Sports
Golf Glance: PGA wraps Florida Swing; LPGA returns to U.S.; LIV makes South Africa debut
Xander Schauffele tees off on the fifth hole during the third round of The Players Championship PGA golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] The PGA Tour concludes its Florida Swing at Innisbrook, the LPGA Tour returns to the United States and LIV Golf makes is South Africa debut among a busy slate of golf events around the globe this week.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Valspar Championship, Palm Harbor, Fla. (March 19-22)
Course: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Copperhead Course (Par 71, 7,352 Yards)
Purse: $9.2M (Winner: $1.638M)
Defending Champion: Viktor Hovland
FedEx Cup Leader: Jacob Bridgeman
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @ValsparChamp
NOTES: The field includes seven of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by No. 7 Xander Schauffele. … Hovland seeks to become the third player to successfully defend at the Valspar. … With Brooks Koepka playing via the Returning Member Program, the field was expanded to 135 players to round out threesomes with the additions of Seamus Power and Matt Kuchar. … Keith Mitchell, Robert MacIntyre, Sudarshan Yellamaraju and William Mouw withdrew this week. They were replaced by Doug Ghim, Andrew Putnam, Kris Ventura and Justin Lower. … Vijay Singh holds the tournament scoring record of 266 set in 2004. … Blades Brown, 18, is in the field courtesy of his third-place finish at the Puerto Rico Open. Luke Clanton is also playing this week after his T5 in Puerto Rico. … Sponsor exemptions include 2017 champion Adam Hadwin, who lost his full-time PGA Tour card last season.
BEST BETS: Schauffele (+1050 at DraftKings) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 7. He was in contention at The Players despite a 72 on Saturday caused largely by his struggles off the tee. … Matt Fitzpatrick (+1450) is coming off a runner-up at TPC Sawgrass, where he was tied for the lead before a bogey on the 72nd hole. … Hovland (+1900) claimed his seventh career victory here and enters with consecutive T13s the past two weeks. … Akshay Bhatia followed up his win at Bay Hill with a T13 at TPC Sawgrass. … Justin Thomas (+2250) structured his schedule to make sure that his return from back surgery allowed him to play at Innisbrook, where he said he feels like he has a chance to win every year. Thomas finished second last year … Bridgeman (+2250) continue to build on his breakout year with a T5 last week.
Last Tournament: The Players Championship (Cameron Young)
Next Tournament: Texas Children’s Houston Open, March 26-29
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Fortinet Founders Cup, Menlo Park, Calif., March 19-22
Course: Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club (Par 72, 6,542 Yards)
Purse: $3M (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Yealimi Noh
HOW TO FOLLOW:
TV: Thursday-Sunday: 6-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @LPGA
NOTES: The tour returns to the United States following a three-event Asia Swing. … The event began in 2011, with the most recent iteration seeing Noh beat former World No. 1 Jin Young Ko by four strokes at Bradenton Country Club last year for her first career LPGA Tour victory. … This week marks the 25th anniversary of the first 59 shot in LPGA Tour history by 72-time winner Annika Sorenstam at Moon Valley Country Club.
Race to CME Globe Leader: Jeeno Thitikul
Last Tournament: Blue Bay LPGA (Mi Hyang Lee)
Next Tournament: Ford Championship, Phoenix, March 26-29
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
THIS WEEK: LIV Golf South Africa, Steyn City, March 19-22
Course: The Club at Steyn City (Par 71, 7,557 Yards)
Purses: Individual: $30M (Winner: $4M); Team: $10M (Winners: $3M)
Defending Champions: Inaugural Event
2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC
HOW TO WATCH
TV: Wednesday-Thursday: 6-8 a.m. ET (FS1), 8-11 a.m. (FS2); Friday: 6-11 a.m. (FOX); Sunday: 6-11 a.m. (FS1)
NOTES: This marks LIV Golf’s first event in South Africa and is the fifth of 14 events this season. … Phil Mickelson will make his 2026 debut after missing the first four events due to an undisclosed personal reason. … The daily shotgun start includes 13 teams and 57 total players, including five wild cards. … Bryson DeChambeau climbed eight spots to No. 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking with his victory in Singapore. This is the final event for Thomas Detry (No. 63) and Elvis Smylie (No. 74) have one LIV Golf event remaining to climb into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and earn a spot in the Masters. … The field includes the all-South African team of Southern Guards GC comprised of captain Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel.
