Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) 15-year-old wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi saved his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) during IPL 2026. Sooryavanshi got out for a duck in the first meeting between the two sides, but then went on to smash a 36-ball hundred and a 29-ball 97 in the following two matches between them. SRH and England star Liam Livingstone stated that Sooryavanshi is unlike any other batter he has ever seen. Complimenting his timing and development, Livingstone further explained what makes Sooryavanshi different to everyone else.
“We got Sooryavanshi’d. Oh my goodness. We bounced him out early on in the tournament, and then he got a hundred and a 97,” Livingstone said, speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, and this was my seventh IPL. I’ve played with and against some very good players and I’ve never seen anything like it,” he stated on Sooryavanshi.
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Livingstone elaborated on Sooryavanshi’s incredible development through the course of IPL 2026, and pinpointed exactly what makes him stand out compared to others.
“The way he hits the ball is so clean. He never mis-hit a ball the whole time. The development that he made as a player from the start of the tournament to the end… we were bowling bouncers and he was hitting it over third-man, bowled a low full toss and he was flicking it over,” Livingstone said.
Sooryavanshi ended IPL 2026 with 776 runs in just 16 matches, at a breathtaking strike-rate of over 237. The 15-year-old broke Chris Gayle‘s long-standing record of the most sixes by a batter in a single season, smashing 72 maximums.
As a result of his exploits, Sooryavanshi bagged five awards in the IPL 2026 final post-match presentation, including the Orange Cap (highest run-scorer) and the ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) award. Sooryavanshi’s tally of 776 runs also ranks fifth in the all-time list of most runs scored by a single batter in an IPL season.
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Livingstone, on the other hand, was bought for Rs 13 crore by SRH ahead of IPL 2026, but he only played two games.
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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans
Nov 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes against the New York Jets during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The big news of this offseason in Minnesota was the free agent signing of Kyler Murray. After a season of QB misery in 2025, something had to be done, and Murray heads to Minnesota after an injury-plagued final year in Arizona, hoping to revive his career. For those reasons, Murray has been predicted as a candidate for the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, which would be a first for the franchise.
A Healthy Murray Could Enter the Awards Conversation
The Comeback Player of the Year was first voted for back in the 1960s, when it had a four-year run, before returning in 1998 and becoming a permanent fixture of the league’s end-of-season awards. During its run, no Minnesota Viking has ever won the award.
So what makes Murray a candidate to possibly end that drought? Simply put, it is coming into what could be an explosive offense on the back of an injury-hampered season, which makes him qualify as a comeback player.
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Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Bleacher Report recently published a list of surprise predictions for 2026 compiled by Gary Davenport. One of his predictions was both Pro Bowl honors and Comeback Player of the Year for the Vikings’ new quarterback. Here is what Davenport had to say about what Murray had to do to make that prediction come true.
To do so, he’ll first have to beat out J.J. McCarthy to start in the Twin Cities. Then he’ll have to try to recapture the form that saw him win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 and make the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2021. Beating out McCarthy shouldn’t be especially difficult—Murray has shown exponentially more upside in the pros than McCarthy has over two injury-marred years.
The tools are there for Murray in Minnesota—the Vikes have a decent offensive line and run game and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings are one of the better wide receiver trios in the league,
Murray is already a two-time (2020 & 2021) champion and has proven he can play at a high level in the league. At 29 years old when the season starts, there is no reason he shouldn’t be able to recapture that form. If he stays healthy, I don’t think there is much doubt he will win the starting job over JJ McCarthy, with people now even suggesting that McCarthy wants out of Minnesota.
The Kevin O’Connell Effect
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Another reason to believe Murray is returning to form is his new head coach. Outsiders are asking whether O’Connell can have the same effect on Murray as he had on Sam Darnold a couple of years ago – if he does, hopefully Murray won’t be hoisting the Lombardi trophy with another team in 2027!
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
There is plenty in favor of Murray succeeding in Minnesota, not least of all, having Justin Jefferson on the receiving end of his passes. Jefferson has proven himself QB-proof, managing to put up a 1,000-yard receiving season while playing with a trio of struggling QBs last year. He will be eager to get back to putting up the really big numbers we became accustomed to, and he can do that with Murray.
