General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 17, 2026, 8:53 PM ET

Golf: PGA Championship Dominates the Week

Aaron Rai delivered one of the most historic performances in recent memory, shooting a 5-under 65 to pull away from the field and become the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship since 1919. His victory capped a week in which the leaderboard at Aronimink remained volatile, with Kurt Kitayama matching the lowest final round in major history after a 7-under, and over 30 players within five shots of surprise leader Alex Smalley. That crowd on the third day included Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm making big moves, while the field navigated what Scottie Scheffler called an "absurd" setup at the course. The tournament's stakes were amplified by the announcement that the PGA Championship joins the Masters and U.S. Open with a $20 million purse, making it the latest major to break into the seven-figure-per-winner stratosphere. Club professional Michael Block carded a 75 on Friday and appears set to miss the cut, though he remains confident it will not be his last major appearance. Meanwhile, 21 players remained within four shots of Smalley heading into Sunday, setting up what was widely expected to be an unpredictable final round. Former stars were also in the news, as Leonie Harm won her maiden Ladies European Tour title after being given a 1% chance of survival, while Simon Seungmin Lee claimed victory at the G4D Open, finishing three over par at Celtic Manor.

Tennis: Record-Breaking Weeks on Both Tours

Jannik Sinner completed a "Golden Masters" by winning the Italian Open in Rome, becoming only the second man in history — and by far the youngest — to claim all nine ATP Masters titles. In the women's draw, Elina Svitolina claimed her third Italian Open title, defeating Coco Gauff in three sets, marking the second straight year Gauff has lost the final in Rome. On the snooker front, Ronnie O'Sullivan amassed five centuries in a 10-5 demolition of Luca Brecel to win the Snooker 900 Global Championship, having booked his final spot with a 6-3 win over Kyren Wilson earlier in the week. Across the Diamond League circuit, Mark English produced a strong finish to win the 800m in Shanghai, while at the Para-taekwondo European Championships, Matt Bush overcame sleepless nights to claim gold for Great Britain just two months after the birth of his second child. In golf's disability circuit, the G4D Open produced Simon Seungmin Lee's victory at Celtic Manor, adding to a week of international triumphs.

Rugby: Six Nations Decider and URC Drama

Ireland rolled to a dominant 54-0 victory over Scotland in front of a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium, capping a campaign in which they destroyed Wales 54-0 earlier in the tournament. The win ensured Ireland finished their Six Nations in emphatic style, with head coach Scott Bemand saying his side were desperate to show their best version against Scotland. Wales, meanwhile, were condemned to another Six Nations wooden spoon after losing to Italy, extending their winless run to a record nine Tests. Manager Sean Lynn insisted the gap was closing despite the humiliation of another clean sweep, while Wales made one change, recalling Seren Singleton on the wing for Sunday's final fixture. England, meanwhile, face France in a Grand Slam decider in Bordeaux with an eight-title winning streak and a 38th straight Test victory in their sights, and scrum-half Lucy Packer acknowledged the nerves that come with such high stakes. In the women's game, Scotland recalled Emily Coubrough and Shona Champbell for Sunday's trip to Ireland. Across the URC, Cardiff booked a play-off spot with a bonus-point win over Stormers, while Leinster trounced Ospreys 10-try to warm up for next week's Champions Cup final. The weekend also saw Saracens beat Gloucester 30-14, and Northampton humiliate Bristol 94-33 in a record-breaking premiership game.

Basketball, NFL, and Motorsport

The NBA playoffs saw the Spurs close out the Timberwolves as Stephon Castle starred in the series-deciding win, while the Aces' A'ja Wilson set a WNBA record with 45 points in a 101-94 victory over the Sun. In a separate WNBA update, Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston missed Sunday's game with a lower leg injury, her first absence this season, though star Caitlin Clark hit a score-tying triple to force overtime in a loss. In NASCAR, Denny Hamlin edged Chase Briscoe to win the All-Star Race as multiple crashes in the opening segments eliminated more than half the 36-car field. On the NFL front, Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor to win the Preakness Stakes, rebounding from two fifth-place finishes earlier this season, and the league hinted at more games on nontraditional days after Wednesday's debut experiment. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round and declared himself the "best" heavyweight, while Ronda Rousey headlined the first MVP MMA card with a storyline she masterminded, aiming to reconstruct the ending to her MMA career. In horse racing, the Preakness attracted the field's largest-ever 14-horse lineup for the 151st running.

Celtic, Ice Hockey, and Emerging Stories

Celtic celebrated their Premiership title with a 3-1 win over Hearts, though the festivities turned disorderly as riot police dealt with serious disorder among fans in Glasgow's east end. In ice hockey, Great Britain fell 5-2 to Austria in their opening game at the 2026 World Championship, while the new Nations Championship series will debut on 4 July with a six-Test Super Saturday. In college sports, Illinois extended Brad Underwood's contract through 2031-32 with a potential extension to 2035-36, and four-star defensive back Charles Woodson Jr. committed to Michigan, following in his father's footsteps as a two-time All-American and 1997 Heisman winner. Finally, Deane Williams is enjoying his first season on home soil with the London Lions after a career overseas, targeting a quadruple of international competitions across seven countries.