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Manchester United have four clear priorities after Harry Maguire signs new contract

Published

2 days ago

9 April 2026

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has new contract until the summer of 2026 with the club holding an option for a further season

Manchester United have tied up the first piece of business ahead of an important summer with Harry Maguire signing a new deal. The England international’s new contract runs until the summer of 2027, with the club boasting the option of a further year.

With so much still to be decided, it’s an important step in the right direction. United have a lot to sort out between now and the end of the season, with Champions League football likely to have a major say on transfers and potentially the new manager.

As things stand, Michael Carrick has guided the club into third place, and are among the favourites to return to Europe’s elite competition. After Maguire’s new deal, the Manchester Evening News looks at four priorities for United to address:

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Appoint a permanent manager

Manchester United are in the driving seat for Champions League football and if Carrick is able to secure that objective, it’ll be a major feather in the interim head coach’s cap. The club are yet to appoint a permanent successor to Ruben Amorim, with Carrick overseeing proceedings until the end of the season.

The former United midfielder has done an impressive job since taking over on a temporary basis and there’s plenty of clamour for the 44-year-old to be given the role permanently. The club hierarchy need to make a call on who’s going to lead the club quickly if they want to get ahead of their Premier League rivals in the transfer market this summer.

It’s likely to be a slow start to the transfer market with the world’s best players in action at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. But United need a clear plan in place, with a manager’s vision in order to get the best out of the window.

Tie down Kobbie Mainoo

One player who has excelled since Carrick has taken charge of the club is Kobbie Mainoo and the United academy graduate is yet to sign a new deal at Old Trafford.

His reintegration into the first-team set-up will give the club a major boost in any potential transfer talks. The club cannot afford to let a talent like Mainoo leave the club, given he epitomises the United DNA.

His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, though the club have the option of a further year, with talks reportedly underway regarding a new five-year deal. They need to get it done.

Address Marcus Rashford situation

It’s been pretty bittersweet for some United fans watching Marcus Rashford excel while on loan with Barcelona, with the La Liga club agreeing an option to sign the England international.

There are plenty of conflicting reports regarding his future at both the Nou Camp and Old Trafford. There are some suggestions that Rashford will be allowed to leave United regardless this summer, but want a permanent sale, whereas Barcelona are looking for another loan.

United are well within their right to try and maximise the transfer fee obtained from Rashford this summer, and his fine performances in Spain certainly help that cause.

Sign Casemiro’s replacement

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro announced he’ll be leaving Manchester United this summer and the club know they need to sign a replacement. Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba are just some of the names linked with a move to Old Trafford, with all four set to demand huge transfer fees.

Simply put, United cannot afford to sign any duds, as they have in the past. The return to the Champions League offers the club a real opportunity to kick on and rebuild, but know they have to comply with the new SCR rules.

Tonali, Anderson and Wharton would all be brilliant additions, but United’s transfer chiefs know they need to get the best value for money.

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2026 Masters featured groups: Where to watch and stream Round 3 action on Saturday

Published

10 minutes ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Getty Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The 90th Masters has been intense since its opening salvo, and the pressure is only going to ratchet up on Moving Day as many players will make their last-ditch effort to put themselves in contention before Sunday’s final round. The 91-player field has been cut to 54, though none of the other 53 playing the weekend stand within six shots of defending champion and 36-hole leader Rory McIlroy.

Starting the 2026 Masters at a record pace, McIlroy is aiming to become the first back-to-back green jacket winner since Tiger Woods and fourth in history. To summit that mountain, he will need to overcome a bevy of talented challengers, some of whom will be available the Featured Groups stream from the onset of their Saturday rounds.

Jon Rahm will lead the initial group positioned on the stream before Jordan Spieth joins him about nine holes into the third round. Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Åberg are a dominant pairing at 12:16 p.m. ET as returning PGA Tour star Brooks Koepka and top debutant Chris Gotterup get going at 1:33 p.m.

Take a look at the complete featured groups schedule for Saturday, as well as the set of streaming options for Round 3 as part of the complete 2026 Masters TV schedule and coverage guide that you can follow throughout the tournament.

