Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the 2023 Masters due to a re-aggravated plantar fasciitis injury. After completing seven holes of his third round on Saturday, play was called off due to inclement weather with Woods at 6-over in the third round and 9-over for the tournament. Woods announced the news on Twitter, thanking fans and wishing players luck at the Augusta National tournament. This comes two years after Woods returned to golf following an accident in which he suffered a compound fracture in his leg and other injuries. He told reporters at the beginning of the tournament that he was in "constant" pain, sinking two consecutive double bogeys and appearing to limp in video footage of the tournament on Saturday. Woods had made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time, tying the record for the most made cuts of all time with Fred Couples and Gary Player. Play resumed on Sunday morning, and officials noted that the fourth and final round was set to begin Sunday afternoon. This withdrawal from 2023 could mark Woods' last appearance at Augusta National.

Despite taking an early lead at the 2023 Masters with an outstanding six under par round of 66, Viktor Hovland's choice of attire was the subject of much discussion on social media. The Norwegian professional golfer wore a brightly colored shirt from J. Lindeberg that divided opinion among avid golf fans. Some praised the shirt's flamboyant design, while others criticized it for being an eyesore. Indeed, one Twitter user went so far as to suggest that Hovland's fellow competitor Tiger Woods should ask him to change his shirt before commencing play. Nevertheless, the clothing did not seem to affect Hovland's gameplay as he made eagle and three birdies in the first 11 holes, giving him a good chance of tying or beating the single-round record of 63.

Despite the teasing from some golf enthusiasts, Hovland seemed unfazed by the reaction to his clothing choice, and appeared to have a sense of humor, posting a photograph on Instagram where he switched his golf attire for a more casual outfit of shorts and t-shirt.

Patrick Cantlay's slow play during the final round of The Masters on Sunday has caused uproar among golf fans and players alike. Specifically, Cantlay's pace of play slowed the progress of Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, who were forced to wait on each tee box for Cantlay to hit his shots. Even Cantlay's playing partner Viktor Hovland stopped waiting for him, sending not-so-subtle messages about speeding things up. Golf fans expressed their frustration with Cantlay's slow play, calling it "atrocious" and a "national disgrace." Koepka himself is known to despise slow play, and his struggles on Sunday may well have been caused, at least in part, by Cantlay's snail-like pace. Reports suggest that even officials at Augusta National were pulling Cantlay off the course to ensure the tournament finished before sundown. While Cantlay had a strong third round, his slow play prompted many to question whether he may have ruined the Masters for Koepka, who collapsed during the final round.

With the 2023 PGA Championship set to take place from May 18th to May 21st at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, fans are buzzing with excitement to see who will emerge victorious. While any of the world's top golfers could potentially become a major champion, golf analysts have identified some of the most likely contenders for the Wanamaker Trophy. Three writers made predictions for all four majors, and selected five golfers each in a snake draft, with points on the line for wins and top finishes. Among their top picks were Scottie Scheffler, who won his first major at the 2022 Masters and placed T2 at the 2022 US Open, Jon Rahm, who has won five of his last nine tournaments and is one of the top golfers in the world, and Rory McIlroy, who has a history of success at Oak Hill and is seeking to end his long drought without a major title. Fans will have to keep an eye on these golfers, as well as other talented players like Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson, to see who will come out on top at the PGA Championship.

Maryland softball swept Rutgers in a doubleheader on Wednesday, leaving the Scarlet Knights with a 29-12 record overall and a 6-2 record in the Big Ten. In the first game, Maryland pitcher Courtney Wyche had yet to concede a hit, but in the final inning, she loaded the bases and ceded a run on the ensuing three at-bats. Maryland's pitching struggles continued in the second game, and Rutgers was only able to score two runs in their loss.

