If you’re surprised that Michael Malone will be the next coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, that’s understandable. Unlike Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, another candidate for the job, and unlike Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens, who wasn’t interested in it, Malone isn’t one of the names that is typically tossed around when a major college program has a coaching vacancy. He has worked in college basketball before, having served an assistant coach at Oakland, Providence and Manhattan and the director of basketball administration at Virginia, but that seven-year stretch ended when he joined the New York Knicks‘ coaching staff 25 years ago. Malone has spent the vast majority of his professional life in the NBA.

Malone has a connection to UNC, though. His daughter Bridget is a freshman on the volleyball team, and as a result he has spent significant time in Chapel Hill. He has attended the basketball team’s practices, and, last October, he appeared on the Tar Heels’ official podcast. While he didn’t attend North Carolina himself — he played point guard for Loyola (Maryland) — he said on that podcast that his father, the late coach Brendan Malone, talked to him about Dean Smith from when he was a little kid. 

“I’ve always been a Carolina fan,” he said. “And when she decided to come here, that made it even that much more special because now I’m ‘Go Heels’ for everything. I root for all the teams. I have fallen in love with Chapel Hill.”

OK, so Malone loves Chapel Hill. And he won an NBA championship in 2023 as the coach of the Denver Nuggets. What else should college fans know about him, though? Let’s start with the reputation he had long before he got to Denver. 

Malone is an old-school, defense-first guy, right?

That was certainly the book on him before he got to Denver. Malone’s father was a disciplinarian, and when Malone was an assistant coach under Mike Brown in Cleveland, Monty Williams in New Orleans and Mark Jackson in Golden State. he was in charge of the defense.

“I would say that even though I’m a young coach in the NBA, in terms of tenure for NBA head coaches, I’d say I also have a lot of old school about me,” Malone told Mike Olsen, then of Denver Stiffs, in 2016. “I value discipline. I know it worked for me when I played, and maybe it’s because I grew up with it in the household, but I responded best to coaches that were hard on me, disciplined me and didn’t take the easy route. That was good for me, and at the end of the day, that’s what I believe in, as obviously that’s my approach.”

In that 2016 interview, Malone then brought up his relationship with DeMarcus Cousins, who clashed with numerous coaches in Sacramento but got along swimmingly with Malone. The Kings’ decision to fire Malone (early in the 2014-15 season, while Cousins was out with viral meningitis) rubbed their franchise player the wrong way and aged terribly. Malone was in the early stages of establishing a culture in Sacramento, and Cousins, who clashed with many other Kings coaches, had bought in.

In 2017, three years after Malone had kicked him out of a practice, Cousins recounted the story to Kevin Arnovitz, then of ESPN:

It’s an afternoon in early 2014, midway through the season, and Mike Malone, first-year coach of the Kings, is conducting a particularly brutal practice. Malone was hired by the Kings the previous June, and Cousins has experienced practices like this before. “Mike has his days,” Cousins says. “You’ve seen him on the sidelines, veins popping out of his head … overly frustrated, mad at the world. This was one of those days.”

Cousins is having one of those days too, dead tired from what seems to have been an almost intentionally sadistic practice. And when Malone yells at the team to line up to run sprints, Cousins turns defiant: “F— this, man. I’m not running!”

And then, as Cousins recalls, “every bit of 5-9 Mike Malone comes up to me and says, ‘Motherf—er, you’re going to run or you’re going to get the f— out of my practice, you big p—y!’ And I say, ‘I ain’t running, Mike!’”

Malone promptly shows Cousins the door.

Cousins went on to tell ESPN that, while Malone could get mad, it was never personal. “Mike was real,” Cousins said. “Mike held everyone accountable, most of all himself. That’s all that matters. That’s all it’s about.” In the same story, Malone said that Cousins “always knew that I cared about him and loved him.” Malone added: “Once you earn his trust, he’ll go to war for you. I think pretty early in our relationship I earned his trust.”

The Nuggets hired Malone in 2015. The year before he got there, ESPN published a feature, also by Arnovitz, entitled “The downfall of the Denver Nuggets,” in which the roster is described as a “menagerie of mismatched parts” and the organization is described as “rudderless.” Malone gave the franchise a sense of stability. 

