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"I don't know, I have eight to nine months to decide, the small auction may be around December, so why take that headache right now?" Dhoni said after CSK's win against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. "I have ample time to decide."
Dhoni has had an issue with his knee all through the season and was seen wearing a brace after CSK's final league game. While he hasn't missed a match, he has had trouble running between wickets.
"I will always be there for CSK, whether that is in the playing form or sitting somewhere outside...I don't really know. Frankly, it takes a heavy toll. I have been out of home for literally four months. January 31 was when I got out of the house, finished my work, and started practicing from 2nd or 3rd of March. It takes a lot, but I have ample time to decide."
Dhoni and CSK now travel from Chennai to Ahmedabad for their tenth IPL final in 14 seasons. When asked whether an IPL final now felt like just another game, Dhoni said it did not.
"IPL is too big to say that it is just another ... and not to be forgetting that there used to be eight top teams, who used to compete with the best players available in the world and now it is tougher.
"I won't say it is just another final. It is hard work of more than two months because of which we are standing over here. Lot of character shown by the individuals, from where we started to where we are, and I feel everybody has contributed. Yes, the middle order has not got ample opportunity, but in between everybody has got a chance to chip in and they have done that."
CSK managed to score 172 after losing the toss in Qualifier 1 on a pitch that was tough for batting. During the defence, Dhoni was in his element, marshalling his bowlers and making field placements to stifle the Titans' chase.
"You see the wicket, you see the conditions and according to that, you keep adjusting the field," he said. "I can be a very annoying captain because I shift the fielder one or two feet here and there every time.
"The fielder needs to keep an eye on me. Imagine you are fielding and every two balls or three balls, I am like, 'Okay two feet to your right, three feet to your left.' It can be annoying. I always say I believe in my gut feel, I see the wicket, the line, what is really happening and more often than not, it pays off. The only request I ask from the fielders is 'keep an eye on me, if you drop a catch, there won't be any reactions but just keep an eye on me.'"
It hasn't been an easy road to the final for CSK. They have grappled with several injuries, but have managed with the resources they have, especially in the pace department where Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana have grown into their roles over the course of the season.
"We try to create an environment. Other than that, we reiterate as to what is the strength of the fast bowler. Along with that, we make sure that they are improving in the areas where they need to be good at," Dhoni said. "At the IPL, more often than not with the new ball, they know what needs to be done. The question is when it is not swinging, when it is not in your favour, then with the two fielders, where you can bowl to a particular batsman and what field you can keep. If a bowler knows that, more often than not, he will be successful.
"We try to motivate them as much as possible. The support staff is there, they are always there. Now, [Dwayne] Bravo is there, Eric [Simons] is there. There are lot of people who can help them out. At the end of the day, when they are standing, they are there on their own. It is a very lonely place, but that's where you can be brave and courageous."
Deepak Chahar: "Everything is okay"
"Everything is okay, one more to go," Chahar said after the match.
Chahar has missed six games this season due to a hamstring injury he suffered in an earlier match after missing the whole of the 2022 season due to a back injury. In Qualifier 1, Chahar picked up 2 for 29, which included the wickets of the Titans openers, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill.
"The ball was doing something on the track and it was sticking to it [the pitch]. So, as a bowling unit, we decided to bowl more length," Chahar said. "When you get support from the wicket, then you obviously don't need to experiment too much - just bowl the basic ball and let them take the chances because we scored the runs and, when it comes to semi-finals, it's all about handling the pressure. And scoring 170, chasing 170 in a semi-final when the crowd is against you, is very difficult."
Club pro Block awed by fanfare, message from MJ
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Michael Block wants to apologize to his friends.
"I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you," said Block, who finished tied for 15th at last week's PGA Championship and then was a awarded a sponsor's exemption into this week's Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. "I literally scroll and scroll and scroll, and it's never ending. I can't even get to the bottom of any of my feeds to even see how many or who's seeing me. So it's been crazy."
But there was one text message he received Tuesday that he was able to return. It came from Michael Jordan.
It seems the basketball Hall of Famer and avid golfer took notice of Block wearing Jordan brand shoes last week at Oak Hill Country Club.
"I'm a big Jordan guy my whole life. I was a little kid in Iowa saving 100 bucks for a pair of Jordans back in the day," Block said. "Pretty darn cool, to say the least."
And Jordan's message?
"It was something in the way that what he saw is why he loves the game of golf so much," Block said.
