Sports
Lucas Herbert goes wire-to-wire at LIV Golf Virginia, earns U.S. Open spot
May 10, 2026; Sterling, Virginia, USA; Lucas Herbert lifts his trophy in the air after the final round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Power-Imagn Images Lucas Herbert has won golf tournaments around the world. He finally has his first title on LIV Golf.
The Australian completed a wire-to-wire victory at LIV Golf Virginia by posting a final-round 3-under-par 69 on Sunday at Trump National DC in Potomac Falls, Va.
Herbert went 24 under par for the week, four strokes better than runner-up Sergio Garcia of Spain (final-round 70). Bryson DeChambeau went 64-66 on the weekend to grab third place at 19 under before he plays the PGA Championship next week.
Herbert built an insurmountable lead by opening the tournament with rounds of 64 and 63. Even a double bogey at the par-3 ninth hole Sunday did not harm his chances much, as he finished with eight birdies and three bogeys on the card.
Herbert finished the week with 29 birdies plus one eagle.
Asked what he learned about himself this week, Herbert replied, “Probably that I can perform pretty damn well when things aren’t perfect.
“I was pretty sick all week, and I woke up this morning probably feeling worse than I did the last few days,” he said. “I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard, and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one. I didn’t doubt myself. I missed a few putts here and there and made it a contest late.”
A weather delay briefly halted proceedings late in the round, with Herbert up two on Garcia with two holes to play.
“After the rain delay, the way I played those eight shots, I’m so proud of that. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone tonight,” Herbert said.
Herbert, 30, will have even more to celebrate. The victory vaulted him into third place in the season standings, behind Spanish star Jon Rahm and DeChambeau, which earned Herbert a berth in the U.S. Open.
Herbert, who had won on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour before Sunday, was eligible for only two majors since the start of the 2024 season.
“There was so many things that came with winning today. I just wanted to focus on what I was doing and then spend this moment now figuring out what comes with it,” he said. “That’s a nice added bonus.”
Garcia’s day wasn’t done when he landed in second place. The team he captains, Fireballs GC, went to a playoff against 4Aces GC to decide the team title.
Rather than choosing himself, Garcia used countrymen Josele Ballester — who shot a 12-under 60 on Saturday — and David Puig. 4Aces captain Dustin Johnson selected Anthony Kim and Belgium’s Thomas Detry.
When they replayed the par-4 18th hole, everyone made par except for Puig, and 4Aces claimed the team victory.
“They both played well today. I was a little tired,” Garcia said. “I would have loved to be there, but I was a little too tired. I thought playing from the back, it was a good hole for them. Unfortunately, David got a little unfortunate there on the second shot. He caught a little bit off a flier and couldn’t up-and-down, but it is what it is.”
LIV Golf is scheduled to return May 28-31 with LIV Golf Korea — despite Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund planning to withdraw its financial backing after the 2026 season and the postponement of a June event in New Orleans.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
June 8, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Chris Richards of the U.S. signs an autograph for a fan during training. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Defender Chris Richards is back on the field with the United States Men’s National Team on Monday and appears to be on track for the World Cup opener against Paraguay this week.
“We will see … first time with the team,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday. “Nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury last month and is viewed as a vital defender in the center of the backline.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie filled in for Richards on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup against Germany in Chicago.
At Monday’s practice in Irvine, Calif., Tyler Adams was not on the field. He worked in the gym for load management purposes, Pochettino said.
Richards, 26, suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 as his Crystal Palace team played Brentford in a Premier League match. He did complete the match but limped off the field and has not competed since.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Kings to hire Peter Laviolette as head coach
Mar 29, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette instructs his team as left wings Artemi Panarin (10), Chris Kreider (20) and Brennan Othmann (78) look on against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Kings are set to hire Peter Laviolette to a three-year deal as their next head coach, Sportsnet and ESPN reported Monday.
Laviolette had been in talks to become the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as last week, according to multiple reports, and the Edmonton Oilers had also reportedly looked at him as a candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Laviolette, 61, has been an NHL head coach for 23 seasons.
He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He also reached the Stanley Cup Final as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
He most recently coached the New York Rangers from 2023-25. The Rangers went 55-23-4 (114 points) in Laviolette’s first season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in a six-game series. New York went 39-36-7 (85 points) the following season to finish six points out of a playoff spot, leading to Laviolette’s dismissal in April 2025.
He owns an 846-562-161 record (25 ties) as head coach with the New York Islanders (2001-03), Hurricanes (2003-09), Flyers (2009-14), Predators (2014-20), Washington Capitals (2020-23) and Rangers.
His 846 regular-season wins are the most among United States-born coaches in NHL history and seventh all-time.
Laviolette appeared in 12 NHL games during his playing career as a defenseman, all during the 1988-89 season with the Rangers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Top 2 seeds ousted in chaotic opening day at Libema Open
Aug 27, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia serves against Wang Xinyu of China in the second round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds each fell in straight sets on a chaotic first day of women’s competition in the Libema Open at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Monday.
No. 1 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia — a two-time winner at the event in 2022 and ‘23 — fell 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, who ranks nearly 50 spots lower (65th to 17th). In a match that was statistically even in a number of spots, the difference may have been Udvardy’s one more converted break (3 of 6) in an equal number of chances.
Second-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark lost 6-4, 6-4 to Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova, a 17-year-old who won the final five games of the match to secure her first career top-30 win. No. 3 seed Belgian Elise Mertens avoided the same fate with a thorough 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Canada’s Bianca Andreescu.
In other Monday action, Poland’s Magda Linette rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian Kimberly Birrell, Robin Montgomery pulled out a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory against Daria Kasatkina of Australia and Ukraine’s Daria Snigur swept Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-6 (2).
HSBC Championships
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic rallied for a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3 defeat of McCartney Kessler in first-round action at London.
Pliskova was sloppy on her serve with three aces and 11 double faults but made up for it by winning 51% of her return points and converting 8 of 11 break-point opportunities.
In the only two other matches completed on Monday, when multiple matches were delayed or postponed by rain, Great Britain’s Harriet Dart beat Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, while Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian swept Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 7-6 (4).
The final match of the day, which pitted No. 8 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada against Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, was suspended due to darkness with Fernandez up a set and the second set level at 3 games apiece.
–Field Level Media
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