Jefferson has shown that if you throw him a catchable ball, he will come down with it more often than not. In Murray, the Vikings have the QB with the fifth-best all-time completion percentage – 67.1%.
The stars could be aligning for Murray and Minnesota, and it may well produce the Vikings’ first-ever Comeback Player of the Year recipient.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
The Golden Quillflower is a Transcended-rarity species in Build a Ring Farm that is exclusive to the game’s Plant Contracts system. Being a Transcended-rarity plant, the Golden Quillflower is naturally one of the most valuable species in the game. It produces high-value crops that generate hundreds of thousands of Cash per harvest with minimal investment cost.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Golden Quillflower in Build a Ring Farm.
Breaking down the Golden Quillflower in Build a Ring Farm
How to get
The Golden Quillflower is exclusive to the Plant Contracts system (Image via Roblox)
The Golden Quillflower seed is a random reward available through the Plant Contracts system. Every once in a while, upon completing a Contract, you will see a quest pop up on the board that has it as a reward. This is more likely to occur if you are at Master or higher Contract Rank, with the highest possible likelihood being assigned to the Transcendent Contracts.
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Upon completing the associated mission, the Golden Quillflower seed will be added to your inventory. You can sow it in your farm to produce crops, and use any relevant boosts to improve the yield.
This guide explores the Aurora Lotus in Build a Ring Farm, the most valuable plant species in the game as of Update 4.
Crop yield value
Gameplay still (Image via Roblox)
The Golden Quillflower produces crops with a base sale value of 425,000 Cashper crop unit. While its value is below the likes of the Admin Rose or the Aurora Lotus, it is still quite valuable, and it doesn’t require much investment on your part. Meaning, its produce will turn a profit right away instead of having to recoup a hefty purchase price first.
We recommend sowing the plant seed at the highest floor and the outermost ring in your farm. This position is where your farm will apply the maximum value bonus, generating plenty of Cash within seconds. You may also use the Starfall Griffin and the Cosmic Mutation Spray to elevate its selling value even further.
Brock Lesnar defeated Oba Femi at Clash in Italy to make it 1-1 between them in singles matches. It took the former Universal Champion seven F5s to be able to put away The Ruler, but he seemingly teased retirement once again after the match.
The veteran took off his gloves after he beat Oba Femi and raised his hands in victory. However, unlike at WrestleMania 42, where he left both his gloves and boots in the ring, he kept them with him this time, hinting that he might not be done with wrestling just yet.
Thanks for the submission!
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That being said, Lesnar has been referring to himself as ‘retired’ despite making his return on RAW to reignite his feud with Oba Femi. It might be part of the storyline, but there have been rumors that Lesnar might be planning to bid farewell to the squared circle soon.
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If that is indeed the case, then we might see the last of him at SummerSlam, in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, it hasn’t quite been confirmed just yet, and we will have to wait and see how things shape up for The Beast Incarnate over the next few months.
Former WWE RAW General Manager explains why Brock Lesnar returned despite retiring at WrestleMania 42
In a recent edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff claimed he was left confused after Lesnar’s return on WWE RAW. He claimed that the emotions Brock Lesnar displayed at WrestleMania 42 were real and honest, but contractual agreements seemingly prevented him from retiring on his own terms at The Show of Shows.
“Brock got emotional and made a decision in the ring. Found out shortly thereafter there’s language in that agreement that makes what you did a problem. We can figure it out creatively. But we’re not ready for a retirement yet or something to that effect. Something happened,” he added.
The creative team has since played into the retirement angle, with both Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar confirming that The Beast had retired at The Show of Shows, only to make a shocking return and take down his rival shortly after. It now remains to be seen when the trilogy will be completed.
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Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) reacts to a puck to the face during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, struck by the puck in the face in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, was transported to a hospital for observation, ESPN reported.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers sent an 87 mph shot toward the net in the first period at Raleigh, N.C. McNabb, standing in front of goalie Carter Hart, absorbed the puck off the visor of his helmet. He went down briefly, then held his face as he swiftly skated off the ice and directly to the locker room.
