Welcome to Bag Spy, a GOLF series devoted to understanding the crucial equipment choices that define a player’s bag. With the help of players and/or their expert fitters, we dig deep beyond the photos to examine setups, specs and the thinking behind them. In this installment, GOLF Associate Equipment Editor Jack Hirsh takes you inside Si Woo Kim’s bag and new equipment setup for 2026.
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At first glance — and depending on what course you catch him — Si Woo Kim has a pretty old-school bag.
Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 3-iron through pitching wedge and just two wedges, a 52˚ and a 60˚. We don’t see a lot of that set-up on the PGA Tour anymore.
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But a deeper dive and conversation with Callaway Senior PGA Tour Player Development Representative Kellen Watson shows Kim actually has a unique relationship with gear. He focuses strictly on looks, and if it passes the first couple of swings, there usually won’t be much hesitancy with putting it in the bag.
“If there’s something that fits his eye very nicely, you can be damn sure that either the wedge that it might be or the set of irons or the driver or whatever, it’s going in play like right away,” Watson told GOLF. “The performance stuff, we’ll incrementally get exactly where we need to get to. But aesthetically, if it’s pleasing to his eye, there’s nothing bigger. If it goes through the ground perfectly, it’s going in the bag.”
Watson called Kim a “corporate dream” because he’ll put almost any club in his bag as long as it meets his eye test.
That’s notable because Kim held onto his Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond driver for two years before moving into the Quantum Triple Diamond this season.
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But he’s not afraid to try anything, and, in fact, Watson has to prevent him from trying too much.
“He gets some ideas, and he’ll just do it behind my back,” Watson said. “That’s why I try to stay in front of him all the time so we don’t allow him to do anything like that.”
Si Woo Kim and caddie Manny Villegas form an unlikely but endearing duo.
Warren Little/Getty Images
Watson also has to rely on Kim’s caddie, Manny Villegas, to help maintain Kim’s clubs. It’s usually Villegas who asks for regrips or loft/lie checks.
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“Manny’s almost playing offensive coordinator and Si Woo’s just the quarterback, just taking the play calls,” Watson said.
So far that’s been working well this season, as Kim, despite a bulky putter, had four top-11 finishes in his first four starts this season, including two top-5s. He’s 9th in the FedEx Cup standings and second in Strokes Gained: Approach with Callaway’s yet-to-be-released Apex MB ’26 irons.
Kim and Villegas, the brother of five-time Tour winner Camillo Villegas, form one of professional golf’s most unlikely player-caddie duos, but they’re also perhaps the most laidback and fun.
“I still think they should make a TV show of him and Manny, almost like there’s a sequel of ‘Rob & Big.’ I would watch that. I would watch them talk to each other all day long, every day,” Watson said. “I don’t think there’s anybody there you want to be around more than Si Woo when you’re playing golf. And that just kind of goes for every day anyway. Some of it’s just because you never know what he’s going to say next.”
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Kim’s golf bag embodies much of that persona.
Keep reading below to dive into the bag of one of the PGA Tour’s best characters, Si Woo Kim.
Breaking down every club in Si Woo Kim’s bag
Ball
2022 Callaway Chrome Tour Dot
As a player who plays a fade and generally plays at a spin surplus throughout the bag, Kim is one of the many users of Callaway’s Chrome Tour Dot golf ball, a Tour-only version of the Chrome Tour X.
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“Just the higher spin guys — it’s just the flight’s a little bit better for him. The spin control is a lot better for him,” Watson said of the ball, which is also played by Xander Schauffele.
The Dot has an identical aero package to the Chrome Tour X, but it reaches a slightly lower peak height due to reduced spin. Otherwise, it flies similarly.
Players who play a fade generally are going to spin the ball more than players who draw it, so being able to retain control and wind performance with a touch lower spin, while keeping launch, speed and feel the same, is a good match for Kim.
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Callaway 2026 Chrome Tour X Golf Balls
SPEED TECHNOLOGY
Revolutionary new Tour Fast Mantle that increases distance through an optimized core/layer system.
ADVANCED SEAMLESS TOUR AERO®
Incredible distance and flight consistency on every shot.
PRECISION TOUR URETHANE COVER
Incredible feel and wedge control.
PRECISION TECHNOLOGY
Provides the ultimate in consistency. Every detail in the design, manufacture, and testing of the Chrome Tour X ball has been engineered to ensure maximized performance throughout your game.
Specs Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 9.0 Actual Loft: 8.9˚ OptiFit Setting: N/-1 Weights: 7 g front, 9 g back heel, 1 g back toe Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 6-X Length: 44 15/16″ EOG Tipping: 1″ Swingweight: D3.4
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Stock Carry: 290 yards
When it comes to his driver, there isn’t much unique about Si Woo Kim’s, but it is notable given he did not switch to Callaway’s Elyte driver last season.
