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LIV Golf captain Joaquin Niemann of Chile and PGA Tour golfer Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark each accepted an invitation to play in the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced Wednesday.
The field rests at 87 golfers for the tournament on April 10-13 in Augusta, Ga.
"In support of Augusta National's efforts to develop interest in golf globally, deserving international players not otherwise qualified have been invited throughout the tournament's history," Ridley said. "The tradition continues as we welcome Nicolai and Joaquin back to the Masters, as both players have showcased their talent while competing around the world. We look forward to their arrival this April."
Niemann, 26, is no stranger to playing in the Masters.
While he received an invitation for the second straight year, the 71st-ranked Niemann has played in each of the last five tournaments -- making the cut in each of the last four.
Hojgaard, 23, fared well in his first run in the Masters last season. He remained in contention after the first three rounds before finishing in a tie for 16th place.
Ranked 60th in the world, Hojgaard will join his twin brother, Rasmus, in competing in the Masters. It will mark the first time in tournament history that twins will compete in the same event.
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North Carolina reportedly considering nuclear option with Bill Belichick, and that's justified
Could "The Hoodie" be leaving Chapel Hill much sooner than expected? After hiring head coach Bill Belichick in December 2024, the North Carolina Tar Heels hoped the six-time Super Bowl champion would propel them into national title contention. Instead, they're 2-3 and 0-1 in ACC play. Following an embarrassing 38-10 home loss to the Clemson Tigers in Week 6, the school is reportedly considering a shocking move. North Carolina is reportedly considering firing Bill Belichick In a story published Tuesday, Andrew Jones of 247Sports reported North Carolina has had "potential exit strategy discussions" regarding Belichick. On Wednesday, Pat Welter of WRAL-TV in Raleigh revealed new information about what's going on behind closed doors, which could give the program more grounds to move on from the former New England Patriots coach. According to Welter, two players got into a fight in the locker room on Tuesday, and a parent said their son no longer wants to go to the facility because it's too "toxic." If that wasn't enough, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman has reported the school has suspended cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins. The suspension is tied to allegations of extra benefits in a previous report by Welter. No wonder North Carolina wants to get rid of Belichick. Along with the scandals, he has failed to attract elite players. "There's no question that job No. 1 for any coach is attracting top talent to North Carolina, and I think that's where you start if you're the North Carolina administration," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said Sunday on "Patriots Pregame Live." "You look at their roster and you say, 'You turned over 70 percent of the roster and that's what we're getting on a week-to-week basis?' ... I think there are lots of fair questions to ask in those departments." North Carolina kicking Belichick to the curb would be justified. He has failed to deliver results on the field. More importantly, he has reportedly created a mess that could leave the program in shambles.
Why Blue Jackets winger is a logical trade target for the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are ready to start the 2025-26 season, with high expectations around the team with a reinforced young core. On Wednesday, Heavy.com proposed a trade between Columbus and Montreal. The Canadiens would acquire Yegor Chinakhov, with a cap hit of $2.1 million, and the Blue Jackets would receive Patrik Laine, with a cap hit of $8.7 million. The outlet had previously proposed an alternative, where the Canadiens obtained Chinakhov for a package of Josh Anderson and Arber Xhekaj, freeing up $4.7 million in cap space. The Columbus coach confirmed that Chinakhov will be a healthy scratch in the Blue Jackets' season opener. Chinakhov requested a trade in July, so a change is not seen as improbable. Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov would fit in well with the Canadiens This trade pitch makes sense because Chinakhov needs a change to get stable minutes on a top-nine team. In Montreal, he could benefit from an environment that maximizes its young offensive players. The Russian's profile would also fit Martin St. Louis' system, as he shoots well and plays well without the puck. In a system that prioritizes possession, the volume and quality of his shots should improve. As he is a restricted free agent (RFA) in 2026, Montreal could maintain contractual control if his production improves. It is a buy-low with upside, as he has recorded a season with 16 goals. This would reduce the risk in relation to larger contracts. The Canadiens could offer a development environment without demanding immediate results. He would not have pressure to be the "savior." Furthermore, not all benefits would be for the player. The Habs are looking for more talent for their wings and scoring depth without sacrificing their defensive structure. The Russian would add shooting threat and quick transitions, especially with centers who gain the zone of control, which could be Suzuki or Kirby Dach.
