Tiger Woods can envision a world with bifurcation, but he doesn't expect it to become a reality anytime soon.

Woods spoke to the media Tuesday in advance of the Genesis Invitational, and one of the first questions asked was an attempt to gauge Woods' reaction to last week's distance report from the USGA and R&A which found that increasing length has become "detrimental to the game."

Woods has had a front-row seat for the distance evolution over the last two-plus decades, noting that his first PGA Tour win in 1996 came in a playoff against an opponent (Davis Love III) who was using a persimmon driver. While the report findings have led to increased discussion over a potential rollback of equipment, Woods remains open to another possible solution: the concept of bifurcation, in which touring professionals play by a separate set of rules than everyday amateurs.

"It's on the table, whether we bifurcate or not. It's only 1 percent of guys or women that are going to be using that type of equipment. But we want to keep the game enjoyable, we want to keep having more kids want to come play it," Woods told reporters. "Part of the discussion going forward is do we bifurcate or not. That's, you know, it's not going to be probably even well after my career and playing days, that we will figure that out."

At age 44, Woods approaches the distance issue both as a competitor and a course designer. With multiple courses already opened and several more currently in development, he views the strain that increased distance gains have put on course architecture as an important one.

"We're running out of property to try and design golf courses that are, from the back, 7,800 to 8,000 yards. It's difficult," Woods said. "But on top of that, we want to keep the game enjoyable and we're trying to get more participation. And having larger heads, more forgiving clubs, it adds to the enjoyment of the game. So there's a very delicate balancing act where we're trying to keep the game at, but also as we've all recognized, the players have changed over the years, too."

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Tom Abell, Brydon Carse and Tom Kohler-Cadmore will remain with the England Lions in Australia for their upcoming red-ball matches to cover for players departing for, or already on, England duty.

None of the three were in the Lions' original red-ball squad named to tour Australia but all were part of the one-day squad which went undefeated in three completed matches against a Cricket Australia XI and New South Wales XI.

Abell and Kohler-Cadmore will act as batting cover for Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Keaton Jennings, who were all named on Tuesday in England's Test squad for next month's tour of Sri Lanka and will leave after the Lions' second red-ball match, against Australia A at the MCG from February 22-25.

Spinner Dom Bess and captain Lewis Gregory also will also leave Australia after the match in Melbourne with Bess also travelling to Sri Lanka for the Test series and Gregory joining Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League. Gregory claimed two wickets and scored a half-century to lead the Lions to a 52-run victory against a NSW XI in the final one-day match of the tour this week.

ALSO READ: Foakes, Jennings recalled for Sri Lanka, Moeen unavailable

Carse was retained to cover for Saqib Mahmood, whose involvement in the three-match T20I series against South Africa starting on Wednesday will determine his availability for the final two matches of the Lions tour.

The Lions play a four-day match against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart starting on Friday night UK time (Saturday Australian time), followed by the day/night fixture with Australia A in Melbourne and a match against a NSW XI in Wollongong in early March.

England begin their tour of Sri Lanka with two warm-up matches from March 7 ahead of the first Test starting in Galle on March 19, followed by the second and final Test in Colombo from March 27.

Houston linebacker Eyabi Anoma has been dismissed from the program for an unspecified violation of team rules, the school announced on Tuesday.

Anoma, the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2018 ESPN 300, spent a year at Alabama before transferring to Houston. He appeared in six games in for Alabama, recording nine tackles.

Anoma sat out the 2019 season, per NCAA transfer rules. He leaves without having played a game for Houston.

Last August, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Anoma was dismissed from the school. Anoma arrived at Houston later that month, and the Cougars were anticipating him being an impact player in 2020. He drew strong reviews from Houston coaches and teammates for his physical ability while practicing with the scout team during the 2019 season.

LSU and Florida State announced a marquee nonconference matchup to kick off the 2022 and 2023 seasons on Labor Day weekend.