You would think, after Kim hung onto a Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond for two seasons, that it would have been a long and arduous testing process to get him into a new Quantum Triple Diamond for this season.
But it took Watson only three swings.
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“We did kind of a preliminary fitting at Sea Island,” Watson said. “I think we gave him the 8.5. I remember every interaction with him and Manny because they’re some of my most fun times on Tour. But I think he hit it twice. Little low spin. Nine-degree first shot, and it was like, ‘Can we play this this week?’”
The start line was also important for getting Kim to switch from his Ai Smoke, which is why you’ll see above in his specs he keeps the back weight on the heel side of the club to encourage a left start line.
Unfortunately, at the RSM Classic last fall, where Callaway annually does testing with their staff players for the new driver, the Quantum was not yet on the USGA conforming list.
But Kim got his driver in mid-November and he was one of the first to put it in play the first week of December at the Australian Open when it hit the conforming list.
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One thing that Watson struggled with, however, was getting him to test a backup driver.
“He hates to do like a backup head, and I forced him to do like a backup head today (Tuesday at Bay Hill),” Watson said. “He’s like, ‘Nothing’s wrong with this one. This one will not fail.’ I’m just making sure, dude.”
Kim moved into the updated Fujikura Ventus Black with VeloCore+ during testing with the Elyte driver as they found the slightly softer profile had a better feel for him. It also aided his timing for a fade.
“If anything, a little less catch-up in the shaft, just being just like a touch softer is probably better for him, where the club will stay behind him at impact and he can kind of hit that fade a little bit better,” Watson said.
Specs Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver 11.5 Actual Loft: 11.2˚ Lie: 57˚ OptiFit Setting: -1/N (Flat Cog) Weights: 14 g front, 5 g back Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 7-X Length: 43.125″ Tipping: 2″ Swingweight: D3.1
In some ways, the mini driver has become synonymous with Kim, as he is famous for his DODs from anywhere.
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Fairway, rough, other, you name it, Si Woo Kim has probably tried to hit a driver off the deck from it.
That was the impetus for Kim in sticking with his Paradym Ai-Smoke mini driver, because it was much easier for him to hit off the fairway.
Watson intends to show Kim the new Quantum Mini Driver soon, but wanted to get more insight from the club from Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman, both of whom already have it in the bag.
Kim loves the ability to swing the Mini Driver flatter and not down on it like a 3-wood.
While Kim doesn’t use the 3-wood often in favor of the longer Mini Driver, when he does, he likes to be aggressive with it. It’s to the point where Watson compared his divots to Sergio Garcia, one of the best and also steepest fairway wood players of all time.
The 5-wood is a better story as Kim previously played a Rogue ST LS 5-wood since the club came out in 2022.
But in the fall, Kim wanted to shorten the club and did so while in Japan for the Baycurrent Classic. Why?
“I don’t know. I have no idea!” Watson said. Remember when Watson said he had to get between Kim and some of his “ideas?” This is why.
The club never felt the same to Kim after that. Watson built him a new 5-wood before the start of the season and the 3-wood just so he has options and doesn’t have to look for a new club in the middle of the season.
Specs Callaway Apex MB ’26 3-PW Shafts: KBS Tour V 125 Lofts: 19.3/21.4/24.9/28.5/32.3/36.6/40.5/44.5 Lies: 60/60.3/61.1/61.5/61.7/62.3/62.9/62.6 Length: 7-iron 37″ EOG Swingweight: D3 (“Or whatever feels good sometimes” – Watson)
3-iron Stock Carry: 221 7-iron Stock Carry: 174
Kim is one of a growing number of players on Callaway’s unreleased Apex MB ’26 prototype irons. He has played blades at times throughout his career, but not since his first year with Callaway in 2018.
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But when Kim first tested the new blades, like all of his other changes, the decision to switch was almost instant. Again, the swap was driven more by visuals.
Watson says the new MB has a longer blade length and a more Japanese-inspired pinched toe shape, similar to the X Forged, which was all familiar to him. Kim was one of just three staffers previously playing the Apex CB ’24, primarily due to the longer blade length.
“I think the longer the blade length for him, I think the better the results he gets,” Watson said. “For him, a longer blade length, the higher toe, the matched window of launch and spin being pretty much exactly where you need it — I think that is the determination of, is it going in play?”
In testing, Watson said the new MB “hits more of that CB kind of window” launch conditions which made the switch simple for Kim.
Looking at his specs, you’ll notice his irons are all bent 1-2 degrees strong. That’s not done for launch/spin or even turf interaction reasons. Keeping with the theme here, that’s all done to fit Kim’s eye. He’s played the stronger lofts since before he signed with Callaway in 2018.
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“If there’s something that really fits his eye — he’s a lot about aesthetics — if there’s something that fits his eye very nicely, you can be damn sure that either the wedge that it might be or the set of irons or the driver or whatever, it’s going in play like right away,” Watson said.
