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Your swing doesn’t start where you think it does — and here’s why that matters

Published

4 hours ago

19 February 2026

Most golfers never think about where their swing actually begins.

They might focus on a single aspect of their takeaway like their hands, the club or their wrists — but Erika Larkin, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, says the real motion starts much higher up. And understanding the start of your swing is key to improving your low-point control and becoming a better ball-striker.

“The golf swing is a lot like a pendulum swinging motion,” Larkin says. “If you take a smaller motion, the pendulum is swinging with our arms and the club together really from a point higher in our body than a lot of people visualize.”

When you start your swing with your chest, Larkin says, everything moves together like one smooth, controlled pendulum. But if you start your swing further down, like with the handle, this can result in a wristy swing that makes it difficult to dial in your swing’s low point.

Create your pendulum

To create this pendulum, you first need to rethink how you approach the swing. Most amateurs picture the club or hands as the center of motion, which often leads to inconsistency. Instead, Larkin says to visualize the club as an extension of your sternum. This simple shift allows your arms, body and club to move together in unison.

Start small, Larkin says. Rather than try to incorporate this new feel into your full swing, begin with a shorter, controlled motion. Remember, the motion should originate from your sternum.

“Think about the extension of the club pointing up toward the mid-section, sternum area of your chest and body, and try to move the pendulum as if it’s swinging from that upper moment,” she says.

Once you feel the pendulum in smaller swings, gradually extend it into longer, full swings.

“As you grow it, it doesn’t really change. It’s still moving from that taller, top point in your body,” Larkin says. “It’s connecting your arms and the club movement, swinging around you from a very stable point.”

With your pendulum anchored at the sternum, your swing should become smoother, more connected and easier to repeat, which Larkin says will translate to better low-point control.

Think of it as one long, graceful pendulum: arms and club moving together from the chest, wrists hinging freely, hands relaxed. It’s a subtle shift in how you think about your swing, but one that can immediately improve timing, consistency and power.

Sometimes, swinging smarter really is that simple.

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Rory McIlroy criticizes Riviera’s controversial par-3: ‘Horrible change’

Published

9 minutes ago

19 February 2026

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At the most recent edition of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, in 2024, the brutish par-3 4th hole made the players squirm. For the week, the 230ish-yard hole played to a meaty stroke average of 3.204, making it the third hardest hole on the course. In the fourth round just 6 of 51 players hit the green in regulation, with many tee shots getting held up in the sticky kikuya grass fronting the green.

“Terrible” is how veteran pro Adam Schenk, after missing the cut by four, described the hole in a tweet in which he tagged tournament host Tiger Woods. “Tell them to grow poana [sic] short of 4 for the left 2/3 of green rewarding good shots & keep current grass short on right 1/3 of green.”

Two years later, the world’s best players are back at Riv (in 2025, the L.A. wildfires forced the tournament to relocate to Torrey Pines), and Schenk, who is not in the field this week, got half his wish. Changes have been made to the 4th hole — just not the kind of changes he’d lobbied for.

Instead of shortening or swapping out the grass to make the Redan-style green more accessible, the club has lengthened the hole by about 40 yards, meaning it can now play up to 270 yards, and repositioned the tee box well to the right of its original site. Riv said it made the changes to better align the hole with designer George Thomas’s original vision but the beefing up of an already stout test has raised the eyebrows of at least a few players, including world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who characterized the new-look 4th as a “horrible change.”

Asked to expound, McIlroy said, “Like 15 percent of the field hit the green last time when it was played at its original yardage at 230. If you want it to be a 275-yard par-3, you have to change the apron leading up onto the green. It can’t be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it onto the green because, again, in the right conditions, you try to fly that ball on the green with a 3-iron, it’s going to land — it’s going to finish up on the 5th tee box.”

The hole doesn’t have to play all stretched out, of course, and likely won’t on cool, damp days or when the wind is blowing in hard toward the players. As PGA Tour rules official Steve Rintoul told my colleague Jack Hirsh in 2024, “I suspect the players in the Genesis will see a bit of everything over the four days. However, the summertime events coming up at Riviera (Women’s U.S. Open, Olympics and the U.S. Open) will allow for firmer and warmer conditions where the ball played along the ground, chasing onto the green, will be more effective.”