Rutgers will have to recover quickly as they face off against the University of Maryland again in a doubleheader this afternoon. Although both teams have similar offensive statistics, the Terrapins' strong pitchers, including Trinity Schlotterbeck and Wyche, could pose a significant challenge. The Knights will need to pitch carefully to Jaeda McFarland, who leads the Terrapins with a .396 batting average and 10 doubles. Grad student pitcher Jaden Vickers could lead Rutgers to a win, having allowed no runs and striking out nine batters over two games against Purdue last weekend.

The Anaheim Ducks are on a 10-game losing streak and will take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight in hopes of breaking their losing streak. The Ducks, sitting at 23-45-11, have struggled all season and have only managed to secure 57 points so far. The Avalanche, on the other hand, have already clinched a playoff berth and have tied for the top spot in the Central division with 102 points. Colorado is hoping to defend their title as the Stanley Cup champions following their impressive win last season. The two teams have split their two games this season with a score of 5-5 for each game. While the Avalanche have been hot recently, winning eight out of their last ten games, the Ducks are in need of a win, sitting third from the bottom in the NHL standings. The game tonight will kick off at 8:30 pm EDT in Anaheim, California.

When it comes to Tiger Woods playing the Masters, the question has been on everyone's lips in recent years. After his serious car accident in 2021, which left him with significant injuries, it has left his Masters' future in doubt. However, it appears that the 15-time Major champion will make an appearance at Augusta National Golf Club for the 2023 Masters.

Despite not officially confirming his attendance in the tournament, it's currently listed on his website as one of his upcoming events. Furthermore, Woods has been spotted practicing and playing rounds at his home course in Florida, which is a good indication that he is preparing for the Masters. Woods last played in the Masters in 2019, where he finished in a tie for 32nd place.

Fans are eagerly looking forward to Tiger's return to the Masters, as it has been a tournament that has brought some of his most iconic moments in his career, including his 1997 historic win by a record 12 strokes. If Woods is indeed playing in the 2023 Masters, it will undoubtedly be one of the most highly anticipated comebacks in the tournament's history.

Klay Thompson made it clear that he believes the Warriors are the best team in the league when they are healthy. With a win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday, the Warriors will finish no worse than sixth in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in tournament. However, even with postseason experience, the Warriors still have a tough road ahead. To reach their full potential for another NBA championship, they need to take care of the basketball, have good collective shot selection, and communicate on defense. Andrew Wiggins, who has been dealing with a personal family issue, will likely be ready for the postseason if Golden State stays out of the play-in tournament. Thompson's confidence in the team shows that the Warriors are hitting their stride, but they need to maintain and improve certain aspects of their game to make another deep run. Although the Warriors may not be viewed as the favorite in the West, especially if they face the Suns and Kevin Durant, their talent and experience should not be ignored.

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, teams are battling for spots in the play-in tournament. This tournament, which the league has used since 2021, features the 7th through 10th place teams in each conference. The 7th and 8th place teams play a game, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays against the winner of a game between the 9th and 10th place teams, with the winner becoming the 8th seed in the playoffs.

In the two years of tournament play so far, the 9th place team has won all of its games against the 10th place team and has won all but one of its games in the second round. The 7th place team has won all of its opening games and advanced to the playoffs, but neither the 7th nor 8th seeded teams have reached the second round of playoff play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz are currently locked in a battle for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers face a range of possible outcomes as they try to secure their playoff position in the middle of the conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, but the game left them in chaos. Breakout forward Jaden McDaniels fractured his right hand after punching a wall in frustration, and center Rudy Gobert was suspended for a game after striking teammate Kyle Anderson in a huddle. The disagreement started with Anderson telling Gobert to block shots, and Gobert responding by telling him to grab a “bleeping” rebound. Anderson then told Gobert to, “Shut the f---- up, b----,” which incited Gobert to throw a punch at Anderson’s chest. After the incident, Gobert was sent home and later apologized for his actions. The Wolves are now weighing whether to keep Gobert off the trip to Los Angeles on Monday for the play-in game against the Lakers. This is a significant blow to the Timberwolves, who gave up four first-round picks for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Despite tempers flaring during the game, Anderson said, “We’ll move forward. We want to win games. It is what it is. We’ll keep it in house... I think our tempers just flared. That’s all. It is what it is. We’ll speak about it and move on. We’re grown men.”

