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.
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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.
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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.
Money in Graveyard Keeper is one of the most important resources, allowing you to purchase items and upgrades as you navigate this unique cemetery management simulator. So, it comes as no surprise that gamers are looking for ways to make money in the game.
Here’s how you can make money in Graveyard Keeper.
Guide to make money in Graveyard Keeper
1) Selling burial certificates
Selling burial certificates is one of the best ways to earn cash in Graveyard Keeper (Image via YouTube/NunoLac Games||Lazy Bear Games)
One of the easiest ways to make money in Graveyard Keeper is to sell the burial certificates. Every time you bury a body or cremate it, you will receive a certificate as a reward. These certificates can be sold to Horadic, the tavern keeper in the game.
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Each of these certificates is sold for one silver and fifty copper, making it one of the easiest ways to farm and make money in Graveyard Keeper. Essentially, being a graveyard caretaker is the best way to net some sweet cash in the game.
2) Church donations
Church donations can offer a fixed weekly income (Image via YouTube/NunoLac Games||Lazy Bear Games)
Church donations are one of the easiest ways to make money in the game. Simply give sermons every week and earn cash as a reward/handout for the prayer. While the initial rewards might not be good, upgrading your church will yield as much as 10+ silver per sermon.
You can upgrade your graveyard and use better sermons and prayers to increase the payout, making it a fixed weekly stream of guaranteed money in Graveyard Keeper.
3) Trading with the merchant
Trade with the merchant to earn a decent cache of silver (Image via YouTube/NunoLac Games||Lazy Bear Games)
Another easy way to make money in Graveyard Keeper is by trading with the merchant. After reaching reputation level 30, you will be able to unlock a trade post. This will enable you to trade and sell a range of items for money and other valuable resources.
You can create crates of goods, filling them with all kinds of items you wish to sell and dispose of. While silver crates sell for ten silver and seventy-five copper, a gold crate can be sold for sixteen silver and fifty copper. Meanwhile, a goods crate will net you fifteen silver pieces.
4) Selling meat
Sell meat to the tavern to make money in Graveyard Keeper (Image via YouTube/Clockwork0110||Lazy Bear Games)
Another great way to make money in later parts of the game is by selling meat from the corpses. Once you deal with the bodies on the autopsy table, you will notice that you can take the flesh from the morgue and sell it to the tavern. However, that requires a stamp to prove the meat’s authenticity.
This stamp can be obtained in two ways. Firstly, you can reach level 30 reputation with Snake, which can be done easily by completing his questline. Secondly, you can buy it through the royal services, located in the mailbox near the church. Once you unlock it, you can purchase the stamp for 50 silver. While it is a hefty initial fee, the constant supply of corpses more than makes up for it later on.
NEW DELHI: The monkey was finally off Sanju Samson’s shoulders. Emotions ran high for the wicketkeeper-batter as teammates surrounded him with high-fives, hugs, and celebrations. Samson, however, looked calm and content, flashing a big smile after playing a key role in Chennai Super Kings’ first win of IPL 2026.Samson, who managed scores of 6, 7 and 9 in CSK’s first three matches, roared back in style with a magnificent century to guide his team to a 23-run win over Delhi Capitals on Saturday, finally opening their account after three straight defeats.The batter, who was traded from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the season, delivered his first major contribution in CSK colours after early struggles. He had entered the IPL with high expectations, having hit three half-centuries in India’s T20 World Cup triumph at home in March.Samson’s unbeaten 115 off 56 balls, along with Ayush Mhatre’s 59 off 36, powered CSK to a commanding 212 for 2. The duo stitched together a 113-run stand for the second wicket. In response, Delhi Capitals faltered against a brilliant spell from Jamie Overton, who picked up 4 for 18 as they were bowled out for 189.“Really means a lot. The trust they showed, it was very responsible. Luckily everything came off nicely. It never felt like a different franchise. People are so nice. We had a meeting of 50 seconds today even after losing three matches,” Sanju Samson said after being named Player of the Match.“I have failed a lot. Mind gets a bit here and there. I need to know what my basics are. It’s about doing the basics right. We did some good sessions with the support staff,” he added.Samson was the chief architect of CSK’s memorable night at Chepauk. Asked to bat first, he registered his first big knock in a CSK jersey and shared a dominant partnership with Mhatre, who showcased his growing maturity in a vital stand of 113 runs in just over 11 overs.It was Samson’s fourth IPL hundred and his first for CSK, as well as the first century of the IPL 2026 season. The knock was crucial in restoring belief among the CSK faithful, especially after a poor start to the campaign.“It was very important to have great partnerships. Ayush has shown so much maturity. (On his celebration) That was for Fleming, I know how challenging it can be. I just wanted to dedicate this to him,” he said.