Rintoul added, “As always we will evaluate the playability of the hole and gather player input on the design, but our usual strategy is to tip-toe into using major changes.”

viktor hovland and the 15th hole riviera — Riviera shut down Viktor Hovland’s sneaky shortcut. He’s not amused

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So far that input hasn’t been especially positive. Collin Morikawa, who won at Pebble Beach last week, said Wednesday was his first day playing the retooled 4th and even from pushed-up tees he still needed to hit a 3-wood. “Hit and hope, I guess,” he said. “It’s too soft, unfortunately, to have a lot of control to say, man, I’m going to play a tight 5-iron and run it up. I think a lot of us play it left to chip uphill, but with a 3-wood in hand, that cart path on the left honestly comes into play. … I think it’s just a very long par-3. There’s not a lot of thought to it other than just kind of hitting the green and moving on, unfortunately.”

Jordan Spieth also offered a less-than-ringing endorsement of the hole, telling Golf Channel’s Brentley Romaine, “It’s the only weak spot on the course.” Other players weighed in from afar. Graeme McDowell, who won a U.S. Open up the coast at Pebble Beach, isn’t in the field but filed this observation on X: “Few holes that you would like to lengthen on this great course, but this wouldn’t be my first choice. Obsession with total yardage can destroy individual great holes.”

Riv’s 4th is now the longest par-3 on Tour, edging out the 265-yard 11th at Puntacana Resort. Still, both of those holes are relative mites compared to the par-3 8th at Oakmont, which played 289 yards at the U.S. Open last summer and drew this dig from Viktor Hovland: “I just think all the best par-3s are under 200 [yards]. You can maybe have it just over 200, but as soon as you start to take head covers off on par-3s, I just think it gets a little silly.”

Head covers will most assuredly be coming off at Riv’s 4th this week. Defending U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun played the hole Wednesday with a 3-wood, feeding his shot in from the front right of the green. His ball released to about six feet from the hole from where he missed his birdie try but made a stress-free par.

Easy . . . right?

“It’s Wednesday,” Spaun said after his round. “It didn’t matter really today.”

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Thala for a reason? Shivam Dube credits ‘Mahi bhai’ after match-winning performance against the Netherlands | Cricket News

Published

23 minutes ago

19 February 2026

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Thala for a reason? Shivam Dube credits 'Mahi bhai' after match-winning performance against the Netherlands

Shivam Dube said guidance from former India captain MS Dhoni helped shape his batting approach after he played a match-winning 67-run knock in the last group-stage match of the T20 World Cup against Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.Dube said he had struggled against pace bowling early in his career, but advice from Dhoni on strike rotation and controlled intent helped him improve in pressure situations.

T20 World Cup | Shivam Dube press conference after India beat Netherlands

“When I first came into the IPL, I struggled against fast bowlers and wasn’t striking the ball cleanly. I realised that if I want to dominate at this level and I have the power, I needed to work on that aspect. I put in significant effort during the off-season. Mahi bhai told me that it’s not necessary to hit sixes every time. Boundaries and strike rotation are equally important.“That clarity has helped me. If I get a good ball, I look for a boundary or rotate strike. In the death overs, I will naturally go harder, but early in the innings, my focus is on smart intent,” Dube told Jio Hotstar, as cited by news agency IANS.Speaking about pressure situations, Dube said his focus is on batting according to the match scenario and staying till the end if required.“I don’t feel pressure; I focus on the situation. If wickets fall, my responsibility is to bat deep. If I stay till the end, I know I can add 10–15 crucial runs in the final over. I avoid taking unnecessary risks in the middle overs. If the situation demands stability, I rotate strike. If the platform is set, I’m ready to attack from the first ball,” he said.Dube walked in to bat when India were 69 for 3 after nine overs and stabilised the innings with a 66-run knock off 31 balls.He also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets for 35 runs in three overs. For his all-round performance, he was named player of the match.

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Canada coach Jon Cooper: Sidney Crosby not ruled out of Olympics

Published

36 minutes ago

19 February 2026

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Coach Jon Cooper told reporters Thursday that the Canadian men’s hockey team’s captain has not been ruled out for the tournament after suffering a lower-body injury in Wednesday’s Olympic quarterfinal against Czechia.

Crosby was scheduled to have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury he suffered, Elliotte Friedman reported on the CBC Olympics broadcast on Wednesday.

Crosby hobbled off the ice in the second period after he was crunched along the boards in the neutral zone by Czech defenceman Radko Gudas at centre ice and took another awkward hit along the boards later in the same shift.