The two teams, which will be meeting for the first time since 1991, will play on Sept. 4, 2022, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans and on Sept. 3, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

"I'm excited about this series," new Florida State coach Mike Norvell said Tuesday. "This series matches two of the iconic brands in college football, and I know our fans will have a great time in New Orleans and Orlando."

Florida State is 8-2 at the Superdome, including winning a national championship against Michael Vick and Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl. The Seminoles are 9-2 in neutral-site season openers.

LSU is coming off a College Football Playoff National Championship in New Orleans last month.

"To play a traditional power like Florida State is a challenge that excites our team," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. "We look forward to playing anyone, anywhere at any time."

The series adds another big-name opponent for LSU, which is playing Texas this season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Clemson in 2025-26; and Oklahoma in 2027-28. Florida State, meanwhile, has its annual nonconference rivalry game with Florida but also opens the 2021 season at home against Notre Dame.

Gregor Townsend knows that as Scotland coach he cannot get into the bear-pit with Finn Russell, can't slug it out in public with his former fly-half, trading blow for blow for our delectation. He can't, won't and doesn't want to.

He does wish to talk about it, though. Or as much of it as he can. He rejects pretty much every line of what Russell, now exiled from the Scotland squad, said in the Sunday Times and, no doubt, Russell will reject pretty much every line that Townsend utters here. There are two sides to this story and in almost every detail they are diametrically opposed.

The coach says he's not angry, but disappointed. He seems perplexed by parts of Russell's view of things and saddened by other parts. He sings the praises of the player and says he'd like to have him back in the squad, but will not cave in on what he, and his senior players, see as non-negotiable standards of behaviour.

You're not backing down? "Not at all," he replies. You will not bend? "No."

Townsend was planning to speak to Russell again this week, either face-to-face in Paris or over the telephone, but that may not happen now. The fly-half made his position abundantly clear on Sunday. Now Townsend has his say.

Tom English: You had no awareness that this interview was coming?

Gregor Townsend: No, I got a message about 11 on Saturday night that something was coming out the following day. It was disappointing. I'd actually been messaging Finn on Friday to set up a meeting the following week.

TE: You spoke to him?

GT: I spoke to him on the Sunday night after the Ireland game just to inform him that we'd be going with the same squad but that we would reassess after the first two games. And then on the Friday before the England game I messaged him on WhatsApp to arrange a time to either to meet, which would have been Paris, or to talk on the phone.

TE: And what did he say?

GT: He said Tuesday or Wednesday this week would work best and I said I'd get back to him after the game.

TE: And no sign in that exchange that he was going to go public?

GT: No, no. He said good luck (in the game) tomorrow.

TE: So you pick up your Sunday Times, what did you think?

GT: It was disappointing, the timing of it and the issues within it, especially as we were hoping to sit down and have a further conversation. The last time we sat down and had a conversation it was on the Monday after he had chosen to leave camp. He didn't come in on the Monday morning, which was very disappointing, but the conversation we had that night was a really positive one and I was hoping - and this was included in my message to him last week - that if we could have a similar conversation after the England game then that would be something I'd look forward to.

TE: Let's go through a few things he has said. He's basically saying it's you or him, isn't he? He's laying it down that he isn't coming back while you're Scotland coach...

GT: What we say to any player that has the ability to make a Scotland squad is that they have to align to certain team standards and values that the rest of the group are living by. That's what we want to see from any player. If they come into the group they have to be trusted to live those standards.

TE: Do you feel a betrayal?

GT: No, just disappointment that I'm not coaching Finn. I've coached him for over seven years and he has been very coachable, he's been great to work with, it's great to see how he has evolved from an academy player.

'Those views don't ring true'

TE: Gregor, his portrayal of you is that of a controlling, joyless character. He says that despite being coached by you for many years he has no relationship with you. It's a devastating critique...

