Jarrett Payton is looking for the heroes who saved his son’s life.

The former Miami Hurricanes running back and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal that his son, Jaden, had a seizure earlier in the week while the family was in Las Vegas.

‘It was the scariest moment of my life,’ he said in a series of posts, which include pictures of the family in front of the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign. ‘Two strangers didn’t hesitate to help me save his life. I didn’t get their info but I’m sharing this in hopes someone knows them. We would (love) to personally thank them.’

Payton said that the 11-year-old is ‘doing a lot better and acting like his old self.’

‘He just wanted to meet the people that helped save his life. So I told him I would do my best to make that happen,’ he added.

He said that the incident happened at a McDonald’s next to Circus Circus. He believed that divine intervention was at hand and detailed how, after he left in the ambulance with his son, his wife ordered a Diet Coke to ease her nerves. The order number was 434. Walter Payton’s number was 34.

‘Just a sign @walterpayton was there with us,’ he said with an emoji of praying hands.

On Sunday, Payton shared another update on Jaden with a video of him at batting practice.

‘He’s feeling so much better and taking a few swings at practice,’ he said. ‘Thanks for all the (love) everyone. He’s feeling stronger every single day. Just happy he’s getting a chance to do what he loves.’

In the age of the transfer portal and with the extra year of eligibility due to COVID still on the table for some players, projecting which teams will be good next season is an even more speculative venture than usual.

We can, however, pick out some teams that should have a strong nucleus in place. Obviously we’ll have a better notion of what rosters will look like a few months down the line, but just to whet everyone’s appetite for 2023-24, here’s our way-too-early top 25.

1. Connecticut (31-8)

Jordan Hawkins will almost certainly be off to the next level, but the Huskies should have a lot of key pieces back to make another run in what should be a loaded Big East. Assuming Adama Sanogo returns, Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban will give UConn one of the nation’s top frontcourts, and Dan Hurley knows a thing or two about coaching up guards.

2. Duke (27-9)

Despite an early exit from March Madness, the defending ACC tournament champion Blue Devils should again start with a high ranking. Jon Scheyer will add another strong recruiting class, but he won’t be starting from scratch like most years they have relied on one-and-done. Rising sophomores Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell have already announced their intent to return, and veteran guard Jeremy Roach could be another key piece who stays and pushes Duke toward a title run.

3. Purdue (29-6)

Yes, yes, we know, and until the Boilermakers do something meaningful in March, they won’t shed the underachiever label. But Matt Painter’s team should have most key contributors back, including Zach Edey in the middle. Guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith should also improve as sophomores after some growing pains. Finding consistent shooters would be huge to punish defenses that will collapse on Edey.

4. Marquette (29-7)

Don’t forget it was the Golden Eagles, not Connecticut, that swept the Big East regular season and tournament titles. Shaka Smart’s group could return nearly intact next season. Floor general Tyler Kolek, scoring guard Kam Jones and top rebounders Oso Ighodaro and Olivier-Maxence Prosper should again have Marquette putting up big scores.

5. Creighton (24-13)

After coming agonizingly close to the program’s first Final Four, the Bluejays could return the bulk of their starting lineup for another go at history. Point guard Ryan Nembhard will be back for his junior campaign, and while it is conceivable that center Ryan Kalkbrenner, forward Arthur Kaluma and shooting guard Trey Alexander could all test the professional waters, they’ll likely return to Omaha as well.

6. Alabama (31-6)

The starting lineup for the Tide could look very different next year. Brandon Miller is off to the NBA and Noah Clowney will join him. There could be further departures with big man Charles Bediako and super sub Jahvon Quinerly testing the waters. But Nate Oats will have plenty of talent left to keep the Crimson Tide rolling. Sharpshooter Mark Sears will lead the perimeter scorers, and there will be newcomers to fill spots.

7. Michigan State (21-13)

This has the makings of a Tom Izzo team that can be a title contender if seniors Tyson Walker and Malik Hall decide to stick around. Even if Walker and Hall move on, the backcourt tandem of A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins should return, plus Jaxon Kohler and Mady Sissoko are part of a deep rotation up front. What could push Michigan State over the top are two five-star recruits – Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears. 

8. Miami (Fla.) (29-8)

Curiously absent from the preseason Top 25 at the start of this season, the Hurricanes aren’t likely to slip under the radar heading into next year. Miami’s ceiling is high indeed, assuming lead guard Isaiah Wong returns for his senior campaign. Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier should also be back, and Wooga Poplar, whose shooting improved markedly over the course of the season to complement his defensive ability, could also take on a larger role.

9. Florida Atlantic (35-4)

Owls coach Dusty May has already committed to returning. Twelve of the 13 players could also come back as the program transitions to the American Athletic following an unlikely run to the Final Four. The added competition should allow Florida Atlantic to earn a higher seed in the tournament even if it doesn’t better its 35-4 record.

