Essential Quality set as 2-1 favorite for BelmontEssential Quality set as 2-1 favorite for Belmont
Essential Quality drew the No. 2 post position and was set Tuesday as a 2-1 favorite for the Belmont Stakes.
Day: June 1, 2021
Source: Bills restructure contract of WR DiggsSource: Bills restructure contract of WR Diggs
The Buffalo Bills have restructured the contract of WR Stefon Diggs by converting more than $11.7 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, a source tells ESPN.
Sleeper Picks: Memorial Tournament presented by NationwideSleeper Picks: Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Kevin Streelman (+5000) … In a field of this caliber, he qualifies as a Sleeper. He’s slipped outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but only barely at 58th. He’s almost the same at 60th in FedExCup points, so the foundation has been laid onto which to build at Muirfield Village. It’s been kind to the 42-year-old over the years, too. Since 2015, he’s 6-for-6 with two top 10s and another two top 20s. Currently 23rd on TOUR in greens in regulation, 42nd in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and 31st in adjusted scoring. Brendan Steele (+20000) … As reliable as anyone on the PGA TOUR in 2021 because he hasn’t missed a cut in 12 starts. He can hold his own off the tee but his skill set has catered to shorter tracks thanks to a balance of distance and precision tee to green, yet he’s 5-for-5 at Muirfield Village since 2015. His record includes a pair of top 20s, including a personal-best T13 last year. Chris Kirk (+12500) … Happy to put May in the rearview mirror. He went 1-for-3 with a T69 at Colonial. In the first four months of 2021, he connected for four top 10s and another three top 25s. Muirfield Village forces him to be accurate off the tee because he likely will be hitting more longer irons than average, but that’s also the strength of his game. Currently inside the top 45 on TOUR in greens hit, proximity to the hole and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. It’s been a minute, but he did record a T4 here in 2014. Overall, he’s 4-for-8 with two top 25s. Luke List (+15000) … The longest of this grouping, he’s proved why at Torrey Pines (T10), TPC San Antonio (T17) and Quail Hollow (T6) in 2021. Ranks 12th on the PGA TOUR in distance of all drives, 13th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and T24 in par-5 scoring, but the 36-year-old also is T51 in greens hit and 35th in SG: Tee-to-Green. In his fourth Memorial last year, he pulled those same levers en route to a share of 10th place, finishing second in distance of all drives, T3 in GIR, T7 in proximity and even T3 in scrambling. Patrick Rodgers (+15000) … This attention wages course history against recent form. Since having his first child on New Year’s Eve of 2020, he’s just 7-for-16 with one top 25. However, he finished T8 (2018) and T18 (2020) in his last two appearances at Muirfield Village. His muscle off the tee doesn’t hurt, and he’s a little above average in finding greens in regulation and with his putter. He’s also a scorer on the par 5s. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, June 1 at 5 a.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.