Kim’s high-spin tendencies allow him to play the blades all the way through to the 3-iron, a rarity on the modern PGA Tour where even 4-irons are starting ot become extinct.
But the 3-iron doesn’t actually get used that often and, Watson said, sometimes he’ll even be content with rolling with just 13 clubs.
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Callaway Apex MB Custom Irons
The new Apex MB Irons are developed for the absolute best in the game who are looking for a high level of performance in a modern Tour blade. With our Dynamic Sole Design, it provides more efficient turf interaction, enhanced workability, and the classic feel that elite players expect.
A PURE BLADE IN A MODERN DESIGN
The new Apex MB Irons are developed for the absolute best in the game who are looking for a high level of performance in a modern Tour blade. With our Dynamic Sole Design, it provides more efficient turf interaction, enhanced workability, and the classic feel that elite players expect.
PURE FORGED PERFORMANCE
The Apex MB body and face are forged as one-piece in a proprietary forging process from 1025 carbon steel, creating the purest feeling iron imaginable.
PROGRESSIVE CG DESIGN FOR ADDED CONTROL
A progressive CG throughout the set improves trajectory control. The long irons feature a lower CG that promotes towering shots that land soft into greens while the short irons utilize a higher CG for a lower trajectory with more spin for added control.
DYNAMIC SOLE DESIGN FOR ENHANCED TURF INTERACTION
These irons feature a dual chamfer on the leading edge to cut through the turf more efficiently. A trailing edge chamfer provides relief from the turf after contact for enhanced feel. This Dynamic Sole Design maintains speed through the turf and promotes consistent contact on all shots.
Specs Callaway Opus SP RAW Lofts/Grinds: 52/10S @ 51.5˚, 60/8C @ 59˚ Shafts: KBS Tour V 125 Lie: 60.8/63 Length: 35″ EOG/34.625″ EOG Swingweight: D3 (“Or whatever feels good sometimes” – Watson)
52˚ Stock Carry: 114 60˚ Stock Carry: 89
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Just two wedges?! Yes! just two wedges.
While the conventional wisdom for a player with strong lofted irons is to usually add more wedges, Kim plays just a couple and relies on feel to gauge the proper distance.
“I think that has more to do with the incredible set of hands that Si Woo just has,” Watson said. “I think he does more of it just with his hands. Totally feel.
“He’s more of an artist than people kind of would lead you to believe.”
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Unlike most pros on the PGA Tour, Kim doesn’t use a clock system to hit distance wedge shots.
Like the rest of the bag, Kim had little issue switching into the new Opus SPs.
“I think he picked up both of them, just put them in the bag, like, ‘Okay, you take these two. I’ll play these two,” without even the waiting,” Watson said. “It’s like… ‘Yeah… Cool.’”
SPIN POCKET™ CONSTRUCTION
A re-engineered 2-piece construction head design strategically reshapes mass to optimize CG locations. The Spin Pocket redistributes weight higher, raising the CG, and promoting a lower, more penetrating launch. The result is more spin and enhanced control, especially when you need to flight shots or attack tight pins.
NEW SPIN GEN 2.0 FACE™
The most advanced face in OPUS history. A new 17° groove angle with tighter pitch spacing delivers more groove edge contact for more consistent spin across a variety of lies. Combined with a deeper cross-hatch laser pattern across the face, Spin Gen 2.0 produces enhanced friction for more bite and stopping power on all types of approach shots.
SHAPE 6 – TOUR-VALIDATED PROFILE
Trusted by Tour players for its clean, confident look at address, Shape 6 offers precise leading edge shaping and refined sole geometry. Shape 6 is the 6th and final iteration in the Opus prototype shaping phase, validated by Tour players and major champions. OPUS SP introduces progressive shaping in gap wedges to seamlessly blend with modern iron sets—creating a more cohesive setup from top to bottom.
X GRIND – VERSATILITY WITH BOUNCE
Back by popular demand, the X Grind returns in OPUS SP. Designed for shotmakers who want added bounce for forgiveness, without giving up versatility, the X Grind is ideal for players who like to open the face around the greens or play in firmer turf conditions. It’s the perfect blend of playability and performance in a wide range of shots and conditions.
The flatstick has been a club holding Kim back this season as he ranks second in Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green this season, but is losing nearly seven-tenths of a stroke on the greens. While this year is one of his worst, Kim has never gained strokes putting since joining the PGA Tour in 2016.
This Odyssey O-Works 3T is new this season and Kim loves the look of it, but this week, he’s testing out a new Odyssey prototype TRTL mallet putter.
Si Woo Kim doing some work with an Odyssey Prototype TRTL mallet putter.
