Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo will not return to Wednesday night’s home game against the Clippers due to a right ankle sprain. Antetokounmpo was hurt in the second quarter.
Penguins star Sidney Crosby scored a wild off-the-ice goal on Wednesday night against Montreal.
AUSTIN, Texas — There are always shocks at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play but some are bigger than others. Last year Dustin Johnson never trailed in any of his seven matches on the way to the title, but on Wednesday at Austin Country Club, the no.1 seed was nine-over against Austrian 52nd seed Berndt Wiesberger. Amazingly, despite his struggles, he made it through 17 holes before falling 3 and 1. “I thought it was the easiest game I could have. I’m the underdog playing with the defending champion, so just try to go out there and see what happens,â€� Wiesberger said of his win. “He gave away a couple of holes quite unexpectedly. But you’ve still got to make the par when your opponent makes the bogey.â€� Last start winner at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 2015 champion Rory McIlroy found himself 5-down to Peter Uihlein through just 10 holes. Not even five birdies in a row down the stretch was enough for what would have been an impressive comeback. The American 57th seed prevailed 2 and 1. “I didn’t really have much expectations,â€� Uihlein said. “It was going to go (one of) two ways, I was going to get crushed early or I felt like I could get him early, because he may be a hair flatter than usual.â€� Julian Suri joked pre-tournament that he would “shock the worldâ€� and the last man in and 64th seed started on his promise with a 3 and 2 win over 11th seed Marc Leishman. “I like to think I play my best with a little chip on my shoulder,â€� Jacksonville native Suri said. “A lot of people are saying congrats on being in the field. I don’t think in any other tournament they would say congrats on being in the field. I wanted to be here and do more than take pictures.â€� Phil Mickelson (14) lost to Charles Howell III (59), Tommy Fleetwood (9) fell to Ian Poulter (58) and then Jon Rahm (3), Pat Perez (15) and Matt Kuchar (16) could only manage halves against Keegan Bradley (63), Si Woo Kim (50) and Zach Johnson (54). On the day where the top seeds play the lowest seed in each bracket, just eight of the favorites were victorious. But all hope is not lost for those big names. While moving on to the weekend will be tough – it is not impossible. Eight players in the three previous years of the round robin format have indeed made the elimination rounds after a first up loss. Dustin Johnson was one of them in 2016. “Forget it, go on to tomorrow,â€� McIlroy said of his predicament. “Obviously it’s out of my control now so I’ve just got to win my next two matches and hopefully the draw works in my favor.â€� BEST COMEBACK Zach Johnson sat 4-down with four holes to play against fellow veteran Matt Kuchar before rattling off four straight birdies to force a halved match. The match featured 16 total birdies and just three bogeys in an old-fashioned shootout. BEST MATCH While the above match could have easily qualified here – the battle between young PGA TOUR winners Cameron Smith and Patrick Cantlay was a tense one. Barely a word was spoken and putts as short as a foot were not conceded. Smith holed out for birdie on the par-3 7th from a bunker to set up a three-hole advantage at the turn before they each traded birdies on four of the next five holes in a you score, I score scenario. Under pressure Cantlay then delivered back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 to pull within one. Smith finally closed it out on the 18th hole 2up with a clutch par. Get recaps on all 32 matches here. BIGGEST UPSET The defending champion and No.1 seed Dustin Johnson playing 17 holes in 9-over par to lose to Bernd Wiesberger wasn’t on the prediction list of many. Johnson can lose his spot as world No.1 this week if Justin Thomas wins the event. Honorable mentions to Peter Uihlein and Julian Suri for taking out Rory McIlroy and Marc Leishman respectively. MOST DOMINANT PERFORMANCE Bubba Watson had seven birdies in his opening nine holes on the way to a 5 and 3 win over South African Branden Grace. Watson made 139 feet, 10 inches worth of putts in just 15 holes. Incredible. EASIEST HOLE WON Two-time event champion Jason Day won the par-4 13th hole against James Hahn hitting just one shot. Day attempted to drive the green but missed to the right in the rough. But Hahn hit two tee balls in the water before just walking to the next hole. Day won 4 and 2. MOST HOLES WON Wiesberger and Kevin Chappell each won eight holes in their wins over Dustin Johnson and Daniel Berger respectively. LEAST HOLES WON Kevin Na, Alexander Levy and James Hahn were only able to win one hole each in opening day losses to Alex Noren, Tyrrell Hatton and Jason Day. MADNESS MOMENT Luke List was already facing a tough ask to beat FedExCup leader Justin Thomas but a moment of madness where he banged his putter against a wall and bent it on the eighth hole meant he had to try to overturn a three-hole deficit while putting with a wedge. He almost did – taking the match to the 18th hole. Read more here. MADNESS MOMENT 2 We often see players take off their shoes for shots out of or near water hazards, but Sergio Garcia went barefoot for a shot from dry land. The newly crowned father found the cart path with his drive on the par-5 12th and preferred the concrete lie to his nearby options. However, with metal spikes he needed to ensure he wouldn’t slip and blasted away barefoot to set up a birdie.
