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Coco Gauff makes admission about ‘collapsing mentally on court’ ahead of Emma Navarro rematch

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Coco Gauff US Open

Coco Gauff came through a tough three-setter against Elina Svitolina to set up a fascinating rematch with Emma Navarro at the US Open and she acknowledged ahead of the clash that she will “need to bring it and mentally”.

Defending champion Gauff made a sluggish start against Svitolina in the third round as she looked to be on her way out after she lost the first set and found herself break point down in the second set.

But she held her serve and broke in the sixth game before dominating the deciding set for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in what was her 10th consecutive win at the US Open.

Coco Gauff Emma Navarro US Open

READ: Iga Swiatek admits she ‘doesn’t feel safe’ as ‘hate’ flows in her direction

Up next is fellow American Navarro, who defeated Gauff at Wimbledon just over a month ago.

The 20-year-old was world No 2 at the time and was the heavy favourite, but she was never at the races as her compatriot came away with a 6-4, 6-2 win.

“With Emma, I feel like that match at Wimbledon I think I mentally just literally collapsed on the court. I was very frustrated, and she played well. That was, I think to me, the best tennis she played, like that tournament,” she explained.

“Obviously, I didn’t see her first round, but I watched a little bit her second and third. I think that was like the best she played that week.

“Yeah, so I think going into this match, I have to expect her to play her best tennis, and I just need to know that I need to bring it and mentally be there from the beginning to the end because she’s going to be a tough opponent.”

Gauff is looking to become the first player since Serena Williams won three in a row from 2012 to 2014 to successfully defend her title.

But she knows there is still a long way to go in the tournament and needs to keep the expectations to a minimum.

“At the end of the day, to defend would be great,” the third seed said. “But I feel like it’s an unnecessary amount of pressure to put that on yourself. When you step on the court, you just have that feeling. It’s like, ‘OK, I know I can perform really well here. I’ve done it before in the past, and I’ll do it again.’

“That’s been my motto. I know I have the chance to do it again, whether it happens 2024 or years in the future, I think I have the belief that I will do it again.”

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BOXING

Gervonta Davis or Devin Haney: Shakur Stevenson made his choice

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Shakur Stevenson Gervonta Davis Devin Haney

The WBC lightweight world champion makes it clear.

Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight world championship against Joe Cordina on October 12 as the co-feature to the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed light heavyweight tilt in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But even still, Stevenson can’t get away from fielding questions about a possible mega fight with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, the WBA lightweight titleholder.

Fighter Who Sparred Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson And Devin Haney Names Who's The Best - Seconds Out

JUST IN: ‘Devin Haney is taking Ryan Garcia fight rough’ – Eddie Hearn

When asked on the ARLS Podcast whether he believes a fight with Davis or Devin Haney is more likely, Stevenson was clear with his gut feeling.

“I think the ‘Tank’ fight is more so possible,” Stevenson said. “I think ‘Tank’ is not like no scary dude. ‘Tank,’ he believes in himself to the fullest. When he’s knocking them people out it gives him great confidence. I think that fight will happen.”

When pressed to answer whether that mega bout can be made in the next 12 months, Stevenson responded: “Yeah, I could see that happening.”

Stevenson can envision that bout over a possible fight with Haney, adding: “Devin, I don’t believe he’s really that confident. I don’t believe he really believes in himself like ‘Tank’ do.”

A Davis-Stevenson fight would pit two undefeated boxers up against each other with lightweight supremacy on the line.

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BOXING

‘Devin Haney is taking Ryan Garcia fight rough’ – Eddie Hearn

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Devin Haney Ryan Garcia

Eddie Hearn believes Devin Haney is having a rough time following an overturned defeat by Ryan Garcia.

Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) maintained his unbeaten record despite initially suffering a 12-round majority decision loss to Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) in a WBC junior-welterweight title defense. Garcia tested positive for Ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug, in tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Despite maintaining his innocence, Garcia was banned for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, and the result of their fight was changed to a no contest.