Block's 1-over finish at the PGA Championship last week captured the minds of golf fans everywhere. By finishing tied for 15th, he qualified automatically for next year's PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club and it was the best finish by a club professional at that major since 1986. According to the latest Official World Golf Ranking, which were released Monday, he jumped from 3,580 to No. 577 in the world.
"I've said it a lot, but it's just a dream," Block said after finishing a practice round. "I'm just cruising. I'm actually kind of glad that at this point I haven't come to the reality about what's happening so I can actually play pretty good golf. I think if I sit down and think about it too much, I'm not sure I could swing the club on Thursday."
Block's ace at the 151-yard 15th hole was the first in a PGA Championship since 2020 and the first by a PGA club pro at a PGA Championship since 1996. The 7-iron he used is now much sought after.
On Monday, he told 1310 The Ticket in Dallas, he was offered $30,000 for the club. He has received more offers since.
"It's crazy, right? The initial response was it was $50,000 and I'd hand deliver it. Kind of kiddingly, but I guess not really anymore," Block said. "But I've had other people ask about it to maybe have it preserved in certain spots for the PGA, etc., stuff like that. So it's up in the air. For right now it just needs to hit shots in there close for me, and I'll go from there."
Max Homa called Block, the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, a "legend in southern California," having played in tournaments against him in the past. Block played the front nine at Colonial Tuesday with Beau Hossler, another southern California golfer. As he teed off on No. 10, Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson, were watching.
"It's always amazing to see someone who, if you go to the U.S. Amateur or the U.S. Mid-Am and you see those players how great they are, and they have a job," Homa said. "I spend all my days here practicing golf. That's all I have to do, and he can still whoop me real good."
Ryan Palmer was practicing at Vaquero Club in Westlake, Texas, and saw Block's hole-in-one. He was curious how Block's game would withstand the pressures of the weekend of a major playing with Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.
"I think it's just one of those stories that game of golf hasn't had for a while," Palmer said. "The game is in such a great place, the PGA Tour, the guys that are playing each week, the guys that are winning, it's stronger than ever, I think, but I think a lot of that has to do also with what's been going on in the golfing world, the battle that's been happening I guess you could say. To see a story like that, bring together fans that are golfers or not golfers, I think that's pretty cool to see."
Block received the sponsor's exemption on Sunday and flew to Dallas/Ft. Worth on Monday. He was at Colonial by mid-morning Tuesday for a practice round. He brought the same clothes with him from last week in Rochester, New York, but that did not help with the hotter weather in Texas.
"I don't have any shorts with me at all," Block said. "So I'm going to try to get some shorts here this [so] at least when I'm out here practicing [Wednesday], I'll have some shorts on."
The spotlight has not been too much for Block. After concluding his news conference Tuesday, he spent roughly an hour handling other media obligations. He calls future baseball Hall of Famer Albert Pujols one of his best friends. He plays regularly with Patrick Cantlay. He is paired Thursday with friend, Min Woo Lee.
This is his first time playing Colonial, Ben Hogan's home course.
"The course fits my eye, a lot of cuts off the tee," Block said. "You've got to be pretty straight. And the greens are perfect. I've got a nice little ryegrass around the green. To be honest, it fits me a lot better than it did last week."
The most encouraging part of last week has not been all of the recognition and congratulations.
"It's that my golf game's good enough," Block said, his voice cracking. "Yeah, that my game can hang with these guys."
Vinicius won't be suspended for Valencia red card
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will not be suspended after receiving a red card in Sunday's LaLiga match at Valencia, in which he was also racially abused, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said Tuesday.
The Brazilian winger was sent off in stoppage time by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea for striking an opponent following a scuffle with Valencia players in which Vinicius appeared to be grabbed around the neck.
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Vinicius had earlier been racially abused by fans at the Mestalla Stadium, which led to the game being halted for 10 minutes as the player pointed out people who were abusing him in the stands.
"The RFEF Competition Committee considers that the referee's assessment was determined by the omission of the entirety of the play that took place, which affected the refereeing decision."
"The fact that he [the referee] was deprived of a decisive part of the facts led him to adopt an arbitrary decision. And this is because it was impossible for him to properly assess what happened."
Vinicius is now free to play in Real Madrid's next LaLiga game at home to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, however sources have told ESPN that he is a fitness doubt for the match after missing training on Tuesday due to pain in his left knee.
