Golfers who remained loyal to the PGA Tour -- but not those who left for the LIV Golf League -- would receive equity shares in the new for-profit enterprise being formed by the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Jimmy Dunne told ESPN on Friday.

Dunne, the PGA Tour policy board member who helped broker this week's stunning deal, said current tour members would receive equity in the new company based on a yet-to-be-determined formula. Several of the tour's top stars, including Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm and Cameron Young, reportedly turned down guaranteed contracts worth as much as $100 million from LIV Golf League officials.

"The new [company] would grow, and the [current PGA Tour] players would get a piece of equity that would enhance and increase in value as time went on," Dunne said. "There would have to be some kind of formulaic decision on how to do that. It would be a process to determine what would be a fair mechanism that would be really beneficial to our players."

The players who left for the LIV Golf League, according to Dunne, would not be able to participate in the new company's equity plan.

Dunne, the vice chair and senior managing principal of the investment bank Piper Sandler, helped lay the groundwork for the PGA Tour's alliance with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is financing the rival LIV Golf League. A member of Augusta National Golf Club and president of Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida, Dunne will serve on the new company's board.

The PGA Tour's surprising decision to do business with PIF has left many of its current members questioning why they were encouraged not to accept money from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund to join LIV and instead remain loyal to the PGA Tour.

"Obviously, for the guys that did turn down significant amounts of money, then that's probably a tough one to swallow, and I feel for them," reigning U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick said Thursday.

Bryson DeChambeau, who reportedly was paid more than $125 million to defect to LIV Golf, told CNN on Tuesday that he felt sorry for PGA Tour members who didn't take the money.

"The players that did go over, we did take a risk, and there was a reason for taking that risk relative to the capital that had to be paid out for that to occur," DeChambeau said. "I do feel bad for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened. On our side, we were told one thing and it's come to fruition."

Dunne said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan would also have oversight of the LIV Golf League under the new agreement, giving him the authority to determine whether the breakaway circuit will continue beyond this season. Monahan will serve as CEO of the new, yet-to-be-named entity; PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be chairman.

PIF invested more than $2 billion into the league being fronted by two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman in its inaugural season in 2022. LIV's lawyers revealed in federal court records obtained by ESPN in February that it generated virtually no revenue last year.

While Norman has told LIV Golf's staff members that the league was making plans for 2024 and beyond, others at the highest levels of the sport don't seem convinced that the LIV Golf League will survive beyond this year. Multiple sources have told ESPN that if there's a team concept in future seasons, it won't be in LIV Golf's present form and won't include Norman as its CEO and commissioner.

Monahan said he would wait until LIV Golf League's season ends in November to evaluate whether the team-focused circuit had a place in golf's new global ecosystem.

"I don't want to make any statements or make any predictions," Monahan said. "But what is in place is a commitment to make a good-faith effort to look at team golf and the role it can play going forward."

If the LIV Golf League folds, Dunne said a committee that includes current PGA Tour members and administrators would determine potential punishment for players who left for it but want to apply for reinstatement to the PGA Tour.

"I think we would form a panel, including tour players, that would evaluate what the terms would be," Dunne said. "Remember, they're coming back to compete on the tour, so they have to be confident that they would be good enough to continue to play, and they have to be willing to incur the penalty for having gone."

Monahan suspended more than 30 PGA Tour members for competing in LIV tournaments without conflicting-event releases, including past major champions DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and others.

Sources have told ESPN that the punishment would probably be considered on a case-by-case basis. The 11 LIV Golf League players who sued the PGA Tour in federal court might get stiffer penalties than those who didn't, while players who actively recruited PGA Tour members to the breakaway circuit could also be hit hard.

Litigation between the PGA Tour and LIV went away with this week's agreement.

"Players on the LIV [tour] that wanted to reinstate into the PGA Tour would go through a process [and] suspension," Dunne said. "Whatever the penalty was, they'd have to decide whether they wanted to do that or not and then they could play."

The PGA Tour's policy board must still approve the alliance with PIF and the DP World Tour. The potential deal is also expected to be scrutinized by U.S. Department of Justice antitrust regulators, according to experts.

