Fujikura’s new Ventus TR Blue with VeloCore+ launched on worldwide tours in mid-January, but it’s already found its way into the bag of PGA Tour pros.
Danny Walker and Kensei Hirata were some of the earliest adopters of the new shaft. More recently, Harry Hall and Rafael Campos added it to the bag. That doesn’t include the numerous players testing the new shaft (like Nicolai Hojgaard).
While it might seem quiet so far, Fujikura Tour rep Marshall Thompson says the new TR Blue is actually ahead of schedule compared to the rollout of the first Ventus shafts to get VeloCore+ two years ago. A lot of that had to do with timing.
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“It’s much better. It’s much more received,” Thompson told GOLF. “When we launched [the previous one] it was the middle of the year, the middle of July. A lot of guys aren’t really doing testing, and a lot of guys by July are already locked in for the year.”
This time, Fujikura launched the new shaft in January, right when pros were figuring out their bags with a deluge of new products from the OEMs.
That’s led to the quicker adoption, but there’s still probably more to come.
“These rollouts always take some time,” Thompson said. “There are shafts that I build up for certain players where I think it’s got a really good chance of going in, and then I don’t see it for five weeks. Then all of a sudden that player brings it out of the garage and says, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to actually take it to the course.’”
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Thompson pointed to the 2024 rollout of the first Ventus with VeloCore+ as appearing slow, but now dozens of players have the updated versions, including U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun and recent converts like Min Woo Lee and Tony Finau.
And while the name is the same as its predecessor, switching into the new version might not exactly be plug-and-play. Thompson said the Fuji team knew how good the original Ventus TR line was and wanted to improve it without straying too far.
By adding VeloCore+ to the shaft, the new TR Blue has an increased torsional stability (a resistance to twisting), which promotes stability throughout the shaft and center-face contact.
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Fujikura 2026 Ventus TR Blue Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
That additional stability meant engineers could reorient the Spread Tow fabric in the handle section of the shaft — the material that differentiates the Ventus and Ventus TR lines — to make the handle stiffer.
The result is a slightly stiffer handle with a slightly softer mid-section while retaining the same ultra-stiff tip. Thompson said they’ve noticed the tighter handle allows players to feel like they can go after the ball a bit more, while the softer mid creates a smoother feel throughout the swing.
That’s led to much tighter downrange dispersion for many players.
“When I can see 60 to 70 percent of players gaining and standard deviations getting tighter across the board, I know we’ve got a really good shaft,” Thompson said.
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In my own personal testing, my first experience with the new TR Blue+ was on a day when I couldn’t find the face to save my life with my OG TR Blue gamer. We switched to the new shaft and instantly the sound changed, and I was finding the middle of the face with ease. On a Foresight GC Quad, I recorded a shot exactly out of the middle of the face.
Thompson feels confident about the rollout, especially this season, where the new drivers from the OEMs are more competitive than ever. There’s still plenty of testing going on.
“Even on tour, these non-contract guys still have four or five headcovers in the bag and they’re trying different options,” he said. “And we’re already into the Florida swing.”
Morocco parted company with coach Walid Regragui on Thursday, three months before the World Cup, with the country’s football federation naming Mohamed Ouahbi as his replacement.
Regragui leaves despite having led the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 and to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year.
“I leave my post with loyalty, gratitude, and the certainty that I have served my country,” he declared during a ceremony broadcast live on television, confirming weeks of persistent rumours that he was on his way out.
Ouahbi, 49, is promoted to the role having overseen Morocco’s triumph at the Under-20 World Cup in October, with the federation describing the move as “a strategic transition” in the run-up to the World Cup in North America in June and July.
“It’s a desire not to waste time and to take a different direction,” a source close to the Moroccan Federation told AFP.
“By appointing Mohamed Ouahbi and welcoming top-tier reinforcements, we are raising our standards and our demands,” the source said.
Morocco will be in Group C at the World Cup along with five-time winners Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
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They begin their campaign against Brazil at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 13 and will be hoping to make a big impression at the tournament before co-hosting the 2030 edition with Spain and Portugal.
“Our ambition is to consolidate our place among the best nations in a sustainable way and to perform well from this summer, as well as in 2030,” the leader of the Moroccan federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, said recently.
