There are different episodes of the pre-NFL Draft hype and discussion every year. The two that eventually become the biggest ones (although not always the most telling) are the pre-combine predictions and the post-combine/free agent predictions. For some Notre Dame players this season there is quite a bit of difference.
Although wide receiver Malachi Fields had a phenomenal Senior Bowl which launched him upwards in the mock drafts toward the first round, his 40 time at the combine did some damage. While he can still help himself at the Notre Dame Pro Day, Fields still likely won’t be one of the players selected in the first round.
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But there are two Irish players that are still very much in contention.
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The first is the most obvious; running back Jeremiyah Love. He very well may be the best player in the draft and is definitely the best running back. He had been slotted in a number of places in the top 10 before the combine and free agent signings, but after several teams made some moves to solidify their running back room, Love is now projected to be picked by the Tennessee Titans with the 4th pick overall by Daniel Jeremiah.
Daniel Jeremiah also has Notre Dame running back, Jadarian Price, being selected in the first round as well. Price is projected to be picked by the Seattle Seahawks who just saw the departure of Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs (which slightly affects Jeremiyah Love, but it seemed less and less likely he would have fell to the Chiefs).
Notre Dame has not been known as a big producer of first round running back talent, so if two players do get selected, it would be a phenomenal turn of events. Regardless of where they go, both players are likely ready to contribute in a big way as rookies.
Paul Seixas dominated the opening time trial of the Tour of the Basque Country. He has become the third-youngest rider in history to win a World Tour race. In football, Real Madrid face Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, whilst Arsenal travel to face Sporting. In tennis, Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech have won their first-round matches at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United had a scare during a net session at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre on Tuesday after Mir Hamza Sajjad was hit on the head by a ball and briefly lost consciousness.The incident happened when Mark Chapman, who is part of the squad, played a shot that he could not control. The ball hit Sajjad on the back of the head, and he fell to the ground, Pakistan-based news outlet Geo Super reported.The right-arm medium-fast bowler was taken to a nearby hospital for checks. The Geo Super report said that Mir Hamza Sajjad is now conscious and stable. As a precaution, a CT scan will be done to check for any injury.
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Devdutt Padikkal press conference: Chinnaswamy pitch, Tim David’s power & RCB’s batting strategy
The incident stopped the training session, and players and support staff were left concerned. The team has not made an official statement so far, but news of his stable condition has brought some relief.Sajjad has played six T20 matches and taken eight wickets. In eight First-Class matches, he has taken 25 wickets. The right-arm pacer was picked by Islamabad United in the first PSL players’ auction for PKR 70 lakh and is yet to make his PSL debut.
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Do you think Mark Chapman shot could have been avoided with better techniques in batting practice?
In the PSL points table, Islamabad United, led by Shadab Khan, are third with two wins, one loss and one no-result, taking five points with a net run rate of 1.055.Islamabad United will next play against Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have developed a good understanding at Man Utd and the pair are enjoying the freedom they have under Michael Carrick.
Amad is enjoying the tactical freedom in Manchester United’s attack after Michael Carrick gave the forwards licence to roam and he believes his close relationship with Bryan Mbeumo is paying off on the pitch.
The two often worked in tandem down the right in the first half of the season, with Amad playing at right wing-back and Mbeumo operating as the right-sided No.10 in the Portuguese’s 3-4-2-1 system.
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Carrick has restored a back four at United and Amad is now playing as part of the front three, but the system has often been flexible, with Matheus Cunha rounding off the trio.
Amad usually starts on the right, with Cunha on the left and Mbeumo through the middle, but Carrick has allowed them to rotate positions and Amad is confident it’s working because of the relationships they have on and off the pitch.
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“At the beginning of the season we were playing on the right. I was playing as a wing-back, he was playing at the 10,” said Amad.
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“We had a good relationship even outside the pitch. And now we are playing in different positions, sometimes we play as a striker and a winger.
“But we know each other, we want to have more freedom on the pitch and switch positions when the team needs. He is happy to do his best for the club and the same for me and we want to continue like this.”
Benjamin Sesko has started twice for Carrick, offering a more natural threat as a No.9, but it is the fluidity that the United head coach prefers and Mbeumo is also happy with the partnership he is developing with Amad.
“We had a great relationship at the start of the season and our team is still going,” he said. “Him on the right, sometimes left or striker.