Haney, 25, is yet to reveal plans regarding a potential return to the ring, and Matchroom’s Hearn, his promoter for the fights with Regis Prograis and Garcia, told All The Smoke Fight: “I think he’s taking it rough, honestly. Like, you know It’s a tough one.

Devin Haney: "This isn't a 6-foot putt to win The Masters” - Eddie Hearn explains why Ryan Garcia's “newfound” persona could help him against Devin Haney

READ: Anthony Joshua understands the danger posed by Daniel Dubois

“And, again, because of what he went through physically in that fight, and, also, the world that we live in is so crazy now, he’s getting criticized. People are going, ‘You’re making excuses’. It’s like, woah. Hang on a minute. I lost to the guy.

“He came in heavy. He was positive for PEDS on the night. Like, I think people should actually feel sorry for Devin. Do you know what I mean?”

San Francisco’s Haney was knocked down in rounds seven, 10, and 11 before losing 114-110, 115-109, and 112-112 on the judges’ scorecards. Although Hearn recognised that Haney had performed poorly against Garcia, he said that the former unified lightweight champion proved a lot.

“Regardless of the performance, which was poor, he went through a lot of that – because that’s probably one of the things we didn’t know about Devin,” the promoter said. “We [already] know he’s well-schooled. We know he’s got a great jab. We know he’s got a good IQ.”

Garcia blamed contamination from a tainted supplement as the reason for his positive test results, but Hearn said: “He says he never intentionally took any drug but it was contamination. But if it wasn’t contamination, I believe he’s probably taken that to try and help him make weight for the fight [Garcia weighed in at more that 143lbs].

“He’s now got 12 months, which he probably needs, but only if he uses that 12 months in the right way.”

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GOLF

LIV Golf vs PGA Tour: “None of them have the b——- to actually do their job” – LIV Golf pro blasts PGA Tour officials

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LIV Golf PGA Tour

LIV Golf League player Ian Poulter posted a cryptic message as PGA Tour Jay Monahan delivered an update on PIF talks.

Ian Poulter posted a cryptic message as PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan delivered an ‘update’ on peace talks with LIV Golf’s financiers.

Monahan spoke to reporters before the Tour Championship where the most pressing topic was how discussions are going with the breakaway tour’s financial backers.

Ian Poulter to appeal against PGA Tour ban of LIV Golf players | The Independent

RELATED: Jay Monahan provides concerning update on ‘complex’ PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger

The PGA Tour commissioner offered little of substance, but he insisted that negotiations between the North American circuit and the Saudi PIF continue to move forward.

Monahan stressed the Tour was not going to negotiate in public and there is no set deadline for a deal to be ratified that would ‘bring the best players in the world back together’.

Poulter was a keen observer to Monahan’s news conference and reacted in real time on his Instagram stories.

The European Ryder Cup legend wrote: “I just have to laugh and sigh at the same time. Sad.

“I wonder if anyone will have the balls to question it or pull it apart.

“I bet they don’t. Let’s wait and see. IYKYK.”

“Or are the puppets going to be puppets? I wonder.”

Poulter added that ‘none of them’ have the [sic] to actually do their jobs.”

Ian Poulter's response

The Englishman was among the first wave of golfers to join LIV Golf in 2022.

He has consistently criticised the PGA Tour, Monahan and former DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley.

It’s not just Poulter who is appears to be at his wit’s end.

A frustrated Rory McIlroy also complained about the lack of progress that has been made after his opening round at the season finale at East Lake.

“I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated,” the 35-year-old said.

“I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we’re—we, the royal we, we’re not putting forward the absolute best product that we can.”

McIlroy said the Tour needs its villains back.

“I just think it’s gone on long enough,” he added.

“We’ve got to try to, I mean, I think everyone is trying to find a solution.

“It’s just a solution is hard to get to.”

