Major Swing 

June 15, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning,

With the NBA and NHL seasons wrapped up, parades today and tomorrow will send us into the weekend where the 2023 U.S. Open is about to tee off. It’s golf’s first major since the PGA-LIV alliance. The biggest major purse in golf heads to a new venue with the L.A. skyline as the backdrop. Let’s stop the chatter and swing some clubs.

Letter Rip!

GOLF

Major Swing: The U.S. Open Primer

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Photo: Andrew Redington / Getty Images

The 2023 U.S. Open Features a New Venue, Massive Payout, McIlroy-Koepka Pairing & Plenty of PGA-LIV Chatter

“I can’t do this anymore.” That was Collin Morikawa’s statement on Wednesday to more questions about the PGA-LIV golf situation that continues to cast a cloud over golf. Players are exhausted. So are we. So, let’s focus on the sport (without the politics), shall we? The 2023 U.S. Open tees off this morning from a new venue at Los Angeles Country Club. The prize pool is the largest in PGA major history at $20 million. Here are the storylines we’re tracking as golf’s third major gets underway.

The LA Country Club

The host of this year’s U.S. Open is a first-time course on the major circuit. The Los Angeles Country Club has been a private and exclusive place of secrecy for professional golfers. Few in the L.A. public have even got a glimpse of the North Course while the South Course is partially visible from Santa Monica Boulevard. The LACC has never hosted a major or even a PGA Tour event, so it’ll be a new experience for most players. (Watch Course Video)

McIlroy vs. Koepka Should Be Box Office

Among the top storylines entering the U.S. Open is the pairings for the first two rounds. The PGA’s most outspoken player, Rory McIlroy, and the LIV juggernaut, Brooks Kopeka, are in the same group. It’s no secret the two don’t like it each other, and it should make for some must-see TV today and tomorrow.

Past Winners

The recent champs of the U.S. Open are some of the biggest names in the game. Rory McIlroy (2011) won it more than a decade ago. Matthew Fitzpatrick (2022) is the defending champ, and Jon Rahm (2021) is always in contention. A trio of LIV players won the event from 2016-2020 — Bryson DeChambeau (2020), Brooks Koepka (2017 & 2018), and Dustin Johnson (2016). Jordan Spieth (2015) and Justin Rose (2013) are also competing past champs.

Odds to Win U.S. Open

S. Scheffler (+700), J. Rahm (+1000), B. Koepka (+1100), R. McIlroy (+1100), P. Cantlay (+1600), V. Hovland (+1600), X. Schauffele (+1800), J. Spieth (+2500) | Full List of Odds

Tee Times (1st Round)

7:40 AM: J. Thomas, S. Lowry, T. Fleetwood

7:40 AM: B. DeChambeau, F. Molinari, T. Hatton

8:02 AM: G. Woodland, A. Scott, C. Conners

8:02 AM: J. Rose, R. Fowler, J. Day

8:13 AM: C. Morikawa, M. Homa, S. Scheffler

8:13 AM: P. Reed, M. Kuchar, S. Woo Kim

8:24 AM: J. Rahm, V. Hovland, X. Schauffele

1:32 PM: C. Smith, M. Fitzpatrick, S. Bennett

1:32 PM: S. Burns, D. Johnson, K. Mitchell

1:43 PM: T. Finau, J. Spieth, P. Cantlay

1:54 PM: B. Koepka, H. Matsuyama, R. McIlroy

*All Times ET

Read More

The Ringer: 9 Questions Ahead of the 2023 U.S. Open

ESPN: LA Country Club’s Mystery & Secrecy Extends to U.S. Open Players

Reuters: McIlroy & Koepka Grouped Together as PGA-LIV Battle Set to Continue

Yahoo! Sports: ‘Betrayal From Management’: Confusion Continues to Reign Over PGA-LIV Partnership

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MLB

Subway Series Stunner

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Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Mets Take Game 2 of Subway Series in Thrilling Extra-Inning Walk-Off

A walk-off in the Game 2 of this week’s Yankees-Mets Subway Series was another epic showdown between the two New York teams struggling to stay afloat in their divisions. After the Yankees won Game 1 on Tuesday (7-6), the Mets got the last laugh on Wednesday in a stunning finish. Isiah Kiner-Falefa became the first Yankee to steal home since 2016, and he did it at a critical moment in the 7th inning. The Mets fired back and forced extras before Brandon Nimmo smacked a double to score Eduardo Escobar for a walk-off win. Unfortunately for the Mets, it’s just their third win in June (3-10).

