This week the Houston Open will move into its new fall date on the PGA Tour calendar, but it will do so without defending champ Ian Poulter.

Last spring Poulter notched an emotional victory at the Golf Club of Houston, rolling in a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff before defeating Beau Hossler on the first extra hole. It was his first official PGA Tour win since 2010, and it earned Poulter the final spot in the 2018 Masters.

But rather than defend his title this week, Poulter will instead tee it up on the European Tour at the Italian Open. The decision likely has roots in the change to the PGA Tour schedule: played annually in the spring, often the week before the Masters, the Houston Open this week will debut as a fall event as part of a new five-year agreement after struggling in recent years to find footing with a title sponsor.

But Poulter's allegiance to Europe also plays a role in his decision. The Italian Open is a lucrative Rolex Series event, bringing with it an increased purse ($7 million versus the $7.5 million up for grabs in Houston) and offering qualification points toward making the 2020 Ryder Cup team. This event was also the site of Poulter's first career Euro Tour win back in 2000, and he also won it in 2002 - the last time that Olgiata Golf Club, this year's venue, hosted the event.

Joining Poulter in Italy this week will be Open champion Shane Lowry as well as Ryder Cup veterans Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari and Paul Casey. Hossler will return to Houston in an effort to finish one spot better in a field that will feature Henrik Stenson as well as recent Tour winners Cameron Champ and Sebastian Munoz.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released veteran tight end Benjamin Watson as his roster exemption expired at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, making him a free agent.

Watson, who had returned from a four-game NFL suspension last week, reacted to the decision on Twitter.

The God of victory is also God in failure. I gave my all, but it was not enough to earn a spot on the @Patriots roster. I'm beyond disappointed but even more upset for my family who has supported me with all the love a husband and father could ask for.They are my heroes. Rom 8:28

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) October 7, 2019

Watson, who said he is in the process of determining his football plans for 2019, also expressed thanks to Patriots owner Robert Kraft for his two stints with the franchise.

The move means the Patriots will go with four-year veteran Matt LaCosse and second-year player Ryan Izzo at tight end. Head coach Bill Belichick noted after Sunday's 33-7 win over the Washington Redskins that it was nice to have both tight ends active, and contributing, as LaCosse had missed time early in the season with an ankle injury.

With the Patriots' offense hitting some rough patches from the second quarter of their Week 3 win over the New York Jets until halftime of their Week 5 victory over Washington, the possibility of Watson helping boost the attack seemed promising for New England.

But there were signals from the team that Watson's spot wasn't certain, starting with him not being at practice last Wednesday. He also didn't make the trip to Washington this weekend.

"Just don't have a roster spot," Belichick told WEEI. "We only have so many roster spots. If we put somebody on, we have to take somebody off. Right now, there wasn't a roster spot. We didn't feel like there was somebody we could create a roster spot with. Everybody came out of the game healthy. We have a decent team. So I think that's where we're at."

Players had nothing but praise for Watson following his release.

"It wasn't so much football, he's just such a good person, such a strong leader," LaCosse said of the 38-year-old Watson. "I learned from him how to handle yourself off the field, to be around your teammates. He's such a great guy to learn from, so much character."

"Ben is just a great person to be around," veteran cornerback Jason McCourty added. "Football aside, a guy who is strong in his faith, mature, a father of seven, so a lot to learn from him from that standpoint."

The Patriots, who are tight to the salary cap, created about $2 million in space by not activating Watson.

Mike Tyson offered advice to Conor McGregor on Monday about how the former UFC champion can change the behavior that has led to legal issues outside of the Octagon.

"Conor has to look inside himself and [say]: 'What happened? Why am I the way I am? And how do I stop this from continuing to be?'" Tyson said on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show.

McGregor was charged last week with assault for allegedly punching a man in a Dublin bar in April. He also was arrested in March in Miami for allegedly smashing a man's cellphone outside a club. Later that month, the New York Times reported that McGregor was under investigation in Ireland for alleged sexual assault.

Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and served three years in prison before returning to boxing.

Speaking in general terms, Tyson, who met McGregor and described him as an "awesome guy," said the problem some athletes face is the inability to cope with sudden fame and fortune.

"We don't know how to handle this stuff," he said. "We got millions of dollars. We never had this. Our families never had this. We've never been around this life.

"All of a sudden you start fighting, doing something you love to do, and you do it easily and all of a sudden they give you a lot of money for doing it. But you have no restraint, no control, you don't know what to do. You give it away. You buy people gifts that don't deserve gifts. You just don't know what to do with it. You feel you don't deserve it."

Tyson said the people surrounding the athletes may be in the same situation and may be equally unaware on how to cope.

"They don't know how to figure it out," he said. "They never had it, either. It's almost like you don't feel deserving of it. I don't deserve this, I'm nobody. How come I deserve this? I would do this for nothing."

Tyson said it's tough to watch the younger version of himself.

"I don't like watching him, but I understand he's me," said Tyson, who joined the MMA show to promote his partnership with the Professional Fighters League, which begins its playoffs this Friday in Las Vegas. "I never close the door on him or forgive him but I never want him in my life again, or around anybody I love.

"Because that's not who I am now. I don't know him anymore. He's almost like a stranger to me. I look at him, and I'm proud of him. And I think he's spectacular. But there's a real dark side there that I don't like getting involved with anymore."

Tyson said that version of himself hasn't surfaced recently, and he called the transition a work in progress.

"It was always a work in progress," he said. "I am that guy. That guy can always show up somewhere if I'm not cautious and control the way I think and my social environments. I haven't felt that experience [of that guy emerging] yet."