This is similar to the proto Mini Woo Lee switched to at Pebble and finished T2. Four interchangeable weights on the corners, but Si Woo has some big ole strips of lead tape across the bottom center.… pic.twitter.com/u5hJu2uv6I
It’s the same putter that Min Woo Lee is using and it obviously passed the eye test for Kim to consider using it this week. The specs match his current O-Works 3T.
Putter has been a revolving door the past two seasons for Kim after he stopped using an Odyssey 2-Ball 10 Broomstick.
Watson doesn’t know exactly why the run with the broom came to an end — nobody does, he said — but he has his guesses.
“He might have been getting sick of the look and just wanted to look at something different,” Watson said. “That would be my answer… and that wouldn’t be odd as an answer to the question about Si Woo with anything.”
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Will the new TRTL be the next one to have staying power? We’ll see if it even makes it to the bag at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
NEW DELHI: Speculation surfaced on social media after India’s win over West Indies that Sanju Samson could face disciplinary action — or even a ban — for his emotional on-field celebration in Kolkata. The rumours claimed that the Indian batter might miss the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England on Thursday because he dropped his helmet to the ground after hitting the match-winning boundary.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The moment came at the end of a tense chase when Samson sealed India’s victory with a boundary. As the ball raced away, the right-handed batter removed his helmet and dropped it onto the ground before falling to his knees and offering a prayer. The emotional celebration quickly went viral, with some observers suggesting the act might fall under the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct related to equipment abuse.
Why India vs England semi-final match will be a nightmare for bowlers | T20 World Cup 2026
Sanju Samson’s possible ban: What do the ICC rules say?
A closer look at the rules suggests that the fears of a suspension are largely misplaced. Under Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players can be penalised for “abuse of cricket equipment,” which includes actions such as throwing or striking items like helmets, bats, or stumps in frustration. The rule also covers deliberate damage to advertising boards, boundary fences, or dressing room fixtures.Even if Samson’s act were to be reviewed under this provision, it would most likely fall under a Level 1 offence — the lowest category of disciplinary breaches. Level 1 incidents typically attract fines or demerit points rather than suspensions.Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary also dismissed the speculation, explaining that Samson’s gesture appeared to be an emotional celebration rather than an act of anger or protest. According to him, such moments are common in high-pressure matches and are rarely treated as serious offences.Recent examples support this interpretation. Scotland’s George Munsey received only one demerit point earlier in the tournament after throwing his helmet in frustration following his dismissal.As things stand, there has been no official charge or complaint against Samson from match officials. India are scheduled to face England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5, and the wicketkeeper-batter remains fully eligible to play.
India and England will face off in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, March 5. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will play host to this contest.
India finished at the top of Group A in the initial round. In the Super 8s, they finished second in Group 1 and qualified for the semifinal. The Men in Blue made it to the top four for the sixth time in the history of the tournament.
On the other hand, England finished second in Group C to advance to the Super 8s. In the Super 8, they topped Group 2 and remained unbeaten. This is also England’s sixth semifinal appearance in the T20 World Cup.
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While the Men in Blue are the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2024, England won the tournament in the 2022 edition.
On that note, let us take a look at three players who could score the most runs in today’s clash between India and England.
#3 Jos Buttler
England opener and senior pro Jos Buttler has had a tournament to forget so far. Despite his experience, he has failed to get going at the top. In seven games, he has scored just 62 runs at an average of 8.85 and a strike rate of 106.89.
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That said, England will back Buttler in a knockout game and expect him to come good under pressure. He is due for a big score and would like to deliver in the semifinal.
Buttler has played 27 T20Is against India and has scored 644 runs at an average of 32.30 and a strike rate of 143.75. Moreover, having played for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and a lot of IPL cricket, he will be aware of the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium as well. In 24 IPL games at the venue, he has scored 761 runs at an average of 34.59 and a strike rate of 141.19.
#2 Harry Brook
England captain Harry Brook has been in solid form for them in the tournament so far. He is their leading run-getter with 228 runs from seven games at an average of 32.57 and a strike rate of161.70 with a century and a half-century.
Brook has a decent record against India. In 10 T20Is, he has scored 171 runs at a strike rate of 140.16. In India, he has scored 179 runs from nine T20Is at a strike rate of 147.93 with two half-centuries.
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At the Wankhede Stadium, Brook has played three T20Is, scoring 72 runs at a strike rate of 144.00 with a half-century. The England skipper will aim to lead from the front with the bat in a crucial game.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav‘s form has been hot and cold in the tournament. He began on a brilliant note with an unbeaten 84 against the USA, but has not gotten a big score after that. However, he has been batting well, scoring 231 runs from seven games at an average of 38.50 and a strike rate of 135.88.
Against England, Suryakumar has scored 349 runs from 13 games at a strike rate of 171.92. In three T20Is at the Wankhede, he has scored 93 runs at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 150. Moreover, he has played 39 IPL games at the venue, piling on 1394 runs at an average of 43.56 and a strike rate of 165.36.