Regragui was hailed in 2022 after Morocco became the first African nation in World Cup history to reach the semi-finals, beating Spain and Portugal along the way.
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However, Regragui likely paid the ultimate price for the manner in which Morocco lost the recent AFCON final to Senegal.
His team were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at the end of a match marred by the Senegal team’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest at the award of a controversial late penalty to the hosts.
The penalty award with the game goalless sparked trouble in the crowd involving Senegal fans, 18 of whom were jailed following the disruption.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz eventually took the penalty after a long delay but his kick was saved and Senegal went on to win the game.
South African flyweight MMA star ‘White Lion’ Willie van Rooyen says his next fight in ONE Championship will look completely different to his promotional debut.
Van Rooyen suffered a heartbreaking setback against Avazbek Kholmirzaev last November at ONE Fight Night 37 on Prime Video, losing via first-round submission to the Uzbekistani sensation.
Now that van Rooyen is ready to make his way back to the ONE Championship ring, the 23-year-old A-Team Stars representative wants to make a statement.
In a recent interview with ONE Championship, van Rooyen talked about getting his first-fight jitters out of the way and vows not to fold under the bright lights in his sophomore outing.
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Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
‘White Lion’ said:
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“Now that I fought my first fight, I know what it feels like. I know what skill level the fighters are on. It motivated me and helped me work even harder.”
Van Rooyen also reiterated his desire to win the world title in ONE Championship, and he’s ready to put on a show:
“I want to become the ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion, so I’m really excited to show you guys what [I have in store] for this fight.”
Willie van Rooyen takes on Jeremy Miado in a flyweight MMA duel at ONE Fight Night 41 on Prime Video
Both men are coming off defeats to Avazbek Kholmirzaev, and want to prove that they deserve another crack at the Uzbekistani.
The two lock horns at ONE Fight Night 41 on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Friday, March 13, from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Willie van Rooyen’s next fight.
AEW star Ricochet sent a bold message to Roman Reigns’s cousin on social media. The AEW National Champion stays in character 24/7 and has been a great heel on TV. Interestingly, he doesn’t break character on social media either, and often threatens fans and wrestlers alike when they annoy him. He recently sent a warning to Zilla Fatu.
The real-life Bloodline member and the One and Only have been feuding for a long time. In August 2025, Ricochet cost Zilla Fatu the HOG Crown Jewel Championship against Bully Ray. The duo has been engaged in a feud since then. Roman Reigns’ cousin has been under spotlight in the past few weeks.
Recently, Zilla Fatu took to X/Twitter to throw shade at Booker T, Ricochet, and Bully Ray. He added the name of CM Punk to his list of enemies as well, after The Second City Saint made an insensitive comment about Roman Reigns’ late father. The AEW National Champion noticed his tweet and responded that he will return to HOG just to beat Zilla’s a*s.
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“Brother, dont make me have to come back to MY company @HOGwrestling and beat yo a**,” Ricochet wrote.
@Zillafatu Brother, dont make me have to come back to MY company @HOGwrestling and beat yo a*s.
Veteran criticises Roman Reigns and CM Punk’s promo battle
The latest edition of RAW ended on a high note. This year’s WrestleMania main eventers engaged in a war of words for a second time. After an entertaining back-and-forth, The Second City Saint made it personal by bringing the OTC’s late father, Sika Anoa’i, into their rivalry.
“The last line for me felt very forced. Maybe I’ll take back the word forced, it felt like it didn’t belong. It didn’t match the rest of the verbiage of the promo. I’m going to bury you next to your father. Are we to believe that CM Punk is going to kill Roman Reigns?” Bully Ray questioned.
Check out his comments in the video below:
It will be interesting to see what The Tribal Chief’s response to CM Punk will be next week.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) lines up on offense at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the regular-season matchup played on Sep. 14, 2023, between the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Nailor surveys the defense as Minnesota prepares to run the next play. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Free agency is four days away, believe it or not, and according to ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings have two internal free agents on the Top 100 board this go-round: wide receiver Jalen Nailor and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
Nailor’s market looks lively, and Hargrave’s future feels unsettled as the Vikings prep for a busy free-agency week.
Hargrave hasn’t been officially released yet, but ESPN had no qualms rolling the dice on recent clues.