AUSTIN, Texas — With Day 1 in the books at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, a number of matches take on extra significance tomorrow as players look to get in position for the Round of 16, or keep their match play hopes alive at Austin Country Club. Here’s a look at five matches to watch on Thursday. DUSTIN JOHNSON, USA (0-1-0) vs. ADAM HADWIN, Canada (0-0-1) The good news for defending champion Dustin Johnson is that the top-seed has advanced to the Round of 16 every year since the event added a group stage in 2015. The bad news is just eight players have managed to book their spot in the knockout stage after losing their opening match. Bottom line, Johnson is going to need a win on Thursday against Adam Hadwin and some results to go his way in the other matches to have a shot at advancing out of the group. The last time Johnson failed to advance was in 2015. Despite going 9-over in his first 11 holes, Johnson managed to keep things interesting, taking Wiesberger to the 17th hole before losing, 3 and 1. The loss snapped a string of seven consecutive wins dating back to his Round 1 victory last year over Webb Simpson. Adam Hadwin finds himself in a better position following his halved match against Kevin Kisner. Hadwin has Presidents Cup experience, but it would have to be categorized as an upset if he finds a way to end Johnson’s week with another defeat in Austin. RORY McILROY, Northern Ireland (0-1-0) vs. JHONATTAN VEGAS, Venezuela (0-0-1) In a similar spot as Dustin Johnson, McIlroy needs to get something out of his match against Jhonattan Vegas to make Friday interesting. Failing to do so would put him in danger of missing out on the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year after advancing to at least the semifinals in 2015 and 2016. “Obviously it’s out of my control now,” McIlroy said, after dropping his match against Peter Uihlein. “So I’ve just got to win my next two matches and hopefully the draw works in my favor.” Vegas will have some momentum on his side, earning a half-point against Brian Harman with a birdie on the 18th hole. He’s now picked up at least a half-point in his last three matches since making his debut last year. JON RAHM, Spain (0-0-1) vs. CHEZ REAVIE, USA (0-1-0) The battle between fellow Arizona State alums doesn’t have must-win implications for Rahm, who managed to secure a half-point against Keegan Bradley with a par on the last. Regardless, Rahm will need to get the best of his good friend to improve his chances of finding the Round of 16 for the second year in a row. Making his match play debut, Reavie has the opportunity to play the role of aggressor as the underdog in the match. You can bet bragging rights will be on the line. ALEX NOREN, Sweden (1-0-0) vs. THOMAS PIETERS, Belgium (0-1-0) Noren has quietly put together a strong match play resume since last year’s run to the quarterfinals and looks to be a strong candidate to make the 2018 European Ryder Cup team. He’ll have the opportunity to take on a former Ryder Cupper in Pieters in what should be an intriguing match. Pieters is trying to avoid missing out on the Round of 16 for the third straight year. He dropped his opening match on Wednesday, falling to another big hitter in Tony Finau. Interestingly, Pieters has never won his second match of the group stage, which doesn’t bode well for his chances against an in-form Noren. JORDAN SPIETH, USA (1-0-0) vs. HAOTONG LI, China (0-1-0) / PATRICK REED (1-0-0), USA vs. CHARL SCHWARTZEL, South Africa (0-1-0) It’s worth keeping an eye on Spieth and Reed tomorrow. A win or at least a half-point for both would set up must-see television on Friday for arguably the most anticipated match of the group stage. Spieth said the match will matter regardless of where the Ryder Cup duo stands, but you can bet both will be looking to bring their best stuff if a berth in the next round is on the line. They have to take care of business first to make that a possibility.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy suffered surprise defeats on Wednesday as the WGC-Dell Match Play.
After an absence of more than 20 years, Formula One will return to ESPN in 2018 beginning with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton said he has calibrated his expectations for the “magnified” nature of performing well — or poorly — in the Big Apple.
AUSTIN, Texas — Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson lost in the opening round and now face a tough road to the weekend in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Bernd Wiesberger of Austria ended Johnson’s seven-match winning streak and had plenty of help in a 3 and 1 victory. Former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein caught McIlroy a little flat and built too big of a lead for McIlroy to overcome. McIlroy birdied five in a row on the back nine at Austin Country Club until losing on the 17th hole. Mickelson, who won the last World Golf Championship in Mexico three weeks ago, made only one birdie in losing to Charles Howell III. Only four players in this round-robin format have won their group after losing the first match.
Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth looked strong in their opening round while Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy both too losses.
Over the course of the Grapefruit and Cactus League schedules, countless prospects get the chance to show what they can do on a larger stage. At the very least, they can make a positive impression on the big league staff. Who still has a chance at a spot on Opening Day rosters?
