General manager George Paton made a pedal-to-the-metal move in getting Wilson, finally giving the Broncos a replacement for Peyton Manning.
It’s not uncommon for PGA TOUR players to give their golf clubs a unique touch with custom stampings. Whether it’s their initials, family members’ names or movie quotes, the paint-filled engravings can add a special flair to their tools of the trade. While Justin Thomas’ current Titleist “621.JT” irons do have his initials stamped on the hosel, the stampings aren’t the only unique feature of the clubs. The irons are actually 1-of-1 prototypes made specifically to meet Thomas’ personal preferences. He is arguably the best iron player of the post-Tiger era, having finished no worse than sixth in Strokes Gained: Approach in each of the last six seasons. His iron-play prowess was on full display in his victory at last year’s THE PLAYERS. After flirting with the cut line Friday afternoon, Thomas shot 64-68 on the weekend while displaying full control of his ballstriking. He hit the first 17 greens in the final round, as well. He used a set of stock Titleist 620 MB (muscleback) irons here last year. Those clubs were released to the public in 2019. The blade-style construction of the stock 620 MB blades featured thin soles, thin toplines, compact shapes and little offset. The problem is, however, that Thomas doesn’t want “little” offset; he wants none. As a reminder, the term “offset” refers to how far the leading edge of the face sits behind the hosel. By general rule, the more offset an iron has, the it is to square the face at impact. Many TOUR pros use irons with reduced offset to avoid hooking the ball too much, whereas amateurs tend to use irons with more offset to reduce their slice. Most golfers, though, even on the PGA TOUR, use some semblance of offset to add forgiveness. But not Thomas. Although Thomas helped provide Titleist with early feedback on the 620 MB irons, as Titleist tour rep J.J. Van Wezenbeeck explains below, he would have his gamer irons bent to remove any offset. “The biggest thing is we’re always trying to work with our TOUR pros on finding things that will help them play better,” Van Wezenbeeck told GolfWRX. “Justin’s been an important part of that feedback loop in our development of muscleback irons over the years. Throughout his career with Titleist, we’ve taken his feedback, talking to him about sole design, toe shape, etc. So, as we brought (620 MB) prototypes to him, he was able to provide feedback and he really allowed us to move that into what became the 620 MB. Based on what we looked at over time, one of the facets he likes is no offset. Not a little offset, but none. Literally zero offset, so the leading edge and the hosel are in-line with each other. That’s obviously not something preferred by all players, so what we were doing for the 620 MBs for him was bending the offset out.” The offset modifications helped provide the look and performance that Thomas needed, and he used the purposely-bent 620 MB irons to win at TPC Sawgrass last year. Bending irons, however, doesn’t always create the perfect sound, feel and most elegant overall look. Unsatisfied, Titleist sought to provide Thomas with the exact irons he wanted in all facets. “We wanted to provide the best looking, best feeling and best performing irons for one of the best iron players on Tour,” Van Wezenbeeck said. That’s when Titleist and its R&D team started working closely with Thomas to develop what would eventually become the 621.JT irons. They built a number of prototypes with differing shapes, soles, CG (center of gravity) placements, and offset to determine what truly suits Thomas’ preferences. What they settled on were irons that were essentially identical to the original 620 MB irons in terms of overall shaping, sole grinds, materials (1020 carbon), and grooves. The only true difference is the 621.JT irons have zero offset, which is just how the defending PLAYERS champ likes them. “They came to me and said let’s create (a set of irons), anything that you want to change,” Thomas told PGATOUR.COM. “Obviously I loved it, everything about (my irons) already, but the changes are so minor. … It just was about getting the best feeling iron, the best sounding iron. It’s one of those clubs that obviously you have to hit it properly for it to be that way, but one of those ones where you kind of hear it and you turn around like, ‘What is that?’…They look awesome.” Thomas started using the new 621.JT irons at the 2021 CJ CUP @ SUMMIT in November 2021, and he still has them in the bag this week to defend his title at THE 2022 PLAYERS Championship. While he is looking for his first win since last year’s PLAYERS, Thomas is ranked 26th in this season’s FedExCup thanks to four top-10s in six starts.
The NCAA has reduced the scholarship penalty it levied against the Georgia Tech men’s basketball program in 2019.
