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Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, N.Y.) — Shane van Gisbergen appeared to not have the winning strategy Sunday at Watkins Glen International … until the winning strategy was to have Shane van Gisbergen behind the wheel. Not pitting when most of the field did with 39 laps to go (SVG’s team figured he’d be three laps short on fuel) required him to pit under green and come out about 29 seconds behind leader Ty Gibbs with 25 laps remaining. No problem for van Gisbergen, who took the lead with eight laps to go and won by seven seconds over Michael McDowell, who actually employed a similar strategy. In his final 25 laps, van Gisbergen was 45 seconds overall faster than Gibbs. “We have a race car driver that … is at a level that I don’t think this sport has ever seen before on these road courses,” team owner Justin Marks said in his post-race news conference. Here are my takeaways: 1. SVG’s Awesome Rally At first, the rally appeared to be harder than it would end up being. But he started taking huge chunks out of the lead by Gibbs, who was on older tires and saving fuel. “That’s the best feeling you can get when you have a tire advantage and an awesome car,” van Gisbergen said in his post-race news conference. “I was just carving everyone up. Some people were nice and laying over, which is cool. The people that didn’t, you had to put good moves on. “That was the most fun.” The win marked the seventh for SVG, the three-time Australian Supercars champion who won his first Cup race in 2023 on the Chicago street course. 2. Trackhouse Wins Amid Struggles The victory for Trackhouse Racing was much needed, considering the team’s struggles this season. The victory just lifted van Gisbergen above the Chase cutline, as he is 16th in the standings. His teammates are still well below; Ross Chastain is at 19th and Connor Zilisch sits at 32nd. “Frankly, the way that we started this season, it’s unacceptable to us,” Marks said. “It’s not up to the standards that we set for ourselves. … [This is] like putting a little air in the room for us while we kind of work through engineering the resurgence of our team.” 3. Zilisch Disappointed Zilisch was running second to Gibbs on the strategy of pitting with 39 laps to go and then needing to save fuel. It didn’t work. He ended up getting a flat tire, having to pit and finished 20th. He left frustrated and disappointed. He felt he should have just passed Gibbs instead of trying to save gas behind him. He felt that, in clean air, he could have run faster, as well as saved more fuel (and then the question would have been whether he would have gotten a flat). “I don’t think I could beat Shane, but it’s just frustrating,” the Cup rookie told me and other reporters after the race. “When you’re so close. It sucks.” 4. Who Can Beat SVG? McDowell would raise his hand, considering he finished in second using a similar strategy to van Gisbergen. “[The gap] looks bigger than it is,” McDowell told me and other reporters after the race. “It’s probably a 10th of a second a lap. Not much. … Tires were worth a lot today.” Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick also would be ones to believe they can challenge. Reddick won the first road-course race of the season at Circuit of the Americas and finished fifth Sunday. And Chris Buescher, who out dueled van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen in 2024, settled for 12th this year. 4 ½. What’s Next The NASCAR All-Star Race heads to Dover Motor Speedway, which is playing host to the exhibition event for the first time. It will be a little different than past All-Star events, which had an open race for nonqualified drivers to make the main event. Instead, the entire field will compete in two 75-lap segments, with the average finish determining six spots for drivers who have not won races in 2025-26 or have not won Cup titles. There will also be a spot for a driver to get in through the fan vote for the final 200-lap segment, which will consist of 26 cars.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Weston McKennie has declared that he is ready to transform the immense pressure of a home World Cup into a historic performance for the United States men’s national team. The Juventus midfielder insists that while the “butterflies” are inevitable, he feels no fear heading into the 2026 tournament, viewing the global spotlight as a unique opportunity to elevate American soccer to unprecedented heights. Embracing the butterflies over fear As one of the most experienced leaders in the U.S. men’s national team locker room, McKennie is leaning into the emotional weight of the upcoming World Cup. Rather than shying away from the expectations of a nation, the midfielder believes that the nervous energy surrounding the event is a sign of its significance. “I don’t think I feel fear. I feel butterflies, which is normal,” McKennie told FIFA. He explained that these feelings are a positive force, stating, “If you don’t feel butterflies, it means you don’t care about what you’re doing. I feel like I’m a