"I thought it sounded brazen and sounded illegal because merger to monopoly is illegal under antitrust laws," said Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy. "The two entities were in competition, and [they] somehow become one entity. If they're going to take two entities, become one, that's basically a straightforward violation of the antitrust laws."

Ethiopian runs 7:52.11 for 3000m ‘chase at a spectacular Paris Diamond League event on Friday

On a magical night of world record-breaking at the Paris Diamond League, Lamecha Girma broke the 19-year-old steeplechase mark held by Saif Saaeed Shaheen with 7:52.11.

Following a world best for two miles from Jakob Ingebrigtsen and world 5000m record by Faith Kipyegon, Girma took to the track in the penultimate event of a remarkable evening and the Ethiopian glided around the track to beat Shaheen’s 7:53.63, which was set in Brussels in 2004.

Earlier this year Girma broke Daniel Komen’s long-standing world indoor 3000m record with 7:23.81 in Lievin. And here he returned to France looking for another global mark.

Passing 1000m in 2:37.7 and 2000m in 5:12.5, he was already on his own and looking in supreme form as he continued his attack on Shaheen’s mark.

??? Paris sees its third world record of the night as Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia runs 7:52.11 to take down Saif Saaeed Shaheen’s 19-year-old mark by just over a second in the 3000m steeplechase. pic.twitter.com/aecnHSZ3y8

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 9, 2023

On the final lap it became clear he was going to break the record as he was a few metres ahead of the Wavelight pacing system. So it proved as he stormed home, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Ryuji Miura, who ran a Japanese record of 8:09.91 in second.

Missing from this race was Soufiane El Bakkali, but the Moroccan is in good form himself and a head to head would be a mouth-watering prospect.

The duo finished one-two at the Olympics and last year’s World Championships with El Bakkali coming out top each time.

Olympic 1500m champion slices four seconds off Daniel Komen’s 1997 mark at Diamond League in Paris

Daniel Komen’s world best for two miles of 7:58.61 dates back to July 1997. While it is not a particularly popular distance, it has survived attacks from Haile Gebrselassie, Joshua Cheptegei, Eliud Kipchoge and Mo Farah over the years.

On Friday (June 9) in Paris, though, Jakob Ingebrigtsen took more than four seconds off the Kenyan’s mark with 7:54.10.

Paced by Benoit Campion and then Kyumbe Mungti until just after 2000m, Ingebrigtsen started steadily with a first mile of 4:00.3 before closing with a superb 3:53.8. As he passed 3000m in 7:23.8 – compared to Komen’s 7:27.3 – it was clear the record was his.

“Being able to make this record feels amazing,” said Ingebrigtsen. “It is my first world best outdoors. The pace felt very smooth for me, coming out of the 1500m.

“The public was amazing, without their help, it would have been more difficult. I was a bit surprised about the time in the end.”

On finishing so strongly, he said: “We started off considerably slow but you come to realise that that’s the way to do it.”

When Komen ran his record in Hechtel, Belgium, 26 years ago he ran splits of 3:59.2 and 3:59.4 – and it came 43 years after Roger Bannister ran the world’s first sub-four-minute mile.

When asked by AW what his best distance is, Ingebrigtsen said probably 3000m given that he’s a strength-based runner. “I feel like I’m going down to the 1500m,” he added.

“We started off considerably slow, but you come to realise that’s the way to do it!”

Jakob Ingebrigtsen after breaking the two miles WR in Paris with 7:54.10. ?️ @stuartweir pic.twitter.com/LKrrDSsGrf

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 9, 2023

The 1500m is possibly his favourite distance, however, as he’s not a fan of the lengthy pain involved over 3000m and 5000m.

“At the moment the 3000m is one of my better events but I’m a man of every distance,” he explained. “I want to run fast at everything. The 1500m is not that exhausting compared to 3km and 5km but it’s more demanding physically.”

Runner-up Ishmael Rokitto of Kenya was a long way behind in 8:09.23 followed by Kuma Girma of Ethiopia, Justin Koech of Kenya and recent Night of the 10,000m PBs winner Paul Chelimo of the United States in fifth.

