Sports
Rickie Fowler ‘rusty as can be’ but relaxed after extended break
Rickie Fowler talks about playing the Sanderson Farms Championship and life as a father of a newborn and a two-year-old daughter during a news conference at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Rickie Fowler hasn’t played a golf tournament since the Open Championship, taking 2 1/2 months off from competition.
Fowler — who finished the regular season outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings — was already unlikely to make the 70-man playoffs before choosing to skip the Wyndham Championship, the regular-season finale. But part of that decision can be chalked up to a growing family. Fowler and his wife Allison welcomed their second child in August.
With the playoffs and a slow September (one PGA Tour event plus the Presidents Cup) in the rearview, Fowler is hitting the links again at this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss. He was asked Tuesday how he feels his game is right now.
“I mean, as rusty as I can be with the two little ones at home, but it was definitely nice,” Fowler said. “Like I mentioned, we don’t get a whole lot of downtime when you’re playing through full seasons. To be there sleeping in the same bed for an extended period of time, no, it feels good to have that time off, kind of refresh, rebuild a bit. Excited to come back out.”
Fowler also plans to play the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas and the Zozo Championship outside Tokyo later this month.
“I guess the last month and a half or so I’ve gotten back more into working on the game and getting ready to come here,” he said. “It was odd packing, back to life on the road. Typically traveling with the family, it made more sense to come solo. … But it’ll be nice, they’re going to be with me for Vegas coming up.”
Fowler said he aims to shake off some of that rust this week, but later clarified that that’s not his only goal.
“It was a fun (tournament) to be able to add. Like I said, I wouldn’t be coming here just to work on things or shake off rust. I came here feeling like I was in a good spot and can go play some good golf,” Fowler said.
In the second of eight events in the FedEx Cup Fall, the stakes are high for many golfers on tour, though Fowler is safe from potentially losing his card. Because Fowler won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July 2023, he earned an automatic two-year exemption on tour.
“Luckily for me, having won last year, I’m safe on certain things, but there’s definitely things for me to play for,” Fowler said. “Obviously to win and put myself in a better situation, get myself back in a good spot world ranking-wise, ultimately stay inside top 125, be in The Players (Championship). Plenty to play for, but at the same time, it’s not life or death.
“For me coming off that bit of downtime and refreshed and ready to go, I’m looking forward to playing well and kind of building a little bit better platform than where I was last year and put myself in a better position to have a little more excitement, build some momentum and confidence going into the ‘25 season.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Felipe Mora goes out with a brace as Timbers edge Real Salt Lake
Jul 25, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers forward Felipe Mora (9) high-fives fans before a game against Real Salt Lake at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Felipe Mora, playing in what was announced as his final match with host Portland, scored twice in the second half as the Timbers defeated 10-man Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday night.
Goalkeeper James Pantemis made three saves for the Timbers (6-8-3, 21 points), who improved to 2-0-1 under interim head coach Jack Cassidy.
Juan Manuel Sanabria tallied for Salt Lake (8-6-2, 26 points) and Rafael Cabral made five saves.
RSL’s Victor Olatunji put the ball in the net from just inside the top of the penalty area in second-half stoppage time but was ruled offside.
Mora got the equalizer in the 56th minute off a corner kick from Ariel Lassiter on the right wing. Lassiter found Mora at the top of the 6-yard box and his header took one bounce off the turf and into the far upper corner of the net.
Mora scored again in the 67th minute off a left-wing corner from Kristoffer Velde. Mora’s glancing header from the top of the 6-yard box reached the far upper corner of the net.
Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy announced Friday this would be the final match for Mora, the third-leading goal scorer in franchise history with 48, but didn’t indicate where the native of Chile would be going.
Reports on Saturday indicated Mora, who scored the tying goal in second-half stoppage time in a 2-2 draw with visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday, would head back to Liga MX.
Mora came off for substitute Alexander Aravena in the 72nd minute to a raucous standing ovation from the crowd at Providence Park, with fans chanting his name for a couple of minutes.
RSL opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Sanabria played a nifty give-and-go with Morgan Guilavogui, getting the ball back at the top left of the penalty area. Sanabria dribbled toward the top of the 6-yard box before putting a low toe punch into the far side netting.
Guilavogui was ejected in the 31st minute for a foul on Jimer Fory after both players tumbled to the ground while battling for the ball along the sideline. Guilavogui seemed to kick Fory in the chest as he rolled over and was originally issued a yellow card by referee Elijio Arreguin, but a video review showed he made contact with Fory’s chin and it was upgraded to a red.
–Field Level Media
Sports
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images James Marcinkowski saved a penalty shot five minutes into extra time as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy preserved a 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest installment of the California Clasico rivalry at Stanford, Calif.
Marcinkowski, who is in his second season with the Galaxy after five seasons with the Earthquakes, made a dive to his left to stop a shot from the spot by the Earthquakes’ Timo Werner. Marcinkowski finished with five saves.
Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the first half for Los Angeles (5-7-6, 21 points), who earned a point for the first time in three matches since the World Cup break ended.
Reid Roberts scored a goal in the 62nd minute for the Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 points), who were unable to convert the go-ahead goal late in the match after Ousseni Bouda earned a penalty on a foul from Marcinkowski.
Angus Gunn, who played for Scotland in the World Cup, made one save in his second match since joining San Jose during the break.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when 19-year-old Harbor Miller took the ball up the right side and found Marco Reus in the middle of the field. Reus sent Paintsil forward on a breakaway and the forward slid home his fourth goal of the season.
The Earthquakes got even in the 62nd minute after the Galaxy nearly coughed up an own goal on a clearance header that clanked off the crossbar.
The rebound came to the feet of San Jose’s Benji Kikanovich, who fired a shot that was knocked down in the penalty area. Roberts cleaned up a loose ball on the goal line for his second tally of the season.
Paintsil nearly gave Los Angeles the lead in the 83rd minute before Gunn used his right hand to swat away a shot headed toward the upper right corner of the goal.
While the Galaxy were without defenders Jakob Glesnes (yellow-card accumulation) and Emiro Garces (red card on Wednesday), the Earthquakes were without forward Preston Judd (yellow-card accumulation).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams QB Ty Simpson becomes last first-round pick to sign
Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Quarterback Ty Simpson became the last of the 2026 first-round draft picks to sign on Saturday, coming to terms with the Los Angeles Rams.
The rookie’s contract is fully guaranteed at four years and $25.4 million with a $14.9 signing bonus, NFL Network reported on Saturday.
The Rams, with reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford at quarterback, made a stunning selection in April by drafting Simpson with the 13th overall pick.
Simpson, projected as a second-rounder, passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games at Alabama last season, his first as a starter. He now is projected to have time to develop as a backup to Stafford, 38.
The only other quarterback to be selected in the first round, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Heisman Trophy winner signed a four-year rookie deal worth a fully guaranteed $57.27 million which includes a fifth-year option.
–Field Level Media
Felipe Mora goes out with a brace as Timbers edge Real Salt Lake
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
