Minnesota is raking at the plate under rookie manager Rocco Baldelli. Could the Twins set a new single-season record for home runs?
The Los Angeles Rams may have ranked just 15th in the NFL in sacks last season, but they pressured the quarterback far more than their sack numbers indicate. Thanks to Aaron Donald carrying the team with 20.5 sacks – half the team’s total – last season, the Rams have one of the best pass rushes in
It’s only right that the most patriotic of the majors – the United States Open Championship – is littered with red-white-and-blue themed custom equipment. Add in the history at Pebble Beach Golf Links, and it’s a recipe for a collection of awesome custom equipment for the 2019 U.S. Open. Below is a collection of the coolest equipment, gear and accessories made specifically for this week’s U.S. Open Championship. Did we miss anything? If so, reach out to @andrewtursky on Twitter or Instagram for a chance to see that product added to the list. TaylorMade’s 17-Mile Drive Staff Bags The iconic 17 Mile Drive is home to some of the world’s best golf courses, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, and breathtaking views. TaylorMade’s red-white-and-blue golf bags for the week, which will be used by select TaylorMade staffers, features a map of the Monterey Peninsula that highlights 17-Mile Drive with red stitching. Also, the bags feature the Cypress tree that stands near the 18th green at Pebble Beach. The bags and headcovers are currently available on its website. Odyssey Toulon Pebble Beach putter Odyssey’s premium Toulon Design putter brand – its putters are used by PGA TOUR pros including Francesco Molinari — made a custom 2019 U.S. Open putter, stamped appropriately. Toulon’s cryptic caption, “coming soon,â€� implies the putters could be made available for retail sometime in the near future. Ping’s Pebble accessories For its staffers, Ping designed a custom “Pebbleâ€� box that houses red-white-and-blue metalwood headcovers, putter covers, hats and visors to be used this week. This Twitter post also shows that the box fits ever so perfectly in the Pebble Beach lockers. Seamus stars and stripes Seamus Golf, a company that makes headcovers, tools and other accessories, designed a “U.S. Open Packâ€� of headcovers with stars stitched into the top sections of the blue-white-and-red headcovers. They also prominently showcase the 2019 U.S. Open Pebble Beach logo. FootJoy Europe represents for the USA FootJoy Europe unveiled a pair of limited edition FJ Flex shoes made for the U.S. Open. The spikeless golf shoes are currently available for pre-order on the FootJoy website. For more information on the FJ Flex shoes, check out the PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE. Callaway’s Clam Bake bags Callaway creatively gives a nod to history with Monterey Reserve Vintage Clam Bake and antique car designs on its staff bags for this week. Check out the Callaway logo and the “CLAM BKâ€� license plate on the red car featured in the second-to-last image of the Instagram post, and the green “17â€� zipper tags; a few nice touches, indeed. Push Cut’s Pebble covers While you probably won’t see one of these covers during competition this week, that doesn’t make these covers any less cool. Push Cut Custom cooked up a leather Pebble Beach headcover with red-white-and-blue fleece lining on the interior. As per the Instagram post, the headcovers are currently available at auction. For more custom equipment from the 2019 majors, check out The Masters and PGA Championship editions.
The Pelicans have begun to share the framework of an Anthony Davis trade with interested teams, with New Orleans open to a multiteam deal as well, league sources told ESPN.
Two longtime NFL assistants have been recognized as the winners of the Paul “Dr. Z� Zimmerman Award. Gunther Cunningham and Mike Westhoff are co-winners of the award, which is voted on by members of the Professional Football Writers of America. The award is given for lifetime achievement as an assistant
Warriors forward Kevin Durant plans to play in Monday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a source told ESPN.
Former Red Sox player David Ortiz, affectionately known as Big Papi, was shot and injured in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz has undergone surgery for his injuries. He led the Sox to three World Series championships.