After chatting with a team doctor on the bench, Crosby made his way down the tunnel toward the dressing room with an apparent limp.

Crosby, the 2010 Olympic hero, had enjoyed a strong round-robin in Milan with two goals and four assists in three games.

Cooper also said defenceman Josh Morrissey, who has missed the past three games, has not been ruled out.

Meanwhile, forward Sam Bennett told reporters he was battling an illness. He did not play in the quarterfinal, but says he’ll be good to go for the games ahead.

Canada will face Finland in a semifinal on Friday (10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT, CBC Gem, Sportsnet+).

The bronze-medal game is Saturday and the gold-medal game is Sunday.

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VIkings Social Justice Committee Makes Huge $500,000 Donation

Published

49 minutes ago

19 February 2026

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can grab momentum — Aug 3, 2023; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and team owner Ziggy Wilf talk at training camp at TCO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings’ Social Justice Committee knows how to endear itself to the Twin Cities communities.

We at PurpleTerritory also know what it’s like to connect with the Twin Cities communities. But the Vikings and their Social Justice Committee have taken it… let’s say… multiple steps further.

In 2025, the Vikings donated a total of a half million, yes, you heard correctly, $500,000, to a total of 18 charities across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other central Minnesota communities to make sure that people of any color in the Twin Cities region have equal access to all sorts of mental health, physical work, and required living resources.

Zygi Wilf watches warmups before a Vikings game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. — Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf surveys pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium, where Sep 14, 2025 brought a home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons as he observed preparations from the sideline in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

So, which charities are receiving a donation? And how will this benefit said charities? Let’s highlight a few examples.

Minnesota Vikings Social Justice Committee Makes Huge $500,000 Donation to Charities

One notable topic that has come to light in recent years is the concept of mental health.

As Founder and Executive Director of the Invisible Wounds Project Russ Hanes told Vikings.com, “Mental Health has a stigma in and of itself. And then when you tie in the other factor —– that our people work in careers where sometimes and in some departments, agencies and units it’s not accepted well —– and they really need a safe space to go. It’s not a one-and-done: ‘Here’s a couple bucks; here’s a gift card. Thanks for your service. See you later.’ It really becomes a family, and the family continues to grow and support each other.

We really focus on providing that safe, healthy, positive atmosphere where people can be themselves, learn from each other, help each other and just foster that growth in a way you can’t without a physical space or presence.”

Now, not only does the Invisible Wounds Project align with the Social Justice Committee’s ideals, but it also provides additional resources, such as suicide prevention classes.

A Vikings Player Speaks Up on the Social Justice Committee and Highlights His Charity

This charity was highlighted by outside linebacker Bo Richter. As Richter noted, “It’s absolutely amazing to have these people here fulfilling the need. They explained to us how they provide this sense of community along with the necessary resources… and that community piece [is really unique].”

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter (98) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Thanks to their efforts, Invisible Wounds received a $30,000 donation.

Social Justice Committee and Praise of the Owners

Headed by the owners and brothers Zygi, Mark, and Leonard Wilf, the Vikings have made over $9.5 million in donations to social justice initiatives since the 2018 season. In 2025, the causes the donations supported included mental health, inclusion, food insecurity, and equal access to education, to name a few.

Other Charities & Player Ties

Speaking about food insecurity, running back Zavier Scott enjoyed teaming up with the squad’s Social Justice Committee for his partnership at a local food charity.

“I love the fact we can help out,” he said. “It’s not easy what a lot of people are going through, and we want to lighten the load any way we can.”

After working with food bank Loaves & Fishes to help provide meals, Scott also quipped, “It’s special any time you can sit down and just talk to someone. I think there’s something special about those slower moments. Every person matters. Every individual matters, no matter what their background is, no matter where they’re at in life. Everybody is valued, and I feel that’s a way of showing and honoring that. I like to connect, hear their story and give them some love.”

Vikings helmet at the Detroit Lions on November 2nd, 2025. — Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

As a result, Fishes & Loaves received a $25,000 special contribution to their charity.

Other charities receiving donations through the Vikings Social Justice Committee in 2025 were Project Success, the Jeremiah Program, the Khyree Jackson Foundation, Black Men Teach, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Elevate Youth Elite Sports, Raise the Barr, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity —– Advancing Black Ownership Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, Gigi’s Playhouse, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota & the Dakotas, the Great North Innocence Project, Page Innocence Foundation, Shout Out Loud MN, Acres for Life, and Sharing and Caring Hands.

