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Jacob Bridgeman shot a 2-under-par 69 to carve out a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland and two others at the Valspar Championship on Friday in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Bridgeman, a 25-year-old in just his 40th career start on the PGA Tour, is at 6-under 136 with a narrow edge over Norwegian star Hovland (67 on Friday), Japan's Ryo Hisatsune (66) and Byeong Hun An of South Korea (67).
The highlight of Bridgeman's round was an eagle at the par-5 11th hole at the Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course, where he reached the green in two and sank a 10-foot putt. Bridgeman reached 7 under with a birdie at No. 14 but bogeyed his final hole, shrinking his cushion.
Hovland, 27, had missed three straight cuts before this week but found better results Friday, when he birdied five holes with a single bogey. The six-time PGA Tour champion is trying to get his game back on track, as is another notable player in the Valspar field, Xander Schauffele.
The World No. 3 shot a 68 on Friday and moved into a tie for fifth at 4 under with Ireland's Shane Lowry (67), Kevin Velo (70) and Germany's Jeremy Paul (69). Schauffele made his 60th consecutive cut one week after saying his game felt "pretty gross" at The Players Championship.
Davis Riley (70), Ricky Castillo (72), Harry Hall of England (70), Emiliano Grillo of Argentina (68) and Victor Perez of France (70) are tied at 3 under.
The cut line was at 2 over par. Notable names who'll miss the weekend include Zach Johnson (3 over), Webb Simpson (3 over), two-time Valspar winner Sam Burns (3 over), Jake Knapp (9 over) and Cameron Young (9 over).
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Keegan Bradley considers using Ryder Cup team captain's pick on himself
In what could be a first for a pre-tournament press conference, Keegan Bradley was asked only briefly on Wednesday about being defending champion of the BMW Championship, and about the course, Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. Mostly, Bradley talked about his role as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, the September event's course, Bethpage Black, and if he would use a captain's pick on the current No. 10 player in the Ryder Cup standings. That player is Bradley, making for a compelling narrative and much speculation as the FedEx Cup playoffs continue this week and lead to the Tour Championship. The top six players in the Ryder Cup points standings after this week's tournament will automatically qualify for the squad that faces Team Europe on Sept. 26-28 in Farmingdale, N.Y. Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun and Xander Schaufele have locked up three spots. Justin Thomas at No. 7, Collin Morikawa and Ben Griffin currently have more points than Bradley, who if he doesn't automatically qualify, could use one of six captain's picks on himself after the Tour Championship. "I've been saying all year, you can't expect to be on the team unless you're in the top six," said Bradley, 39. "My goal is to go out there, whether I was Ryder Cup captain or not this week, and play well and play well next week at the Tour Championship as well. "There's definitely a lot more on my plate here these next couple of weeks. The Ryder Cup has always been so far away, and now it's right there. Things are definitely amping up. I still have a lot to prove just as well as everyone around me on the list." It's not common for the team captain to also play. Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain in the biennial contest -- in 1963. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the No. 2 player in the world, said Wednesday that he considers Bradley one of the United States' 12 best players. But McIlroy also believes there's too much on the plate -- as Bradley might say -- of a Ryder Cup team captain during the event to add playing duties. "(McIlroy) might be right," Bradley said. "We don't know. No one knows. Yeah, like everybody's telling me to start the year that a player can't be captain and have a good year. For me, I feel like this is one of my best years that I've ever had." Bradley is currently No. 14 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has eight career wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2024 BMW Championship and this year at the Travelers Championship on June 22. He also had five top-10 finishes and made 17 of 19 cuts. He has made a habit in his career of asking others for advice who have gone through an experience such as playing in a major, playing the last tee time on Sunday or facing the media. But for this question, no one has personal experience. "I certainly have a lot of concerns, as well as everybody else, but I have the most incredible vice captains, including Jim Furyk, who's been on these teams and been captain a bunch of times," Bradley said. "Quite frankly, I've been leaning on them more than any other captain ever anyways, even if I'm not playing. "We're ready for this if it happens. I'm not sure it's going to. I can truly sit here right now and say I don't know what's going to happen. I have to look at myself just like any other player trying to make the team. I'm 10th in points right now, and that's not sixth." He has gratitude for his peers' support no matter his decision, including McIlroy and World No. 1 Scheffler, who said on Wednesday, "I think he's a guy we'd all love to have on the team. The intensity that he's brought as a captain -- I mean, he has definitely exceeded my expectations as far as a captain. He's done a great job." Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay also joined the chorus of supporting Bradley as a playing captain. "I can tell you, honestly, it means the world to me to hear that. I haven't ever really felt that in my career," Bradley said. "It's really touching. It really means a lot. I really have -- the thing I've enjoyed most is getting to know these guys better. I was really a closed-off player for most of my career. "Getting to know the guys more and getting to learn who they are, and then I think as a golfer, or as an athlete or a businessman, whatever it is, when you feel the respect of your peers, that's the ultimate. To hear that from two players of that caliber really means a lot."
Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble, so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
Six NBA players most likely to be traded
NBA teams won't assemble for training camp until September, but some players may not be on those teams for long. Here are six NBA players likely to get traded in the upcoming season. 1. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz Some NBA teams go all-in. The Utah Jazz have gone all-out, ditching veterans Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins this summer. Their lone remaining high-priced player is Lauri Markkanen, a 2023 All-Star who has four years and $196M left on his contract. He had a down year in 2024-25, playing just 47 games and dropping to 19 points per game, but the Jazz were also holding Markkanen out so much that they got fined. Markkanen's shooting would fit on nearly any NBA team, and he's still only 28 years old. The Jazz have amassed a lot of future draft picks, but many of them aren't great — pick swaps with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and a 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-rounder. Trading their Finnish superstar could get them a huge return, especially if NBA teams are seeing him dominate in EuroBasket exhibition games. 2. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors It seems like a foregone conclusion that Jonathan Kuminga will resign with the Golden State Warriors and equally inevitable that the Warriors will then try to trade their 22-year-old forward. The only holdup is that the restricted free agent and his team can't agree on a new contract. The Warriors need to get something back for their former lottery pick, but they also need to preserve his salary slot. Kuminga and his agent couldn't work out a sign-and-trade this summer, but once free agents who signed this summer can be traded Dec. 15, far more trade options will open up. Kuminga doesn't want to be on the Warriors. The Warriors don't want to guarantee him playing time. The breakup looks like it's coming. 3. Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics In a year where the Boston Celtics have dramatically slashed their payroll in Jayson Tatum's absence, they have a huge incentive to deal Anfernee Simons, the guard acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade. Getting rid of Simons gets them under the luxury tax, which is worth tens of millions of dollars, while also keeping the Celtics out of penalties for repeatedly being a tax team. It all depends on whether the Celtics will settle for the financial savings or hold out to get assets back for the impending free agent. But Simons is almost certainly headed somewhere. 4. P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks P.J. Washington was a huge part of the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as the guy the Mavericks just took with the No. 1 pick in the draft, Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks also have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and the newly-extended Daniel Gafford. Washington and his expiring contract are now expendable. 5. CJ McCollum/Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards took on McCollum and Middleton in trades in the past year, moves that were primarily made to shed the long-term salaries of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. But even though those players were both born in 1991, they should still be able to contribute to winning teams in 2025-26. The Wizards may value their veteran leadership, but they also have a roster full of recent draft picks who need playing time — and you can never have too many future draft picks.
Ex-Steelers Decision Maker Delivers Harsh Statement About Cam Heyward
The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t overly thrilled to learn that defensive stalwart Cam Heyward was seeking more money before the 2025 season. Just ahead of the 2024 campaign, the Steelers and Heyward went through similar negotiations, with the organization feeling they had done right by their veteran leader. Heyward, however, saw things differently. News broke that the All-Pro defensive lineman was staging a hold-in, participating in team activities but withholding his full commitment while waiting for a new deal. Mark Kaboly has even noted how unusual this situation is, pointing out that it should be a straightforward resolution for both sides to reach an agreement and save face. The fact that it remains unresolved has led some to believe there may be deeper issues at play beyond just contract numbers. This standoff has fueled speculation about what is truly driving Heyward’s demands and whether the relationship between the player and the franchise has become more strained than the public realizes. Former Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley, who spent a decade in Pittsburgh working under General Manager Kevin Colbert, weighed in on the matter this week. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Whaley called the situation a significant misstep by Heyward and his camp. In his view, the veteran’s handling of the contract dispute could tarnish his standing with the team and complicate what should have been an easily negotiated extension for one of the Steelers’ most respected players. "Think about this," Whaley started in an interview with 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. "The 15 years of goodwill Cam Heyward has gained in the public and on the team, it's smashed over this lack of foresight. So to me, it's an abject failure from Cam. So I can understand why he has such vitriol from the fans because you should have did this before." Whaley has worked in professional football for decades and understands the inner workings of the league. His opinion on the matter carries validity, and it’s interesting to hear from someone who once made important decisions inside the Steelers’ building share where he stands. Heyward is the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. When he received the honor, the Steelers fan base rallied behind him, expressing just how beloved he is in Pittsburgh. He still holds that status, but Whaley says he understands why some fans are upset with his request. "In the end, it's not on the Steelers," Whaley said. "This is on Cam Heyward and his camp." The coming weeks will be telling for both Heyward and the Steelers. Training camp and the preseason are usually a time for optimism, but this contract standoff has added an unexpected layer of tension. While most expect Heyward to be on the field when the games begin to count, the lingering negotiations could leave a lasting impression on how the organization and its fans view one of the franchise’s all-time great defenders. Steelers' Situation With Cam Heyward Causing Slight Tensions From the team’s perspective, it is a delicate balance between rewarding a player who has been a cornerstone of the defense for over a decade and making sound financial decisions for the future. For Heyward, it is about securing what he feels he has earned after years of leadership, production, and sacrifice for the team. Both sides have valid points, yet the longer this situation drags on, the more potential there is for frustration to build. Whaley’s remarks may not change the outcome, but they highlight a perspective from someone who knows the pressures of building a winning roster. Whether this ends with a handshake or more hard feelings, one thing is clear: the resolution of this standoff will play a role in shaping the Steelers’ 2025 season narrative. Do you agree with Whaley and his sentiments about Heyward?
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