By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Mohamed Salah gives glimpse of past glories but questions over future remain
Mohamed Salah patted the badge on his chest as the Kop chorused his song. It was a rare feat, even by his standards: just the third time in his Liverpool career he had scored, assisted and won a penalty in the same game.
As Salah was able to celebrate with his public again after scoring, his 252nd goal for Liverpool was only his second since his incendiary interview at Leeds. The process of reintegration began with a cameo against Brighton in December. It accelerated with a spot-kick against Albion in February.
He won it and scored it, tripped by Pascal Gross, rifling his shot into the roof of the net. He had only struck once in his previous 12 games for Liverpool, and that was against Qarabag. He had not found the net against a Premier League club since Aston Villa’s visit at the start of November. This meant a lot. “It was very big for the confidence,” said Salah. “It was very big, for sure.” It felt like another step in the healing process. “It is very nice to have him on the scoresheet again but what I like is that he is helping the team defensively,” said Arne Slot.
Whatever the summer holds for him, Liverpool could enjoy the sight of Salah looking irrepressible. Perhaps, too, they could be grateful that what looked a crisis was defused. That may reflect well on Slot and if the Dutchman has had too few games this season when every decision he has made has brought a rich reward, this victory came with sweet vindication.
As the Liverpool manager fielded his latest line-up without a specialist right-back, the assumption might have been that Dominik Szoboszlai was in the back four and Curtis Jones in midfield. Instead, it was the other way around.
Each was on the scoresheet, and in a way that reflected the role Slot had given him. Jones scored for the first time since 2024 by materialising at the far post. Szoboszlai used his running power to burst through the inside-right channel and unleash his second unstoppable shot in as many weeks at Anfield.
In the process, Slot may have learned a lesson from a game when his choices backfired. At the corresponding stage of the FA Cup a year ago, he selected too much of a weakened side and suffered the embarrassment of defeat to Plymouth. Twelve months on, he started with nine of his strongest available 11 and, while Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch began on the bench, the Dutchman’s rest permitted Jones’ return and allowed Szoboszlai to play in midfield.
The context has changed from Slot’s first taste of the FA Cup, which ended so ignominiously in Devon. Now it is Liverpool’s most realistic chance of silverware this season, and they swept into the fifth round. Their league position remains unsatisfactory but they have only been beaten twice in 18 outings in all competitions and, after the frustration of last week’s loss to Manchester City, they have conjured a response by beating Sunderland and Brighton.
Their season has been a story of makeshift right-backs and, for all the issues injuries have posed, they have added some productivity. Szoboszlai has twin spectacular free kicks against Arsenal and City when deployed as a defender. Jones ended a lengthy drought when – in theory, anyway – stationed further from the Brighton goal. “There have been times I’ve scored more but not played as well as I am now,” he said after getting a first goal in 58 games.
The Liverpudlian had come agonisingly close with a left-footed shot from 20 yards. Then, meeting Milos Kerkez’s inviting cross on the half-volley, he crashed in a shot off the underside of the bar. “It was very pleasing the first goal was an assist from the left-back to the right-back,” Slot said.
Kerkez ended up being overshadowed – not least by his fellow Hungairan – but he was terrific. He married deft skill with dynamic runs. He had drawn a fine save from Jason Steele with a rising, rasping half-volley. Then came his assist.
“The second goal was even nicer than the first one,” Slot said. Salah cushioned a pass into the path of the surging Szoboszlai and, without breaking stride, he drove a shot past Steele.“He is one of the best players in the world right now,” said Salah. Szoboszlai earned a fourth assist for the Egyptian since his return from the African Cup of Nations.
When the 33-year-old then scored himself from the penalty spot, it was cue for Slot to substitute him, to a rousing ovation. His replacement Rio Ngumoha had a goal ruled out for offside; there was no VAR to prove he was onside. Meanwhile, Brighton objected to Salah’s spot kick. “Poor decision,” said Fabian Hurzeler. “Never a penalty.”
He could also lament moments either side of the interval. “We had enough chances to score a goal,” added Hurzeler. But Alisson saved from Diego Gomez, coming to Jones’ rescue after he slipped. He clawed away Lewis Dunk’s header. After his error against City, it was a redemptive return to Anfield for Alisson, and justification for Slot in selecting him, rather than Giorgi Mamardashvili.
So there was no seismic double for Brighton, conquerors of Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round, no cup run deflect from underachievement in the Premier League.
“We are not in a good moment,” Hurzeler said. But now Salah is.
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FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to USD 10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales after the 48-team field for this year’s tournament was finalised.
The price had been USD 8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were USD 7,380, up from USD 5,575, and category 3 cost USD 5,785, an increase USD 4,185.
Tickets were listed for 17 of the 72 group-stage matches by Wednesday night and none of the knockout stage games.
Soccer’s governing body is using dynamic pricing for the tournament, which will be played in 11 US cities plus three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Only USD 2,735 tickets, the highest-priced seats, were available by evening for the US opener on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and the price was unchanged from December. No tickets were listed for the Americans’ June 19 game against Australia at Seattle or their June 25 match against Turkey at Inglewood.
