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Xander Schauffele said he started thinking about completing the career grand slam before collecting his first two major wins last year at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship.
"Believe it or not, it was always a thought before I won any of them," he told reporters on Monday as Masters week got underway at Augusta National Golf Club. "It's a lot cooler to be a lot closer to that dream of mine at 31 versus 35 or 36 and not having won one."
Schauffele has already had several close calls with the green jacket, tying for second place in 2019, tying for third in 2021 and finishing in the top 10 in each of the past two years at Augusta, Ga.
Ranked No. 3 in the world, Schauffele has gotten off to a modest start this season due to missing two months with a ribcage injury. He finished T12 at the Valspar Championship last month thanks to a final-round 66. His previous best finish in 2025 was a T-30 at The Sentry in early January.
He said he's feeling healthy this week and confident he can compete for another trophy.
"Absolutely, yeah. I think I know what I'm capable of when I'm feeling good, when I'm not thinking of anything but getting the ball in the hole," he said. "It's been a process to get back to that. I don't have a ton of reps doing it, but there's a lot for me to draw back on, sort of previous accomplishments to sort of let that confidence grow."
Schauffele said his strong play at the Valspar Championship gave his confidence another boost.
"Just knowing that I want to get to a good place, maybe I freed myself up that week, just sort of let the ball go wherever it's going to go, instead of two hands on the steering wheel, gripping tight, just kind of let it be," he said. "It turned into a really good week in terms of approach."
Schauffele was asked if it felt any different arriving to Augusta for the first time as a major champion.
"Not really. I'd like to think I feel similar," he said as the rain washed out Monday's practice rounds. "Sitting here bummed out along with the rest of the field that we can't practice today. I don't really wake up and feel more accomplished. I feel like the same guy.
"I think the big difference will be when I get in those spots, my dream is just to give myself another chance coming down the stretch. I think I said that after the PGA, at The Open -- if I can get myself in a spot to win this thing, I feel pretty good about doing it, and I did it."
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Jonathan Kuminga Is Ready to Pull a Ben Simmons
History often repeats in the NBA. Teams usually keep young, talented players on a short leash. That builds frustration, trust fades, and before long, both sides are looking to part ways. Sometimes, the divorce comes naturally, but other times, it turns ugly. Jonathan Kuminga is facing a similar situation to what Ben Simmons had with the Philadelphia 76ers. He wants out, but the team doesn’t let him, and he doesn’t really have a lot of leverage. Let’s take a look at the similarities between the two situations. Jonathan Kuminga Is Ready to Pull a Ben Simmons The latest reports on the Jonathan Kuminga situation is that the Warriors have only one offer for a trade with the Sacramento Kings, but they don’t like it. While the Warriors expected more teams to make bids for their young forward, in the end, only the Kings are serious enough. But their offer of Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-round pick does not work for the Warriors. That leaves Kuminga with several options. The first is to accept the qualifying offer, sign it sooner, and hope for a better trade at the deadline. He would have to play at a high level to up his value, and it is in the Warriors’ interest to keep his value high. If nothing materializes at the deadline, he can be a free agent next summer. The second option is to sign a two-year deal with the Warriors, which is essentially a one year deal, and he becomes a free agent next summer as well. How Similar are the Simmons and Kuminga Situations? There are similarities in the way that both players felt disrespected and unsupported by their team’s management and coaching. Simmons felt that the Sixers didn’t support him after the playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. His agent told Philadelphia that he doesn’t plan to return to the team. Unlike Kuminga, Simmons was under a long-term contract with Philly and didn’t have leverage. What he did was refuse to play for the team until he got traded. Eventually, the Sixers traded him at the deadline for James Harden. Kuminga finds himself in a similar situation. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has previously said he doesn’t believe playing Jonathan will result in wins. That is a huge sign the team doesn’t view him as part of their future. During his four year stint with the Warriors, Kuminga has been in and out of the starting lineup, received a DNP-coach’s decision, and has had flashes of great play. But that marriage has run its course, and it is definitely time for both sides to part ways. The problem for Kuminga is that he is a restricted free agent. As such, he can only sign with teams with cap space, and there are not many of those around. Differences Between Simmons and Kuminga Both Simmons and Kuminga have played four seasons for their team (Simmons didn’t play in his first season due to injury). The difference is that Simmons won the Rookie of the Year award and was a three-time All-Star at the time he requested a trade. Kuminga is far from being an All-Star. Another difference is that Simmons had a long-term contract when he requested a trade. Jonathan has only one year left on his deal. What Happens Next? While there are similarities with the Simmons situation, the question now is what happens next with Kuminga? Will his career take off or not? Simmons never sniffed All-Star status after being traded, and he faced injuries that prevented him from playing at a high level. Kuminga believes he is a star player in this league and wants a chance to prove it. Whether he gets traded this summer, at the deadline, or signs with a new team next offseason, he will get his chance.
