Sports
Rory McIlroy taps into Masters champion confidence to spark rally
April 9, 2026; Augusta, Ga.; Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the fifth hole at Augusta National. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy admitted he hasn’t felt the same at “certain” golf tournaments since completing the career grand slam 12 months ago, but all the same old feelings came rushing back on the first tee at Augusta National on Thursday.
And that’s a good thing, in his estimation.
“It’s the Masters. If I felt absolutely nothing on that first tee, that’s not a good sign,” he said after carding a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday to take a share of the lead. “So, it was nice to feel my hand shaking a little bit when the tee went into the ground and struggle to put the ball on top of the tee.
“So, I knew I was feeling it. That’s a good thing. That’s why we want to be here. We want to be able to try to play our best golf when we’re feeling like that.”
McIlroy entered Thursday with an average opening-round score of 71.7 in 17 previous Masters appearances. He appeared to be well on his way in that direction while missing his first six fairways with his driver and relying heavily on his short game to save several pars.
Sitting at even par just off the fairway on the eighth hole, that’s when McIlroy said the pre-Masters champion version of him might have started to lose confidence in his swing.
“It started pretty scrappy. I was hitting out of the trees a little bit the first seven holes,” he said. “Sometimes here that would lead me to get tentative and a little ‘guidey,’ and I kept swinging, just trusting that I’m going to find it eventually.
“So, maybe that was a little bit different.”
Rather than trying to get all of a 5-wood from the first cut off the eighth fairway, McIlroy choked down on a 3-wood and rolled it up to the center of the green. He two-putted for birdie, and the momentum shift was on. McIlroy would go 5 under for his final 11 holes of the day.
He said earlier in the week that winning a Masters makes it easier to win a second one. McIlroy is now just the seventh Masters champion to hold at least a share of the first-round lead the following year. The list also includes Jack Burke Jr. (1957), Arnold Palmer (1961), Gary Player (1962), Jack Nicklaus (1966), Jose Maria Olazabal (1995) and Jordan Spieth (2016).
“It’s hard to say because there’s still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about really where it goes,” he said.
“But I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my green jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.”
McIlroy has also said repeatedly that he has things he still wants to accomplish in golf. He has declined to provide specifics other than to say the goal posts “keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.”
Asked if repeating as Masters champion was one of those goals, McIlroy said that “certainly wasn’t at the forefront of my mind when I started 2026.” But he did admit that it was a good sign that those nerves returned on the first tee at Augusta National.
“I was nervous, I was anxious just like I always am on that first tee,” he said. “It’s the first round of the 16 most important rounds of the season. It would be worrisome if I didn’t feel that way, because it still means something to me.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Josh Berry out at Wood Brothers Racing in 2027
Mar 22, 2026; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; Wood Brothers Racing Josh Berry (21) comes out for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Josh Berry confirmed Wednesday that he will not be back with Wood Brothers Racing in 2027.
Berry, 35, will finish out his second NASCAR Cup Series season in the shop’s No. 21 Ford. He currently ranks 30th in the drivers’ standings through 15 starts, with two top-10 finishes.
“You hear the rumor mills start going, so I’m not going to say that I was completely caught off guard,” Berry said. “I didn’t exactly feel great about it. I probably would have said myself I was probably 50-50 in what was going on.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to get the opportunities I’ve had, and been extremely fortunate to drive for the Wood Brothers and this team. And unfortunately, it’s going a different direction.”
Berry experienced some early success with Wood Brothers Racing in 2025, winning at Las Vegas in just his fifth race. His best finish this season was ninth place in the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
He joined Wood Brothers Racing following his first full-time campaign in the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024.
Berry won five times in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series across the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Texas AG launches probe into FIFA's ticket practices
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at Texas Tech University’s chapter of Turning Point USA’s event for speakers at Cook’s Garage in Lubbock, Texas, Oct. 7, 2025. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into FIFA over alleged deceptive ticketing practices for World Cup matches in his state.
Paxton announced his probe into international soccer’s governing body Tuesday, claiming that FIFA misled fans about the location and quality of seats sold for upcoming matches.
“I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly,” he said in a statement. “Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition — and their consumer rights — seriously.”
Seven matches are taking place at Houston’s NRG Stadium and nine are being played at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, including a semifinal on July 14.
In one example provided by Paxton’s office to USA Today, a fan purchased “Category 1” seats expecting premium views of the field. However, Paxton’s office said FIFA allegedly later adjusted the seat maps to move the fan’s seats to “Category 2,” which have worse views of the action.
FIFA did not respond to a request for comment from USA Today.
State attorneys general in California, New York and New Jersey have launched similar investigations.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Victoria Mboko, Serena Williams' doubles partner, injured
Mar 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Victoria Mboko (CAN) hits a forehand against Karolina Muchova (CZE) (not pictured) on day eight of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Serena Williams’ London comeback may have ended prematurely Wednesday when doubles partner Victoria Mboko sustained a knee injury while playing singles at the HSBC Championships.
Mboko grabbed at her left knee after slipping on the grass at the Queen’s Club and was forced to retire. The 19-year-old Canadian was trailing 6-2, 3-4 to Karolina Pliskova, who advanced to the quarterfinals.
“She was improving as the match was going, so it would have been a nice match, but I wish her only the best,” Pliskova said. “Of course, this is not the way I want to win, so hopefully she’s going to be fine for Wimbledon.”
Playing for the first time in nearly four years, the 44-year-old Williams paired with Mboko to win their first doubles match on Tuesday with a 7-6 (2), 6-2 result against third-seeded Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
Williams and Mboko are scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Mboko, ranked No. 9 in the world, was the No. 3 seed in the singles draw. It was the first retirement of her career at the WTA Tour level.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner in singles, had not played professionally since the 2022 U.S. Open.
–Field Level Media
Josh Berry out at Wood Brothers Racing in 2027
Texas AG launches probe into FIFA's ticket practices