Playing domestic cricket for Mumbai and IPL for the Mumbai Indians (MI), he will be expected to do well with the bat in familiar conditions.
Arsenal toil to just about do enough, but it may mean an awful lot more.
Mikel Arteta’s minimalism led to what was almost the maximum outcome on the night at Brighton, as a 1-0 victory ensured they went seven points clear at the top with a game more played. The news that Manchester City had drawn 2-2 with Nottingham Forest was greeted by even greater celebration from the Arsenal travelling support than their own final whistle. Moments later, for the first time this season, they were singing “we’re gonna win the league”.
That might yet tempt fate but it’s hard to begrudge them given how big this felt for the season. There have nevertheless rarely been matches so potentially seismic that were so muted – at least until Fabian Hurzeler’s press conference started. “I will never be the type of manager who tries to win that way,” he said. It was still Arsenal that won, though.
The post-match theatre was consequently one of those where multiple things were party correct: Hurzeler had a point, but also missed the point, and yet Arsenal could also heed some of what he said, at least in terms of not wanting to live too many games like this. But then a win in these circumstances, to bring it full circle, may actually release Arsenal and prevent that.
It wasn’t a riproaring game.
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Arsenal secured the lead from Bukayo Saka’s fortuitous opener… and that was pretty much that. Mikel Arteta’s side duly kept their first clean sheet in five, since the 7 February 3-0 win over Sunderland, which may also prove highly significant.
But that is important because it will go someway to ease all of this angst, still palpable throughout this match. City’s result instead means Arsenal are now also on the longest winning run in the Premier League, at three.
Not for the first time this season, mind, this one probably didn’t need to feel so tense.
When asked whether he remonstrated with Arteta about time-wasting, Hurzeler just said “there were so many”. He also repeatedly argued the Premier League need to look at the rules.
Arteta’s response was a simple and sarcastic: “What a surprise?”
When asked whether he cares what other managers say, the Basque simply said “depends”. On who? “Yeah. And the comments… and the purpose.”
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Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal an early lead (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)
Before debating the actual merits of such arguments and the mechanics of the game, the extra psychological layer of Wednesday’s results should be acknowledged.
This was probably the kind of night when it was expected that Arsenal might slip in an awkward away game as City won a forgiving home game, only for the reverse to happen. For Arteta, the damage of that 2-2 draw away to Wolves is undone. For now.
The night’s results should nevertheless remain a warning that this is highly unlikely to be a straight line to the end, in the way the 2018-19 season was, say. Arsenal have to be conscious of how the competitiveness of the Premier League brings a new and constant danger of dropping points, which is why they probably still have to be conscious of performance. While Hurzeler had that spiky comment on how he wouldn’t want to play that way – which Arteta refused to comment on – and there’s obviously been wider debate about whether you’d want to win to win the league that way, the Basque himself wouldn’t want to play every game like this.
It creates too much psychological toil, but that points to a wider pattern.
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Mikel Arteta brushed off the frequent criticism of his side (Getty Images)
There have been times this season when Arsenal have anxiously toiled for a goal, which is why a fortuitous strike like Saka’s must feel like such a reprieve – and maybe like they were due. There are certainly those among Arteta’s staff who believe that the club have been unlucky in many games, where the scoreline has not reflected the xG.
So here was Saka suddenly cutting inside to try a surprise long shot – in the way some demand he should do more – that had an xG of 0.01. It duly took a deflection to wrong-foot Bart Verbruggen.
And yet, as has been the case in many recent games, Arsenal didn’t press on. Their next shot didn’t even come until the second half. Brighton were allowed to control play, if not quite force it. It was so familiar to so many recent Arsenal matches – but also familiar to so many recent Brighton matches. That Joao Pedro had a hat-trick performance for Chelsea against Aston Villa was so pointed, since he is one talent that the club have not managed to replace. Kaoru Mitoma was allowed to roam without doing much. Brighton are so well structured until the final third, which then gradually erodes some momentum. Hurzeler’s complaints sound a little more embittered when you consider Brighton only created 0.8xG themselves.
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Maybe that’s why Arsenal let them have the ball, but recent patterns suggest there are other reasons. Arteta evidently doesn’t want this. He can often be seen urgently gesturing to his players to get up the pitch. While Arteta has rightly been criticised for a certain conservatism, his general ideology is fundamentally based on players taking the ball on in possession. That does involve some risk, or at least a willingness to constantly be proactive.
Defeat for Manchester City kept Arsenal a step ahead in the title race (Action Images via Reuters)
One of the things that visibly happens with Arsenal in such situations, however, is that too many players stop doing it. They don’t take the step up. It might be subtle, sometimes almost imperceptible, but the cumulative effect is that they become vulnerable. It seems obvious this is down to the psychology that comes with so badly desiring to win this first title in 22 years – which is where Hurzeler misses the point a bit. It’s now about how you prefer to win. It’s about winning.