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TENNIS

Defeated Carlos Alcaraz makes brutal ‘not changing’ admission after stunning US Open loss

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Carlos Alcaraz US Open

Carlos Alcaraz sensationally admitted that he feels like he is “not changing” after crashing out in the second round of the US Open.

World No 3 and reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz came into New York as one of the favourites for the title, looking to add to his 2022 US Open triumph.

However, in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, the former world No 1 was comprehensively outplayed in a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Carlos Alcaraz's Grand Slam win streak ends with US Open exit

JUST IN: Iga Swiatek admits she ‘doesn’t feel safe’ as ‘hate’ flows in her direction

It was a scintillating performance from the world No 74, who claimed just the second top-five win of his performance in convincing fashion.

But it was a messy performance from Alcaraz, who was broken six times across the match and hit 27 errors compared to just 21 winners.

And the 21-year-old pulled no punches post-match.

In a brutal press conference, he admitted that he is “not changing” and is failing to learn from past defeats.

He said: “There was a lot of emotions I couldn’t control, it was kind of up in some points, then I lose in some points and it gets down.

“It was like a rollercoaster in my mind – it can be like that if I want to think about big things. I have to improve it, I have to learn about it.

“There’s a few matches that I’ve felt like that, where – after every match that I felt like that – I always said the same: I said to learn about it, I have to think about it. If I’m feeling what I’m thinking right now, I’m not changing. That’s the problem.

“If I’m going to sit here after the matches that I feel or I felt like that I couldn’t deal with it, that I couldn’t change the match, couldn’t push up a little bit and say I have to think about it, I have to learn about it, I’m never going to change. It’s going to be really tough if I want to improve, so I can’t say much about it.

“It was a fight against myself, my mind, during the match. In tennis, you are playing against someone who wants the same as you – to win the match.

“You have to be as much calm as you can, you have to think better during the match and try to do good things. Today I was playing against the opponent and I was playing against myself, in my mind.”

Defeat for Alcaraz comes after a summer that has become more increasingly difficult for him.

Initially, he was flying high after triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, though has now lost three of his past four matches.

The Spaniard was beaten in the Olympic Games final to Novak Djokovic and then lost his opening match at the Cincinnati Open to Gael Monfils, before his round two defeat in New York.

Defeat also means that, at best, he will stay as world No 3 after the US Open, with Alexander Zverev guaranteed to move ahead of him in the ATP Rankings.

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic could also leapfrog him with runs to the title.

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TENNIS

Iga Swiatek admits she ‘doesn’t feel safe’ as ‘hate’ flows in her direction

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Iga Swiatek US Open

Iga Swiatek has admitted she feels threatened by the abuse flowing her way online, as she opened up in his latest US Open press conference.

The Pole, gunning for a second title at Flushing Meadows, dropped just one game as she dispatched Ena Shibahara 6-0 6-1 in 65 minutes.

Only three players (Margaret Court – 11, Maria Sharapova – 8, Evonne Goolagong – 8) have registered more sets of 6-0 score line from their first 22 matches in women’s singles at US Open than Swiatek (7) during the Open Era, with her status a favourite to win a second title in New York strengthened by her dominant win against Shibahara.

Iga Swiatek joins Serena Williams and other legends with two stellar achievements at US Open

READ: Carlos Alcaraz is one of 4 men to hold record that eluded Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

Yet it was her comments in her post-match press conference that may have been her most significant contribution to the game, as she spoke about the impact online abuse can have on her.

Swiatek insisted she doesn’t follow all the abusive messages flowing her way on social media, but the level of venom coming her way does occasionally get through.

“I’m only kind of seeing the messages from my close ones, the ones that I already accepted, but for sure there is a lot of hate,” she said, suggesting her social media feeds are restricted to messages from approved followers.

“It would be nice if we can try to educate people and also maybe in the future have some solutions as, you know, using Al to make it safer for us.

“Because I feel like we can’t be on the internet and feel like kind of safe anymore. You have to really be careful about what you’re reading and who you’re following.

