Good morning to everybody however particularly to…
JON RAHM, MASTERS CHAMPION
There was a time — not that way back, in reality — {that a} four-putt double-bogey on the opening gap might have despatched Jon Rahm‘s whole event off the rails.
This week, it led him to his first inexperienced jacket.
The Spanish star powered by means of a loaded leaderboard and hostile situations to cruise to a four-stroke win over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
Koepka led by 4 photographs getting into the day — which started with the top of the third spherical after climate postponements — and led by two getting into the fourth spherical. But Rahm caught him by the fourth gap of the ultimate spherical and moved into the solo lead after the sixth gap — a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
It’s already Rahm’s fourth win this calendar yr. Since 1960, the one different gamers to get their fourth win of a calendar yr on the Masters are Arnold Palmer (1960) and Scottie Scheffler (2022). Rahm additionally joins Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia as the one Spaniards to win the Masters.Rahm and Ballesteros — certainly one of Rahm’s heroes — are additionally the one Spaniards to win two totally different majors. Sunday would have been Ballesteros’ 66th birthday.Rahm joined Sam Snead (1952) as the one gamers to win the Masters after making double-bogey or worse on the primary gap.
Rahm not often made errors, and when he did, he recovered in stable — and generally spectacular — vogue. That was very true on 14, when Rahm pale his method shot round a tree to only 4 ft and made birdie. Koepka three-putted for bogey, and Rahm cruised from there.
Rahm, fairly merely, is an all-time nice, writes our Kyle Porter from Augusta.
Other prime tales:
Honorable mentions
And not such morning for…
USATSI
THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES…
The Timberwolves spent the ultimate day of the common season throwing punches, and now it looks like they hardly have a puncher’s likelihood. Shortly earlier than Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand punching a wall in frustration, Rudy Gobert punched teammate Kyle Anderson throughout a timeout and acquired despatched house.
The Timberwolves really gained the sport, 113-108, over the Pelicans to safe the 8 seed within the West and arrange a play-in recreation with the Lakers, however Minnesota appears to be in shambles each bodily and mentally. McDaniels, who earned third-team honors on Colin Ward-Henninger’s “All-Breakout Teams,” is a key defender who will probably be sorely missed.
But the Gobert incident, as defined under, is extra regarding:
After Anderson reportedly advised Gobert “shut the f— up bitch,” Gobert took a jab at Anderson. It didn’t land with a lot pressure, and teammates shortly intervened.Timberwolves president Tim Connelly stated in a press release, “His habits on the bench was unacceptable and we’ll deal with the scenario internally.”It’s unclear if/when Gobert will probably be again.
It’s been a tough first yr in Minnesota on and off the court docket for Gobert, who arrived by way of a blockbuster commerce with the Jazz. What would the Timberwolves get in the event that they transfer on? The reply is… not a lot, in keeping with our Sam Quinn.
If you simply regarded on the field rating, it was an enormous win. When you take a look at the entire image, although, the Timberwolves look near a breaking level, a method or one other.
… AND ALSO NOT SUCH A GOOD MORNING FOR THE DALLAS MAVERICKS
If you are a Timberwolves fan, at the very least your favourite crew is within the play-in event — way more than what the Mavericks can say. Months after buying Kyrie Irving in an try to encompass Luka Doncic with extra star energy, Dallas went quietly into the offseason, resting most of their prime gamers in a must-win recreation they misplaced in opposition to the Bulls.
Here’s why they did it.
The Mavericks had been nonetheless mathematically within the play-in race. However, they owe the Knicks a top-10 protected decide from the Kristaps Porzingis commerce. By dropping and, due to this fact, being eradicated from the play-in event, their odds of getting a top-10 decide (and, due to this fact, holding it) rose considerably.The Mavericks, fittingly, didn’t hit the rim on any of their three closing photographs.The NBA is investigating the Mavericks’ roster selections and recreation conduct. Irving, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and Christian Wood didn’t play, and Doncic performed solely the primary quarter.