Lakers Insider Provides Update on LA’s Pursuit of $87 Million Frontcourt Duo
The Los Angeles Lakers have done all they can to build the best possible team without giving up any of their assets, including their draft capital. More news: Lakers Hiring Former Mavericks Award-Winning Coach The Lakers lost one player to the Houston Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith, at the start of free agency, but have gained three players, two of whom were off the buyout market. Los Angeles has been methodical in their approach as they prepare for the summers ahead, specfically the summer of 2027. While that is the case, the Lakers were expected to make a big move this offseason. That hasn't and will likely not happen. There were a ton of pieces out there that could have made sense for the Lakers, including a potential trade with one of their rivals, the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have pieces that the Lakers could benefit from, including center Robert Williams III. A trade for Williams is not out of the question; however, a trade also involving Matisse Thybulle to go along with Williams may not be an option. According to The Athletic's Dan Woike, a trade for LA centering Williams and Thybulle is not likely. "I have a hard time believing a team that’s so close to the first apron that it can’t currently sign a free agent would gamble on not one, but two guys that have no track record of availability." More news: New Lakers Signing Recalls Moment He First Defended Kobe Bryant in NBA The chances of that happening, according to Woike, are not high. However, those two are the types of players who could make the Lakers legitimate title contenders. The Lakers have had Williams on their radar for what seems like forever. The 27-year-old center is an injury-riddled player, but he is just the type of player the Lakers need. Williams is a defensive-minded player who can protect the rim better than anybody in the league. He was limited to 20 games this past season and has failed to play more than 61 games in his seven-year career. Thybulle falls under the same category, at least that was the case last season. The 28-year-old was limited to 15 games this season, but when he is on the court, he is one of the more tenacious defenders in the league. He's earned two NBA All-Defensive nods while averaging 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The Lakers could use both Williams and Thybulle, but that seems unlikely as things stand. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
NFL Draft intel: Big Ten QB's elite arm turning heads among scouts
Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. From an Indiana quarterback to a Louisville wide receiver, here are five players we're tracking: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates listed Mendoza (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) as their No. 5 QB on "First Draft" on Wednesday. Yates gushed over his arm. "This kid is legit," Yates said. "He makes a lot of cool throws. He makes a lot of very confident throws that I'm not sure other quarterbacks would even see." That's one reason the California Golden Bears transfer produced in 2024 without stellar weapons. The program had no offensive players selected in the 2025 draft, but he completed 68.7 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games. Imagine what he could do at Indiana, which made the College Football Playoff last season. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti has said Mendoza's arm is stronger than former starting QB Kurtis Rourke's (now with the San Francisco 49ers). He tied for the FBS's 10th-most passing TDs (29 in 12 games) last season. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier On Aug. 8, LSU HC Brian Kelly confirmed Nussmeier has chronic patellar tendinitis in his left knee. The coach downplayed the injury. While not season-ending, Yates believes it will concern teams. "Get ready for a long medical conversation surrounding Garrett Nussmeier from late February into March prior to the predraft process," he said on "First Draft." The injury hasn't affected Nussmeier's odds of being the top pick in the draft. As of Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists him as the favorite (+340) to go No. 1 overall in 2026. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder may dispel the medical questions if he excels again in 2025. Last season, he ranked fifth in the FBS in passing yards (4,052 in 13 games). Clemson QB Cade Klubnik In his latest mock draft, The Ringer's Todd McShay has the Cleveland Browns taking Klubnik (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) with pick No. 1. "If the Browns are picking No. 1 in 2026, it means none of their quarterbacks did enough to claim the job long term, including Shedeur Sanders, despite his impressive preseason debut," wrote McShay. "Enter Klubnik, who's calm in chaos and has enough mobility and arm strength to succeed at the next level." Jacksonville Jaguars fifth-year QB Trevor Lawrence is the only Clemson player to be taken No. 1 overall in the draft. Klubnik could lead the No. 4 Tigers to a national championship, like Lawrence did during the 2018 season. The senior finished with the nation's third-most passing TDs (36 in 14 games) in 2024. With star wide receivers Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. returning, Klubnik could have another big year. The wideouts combined for 16 TD catches last season. Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Sadiq (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) should assume a bigger role after the Los Angeles Rams took former Ducks TE Terrance Ferguson (pick No. 46) in the 2025 draft. CBS Sports' Mike Renner ranked Sadiq as his No. 1 TE and believes he could go higher in the draft than Ferguson. "Even if he's on the smallish side by NFL standards, it did not show up much as a run-blocker," wrote Renner in a story published Wednesday. "Sadiq's play strength was unique for a true sophomore and should only improve as his career progresses. A potential top-20 talent with development." Sadiq — who had just two touchdown catches in 14 games last season — isn't considered a first-rounder yet. Tankathon's latest mock draft has the Carolina Panthers selecting him with pick No. 70 in the third round. His stock could skyrocket if he produces better numbers. Louisville WR Chris Bell Bell (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) may check the boxes for NFL teams when evaluating WRs before the draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler rates him as his No. 2 WR. "With his strong, muscular frame, Bell passes the eye test walking off the bus," wrote Brugler in a story published Thursday. "He uses his physicality to be a possession target who can make tough grabs over defenders. And with his 4.4 speed, Bell can separate vertically or create explosive plays after the catch." Per Brugler, Bell must expand his route tree to improve his draft stock. He must also prove that he can succeed without QB Tyler Shough (now with the New Orleans Saints). Bell could still be productive after recording a career-high 737 receiving yards in 13 games last season. He has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list. The award recognizes college football's top WR.
Browns 'leaving their possibilities open' for shocking quarterback development
A recent Instagram video showed Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson sprinting as he works to return to action after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon last October and then reinjured the Achilles during his recovery. Watson has spent portions of the summer sharing a quarterback room with presumed Week 1 starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. During a Thursday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer was asked if Watson could play for the club during the upcoming season. "Nothing would shock me, so I just think that we all have to stay tuned for that," Cabot responded, as shared by Stephen Douglas of Sports Illustrated. "Will [the Browns] ever let [Watson] set foot on the field for them again? I don't really know, but he is certainly determined. And the Browns, every time they talk about Deshaun Watson nowadays, it's in glowing terms about what he's doing inside of that building. How he is mentoring the younger guys. His attitude. His work ethic. So he's in good standing with the club right now, and I think that anything can happen." Sanders was a favorite among pockets of Cleveland fans and national media members even before he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. However, he's now dealing with an oblique injury that could sideline him through Cleveland's final two preseason games. Neither Pickett nor Gabriel played against Carolina because of hamstring injuries. Gabriel will start Cleveland's preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles this Saturday if he's healthy enough to go for that contest. As for Watson, whispers first emerged this past spring hinting he doesn't want to spend the entire 2025 season on injured reserve. More recently, an update from earlier in August suggested that Watson has a chip on his shoulder after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said in March that Cleveland "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." "They haven't ruled him out," Cabot added about the Browns' handling of Watson this summer. "I mean, they haven't put him on the shelf for the whole entire season, so I think they're leaving their possibilities open." According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Browns would face a 2026 salary-cap charge of $131.161M if they release Watson during the season. Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts since he accepted a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to accept a trade from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022. Browns general manager Andrew Berry has insisted the club could have four quarterbacks on the active roster for its Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Eventually, Berry may have to make room on the depth chart for Watson unless the two sides come to an agreement that results in the 29-year-old sitting until next season.
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