British 800m mark falls in Hodgkinson’s first race of the summer at the Diamond League on Friday

Keely Hodgkinson threatened to start her summer season “with a bang” but even the 21-year-old looked surprised when she ran away from a world-class field to break her British 800m record at the Diamond League in Paris on Friday (June 9).

With 1:55.77, Hodgkinson improved her national record of 1:55.88, which was set when finish runner-up to Athing Mu in the Olympic final in 2021. However it was the way the Briton demolished her rivals that was just as impressive as the time.

Following pacemaker Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz-Zawadzka through 400m in 57.3, Hodgkinson looked keen to take the lead with 300m to go and, moving past the rabbit, she had already created daylight on the rest of the field.

Hitting 600m in 86.5 with a decent lead, it was clear Hodgkinson was on for a special run and she finished strongly for a meeting record and world-leading mark.

Ajee’ Wilson of the United States was runner-up in 1:58.16 with Natoya Goule of Jamaica third in 1:58.23 and Catriona Bisset of Australia fourth in 1:58.55 as the top nine runners broke two minutes.

“I just wanted to commit today. Then when I saw the lights go behind me, I thought OMG keep going!”@keelyhodgkinson after her UK 800m record of 1:55.77 in Paris. ?️ @stuartweir pic.twitter.com/tGOjlUFrZi

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 9, 2023

“I am a little bit shocked that I ran so fast,” said Hodgkinson. “Paris next year, I will definitely be back.

“The weather was really nice, so warm. I had heard good things about the track. With this full stadium and the great crowd, it was amazing. I am so happy.

“Now the aim is to stay healthy, we still have to see, I want to keep running fast. The focus is on the summer, on Budapest. What is next with such a fast time early in the season? Well, I do not know. Hopefully I will run even faster.”

She is due to race over 400m at next weekend’s England Athletics Under-23 Championships in Chelmsford before tackling the Diamond League events in Lausanne and London.

One week after breaking 1500m mark she runs fastest 5000m of all-time in epic head-to-head with Letesenbet Gidey at Paris Diamond League

It is only early June but Faith Kipyegon has already put together a brilliant case for being named athlete of the year already. One week after breaking the world 1500m record with a ground-breaking 3:49.11, the Kenyan supermum set another world record – this time over 5000m – with 14:05.20 at the Diamond League in Paris.

It came after a tremendous duel with Letesenbet Gidey, who held the world record for this distance, plus 10,000m and half-marathon, until tonight (June 9). Pushing the pace for much of the latter stages, the Ethiopian went down fighting and produced a super-fast time of her own in second place with 14:07.94.

Behind, Ejgayehu Taye – the world 5km record-holder from Ethiopia – ran 14:13.31 in third, Lilian Rengeruk of Kenya clocked 14:23.05 in fourth, Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia 14:23.45 in fifth and Margaret Kipkemboi of Kenya 14:23.67 in sixth as Britain’s Laura Muir wound up 11^th in 14:48.14, narrowly beating a PB which was set indoors.

Remarkably this was Kipyegon’s first 5000m since 2015 and she slaughtered her 14:31.95 PB during what proved to be the race of the night at a power-packed Diamond League that saw three world records in total.

Kipyegon’s early splits saw her run 2:53.1 for 1000m, 4:35.2 for 1600m, 5:42.6 for 2000m and 8:32.1 for 3000m, but it was her closing speed that drew gasps of admiration. After taking the lead from Gidey on the penultimate lap, Kipyegon began to wind up the pace in the last 400m and her final lap was 60.9 and her last 200m was 28.6 as Gidey’s challenge finally faltered.

Gidey’s record of 14:06.62 was set in Valencia in 2020 but despite this red-hot field in Paris it was not particularly expected to fall. No one quite knew how Kipyegon would handle the 12-and-a-half-lap distance either.

“I did not think about the world record,” said Kipyegon, “I do not know how I made it. I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race.”

The winner added: “I just did the race and wanted to see what happens. When I saw that it was a world record I was so surprised! It was all about giving my best. I just wanted to improve on my PB, the world record was not my plan.