That approach can still mean just one slip changes everything, which Arsenal now know all well – not least from this very fixture last season. Arsenal’s 2024-25 title challenger arguably first faltered when they went 1-0 up against Brighton early on only for a contentious penalty to bring a damaging 1-1 draw.
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This has the potential to be similar. The feeling had been that Arsenal might get caught and, if they didn’t, too many needlessly contained performances like this would gradually erode their edge. This time, though, it didn’t happen. Arsenal beat Brighton.
And the manner in which last season’s situation was reversed may be symbolic, as well as significant. Crucially, it may also ease Arsenal and bolster reassurance to the point they may not suffer this type of game again soon.
The profile of attackers does help. Arsenal immediately looked more lively when Kai Havertz came on for Viktor Gyokeres. The German just offers more control.
Arsenal now have full control of the title race, for the first time in weeks. They did what they needed. They have just been given fair warning this isn’t a pattern to repeat.
People First Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 1 AFL game between Gold Coast SUNS and
Geelong Cats. The game kicks off at 8:05 pm with Gold Coast SUNS heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Gold Coast SUNS vs.
Geelong Cats
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Friday night at People First Stadium offers an early measuring stick for two clubs with genuine premiership ambitions. Gold Coast enters 2026 on the back of its most successful campaign to date and has doubled down on that momentum, recruiting Christian Petracca and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan while securing academy talents Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson inside the top five of the draft.
Geelong’s offseason was comparatively restrained after last year’s Grand Final defeat, missing out on Rowan Marshall and Charlie Curnow but bolstering its midfield with James Worpel.
The Cats had the upper hand when these sides last met, grinding out a 61-37 win in heavy conditions at GMHBA Stadium. Max Holmes was influential with 40 disposals and 10 clearances, while Tyson Stengle booted four goals. With Stengle sidelined, the Suns will sense an opportunity to turn the tables at home.
This is at least the ninth time Garrett has been cited for speeding in the Cleveland area since being drafted by the Browns back in 2017. It’s the second citation Garrett has received since he flipped his Porsche in 2023. Last summer, Garrett was cited for driving 100 mph in a 60 mph zone just hours after Cleveland’s preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Garrett, 30, had been stopped for speeding at least seven other times since he was drafted by the Browns. He was once given multiple tickets within a 24-hour span after being clocked driving 120 mph and 105 mph. Garrett has also previously been charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
In September 2022, Garrett was injured after his Porsche went airborne and rolled multiple times. Garrett and a passenger were treated at a local hospital following the accident.
“This will be definitely a wake-up call for me, just try to be smart overall with driving,” Garrett said after that incident. “Don’t take anything for granted. Be grateful that I’m still able to be here and just take my time.”
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Garrett, who is just one year into his four-year, $160 million extension that he signed last offseason, recently won his second Defensive Player of the Year award after recording 23 sacks in 2025, an NFL record. He set the record after taking down Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the Browns’ Week 18 win over the Cincinnati.
Garrett’s 125.5 sacks since 2017 are the most in the NFL over that span. He’s currently tied with Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney for 28th on the NFL’s career sack list.
ENGIE Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 1 AFL game between GWS Giants and
Hawthorn Hawks. The game kicks off at 4:15 pm with Hawthorn Hawks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the GWS Giants vs.
Hawthorn Hawks
game and give you our free tips and bets.
In a rematch of last season’s Elimination Final, GWS and Hawthorn launch their 2026 AFL campaigns at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Giants enter the season under a cloud, with a lengthy injury list headlined by Tom Green’s ruptured ACL. Key contributors Josh Kelly, Sam Taylor and Brent Daniels are also sidelined, leaving Adam Kingsley’s side to test its depth early in the year.
Hawthorn arrives in far better shape, although star midfielder Will Day remains unavailable as he targets a mid-season return from a shoulder injury. The Hawks will, however, welcome Jai Newcombe after his preseason suspension was overturned. Newcombe starred the last time these sides met, collecting 32 disposals and 12 clearances in Hawthorn’s 107–88 finals victory, a performance that helped halt a late Giants surge. With momentum from that September clash, the Hawks will look to make another fast start.
Man Utd now have a 10-day break before they return to action and they will be licking their wounds after losing to Newcastle.
Defeat has become an unfamiliar sensation for Manchester United. Before Wednesday night on Tyneside, the last time they lost a Premier League game the Christmas presents were still unopened.
That was a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on December 21 and although the recovery began slowly under Ruben Amorim, it has accelerated since Michael Carrick took charge in January.
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But it ground to a shuddering halt at St James’ Park. For the first time, Carrick felt what it was like to lose a game as United head coach, and what made it more painful was that the performance was so flat and they failed to take advantage of Newcastle being down to 10 men.
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In those circumstances, most managers would welcome another game quickly to put things right and get it out of the system. United don’t have that luxury.
