World number one Scottie Scheffler has described the pin placements at the PGA Championship as “absurd” after battling extremely difficult conditions during his second round at Aronimink Golf Club.

The two-time Masters champion carded a one-over-par round on Friday to sit at two under heading into the weekend.

Strong winds gusting up to 20mph combined with a severe course setup by the PGA of America to create a gruelling test for the entire field in Pennsylvania.

‘Craziest pins I’ve seen’

The American star was left in complete disbelief upon reaching the par-three 14th green.

Organisers had positioned the flag on top of a sharp spine, leaving players with a remarkably small landing area to keep their golf balls close to the hole.

“That was one of the craziest pins I’ve seen,” Scheffler said.

“They put the pin on like this microphone, like it was just like a high point. I hadn’t seen anything like it.”

Despite the punishing layout, the 28-year-old managed to scramble for what he described as an extremely good par on his fifth hole of the day.

Comparisons to brutal Shinnecock

The current FedEx Cup champion even consulted Justin Rose’s caddie, Mark Fulcher, to ask if he had ever encountered a similar challenge on the circuit.

They concluded the extreme conditions mirrored Shinnecock Hills, a notoriously unforgiving venue set to host next month’s US Open.

“This is the hardest set of pin locations that I’ve seen since I’ve been on Tour, and that includes US Opens, that includes Oakmont.”

Scottie Scheffler

He noted that dramatic slopes and high winds made it exceptionally difficult to convert putts, leading to scores hovering remarkably close to par across the leaderboard.

A ‘different’ kind of test

While the reigning Olympic gold medallist stopped short of calling the Aronimink setup explicitly unfair, he admitted the experience was not entirely enjoyable.

“I truly believe they could have the winning score be whatever they want it to be,” he explained.

“Is that the best test? Who knows. It’s a different test.”

Meanwhile, fellow American Chris Gotterup defied the brutal conditions to shoot a five-under 65.

However, even the current round leader agreed that the pin positions bordered on the impossible, contributing to painstakingly slow rounds extending past five hours.

The NCAA has permanently banned former Abilene Christian basketball player Airion Simmons for allegedly conspiring with sports bettors to fix a game in March 2024.

According to the Division I Committee on Infractions, the former Wildcats forward colluded with a teammate to intentionally underperform in exchange for cash.

In January, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania indicted the collegiate athlete alongside two bettors on charges including bribery, fraud, and conspiracy.

Lucrative point-shaving operation

The wider gambling scheme involved fixers recruiting athletes with promises of significant payouts to purposely lose matches.

Authorities stated these illicit gamblers would then place wagers against the compromised teams to defraud sportsbooks.

During a December interview, the disgraced player confessed to NCAA investigators that he was approached by multiple individuals seeking to manipulate the result.

Dallas parking lot payoff

The plot unraveled when a transfer student reported the attempted corruption to university officials in September.

This whistleblower revealed he was pressured during a video call with the accused conspirators to join the illicit enterprise.

To facilitate the fix, the Texas-based athlete leveraged a legitimate hand injury and offered to intentionally play poorly for an agreed $3,500 fee.

After featuring for just 11 minutes before exiting the court, he collected his illicit earnings from a contact in a Dallas parking lot.

The governing body confirmed he kept the entirety of the cash payout rather than distributing it among his co-conspirators.

Wider NCAA gambling crackdown

While he initially agreed to be questioned by investigators, the former student-athlete ultimately declined to participate further in the disciplinary process.

This permanent suspension follows a similar ruling last month where two former Fordham University basketball players were banished for their involvement in the same nationwide point-shaving scandal.

The Colorado Avalanche will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 NHL Western Conference finals, starting on 20 May, as both recent champions battle for a place in the Stanley Cup Final.

Both franchises have lifted the famous trophy this decade, with Denver celebrating in 2022 before the Nevada-based outfit triumphed a year later.

The Central Division winners dominated the regular season to claim the Presidents’ Trophy with a staggering 121 points.

They are now aiming to become the first team since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 to translate regular-season supremacy into ultimate playoff glory.

MacKinnon leads relentless Denver attack

Scoring depth has been a hallmark of the top seed’s postseason run after swiftly eliminating the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild.

An incredible 17 different players have found the back of the net for the franchise across just nine playoff outings.

