Sports
Brooks Koepka embraces return to Phoenix Open and its "chaos"
Feb 12, 2022; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Brooks Koepka reacts after making par from 17 on the 18th hole during the third round of the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images Well before Brooks Koepka captured back-to-back U.S. Open titles … and won back-to-back PGA Championships … and earned generational wealth by jumping to LIV Golf, he was a 24-year-old fighting to claim his first PGA Tour title.
That’s when Koepka and the Phoenix Open became intertwined forever. Koepka collected his first PGA Tour victory in 2015 at TPC Scottsdale, which set the stage for his five major championships and his rise to No. 1 in the World Golf Rank.
Koepka, 35, has returned to the Phoenix Open field for the first time in four years as he reacquaints himself with old haunts in the wake of his recent split with LIV Golf.
During his years away, did he yearn to tune in to the Phoenix Open and its frenzied fans? Uh, not exactly.
“No, I was asleep when this was going on,” said Koepka, who’d be halfway around the world. “Kind of tough to watch.
“But, yeah, it’s a golf course I really like, a tournament I like coming to. I think this is always a comfortable event for me.”
The muscle memory associated with Koepka’s pair of Phoenix Open crowns — he also won in 2021 – ought to be valuable this week. Not just remembering where to place the ball as he whips around TPC Scottsdale, but recalling the joy of interacting with the raucous galleries.
“I said it earlier, I think last week, I enjoy the chaos,” Koepka said. “It’s fun. It can kind of get you in between shots. Gives you something to either kind of laugh at or whatever’s going on, there’s always something to see. But, yeah, it’s a fun week.”
This marks just his second tournament since being reinstated by the Tour. Two weeks ago, Koepka finished in a tie for 56th at the Farmers Insurance Open.
While his driving average (306.0 yards) and his short game around the green rank among the Tour’s best in the early going this season, his putting ranks 172nd on Tour as he’s losing 2.4 strokes per round compared to the norm.
“I’ve been putting pretty poorly for the good side of two years,” Koepka said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve got to figure it out.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
It is time to permanently take Tiger Woods off the pedestal.
Woods has often been given a pass for some of his miscues and personal failings, all because he used to be the best golfer on the planet.
Seven back surgeries and that major leg surgery have ensured that label will never again be the case.
That Tiger is long gone – like one of those prodigious drives he used to hit at Augusta.
We certainly can feel bad for the guy for having to endure that much physical pain.
In my view, having to undergo one back surgery would be one too many.
But Tiger is now 50 – and his latest DUI arrest displays he’s not acting that old.
Something about Tiger and vehicles just don’t mix.
Friday’s DUI arrest is No. 2 for Tiger and that’s not the type of thing you want to add on to.
His first one, in 2017, was also on Jupiter Island, Fla., and it was due to an abundance of prescription medications. Woods was found asleep in his car at 3:00 a.m. while it was on the road and the engine was running.
That’s a very, very bad DUI No. 1.
Since Woods didn’t have alcohol in his system on Friday, the assumption is that toxicology reports will again show heavy amounts of medication in his system.
Doctors and pharmacists are always quick to share with people how medications may affect them adversely.
The fact that Woods has had two of these incidents while driving vehicles is unacceptable. That’s putting a lot of innocent people in harm’s way in addition to himself.
That’s selfish, entitled and immature behavior. I guarantee you Woods didn’t only drive under the influence on just these two occasions.
Woods has been involved in two other car accidents, the worst being the one in 2021 near Los Angeles when he was reportedly going 80 miles per hour on a winding road.
He was badly hurt in the accident with the broken leg bone coming through the skin. He was quickly whisked into surgery.
That injury pretty much ended any chance of the formerly dominating Woods prowling on the golf course.
He famously won the Masters in 2019 after not winning a major for 11 years. It was his 15th major title. Everybody was on board that Woods could bottle up that performance and bring it out again at future majors.
But that ailing back wasn’t allowing Tiger to turn back the clock.
Who knew that the magnificent performance at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was basically the top of the slope before the inevitable fall.
That five-day, 91-hole victory over Rocco Mediate when Woods played with two stress fractures in his left tibia was something to see up close.
Woods was often wincing after drives and other shots and somehow he kept pressing on. The birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff was amazing theater and a shot for the ages.
The following day, a Monday, Mediate was once again just one Woods’ missed putt away from winning his biggest title. Again, Woods knocked in the putt to force a 19th hole.
Tiger won the tournament on that next hole for his 14th career major at just age 32.
Two days later, Woods revealed he had played the tournament with a torn ACL in his left knee and would be undergoing reconstructive surgery.
Suddenly, a memorable performance became one of the best the sport has ever seen.
That Tiger, who wouldn’t submit to the pain and kept coming through to keep from losing is the one people want to remember.
They idolize the guy with five Green Jackets for winning the Masters, the dude who won four PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens and three Open Championships. The player who hunted people down on Sundays, the guy who hit amazing shots, the golfer who made tough putts look easy.
That’s the Woods people want in their image files, not a dude that is continually in the news for DUIs and other silly stuff.
That golfer we remember won’t be coming back. And entitlement only takes you so far.
We’ve reached that point. The pedestal no longer has room for Tiger to stand on it.
Sports
Cubs, Nationals conclude high-scoring series
Mar 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8), center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) and right fielder Matt Shaw (6) celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has delivered multiple hits in both of the team’s games to open the season.