They will be in at Carrington on Thursday but will have a few days off here and there as part of a 10-day break between games, before Aston Villa visit Old Trafford.
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That game has taken on greater meaning as the battle for Champions League football becomes congested. United had the chance to give themselves breathing room this week, and although they remain third, there are only three points separating them from Liverpool in sixth.
With the stakes now raised, Carrick has issued a rallying cry, calling for his squad to learn the lessons of their painful defeat to Newcastle and come back stronger against Unai Emery’s side.
“We’ve got to make the best out of it, we’ve got to make it a help,” Carrick said of the break. “There’s no sense in not learning lessons and understanding why tonight was what it was and how it happened and developed. We’ve got to learn from that, so we look at it and we’ll learn from that.
“It’s an important game, it’s a big week for us, it’s one we look forward to. We’re in a position now that we’ve put ourselves in, the boys have put themselves in, that can be really exciting. So we’ve got to be really positive going into the next game and look forward to it, because there’s a lot to play for.”
Oleksandr Usyk became the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era back in 2024, and heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua has predicted how the Ukrainian would have fared against the most recent undisputed ruler before him, Lennox Lewis.
Back in 1999, WBC heavyweight champion Lewis collided with IBF and WBA titleholder Evander Holyfield in a memorable showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Lewis should have made history that night in becoming the undisputed king, but a dubious decision on the scorecards meant Lewis was rewarded with only a draw.
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Eight months later, Lewis and Holyfield ran it back and ‘The Lion’ came out on top with a unanimous decision win to take home all three belts – the crowning moment of his tremendous career.
It would take a quarter of a century for another undisputed heavyweight title contest to occur, largely due to the recognition of the WBO title and subsequent beginning of the four-belt era.
Another win in his rematch with Fury cemented Usyk as the standout heavyweight of this generation, and when asked whether the 39-year-old would have overcome Lewis, former world champion Joshua told Daily Mail Boxing that he would favour his former opponent.
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“[Usyk vs. Lewis is a] 50/50. [I will edge towards] Oleksandr Usyk.”
Luke Donald said there are “always bumps in the road” on the way to the Ryder Cup. Rory McIlroy undoubtedly agrees. But the Northern Irishman believes the current issue facing Team Europe, as they turn their attention to 2027 with Donald back at the helm, is one with an easy solution.
It just takes one man to change his mind. At the moment, that solution seems unlikely to materialize.
On Tuesday, Jon Rahm refused to budge in his ongoing battle with the DP World Tour. The DP World Tour recently reached an agreement (independent of LIV Golf) with eight of its members to grant them conditional releases to compete in LIV events without accumulating further sanctions. Players, including Tyrrell Hatton, agreed to pay all outstanding fines, participate in additional stipulated DPWT tournaments and withdraw all pending appeals. Rahm declined the offer, saying the European Tour was “extorting” players by having them play in six events, two of which will be determined by the DP World Tour, instead of the four normally required to maintain membership.
“I don’t like what they’re doing currently with the contract they’re having us sign,” Rahm said. “I don’t like the conditions. They’re asking me to play a minimum of six events, and they dictate where two of those have to be, amongst other things that I don’t agree with.”
Rahm has challenged the DP World Tour’s conflicting events policy — which he says has resulted in over $3 million in fines — in arbitration court. He can remain a DP World Tour member until that case is heard. If he loses the case, he’ll need to pay his fines to remain a member, something he has said he won’t do, or he will be ineligible for the Ryder Cup.
On Wednesday, ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy said he believes the European Tour did everything possible to find a middle ground that would allow players to retain their membership while playing on LIV and benefiting the DP World Tour at the same time. A better deal is something McIlroy has trouble seeing coming down the pike.
“It’s a really generous deal,” McIlroy said. “Like it’s a much softer deal than what Brooks [Koepka] took to come back and play on the PGA Tour. Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys.
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“There’s a reason eight of the nine guys took that deal, right? I think it’s a really good deal. Yeah, obviously Jon doesn’t think so, and he’s obviously well within his rights to think that way. But I just don’t see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys to retain their membership.”
As Rahm explained his position on Tuesday in Hong Kong, he noted that the six-event requirement to drop the legal battle and settle all business wouldn’t work with his schedule. The two-time major winner said he’d be happy to play four events after the LIV schedule ends, but didn’t want the DP World Tour to dictate which two extra events he has to play. The irony in that complaint was not lost on McIlroy, given that Rahm already signed up to play on a league that gets to dictate the majority of his schedule. Those 14 LIV events are non-negotiable.
“[It] isn’t a heavy lift,” McIlroy said of the six-event ask from the Euro Tour. “Yes, okay, maybe the European Tour gets to have a say in where those two [additional] events are, but I mean, I’m sure Jon doesn’t want to go to [LIV] South Africa next week, but he’s going there. So, you know, like I don’t, again, like … He signed a contract for LIV, and he plays 14 events and the whole thing. Like I get all that. But the DP World Tour is well within its rights to protect itself as a members organization and as a business.”