Sturm Graz will welcome Hartberg to Merkur-Arena in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday. The hosts are out to defend their title, while the visitors are looking to snatch a UEFA spot.
Sturm Graz vs Hartberg Preview
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Sturm Graz have won the Austrian Bundesliga in the last two seasons and are certainly eying a third, back-to-back, this term. They are on track, after winning the regular season by one point ahead of second-placed Red Bull Salzburg. However, they would have to clinch the Championship round to become champions anew.
Die Schwoazn, unlike the visitors, are undefeated in their last seven matches in all competitions. They seem to have extended their impressive run into the Championship round, winning twice and drawing once. Sturm Graz sit atop the Championship round on 26 points, but are closely followed by LASK on 25 points.
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Hartberg managed to escape the relegation battle by two points, after finishing sixth on 33 points, just above WSG Tirol (31 points). But the visitors are struggling in the Championship round, with two defeats already against Salzburg (2-1) and Austria Vienna (1-0). They boast only one draw.
TSV didn’t fare better last season either. They finished in eighth place and failed to qualify for the Championship round, taking part in the Relegation round. The visitors eventually finished second to earn qualification for the Conference League play-offs. Sturm Graz defeated Hartberg 1-0 in their last meeting.
Sturm Graz vs Hartberg Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Sturm Graz have won four times and drawn once in their last five matches against Hartberg.
Sturm Graz have won thrice and lost twice in their last five matches at home against Hartberg.
Sturm Graz have won thrice and drawn twice in their last five matches at home.
Hartberg have won twice and drawn thrice in their last five matches on the road.
Sturm Graz have won thrice and drawn twice in their last five matches, while Hartberg have drawn thrice and lost twice. Form Guide: Sturm Graz – W-D-D-W-W, Hartberg – L-L-D-D-D.
Sturm Graz vs Hartberg Prediction
Sturm Graz are in a tight race to safeguard their top spot, with just one point clear. Any slip-up at this moment would be disastrous.
Hartberg have little hope of success in this competition, as they sit bottom on 17 points, trailing the top spot by nine points.
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Sturm Graz are expected to win based on form and home advantage.
Check in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with the Masters at Augusta National, we’ll hit one key topic every night.
After leading by a record six-shot margin at the 36-hole mark, Rory McIlroy now shares the lead with Cameron Young at 11 under par with one round remaining. Sam Burns is one shot back at 10 under, followed by Shane Lowry at 9 under, Jason Day and Justin Rose at 8 under, and Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li at 7 under. So, who’s slipping into a green jacket on Sunday evening?
Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): That feels like a loaded question at this point… I don’t know who else to rationally think will win this golf course if it’s not Rory. I would assume he’ll fix whatever is going on with his ball striking because he’s putting together a world-class scrambling effort. I think if he’s just a little better off the tee and with his irons Sunday, he gets it done. Otherwise, Scottie pulls off the unthinkable.
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): My heart tells me Rory gets it done, but my brain tells me it’s going to be Cameron Young. Since shooting 40 on his opening nine of the tournament, Young has been far and away the best player in the field, going 15 under over his next 45 holes. It’s going to take some serious golf to keep up with Young’s torrid pace, and with Rory looking exceedingly shaky on Saturday, I don’t know that he’s up for the task.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): I’m not having a strong feeling about any player at this point — you could make a reasonable case for just about anyone within four shots or so of the lead. But if I have to choose someone, it’s going to be Rory. Assuming today was pretty much as bad as it could be for him, with a six-shot lead melting away in 12 holes, he’s still in front with one round remaining, and I believe has the fortitude and experience to right the ship and get this done.
Josh sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Because the golf gods have a wicked sense of humor, and because I see Scheffler posting another low round, I predict we get a three-way playoff, with Scheffler edging McIlroy and Young in sudden-death. There’s no doubt Rory has put the worst of his Augusta agony in the past. But it’s not going to feel great, slipping the green jacket back on the guy who helped him put it on last year. This game is cruel like that.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): “Well, pal, we would’ve taken this on Monday morning.”
