Report: Mickelson, Woods planning $10M match
Golf.com is reporting that Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are contemplating a $10 million winner-take-all exhibition match.
The report says Mickelson was hopeful the match would have taken place on July 3 in Las Vegas, except that negotiations with a television network and corporate support could not be worked out in time.
Mickelson says they are working on a different date.
Mickelson playfully hinted at such a match when he and Woods were in the same group at The Players Championship.
Cormier, Miocic to battle for UFC heavyweight title
For only the third time in the UFC’s 25-year history, a reigning champion will fight a reigning champion from another weight class.
Daniel Cormier (20-1), the light heavyweight champ and former Oklahoma State wrestler, is moving up to challenge Stipe Miocic (18-2), the most accomplished heavyweight champion in UFC history, in the main event of UFC 226 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
“This is the ultimate thing you can do in this sport,” Cormier said. “Everybody wants to see this kind of fight, but nobody ever actually takes the risk and does it. So let’s do it.”
The UFC’s annual International Fight Week show in its hometown also includes a tantalizing heavyweight matchup between sluggers Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou. Featherweight champion Max Holloway was scheduled to defend his title against Brian Ortega, but Holloway dropped out Wednesday night with symptoms of an apparent concussion.
Still, the event is expected to be the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view show of the summer.
Elliott wins pole at Daytona
Chase Elliott turned a lap of 194.045 mph to win the pole at Daytona International Speedway and give sagging Chevrolet a much-needed boost.
Elliott, who sprained his right ankle earlier this week “horsing around in the pool,” had won two poles at the Daytona 500. He starts from the top Saturday night as the Hendrick Motorsports driver goes for his first career win.
Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman joins Elliott on the front row.
Chevrolet has been mostly noncompetitive since Austin Dillon won the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. The American automaker hasn’t been to victory lane since and hadn’t really gotten close to a checkered. Toyota and Ford have pulled away in the standings.
Miller out until after All-Star break
Andrew Miller won’t help the Cleveland Indians until after the All-Star break.
The excellent late-inning reliever has made progress with his right knee injury but will not be activated until later this month. Miller has been sidelined with inflammation in his knee since May 26, and his comeback recently stalled. But he threw 31 pitches off a mound on Thursday, and the Indians were excited and encouraged by his progress.
Mejia conditionally allowed back from ban
New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been granted conditional reinstatement from his lifetime drug suspension and could return for the 2019 season.
Mejia became the first player suspended for life under the drug program in February 2016 following his third positive test. He was allowed to apply for reinstatement one year later.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday that Mejia may participate in nonpublic workouts in the team’s facilities after the All-Star break and will be eligible for a minor league rehabilitation assignment in mid-August.