At first, the improvements were incremental. Then, after “Jokmas” — Dec. 15, 2016, the day that Malone decided to make 21-year-old Nikola Jokić the starting center and play through him — everything changed, Malone’s rep included. The way Denver played offensively in the years that followed, it would be inaccurate to describe him as merely a hard-nosed, defensive-minded culture builder.

What was so special about his Nuggets teams?

Jokić, mainly. Also, Jamal Murray. Malone, however, gave them the platform to perfect their two-man game. He earned their trust, empowered them and challenged them. Every year, Denver’s offense got less conventional. As Jokić evolved, so did the Nuggets. By the end of Malone’s tenure, their franchise player was not just the best passing big man in NBA history, he was truly positionless. Unlike other “point-centers” who make plays from the high post, Jokić ran pick-and-rolls like a guard and came off pindowns like a wing.

During Jokić’s first few seasons, Malone had to get on him to assert himself as a scorer. “Sometimes I don’t think [Jokić] realizes how good he is,” Malone said at media day in 2018. “And how great a player he is. There were times last year where we’d talk about other big men in the NBA. He would say, ‘I don’t think I’m as good as this guy or that guy,’ and I’d look at him like, ‘Are you crazy?’” To this day, Jokić is not one to talk himself up, but for years he has played like he knows he’s unstoppable. Malone, who knew opposing coaches would otherwise guard Jokić one-on-one and dare him to beat them on his own, deserves some of the credit for this.

Malone rode a horse in Jokić’s hometown of Sombor, Serbia, in the summertime, and he spent years both getting to know Jokić and trying to maximize his particular brand of basketball genius. By the time the Nuggets were contenders, their movement-oriented offense was a reflection of their superstar’s unprecedented combination of skills. Teammates quickly learned that, by simply cutting to the basket at opportune times, they could feast off of Jokić’s passes. Rather than drilling lots of set plays in practice, Denver worked on concepts. One exercise, as then–assistant coach David Adelman told The Ringer’s Michael Pina in 2023: five-on-zero, 18 seconds on the clock, no pick-and-rolls, no shooting until the clock hits five. 

“You get all kinds of cutting and moving, and that in a sense can be its own play,” Adelman said.

Malone’s Nuggets were unpredictable and unconventional. They built an elite offense that stood up to playoff scrutiny despite being one of the league’s slowest and most 3-point-averse teams. They were tough enough to get the stops they needed during their 2023 title run, but they were special because they picked opposing defenses apart.

What are the knocks on Malone?

Well, his relationship with then–Nuggets GM Calvin Booth deteriorated to the point that they were barely speaking, which led to both of them getting fired around this time last year. “Everybody in the organization was miserable,” a team source told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne in one of the many stories documenting the rift between the two.

Some tension between a team’s coach and front office is inevitable. It can even be healthy. This was clearly not, though, and Malone must take some of the blame for that. He was resistant to playing certain young players Booth wanted him to develop — in hindsight, Booth was right to be high on Peyton Watson in particular — and, year after year, he played his starting five an enormous amount of minutes together, which was good for those players’ chemistry and not necessarily optimal for everybody else.

If it wasn’t already clear by now, Malone is intense. And by the end of his tenure in Denver, many players had reportedly grown tired of his yelling. The team seemed to be tuning him out on the court, too.

Generally speaking, if you think of any negative trait usually associated with a self-described “old school” coaches, it has probably been used to describe Malone at some point. He’s a loud, fiery and sometimes stubborn guy. He is demanding. This can work, and it did in Denver for almost 10 full seasons. But it can also wear thin.

If you’re optimistic about the Tar Heels’ hire, you can point to the success of UConn‘s Dan Hurley, who makes Malone look chill by comparison. Malone has a track record of connecting with star players, which should serve him well as a recruiter. He showed with the Nuggets, too, that he was a more creative offensive coach than he was previously given credit for, and there’s no reason that can’t translate to the college level. 

If you’re against the hire, though, you can point to the simple fact that this is not the NBA and he won’t have the luxury of coaching anybody on Jokić’s level. The players he coaches in Chapel Hill will make mistakes and test his patience more than the young pros in Denver did. Maybe he’s ready for that, but it’s definitely going to be an adjustment.