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“I know his movements and then I know as well how he likes to play. So with the trainings and the games as well, we always try to bring this partnership every time.”
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
The San Diego Padres are the lone National League team that Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has never faced as he eases into his third major league season.
That will change on Tuesday when Skenes (1-1, 9.53 ERA) matches up with the fellow right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-1, 6.75) of the Padres in the second contest of a three-game set in Pittsburgh.
After enduring his shortest and worst career outing on Opening Day against the New York Mets, Skenes rebounded on Wednesday. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner threw five strong innings in an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Skenes gave up a run on three hits and two walks, and he struck out five in a 77-pitch appearance.
“Still a work in progress, but nice to give some volume and be out there for more than two-thirds of an inning,” Skenes said, referring to the length of his March 26 start vs. the Mets in which he yielded five runs on four hits and two walks.
Pivetta, in his most recent start, also put together a major rebound start following a poor Opening Day outing.
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The 33-year-old Canadian gave up only one hit over five shutout innings, struck out eight and walked two to help the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 7-1 on Wednesday. The performance came six days after Pivetta allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over three innings in an 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
“That first game, that was not Pivetta,” Padres catcher Freddy Fermin said after Pivetta’s most recent start. “(Against the Giants), he made adjustments and pitched in the right spots.”
Pivetta is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in six career outings (five starts) against the Pirates.
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While Skenes didn’t turn in a completely dominant effort vs. the Reds, the five-inning outing helped quell concerns for Pittsburgh that its ace was experiencing any sort of negative effects from having pitched in the World Baseball Classic.
“Just remembering what’s real and what isn’t real, I guess. Nothing matters except for the play. Nothing matters except for the game,” Skenes said. “I’m pretty insulated from a lot of stuff that’s out there. The stuff that I do see or hear, I don’t really care anyway, because it doesn’t have anything to do with the play. Throughout the week, basically just thinking about getting back to execution and executing my pitches. That’s it.”
Skenes will try to cool off a suddenly energized San Diego lineup, which powered a 5-0 shutout of the Pirates on Monday and has led the Padres to three consecutive wins. The Padres could have made it an even more lopsided result in the series opener had they not left 10 runners on base.
Skenes finally will get to face Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, who was the runner-up to Skenes for NL Rookie of the Year in 2024. Merrill has been part of San Diego’s offense surge, collecting four hits, three runs, a homer and three RBIs in the past two games.
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“Good arm, good challenge,” Merrill said, according to MLB.com, about facing Skenes on Tuesday. “The Rookie of the Year stuff, that doesn’t matter anymore. But it’s fun for the game of baseball.”
Not too long ago, it was raining heavily in Guwahati. However, the intensity of the downpour has decreased over the last half-an-hour. Dark skies remain overhead. The good news, however, is that the rain threat is expected to decrease as the evening wears on.
The possibility of an on-time start could depend on the drainage at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. 1 hour to go till toss time.
With the NBA playoffs set to begin next Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to bring back their glory days of winning five titles from 1999 to 2014.
Victor Wembanyama has been the primary reason for the team’s return to playoff basketball, leading the NBA in blocks per game for the third time in as many seasons while averaging 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, both career highs.
However, the 7-foot-4 phenom not only suffered a rib contusion on Monday night, putting him at risk for the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but his MVP candidacy is also at risk.
Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs reacts to an injury during the Philadelphia 76ers game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026.(Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
The NBA states that players must play 65 games in order to receive votes for season awards such as MVP and All-NBA teams. However, Wembanyama has played in 63.
That number does not include the NBA Cup Final, which actually does not count toward the stat sheet, but the NBA does count it toward the season-award total, marking him just a bit safer.
If Wembanyama wants to be named MVP, the NBA allows a maximum of two games in which a player logs between 15 and 19.59 minutes to count toward the league-required minimum of 65 games played for award eligibility. Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half on Monday.
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Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers reaches out to an injured Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on April 6, 2026.(Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
Wembanyama took an inadvertent elbow to the ribs from Paul George when the Philadelphia 76ers forward was attempting to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 Frenchman was sprinting up the court on a fast break with 10:49 remaining in the first half. Wembanyama tumbled to the court and remained down for a minute while George patted him on the backside apologetically.
Wembanyama subbed out of the game shortly after the collision and immediately went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while keeping his arm pressed to his side.
