Sports
Maverick McNealy leans on brother Scout for more than just caddying
Jul 26, 2024; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; Maverick McNealy hits his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Maverick McNealy didn’t earn his first PGA Tour win until his youngest brother, Scout, started toting his bag.
It turns out McNealy’s brother is good for more than just caddying, as Maverick revealed that Scout officiated his wedding back in 2023.
“Maya and I got married last Dec. 6,” Maverick McNealy said Tuesday ahead of The Sentry this week in Kapalua, Hawaii. “It was just the two of us, our parents, photographer and officiant. We decided we wanted to get married before we could plan a party. Planned the party for the one-year anniversary. And had — actually Scout officiated, which was cool.”
So it’s a family affair as Maverick McNealy embarks on the 2025 PGA Tour campaign with the limited-field season opener beginning on Thursday.
Maverick McNealy only qualified for this event by winning the RSM Classic by one stroke in November. The victory came just a few months after Scout McNealy, the youngest of four brothers, began working as Maverick’s caddie.
“Well, for one, Scout was right in between jobs, the timing worked out perfect,” Maverick McNealy explained Tuesday. “And … he’s kind of the brother I go to with golf stuff. I’m the oldest of four. If I really want to get in deep philosophical challenging intellectual questions I go to Colt. If it’s family stuff, kind of more of the intuitive side, it’s Dakota. If it’s golf, it’s Scout. He’s probably the best player out of the four of us and had some shoulder injuries and played high-level collegiate golf, and so that’s probably why I went with him.”
Maverick McNealy said his wife and brother challenged him when he would complain how difficult it was to win on the PGA Tour.
“I just felt like the progression is you get your (PGA Tour) card, you keep your card, you start making a bunch of cuts, and then you start finishing in the top 10, start playing in the final group, couple chances to win and then you win,” he said. “(Scout) says, ‘There’s no reason why you can’t win any given week.’ I tend to think pretty linearly, and he’s just like, ‘Just go set your sights high.'”
Now up to No. 30 in the world rankings, Maverick McNealy gets to play The Sentry for the first time thanks to his RSM Classic victory.
“It’s the first time I’ve done it, and definitely hope it’s not the last,” Maverick McNealy said. “Everyone who has ever told me about this tournament says, ‘Once you play here once you’re never going to want to miss it.’ And I can see why, it’s pretty awesome.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez a reliever 'for now' to work on delivery flaw
Mar 28, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (40) throws against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez is moving to the bullpen “for now” to work out a mechanical flaw in his delivery, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss told reporters Sunday.
Lopez began the season as Atlanta’s No. 2 starter after making just one start in 2025 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. He had a 2.18 ERA through four starts this season before he gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in one inning of last Tuesday’s 11-4 loss at Washington.
“We see him as a starter,” Weiss said. “He’s working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he’s getting right there. And when he’s right, he’s one of our best starters. He was our No. 2 coming out of camp, even with some of the issues at the end of spring training.
“So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He’s going to help us out of the pen in the short term.”
Lopez has extensive experience both as a starter and reliever at the major league level. He’s posted a 48-55 career record and 3.93 ERA over 273 appearances (128 starts) over 11 seasons.
He earned his first All-Star nod and finished 11th in National League Cy Young Award voting during his first season with the Braves in 2024 when he finished with a 1.99 ERA, 148 strikeouts and 42 walks over 135 2/3 innings.
Atlanta kept 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie on its major league roster after he allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven over seven innings in his major league debut Thursday vs. Washington. He’s set to make his first home start Wednesday against Detroit.
The Braves are also expecting right-hander Spencer Strider to make his season debut as soon as this weekend at Colorado after he started the season on the injured list with a strained oblique.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alex Fitzpatrick officially accepts PGA Tour membership
Apr 26, 2026; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Alex Fitzpatrick walks on the green on hole 18 during the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Alex Fitzpatrick officially accepted PGA Tour membership following his emotional victory alongside his brother, Matt, in last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
His decision hardly is a surprise, given he said as much following the win, which their parents were on hand to witness.
“I am, indeed, yeah, yeah. I signed as quick as I could. I’m still shaking, and yeah, it was crazy,” the 27-year-old Englishman said during a media interaction at TPC Louisiana on Sunday.
The win was the first on the PGA Tour in his 11th career start for Fitzpatrick, who is now exempt through the 2028 season and is eligible to compete in this week’s Cadillac Championship, the fifth of eight Signature Events this season. The DP World Tour player also qualified for the remaining three — the Truist Championship, the Memorial Tournament and the Travelers Championship — as well as the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 The Players Championship.
Fitzpatrick turned professional in 2022 after his collegiate career at Wake Forest.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Steelers place rare contract tender on Aaron Rodgers
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the first half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images If Aaron Rodgers plays another season, the Steelers want to make sure it’s with Pittsburgh.
The franchise placed the rare right-of-first-refusal tender on unrestricted free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ESPN reported on Tuesday morning.
The move means Rodgers can accept a 10-percent raise from last year’s salary ($13.65 million), pushing the four-time NFL MVP to approximately $15 million in base pay. The Steelers guarantee the raise and in return are granted the right to match any offer sheet Rodgers can sign with another team as a free agent.
The Steelers can gain exclusive negotiating rights with Rodgers if he does not sign by July 22 or the first day of NFL training camp.
If Rodgers signs with a new team before that date, he would be a potential compensatory free agent lost by the Steelers and a potential CFA gained by the new team, provided all other requirements are met under the Compensatory Draft System’s rules.
Pittsburgh hired a familiar face in Mike McCarthy as head coach following Mike Tomlin’s resignation in January. Rodgers played under McCarthy during his time with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers, 42, posted his 15th season with at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes with Pittsburgh in 2025.
He ranks fourth in NFL history in passing touchdowns (527) and fifth in passing yards (66,274). His career passer rating of 102.2 ranks No. 1 all-time as does his 1.4% interception percentage.
The 10-time Pro Bowl selection won Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay after the 2010 season. He owns a 163-93-1 record as a starter in the regular season with the Packers (2005-22), New York Jets (2023-24) and Steelers.
–Field Level Media
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez a reliever 'for now' to work on delivery flaw
Alex Fitzpatrick officially accepts PGA Tour membership
