AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fred Couples was asked Monday at the Masters how Tiger Woods was hitting the ball and how his body felt after a nine-hole practice round at Augusta National.

Couples was quick to interject.

“That’s two different questions,” he said.

Woods’ physical conditioning will always be a part of the story for as long as the 47-year-old continues to compete.

Couples said he didn’t ask Woods on Monday how he was feeling, nor has it been a topic of conversation in their text exchanges.

“When he tells you I’m only going to play four events and Augusta is one of them, then he’s ready to go, [even though] it’s probably not going to be easy,” Couples said. “But I think he’ll be fine.”

Last year’s Masters was Woods’ first competitive appearance in 14 months, since his single-car crash wrecked his lower right leg. Hobbling around Augusta National, Woods made the cut that week but wore down over the weekend with consecutive rounds of 78.

A year later, did Couples notice any physical improvement?

“Probably not,” he said. “The leg, I guess this is what it is. I don’t know how much better it’s ever going to get. If he can get better where he can play 12 events, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think he would tell me that.”

But even in Woods’ limited state, he’s still plenty dangerous, Couples said.

In practice last year, Couples said that Woods “never missed a shot.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

But Woods wasn’t able to sustain that level of play for all four rounds. Another challenge awaits this week, on arguably the toughest walk of the year.

“He’s hitting it really strong and solid,” Couples said, “and he looks good.” 

How about this for a start to your Masters week? Sepp Straka, who attended college at nearby Georgia, made a hole-in-one at the par-3 12th hole during Monday's practice round at Augusta National.

Straka is making his second Masters appearance. He tied for 30th in his debut a year ago.

United States women's defender Tierna Davidson wants to see her team use its "influential voice" to advocate for equal treatment of female players in countries around the globe.

Davidson, who was on the USWNT that won the World Cup in France four years ago, was announced as the newest member of the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association on Monday.

While the U.S. women fought for and won its landmark equal pay agreement with U.S. Soccer last spring, Davidson believes there is more to be done.

"I think that now our eyes turn to, 'OK, we've gotten a good foothold here in domestically and now what else can we do internationally?' Whether it's helping other international teams with their federations, whether it's FIFA, CONCACAF, whomever needs to hear from us," Davidson said.

"We're a very influential voice and we've got a lot of power in that sense, and I think that we understand that, and we hope to harness that as much as possible."

The women continue to advocate for better wages and treatment in the game both nationally and internationally as the team prepares for this summer's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In March, FIFA announced that the prize money for the WWC would total $150 million -- a 300% increase over 2019, but still only about a third of the $440m the men got in Qatar 2022.

In 2019, 20-year-old Davidson was the youngest player on the U.S. roster that won the World Cup in France. She solidified her role on the team before injuring her knee last March and sitting out for a year. Finally healthy, she is fighting for a spot on the U.S. squad that will attempt to defend its two straight World Cup titles.

Davidson has also become a vocal leader for a union that scored big last year when U.S. Soccer agreed to a new collective bargaining that pays its men's and women's national teams equally, including a split of World Cup prize money.

Davidson replaces Sam Mewis, who opted to end her four-term tenure as vice president and treasurer after a serious injury that will keep her away from the team for the foreseeable future, on the USWNTPA. She joins Becky Sauerbrunn, who remains the association's president, and Crystal Dunn, VP and secretary, on the leadership team.

"I've admired Tierna's thoughtfulness, intelligence and composure from the first moment I met her," Sauerbrunn said. "To have her as a player representative during this time of growth of the women's game is hugely beneficial to all of us. As we continue to strive to improve global standards, having her strategic mind involved in the decision-making process will open new doors of possibility."

In addition to their role as advocates, Davidson said players want to ensure that safeguards are in place -- or created -- to prevent abuse and misconduct throughout the game. A series of scandals in the National Women's Soccer League over the past two years spurred investigations by both the NWSL and U.S. Soccer.

"A lot of what we've seen is such incredible exponential growth in women's soccer," Davidson said. "But there needs to be also that exponential growth in the rules and the policies and the structure to make sure that everybody is safe, everybody knows clearly what their roles are, everybody can feel comfortable and feel like they can thrive."

