General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 18, 2026, 5:58 AM ET

Golf: PGA Championship Drama

Aaron Rai secured a stunning victory at the US PGA Championship, becoming the first English-born golfer to win the event since 1919 after shooting a 5-under 65 in the final round. The 290-1 long shot defeated golf's biggest stars at Aronimink, with Kurt Kitayama tying the lowest final round in major championship history with a 7-under. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy's frustrating final round boiled over with an angry exchange with a fan after a "U-S-A!" shout from the gallery, as the Northern Irishman swore at a heckler who distracted him at a crucial moment. The drama unfolded as 21 players remained within four shots of leader Alex Smalley heading into Sunday, setting up an unpredictable finale that ultimately produced the surprise champion.

College Football: Playoff Expansions

Big Ten coaches pushed forcefully for a 24-team College Football Playoff during spring meetings, an idea that has gained significant traction less than a year after its initial proposal. Meanwhile, the Sun Belt conference prepares for major changes with James Madison, Old Dominion and newcomer Louisiana all positioned to potentially challenge for the top spot this season. In recruiting news, top-10 7-foot junior Isaiah Hill committed to Purdue, becoming the highest-ranked prospect to commit to the Boilermakers since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007, while four-star defensive back Charles Woodson Jr. followed his father's path by committing to Michigan.

Basketball: Postseason Action

The Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in their series decider to secure a place in the Eastern Conference finals, a victory that closed out the top-seeded Pistons after a challenging semifinal series. In the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the finals with a convincing win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, powered by standout performances from rookie Stephon Castle. In WNBA action, A'ja Wilson set a league record with her fifth career 40-point game, dominating the Sun with 45 points on 15-of-18 shooting in the Aces' 101-94 victory, while Caitlin Clark broke new ground with a statistical correction that helped set a WNBA record for 20-point, 10-assist games before adding to it with another stellar performance.

Soccer & Rugby: International Competition

England secured a stranglehold on the women's Test game with a Grand Slam victory over France in Sunday's decider, though they acknowledged that France remain their most dangerous rival. Ireland finished their Six Nations campaign in style with a dominant 54-0 victory over Scotland in front of a record attendance at the Aviva Stadium, while Wales suffered another Six Nations clean sweep after losing to Italy, extending their winless run to a record nine Tests. In Ulster Championship action, Armagh captain Aidan Forker expressed his side were "due one" as they ended an 18-year wait for a title with a thrilling 2-28 to 0-25 win over Monaghan after extra time.

MMA: Return of Stars

Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou made quick work of Philipe Lins, knocking him out in the first round before proclaiming himself the "best" heavyweight in the world at MVP's first MMA event. The event, which played out exactly as it should have according to promoters, also featured returns for Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, and Nate Diaz in what Rousey described as her chance to reconstruct the ending to her MMA story after a decade-long departure from the sport. Meanwhile, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Conor McGregor's return, though questions remain about whether the Irish superstar will make it to the Octagon in July.

Cycling & Motorsport: Grand Action

Jonas Vingegaard claimed his second stage win of the Giro d'Italia as he powered to victory on stage nine, reducing his gap on leader Afonso Eulalio. The Danish rider had earlier completed his set of Grand Tour stage victories with an impressive win in stage seven. 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 in a race that saw multiple high-speed incidents. Elsewhere in motorsport, Denny Hamlin edged teammate Chase Briscoe to win NASCAR's All-Star Race, which saw several crashes during the first two segments collect more than half the 36-car field.

Tennis & Other Sports

Jannik Sinner completed a 'Golden Masters' by winning the Italian Open in Rome, becoming only the second man in history—and easily the youngest—to claim all nine ATP Masters titles. In snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan clinched the Snooker 900 title with five centuries in a 10-5 victory over Luca Brecel, having earlier defeated Kyren Wilson 6-3 to reach the final. England's Lottie Woad secured her second LPGA Tour title with a one-under 69 in the final round of the Queen City Championship, while Ireland's Mark English produced a strong finish to take victory in the 800m at Diamond League Shanghai. In netball, Nottingham Forest reached the play-offs for the first time in their history with a 76-65 victory over leaders Loughborough Lightning.