player that thrives under pressure, I like to have that responsibility on my shoulders.” Turning pressure into a home advantage Playing a World Cup on home soil brings a level of scrutiny the USA has not faced since 1994, but McKennie views the host status as a competitive edge. He is adamant that the energy from the American fans will be the catalyst for the team’s success, rather than a burden that weighs them down. McKennie highlighted the importance of the home crowd, noting, “I think the energy of the fans can be a big part of helping us create an atmosphere that is difficult for the opposing team. The fans have a lot more to do with the influence of the game than they probably think. Having them behind us, supporting us, even in difficult moments, or when the game’s not going our way, is very important.” Growth and maturity since Qatar 2022 Reflecting on the journey since the last tournament in Qatar 2022, McKennie points to the increased maturity of the “Golden Generation.” With many players now featuring regularly for top European clubs, the 25-year-old feels the tactical and mental level of the group has reached a new peak. The Juventus star noted that the experience gained in the Champions League and top-flight domestic battles has been invaluable. “We are not the young, inexperienced team anymore,” McKennie suggested. “The first one in Qatar was a dream come true because you grew up wanting to play in a World Cup and you grew up wanting to represent your national team and you never really think, as a kid, that you’re going to be on that stage. And then, to be able to do it on home soil will be a pretty cool experience, for sure.” The Pochettino effect The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino has introduced a new layer of intensity to the USA camp, according to McKennie. The midfielder revealed that the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss has eradicated complacency within the squad, making it clear that reputation alone will not earn a starting spot. “I think the coach has come in with energy,” McKennie explained. “I feel like there are a lot more opportunities for a lot of players, and I think nobody can feel like they’re 100 percent secure in their position. I think that’s something he brought in, a very competitive group of players, that if you want to play, you have to show why.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lucas Herbert did not make it easy on himself, but he made it count when it mattered most. The Ripper GC stalwart closed with a 3-under 69 on a dramatic Sunday at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia to win his first individual title, holding off a hard-charging Sergio Garcia by four shots. Herbert navigated a roller coaster back nine at Trump National Washington D.C. — including a nervy stretch around the ninth and 10th holes that briefly tightened the contest — before steadying himself after a rain delay and closing out the final holes in emphatic fashion. “Probably that I can perform pretty damn well when things aren’t perfect,” Herbert said when asked what made him most proud. “I was pretty sick all week, and I woke up this morning probably feeling worse than I did the last few days. I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard, and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one. I didn’t doubt myself. After the rain delay, the way I played those eight shots, I’m so proud of that.” Garcia finished solo second at 20 under after a final-round 70, with Bryson DeChambeau third at 19 under following a closing 6-under 66. Dean Burmester finished fourth at 18 under, and Josele Ballester rounded out the top five at 17 under. Herbert’s caddie, Nick Pugh, was a central figure throughout the week, guiding his player around a course Herbert had never seen before Thursday. “We just had such a laugh out there,” Herbert said. “We said walking to the first tee, we’re going to have fun regardless. He’s amazing. There’s not a good enough word I can speak about him. He deserves it as much as I do.” The win came with a significant bonus — Herbert has earned the LIV Golf U.S. Open exemption, earning a spot in the field at Shinnecock Hills next month. It will be his 18th major championship start and a return to the venue where he made his major debut. “My first major ever was at Shinnecock. Nice to go back and see what I’ve learned since then,” Herbert said. “Can’t wait to get there and try to play like I did this week.” Thomas Detry, who entered the week in position to claim the exemption, finished T6 at 16 under — just shy of what he needed. On the team leaderboard, 4Aces GC claimed the team title in a playoff over Fireballs GC after both teams finished tied at 49 under. Leaderboards Individual Top 10 1. Lucas Hebert (24-under)2. Sergio Garcia (20-under)3. Bryson DeChambeau (19-under)4. Dean Burmester (18-under)5. Josele Ballester (17-under)T6. Thomas Dety (16-under)T6. Anthony Kim (16-under)T8. Jon Rahm (15-under)T8. Scott Vincent (15-under)T8. Joaquin Niemann (15-under) Team Top 3 1. 