The race for the bottom half of the Western Conference playoff picture is heating up with just two days remaining in the regular season. The Golden State Warriors slipped to the sixth seed with the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Although, the Warriors and Clippers split their season series, Los Angeles has a better record against Pacific Division opponents, giving them the tiebreaker over Golden State. With two games left to play, the Warriors are just one game up on the Lakers, a game-and-a-half up on the New Orleans Pelicans, and two games up on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors will play the No. 3 playoff seed, Sacramento Kings, on Friday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. These two games will determine whether the Warriors can secure a top-six playoff seed and avoid the play-in tournament. The Warriors are the reigning champions with a core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, who have performed at the highest level in the postseason on their way to four rings. Therefore, they will be a tough match for any opponent in the first round.

As the NBA regular season comes to a close, the Toronto Raptors are gearing up for the play-in tournament. They secured the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, which means they need to win two games to make it to the official playoff bracket. The play-in tournament includes the teams that finished between the seventh and tenth positions in each conference. In the first game of the tournament, the seventh-seeded team hosts the eighth-seeded team, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the seventh seed. The loser hosts the winner of the ninth and tenth seed matchup. The winner of this game advances to the playoffs as the eighth seed, facing the top-ranked team in the conference. The Raptors are set to play against the Chicago Bulls in their first game, which will take place in Toronto and broadcasted on ESPN at 6:00/6:30 p.m. CT on April 12. The winner will advance to play either the Hawks or Heat to decide who gets the eighth seed on April 14. If they can make it into the playoffs, the Raptors will likely face the Milwaukee Bucks.

After calling Augusta National a "par 67" before the November Masters in 2020, Bryson DeChambeau expressed regret over his statements after he only broke par two days and a 69 once throughout the week. He explained that he regrets not clarifying that he needed to be at his peak, which he wasn't. Although some people thought that he didn't have respect for the course, DeChambeau emphasizes that it was untrue and that he has immense respect for Augusta National, which he considers one of the greatest golf courses in the world. DeChambeau's statements come as the practice rounds get underway for the 2023 Masters, with various players participating in news conferences throughout the day. Tiger Woods is among the players that will be speaking to the press. Meanwhile, Tom Kim, competing in his first Masters, speaks of his excitement at playing with Woods and Rory McIlroy, and about how he is preparing for his debut.

With two games left in the NBA regular season, the Golden State Warriors are fighting for their playoffs spot, and it all comes down to their next two games. The Warriors slipped to the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings after the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Lakers. They split their season series, but the Clippers have a better record against Pacific Division opponents, giving them the tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Warriors now have to fight it out in their next two games. They will face the Sacramento Kings, who are already locked in as the No. 3 seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who have been shamelessly tanking, resting Damian Lillard and other key players. If the Warriors win both games, they will clinch a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament. However, they could end up anywhere from sixth to eighth, depending on the results from the Pelicans, Lakers, and Clippers. The stakes are high, and it all comes down to these two games for the Warriors. Will they succeed in avoiding the play-in and clinching a top-six seed?

The Western Conference playoff race is packed, with just five games separating the fourth seed Suns from the 12th seed Jazz. The Lakers are ninth, but position is far from solid. The Thunder and Mavericks are nipping at their heels, each with the same record or better.

LeBron James and the Lakers face a tough challenge with three games left. Up first is the Phoenix Suns, who are locked in as the No. 4 seed, followed by the Utah Jazz, who are desperate for a win to stay in playoff contention. The team ends the season against the Portland Trailblazers.

Winning all three games would be ideal but tough for the Lakers, who are struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. The Thunder and Mavericks must lose at least one game each to give the Lakers a chance to secure a playoff spot.