GT: Those views don't ring true with what I've experienced, with this group of players and with coaching Finn for all these years. My approach to coaching evolves from campaign to campaign and from what I learn from different organisations but the fundamentals are there and have always been there. Finn, like any player, has the ability to express how he feels. The door is always open. Players have freedom to play within a structure. In terms of our environment, joy and fun is a big part of what we do during the week, but this is high performance sport. We have very high standards because the teams we are playing against operate at the highest level.

TE: You would reject the portrayal of you as too controlling...

GT: Players have opinions on a coach, but I work in collaboration with players and coaches and that's always been the case. I've particular empathy with people who play stand-off because I played in that position, I understand the pressures and expectations of playing 10.

TE: I'm pushing you to respond to each comment he has made but I know you don't want to get into a tit-for-tat, right?

GT: What stands out here is that players are invited to play for Scotland and there are huge responsibilities that go with that.

TE: So he hasn't been a team player?

GT: He chose to leave the team environment, he chose not to be there on the Monday. There has to be consequences for that and a recognition that it won't happen again.

TE: Tell me about the meeting you had on the Monday after the drinking episode on the Sunday. A positive meeting?

GT: Hugely positive.

TE: Did you think that the issue had been resolved at that point?

GT: I thought it was on its way to being resolved. We talked about a number of things - life and rugby, but also the events of the night before and that day and how that was unacceptable. It's unacceptable for a player to walk out on a group. He accepted that. He wanted to apologise to the group. He knew that he wouldn't be playing against Ireland. We can't cut corners on things like this. He was positive about that and how he would help Adam (Hastings). And we left positive. We were talking about gameplans.

TE: What happens on Tuesday?

GT: We had full training and I had told him you won't be here on Tuesday and that was the consequences of what you did. But we have Thursday and Friday training. He was going to be there. I phoned him on the Tuesday evening before flying to London for the Six Nations launch and, unfortunately, it wasn't the same conversation as the night before. There was definitely a change in direction and he wanted to go back to Racing that weekend which meant he wouldn't be able to speak to the players on Thursday and Friday, which was disappointing.

TE: Was that a frosty conversation?

GT: I was really deflated. I'd been so positive about the night before.

TE: What happened?

GT: I don't know. Twenty four hours after our conversation and things had moved on from his point of view and they have not gone back in the last couple of weeks.

'I knew I had to improve as a coach'

TE: He says you have not really had much of a relationship and that the difficulties go back a year or more. I'm quoting now. "...the current environment, I don't think I want to play in that, I don't think it's good for me as a person or a player, I have felt like this for more than a year". What's it like to hear that?

GT: We have built in lots of opportunities for players to feed back at any time during the season. We have sit-downs and one-on-ones with players. We talk about their rugby and their lives and anything that is changing, we talk about any issues they might have. After the World Cup we asked every player for feedback. I knew I had to improve as a coach. It wasn't good enough. Some wrote back to me, some I sat down with and that helped create changes in the environment now.

TE: Are you saying that he had opportunities to raise any problems he had with you and he didn't take them?

GT: Well, any player...

TE: Let's just deal with Finn...

GT: I'm dealing with any player in our environment. They have opportunities. The opportunities are there while we are in camp and the opportunities are there when we, as coaches, go and meet them in their home clubs. I was in Paris in December and caught up with Finn. So there are opportunities to talk through any issues in camp and out of camp.

TE: You went to Paris in December?

GT: Yes. That meeting was around hearing his thoughts on the World Cup because he had chosen not to feed back (before then).

TE: Why hadn't he given feedback?

GT: I don't know, but I thought it was worth me going out to Paris to discuss things, and see if they were any issues but also to talk about where we believe he could get to. There is a phrase in coaching called Feed Forward rather than Feed Back, you picture where you want to be in two years and how you plan to get there. We talked around that. After Christmas there was a follow up with phone calls and Finn said, 'OK, there are things I would like to change' and we set up to have a meeting in camp which was initially going to be in Paris, but that didn't work out for different reasons, so that meeting ended up on the Monday night.

TE: He says he had all these negative feelings for more than a year. When did you become aware that this was a serious problem?