All times Eastern

Round 3 — Saturday, April 11

Round 3 start time: 9:30 a.m. [Tee times]

Masters Live stream
Desktop and mobile: Free on CBSSports.com, CBS Sports app
Connected devices: Available on Paramount+ (login required)

Early coverage: 12-2 p.m. on Paramount+
TV coverage: 2-7 p.m. on CBS
TV simulcast live stream: 2-7 p.m. on Paramount+, CBSSports.com~, CBS Sports app~
~ TV provider or Paramount+ Premium login required

Round 3 encore: 8 p.m. to midnight on CBS Sports Network

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Why you don’t need a 9-wood

Published

26 minutes ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

On this week’s Fully Equipped podcast with Johnny Wunder, we talked about Tommy Fleetwood’s 9-wood in the bag for the Masters. Fleetwood has said the addition of the 9-wood is to make sure the ball is getting high enough and landing steep enough to battle the increasingly tough greens at Augusta. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should run out to buy a 9-wood. I’ve already gotten roasted in our YouTube comments, but I stand by my explanation of where I feel the club category falls.

My argument is that the 9-wood is great for either the player who has tons of control, or the player who needs all the help they can get to launch the ball. It’s the group in the middle that may have a hard time finding ultimate success with a 9-wood. I fall into this bucket. I am also a big fan of hybrids, so I don’t really ever have moments where I wish I had a 9-wood or a 7-wood in the bag. So let’s talk about the two sides of the game for a second.

First, we’ve got the tour-level guys who are putting high-lofted fairways in the bag. Fleetwood’s got one, Scottie Scheffler has messed around with it, and Dustin Johnson is the original high-speed 9-wood player. The reason they choose to put a 9-wood in the bag has been to make sure that they are getting enough height on the club at the distance they need with their stock shot. And that’s an important designation. The stock shot. By starting with a club that’s going to launch higher than any other alternative, these pros and their elite ball-striking can figure out how to bring flight down or add spin when they need to. These 9-wood builds going in their bag have a bit of versatility, but they are really meant to do a specific job. And that job is to get high up in the air with little effort and enough spin to fall softly onto firm greens just like this week at Augusta.

Tommy Fleetwood hits a tee shot at Augusta — Tommy Fleetwood is playing a Qi4D 9-wood at the Masters Tournament this week.
Chris Condon

The reason tour pros and other high-skill golfers can get away with this, though, is because it’s situational and they treat it as such. It’s a tool in the bag to do a job. When a situation comes up for that distance, but the tool can’t fulfill the outcome with a stock shot, they are able to manipulate that offering to do what they need it to do. The best example, of course, would be into the wind. For an amateur, any amount of wind in the face would normally take the fairway wood out of the hands. It’s simply too high and produced with too much spin for the ball to fly properly. It is quite fun to watch a high-lofted fairway get hit into the wind because it’s almost an exaggerated penalty, but again, not useful. And this is where the middle ground of players begin to falter. Fleetwood has no problem controlling the flight and spin of his 9-wood. He may find a situation where he chooses to go with another option for the shot he needs to create, but it’s not out of the question for him to flight the 9-wood to a more reasonable peak height window if he’s battling some mild elements. For the average 10 handicap though? Likely not an option. They’re better off with a large, driving-iron style club in that area of the bag, or my choice: a hybrid.

“>

That brings us to the other side of the spectrum — the golfer who just needs launch help.

This is the golfer that I think SHOULD buy a high-lofted, forgiving fairway wood, and as many as they see necessary to play well. I’m talking 11-woods, heaven woods, spinners, all of it. Whatever you need to get that ball up in the air. The beauty of this category, which usually coincides with slower players as well, is that the high-lofted fairway woods are just so easy to hit. There’s no fear of getting steep on the ball, the more shallow face makes it easier to pick off the turf, and the size of the heads gives plenty of confidence if you’re in a sticky situation like long rough, pine straw, debris or even in a fairway bunker. For slow swing speed players, the speed benefits that a fairway wood will get you over an iron replacement or a hybrid are going to be pretty extreme. In most cases, you’ll see a 2-to-3 mile per hour difference between the groups, with the fairway wood leading the way. Because of the size, shape and center of gravity of the club head, you’ll also see a strong increase in forgiveness over other options of the same loft. Really, the only argument for the slower swing speed or lower-skilled category to not play a high-lofted fairway is if they just absolutely hate how it looks behind the ball.

