Mickelson joins Saudi-funded rival league to PGA
Phil Mickelson, a chief recruiter for a Saudi-funded rival league to the PGA Tour, is ending his four-month hiatus by adding his name to the 48-man field for the LIV Golf Invitational that starts Friday outside London.
Mickelson will be joining Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and three other former major champions in a 54-hole tournament at Centurion Golf Club with $25 million in prize money and $4 million going to the individual winner.
“I am ready to come back to play the game I love but after 32 years this new path is a fresh start, one that is exciting for me at this stage of my career,” Mickelson said in a statement posted on social media.
Mickelson also said he would be playing the last two majors, starting June 16 in the U.S. Open at The Country Club outside Boston.
He said the “transformative” new league would allow him to focus on a healthier approach to life on and off the course. Mickelson did not mention the signing fee, which is likely to be every bit of the $125 million or more reportedly paid to Johnson.
NFL WATSON NAMED IN 24TH LAWSUIT >>
A 24th woman filed a civil lawsuit Monday alleging sexual misconduct by Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is also awaiting possible discipline from the NFL.
The latest lawsuit was filed in Houston by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing all 24 women.
“Lost in the media frenzy surrounding Deshaun Watson is that these are twenty-four strong, courageous women who, despite ridicule, legal shenanigans, and intense media scrutiny, continue to stand firm for what is right,” Buzbee said in a statement.
Watson has been accused by massage therapists of harassing, assaulting or touching them during appointments.
The latest lawsuit makes similar allegations as the woman, a massage therapist, accuses Watson of assaulting and harassing her during an August 2020 session in her apartment. The woman alleges that during the massage session, Watson exposed himself and masturbated and “offered no apology or explanation for his conduct.”
The woman has quit being a massage therapist because of what happened to her and now suffers from depression and anxiety, according to the lawsuit. DONALD SIGNS NEW DEAL >> All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is getting a big raise to stay with the Rams under a reworked contract through 2024.
The Super Bowl champions announced Donald's return Monday. The team didn't disclose terms of the deal, but NFL Network reported Donald is getting a $40 million raise that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league.
Donald was already under contract for the next three seasons, but he contemplated retirement after winning his first ring in February.
Colleges STANFORD'S SEASON ON THE LINE >>
After Stanford's 17-game win streak was snapped Saturday in a 5-2 loss to Texas State, the Cardinal baseball team won backto-back games Sunday to force a winner-take-all matchup with Texas State on Monday night.
Stanford's win streak was one shy of matching a program record set back in 1996, but the loss in regional play at Sunken Diamond put the Cardinal on the brink of elimination. David Esquer's squad won back-to-back games Sunday, defeating UC Santa Barbara 8-4 before beating Texas State 8-4 to set up Monday's game with a bid to a Super Regional on the line.
Monday's game between the Cardinal and Bobcats was in progress when this edition went to press.
SJSU EXTENDS WOMEN'S GOLF COACH >> San Jose State women's golf coach Dana Dormann signed a four-year contract extension
Monday after leading the Spartans to a record 30-shot victory at the Mountain West Championship and advancing to match play at the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history.
The 2022 season was Dormann's fourth at SJSU and the Spartans' No. 3 finish in the final GolfState rankings was their highest since the team's 1992 national title.
NHL
BRUINS FIRE CASSIDY >> The Boston Bruins have fired coach Bruce Cassidy, who led them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019, the best record in the league the next year and at least 100 points in each of his four full non-pandemic seasons behind the bench.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced the move three weeks after the team's firstround playoff loss to Carolina.
“This was an extremely difficult decision,” Sweeney said in a statement. “His head coaching record for the Bruins is impressive, and we are appreciative of Bruce both professionally and personally.”