Davidson won an NCAA title with Stanford in 2017 and a year later was named U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year. She went on to be the top overall pick in the 2019 NWSL draft for the Chicago Red Stars.

Following the World Cup triumph in France nearly four years ago, she won a bronze medal with the team at the Tokyo Olympics. She has made 48 appearances for the United States and could reach 50 in the coming days when the team plays exhibitions against Ireland on Saturday in Austin, Texas, and again on April 11 in St. Louis.

It is her first call-up with the national team since she tore her ACL in March 2022 during training with the Red Stars. While the recovery process was arduous, Davidson stayed connected to her teammates.

"We've talked about the growth that's happened in the NWSL and in other domestic leagues internationally, and how can they get more viewers, more fans to games, more investment -- because the opportunity is there," Davidson added. "The quality of soccer is there. The markets are there and the markets are excited.

"I feel like really the only barrier to women's sports absolutely exploding is just access -- accessibility on TV, accessibility on news and social media platforms. Just putting us in places where we can be seen. And then let us do the rest of the work."

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Former Masters champion Fred Couples didn't back down from comments he made last month about LIV Golf League players who have criticized the PGA Tour after leaving.

Speaking to reporters after a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday, Couples said he doesn't dislike any of the players who have defected to the LIV Golf League, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, but he doesn't like some of the comments they've made.

"I have no problem with any of them -- just please do not bash a tour that I have 43 years invested in," Couples said. "It bothers the hell out of me. They don't bother me. They really don't. They're golfers. I'm a golfer. I respect them all."

During a PGA Tour Champions breakfast last month in Newport Beach, California, Couples referred to three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson as a "nutbag" and Spain's Sergio Garcia as a "clown."

"If you're giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you," Couples said at the breakfast.

"On my [radio] show I've told everyone, 'Sergio is one of the top 10 players I've ever seen hit a ball, but if he's going to make comments about the tour that I play, I'm going to make a comment back, and if it's offensive I apologize, but they're on another tour,'" Couples said Monday. "Go play and have a good time."

Mickelson and Garcia are among six past Masters champions who are now competing in the LIV Golf League; Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are the others. They're all expected to attend a champions dinner hosted by defending champion Scottie Scheffler on Tuesday night.

"You know, I'm not expecting anything different," Couples said. "I've made comments, but they need to understand if they've looked at anything I've ever said, I call myself the same stuff I'm calling them, I just don't think they should bash the PGA Tour or anybody, just go play golf. Tomorrow night will be a great dinner, will be a lot of fun."

The Masters, which tees off Thursday, is the first time many members of the LIV Golf League and PGA Tour have competed in the same tournament since the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. A total of 18 LIV Golf League players were invited to play at Augusta.

"Brooks Koepka I love, Dustin Johnson absolutely love," Couples said. "I'm not good enough to be paired with those guys. They're going to play with those who are probably going to win this thing. But I have no problem with anyone on the LIV tour. I really don't."

Couples, 63, played a practice round Monday with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Tom Kim. Woods will be making just his second start since missing the cut at St. Andrews.

"He hit it really, really well," Couples said of Woods. "He pulled a couple drives. But last year we played [in a practice round], he never missed a shot. I've never seen anything like it. For him, he's just out there just trying to walk around and play."

Woods is still limping after suffering serious injuries to his right leg, foot and ankle in a car wreck outside Los Angeles in February 2021. He said surgeons nearly had to amputate his right foot.

"You know, I don't really ask him a lot," Couples said. "I think that's not something when I text him or talk to him, really what our conversations are about. I think when he tells you I'm only going to play four events, and Augusta is one of them, he's ready to go. It's probably not going to be easy, but I think he'll be fine."

Last year, Woods finished 47th in the Masters, his first official start in 508 days.

The NBA's Western Conference playoff and play-in tournament races are more than what commissioner Adam Silver could have ever hoped.

There are still eight teams that could end up in the West play-in tournament. The remaining teams battling for the playoffs are also battling for seeding -- and the right to avoid the play-in altogether.

After Sunday's games, the Nos. 5- and 8-seeds are separated by a half-game. The LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors are tied at No. 5 with 41-38 records, while the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are tied at No. 7 at 40-38.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (39-40), who lost to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in a game they were favored in by nearly 20 points, and Oklahoma City Thunder (38-41) are not far behind at Nos. 9 and 10. The flailing Dallas Mavericks are one game back of the Thunder, and the Utah Jazz are a half-game back of Dallas.