“I know that there are some tools that, for example, Roland Garros offered for us, like this app that we can have on the phone, and it’s going to block the hateful messages.

“My team also has been kind of looking in my case what kind of messages have been blocked or not when we’re using this app. It would be nice if we had more opportunities to use these kind of tools because it’s always some kind of help.”

Swiatek will doubtless avoid the social media barbs as she looks towards the second week of the US Open and she is excited by her form heading into the business end of the tournament.

“I was just happy with the way I played, not overpowering and being really solid and picking the right shots to be reactive, I am happy with everything,” said Swiatek.

“I felt in much better rhythm. I was a bit tense in my last match. I just wanted to focus on myself and that’s what I did.”

The withdrawal of No 4 seed Elena Rybakina from the US Open due to illness could have an impact on Swiatek as she was due to meet her old rival in the semi-finals in New York.

Swiatek will now play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round, with American Jessica Pegula the most threatening player in her section of the draw.

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua understands the danger posed by Daniel Dubois

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Anthony Joshua training

After a rocky period, two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has looked back to his best in recent months. 

Joshua’s physical gifts have never been in question, but over the course of five rounds of target practice against a reticent Otto Wallin and a powerful but out-of-his-depth Francis Ngannou, Joshua seems to have rediscovered the self-belief and composure that characterized his first reign as champion.

Joshua was calm, composed and cruel through the five rounds he spent dissecting Wallin but ruthless and brutal when destroying Ngannou inside two. However, Daniel Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, believes that Joshua will be putting himself in much more danger when he steps into the ring with the big punching – and newly determined – IBF heavyweight titleholder next month.

Anthony Joshua Daniel Dubois

READ: [VIDEO] ‘Scary power’ – Anthony Joshua posts terrifying POV of what Daniel Dubois will see on fight night

Oleksandr Usyk was able to stun Joshua with his timing and technique while Andy Ruiz’s fast hands famously floored Joshua four times in New York back in 2019, but Warren believes that Joshua will be taking on the heaviest puncher he has faced since he unified the heavyweight division by getting off the floor to outpoint Wladimir Klitschko more than seven years ago.

“I do. [Joshua] knows it as well – don’t worry about that,” Warren told Queensberry. “Listen, he knows him. He’s sparred with him. There’s this big debate about what happened in that sparring, and I’ve heard two versions of it. One of the reasons we signed him and I sponsored him was because of what I was being told. And that was from people who were there.”

Throughout the build up to his fight with Filip Hrgovic in June, Dubois was forced to listen to the confident Croatian recalling details of their past sparring sessions as Hrgovic attempted to bring painful memories back to the forefront of the Londoner’s mind. His plan failed and, if anything, the jibes seemed to push Dubois to new heights. He walked through a series of flush right hands and bullied the previously unbeaten Hrgovic to an eighth-round defeat.

If the rumors are to be believed, this time around it is Dubois who wields the ability to recount favorable sparring stories but he has decided to keep quiet and push the whole affair to one side.

Warren can see why Dubois is choosing not to bring up the past but he does believe that the roots of an upset are buried deep in those shared rounds.

“I understand that. That was then but how I look at it was that that was a 17-year-old kid in with a fella who was, what, 24 or 25? A gold medallist and whatever. He’s got stronger. He punches harder now. He’s matured. He seems mentally stronger. He’s a much more mentally strong guy,” Warren said.

“I saw that in Hrgovic because he talked a lot about what he done to him. It wasn’t the case actually. They didn’t spar once, they sparred four or five times and it was very tough sparring for both of them.

“Hrgovic came out and looked very good early on in the fight, catching him with those right hands. He gritted his teeth and got back into it. He busted him up and I think it was at the end of the fifth round I thought he was about to stop him. He busted him up. He showed what he was all about. And he was an underdog then. He was an underdog against [Jarrell] Miller and he was an underdog against Usyk.”

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BOXING

[VIDEO] ‘Scary power’ – Anthony Joshua posts terrifying POV of what Daniel Dubois will see on fight night

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua looks to be in sensational shape ahead of his upcoming clash with Daniel Dubois.

The heavyweight titans are set to duke it out on September 21 at Wembley Stadium for the IBF title.

Oleksandr Usyk was previously in possession of the red and gold strap.

JUST IN: “Genius” Floyd Mayweather Leaves Joe Rogan in Awe With ‘Trick’ to Making Millions of Dollars After Retirement

 

However, he vacated the title in order to pursue a rematch with Tyson Fury in December.

As a result, Dubois has been elevated from ‘interim’ to full world champion and will make the first defence of his title against the Watford powerhouse this summer.

Joshua is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for the fight and recently posted a frightening point-of-view video of him hammering the pads.

AJ captioned the video: “In an industry where respect is earnt and not given”, while his followers were amazed by the two-time world champion’s power.

Reacting to the video, one fan wrote: “That hurt even through Twitter!”

Another tweeted: “Damn!! Those sound like pain.”

A third commented: “Great to see this. I almost feel the punches.”

Meanwhile, a fourth supporter added: “I feel like I just got knocked out, multiple times.”

And somebody else remarked: “Scary power.”

Joshua vs Dubois is on track to break the British boxing attendance record next month.

Fury vs Dillian Whyte currently tops the list with 94,000 punters attending their Wembley Stadium clash after a special dispensation was granted by the local authority.

Joshua and Dubois have already sold 90,000 tickets, but Saudi boxing chief HE Turki Alalshikh and promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren don’t intend to stop there.

The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority recently had a request granted to extend the capacity to 96,000, which would surpass Fury and Whyte’s crowd.

The additional 6,000 tickets are set to go on sale on Friday at noon UK time – and are expected to fly off the shelves.

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BOXING

“Genius” Floyd Mayweather Leaves Joe Rogan in Awe With ‘Trick’ to Making Millions of Dollars After Retirement

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Floyd money Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather probably has the best defense in the entire history of boxing.

This is why the Olympic silver medallist went undefeated 50-0 and retired after fighting Conor McGregor in their 2017 super-fight. But this retirement has caused one very serious problem for the boxer. Mayweather, after all, likes to live big. Fans, of course, are well aware of his proclivity for luxury and the high life, with his million-dollar watches, chartered private planes, and flashy jewelry.

With the 47-year-old’s professional career over, he still needs money, and a lot of it, to maintain this lifestyle. And Mayweather has found a perfect way to make sure he maintains his lifestyle, which Joe Rogan finds ‘genius’.

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather forced to deny he spent $1million on diamond-encrusted hat - Mirror Online

READ: Terence Crawford initiates taking WBO title without a fight

Speaking about Floyd Mayweather’s exhibition boxing match against mixed martial artist John Gotti III, Rogan couldn’t help but marvel at ‘Money Mayweather’s ability to make millions by fighting no names in exhibitions of late. Since retiring, Mayweather has been boxing non-boxers in exhibitions, keeping the gravy train going.

“He’s [Floyd Matweather] still doing these bouts at 46 years old, still boxing these young kids again. This John Gotti III who is a very good up and coming MMA fighter … but he’s choosing to fight Floyd in a boxing fight just for money. Just like Conor McGregor did. It’s really a trick, he gets these people to box with him. They have no business boxing with them and he’s making millions and millions of dollars doing this,” Rogan said during the 2195 episode of ‘Joe Rogan Experience’.

Joe Rogan finds this a “genius” move, especially the reason Mayweather can put on big events and get paid the big bucks despite everyone knowing his exhibitions aren’t going to be competitive. Rogan pointed out that the former champion flashes his luxurious lifestyle deliberately in the most arrogant manner to make people hate him. This then leads to them buying pay-per-views to his fights in hopes of seeing him beaten and humbled if nothing else.

