Sports

Raptors find fight, but struggles against top teams persist

Published

5 hours ago

25 February 2026

TORONTO — The Oklahoma City Thunder will be the defending NBA champions until sometime in mid-to-late June.

They remain favourites to be champions again, but the group that was on the floor at Scotiabank Arena are not those guys.

Not with defending MVP (and defending Finals MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back home in Oklahoma nursing an abdominal injury that has kept him out for 10 games and counting, and all-NBA wing Jalen Williams out with a bad hamstring and Ajay Mitchell — their newly discovered bench sparkplug — out now for 14 games and counting.

They are trying to navigate a post-championship season that has been more notable for who has not been playing than who has. Gilgeous-Alexander has now joined fellow starters Luguentz Dort (12), Isaiah Hartenstein (27) and Williams (33) for the dubious distinction of having missed double-digit games through the Thunder’s 59^th start. As well, key reserves Mitchell (16), Aaron Wiggins (16) and Alex Caruso (21) have missed significant time.

But somehow the Thunder continue to roll.

They were able to squeeze out a 116-107 win over the Raptors that they earned thanks to a dominant second and third quarter where they out-scored Toronto by 27, and a fantastic flurry in the final four minutes. They finished with a 15-point surge, shutting down a Raptors rally that saw them come back down 24 with one minute left in the third to tie it up with just over four minutes left.

For the Raptors (34-24), it was another loss to a quality team, this one a little more concerning since Scottie Barnes left the game early after bruising his right thigh in a collision with Hartenstein. Barnes will be listed as questionable as the Raptors host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night.

For the Thunder (45-14), it was one more bit of evidence that their championship pedigree extends past Gilgeous-Alexander or Williams and runs all the way through most of their rotation. On Tuesday night, it was Cason Wallace — the Thunder’s third-year on-ball stopper and the league-leader in steals — who exploded for 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. His run included six quick points after the Raptors had tied the game on a Jamal Shead three with 4:06 to play. Meanwhile, Canadian national team star Dort shed his defence-first reputation (though not before helping hold Raptors leading scorer Brandon Ingram to 14 points on 14 shots) long enough to score four of his 15 points in the final minutes on a pair of tough jumpers with the game in the balance.

“We’ve been in a lot of those situations before, obviously we’re still without our main guys, but we know that we have to execute and find the best shot that we can get,” said Dort. “Credit to the Raptors, they didn’t give up, but down the stretch we had to find the best shots, which we did.”

It was a familiar situation for the Raptors, too. The loss dropped Toronto to 4-14 against the top 10 teams in the league by winning percentage. Three of those wins came against a (then) struggling Cleveland Cavaliers team early in the season and the other came on the road against a short-handed Thunder team back in January, although that version did have Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup.

It’s a bit of a good news, bad news story: It’s not nothing that the Raptors are 30-10 against the league’s other 19 teams, but beating good teams is essential if all that work is going to deliver something in the post-season.

“I mean, we made a huge jump from where we were last year, like, where were we last year versus now?” said RJ Barrett, who led the Raptors with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, his best offensive outing since returning from knee and ankle injuries that forced him to miss 24 games in a 30-game stretch over December and January. The Raptors won just 30 games all season, was his point.

“A lot of these teams have already been good, already been in playoff situations [or] like tonight, won a championship. They already have these guys that are battle-tested.

“It’s good for us to play these teams right now, go through these tough losses during the season so we’ll figure it out,” Barrett added. “Detroit game we got blown out [just prior to the all-star break], tonight we went down and fought all the way back, so we’re already learning and we got to continue to learn and scratch and claw and beat these good teams.”

They certainly have some blueprints they could work from, namely how they performed during the first and fourth quarters — or at least until those final four minutes.

The Raptors jumped out to a 32-25 lead after the first as they forced the Thunder into six turnovers in 12 minutes, continuing the ferocious perimeter defence they have shown since the all-star break in road wins over Chicago (23 turnovers with 14 steals) and Milwaukee (19 turnovers with 11 steals).

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It was the Raptors at their best. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (four points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 30 minutes), starting at centre for Jakob Poeltl (out resting his back), got his hands on seemingly every pass the Thunder tried to throw. Barnes (15 points, seven assists, three steals and four blocks), back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game for personal reasons, stripped Caruso’s dribble on consecutive possessions, each turning into transition lay-ups, giving the Raptors a 10-point lead — their high-water mark for the game.