Only USD 2,985 seats were available by Wednesday evening for the tournament opener between Mexico and Saudi Arabia on June 11 in Mexico City, up from USD 2,355 in December. And only USD 2,240 tickets were available for Canada’s first game on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, an increase from USD 2,170.
Soccer’s governing body did not announce which games and price categories were available, leaving potential ticket buyers to search themselves on a FIFA ticketing site that often took hours to enter.
Some people who clicked on what FIFA called its “last-minute sales phase” when sales opened at 11 am EDT were directed into a queue for “PMA late qualifier supporters sales phase,” aimed for a segment of fans for the six nations who earned berths on Tuesday.
FIFA did not have an explanation for why the link misdirection occurred but said around noon that the links were working properly.
FIFA also said that not all remaining tickets were being put on sale for the 104 games to be played in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 and that additional tickets will be released on a rolling basis.
This was the fifth phase of ticket sales following a Visa presale draw from September 10-19, an early ticket draw from October 27-31, a random selection draw from December 11 to January 13 and an unscheduled 48-hour availability in late February.
FIFA said this phase, which will remain open through the tournament, marked the first time a specific seat location could be purchased rather than a request for a ticket in a category.
For the month-long sales phase after the December 5 draw, tickets were priced at USD 140 to USD 8,680. After complaints, FIFA said USD 60 tickets would be made available to each participating national federation for their most loyal supporters, an amount likely to be 400-700 per team for each match.
“The employment of dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 FWC starkly contrasts with FIFA’s core mission to promote the accessible and inclusive promotion and development of soccer globally,” 69 Democratic members of Congress wrote in a March 10 letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Despite host cities’ cooperation in bringing the vision of the largest, most global World Cup in history to fruition, the consequences of dynamic pricing will make the 2026 FWC the most financially exclusionary and inaccessible to date.”
FIFA also has its own resale market, collecting 15 pere cent from both the buyer and seller.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Congo, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Sweden and Turkey completed the World Cup field. Fans of teams eliminated on Tuesday could attempt to resell tickets they already had purchased, nations that include Italy, Poland, Denmark, Jamaica and Bolivia.
Infantino claimed in January that the amount of ticket requests FIFA had received was the equivalent of “the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once.”
“This is unique,” he said at the time. “It’s incredible.”
It was unclear if many of those requests were for seats in the lowest-price categories.
Fan groups have voiced concern over the soaring costs for resold tickets and one filed a formal complaint to the European Commission last month.
Infantino defended FIFA’s cut of resales, saying the governing body was engaged in a legal commercial activity under US law. Some European countries have laws which can restrict resale by requiring tickets to be sold for face value or only by authorized partners of the event organisers.
Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal (Photos by AP)
NEW DELHI: World No. 4 Iga Swiatek has announced a coaching change, bringing in Francisco Roig, who previously worked with Rafael Nadal. The 24-year-old shared the update on Instagram, writing, “Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter.”The former World No. 1 publicly acknowledged the support from legendary Rafael Nadal.“You know, Rafa is my idol and basically the only person I watched play tennis as a child. He was also kind enough to talk to me several times during his career and give me tips. He’s the person I can turn to if I need help or have a problem. Having someone so experienced – the best, the GOAT, in fact – is obviously a fantastic opportunity, and I’ll take advantage of it if I can,” Swiatek told Sport.pl.
“Rafa is very open. He’s a great guy. Just having his number and being able to contact him is a huge honour. But honestly, whether he helped me or not, I’d like to keep it between us, because he’s part of this story. I wouldn’t want to put him in an awkward position,” Swiatek added.“This is between us. I don’t want to go into details. It’s definitely not something someone like me decides to do after one failure. I wouldn’t make such a decision lightly,” she said.The move comes shortly after Swiatek parted ways with her former coach Wim Fissette following a disappointing second-round exit at the Miami Open. It marked her earliest tournament exit in nearly three years, highlighting a dip in form.Swiatek has had an inconsistent run this season, falling short in key tournaments. She exited in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Indian Wells, raising concerns about her performance levels.The coaching switch appears to be a response to these struggles, as the former world No. 1 looks to regain momentum and confidence ahead of the upcoming tournaments.Roig, 58, brings significant experience, having spent years working closely with Nadal’s team alongside Toni Nadal and Carlos Moya. He has also coached top players like Emma Raducanu, Matteo Berrettini, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.With Roig joining her team, Swiatek will hope his experience can help her rediscover her best form and compete strongly in the coming months.
Jubilant scenes erupted from Kinshasa to Baghdad and Sarajevo as the final line-up for this summer’s 48-team showpiece in North America was officially confirmed.
Filippo Ganna produced a late surge in the dying meters of Dwars door Vlaanderen to snatch a dramatic victory from the grasp of Wout van Aert. The Italian’s perfectly timed effort provides a thrilling prelude to Sunday’s main event: the Tour of Flanders, the cycling season’s second monument.
