Sports
Zach Johnson takes Mitsubishi lead amid Modified Stableford rules
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Zach Johnson reacts after a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Zach Johnson birdied the par-5 18th hole to grab a one-point lead at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic after Friday’s first round at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Ga.
For the first time, the Mitsubishi Electric Classic is using the Modified Stableford scoring system to encourage aggressive play. Rather than scoring relative to par, points are awarded per hole — minus-1 for a bogey, zero for par and two for birdie. Eagles are worth five points while double bogeys are minus-3.
It is the first time since 2002 that the PGA Tour Champions is using Modified Stableford, according to the tour.
Johnson did not seem to mind the switch, calling himself “a conservatively aggressive guy.” The two-time major champion turned 50 in February and won his first title on the senior tour in March.
“There’s opportunities on certain courses, and this would be one of them, where I’m going to push a little bit more, I’m going to hit the driver instead of what have you,” Johnson said. “So I think the beauty of this place is the character. You’ve got short, you’ve got long, you’ve got left, you’ve got right, you’ve got up, you’ve got down. You can be aggressive on certain holes, you can hit driver a lot of places, you can lay it back in a lot of places. So you’ve got to be committed, and it gives you options.”
He rolled in six birdies with one bogey over his first eight holes. The scoring slowed down on the back nine, but he jumped from +13 to +15 by two-putting the finishing par-5.
That put him one point ahead of Ben Crane and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee. Tied for fourth at +12 were Paul Stankowski, Retief Goosen of South Africa and K.J. Choi of South Korea. Last year’s champion under traditional stroke play, Jerry Kelly, is tied for seventh at +11.
Jaidee managed to card seven birdies without a bogey.
“You have to make more points because … par (is) nothing,” Jaidee said. “That’s why we gameplan to attack the hole. When you hit in the fairway, you have a short iron, you try to attack the pin. That’s why we do it today. And good thing to me, I had pretty good iron today. Putting working today.”
Crane turned 50 this year like Johnson and finished second at last week’s Senior PGA Championship, his first senior major.
He had to overcome two bogeys on his round Friday but it helped to birdie three of the final four holes.
“Just didn’t play as great as I scored, but that’s the way it works in this format,” Crane explained. “Actually, Retief and I both shot 66 and I had 14 points and he had 12. Had some bogeys in there that don’t cost you as much. All in all, just thankful. I really putted well coming down the stretch there, gave myself some opportunities, so just a fun day.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (back) exits after one inning
May 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow was removed after pitching one inning against the host Houston Astros on Wednesday with low back pain.
Glasnow allowed a first-inning home run to Brice Matthews and attempted to return in the second. After several warmup pitches, Glasnow, 32, motioned for trainers, who along with manager Dave Roberts removed him from the game.
Glasnow’s first-inning strikeout of Yordan Alvarez was the 1,000th of his career.
A 2024 All-Star with Los Angeles, Glasnow was 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA entering his seventh start this season. He signed a five-year, $136.5 million contract before the 2024 season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to skip Preakness
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, in red jacket at left, helps lift the Kentucky Derby trophy with Daisy Phipps Pulito (representing Phipps Stable) and Vincent Viola (of St. Elias Stable) after Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby. May 2, 2026. For the second consecutive year, the Kentucky Derby winner will not run in the Preakness Stakes, as Golden Tempo trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday the horse will skip the second leg of the Triple Crown and compete in the Belmont Stakes next month.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” DeVaux wrote in a statement posted to X.
Golden Tempo was a 23-1 long shot on Saturday but made a late charge down the stretch to edge out favorite Renegade. The victory made DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
Last year, Sovereignty passed on the Preakness, and many trainers feel is too close to the Kentucky Derby — two weeks apart — and makes it difficult to keep a horse healthy for big races in the summer and fall.
The Preakness will be held May 16 at Laurel Park south of Baltimore, due to Pimlico undergoing a grandstand renovation. Pimlico is scheduled to host the 2027 Preakness.
As of Wednesday afternoon, none of the 19 horses who participated in the Kentucky Derby have committed to compete in the Preakness.
The Belmont is slated for June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., due to ongoing construction at the main Belmont Park facility on Long Island, N.Y.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lakers G Luka Doncic frustrated and unsure of return
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) stands on the court during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic broke his silence Wednesday about the hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since early April.
He told reporters at the team hotel in Oklahoma City he doesn’t know when he can rejoin the Lakers, who lost 108-90 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder on Tuesday night.
“It’s very frustrating,” Doncic said. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball.
“It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough to just to sit and watch them play.”
Doncic, 27, sustained the Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring five weeks ago on April 2 in Oklahoma City. He missed the last five games of the regular season and sat out the six-game first-round playoff series win against the Houston Rockets.
“The day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctor told me eight weeks (recovery) at the beginning,” Doncic said. “I’m doing everything I can in the process, and I think we’re on a good way. But at the beginning, he told me eight weeks.”
Doncic averaged a league-high 33.5 points with 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds in 64 games (all starts) in the regular season.
The six-time All-Star guard was noncommittal when asked about his potential return later in this series, with Game 3 set for Saturday in Los Angeles.
“I’m just doing everything I can,” said Doncic, who has started running but has not participated in any contact drills. “Every day, I’m doing stuff I’m supposed to do. Obviously recovery, now I’m working. … Just going day by day, and I feel better every day.”
Doncic said he has been proceeding with caution during his recovery, which included traveling to Spain to receive platelet-rich plasma therapy.
“It’s a tough one for me because I came back from injuries before too soon, and it wasn’t the best result,” Doncic said. “You have to be very careful, and I’m doing everything to come back. All the recovery, the (hyperbaric) chamber, cold tub, everything I can to come back, but it’s obviously very different than other injuries I had.”
–Field Level Media
Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (back) exits after one inning
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to skip Preakness