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Minnesota’s Two Biggest “Keep or Go” Cases before the Market Opens, per ESPN
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) stretches and warms up on the field before facing the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The preseason contest on Aug. 10, 2024, featured Nailor going through pregame drills as Minnesota prepared for kickoff during the team’s early August exhibition schedule. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Nailor = 58th-Best Free Agent per ESPN
ESPN’s Matt Bowen sized up the NFL’s Top 100 free agents, and Nailor was not excluded.
“What he brings: Nailor is more than willing to work the middle of the field, and he has the foot quickness to separate on out-breaking routes. With the ability to line up inside or outside, he has proved himself as a solid No. 3 option. He averaged 15.3 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns in 2025,” Bowen opined.
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Recent reports suggest that about a dozen teams are interested in Nailor next week, so his market might be robust.
Hargrave at No. 96
Then, Hargrave, who hasn’t been technically released yet, got the nod from Bowen at No. 96.
He wrote, “What he brings: With the Vikings expected to release Hargrave, the veteran defensive tackle just makes our list because of his ability to rush from the interior. He has 49 career sacks, including 3.5 this past season. Hargrave also had 18 pass rush wins in 2025, which tied for 23rd at his position.”
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San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (98) speaks with reporters during Super Bowl week media availability at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort. The press conference on Feb. 6, 2024, took place days before Super Bowl LVIII as Hargrave addressed questions while the 49ers prepared for the championship matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The Vikings will reportedly try to trade Hargrave — which likely won’t amount to anything — and release him if that plan flops.
All in all, Hargrave’s stop in Minnesota will have lasted one season.
Who’s Missing
In addition to Nailor and Hargrave, these are Minnesota’s internal free agents this cycle:
Ty Chandler (RB)
Fabian Moreau (CB)
Matt Nelson (LT)
Jeff Okudah (CB)
Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Jalen Redmond (IDL)
Bo Richter (EDGE)
Brett Rypien (QB)
Zavier Scott (RB)
Justin Skule (LT)
Ben Sims (TE)
Harrison Smith (S)
Taki Taimani (DT)
Tavierre Thomas (CB)
Carson Wentz (QB)
Eric Wilson (LB)
John Wolford (QB)
Ryan Wright (P)
Smith likely didn’t factor into ESPN’s calculation because it’s common knowledge that he will either retire or return to Minnesota for Year No. 15.
Otherwise, Wilson probably should’ve earned a nod on Bowen’s list. He was signed as a veteran backup, slated to provide depth and contribute on special teams. By December, however, the situation had drastically shifted. Wilson had become a vital component of the defense. Opponents even began tailoring their game plans to account for him, a testament to his unexpectedly significant role.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) celebrates during a road game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The NFC matchup on Dec. 21, 2025, featured Wilson reacting after a defensive play as Minnesota’s defense continued pushing for momentum during the late-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Wilson’s performance was statistically dominant, too. He consistently penetrated the line, disrupting plays in the backfield. Among linebackers, he led the league in sacks and pressures and ranked near the top in forced fumbles, showcasing an unforeseen level of aggression.
At 31, the man enjoyed a career year, amassing 115 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. This production was a stark contrast to the previous year, when he was primarily viewed as a reserve and special teams player; the 2025 season completely redefined his role.
Even as he approaches 32, Minnesota will strongly consider re-signing Wilson for another season or two. Throughout the year, he consistently delivered impactful plays and reliable tackles. Initially brought in to support Cashman and Pace, Wilson ultimately became one of the defense’s most dependable assets.
Vikings Continue to Clear Cap Space
In the backdrop, the Vikings continue to clear cap space for free agency next week. They began the offseason about $40 million underwater, needing to make tough decisions to get salary cap compliant.
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So far, reports have indicated that Minnesota will part ways with running back Aaron Jones — who oddly wasn’t mentioned by ESPN — in addition to defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and the aforementioned Hargrave. The older free-agent solutions from the last couple of offseasons did not stick around for long.
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota is operating without an official general manager. The franchise fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 30th after four years of lousy drafts and the fact that former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold proved he could reach and win the Super Bowl in Seattle.
Free agency’s “legal tampering” period begins Monday. The Vikings are expected to target help for the defensive secondary, perhaps a center, an off-ball linebacker (if Wilson isn’t re-signed), and maybe a running back to replace Jones.
