Sports
Alex Fitzpatrick: Whirlwind launch to PGA Tour 'doesn't feel real'
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 is still adjusting to a major life change that “doesn’t feel real” after the Englishman officially joined the PGA Tour coming off an emotional victory alongside his brother, Matt, in last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
“I sat down with my caddie on Monday morning, we had breakfast together, and we looked at some of the events and it was like, wow, this is crazy, this doesn’t feel real,” Fitzpatrick told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference for this week’s 2026 Cadillac Championship. “And even walking on to the range yesterday morning was, yesterday afternoon, was like, it feels weird to be here. This is something I’m not used to.”
Fitzpatrick turned professional in 2022 after his collegiate career at Wake Forest, he secured his first major individual professional victory at the 2023 British Challenge.
Currently ranked 140th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the 27-year-old won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in March.
His win at Zurich in the two-man team event with his brother earned him full status as a PGA Tour member through the 2028 season, including entry into the remaining 2026 Signature Events, the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 The Players Championship, bringing a sense of security Fitzpatrick acknowledged Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of stress with this game, it can really bring you down to earth at any time,” he said. “So being able to kind of plan my schedule and figure out where I’m going to be is amazing and, yeah, it definitely takes a lot off your plate, that’s for sure.”
Despite the stability his PGA Tour membership offers, Fitzpatrick said he’s still awed by some of the changes it involves.
“I don’t have a clue what’s going on, I’m not going to lie to you,” he said, “… playing against the best players of the world all of a sudden and even like the purses are obviously much bigger.”
But Fitzpatrick expressed confidence that his game is ready even if his mindset is still adjusting.
“I feel like my game is in a good shape. I feel like I played really nicely last week and over the past couple months my game’s improved a lot. So hopefully I can kind of continue the form and see where that takes me this week,” Fitzpatrick said.
“But, yeah, I have no expectations. Especially this week I think it’s going to be a whirlwind and my head’s going to be everywhere, but hopefully that calms down after this week and I kind of settle in, hopefully settle in nicely.”
The 2026 Cadillac Championship, the fifth of eight Signature Events this season, kicks off Thursday at the Trump National Doral (Blue Monster) in Miami, Fla.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chiefs rookie WR Cyrus Allen carted off practice field
Jun 9, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen (13) runs drills during the Kansas City Chiefs mandatory mini-camp at the Chiefs practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury on Saturday after he collided with a teammate during a special teams drill.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known for Allen, who had difficulty putting weight on his left leg before a cart was summoned to take him back to the locker room.
Allen, 23, impressed head coach Andy Reid during the first few days of training camp.
“He’s done a nice job,” Reid said Friday. “The quarterback trusts him.”
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Allen was selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Professional bowler Jakob Butturff dies at 32
Jakob Butturff bowls in his match against AJ Johnson during the Cheetah Championship finals in the Guaranteed Rate PBA World Series of Bowling XIV on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Bowlero Wauwatosa in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Professional bowler Jakob Butturff died unexpectedly on Friday at the age of 32, the PBA Tour announced.
Butturff won eight PBA Tour titles, including one major competition — the 2019 USBC Masters.
“Jakob was one of the most unique players in PBA history,” PBA commissioner Tom Clark said. “Fans marveled at his delivery, as he rode a wave of strikes into becoming a top player in the sport, capable of winning at any time, in any event.
“Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion. He will never be forgotten. Our hearts are with all Butters touched on his one-of-a-kind journey.”
His cause of death was not announced.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Butturff won his first two PBA Tour titles in 2016. On the PBA Regional Tour that year, he had nine titles and was named Northwest Region Player of the Year.
In 2019, Butturff add three titles as he rose to the No. 2 ranking. His wins that year included the sole major tournament of his career. He also finished second in the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year voting.
He had career earnings of just over $1 million in 214 events since 2015.
Fellow bowlers took to social media to post their tributes.
“It ain’t supposed to be like this,” EJ Tackett wrote on social media. “It’s nothing short of soul crushing. Butters was one of the guys that would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need and he showed that time and time again. The bowling world lost today and it will never be the same. We all love you buddy. Until we meet again my friend.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Losing streaks collide as Sparks visit Fire
Jun 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) is fouled by Portland Fire guard Carla Leite (0) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Two squads looking to stop losing streaks meet on Sunday when the Portland Fire host the Los Angeles Sparks.
Portland (11-18) dropped its fourth straight game Friday with a 112-98 setback against Indiana, a sour note to kick off the Fire’s five-game homestand.
Bridget Carleton scored 26 points on 7-for-11 shooting from 3-point range, and Portland hit 14 of 31 buckets from beyond the arc as a team, but the Fire’s ongoing defensive struggles proved insurmountable.
Friday’s loss marked the third time in Portland’s current skid that it surrendered more than 100 points, and fourth straight giving up at least 98.
“It’s solvable,” Carleton said after Friday’s contest. “One-hundred and twelve points is a lot, and most came off of our turnovers.”
With 20 turnovers committed against the Fever, the Fire are averaging 14.7 giveaways a game. Only Washington is allowing more with 15.6 turnovers per game.
As a result, Portland is allowing 91.6 points per game, more than all but two teams: Toronto at 93.6 and Los Angeles with 94.1.
The Sparks (10-17) owe much of their six-game slump to defensive woes. Los Angeles gave up 113 points its last time out in a four-point home loss to New York on Tuesday.
Despite shooting a blistering 16-for-31 from 3-point territory, including Erica Wheeler’s 4-for-5 effort, the Sparks allowed the Liberty to shoot 53.1% from deep (17-for-32).
Tuesday’s offensive surge did give a Los Angeles team that has been without Kelsey Plum throughout the skid some optimism, however.
“No moral victories, but … our pace was great. Execution was probably the best we’ve had in a long time,” head coach Lynne Roberts said.
The Sparks’ 109 points marked a season high in regulation and were evenly distributed among six double-digit scorers. Rae Burrell finished with 24, Wheeler had 17 and Ariel Atkins posted 16 to provide much-needed perimeter punch to complement Nneka Ogwumike (21) and Dearica Hamby (12).
Cameron Brink also added 11 points off the bench, her third game in double figures in the last five.
As the Sparks have had to adjust without Plum, rumors swirled this week that the guard is a trade candidate.
“Professional sports (are) business,” Plum said to reporters at Thursday’s practice. “People have to do what’s best for them, and I respect that.”
–Field Level Media
Chiefs rookie WR Cyrus Allen carted off practice field
Professional bowler Jakob Butturff dies at 32