Earlier, Video Assistant Referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva was dropped from Wednesday's LaLiga game between Real Betis and Getafe, the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) said in a statement on Tuesday, with sources telling ESPN the decision is punishment for his role in the sending off of Vinicius during Madrid's 1-0 defeat at Valencia.
The RFEF also announced that Valencia's south stand will be partially closed for five matches and the club fined €45,000 ($49,536) after the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius.
"It is considered proven that there were racist shouts at Vinicius during the aforementioned match. A financial penalty of 45,000 euros is imposed on Valencia," the Competition Committee of the RFEF said in a statement.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with two separate racist incidents involving Vinicius Junior, Spanish police said Tuesday.
Three of the arrests were related to the racist abuse aimed at Vinicius during the match with Valencia, while four arrests in Madrid involve the hanging of a mannequin wearing a Vinicius shirt from a bridge near Real Madrid's training ground in January.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
ATLANTA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers shifted starting pitcher Dustin May to the 60-day injury list on Tuesday, which means the right-hander won't return until after the All-Star break.
The Dodgers had to clear room on their 40-man roster for top prospect Bobby Miller, who was called up from Triple-A to make his major league debut against the Atlanta Braves.
It was another major setback for May, who is only 25 but has battled injuries through his young career. He will be eligible to return to the Dodgers' active roster on July 17.
May was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts this season, but his velocity dropped off noticeably in his last start against Minnesota on May 17. He was lifted after only one inning because of a strained right elbow.
The Dodgers knew he would miss at least a month, and now that timetable has been pushed back even more.
May missed much of the 2021 and '22 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He has made a total of just 20 starts over the past three seasons, going 7-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 101 innings.
May was first called up by the Dodgers late in the 2019 season and was their Opening Day starter for the pandemic-delayed 2020 campaign, making him the youngest Los Angeles pitcher to get that honor since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
During the 2020 postseason, May appeared in seven games -- including three starts -- as the Dodgers won their first World Series title since 1988.
Miller was the second straight rookie to start for the Dodgers, following Gavin Stone on Monday. Los Angeles has turned to its farm system to carry on while May and left-hander Julio Urías (hamstring) are on the injured list.
Two other starting candidates, Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot, also are on the IL, while 2022 opening day starter Walker Buehler is out for the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
MILWAUKEE -- Two-time All-Star right-hander Julio Teheran, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2021, has agreed to terms on a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Teheran's agent, Gene Mato, said Tuesday that Teheran had agreed to a major league deal with the Brewers, pending a Wednesday physical.
The move comes a day after Teheran opted out of a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.
The Brewers needed to find reinforcements for their starting rotation with two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley, Eric Lauer and Aaron Ashby on the injured list with shoulder issues. Ashby hasn't pitched at all this year and might not be available at any point this season.
Teheran, 32, was an All-Star with the Atlanta Braves in 2014 and 2016 but hasn't pitched in the majors since appearing in one game with the Detroit Tigers in 2021. Teheran went 4-2 with a 5.63 ERA in eight starts this season with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, Texas.
He owns a 78-77 career record with a 3.80 ERA in 240 appearances for Atlanta (2011-19), the Los Angeles Angels (2020) and Detroit (2021).
ITTF’s Bold Reforms of World Championships Format Open New Horizons for Table Tennis
As the historic ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2023 captivate fans in Durban, South Africa, the ITTF is proud to witness the positive impact of its groundbreaking reforms to the World Championships format. These bold changes have ushered in a new era of inclusivity and global representation for the sport, enabling the ITTF to bring its most prestigious event to new countries and fostering growth and excitement within the table tennis community.
For the first time in more than 80 years, the event has ventured outside of Europe and Asia, expanding its reach to the Americas and Africa. Houston 2021 and Durban 2023 stand as a testament to the superb results of the ITTF’s bold reform, filling the ITTF and the table tennis family with immense pride.
The ITTF Group CEO, Steve Dainton, expressed his excitement about the success of the new format and the future possibilities, stating, “This is an incredible legacy that we will continue fostering, exploring new territories such as Latin America and Oceania. We are committed to making table tennis a truly global game, providing equal opportunities for all member associations to participate and host this extraordinary competition.”
The transformative changes to the World Championships format were initiated three years ago by the Board of Directors. The decision to introduce a dynamic knockout stage from the very beginning, reducing the number of players to 128 in men’s and women’s singles and 64 pairs in each doubles event, has revolutionized the event.