As he aims to stay hot Sunday and help the Cubs to a series victory against the visiting Washington Nationals, Crow-Armstrong credits a confidence that stems from an exciting off-field development.
The Cubs this week announced a six-year, $115 million extension for Crow-Armstrong through the 2032 season.
“That’s the best part is knowing that I’m here, it’s where I wanted to be,” Crow-Armstrong said. “And I’m just glad that that idea could be created and made into some real thing, getting to be here for the next six years, knowing that I’m going to be somewhere is the coolest thing ever when it’s somewhere that I’ve really wanted to be for a long time.”
Crow Armstrong contributed two hits to Saturday’s 10-2 rout of Washington after collecting two others during Thursday’s 10-4 loss to the Nationals on Opening Day.
Chicago capitalized Saturday on the kind of formula that it hopes is a constant throughout the season: timely hitting and effective starting pitching.
Miguel Amaya hit a solo home run and Ian Happ belted a three-run blast as part of separate four-run rallies. Right-hander Cade Horton, meanwhile, allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Lefty Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA in 2025) gets the call for the Cubs on Sunday. After yielding 31 home runs in 25 starts last season, Imanaga hopes to limit the long ball moving forward. He struck out 13 batters in 9 2/3 innings over his last two spring starts.
Washington managed just one extra-base hit Saturday, as James Wood hit his first home run of the season leading off the fourth. Teammate CJ Abrams missed the game due to a death in the family.
Daylen Lile reached base twice, contributing a single and a walk.
Right-hander Jake Irvin (9-13, 5.70 ERA in 33 starts in 2025) is set to start for Washington. A durable option for the Nationals, Irvin has started 33 games and worked at least 180 innings in each of the past two seasons but pitched to a career-worst ERA in 2025.
As with the rest of the club’s starting rotation, Irvin figures to see a mix of catchers Drew Millas and Keibert Ruiz in the first few weeks of the season.
“I think it’ll be pretty close to even split, at least to start off,” first-year Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “Let those guys play themselves in or out of playing time, and then take it from there.
“But early on, want to keep both of those guys fresh, rotate them in and out pretty frequently.”
Irvin is seeking his first career victory against the Cubs, entering Sunday at 0-4 with a 9.70 ERA in five previous starts. He went 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in two starts versus Chicago last season.
Imanaga is 2-0 with 2.08 ERA in two career starts versus Washington with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians' Chase DeLauter out to add to homer barrage vs. Mariners
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celegbrates with centerfielder Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Don’t be surprised if the “Ballad of Chase DeLauter” hits the airwaves by next weekend.
It’s happened in Cleveland before, after all.
DeLauter etched his name in the history books, hitting a two-run homer in the 10th inning Saturday in a 6-5 victory against the host Seattle Mariners.
It gave him four homers over his first three career regular-season games, matching the MLB record set by Colorado’s Trevor Story in 2016. The season-opening series concludes Sunday.
DeLauter, who made his debut in the 2025 playoffs, went deep to left field off Mariners closer Andres Munoz to give the Guardians a 6-3 lead. It was needed insurance as Seattle’s Luke Raley hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning.
DeLauter, who went deep twice on Opening Day and again in the first inning Friday, was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts when he stepped to the plate in the 10th.
“That shows the maturity right there,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “He had a tough night up until that point and obviously facing one of the best closers in the league, if not best closer in the league, and to hit a ball (opposite field) in Seattle at night when it’s cold, that takes some kind of power. … He’s just showing his poison. That was pretty special.”
DeLauter’s start undoubtedly has reminded old-timers in Cleveland of Joe Charboneau, the 1980 American League Rookie of the Year.
Two musicians attended the team’s home opener that season, in which Charboneau doubled and homered, and later that day wrote the song “Go Joe Charboneau.” They released a single under the name Section 36, where they were sitting at Cleveland’s old Municipal Stadium.
While the song perhaps wasn’t worthy of the nearby Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland it lives on in franchise lore. The New York Times described it as a “rock opus — its sound is somewhere between a tribal chant and the groan of someone with a stubbed toe.”
DeLauter said before the Saturday game that he hasn’t had much time to take a step back and appreciate his record start.
“It’s something that’s hard to focus on right now,” DeLauter said. “I’m just focused on (Sunday), making sure I’m available (Sunday) night. It’s definitely something I’ll look back on. But man, it’s a cool start.”
Speaking of cool — or cold — starts, the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez got their first hits of the season.
After striking out in each of his first eight at-bats of the campaign, Raleigh singled to center in the third inning. Rodriguez busted out of an 0-for-10 slump with a run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings.
“Tough one tonight,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after the game. “A one-run loss is always tough. Extra innings makes it a little more difficult. But you’ve got to give it to our guys. They came back there in the ninth inning and battled to get the tie, and then making it exciting there in the bottom of the 10th as well. We kept coming back and that’s what this team is all about. But just a little bit too late and a little bit short.”
The series finale is set to feature a pair of right-handers who were first-round draft picks in 2020 in the Guardians’ Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30 ERA in 2025) and Seattle’s Emerson Hancock (4-5, 4.90).
Cecconi is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in one previous start against the Mariners; Hancock is 2-0 with a 2.19 in two career starts versus Cleveland.
-Field Level Media
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
Cubs, Nationals conclude high-scoring series