Each offseason, the Minnesota Vikings usually have at least one player heavy in the NFL’s trade rumor mill, and since early March, Jonathan Greenard has filled the role. Greenard wants a new contract, and if Minnesota cannot afford his asking price, he could be shipped elsewhere this spring or summer. Thanks to ESPN, there’s a new trade theory, this time linking Greenard to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Minnesota could cash out for draft capital, though moving its top edge rusher would create a major hole.

Most Vikings fans would rather retain Greenard, but for a fair price, Minnesota may be able to draft a younger outside linebacker and reset the clock.

A Greenard-to-Chiefs Trade Would Force a Massive Vikings Pivot

Greenard to the Chiefs? It could work, apparently.

The ESPN Proposal for Greenard to KC

Examining the draft, Bill Barnwell sized up a trade apiece for each team, landing on Greenard to Kansas City with Andy Reid’s team.

Barnwell explained, “Chiefs get: 1-18, 3-97, Edge Jonathan Greenard. Vikings get: 1-9, Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. This trade would value the difference between Greenard and Anudike-Uzomah — a former first-round pick who hasn’t impressed with the Chiefs — as being worth the 54th pick, according to the Johnson chart, in a typical draft.”

“The Vikings would move up from No. 18 to No. 9 and put defensive coordinator Brian Flores in line to add one of the premier defensive backs in this year’s class. The idea of Downs in a Flores defense is tantalizing, but the Vikings could also go for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane here. Trading Greenard would open cap space and create a spot in the starting lineup for Dallas Turner, who filled in for Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel when they were hurt last season.”

The Vikings haven’t picked as high as No. 9 in a draft since 2014 when they netted linebacker Anthony Barr.

Who’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah?

Anudike-Uzomah joined the Chiefs in Round 1 three years ago — the same night that Jordan Addison became a Viking. To date, he has not wholly lived up to expectations. The Chiefs have not exercised his fifth-year contractual option, and the deadline is three weeks away.

The Kansas State alumnus missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury and wasn’t very productive before that season. He’s appeared in 34 games, starting only 3, and has logged 3 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and 8 tackles for loss.

Here’s his miniature Pro Football Focus resume:

• 2025: DNP
• 2024: 61.2
• 2023: 53.4

Anudike-Uzomah especially struggles with tackling.

Fair or Unfair Deal?

The deal would be fair for the Vikings if the beholder still believes in Anudike-Uzomah. If he’s a dud, all bets are off.

Still, trading from No. 18 to No. 9 is the equivalent of the 45th overall pick in the draft, also known as a mid-2nd-Rounder. If one subtracts Anudike-Uzomah and the Vikings’ 3rd-Rounder from the deal, the scale roughly evens out.

A better deal for Minnesota, if Kansas City is flexible, might look like this:

Barnwell added about his trade idea, “One other way to address that need would be to add a star in Greenard, who racked up 12 sacks and 22 knockdowns with the Vikings in 2024 before injuries wrecked his 2025 campaign.”

“Greenard will turn 29 in May, so he should still have a couple of years of impactful pass rushing before the Chiefs would need to worry about moving on. Greenard has two years and $37.9 million remaining on his deal, and though Brett Veach & Co. would have to address that contract with a meaningful raise, Greenard could still be an easily justifiable addition for the Chiefs, given their perennial role as Super Bowl contenders.”

The Vikings’ Would-Be Plans at No. 9

So, just what in the world would the Vikings do with Pick No. 9? It’s a rim-rattling trade, meaning there would have to be a target of purple affection.

At that spot, Minnesota would presumably target one of these players:

• Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
• Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
• Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)

Delane may not be that much of a slam-dunk prospect to trade Greenard. It’s debateable. Love, on the other hand, is considered a Top 2 or Top 3 player in the draft, only driven down the board by his position: running backs aren’t considered overly important anymore.

Downs would be worth the squeeze, but a general manager must ask himself if trading Greenard for a safety is worth it. The safety position — similar to running back — is not often referred to as a premium one.

The NFL draft is 24 days away. It’s also worth noting that the Vikings could simply keep Greenard and pay him.