Watch: Mets Beat Yankees on Nimmo Walk-Off (4-3)

MLB Quick-Hitters

Slam Rob-Job Saves Marlins: The Marlins led the Mariners in the 9th (4-0) with the bases loaded when Seattle’s Eugenio Suarez hit a would-be grand slam to tie the game. Enter Jesus Sanchez with a game-saving robbery for Miami.

Ohtani Hits 21st Blast: Shohei Ohtani hit his AL-leading 21st home run in the Angels’ 9-6 win over the Rangers — an opposite-field, 459-foot moonshot.

Stros Win Wild Error Walk-Off: The Nationals scored three in the top of the 9th to rally and tie it up with the Astros (4-4), but Jake Meyers hit a bases-chucked single that turned into an infield error and Jose Abreu cruised home for the win (5-4).

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CFB

The New-Look SEC

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Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

SEC Drops 2024 Matchups With Newcomers Texas & Oklahoma & Endless Supply of Enticing Matchups

A bit of a delay on this story coming to fruition, but college football fans got a little offseason juice on Wednesday (albeit a year and a half out). The SEC revealed the home-and-away matchups for the 2024 season when Oklahoma and Texas joined the new super conference schedule. No dates are set, but a brand new era of SEC football is about to begin. SEC fans will get Alabama-Georgia in the regular season, but the additions of the Longhorns and Sooners have us licking our chops for future matchups. Here’s a look at the top 10 games to watch as new rivalries bloom in the SEC next season.

Note: The SEC will have eight teams in each inter-conference division (East and West) beginning in 2024.

Top-10 SEC Games to Watch (2024)

1. Alabama at Georgia

2. Texas at Texas A&M

3. Alabama at Oklahoma

4. Georgia at Texas

5. Texas at Oklahoma

6. Alabama at LSU

7. Alabama at Tennessee

8. Florida at Texas

9. Oklahoma at LSU

10. Tennessee at Oklahoma

Games We Were Hoping to See

Georgia vs. Texas A&M

Texas vs. LSU

Oklahoma vs. Georgia

Read More

ESPN: SEC 2024 Football Release: Best Games, Winners & Losers

CBS Sports: 2024 SEC Football Schedule Takeaways: Oklahoma Gets Tough Draw

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STORYLINES

 The Las Vegas A’s Become Official

The Oakland Athletics’ relocation to Las Vegas is clear after the Nevada Legislature gave final approval on Wednesday. The A’s went on a seven-game win streak amid a ‘reverse boycott’ from the Oakland fans, but the team is officially Vegas bound. (FOX Sports)

 Bradley Beal Trade Packages

We\’re less than a week removed from the end of the NBA Finals, and the offseason rumor mill is already picking up speed. One of the biggest names on the trade block is Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal, and it looks like he’s on the move. (Bleacher Report)

 Only in Vegas: The Cup Celebration

Most parties in Las Vegas are fueled by tourists — bachelor parties and casinos for visitors to a city that knows how to party. After the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup, Tuesday night was for the people who live there. (The Athletic)

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NEWS

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SCHEDULE

Today\’s Must-Watch List

PGA Tour

U.S. Open (Round 1)

NBA Finals

Denver Nuggets Championship Parade (10:00 am ET)

Soccer (Concacaf Nations League)

USMNT vs. Mexico (10:00 pm ET)

MLB

Blue Jays at Orioles (1:05 pm ET)

Rays at A’s (3:37 pm ET)

White Sox at Dodgers (10:10 pm ET)

WNBA

Fever at Sky (8:00 pm ET)

Storm at Aces (10:00 pm ET)

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