The Clippers are threatening to take the sixth spot but have a tougher schedule than the Lakers. The Warriors, who sit in eighth, face the Blazers and Kings with hopes to stay in front of the Lakers.

With the Western Conference playoff race so tight, every game matters, and the Lakers will have to bring their A-game to secure a spot in the postseason. Can LeBron and his teammates step up? |||||

Golden State Warriors' guard Gary Payton II will not be playing in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings due to an illness, according to the NBA’s official injury report. Payton II was listed as “questionable” ahead of Thursday's game, but he didn’t attend the Warriors' pregame shootaround session due to his illness. The 30-year-old guard was acquired by Golden State at the trade deadline recently as a short-term solution when the team focused on the playoffs. Payton II showed his defensive skills in the two games he had played against the Kings, where he was the only Warriors’ player who could keep pace with Sacramento point guard De'Aaron Fox, who had been pivotal to Kings' progress. Golden State is already down to a 2-0 series deficit and instead will depend on guard Andrew Wiggins, who has been listed as “available,” to step up, as well as their other players, as they look to avoid elimination. Guard Jordan Poole, who has been struggling with ankle sprain, will also be playing. Draymond Green, the Warriors’ defensive player, remains out due to a one-game suspension, along with Payton II, with concerns regarding the team’s defensive capabilities against the fast-paced Kings.

As the 2023 NHL playoffs quickly approach, LA Kings fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to once again watch their team on the playoff stage. Starting today, playoff tickets are available for purchase at Crypto.com Arena. Fans who are part of select membership groups have already received pre-sale access, with general public sales beginning on March 31st. However, with the Kings currently in the middle of a franchise-record ten-game point streak, is it possible that fans might be underestimating their team's chances in the playoffs? Despite the Kings' recent success, various pundits around the league have suggested that other teams are eyeing a first-round matchup with the Kings due to their perceived inexperience. However, players like De'Aaron Fox are eager to prove that this is not the same Kings team that has not seen the playoffs in nearly two decades. As the Kings continue to climb up the Western Conference standings, fans will surely be watching with excitement to see how their team performs on the biggest stage of them all.

LeBron James played like the King he is, scoring 37 points and dominating the overtime period, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 138-133 to advance to the playoffs as the sixth seed in the West. But, this win came at a cost, as the Lakers played big minutes to beat the Jazz, which could place them at a disadvantage against the Clippers and Suns. However, James’ performance was an encouraging sign for Lakers fans, showing that he can dominate games and be a true superstar at this crucial juncture of the season, even coming off an injury. Additionally, the Lakers have found a new leader in Anthony Davis, who led the team to three straight wins before this game. The Lakers have come a long way in the past 35 days, moving from the 13th to the 6th seed in the West, with a legit shot to claim the 6th seed by season’s end. All said and done, Laker fans will be hoping and praying that the 38-year old James with his battered foot can carry the Lakers to the playoffs and beyond, perhaps even to the coveted ring.

The Lakers and Clippers are set to face each other today in a matchup that could significantly impact the Western Conference. With both teams currently holding a matching 41-38 record, the winner of the game will take the number 5 spot in the standings, passing the Golden State Warriors to secure a guaranteed playoff berth. Though both teams have already guaranteed themselves a place in the Play-In Tournament, neither wants to endure it. The loser of this game would remain in the Play-In field, either in 7th or 8th place depending on the outcomes of Wednesday's Pelicans/Grizzlies matchup.

The game could be a chance for the Lakers to continue their upward trajectory, having won six of their previous nine games, while the Clippers have struggled with the absence of Paul George, who is out for a few weeks with a knee injury. The matchup is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on ESPN. Following Wednesday's game, the Lakers will face the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, while the Clippers will take on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns.