The Michigan Wolverines will look to end the Big Ten’s 26-year men’s basketball title drought when they battle the UConn Huskies in the 2026 NCAA Tournament National Championship Game on Monday night. Michigan State was the last Big Ten team to earn the crown, defeating Florida in 2000. The Huskies (34-5), who have won six national titles, all since 1999, advanced with a 71-62 win over Illinois in Saturday’s national semifinal. The Wolverines (36-3), who are looking for their second national title and first since 1989, defeated Arizona 91-73 on Saturday. Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg does not carry an injury designation despite hurting his ankle and knee in the Final Four win over Arizona. The same is true for UConn’s Solo Ball (foot).

Tipoff from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is set for 8:49 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are 6.5-point favorites in the latest UConn vs. Michigan odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 146.5, up two points from the opening Michigan vs. UConn line. Before making any Michigan vs. UConn picks, check out the UConn vs. Michigan predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 Final Four on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks.

Now, the model has simulated UConn vs. Michigan 10,000 times and just revealed its college basketball picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college basketball odds and college basketball lines for Michigan vs. UConn:

Top UConn vs. Michigan predictions

After 10,000 simulations of UConn vs. Michigan, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (146.5 points). The Over hit in the last five Michigan games. The Over has hit in 11 of Connecticut’s last 18 games against teams averaging more than 72 points per game. Michigan has the eighth-most explosive offense in Division I, averaging 87.8 points per game.

The model projects the Huskies to have five players score 11.6 points or more, led by Tarris Reed Jr., who is projected to score 14.8 points. The Wolverines, meanwhile, are expected to be led in scoring by Lendeborg, who is projected to score 16.2 points, one of just four players to score 10.9 points or more. The model is projecting 151 combined points as the Over clears in 62% of simulations. You can get the spread pick at SportsLine.

How to make Michigan vs. UConn picks

Now, the model simulated every possession of UConn vs. Michigan 10,000 times and says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Michigan vs. UConn, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the UConn vs. Michigan spread to back, all from the advanced model that just simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

NEW DELHI: In a shocking turn of events, an umpire was stabbed to death following a dispute over a run-out decision during a local cricket match in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as reported by NDTV.The victim, Dola Ajith Babu, along with his friend Budumuri Chiranjeevi, was officiating at a local ground when the incident occurred.The incident took place on Sunday evening after an argument broke out between players from two teams over a run-out call.“Ajith Babu and Chiranjeevi intervened and settled the issue on the field. However, one of the spectators, Kanta Kishore, became angry and started abusing the umpires and players,” Circle Inspector Malleswara Rao said.“After the match ended, Ajith Babu, Chiranjeevi and a few friends went to a spot nearby. As soon as they reached the spot, another argument broke out. Kishore suddenly pulled out a knife and attacked the two umpires,” Rao said.Ajith was stabbed by Kishore and collapsed at the spot. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment, but doctors declared him dead.Chiranjeevi also sustained injuries in the attack.Ajith’s father, Dola Appala Raju, has lodged a murder complaint against Kishore.Ajith’s brother (not named) alleged that the accused, a resident of a neighbouring colony, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack.He further claimed that the dispute over a single run had been resolved earlier after intervention by village elders, but the accused later planned the attack.“… In the match, there was an argument over one run. The argument became heated, and the person who attempted the murder was not a cricket player. He is a resident of Vinayak Nagar. He came in between the argument and used abusive words, which led to a serious argument between both teams. Later, village elders came and settled the issue there itself. After everything, in the evening, they were under the influence of alcohol and planned this attack. He carried a knife in his pocket and came to the Padigadli junction and called Chiranjeevi” the victim’s brother told NDTV.“He started shouting and arguing. Suddenly, he took the knife out of his pocket and stabbed Dola Ajith in the chest. We tried to catch Kishore, but he ran away. We took Ajith Babu to VIMS Hospital, but no doctors were available, so we shifted him to Apollo. Around 8.15 pm, doctors declared him dead,” he added.

Victor Osimhen has opened up on a difficult period in his early career, revealing that two Belgian clubs turned him down due to health issues.

The Super Eagles striker explained that he was rejected after suffering from malaria and typhoid shortly after arriving in Europe.

He said he first travelled to Belgium for a possible move, but the deal failed because of his illness. After returning to Germany to continue training, another Belgian club showed interest in signing him.