He returned with 5:33 remaining in the period, but asked head coach Mitch Johnson to take him out with 44 seconds remaining in the first half. He again went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while holding his arm to his side and was ruled out at the start of the second half.
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San Antonio (60-19) is 2.5 games behind the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz, Jan. 22, 2026, in Salt Lake City.(Rob Gray/AP)
Rory McIlroy, fresh off his win last year at the Masters, walked into the press room and said he wanted flip roles to start the session. He had a question.
“What are we all going to talk about next year?” McIlroy said.
He laughed. Others did. The question referenced his long pursuit of a green jacket, and now that was finished.
But it’s not as if the Masters was done. They’re playing it again starting Thursday. So here goes, a subject entering this year’s event at Augusta National:
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Is McIlroy going to repeat?
No one, of course, knows that answer ahead of Sunday. But below are themes that’ll come into play for him — and for you, being that this is a prognostication piece.
McIlroy’s form: Entering this week, McIlroy has played four events this year on the PGA Tour and two on the DP World Tour. Here are his finishes:
–Dubai Invitational: tied for third
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–Hero Dubai Desert Classic: tied for 33rd
–AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: tied for 14th
–Genesis Invitational: tied for second
–Arnold Palmer Invitational: withdrew before the third round
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–Players Championship: tied for 46th
McIlroy’s back: About that withdrawal at the Arnold Palmer. A back injury, McIlroy said, forced it, and he returned the following week at the Players. But will it be an issue this week? On Sunday at the Players, McIlroy said he was encouraged by what he saw after 72 holes of play, and it’s worth noting that McIlroy will have gone four weeks without tournament play when the Masters starts, meaning he’ll be well rested.
“Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” McIlroy said after the Players final round. “I feel like my game sort of progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn’t reflect it over the weekend. I hit the ball well. I just didn’t make anything on the greens.
“Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well. A couple little things to work on, but overall, not the week that I wanted. Just trying to take the positives.”
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McIlroy’s inspiration: What does happen when you cross the finish line? McIlroy has said he’s been fighting that since last April. Maybe he’s found motivation this week. Maybe he’s still searching.
“You know, I think mentally, I have to be comfortable with maybe this is going to be my best year ever,” McIlroy told RTE last year after being named the RTE Sportsperson of the Year. “Who knows? I hope it’s not, you know. I hope I still have many more great years ahead of me. But you know, no matter what I do going forward, I’m only ever going to be able to win my first Masters once. And I really enjoyed that.
“And I’ve relished the opportunity to bring the green jacket around the world and show it off. It’s been a wonderful year, but I still think that I’ve got a lot more to achieve. So I’m still ambitious.”
With that, members of our staff have each made to-win and sleeper selections to assist you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. It’s an enjoyable endeavor for us. Deploy it as you wish.
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On to our analysis.
PGA Tour golfers aren’t the only ones who can make some 💰 starting next Thursday. You can too! Here are a few tips. https://t.co/uldLYRZvRh
To-win: Patrick Reed, +3,300. Easy to forget no player on the planet had a hotter late-January-into-early February than Reed, who in three consecutive starts in the Middle East won twice and finished runner-up in a playoff, all in the midst of his LIV Golf departure. He cooled off in two South Africa starts since then, but I still expect him to be a major threat at ANGC, where since 2018 all he’s done is win once and record four more top-10s.
Sleeper pick: Min Woo Lee, +4,000. Might be unfair to call the 25th-ranked player in the world a “dark horse,” but I don’t hear a lot of pundits talking up MWL as a green-jacket threat. He’s been excellent on Tour this season with seven cuts made in seven starts and three top-10s, and he’s made the weekend in three of his four Masters starts. This year, I expect him to contend on the weekend.
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Josh Berhow
To-win: Patrick Reed, +3,300. Hardly anyone plays better at Augusta National than Patrick Reed, who you probably forgot finished third last year. He hasn’t finished outside the top 40 in his seven starts there since he won in 2018, and four of those were top 10s. His past three starts at the Masters: 3rd, T12, T4. Throw in the success he had overseas a couple of months ago, and I like Patrick’s chances. (He’s my pick over a surging Matt Fitzpatrick.)
