Sports
Jon Rahm wishes Patrick Reed 'nothing but the best' after LIV departure
Aug 24, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Jon Rahm of Legion XIII reacts to making his putt on the 18th green in a playoff hole during the finals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images As the league’s two-time defending individual champion, Jon Rahm has quickly become the face of LIV Golf.
That makes the Spaniard’s opinion on the uncertain state of LIV amidst a valuable one as the tour kicks off its 2026 season this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Brooks Koepka sent shockwaves when he left LIV last December and made his PGA Tour return over the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Patrick Reed, while not yet back with PGA officially, announced his LIV departure last week and is set to return to the more prominent tour later this year.
The PGA Tour announced a “returning member program,” the criteria of which made only four LIV players eligible for immediate reinstatement: Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Australian Cameron Smith and Rahm.
Instead, Rahm elected to stick with LIV for a third season as the captain of defending team champion Legion XIII. But Rahm admitted he doesn’t hold any ill will towards Reed for his decision.
“I think each one is going to do whatever he thinks is best for them. At this point, I just wish him nothing but the best of luck. Hopefully it all goes well,” Rahm said when asked about Reed’s decision on Monday. “We’re free to choose where we want to play golf. At least that’s how it should be. And he’s made his choice, obviously. Nothing really against him. He’s been playing fantastic golf, and if he wants to go back, he should have the chance to do so.”
This week’s event in Riyadh also marks the beginning of a new era for LIV, which will move from 54-hole events to the more traditional 72 holes this season.
The hope is that this change will allow for LIV events to begin counting for points in the Official Golf World Rankings, which they have not since the league’s 2022 launch.
A decision on that front is reportedly expected soon from OWGR’s board, potentially paving an easier path for LIV competitors to qualify for major championships.
Rahm, a two-time major champion, sees the change as a positive on all fronts.
“I’m happy about it. I would say I was one of the people that pushed for it. So obviously I’m happy about it,” Rahm said. “I think the more golf we play, the better for stronger teams and stronger players, and I think it will benefit us four individuals and as a team.”
Another potential LIV change this season is the league pushing for the DP World Tour to stop fining competitors for missing events due to LIV event conflicts.
That’s affecting Rahm more than many, as he said recently that he’s been fined approximately $3 million for missing DP events since joining LIV ahead of the 2024 season.
“I don’t know what it may be or what it’s going to look like, but I’m happy to see that looking for a path forward for LIV players to be able to play on both tours and not to get penalized,” Rahm said. “The fact that they’re looking at a positive way to figure it out, I think it’s only good for us, and I think it’s good for the DP World Tour as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lindsey Vonn has ruptured ACL, intends to ski at Olympics
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jan 30, 2026; Crans-Montana, SWITZERLAND; Lindsey Vonn of the United States reacts after sustaining an apparent injury in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the FIS World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters via Imagn Images American skiing great Lindsey Vonn has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee but said Tuesday she intends to race in the women’s downhill race Sunday at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
It will be the fifth Winter Olympics for the 41-year-old Vonn. She suffered the injury on Friday when she crashed in a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and was airlifted to a hospital.
“I completely ruptured my ACL. I also have bone bruising, which is a common injury,” she told reporters in a news conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, site of the Alpine ski competition.
“We have been doing extensive therapy, been consulting with doctors, been in the gym, and today, I went skiing, and considering how my knee feels, it feels stable. I feel strong.”
Vonn said she is determined to leave that starting gate at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center.
“I know [what] my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there is still a chance. And as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”
To take part in the Sunday downhill, all skiers must complete at least one official training run. Vonn is no stranger to the mountain. She has 12 of her 84 World Cup victories there, the most of any skier.
Vonn also had been slated to compete for the U.S. Ski Team in the team combined (Feb. 10) and Super-G events (Feb. 12).
Vonn earned gold (downhill) and bronze (Super-G) medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a bronze medal in the downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Vonn retired after the 2019 world championships due to injuries. She subsequently received a partial replacement of her right knee and launched a comeback late in 2024 with the Olympics in her sights.
She has won the downhill twice this winter and leads the World Cup standings in the discipline and was considered a favorite to win the gold medal in the event in Italy.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rapids trade M Cole Bassett to Timbers in deal worth up to $3.6M
Jul 31, 2025; Commerce City, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett (23) reacts in the first half against Santos Laguna at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Colorado Rapids traded midfielder Cole Bassett to the Portland Timbers FC, getting $2.65 million in return.
If Bassett, 24, meets certain performance metrics, the Rapids could receive as much as $950,000 more. Colorado also would receive a percentage of a future trade or transfer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cole Bassett to the Portland Timbers. Cole has been an impactful player in MLS for a number of years, and his ambitions align with ours as he takes this next step in his career,” Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy said.
“He immediately makes our midfield more dynamic with his ability to join attacks and provide an end product. We look forward to his arrival, and he will be an important player for us moving forward.”
A native of Littleton, Colo., Bassett came through the Rapids’ academy and is the club’s all-time leader among homegrown players in MLS regular season appearances (155), starts (128), minutes (11,286), goals (31) and assists (22). He was the youngest player in club history to play a complete match (17 years, 77 days) and the youngest to contribute to a goal (17 years, 252 days).
Among all Rapids players, Bassett ranks tied for fifth in appearances, tied for sixth in goals and total goal contributions, and ninth in assists and minutes played in club history.
“Cole has been an important part of this club for a long time, not only for what he contributed on the field but for the way he represented the Rapids off it as well,” said Padraig Smith, the team president, in a statement on Monday.
“As a Homegrown player, he set a strong example within our locker room, in our community, and for the next generation coming through our Academy. We’re grateful for everything he’s given the club and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”
Bassett was named to the MLS 22 under 22 list three times from 2019-21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Giants to add Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy looks on during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images The New York Giants plan to hire Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Nagy’s primary order of business will be to continue the development of prized quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Nagy, 47, spent the past three seasons in the same post with the Kansas City Chiefs, who welcomed back Eric Bieniemy to replace him as offensive coordinator. Nagy also was the OC in Kansas City in 2017 before serving as the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018-21, where he had a 34-31 record.
Nagy was unsuccessful in his bid to nab one of the vacant head coaching positions this offseason and now will join new head coach John Harbaugh with the Giants.
New York reportedly was interested in Todd Monken — Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons in Baltimore — to fill its OC position. Monken, however, was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
The Giants finished fifth in rushing and 13th in total offense this past season. Dart, a first-round selection from the 2025 draft, totaled 24 touchdowns (15 passing, nine rushing) and five interceptions in 14 games (12 starts).
–Field Level Media
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