“>

The group in the middle and the group that I do not think needs a 9-wood is the largest group on the bell curve. Fleetwood even mentions in the above video that a 9-wood isn’t built for speed or distance, and it’s also not particularly built for tee shots. With the shots that are left to play at that point, I just don’t see the value in a 9-wood as a 4-iron style replacement for many golfers. The range I’m talking about here is a five-to-12(ish) handicap range. They’re good enough players to hit a more forgiving iron-replacement style club, or choose the flight characteristic benefits of a hybrid. Now, if those players really hate the look of the hybrid, or maybe have zero confidence in the iron, sure, spring for the high-lofted fairway wood that makes you more confident with that longer distance shot. That decision, though, will come with drawbacks, mainly a lack of versatility and a club eliminated when playing in the wind.

As always, my opinion on any club is that if it works for your bag and you’re fitted for the club with an understanding of the role it plays in your bag, then add it to the bag. Nothing is off limits. That’s the beauty of the game that stresses us all out. There’s endless options. Sometimes that can be overwhelming and create some stress to decide, but work with a fitter and find out what you NEED for your bag. If it’s a 9-wood, then I hope it ends up being the best club in your bag.

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Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns world No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final | Badminton News

Published

35 minutes ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Ayush Shetty scripts history, stuns world No. 1 to reach Asian Championships badminton final

India’s Ayush Shetty produced a remarkable performance to book his place in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Saturday, overcoming top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a gripping three-game contest. The victory ensures Ayush will return with at least a silver medal. Ranked world No. 25, Ayush relied on a combination of sharp attacking play and solid defence to overturn a slow start and claim a 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 win over the Paris Olympics silver medallist and 2023 world champion. In doing so, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the tournament. Khanna remains the only Indian to have secured gold in the event, achieving the feat in 1965, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the doubles title in 2023. The US Open Super 300 champion will next face either Chou Tien Chen or Shi Yu Qi in the final. Ayush had progressed through the tournament without dropping a game but had previously lost to Vitidsarn in straight games at the Arctic Open last year. The semifinal began with the Thai dictating proceedings, using pace and precision to move into an early lead and dominate the opening game comfortably. After the interval, however, Ayush raised his level significantly. He began the second game with intent, building an early advantage as Vitidsarn’s unforced errors increased. Displaying excellent court coverage and quick counter-attacks, Ayush maintained control despite a brief dip that allowed his opponent to close the gap. He eventually forced a decider with a composed finish under pressure. In the final game, Ayush carried that momentum forward. He tightened his defence, retrieved difficult shots, and consistently applied pressure with aggressive strokes. Reading his opponent better, he maintained a steady lead before taking full command in the closing stages. Despite a late fightback from Vitidsarn, Ayush remained calm, creating multiple match opportunities and eventually sealing a memorable victory with a precise down-the-line smash to complete a stunning comeback.

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NBA roundup: Hawks clinch playoff berth with rout of Cavaliers

Published

49 minutes ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks

Apr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder reacts on the sideline during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

CJ McCollum scored 25 of his game-high 29 points in the first half and Dyson Daniels collected 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists as the Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff spot with a 124-102 rout of the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Jalen Johnson had 18 points and nine rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 for the Hawks (46-35), who will finish either fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference. Southeast Division champion Atlanta missed the playoffs in the last two seasons.

Daniels posted his second career triple-double and McCollum drained 6-of-8 3-point attempts. The Hawks built a 92-59 lead in the third quarter, when Alexander-Walker and Johnson each had 11 points to deliver the knockout blow.

James Harden scored 20 points and dished out five assists, and Tyrese Proctor had 15 points in the final quarter for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers (51-30). Cleveland will have home-court advantage in the first round against either Atlanta or the Toronto Raptors.

Lakers 101, Suns 73

LeBron James scored 28 points and dished 12 assists to become the fourth player in NBA history to top 12,000 in a career, leading Los Angeles to a convincing victory over visiting Phoenix.

Luke Kennard added 19 points in the victory that assured Los Angeles will finish no lower than fourth place in the Western Conference and have homecourt advantage in a first-round playoff series. The Lakers remain one game behind the third-place Denver Nuggets with one game to play, and Los Angeles owns the tiebreaker edge.

Dillon Brooks scored 12 points and reserve Royce O’Neale added 11 for the Suns, who were without star Devin Booker (ankle). Phoenix scored just 25 second-half points in a contest that meant nothing after it previously locked up the No. 7 spot in the West and a home play-in game. Grayson Allen exited in the second quarter due to a left hamstring injury and didn’t return.

