Sports
Rory McIlroy: Bringing back LIV players 'good business' for PGA Tour
May 8, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Rory McIlroy eyes his line on 18 during the second round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Rory McIlroy is softening his stance on the return of players from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour, acknowledging Friday that bringing back more defectors from the breakaway circuit could be a net positive.
With the future of LIV in doubt after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced it is pulling its financial backing after this year, McIlroy was asked his reaction to how that could impact the PGA Tour.
“It’s a question if (players) do want to come back,” McIlroy said after ending the second round of the Truist Championship tied for eighth in Charlotte. “Obviously we have seen the quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it seems like … it all depends on what happens to LIV.
“But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice.”
The six-time major champion added, “I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf. I don’t think I need to rehash any of that. It’s never been for me and, look, it doesn’t mean that LIV is going to go away. They’re going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like.
“But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you’re too expensive for them, that sort of says something.”
Earlier this year, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka accepted the terms of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program and came back from LIV. The requirements included “heavy and appropriate limitations to both tournament access and potential earning that we believe properly holds returning members accountable for substantial compensation earned elsewhere.”
The offer was made to golfers who won a Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or Open Championship between 2022-25. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were the other players eligible per those criteria.
Commenting on LIV players in general, McIlroy said Friday, “I was probably too judgmental with the guys that went because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view. But again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour. …
“Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe. If that’s a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that’s my home Tour, at the end of the day.
“But … if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, (the PGA Tour) is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks F OG Anunoby upgraded to questionable for Game 4
May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) falls to the court after missing a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 28-year-old wing has been vital to New York’s playoff success, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Anunoby posted 24 points and four steals for the Knicks in Game 2 vs. Philadelphia but suffered a right hamstring strain.
The injury forced him to sit out of Game 3. Nevertheless, the Knicks continued to roll, defeating the Sixers 108-94, led by a 33-point, nine-assist performance from Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks lead the series 3-0 and will look to close out the series on Sunday in Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Bulls snap winless streak, upset Fire
Apr 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Red Bull New York forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (13) clears a corner kick by Inter Miami CF during the second half at Miami Freedom Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Jorge Ruvalcaba, Cade Cowell and Eric Maxim Chuopo-Moting scored as the New York Red Bulls handed the Chicago Fire their second straight home loss, 3-1, on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath had three saves for the Red Bulls (4-5-3, 15 points), who ended a two-game scoreless drought and snapped their five-game MLS winless streak.
Hugo Cuypers scored in the 87th minute for Chicago (5-4-2, 17 points), which has suddenly slumped after putting together a five-game unbeaten streak.
New York rookie coach Michael Bradley topped his former U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter, who guides Chicago. Bradley was on the USMNT from 2006 to 2019, playing under Berhalter in the final season of his playing tenure.
Chris Brady had one save for the Fire. He has surrendered nine goals in the last four games after recording clean sheets in four of Chicago’s first seven matches this season.
In a static first half, Chicago had 59 percent of the possession but didn’t take its first shot on goal until the 44th minute.
New York scored on its ensuing possession in the 45th minute, as the Fire defense gave Emil Forsberg and Rubalcaba too much room on the left side of the box.
Rubalcava one-touched a pass from Forsberg to clear himself for a right-footed blast, which went into the top right corner for his fourth goal of the year and a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes into the second half, the Red Bulls struck again using their speed in transition. Ronald Donkor dribbled from beyond midfield and fed Cade Cowell who made an inside run.
Cowell received the ball on the right side of the box and scored with a low shot past onrushing Brady for his first goal as a Red Bull and a 2-0 lead.
New York defender Dylan Nealis blocked two Chicago shots, including a looping left-footed try from the right side by Puso Dithejane in the 67th minute. The ball floated over Horvath but Nealis darted to the goal line and booted it over the crossbar.
In the 81st minute, Choupo-Moting scored with a penalty kick into the left side net after Brady tackled Adri Mehmeti in the box.
Cuypers, who entered tied for the league lead in goals with 10, scored in the 87th minute off a rebound following a save by Horvat. It was his seventh goal in Chicago’s last four matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays-Red Sox postponed, game to be made up July 17
May 9, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A view of the tarp on the field after the game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays had been postponed at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Saturday afternoon’s game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays was postponed due to heavy rainfall in Boston.
The postponement was signaled approximately 15 minutes before scheduled first pitch at Fenway Park.
The contest will be made up at 1:35 p.m. ET on July 17 as part of a split doubleheader. It will mark both teams’ first game since the All-Star break.
The regularly scheduled game on July 17 is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
The Rays are pushing scheduled Saturday starter Nick Martinez (3-1, 1.71 ERA), a right-hander, back a day to start Sunday’s series finale. Boston might also push back left-hander Payton Tolle (1-1, 2.04) to Sunday.
The Red Sox and Rays split the first two games of what is now a three-game series.
–Field Level Media
Knicks F OG Anunoby upgraded to questionable for Game 4
Red Bulls snap winless streak, upset Fire