Tottenham’s precarious Premier League plight worsened significantly after a calamitous period culminated in a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
The loss leaves the north London club staring down the barrel of relegation, having started the night just a single point above the bottom three following West Ham’s midweek victory over Fulham.
The match began with an early scare for Spurs when Ismaila Sarr had a goal disallowed for offside, but hope briefly flickered five minutes later as Dominic Solanke netted a 34th-minute opener.
However, any momentum was swiftly extinguished by a moment of inexplicable folly from stand-in captain Micky Van de Ven, whose blatant pull-back on Sarr inside the area earned him a straight red card.
Sarr calmly converted the resulting spot-kick, and the Eagles capitalised further during a chaotic end to the first half. Jorgen Strand Larsen added a second for Palace with a low effort, before Sarr grabbed his brace, leaving the home side shell-shocked and facing an uphill battle with 10 men.
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Van de Ven was sent off after pulling back Sarr
Manager Igor Tudor, who had controversially dropped big-money signings Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons for the visit of Palace, now faces intense scrutiny.
His tactical gamble failed to pay off, with Guglielmo Vicario forced into an early save from Adam Wharton within the first minute.
Debutant Souza was booked after just seven minutes for a poor tackle that saw Daniel Munoz limp off, setting a tense tone.
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Despite a snapshot from Mathys Tel in the 15th minute, Tottenham struggled to gain a foothold.
Palace thought they had scored just before the hour mark when Sarr raced onto Evann Guessand’s through ball, but a lengthy VAR check ruled it offside, prompting loud cheers from the home crowd.
These cheers soon turned to despair as Solanke’s opener, set up by Gray after a deflected Tel strike, was quickly overshadowed.
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Strand Larsen, left, celebrates his goal
Four minutes after taking the lead, Van de Ven’s red card and Sarr’s subsequent penalty completely shifted the dynamic.
Tudor introduced Gallagher and Yves Bissouma, but the changes couldn’t stem the tide. Wharton was instrumental in Palace’s late first-half surge, threading a pass to Strand Larsen, who fired past Vicario, and then delivering a clipped ball that Sarr poked in, exposing a static Tottenham defence and leaving Pedro Porro looking foolish.
Loud boos greeted the half-time whistle, but the 10 men of Spurs showed some resilience in the second half.
Kevin Danso was denied by Dean Henderson, and Gray had an effort blocked.
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Substitutions including Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Xavi failed to alter the scoreline, as Tottenham set an unwanted club record of 11 Premier League matches without a win, deepening the crisis for Tudor and the club.
Miami RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) reacts after hitting a jump shot over Ohio Bobcats guard Jesse Burris (21) in the second half of the NCAA basketball game at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
No. 19 Miami (Ohio) looks to continue its historic run when it visits archrival Ohio in a Mid-American Conference rematch to close out the regular season Friday night in Athens, Ohio.
The RedHawks (30-0, 17-0 MAC), the nation’s only unbeaten team, became just the 15th squad in Division I men’s basketball history to win its first 30 games of the season when they held off Toledo 74-72 on Tuesday in Oxford, Ohio.
Ohio (15-15, 9-8) has lost back-to-back games and is coming off a 94-82 setback at UMass on Tuesday in Amherst, Mass.
Miami entered the national spotlight this week after former Auburn coach-turned-TV analyst Bruce Pearl criticized the RedHawks for an undefeated record that he said was not worthy of the NCAA Tournament unless they capture the MAC tournament title in Cleveland next week.
Miami answered the criticism with a win over Toledo that clinched its conference-record 22nd regular-season MAC championship and its first in 21 years.
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“I like Bruce,” Miami coach Travis Steele said. “I do. Hey, Bruce is a great guy. I’m not calling Bruce and asking him for his opinion. I could care less what the heck he says. We control our own destiny. Let’s prepare the right way. Let’s focus on the right things.”
The two teams met on Feb. 13 at Miami, with the RedHawks pulling away in the second half for a 90-74 win. Five different RedHawks scored in double figures, led by Brant Byers with 21 points and Peter Suder with 20.
Suder had 19 in Tuesday’s win over the Rockets. Antwone Woolfolk added 14 points and six rebounds.