Osimhen completed his medical tests successfully, but the move still did not go through. According to him, the club’s president decided against the transfer because another Belgian side had earlier refused to sign him.

Despite the disappointment, the Nigerian forward said he remained focused and chose to move on from the setback.

At the time, Osimhen was trying to settle at Wolfsburg, where injuries and limited playing time made things more difficult for him.

His breakthrough eventually came when he joined Sporting Charleroi on loan in 2018. The move proved to be a turning point in his career.

He made his debut from the bench in a league match and quickly found his form. Osimhen went on to score 12 league goals, helping to revive his career and putting himself back on track for success in Europe.

A No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup is set for the 2026 NCAA championship game on Monday as the Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies. The top-seeded Wolverines (36-3) are coming off a Final Four win over Arizona, 91-73, while No. 2 UConn knocked off Illinois, 71-62, in Saturday’s March Madness semifinal. Michigan is aiming for its second NCAA Tournament championship, while UConn is seeking its seventh title and third in the last four years. 

Tipoff is at 8:49 p.m. ET from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Wolverines are 6.5-point favorites in the latest UConn vs. Michigan odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 146.5. Michigan is the -300 favorite on the money line. Before making any Michigan vs. UConn picks, check out the NCAA championship game predictions from SportsLine’s Bob Konarski.

Konarski specializes in college basketball, displaying in-depth knowledge of hundreds of Division I teams. He is a regular presence in the SportsLine Discord, co-hosts a weekly X Spaces with fellow CBB expert Tom Casale and can be seen on the “Early Edge” breaking down his college hoops plays. He enters the NCAA Tournament Final Four on a 44-28 run on college basketball picks, returning more than 13 units during that span.

Now, Konarski has his sights set on UConn vs. Michigan, and just revealed his NCAA championship game picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Konarski’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball lines for Michigan vs. UConn:

Top Michigan vs. UConn predictions

Konarski has analyzed UConn vs. Michigan and is going Under on the point total (146.5).  The Under has prevailed more often than not for both teams this year. Michigan has seen the Under go 22-17, while UConn has seen it go 21-18. These records came with both teams full healthy, which won’t be the case on Monday. Lots of offensive firepower is banged up, including Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, as well as UConn’s Solo Ball and Silas Demary, and their respective offenses could suffer as a result, even though they are all cleared to play.

The Huskies have seen the Under go 5-2 over their last seven games, and dating back to 2017, Unders sport a 6-2 record in National Championship Games. Given the injuries affecting both teams, as well as the team and title game trends, Konarski is siding with under 145.5 points. “Lean to the under with possessions coming at a premium in a slower-paced game in the second half,” Konarski told SportsLine. You can see his Michigan vs. Connecticut spread picks at SportsLine.

How to make UConn vs. Michigan picks

Konarski has also found a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Michigan vs. UConn in the 2026 NCAA championship game, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the UConn vs. Michigan spread to jump on, all from the expert on a 44-28 roll on his college basketball picks, and find out.    

Turkish football analyst Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı has warned that Galatasaray may take a big decision over manager Okan Buruk as pressure continues to grow.

The warning comes at a difficult time for the club, following a 2-1 defeat to Trabzonspor which has made the title race much tighter. Galatasaray are still top of the league with 64 points after 27 matches, but both Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor are just one point behind.

Recent results have raised concerns despite a few wins. The team have struggled away from home, losing four straight matches in all competitions. The absence of Victor Osimhen has also affected their attack, with the team losing several games without the striker.

Kütahyalı believes the situation could get worse for the coach if results do not improve quickly.

“If Galatasaray fails to win the Göztepe and Kocaelispor matches, Okan Buruk will be sacked,” he said. “This is Galatasaray. He must also find a way to play without Osimhen.”

Galatasaray now face important matches against Göztepe and Kocaelispor, before a crucial derby against Fenerbahçe later this month.

Any decision on Buruk could also affect Osimhen, who shares a close relationship with the coach. The Nigerian striker has previously spoken about how Buruk convinced him to join the club and supported him like a father.

On the pitch, their partnership has brought success. Osimhen helped the team win both the league and cup last season, and has scored important goals again this term.

However, the striker is currently out injured after suffering a fractured forearm. He has started light training and could return soon, possibly in time for the big derby.