Last Event: LIV Golf Singapore (Individual: DeChambeau; Team: 4Aces GC)
Next Event: LIV Golf Mexico City, April 16-19
DP WORLD TOUR
THIS WEEK: Hainan Classic, Hainan Island, China, March 19-22
Course: Mission Hills Resort Haikou (Par 72, 7,637 Yards)
Purse: $2.25M
Defending Champion: Marco Penge
Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: TBA
X: @DPWorldTour
NOTES: The is the start of the four-event Asia Swing, with DP World Tour members competing for a total prize fund of $10.6 million. … The first 36 holes will be staged across both the Blackstone and Vintage courses, with professionals playing alongside an amateur in each team. The final two rounds will be contested on the Blackstone course. … The player who finishes first in the Asia Swing will earn a place in all events in Phase Two of the DP World Tour season, the Back 9 and a $200,000 bonus. Japan’s Keita Nakajima won last year’s Asia Swing. … The three leading DP World Tour members will qualify for the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club from May 14-17.
Last Tournament: Joburg Open (David Puig)
Next Tournament: Hero Indian Open, New Delhi, March 26-29
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
THIS WEEK: Cologuard Classic, Tucson, Ariz., March 20-22
Course: La Paloma Country Club (Par 71, 6,856 Yards)
Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)
Defending Champion: Steven Alker
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 4-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: This is the fourth of 28 events on the 2026 schedule and will be held at La Paloma for the third time. The tournament uses a composite route that includes holes from all three of the property’s courses. … The 78-player field will compete over three days, with the forecast calling for temperatures to exceed 100 degrees in Tucson. … Zach Johnson is coming off a victory in his Champions Tour debut and aims to join Phil Mickelson as the only players to win each of their first two Champions events. … Alker is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend his title at the Cologuard Classic.
Last Tournament: James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (Johnson)
Next Tournament: Hoag Classic, Newport Beach, Calif., March 27-29
–Field Level Media
Sports
LA Olympics soccer to begin 4 days before opening ceremony
[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; General view inside the stadium during the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images By the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics opening ceremony takes place July 14, the men’s and women’s soccer tournament will be well underway, according to the schedule that was released Monday.
The men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments will be held across the United States, with New York, Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tenn., and St. Louis all playing host to men’s and women’s group stage matches July 10 and 11.
San Diego and San Jose, Calif., will play host to women’s group stage matches starting July 11.
The tournament will not reach the Los Angeles area until July 21 when the women’s tournament conducts a quarterfinal match on July 21 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The men’s and women’s semifinals and finals will also take place at the Rose Bowl between July 24-29.
The early start to the tournament allows all teams two extra days of rest between games compared to previous Olympic tournaments.
The complete schedule for both tournaments, as well as game start times, will be released at a later date.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red-hot teams clash when Hurricanes visit Blue Jackets
Mar 10, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) and right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) look at each other during the warmups before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho look to continue their respective strong play on Tuesday as the Carolina Hurricanes visit the streaking Columbus Blue Jackets.
Svechnikov and Aho each collected a goal and an assist in Carolina’s 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Svechnikov has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past six games while Aho has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past nine contests.
Both players have 24 goals this season, four shy of Seth Jarvis for the team lead. Aho leads the team in both assists (44) and points (68), with Svechnikov sitting second in both categories (34, 58).
Jordan Martinook scored the go-ahead goal midway into the third period on Saturday for the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes, who improved to 14-3-2 in their last 19 games.