Sleeper pick: Russell Henley, +5,500. Henley very quietly finished top 10 in each of his past two major starts, and he’s had four top 10s in his past six major starts after just one in the previous 38. The point? He’s getting better on the big stage, and his game is in a good spot — top 20s in five of his seven starts this year and ranks 31st in SG: Approach and 14th in SG: Putting.
James Colgan
To-win: Akshay Bhatia, +5,500. It feels like we’re due for an out-of-left-field green jacket winner, especially after our past five Masters gifted us the murderer’s row of Hideki-Scottie-Rahm-Scottie-Rory as winners. Akshay would be a reasonable choice to these ends — he’s played three months of impressively steady golf to start the year and is a lefty at Augusta National. Major no. 1 arrives for Akshay in 2026.
Sleeper pick: Keegan Bradley, +15,000. It feels like the golf gods owe him one after the way the Ryder Cup knocked him down in September. A Bradley win after all he’s been through over the past six months would be one of the best comeback stories in the sport.
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Connor Federico
Sleeper pick: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, +25,000. Which of this year’s Masters rookies is most likely to succeed? The winner at Australia’s Augusta National feels like a good bet. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen makes his first Masters start via a thrilling win in December’s Australian Open. The Dane vaulted into contention with his understanding of angles and strategy at Royal Melbourne, another Alister Mackenzie masterpiece, where every hole requires elite shotmaking and focus. The success Neergaard found at this World Top 10 course will help him again at another this April. Understanding is one thing, but execution is most important. With a crowd of 30,000-plus Aussies pulling for Cam Smith, Neergaard delivered an unlikely up-and-down to secure the biggest win of his career. He’s got what it takes in the big moments, but at the very least, I’ll be taking him to make the cut in his first Masters appearance.
Alex Gelman
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm is going to win his second green jacket at the Masters. He’s playing some of the best golf of his career and seems to be in a great space mentally. Trust Rahm, take the Sun Devil and enjoy your winnings Sunday evening.
Sleeper pick: Fifa Laopakdee, +100,000. Yes, it’s a massive long shot but don’t sleep on the junior from Arizona State. He punched his ticket to the Masters after winning the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur. He started his career at ASU by winning his first tournament and already has four collegiate wins, including a win three weeks ago at the Desimone Classic.
Jack Hirsh
To win: Tommy Fleetwood, +2,200. Fleetwood just needs the putter to heat up, and he’ll pick up where he left off in 2025. He’s placed in the top 10 in four of five events this season, and his performance with the new alignment aid seems to be going well in San Antonio. Now put him on perfect greens. I like where this is going.
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Sleeper pick: Si Woo Kim, +6,600. His game sets up really well for Augusta, where lots of run-out should help equalize his length disadvantage. His game has been trending all year, and he’s missed just one cut in eight Masters appearances.
To-win: Bryson DeChambeau, +1,000. I’m going to take a break from choosing Scottie to win and add a little variety to my picks. I was also thinking about Brooks Koepka, but no — it’s gotta be Bryson, who has two things going for him this week: Momentum, after winning in back-to-back weeks on LIV; and positive playing history, with two top-6 finishes in his past two appearances. It feels like it could be Bryson’s time.
Sleeper pick: Jason Day, +6,600. Not only does Day have two top-6 finishes this season (including a runner-up at the American Express), he’s also played well many times at the Masters, with five career top-10 finishes.
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Zephyr Melton
To-win: Ludvig Aberg, +1,600. He’s played great at Augusta in his first two Masters starts (second, seventh) and is in fine form with two top-fives in March and a third already in April. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Ludvig don the green jacket come Sunday evening.
Sleeper pick: Maverick McNealy, +10,000. Mav has played some steady golf this year, missing just one cut and finishing in the top 30 in every other event but one. He finished middle of the pack in his debut last year, but he’s got the game to stay in it over the weekend.
Nick Piastowski
To-win: Brooks Koepka, +3,300. I love a good story line, and this is certainly that. But he’s been outstanding this year in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, which is critical for Augusta.
Sleeper pick: Jacob Bridgeman, +8,000. Let’s go back to the strokes gained stats, where we’ll find Jacob Bridgeman among the leaders in the putting category. The winner must navigate Augusta’s sloping putting surfaces.