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“We gotta move on quick to Ohio,” Steele said. “We still got a lot of season left, but this is a big deal. This is awesome. I’m so happy for our guys. That was one of our goals that we had beginning the years when the regular-season title. Check.”
The RedHawks are aiming to become the first MAC team to finish the regular season unbeaten in both conference play and overall.
“I want to finish this season undefeated,” Steele added. “I want to win at Ohio. That’s a rivalry game. It’s a players’ game. Our guys are going to be excited to play. I know their guys will be excited to play as well. And then, can we go win the MAC tournament up in Cleveland? We want to leave absolutely no doubt, absolutely no doubt who the heck we are.”
In its last game, Ohio led 73-72 before UMass scored 11 straight and finished the game on a 22-9 run.
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Jackson Paveletzke, who had 22 against Miami in the first meeting, led the Bobcats against the Minutemen with 24 points and seven assists. Javan Simmons added 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had three assists. Kiir Kuany got his first career start, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Former India captain Anil Kumble opined that Sanju Samson combated the threat of Jofra Archer in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against England by looking to hit straight. Kumble added that Archer got his lengths wrong, which the Indian opener used to his advantage brilliantly.
Samson top-scored for the Men in Blue with 89 off 42 balls as India beat England by seven runs in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. Sent into bat, the defending champions posted 253-7 on the board and then held England to 246-7.
Samson had a tough time against Archer during the India-England home series in early 2025. The fast bowler dismissed the Indian batter thrice, overpowering him with pace and bounce. However, the opener was in complete control against Archer on Thursday, smashing him for boundaries with ease. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Kumble analyzed the Samson-Archer duel and commented:
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“I think the lengths that Archer bowled [was the difference]. It needs to be by the nose. Except for one ball, the line was wrong and then he [Samson] picked it up nicely for a six because the fine leg was up. But, what was really good about Samson was that he was looking to hit straight again.
“He played according to the merit of the ball and that’s how he exactly countered Jofra Archer. Because of the form that he is in, you could see the bat swing coming straight,” the former India leg-spinner added.
Samson struck eight fours and seven sixes in his stunning knock against England on Thursday. He was looking good for a hundred when he was caught at deep cover off Will Jacks’ bowling.
“One of the unbelievable knocks” – Faf du Plessis on Sanju Samson’s innings
Former South African captain Faf du Plessis praised Samson for not wasting his form and converting starts into impactful knocks. He described the keeper-batter’s innings against England in Mumbai as ‘unbelievable’. Du Plessis said:
“The worst thing you can do as a batter in form like that is lose your concentration and get a nice 20 and don’t play an impactful innings. He’s done that [got a big score] again in back-to-back innings. One of the unbelievable knocks.”
Before his scintillating 89 against England, Samson had scored 97* off 50 balls against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in India’s last Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Andre (Wolves): Yes, he gets a goal to win the game against Liverpool on Tuesday, but he’s an enforcer. He had to dig in a lot with the Liverpool pressure, especially in the first half. He did a great job for the team. On the odd occasion, he was able to get forward – and he drove forward with pace and purpose, and he managed to nick a goal. He has been a huge part of the Wolves revival.
Declan Rice (Arsenal): Need I say anything else? Rice is the man who is always in the right area. The ball always breaks to him. It looks like he is tiring, but then he manages to do a lung-busting run. It was an excellent performance from Rice against Brighton. He controlled and dictated the field.
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest): It was one of those performances that make you think he will probably be at Manchester City one day. The goal was a great hit, and he broke up play really well. He also manages to make 25 fouls a game, but never gets a card! I think he would be a good replacement for Rodri one day. If Manchester City cannot get Rodri back to the level he was fitness-wise, then they need Anderson next to him, or they move Rodri on and put Anderson in.
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace): He plays forward and he assists goals. What separates him from other players in the Premier League is he plays one or two touches, and he plays forward more than anyone that I can think of. He is not afraid of making mistakes. His pass for Jorgen Strand Larsen’s goal in the 3-1 win at Tottenham on Thursday was lovely. His take on the half-turn and the ball in for Ismaila Sarr was fantastic too. I wonder whether Palace can keep him moving forward?
WWE Superstar Gunther recently broke his on-screen heel persona to appreciate Cody Rhodes’ work ethic. The Ring General also mentioned why he didn’t want to be like The American Nightmare.