Now the Mavericks are reportedly apprehensive Doncic might demand a commerce subsequent summer time, and Sam has already ranked the entire doable locations — although Doncic stated he is completely happy in Dallas. Before we go down that street, although, this can be a brutal manner for the Mavericks to finish their season. Since Feb. 8 — Irving’s debut — they went 9-18 after which purposely performed their manner out of the postseason.
It’s all a shameful look, writes our Brad Botkin. I completely agree.
Not so honorable mentions
NBA Play-In Tournament, prime six playoff seeds are set after a really wild closing weekend 🏀
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Believe it or not, there was greater than punching partitions, punching teammates and punting on seasons throughout the closing weekend of the NBA common season
We acquired some loopy stat strains from little-known gamers, the Warriors making historical past and even extra ridiculous moments. But most significantly, the play-in event and the highest six playoff seeds are set!
Here’s what we’re for the play-in:
Tuesday
Play-In Game 1: (8) Hawks at (7) HeatPlay-In Game 2: (8) Timberwolves at (7) Lakers
Wednesday
Play-In Game 3: (10) Bulls at (9) RaptorsPlay-In Game 4: (10) Thunder at (9) Pelicans
Thursday
Play-In Game 5: Game 3 winner at Game 1 loserPlay-In Game 6: Game 4 winner at Game 2 loser
Here’s how the play-in works, by the way in which. If your favourite crew was fortunate sufficient to make the playoffs with out counting on the play-in, this is the playoff schedule.
Odell Beckham Jr. lands with Ravens 🏈
USATSI
The Ravens have spent a lot of their offseason coping with the Lamar Jackson saga, however he wasn’t the one big-name free agent on their thoughts.
Baltimore and Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to a one-year deal value as much as $18 million.
Beckham Jr., 30, hasn’t performed since Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, when he helped the Rams beat the Bengals. He tore the ACL in his left knee throughout the recreation, his second such harm in two seasons.Including playoffs, Beckham appeared in 12 video games with Los Angeles, racking up 48 catches for 593 yards and 7 touchdowns, together with one within the Super Bowl.The big fee is nearly as stunning because the timing: Beckham was anticipated to go to the Jets immediately, and they seemed to be the favourite.
It stays to be decided how a lot Beckham can assist not solely on the sector, but in addition in holding Jackson in Baltimore after the star quarterback requested a commerce.
USWNT star Mallory Swanson’s World Cup standing unsure after tearing patellar tendon ⚽
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United States ladies’s nationwide crew star Mallory Swanson tore the patellar tendon in her left knee within the USWNT’s 2-0 pleasant win over Ireland, an enormous blow simply three months forward of the World Cup.
Swanson was carted off after being tackled within the first half.Swanson had been in nice kind. She scored within the NWSL season opener for the Red Stars and has scored eight targets in six USWNT video games this yr.Alyssa Thompson, an 18-year-old and the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NWSL Draft, changed Swanson on the UWSNT’s roster for tomorrow night time’s pleasant in opposition to Ireland.
Just how huge of a loss is that this? Our Sandra Herrera calls it “near-catastrophic.”
WNBA mock draft: Aliyah Boston first, however who’s subsequent? 🏀
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The WNBA Draft is tonight, and we have now Jack Maloney’s mock draft to get you prepared.
It’s a no brainer at No. 1 for the Fever:
Maloney: “1. Fever: Aliyah Boston — The Fever… lastly had their lottery luck flip, and gained the No. 1 decide this yr for the primary time in franchise historical past. It got here at an ideal time, as they’re going to be capable of choose Boston, among the finest prospects to enter the league in years. The 6-foot-5 middle is a dominant defensive pressure across the basket, an elite rebounder and an environment friendly scorer within the paint.”
Here’s Jack’s prime 5:
1. Fever: C Aliyah Boston2. Lynx: G Diamond Miller3. Wings: F Maddy Siegrist4. Mystics: G/F Jordan Horston5. Wings: C Stephanie Soares
That prime 5 consists of two of the Wings’ three first-round picks, and Jack took an inside take a look at their method to the draft.
What we’re watching Monday 📺
🏀 WNBA Draft, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Wild at Blackhawks, 9 p.m. on ESPN