4Aces (49-under; won by 1 stroke in playoff)2. Fireballs (49-under)3. Legion XIII (48-under) This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Watched by its grieving coach, Barcelona won its second straight Spanish league title and 29th overall with a comfortable 2-0 win over Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday, adding to its rival’s troubled season. Goals by Marcus Rashford in the ninth minute and Ferran Torres in the 18th gave Barcelona the victory and an insurmountable 14-point advantage over its fierce rival with three rounds remaining in La Liga. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was in the dugout for Sunday’s clásico following the death of his father, which Barcelona announced hours before kickoff. Players from both teams wore black armbands and there was a moment of silence before kickoff. A draw would also have been enough for the Catalan club to seal its third league title in four seasons. Madrid, which remains the most successful club in the league with 36 trophies, is ending a second consecutive season without a major title. Sunday’s defeat at Barcelona capped an embarrassing week for Madrid, marked by altercations between players in training that led the club to fine Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni 500,000 euros ($589,000) each. Rashford opened the scoring for the hosts with a wonderfully taken free kick, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Torres added to the lead from inside the area after a flick from Dani Olmo. Flick’s father reportedly died overnight. The coach celebrated Barcelona’s goals and looked emotional after the final whistle. “I will never forget this day. It was a tough day for me. It starts with this (news that) my father passed away, but here, my team is fantastic,” Flick said. “I really love it, this is like a family and they gave everything today and I’m really proud. It’s amazing, in this stadium, and also in the clásico against Real Madrid, to win La Liga.” There was a brief scuffle between players in the 51st minute after Olmo confronted a Madrid player. Olmo was shown a yellow card. Madrid’s Jude Bellingham had a goal disallowed for offside in the 63rd. Brazil forward Raphinha replaced Rashford in the 64th to return from a long injury layoff. Barcelona has been playing the final league games without the injured Lamine Yamal, its biggest star. Yamal was on the field lifting the trophy along with his teammates. Madrid was without the injured Kylian Mbappé, the league’s leading scorer with 24 goals. The France forward failed to recover from a left-hamstring ailment that has kept him sidelined since late April. Mbappé last week addressed a fresh wave of criticism of him in Spain, insisting he was fully committed to the club and to recovering from his latest injury. Some Madrid fans had expressed concern that the France forward was saving himself for the upcoming World Cup. He posted a story during Sunday’s game while it was being shown on a television, along with supporting words for the club and a white heart. Madrid was also without Valverde, who hurt his head in the altercation with Tchouaméni after allegedly accidentally knocking his head on a table. It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training last week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle. The loss in Sunday’s clásico is likely to increase criticism of coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from Madrid’s reserve team when Xabi Alonso was fired in January. Singer-songwriters Olivia Rodrigo and Nathy Peluso were among the celebrities at the stadium. Rodrigo, an American multi-Grammy winner, had her logo appearing in the team’s jersey as part of the club’s partnership with Spotify. Barcelona this season also won the Spanish Super Cup. It has won 11 consecutive games in the league. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Sunday is Mom’s day to shine, and Major League Baseball sure knows that. Once again, numerous players on all 30 teams are wearing or using pink gear in honor of Mother’s Day. Some players are using pink bats, like New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. In fact, Judge hit his 16th home run of the season, using a pink bat to send a pitch off Milwaukee Brewers starter Logan Henderson into the bleachers. That home run put Judge in a tie with Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber for the most in baseball this season, while Bryce Harper also hit a home run with a pink bat on Sunday. As Judge, Harper and others bring some golden memories for moms on this Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the other top Mother’s Day moments in recent MLB history. In a way, Bill Hall’s mom helped power the Brewers to a walk-off win over the New York Mets on Mother’s Day in 2006. Hall hit a walk-off home run in the Brewers’ Mother’s Day win over the Mets that year, using a pink at-bat with his mother’s name (Vergie Hall) engraved in it as she watched from the stands. The bat was later auctioned to help raise money for breast cancer research. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio later obtained the bat and gifted it to Vergie Hall. As for the auction, the bat went for $25,000. The Boston Red Sox needed a miracle and then some to take down the Baltimore Orioles on Mother’s Day in 2007. Facing a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox rallied and scored six runs to get a walk-off victory. The Orioles committed a few self-inflicted errors to allow the Red Sox to win the game, though. An infield pop-up fell for a hit, while three walks allowed the Red Sox to make a one-run game. It appeared the Orioles had the game sealed when Julio Lugo hit a ground ball to Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar. However, Millar’s toss to Orioles closer Chris Ray went off the pitcher’s glove, allowing the Red Sox to score the game-tying and game-winning runs. Fred Lewis was only a few days into his second MLB stint when he achieved one of the toughest accomplishments in baseball on Mother’s Day in 2007. The then-San Francisco Giants outfielder hit for the cycle in his team’s 15-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. He went 5-for-6 at the plate, with his home run that day doubling as his first MLB home run. Dallas Braden joined an elite class of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2010. He threw the 19th perfect game in MLB history in the Oakland Athletics’ 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays nearly avoided being on the wrong side of history, though. With two outs in the ninth, Rays outfielder Gabe Kapler chased at Braden’s fastball outside the zone on a 3-1 count, hitting into the final out of the game. Had Kapler looked at the pitch, he likely would’ve walked. Adding to the drama, Braden actually thought it was a 2-2 count when he threw the final pitch, later saying that he would’ve thrown a changeup had he known it was a 3-1 count. Beyond the perfect game, the day had significant meaning for Braden. Braden’s mom passed away years prior from cancer, leading to him sharing an emotional moment with his grandmother. 2012: Joey Votto Hits 3 Homers, Including a Walk-Off Grand Slam Not many people want to spend their Mother’s Day weathering a three-hour rain delay. However, Joey Votto made it worthwhile for Cincinnati Reds fans in 2012. The franchise icon hit three home runs against the Washington Nationals on Mother’s Day in 2012, saving his best for last that day. Facing a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the ninth, Votto belted a ball to straightaway center for a walk-off grand slam. Feloix Hernandez joined a rare group of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2015. The Seattle Mariners’ ace struck out six hitters that day in a 4-3 win over the Athletics, logging his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the fourth-youngest pitcher in MLB history to log 2,000 career strikeouts. “This is Mother’s Day, so it’s pretty special for me,” Hernandez told reporters after the game. “My mom’s in Venezuela and I miss her so much. I just want to go out there and keep trying to help the team to win. Just dedicated this game to my mom and my wife.” Jahmai Jones began his MLB career by going on a pretty long homer-less streak, failing to go yard in his first 46 career games. That changed on Mother’s Day in 2024, though. Playing in his 11th game for the New York Yankees, Jones hit his first career home run in a 10-6 win over the Rays on Mother’s Day that year. Jones dedicated the moment to his mom, as she had to raise him and his five siblings alone following his father’s death in 2011.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Saturday produced a new 2026 winner during the INDYCAR season at the Sonsio Grand Prix on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Winner Is… Christian Lundgaard, who had just one prior INDYCAR victory, doubled that total by taking the checkered flag. “I really didn’t expect this today, but I hoped for it,” Lundgaard said in his postrace interview. “This was a long wait for this win.” Reigning INDYCAR champion and current series leader Alex Palou, who had won three of the first five races this season, finished in fifth place after starting on the pole. How The Race Was Won Lundgaard had his sights on overtaking leader David Malukas, picking precisely the right moment to execute a pass with 18 laps remaining. It turned out to be a lead the No. 7 Arrow McLaren driver wouldn’t relinquish. One Big Moment It took less than one turn for the fireworks to be on display as a multi-car crash on Lap 1 quickly shook up the field. Top-10 Results 1. Christian Lundgaard2. David Malukas3. Graham Rahal4. Josef Newgarden5. Alex Palou6. Scott Dixon7. Louis Foster8. Dennis Hauger9. Kyle Kirkwood 10. Nolan Siegel What’s Next? Saturday marked the first of two races in Indianapolis in the month of May. The next one is the big one as the drivers hit the track for the 110th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 24 (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Here’s everything to know heading into the historic event.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