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Josh Schrock
To-win: Justin Rose +3,300. It’s time for Rose to get it over the line at Augusta National. He has led or co-led the Masters nine times after the first three rounds, which ranks third after Arnie and Jack. Over the past 10 Masters, he is seventh in score to par at 18 under. Five of the other six have won at least one Masters in that time period. He’s playing well, has increased his ball speed, and the iron play remains immaculate. It’s time.
Sleeper pick: Adam Scott, +6,600. Due to the small field, there aren’t a ton of good “sleeper” options. I’d probably take Rickie Fowler if he was in the field, but, alas, he’s not. So we’ll go with Scott, who played well at Riviera and has great course history at Augusta. Honorable mention to Jason Day.
Josh Sens
To-win: Xander Schauffele, +1,400. In his eight Masters appearances, Schauffele has five top 10s. He doesn’t miss cuts, and he’s built for majors. Even last year, when his game slipped a gear, he finished eighth at Augusta. This year, he’s been showing steadily growing signs of life, with a third at the Players and a T4 at the Valspar in his past two events. Bottom line: An elite player and proven major winner is rounding into form, just at the right time.
Sleeper pick: Jason Day, +6,600. Yeah, I know. A past major winner at 66-to-1 isn’t exactly a sleeper. But I don’t see the point of going much lower on the board at the Masters, where long shots have about as good a chance of winning as I do of earning an overnight in the Crow’s Nest. A true dark horse simply isn’t going to come out on top at Augusta so I’m not going to waste a wager on one. As I see it, Day is as far down on the betting board as anyone with an outside chance at the green jacket. He’s got a strong track record here, including a T8 last year, and a T6 last week on a tough course was another good showing in what has been a decent season so far.
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Johnny Wunder
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm has played the best golf in the world over the past nine months and he’s already established he can win here. His hitting stats are out of this world and if the putter is even relatively serviceable, I don’t see a scenario where he’s not in the final group and putting on the jacket again.
Sean Zak
To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,100. Rahm is going to win. He’s playing as good of golf as he’s played at any point in his life. And the last time he was this good, he won the Masters.
Sleeper pick: Jake Knapp, +6,600. Knapp has been flying less under the radar recently, but he’s been one of the five or six best golfers in 2026.
Masters week is here, and CBS’ Jim Nantz and two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau will command a lot of attention in the coming days. Nantz will be the lead TV analyst on Saturday and Sunday. DeChambeau is one of the betting favorites to win his first green jacket.
Heading into tournament week, though, the two men are entwined in a bit of controversy stemming from recent comments Nantz made about DeChambeau in the lead-up to the Masters.
On Monday, Nantz joined the “Pat McAfee Show” to defend himself, saying he “stood by his comments” while blaming criticism his comments have received on “bots” and LIV Golf’s social media team. But he also attempted to quell any further controversy by professing his “great friendship” and “long relationship” with DeChambeau.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Nantz calls DeChambeau friend: ‘My son was almost named after him’
The Nantz-DeChambeau controversy began last week, when Nantz took part in a conference call previewing CBS’ 2026 Masters coverage.
In response to a question about DeChambeau’s form heading into the Masters, Nantz first said he considered Bryson among the favorites to win the Masters. But then he confessed that he had “not seen Bryson hit a single shot this year. I have not seen him.”
The comments spread far and wide, with some observers taking them as a dig at DeChambeau, and others seeing an implied criticism of LIV Golf.
In his appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, the first day of Masters week, Nantz tried to clarify his comments about DeChambeau, saying they were “extracted from a quote” in which he picked Bryson as one of the Masters favorites.
“I really like Bryson’s chances. I was on a press conference call last week and a lot of people took exception to a statement I made about how Bryson, I haven’t watched a shot so far this year. Of course he’s been winning on the LIV tour, he’s won a couple of starts, and I just want to say that was extracted from a quote where I had him as the favorite behind Scottie [Scheffler], number one,” Nantz said on the Pat McAfee Show.
Nantz then tried to defend himself by describing the “long relationship” he’s had with DeChambeau. Surprisingly, he even claimed he nearly named his son after Bryson.
“I happened to mention I’ve had a long relationship with Bryson, he’s been to my home, my son was almost named after him, I mean, there’s a great friendship and respect there,” Nantz said. “I think he’s going to win Augusta, maybe this year.”
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He then provided a similar excuse for not having watched DeChambeau in 2026 to the one he gave in last week’s media call, saying he’s “got my own stuff going on” including his own CBS PGA Tour broadcasts. (Both of DeChambeau’s LIV wins this year came after CBS’ most recent golf broadcast).
