Manny Machado is sure to cash in as a free agent next summer. But for now, he’s back at his beloved shortstop and, in case this is necessary, batting .419 in spring training.
Here are nine tidbits from the second day of pool play at the World Golf Championships – Dell Technologies Match Play that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Austin Country Club plays 7,108 yards (par 71). Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 selected golfers selected to win the bracket challenge. Friday, as usual, we’ll reveal the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO selections. Inside the Numbers As I learned on the telecast, Marc Leishman was the only player to lose in the second match last year and win his pool. After beginning pool play 0-2 this year, he won’t repeat that feat. As you’ve learned by watching this week, just about anything is possible in this format. Remember, players that are tied for first in their pools after tomorrow’s matches will have a playoff. There is no head-to-head tiebreaker. There are no tiebreakers. You want drama? We’ve got drama. Last year there were five pools that were settled by a playoff. People’s Choice: Dustin Johnson (1) When the most-selected pool winner and bracket champion loses the first two matches, that just reinforces the chaos theory. Johnson, who never trailed en route to victory here last year, never got it going this week and was beaten 4 and 3 on Thursday. His elimination leaves Tiger Woods as the only player to repeat at this event and he did it when the format was single elimination. Power Pool Finals Jordan Spieth (4) and Patrick Reed (19) read the script and will give gamers the box office pool finale we all hoped to see as they both moved to 2-0 in Group 4. It’s funny to note the Spieth was a large underdog entering the week as Reed was picked in 20 percent more of the brackets to win the pool. … Sergio Garcia (7) and Xander Schauffele (20) will also square off in a winner-take-all match in Group 7. After Schauffele’s rookie season, I’m not sure much is going to bother him, even a bit of #NappyFactor! … Justin Thomas (2) and Francesco Molinari (21) will also put their perfect records on the line to settle Group 2. Thomas has been bothered by wisdom teeth removal recovery but he birdied the last two holes to see off Patton Kizzire (48) 3 and 1. Luke List (60) stuck a new putter in his bag today but that didn’t help as Molinari was the one holing putts, winning 3 and 2. Steamroller: Biggest Win Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (9) bounced back after his loss yesterday to take his frustrations out on Kevin Chappell (33) 7 and 6. I counted only three birdies and two concessions in the 12 holes but Fleetwood isn’t eliminated, yet. He’ll need to win tomorrow and have Chappell knock off undefeated Ian Poulter (58) to get into a three-way-playoff. If Poulter wins, his result doesn’t matter. Bracket Disrupters: Biggest Upsets Jon Rahm (3) has been eliminated before the final pool match as he lost 1-up to Chez Reavie (43). The momentum from his halve on the final hole in Round 1 didn’t carry over. With a record of 0-1-1 (.5 pts), not even a victory (one point) can see him overtake Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28) who is a perfect 2-0. … There goes Charles Howell III (59) again! Last year he needed a three-man playoff to win his pool and did so as No. 61 seed. He’s 2-0 and a win Friday vs. 0-2 Satoshi Kodaira (40) means he’s through without any issue. He’s pool players Phil Mickelson (14) and Rafael Cabrera-Bello (17) will be rooting for Kodaira to win but if the two highest seeds halve, it won’t matter, as they are both 1-1. Know Thy Enemy: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship These were the top-selected golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO. The Corales Course stretches to 7,670 yards (par 72). Friday, as usual, we’ll reveal the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO selections. Where is Everybody? There are 15 players T10 or better and only of them from the list above is in the mix! That shouldn’t be surprising as most birdie fests open the door to just about everyone in the field. The last two years this was an event on the Web.com Tour. The top 40 players annually were all double-digits under-par. The winning score was 24-under-par in 2016 and 20-under last year. Corey Conners, the only representative from the most-selected list above, birdied half of the holes to post 64 (-8) and sit one shot of the lead. Study Hall Round 1 in the Dominican Republic belonged to Brice Garnett as he went out in a windless morning wave and missed tying the course record of 62 by a shot. Garnett, who made as many as birdies as Conners but didn’t square a bogey, won twice in 2017 on the Web.com Tour. He posted winning scores of 21 under and 18 under so he knows what it takes to go low. His best finish on TOUR this year in 12 events was T17 in the season-opening event at the Safeway Open. … Emiliano Grillo (T73) began even-par and will need a low one tomorrow. Last year the cut was 5-under 139. … Kelly Kraft continues his very solid run of form as he opened with 68 and sits T16. … Jim Furyk also opened with 72 (E) but I’m nervous that almost 7,700 might be a bit much in the afternoon Friday. I’m erring on the side of caution. #BenchLife. … There were nine, bogey-free rounds and the scoring average was 71.326.