They reprised that energy for a nine-minute stretch bridging the end of the third quarter and first eight minutes of the fourth as they went on a 27-3 run where they held the Thunder to 1-of-15 shooting and forced them into seven turnovers. OKC looked very much like a team needing the defending MVP to bail them out.

“I mean [the Raptors] defend really well,” said Dort. “The pressure and the way they turn us over was extremely tough, but obviously it’s hard to pressure for 48 minutes and we had to find a way to break that.”

They did. It began in the second quarter when the Thunder began taking care of the ball and some of their secondary scorers got cooking.

Wallace — getting all the point guard reps he could hope for with Gilgeous-Alexander out — exploded for 13 of his game-high 27, making all five of his field goal attempts, including three triples. The Thunder led 60-51 at half.

In the third quarter, it was three-point specialist Isaiah Joe shaking loose, knocking down five threes, including two for four-point plays, finishing with 19 points in the frame and pushing OKC’s lead to as high as 25 — creating an 18-point cushion to start the fourth. Over the pivotal second and third quarters, OKC had just five turnovers while forcing the Raptors into seven. Related, the Raptors’ offence cratered, as they scored just 48 points over the middle two frames.

“I wish I had the answers. Hopefully the film is going to help us understand better, but the second, third quarter was not us, and it was not our identity,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, as his team allowed the Thunder to shoot 54 per cent over the middle two periods. “That was not what we did in the first quarter to start the game. We were dictating and dominating on the offensive end, creating a lot of turnovers, which fueled our offence and we took our foot [off the] gas.”

They got onto the gas again in the fourth and made it a game. The Raptors deserve plenty of credit for that. But two good quarters are not going to cut it against the NBA’s better teams, and certainly not against the defending champion Thunder — even the short-handed version.

Barnes in good spirits: The Raptors’ workhorse banged his leg on Hartenstein’s knee with 3:38 to play and immediately limped to the bench. The Raptors were down two at the time. The Thunder quickly scored on a lay-up from Wallace, a triple from Joe and a jumper by Dort. Barnes subbed back in with the Raptors suddenly down nine with 2:29 to play and was subbed out again 90 seconds later. In the locker room, he seemed to be in a good mood, joking with locker mates Ingram and Jamal Shead, but could be seen rubbing the inside of his right thigh or knee area before going for treatment post-game. Barnes has missed just two games this season, and the Raptors won his 32 minutes against the Thunder by 18 points.

To the winners go the spoils: When Dort spoke with the media after the Thunder’s win, he had a massive diamond-encrusted necklace on over his black turtleneck sweater. At the end of the chain was a pendant shaped as a wolf’s head, roughly the size of a toddler’s hand. It’s his championship wolf, Dort told me, a gift to himself for winning the NBA title last year. His last name, translated, means wolf. “A [championship]ring wasn’t enough,” he said, laughing.

Silver lining for SGA? Gilgeous-Alexander has played a lot of high-pressure basketball in the past three years. To review: the Canadian national team star led the Thunder to the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, helped the Thunder to the second round of the 2024 playoffs, led Canada to a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Olympics and helped the Thunder to their first-ever championship last summer. Chances are he’ll be playing deep into June this year and beyond, while the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics aren’t all that far in the future. In that context, is missing a month or more of basketball (he’s been out since February 3rd and will be re-evaluated next week) the worst thing? “He wants to play, he doesn’t want to miss games and he didn’t want to miss this game, I’ll tell you that, so that’s a high cost to him,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigenault. “… But getting a good reprieve out of this [could be a benefit] — not that he would ever want that — but you can’t fight your circumstances.”

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Rare ruling gives major champ mulligan in TGL: ‘Netted out terrible’

Published

3 minutes ago

25 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Tuesday night featured a TGL double-header, with two-time major champion Xander Schauffele’s New York Golf Club playing both matches. But the strangest incident came from the first match, when Schauffele was officially awarded a mulligan.

In a critical moment in the match, a bizarre situation and a rare ruling led to the mulligan. The good news for Schauffele was that the mulligan gave him a chance to replay a horrible bunker shot. The bad news is that his mulligan went horribly wrong, too, and may have cost his team the match.

Here’s what you should know.