“I just ran after Gidey – she is an amazing lady. It is amazing. I do not know what will be next, I still have to discuss it with my coach and my management. I am so happy, I am very emotional right now and do not know what to say. If my body is healthy, anything is possible.”

Who knows what’s possible for Kipyegon in future after her performances this month. The 29-year-old has won two Olympic and two world titles over 1500m, so will she chase a hat-trick in Paris next year, or will she continue to move up in distance and settle at 5000m?

She has made no secret of the fact she fancies tackling a marathon before she retires too!

The odds may be in Iga Swiatek's favour to land a third French Open title in four years but when she walks on court in Saturday's final she will be facing an underdog with a penchant for taking down those at the top.

But while a Grand Slam final is a different beast altogether, Muchova's variety on court will pose a puzzle that top seed Swiatek must piece together in order to retain her title.

She has tried and failed before, Muchova coming out on top in three sets in their only previous meeting in Prague back in 2019, but the Pole has been doing her homework.

"I feel I know Karolina's game anyway because I played many practices with her since 2019 and I also watch her more than most of the players," Swiatek, 22, said.

"I really like her game. I really respect her and she's a player who can do anything. She has great touch. She can also speed up the game.

"She plays with that kind of freedom in her movements and she has a great technique. I feel like I know her game pretty well."

At 43 in the world rankings, Muchova is the fourth-lowest ranked player to reach the women's singles final at Roland Garros but is no stranger to the later stages of Grand Slams, having reached the quarter-finals at every major except the US Open, and the semi-finals in Australia in 2021.

Injuries have stalled the 26-year-old's progress - she was told just last year her career may be over - but she says it is a "dream" to be in to her first Slam final.

Of her playing style, which favours tactical nous over sheer power, she said: "I don't really want to be like anyone else.

"It's the type of game I enjoy and believe in. We are trying to improve it with the team. Now we can see that it works, so that's nice. I'll keep it this way."

Swiatek taking everything 'step by step'

When Swiatek and Muchova last played four years ago, Swiatek was a qualifier and her opponent a wildcard. The following year, the unseeded Pole won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open without dropping a set.

Now set for a 64th week as world number one she has only ever lost twice on the Roland Garros clay, and is the youngest woman to reach three French Open finals since Monica Seles.

Swiatek is still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year but, despite her dominance in Paris, she has dismissed talks of starting her own legacy at the tournament like her idol, 14-time men's singles champion Rafael Nadal.

"I'm more of a person who just tries to do her best every day and hope for the best," she said. "What [Nadal] did and what he's still doing, it's pretty amazing.

"I don't know if it's going to be possible for me. But I just try to compete, keep it cool year by year and just do everything step by step."

On how she has improved since her first French Open win, she added: "I feel like I'm a better player. Improvement I feel is everywhere.

"Everywhere, like tennis-wise, mentally, tactically, physically, just having the experience, everything. My whole life basically."

In most cases the phrase "raining rats" would not be construed as a positive.

Unless you're in south Florida. And specifically at a Florida Panthers game.

Those caveats indicate the appearance of rats -- at least the plastic variety -- to be an exceptionally good thing. Hockey watchers might have noticed the rodents flying about Florida's rink during this postseason.

Confused as to why? Allow us to explain.

The Panthers -- who are facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final -- have a history with the rat dating back to the franchise's first Cup Final appearance in 1996. That also happened to be Florida's inaugural season, when the groundwork was laid for one of the organization's long-standing traditions: its fans throwing plastic rats on the ice to celebrate goals, of all things.

It began during the opening game of that season when Florida played at Miami Arena. Forward Scott Mellanby had to kill a rat with his stick prior to puck drop that night, then he went out and scored two goals in the Panthers' 4-3 victory over Calgary. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck joked after the game that Mellanby's accomplishment constituted a "rat trick" and so the season became known as the Year of the Rat.

(Fun fact: 1996 was also the Year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac calendar).

Florida's faithful picked up on the trend and began throwing plastic rats -- purchased at gas stations, convenience stores or even at the rink itself -- onto the ice after Panthers goals. That continued all the way through Florida's run to the '96 Cup Final against Colorado. The Panthers were swept by the Avalanche in that series -- souring some of the rat-tossing efficacy at bringing good luck -- and then the NHL subsequently banned the act entirely, citing onerous delays required to clear the ice.