76ers 105, Pacers 94

Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, Andre Drummond posted a double-double off the bench, and Philadelphia assured itself of finishing no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference after beating Indiana in Indianapolis.

With Joel Embiid out due to appendicitis, Drummond produced 10 points and 16 rebounds. The 76ers ended a three-game skid and stayed alive in the chase for the East’s sixth and final automatic playoff berth.

Jarace Walker’s 17 points led the Pacers, who have lost four of the past five. Micah Potter finished 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Pistons 118, Hornets 100

Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and Detroit rode a strong stretch early in the fourth quarter to a win over host Charlotte.

Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons, who have won five of their past six games. Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference. The outcome means the Hornets will be in the East’s play-in tournament.

The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket. LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six 3-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench.

Bucks 125, Nets 108

AJ Green scored a career-high 35 points to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Brooklyn in Milwaukee’s final home game of the season.

Milwaukee snapped a two-game skid as Green also became just the third Buck ever to make 10 or more 3-pointers in a game (11-for-16). Cormac Ryan added 28 while Taurean Prince scored 18 with 10 rebounds. Jericho Sims posted a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyson Etienne led Brooklyn with 23 points. Malachi Smith nearly contributed a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Nets only played seven players and each contributed double figures. Reserve Nolan Traore scored 14 points in just over 16 minutes of action.

Nuggets 127, Thunder 107

Jonas Valanciunas amassed 23 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs, and Julian Strawther added 22 points as host Denver beat Oklahoma City in a matchup of benches.

Denver clinched at least the fourth seed in the Western Conference with its 11th straight win. The Nuggets can still capture the No. 3 seed with a win Sunday in San Antonio or a Los Angeles Lakers’ loss. Denver rested its entire starting five and Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson, both of whom have been sidelined with hamstring strains.

Oklahoma City has secured the top overall seed. The only starter dressed for either team was Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, who was required to play at least 20 minutes in each of the final two games to qualify for postseason awards, according to coach Mark Daigneault.

Jazz 147, Grizzlies 101

Rookie Blake Hinson scored a career-high 30 points and two Utah reserves logged triple-doubles, helping the Jazz snap a 10-game losing streak with a demolition of Memphis in Salt Lake City.

Rookie Bez Mbeng logged 27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals for his first triple-double. John Konchar registered a triple-double for a second straight game, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. Kennedy Chandler added 26 points and 10 assists to help the Jazz get in the win column for only the second time in 16 games.

Dariq Whitehead led Memphis with a career-best 21 points. Rookie Toby Okani had a career-high 20 points and Adama Bal added 18 for the Grizzlies, who used just six players while losing their seventh straight game.

Kings 124, Warriors 118

Devin Carter set career highs with six 3-pointers, 29 points and nine rebounds as Sacramento beat visiting Golden State.

Carter shot 11-for-18 from the floor and 6-for-11 from 3-point range for Sacramento, which avenged a 110-105 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday in San Francisco. Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points, Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden scored 20 apiece, and Malik Monk added 11.

Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with a career-high 30 points and De’Anthony Melton added 17. The Warriors lost for the sixth time in their past seven games, and they will compete in the play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West.

Heat 140, Wizards 117

Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scored 24 points each as Miami snapped a two-game losing streak, crushing host Washington.

Bam Adebayo added 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, who are locked into a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Adebayo scored a franchise-record 83 points against Washington on March 10. Miami completed a 4-0 season sweep of Washington. The Heat, however, have just four wins over the past 14 games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points for the Heat, and Kasparas Jakucionis had 16.

Bub Carrington led Washington with 30 points, matching his season high. Bilal Coulibaly added 25 points and five assists and Will Riley scored 16 points for the Wizards, who have the NBA’s worst record as they fell for the 25th time in 26 games.

Knicks 112, Raptors 95

Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the third quarter as New York clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory over visiting Toronto.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds while Mikal Bridges logged 13 points for New York, which has won seven straight home games and five games in a row overall. The Knicks have a 30-9 home mark this season.

Sandro Mamukelashvili produced 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Toronto, which fell into a tie with the Orlando Magic for the sixth and final automatic playoff spot in the East. The Raptors hold the tiebreaker edge. Brandon Ingram had 16 points and six assists for the Raptors. Ja’Kobe Walter went 4 of 7 from beyond the arc en route to 15 points.

