Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton blasted his first home run of Spring Training on Monday, taking Mets right-hander Rafael Montero deep in an 8-2 loss at Roger Dean Stadium.
Rivalries are the lifeblood of sports, and NASCAR sorely needs a few to spice up the action. Mrs. Harvick was upset that Dillon seemed to lose power in the waning laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where his decision to stay on the track caused a race-altering caution. Because Dillon didn’t pull off, NASCAR brought out the yellow flag and the field headed to pit road for a final stop.
With under 30 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Kawhi Leonard comes up with the clutch block on James Harden to help preserve victory for the Spurs over the Rockets.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The expansion Vegas Golden Knights have made their first player transaction, signing free-agent junior forward Reid Duke to a three-year contract.
Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course is beloved by PGA TOUR membership, arguably quietly so. If you ever wondered how much, all you need to do is review how many past champions commit to the Valspar Championship. It’s not that they have to, it’s because they want to. Thirteen of the 16 winners in tournament history are scheduled to tee it up this week, including two-time champions K.J. Choi and Retief Goosen. Indeed, it’s a fun, fair, stern test in Palm Harbor, Florida, (tucked between Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico) that doesn’t look like it belongs in the Sunshine State what with tight, tree-lined fairways and generous elevation changes. POWER RANKINGS: Valspar Championship Upside to last week’s WD (stomach ailment) is that it doesn’t impact his swing. Also rested in advance of third start at Copperhead. Solo fourth in 2015; T11 last year. T5 in Mexico ended a mini-slump. Leads TOUR in par-4 scoring and birdie-or-better percentage; also third in adjusted scoring. T10 (2015) and T18 (2016) at Copperhead. Outlasted in a playoff here last year. Led the field in par-4 scoring and ranked fifth in strokes gained: putting. Currently tops on TOUR in scrambling; fourth in adjusted scoring. Broke through for victory in debut here in 2011; T8 in 2014. Three top 10s in 2017 include T2 at PGA National two weeks ago. Ranks 13th in strokes gained: tee-to-green. His string of top 15s ended at PGA National, but he’s connected three in a row at Copperhead. Inside the top 25 in par-3, par-4 and par-5 scoring; 12th in adjusted scoring. Respective finishes of fifth and third in the last two editions are befitting of his proclivity for layouts that reward shot-shapers. Currently T17 on TOUR in par-5 scoring. On a sporty run with a T9 (WMPO), T17 (Genesis) and solo 10th (Honda) in last three starts. His ball-striking skill set applies to Copperhead well; T17-T8-T5 here since 2013. He’s 7-for-7 here since 2009 with an actual scoring average of 70.33 and three top 10s. Concluded West Coast Swing with a T4 at Riviera, ranking second in strokes gained: putting. Lost in a playoff here in 2015; T7 last year. It’s been six months since his last top 10 in a full-field event, but he also hasn’t missed a cut in nearly nine months (U.S. Open). Quintessential tee-to-green tactician hasn’t missed a cut in the last eight editions with top 25s in the last five. Also has top 25s in last three starts of 2017. Dismissed doubt over sore shoulder with a T16 at Chapultepec. Now back on Bermuda, he can get to unfinished business at Copperhead after a front-loaded T11 last year. Perfect in six trips with four top 15s since 2009. Three top 25s in 2017, including a T20 at the WGC-Mexico Championship where he ranked third in strokes gained: putting. Off since T4 at Riviera: led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green, co-led in par-5 scoring, fourth in proximity, second in scrambling. Four top 25s at Valspar since 2009. First appearance since 2013 (T56), curious since he loves tough tee-to-green tests. Sits 11th in total driving and leads the TOUR in GIR. Rested since a T4 at The Honda Classic. Making his tournament debut just as he did at Riviera (second in proximity; T2 in par-3 scoring) and PGA National (T2 in par-5 scoring) before finishing T4 at each. RANK PLAYER COMMENT You’ll find defending champion Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Russell Knox and other notables in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. As part of a renovation project in advance of last year’s Valspar Championship, Copperhead debuted Celebration Bermudagrass on its fairways and TifEagle Bermuda on the greens. With moderate to gusty winds contributing to the challenge, pound for pound the course was one of the most difficult of the season. With a scoring average of 72.618, it ranked as the hardest par 71 in a non-major in 2015-16. Its percentages of fairways hit (55.92) and greens in regulation (55.33) were all-time lows in the tournament. The field of 144 also averaged 39 feet, one inch, on approach, sixth-longest of the season, and converted only 23.35 percent of its chances to break par, slotting it the fourth-toughest. En route to his playoff victory over Bill Haas, Charl Schwartzel traded 18 birdies with 11 bogeys to post 7-under 277. He co-led the field in par-5 scoring (10 birdies, five pars, one bogey), which is a sneaky factor for success at Copperhead since it has a full slate of four par 5s despite its overall par. This is due to the fact that it has five par 3s, three of which on the inward par 35. (For more on this, see Tuesday’s Comfort Zone.) The last 1,135 yards of the 7,340-yard test comprise the Snake Pit plainly known as the par-4 16th, par-3 17th and par-4 18th holes. Collectively, they averaged 0.598 strokes over par, which is merely a three-year high. Schwartzel scored 1-over for the week on the closing set. It’s the classic stretch on which the tournament will be lost more than it will be won. The long-range weather forecast is favorable until Sunday when the threat for rain enters the picture. In the meantime, daytime highs in the upper 70s will be accompanied by passing clouds and gentler breezes than a year ago. ROB BOLTON’S WRITING SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Columnist Rob Bolton will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week’s event. Look for the following columns this week. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Comfort Zone, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Ownership Percentages in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf and One & Done presented by SERVPRO * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
For only the second time while winning 13 consecutive Big 12 titles, the Kansas Jayhawks have both Sports Betting News conference player and coach of the year in the same season.
Amid an offseason of potential upheaval, the Washington Redskins have made an investment in continuity by signing coach Jay Gruden to a multiyear contract extension. The team announced the extension after Gruden and other team officials returned from the NFL combine. The 50-year-old is the first coach to have his contract extended by Dan Snyder, who has owned the team for 18 years.
Amid an offseason of potential upheaval, the Washington Redskins have made an investment in continuity by signing coach Jay Gruden to a multiyear contract extension. The team announced the extension after Gruden and other team officials returned from the NFL combine. The 50-year-old is the first coach to have his contract extended by Dan Snyder, who has owned the team for 18 years.
The Buffalo Bills cut five players ahead of free agency, which begins Thursday. Among those released were kicker Dan Carpenter and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.
Winning NFL free agency often doesn’t translate into wins on the field. Check out the ”Dream Team” the Philadelphia Eagles put together in 2011. Chip Kelly led the Eagles to consecutive 10-win seasons after replacing Andy Reid in 2013.