So, the Vikings Social Justice Committee is among the best in the NFL when it comes to charity work. And the owners are receiving high praise for their connections to the Twin Cities communities. It’s something to be very proud of as a Vikings fan.

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2026 Genesis Invitational Thursday TV coverage: Round 1

Published

59 minutes ago

19 February 2026

NewsAdmin

The 2026 Genesis Invitational gets underway Thursday with the first round at R i viera CC. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Thursday, including full Genesis Invitational TV coverage, streaming details and Round 1 tee times.

How to watch Genesis Invitational on Thursday

If Rory McIlroy has any hope of catching up to World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in the Official World Golf Ranking, he needs to start piling up big PGA Tour wins.

And this week presents exactly that opportunity for the World No. 2 and five-time major champion. McIlroy is making is second Tour start of the season at this week’s Genesis Invitational. And as with the tournament he played last week, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Genesis is a Signature Event with a $20 million purse.

The Genesis is played at an iconic golf course (Riviera) and it has an legendary host in the form of Tiger Woods, who spoke to the media on Tuesday. That’s exactly the kind of tournament that McIlroy has said he wants to win as his career goes forward.

And the action gets started on Thursday with the opening round in L.A.

You can watch the first round of the Genesis Invitational on TV via Golf Channel beginning at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage starting Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the first round of the 2026 Genesis Invitational.

Get ESPN+

With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.

How to watch on TV Thursday

Golf Channel will provide first-round TV coverage of the 2026 Genesis Invitational on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. ET.

How to stream online Thursday

You can stream the first round of the 2026 Genesis Invitational via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting at 10:15 a.m. ET on Thursday in addition to featured group and hole coverage.

2026 Genesis Invitational Round 1 tee times (ET)

Tee No. 1

10:15 a.m. – Sami Valimaki, J.T. Poston, Rico Hoey
10:27 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Nico Echavarria, Jake Knapp
10:39 a.m. – Matt McCarty, Jhonattan Vegas, Taylor Pendrith
10:51 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Bud Cauley, Matti Schmid
11:03 a.m. – Sahith Theegala, Michael Kim, Pierceson Coody
11:15 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns
11:27 a.m. – Maverick McNealy, Akshay Bhatia, Jacob Bridgeman
11:39 a.m. – Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry
11:56 a.m. – J.J. Spaun, Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama
12:08 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy
12:20 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Adam Scott, Patrick Rodgers
12:32 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Max Homa, Denny McCarthy
12:44 p.m. – Aldrich Potgieter, Ryan Fox, Sam Stevens
12:56 p.m. – Tom Kim, Rickie Fowler, Max Greyserman
1:08 p.m. – Lucas Glover, Tony Finau, Max McGreevy
1:20 p.m. – Garrick Higgo, Aaron Rai, Matt Fitzpatrick
1:37 p.m. – Jason Day, Alex Noren, Ryo Hisatsune
1:49 p.m. – Andrew Novak, Brian Harman, Nick Taylor
2:01 p.m. – Russell Henley, Harris English, Corey Conners
2:13 p.m. – Sepp Straka, Harry Hall, Patrick Cantlay
2:25 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre
2:37 p.m. – Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim
2:49 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger
3:01 p.m. – Brian Campbell, Wyndham Clark, Marco Penge

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Man United learn Elliot Anderson price tag as Nottingham Forest agreement reached

Published

1 hour ago

19 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is reportedly on Manchester United’s radar, and this former Premier League ace believes he’ll fetch a hefty transfer sum

Former England coach Joleon Lescott thinks Manchester United will have to shell out £100million to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer. United and a number of rival clubs have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old.

Since leaving his boyhood Newcastle United for Forest, Anderson has been a revelation. He has played his way into the England frame and is one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young players.

It has long been reported that United want a new superstar midfielder in the summer. Anderson’s name has been floated around alongside the likes of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Casemiro will leave a gaping hole in the middle of the park when he leaves at the end of this campaign.

Ex-Manchester City defender Lescott worked alongside Anderson with England’s Under-21s and has a figure in mind should the youngster leave this summer. He also agreed with a peer as to whether Anderson’s Forest will survive the drop this season.

