Sports
John Deere Classic special to many pros despite place on schedule
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Zach Johnson tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images The John Deere Classic has been a fixture on the PGA Tour since 1971 and sponsored by the tractor manufacturer since 1999.
While the likes of Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau have earned their maiden PGA victories here, the event doesn’t command the strongest fields these days as many players take time off around the Fourth of July. That leaves it as a likely candidate for the tour’s future “Challenger Series,” a second tier of events that would be closed off from top-tier players like Spieth.
For now, the John Deere still holds a special place on the calendar for many tour pros as TPC Deere Run gets set to host the 2026 edition starting Thursday in Silvis, Ill.
Spieth won his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere in 2013, when he was just 19 years old. He claimed the trophy again in 2015. The three-time major champion noted the unfortunate wrinkle of the tour’s new format, beginning in 2028, where players who win on the Challenger Series will likely be promoted to the more prestigious Championship Series and not be able to defend their titles.
“That is probably one of the stranger parts of the whole situation because most of the time guys go back to try to defend their titles,” Spieth said. “It’s definitely something that it’s almost like an unofficial job that you have in a way. … I would say for the most part if you do win, you’re most likely not going to be back at a Track 2 event.”
Spieth is one of just eight players ranked top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week. Chris Gotterup and Ben Griffin are the highest at Nos. 13 and 18.
They’ll play a par-71, 7,327-yard track that can produce low scores, including the tournament record of 28-under 256 set by Davis Thompson two years ago. Organizers lengthened the par-4 fourth hole by some 40 yards after a nearly 100-year-old tree in the middle of the fairway had to be removed.
“That tree, it’s kind of like a Dikembe Mutombo in a lot of respects,” said Zach Johnson, referring to the famed NBA shot-blocker. “It was placed strategically. Unfortunate, that was kind of the character of the hole, and maybe it had a little bit of — I’m not nostalgic or anything like that — sentimentality, but there’s something to be said on that tree on 4.”
There are few people the John Deere means more to than Johnson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 2012 champion has played the event every year since 2002 and has made 17 straight cuts.
Now 50, Johnson chose to continue his appearance streak in the Quad Cities instead of playing the U.S. Senior Open.
“I am an ambassador of this company and of this tournament regardless of if I play or don’t play,” he said. “So going forward, I’ll let things fall where they fall. I mean, I love to compete here, and I’ve cherished every second of that with family, with friends, and with the people in this community. At the same time, I’m also I think old enough to understand that it’s bigger than — certainly bigger than me, but it’s bigger than any one person, and I’m OK with that.”
Brian Campbell seized the opportunity TPC Deere Run gave him last year when he shot four rounds in the 60s and defeated Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo in a playoff. It was his second win of 2025 and of his career.
“Obviously, I would love to come back every single year if I could, but I think it does us better if we think about more what’s happening this week and even this year,” Campbell said of the future rules. “… There is a lot to think about with the new changes, but we’re just excited to be here for this tournament this week.”
One player who could become the next Spieth or DeChambeau is Jackson Koivun, the longtime No. 1 amateur in the world who’ll make his professional debut this week. He earned his card through the PGA Tour University pathway.
“Obviously, the ties here are huge, and I wanted to play U.S. Open as an amateur and that kind of took RBC (Canadian Open) out of the question,” Koivun said of planning his first start. “That kind of left me with the John Deere Classic. I’m really excited to call this my pro debut.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images The start time for the World Cup round of 16 match between England and host Mexico on Sunday is likely to move up to avoid inclement weather, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. local time in Mexico City, 1 a.m. in the United Kingdom. FIFA has discussed moving up the kickoff six hours to 12 p.m. at Azteca Stadium, which would be 7 p.m. in the UK and 2 p.m. Eastern time, per the reports.
Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32 on Tuesday in Mexico City was delayed due to rain.
France’s group-stage match with Iraq on June 22 was paused under tournament safety rules when lightning strikes are detected within eight miles of the stadium, resulting in an automatic 30-minute delay to play.
England defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta to advance to the round of 16.
Fans of the Three Lions in Great Britain probably would prefer the earlier start time. Licensing laws were relaxed to allow pubs in the United Kingdom to stay open until 5 a.m. local time.
FIFA might also move the kickoff time for Brazil’s round of 16 match with Norway at 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., to avoid a potential overlap with the match in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) scores a goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers announced Friday they have signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet that makes him the league’s highest-paid player.
Carlsson will make $18 million in average annual salary, bettering Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, who last September signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension paying him an average of $17 million beginning next season. Kaprizov’s deal, the richest in league history, provides the forward the highest average annual salary since the NHL’s salary cap era began in 2005.
The Ducks have seven days to decide whether to match the Flyers’ offer. If they choose to let the 21-year-old Carlsson leave, then they will receive one Philadelphia first-round pick in each of the next four seasons as compensation.
Carlsson was the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The Karlstad, Sweden, native went straight to the NHL and has produced 61 goals and 80 assists over 201 regular-season games for the Ducks.
He had 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) with a plus-4 rating in 70 regular-season games last season. During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Carlson contributed four goals and seven assists in 12 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Egypt top Australia on penalty kicks, advance to round of 16
July 3, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Egypt’s Emam Ashour celebrates scoring their first goal with Egypt’s Omar Marmoush. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Egypt converted all four of their penalty kicks to win a shootout with Australia 4-2 following a 1-1 draw, securing their first World Cup knockout-round victory on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Salah and Hossam Abdelmaguid all deposited their attempts in the net past Mathew Ryan, who did not appear in this World Cup before subbing on for Patrick Beach late in extra time as a penalty-kick specialist.
Harry Souttar had the first try for Australia and cleared his shot into the stands. Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil got their shots past Egypt keeper Mostafa Shoubir before Salah made a quick sprint at his ball and scored center-net while Ryan dove to his left.
Australia sent 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington on for the fourth round, and his shot found the crossbar. That left Abdelmaguid to finish off Egypt’s deserved victory as Ryan guessed the wrong way again.
Emam Ashour got Egypt on the board in the 13th minute. The Pharaohs will face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Australia, who were also looking for their first-ever knockout triumph, failed to score a regulation goal in their final three matches of the tournament after opening with a 2-0 win over Turkey. Their lone tally Friday came on an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
During second-half stoppage, Beach parried Egypt’s best look over the bar, preventing Rabia’s point-blank header from becoming the game-winner. The 30 minutes of extra time, much like regulation, saw Egypt have far more of the ball and the chances as the Socceroos defended corner after corner.
A creative free kick was the precursor to Ashour’s goal. Salah flicked it back to Ashour for a running start, but his attempt was blocked by a defender. The ball stayed in the area and Ashour floated into good position while Egypt worked the ball the other way to Karim Hafez.
When Hafez uncorked a cross to the far side, Ashour was there to elevate for a strong header that split Beach and the post.
Hany — who needed treatment on his knee during the first half — was at the center of a scary moment in the early minutes of the second. After an aerial collision with Connor Metcalfe near the Egypt net, Hany fell in a heap and teammates immediately called for assistance. Trainers prepared a stretcher, but after Hany stood up and was given a concussion check, he was allowed to stay in the game.
The tying own goal came about five minutes later at 55 minutes, when Hany’s header could not direct a curling free kick from Aiden O’Neill away from net.
–Field Level Media
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