“I thought everybody really contributed. And that’s how we win, right?” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s not, you know, just special plays here and there. We need every line, really. And that’s what we’ve got to do to get it done.”
Svechnikov notched two assists in the Hurricanes’ 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on Dec. 9 in Raleigh, N.C.
Carolina will have a tall task in slowing down Columbus, which enters Tuesday’s tilt on a nine-game point streak (5-0-4). The Blue Jackets remained hot on Saturday by recording a 2-1 victory in a shootout over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kirill Marchenko provided the fireworks Saturday by scoring his team-leading 25th goal of the season, and 100th career goal, before adding the game-deciding tally in the shootout.
Columbus improved to 15-2-4 in 21 games since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as the team’s head coach on Jan. 12. That surge has allowed the Blue Jackets to move just outside the second-wild card position in the East.
“It’s really important for us and for the standings,” Marchenko said. “It looks like a playoff game. … A lot of games, we’re playing only one goal (games) and always in overtime and shootouts. Happy to win that because last game we lose in overtime (2-1 against the Florida Panthers on Thursday), and now we will change it.”
Jet Greaves turned aside 18 shots in regulation and overtime before denying all three attempts in the shootout.
“He was so calm in the shootout,” Bowness said. “That was pretty good to see. Very impressive.”
Greaves credited the team’s penalty kill for making his job easier. Columbus thwarted all four short-handed situations on Saturday, including a four-minute power play by Philadelphia that bridged from the second and third period.
“I thought the kill did a great job,” Greaves said. “Special teams is so important in these games, and I thought the guys did a good job. There were a lot of shot blocks. I think we were getting it in the neutral zone and up the ice, and that shows a positive effort from the guys. It’s such an important time in the game.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Re-elected Barcelona president: Doors 'always open' to Lionel Messi
Mar 7, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) in action against DC United at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Newly re-elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta tendered an olive branch to Lionel Messi, saying the erstwhile club legend and Inter Miami superstar would always be welcome to return.
Laporta routed challenger Victor Font in Sunday’s election, earning 68.1% of votes cast by 48,480 club members to retain the presidency through 2031.
He overcame Font’s focus on his strained relationship with Messi and an accusation from Xavi, the former Barcelona manager, that Laporta blocked the Argentine midfielder from returning in 2023, two years after Messi left for France.
“Leo will be linked to Barcelona in whatever way he wants to be,” Laporta said. “He deserves a tribute (match) and also a statue. That would be hugely significant. Only Ladislao Kubala and Johan Cruyff have statues at the stadium.
“The doors at Barca are always open to him, whenever he wishes, so that he can continue to strengthen and bring greatness to this institution.”
A lawyer and former Catalan politician, Laporta was club president from 2003-10, reclaimed the post in 2021 and initiated a personnel overhaul that led to Messi’s departure for PSG.
With Messi pulling the strings, Barcelona became a European powerhouse and perennial La Liga champion during Laporta’s initial term.
Messi, 38, led Barcelona to 10 domestic championships and four Champions League titles before continuing his dominance in France and with Inter Miami, with whom he won MLS Cup in 2025 along with back-to-back league MVP awards.
Barcelona’s all-time scoring leader with 672 goals in 778 games, Messi has maintained he would like to come back in the twilight of his career, which also includes the 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” Messi wrote last November in a social media post that showed him touring the renovated Camp Nou.
“It’s a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do…”
Laporta outlined his priorities for the next five years at Barcelona, the current top team in the La Liga table and an aspiring Champions League quarterfinalist.
“To keep building a great team with (manager Hansi) Flick on the bench,” Laporta said. “To win titles, which is what the fans love, but also to play well. And to finish the stadium halfway through the mandate, because that guarantees the club’s future on a financial level but also a venue fitting for putting on a show on the pitch.
“We also want to keep the women’s team really competitive and to keep growing economically. The best years of our lives lie in wait.”
–Field Level Media
LA Olympics soccer to begin 4 days before opening ceremony
Red-hot teams clash when Hurricanes visit Blue Jackets