Bummer.

Despite the ban, plastic rats have found their way from the stands onto the ice over the years. In 2007, Panthers alumni sold the rats to raise money for the Florida Panthers Foundation. In 2011-12, when Florida made the playoffs for the first time in a decade, rats were back in the rotation (although the team did stop selling them in the arena). During the lean years that followed, Florida tried to keep a spark from the tradition in play, coming up with a secondary mascot named Viktor E. Ratt in 2014.

It's no great shock, then, that the Panthers' recent improvements -- including three consecutive playoff berths, a Presidents' Trophy last season and the Cup Final trip this season -- have again brought rats back to the forefront. Through thick and thin, the plastic rodents have been part of Florida's lore.

So the next time you see one in the air, or on the ice, don't be alarmed. It (more than likely) means something is going well for the home team.

STOCKHOLM — Dale Whitnell shot an 11-under 61 Friday to surge into a six-shot lead after the second round of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed event, where women and men play on the same course for one prize fund and trophy.

The 34-year-old Englishman, whose lone appearance at a major tournament was when he came through qualifying and made the cut 11 years ago at The Open, had 11 birdies in a flawless round to move to 17-under 127 in total.

He pulled well clear of overnight co-leader Yannik Paul of Germany, who settled for a 68 after his six birdies were negated by bogeys on holes No. 8 and No. 14 at Ullna Golf and Country Club.

Scottish player Richie Ramsay’s 66 moved him up to third place and one shot behind Paul, who shared the overnight lead with Niklas Norgaard of Denmark. American John Catlin’s 66 kept him two shots behind Ramsay in fourth.

Norgaard struggled on the front nine with two bogeys and a triple bogey on the tricky No. 8. Still, he ended the round with two birdies to limit the damage and post a 73 to sit in a tie for seventh.

Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand was the leading women’s player overnight, but a 76 dropped her well down the leaderboard.

Englishwoman Alice Hewson’s 67 raised her up 54 positions to 5 under alongside Emma Grechi of France as the highest-placed women. They were in a group tied for 13th place.

The co-sanctioned event on the men’s European tour and the Ladies European Tour features a field of 78 men and 78 women.

Swedish player Linn Grant produced one of the big stories of 2022 by winning the tournament by nine strokes to become the first female winner of a European tour event.

She made par Thursday but a 69 in the second round moved her up to a tie for 28th.

The cryptocurrency company Crypto.com announced Friday that it was closing part of its business, however that change will not affect the naming rights deal for Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, sources told ESPN.

Crypto.com is shuttering its institutional exchange in the United States, which affects approximately 400 customers making large-scale crypto transactions on the platform. Crypto.com's main business, a retail app with more than 80 million users worldwide, remains the same.

"We remain fully confident in the continued success of our market differentiating capabilities and offerings and will continue to offer all other regulated services in the markets in which we operate," Crypto.com said in a statement Friday.

AEG, which owns and operates the arena that is home to the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, entered into a 20-year, $700 million naming rights agreement with Singapore-based Crypto.com in November 2021.

It previously had been known as Staples Center since its opening in October 1999.

AEG stands for Anschutz Entertainment Group. Its chairman, Philip Anschutz, sold his 27% stake in the Lakers to Los Angeles Dodgers co-owners Mark Walter and Todd Boehly in July 2021 for more than $1 billion.

Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams -- who'll be a restricted free agent this summer -- had surgery on his left hand Friday that's expected to have him fully recovered for the start of NBA training camp in the fall, sources told ESPN.

The surgery, considered successful, comes after Williams hurt the hand in March. Williams decided to continue playing with the injury through the Celtics' run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

As a restricted free agent, Boston has the ability to match any offer sheet that Williams signs with another team. He could also negotiate a new deal with the Celtics. Williams has been a 45 percent three-point shooter since arriving as a rookie in the 2019-2020 season, and proven to be a versatile defender for the franchise.

Williams, 24, had career bests this season of 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in nearly 26 minutes a game.