Sports
PGA is widest-open major in years: ‘Never seen anything like it’
May 16, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Jon Rahm plays the ball on the sixth hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Jon Rahm studied the leaderboard on the digital screen inside the player interview tent at Aronimink Golf Club. Once before he began his first answer, then again when answering a question in Spanish.
“Can we move this? How many of them are at 3 under?” Rahm asked a PGA of America official as he inspected a wall of minus-4s and minus-3s.
Even when his press conference was done, the two-time major champion hung back, asking questions, seemingly mystified that the PGA Championship had gotten this way.
At the time, Rahm was one of five co-leaders at 4 under par, and even though Alex Smalley emerged from the chaos late Saturday afternoon to grab a two-shot lead, the intrigue remained.
Five players are two shots behind Smalley, another four are three off the pace and 12 players are tied at 2 under. That’s 21 players who’ll go to bed Saturday night correctly believing they have a real shot to come from behind and win this major championship.
“I mean, my PGA Tour career isn’t necessarily very long at this point, but I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Ludvig Aberg of Sweden (4 under).
“It’s very tight. I think there’s a lot of good players within striking distance going into (Sunday), and it’s a cool thing, I think, for the viewers. I think it’s cool to see that many guys have a chance to win a tournament.”
It’s as wide-open of a major as men’s golf has seen in recent memory. The five-way tie for second behind an outright leader at the 54-hole mark is just the fifth in major championship history. The 22 players at or within four shots of the lead is a PGA Championship record, per The Athletic.
And though Smalley will have to fend off players with majors on their resume like Northern Ireland’s Rory McIIroy, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed (all at 3 under) and Rahm, six of the top 10 (counting Smalley) — and another eight of the 12-way tie at 2 under — are all angling for their first career major wins.
At a time when McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have collected four of the past five majors, it’s a chance for some new blood.
“I was pretty busy with the conditions out there, but I saw myself on top (of the leaderboard) once, and that was good,” said Germany’s Matti Schmid (4 under), who will play in the final pairing after posting 65 and, like Smalley, has never won on the PGA Tour.
The 2-under group features three players who shot 5-under 65s early in the day when the course was at its easiest: Chris Kirk, Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and Englishman Justin Rose.
Rose said after his round that he hopes the lead doesn’t get past 6 or 7 under, and he got his wish. He also said carrying the lead into Sunday would come with a burden.
“There’s some chain reaction moments out there. If you don’t do the right thing — and if you’re a leader, you realize everyone is making a run, but if you don’t hit the right shot at the right time, it’s going to feel challenging out there,” said Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion.
McIlroy and others had posited that some of the PGA of America’s uber-difficult pin locations Thursday and Friday led to the bunched leaderboard, as nobody was taking chances, leading to a smaller variety of outcomes and scores.
A more lenient setup Saturday did little to spread players out. And that means high potential for a photo finish on Sunday evening.
“As hard as it is to play, the challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well,” Rahm said. “That’s probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up and it’s going to be such a good Sunday tomorrow. So in that sense, showmanship-wise, they’ve done a great job.”
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
Sports
Report: FIFA, Iran hold talks ahead of World Cup
Mar 20, 2025; Marina Del Rey, California, USA; Mattias Grafstrom at the The Global Center of Gravity for Soccer is in North America pannel at Marina Del Rey Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom described his Saturday meeting with the head of Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) as “constructive” as concerns about the nation’s participation in next month’s World Cup have not abated.
Grafstrom met with FFIRI President Mehdi Taj in Istanbul and told Reuters he was confident about Iran competing in the United States, despite hostilities between the two countries extending into their third month.
“We’ve had an excellent meeting and constructive meeting together with the Iran FA,” Grafstrom said during a visit to Istanbul. “We’re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them in the FIFA World Cup.”
Iran is slated to play all three of their group matches in the United States, beginning with a contest vs. New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also scheduled to take on Belgium in Los Angeles and conclude Group G play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran asked that their games be moved to Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino denied that request.
Taj has served as president of Iran’s governing body since 2022, but he had previously served in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The 66-year-old was not allowed to enter the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada earlier this month due to his IRGC ties.
Canada and the United States, who are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, have classified the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” and have stated that they will not permit people with ties to that group in their respective nations.
Grafstrom would not specifically address entry and visa arrangements for Iranian players. The discussion with Taj primarily involved operational issues.
“We’ve discussed all relevant matters, but I think it’s not the place to discuss the details,” he said. “Overall, a very positive meeting and we’re looking forward to continuing the dialogue.”
Taj also shared with Reuters that the meeting with Grafstrom and other FIFA officials was positive.
“I am pleased that they listened to Iran’s points, all 10 points that we had raised, and they offered solutions for each of them. I hope, God willing, that our national team can go to the World Cup without any problems and achieve very good results there,” he said.
The Iranian squad is scheduled to leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkey on Monday. Their base in the United States is located at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, and they are slated to travel there in early June.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels select OF Jose Siri, option Bryce Teodosio
Feb 26, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jose Siri (28) catches a fly ball in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Angels selected the contract of outfielder Jose Siri on Saturday prior to the team’s home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In corresponding transactions, outfielder Bryce Teodosio was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake and right-handed reliever Ben Joyce was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Siri, a five-year MLB veteran known for his speed and defensive ability, has not appeared in a big-league game this year. In 2023, he enjoyed a career season with the Tampa Bay Rays, blasting 25 home runs and stealing 12 bases in 101 games.
Last season, Siri’s offensive production cratered with the New York Mets as he missed five months with a broken tibia. In 16 games, he went 2 of 36 with no home runs and one RBI.
The 30-year-old has been producing this season for Salt Lake in the hitter-friendly PCL. He owns five home runs, 27 RBIs, four stolen bases and a .288 batting average in 140 plate appearances.
Teodosio shares a similar skillset. The speedy defensive specialist was batting .213 with no home runs and four stolen bases in 34 games for the Angels this season. The 26-year-old will be given more time to develop in the minors.
Joyce has not pitched in a major league game since April 8, 2025, as he needed labrum surgery last May. Accordingly, the 60-day IL move is not surprising as he continues to work through a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Slumping Corey Seager (back spasms) not in lineup vs. Astros
May 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas (not pictured) to end the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is not in Saturday’s starting lineup against the Houston Astros, as he woke up with back spasms, according to manager Skip Schumaker.
Seager, who is mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 stretch at the plate, did not play on Friday, but Schumaker said that was due to a previously scheduled day off.
“He wanted to see if he could loosen up when he got here,” Schumaker said. “It just didn’t loosen up, so just wanted to play it smart and not push him.”
Seager went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Wednesday’s game versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Five-year veteran Ezequiel Duran, who is hitting .274, will start his second consecutive game at shortstop and bat in the No. 5 hole.
Duran has also played second base, third base and both corner outfield spots in 2026.
Seager, a five-time All-Star, is now batting .179 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 42 games this season.
He is in his fifth season in Texas after signing a 10-year, $325 million deal prior to the 2022 season. Seager played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2015-2021.
–Field Level Media
Report: FIFA, Iran hold talks ahead of World Cup
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 2026