DETROIT -- Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said keeping Andre Drummond in the fold is a top priority and that the team needs to take another step forward after making the playoffs a season ago.

Gores was on hand Monday at the opening of the Pistons' new training center and corporate headquarters in midtown Detroit. The new facility completes the team's move to the city from suburban Auburn Hills. The Pistons are entering their third season playing their games at Little Caesars Arena in downtown.

The $90 million Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center includes a sports medicine, treatment and rehab facility managed by the Henry Ford Health System, as well as retail and public spaces.

Gores was asked afterward about a possible contract extension for Drummond, the team's standout center. The 26-year-old is under contract through the season and has a $28.751 million player option for 2020-21.

"We know how dedicated we are to each other," Gores said. "I've said it many times: He's very underrated in a lot of ways for what he does, and culturally he's been so good for this team, just in terms of his attitude, and just watching him really grow up. I met him when he was 18."

Detroit has made the playoffs twice in the past four seasons, but the Pistons were swept in the first round both times. Last season it was at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. It was Dwane Casey's first season as Detroit's coach, and the Pistons were limited when Blake Griffin -- after a terrific season -- wasn't fully healthy in the playoffs.

Keeping Griffin healthy is a big key this season, and the Pistons are also hopeful they've improved their depth after adding Derrick Rose. Gores was asked if there might come a point when the team needs to consider a different path forward after relying on the core of Griffin, Drummond and point guard Reggie Jackson.

"I think right now we feel really good about where we're at," Gores said. "Obviously, we have to succeed and win, and judge by if we're not winning. But right now we feel really good about it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Max Scherzer has now allowed a first-inning homer in three of his last four starts. Since returning from injury in late August, he's surrendered 11 jacks in 45 innings. Facing a Dodgers team that led the NL in jacks, he's got his work cut for him.

Britain's Heather Watson went through to the second round of the Tianjin Open in China with a 6-4 7-6 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.

The British number two will play either second seed Wang Qiang or qualifier Arina Rodionova next.

Swede Rebecca Peterson earned a shock 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory over seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, 39.

The 24-year-old said: "It was such a privilege to play such a champion. I was just trying to enjoy it."

On Tuesday, Britain's Harriet Dart plays Japan's Kurumi Nara.

SALEM, Ind. – NASCAR Xfinity Series regular and Coke Zero Sugar 400 race winner Justin Haley has filed an entry to compete in the Winchester 400 on Oct. 13 at Winchester Speedway.

This will be Haley’s third time to compete in the Winchester 400. He previously finished in seventh in 2014 and 25th in 2015 after having suspension issues.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a Super Late Model and racing in the Winchester 400 this weekend,” said Haley. “Being an Indiana native, I grew up knowing all about the Winchester 400 and how prestigious of an event it has become. The Winchester 400 is one of those races that any racer would like to say he won. The names that have been to victory lane in that event is just amazing. It would mean a lot for me to be able to add my name to that list.”

Haley has competed with the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2019, but his biggest win to date in his career came in his third start with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona Int’l Speedway on July 7, when he came away with a surprise victory in the rain shortened event.

Haley won the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour season opening event at Springport Speedway in May of 2014. He was a three-time winner with the ARCA Menards Series in 2016 and a three-time winner in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series during the 2018 season.

PORT ROYAL, Pa. – Port Royal Speedway will return to action Saturday for the eighth annual Blue-Collar Classic featuring the Keystone RaceSaver Challenge hosted by the PASS/IMCA for 305 sprint cars.

The annual race is one of the biggest events for the IMCA 305 Sprint Cars on the East Coast, with the overall purse reaching nearly $16,000, including $800 to win for the feature. There will also be a special Founder’s Cup Non-Qualifier race as well paying $300 to win.

Including bonus money, the winner of the event could take home $1,500.

Along with the hosting PASS division, the challenge race brings together multiple IMCA 305 sprint regions to include the Tri State RaceSaver Region, the Capital Region Sprint Agency, the Virginia Sprint Series and the Laurel Highlands region.

There will be $250 from Beerhill Gang TV and $250 from Penns Valley Meat Market to be split up to heat race winners ($50) and A-Main hard chargers ($200). Also, for the taking will be a $200 Seniority Bonus, a $200 Frequent Racer Bonus and a $300 Travel Bonus. Nonstarters will receive $100 two money.

Past winners of the event are Darren Miller, Kyle Smith, Jeff Miller (2), Jeff Geiges, Jake Waters and Sean Campbell.

Also, on tap for the Blue-Collar classic will be the Mason Dixon Shootout Limited Late Model series racing for $1,500 to win and $130 to start. This will be the final race of the season for the Mason Dixon series.

This will also be the final points race for the Selinsgrove Ford Limited Late Model Series, though points leader Andrew Yoder has already wrapped up the championship at the speedway. However, Derrick Garman, Devin Hart and Kenny Yoder are currently in a tight battle for second and 15 points separate the three drivers.

Last year’s event was won by Trent Brenneman over Justin Weaver, Andrew Yoder, Dylan Yoder and Shaun Jones.

The Juniata Junction Xtreme Stocks will be on hand as well, racing for a $1,000 winner’s share. This will also be their final points event of the 2019 season.

Currently Brad Mitch holds a commanding 165-point advantage over second place Walt Peters with Chuck Bryner (-170), Pete Leister (-275) and Dustin Hoffman (-285) rounding out the top five. Mitch has won three races this season.

Last year Bill Powell captured the $1,000 title and it led to him picking up the 2018 track title as well.

Finally, the Four-Cylinder Pure Stocks will compete for $300 to win. Last year Eric Boozel used a last corner pass to pick up the feature win and he will be looking to back up his win.