All three National League divisions are chock-full of intrigue. The NL East-leading Braves are one of the surprise stories in MLB as two postseason contenders – the Mets and Phillies – stumbled out the gate. In the NL Central, all five teams are above .500, and it feels like it could be a dogfight through October. In the NL West, it’s the Dodgers who rule the roost but don’t sleep on a couple of teams who can keep pace. Let’s take a look at some of the teams and notable storylines in the National League: 1. The Mets have somewhat steadied the ship after a 12-game losing streak earlier this season. Is there still more reason for pessimism than optimism? Thosar: As of Friday, the Mets are tied with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record (14-23) in baseball. So, yes, there are still plenty of reasons to be concerned about how they will resemble a competitive ball club against good teams. They just won two series in a row on the road, but what happens when they’re not playing bottom feeders like the Angels and Rockies? Given how dominant the Yankees have looked this year, next weekend’s Subway Series at Citi Field has a high probability of being a one-sided affair. Most of the Mets’ problems start with their disappointing offense, and the longer this trend continues, the harder it will be for president of baseball operations David Stearns to use underperformance as the explanation. We’re now six weeks into the season and the Mets have the worst slugging percentage (.351) in the majors, an on-base percentage (.293) that’s ranked 29th, and a batting average (.229) that’s ranked 28th. They’ve scored the second-fewest runs (134) in MLB. Losing Francisco Lindor (left calf strain) to the injured list was a huge blow, and it’s ominous that his timeline to return is unclear. It’s hard to see how the offense will turn it around without him. It would help if Bo Bichette — who owns a .585 OPS — looked more like himself at the plate, and if Mark Vientos could find some consistency. 2. Arizona has stars in 2B Ketel Marte and OF Corbin Carroll, but has given up the NL’s second-most runs. Will the D-backs keep up with the Dodgers and Padres? Kavner: They’re trending in the wrong direction, and I don’t think their pitching is good enough to keep up with the Dodgers, but there is still reason to believe their offense can be good enough to contend with the Padres and push for a wild-card spot. Now, I can’t imagine that 34-year-old Ildemaro Vargas is going to look like an MVP contender all year — we’re already seeing him start to slow down — but there’s reason to believe that the offense overall should be better going forward. I find it hard to believe that Ketel Marte (.615 OPS) will be a considerably below league-average hitter all year, and we haven’t seen the best of Geraldo Perdomo (.743) or Gabriel Moreno (.694) yet. Remember, too, that Corbin Burnes is expected back at some point, and A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez could be back helping the bullpen in the second half. Those are potentially huge X-factors down the stretch. 3. The Cardinals have two of the best young players in J.J. Wetherholt and Jordan Walker. Does St. Louis have enough to maintain this run? Thosar: It’s been terrific to watch this Cardinals team play better than expected, flashing the type of tight team spirit and chemistry that a certain high-payroll club with household names can only dream about. St. Louis is getting it done without all that, thanks largely to Walker’s breakout year, Alec Burleson’s team-leading 29 RBIs (tied with Aaron Judge for the seventh-most in MLB), and, of course, Wetherholt’s excellent start to his rookie season. But the impactful hitter who everyone seems to be overlooking is Ivan Herrera. The Cardinals’ 25-year-old catcher/designated hitter is one of the best young hitters in the game. Since 2024, Herrera owns an .824 OPS (135 OPS+) in 215 games. St. Louis’ surge of power has been another unexpected surprise. The Cards’ 44 home runs are ranked ninth in MLB, which is a huge turnaround after they finished 29th in homers last season. Out of all the encouraging stats from one of the youngest teams in baseball, there are two that most capture their grit. The Cardinals are 5-0 in extra-innings, and 7-2 in one-run games. As of right now, they’re positioned to make the playoffs via the NL Wild Card. It’s too early to count them out of a postseason push, but there are reasons to believe it won’t happen. All of their young players are bound to run into slumps at the plate, and that’s likely going to lead to some inconsistency. Plus, their weak starting pitching (4.67 ERA, 25th in MLB) is struggling to register strikeouts (6.97 K/9, 29th in MLB). There’s not a ton of margin for error here, and how they handle adversity in the dog days of summer will be telling. Still, for a team that went into a full rebuild this offseason, the way the Cardinals have started this season is nothing short of inspiring. 