Trail Blazers 116, Clippers 97

Deni Avdija scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and helped fuel a crucial run as Portland powered past visiting Los Angeles.

The teams are now tied with 41-40 records and one game to go, but the Trail Blazers own the tiebreaker, which would leave them eighth in the Western Conference. Donovan Clingan added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Portland.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds. Brook Lopez knocked down five 3-pointers on the way to 21 points.

Magic 127, Bulls 103

Franz Wagner scored 25 points and Jamal Cain added 20 as visiting Orlando stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory against Chicago.

Orlando remained alive for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference — which would allow the Magic to avoid the play-in tournament — with one game remaining in the regular season. Goga Bitadze posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Magic. Paolo Banchero scored 14 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Chicago suffered its eighth loss in 10 games despite 23 points from Tre Jones. The Bulls have lost 50 games for the first time since 2018-19. Matas Buzelis had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle.

Spurs 139, Mavericks 120

Victor Wembanyama showed that he is playoff ready after an injury by amassing 40 points and 13 rebounds as host San Antonio pummeled Dallas.

Wembanyama, back after missing a game and a half with a left rib contusion, reached the 65-game requirement for league postseason awards. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won 14 of their past 15 games.

Cooper Flagg put up 33 points and Max Christie had 16 for the Mavericks, who have lost three in a row.

Celtics 144, Pelicans 118

Boston tied an NBA record by making 29 3-point field goals and secured the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating visiting New Orleans.

Boston took 59 3-point shots but didn’t put up a shot on its final possession. The record for made 3-pointers in a game is also shared by the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2024 Celtics and the 2026 Memphis Grizzlies.

The Celtics received 24 points from Sam Hauser, who was 8 of 12 from 3-point territory. Jaylen Brown scored 23 and Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists. Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 36.

Timberwolves 136, Rockets 132

Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 of his 18 points to spark a fourth-quarter rally, and Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in 23 points off the bench as short-handed Minnesota snapped host Houston’s eight-game winning streak.

Anthony Edwards scored 22 points in his return after missing 10 of the previous 12 games. The Timberwolves, playing without starters Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert and sixth man Naz Reid, shot 57.3% from the floor, including 15 of 30 from behind the arc.

Amen Thompson scored a career-high 41 points to pace the Rockets and added nine rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant posted 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Alperen Sengun totaled 22 points and eight assists.

–Field Level Media

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SRH vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad meet undefeated Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh

Published

1 hour ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Salil Arora, David Payne, Shivam Mavi, Zeeshan Ansari, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Smaran Ravichandran, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar

Punjab Kings Squad: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey, Harpreet Brar, Ben Dwarshuis, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Vishal Nishad

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At Masters, missed-cut heartbreak comes with a microphone

Published

1 hour ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples stood at the podium and winced, thinking about what could have been.

“I mean, I had a good time,” he said. It was clear he meant that. It was also clear he was still thinking about Augusta National’s 15th hole, where he’d made 9 on Thursday and 6 on Friday, singlehandedly dooming his chance at the cut line.

“I’ve never wedged it into the water there,” he said. “Now it’s water, water, water every time I look at the goddamn thing, and I don’t know why.”

He shook his head.

“What’s a nine? Is that a quad? Quad-double-double, wow.” That was in reference to his deflating Thursday finish. When he teed off on 15 he was two under par. When he walked off 17 he was six over. “That’s 8-over [on three holes]. I think that’s almost impossible to do, but I did it.”

But he made something clear despite his disappointment.

“You would have to be an idiot not to love Augusta National,” he said. “There are great courses all over the world, but there are none of them like this.”

THE CRUELEST, COOLEST THING that only happens on Friday at the Masters is this: we actually hear from the golfers who miss the cut.

In a typical week the golfers who shoot the lowest scores are the ones who talk to the media. Those who don’t? They’re generally permitted to trunk-slam in peace. But this week there’s more media, infrastructure and consequence to a missed cut, so it’s worth hearing about. It’s perhaps that much crueler that the one week pros are asked about their missed cuts is the week that missing the cut hurts the most — but so it goes at one of three small podiums just outside Augusta National’s scoring area.

That’s where, on Friday morning, you could have heard a heartbreaking admission from Andrew Novak, who’d just bogeyed two of his last three holes to cost himself a weekend tee time.

