Sports
Golf: LIV golfers told season-ending team event set to be cancelled
Chief executive Scott O’Neil said a signed agreement with a new investor is in place and has been approved by the LIV Golf board, with the transaction expected to be completed in September. Until then, LIV bosses are said to be taking a disciplined approach to support its long-term sustainability and maintain operations.
No details of the amount of money that will be invested were announced. PIF has pumped in more than $5bn (£3.71bn) since the league launched in 2022.
O’Neil added LIV will make its players “majority equity holders” in the competition, calling it “a first for a major global sports league”.
The LIV press release said the proposed deal with the lead investor is for “2027 and beyond”.
The competition will reduce to 10 events from next season, with five in the United States and five held around the world.
There were 14 events planned for the 2026 season but in April, LIV postponed June’s New Orleans competition amid questions over its future and has not announced a rescheduled date.
Last week, O’Neil said LIV was focused on “finishing the 2026 season strong”, but made no explicit mention of the final two events scheduled this season, in Indianapolis from 23 August and the concluding Team Championship in Michigan from 30 August.
Alongside Rahm, major winners including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia remain part of the LIV roster after having left the PGA Tour.
American major champions Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed rejoined the PGA Tour after it introduced a returning member programme.
Last week, when asked about the series’ biggest stars, O’Neil said: “I think when you have a global game and you have 57 players from 21 countries and you’re playing in 10 countries on five continents, how you define stars gets really interesting.
“So while I have all the time in the world for Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, I think I’d be remiss in saying they’re not only two of the biggest, best golfers on the planet, but I think they’re some of the biggest stars in sports, let alone golf.
“Would certainly love them to come along for the ride and journey because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that.”
In July, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour struck an alliance with the Asian Tour in another blow to LIV Golf.
LIV was founded in 2021 and launched the following year with 54-hole events, taking its name from the Roman numeral for 54.
However, it moved to the traditional 72-hole format for golf tournaments from this season.
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Sports
Rangers: PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech set for Rangers move
PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech is at Ibrox to watch Rangers face Jagiellonia Bialystok pending a transfer to the Scottish Premiership club.
The 24-year-old Moroccan is expected to complete his move on Friday.
Driouech, who predominantly plays on the left, scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 40 appearances last season.
However, he was often used as a substitute, starting just once in PSV’s eight Champions League outings and coming off the bench 24 times in the Eredivisie.
Driouech, who has represented Morocco at Under-23 level, spent three seasons with Rotterdam side Excelsior before joining PSV in the summer of 2024.
He will be the 10th summer arrival at Ibrox and the second winger following the signing of Daisuke Yokota from Hannover last week.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh said on Monday he expected “three to five more players” while “a number will possibly go out”, with midfielder Mohamed Diomande sold to Turkish club Corum on Wednesday.
Having come through the youth ranks, and made his professional debut, with Heerenveen, Driouech rose to prominence with Excelsior, making 101 appearances and scoring 16 goals before his high-profile transfer to PSV.
Known for his quick feet, speed, precise finishing and ability to play on both wings, Haarlem-born Driouech had the choice of also representing France and the Netherlands but was part of the Morocco squad that won the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
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Sports
European Athletics Championships 2026: Jakob Ingebrigtsen ‘disappointed’ by rival Josh Kerr’s absence
Jakob Ingebrigtsen says he is “very” disappointed Britain’s Josh Kerr is not competing at the European Championships, claiming that athletes who choose to miss major competitions are “ruining” the sport.
Ingebrigtsen secured a stunning 5,000m gold on his long-awaited return from injury on Monday, becoming the joint-most successful athlete in European Championships history.
After 11 months out of competition, during which he underwent surgery on his Achilles, the 25-year-old wasted no time in reigniting his fierce rivalry with Kerr.
Last month, Kerr smashed the mile world record, which had stood for 27 years, before winning Commonwealth gold over the distance on home soil in Glasgow.
The Scot made clear the Europeans were never part of his plans this season, but Ingebrigtsen believes Kerr should have been able to include it in his schedule.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ingebrigtsen was complimentary of Kerr’s record-breaking performance in London but said he “could never” prioritise a time over a title.
“Of course I am going to go for times, but I don’t think you have to do one or the other,” Ingebrigtsen said.
Asked if he was disappointed Kerr is not racing in Birmingham, he added: “Very – and I think a lot of people should be, because that is what championships are all about.
“It’s not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate. We have these championships for a reason, and that is for the best athletes to compete – that is the whole point.
“So I definitely think it is ruining the sport if we are not participating. We all have different plans, but I could never see myself in that position.”
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Sports
2026 NFC South preview, offseason recap for Panthers, Buccaneers, Falcons & Saints
By the middle of last season, it looked clear that the Buccaneers would win their fifth straight division title. Tampa Bay entered its bye at 6-2, with wins over teams such as the Seahawks and 49ers. Playoffs seemed inevitable.
Then the Bucs collapsed, losing games to each of its division rivals. This is how the NFC South finished from Weeks 10 to 18:
- Saints: 5-3
- Falcons: 5-4
- Panthers: 3-5
- Buccaneers: 2-7
The Panthers took the playoff spot with an 8-9 record, with a tiebreak over matching Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Who wins it this year?
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Carolina Panthers
(8-9, lost in wild-card round)
Headline: Signing star defenders. The Panthers added our Nos. 2 and 3 free agents of 2026, edge Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. This came after Carolina’s defense improved last season, finishing 15th in points against and 16th in yards against (it ranked last in both categories in 2024).
Subtle: Bryce Young’s protection. All reports suggest Young is having the best offseason of his career, looking more confident and composed in Dave Canales’ offense. I’m skeptical he builds off a promising 2025 without either starting tackle. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu tore his patellar tendon in January and might not be back until late this season. Right tackle Taylor Moton is sidelined indefinitely with blood clots. That, plus a new starting center, has the strength of Young’s line uncertain.
Question: Receivers good enough? The Panthers offense was well below average in 2025, ranking 27th in both total yards and points. Having one of the league’s weaker receiving cores is a big part of the reason why. And it doesn’t look much better, having already lost third-round rookie Chris Brazzell to a season-ending knee injury.
Projection: 7-10. This team improved by three wins in each of Canales’ first two seasons and nearly upset the Rams in the playoffs. The Panthers had an impressive draft. I just don’t see this offense improving on last year’s 19 points per game (27th) given the offensive line shuffle and brutal injuries. A first-place schedule (third-toughest) doesn’t help.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(8-9 in 2025)
Headline: Vita Vea demands trade. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is one of the game’s elite defenders. He also wants a new contract. “I just don’t see it ending in anything but a trade at this point,” said his agent, which contrasts with GM Jason Licht telling reporters that he has “no plans on trading Vita.” Hmm.
Subtle: Healthy, angry Baker Mayfield. The late-season collapse is partially due to Mayfield’s shoulder injury, one of many injuries he dealt with. He played through it but wasn’t the same (underlying stats agree, with his QB rating dropping from 13th to 21st after the injury). Entering a pivotal contract year, Mayfield reportedly feels great and is motivated to perform.
Question: What happened to the defense? Defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles oversees a unit in decline: The Bucs were seventh in points allowed in 2023, 16th in 2024 and dropped to 20th last season. The second half of last year was particularly rough, with Tampa Bay finishing 28th in total EPA while allowing 25.9 points per game from Week 10 on.
Projection: 8-9. The defense was significantly revamped in the draft and free agency. If things are sorted positively with Vea, this defense should be back among the league’s better units. But a tougher schedule and departures of leaders such as WR Mike Evans and LB Lavonte David make me hesitate. The matchup against the Bengals in Week 1 will be telling.

