Lefty Goes Low

May 24, 2021

By: Carlos Alvarez

Welcome Back Sports Fans

Literally. All across the sports world, shots of fan-filled arenas, tracks and golf courses began to feel like normal again. The scenes at Kiawah Island as Phil Mickelson walked up the 18th were the best of all.

Lefty, at 50 years old with 200-1 odds, just won a major.

Letter Rip!

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PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ️

The Legend Of Lefty

Photo: Keyur Khamar / Getty Images

50-Year-Old Phil Mickelson (-6) Wins 103rd PGA Championship; Becomes Oldest Ever to Win a Major

 

Lefty did it! It’s been eight years since one of golf’s generational superstars won a major trophy, but the wait is over. Phil Mickelson shot red numbers in the first three rounds of The PGA Championship at Kiawah Island before a 1-over Sunday, but it was enough. Brooks Koepka had a fighter’s chance to catch him at the start of the day, but Mickelson buried a bunker-shot birdie on Hole 5 that gave him some breathing room as Koepka faded. Suddenly, Phil was alone in the driver’s seat for the entirety of Sunday’s round, and he never faltered.

 

The back-nine became Phil’s following of fanatics — and the patrons were loving it. Mickelson, at age 50, tapped in his par on the 18th green for a two-stroke win. He raised the Wannamaker Trophy and became the oldest player in PGA Tour history to win a major tournament. A legendary win for Lefty.

 

Oldest Players to Win PGA Majors

Phil Mickelson (50 years) — 2021 PGA Championship

Julius Boros (48 years) — 1968 PGA Championship

Jack Nicklaus (46 years) — 1986 Masters Tournament

Tom Morris Sr. (46 years) — 1867 Open Championship

Jerry Barber (45 years) — 1961 PGA Championship

Hale Irwin (45 years) — 1990 U.S. Open Championship

 

The Mickelson Majors (6)

Sunday’s victory at Kiawah Island marked the sixth major victory for Mickelson, including his second PGA Championship (2005). He also won The Masters three times (2004, 2006, 2010) and The Open Championship (2013). His eight-year gap between major titles is one of the longest waits in recent PGA Tour history, behind Tiger Woods (11 years) and Ernie Els (10 years). Another handful of golfers had decade-long waits in the mid-to-early 1900s.

 

PGA Championship Final Leaderboard

P. Mickelson (-6)

B. Koepka (-4)

L. Oosthuizen (-4)

S. Lowry (-2)

P. Casey (-2)

K. Streelman (-2)

 

Other Notable Scorecards: J. Rose (-1), A. Ancer (-1), C. Morikawa (-1), J. Rahm (-1), S. Scheffler (-1), T. Finau (-1), W. Zalatoris (-1), R. Fowler (-1), P. Reed (E), S. Im (E), C. Conners (E), H. Matsuyama (E), J. Spieth (+2), B. DeChambeau (+3), R. McIlroy (+5)

 

Watch Highlights

 

Additional Storylines

Golf.com: What It Was Like Amid The 18th-Hole Chaos Of Phil Mickelson’s Historic PGA Victory

USA Today: Phil Mickelson Thrills Us All With Improbable PGA Championship Win

CBS Sports: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus & Tom Brady Among Stars Reacting to Phil Mickelson’s Historic Win

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NBA PLAYOFFS

Game 1s: Upset Overdrive

Photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images

Lower Seeds Go .500 (4-4) in Game 1s as Young Stars Emerge in Playoff Debuts

 

If full arenas weren’t enough, the upsets and game-winners should get your attention. Not only did we see packed houses across the NBA this weekend, but lower-seed underdogs stole the show. Above all, the Grizzlies beat the Warriors (117-112) in Friday’s West play-in game for the 8-seed. It was an epic shootout between Steph Curry and Ja Morant, but the Griz grabbed the final spot, and they weren’t done. They handed the 1-seed Jazz a shocking upset on the road (see below) to cap off two full days of Round 1 action. Here’s the rundown of upsets, storylines and can’t-miss moments from Game 1s.

 

Fun Fact: Teams that win Game 1 of a seven-game series go on to win 76.2% of the time.

 

All Game 1 Scores & Highlights

 

#3 Bucks def. #6 Heat (109-107, OT)

The Bucks and Heat needed OT before Khris Middleton buried a step-back jumper for the win. Middleton had a game-high 27 points along with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 26 points and 18 boards. MIL Leads Series (1-0)

 

#5 Mavericks def. #4 Clippers (113-103)

Playoff Luka has arrived. Luka Doncic (31 pts, 10 rebs, 11 asts) put the playoff-problematic Clippers back in a familiar spot on Saturday. L.A. has now lost four straight playoff games dating back to last season’s 3-1 collapse against the Nuggets. DAL Leads Series (1-0)

 

#2 Nets def. #7 Celtics (104-93)

The Celtics held a big lead early, but the Nets’ Big 3 finally outscored Boston by 17 in the second half. Kevin Durant (32), Kyrie Irving (29) and James Harden (21) combined for 82 points in their first postseason game together. BKN Leads Series (1-0)

 

#6 Blazers def. #3 Nuggets (123-109)

It was Damian Lillard (34 points) and Nikola Jokic (34 points) who went head-to-head in Saturday’s nightcap. Lillard’s Blazers pulled away in the 3rd quarter thanks a franchise-record 19 3-pointers (19-for-40). Lillard had five of them. POR Leads Series (1-0)

 

#1 76ers def. #8 Wizards (125-118)

The underdog Wizards gave it all they had in Game 1, but the Sixers’ starters were too strong. Tobias Harris (37) and Joel Embiid (30) led the scoring for Philly. They were +18 in trips to the free-throw line, and that’s a winning recipe. PHI Leads Series (1-0)

