Examining the NHL’s best positional unitsExamining the NHL’s best positional units
A look at the top positional depth charts in the NHL to try to figure out which one is the best.
Day: September 28, 2018
When Big Ben leaves, the party begins in Steelers locker roomWhen Big Ben leaves, the party begins in Steelers locker room
There’s an unwritten rule in the Steelers locker room that Roethlisberger works to protect — no blaring loud music during core business hours.
It all comes down to this: Previewing MLB’s final weekendIt all comes down to this: Previewing MLB’s final weekend
Can the Cubs hold off the Brewers? Will L.A. catch the Rockies? Can the Cardinals regroup and grab a wild card? We get you ready for the big finish.
What makes Steelers-Ravens special? Close calls and ‘car wrecks’What makes Steelers-Ravens special? Close calls and ‘car wrecks’
The renewal of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry means a key division game, a physical matchup, some bad blood and usually a dramatic outcome.
Baker Mayfield prepares to plant a new flag in his first NFL startBaker Mayfield prepares to plant a new flag in his first NFL start
Mayfield “walked it like he talked it” when he stuck the OU flag on the Ohio State logo. It’s that brashness that the Browns like in their rookie QB.
Tiger struggles at Ryder Cup, to sit out afternoonTiger struggles at Ryder Cup, to sit out afternoon
Tiger Woods struggled Friday at Le Golf National in his four-ball match with partner Patrick Reed against England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Italy’s Francesco Molinari, a 3-and-1 loss that dropped Woods’ Ryder Cup record to 13-18-3.
Kim savors playoff win at CIMB National ChampionshipKim savors playoff win at CIMB National Championship
Kuala Lumpur – A battling Kim Leun Kwang claimed a playoff victory over Amir Nazrin Jailani at the CIMB National Championship at TPC Kuala Lumpur’s East course on Friday, securing a maiden professional title and a dream appearance at the US$7 million CIMB Classic in two weeks’ time. The 23-year-old Kim, who led by three shots after the second and third rounds, survived some anxious moments during the final round as he was caught by Amir who forced extra time with a four-under-par 67 as both golfers tied on 12-under-par 272. With the winner earning a prized spot in the PGA TOUR’s only tournament in Southeast Asia on the line, both golfers found trouble with their tee shots on the par four 18th hole and Kim, who shot a closing 70, emerged victorious with a bogey against Amir’s double bogey after the latter agonizingly three-putted from about 15 feet. “This means a lot to me,â€� said Kim, who bagged RM30,000 for his win. “I’ve been looking for my first win for a very long time and I finally did it. It was crazy … Amir played really well and gave me a good fight. I’m a bit brain-dead right now and I guess I was on the lucky side. it’s not easy to see a golfer three-putting from close range. I feel for him but I’m happy I’m going to be playing in the CIMB Classic. “In the playoff, I saw Amir hit it over the green and I was worse off in the trees and had to cut the ball by some 30 yards or otherwise I’d be out of bounds. I pulled it off and I’m really happy to be the last man standing. It has taken me a long time to get this win and there were some struggles over the years but I knew it would come someday. I’m really happy now. Having my first win and getting my reward to play in the CIMB Classic is amazing,â€� added Kim, who turned professional when he was 17. Kim said he walked outside the ropes as a spectator in the last two CIMB Classic tournaments, dreaming that he would one day have the opportunity to compete against the stars from the PGA TOUR. “When I was younger, I did dream about playing in a PGA TOUR event. I’ve taken it week by week. This feels amazing. I just want to learn from the PGA TOUR players. When Gavin (Green) played here a few times, I’d come out to watch him as he’s my best friend. It’s going to be different this time, I’ll be the one holding the club and I’m going to enjoy it for sure,â€� he said. It was heartbreak for the second straight year for Amir, who finished third in the CIMB National Championship last year. He turned in 33 to reduce Kim’s lead to one and then caught his rival on the 16th hole with his sixth birdie of the day. However, he missed his opportunity with mistakes in the playoff. “It’s about luck once you get into a playoff. I would have done the same thing over again. I made a silly mistake on the green … can’t say anything about that now. There was also a stone under my ball in the bunker and the first putt was just too firm. It didn’t quite work out for me and I have to accept it,â€� said Amir. Effendy Shahul Hamid, CEO, Group Commercial Banking and Group Asset Management & Investments, CIMB Group, extended his congratulations to Kim. “We are delighted to have sponsored this competition as Malaysia’s top golfers compete for the coveted spot at the upcoming CIMB Classic 2018. Our heartiest congratulations to Kim Leun Kwang who played a solid game and showed tremendous skill to clinch the championship title. We look forward to having him represent Malaysia at the CIMB Classic 2018, where many of the world’s top golfers will compete for a total prize purse of US$7million. “The CIMB Classic has grown the game in Malaysia by inspiring and providing opportunities for top Malaysian golfers to be part of the PGA TOUR. Our commitment is to make the CIMB Classic an enjoyable experience for both golfers and non-golfers alike, and we look forward to welcoming all of them at TPC Kuala Lumpur again from October 11 to 14,â€� said Effendy. Kim will now have the opportunity to face PGA TOUR stars including 2017 FedExCup champion Justin Thomas, CIMB Classic defending champion Pat Perez, Keegan Bradley, Ryder Cup star Paul Casey, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama, 2017 Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele and World Golf Hall of Fame members, Ernie Els and Davis Love III. Apart from this week’s winner earning a spot, the highest ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Ranking as of October 1 will also earn the right to play in the CIMB Classic which features an elite field of 78 players comprising of the top 60 available players from the 2017-18 PGA TOUR FedExCup points list, eight sponsor exemptions and the top-10 available players from the Asian Tour. Tickets for the CIMB Classic is also now on sale. For more details on ticketing prices and to purchase online, click here.