Xander Schauffele squanders rare TGL mulligan opportunity

In the first TGL match on Tuesday night, Schauffele’s New York team faced off against the Bay Golf Club. The Bay Golf Club got off to a hot start, winning the first three holes.

But New York fought back and tied up the score 3-3 at the 11th hole.

When the match reached 13, Schauffele went up against Ludvig Aberg in singles. Schauffele’s tee shot ended up in a right greenside bunker, which is where things started going sideways fast.

As Schauffele set up to hit his bunker shot, Bay Golf Club’s Wyndham Clark decided to throw down the Hammer. If New York accepted the Hammer, the hole would be worth two points. If they rejected it, they’d have to forfeit the hole and give Bay Golf one point.

Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy pictured during the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational. — ‘Unbelievable miss’: Nelly Korda criticizes TGL over separate women’s league

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With Aberg sitting pretty on the green, Schauffele’s teammates declined the Hammer. But it was too late. Schauffele went ahead and hit his bunker shot, and it didn’t go well at all. His ball failed to escape the sand.

That’s when a rules official intervened to give Schauffele a redo.

After video review, the official determined that Schauffele had already addressed his ball when the Hammer was thrown. Teams are not allowed to use the Hammer once an opponent has set up to the ball.

So the official ruled that the Hammer would be wiped out (as well as New York’s decision to decline it). Instead of forfeiting the hole, Schauffele would get a mulligan on his bunker shot.

But Schauffele failed to escape the bunker again with his second attempt. The end result? New York forfeited the hole anyway.

“Yeah, it netted out terrible for us. We were going to decline it anyways, and then I hit such a bad shot, they didn’t even have an opportunity to throw a hammer, so it actually worked out worse,” Schauffele explained after the round. “Maybe if I hit it a third time, it would be better.”

In his own post-match press conference, Clark put the blame on the ref.

“So Derek [Stafford], our ref, he normally puts his hand out, like there’s a signal he does, and you can’t throw it anymore. I look at him, and he hadn’t done it, and he kind of nodded saying you could do it. Granted, Xander was standing over the ball. I could see why they called it that way, but at the same time, the ref that was there gave us the okay,” Clark argued. “It could have been really controversial.”

Stafford, the referee in question, used to officiate NBA games. Clark’s teammate Shane Lowry suggested that had he made that mistake in an NBA game, it would have worked out very differently.

“If he made that call in his NBA days, I’m not sure the players would have been as nice,” Lowry said. He continued. “If we had have tied the hole, I would have been…” before Clark cut him off to complete his thought.

“I would have been pissed,” Clark said. “Or even if we lost it. Oh, my gosh, we might have gotten thrown out for charging.”

Of course, Bay Golf Club did win the hole despite the mulligan ruling. Better yet, they went on to defeat New York 5-3.

Unfortunately for New York, the second match was not kind to them either. They took a 9-2 whooping at the hands of Keegan Bradley’s Boston Golf Club to conclude the night’s entertainment.

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Shakur Stevenson says only one active fighter is near his level: “That’s the guy”

Published

17 minutes ago

25 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Shakur Stevenson’s super-lightweight world title win has seen him rise up the pound-for-pound rankings but when asked his own opinion, Stevenson offered a surprise pick for the man who rivals him as the best fighter in the sport.

Stevenson dominated Teofimo Lopez to claim the WBO super-lightweight crown last month, becoming the third-youngest four-division champion in boxing history in a coming of age display that has forced the world of boxing to take notice of his skills.

Following the retirement of Terence Crawford, fans are beginning to deliberate as to whether Stevenson can challenge Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue for the spot as boxing’s pound-for-pound number one.

Although, without an undisputed title to his name, it will be difficult for the Newark southpaw to penetrate the top two.

Yet, when asked which fighter could be his main rival in the sport, Stevenson told ‘Inside The Ring’ that the man who can compete with him is one whom he will never fight, good friend and former WBO lightweight champion, Keyshawn Davis.

“What’s sad is the guy that you’re looking for, that you’re talking about, is somebody that I came up with. We been helping each other for years.
“Me and Keyshawn Davis are the best boxers in the sport right now, if you ask me. It’ll never happen, but honestly if you’re asking for the other guy, that’s the guy.”