But there is so much still undecided with seven days remaining in the regular season.

With the help of ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI), let's examine five -- of the several hundred possible combinations -- of the most impactful play-in scenarios in the West.

Scenario 1: AD vs. New Orleans, and two teams looking to take the next step

Pelicans vs. Lakers
Wolves vs. Thunder

BPI odds for these matchups: 8.5%

According to our BPI projections, this is the most likely play-in scenario heading into Tuesday's games.

It's currently a toss-up between the Pelicans and Lakers to see who would end up hosting the 7-8 game, although New Orleans would prefer to have the Lakers pick swap option mean something, so even swapping one pick in the draft could have an impact.

The Timberwolves facing the Thunder is the most likely 9-10 scenario as well. Oklahoma City would have the chance to get back to the postseason just two years after hitting the rebuild button.

The Timberwolves could put themselves in position to make back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first time since the franchise made eight consecutive trips between 1997 and 2004. (Minnesota hasn't won a playoff series since reaching the conference finals in 2004.)

Scenario 2: A Finals-worthy play-in, and the Mavs sneak in

Warriors vs. Lakers
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks

BPI odds for these matchups: 3%

When the Mavericks traded Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round pick and a pair of second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving before the deadline, it was supposed to lift the Mavericks to new heights alongside superstar Luka Doncic.

That partnership has fallen flat after a promising start. Dallas won Irving's first two games as a Maverick despite Doncic missing both due to injury, and their win against the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 10 put them at 31-26. Since then, Dallas has gone 6-16 and are on the verge of missing the play-in tournament altogether.

Dallas has gone 4-11 in games in which Doncic and Irving play, and since the trade, the Mavericks have allowed 118.3 points per 100 possessions, which would rank 28th in the NBA over a full season.

Also, if a Zion vs. LeBron matchup is must-see TV, how about the Warriors vs. LeBron in a playoff appetizer? The loser would still have another chance to get in, but if that chance came against Doncic and Irving in a must-win game? Sign us up.

Scenario 3: The battle in L.A.

Clippers vs. Lakers
Pelicans vs. Thunder

BPI odds for these matchups: 1.5%

The Lakers and Clippers have never faced off in the playoffs. How about a play-in showdown? Less than a week after Wednesday's Lakers-Clippers tilt (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) this scenario pits the two rivals against each other -- this time with the No. 7 seed at stake.

Due to Paul George's latest knee injury, this matchup might lose some star power, but a showdown between James, Davis and Kawhi Leonard is a worthy consolation prize.

The Lakers have become a new team since the trade deadline acquisitions of D'Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley. Los Angeles has won 10 of its past 14 games and is 3-1 since James returned from a foot injury.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, have taken advantage of a favorable late-season schedule and could find themselves hosting the 9-10 game for the second consecutive year. Last season, they defeated the San Antonio Spurs and Clippers to secure the No. 8 seed, then put a scare into the top-seeded Suns in the first round.

The Thunder -- like the Jazz -- were thought to be a leader in the Wembanyama sweepstakes after 2022 No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren suffered a season-ending foot injury. Instead, the Thunder have kept themselves playoff relevant.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a revelation this season,averaging 31.5 points, 5.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Jalen Williams has vaulted into the Rookie of the Year conversation, and Josh Giddey, at 20 years old, averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in his second season.

If the Thunder get past the Pelicans in a potential 9-10 game, they could end up meeting the Clippers in a battle for the No. 8 seed; LA traded Gilgeous-Alexander and a slew of picks to Oklahoma City in a blockbuster deal for George in the summer of 2019.

Scenario 4: AD vs. New Orleans, Gobert vs. Utah

Pelicans vs. Lakers
Timberwolves vs. Jazz

BPI odds for these matchups: less than 1%

The Jazz have the longest odds of any team remaining to make the play-in tournament, but if they win out to finish 40-42, they have a shot.

One scenario: Utah would end up facing Minnesota in the 9-10 play-in game. That's right, Rudy Gobert against the team that sent him away for quite the haul in the offseason.