Star forward Nathan MacKinnon has been the primary offensive catalyst, producing an astonishing 1.44 points-per-game average this spring.

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has provided vital stability at the other end of the rink, boasting a 2.21 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Vegas rely on Marner’s playoff brilliance

The Pacific Division champions have established an impressive postseason pedigree, reaching this stage for the fifth time since their inception.

To reach the final four, they overcame both the Mammoth and the Anaheim Ducks in hard-fought six-game series.

Much of their offensive success has flowed through Mitch Marner, who currently leads all playoff scorers with an impressive 18 points.

History slightly favours the bookmakers’ underdogs in this specific matchup, as they defeated their upcoming opponents during a second-round series in 2021.

Western Conference finals schedule

The Kansas City Chiefs will feature in six primetime NFL games during the 2026 season, as the league bets heavily on the return of injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Following a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2025 that saw them miss the play-offs, the Missouri-based franchise remains one of the league’s major television draws.

Their marquee billing comes despite significant uncertainty surrounding the team’s talisman, who is currently rehabilitating a severe left knee injury.

The franchise quarterback tore both his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments on 14 December, yet schedule-makers anticipate his presence for the new campaign.

Opening night optimism

The team will host the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football” on 14 September to kick off their season.

Kansas City management shares the league’s optimism regarding their star player’s availability for that divisional clash.

“It has been just an awesome experience to see exactly how Pat Mahomes has attacked this rehab process,” stated Chiefs general manager Brett Veach.

The executive recently revealed the rigorous nature of the recovery programme, noting the player spends up to nine hours at the facility daily.

“Because of that hard work, I think he’s pretty far ahead of schedule,” Veach added.

A tale of two rehabilitations

If the standout passer does start against Denver, his recovery from the most significant setback of his nine-year career will have taken just nine months.

The opening match-up also carries intrigue for the opposition, as Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is recovering from a broken ankle sustained in January.

The overarching narrative mirrors the 2009 season, when Tom Brady returned from a torn ACL to lead the New England Patriots to an opening-night victory.

Meanwhile, veteran tight end Travis Kelce is also approaching the twilight of his illustrious career, adding further drama to the upcoming season.

“Any time you question Patrick Mahomes, he’s going to come out swinging,” noted broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit.

The celebrated signal-caller is expected to participate alongside his team-mates when organised team activities begin in May.

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich, though the proposed transfer currently hinges on the Premier League club’s overall valuation.

The 23-year-old England international has reportedly settled on the framework of a contract with the Bavarian giants.

However, securing a formal fee agreement with the Magpies remains a significant hurdle before any deal can be fully finalised.

The former Everton academy graduate enjoyed a stellar campaign at St James’ Park last season, making him a highly sought-after commodity in the current European market.

Casemiro targets MLS switch

Elsewhere, veteran midfielder Casemiro appears increasingly destined for a lucrative move to Major League Soccer.

Inter Miami currently lead the race to secure the signature of the experienced Brazilian international.

Leaving Old Trafford would mark the end of a mixed spell in English football for the former Real Madrid star and five-time Champions League winner.

Rashford pushes for Barcelona stay

In another major development, Marcus Rashford is actively pushing to remain with Barcelona.

The dynamic attacker is eager to prolong his stint in Catalonia despite ongoing speculation regarding his long-term club future.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are locked in a battle with local rivals Manchester City for the services of highly-rated midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Liverpool seek wide reinforcements

Liverpool are actively scouring the transfer market to recruit new wide players as they rebuild their attacking options.

Further down the table, a fiercely contested Premier League race has emerged for FC Midtjylland prospect Dario Osorio.

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Everton are all actively chasing a deal for the promising winger.

Jonas Vingegaard has completed his set of Grand Tour stage victories by producing a spectacular solo attack to win stage seven of the Giro d’Italia on the formidable Blockhaus climb.

Making his debut at the prestigious Italian race, the Dane launched a devastating acceleration with 5.5km remaining of the punishing 13.6km ascent.

Nobody could match the Visma-Lease a Bike rider as he broke the record time for ascending the mountain, clocking 38 minutes and 22 seconds.

He crossed the finish line 13 seconds clear of Austria’s Felix Gall, with Australian Jai Hindley taking third on the longest Grand Tour stage in five years.