10. Kansas (28-8)

There is no greater constant in men’s college basketball than the Jayhawks finding their way to the top of the Big 12 standings, even if the start of the season isn’t as smooth as expected. Look for Kansas to have some early growing pains without Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick leading the way. However, forward K.J. Adams and guard Dajaun Harris will provide an important returning tandem. Backcourt reinforcements should come from recruits Elmarko Jackson and Chris Johnson.

11. Kentucky (22-12)

Nobody will cry for the Wildcats after losing several key components from this season, including Oscar Tshiebwe and freshman standout Cason Wallace. They’ll try to reload with the No. 1 recruiting class that features three elite prospects – Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw. What will be key for John Calipari’s team is finding the requisite role players to fit into the puzzle that can end Kentucky’s run of disappointing tournament finishes.

12. Arizona (28-7)

Much of the outlook for the Wildcats will be determined by draft decisions from Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. Should both return, along with Pelle Larsson, there are the makings of a foundation that should make Arizona the favorite in the Pac-12. Rising sophomore Kylan Boswell looks well-suited to point guard duties after Kerr Kriisa’s departure through the portal.

13. Gonzaga (31-6)

Drew Timme no longer will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Bulldogs. But anyone expecting Mark Few’s program to take a major step back after 10 consecutive seasons of at least 28 wins will be disappointed. A big decision looms with whether Julian Strawther decides to stay or enter the draft. There are also several key role players – notably Anton Watson and Malachi Smith – who are set for bigger roles if they are back. The roster should get a boost by enrolled freshman Jun Seok Yeo and incoming recruit Dusty Stromer.

14. Baylor (23-11)

A disappointing finish saw the Bears eliminated early in the tournament. Things look much better for next season. LJ Cryer gives the team one of the top players in the Big 12, and he could push for national honors. Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Jalen Bridges are expected returners up front. Coming aboard are Ja’Kobe Walter and Miro Little, two of the top recruits who should slot into significant roles in the backcourt.

15. Texas A&M (25-10)

The Aggies got off to a slow start this season before finishing second in the SEC regular-season standings and reaching the conference tournament title game. Wade Taylor will be one of the best players in the league next season, and several other key pieces will be returning. Continuing the momentum from the second half of the year shouldn’t be a concern, and contending for the conference title seems realistic.

16. Houston (33-4)

After dominating the American Athletic, there’s change coming for the Cougars as they enter the grinder that is the Big 12. The win total will surely go down with the increase in competition. Still, they’re well-suited to manage the challenge with Jamal Shead leading the backcourt and J’Wan Roberts up front. The surprise departure of Tramon Mark leaves the need for scoring that could be addressed in the portal.

17. UCLA (31-6)

No Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell mean a changing of the guard for the Bruins. Like so many others on this list, they’re waiting to hear from players as they sort out their future, including rising sophomores Amari Bailey and Adem Bona. If Bailey and Bona are back, UCLA will have the pieces to contend for the Pac-12 championship and a top tournament seed. If not, the Bruins will need to go into the portal to augment a top-15 recruiting class.

18. Arkansas (22-14)

The Razorbacks will try to build off a third consecutive trip to the tournament’s second weekend without Nick Smith and Anthony Black, both likely lottery picks. They could also lose fellow guard Ricky Council IV. But with just one player out of eligibility from this season’s roster and two incoming five-star signees, Arkansas will have the pieces for another deep run into March under coach Eric Musselman.

19. Texas (29-9)

Guard Tyrese Hunter and forward Dylan Disu should be centerpieces of Rodney Terry’s first team as the permanent head coach. Disu could dip his toe into the draft but would benefit from another season. There’s still a big drop in experience from this year’s squad, so Terry will need to find transfers to fill needs in the frontcourt and to bolster the Longhorns’ outside shooting.

20. Virginia (25-8)

Second-year players such as Isaac McKneely, Ryan Dunn and Leon Bond III will help Virginia replace guard Kihei Clark and forward Jayden Gardner. The Cavaliers also expect a big boost from Georgetown transfer Dante Harris, who joined the team in January and could bring more offensive punch as the primary ball handler. Maybe the biggest personnel question this spring is whether guard Reece Beekman will be back after declaring for the draft but retaining his right to return.

21. Saint Mary’s (27-8)

Rising sophomore guard Aidan Mahaney will take over the scoring load after averaging 13.9 points per game in his first season. The Gaels are also set to bring first-team all-conference center Mitchell Saxen. Saint Mary’s anticipates losing three key seniors, including top scorer Logan Johnson. But while less experienced, this roster has the pieces to again contend with Gonzaga atop the WCC and draw a top-five tournament seed.