There may be a new big-name head coach available and a pursuit by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross would be a recipe for disaster — even if Miami fires Mike McDaniel
The Miami Dolphins may, eventually, have a head coaching vacancy before the end of the year. And, should that development materialize, team owner Stephen Ross will be faced with what very well could be seen as the defining decision of his legacy as the team's owner. Ross has been through a slew of coaches since assuming majority control of the Dolphins organization in 2009. Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and currently Mike McDaniel have served as the head coaches of the Dolphins under Ross — plus interim terms from both Todd Bowles and Dan Campbell. During his tenure, Ross has had an eye towards big-name head coaching candidates on more than one occasion. He flirted with Jim Harbaugh out of Stanford while Sparano was still under contract as the coach of the team, which drew ire and strife within the organization. And who can forget the inappropriate contact with Sean Payton, in which the Dolphins were reportedly primed to offer a $100 million contract to coach in Miami after sending compensation to New Orleans? Brian Flores' suit against the Dolphins squashed that quickly — and Miami was subsequently stripped of first and third-round draft choices for tampering charges for both Payton and quarterback Tom Brady that summer after investigation. As a potential vacancy for Miami lingers, there may soon be another big-name coach available on the market — one that the Dolphins are very familiar with. His name is Bill Belichick. And if it comes to be reality, my only words for Stephen Ross would be this: "Please don't." New report indicates Bill Belichick's tenure at North Carolina could soon be over — and he'd be a disaster hire for the Dolphins despite his coaching legacy A report from Ollie Connelly this afternoon highlights the tenuous state of affairs for former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his current team, the North Carolina Tar Heels. In an effort to extend his coaching career, Belichick dipped to the college ranks this year after a "gap year" in 2024. It has been an unmitigated disaster, with the Tar Heels sitting at 2-3 with wins over Richmond and Charlotte. They've been uncompetitive in their three contests against TCU, UCF, and Clemson. Unmitigated disaster is a suitable adjective not only for Belichick's time at North Carolina, but essentially also his entire career from the moment that Tom Brady packed his bags and headed south for Tampa Bay. There's a 29-39 record in New England, the decision to make a former defensive coordinator (Matt Patricia) serve as his offensive play caller for a second-year quarterback, tabloid headlines, being bypassed in the 2024 hiring cycle, landing at North Carolina, petty pissing contests with Robert Kraft and the Patriots, and now this. It's been one goofy, unserious development after another that has many questioning the legacy of Belichick beyond his experiences with Brady as his quarterback. Bill Belichick's coaching record with and without Tom Brady Belichick's coaching record with Tom Brady: 249-75 (.769 win percentage) Belichick's coaching record without Tom Brady: 84-104 (.447 win percentage) Belichick's current coaching record at North Carolina: 2-3 (.400 win percentage) as of October 8th 2025 Make no mistake about it — there's a wealth of football knowledge here that is unrivaled. Bill's seen more football than most would ever dream of and he's forgotten more about football than I'll probably ever know. Belichick will be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee when he's eligible. But he's given no one any reason to believe that he's still an effective head coach in the past half of a decade. The incubated nature of his coaching tree in New England posed major problems down the stretch for his ability to assemble a quality assistant staff. And, as we've seen for a decade plus now, those in his coaching tree that have tried to spread their wings and fly on their own elsewhere in the NFL have failed spectacularly any time they've been given an opportunity. The Dolphins know a little something about that, too — although Brian Flores' failures with the Dolphins were not because of defensive acumen or scheme. It was instead because of a power struggle over personnel, a failed bid to acquire embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2021, the inability to assemble a quality coaching staff on offense, and the alleged scar tissue from the organization's misdeeds during a 2019 rebuild year in which Ross, as accused by Flores, offered him significant bonuses for every loss. And all of that is before we acknowledge that Bill Belichick will be 74-years old next spring and would be the second-oldest head coach in the league if he were to re-enter the ranks of NFL lead men in 2026. That's not a long-term solution to Ross' lingering legacy as the Dolphins team owner. It's a bandaid. And a used one, at that. So please, Mr. Ross. If you find yourself seeking a new head coach for the 2026 season and the name Bill Belichick crosses your mind, I beg you. Just...don't. This is one big fish not worth attempting to reel in — go find your prized catch elsewhere if you need a new coach this winter. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-426').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-426').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
Ex-Cardinals Hurler Cuts Ties With Diamondbacks Following 6th MLB Season
Offseason player movement is starting to pick up, and the St. Louis Cardinals are watching some old friends re-enter the market. Four-year Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford elected free agency from the Arizona Diamondbacks last week. But as it turned out, he wouldn't be the only ex-St. Louis hurler on his way out of the desert. On Monday, Woodford was joined in free agency by a pitcher some may have forgotten made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cardinals, before beginning a journeyman arc. Nabil Crismatt elects free agency On Monday, right-hander Nabil Crismatt elected free agency from the Diamondbacks, according to his official transactions page. The 30-year-old has now played for four teams in his six-year professional career. Crismatt debuted with the Cardinals in 2020, pitching six games and allowing three earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. He elected free agency after that season, too, setting the tone for what was to come over the next several years floating around the National League West. From 2021 to 2023, Crismatt found a gig with the San Diego Padres, pitching 159 2/3 innings in the brown and gold. Then, he was designated for assignment and signed with the D-backs for the first time, and progressed to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season. In total, Crismatt has been released or DFA'd nine times in his professional career, and has now elected free agency eight times. The life of a journeyman is all about persistence. For Arizona this season, Crismatt put up a 3.71 ERA in 34 innings, allowing 40 hits and striking out 25 batters. His best work came out of the bullpen in San Diego, especially in 2022, but he's been more of a swingman/starter of late. Would the Cardinals consider taking a minor-league flier on Crismatt this winter? It's not out of the question, as there will likely be some spot starts and swingman roles available throughout the year as St. Louis tries to integrate some of its younger pitchers into the rotation on a more permanent basis.
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