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Yes, Rory’s six-shot lead evaporated after 12 holes. But he still has a share of the lead and I think he’ll be able to rectify the right miss with the driver and left miss with his irons and wedges. I expect Cam Young and Scottie Scheffler to push him, but I think Rory once again gets this across the line. Like Nicklaus in ‘75, who blew a five-shot lead with a Saturday 73 and then rebounded to win, Rory figures it out and beats Scottie by one.
On Friday at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy was sublime. He made six birdies over his last seven holes to close out a seven-under 65, he opened up a six-shot lead (the largest in tournament history) and many questioned if the green jacket was already clinched.
As golf fans have witnessed so many times before, though, no lead is safe around Augusta National. And on Saturday, they got another reminder.
McIlroy, who is looking to become just the fourth golfer to win back-to-back Masters, was out of sorts during his third round, posting a one-over 73 to drop back into a tie for the lead with Cameron Young heading into the final round.
“This golf course has a way of — when you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle,” McIlroy said. “I just need to go to the range and try to figure it out a little bit.”
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By “it” he, of course, means his swing. Specifically, a pesky left miss with his approach shots into greens.
Several times throughout his third round, McIlroy missed left of the green. And as he made his way through Amen Corner, those left misses cost him three dropped shots as he made double bogey on 11 and bogey on 12.
The good news for McIlroy fans? The left miss he fought is correctable — and he seems to know why it’s happening.
“For me it’s just about keeping my lower body moving,” McIlroy said. “If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, then that should sort of fix it. But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit.”
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When the lower body slows (or stalls) around impact, your arms and hands take over and close the clubface. This is a miss that plagues everyone from casual recreational players all the way up to green jacket winners, and it’s something that can be round-wrecking if you aren’t careful.
McIlroy’s left miss makes much more sense with the added context of the type of shot he was trying to hit on some of the trouble shots. On Nos. 6 and 12, for example, he noted he was in between clubs and trying to hit a knockdown shot. When trying this three-quarter knockdown type shot, the tendency is for you to stall your turn around impact in a subconscious effort to keep the ball from going long. When you do this, however, the arms and hands take over and produce the pesky left miss.
“I had maybe awkward numbers or trying to take a little bit off and I missed those ones left,” McIlroy said. “So something to maybe go and work on tonight and, again, try to figure that out.”
If he can figure out how to guard against that miss, look for McIlroy to return to his form from the first two rounds and claim a second consecutive green jacket. If he can’t, he’ll be slipping the jacket on one of his competitors come Sunday evening.
A Minnesota Vikings fan greets fellow supporters near the NFL Draft stage during second- and third-round festivities, with April 26, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee capturing the lively atmosphere as crowds gathered to celebrate and follow selections during one of the league’s marquee offseason events. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zaleski / For The Tennessean
Every team has them, but it’s time to analyze the Minnesota Vikings’ current draft droughts and oddities. In doing so, some clues may dribble out about the team’s plans on April 23rd, when the draft kicks off.
Minnesota has some unusual draft habits that could matter this month.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will take on his first draft as the top guy, and these are some of the things that just haven’t happened in a while for the purple team.
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The Long-Running Draft Patterns Following the Vikings
Picks and habits that have eluded Minnesota.
Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on Nov 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, during a first-half matchup against the USC Trojans. Sadiq’s play highlighted his red-zone presence as Oregon capitalized on an early scoring opportunity in front of a loud home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images.
No TE Ever Taken in Round 1
Minnesota has drafted a few 2nd-Round tight ends in 65 years, but they’ve never taken the plunge in Round 1.
This time, they might have a chance at ending the drought, as Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq has a 50/50 chance of being on the board at Pick No. 18. Choosing Sadiq would make sense after Minnesota reworked T.J. Hockenson’s deal this offseason, enabling him to hit free agency next offseason.
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No WR in Round 2 in 19 Years
Sidney Rice — he’s the last WR discovered by the Vikings in Round 2 way back in 2007. Minnesota usually just connects on 1st-Round wideouts or finds them in late rounds like Stefon Diggs in 2015 or undrafted free agency like Adam Thielen in 2013.
This year, a man like Alabama’s Germie Bernard could end the madness.