General classification battle intensifies

This landmark victory means the 27-year-old has now claimed stage wins at the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro.

The impressive performance catapulted the two-time Tour de France champion into second place in the overall general classification.

He now sits three minutes and 17 seconds behind race leader Afonso Eulalio, with Gall a further 17 seconds adrift in third.

I’m definitely happy that I could take back some time.

The pre-race favourite is aiming to write his name in the history books by becoming only the eighth rider to win all three Grand Tours.

It’s a good day for me, a good day for us.

Gall emerges as major threat

While Vingegaard secured the stage honours, he was quick to acknowledge the impressive ride of the climbing specialist behind him.

For sure Felix Gall is a big rival to me.
I knew it already before the race, he’s a really strong guy that we really have to take into account.

Stage seven and general classification results

The brutal 244km test proved decisive for the overall contenders, shaking up the top five standings significantly.

Overall standings after stage seven:

India legend Virat Kohli has declared he will not participate in the 2027 Cricket World Cup if he is made to feel he must continually prove his worth to the national team.

The 37-year-old has already retired from Test and T20 international cricket but remains an active, vital part of the 50-over setup.

He is widely regarded as one of the finest one-day batters in history and played a crucial role in both the 2011 World Cup victory and last year’s Champions Trophy success.

Refusal to justify his place

Speaking on the RCB Podcast, the former captain explained his firm mindset regarding his future in the sport.

“If I can add value to the environment that I’m a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I’ll be seen,” he stated.

“If I’m made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I’m not in that space.”

The modern-day great emphasised his relentless work ethic and willingness to give absolutely everything on the field.

Unwavering commitment to the team

“When I arrive to play, I put my head down, I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way.”

“You want me to run from boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game, I will do that without a complaint. Because I prepare accordingly.”

The top-order batsman noted that he prepares to treat every single delivery in the field as if it were the final ball of his career.

“After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me. And I am very clear in my head from that perspective.”

An unrivaled one-day pedigree

Only Sachin Tendulkar has amassed more than his phenomenal tally of 14,797 runs across 311 one-day internationals.

The right-hander boasts a staggering overall average of 58.71, which notably climbs to 65.78 when chasing down targets in the second innings.

Furthermore, his exceptional record in South Africa – the host nation for the 2027 tournament – stands at a formidable average of 76.38 from 20 matches.

Frustration with external noise

During the interview, the prolific run-scorer admitted that certain individuals are currently attempting to overcomplicate his situation.

While he refrained from naming anyone specifically, his frustration with shifting expectations and unprompted criticism was glaringly apparent.

“Look, if you go to your workplace, and if people say we believe in your abilities, and then a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it’s like, why?” he asked.

“Either tell me on day one I’m not good enough or I’m not needed. Or if you’ve said I’m good enough and you say we’re not even thinking otherwise, then be quiet.”

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi is aiming to win consecutive FA Cup finals with different clubs when he faces former team Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

The England centre-back finds himself on the brink of a highly unusual achievement following a mid-season rule change.

Just last year, the highly-rated defender captained Crystal Palace to their first major trophy.

From humiliation to Wembley return

The defending champions then suffered a humiliating cup exit in January this year at the hands of sixth-tier Macclesfield.

Nine days after that embarrassing defeat, the former Palace captain transferred to the Etihad Stadium.

A recent modification to cup-tie regulations meant players eliminated with one team can now represent another in the same competition.

“I feel like my football life is just crazy,” said the England international.
“There’s no consistency to it, it’s just very unpredictable and it’s quite fun.”

Bouncing back from adversity

The commanding centre-half has experienced a rollercoaster week after an under-hit back pass against Everton gifted Thierno Barry a crucial Premier League goal.

Addressing the error, the defender acknowledged that mistakes are an inevitable part of the game.

He displayed similar accountability at Macclesfield, where he approached irate travelling supporters following the final whistle.

“I just felt like I owed the fans at least for their voices to be heard because they’re such a big part of football,” he explained.

Chasing history with the champions

That shock non-league defeat brought an abrupt end to an outstanding spell in South London.

The standout defender left Selhurst Park as the most decorated captain in their 120-year history.

Now, he is set to start in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance.

“I know how much it means to them to win trophies, especially the FA Cup and the history that it has behind it,” he added.