Sports
Rory McIlroy tied for lead to begin Masters defense
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy began the defense of his first Masters title with a 5-under-par 67 that gave him a share of the afternoon lead with Sam Burns at Augusta National on Thursday.
It is only the third time in 18 Masters starts that McIlroy has broken 70 in the first round, and the second-lowest opening-round score he has posted, only trailing a 65 in 2011.
“Great, great start to the week, obviously. Felt like I got a lot out of my round today,” he said. “I settled into the round nicely even when I wasn’t hitting fairways.”
Thursday’s effort tied the 5 under posted by Burns earlier in the afternoon. Both players took significant advantage of the par-5s. Burns eagled the second hole and birdied the three others, while McIlroy birdied all four of them.
“I think historically people who have success here play the par-5s really well, and we were able to do that today. So, it’s a good recipe around this golf course,” Burns said.
Like Burns, McIlroy made his turn in 2 under before carding a 3-under 33 on the back nine courtesy of three consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-15.
McIlroy acknowledged earlier this week that last year’s victory took a “big weight” off his shoulders. And now he’s in an excellent position as he attempts to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters.
McIlroy shot an opening-round 72 in 2025 that left him in a tie for 27th, and his average opening score in 17 previous Masters was 71.7. Through what he called a shaky first seven holes, a low round didn’t appear to be in the cards. Then a birdie at No. 8 led to playing his final 11 holes in 5 under.
McIlroy said that in previous years he might not have been patient enough to overcome a shaky start, but last year’s victory gave him the ability to keep swinging freely rather than tentatively.
“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.”
Earlier, Burns posted the best score of his Masters career in any round, besting the 68 he shot in the first round in 2023. In 12 rounds through four previous appearances at Augusta National, that had been the lone time Burns had broken 70 until Thursday.
But he doesn’t plan on spending much time dwelling on the overnight leaderboard.
“I feel like you start thinking, you know, in the past or in the future, this is not really a golf course you want to do that,” he said. “I think for me just trying to go out, execute, have a good process, commit to the shot and just be accepting of whatever happens.”
Patrick Reed also reached 5 under by eagling both par-5s on the front nine to make his turn at 31, but the 2018 Masters champion gave a shot back at No. 10 before putting a ball in the water on the par-5 15th for another bogey to enter the clubhouse at 3 under.
“All in all, there was a lot of quality golf shots,” Reid said. “I felt like I played a lot better kind of than the score today. I hit the ball pretty solid, gave myself a lot of good looks and made a couple of putts.”
Kurt Kitayama finished an eventful day at 3-under 69. He reached 4 under through 10 holes before a bogey on No. 11 and a double bogey on the short par-3 12th. He was able to card birdies on two of his final holes to get to the clubhouse among the early leaders.
Bryson DeChambeau, who is seeking to build on his best Masters finish of fifth place last year, was at even par entering the 11th through 13 holes, known as “Amen Corner.” He put his approach shot on No. 11 into the bunker behind the green. DeChambeau then failed to get out of the bunker on his first two attempts and ended up carding a triple bogey on the hole.
“Bunker was softer than I anticipated,” DeChambeau offered when asked about what happened on 11, adding that he hit a solid approach shot that flew 12 yards further than he wanted.
DeChambeau finished the day at 4 over following a bogey-birdie-bogey finish.
NOTES: The 91-player field includes 22 first-time players — six amateurs and 16 professionals. Each amateur is paired with a Masters champion for the first two rounds of the tournament.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Bengals restructure Joe Burrow's, save $10M in cap space
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass to a teammate during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals have created $10 million in salary cap space this coming season by restructuring Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
The Bengals moved from near the bottom of the league in effective cap room, $7.1 million, per reports, to in the middle. The team could have restructured up to $19.2 million by converting his entire base salary to a bonus, per the reports.
The team announced on Tuesday that second-round draft pick Cashius Howell, a defensive end out of Texas A&M, signed his rookie contract, meaning all of the Bengals’ seven draft selections are under contract.
Burrow signed a $275 million, five-year contract extension in September 2023, including $219 million in guarantees, according to reporting at the time.
Now 29, Burrow has been supportive of the Bengals’ uncharacteristic spending on free agents and a blockbuster trade since finishing 6-11 and missing the playoffs for a third straight season in 2025.
“We’re going to go win a lot of games this year and play great and win a Super Bowl,” Burrow told reporters after a voluntary workout last month.
Cincinnati signed former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.25 contract and former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal. The team also signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million deal.
The defense also got a major boost when the Bengals traded the 10th overall pick in April’s NFL draft to the New York Giants for three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who signed a one-year, $28 million extension for the 2028 season following the deal.