McNabb, 35, exited with 9:08 to go in the opening period and didn’t return to action, leaving the Golden Knights down a defenseman.
Vegas led 2-0 entering the third period but wound up losing 4-3 in overtime, leveling the best-of-seven series at one win apiece.
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McNabb, 35, has one goal and six assists through 17 games in Vegas’ current postseason run. He was averaging 20:53 of ice time in the playoffs prior to Thursday.
After joining the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft, McNabb was part of the team’s trek to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 and their run to capturing the Cup in 2023.
Over 14 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Vegas, McNabb has 38 goals, 153 assists and a plus-160 rating in 885 regular-season games.
In the 2025-26 regular season, he had five goals (tying his career high) and seven assists in 63 games.
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Right after the game ended, Golden Knights coach John Tortorella had no update on McNabb’s condition.
The Epsom Derby is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Flat racing calendar and this year’s edition will be no different as Aiden O’Brien bids for more Epsom glory.
The Derby and the Oaks form part of the collection of British Classics, with the Derby part of the so-called ‘Triple Crown’ alongside the St Leger Stakes and the 2000 Guineas Stakes and boasting a history stretching back to 1780.
Punters will find the latest and best Epsom Derby odds here. We use the latest Epsom Derby betting odds from horse racing betting sites to offer readers optimum value on wagering on one of the three Classics of the flat racing season.
Readers will find not only the top value on markets for The Derby odds, but also the latest odds on Epsom Oaks betting in what is the season’s leading race for fillies.
The Derby betting odds come from our recommended betting sites, all of which are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
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Epsom Derby Odds
Readers can find the latest Epsom Derby odds in this section.
Plenty of famed horses have won The Derby, including horses owned by the monarchy, such as George VII’s Diamond Jubilee in 1900.
In more recent times, Aiden O’Brien has been the king of Epsom, saddling the last three winners of the Derby, and he has the favourite again this year in the formidable Benvenuto Cellini. He won twice last year, including claiming Group 2 honours in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown, and then set a new track record at Chester with victory in the Vase on his 2026 debut.
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Lambourn went down the same path last year on route to winning the Derby, but its the Dante at York that’s traditionally viewed as the better Derby indicator, and that race was won by Item, who is unbeaten in three starts.
In total, 14 runners will contest the 2026 Derby, with O’Brien training four of them with Pierre Bonnard, Action and Christmas Day the other Ballydoyle representatives.
Sea The Stars colt Maltese Cross has seen his Derby odds on betting apps drift after being drawn in stall 1, a significant disadvantage for the Derby Trial winner.
Confirmed Derby field and stalls
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Maltese Cross
Balzac
Item
Poker
Christmas Day
Alderman
A Taste of Glory
Pierre Bonnard
Bay Of Brilliance
Ancient Egypt
Action
Benvenuto Cellini
James J Braddock
Rebel Rocker
Epsom Oaks odds
Readers can find the best Epsom Oaks 2026 odds here.
The Oaks is an equally historic partner to The Derby, with a history dating back to 1779, and is the premier race for fillies, with previous winners including Soul Sister and Snowfall – both ridden by Frankie Dettori.
It was a 1-2 for Ballydoyle in 2025 when Minnie Hauk led home stablemate Whirl, and the Epsom Oaks odds suggest O’Brien could secure a 12th win in this race with Amelia Earhart, who won the Chesire Oaks earlier in the season.
Just nine go to post this year for the Oaks, John & Thady Gosden’s Legacy Link priced up as Amelia Earhart’s biggest threat, although her draw in stall 1 doesn’t help her chances.
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Precise was expected to be a serious challenger, but won’t run after 33mm of rain fell at Epsom in the build-up.
Epsom Oaks field and draw
Legacy Link
A La Prochaine
Sugar Island
Amelia Earhart
Thundering On
K Sarra
On Message
Venetian Lace
Cameo
When is the Epsom Derby?
The 2026 Epsom Derby takes place on Saturday, June 6, with the race due off at 16.00 BST.
The Epsom Oaks is held the day before, Friday, June 5, with the race scheduled to begin at 16.00 BST.
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The going on the Derby course at Epsom is currently described as Good, Good to Firm in Places, but the forecast suggests there could be a decent amount of rain in the days leading up to the race.