The Jazz, who also traded away Donovan Mitchell, were projected to be firmly in the race for projected No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama but instead won 10 of their first 13 games as first-time All-Star Lauri Markkanen took his breakout EuroBasket performance and cranked it up a notch once he settled back into the NBA on his new team.

The Jazz have not helped their play-in chances in recent weeks, dropping six of their past seven, but being in a position to take a lottery pick and add to their team may not be a bad thing.

Minnesota and Utah split the four-game season series -- and the Jazz went 2-1 in the games that Gobert played.

As for the Pelicans and Lakers, there's plenty of incentive for New Orleans to finish ahead of Los Angeles in the standings. New Orleans has the option for a first-round pick swap in June's NBA draft. (The Lakers do own the tiebreaker over the Pelicans in the standings, so if the teams finished tied in the regular season, the Lakers would be the higher seed in a direct head-to-head tiebreaker and get the lower draft pick of the two, nullifying the swap.)

Any matchup would be filled with drama thanks to LeBron James and Anthony Davis facing off against The Brow's former team. And with any Pelicans scenario, there's the possibility of Zion Williamson's return. New Orleans is expected to provide an update Wednesday on Williamson's latest reevaluation of his right hamstring strain.

Scenario 5: The six-way logjam -- and tiebreaker madness

BPI odds for this scenario: 0.000009%

It's the ultimate long shot, but if you want maximum chaos, this scenario is for you. Here, the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves and Thunder all finish 41-41. Let's break it down.

The only head-to-head matchups remaining between these six teams are Thunder-Warriors on Tuesday, Clippers-Lakers on Wednesday, and Pelicans-Timberwolves on Sunday, the final day of the regular season.

First, a refresher on the NBA's tiebreaker rules:

• Tiebreaker No. 1: Win percentage in games played among the tied teams

• Tiebreaker No. 2: Division leader wins tie over non-division leaders

• Tiebreaker No. 3: Division win percentage, if tied teams are in the same division

• Tiebreaker No. 4: Conference win percentage

• Tiebreaker No. 5: Win percentage against conference teams eligible for the playoffs

• Tiebreaker No. 6: Point differential

In this scenario, if Minnesota defeats New Orleans on Sunday to reach .500, it would boast an 11-6 record against the other five teams and secure the No. 5 seed.

The Lakers and Pelicans would each be 10-8 (in this scenario, the Lakers defeat the Clippers on Wednesday). L.A. owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans, meaning the Lakers would land No. 6 and the Pelicans would take No. 7.

In this scenario, despite Oklahoma City defeating Golden State on Tuesday, the Warriors (9-11) would still be No. 8 and the Thunder (8-11) would be No. 9. The Clippers (7-11 after the loss to the Lakers) would finish at No. 10.

Got all that? Good. It's going to be a wild week in the West.

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio offered a reminder that negotiations were still in the "early innings" as he discussed legislation on financing renovations to American Family Field.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, issued a proposal this year to spend $290 million on repairs to American Family Field under an agreement in which the Brewers would extend their lease by 13 years, through 2043.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said last month the proposal was likely dead in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Vos expressed optimism that Republicans could come up with a better deal that would require a longer commitment for the Brewers to stay in Milwaukee.

"I think the fans deserve a facility like this and I think one of the reasons they come out is the ballpark experience," Attanasio said Monday before the Brewers' home opener with the New York Mets. "So we really just want to continue to maintain that. And look, I want the team to be here forever. So, we want this to be forever a special place."

The Brewers' lease expires in 2030. American Family Field has been the Brewers' home stadium since 2001, when it was known as Miller Park.

"Other stadiums of similar vintage, they're talking about needing brand-new ballparks, and here we just want to continue to maintain this," Attanasio said. "So, we'll see. It's early innings, and I guess there's a lot of baseball to be played. I don't know if we got off to as good a start as we got off to this weekend in Chicago, but we're off to a pretty good start."

Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement with minor league players, formalizing the landmark agreement that will more than double player salaries.

Players late last week overwhelmingly voted in favor of the tentative agreement, with thousands backing a deal that also improved housing, transportation and medical rights of players.