With the title race getting tighter and key matches ahead, Galatasaray face a crucial period that could decide both their season and the future of their coach.

Queensland’s holiday racing centres on Ipswich, and trainer Bryan Dais is optimistic Cool Music will progress and exhibit the talent he sees in her for the campaigns ahead.

She shoulders 60 kilograms in benchmark 58 but Cool Music is geared to take advantage of the shift from midweek to provincial in the Barrier Reef Pools Fillies and Mares Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich this Monday.

The mare, aged five, opened her prep with a win at Warwick and followed with second place at Ipswich at 1350m on March 14.

Her fourth at Eagle Farm over 1600m on March 25, missing by less than a length, has Dais convinced of her prospects from draw 11.

“I saw the original barrier and didn’t worry too much about the rest of the field,” Dais said.

“She jumped from the outside barrier here two starts ago and ran enormously.

“I think we ran the fastest 1000, 800 and 400 sectionals of the race.”I took her to Warwick and that was mainly because of where her rating was at, and the perfect race to kick off her preparation.”

Post her April 2025 placing at Ipswich, Cool Music suffered a stable accident requiring over six months away.

“She came back and was going ok but not where I thought she should be,” Dais added.

“She then pulled a muscle and needed an extended spell but this time being back in work, I think she has come back to where she was as a three-year-old.

“At her fifth start at that age, she was already racing against open company at Eagle Farm.”

Following eight withdrawals, Cool Music is $6.50 in betting as David Vandyke’s Our Jewel holds favouritism at $3.40.

Discover betting markets for the race among sports betting options at racing betting markets.

The Masters Tournament is all about tradition, and that includes everything down to what the golfers wear during the four days at Augusta National Golf Club.

That was on display last year when Australian star Jason Day was asked to keep his Malbon Golf outfits a bit more reserved. But it seems that he’s already starting to push the boundary before teeing off for his first round on Thursday.

Day, a former world No. 1 golfer, was spotted on Monday for his practice round in Malbon’s “Birds of Georgia” collection, wearing a top that featured a bunch of different birds, from orioles to cardinals to woodpeckers and more. The outfit was supposed to have matching pants, but it was reported by Sports Illustrated that Day was told by Augusta National to wear normal, solid-colored pants instead.

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Jason Day of Australia plays a shot from the 12th hole tee box during a practice round before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

This came after Malbon dropped Day’s fits for the week on social media.

“If you are on the course and you are tuned in with nature and know the sounds of birds, you’ll make more birdies,” Malbon Golf founder Stephen Malbon told the outlet about Day’s lineup for the week. “It’s inspired by Native American beliefs. Each one of these birds has a different meaning. I’ve been sending the noises of the birds to Jason for the last six months. Hopefully, he’s trying to stay in touch with nature.”

Throughout the week, Day’s birdwatcher-themed outfits will even feature a vest, set for Wednesday’s practice round.

TIGER WOODS STEPPING BACK INTO COMPETITIVE GOLF AS MASTERS LOOM

Day isn’t the only Malbon athlete in the field either. Sungjae Im will be rocking Malbon’s bird-themed clothing.

In 2024, Day made national headlines with his first Masters collaboration with Malbon. He was spotted wearing a vest that had “No. 313. Malbon Golf Championship” written across it in bold lettering with accompanying blue, baggy pants.

Jason Day of Australia wears a detailed vest during a practice round before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

But, when Day showed up to the course for his next round, which came on the same day due to a rainout on Thursday, the vest was no longer being worn.

Day revealed that Augusta National told him to remove the sweater, and as he didn’t want to ruffle any feathers during the first major of the year, he did what he was told.

“My agent got a call from high above and said, ‘Hey, we need Jason to take that vest off.’”

Day said last year’s original Masters plans were “a lot crazier” than the 2024 lineup, and the Masters requested an early look at what he was expected to wear. Plans had to be changed.

Jason Day of Australia practices at the tournament practice area before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2026. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

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But, while Day admitted he was “not here to step on anyone’s toes because I know that when we play at the Masters, it’s all about the Masters,” his outfits this week already seem to be pushing the limit.

This will be Day’s 15th Masters Tournament appearance at Augusta National, with his best finish coming in 2011 when he finished tied for second.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.