Epsom Derby Odds Explained
Customers can expect the best value Epsom Derby odds for betting on one of the most prestigious races in UK horse racing and part of the Triple Crown.
Our recommended betting sites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, ensuring that users have a safe and fair betting experience.
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Check regularly to find the best Epsom Derby 2026 odds, as well as Epsom Oaks betting odds, to ensure that you get value for money.
Bettors can also take advantage of free bets provided by UK betting sites for Derby betting and more.
Gamble responsibly
When having a bet, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.
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When using betting sites, be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you’re using betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.
Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses.
It’s particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution.
You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.
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You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during warmups before an NFL International Series game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
So long, Joaquin Davis. The Vikings say goodbye to the tall and speedy receiver in the name of welcoming two others to town.
GM Nolan Teasley has been in the Twin Cities for five minutes (roughly). He has nevertheless signed off on a couple of signings. The team’s official social media delivered the news: “The #Vikings have signed WR Michael Briscoe and WR Trayvon Rudolph. WR Joaquin Davis has been waived.”
The Vikings Say Goodbye to WR, Add 2 New Lads
Even when the roster swells to 91 players — the offseason limit, so long as one of the players is living within the international exemption slot — a roster functions as a one in, one out situation.
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Of course, the current move involves welcoming a pair of talents while subtracting just a single guy. What gives? Well, there was an unused roster spot. No longer. Moving on from Davis involved bumping the roster openings up to two, job opportunities that have since been filled.
Aug 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Joaquin Davis (80) pulls in the ball in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals bat Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In Briscoe, the Vikings brought a Seattle player to town. Or, at least, somebody who was there for a short time.
CBS Sports with an update that arrived on May 1st of 2026: “Briscoe ended his collegiate career with Cal Poly by reeling in 43 passes for 779 yards and seven touchdowns. He stands 6-foot-2 and has demonstrated good linear speed for a wideout. Briscoe is a longshot to make Seattle’s initial NFL roster but could be given a chance to develop on the practice squad.”
Something that’s quite notable is that the WR earned $125,000 in guaranteed money, per Over the Cap. That’s a nice payday for an undrafted talent. Being cut loose so early on is strange, but Teasley will have in-depth knowledge of what took place.
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Likewise, Rudolph has a connection to Seattle, getting a shot in the Emerald City before venturing to the Twin Cities. Unlike his undrafted counterpart, Rudolph secured modest guaranteed money: $0.
At Toledo in 2025, Rudolph caught the ball 39 times for 435 yards and 2 touchdowns. So, too, did he turn 3 carries into 7 yards. Do note, though, that his 2024 season featured much more promising rushing statistics, seeing his 14 carries turn into 179 yards (12.8 average) and 2 touchdowns.
Moreover, Rudolph has 80 college kickoff returns. Add it all together and he chewed through 1,814 yards for 2 scores. Crunching the numbers means seeing a 22.7 yards-per-return average. Specials, quite possibly, is the path forward here.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor celebrates with Justin Jefferson and quarterback J.J. McCarthy after a touchdown on Dec. 14, 2025, during a road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Nailor continued carving out a larger offensive role in Minnesota’s passing attack as McCarthy gained comfort directing Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
As things stand, the Vikings’ receiver position is loaded.
Trotting out a top trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings is the envy of almost every team in the league. Seeing these three reach their potential means running roughshod on almost every secondary in the league (so long as the QB and OL are competent).
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What remains to be seen is who will solidify the WR4, WR5, and possibly a WR6 spot. Tai Felton and Myles Price are the favorites given that they filled those jobs last year, but that’s no certainty. Quite possibly, Price is more secure in his roster spot than Felton since the 2025 UDFA has a clearer pathway to a role than the 3rd-Round pick.
The Vikings are soon to enter mandatory minicamp. Slowly but surely, the competition is increasing.
ONE flyweight Muay Thai contender, Shimon Yoshinari, just earned his spot on ONE Championship’s global roster. Now he wants to know who’s next.
Fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Johan Ghazali at ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29, the 21-year-old WBC Muay Thai World Champion wasted no time looking ahead.