“Yeah, I mean, I was kind of coming up 18 thinking, ‘This could be the last time I ever get to play here,’” Novak said.

Long-term, he said, getting back to this place and earning a spot in this tournament will be motivating. But in real time?

“Yeah, this is my favorite week of the year. This is the best tournament I’ve ever played in. Just makes it a little bit more disappointing that I’m not going to have two more rounds to play in it,” he said.

Tom McKibbin came through a short while later, having just signed for a second-round 76 that cut his first-ever Masters short. The Northern Irishman admitted that he wasn’t sure what he was feeling, exactly. But he was feeling a lot.

“I don’t know. A bit annoying. Fun. Yeah, it was a bit of everything. Probably a little bit of every emotion,” he said. Mostly he described it as feeling different.

“I think it’s probably the first time I’ve come to a place and sort of felt that feel to try to not miss it again,” he said. “It’s definitely the best golf tournament that I’ve ever played.”

Anybody who has ever been to Augusta National can speak to its dreamworld quality. For one week, you’re at the center of the sporting world — with unlimited chicken sandwiches at your fingertips and an immaculate golf course in every direction. It’s a far smaller fraternity who actually gets to play the event, and nobody’s dream week ends halfway through.

“Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, the preparation was unbelievable,” said Min Woo Lee, in disbelief after 78-77. “You would think I would be winning the tournament the way I was [playing] leading up to the event.”

BEFORE THE MAGIC NUMBER WAS DECIDED, those on the bubble hoped they’d done enough.

“I mean, it’s tough to say. Should be fine,” said Danny Willett after posting his two-day total of five over par. “Fingers crossed we get a bit of wind blowing through and we should be all right.”

“It’s not over yet,” said Harry Hall several groups later after he, too, posted five over. He called his chances 50-50. “Hopefully I’ll be around on the weekend. I’ll stay positive and see how it goes.”

But Willett’s wind never arrived. The greens stayed receptive. The cut settled at four over par, sending the two of them — plus 35 other players — home early.

Like them, Aldrich Potgieter was forced to move on to the next. It seems impossible that there could be another tournament in just a week. But sure enough…

“I’ll just enjoy the time with [my family], and then they fly back on Monday back to South Africa, and then we’ll go to RBC,” he said. “Looking forward to an elevated event next week, so we’ll try and get the game ready for that.”

In fairness, not everybody talked. As the day grew late and the property’s attention re-routed to the six-shot lead belonging to Rory McIlroy, two pros saw their tournaments suddenly go up in smoke. Akshay Bhatia needed par at the last and made double bogey. Bryson DeChambeau needed bogey and made a horrifying triple. But Bhatia wasn’t asked to speak, and by the time a reporter put in a request for DeChambeau, he was already out of sight, headed at high speed for the parking lot.

The end of their tournaments arrived abruptly, and it was only fitting that their exits did too. But others seemed happier to linger and reflect, even in disappointment.

“Special place to be. I had a lot of fun out there,” said Casey Jarvis. “Obviously a disappointing day, trying hard to make the cut. Unfortunately, that’s golf, but yeah, really happy to be here.”

As for his weekend plans?

“I’ll come watch. I’ll watch Rory. Maybe I’ll learn something, you know.”

Some amateurs were able to separate the good from the disappointment, even in real time.

“We chatted a decent amount, and he’s such a nice guy,” said high schooler Mason Howell, who played alongside McIlroy. “Yeah, I mean, that was such a special moment for me to play with my idol. Other than making the cut, that was everything I dreamed it would be.”

“I think it exceeded my expectations. I had a blast,” said Jackson Herrington, who has long-term plans for his return. “I’ll be back and will be getting one of these green jackets on.”

In the short-term?

“Maybe if I’m allowed to come out and practice, I’ll be out here tomorrow,” concluded Herrington. “It’s the best place on earth. I know that.”

Dylan Dethier welcomes your comments at dylan_dethier@golf.com.

“>

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Sports

NBA: Atlanta Hawks secure play-off spot, LeBron James passes 12,000 assists

Published

1 hour ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The Atlanta Hawks secured a spot in the NBA play-offs and the Southeast Division title with a 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The Hawks, who only needed to win one of their remaining two games to guarantee a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference, blew away the already qualified Cavaliers in the third quarter, scoring 35 points to extend their 61-48 half-time lead to 96-65.

