to allow the 2024 Coach of the Year to get the best out of his offense.

The biggest question mark hanging over the Vikings’ head coach is his poor playoff record. Two visits to the playoffs following dominant regular seasons have yielded zero playoff wins. That needs to change.

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3. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shake hands at midfield prior to a game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images

Matt LaFleur had a great start to life as Green Bay’s head coach, winning the division three times and making the NFC Championship Game twice.

Since then, with the departure of future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers – who had back-to-back MVP seasons in that run – LaFleur has kept the Packers competitive only missing out on the playoffs once in the last four seasons, but also only winning one playoff game. The Packers have been set up to win it throughout LaFleur’s tenure and if anything they’ve been getting further away.

This feels like a pivotal season for his future with the Packers and how he is viewed as a head coach.

4. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)

Coach wearing blue cap and black shirt holds play sheet on sideline.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches a play against Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Some people might have him at the top of this list but I’m not a huge Dan Campbell fan.

Don’t get me wrong; his “us against the world” shtick that took a Lions franchise that had been suffering for decades to back-to-back division titles was impressive. I always had questions over what would happen after the success when you can’t rely on the poor downtrodden Lions’ motivation anymore and what would happen when he lost his coordinators – with both Johnson and Aaron Glenn both leaving last season.

What happened is Campbell took one of the most talented rosters in the NFL from first to worst and finished bottom of the division. The Lions did manage a winning season but 2026 is a big test of Campbell’s credentials. A return to the playoffs and we can put last year down to a hiccup, another disappointing season and it will look even more like Johnson was the brains behind Detroit’s success all along.

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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

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Is Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors Future At Risk? Analyst Shares Bombshell Clippers Possibility Amid NBA Investigation

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Kawhi Leonard‘s trade hasn’t been finalized as the NBA‘s investigation of the LA Clippers hasn’t concluded yet. This summer, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two future second-round selections.

Leonard and the Clippers are being investigated for allegedly improperly using an additional $28 million in off-the-books endorsement money to get around the salary cap. This has put the NBA star’s future with the Raptors at risk.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday that Toronto is being given a choice regarding the risk of what the NBA’s conclusion of the investigation.

“This was the Toronto Raptors being given a choice of are you willing to assume the risks of something happening with Kawhi Leonard after the investigation is completed? And they are not willing to assume those risks,” Shelburne said. “If they’re not, and we get to the end of the summer and there’s not a resolution here and there’s nobody from the NBA who can say with 100% certainty that there won’t be any fallout for Leonard, specifically. Then, it’s up to the Raptors.

Shelburne said that there is a chance that Kawhi Leonard could start the 2026-27 NBA season with the Clippers.

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“I can see a world in which Kawhi Leonard is back on the Clippers if this trade doesn’t go through. And the Clippers, quite frankly, are fine with that.”

Shelburne added that the Raptors and Clippers are fine with the trade not falling through. LA is willing to accept Leonard back since the issue between them is the contract extension negotiations.

The Raptors Had an Opposite Stance on the Kawhi Leonard Trade

The Raptors addressed their current situation with the Leonard trade on Thursday. According to the statement, the team is willing to assume the risk once the NBA’s investigation ends.

“Regarding our planned trade with the L.A. Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the team stated.

They added that the franchise is “eager” to bring Leonard back to the team. They consider him a major part of their future as they try to contend for the championship.

If he gets traded, it will be Leonard’s second stint with the Raptors. Back in the 2018-19 season, he was traded to the franchise by the San Antonio Spurs. Although he only played one season, it was productive, and he led the team to its first championship. After that, the NBA star joined the Clippers.

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