This streamlined format has not only allowed for greater efficiency but has also facilitated scalability, making it possible to successfully host the World Championships in Durban. Despite the challenges faced during the preparation of hosting a major table tennis event in Africa, the resilience and dedication of the organizers, in collaboration with the ITTF Group team, have resulted in a remarkable showcase of table tennis and the vibrant spirit of South Africa.
The bold and necessary reforms of the World Championships format have also breathed new life into the tournament, expanding its reach and propelling the sport to new territories, ensuring greater inclusivity and expanding the event’s global footprint.
“The new format has not only expanded the event’s reach but has also enhanced its attractiveness and how well our sport can be presented,” explained Dainton. The venue in Durban exemplifies this, with its awe-inspiring courts, including a theatre-style and an arena-style court.
The ITTF remains committed to its vision of making table tennis a truly global game, providing equal opportunities for all member associations to participate and host this extraordinary competition. It is confident that this historic event in Durban will inspire a new generation of table tennis enthusiasts in South Africa and beyond. The World Championships in Durban stand as a testament to the power of bold reforms, opening new horizons for table tennis and shaping the future of the sport.
Follow all the action from the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Durban 2023 on our website and stay up to date with the full results, draws and match schedules. Obtain free photos for editorial use here. The last few remaining tickets for the event can be purchased on the official ticketing website. Join us in Durban and witness history in the making!
Egypt and Nigeria Fly the Flags High for Africa
Three African players have continued to do their continent proud with a strong display in the round of 64 at the ongoing ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Durban 2023. In a remarkable display of talent and determination, Egyptians Dina Meshref and Omar Assar, as well as Nigerian Taiwo Mati have emerged victorious.
Egyptian sensation and World No.28 Dina Meshref demonstrated her skill as she progressed to the round of 32 after defeating Anna Wegrzyn of Poland. Meshref remains determined to make her continent proud with each win.
Reflecting on her progress, she said, “It is an honour to represent Africa at the highest stage of table tennis. Right now, I am just trying to focus on each match, and to fight for each point. My draw was not an easy one, but I am glad that I still managed to come through it by winning my first two singles matches. I hope that I can continue this winning streak. I will continue to give my all and aim for success, not just for myself but for all the aspiring players in Africa who look up to us.”
Omar Assar, the reigning Africa Cup champion from Egypt, has also proved his mettle on the international stage. His performance propelled him to the round of 32 after surviving a late surge from Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko to emerge triumphant with a 4-2 win, giving African supporters a reason to cheer.
Assar emphasised the significance of his journey, stating, “Playing table tennis here in South Africa means a lot to me, as I am sure it does to all African players as well. I will continue to prepare for my next match as I normally do and stick to my game plan, including trying to improve on my mistakes too. I will focus on the things I need to correct before the next match so that I can play better. I feel at home being here in Africa and I look forward to having better performances ahead. This tournament is an opportunity for me to show that Africa can compete with the best in the world.”
Africa’s third player to pull through the round of 64 did not have it easy. Nigeria’s rising star, 18-year-old Taiwo Mati, stood on the brink of elimination when he trailed 2-3 to Lam Siu Hang from Hong Kong, China after a strong run of play by his lower ranked opponent, before turning the match around with two consecutive wins that brought him to the round of 32. Winner of the 2021 ITTF World Youth Championships, Mati has demonstrated grit and resilience in his come-from-behind win, including showcasing a never-say-die spirit that endeared him to the home supporters who cheered him on raucously.
Mati, overwhelmed by his sensational comeback win, said, “Honestly, I do not know what to say, I am just speechless. It is my first time playing in the World Championships and it is like a dream come true for me to qualify for the round of 32. This win is even sweeter for me because it is held in Africa. Throughout the game, I kept telling myself not to give up. Even when I was trailing 2-3, I told myself that I must play better and gain momentum to win. This win means a lot to me. It is definitely the highlight of my career so far, qualifying for the round of 32 in front of so many supporters and fans.”
As the tournament unfolds, Meshref, Assar and Mati will continue to carry the hopes of Africa on their shoulders. Their achievements not only showcase their individual talents but also serve as a testament to the growing strength and depth of table tennis in Africa. They are a source of inspiration for table tennis fans and players all over the continent and all eyes will be on them as they continue to strive to put Africa on the world map.
Follow all the action from the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Durban 2023 on our website and stay up to date with the full results, draws and match schedules. Obtain free photos for editorial use here. The last few remaining tickets for the event can be purchased on the official ticketing website. Join us in Durban and witness history in the making!