4. The Padres have once again kept pace with the Dodgers atop the NL West. Will this season be any different? Kavner: With Mason Miller, anything feels possible, but I just can’t see the Dodgers losing this division. A.J. Preller always finds a way to do something unexpected at the deadline, but as currently constructed, it’s hard to see the depth either in the lineup or in the rotation being enough to win the NL West. The Padres rank 24th in OPS on the year, and their starters over the last 14 days have an ERA over 6.00. With Nick Pivetta sidelined and Joe Musgrove still out, it’s difficult to see that changing in a meaningful way. Jason Adam and Miller at the end of games provide comfort, and I expect better days ahead for the stars in the lineup — the Padres have stunningly jumped out to this start despite Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. (who has yet to homer) all being below league-average hitters to this point — but I’m not confident there will be enough leads to protect for them to dethrone the back-to-back champs.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lucas Herbert has broken away from the field after 36 holes at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia, leaving him in position to chase his first league victory – and a potential spot in next month’s U.S. Open. Herbert backed up his opening 8-under 64 with an even better round on Friday, a bogey-free 9-under 63 to move to 17 under, giving the youngest Ripper GC member a commanding six-shot lead over Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia. It’s the largest 36-hole lead since LIV Golf switched to a 72-hole format this season and ties for the second-largest lead after any second round in league history. Garcia and Cleeks GC veteran Richard Bland are the only players within 10 shots of the lead, with Garcia at 11 under after shooting a 67 while the 53-year-old Bland shot a bogey-free 66 to move to 7 under. Garcia certainly isn’t ready to concede the trophy to Herbert, but he knows the tournament is now in the hands of the 30-year-old Australian. “If he keeps playing like that, it’s going to be very difficult [to catch him],” Garcia said. Crushers GC teammates Charles Howell III and Paul Casey are tied for fourth along with Southern Guards GC’s Dean Burmester at 6 under. LIV Golf’s top three players in points – Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Thomas Detry – are in a five-way tie for 7th. Asked for his strategy in reeling in Herbert, Casey replied: “Nothing you can do. This is going to sound wrong. Am I worried about Lucas? Of course I am, he’s leading by 10. Am I worried about Lucas? No, because he’s so far ahead, he’s leading by 10, so what can I do?” Detry entered this week in position to earn the U.S. Open exemption that goes to the top-3 player in the standings who is not otherwise exempt. But Herbert is now projected to claim that exemption with a win unless Detry can finish solo 4th or better. Herbert’s performance through 36 holes is even more impressive considering he battled the flu earlier this week, limiting his practice time. Until Thursday’s first round, he had not seen the front nine at Trump National Washington D.C. Fully familiar with the course, Herbert found the zone on Friday with a flawless display of iron play, bunker saves and mid-range putting. He produced a string of four consecutive birdies to end his front nine and finished with birdies on his final two holes. Herbert picked up 8.596 strokes on the field – his second-best total in LIV Golf history next to the 10.426 strokes he gained in shooting 61 last year in Mexico City. Garcia managed to stay close to Herbert with four birdies in his final five holes, while Bland also finished strong with birdies in three of his final six holes. Led by Herbert, Ripper GC has command of the team leaderboard at a cumulative 21 under, six shots better than the Cleeks and Crushers. The Rippers entered this week as the leader in points and are seeking their third tournament win of the season. Leaderboards Individual Top 10 1. Lucas Hebert (17-under)2. Sergio Garcia (11-under)3. Richard Bland (7-under)T4. Dean Burmester (6-under)T4. Paul Casey (6-under)T4. Charles Howell III (6-under)T7. Marc Leishman (5-under)T7. Bryson DeChambeau (5-under)T7. Thomas Detry (5-under)T7. Graeme McDowell (5-under)T7. Jon Rahm (5-under) Team Top 3 1. Ripper GD (21-under)T2. Crushers GC (15-under)T2. Cleeks Golf Club GC (15-under) This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, N.Y.) — Carson Hocevar didn’t spend all that much time in a dapper gray suit Monday night, but it was certainly a little bit of a new look for someone who performs best in a fire suit. How in the world did the 23-year-old Hocevar get invited to the 2026 Met Gala? “They called NASCAR and asked,” Hocevar told me Friday after truck series qualifying at Watkins Glen. “They watched [me win] Talladega and must have saw the Chili’s suit and thought I was into fashion with how crazy our suits get and invited me. “It was a great time.” It’s one thing to be asked to go, but once someone is asked, how do they arrange a stylish suit in such a short period of time? Enter Cassidy Towriss, the Cadillac F1 team chief brand advisor who is married to Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, the