GT: That conversation after Christmas. We had a telephone chat and I thought, 'Right, we need to have a face-to-face meeting'. I'd rather not get into what we discussed. I believe that players have to feel safe to express how they feel. I know how difficult it is for a player to speak to a head coach about what they are feeling and that kind of environment is one we always want to create. So that conversation I had with him on Monday was like that and I felt a real privilege to have that. To have a player open up and talk to you - it would be great to have more of those discussions. Unfortunately it's not been the case since that Monday night.

TE: He says, "I believe we we need change, we are tracking down a road and it's not been working for us and it's especially not been working for me." A direct challenge. What are you going to do about this?

GT: Any player who doesn't want to be involved, then that's their choice. If a player states publicly that he doesn't want to be involved then that is absolutely their choice. The pride and responsibility you have when you wear that thistle, you must be totally committed.

TE: You must be hurt by this. You might not want to admit it but you have to be...

GT: No, things move on quickly in sport.

TE: Scotland fans will say how the hell did it come to this, why did nobody solve this earlier. What do you say to them?

GT: It'll be disappointing for the supporters not to have everyone available. I totally understand that, but there has to be standards of behaviour that people align to and we can't change those for one person. If people are not able to live by the standards of the group then they won't play for Scotland, it's as simple as that.

TE: Not every player is the same, though. Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus is not treated the same as everybody else. The manager will see him as the star and make allowances. Shouldn't you make allowances for your star player?

GT: Everybody is different and they are treated differently but they have to be treated fairly as well. What is important is what the team requires. Listen, I love differences. Different personalities are great. People are allowed to be themselves.

'It hasn't been a distraction to the players'

TE: What do the players make of it all.

GT: I don't know.

TE: You must have asked the senior players? 'Are we doing the right thing here'?

GT: Yeah, all I can say is that it hasn't been a distraction. They've absolutely been excellent.

TE: Have you spoken to the players since Finn had his say?

GT: Yeah, I speak to the senior players a lot.

TE: Are they backing you?

GT: It's not an area you'll get me going into. What is important is that the leadership are committed to team values and whoever comes in has to align themselves to those standards of behaviour.

TE: Do they agree that Finn has let himself down?

GT: I don't want to speak on their behalf.

TE: I'm trying to get the mood in the camp here...

GT: You're interviewing me, not the players.

TE: Finn talks about the negative environment...

GT: This environment is a new one. It's not the same environment as the World Cup or the last Six Nations because there are new players and new leaders and new coaches. We have changed a lot of things. Everything evolves.

TE: You asked Finn to see a psychologist. What was that about?

GT: I'd rather not talk about that. I know Finn mentioned it in the article, but there is a duty of care in any coach when they feel support could be required for any issues a player might have. A psychologist is similar to an assistant coach in some ways.

TE: He mentioned his own health in the piece "for my rugby and my health I don't think I can do it..." What's he getting at?

GT: You'd have to ask him.

TE: Will he play for you again?

GT: I hope so. He's a terrific player.

TE: But you're not backing down?

GT: Not at all.

TE: You won't bend?

GT: No. I was hoping that Finn and I could have a similar discussion like the one we had on the Monday night in camp and we'd be in a situation where he could come back, but things look like they've changed with what he has said in the media.

TE: Can you talk to him?

GT: Yes, but it doesn't look like there will be any change to align himself to the agreed standards of behaviour.

TE: Any intention of picking up the phone?

GT: We'll see. The plan was to chat this week but I'll digest what's happened.

TE: Has he got a future under you?

GT: I would hope so. Finn has played 49 times for Scotland. I've coached him for a lot of years. If he comes back and is willing to agree to what we are living by then, of course, he can play a part in the future.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Peter O. Argetsinger, a member of the International Motor Racing Research Center’s Governing Council and an international racing champion and respected driving coach, died Feb 6. after a battle with cancer.

He was 69 years old.