After a near-month long search, the Calgary Flames did not have to go far to find a new general manager, with the club announcing Tuesday they promoted assistant general manager Craig Conroy.
Conroy, who spent the bulk of his NHL career with the Flames, replaces Brad Treliving after Treliving and the club mutually parted ways in mid-April.
Conroy retired from playing during the 2010-11 season and immediately joined the Flames front office. He served as the club's special assistant to the GM for four seasons. He was then named the Flames' assistant GM, a position he held for nine years prior to his promotion.
"Thank you to the Flames ownership group for the confidence and trust they have demonstrated by providing me with this opportunity," Conroy said in a statement. "As, to John Bean and Don Maloney for the very detailed process that has brought us to this moment. Over the course of the past 12 years, I've put in the time in every aspect of our hockey operations to prepare myself for today. I'm ready to accept this challenge and promise our fans that our team will do the work required to make them proud on the journey to deliver a championship."
Promoting Conroy to GM was one of a handful of personnel changes the Flames announced. The Flames also said they hired Dave Nonis as their senior vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager. Nonis, who was previously the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, has spent the last three years as the assistant GM for the Anaheim Ducks.
The Flames also announced added responsibilities for assistant GMs Brad Pascall and Chris Snow. Pascall was named vice president of hockey operations while Snow was named the vice president of data/analytics.
Even before Treliving and the Flames parted ways, there was a belief that this could be an offseason of change for the Flames.
They were coming off a 2021-22 season that saw them reach the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs .only to be forced to re-tool significant portions of their roster. They lost a pair of 100-point forwards last offseason when Johnny Gaudreau left in free agency to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers. Another 100-point forward in Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar came the other way.
The Flames also signed center Nazem Kadri in free agency after he finished with a career-high 87 points and played a significant role in helping the Colorado Avalanche win the third Stanley Cup title in franchise history.
Even with those additions, the Flames still struggled to score goals. They were 19th in goals per game in addition to facing other challenges such as having the second poorest team save percentage in 5-on-5 play, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Yet they still entered the final weeks of the regular season fighting for a playoff spot only to fall two points shy.
Conroy and his front office will have several items they must address prior to the start of the season. Finding a new coach is one of them, with the Flames announcing they fired Darryl Sutter just weeks after Treliving's departure.
Then there's the matter of how Conroy and his front-office staff will improve the Flames roster.
The Flames have several players in Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, Andrew Mangiapane, Jacob Markstrom, Huberdeau, Kadri and Weegar with more than two years left on their current contracts. CapFriendly projects the Flames have $1.25 million in available cap space -- a predicament facing several clubs in the current flat cap environment.
Stanford, Wake Forest advance to semifinals of NCAA women's championships
Stanford survived an upset bid and Wake Forest edged a conference rival as both teams advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA DI Women’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The top-seeded Cardinal defeated eighth-seeded Pepperdine, 4-1, in a match that was closer than the score would indicate.
The third-seeded Demon Deacons knocked out sixth-seeded Florida State, 3-1-1.
Cardinal sophomore Rose Zhang won her second consecutive individual title on Monday and continued her dominant play on Tuesday with a 6-and-5 victory over Pepperdine senior Reese Guzman.
That gave Stanford a 1-0 lead but the Waves, making their first match-play appearance, knotted it up with Jeneath Wong’s 5-and-3 victory over freshman Megha Ganne.
Stanford junior Sadie Englemann made it 2-1 for the defending national champions, thanks a brilliant finish. After Pepperdine junior Kaleiya Romero missed a birdie putt at the 15th to break a deadlock, Englemann won the 16th and 17th holes to take the match, 2 and 1.
Stanford freshman Kelly Xu then won her 18th hole over Pepperdine's Lion Higo to keep alive a shot at a Cardinal repeat.
Wake Forest prevailed in a tight battle with ACC rival FSU. The two were tied, 1-1, with the three remaining matches all tied entering the final hole of regulation. Wake junior Mimi Rhodes was able to close out FSU junior Alice Hodge at the last, 1 up.
Wake senior Rachel Kuehn then pushed her team into the semis, prevailing in a taut match with Seminoles senior Amelia Williamson. Williamson three-putted the ninth hole, the match's 18th, to allow for extras. After missing a birdie putt on the 19th hole to win, Williamson hit her approach into the water on the 20th hole, ending the Seminoles’ season.