Over on the court, Bayern Munich pulled off the upset of the night in the EuroLeague. Despite facing league leaders Fenerbahçe on their own turf, the German side stood firm to claim a gritty 85-76 victory, shaking up the top of the standings.
With the 2025-26 campaign in the rearview mirror for the nine teams of the new Pac-12, let’s take an early look at next season.
It’s a basketball conference that ceased to exist for the past two years, with the Beavs and Cougs playing in the WCC, and the other 10 legacy Pac-12 teams bolting.
That sets up an exciting and unpredictable re-emergence in 2026-27.
New to the party are five former Mountain West schools—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State—along with Gonzaga from the WCC, and Texas State from the Sun Belt.
The Zags are certain to be the preseason favorites, with the Aggies and Aztecs expected to be their most likely pursuers.
But the new consortium of teams is bound to produce plenty of surprises.
Here are my way-too-early outlooks.
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Gonzaga (31-4)
The Zags immediately become the flagship brand of Pac-12 basketball, and their performance will shape the reputation of the new conference.
To play up to their usual standards, they’ll need to replace Graham Ike.
His experience in the paint will be difficult to replicate, but Braden Huff returns from injury, and he’s an elite scorer at the post position.
Huff can shoot, has a good handle for his size, and is a high-IQ player. He should be able to make up for the scoring lost by Ike, but they’re very different players.
Other notable returners for the Bulldogs include Mario Saint-Supery and Davis Fogle. While Fogle gets a lot of attention, Saint-Supery should prove more important.
Recent Hall of Fame inductee Mark Few will need to involve multiple players, particularly in the early season, to build team chemistry.
If Saint-Supery can provide stability, it will take pressure off Davis and allow him to be the highlight that he is.
This is Gonzaga’s conference to lose.
Utah State (29-7)
For some teams, the Pac-12 feels like a brand-enhancing deal, but for the Aggies, it’s an opportunity to solidify themselves as a reputable name.
Utah State made the NCAA Tournament the previous two years, but former head coach Jerrod Calhoun is out after taking the Cincinnati job, and Ben Jacobson is in.
Calhoun and Jacobson have similar styles, but there will be some differences. Calhoun prefers an in-your-face defense, while Jacobson prefers more structure.
Jacobson, who built Northern Iowa into a high-level mid-major, likes to slow the pace, protect the ball, and be highly efficient on offense.
Utah State’s success next season, however, will likely depend on the return of Mason Falslev, who excels on both sides of the ball.
Falslev averaged 16 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 3.1 assists, and was selected the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2025-26.
USU’s not on Gonzaga’s level, but they feel like the second-place team this upcoming season.
San Diego State (22-11)
Everyone knows what to expect from San Diego State basketball—a solid defense complemented by a spotty offense. Things will remain the same in the Pac.
The key for the Aztecs is to score enough points to hang with Gonzaga and Utah State. SDSU’s defense should continue to dominate as long as Magoon Gwath returns.
Gwath, a 7-foot big man with solid shot-blocking skills, averaged 1.5 rejections per game a year ago. His skill set should prove transferable.
The main concern for SDSU entering the Pac-12 is finding enough offensive firepower. In particular, they’ll need buckets from Elzie Harrington and Zach White.
San Diego State lost a lot of scoring to the portal and graduation.
Miles Byrd recently announced he was leaving, which also stings. He was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a double-digit scorer.
White, a three-star prospect from Sherman Oaks, might be able to make up for the team’s lost production.
Colorado State (21-13)
People may be sleeping on Colorado State. This is a squad that has won at least 20 games six years in a row, minus the Covid campaign.
The 2026-27 season should prove exciting for the Rams, who return their top three scorers in Brandon Rechsteiner, Kyle Jorgensen, and Carey Booth.
The trio provides experience, which should prove a nice balance alongside one of CSU’s best recruiting classes.
Colorado State nabbed a plethora of quality three-star recruits from around the region, most notably, guards Kaiden Bailey and Eli Sancomb, and power forward Ethan Harris.
CSU could sneak up the conference standings, along with some other teams in transition, such as Washington State, San Diego State, and Boise State.
The Rams might even buck a few top teams this season.
Oregon State (17-16)
Oregon State underwent a year of transition, firing Wayne Tinkle after 12 years at the helm. Tinkle’s Beavers did alright this year, finishing 17-16, but they lacked the “it” factor.
OSU didn’t put together any long winning streaks, had no star player, and only a few signature wins. If not for the new conference and a desire to start fresh, the athletic department might have stayed with him.
Josiah Lake II was OSU’s best player last season, leading the team with 13.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals.
He also finished tied for the team lead in defensive rebounds with 3.8 per contest. That was an area of concern at one point, considering he’s a 6-foot-2 guard.
The junior isn’t a traditional star, but he fueled OSU a year ago as a First-Team All-WCC selection.