parent company of Spire (the team Hocevar drivers for in the NASCAR Cup Series). He sported a Christian Dior suit. “She knew exactly who to hook me up with,” Hocevar said. “I went to Texas for the race [last weekend] and went and got fitted and got everything. She was a lifesaver in the whole deal.” Hocevar said they had many options for the suit. “It was luckily that my favorite was the gray one and it was the first one [I tried on]. And I didn’t want to be like, ‘I like the first one’ because they are going to think I just don’t want to try anymore on. … They all liked the first one. “They handled everything. I was like, ‘I have no preconceived notion, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. You just take care of me.” Did Hocevar, who certainly is a free spirit and could be considered a little awkward, ever wonder if he could show up in a fire suit? “It would be funny,” Hocevar said. “I would have been a lot more comfortable if I just had a sponsor hat on.” Hocevar noted on the E! telecast that he would love to meet Sabrina Carpenter. He did not, but he said he met plenty of celebrities. He wouldn’t mention a favorite. “It was shocking how many people knew of NASCAR and knew of me,” he said. “There was a bunch of people I got to meet. It was just an opportunity and experience that I never thought I would go to and enjoy. “It’s a total different universe and world than I’m used to.” Having seen his followers jump on the social channels certainly doesn’t hurt either. But maybe impressing one of his biggest fans marked his biggest achievement of going to the gala. “I don’t know if I made my mom as proud driving any vehicle … compared to how proud she was and excited I was on her favorite channel,” Hocevar said. “The only uptick would maybe be a Hallmark Christmas special. “If I was on that, that might top the Met Gala. But she was super excited.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The lingering NFL offseason question is on the way to being answered: quarterback Aaron Rodgers is taking a visit and is reportedly likely to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the catch is simple – what’s in it for Rodgers to re-sign? Well, that’s the question that Colin Cowherd wants the answer to, defending the future Hall of Famer’s potential ask for a pay bump in 2026. “He wants more money and the Steelers are going to cave. He deserves more money,” Cowherd said on “The Herd.” “You can’t ask a Hall of Fame quarterback in back-to-back years to give you two freebies. Last year was a Costco free sample year. This year, I need you to buy in bulk.” Rodgers, who turned 42 in December, had a relatively solid 2025 campaign in his first year in Pittsburgh. He finished the season with 3,322 passing yards, 25 total touchdowns and seven interceptions, leading the Steelers to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title and a playoff spot. Additionally, the Steelers’ offense drastically improved under Rodgers, including yards-after-catch and red zone touchdowns. However, Rodgers made a relatively small salary last season. He had a $13.65 million salary in 2025, which ranked outside the top 20 among quarterbacks. Now, it appears Rodgers is looking to make a bit more than that as he plans to fend off retirement for another year. But beyond salary, Pittsburgh does have some enticing things to sell Rodgers on to return for 2026. The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, who was Rodgers’ head coach for several seasons with the Green Bay Packers, to replace Mike Tomlin. They also upgraded the offense, adding veteran running back Rico Dowdle and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. before selecting offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and wide receiver Germie Bernard in the NFL Draft. Still, Cowherd doesn’t think that the improvements Pittsburgh has made on offense should give the Steelers power at the negotiating table with Rodgers. “Most NFL teams have a three to five-year plan at quarterback, and the Pittsburgh Steelers treat quarterback like it’s a slot corner or an off-ball linebacker,” Cowherd said. “[They say,] ‘We may get to it at the trading deadline, let’s see what plays out in the preseason.’ They treat quarterbacks with absolutely no urgency at all.” Rodgers has been a bit complicit in this, though. He has also been slow to give Pittsburgh an answer, which was originally expected by the NFL Draft, but it never came. Now, the 42-year-old quarterback has until July 22 to decide due to Pittsburgh using the UFA tender. The tender gives the Steelers exclusive negotiating rights through minicamp and up to July 22 unless Rodgers signs with another team while still a free agent. The speculation is that Rodgers will likely re-sign with the Steelers after his visit on Friday. Ideally, re-signing a quarterback familiar with the playbook, and pairing him with a coach he has a long-standing relationship with, would be a big question answering for Pittsburgh. However, it’ll be up to both sides to find common ground ahead of Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports