General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 8:54 PM ET

Golf

Alex Smalley surprised the field with a third-round 68 at Aronimink Golf Club, grabbing a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm and others as 30 players remained within five shots heading into the final round. Rahm carded a "fantastic round" himself, while Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose also made significant moves on moving day. Scottie Scheffler struggled with the course setup, stopping just short of calling the hole locations unfair at the demanding Pennsylvania track. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm apologized for hitting a volunteer in the face and shoulder with a divot after an errant swing in frustration during the first round, calling the incident "inexcusable." The PGA Championship joined the Masters and U.S. Open in the $20 million-plus purse club, signaling the continued arms race among golf's major championships. Club professional Michael Block is expected to miss the cut after a 75 on Friday, though the popular fan favorite vowed it wouldn't be his last appearance in the field.

NBA Playoffs

The San Antonio Spurs sealed their spot in the Western Conference finals with a convincing win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, as Stephon Castle starred in the clinching game. Cleveland closed out Detroit to advance in the Eastern Conference, marking a successful first round for a franchise rebuilding around Donovan Mitchell. In Las Vegas, A'ja Wilson torched the Sun for 45 points on 15-of-18 shooting, setting a WNBA record with her fifth career 40-point game in the Aces' third straight victory. The reigning champions are positioned to run it back after three titles in four years and Wilson's four MVP awards.

Horse Racing

Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor down the stretch to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, rebounding from a pair of fifth-place finishes for his first victory of the year. The win provided a momentum shift for trainer John Terranova heading toward the Belmont Stakes and a potential Triple Crown bid.

MMA

Ronda Rousey ends her 10-year retirement Saturday in Los Angeles, taking on Gina Carano in an event she helped mastermind. The former UFC champion returns as fighter, promoter and trailblazer, attempting to reconstruct the ending to her MMA story after a nasty divorce from the sport a decade ago. UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland must get her approval before receiving tickets to the fight, with Rousey expressing gladness at the request. Francis Ngannou believes he will be defending his position as the world's number one heavyweight on Saturday, asserting his status as the lineal champion.

Rugby Union

Celtic secured the Scottish Premiership title with a 3-1 win over Hearts, though riot police dealt with serious disorder as fans gathered in Glasgow's east end to celebrate. In the United Rugby Championship, Cardiff booked their play-off spot with a bonus-point victory against the Stormers at Arms Park, providing a memorable night for Welsh rugby. Leinster warmed up for next week's Champions Cup final with an emphatic 10-try win over Ospreys, sealing second place and a potential home semi-final. Ulster missed out on top-eight after a dramatic 26-22 defeat by Glasgow Warriors, with captain Iain Henderson suspended for the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier. South African clubs could withdraw from European competitions pending a major review into scheduling. Northampton scored 14 tries to humiliate Bristol Bears 94-33 at Franklin's Gardens in a record-breaking Premiership game, confirming their semi-final place.

Six Nations

England are ready for the decider against France in Bordeaux, with a 38th straight Test win and eighth successive Six Nations title far from formalities against a rejuvenated opponent. Wales aim to avoid unwanted history against Italy, seeking to end the worst losing run in their 39-year history in Cardiff. Ireland are "desperate to show their best version" against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium, with head coach Scott Bemand saying his side wants to prove what they can do. Scotland made two changes, recalling Emily Coubrough and Shona Campbell for the trip to Dublin.

Tennis

Elina Svitolina claimed her third Italian Open title Saturday, defeating American Coco Gauff—who lost in the Rome final for the second straight year—in three sets. Jannik Sinner broke Novak Djokovic's record for successive match wins at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, reaching the Italian Open semi-final in dominant fashion.

Other Results

In soccer, the new Nations Championship will open with a six-Test Saturday on July 4. Wigan denied Leeds top spot in Super League with a dominant 24-4 victory, while St Helens held off Huddersfield to go top of the table. Hull KR held on for a thrilling win against Leigh Leopards, who mounted an incredible second-half comeback. Ireland's Mark English produced a strong finish to win the 800m at the Diamond League in Shanghai. South Korea's Simon Seungmin Lee finished three over par to win the G4D Open at Celtic Manor, one of the premier events for golfers with disabilities. Jonas Vingegaard claimed an impressive Giro stage win, completing his set of Grand Tour stage victories.

Off the Field

The NFL sees Wednesday play as potentially beneficial for fans, with increased ratings and the league's focus on holiday seasons possibly leading to more games on nontraditional days. A suspect was arrested in the shooting of Missouri football star Ahmad Hardy at an outdoor concert in Mississippi. In Jacksonville, doctors had never seen the type of infection that threatened DaVon Hamilton's NFL career in 2023. The tension between LeBron James and Drake continues in the rapper's latest album. Leigh Halfpenny is set for his final game in Wales after being named in Cardiff's squad for the crucial URC match against the Stormers.