The Seahawks have agreed to trade quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s a big week on the PGA TOUR with the playing of their flagship event, The PLAYERS Championship. The best players in the world will be in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to take on TPC Sawgrass, which means some tightly bunched golf odds this week at the BetMGM online sportsbook. Some weeks it makes sense to take a shot on the best player in the field. The problem with that this week is 17 of the top 18 players in the world will be teeing it up. With so many big names to choose from, who is generating the earliest action? World No. 2 Collin Morikawa has golf odds to win of +1400. As of Tuesday morning, those are the second lowest in the field, trailing only world No. 1 Jon Rahm at +1200. Morikawa is pulling in 15.8% of the handle, by far the most in the field, and the second-most tickets (7.7%). Morikawa, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday, is making just his second appearance at the event. He finished in 41st place a year ago. That may seem uninspiring, but two things are going his way when it comes to generating good vibes at TPC Sawgrass. He shot a final-round 66 a year ago, which was tied for the best score on Sunday. And in 2020, when the tournament was canceled after one round due to COVID-19, he shot a four-under-par 68, which was tied for seventh. In less than three full seasons on the PGA TOUR, Morikawa has quickly become one of the game’s best players. He has five TOUR wins, including two majors, as well as a win at the DP World Tour finale last year. In addition, he enters the event in good form, having finished in the top 5 in his last three starts on home soil (The Genesis Invitational, Sentry Tournament of Champions, and The CJ Cup). TPC Sawgrass is a course that will reward players with the best all-around game. The winner likely won’t be the player who simply drives it the best or putts the best. It will be the player who hits the mark across the board, particularly in the approach game. Morikawa has one of the best well-rounded games on TOUR, leading the Strokes Gained: Total metric. Current Handle & Tickets Handle 1. Collin Morikawa – 15.8% 2. Brooks Koepka – 9.4% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 6.3% 4. Scottie Scheffler – 5.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 5.4% Tickets 1. Brooks Koepka – 8.7% 2. Collin Morikawa – 7.7% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 4.7% 4. Jon Rahm – 3.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 3.9% In terms of early movement, defending champion Justin Thomas saw his odds go from +1200 to +1400, and Rory McIlroy went from +1600 to +2000. Meanwhile, last week’s winner at The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Scottie Scheffler, went from +2200 to +2500. The last two years have seen the tournament decided by one shot, so it should be an exciting finish. And there should be some decent scores, as the last 12 editions of the tournament have had the winning total finish at double-digits under par. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada.
Ferrari has said on Tuesday it will donate €1 million to Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers has decided that he will return to play for the Green Bay Packers, a source told ESPN.
The Dallas Cowboys are restructuring the contracts of QB Dak Prescott and OG Zack Martin to create more than $22 million in cap space, sources tell ESPN.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – As the golf world gathers at TPC Sawgrass for THE PLAYERS Championship, it expresses its unified support for the people of Ukraine. PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the TOUR’s support of Golfers For Ukraine, an industry-wide effort that is collecting donations for UNICEF, the United Nations agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children impacted by the crisis. “Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and those caught in the crosshairs of the conflict,” Monahan said Tuesday. “We hope for an end to this senseless violence and a peaceful resolution. The game of golf has a way of rallying around important causes and this is one.” The PGA TOUR is among the golf organizations that has made donations to Golfers For Ukraine. Players, caddies and staff at THE PLAYERS will wear blue-and-yellow ribbons in support of the Ukrainian people, and Commissioner Monahan encouraged golfers to show their support by making donations at GolfersForUkraine.com. As of Tuesday morning, more than $225,000 had been donated to the website. UNICEF’s first shipment of humanitarian aid arrived in Ukraine last weekend and more are scheduled, the organization said. The shipment of an estimated 62 tons of supplies arrived in a six-truck convoy and included medical supplies such as medicine, first-aid kids, midwifery kits and surgical equipment. The supplies are desperately needed as the conflict has forced families to shelter underground, cutting them off from basic services, and hospitals have moved their patients to basements. UNICEF said in a statement that hundreds of thousands of people are without safe drinking water due to damage to infrastructure and the country is running low on critical medical supplies. “It’s hard. It’s hard to see, honestly,” said Jon Rahm, the world’s top-ranked player. “These people in Ukraine right now need help. … It’s a lot of innocent people that shouldn’t be going through this. I am at a loss for words every time I think about it.” An additional delivery, including 17,000 blankets and warm clothing, is en route to Ukraine. The organization also is working to meet the needs of children and families fleeing into neighboring countries, including ‘Blue Dot’ safe spaces along transit routes where children and mothers can access services. The organization is asking for $349 million for its response in Ukraine, and the golf world is determined to do its part. “I think what’s going on in Ukraine is absolutely horrible,” said Rory McIlroy. “It’s absolutely brutal. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening to that country and those people and the families. From a human side of things, it’s just horrible what is going on.”
Rivalries, vengeance and spectacles — these are the regular-season encores we want to see during the 2022 conference tournaments.