Since retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, Gunther has become one of the biggest heels in World Wrestling Entertainment. Many believe the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion could retire another legend this year, possibly Brock Lesnar.
Thanks for the submission!
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During a recent edition of Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Gunther mentioned that he wanted to get to a spot in WWE where he can elevate young stars like Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, and Ilja Dragunov.
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The Ring General then added that he liked his current role in the company and didn’t want to become a guy who is “at the very mountaintop” where everybody looks up to him.
“I like my role and how I do it. I don’t have it in me to be wanting to be the guy that is at the very mountaintop, and everybody looks up to him,” he said.
The former Imperium leader then broke his on-screen character to praise Cody Rhodes for his work ethic. He mentioned that he admired Rhodes and believed he wouldn’t be able to do as many media and fan interactions as The American Nightmare.
“I admire you [Cody Rhodes] sometimes for what you do, because I couldn’t. I would not be able to have that much fan interaction, to have that much media interaction, and all of that. And you do it really good. That’s not for me… I wanna be at the top, but in a different role and contribute that way,” he added.
Check out his interview below:
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Gunther opened up about losing to Jey Uso at WWE WrestleMania 41
During the same interview on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Gunther talked about tapping out to Jey Uso in his WWE World Heavyweight Championship loss at WrestleMania 41.
The Ring General said that he had no issues with tapping out to The Yeet Master, and he didn’t care if the fans saw it as a weakness.
“With Jey, at that moment, that’s the thing, I can swallow my pride. When it’s over, it’s over. I have no issue with that. If the audience views that as weakness, let them be. It’s alright,” Gunther said.
It remains to be seen what the Triple H-led creative team has planned for Gunther ahead of WWE WrestleMania 42.
Please credit Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling if you use quotes from the first half of this article.
Picking a favorite Masters tradition can feel a little bit like having to pick a favorite child.
Pimento cheese sammies? Par-3 Contest? Ball-skipping at 16? Grand rituals all! For the fourth estate, though, there’s a clear winner in the Masters Traditions Bracket Challenge: the media lottery during Masters week that affords a few lucky ink-stained wretches, photogs and creators of all ilk the chance to play Augusta National on the Monday after the Masters. Breakfast in the clubhouse. Real estate in the Champions Locker Room. Range session. Sunday pins. A triple at 12. Stories for a lifetime.
So, rest assured when an email from the Augusta National Communications office hit inboxes at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET Thursday — with “Press Lottery” in the subject line — the communiqué enjoyed a high open rate.
Then came the curve ball.
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“This April,” the note began, “in addition to our traditional media lottery to play Augusta National Golf Club on the Monday after the Masters, we are pleased to offer another lottery for an opportunity to play Augusta Municipal Golf Course.”
A lottery to play a muni might sound oxymoronic — but AMGC is no run-of-the-mill muni. If you’re a regular on this site, you’ll know that Augusta National has pumped millions into the beloved city property, known affectionately as the Patch. Designers Tom Fazio and Beau Welling oversaw a rerouting and sprucing-up of the course, and Tiger Woods contributed a nine-hole par-3 course. Among the other additions are a Trackman-equipped range, a putting course (coming soon!) and even a clever new logo that depicts a head of cabbage on a tee. “We are leaning into the nickname the Patch,” said Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
There’s also a new (and newly positioned) clubhouse.
According to the Patch’s slick new website: “The most significant decision came early in the project when the clubhouse was shifted from its old location at the south end of Daniel Field’s 5/23 runway to the highest point of the property. . . . From this new vantage point, the first tee of the golf course and clubhouse offer tremendous views of the property’s 150-foot elevation change, providing stunning views of the course.”
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Sounds kinda like another course in town, right?
That’s not to suggest anyone will mistake the new-look Patch for Augusta National, but, gosh, do they share some similarities, from wide playing corridors to pine-needle beds lining the holes to blindingly white bunker sand. Browse the course’s homepage and you’ll find another nod to ANGC: a Masters logo under “Project Partners.”
The course is set open to the public on April 15 but two days before that the press will descend for a sneak preview.
Fret not, fellow scribblers! According to the Thursday dispatch, “entering/winning the Patch lottery does not make you ineligible to enter/win the Augusta National lottery.”