As for Rahm’s murky Ryder Cup future, Donald said he hadn’t yet spoken to the Spaniard but planned to in the near future. DPWT CEO Guy Kinnings joined Donald for Wednesday’s press conference and was clear about where things stand with Rahm.
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“I think it’s pretty straightforward,” Kinnings said. “You know, he either withdraws an appeal and settles fines or he goes through the appeal process, and that process is underway. And then we’ll obviously then have to go with whatever the decision is made in that appeal hearing.”
Rahm’s Ryder Cup status has been a constant topic since he bolted for LIV in 2023.
When the defection occurred, McIlroy was among the first to say that Team Europe needed Rahm and that there had to be a way to get him on the team in 2025. With Rahm’s court case still pending, he was able to maintain his DP World Tour membership and play at Bethpage despite not paying his outstanding fines.
In Dubai in January, McIlroy said Rahm and Hatton should pay their fines and prove they are willing to pay to play in the Ryder Cup, as was Europe’s rallying cry at Bethpage. After accepting the Euro Tour’s olive branch, Hatton is now a DP World Tour member in good standing as long as he meets the requirements. Rahm remains in limbo with 17 months until RC rosters are finalized. To McIlroy, the ramifications are what they are. The Ryder Cup exists above individuals and the current divide in professional golf.
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“Look, the Ryder Cup is bigger than any one person,” McIlroy said. “It’s bigger than all of us. We come and go. Players are — we pass through the system. Like, it’s the platform that’s the big thing. I mean, I think we should all be grateful that we have a platform like the Ryder Cup that we can play on and that we can showcase our skills and be a part of something that’s obviously way bigger than ourselves. So at the end of the day, it’s about the team, and no one player is bigger than the team.
“I think at the end of the day we all see the opportunity for [Luke Donald] to go down as the greatest Ryder Cup captain ever, if we go on and win in Ireland,” McIlroy said later. “So I’m excited for him, I’m excited for the opportunity that he has, and obviously I just want to be a part of that team to help him try to make that history.”
Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) reacts after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is often viewed as one where teams will end up focusing more on the floor of a player rather than the ceiling.
The consensus is that there aren’t many league-wrecking prospects in this class, but that point of view might need to be thrown out the window with Kenyon Sadiq. The tight end is dripping with potential to become a star at the next level.
Background
Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) warms up before the game against the James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Statistics
2023: 5 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD (14 games)
2024: 24 receptions, 308 yards, 2 TDs (14 games)
2025: 51 receptions, 560 yards, 8 TDs (14 games)
Measurables
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 241
Hand Size: 10″
Arm Length: 31 1/2″
40-Yard Dash: 4.39
10-Yard Split: 1.54
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: 43.5″
Broad Jump: 11’1″
3 Cone: N/A
Bench: 26 reps
Sadiq spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a developmentary reserve in the Oregon Ducks program before bursting onto the scene as one of the best receiving tight ends in the country in 2025. Now, he’s hoping to turn that production into a high end draft status this spring.
Strengths
Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) looks on before the game against the James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Sadiq is a very clean receiving tight end prospect. He can run just about any route whether it be a go route breaking away from defenders in the secondary, or he can intricately break in and out of his routes with buttery smooth foot speed and balance.
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His NFL Combine performance is a testimony to that with numbers that are virtually identical to what Vernon Davis accomplished at the event though Davis did have 13 pounds on Sadiq.
Not only is Sadiq a very solid receiver, he is an impressive player in run blocking as well. He doesn’t take those snaps off and is capable of planting himself and holding his own against defenders. His strong hands are capable of fighting off rush moves, and those hands also help him hold onto the football through collisions at the point of the catch.
Weaknesses
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq hauls in a touchdown catch as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
While Sadiq is plenty capable of blocking while playing along the line of scrimmage, he isn’t exactly the player you want taking lead blocks down the field in the second and third levels of the defense. He seems to mistime himself or hold back some contact on those blocks, allowing defenders to shed fairly easily.
Drops were also an issue for Sadiq in 2025. On 67 targets, he had six drops. In on target passes, he had a drop rate of 10.5%.
Finally, while he certainly is a willing blocker, a 241-pound frame could cause some issues in that department at the NFL level.
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2026 NFL Draft Projection
Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) celebrates scoring a touch down during the first half against the Southern California Trojans at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
NFL Draft Projection: Mid First Round
Team Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins
Sadiq has a few things to clean up before he becomes a star at the NFL level, but all the potential in the world is there. He has the upside of being an All-Pro tight end a few years down the line, and TE-needy teams in the first round should jump at the chance to pick him.
Editor’s Note: Statistics from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey
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