Other noteworthy players for Oregon State last season included Isaiah Sy and Dez White. White was an All-WCC Honorable Mention selection after averaging 9.7 points per game.
Looking to generate more excitement in the new conference, OSU hired Michigan assistant Justin Joyner in the off-season. It’s his first head coaching gig, but he’s expected to be the opposite of Tinkle.
Previously an associate head coach at Saint Mary’s, Joyner is known for a fast-paced, high-volume three-point offense. He’ll need strong guard play to make the system work, so Lake’s return would prove pivotal.
If Lake returns, along with Sy and White, giving the Beavers three experienced seniors, they could find themselves in the upper tier of the Pac-12.
Boise State (20-12)
Some analysts believe Boise State can make a run in the new Pac, but that seems unlikely—at least for next season.
In fact, the Broncos could slip to the bottom of the conference.
They lost most of their guards in the transfer portal, and it feels like too much to overcome, with Drew Fielder, RJ Keene II, and Dylan Andrews all departing.
It’s unsettling because BSU was on average on defense a year ago, ranking 330th in blocks per game and 167th in points allowed nationally.
The Broncos were still solid in 2025-26, finishing 20-12, but declined an invitation to play in the NIT.
They have a lot of holes to fill in the offseason. Aginaldo Neto and Julian Bowie return, but can’t be expected to make a huge jump.
If Boise State can find a decent big man, a reliable point guard, and some no-fear scorers, they might be alright.
It would be a cool season to make some noise, as they’re upgrading their student section, known as “Blue Chaos.”
Washington State (12-20)
Washington State had an unsettling year, suffering unfathomable losses to Portland, Pepperdine, and San Diego.
Head coach David Riley seemed lost during his second season on the Palouse.
He’s probably lucky that the school is in a financial crisis, or else he could have found himself looking for a new job.
The Cougars ended their campaign on a four-game losing streak, including a loss to the Pilots in their first game in the WCC Tournament.
After impressive showings against Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s earlier in the year, WSU seemed set for a respectable season—until they blew a 17-point lead in Corvallis.
Three things hindered the Cougars from realizing their potential last season: a porous defense, a tendency to blow big leads, and difficulty winning on the road.
Wazzu ranked 279th in points allowed per game, despite solid post play from ND Okafor, and self-imploded down the stretch.
Entering the new Pac-12, a bounce-back season depends on whether Ace Glass returns.
The Cougs have already lost most of their roster from a season ago in Rihards Vavers and Okafor. If Glass leaves also, they’re making pizza from scratch.
It’s hard to imagine he’ll stay, given the roster depletion, but WSU’s still in a decent position, oddly.
If Riley fumbles the bag in the non-conference next year, it might be enough for him to get fired.
On the other stirrup, an entirely new roster could prove to be a blessing, considering the results last year.
Texas State (19-13)
Due to their lack of basketball history, Texas State might be getting overlooked.
The Bobcats aren’t going to be a top team anytime soon, but they could finish near the middle of the conference with a few breaks.
TXST, the coolest acronym ever, returns DJ Hall, who is everything for them.
Hall, the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season, averaged 15.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest.
The Bobcats also have an experienced coach in Terrence Johnson, who won back-to-back Sun Belt championships earlier in his tenure.
The big caveat with Texas State, though, is that they’ll be playing a more difficult schedule than they’re accustomed to.
They’ll probably get mollywhapped a few times, but the combination of Hall and Johnson should keep this team competitive.
Fresno State (13-19)
Fresno State is improving, but the Bulldogs aren’t quite there yet.
Vance Walberg did a good job in his second year with the program. But having taken over a team that went 12-21 the year before, it’s gonna take a while.
And things are just gonna get more difficult.
Fresno State has already lost key players in the transfer portal, including DeShawn Gory and Zaon Collins. And a slew of other players are projected to leave as well.
FSU also graduated its leading scorer, Jake Heidbreder, who led the team in scoring at 17 points per game.
He was also the glue guy, playing 37 minutes per contest.
Without him, and eight players potentially dipping, this could prove a tough year for Fresno State basketball.
The Bulldogs could well be a bottom-of-the-pack team.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
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Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek will work with Francisco Roig – the former coach of Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu – as she looks to turn around her inconsistent form.
Poland’s Swiatek has struggled to find her rhythm in 2026, exiting the Australian Open and Indian Wells at the quarter-final stage.
The 24-year-old tends to perform better on clay, having won four of her six Grand Slam titles at the French Open, and has drafted in Roig in preparation for next month’s event in Paris.
Swiatek confirmed the partnership on Instagram, writing “welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter”.
Spain’s Roig coached Briton Raducanu for five months between 2025 and 2026, but is best known for his 17-year stint with 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal.
World number four Swiatek had been working under Wim Fissette, who helped her win a first Wimbledon title in July, but they parted ways after Swiatek’s first-round loss at the Miami Open in March.
The Minnesota Vikings don’t appear to have any urgent interest in trading third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but according to Pro Football Network, the 23-year-old would look nice in New York Jets green.