In the two other quarterfinal matches, seventh-seeded Texas A&M defeated second-seeded Texas, 4-1, to move to the final four for the second straight year. And in a battle of USCs, fifth-seeded Southern Cal beat South Carolina, 4-1, to advance for the first time since 2018.
The semifinals take place Tuesday afternoon. Stanford will face Southern Cal, while Wake Forest will take on Texas A&M. Live Golf Channel coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET
A tale of two captains: Luke Donald is smooth sailing while Zach Johnson has tough decisions on the horizon
Last week, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald talked of clarity; five days later, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson saw only fuzzy images and distorted shapes.
For Donald, his “clarity” is the byproduct of the DP World Tour’s decision to essentially fine players off the tour and off this year’s Ryder Cup team. The European circuit hasn’t handed down broad suspensions for players who violated its conflicting-event release policies when they joined LIV Golf, but in the wake of a favorable ruling from an arbiter in the United Kingdom, it has doled out heavy fines that make maintaining membership, at the least, difficult to justify.
According to various sources, LIV Golf has agreed to pay those fines, but in one case, a player who joined the breakaway circuit last year is on the hook for nearly £500,000 and counting. Last week, Henrik Stenson resigned his DP World Tour membership, which is required to play on the European Ryder Cup team, and others are sure to follow.
It's that clarity, for better or worse, that’s made Donald’s job easier.
Johnson’s gig, however, only became more complicated Sunday thanks to Brooks Koepka’s commanding victory at the PGA Championship. Although the U.S. captain would never admit it, the best scenario is for Koepka to perform equally brilliantly at the U.S. Open and Open Championship to lock up his spot in the team room in Rome.
The victory moved Koepka to second on the U.S. points list, and the math is on his side that he remains inside the top 6 through the BMW Championship in August to earn one of the six automatic qualifying spots. That, at the least, would take any potential decision-making out of Johnson’s hands, since the PGA of America has ruled that any player who maintains membership in the association, which Koepka and the other players who have joined LIV Golf have done, is eligible for the team.
Although he was referencing the ongoing debate between LIV Golf and the world golf ranking, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh appeared to concede as much last week at Oak Hill, “This is not an us versus them,” he said.
It’s certainly not the players who seem to be locked into an us-versus-them mentality. There was none of the animosity or vitriol between the two sides at the Masters, and that vibe only hardened at the PGA Championship.
Keegan Bradley gushed about being able to reunite with good friend Brendan Steele at Oak Hill, and Jon Rahm appeared to speak for many on the subject: “I never got into the feud. I've never had any negative feelings towards any player that went over to LIV."
Last week, when the final players – Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Jones – were officially removed from the antitrust lawsuit that was filed against the Tour, much of the antipathy went with it. It’s no longer personal between players on both sides; now it’s a complicated antitrust bout between two corporate behemoths that will likely take years to litigate.
Although Johnson did his best to stay out of the fray on Sunday, as Koepka marched to victory, he conceded that any player who automatically qualifies for the U.S. team will be a welcomed member of what he’s dubbed his “leadership council.”
“[If Koepka's] on the team, he's got direct ownership in that, absolutely,” Johnson said.
In the twisted reality of the moment, the bigger headache for Johnson would be a scenario where Koepka finishes just outside the top 6. Would the captain and his leadership council look beyond the politics of the day and focus only on the good of the team? What if that meant selecting a non-PGA Tour player?
Johnson was understandably aloof when asked about the scenario, but if world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler’s take following his final round at Oak Hill is any guide, the players are more than willing to put the politics aside for a chance to accomplish something that hasn’t been done in 30 years: win an overseas Ryder Cup.
“I want to win the Ryder Cup. I don't care about tours or anything like that. I want to win the Ryder Cup,” Scheffler said. “It's something we talked about last year when we finished — or I guess a year and a half ago now. We want to beat those guys in Europe. It's been a long time since we've beat them.
“Whoever the best 12 guys that make a complete team, it's different than individual tournaments. We want a team of guys that are going over there together to bring the cup back home, and that's all I really care about.”
With two more majors looming, which reward double points, Johnson’s headache may not stop with Koepka. For the second-consecutive major, three of the final top-10 finishers play on the LIV Golf tour, and both Bryson DeChambeau (No. 42 on the U.S. points list) and Dustin Johnson (No. 37) could just as easily complicate the conversation the way Koepka has.
Donald may have lost key pieces to his team – most notably Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, not to mention Stenson, the Europeans' ousted captain – but at least he won’t have to wrestle with the once-in-a-generation choices that Johnson seems certain to face.
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