 

#2 Suns def. #7 Lakers (99-90)

The Suns are the first 2-seed to be a first-round series underdog in NBA history this week, but they showed up in Game 1 thanks to Devin Booker (34-8-7) and a stellar defense. The Suns held the Lakers’ star duo of LeBron James (18) and Anthony Davis (13) to just 31 points combined. PHX Leads Series (1-0)

 

#5 Hawks def. #4 Knicks (107-105)

The Knicks hosted a playoff game at Madison Square Garden for the first time in eight years, but Trae Young spoiled the party in his playoff debut. Young (32-10-7) had a monster night capped off by a floater for the win with 0.9 seconds left. ATL Leads Series (1-0)

 

#8 Grizzlies def. #1 Jazz (112-109)

The Grizzlies put the top-seed Jazz in a 1-0 series deficit by holding off a furious rally down the stretch on Sunday night. Dillon Brooks (31 points) and Ja Morant (26 points) led the way. Memphis has won eight of their last nine games. MEM Leads Series (1-0)

 

Additional Storylines

HoH: Trae Young Silences MSG Crowd With Game-Winner (Video)

SI: LeBron James Violated NBA Safety Protocols But Was Still Allowed to Play in Game 1

B/R: With Banged Up Chris Paul, Devin Booker Carries Suns in First Career Playoff Game

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NHL PLAYOFFS

Going On & Going Home

Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images

Avalanche & Bruins Knock Off Blues & Caps; Lightning & Jets Can Win Series Tonight

 

The end of the first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is drawing near, and two teams — the Avs and Bruins — are heading to the second round. The two teams who’ve been eliminated are recent Stanley Cup champs — the Blues (2019) and Capitals (2018). They’re going home, and two more teams could follow suit tonight. Here’s the update on where they stand in the opening round:

 

1st-Round Series Updates

 

West Division

Gm 4: Avalanche def. Blues (5-2)

COL Wins Series 4-0

Gm 4: Golden Knights def. Wild (4-0)

VGK Lead Series 3-1

 

North Division

Gm 2: Maple Leafs def. Canadiens (5-1)

Series Tied 1-1

Gm 3: Jets def. Oilers (5-4, OT)

WIN Leads Series 3-0

 

East Division

Gm 5: Bruins def. Capitals (3-1)

BOS Wins Series 4-1

Gm 4: Islanders def. Penguins (4-1)

Series Tied 2-2

 

Central Division

Gm 4: Predators def. Hurricanes (4-3, 2OT)

Series Tied 2-2

Gm 4: Lightning def. Panthers (6-2)

TBL Leads Series 3-1

 

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Islanders at Penguins (7:00 pm ET)

Gm 3: Maple Leafs at Canadiens (7:00 pm ET)

Gm 5: Lightning at Panthers (8:00 pm ET)

Gm 4: Oilers at Jets (9:45 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

USA Today: Avalanche Sweep Blues, Bruins Eliminate Caps

SportsNet: With Remarkable 3-Goal Comeback in Game 3, Jets Push Oilers to Brink of Elimination

NBC Sports: Kunin & Saros Lead Predators to Another Double-Overtime Win Against Hurricanes to Even Series

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MLB

Padres Go Perfect at Petco

Photo: Matt Thomas / Getty Images

San Diego Completes 9-0 Homestand; 1st MLB Team to 30 Wins

 

A full weekend on the diamond delivered a plethora of highlights, but none bigger than the performance by Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres. The Swinging Friars crushed the Mariners (9-2) on Sunday behind Tatis Jr.’s two homers — including a grand slam in the 4th — that blew the doors open and completed a nine-game win streak at Petco Park over the last 11 days. The Padres are also 12-1 in their last 13 as they became the first MLB team to reach 30 wins on the season (30-17).

 

Watch: Fernando Tatis Jr. Slams Padres to Perfect 9-Game Homestand

 

Other Active MLB Win Streaks

 

Rays: Won 10 (29-19)

Dodgers: Won 7 (29-18)

Yankees: Won 6 (28-19)

 

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Yankees Extend Streak to 6 Wins, Sweep White Sox With Walk-Off Walk

MLB: Down 2 in 9th? Red-Hot Rays Win 10th Straight by Capitalizing on Wild Toronto Bullpen

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🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏎️ F1: Verstappen Dominates Monaco GP

Max Verstappen started in 2nd and grabbed the early lead of Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix on the Formula 1 circuit. He never looked back. Dominating the race from start to finish, Verstappen won the iconic event for the first time and took the F1 points lead from Lewis Hamilton (finished 7th).

 

⚽️ EPL: Liverpool & Chelsea Secure UCL Bids

On the final day of the English Premier League season, Liverpool and Chelsea secured 3rd and 4th, respectively, to punch their tickets to the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League tournament. Leicester City finished 5th after suffering a 4-2 loss to Tottenham.

 

🏀 WNBA: Scorching Sun Start 5-0

The Connecticut Sun are the only unbeaten WNBA team after the first week of the season. They’re 5-0 after wins over the Mercury (84-67) and Aces (72-65) this weekend thanks to a pair of double-doubles from Jonquel Jones.

 

🏅 GYM: Simone Biles Makes Gymnastics History

Just a few months ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles is making gymnastics history. Biles completed a Yurchenko double pike on the vault at Saturday’s U.S. Classic in Indianapolis. She’s the first female gymnast ever to pull off the stunt.

 

🏎️ NASCAR: Elliot Wins Rain-Shortened Austin Race

Chase Elliot claimed the win at NASCAR’s debut at the Circuit of Americas after the race was shortened due to weather. It didn’t take away from the moment for Elliot, though. He captured his first win of the NASCAR season.

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