A New York angle just added more fuel to the McCarthy rumor mill.
Some have mentioned McCarthy trade theories, here and there, since Kyler Murray arrived in the Twin Cities three weeks ago. PFN’s Josh Weil is the latest.
The Jets Proposal Would Test Minnesota’s QB Commitment
Would you be ready to wholly end the McCarthy era?
PFN: McCarthy to Jets Make Sense
Weil actually dished out a few McCarthy trade proposals, and for the Jets, he explained, “New York trades a 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy and a 2026 third-round pick (No. 97 overall). Will the reunion with Geno Smith result in success for the Jets? Maybe, but with an aging quarterback who has had his share of injuries, bringing in a backup with more upside than Brady Cook can make an injury not devastating for the Jets.”
“They would be able to focus on other positions with their higher draft picks and still bring in a hungry McCarthy, who could very well win the starting job over Smith.”
To date, McCarthy has expressed no discontent about Murray’s arrival, and to be traded, McCarthy would likely have to request it.
A Pretty Fair Price
While the PFN trade proposal probably isn’t realistic — the Jets can rather easily draft Alabama’s Ty Simpson in three weeks if they want a quarterback — fetching a 2nd-Rounder for McCarthy would feel like an impressive consolation.
The Vikings did not draft well — at all — under former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and truth be told, as of now, McCarthy is a part of that ball of wax. Adofo-Mensah only connected on approximately 15% to 20% of draft picks, which is why Minnesota currently has one of the oldest rosters in the NFL.
Therefore, stockpiling any number of worthwhile draft picks cannot be ignored, especially if the Vikings’ brass believe Kyler Murray is in the mix to remain the long-term starter. Other quarterbacks who haven’t panned out, like Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, are usually attached to late-round picks in trade proposals.
The Vikings would be forced to listen if a 2nd-Rounder were involved.
The Ensemble for McCarthy in NYJ
According to NFL Lines, the Jets showcased the NFL’s 19th-best offensive line in 2025, one spot below Minnesota at No. 18. On paper, McCarthy would inherit a similar offensive line setup.
The defense? That’s a different beast — and now a good one. The Vikings ranked third last season per defensive DVOA; McCarthy had it good. New York, on the other hand, checked in at No. 31, also known as second-worst in the NFL. The Jets have made a bonanza of defensive moves in free agency; here’s to hoping, for their sake, that those transactions raise the floor for the league’s second-worst defense, led by head coach Aaron Glenn, who’s supposed to be a defensive guru.
For weaponry, McCarthy would work with this setup:
- Breece Hall (RB)
- Garrett Wilson (WR)
- Mason Taylor (TE)
- Adonai Mitchell (WR)
- Braelon Allen (RB)
The Jets could also be in play to draft a wide receiver in the first three rounds three weeks from now.
Other Trade Ideas
Weil also mentioned a McCarthy trade to Cleveland: “Cleveland trades a 2026 third-round pick (No. 70 overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy. While the Browns picked a pair of quarterbacks in last year’s draft and still have Deshaun Watson under contract, it is clear they are looking for someone to come in and run away with the job.”
“It seems like the Browns didn’t want to invest a first-round pick in the position, but getting a first-round quarterback at pennies on the dollar in terms of draft stock may make them buyers for McCarthy. McCarthy’s QB Impact Score last season was 64.5, resulting in a D grade. While this is a far cry from where his expectations are, he still cleared Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel by a wide margin in that category.”
The Browns’ brass said this week it plans to recommit to Deshaun Watson as the QB1 in 2026, but if he flounders, well, McCarthy might be a nice insurance policy.
Weil also spitballed McCarthy to Arizona: “Arizona trades a 2026 third-round pick (No. 65 overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 143 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy.”
In that scenario, the Vikings and Cardinals would basically swap quarterbacks, with Murray to Minnesota in addition to a 3rd-Rounder and 5th-Rounder, as McCarthy would fight with Jacoby Brissett for a starting job.
If no trades materialize, the Vikings still have three years of team control on McCarthy’s rookie deal.
Rory McIlroy walked out of Augusta National with the Masters trophy, Green Jacket and 13 of his golf clubs.
The 14th will be kept at the Augusta National clubhouse forever.
The fabled Masters host club has a tradition of asking the champions to donate one signifcant club from their victory for display. You’ll have to go inside the clubhouse to see the actual clubs kept from each winner, but McIlroy revealed earlier this year that the club asked for his 7-iron, unbeknownest to him.
“I didn’t realize this, but I flew back the day after on the Monday and I basically didn’t see my golf clubs since like post the playoff and I saw that my 7-iron was missing,” McIlroy revealed at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season. “I was like, that’s a pretty important club.”
McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty has already given Augusta the 7-iron McIlroy used in his dramatic victory, but he just forgot to tell his boss.
“Sean had already given it to the club, he just didn’t tell me,” McIlroy said. “That’s fine, I’ll get a new 7-iron. If there was one I was going to give the club, it was probably going to be that one.”