No Center in Round 2 in 47 Years
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The Vikings drafted Dave Huffman in Round 2 of the 1979 NFL Draft. He didn’t last long. Since then, Minnesota has said no thanks to 2nd-Round centers.
In 2026, they could “reach” a bit for a player like Connor Lew of Auburn.
No DT Drafted in Round 1 since 2013
Remember Sharrif Floyd? The guy whose career started somewhat promising but flamed out because of injury? He was the last defensive tackle picked in Round 1 by the purple team.
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In 12 days, the drought could end with Clemson’s Peter Woods or Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald.
Just One EDGE in Round 1 in Last 20 Years
In 2005, the Vikings drafted Erasmus James in Round 1 — and then stopped investing such capital in EDGE defenders. They preferred the comfort of trades — see: Jared Allen — and the middle rounds for players like Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter.
Keldric Faulk (Auburn) and Akheem Mesidor (Miami) are in play at No. 18 in 2026.
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Just One Safety in Round 2 in Last 30 Years
Like the center position, the Vikings also don’t draft safeties in Round 2. The only guy in the last three decades was Tyrell Johnson from Arkansas State in 2008.
Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) is brought down by Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) on Oct 25, 2025, at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, during second-half action. McNeil-Warren’s tackle halted the play and showcased Toledo’s defensive pursuit in a physical cross-conference matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images.
On April 24th, Minnesota could change this tendency by picking LSU’s A.J. Haulcy or hoping Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) fall after a Vikings trade back.
No RBs Drafted in First 4 Rounds in 5 Years
Since Dalvin Cook left the franchise after the 2022 campaign, Minnesota has opted for veteran RB fixes, including Alexander Mattison, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. They had no young running back to take the baton.
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This is a very strange drought because it’s not difficult to find RB talent anywhere in the draft. Thankfully, Minnesota has done its homework so far in this draft cycle, having officially met with Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson and Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted on the RB need this week, “Jordan Mason, 26, and Aaron Jones, 31, are entering the final year of their contracts, and the Vikings explored moving on from Jones this spring when they bid for free agent Travis Etienne Jr. After the New Orleans Saints signed Etienne, Jones agreed to take a pay cut to return.”
“There might not be an immediate need for a running back, but it is coming soon. The 2026 class of running backs is not deep enough to feel assured that Brzezinski will have a value pick available to him in the top 100. The class offers one dominant, explosive playmaker who almost certainly will be a top-10 pick — Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love — and then a notable drop-off.”
Last year’s draft was renowned for running back depth, but Minnesota drafted zilch.
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Washington running back Jonah Coleman (1) powers through defenders on Oct 4, 2025, at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland, during a game against Maryland. Coleman pushed upfield with strength and balance as the Huskies leaned on their rushing attack in a competitive matchup against the Terrapins. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
Seifert added, “At least two others appear likely to be top-100 picks: Love’s Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price and Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. In a recent three-round mock draft conducted by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller and Jordan Reid, Kiper matched the Vikings with Price with the No. 49 pick.”
Just One WR in Rounds 2 & 3 in Last 18 Years
Remember the Tai Felton pick in Round 3 last year? That was the first time in about two decades that Minnesota chose a wideout in Rounds 2 or 3 — basically a Friday night.
This year, Minnesota is meeting with gobs of pass-catchers who might be taken in Rounds 2 and 3. This drought feels like it’s nearing an end.
Super Eagles striker Akor Adams continued his fine scoring form in La Liga, netting his eighth goal of the season in Sevilla’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
The match, played at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, saw Sevilla take full advantage of a heavily rotated Atletico side to secure three vital points in their fight to avoid relegation.
Adams opened the scoring early in the 10th minute after calmly converting a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded when Álex Baena brought down a Sevilla player inside the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot. The Nigerian forward showed great composure to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and give his side the lead.
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Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone made several changes to his starting line-up, resting key players ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with FC Barcelona. Among those left out was Nigerian star Ademola Lookman.
Despite fielding a youthful team, Atletico managed to respond in the 35th minute. Javier Boñar marked his early senior appearances with a well-taken header, connecting with a cross from Julio Díaz to level the score at 1-1.
However, Sevilla regained the advantage just before half-time when Nemanja Gudelj struck in added time of the first half to make it 2-1.
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The victory is a major boost for Sevilla as they continue their battle to stay in the top flight, while Atletico will now turn their attention back to European competition.
