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
Reports: 49ers agree to 1-year deal with WR Christian Kirk
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) catches a touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) during the first half of an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran receiver Christian Kirk, multiple outlets reported Monday.
The deal is worth up to $6 million, according to ESPN.
Kirk is the second veteran receiver the 49ers have signed in consecutive weeks. San Francisco also added longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Mike Evans last week when free agency began.
Kirk, 29, has 432 career receptions for 5,415 yards and 30 touchdowns in 106 games (80 starts) over eight NFL seasons.
He struggled last season in his lone campaign with the Houston Texans. He had just 28 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown in 13 games.
Kirk did have a big game in the postseason with eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown as the Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the AFC wild-card round.
Kirk also has played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2018-21) and three with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2022-24). His best season was 2022 when he established career highs of 84 receptions, 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns.
Kirk was a second-round pick by Arizona in the 2018 draft. He was a college football standout at Texas A&M.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nate Diaz to make MMA return on Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano undercard
Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) fights Tony Ferguson (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Nate Diaz is stepping back into an MMA cage for the first time in nearly four years as he has agreed to face Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout on May 16 in Los Angeles, Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions announced Monday.
The fight will take place on the card headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano at Intuit Dome and stream live on Netflix as part of MVP’s first MMA event.
Diaz, 40, last competed in MMA in September 2022, when he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. He holds a 21-13 career record, including 12 submission victories. Since his last MMA fight, Diaz has remained active through crossover boxing matches. He lost by decision to Paul in 2023 before beating Jorge Masvidal in 2024.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz declared via social media. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time.”
Perry, 34, brings his own second-act resume. After leaving the UFC in 2021, he rebuilt his brand in bare-knuckle boxing, remaining unbeaten and earning the BKFC symbolic “King of Violence” championship, while also briefly exploring boxing, which ended with a stoppage loss to Paul in 2024. He has a career 14-8 MMA record with 11 knockout wins and a perfect 6-0 record in bare-knuckle fighting.
Diaz-Perry becomes the third pillar of a star-studded night that originated with Rousey and Carano. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is scheduled for a heavyweight fight with Philipe Lins.
“MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of cable, and now we’re set to break records again with the biggest viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz vs Perry to Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins,” Nakisa Bidarian, MVP CEO, said in a statement. “Nate Diaz is the Real BMF, and Mike Perry is the King of Violence — this will be a war from the first press conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand raised.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Plagued by early deficits, Wild turn page to meet Blackhawks
Mar 10, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Nick Foligno (71) in action during the first period against the Utah Mammoth at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images A three-game winless streak has done little to compromise the Minnesota Wild’s solid playoff positioning.
Still, the locker room knows better than to get complacent as the stretch run nears.
A visit Tuesday to the slumping Chicago Blackhawks offers a chance for Minnesota to snap the skid and move closer to securing a postseason berth. The Wild are eager to seize it as they make the most of their current funk.
“The mood is good, I think. I truly do. I think adversity right now could be a positive,” defenseman Jake Middleton said. “We’ve got a lot of new bodies in the room. The lineup is kind of interchangeable game-to-game. Learning how to play in these types of situations could be a good thing for this group.”
Minnesota is entrenched in third place in the Central Division, six points behind the Dallas Stars and 14 ahead of the Utah Mammoth.
The Wild can thank the Blackhawks for preventing the Mammoth from creeping closer in the standings.
While Chicago is just 3-4-2 since play resumed after the Olympic break, all three victories during that span came against Utah.
After sweeping a home-and-home with the Mammoth last week, with both games requiring overtime, the Blackhawks were unable to sustain momentum Saturday in a 4-0 road loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas beat Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight for three goals in the first 12 minutes. The Blackhawks allowed multiple power-play goals for the first time since Dec. 7.
“I don’t think we started well enough, pretty evidently,” Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic said. “They jumped on us quick. (Against) a good team like that, they’re hard to compete with once they get a lead.”
Minnesota can attest to the difficulty of emerging from early holes, as home losses to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday and New York Rangers on Saturday showed.
In Sunday’s 4-2 loss to visiting Toronto, the Maple Leafs struck for three goals in the middle period. Although Vladimir Tarasenko responded, scoring twice in 23 seconds to reach 700 career points, Minnesota fell short.
“Obviously when you’re down three, it feels like a huge mountain to climb,” Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt said. “But I thought we did an unbelievable job with sticking with what works for us and we continued to play the style of hockey that we want to play.
“We gave it a good push, but unfortunately (Sunday) it wasn’t enough.”
Tuesday marks the beginning of a home-and-home between the Blackhawks and Wild, who are set to conclude the season series on Thursday in Minnesota.
Minnesota defeated host Chicago 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 26 and earned a 4-3 shootout win at home on Jan. 27.
The Blackhawks expect defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (left shoulder) to play Tuesday after he missed the Vegas game due to injury.
Also set to return: former Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno. Tuesday is his first game in Chicago since the Blackhawks traded him to Minnesota on March 6.
Reunited with his brother Marcus, who is week-to-week with a lower body injury, Nick Foligno tallied one assist in his first five games with the Wild.
–Field Level Media
Reports: 49ers agree to 1-year deal with WR Christian Kirk
Nate Diaz to make MMA return on Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano undercard