The 7-iron, and his TaylorMade RORS Proto iron set, played a huge role for McIlroy the whole week as he averaged 2.31 SG:Approach for the week, the best in the field.
Keep reading below for each of the seven most important clubs from the last seven Masters champions.
Editor’s note: The clubs from 2019 to 2024 ran in the 2025 version of this article.
2025: Rory McIlroy’s TaylorMade RORS PROTO 7-iron
Perhaps no single club and no single shot defined a Masters victory since 2010 more than McIlroy’s heroic approach from the left edge of the 15th fairway, where he hooked his 7-iron around the trees and chased his ball to 5-feet for eagle.
It reminded me of Phil Mickelson’s 6-iron from the pine straw on No. 13 15 years earlier. Coincidentally, both McIlroy and Mickelson missed the ensuing eagle putts, but ended up wearing the green jacket at the end of the day.
That wasn’t the only miraculous iron shot he hit all day, either. There were the escapes from the trees on Nos. 5 and 7 and the clutch approach on 17 with an 8-iron to just two feet.
But it was the aspirational high draw around No. 15’s towering pines that will go down in Masters lore forever as the shot that helped McIlroy finally slip on that elusive green jacket.
There’s a reason the club took it out of his bag before he even noticed.
;)
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
McIlroy’s RORS Proto 7-iron specs
Shaft: Project X 7.0
Length: 37.25″ (+2.5)
Lie: 61.5˚(1˚ flat)
Loft: 34˚
Swingweight: D3
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
2024: Scottie Scheffler’s TaylorMade Spider putter
Scottie Scheffler’s putting woes were well documented in late 2023 and early 2024. He tried a multitude of different blades and mallets, some Tour-only prototypes, others from a then-little-known bespoke maker. But Scheffler finally settled on an off-the-rack TaylorMade Spider Tour X L-neck at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational and went on a tear.
It was a good story because just before Scheffler made the switch, Rory McIlroy commented that Scheffler should try a mallet, and that’s exactly what he did, even using a very similar model to McIlroy’s.
That switch paid dividends immediately for Scheffler as he won at Bay Hill, then defended his title the very next week at the Players Championship. The following month, he won his second green jacket and kept on winning, racking up seven PGA Tour titles in 2024, plus the Olympic gold medal.
At Augusta, Scheffler took just 109 putts for the week, 18 fewer than in 2023 and made two putts during the third round from over 30 feet, including a 31-foot make for eagle on the 13th hole that helped him take command of the tournament.
TaylorMade 2025 Spider Tour X Black L-Neck Custom Putter
SPIDER TOUR X L-NECK
For nearly two decades Spider putters have been delivering championship-winning stability and performance to professionals and amateurs alike. Scottie Scheffler recently joined this group by stepping into the winner’s circle for the third time in four starts with a Spider Tour X L-Neck in the bag.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
Navigate the greens with clarity with the optically-engineered True Path™ Alignment system. This legacy tech from TaylorMade helps you better visualize the line to the hole while also making it easier to aim the putter towards your target.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Experience a softer feel with our White TPU Pure Roll™ insert. Crafted from a blend of Surlyn and aluminum, it features grooves angled at 45° for optimal forward roll and better overall roll characteristics.
PRECISION WEIGHTING AND DESIGN
A thin wall undercut and steel wireframe allow for precision CG placement, creating a superstructure with enhanced stability and forgiveness.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade
Scheffler’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X specs
Hosel: L-Neck
Length: 35.5’’
Sight Line: True Path with Full Line
Loft: 3°
Lie: 72°
Insert: Surlyn Pure Roll
Grip: Golf Pride Pistol
2023: Jon Rahm’s Callaway TCB Irons
At the 2023 Masters, Rahm put on a ball-striking clinic, hitting 52 out of 72 greens for the week (72 percent) using a set of irons that had been largely unchanged since he joined Callaway’s Tour staff two years prior.
Rahm’s weapons of choice then were the Callaway Apex ’21 TCB (he’s since upgraded to the ’24 models), which feature Project X 6.5 shafts that are soft-stepped one club.
Soft-stepping (the opposite of hard-stepping or tipping when you’re talking about wood shafts) is when you build a set of irons with a 3-iron shaft in the 4-iron, 4-iron shaft in the 5-iron, 5-iron shaft in the 6-iron and so on, which makes them play a touch softer than stock.
For Rahm, because he hits down on the ball so well, he needs slightly softer shafts in order to get his spin numbers right in the sweet spot (about 6,000 rpms for a 6-iron).
Callaway Apex TCB 24 Custom Irons
Since Xander Schauffele put a TCB iron in play,his strokes gained in approach have significantlyincreased year over year. Now in 2024, he is top 5 inthe world in strokes gained on the field, and has wontwo major championships with the new ’24 TCB Iron.
MAJOR SUCCESS
Trusting the ‘24 Apex TCB iron, Xander Schauffelewent on to secure two major championships in the2024 season.