He went on to defend his actions by claiming he also doesn’t need to watch DP World Tour events to prepare for those players’ appearances at the Masters.
“I was just trying to make a point. I’ve got my own stuff going on. We’re broadcasting. The point is, I read everything. I don’t have to sit down and watch the DP World Tour to be prepared for those players, or the LIV Golf,” Nantz argued. “But I give them their due, and I expect that Jon Rahm’s coming in playing well, too. I expect both Jon and Bryson will be right there, both great guys, and I would love to have them on the leaderboard.”
When McAfee asked Nantz if he was claiming his comments were taken out of context, Nantz said that he “stood by his comments” and blamed “all these bots” and LIV’s “strong force of a social media team” for the criticism his Bryson comments have received. He also reiterated that they were not meant as an attack on DeChambeau, and that he considers Bryson “a friend.”
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“You’ve got all these bots, and LIV has a pretty strong force of a social media team, from what I hear because I’m not on social media, but if you say anything that can be loosely interpreted as negative, they come after you. And that’s fine. I stood by my comments,” Nantz said. “I wasn’t trying to take a shot at Bryson. Like I said, I have a great regard for him, I consider him a friend, and I consider him a favorite this week.”
Our group was teeing off on a par 3. I hit a nice shot about 10 feet left of the pin, then a playing partner hit one that, from our point of view, appeared to roll just inside of my ball. At the green, thinking his was closer, I marked the other ball…turns out that was his ball. We immediately noticed the mistake, and I replaced the ball to its original spot. Did I violate any rule, or is it “no harm, no foul”? – Scott Baxendale, Arlington Heights, IL
Happily and indubitably, it is the latter — no harm, no foul.
In stroke play, you’re an outside influence and as such wouldn’t be subject to penalty for lifting the other player’s ball anyway (see Rule 9.6). In match play (see Rule 9.5), while there is a one-stroke penalty attached to deliberately lifting an opponent’s ball, there is an exception for exactly the situation you describe — mistakenly lifting the ball thinking it’s your own.
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As long as the ball was put back on the right spot, there is no penalty to anybody and play on … and make the putt, please!
For more mark-related guidance from our guru, read on …
My brother and I both missed a green, on the same line, leaving treacherous downhill chips. He was away, and I said that I’d mark my ball despite it not being on the putting surface, as it might potentially assist him. Before I could, however, he chipped… and croqueted my ball over the other side of the green while his trickled down near the hole. I replaced my ball on the original spot and told him to replay his shot, as I’d wanted to mark. “Too bad,” was his reply. Penalty? Can’t you mark any time you think your opponent could gain an unfair advantage? – Peter Starshak, via email
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The relevant term, “helping ball,” only applies to a ball on the putting green. Ergo, since your ball wasn’t on the green you weren’t allowed to mark your ball solely because you thought it might help — your brother was allowed to make the stroke with it still in place.
Had your ball been on the putting green, the ruling’s script would be flipped; Rule 15.3a would penalize your brother the general penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for making the stroke without waiting for your ball to be marked.
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) takes the ball on a kickoff return in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images.
Minnesota Vikings interim general manager hinted last week that his team will draft the “best player available” at pick No. 18 later this month, a popular mindset for most NFL teams. But what does that really mean? Let’s take a peek.
Minnesota may follow the board, though some positions clearly carry more traction than others in Round 1.
Remember: picking the best player available disregards roster need, almost altogether. This analysis does not consider offensive tackles because the Vikings have Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill in the budget at a pretty penny, but in theory, Minnesota could select one of those, too.
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The No. 18 Pick Feels More Like a Targeted Shortlist with BPA Involved
The BPAs for the Vikings at No. 18.
Dillon Thieneman reacts with energy following a statement road win, celebrating alongside teammates after Oregon’s defense helped seal the outcome in a hostile environment. The moment came on Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; as the Ducks defeated Penn State at Beaver Stadium, underscoring Thieneman’s presence in a high-profile Big Ten showdown. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
5. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Thieneman lives at No. 17 on the Pro Football NetworkIndustry Big Board and at No. 18 on the Consensus Big Board. His stock has soared since his dazzling performance at the NFL Combine.
