General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: May 18, 2026, 5:52 PM ET

Golf's Stunning Upset

England's Aaron Rai shot a final-round 5-under 65 to win the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, becoming the first English-born golfer to claim the major since 1919. Rai outlasted some of golf's biggest stars including Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, finishing two shots clear of the field in a remarkable victory that sportsbooks had priced at 290-1 odds — the longest shot to win a major in at least 20 years according to Draft Kings. Meanwhile, McIlroy's frustrating final round boiled over with an angry exchange with a fan who shouted "U-S-A!" from the gallery at Aronimink Golf Club, with the Northern Irishman shouting an expletive back at the heckler during his title push.

College Football Playoff Expansion Debate

Big Ten coaches are pushing aggressively for a 24-team College Football Playoff format, less than a year after the sport implemented a 12-team field. The expansion debate has intensified at the league's spring meetings, with coaches arguing that crowning a champion with 24 teams would fundamentally alter the postseason rather than the incremental change seen with the current 12-team format. In separate college football news, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby filed for an injunction against the NCAA on Monday, seeking to preserve his college eligibility for the 2026 season.

NBA Playoffs

The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in their series decider to reach the Eastern Conference finals, eliminating the top-seeded team in dominant fashion. Meanwhile, the trade market for Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to generate interest with multiple teams exploring potential pathways to acquire the two-time MVP, though the Bucks have given no indication they are actively shopping the superstar.

Rugby Union

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy expressed his side's ambition to "be part of history" ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup final against Montpellier, with Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune returning to full training and in contention to feature after recovering ahead of schedule. Across the Irish Sea, Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao. In England, former scrum-half Danny Care criticised the selection of South Africa-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg in England's training squad for this summer's Tests, questioning whether the call-up was the right decision. In the Premiership, Northampton's 94-33 demolition of Bristol drew criticism from rugby union correspondent Chris Jones as an "embarrassing" defeat that reflected poorly on the league.

Women's Rugby

England secured the Women's Six Nations Grand Slam, with the statisticians' team of the championship featuring several players from the dominant Red Roses side. Former England captain Sarah Hunter's successor has helped establish a stranglehold on the women's Test game, though defeated France remain potentially dangerous rivals for future contests. Meanwhile, Ireland's young side took another step forward in the 2026 Championship according to coach Bemand, while Wales were condemned to another Wooden Spoon after defeat by Italy in the final round.

Cricket

Yorkshire wrapped up an innings victory over Surrey by 127 runs on day four, taking the final five wickets to seal a comprehensive win. Former England and Warwickshire captain Mike Smith, known throughout the game as MJK, died at age 92. In international cricket, Nepal beat Scotland by six wickets in their Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series encounter. At the club level, Scott Gretton hit six sixes in successive overs but said he had no idea he might have been making history.

Tennis

British player Harriet Dart fought back to beat China's Yue Yuan in the opening round of French Open qualifying, but Dan Evans fell at the first hurdle. Sally Bolton will step down as All England Club chief executive after Wimbledon following six years in the role.

Women's Basketball

Caitlin Clark set a WNBA record for 20-point, 10-assist games, with a statistical correction initially boosting the mark before she added to it with another stellar performance. Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston missed a game for the first time in her WNBA career, ruled out against the Seattle Storm with a lower leg injury. Chicago Sky player Rickea Jackson exited with a left knee injury during Sunday's win over the Lynx.

Other Sports

Nashville is expected to be named host of Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 when NFL owners meet for their spring meeting on Tuesday. In MMA, Most Valuable Promotions' first event delivered a storybook outcome with Ronda Rousey's victory, and the promotion plans to continue its expansion with potentially a second card this year. NASCAR's All-Star Race saw Denny Hamlin edge teammate Chase Briscoe despite multiple crashes collecting more than half the 36-car field. In Moto GP, riders Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco were hospitalized after high-speed crashes at the Catalonia Grand Prix, which was won by Fabio di Giannantonio. Cardiff City right-back Perry Ng signed a new contract keeping him at the club until at least 2028.