You can listen to brand new episodes of In The Mixer on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Lescott and a guest on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, were asked who they foresee being relegated this season alongside the current 19th- and 20th-place teams, Burnley and Wolves.

Both agreed on one side, and Lescott said: “I think Forest. I think West Ham get out of it.” The discussion then turned to Forest star Anderson, with Lescott adding: “He’s a £100million player, isn’t he? Especially after he plays at the World Cup.

“You’re not going to sell him before, are you? You’re going to sell him after the World Cup. [If Forest go down] they have to sell. But then there are more teams interested.

“They go down, more teams come in. Because if he’s in the Premier League, it’s, ‘He’s not leaving unless it’s £100m.’ Then there are only two or three teams.”

Having made his debut last year under Thomas Tuchel, Anderson admits he has hopes of being included in the manager’s World Cup squad. He told Sky Sports: “My dream was to play for Newcastle because I never expected to play for England but it tops everything off.

“First, I’m selected and I’m over the moon to be there, training with great players. But you want to make an impression, show the team that I am a good player. When I found out I was playing it was such a big moment.

“It’s my dream playing for England and playing with the best players brings out the best in me. England’s aim now is to win the trophies. It sounds good, doesn’t it?

“There’s a long way to go to get to the World Cup. I have to treat every game until then as a World Cup final and then hopefully I can get to one. I can’t wait. If I’m there I’ll have all of my family with me. It’s really exciting, to be honest. Very exciting.”

ALEX MONEYPENNY EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: Subscribe now to be the first to watch the latest episodes of In The Mixer and other original shows, brought to you by Sky Bet. Watch All Out Football’s episode with Alex Moneypenny here.

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No days off: Ishmael Davis aims for the top ahead of Bilal Fawaz defence

Published

1 hour ago

19 February 2026

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The phrase: ‘There’s no rest for the wicked’ will always ring true for certain fighters, not least British and Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Ishmael Davis.

It was only last September that Davis suffered his third defeat on the bounce, losing a contentious split decision to Caoimhin Agyarko on away soil.

The following month, though, ‘The Black Panther’ ended his win drought in a six-round tick-over fight, before claiming a unanimous decision victory over Sam Gilley in November.

Now gearing up to defend his domestic titles against Bilal Fawaz – featuring on the undercard of Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington this Saturday – Davis has hardly afforded himself a moment to breathe.

Speaking with Boxing News, the Yorkshireman revealed exactly how much time he was given to rest and recover over Christmas.

“I had four days; four days until Christmas. But it was good, man. All the kids were happy.
“Being a dad [of seven] while you’re an athlete is hard, because you’re always training. And I’m proper busy, always taking fights, so it’s hard, but I spend as much time with them [his kids] as I can.”

Indeed, Davis always seems to be taking fights; and in the wake of his loss to Agyarko, the 30-year-old felt as if he had no option but to jump back on the horse.

And while such a quick turnaround would usually present more problems than benefits, Davis insists that his ability to recover between fights is almost superhuman.

“I’m ‘The Black Panther’, man. I’m a young, strong man; I’ve still got age on my side.
“After the Caoimhin fight, I had a dip in emotions because I knew I won and got robbed, so I told myself to get straight back to training.
“Sometimes you’ve got to make sacrifices, and that’s what I did. One thing I always say to myself is: ‘at the end of the day, that day’s got to end.’ You’ve got to keep going; life goes on.”

Having previously lost to Serhii Bohachuk and Josh Kelly – both on short notice – Davis is eager to properly test himself at world level, this time with the luxury of a full training camp.

First, he must take care of business against English champion Fawaz, a fighter he has been preparing for by sharing rounds with standout amateur John Joe Carrigan.

“I know I belong [at world level] but I know there’s still a lot of work to do, because I’m still learning.
“I’ve been sparring John Joe [Carrigan], who’s a seriously talented kid. He’s a tough battle but I keep going back, keep sparring him, because he’s so skilled.
“I’m not stupid – I understand that, to be better, you’ve got to get better opponents and better sparring partners.”

With Kelly claiming his IBF world title last month, dethroning dangerous puncher Bakhram Murtazaliev, Davis hopes that a rematch will materialise in the not too distant future.