Guard CJ McCollum scored a game-high 29 points for the Hawks, who clinched their first divisional crown since 2021 and avoided having to come through the play-in tournament, for teams finishing seventh to tenth in each conference, for the first time in five seasons.

Veteran LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to record 12,000 career assists as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers secure home-court advantage in the first round of the play-offs with a 101-73 win against the Phoenix Suns.

James made 12 assists in addition to 28 points and six rebounds as the Lakers recorded their 15th win in 19 games to guarantee a top-four finish in the Western Conference.

Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton is the NBA’s career assist leader, with 15,806, with Chris Paul (12,552) and Jason Kidd (12,091) also ahead of James (12,010).

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with an emphatic 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 18-time NBA champions scored a record-equalling 29 three-pointers, forward Sam Hauser leading the way with eight, as they wrapped up the Atlantic Division title.

That result means the New York Knicks, who beat the Celtics in their previous match, will have to settle for being third seeds despite beating the Toronto Raptors 112-95.

The Raptors slipped down to sixth place following the defeat, with an identical record (45-36) to seventh-placed Orlando Magic with one match to play in the regular season. The Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 127-103 to extend their winning streak to five matches.

Victor Wembanyama, returning from a one-game injury absence, starred for Western Conference second seeds San Antonio Spurs in their 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old Most Valuable Player contender made 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

The Denver Nuggets remain in the hunt for third place in the Western Conference after beating reigning champions and top seeds Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107.

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Sports

Arran Bay targets 2026 City Of Adelaide Handicap at Morphettville

Published

2 hours ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Phillip Stokes hopes the Listed Adelaide race proves ideal for his durable galloper Arran Bay.

Saturday’s Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1529m) at Morphettville takes precedence over Caulfield’s Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m).

Carrying 61kg as topweight in Adelaide compared to 57.5kg at Caulfield, Stokes still prefers the home track option.

The approaching eight-year-old captured the Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on March 9 and was fourth on a yielding track at Flemington March 28.

Contributing to the Morphettville choice is Adelaide-born jockey Lachlan Neindorf, available locally on Saturday.

“We just feel the City Of Adelaide Handicap over the 1500 metres, it suits him better,” Stokes said.

“Lachie is going over also and couldn’t ride him at Caulfield, so it works out well.

“While I think the mile is OK and earlier in his career he won over further, I think the 1500 metres to the mile is his go now being a bit older.

“I feel going over there it will be a softer option for him to try and get another win.

“He tried hard at Flemington the other day and the drier ground suits him better that soft now being an older horse.”

Arran Bay kicked off in Adelaide, winning two of his first four, then moved to Melbourne, clinching the Flemington Silver Bowl Final during his three-year-old campaign.

Mainly Melbourne-based since, he returned for last Carnival, runner-up in April handicap and in the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) in May.

The Cummings Stakes occurs May 9 this year.

Arran Bay’s record stands at 43 starts, 10 triumphs, 13 placings, with prizemoney surpassing $1 million.

Visit top racing betting markets ahead of the City Of Adelaide Handicap.

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Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool closing in on agreement with world-class star

Published

2 hours ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Liverpool are now closing in on an agreement to secure the services of a world-class star.

An era is drawing to a close at Anfield.

The expected departure of Mo Salah this summer alongside Andy Robertson very much feels like the final chapter of one of the greatest periods in the club’s history.

Salah has been the face of Liverpool’s modern golden years. Robertson was the charming backbone of the dressing room.

Together they formed the symbol of what Liverpool represented. These were players who were never supposed to be superstars. Players with humble backgrounds who were able to conquer the world and achieve success beyond their wildest imaginations.

Their departure will leave merely just a few players left from the team that won the Champions League in 2019.

It follows a major exodus last summer, when several key players moved on including the likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and others. That was the beginning of the process of transition.

And it’s set to continue this summer.

Sadly, football moves quickly, and even the most successful cycles must come to an end. Liverpool cannot mourn the end of an era, they have to start a new one.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes will be looking to rebuild the team and create a new team at the club but that will also require some continuity.

While some players will inevitably move on, it’s just as important that Liverpool hold on to the right ones.

Keeping players in their prime who bring stability and continuity has never mattered more. That’s why tying down Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is due to expire this summer, should be right at the top of the club’s priority list.

Konate isn’t just a promising talent anymore, he’s a proven, established figure both at Liverpool and on the European stage.

The Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the top centre-backs in the game right now. He’s a key part of the France setup and very much in the picture as they push to win another World Cup. There’s no doubt about it, he’s a world-class player now.

After several years at Liverpool, he knows exactly what’s required, the pressure, the expectations, and the intensity needed to compete at the highest level. With experienced players starting to leave, that kind of understanding becomes even more valuable.

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2026 Masters odds, best bets, weekend predictions: Picks to win from 10,000 simulations

Published

2 hours ago

11 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The 2026 Masters heads for the weekend with a star-studded leaderboard battling for the green jacket at the 90th edition of golf’s most prestigious tournament. Reigning champion Rory McIlroy created separation from the field as he followed his first-round 67 with a second-round 65, taking a historic 12 lead for the tournament. Patrick Reed and Sam Burns are tied for second at 6 under, with nine other golfers at either 5 under or 4 under waiting to make a move if McIlroy falters over the weekend.

The 2026 Masters odds heading into the weekend list McIlroy as the -280 favorite (risk $280 to win $100). That leaves a big list of Masters longshots on the board with Tommy Fleetwood and Reed at +1800, Justin Rose at +2000 and Burns at +2200. Before locking in any 2026 Masters picks heading into the weekend, be sure to see the 2026 Masters predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen huge returns on betting sites.

Now that the first two rounds of the 2026 Masters are in the books, the model simulated the weekend 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2026 Masters predictions

One surprise the model is calling for at the 2026 Masters: Burns, who enters Saturday tied for second, stumbles down the stretch and barely cracks the top 10. The 29-year-old American surged into an early tie for the lead following Round 1 after shooting a 67 on Thursday. He cooled off with a second-round 71 on Friday. That’s enough to keep him tied for second with Reed, but now, he sits six shots off the lead.

Instead of Burns making a weekend run, the model is projecting that he’ll largely fall out of contention. He has a poor historical track record at Augusta, missing two cuts in his four appearances and never finishing higher than T29. The model doesn’t like his +2200 odds to win outright, and also advises fading him in top-five bets. See who else to fade at SportsLine.

Another surprise: Scottie Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion who is T24 and at even par, surges over the weekend and makes it back into the top 10. It was a forgettable Friday as Scheffler shot a 74, his second-worst round ever at Augusta National.

His track record, however, can’t be ignored, as he’s won two of the past four Masters and has finished in the top 10 for four straight years. Scheffler provides some value as a +6000 longshot to come back and stun with an outright victory, but he’s also a strong play at +100 to finish in the top 10. See who else to back at SportsLine.

How to make 2026 Masters picks

The model is targeting a massive triple-digit longshot who surges up the leaderboard this weekend and get back into contention. Anyone who backs this golfer could hit it big. You can only see the model’s Masters picks here.

So, who will win the Masters 2026, and which longshot will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Masters odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected 2026 Masters leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including four straight Masters.

2026 Masters odds, contenders

Get full 2026 Masters picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)

Rory McIlroy -280
Tommy Fleetwood +1800
Patrick Reed +1800
Justin Rose +2000
Sam Burns +2200
Cameron Young +2700
Shane Lowry +3300
Brooks Koepka +5000
Jason Day +5500
Scottie Scheffler +6000
Tyrrell Hatton +6500
Xander Schauffele +6500
Hideki Matsuyama +10000
Chris Gotterup +10000
Wyndham Clark +10000
Ben Griffin +12500
Haotong Li +10000
Matt Fitzpatrick +12500
Jake Knapp +12500
Kristoffer Reitan +12500
Ludvig Åberg +17500
Collin Morikawa +22500
Max Homa +50000
Russell Henley +50000
Sam Stevens +100000
Sungjae Im +100000
Adam Scott +100000
Michael Brennan +100000
Sepp Straka +100000
Harris English +100000
Nick Taylor +100000
Keegan Bradley +100000
Aaron Rai +100000
Dustin Johnson +100000
Patrick Cantlay +100000
Jacob Bridgeman +100000
Marco Penge +100000
Matt McCarty +100000
Jordan Spieth +100000
Brian Campbell +100000
Justin Thomas +100000
Jon Rahm +100000
Ryan Gerard +100000
Gary Woodland +100000
Viktor Hovland +100000

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Manchester United have four clear priorities after Harry Maguire signs new contract

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has new contract until the summer of 2026 with the club holding an option for a further season

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