22. Memphis (26-9)

Five players on this year’s team have exhausted their eligibility and another two or three could enter the portal. That includes guard Keonte Kennedy, a valuable outside shooter who was heating up before suffering a season-ending hand injury in late February. Help is on the way via one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, headlined by five-star combo guard Mikey Williams.

23. Southern California (22-11)

USC will bring in the top recruit in the 2023 cycle in point guard Isaiah Collier. He’s joined by high school teammate Arrinten Page, one of the top centers in this class. That alone makes the Trojans worthy of national attention. But don’t sleep on what USC brings back, especially in the frontcourt. That includes rising sophomore Vincent Iwuchukwu, a breakout candidate.

24. Boise State (24-10)

The Broncos badly need depth to take the next step as a program after back-to-back exits in the opening round of the tournament. Coach Leon Rice also needs to find a big man to take pressure off forward Tyson Degenhart on the defensive end. Boise State will bring back guard Max Rice and is just another complementary piece or two away from having the roster needed to nail down a tournament win.

25. San Diego State (32-7)

The Aztecs had been building to their 2022-23 tournament success for some time, but Brian Dutcher’s group is going to look a lot different next year. Among SDSU’s top nine contributors from this lineup, only starting guard Lamont Butler and reserve Micah Parrish are officially listed as juniors slated to return. There are talented freshmen like 6-10 forward Demarshay Johnson and 6-7 wingman Miles Byrd already in house who can take on larger roles.

One of the surest signs that a new baseball season has begun is the avalanche of conclusions already being made on the smallest of sample sizes.

That’s why we present our annual Tuffy Awards: To pay tribute to the little-known players who create incredibly high expectations by starting the season scorching hot, but ultimately return to their near-replacement level of production.

The inspiration for the award did just that 29 years ago. On opening day in 1994, Chicago Cubs outfielder Karl ‘Tuffy’ Rhodes hit three home runs off Dwight Gooden and sent fantasy baseball managers rushing to the waiver wire to pick him up.

Those who succeeded were rewarded with exactly five more homers and a .234 average the rest of the way.

Could history repeat itself? We’ve already seen a three-homer game from an unlikely slugger this season, so another Tuffy may be in our midst.

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Non-Tuffys

While these awards call attention to overinflated expectations, they can also help identify a few players who just might be worth an early investment.

DH Mitch Garver, Texas Rangers. Garver missed most of last season with a forearm injury, one that allowed him to make just 14 starts behind the plate.

Although he didn’t have a great spring, Garver’s healthy now – as evidenced by a two-homer, six-RBI game April 1 in his first regular-season action since last July. Even more encouraging, he caught all nine innings.

If you have the roster space and can wait until he gains in-season catcher eligibility, Garver can be a sneaky weapon at a thin position.

OF Jose Siri, Tampa Bay Rays. Siri has always been known as a fast runner and an excellent fielder. But perhaps there’s something more to his profile.

Siri, 27, did hit 16 homers and steal 24 bases at Class AAA in 2021 – and he’s off to a nice start as the Rays’ everyday center fielder, with a homer, five RBI and a steal in his first three games.

Unless he starts elevating the ball more, his ability to hit the ball hard (he’s already recorded a 110 mph exit velocity this season) isn’t going to pay off with very many homers. However, regular playing time, MLB’s new rules and his elite sprint speed should make him quite valuable on the base paths.

RP Pierce Johnson, Colorado Rockies. Just a couple of years ago, Daniel Bard came out of relative obscurity to take over the closer’s job in a hitter-friendly ballpark and actually find success.

With Bard out for an indefinite amount of time, the Rockies turned to the 31-year-old Johnson in their first save opportunity. And he converted it with ease. Johnson gets whiffs (10.7 career K/9 rate) and has historically been at his best in high-leverage situations. He could be a nice stopgap until Bard is ready to return.

Almost-Tuffys

On the other hand, we have a few Tuffy contenders who should be viewed with a healthy amount of skepticism.

SP Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies. The Rockies surprisingly opened the season with two wins over the San Diego Padres. Freeland played a major role in the second game, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing only three hits.

However, he only struck out one batter and the game wasn’t played in Colorado’s mile-high altitude, where Freeland will spend half the season.

3B Gio Urshela, Los Angeles Angels. Urshela opened the season with two starts at shortstop and one at third base, collecting five hits and scoring three runs. But don’t read too much into his performance against the lowly Oakland Athletics.

Though he makes consistent contact, Urshela doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard. And his defense at short isn’t good enough to keep him in the lineup consistently.

OF Victor Robles, Washington Nationals. Still trying to find the magic that resulted in 17 homers and 28 steals in 2019, Robles had a pair of hits and – more impressively – three walks in his first two games.

He’s had past issues with plate discipline (104/17 K/BB last season), so the walks are a good sign. But Robles hits the ball as soft as anyone in the majors (1st percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate) – and that’s not going to change just because it’s a new season.