Atlanta Falcons
(8-9 in 2025)
Headline: Kevin Stefanski hired as head coach. It was a no-brainer to pair a coach who wants to lean on a run game with the game’s best running back and an elite offensive line. Expect plenty of Bijan Robinson and play-action passing, which should bode well for Drake London and Kyle Pitts. (Under Stefanski, Cleveland was 11th in run rate and sixth in play-action dropback rate on traditional run downs.)
Subtle: Lost pass rushers. This group was a strength last season, setting a franchise record with 57 sacks. Players responsible for 38 of those might be gone this year. Jalon Walker’s torn ACL was the latest amid a series of departures that could also also include James Pearce Jr., if he’s suspended after an offseason arrest. (Our Josh Kendall predicts Pearce is out for least eight games.)
Question: Who is the quarterback? Michael Penix Jr. showed promise late in 2024 but went 3-6 last season before suffering his fifth major season-ending injury. Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history isn’t much better. Both are well suited for Stefanski’s anticipation-based passing game, though Penix has a stronger arm and higher upside. Where do things stand? It’s a mess.
Projection: 6-11. Atlanta has failed to finish above .500 for eight straight seasons. As much as I like Stefanski, his schemes won’t be enough to help a team with big questions at key positions.

New Orleans Saints
(6-11 in 2025)
Headline: Adding Travis Etienne Jr. After finishing 31st both in yards per attempt and runs of 10-plus yards, the Saints addressed a poor run game by signing Etienne to a reasonable three-year deal averaging $12 million per year. Behind an above-average offensive line, Etienne should easily improve a bottom-five rushing attack.
Subtle: Continuity. New Orleans began last season 1-8 before a strong finish. An obvious reason is QB Tyler Shough, who went 5-4 after being named the Saints starter. Another is Brandon Staley’s defense, which clamped down across the final eight games. Were both the result of an easy late-season schedule, or is this team as promising as they seemed?
Question: A Saints defense without LB Demario Davis? It’s been almost a decade since we’ve seen Davis anywhere but the middle of this defense, where he’s started in 131 of 133 regular-season games since arriving in 2018. (He’s with the Jets now.) Kaden Elliss is a serviceable replacement and joins a defense that improved dramatically in the second half of last season, going from allowing 27 points per game to 17.5 after Week 9.
Projection: 9-8. The Saints have the league’s second-easiest schedule based on opponent win projections and should build on the late-season surge, so long as Shough takes a next step. It’s not pretty, but this might be enough to win this division.

Extra Points
👀 ICYMI. I need to share again, because it’s that good: Dan’s day with Bears coach Ben Johnson.
🎯 You’ll want to read this. The story is as wild as the title implies: “A playboy NFL agent was in line to run the Seahawks. Then came the crossbow killing.” Full story here.
🏈 Kyler Murray named starter. The Vikings handed Murray the reins to have him ready for Week 1 against the Packers. J.J. McCarthy is the backup, and Alec Lewis details what’s next for the former first-rounder.
📉 Ravens lose CB1. Cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted from Baltimore’s practice with a left leg injury, though it seems he avoided a major injury.
📈 Steelers stock report. Roman Wilson looks like Pittsburgh’s WR3 after finally getting on the same page as Aaron Rodgers. More on the Steelers here.
📺 Seahawks competition. Seattle had two players compete to see who could hold a sledgehammer the longest. Rylie Mills is a beast.
▶️ Most-clicked: Once again, Dan Pompei’s story on why the Cowboys won’t retire No. 88.
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