Ohio State-Penn State isn’t the only big gameOhio State-Penn State isn’t the only big game
The Big Ten showdown in Happy Valley is huge, but Stanford visits Notre Dame and there are some other games you don’t want to miss in Week 5.
What to watch: Two huge games and moreWhat to watch: Two huge games and more
The Big Ten showdown in Happy Valley is huge, but Stanford visits Notre Dame and there are some other games you don’t want to miss in Week 5.
Ryder Cup: Match recaps, Day 1Ryder Cup: Match recaps, Day 1
FRIDAY MORNING FOUR-BALLS Match 1: Brooks Koepka / Tony Finau, USA, def. Justin Rose / Jon Rahm, Europe, 1-up Holes won: Europe 4, USA 5 Holes led: Europe 14 USA 1 Recap: After trailing for almost the entire match, the Americans stole a pivotal point with a great finish, helped by an incredible bounce. Koepka and Finau were two down with six holes to play and still under pressure when they reached the par-3 16th tee a hole behind. But Finau’s shot, that appeared well short and too far right, caught the wooden bulkhead and bounced up to just 3 feet from the hole. The birdie squared the match and then a pair of pars on the last was enough to steal the match when Rose found water and Rahm trouble in the deep rough. Quotes: “We will take the breaks when we can get them. I knew it needed to get up a little bit. It rose on me a little bit, started to spin. I said get lucky somehow, that’s what I was thinking in my head. Fortunately it did. That was a huge break for us.â€� – Tony Finau “Feels like two (points). They got us down early, which you never really plan on, but you just got to fight and keep fighting.â€� – Brooks Koepka Match 2: Dustin Johnson / Rickie Fowler, USA def. Rory McIlroy / Thorbjorn Olesen, Europe, 4 and 2 Holes won: Europe 1, USA 5 Holes led: Europe 1 USA 7 Recap: After halving the opening seven holes the European side took the lead on the par-3 eighth when neither American could make par. But it was the last bit of joy the home side faced. With Rory McIlroy playing poorly and unable to find a single birdie it was up to rookie Olesen to keep pace. He couldn’t despite some decent play. Fowler made back-to-back birdies around the turn to wrestle the lead and Johnson then stepped up with two of his own to create a big cushion. Johnson sealed the match with a clutch iron to a few feet on the 16th hole. Quotes: “I think the big thing was we tried to both be in as many holes as we could. We just played some solid golf. When one of us was out of the hole, the other picked the guy up. We knew that was going to be needed against Rory and Thorbjørn. They’re great ball-strikers, and knew it was going to be a tough match.â€� – Rickie Fowler “We believe in each other. Our demeanors are pretty similar, especially on the golf course. We practice a lot together. We spend a lot of time together, whether out here this week or even at home. We felt we’d be really good partners, and so far so good.â€� – Dustin Johnson Match 3: Jordan Spieth / Justin Thomas, USA def. Paul Casey / Tyrrell Hatton, Europe, 1-up Holes won: Europe 3, USA 4 Holes led: Europe 0 USA 16 Recap: It appeared the birth of a new super team for the USA after the good friends stormed to a 3-up lead through just seven holes. Spieth’s putter found form and the pair of former FedExCup champions were on fire. But Casey and Hatton refused to roll over and wins on 11, 12 and 13 squared the match. Thomas made his move to reclaim the lead on the 15th hole and they held firm over the difficult closing stretch. Quotes: “It was great. Playing Ryder Cups over here are extremely fun. We were able to feed off each other. We ham-and-egged it extremely well around this golf course. I don’t think we birdied the same hole once. We made a lot of birdies today. What a blast that was.â€� – Jordan Spieth “We’ve talked about this really for so long, so long being all of nine or so years, but it’s cool to finally be here and doing it. We’ve spent time at Ryder Cups together. We’ve played in the Junior Ryder Cup and he’s played in a couple of these now and it’s been my first. There’s not a partner in the world I’d rather have a chance to go out here with.â€� – Justin Thomas Match 4: Francesco Molinari / Tommy Fleetwood, Europe, def. Tiger Woods / Patrick Reed, USA, 3 and 1 Holes won: Europe 7, USA 4 Holes led: Europe 7 USA 3 Recap: The most up and down battle of the morning finished with a European flurry to post their only point of the Four-ball session. Woods and Reed were touted to be a formidable mix but Molinari set a tone with an opening birdie. Through eight holes things were tight and square before Woods took the ninth with birdie and Reed chipped in for birdie on the 10th to go 2-up. And then the European revival took flight. Molinari posted back-to-back birdies to square the match at 11 and 12 before Fleetwood stepped up late. Huge birdie putts on the 15th and 16th holes from the Englishman took control of the match and then just for good measure Molinari made a long one on the 17th to close it out. Quotes: “Just unreal. We had that little tough stretch in the middle of the round, I lost three holes out of four, I think, it’s easy for it to go flat, but the crowds, the home crowds, as soon as Fran holed that putt on 11, things changed straightaway. And the crowd carried us through it all the way. There is nothing like it. And that’s just my first morning experience. Guys have done this 10 times. There is nothing like it, and I can’t wait to get out and do it again.â€� – Tommy Fleetwood “I love him. What can I say? I love him. We both played really well. We had a couple of moments where we had to dig in, but we both stayed positive.â€� – Francesco Molinari