Speaking to Nick Atkin after his performance at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, the EIWA Sports Gym product made his ambitions clear through his translator.
“Well, [anyone] within the rankings, he wants to just [face them].”
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
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The win over ‘Jojo’ was no easy task. The Malaysian-American striker arrived in Tokyo with serious credentials and a point to prove. Shimon withstood a second-round knockdown, fired back immediately, and found his best form in the championship round to take the decision.
But that statement-making win only made Shimon want more.
The flyweight Muay Thai division is stacked with elite names, and the young Japanese star wants to test himself against the best of them as soon as possible.
Watch the full interview:
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Shimon says he’ll only get better after joining the main roster
Capturing that life-changing six-figure contract has only motivated Shimon Yoshinari to keep getting better at his craft.
Joining the promotion’s main roster means facing more formidable challenges in the stacked ONE flyweight Muay Thai division.
It’s something he embraces wholeheartedly. After all, Shimon wants to follow the lead of his cousin, ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion Nadaka, and claim 26 pounds of gold himself.
“Okay, yeah, I’m very happy to get a contract, but this is only the beginning. It’s just the start, so he just needs to focus and get the work done, yeah,” Shimon told Nick Atkin in the same interview.
NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday stressed that Rishabh Pant does not need to change his natural style of batting but must play according to the demands of the match situation, echoing comments made a day earlier by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.Pant was removed as India’s Test vice-captain when the BCCI announced the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan last month. Speaking ahead of the match, which begins on Saturday in New Chandigarh, Gambhir said he continues to back the wicketkeeper-batter but expects him to judge situations better.“We don’t want Rishabh Pant to change but international cricket demands players to respect match situations,” Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference.His remarks came a day after Ten Doeschate spoke about Pant’s approach to batting and leadership.“With Rishabh’s brilliance, we don’t want to take away all the stuff that he does but occasionally if he can adjust his game to play the (match) situations slightly more, I think that’s something you’ll see him work on.”“I don’t think he needs a formal title to be a leader in an elite setup like this, and I think Rishabh understands that,” Ten Doeschate said on the decision to remove Pant as vice-captain.ALSO READ: For Rishabh Pant, a milestone 50th Test is another starting pointPant, 28, is set to play his 50th Test when India take on Afghanistan. In 49 Tests, he has scored 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91 and a strike rate of 74.24, including eight centuries and 18 half-centuries.The landmark match comes after a difficult period for Pant. He endured a poor IPL 2026 season both as batter and captain of Lucknow Super Giants and also lost the Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul.During the Test series against South Africa and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Pant’s attacking approach came under scrutiny at times.The Afghanistan Test now offers him an opportunity to return his focus to red-ball cricket and make an impact with the bat as India begin another Test assignment.
Riviera, the storied golf club in the heart of Los Angeles, is special — not only because it has hosted some of golf’s biggest tournaments (and stars) but also for reasons you might not have considered.
“Our property is down in the bottom of this canyon; it’s basically an old dry-wash riverbed,” Marshall Dick, the club’s superintendent. “Our general philosophy here is to nurture, enhance and perfect what wants to naturally grow within this canyon, because it’s a unique environment.”
And it all starts with one word: Kikuya, which is a rare grass that grows on the course’s fairways and rough. (The greens are Poa annua.)
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Dick said Kikuya is still considered a “noxious weed” in most parts of the country and you need special permitting to bring the seed into the U.S. But at Riviera?
“It’s our turf grass,” he said.
As for your next question: What is Kikuya? Assistant super Tyler Shuman explains:
“Kikuya kind of came in naturally. It grows here … and the climate has kinda embraced it, and so have we. It’s definitely a different beast,” he said. “Kikuya can be hardy, but it can be affected pretty easily too. Timing and the type of year will change things. When we have the PGA Tour event in February, it kind of wants to shut down and go to sleep with the cooler temperatures. In the summer months, it becomes more of a spongy, hardy material.”
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“It doesn’t look as thick as it is,” added Alexa Moncada, a senior agronomist on the Riviera staff. “You get your ball in there and you can be 200 yards out — you’re not getting a fairway wood out of there. It’s tough. People might even compare it to fescue. It’s thick, and your ball just kind of sinks. I don’t think it’s as challenging in the short cut, but the rough is tough — you can’t really get it out.”