Cincinnati selected Burrow with the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU.
Burrow is a three-time Pro Bowl selection, including in 2025 when he completed 66.8% of his passes for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in only eight games (all starts) because of a turf toe injury.
He has started all 77 regular-season games that he has played and completed an NFL-record career-best 68.5% of his passes for 20,810 yards, 157 TDs and 51 interceptions. Burrow has thrown for another 1,826 yards, nine TDs and four picks in seven playoff games.
He was voted the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NBA reviewing missed foul on Victor Wembanyama shove of Jalen Brunson
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) passes the ball to San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images NEW YORK — Referees missed a foul call on Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama when he shoved Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.
Without a whistle on Wembanyama, the play continued with San Antonio on offense. A replay review appeared to show Brunson, who was on defense and working through a screen on the play, making initial contact with his left hand and grabbing a fistful of Wembanyama’s jersey, prompting the retaliatory shove. With his own left hand, Wembanyama aggressively shoved Brunson in the upper back and neck area, sending him toward the floor.
But it remains unclear if either player will be cited for any offense in the review of the matter on the off day before Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen said Tuesday the league is reviewing the play, and holds the ability to retroactively assess a flagrant-1 foul. The NBA rulebook deems “unnecessary contact” a flagrant-1 foul, because it goes beyond the actions warranting a common foul.
If the NBA issues a flagrant-1 for the play, Wembanyama would not be subject to a suspension. But the Spurs’ big man would be skating into Game 4 on thin ice.
Wembanyama has already obtained two penalty points for a flagrant-2 foul in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Naz Reid of the Timberwolves.
All players can accumulate a total of three penalty points in the playoffs. If Wembanyama’s shove is upgraded to a flagrant foul, he would have three penalty points. His next flagrant in the Finals would prompt an automatic suspension.
Julian Champagnie had the ball on the left wing facing San Antonio’s basket with Landry Shamet defending when the action happened near the foul line and away from the play.
Brunson was also called for a flagrant foul closing out on a Champagnie 3-pointer. Officials said he did not provide ample landing space for the Spurs’ deep threat. Brunson had little to say about the non-call postgame.
“Whatever you saw is what you saw,” Brunson said.
A flagrant-2, described as justified in the rulebook when “unnecessary and excessive or reckless contact” is “committed by a player against an opponent,” would prompt an automatic ejection.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Isabelle Harrison eyes making up for lost time as Tempo face Sun
Jun 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images After admitting to a bit of FOMO, Isabelle Harrison doesn’t wish to miss out on any more action this season.
Harrison aims to give the Toronto Tempo another boost on Wednesday when the expansion club hosts the Connecticut Sun in a Commissioner’s Cup game.
Harrison scored 14 points in her season debut on Sunday afternoon, fueling Toronto to its third win in four outings with an 85-68 victory over the Chicago Sky.
Sidelined since training camp due to a dislocated thumb, Harrison didn’t look the worse for wear by making 6 of 9 shots from the floor while also grabbing six rebounds for the Tempo (6-5, 1-1 Commissioner Cup).
“I felt like I was a coach for a little too long, I was getting a little FOMO (fear of missing out),” Harrison said of her time on the sideline. “(I wanted) to just be out here with the girls, and just be a part of the process of building.”
Said Toronto guard Brittney Sykes: “It’s a testament to her as a human being. She was out really early in the season, and was never apart from us.”
Sykes poured in 25 points on Sunday to boost her season average to a career-high 20.1 points per game.
While the Tempo are ascending in the standings, the Sun (2-11, 0-3 CC) find themselves in the cellar following losses in three straight games.
Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa each scored a season-high 15 points and Saniya Rivers added 12 in Connecticut’s 89-80 home setback to the New York Liberty on Monday.
The shorthanded Sun were without center Brittney Griner (rib) and forward Aneesah Morrow (left leg), and their absences contributed to the team getting outrebounded by a 42-28 margin.
“I think with us just having numbers down and people down, it’s just next-man-up mentality,” Nelson-Ododa said, per CT Insider. “I think that was our focus tonight. As a team, as a collective, it’s to come out, step up for one another, and really compete in this game.”
Connecticut did itself no favors from the free-throw line, making just 13 of 23 attempts. The Sun are converting a league-worst 67.3% of their free-throw attempts on the season.
Morrow collected 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals in Connecticut’s 83-78 victory over Toronto in a preseason game on April 29.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Bengals restructure Joe Burrow's, save $10M in cap space
NBA reviewing missed foul on Victor Wembanyama shove of Jalen Brunson