Xander Schauffele finding new mindset to get winning againXander Schauffele finding new mindset to get winning again
DUBLIN, Ohio – Xander Schauffele is trying to adjust from the underdog mentality that led to much of his success as he looks to address his closing issues this season. Schauffele played amateur and college golf amongst the likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas but never gained the same exposure, leading to a determined mental spirit of trying to prove people wrong. This competitive desire within saw immediate success as he burst onto the scene as the Rookie of the Year in 2017, winning twice including the TOUR Championship. Even when he kept winning in following seasons ,Schauffele would continue to create the underdog theme in his mind as his success pushed him higher in the estimation of his peers and pundits alike. But now, despite being in the midst of an impressive season that boasts six top-5 finishes and has him sitting sixth in the FedExCup, Schauffele says it’s time for a mindset adjustment. He is without a win since claiming the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January of 2019 and it is this fact that has the 27-year-old rethinking how he has approached the mental side of his game. “I think it’s funny… I think this whole underdog role is probably why I’ve been successful… and it’s always important to play with a chip on your shoulder, but at the same time I think it might be the reason that’s maybe holding me back in big moments,” the world No. 5 said as he prepares for the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. “When you’re trying to win tournaments and once you’re at the top of a leaderboard, you can’t chase a ghost. So there’s no one in front of you to sort of bite at and so I think mentally it’s such a new realm for my brain that I’m just trying to process it all and really get more comfortable and think differently, once I’m at the top. “I’ve talked a lot with my dad about that… (and I’m) trying to read some material that will help me sort of explore some new kind of avenues with how my brain will think.” In all four of Schauffele’s TOUR wins he started the final round behind. On the four occasions he’s taken a 54-hole lead on TOUR he’s failed to close and the same is said for the four times he’s held the 36-hole lead and the one time he held an 18-hole lead. Three of Schauffele’s near finishes this season have been runner up results. He was bested by Jason Kokrak at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK, finished second to Patrick Reed at the Farmers Insurance Open and was overrun by Brooks Koepka at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. April’s Masters also saw him well and truly in the mix before his tee shot on Sunday at 16 found the water allowing Hideki Matsuyama a passage to the green jacket and leaving Schauffele to settle for third place. Coming off the back of a missed cut at the PGA Championship, which Schauffele attributed to a poor mental attitude, the four-time TOUR winner has put significant focus on his mind game ahead of an assault on Muirfield Village. He’s reprogramming himself. “I think it’s OK to chomp at the bit moving up, but once you’re up there you got to be assertive and comfortable and do the right things still, you can’t really be like waiting for someone to get ahead of you to chase again,” Schauffele explained. “I still need to get to the top of the leaderboard to try out all these new things and I think all these experiences in the past are going to help me be more comfortable once I’m back there. But it’s more of an overall thought process I’m trying to change moving forward.”
When is good not good enough? Hamlin, Harvick search for first win of 2021When is good not good enough? Hamlin, Harvick search for first win of 2021
On this clip-out from NASCAR’s Backseat Drivers, the crew debates if it is past the time of worry for Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick. Catch the full show on NASCAR’s YouTube channel.
Expert Picks: the Memorial Tournament presented by NationwideExpert Picks: the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Each lineup consists of four starters and two bench players that can be rotated after each round. Adding to the challenge is that every golfer can be used only three times per each of four Segments. The first fantasy golf game to utilize live ShotLink data, PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf allows you to see scores update live during competition. Aside from the experts below, Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at this year’s the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide in this week’s edition of the Power Rankings. For more fantasy, check out Rookie Watch, Qualifiers and Reshuffle. THINK YOU’RE BETTER THAN OUR EXPERTS? The PGA TOUR Experts league is once again open to the public. You can play our free fantasy game and see how you measure up against our experts below. Joining the league is simple. Just click here to sign up or log in. Once you create your team, click the “Leagues” tab and search for “PGA TOUR Experts.” After that? Pick your players and start talking smack. Want to represent the fans against our experts? SEASON SEGMENT
Kansas, Kentucky on rise in Way-Too-Early Top 25 college basketball rankings for 2021-22Kansas, Kentucky on rise in Way-Too-Early Top 25 college basketball rankings for 2021-22
A pair of men’s college basketball blue bloods will enter 2021-22 with sky-high expectations.
NBA experts: What happens next in these wild West playoffs?NBA experts: What happens next in these wild West playoffs?
Three West series have become best-of-three affairs. Our experts discuss the biggest storylines ahead of some critical Game 5s.
NHL Playoffs Daily: Maple Leafs fall, Lightning look to extend series leadNHL Playoffs Daily: Maple Leafs fall, Lightning look to extend series lead
Montreal completed its comeback over Toronto Monday night, while Tampa and Carolina get ready for a critical Game 2 on Tuesday.
Joe Thornton’s career potentially over as Maple Leafs eliminatedJoe Thornton’s career potentially over as Maple Leafs eliminated
Joe Thornton’s pursuit of the evasive Stanley Cup will have to wait at least one more year.