Sports
Fan favorites eyeing breakthrough at Cognizant Classic
Rickie Fowler tees off on four of the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the third round of The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. As the PGA Tour begins its Florida swing at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Daniel Berger are among the names vying for a redeeming victory.
A pair of fan favorites, Spieth and Fowler, have dropped to Nos. 70 and 95, respectively, in the Official World Golf Ranking amid difficult stretches. Spieth is still working his way back from August wrist surgery and made his season debut earlier this month.
After tying for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open, he missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational, a signature event that only cut 18 players. This will be his first time competing at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“It was really nice to get back and then even to get into contention one week,” Spieth said. “So my goal now, as we look towards the Masters, is to try to play difficult golf courses and work my way into contention and just see what I can improve upon by the time we get to Augusta.”
Spieth hasn’t won on tour since April 2022, while Fowler’s 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic is his only victory this decade.
“Game-wise, definitely trending and heading in the right direction,” Fowler said. “Obviously last year was back to playing some poor golf or not necessarily taking advantage of some opportunities. Played poorly on the weekends.
“Not a great start this year, but I feel like I’ve seen a lot of good things, and I know that I’m at least trending. That’s a positive.”
This tournament is a “home game” for the many players like Fowler who live in nearby Jupiter, Fla. That goes double for Berger, a Florida native and Florida State alum.
Once ranked as high as No. 12 in the world, Berger missed some of 2022 and all of 2023 as he rehabbed a back injury. He ended a quiet 2024 season with a T2 finish at the RSM Classic and has gotten off to a fine start this year, tying for second in Scottsdale and placing 12th at the Genesis.
“It took me legitimately a year to feel like I was the same golfer that I was pre-injury,” Berger said. “I actually feel like I’m a more knowledgeable golfer, as in like I understand what I need to do. I know my body better. I think that’s going to make me a better player in the future.”
PGA National was once known as one of the tougher tracks on tour, but the trend in recent years has been winning scores in the double digits under par, where it once had been in the single digits. When Austin Eckroat won last year with a 17-under 263, it was the lowest score since 2003.
“They overseeded the golf course so it’s not Bermuda anymore. The greens are fantastic; they’re the best I’ve ever seen them,” Berger said. “Chipping is noticeably easier now. … You’re not going to see guys duff balls like they would when it was pure Bermuda. It’s a lot easier.”
The course still has its challenges, namely the “Bear Trap,” the 15th through 17th holes with plenty of water in play.
–Field Level Media
Sports
RFA Cole Sillinger signs 3-year deal with Blue Jackets
Oct 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) walking the blue carpet greeting fans before the game on opening night against the New York Islanders at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Restricted free-agent forward Cole Sillinger avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The deal, announced Saturday, spans through the 2028-29 season.
The move comes one day after the Blue Jackets avoided arbitration by signing goaltender Jet Greaves to a three-year, $15 million contract.
“Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve,” said Don Waddell, Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager.
“He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization.”
Sillinger, 23, recorded 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) and a plus-2 rating in 81 games last season with the Blue Jackets. He was playing in the last season of a two-year, $4.5 million contract.
Sillinger has totaled 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 367 career games since being selected by Columbus with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Super Bowl-winner Jordan Devey dies at 38
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jordan Devey reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Jordan Devey, a retired NFL offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, died at age 38.
According to a GoFundMe page started to benefit his wife, Linsey, and their four young children, Devey “took his own life.” As of Saturday morning, the fund had collected more than $92,000 of its $200,000 goal.
Devey was the rare NFL player who didn’t play high school football, giving up the sport after junior high. Afflicted by a disease that causes knee inflammation and pain in children and teens, Devey played tuba in the school band.
After a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints, he enrolled in Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and played two years of football since his knee issue had lessened. He transferred to Memphis for his final two seasons, then signed with the Baltimore Ravens after being unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Patriots signed the 6-foot-7 Devey to their practice squad that September and promoted him to the active roster in 2014 — the same season New England defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX.
He played with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, appearing in a career-high 15 games (nine starts), then followed with stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, then-Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills through the 2020 season. In all, he played in 44 NFL games (21 starts).
Following his career, he volunteered as a coach of his kids’ teams and coached high school football coach in Idaho.
In an interview with Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, Leslie Devey said she believed the brain injury CTE contributed to her son’s death on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jays' Addison Barger to have elbow surgery, out for season
Mar 18, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger (47) hits a home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger will undergo surgery on his right elbow Monday and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Blue Jays announced the news on Friday for Barger, who played in just nine games this season.
After missing more than one month with an ankle injury, Barger injured his elbow in his return to the field on May 9. Per manager John Schneider, Barger’s injury was sustained after the outfielder threw a 101.2-mph throw to nail a tagging runner at the plate.
“It’s tough to lose the whole year of at-bats, reps and performance,” Schneider said. “We were counting on him to be a big part of our team. You can see how much we miss him, for sure. It’s also a dude starting his career and trending in the right direction who’s missing, basically, a full season. It’s frustrating for him and for us.”
Barger, 26, went 1-for-22 (.045) with two RBIs this season after hitting 21 homers with 74 RBIs in 135 games in 2025. He batted .367 (22-for-60) with three home runs and nine RBIs in 17 games during the 2025 postseason.
Since making his major league debut in 2024, Barger is a career .223 hitter with 28 home runs and 104 RBIs in 213 games for the Blue Jays.
–Field Level Media
RFA Cole Sillinger signs 3-year deal with Blue Jackets
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