Davis currently sits as the number one super-lightweight contender with the WBO, but champion Stevenson has maintained that it would take half a billion dollars for him to take on ‘The Businessman’.

The WBO are unlikely to order that contest anytime soon, given Lopez fulfilled a mandatory defence of the title when he defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. last May.

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Autumn Glow tackles Doncaster Mile weights hurdle in 2026

Published

32 minutes ago

25 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Modern narratives on Autumn Glow inevitably link back to Winx somehow.

This piece follows suit.

Chris Waller’s most recent beaten mare could emulate the great Winx exclusively by reaching 10 successive wins in the 2026 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Tuesday’s weights for the $4 million Group 1 assigned The Autumn Sun’s daughter 56.5kg.

Higher marks went only to Ceolwulf (59kg), Gringotts (58.5kg), Sir Delius (58kg), Antino (57.5kg), Buckaroo (57kg) and Pericles (57kg) ahead of the 1600m handicap on April 4.

Thirty-one of 139 Doncaster hopefuls scored the 49kg minimum, including Group 1 champions Apocalyptic, Ole Dancer, Vinrock and Nepotism, alongside standout Victorian filly Sheza Alibi and key Australian Guineas prospect Sixties.

Such weight mirrors Winx’s from a decade ago when she won, the enduring high for four-year-old mares.

Merely four mares won Doncasters carrying more – Cuddle’s 59kg equivalent in 1936 stands out – yet every one was five-plus years old.

Sunline joined that list with a 58kg success in 2002, though beaten at four carrying 57.5kg in 2000, outpaced late by Over, a three-year-old on 51.5kg.

Just three four-year-old mares have entered a Doncaster since 2000 with 56.5kg minimum, all outside top 10 placings.

More Joyous managed 11th in 2011 under 57kg, Typhoon Tracy 14th and Alizee 17th both at 56.5kg.

Autumn Glow’s 2kg increase from last year’s Epsom Handicap win sets her up potentially as the 10th horse to snag both races same season.

The lone mare before? You guessed it, Winx.

Check online bookmakers for Doncaster Mile betting markets.

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The 6 fairway woods, mini drivers our staff loved during testing

Published

41 minutes ago

25 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), check out the drivers that each of our Fully Fit 2026 panelists chose for their golf bags. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:

If there’s one club that’s tough to fit, it’s the fairway wood.

When fitters see certain fairway woods in a player’s bag, they know they might have a hard time beating them, regardless of how good the player is. That’s a good reason, even after six full bag fittings at each of the major OEMs, half of our Fully Fit panelists left with the same mini driver or 3-wood they already had in the bag.

Speaking of mini drivers, they throw a wrench in the whole process as they serve as specialty clubs at the top of the bag. While two of our panelists have a mini driver in the bag all the time, two others rotate one in depending on the course.

After fittings with six manufacturers, here are the fairway woods and mini drivers our six panelists chose for their bags in 2026.

Jack Hirsh’s Mini Driver

Jack Hirsh's TaylorMade R7 Mini. — Jack Hirsh/GOLF

Head: TaylorMade r7 Quad Mini
Shaft: Fujikura OG Ventus TR Blue 7-X
Loft: 13.5˚ @ 12.75˚
FCT setting: 1 Click Lower (2.0˚ sleeve)
Front weights: 7 g toe, 4 g heel
Back weights: 15 g toe, 10 g heel
Length: 43.75″ EOG
Tipping: 0″
Swingweight: D5

TaylorMade R7 Quad Custom Mini Driver

PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER
Inspired by one of the most iconic models in TaylorMade history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what’s come before, while creating its own modern identity in the same breath. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give golfers versatility and playability.
R7 QUAD WEIGHTING SYSTEM
The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide the ultimate in spin management and shot shape control. Forward CG creates a penetrating flight best suited for maximizing distance whereas rear CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. Shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustability.
INFINITY CARBON CROWN
A new satin Infinity Carbon Crown has been added to the R7 Quad Mini Driver chassis creating a stunning look while saving weight for better mass optimization. The cosmetic package is clean, elegant, and confidence-inspiring.

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

Why it’s in my bag: This was my gamer coming in, and it was going to be tough to leave the bag. I can draw it, I can fade it, I can hit it off the deck or from the tee. I have a couple of 3-woods I could use if I ever played a course where I felt I might need one, but I rarely find myself needing one anymore. I keep the weight back in my R7, which gives me that off-the-deck performance.