As the son of Jean and Cameron Argetsinger, who was the founder and organizer of the first races in Watkins Glen, motorsport was an important part of his life from early on. Maintaining a home in Watkins Glen, as well as Sebring, Fla., Argetsinger was involved with the IMRRC since it opened. He joined the Governing Council in 2018.

“Peter was an incredible racer and beloved racing instructor, but most importantly he was a good friend,” John Saunders, senior advisor at NASCAR and chairman of the IMRRC Governing Council, said. “The world of motorsports is richer for his dedication to developing young talent and growing the sport’s future. Pete will always be considered family to the International Motor Racing Research Center, an organization to which he devoted much wisdom and guidance.”

Watkins Glen Int’l President Michael Printup, also a member of the IMRRC’s Governing Council, noted Argetsinger’s dedication to the sport and Watkins Glen.

“Peter was an important part in carrying on the legacy and tradition that his father, Cameron, and family started here in Watkins Glen,” Printup said. “He will be remembered for his passion for auto racing and his continued desire to make this community a worldwide staple as an international racing destination.”

“I met Peter this past summer in between his coaching sessions at Watkins Glen International. It was a real pleasure to meet him,” said Dan DeRusha, who was appointed IMRRC executive director last June. “Peter was a constant advocate of the Center, sharing our mission with other racers and carrying on the legacy of Cameron and Jean, who was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the IMRRC.”

Argetsinger pursued a 47-year career as a professional road racing driver until his health failed last fall. He was a member of the Road Racing Drivers Club and had successes on the world’s major courses, initially in Europe and then in the U.S. and South America.

Watkins Glen Int’l was naturally on the list of tracks at which he raced, and in 2011 Argetsinger was inducted into the Watkins Glen Drivers Walk of Fame, a project of the IMRRC. He was introduced by his brother Michael Argetsinger, an award-winning motorsports author. Michael died in 2015.

Argetsinger was named German Rookie of the Year Formula Ford 1974 and set the series’ fastest lap at the famous Hockenheimring, helping his Team Royale clinch the European FF Title. After moving to England, he captured the 1980 British Formula Ford Championship and was voted British Driver of the Year. Competition in Formula Three, sports cars, sedans, as well as IMSA and Daytona prototypes, followed.

Argetsinger coached many successful professional drivers at the start of their careers, including 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill, Indy 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi and others including James Hinchcliffe, Graham Rahal and Gabby Chaves.

Additionally, he instructed at the Skip Barber racing school, tutored private clients and was chief instructor of the Formula BMW young drivers’ series in the U.S. and in Europe. The U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorist Division also used his talents.

Up until his final days, he was sought after for the 2020 season as a driver and coach, family members said.

Argetsinger is survived by Sjoukje Schipstra, his beloved wife of 45 years, and his children Kimberley Argetsinger of New York City and J.C.G. Argetsinger of Los Angeles.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Vedder-Scott-Zinger Funeral Home, 122 N. Genesee St., Montour Falls, New York.

A funeral mass will be conducted at St. Mary’s of The Lake Church, 905 N. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.

There’s a new name at the top of the SPEED SPORT Power Rankings! Who is it? Click below to find out!

INDIANAPOLIS – Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development has announced a new United States Formula 4 Program starting this year, with Elliot Cox named as the team’s driver.

The team will test this summer with a focus on preparing for the USF4 Winter Touring Series in Florida at the end of the year.

The Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development team already has an F4 car on order with Ligier Automotive and are looking forward to partnering with Honda Performance Development. The program’s first test is tentatively scheduled for June. The goal of the various Midwest-based tests is to get Cox and the team up to speed before the Winter Touring Series begins.

“I’m honored and excited to join the SFHRD team as a development driver,” Cox said. “It’s awesome that this opportunity was provided to me by Sarah, Andy, Wink and Libba. I can’t wait to get on track with the team. The F4 car is the first step on my ladder to IndyCar, so having this chance is a dream come true.”