The agreement, which will last five years, came together after the MLB Players Association created a minor league bargaining unit last year. Upon the league's formal recognition of the union, the parties began negotiating, and the final deal came together Wednesday, two days before the minor league season began.

Years of public criticisms from players led to their organization and eventual unionization, and over the past three years, the league's treatment of them has improved significantly. Salary increases were the clear priority for minor league players, whose incomes will jump depending on the level at which they play, with the largest increases by percentage at the lower levels and total dollars at the higher ones. By level, the increases are:

• Triple-A: $17,500 to $35,800

• Double-A: $13,800 to $30,250

• High-A: $11,000 to $27,300

• Single-A: $11,000 to $26,200

• Rookie: $4,800 to $19,800

Players now will be paid nearly year-round, receiving $625 a week during spring training and at least $250 a week for most of the offseason -- all of which are part of the annual salary figures. The new housing-and-transportation policies, which includes improvements across all levels -- Triple-A and Double-A players are guaranteed their own rooms, and High-A, Single-A and rookie teams are guaranteed transportation to and from stadiums -- addressed issues players brought up during negotiations.

In a statement, the league said: "When minor league players formally declared their intention to unionize last September, MLB opted to immediately and voluntarily recognize the players' rights to unionize and began negotiations on a first collective-bargaining agreement. Meeting throughout the offseason, we made tremendous progress over a short period of time and are pleased to have reached a five-year agreement with the players. This agreement builds upon the significant effort MLB undertook four years ago to modernize baseball's player development system, including increased salaries, free housing, improved facilities, better clubhouse conditions, and reduced in-season travel with better geographical alignment. We look forward to a great season."

Upon the players' ratification of the agreement, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement: "The agreement represents a giant step forward in treating minor league players as the elite professional athletes that they are. It's a historic day for these players, their families and the entire player fraternity."

Exeter have signed Wales back Joe Hawkins on a "long-term deal" from United Rugby Championship side Ospreys for the 2023-24 season.

Yet the move means Hawkins falls short of the eligibility change recently brought in by the Welsh Rugby Union.

Those playing outside of Wales are now required to have 25 caps to represent their country.

Barring any caveats, that would make Hawkins ineligible for the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

Exeter have also signed forward Ethan Roots from Ospreys and former Newcastle Falcons and Wasps fly-half Will Haydon-Wood from French Pro D2 side Massy Esonne for next season.

New Zealand-born back-rower Roots, 25, joined the Welsh side in 2021 from Crusaders and has made 14 appearances for the team this season, while Hayden-Wood moved to Massy Esonne after Wasps were suspended from the Premiership last October.

Hawkins, who graduated through the Ospreys academy and made the first of his 28 appearances for the club aged 18, said he was "really excited" by his switch to Sandy Park.

"Over the years the Chiefs have been known for bringing through youngsters and giving them their chance on the biggest stages," he told the club website.

"I want to be part of that and to try and take the club onwards and upwards."

Hawkins will become part of a growing Welsh contingent of players at Exeter, alongside Oli Burrows, Dafydd Jenkins, Dan John and Christ Tshiunza, all of whom he has played with before.

In February, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said that there was "no truth" in the rumours that the club were interested in signing Hawkins.

However, following the announcement Baxter said he was a player that they have had a "close eye on for some time".

"We're delighted to have Joe signed on for next season and beyond," he added.

"He was someone I spotted when we were looking at footage of Daf and a few of the other Welsh Under-20s.

"We do have players moving on at the end of this season, so it was important that we looked at the areas we needed to fill and that we brought in the right players.

"Joe, I think, ticks pretty much every box that we look for in a player and I've no doubt he's going to be a great addition to the squad."

Montreal Canadiens forwards Alex Belzile and Sean Monahan are both out for the season, the team said Monday.

Belzile has a fractured right leg and Monahan recently underwent groin surgery.

Out of the playoffs for a second straight season, the Canadiens (30-41-6, 66 points) have five games left.

Belzile, 31, was injured during Montreal's 3-0 loss to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Belzile recorded 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 31 games with the Canadiens. He added 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 31 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket.

Monahan, 28, has been out with a lower-body injury since Dec. 5.

Monahan had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 25 games in his first season with Montreal after being acquired in an August trade with the Calgary Flames.