1 key data point: 3288 RPM spin rate (Off tee and deck). I actually spin this a good bit more than my previous 3-wood (~2600), which actually makes it fly shorter, but that works out better for my gapping as the 3-wood was going too far and forcing me to either back off or take less club.

See Jack’s full bag here

Jake Morrow’s 3-Wood

Jake Morrow's Qi4D 3 Wood - Fully Fit 2026 — Jake Morrow/GOLF

Head: TaylorMade Qi4D
Shaft: Tensei 1k Black 75 TX
Loft: 15º
FCT Setting: Lower
Front weights: 8 g
Length: 42.5″
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D2

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TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Fairway Wood

PROVEN RECIPE
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TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility.
The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts.
REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES
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Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence.
Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels.
TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade
Why it’s in my bag: It’s honestly just because I can hit it. I did find a couple of others during testing that could have worked, but none of them gave me the big off-the-deck performance that the TaylorMade Qi4D did. And it doesn’t hurt that I played the Qi35 5-wood for most of last year. That was an easy switch (that we’ll talk about next), and it’s nice to have the same visual in both fairway woods in the bag.
1 key data point: This is a pretty easy one. I actually hit the center of the face, and the ball goes up in the air.
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See Jake’s full bag here
Johnny Wunder’s 3-wood

Head: TaylorMade Qi35
Shaft: Fujikra Ventus Black Velo+ 7X
Loft: 14.5˚
Setting: Bonded bent 1˚ flat
Length: 43″ EOG
Tipping: 1″
Swingweight: D3

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TaylorMade Qi35 Custom Fairway Wood

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade
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Why it’s in my bag: Pretty simple, TaylorMade core fairway woods are the fastest, most forgiving in golf. If Ping is the most forgiving and Callaway has the fastest, TaylorMade is both but in one club. No more to it than that.
1 key data point: 152-155 mph, 3200-3600 RPMs, 245-255 yard carry.
See Johnny’s full bag here
Maddi MacClurg’s 3-wood*

Head: Callaway Quantum Max
Shaft: Denali Frost Silver 60G 6.0
Loft: 15º
OptiFit4 Setting: NS
Length: 43″
Swingweight: D2
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Callaway Quantum Max Custom Fairway Wood

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway
Why it’s in my bag: This club really surprised me. I don’t normally carry a 3‑wood. In fact, I tried one in my “old” bag and rarely used it because I just wasn’t in love with it. But during my fitting at the Ely Callaway Performance Center, I was blown away by what this one could do. I usually hit a low ball flight with 3‑woods off the deck, but this club launched nicely without feeling too “lofty.” Off-center hits still carried well, and even the occasional thin strike was totally playable. There’s a real balance here between distance and playability.
1 key data point: I was impressed by how easily this club launched the ball. The trajectory was high and penetrating without feeling like it ballooned, which instills confidence — especially if I need to carry a hazard or want to go for a green.
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*I choose between Mini Driver and 3-wood depending on course/conditions
See Maddi’s full bag here
Sean Zak’s Fairway Wood

Head: Titleist GT2
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS 6.5, 80g
Loft: 13.5°
SureFit Hosel Setting: A1
Length: 43″
Tipping: 0″

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Titleist GT2 Custom Fairway Wood

Experience high-launching distance from the tee and off the deck. GT2 Fairways leverage a proprietary crown and new forged face to produce consistently impressive speed and trajectory on every swing. Built for added confidence, these fairways are designed to boost performance — no matter where you hit it.
For players looking for extra confidence in their fairway, GT2 delivers consistently impressive speed and launch—no matter where you hit it.
Deeper, More Forward CG
Launch it from any lie. GT2 Fairways push performance higher and farther by shifting CG even lower and closer to the face – generating maximum distance through higher launch and lower spin.
Forged L-Cup Face
GT Fairways introduce a forged face into the club construction to bolster performance on low-center impacts. The new insert wraps around the bottom of the club to preserve ball speed, maintain launch conditions, and enhance sound and feel — even when you’re trying to pick it clean from a tight lie.
Redesigned Internal Hosel
To extract every ounce of performance in GT2 Fairways, Titleist engineers pursued every gram of weight savings. The redesigned internal hosel achieves subtle mass improvements that unlock real benefits on every swing.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist
Why it’s in my bag: Ball go far. Seriously! I’ve always been very good at sweeping fairway woods off the deck, off tees, and elevating them from hairier lies, too. So much so that I played with a 3-wood as the longest club in my bag for multiple years. The biggest challenge of my fittings was showing up at Titleist with a GT2 3-wood that I already hit really well and saying, “Try and beat it.” We went through those motions at every fitting — me really liking that club and the striking trajectory it takes — and while plenty of the other 3-woods work fine, none could outright beat the one I was already playing.
1 key data point: 13.5 degrees. I used to play a 16-degree 3-wood and was helplessly in love with it, but have been rocking the 13.5-degree for a couple of years now. That move made room for the 5-wood gapping to follow, simply getting another club into my bag, which is the whole point of getting fully fit.
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See Sean’s full bag here
Wadeh Maroun’s Mini Driver