For Adams, the goal further underlines his importance to Sevilla, as the Nigerian striker continues to deliver when it matters most.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The theme of the week for Nick Taylor has been staying steady. Saturday at the Masters was another perfect example of that.
And now he’s trending toward recording his best career finish at a major championship.
Taylor, who shot a 2-under 70 in the third round, made four birdies Saturday, including a solid one on the par-4 18th. He also hit his wedge approach on the par-5 15th to just a foot and rolled in an awfully slippery birdie effort on No. 9 from the back of the green towards the front.
“They’re all slippery out here,” Taylor said with a smile.
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Taylor made two bogeys in the third round, the first coming on the par-3 12th after he was stymied in the front bunker, but said that was a great save.
“Honestly, I really had no chance to hit the green. I was trying to bank it in the hill and pop it up. If it went through, it would be okay. If I left it in the bunker, I thought it was all right. You know, that was a big putt to kind of keep some momentum going to salvage a four, but just not a great 9-iron, and I guess not a great break, but it was more so a poor shot,” Taylor said.
Much has been made about Taylor’s poor results in majors up until last year after he missed eight straight cuts, but he’s steadied himself on the game’s biggest stages of late — and now he’ll be playing in the late afternoon for the second time in the last three majors.
The Masters is unique with everyone being present and engaged with the goings on — and of course, the Masters roars are iconic — and Taylor said, being in a late group, meant that he heard the moans when Rory McIlroy made a bogey on the first hole, and the huge ovation when Shane Lowry aced the par-3 6th.
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“It’s just fun being out there hearing that stuff. Happy to be up close to the lead to kind of experience all that,” Taylor said. “I think last year on the weekend at the U.S. Open (where Taylor recorded his best result at a major), I was in one of the final groups there, and I have enough to draw back on that, so today wasn’t anything overwhelming that way.
“I think tomorrow will be exciting.”
Taylor is tied for 21st heading into the final round at Augusta National.
Corey Conners, meanwhile, will need a big final day if he wants to get into red figures for the week. The good news is that on Saturday, he proved he can still score his way around Augusta National — he’ll just need to minimize his mistakes for Sunday.
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Conners, who is tied for 44th, made six birdies in the third round but gave most of them back, with five bogeys sprinkled throughout the day.
“I did a good job. On some of the holes I’ve given myself good looks — just too many mistakes to not have the round that I wanted,” Conners said.
Conners hit his drive on No. 2 into the forest and then hit his approach on the par-5 13th into the creek in front of the green — both mishits leading to bogeys. He also missed a five-footer for par on his closing hole.
“Felt like I played a lot of holes exactly how I wanted to and gave myself good chances that I was able to convert; few holes where not quite as planned,” Conners said.
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“I did roll in some nice putts. Couple tough misses on two and 11 that hit way too the left with the driver. Other than that, was really solid. And then, yeah, a lot of good putts. Just wasn’t really able to put a good round together.”
Conners, emotionally, is ever steady. But he admitted he wasn’t thrilled with such an up-and-down scorecard in the third round. For Sunday, Conners said he simply wanted to build off “the good stuff.”
“You can’t really force things around here, so (for Sunday) just try and play my game hopefully (be a) little more consistent and be steady and have some fun and they’ll result in some birdies,” Conners said.
Arslanbek Makhmudov recently caught the attention of the boxing world by wrestling a bear in Dagestan. And from the first round on Saturday night, he seemed to realise that wrestling Tyson Fury was a better option than boxing him. Yet on this occasion, that’s no comment on the wizardry that Fury can produce in the ring, but rather on Makhmudov’s flaws. The story of this fight was that, luckily for Fury, those flaws eclipsed the Briton’s own, increasingly apparent faults.
This wasn’t the triumphant return of the “Gypsy King”, see, but an underwhelming – perhaps even concerning – return to the ring from the former world heavyweight champion, as he emerged from his fifth retirement.
Sixteen months on from his second defeat by Oleksandr Usyk, Fury was back; three-and-a-half years after his last fight on home soil, he was back in Britain. The goal of this points win over Makhmudov was to set up a long-overdue duel with compatriot Anthony Joshua, who watched on from the front row, and while that contest still gets the juices flowing (just), Fury’s performance here did not.