“I didn’t know him before we fought but he’s Josh Kelly – he’s flashy – so I was thinking to myself, ‘I need to beat this guy.’
“But then I’ve gone and sparred him, have had a chat with him, and he’s gone through similar things that I’ve gone through.
“So he’s an all right guy, but he’s in my weight [division] and has beaten me before, so I need to get my revenge.
“He boxed well [against Murtazaliev]. Everyone wants to see you stand and bang, but Josh Kelly can’t stand and bang with that guy. I wouldn’t even stand and bang with him. Well, I probably would, but I’m different.”

Davis suffered a majority decision defeat to Kelly in 2024 but, in the final round, was able to hurt his man with a ferocious onslaught.

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Canada’s Team Jacobs to face Norway in Olympic men’s curling semifinal

Published

2 hours ago

19 February 2026

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We finally know the four countries that will be competing for gold on the men’s side at the Winter Olympics.

Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs fell to Norway’s Team Magnus Ramsfjell 8-6 on Thursday in what was a win-and–in game for the Norwegians to reach the semifinals. With the loss, the Canadian rink finished the 10-team round-robin at 7-2.

Canada, which was locked into second, will again face Norway in the semis on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET / 10:05 a.m. PT (CBC Gem, Sportsnet+).

Entering the final draw on Thursday morning, there were many different playoff scenarios to figure out who the top four teams were going to be with only Canada and Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller qualified.

Four teams, including world No. 1 ranked Great Britain’s Team-Bruce Mouat, which was idle, were gunning for the final two spots. Italy, Norway and the idle U.S. also were in the hunt.

Italy’s 9-5 loss to Switzerland sealed the final spot for Mouat, who will battle the Swiss in the other semi at the same time as the Canada-Norway game.

The first five ends for the Norwegians couldn’t have gone any better as they cruised to a 7-2 lead after Ramsfjell made timely hits to score big ends and limit Canada.

In the second half, things changed as the Norwegians played very sloppy sixth and seventh ends with poor strategic decisions to let Canada score four and make the game 7-6.

However, Norway held on to just barely edge the Canadians.

Canadian spare Tyler Tardi played the full game to keep Ben Hebert, 42, who has been giving it his all on the sweeping front, rested for the semifinal.

In the other game of importance, Italy’s Team Joel Retornaz needed to beat Switzerland to earn its playoff spot, but a massive three-ender in the seventh end by the Swiss ruined any chance the host country had.

Semifinal winners go to the gold-medal game on Saturday and the losers will face off for bronze on Friday.

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ATP roundup: Carlos Alcaraz charges into Doha quarterfinals

Published

2 hours ago

19 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Jan 30, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semifinals of the menís singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz ushered himself into the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-set romp against France’s Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 16 Wednesday in Doha.

Alcaraz had a clean first set, saving the two break points he faced while breaking Royer twice. Royer jumped ahead 5-2 in the second set, but Alcaraz won 21 of the final 27 points of the match to storm back and seal the win.

Second-seeded Jannik Sinner also advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The Italian has yet to face a break point in his two matches. Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev fell to Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the lone upset of the day.

Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils advanced as well, with all but Khachanov winning in straight sets.

Delray Beach Open

Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong upset seventh-seeded American Brandon Nakashima in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the round of 16 at Delray Beach, Fla.

Wong was lights out on his first serve, converting 32 of 38 shots (84 percent) and only dropping his serve once. Wong will face off against third-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals after the Italian took down France’s Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4.

Norway’s second-seeded Caper Rudd fought back to oust American Marcos Giron 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. Rudd rattlted home 20 aces and saved all three break points he faced after dropping the first set. In an All-American tilt, Sebastian Korda took down Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (6) as Korda converted four of his 13 break-point opportunities.

Rio Open

Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante upset fellow countryman and top-seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 3-1 after Cerundolo retired in the middle of the second set due to a back injury during the round of 16 in Rio de Janeiro.

Tirante was dominating with seven aces and breaking three times before Cerundolo was forced to pull out of the match. Tirante will face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who battled back to take down Italian Francesco Passaro 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

Juan Manuel Cerundolo, older brother of Francisco, defeated Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, while Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva took down Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to also advance to the quarterfinals.

–Field Level Media

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Sports

Champions League: Gordon scores four goals as Newcastle crush Qarabag

Published

2 hours ago

19 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Anthony Gordon scored four goals in the first half as dominant Newcastle ran riot in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 play-off tie against Qarabag in Azerbaijan (6-1).