TOUR FEEL
Combining our best in technology, the ’24 TCB usesa 1025 tour cavity back body with a 17-4 tour tunedface for consistent spin and control up and down thebag. The feel is second to none. Just ask Xander.
PRO LOOKS
The beautiful raw aesthetic and overall footprint isexactly what Xander was looking for. With a compact controllable shape, and shorter blade length, TCB ’24 are players irons for discerning golfers.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway
Rahm’s Callaway Apex ’21 TCB iron specs
Set comp: 4-PW
Shaft: Project X 6.5 (Soft stepped)
Length: 37″ 7-iron (Std)
Lie: 62˚ 7-iron (Std)
Loft Progression: 23.5/27/30.5/34.5/38.5/42.5/47
Swingweight: D3
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Midsize + 1 wrap
2022: Scottie Scheffler’s Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks lob wedge
Perhaps the most iconic shot of Scottie Scheffler’s first Masters win followed one of his worst with the exact same club.
After his approach from the pine straw at the 3rd hole during the final round came up short and rolled back down a slope and into a hole, Scheffler grabbed his lob wedge again and bumped it into the hill and scooted up onto the green and into the hole for an unlikely birdie-3.
The legend of Scottie Scheffler’s short game really began that week at Augusta with the chip-in and the fact that Scheffler tied for second in the field in scrambling that week.
The Vokey low bounce K grind Scheffler used during that win, is a lower bounce version of Vokey’s popular wide-soled K grind, which is dubbed the “ultimate bunker club.” The grind was developed out on Tour and then offered as a WedgeWorks exclusive, but just starting in 2025, Titleist added the 06K grind to the regular retail lineup.
Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Wedge
Titleist Vokey Design’s new SM11 wedges feature a new precise CG position across each grind in a loft, meaning every wedge will now perform the same way with the same strike.
Scheffler’s Titleist Vokey SM9 WedgeWorks lob wedge specs
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Loft: 60˚
Bounce: 6˚
Grind: Low Bounce K
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
2021: Hideki Matsuyama’s Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Circle T GSS
Perhaps no one has a larger Scotty Cameron putter collection (or cooler in Scotty Cameron’s words) than Hideki Matsuyama.
He’s often known to travel with several putters at a time, but around the time of his Masters win, Matsuyama repeatedly went back to what he called his “ace” putter, which was a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS with three large black dots in the cavity.
The head shape and material was popularized by Tiger Woods, who won 14 of his 15 majors with a similar model. Matsuyama also followed Tiger that week at Augusta by adding a new Lamkin Deep-Etched Full Cord grip to his wand, something Woods had done a few months prior.
Matsuyama took command of the tournament thanks to a back-nine 30 on Saturday that gave him enough cushion to stave off Sunday charges by Will Zalatoris and Xander Schauffele, despite a Sunday 73.
STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT
Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Putter
Designed to deliver the unmistakably soft sound and feel of carbon, the new precision milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert is treated with an electroless nickel plating for enhanced durability in a re-engineered concept that includes the line’s new chain-link face milling technology and aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel and performance.
CHAIN-LINK FACE MILLING TECHNOLOGY
New chain-link face milling technology reduces the putter face insert’s touch points at impact with the ball using a texture that softens the sound and provides improved roll characteristics while preserving feel and feedback off the putter face.
FULL CONTACT SLIM GRIP
With a comfortable chain-link texture to match the new putter face milling pattern, the custom crafted Full Contact Slim paddle-style grip was designed to complement the stroke and performance of blade and mid-mallet putters. Its uniquely contoured profile and flat top provide superior comfort and contact between the hands and the putter, and enhanced body alignment.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore
Matsuyama’s Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Circle T GSS specs
Length: 34.75″
Loft: 2.5°
Lie: 71°
Grip: Lamkin Deep-Etched Full Cord
2020: Dustin Johnson’s TaylorMade SIM driver
Like Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson loves to tinker and test out different clubs, even dipping into the mid-tournament switches every so often.
Johnson drove the ball beautifully at the 2020 November Masters, 306.5 yards off the tee and hitting 78.57 percent of his fairways on the softer course, on his way to setting the tournament scoring record of 20 under. But as TaylorMade’s Keith Sbarbaro revealed later on GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast, Johnson almost went with a 47-inch driver build that week.
It even got as far as going in the bag for a Tuesday practice round at Augusta National.
“The fact that he had a game [on Tuesday] where he was playing with other great players and had to play well, I think that was a huge benefit to get that club out of the bag,” Sbarbaro said in November 2020. “Sure enough, by the end of that practice round, the 47-incher was gone … He is intrigued by the 10 yards, but it just wasn’t the time to do it.”
Ultimately, Johnson went back to a 45.75-inch build and ended up with his second major title.
SHAPED FOR SPEED
The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations.