For more on what it was like on-site with the Riviera team, how they manage their unique grass and to learn about the tech-infused GS3 ball they use to monitor their greens, check out the video above or below.
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Madelene Sagstrom was just a few minutes from finishing her first round at the U.S. Women’s Open when she had to pause, stand more erect, look at her caddie and take a deep breath.
It sounds like the perfect calming mechanism for handling the 6-foot par-saver that remained. Rather, this was her way of working through a pre-contraction, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions — discomforting cramps in the abdomen or pelvis that can happen during the third trimester of a pregnancy.
That’s right — Sagstrom is seven months pregnant and grinded through 18 holes at Riviera Country Club Thursday morning, slowing here and there during the moments when her baby boy felt like shifting around. And he’s been moving a lot lately, “rearranging his bedroom” last night while she was trying to sleep ahead of a 7:29 a.m. tee time.
“That was the first time I could really feel like he’s getting bigger,” Sagstrom said, just moments after summiting the hill behind Riviera’s 18th green.
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The 33-year-old is the 73rd-ranked player in the world and is, as you may guess, highly motivated. She would have every reason to take it easy but has found her golf to be a guiding purpose during pregnancy. Her husband, Jack Clarke, caddies on the PGA Tour and Sagstrom finds herself alone at home often.
“[Golf] gives me a reason to wake up in the morning,” she says. “To go to the golf course, to play. I’ve been playing well beating my friends at home, so I’m like why not try, you know?”
Why not try?
Only women could know. Every pregnancy is different. Sagstrom isn’t the first pro to compete while pregnant and she won’t be the last. But she may somehow be the most driven. Regardless of how this week goes, she’s playing next week, at the Dow Championship in Michigan. And she hasn’t ruled out the KPMG Women’s PGA at the end of the month, although she said Thursday’s round — her first time playing 18 this week — made her wonder if that’ll be possible.
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For pro golfers, even the tiniest changes can throw everything out of whack. (For all golfers!) They’d rather be robots than humans, slotting their body parts into repetitive motion and perfect positions. But what’s perfect or repetitive or predictable about pregnancy? As recent months passed, Sagstrom’s coach realized her spine angle had shifted four degrees forward, completely changing her angle of attack to the golf ball. Her arms grew tired swinging the same clubs she’s played for years, so she switched into a completely new set mid-tournament in New Jersey, adding more woods to the bag than before. She regrets not change sooner. She’s lost at least 5 mph of swing speed and more than 10 mph of ball speed.
“Unless you are pregnant yourself or have kids, you don’t realize how hard it is,” Sagstrom said. “And I don’t think I realized it either. I mean, beginning of the year — when I found out I was pregnant — I’m like, I’m gonna do this, this, this and this. And then it hits you hard.”
When she says this, Sagstrom smiles. In that way only hyper-competitive people do when they sniff a challenge.
“But it’s kind of fun to test the boundaries,” she said. “Like, what can I do? Can I actually figure this out?”
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Walk around with her group at Riviera and you hear spectators whisper.
Wow, seven months pregnant!
You see how she’s moving?
I can’t believe she’s doing this.
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Inside the ropes, at least between pre-contractions, she seems to forget about the message she’s sending to the world. Her husband walked all 18 holes, proud, concerned, impressed, and smiling. But fresh off signing for a six-over 77, Sagstrom said she was kinda “pissed off.” She noticed for the first time some restriction, right after impact and through the swing. Suddenly, she’s battling the occasional toe-hook. She couldn’t make a birdie putt, and is working through a weird mix of altered expectations. (When she holed out for eagle on the 3rd hole during Wednesday’s practice round, she said, “Why today? Why not tomorrow?”)
“At the same time, I don’t want to stop my life,” she said. “I like my life. I get to play Riviera for fun. Or not fun. Whatever you want to call it.”
Her first thought, after signing her scorecard, was to go practice. But then she would have had to walk back up the mountain of steps to Riv’s clubhouse. Lunch sounded better.
“But once I sit down,” she said with a laugh, “I’m going to struggle to get up.”
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