Schauffele’s drive lands in merchandise bag at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Maybe gift shopping really is out of control at the Masters.

Xander Schauffele’s tee shot on the par-5 eighth hole Thursday at Augusta National appeared to come to rest in somebody’s merchandise bag, just a few feet to the left of the fairway. Schauffele used a tee to mark the spot, removed the ball and then handed off the bag to a woman in a pink and white outfit.

He was able to play on without penalty and made par.

Schauffele finished the front nine in 1 under, but he had his shaky moments. His tee shot on the par-4 ninth ended up in some pine straw and his second shot found a bunker. Then he splashed out to within inches of the hole.

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Conference League QF line-ups: Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina

Fiorentina are without Moise Kean, so Roberto Piccoli and Albert Gudmundsson lead the attack against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta in the Conference League quarter-final.

It kicks off at Selhurst Park at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Aston Villa vs. Bologna on the Liveblog.

CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 16: Coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 16, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

The Viola are torn between focus on avoiding relegation from Serie A after a disastrous start to the season, and trying to reach the Conference League semi-final for the fourth year in a row.

Star striker Kean is again forced out with a recurring ankle issue and has not even made the trip, with Fabiano Parisi, Manor Solomon, Niccolò Fortini and Tariq Lamptey also injured.

FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 22: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Piccoli therefore is the centre-forward, supported by Gudmundsson, Italy Under-21 international Cher Ndour, Giovanni Fabbian and January signing Jack Harrison.

Veteran goalkeeper David De Gea takes the gloves, with Robin Gosens at left-back.

FLORENCE, ITALY – NOVEMBER 27: David de Gea goalkeeper of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between ACF Fiorentina and AEK Athens FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on November 27, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Crystal Palace are forced to do without suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Chris Richards and Caleb Kporha are carrying injuries.

They too are struggling domestically this season, sitting 14^th in the Premier League, albeit with a healthy cushion from the relegation zone.

Mateta starts upfront after a failed medical test on his knee ruined a January transfer to Milan that had been agreed for over €30m.

Strand Larsen was signed as his replacement, so Mateta has not started since a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on January 25.

Ismaila Sarr is Palace’s top Conference League scorer with five goals in 10 games this season, while Yeremy Pino netted once in eight appearances.

England international Dean Henderson is in goal and ex-Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada in midfield.

They reached the quarter-final after a 2-1 extra time win over AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16, but this is their first ever major UEFA tournament.

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Guessand

Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodò, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fagioli; Harrison, Fabbian, Ndour, Gudmundsson; Piccoli

Ref: Rumsas (LTU)

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Dodgers' Kyle Tucker reveals brutal reason he chose LA over the Blue Jays in free agency

Dodgers' Kyle Tucker reveals brutal reason he chose LA over the Blue Jays in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Toronto Blue Jays were all-in on Kyle Tucker during the offseason, and for a time, they were considered the favorites to land him. The Blue Jays even hosted Tucker for a visit during the winter.

“The Blue Jays might just be getting started. Kyle Tucker, the top player in this winter’s free-agent class, visited with the Blue Jays at their player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson wrote.

After the visit, everything appeared to be trending upward for Toronto, which had just fallen short of a World Series title. However, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers that ultimately signed the top free agent of the offseason.

“Kyle Tucker, the consensus best player available in free agency, agreed to join the Dodgers on Thursday, sources told ESPN, a little more than a month after star closer Edwin Diaz did the same. Tucker's deal is for four years at $240 million and includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

The Blue Jays and Dodgers recently faced off in a three-game series, and Tucker was asked about choosing Los Angeles over Toronto. He had this to say:

“I was just trying to make the most of the rest of my career,” Tucker said. “You don’t play this game forever, so I was trying to make the most out of it wherever I felt the best landing spot was for me and my family. That was California.”

While Tucker didn’t explicitly say it, his comments suggest he believed the Dodgers offered a better opportunity to win a World Series than the Blue Jays. He is now looking to make a major impact on an already loaded roster.

The Dodgers once again made the biggest signing of the offseason and continue to position themselves as perennial World Series contenders. It appears Tucker ultimately chose Los Angeles for its strong championship outlook.

More MLB news:

🚨 Official: Liverpool announce the departure of a legend

Three weeks after officially announcing Mohamed Salah’s departure, Liverpool have confirmed the exit of another club legend.

Andy Robertson (32) will leave the Reds at the end of the season, after nine years of loyal service at left-back.

Stripped of his starting spot since the arrival of Milos Kerkez, the Scot had reached the end of his cycle at Anfield. He leaves behind the memory of a tireless worker on the pitch and a smiling prankster in the dressing room.

The supersonic partnership he formed with Sadio Mané on the left flank will have left its mark on a whole generation of Liverpool supporters.

In their statement, Liverpool were quick to add that Robertson is leaving the club as a "legend." A grand exit.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Lane Kiffin breaks down Sam Leavitt's impact at LSU

Lane Kiffin breaks down Sam Leavitt's impact at LSU originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the biggest transfer portal pieces for Lane Kiffin at LSU was Sam Leavitt. The former Arizona State quarterback went to Baton Rouge looking to take a step forward towards his eventual NFL journey. While the timing of it all wasn't perfect, the Tigers' offense is starting to come together in the midst of spring practices.

Kiffin recently shared his thoughts on what Leavitt brings to the table and how the times have changed with recruiting in college football. One of the biggest adjustments is having a new staff, new players and monumental expectations with a "Playoff or bust" outlook.

Leavitt was the top signal-caller in the portal this past cycle and Kiffin worked hard to get him.

"I just feel nowadays it's a little easier to play quarterback than it used to be years ago, as far as how long you've been there," Kiffin said. "If you look around the country, a lot of people transfer, go play at new places, and look at the previous place we were at. The guy didn't get there until the summer."

Leavitt led Arizona State to a College Football Playoff appearance two years ago, and hopes he can do it again at LSU. After accounting for 46 career touchdowns, this will be the biggest test of his career. The competition level with the SEC is on another level compared to the Big 12. Not to say Leavitt can't adjust to the "big game" scenario for conference matchups, there is a noticeable difference between 50-and-100-thousand seat stadiums.

More: Demond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin being fired by LSU

"Top to bottom, it's the hardest conference to play in and the hardest stadiums," Kiffin added about the SEC.

LSU football has opted not to hold a traditional spring game this year. Kiffin said previously, "The financial piece of how much you’re investing in [players] now, and how significant injuries are, and looking at the big picture of that, I just feel like it’s not worth it.”

More college football news:

In brief

Former player who beat Big Three compares Alcaraz to legends Gilles Simon was one of many supremely talented tennis stars plagued by the era they were born into. Even though Simon only picked up 14 ATP titles, it’s fair to wonder what he might have achieved if his prime hadn’t coincided with such a dominant group.

Collin Chandler could still return to Kentucky Basketball, per report Could Collin Chandler end up back in Lexington for next season?

Wild add a college free agent defenseman with a unique first name that befits a Minnesota team The Minnesota Wild have added a Viking. No, not a player from the local NFL team, but a defenseman named Viking Gustafsson Nyberg, a native of Sweden and former University of Connecticut standout who signed a two-year, entry-level contract Thursday that begins with the current season. The 22-year-old Gustafsson Nyberg…

Schauffele’s drive lands in merchandise bag at Masters