“He’s a genius in figuring out a way to keep making money. And one of the reasons why people watch him fight is… because they hate him because he talks so much sh– and he’s like ‘look at my million-dollar watch, look at my f—ing jet’… So that you hate him, people hate him. He creates envy… and you want him to lose, but he’s not gonna. He’s so good,” he added. But Rogan thinks while this may have earned him a lot of money, it has also prevented him from being properly recognized as an all-time great fighter.

Despite his wizardry in the ring, undefeated record, and the fact that he was the highest-paid and highest PPV seller in the entire sport of boxing, Mayweather is not a very popular fighter among fans. Boxing fans are the strongest and loudest critics of the former champ, and not only because of the villainous persona he puts on.

Much of this has to do with Mayweather’s defense-first, Philly Shell fighting style. The American’s boxing philosophy can be summed up exclusively as hit and don’t get hit. And while that has led to him having a perfect record, it also doesn’t make for very exciting fight. And Rogan feels this fighting style has warped and corrupted the perception fans have of him, which the JRE host personally finds very unfair.

The UFC commentator felt that not only was Mayweather an all-time great, but also called him the ‘best ever’ boxer, which not many boxing fans will agree with. “I mean, people, just because of the fact that he won decisions by playing it safe, people don’t get excited about him and don’t recognize him with the all-time greats. He’s the best ever,” Rogan told Andrew Huberman on his podcast.

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GOLF

Jay Monahan provides concerning update on ‘complex’ PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger

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Jay Monahan PGA Tour LIV Golf

PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger talks continue, however, Commissioner Jay Monahan has admitted thrashing out a deal has been complex and will take time to complete

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has admitted that long-running merger talks with LIV Golf are proving to be very complex with no deadline for a deal set.

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF, the Saudi backers of LIV Golf, signed a framework agreement on June 6, 2023, which would bring more than $1 billion of investment. However, the deadline for that agreement expired Dec. 31.

The PGA Tour drew a line in the sand. Greg Norman fired back. Now what?

READ: [VIDEO] ‘I give shots to my friends every day at home, but my friends are not like him’: Shane Lowry on chasing Scottie Scheffler 

Negotiations continue and PGA Tour Commissioner Monahan provided an update on Wednesday at a news conference ahead of this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

“You look at where we are right now, we’re in regular dialogue, we have the right people at the table with the right mindset,” he said. “I see that in all these conversations on both sides, that creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together.”

“At the same time, these conversations are complex, they’re going to take time,” he conceded. “They have taken time and they will continue to take time.

“When I sit here today, I think the most important thing is our obligation to fans, players and partners is to focus on what we control, which we’re doing as I outlined and continue to carry this momentum forward. I’m not going to negotiate details in public or disclose details or specifics, but all I can say is that conversations continue and they’re productive.”

Following the deadline passing at the end of last year, the PGA announced it had received a huge investment. The Tour was handed $1.5 billion in investment, with up to $3 billion available, thanks to Sports Group to form PGA Tour Enterprises.

The consortium includes Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Fenway Sports Group owner John W. Henry, who owns Premier League side Liverpool, as well as the Boston Red Sox, the Pittsburgh Penguins, The Boston Globe, and RFK Racing. PGA Tour Enterprises chairman Joe Gorder and Henry are at the forefront of negotiations with the Saudis, and they’ve been joined on a transactional subcommittee by Tiger Woods and Adam Scott.

“I think when you get into productive conversations, that enhances the likelihood of positive outcomes, and that enhances the spirit of those very conversations. I think that’s where things stand,” Monahan added.

The Tour Championship starts on Thursday and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler holds a two-shot advantage over No. 2 Xander Schauffele. Scheffler, 28, who has six Tour wins this year, including the Masters, also won Olympic gold in Paris. However, Since the 2019 format change, no player who has started the Tour Championship at the top of the leaderboard has gone on to win it.

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