FACE FOR DISTANCE 60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Driver
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT:PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade
Dustin Johnson’s TaylorMade SIM specs
Loft: 10.5˚@ 10˚
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 X
Length: 45.75″
Lie: 59˚
Swingweight: D4
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R (1 wrap 2-way tape + 2 wraps left hand, 3 right hand)
2019: Tiger Woods’ TaylorMade P7TW irons
After joining TaylorMade’s staff in 2017, it was a long process to develop a set of irons that matched Tiger Woods’ exacting specifications.
For a while after Nike left the golf club business, Woods was using irons with the TGR Foundation logo on them, then in early 2018, the TaylorMade branded TW-Phase1 irons appeared in the bag.
Finally, at the start of the season in 2019, Woods’ P7TW irons were ready for their debut, complete with a milled sole and tungsten slugs so everything was exactly up to Tiger’s snuff.
Woods was dialed at the 2019 Masters and completed one of the great sports comebacks of all time, winning his 15th major 11 years after his last and 14 after his most recent Masters. For the week, Woods hit 80.6 percent of the greens in regulation, the most by a Masters winner since Woods himself in 2001. He led the field in strokes gained: approach per round (1.73).
No approach was better than the 8-iron Woods struck on 16 in the final round that caught the slop and rolled just past the hole, settling a few feet away for what was ultimately the crucial birdie.
MILLED GRIND SOLE DEBUT
Milled Grind eliminates variances in sole geometry from head to head and ensures precision in every iron set, while the CNC machined sole geometry and a precise leading edge promote consistent turf interaction.
TIGER’S FINGERPRINT Each iron has been meticulously shaped to meet Tiger’s discerning eye—longer blade length, thinner topline, progressive face height, and more.
TaylorMade P7TW Custom Irons
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: TaylorMade
Tiger Woods’ TaylorMade P7TW iron specs
Set comp: 3-PW
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Length: 36.875″ 7-iron
Lie: 61.5˚ 7-iron (Std)
Loft Progression: 22.5/25.5/29/32.5/36/40.5/45/49
Swingweight: D4
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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The current AEW World Champion, MJF, has been offered a match by another current World champion outside Tony Khan’s promotion. The two have wrestled each other nearly two years ago.
The current CMLL World Heavyweight Champion, Hechicero wants to face the current AEW World Champion, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Hechicero captured the CMLL World title from Claudio Castagnoli at Arena Mexico recently. He is also under a dual contract with both Lucha Libre CMLL and All Elite Wrestling.
At the Forbidden Door event back in 2024, Hechicero squared off against MJF for the first time. The match went on for nearly 10 minutes, and Max secured the win over the CMLL veteran. Meanwhile, Hechicero wants to get in the ring with The Salt of the Earth yet again.
During his interview with The Takedown on SI, Hechicero said it would be great to take on MJF, as he is the World Champion in Tony Khan’s promotion. Hechicero also wants a rematch with Claudio Castagnoli after capturing the CMLL World title from him recently:
“I aspire to the highest level as CMLL World Heavyweight Champion. First of all, MJF is the company’s world champion, it would be really great to face him. Also, Claudio Castagnoli, it would be great to have a rematch against him because he did so well,” said Hechicero. [H/T WrestleTalk]
MJF is set for a huge title defense at AEW Dynasty
MJF has been the AEW World Champion since December 2025 and has had multiple successful title defenses until now. At the upcoming Dynasty 2026 pay-per-view, Max will defend his World title against Kenny Omega.
Ahead of the big match, MJF and Kenny came face-to-face for a contract signing segment on Dynamite this week. Max also defeated Speedball Mike Bailey in the main event of the show.
It will be interesting to see if MJF manages to retain his World title against Kenny Omega at Dynasty.
Read all the hottest WWE news from Sportskeeda by choosing us as your preferred source. Click HERE.
Edited by Gaurav Singh
Sports
2026 Masters One and Done picks, longshots, sleepers: PGA Tour predictions, expert golf betting advice
Mike McClure locked in his top Masters One and Done picks and PGA Tour golf predictions for the Masters 2026 at Augusta National Golf Club
Philip Otele has described his first appearance for the Nigeria national football team as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
The Hamburger SV winger, currently on loan from FC Basel, made his senior debut on Tuesday in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Jordan national football team in Antalya. He came on late in the match, replacing Frank Onyeka.
Otele’s call up had come as a surprise after he was initially included in Éric Chelle’s provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but missed out on the final list earlier in the year.
“I am very happy to be here; it’s a pleasure for my family and me, and I want to say a huge thank you to God first,” he said. “For me, it was a dream come true. We always play football to represent the national team, so I always wanted to play for Nigeria, and it was a big moment for my family and me.”
The forward added that his long time support for the team made the moment even more special. “I am proud of this moment. As a player, playing for your national team gives you that extra boost. Being here is a huge thing for me because I am a patriotic fan, and I have been following the team for a long time.”
Otele is among several new players being integrated into the squad during the Antalya training camp, alongside Emmanuel Fernandez and Yira Sor, as Chelle continues to expand his options ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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