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PGA of America tabs new CEO after Derek Sprague’s exit

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The PGA of America has a new CEO.

On Wednesday, the organization announced that former health insurance executive Terry Clark will take over as CEO on March 2. Derek Sprague resigned from the position on January 7 to spend more time with his family.

Clark has served as an independent director on the PGA of America’s board since 2024. He spent 20 years at United Health Group, where he rose to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. He has also served on boards for the YMCA and the Special Olympics.

“Golf is a game with a rare and enduring impact on individuals, families, and communities, and the PGA of America sits at the center of that influence,” Clark said in a statement. “Our greatest strength is our PGA of America Golf Professionals — trusted leaders in their communities who introduce, teach, and grow the game in every corner of the world. At an important moment for golf, we have the right people, the right assets, and a meaningful opportunity to lead with purpose.”

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PGA of America vice president Nathan Charnes, who will become president in November, said that Clark earned the board’s trust with his long track record of judgment and leadership.

“As an independent director, Terry has developed a first-hand understanding of our strategic priorities and the critical role PGA of America Golf Professionals play at every level of the game,” Charnes said. “He brings a proven ability to lead complex organizations with clarity and rigor, while fostering collaboration and accountability across diverse stakeholders. At a time when continuity, stability, and long-term focus are essential, the Board is confident Terry is the right leader to guide the Association forward and continue advancing the game in meaningful and sustainable ways.”

Clark’s appointment comes just months after the PGA of America faced widespread criticism for its handling of the crowds and environment at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. The Bethpage crowds hurled a torrent of verbal abuse at European players, with Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, getting the brunt of it. The episode was compounded when PGA of America president Don Rea told the BBC that American players faced the same level of abuse during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Sprague reached out to the McIlroys to personally apologize for the week of verbal abuse after the event concluded.

The PGA of America will be under the spotlight again in May when the PGA Championship takes place at Aronimink outside of Philadelphia. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be contested in June at Hazeltine.

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Shakur Stevenson names the only other world champion that is on his level

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Shakur Stevenson thrust his name into pound-for-pound contention with a statement victory over Teofimo Lopez on Saturday night, and the Newark-born superstar has declared his belief that there is only one active fighter on the same level as him.

Stevenson’s victory saw him become the third-youngest four-division world champion in boxing history, with the 28-year-old getting his hands on the WBO super-lightweight world title without hardly breaking a sweat.

As a result, Stevenson is now in consideration as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, especially considering recent frailties shown by the previously flawless Naoya Inoue, as well as the retirement of arguable pound-for-pound number one, Terence Crawford.

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However, without becoming undisputed, as the likes of Inoue, Dmitry Bivol, Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney and Artur Beterbiev have, it is tough to argue how Stevenson can sit above them all in the rankings.

Yet, in an interview with Cigar Talk, Stevenson revealed that he sees himself as the ‘best fighter on the planet’, with unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk being the only active boxer that is on his level.

“I am number one, to me, the best fighter on the planet. The only other fighter that I see in boxing right now that I see and think [he is on my level is] Usyk, that is at – the art of hitting and don’t get hit at the same time – boxing.”

Fight fans are awaiting Stevenson’s next move, as the reigning WBC lightweight and WBO super-lightweight champion considers which weight to defend his belt at, or whether he should move up to welterweight and seek world honours in a fifth division.

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Rangers fans irate over return from Artemi Panarin’s blockbuster trade to LA Kings

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New York Rangers fans on social media voiced their frustration with team management over the return for Artemi Panarin.

After months of speculation, Panarin was finally dealt to the LA Kings on Wednesday. As part of the transaction, the Blueshirts received forward prospect Liam Greentree along with a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Artemi Panarin waived his full no-movement clause to join the Kings, while the Rangers retained 50% of his salary, as he was in the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract. Panarin signed a two-year, $22 million extension ($11M AAV) with the Kings immediately after the trade.

Many Rangers fans on X (formerly called Twitter) were furious with the return they received in the deal. One tweeted:

“What a f****** disgrace. Chris Drury is the worst GM of all time. Fire him for his sabotage. f*** Chris Drury.”

@NYRangers WHAT A FUCKING DISGRACE CHIRS DRURY IS THE WORST GM OF ALL TIME FIRE HIM FOR HIS SABOTAGE FUCK CHRIS DRURY

Another chimed in:

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“Chris Drury is a joke of a GM.”

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

“Drury is the worst thing to happen to this franchise. Genuinely a pathetic disgrace,” a third fan wrote.

“The dark side of a NMC rears its ugly head,” one X user wrote.

“We don’t care. Fire your GM. He sucks,” another opined.

“What a garbage return. Well, that should be Drury’s job. He needs to be the next one out the door. Wishing Panarin all the best wherever he goes. I hope Drury has screwed the NYR faithful for the last time,” another chimed in.

LA Kings GM shares his thoughts on Artemi Panarin’s trade

Following the trade, LA Kings GM Ken Holland addressed the media to share his thoughts. He said that Artemi Panarin did not want to be a rental and that the Kings are happy he waived his no-movement clause for LA.

“Obviously, we made the deal today to make our team better,” Kings general manager Ken Holland said via NHL.com. “We signed him to a two-year extension. We weren’t going to do it as a rental. He didn’t want to go anywhere as a rental. He wanted to find a home, so we’re thrilled that he wanted to waive the no-trade (clause) to come to LA.”

He added:

“We’re happy that we were able to get him to a two-year extension, and after two years, I’m hoping that we’re working on another extension, but (I’ll) worry about that down the road.”

Artemi Panarin spent seven seasons with the Rangers. He has accumulated 57 points through 19 goals and 38 assists in 52 games, making him the leading scorer for the Blueshirts this season.

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