Sports
LIV golfers cleared for U.S. Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship
Oct 1, 2023; Rome, ITA; Team USA golfer Brooks Koepka greets his caddie Ricky Elliott on the 16th green during the final day of the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Players signed to the LIV Golf circuit will be allowed to take part in the PGA Championship and be a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, the PGA of America announced Thursday.
“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both,” the organization said in a statement posted to social media.
“Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete,” the PGA of America said. “This is consistent with LIV Golf players competing in the PGA Championship the past two years.”
One of those players, Brooks Koepka, was on the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team due to a grace period that allowed him to temporarily retain his PGA of America membership despite signing on with LIV. Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the 2024 U.S. Open, is sitting in third place on the 2025 Ryder Cup points list, good enough to make him an automatic qualifier.
The next PGA Championship is scheduled for May 15-18 at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. The United States will host the 2025 Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Course on New York’s Long Island next September.
LIV Golf members from Europe must play in four DP World Tour events in a single season as a baseline eligibility for their Ryder Cup team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies OF Johan Rojas banned 80 games for failed PED test
Jul 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas (23) hits an RBI single against the Boston Red Sox in the eleventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Major League Baseball suspended Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas for 80 games Monday for violating the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program.
Rojas tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone, MLB said in a statement.
Rojas’ suspension kicks in at the start of the regular season. The Phillies open at home against the Texas Rangers on March 26. Their 81st game is scheduled for June 25 at the Washington Nationals.
“The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Johan’s violation,” the Phillies said in a statement.
Rojas, 25, was entering his fourth season in MLB, all with Philadelphia. He appeared in 71 games in 2025 and batted .224 with one home run, 18 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. In 250 career games, Rojas has amassed six homers, 73 RBIs and 51 stolen bases while batting .252.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alabama G Aden Holloway hit with felony drug charge, 'removed from campus'
Feb 25, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) dribbles along the baseline at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Mississippi State 100-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News Alabama starting guard Aden Holloway was arrested on felony drug possession on Monday, four days before the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide play their NCAA Tournament opener.
The university said Holloway was “removed from campus” and not with the team as it begins practice in preparation for a first-round game in Tampa against No. 13 seed Hofstra (24-10).
“The student has been removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct,” Alabama said in a statement.
Holloway, a 21-year-old junior, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana (not for personal use), a Class C felony in the state. He was also charged with failure to affix a tax stamp, another felony. He paid the $5,000 bond and was released from jail Monday morning.
Police said a “West Alabama Narcotics Task Force seized more than a pound of weed, paraphernalia and cash from his residence.”
Holloway was second on the team in scoring at 16.8 points per game and averaged 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from 3-point range in 28 games (27 starts) in 2025-2026. He played his first season at Auburn in 2023-24 before transferring to Alabama.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Shohei Ohtani ready to rejoin Dodgers rotation, could pitch this week
Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images One spring training appearance is all the Los Angeles Dodgers have witnessed of Shohei Ohtani’s ramp-up for the start of the regular season next week.
Ohtani had one hit in three at-bats in the only game he played with the Dodgers this spring before joining Japan for the World Baseball Classic. He was not available to pitch for Japan, which lost to Venezuela in the quarterfinals on Saturday to the surprise of Ohtani and the Dodgers.
Now, with Ohtani back in camp earlier than expected, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said there’s a strong chance Ohtani will pitch in a game this week or early next week.
“Last year, we had the plan to start from one inning to keep him with us active and playing. I think this year, we’re certainly north of that,” Roberts said. “I don’t see how we won’t be able to get three or four innings from him in a Major League game. So that’s certainly a better jumping-off point than last year. We’ll see how it goes.”
Ohtani threw a four-inning simulated game last week in Miami with Japan. He’s not starting from scratch, which is why the Dodgers are comfortable planning for him to begin the regular season as part of the starting rotation, Roberts said.
Ohtani made 14 regular-season and four playoff starts for the Dodgers in 2025. After amassing 62 strikeouts and a 2.87 ERA in 47 innings during the regular season, he posted a 2-1 record with a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 20 1/3 postseason innings. He did not pitch for the Dodgers in 2024 after underdoing surgery to fix an injured ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
–Field Level Media
Phillies OF Johan Rojas banned 80 games for failed PED test
Alabama G Aden Holloway hit with felony drug charge, 'removed from campus'