Wadeh Maroun

Head: Cobra King Tec Mini
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6-X
Loft: 13.5˚
Future Fit 33 Setting: G4
Front weight: 12g
Back weight: 2g
Length: 43.75”
Tipping: .5”
Swingweight: D0

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Cobra KING TEC Custom Mini Driver

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Cobra
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Why it’s in my bag: I have been using a mini driver instead of a 3-wood for two years. Both of those years, I used the TaylorMade Burner Mini exclusively. You could not pay to get it out of my bag. The Cobra is the first to rival it and, honestly, compete in both numbers and performance. Looks-wise, they are very similar, and they use the same weighting system, front and back. The extra pop and ball speed are why I am moving into the Cobra.
1 key data point: Ball speed was up consistently with the Cobra King Tec.
See Wadeh’s full bag here
Watch Fully Fit 2026 below!
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Ready to overhaul your bag in 2026 like our Fully Fit panelists? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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Virginia QB Morris files lawsuit against NCAA seeking 7th year of eligibility

Published
56 minutes ago
on
25 February 2026

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NewsAdmin

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris continued his fight for a seventh season of eligibility by filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, his agent, Simon Pflum, confirmed Tuesday.

The NCAA denied Morris’ medical redshirt waiver and appeal last month, and he is seeking a preliminary injunction in Charlottesville Circuit Court.

Morris could be making an argument similar to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who received a preliminary injunction from a Mississippi judge on Feb. 12. Chambliss’ case was based on injuries severely limiting his playing time and not allowing him to make the most of his athletic eligibility.

The 25-year-old Morris applied for a medical red-shirt for the 2022 season at TCU after suffering a knee injury. The NCAA denied that request after Morris made limited appearances in three games later that season.
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“As additional lawsuits challenging common-sense, academically tied eligibility rules are filed, the NCAA will continue to defend against attempts to rob high school students across the nation of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create,” the NCAA said in a statement.

“The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for all college athletes.”

Virginia won 11 games last season with Morris as its starter and reached the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The Cavaliers ranked No. 16 in the final Associated Press poll after defeating Missouri 13-7 in the Gator Bowl, the program’s first bowl victory since 2018.

Morris finished the season with 3,245 total yards and 21 touchdowns.
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His father is Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

Virginia went to the transfer portal and brought in quarterback Beau Pribula of Missouri as a potential 2026 starter.

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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand’s Matt Henry bowls Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka for a golden duck

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1 hour ago
on
25 February 2026

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NewsAdmin

Matt Henry gets New Zealand off to a blistering start as Pathum Nissanka is dismissed with the first delivery of Sri Lanka’s innings in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super 8s match.
FOLLOW LIVE: Super 8s – New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Available to UK users only.