Meanwhile, roughly 90% of all NFL mock drafts feature Thieneman to Minnesota; the general public believes it’s happening. The reasoning is clear: the Vikings need a safety, especially if Harrison Smith retires, and Thieneman marries the BPA mindset near No. 18.
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Thieneman was not the Vikings’ best-player-available option two months ago, but the Combine changed that.
4. Kenyon Sadiq | TE, Oregon
Sadiq is the only tight end tentatively scheduled to go off the board in Round 1, unless a team feels frisky enough to draft Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers around Pick No. 32.
At 6’3″ and 245 pounds, Sadiq boasts 42 games of experience at Oregon, where he recorded 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. Highlighting his rare athleticism, the Ducks even used him on kick returns in 2023 and 2024.
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The versatility has generated Round 1 buzz. Sadiq not only handles a significant receiving workload but also excels as a blocker in both the run and pass game. This combination is uncommon for tight ends his age, and teams tend to invest early in that kind of potential.
Meanwhile, the Vikings TE1, T.J. Hockenson, is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026. Picking Sadiq would plan for 2027.
3. Jermod McCoy | CB, Tennessee
The Vikings are projected to start Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre at cornerback through 2026. While Murphy Jr. played well in 2024, his performance declined slightly last season. Rodgers has impressive speed and agility, but his tackling consistency remains a concern. The team still seeks a definitive, young CB1, a role McCoy could potentially fill.
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Jermod McCoy secures a loose ball and reacts after gaining possession, flipping momentum during a key defensive sequence in conference play. The play occurred on Nov. 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; at FirstBank Stadium, where Tennessee capitalized on the turnover, highlighting McCoy’s awareness and timing in a pivotal second-quarter moment. Mandatory Credit: Stephanie Amador-Imagn Images
Perhaps more concerning is the Vikings’ historical struggle to find a long-term cornerback solution, a search that has lasted nearly a decade. Trae Waynes, drafted in 2015, came closest to meeting expectations, but ultimately fell short. Since Waynes, a series of unsuccessful picks — including Mike Hughes, Jeff Gladney, and Andrew Booth — have failed to establish themselves with the team.
McCoy blends BPA and team need.
2. Jordyn Tyson | WR, Arizona State
Minnesota obviously has Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to headline the passing offense; most draft pundits expect Tyson to become a WR1, not a WR3.
Tyson played at Colorado in 2022 and Arizona State from 2023 to 2025, amassing 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also handled some return duties early in his career at Colorado, showcasing his movement skills. Projected to run in the mid-4.5 range, his speed will be confirmed at the combine.
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His appeal lies in his ability to separate from defenders, run clean routes, and demonstrate reliable hands. However, durability is a concern, as he suffered a knee injury in 2022 and a collarbone fracture in 2024. Teams will likely scrutinize his medical records before finalizing his evaluation.
Tyson is a BPA idea for the Vikings if they wish to get incredibly deep at wide receiver after Jalen Nailor’s departure.
1. Makai Lemon | WR, USC
Speaking of Nailor, who held the WR3 role in Minnesota for two seasons, he’s a Raider. Tai Felton is next in line. However, Felton’s potential impact remains largely unknown, as he saw minimal offensive snaps as a rookie.
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Adding to the uncertainty is Addison’s legal situation, casting a shadow over the team’s plans. With his behavior always in question, Minnesota must always be on high alert.
Makai Lemon tracks the ball into his hands before crossing the goal line, finishing a scoring play that sparked momentum for Southern California’s offense. The sequence unfolded on Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; during a matchup with Oregon at Autzen Stadium, showcasing Lemon’s playmaking ability in a high-tempo offensive performance. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Zooming out, the team’s direction becomes clear: they released Nailor, are prioritizing the draft, and may target a receiver early if the right prospect is available. Lemon could be a strong fit if he’s still on the board. Given the organization’s history of drafting wide receiver talent, coupled with Kevin O’Connell’s offensive acumen, further investment in the position would not be overly surprising.
Lemon’s hands are fantastic, and his separation is elite. He ran a 4.5 forty, which is not dream speed, and he’s undersized at 5’11.” Usually, for smaller receivers, they have speed to rely on. Lemon’s speed is average for a receiver.
Honorable Mention
For offensive tackles, Minnesota could explore Georgia’s Monroe Freeling or Utah’s Spencer Fano. At guard, it’s Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State.
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