Eckroat gets his 1st PGA win at Cognizant Classic
Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour. Another day didn't hurt.
Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic. Among his prizes: $1.62 million — by far his biggest golf payday — along with tour status for two years and a trip to the Masters for the first time.
Eckroat shot a final round of 4-under 67, finishing at 17-under 267.
He said he was nervous Monday. He hid it well, never giving up the lead.
“This has always been my dream to win on the PGA Tour,” Eckroat told Golf Channel. “And just to win, I haven't won since 2019 — it was a college event. It's just been so long. I'm just so happy.”
He left PGA National on Sunday night when darkness stopped play with a one-stroke lead and was never caught. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes protected his lead, and a 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th pushed the edge out to three shots.
NFL
BRONCOS INFORM QB WILSON THEY'LL RELEASE HIM >>
The Denver Broncos told Russell Wilson that they're going to release him next week, just 18 months after signing the Super Bowlwinning quarterback to a five-year, $242 million contract extension.
The Broncos still owe Wilson his $39 million salary for 2024 minus whatever he'd sign for with another team, which would likely be the veteran's minimum salary of $1.21 million.
Wilson enjoyed a bounce-back year last season under new head coach Sean Payton, throwing for 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 15 games.
But it wasn't good enough and Payton benched him for Jarrett Stidham for the final two games.
EAGLES CENTER KELCE RETIRES AFTER 13 NFL SEASONS >>
Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 36-year-old Kelce officially called it quits Monday at the Eagles' NovaCare Complex, ending a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the franchise's lone Super Bowl championship but a beloved Philly personality and popular podcast host.
Kelce is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The two played each other in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, which was won by the Chiefs.
EVANS AGREES TO A 2-YEAR, $52M CONTRACT TO REMAIN WITH BUCS >>
There's still a chance Mike Evans could play his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Instead of testing his worth in free agency this winter, the team's career receiving leader has agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the club that drafted him seventh overall in 2014, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. ESPN first reported the agreement, saying it includes $35 million guaranteed.
JAGUARS RELEASE VETERAN DT FATUKASI ON HIS 29TH BIRTHDAY >>
The Jacksonville Jaguars cut veteran defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi on his 29th birthday.
The Jaguars made the move a few hours after wishing Fatukasi a happy birthday on social media. Releasing him will save the Jaguars roughly $3.5 million against the 2024 salary cap.
He was coming off a season in which he started 16 games and finished with a career-low-tying 24 tackles.
College basketball HOUSTON HOLDS TIGHT GRIP ON MEN'S TOP SPOT >>
Houston still has a tight grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
The Cougars received 52 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel in the poll to hold the top spot for the second straight week.
UConn moved up a spot to No. 2 and had six firstplace
votes to leapfrog No. 3 Purdue, which had four first-place votes. Tennessee and Arizona rounded out the top five.
Kansas fell seven spots to No. 14, ending a run of three years in the top 10.
STANFORD AND IOWA MOVE UP BEHIND NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA >>
Stanford and Iowa jumped up behind topranked South Carolina in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll as the top 10 got a shuffle on the eve of conference tournaments.
Stanford moved back up to No. 2 after a weekend sweep of Oregon State and Oregon. Iowa knocked off then-No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday behind Caitlin Clark, who became the NCAA Division I scoring leader during the game. The Big Ten champion Buckeyes fell to fourth.
MLB
WHEELER AND PHILLIES REACH $126 MILLION, 3-YEAR DEAL >>
Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a $126 million, three-year contract for 2025-27, the fourth-highest average salary in baseball history at $42 million.
The Phillies' ace gets $23.5 million this year in the final season of a $118 million, five-year contract, one of the best free agent contracts in Phillies history.
Wheeler has led the NL in strikeouts and innings during his four seasons in Philadelphia after missing time with injuries while with the Mets from 2013-19.
2015 AL MVP DONALDSON SAYS HE'S RETIRING >>
Josh Donaldson says he's retiring after a 13-year career in which he was voted the 2015 AL MVP and was selected to three All-Star
Games.
The 38-year-old announced his plans Monday.
Donaldson was among the top third basemen from 201317 with Oakland and Toronto.
He finished fourth in the AL MVP balloting with Oakland in 2013 and won the award with Toronto two years later. During that 2015 season, Donaldson hit .297 with 41 homers and an AL-leading 123 RBIs.
Softball
OKLAHOMA'S NCAA RECORD WIN STREAK HALTED BY LOUISIANA AT 71 GAMES >>
Oklahoma's NCAA record win streak in softball ended at 71 games Sunday with a 7-5 loss to Louisiana in eight innings.
The Sooners claimed their third straight national title last season, then won their first 18 games this season before losing to the Rajin' Cajuns at Love's Field, the sparkling new facility that opened last week.
Oklahoma (18-1) committed three errors.
College football
EA SPORTS ANNOUNCES OVER 10,000 ATHLETES HAVE ACCEPTED NIL DEAL >>
More than 10,000 athletes have accepted an offer from EA Sports to have their likeness featured in its upcoming college football video game, the developer announced.
EA Sports began reaching out to college football players in February to pay them to be featured in the game that's scheduled to launch this summer.
EA Sports said players who opt in to the game will receive a minimum of $600 and a copy of EA Sports College Football 25. There will also be opportunities for them to earn money by promoting the game.