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What the Vikings Revealed at the Start of the NFL Combine

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1 hour ago
on
25 February 2026

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A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests along the sideline during third-quarter action in a divisional matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. The equipment sat near the bench area as Minnesota battled on the road in NFC North play. Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA: A helmet remained positioned near the Vikings sideline during game action. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings are off and running at the NFL Combine, speaking to media on Tuesday and not holding back as they reveal their offseason plans. The club has an interim general manager after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah four weeks ago, at least nine draft picks to spend, and all-in stakes to win in 2026. Thanks to head coach Kevin O’Connell and interim GM Rob Brzezinski, a few items became clear this week.
O’Connell spoke, Brzezinski clarified authority, and Minnesota’s next roster moves began to come into focus.
The developments were especially helpful as free agency gets off the ground in 12 days.
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Feb. 17, 2022 — Minnesota Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson during a recorded interview about roster construction, contract strategy, and the organization’s leadership framework. Brzezinski outlined the club’s long-range football operations approach and discussed the arrival of head coach Kevin O’Connell as part of Minnesota’s evolving front-office structure. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

1. The Power Structure Is Collaborative
Remember the Vikings’ “triangle of authority” from the Brad Childress days? That’s back.
Asked about the front office structure, Brzezinski replied, “We have to have protocol in place, and so the owners have asked me to handle that responsibility if that would occur. But our intent is to have complete and total collaboration, and I think the decisions are going to be pretty easy to make.”
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Brzezinski also said, “It’s an awesome responsibility. I’ve been here a long time. I know what this franchise means to our fans, and I just want to be a small part of one day delivering that championship.”
It sounds like O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will be very much in charge of personnel, with Brzezinski possibly playing a tiebreaker role if necessary.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s ownership group stated last month that it would hire a full-time general manager after the draft in April. Perhaps Brzezinski will impress enough to keep the job.
2. Josh McCown Has Been Promoted
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The Vikings announced a new coaching organizational chart, complete with new names, after losing seven coaches in the last two months. Among them, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown earned a new title: offensive passing game coordinator.
Some fans criticized McCown for not empowering J.J. McCarthy to the fullest in the last two seasons, but O’Connell clearly doesn’t agree.
McCown is now in charge of the passing offense, working with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who is also often an object of fans’ scorn.
3. Insider Says DT Javon Hargrave Is on the Trade Block
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Since the start of the offseason, Vikings loyalists have speculated about players who might be traded, including big names like McCarthy and wide receiver Jordan Addison.
But as of Tuesday, there’s officially a tangible trade rumor — involving defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted Tuesday, “Sources: The Vikings have had trade talks with teams regarding 2x Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave. Hargrave started 15 games last year and had 3.5 sacks in his first season with Minnesota.”
Minnesota is likely shopping Hargrave for a late-round draft pick, a last recourse before his release.
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4. The Vikings’ Timeline for J.J. McCarthy Has Changed
Media members asked O’Connell if he still considers McCarthy as a franchise quarterback, a slogan he’s never been afraid to attach to McCarthy.

Aug. 10, 2024 — Minneapolis, Minnesota — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) participates in pregame stretching and warmup throws ahead of a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. The rookie passer worked on timing and mechanics as coaches evaluated offensive cohesion and depth entering exhibition play under the stadium lights. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

O’Connell said yes but added a caveat, “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024. And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have.”
This basically means that O’Connell classified McCarthy as his franchise quarterback in the summer of 2024 when he first answered the question; now, the timeline has changed. The Vikings need a McCarthy alternative in case injuries arise in 2026, a familiar theme for McCarthy.
5. All QB Options Will Be Examined
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At the start of the offseason, O’Connell and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah proclaimed a deep quarterback room as the foremost priority.
That mindset remains, even after Adofo-Mensah left the Vikings.
Brzezinski said, “We’re exploring every option that can be out there. What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective.”
“A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate situations with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”
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Need a level of baseline quarterback play is the smoking gun that suggests a quarterback signing or trade is imminent.
6. Nothing But Love for Kwesi
Some claimed that an O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah rift may have caused Adofo-Mensah’s termination at the end of January. That is categorically false.

Oct. 7, 2023 — Minneapolis, Minnesota — Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah watches from the sideline during the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ game against the Michigan Wolverines at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Vikings executive attended the in-state contest as part of ongoing scouting work while continuing to shape the team’s roster planning and long-term draft outlook. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

O’Connell on Adofo-Mensah: “From the standpoint of my relationship, personally and professionally, with Kwesi was and will always continue to be strong. Any thoughts or noise to the contrary of that is not accurate in any way, shape or form. Speaking to the timing of it, I just know that our ownership is, I think they’re the best owners in sports.”
“I think they’re very thorough in their postseason evaluation. They made a decision, an ownership decision at that level. We will press onward, but obviously really, really thankful for my time to work with Kwes’ and what we were able to build together here and some of the success that we’ve had together and obviously the learning moments. I know he’s going to continue to go on to great things in his career.”
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Brzezinski, Adofo-Mensah’s direct replacement, called his predecessor a “fabulous human being.”

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5 lower order batters who have scored more runs than Abhishek Sharma in T20 World Cup 2026 so far

Published
2 hours ago
on
25 February 2026

By
NewsAdmin

Team India opener Abhishek Sharma was expected to the Men in Blue’s X-factor in the T20 World Cup 2026. He had been in terrific form with the willow in the build-up to the ICC event. Expectations were so high from the southpaw that a number of critics had backed him to finish as the leading run-getter into the tournament. However, the script that has played out has been a completely opposite one.
After four innings in the T20 World Cup 2026, Abhishek has scored 15 runs at a paltry average of 3.75 and a strike rate of 75. He has struck two fours and a six in the ICC event so far. The left-handed batter began the T20 World Cup with three successive ducks. In India’s first Super 8 match against South Africa, he got off the mark, but ended up being dismissed for 15 off 12 balls.
Abhishek will be desperate to find form in India’s second Super 8 match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26. Ahead of the game, we look at five lower order batters who have scored more runs than the Indian opener in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far.

#1 Brad Evans (Zimbabwe) – 43 runs

Zimbabwe fast bowler and lower order batter got a chance to bat in the T20 World Cup 2026 for the first time in the Group 1 Super 8 match against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Even as Zimbabwe crumbled in a chase of 255, Evans gave a good account of himself, smashing 43 off just 21 balls. Coming into bat at No. 8, Evans slammed two fours and five sixes.
The Zimbabwe batter was looking good for a half-century when he was caught at short third man off Matthew Forde’s bowling. Evans was the last man out as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs. In his T20I career, the 28-year-old has played 29 matches and has scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 119.09.

#2 Sompal Kami (Nepal) – 26 runs

Nepal’s right-arm pacer Sompal Kami scored an unbeaten 26 runs off 15 balls in the T20 World Cup 2026 Group C match against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Sent into bat, Nepal were held to 133-8. Coming into bat at No. 8, he struck four fours in a handy cameo.
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Kami (30) has the experience of 88 T20I matches. In 52 innings, he has scored 391 runs at an average of 11.50 and a strike rate of 114.32, with a best of 40.

#3 Noah Croes (Netherlands) – 25 runs

Netherlands’ Noah Croes featured in the T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This was the same match in which Abhishek was cleaned up for a three-ball duck by off-spinner Aryan Dutt. India recovered to post 193-6 in their 20 overs.
In the chase, Netherlands responded with a commendable 176-7. There were handy contributions all round. Coming in at No. 8, Croes hammered an unbeaten 25 off 12 balls. His knock featured five fours. Croes has played 21 T20Is in which he has scored 228 runs at an average of 22.80 and a strike rate of 131.79.

#4 Nadeem Khan (Oman) – 22 runs

Oman left-arm spinner Nadeem Khan played three matches in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 22 runs at an average of 7.33 and a strike rate of 95.65. Nadeem’s best of 20 came off 18 balls against Zimbabwe in Colombo (SSC) in a Group B match. Batting at No. 9, he struck one four and one six.
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Nadeem was dismissed for two against Sri Lanka in Pallekele and registered a duck in the game against Ireland in Colombo (SSC). In 11 T20Is matches (eight innings), the 24-year-old has scored 84 runs at a an average of 16.80 and a strike rate of 123.52, with a best of 30*.

# 5 Oliver Davidson (Scotland) – 21 runs

Scotland’s bowling all-rounder Oliver Davidson played four matches in the T20 World Cup 2026, making his T20I debut during the tournament. In four matches (three innings), the left-arm spinner scored 21 runs at a strike rate of 123.52. Davidson’s best of 20* came off 15 balls against England in Kolkata. Batting at No. 9, he struck two fours and a six in his cameo.

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5 lower order batters who have scored more runs than Abhishek Sharma in T20 World Cup 2026 so far

#1 Brad Evans (Zimbabwe) – 43 runs

#2 Sompal Kami (Nepal) – 26 runs

#3 Noah Croes (Netherlands) – 25 runs

#4 Nadeem Khan (Oman) – 22 runs

# 5 Oliver Davidson (Scotland) – 21 runs

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