Tyson Fury after beating Arslanbek Makhmudov on points (Getty Images for Netflix)
In the cold shell of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before a smattering of empty seats, Makhmudov came forward in laboured movements, hurling overhands that Fury could see coming before his opponent had even dreamed them up.
Yet one early entry did trouble Fury enough to elicit an echoing “ooh!” from the stands, as a right hand connected over the top. Early in the second round, there was also a nervy movement for Fury, who was arguably backing up too frequently in a passive start. Maybe there was an element of the 37-year-old simply wishing to stay mobile and remote from Makhmudov in the earliest rounds, in which the Russian is at his most dangerous, but Fury was doing little besides throwing sporadic jabs to the body.
Perhaps they were an investment for the later rounds, though, and in any case, it didn’t take long for him to shift gears. But are there as many gears as before?
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Fury began to let his hands go as round two neared its conclusion, and anticipation rose when he sidestepped Makhmudov and attacked with the 36-year-old trapped against the ropes. By the third round, a trend had emerged, with Fury able to slingshot himself off the ropes at just the right moment, getting close enough to force Makhmudov to overshoot with his right hand.
Still, after continually allowing the Russian to steer him towards the ropes, Fury was caught flush by a left hook, again stirring up some nervousness in round four. However, Makhmudov’s efforts to build on the attack were messy, and although he landed another left before long, Fury again turned him against the ropes and slid a cross onto his chin – which was slack amid another deep breath.
Fury went the distance with Makhmudov but was always a step or two ahead (Getty Images for Netflix)
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The rest of the round was back and forth, with both men taking a punch to land one, while a grappling-heavy round five sucked the atmosphere out of the stadium – a common feeling in Tottenham this season, courtesy of their Premier League travails. In round six, the most-interesting action was in the crowd, as a fight was broken up by security, though Fury did his best to put a dent in Makhmudov with hooks to the body.
The constant chatter in the stands was proof of a disinterested audience at this point, although two clean overhands from Makhmudov brought the fans to attention. Perhaps it was becoming clear, even this early, that Fury was not going to find a finish, despite trainer SugarHill Steward’s desperate pleas between rounds.
For as slow and one-dimensional as Makhmudov looked, Fury was off the pace as well. Two-dimensional, sure, with the occasional southpaw switch and the eventual, effective introduction of uppercuts, but not inventive enough to assert himself in the captivating manner of old – or not sprightly enough to act fully on his inventive impulses.
Fury looked somewhat close to finishing Makhmudov in the final rounds (Getty Images for Netflix)
At one point in the ninth, Makhmudov was a sitting duck against the ropes, and rather than fire off shots at the Russian, Fury simply leaned on him. And while Fury’s uppercut started to serve him well in the later rounds, when he finally did look capable of a finish in the 11th, it appeared as much a result of Makhmudov’s tiredness as Fury’s power – or what’s left of it.
Of course, these faults in Fury could be down to ring rust. Yet they could be down to age and degradation.
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The quirk is that this is okay, as long as he is paired with Joshua next. What Fury vs Joshua has always needed, as a match-up, is a sense of equality, or something close to it. Fury’s current form might just balance out with Joshua’s struggles in and out of the ring; as much as one feels guilty to factor “AJ”’s recent car crash into an evaluation of his chances in a super-fight, one also cannot ignore the grief of losing two of his teammates.
Joshua, 36, has had to reckon with the passings of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele in recent months, while his last three results read as such: a stoppage of a YouTuber-turned-boxer, a devastating defeat, and a KO of a mixed martial artist. Meanwhile, Fury laboured to victory here, after twice being outdone by Usyk.
Fury calling out Anthony Joshua after beating Makhmudov (Getty Images for Netflix)
Joshua (right) with Saudi boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh (Getty Images for Netflix)
Go back further, in Fury’s case, and he was lucky to outpoint the same mixed martial artist that Joshua destroyed, after beating Derek Chisora in an uneven fight the year before. So, in pursuit of Fury’s last clear win, you have to venture back to 2022, and even then it was not an especially impressive result.
At least Fury’s boxing tools worked better than the microphone that was handed to Joshua, after Fury had formally called him out. But even when AJ was given a working mic and hinted that he would face Fury next, there was some room for doubt. It was telling that, when boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh beckoned Joshua’s promoter into the ring, Eddie Hearn would not budge.
Fury vs Joshua is not a done deal, but it must be made immediately, before both boxers are done. Deal?
;)
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