The Portland Trail Blazers intend to tank their last two games of the season, and this matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers is no exception. With nothing to play for, Portland will likely gift a win to Los Angeles, which needs it to evade the play-in tournament and secure a top-six playoff berth. Since Damian Lillard's season-ending injury, the Blazers have gone 4-4 against the spread, but their losses come with a spread average of 19.6 points worse than pregame lines. In contrast, the Clippers have Kawhi Leonard available and will aim to avoid any Timberwolves-like embarrassment. Clippers fans should not assume a double-digit win, but they will be happy with any victory to avoid the play-in tournament. Bookmakers cannot catch up to Portland's ineptitude, but their wretchedness only prevails against teams that are not trying to win. Perhaps, with inflated pregame spread by a three-pointer, bettors can cash in on this game's outcome.

After missing 18 games due to a hamstring injury, the Utah Jazz combo guard, Collin Sexton, has finally been confirmed fit to play on April 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the first overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft will be restricted to 16-20 minutes of playing time as the Jazz ease him back into the squad. The Jazz needs to win all remaining four games if they want to have any chances of reaching the play-offs. The return of the 6-foot-2 guard could potentially be a game-changer for the team, especially given his statistics so far: Sexton averages 14.3 points per game, shooting 50.7 percent on the field, 41.0 percent from three-point range, and 82.2 percent from the free-throw line. Despite some impressive stats, Sexton will probably not return to his starting lineup -- rookie Ochai Agbaji and talented Talen Horton-Tucker have been playing well in his absence, and it is not worth risking further injury to Sexton by pushing him too hard at this stage.

The Quinnipiac men's hockey team is in the championship game, looking to win their first national title in program history. Despite only having three NHL draft picks on the roster, they believe in their strong culture and brotherhood that has been built since head coach Rand Pecknold took over the program in 1994. The culture has been cultivated over the past 29 years and has been significant in the team's success, with high-character and high hockey IQ players leading them against teams with 18 draft picks.

Pecknold credits the class of 2006 for changing the program's culture and making them into one of the premier programs in college hockey. Quinnipiac has been to two Frozen Fours in 2013 and 2016 but fell short of the ultimate prize. However, this year, they believe that their culture and mentality will push them to victory against the nation's top team, Minnesota, in the championship game.

Despite being underdogs, Quinnipiac is ready to rely on their strong bond and culture to surprise the nation and bring home their first national title.

The Boston University Terriers are set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinals of the Frozen Four on Thursday. The Terriers, who finished their regular season with a record of 29-10-0, is a No. 1 seed in the tournament. They are led by captain Domenick Fensore who says that the team's approach to this tournament has been to never feel satisfied and to always want more. The team's last appearance in the tournament was in 2021 when they were eliminated after one game. Their opponents, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, are the top-ranked team in the tournament and won the Big Ten regular-season title. They feature Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies, who are both finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and will certainly be a tough challenge for the Terriers. The game is set to start at 5 pm EST and will be televised on ESPN2. The winner of this matchup will advance to the championship game on Saturday.

Luke Hughes and Mackie Fantilli of the University of Michigan hockey team have earned accolades for their standout performances in the 2021-2022 season. Hughes, a defenseman, was named to the first team AHCA/CCM All-America honors and became the first player since Mike Cammalleri to earn back-to-back All-America honors. Meanwhile, Fantilli was honored as the 2023 Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year by the Hockey Commissioners Association. He led the nation in scoring with 65 points in 36 games, scoring 30 goals and 35 assists. He has multi-point performances in 19 of 36 games and has a seven-game point streak, setting a new single-tournament record for goals and points in the Big Ten Tournament.

In other hockey news, UMass defenseman Scott Morrow was named a New England Men's Division I All-Star for the second time in his career. He finished his sophomore season as the points leader for the Minutemen with 31 on nine goals and 22 assists, including four tallies on the power play, one shorthanded and two game winners, seeing action in all 35 games. He also became just the second Minuteman blueliner to post 30+ points in multiple seasons.