Andy and Sarah (Fisher) O’Gara left IndyCar in 2015 to open Speedway Indoor Karting – a state-of-the-art indoor karting facility in Speedway, Indiana and later took over Whiteland Raceway Park (WRP), an outdoor karting track, with partner Wink Hartman.

Although the focus shifted slightly, they always kept an eye out for young racing talent through their development team, created to help budding talent move up the racing ladder. When Cox and his family came to WRP for a local race, O’Gara recognized him right away from a previous introduction several years ago. Seeing Cox’s talents on the track and his genuinely humble personality off track, O’Gara advised Hartman of the human-interest story.

They both decided on this venture as a way to promote and support grass roots racers like Cox to move towards accomplishing their dreams, just as they had done with drivers before, such as Josef Newgarden.

“While reviewing the day-to-day business of Whiteland Raceway Park, Andy mentioned Elliot’s story and the likelihood of his success ultimately in racing,” Hartman said. “Libba and I have enjoyed helping young athletes achieve their dreams and when I heard his story, the idea of helping him to the next step immediately took shape in our minds. We are thrilled to continue on our racing background here in Indianapolis and look forward to seeing the No. 67 back on track soon.”

The formal testing and race schedule will be announced soon and will include national and regional karting events.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – Exclusive Autosport has announced that 19-year-old Prescott Campbell has joined the team to compete in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

The Newport Beach, Calif., native and Oxford, England, resident will pilot the team’s No. 91 Tatuus USF-17, featuring the team’s trademark red and black Exclusive Autosport livery with branding from the Lucas Oil School of Racing. Campbell is the reigning Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series champion, an accomplishment that earned him a $75,000 scholarship towards the upcoming USF2000 season.

“Prescott is an incredible addition to the Exclusive Autosport stable,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal of Exclusive Autosport. “He has an immense amount of talent and work ethic. His on-track results speak for themselves. We have had the pleasure of testing with Prescott earlier this year, and he fit in very nicely with the team. I have no doubt that we will work well together this year and achieve success in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Series.”

In 2012 Campbell began racing cadet karts in the Southern California region, marking the start of his racing career. He graduated to the senior kart categories in 2016 where he began his climb up the Superkarts! USA Shifter Stock Moto ladder system. He progressed through the ranks before making his debut in the Pro Shifter category at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XXII in 2018. At the end of that year, he was one of 30 drivers invited to compete in the inaugural Cooper Tire Karting Scholarship Shootout held at Sebring International Raceway.

A panel of well-accomplished figures in the motorsport industry selected him as the winner of the three-day judged event, for which he received a scholarship to run the full 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series calendar. Prescott broke his femur in a karting accident mid-season, but was able to come back to win the championship despite missing three of the series’ 18 races. An impressive drive in the season finale saw him clinch the title by a crucial four points and win the $75,000 scholarship towards this year’s USF2000 season. He was also a finalist in last year’s Team USA Scholarship Shootout.

“I would like to thank the team for putting their faith in me and I hope to reward them with successful results this season,” said Campbell. “As a driver moving into the series, there is a lot to learn, but the team has already taught me so much since we began working together. I believe we can take the fight to this year’s very competitive field and earn consistent results near the top. I am looking to take the momentum from winning last year’s Lucas Oil Formula Car Series championship with me into the opening rounds at St. Pete.”

Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, coach Jared Bednar said to Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday.

Kadri left Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild with an injury after an awkward fall backward during an offensive zone faceoff in the second period. He appeared to twist his left leg as he back-passed the puck after the faceoff, but he returned to the ice for the third period and played one shift before leaving for the locker room.

Kadri, 29, had an assist in the win, taking 14 shifts with 10:06 on the ice. He has been a key cog in the Avalanche's stellar season, with 19 goals and 36 points in his first season in Colorado. He trails only Nathan MacKinnon's 32 goals for most on the team.

Kadri played parts of 10 seasons with the Maple Leafs before being traded in the deal that sent Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot to Toronto.

The Avalanche are in second place in the Central Division and have won four in a row.