Chris Mack, considered the front-runner for the Louisville head-coaching job, confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday that he’ll meet with Cardinals officials this weekend.
To improve his prospects of signing with a team during free agency, Eric Reid has reportedly decided to cease his anthem protests for the 2018 campaign and beyond.
AUSTIN, Texas — Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed enjoy few things more than trying to beat each other, and that’s when they are partners. The stakes are even higher in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Win or go home. Spieth and Reed did their part Thursday by winning their matches for a second straight day to set up a showdown on the skirts of Hill Country in Texas. They play Friday to determine who wins the group and advances to the weekend of this World Golf Championship. Reed fired the first shot when asked what made Spieth a good opponent in match play. “I don’t know. My back still hurts from the last Ryder Cup,” he said with a laugh, alluding to the way he carried Spieth in their partnership at Hazeltine to a 2-1-1 record in team play during a rare American victory. Spieth dodged trouble early against Haotong Li, who missed putts inside 8 feet on two of the opening three holes, won the second hole when Spieth hit into the hazard and thought he won the fourth hole until Spieth matched his birdie by chipping in from short of the green. Spieth never trailed and pulled away with a savvy play on the par-4 13th over the water and into the wind. He hit driver well to the right toward the gallery, which gave him a clear look at the green without having to hit over any of the lake. His pitch-and-run settled a foot away for birdie and a 2-up lead, and Spieth closed him out, 4&2. Right behind was Reed in his match against Charl Schwartzel, and the South African was 2-up at the turn until Reed won the next two holes to set up a tight finish. Schwartzel stayed 1-down when he missed a 5-foot par putt on the 17th. Needing a birdie on the 18th to halve, Schwartzel could only watch as Reed hit a wedge that nearly went in and stopped a few inches away. Reed and Spieth are 7-2-2 as partners in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. They are 1-1 in PGA TOUR playoffs, with Reed hitting through the greens to short birdie range when he won the Wyndham Championship in 2013, and Spieth returning the favor in 2015 at Innisbrook by winning a playoff with a 30-foot putt. They don’t have much of a relationship except in team competitions, and even then it’s unusual. “Because we’re so competitive with each other within our own pairing at the Ryder Cup, we want to outdo each other. That’s what makes us successful,” Spieth said. “Tiger says it’s a phenomenon. It’s not something that he’s used to seeing in those team events. Normally you’re working together. But we want to beat each other every time. In alternate shot, if we don’t win a hole, I want it to be his fault and he wants it to be my fault. “We’ve almost played every single match we’ve been involved in together against each other,” he said. “We just happen to be wearing the same colors.” Reed and Spieth have advanced out of group play just once, both in 2016 at Austin Country Club, and both lost fourth-round matches. “He’s not going to give you holes,” Reed said. “You have to go and play some good golf. And that’s what it’s going to down to. Because I plan on not giving him any holes.” That isn’t the only match between undefeated players this week. Alex Noren of Sweden had another easy time, beating Thomas Pieters in 14 holes, and won for the sixth time in his last seven matches. He faces Tony Finau, who dispatched of Kevin Na to win his second straight match. Defending champion Dustin Johnson will effectively play a practice round Friday. A year after the world’s No. 1 player couldn’t be beaten, Johnson couldn’t beat anybody. He lost to Bernd Wiesberger on Wednesday, and fell behind early in a 4-and-3 loss to Adam Hadwin on Thursday. Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson still have life. McIlroy had an easy time beating Jhonattan Vegas, while Brian Harman knocked out Peter Uihlein in the other match in their group. Harman will win the group if he beats McIlroy on Friday; McIlroy has to win to have any chance of making it to the weekend. “At least I’ve given myself a chance to progress,” he said. Mickelson, who lost to Charles Howell III in the opening round, rallied from 4-down after eight holes and won the last three holes to beat Satoshi Kodaira. Mickelson still needs Howell, who won against on Thursday, to lose a match.
A policy change would allow teams to formalize head coaching hires when the coach’s original team is playing in the postseason, avoiding the predicament faced by the Colts last month after Josh McDaniels decided to remain on the Patriots’ staff.
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed improved to 2-0 in the Dell Technologies Match Play and now face off to see who advances to the weekend at Austin Country Club. Dustin Johnson, the current No. 1 player in the world, was eliminated after Thursday’s play.
The new F1 season is finally here. Follow the opening practice session of the Australian Grand Prix weekend with us here.
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace has agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced Thursday.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–The Giants nearly broke spring camp without suffering any serious losses due to injury. But Thursday afternoon, manager Bruce Bochy revealed that starter Jeff Samardzija is having an MRI on his pitching shoulder. The Giants are concerned with Samardzija’s shoulder after the team