Rory McIlroy was already in the midst of a great 2019 after nine top-10 finishes, including his landmark win at THE PLAYERS Championship in March. But after his 64-61 weekend north of the border, in which he flirted with 59 and authored a seven-shot victory at the RBC Canadian Open, he could be on the verge of an epic season even by his lofty standards. Welcome to the Monday Finish, where McIlroy won for the second time this season, racked up his 10th top-10 finish in just 13 starts, and moved to second in the FedExCup. FIVE OBSERVATIONS 1. There was something familiar about this one. Namely, McIlroy’s 16th PGA TOUR title was a lot like his first. In his breakthrough victory, at the 2010 Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy went 66-62 on the weekend to win. “How about that Rory McIlroy?â€� said Phil Mickelson, one of those left in his wake. This time, McIlroy produced a 64-61 weekend at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. Shane Lowry (67, T2) was among those left shaking his head this time and openly wondering what golf course McIlroy was playing. Even McIlroy himself seemed to be taken aback, arching his eyebrows and smiling at his caddie after one of his more improbable back-nine birdies. McIlroy is no stranger to the big finish. Since 2010, he has won five times while shooting 65 or better in the final round. Not surprisingly he leads the TOUR in that category. For more on McIlroy’s victory, click here. [Desk: Please link to Adam’s winner’s column]  2. Rory becoming ‘Open’ specialist The seven-shot win not only marked the biggest margin of victory on TOUR this season, the victory was also McIlroy’s sixth national Open title, and he became just the sixth player to win the U.S. Open, Open Championship, and the RBC Canadian Open. Next up: this week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. “I found a little groove,â€� he said, “and I want to keep it going.â€� 3. The new date was a massive hit. Although it used to be played the week after The Open Championship, the RBC Canadian Open has been moved up and now leads into the U.S. Open. You could say it’s worked out. “Part of the reason for playing here was I wanted my game to be in good shape for Pebble Beach, but doesn’t mean this tournament doesn’t mean anything,â€� said McIlroy, who is already on board to defend his title next year. “I mean, it’s a big event and I think it will only get bigger again because the date on the calendar. I think a lot guys will start to play. Four of the top six in the world here this week. The field here is going to go from strength to strength.â€� Said Canadian Nick Taylor, who opened with 64-65 before fading on the weekend (73-72, T27), “I think a lot of the top guys like playing the week before the major to be in competitive mode.â€� 4. Canada won in other ways, too. The last Canadian to win the tournament remains Pat Fletcher in 1954, but the week offered plenty of close calls and hope for the future. Taylor’s 64-65 start was exciting, and Adam Hadwin (70, solo 6th) not only won the Rivermead Cup as Low Canadian, he earned a spot in the Open Championship (along with Graeme McDowell, T8) later this summer. Fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (71, T14) also had a good week. “Yeah, I think it means a lot,â€� Hadwin said of the home country’s strong showing. “I think it proves a lot to not only us as players, but the golfing fans across the country that there is a bunch of us out here and we’re here to stay. We’re here to play well and we’re going to contend for championships for years to come.â€� 5. Simpson confident as he eyes Pebble Beach. McIlroy wasn’t the only player to get a little U.S. Open wind in his sails at Hamilton. Webb Simpson, who won the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club, will try to replicate that feat a couple hours south at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach buoyed by his T2 finish in Canada. “I felt like mentally it was my best week in a long time,â€� said Simpson, the 2018 PLAYERS champion. “I putted really well. I’m excited. Got to make short putts, long putts at the U.S. Open to contend, and so I’m excited for next week. I think my game is in a good spot.â€� FIVE INSIGHTS 1. McIlroy’s dominance was easily quantified. He ranked 1st in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (+1.729), 5th in SG: Approach-the-Green (+1.224), 6th in SG: Approach-the-Green (+0.862), 6th in SG: Putting (+1.457) and 1st in SG: Total (+5.272), making him just the fourth winner to rank inside the top six in each of those statistics since 2004. He’s the first, however, to do so on a course other than Kapalua. The others: Xander Schauffele (2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions), Jordan Spieth (2016 Sentry TOC), and Stuart Appleby (2006 Sentry TOC). 2. McIlroy was just as dominant by margin of victory. His seven-shot cushion marked his fourth career win by seven or more strokes. He won the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship by seven, and cruised to eight-shot wins at the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship. 3. There were three rounds of 61 or better on the week – Brandt Snedeker’s second-round 60, Ben Silverman’s second-round 61, McIlroy’s final-round 61 – which makes a total of 10 rounds of 61 or better on TOUR this season. Last season saw just six such rounds in total. 4. Simpson notched his fourth top-10 finish this season after racking up nine of them last season, and he did it largely with his short game. He ranked 1st in Strokes Gained: Putting (+9.069) and Scrambling (18 of 21). 5. England’s Danny Willett (T8, -10) posted his first top-10 finish on TOUR since winning the 2016 Masters Tournament, a span of 35 starts. WYNDHAM REWARDS The Wyndham Rewards Top 10 is in its first season and adds another layer of excitement to the FedExCup Regular Season. The top 10 players at the end of the FedExCup Regular Season will earn bonus payouts from the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. The big mover at the RBC Canadian Open was exactly who you would expect, with winner Rory McIlroy moving into second position just 120 points behind Matt Kuchar (70, T4). McIlroy, the 2016 FedExCup champion, won for the second time this season and heads to this week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with Kuchar well within range.
Without Kevin Durant, everything about the Warriors’ dynasty is being viewed through a different lens, and the narrative that they don’t “need” KD has been shredded.
Maybe, just maybe, Golden State’s 2015 championship was the exception — not the 2016 collapse to Cleveland.