1B Garrett Cooper, Miami Marlins. Cooper went 5-for-13 in three games with a home run, a triple and a 1.154 OPS. However, those totals also included four strikeouts and no walks. Plus, the triple could easily have been ruled an error.

Though Cooper is a solid veteran hitter, he could just as easily be replaced by Yuli Gurriel – or squeezed out of a lineup spot in favor of Luis Arraez if the Jazz Chisholm-in-center field experiment doesn’t work out.

And the 2023 Tuffy Award goes to …

OF Trayce Thompson, Los Angeles Dodgers. The younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson made a splash of his own April 1 in his regular-season debut.

After sitting out the Dodgers’ first two games, Thompson promptly launched a grand slam off Diamondbacks left-hander Madison Bumgarner in his first at-bat. He connected again in the sixth and, for good measure, added a solo shot in the eighth to complete the Tuffy Triplet.

Thompson finished with eight RBI, becoming just the eighth player in Dodgers history to record eight or more in one game.

Though he only had 255 plate appearances last season, Thompson hit righties (1.010 OPS) much better than he did lefties (.621 OPS). However, lefty-swinging rookie James Outman also homered on opening day as the starter in center field.

Thompson, 32, has displayed both power and speed throughout his minor league career, but – until last year – enjoyed limited success in the majors. His impressive 2022 numbers (13 HRs, 41 RBI, .507 slugging in 80 games) came with a .374 average on balls in play and despite a mere 57.5% contact rate.

Thompson is a great story, but Outman is seven years younger, has been an on-base machine in the minors and is likely to play most of the time against right-handed pitchers. Thompson could see time in left field, but like Outman, incumbent David Peralta also hits left-handed.

If his bat stays hot, the Dodgers will have to find a place for Thompson in the lineup.

But three-homer games are an anomaly, and over the long haul, his most likely path to playing time will be on the short side of a platoon.

Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner

Proposing at a sporting event is a romantic way for sports fans to express their love.

One Los Angeles Dodgers fan might have gone too far in trying to show his commitment to his girlfriend when he was tackled by security after running into the outfield to pop the question. A video of the grand gesture, which happened on Opening Day Thursday at Dodger Stadium, went viral.

Ricardo Juárez, a sushi chef from Riverside, California, was the man who was asking his girlfriend, Stephani Gutierrez, to marry him. He told the Los Angeles Times that his extreme action was a whim. He had the ring and a plan to maybe ask the question at their seats in the stands. But, as the game went on, he wanted to declare his love in a big way.

“Just show your wives that you love them,” he said in Spanish. “Tell them the truth, always fight, treat them with love and do everything for them, because well, she is the love of your life.’

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Gutierrez was returning from the bathroom when she saw her boyfriend in the middle of the outfield on his knee and then tackled.

“I barely caught it. I don’t even know if I had a chance to be excited,’ she said. ‘I was so scared about what was going to happen to him.”

When Juárez was knocked over by a security guard, fans could see his baseball cap fly off his head. What they couldn’t see was that he lost the ring in the incident, too.

“I was yelling and telling them in English, ‘My ring, my ring,’” he recalled. “That’s the only thing that mattered.”

After the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2, Juárez was given a bag with his things — and the ring.

He was also given a citation and a one-year ban from the stadium. He went to the doctor a few days later because of pain from the hit. He was given a note to miss work for four days, Gutierrez told the Los Angeles Times.

But he got the commitment for life. He proposed to Gutierrez again later that night on the party bus that took them to the game.

She said yes.

Darron Lee, a former Ohio State University football player and NFL first-round draft pick, was arrested Monday night by Dublin (Ohio) police and charged with domestic violence related to two separate incidents, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.

Lee, 28, is facing two counts each of misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor assault. One set of charges is related to an incident that allegedly occurred on Oct. 17 and one that occurred on Monday. Both incidents happened at a home on Kendall Ridge Loop.

Lee is currently being held in the Franklin County jail and had a court appearance in both cases on Tuesday morning. Court records list Lee’s current address as being in Fort Lauderdale. His bond was set at $20,000 in each case, and he was ordered to stay away from the two alleged victims if he posts that bond amount.

According to court records, Dublin police were called to the Kendall Ridge Loop home on Monday by a female relative.

Court records said officers were called after Lee reportedly punched the woman multiple times in the head during an argument. Both the female relative and the mother of Darron Lee’s child called police to report the incident.

According to a signed affidavit by Columbus police, the female relative told officers that Lee’s girlfriend had expressed concerns to her on Monday about not feeling safe around Lee. The relative had gone to speak with him in an upstairs bedroom of the home and tell him that he needed to leave the home.

Lee initially told police that the relative hit him first, but later recanted and said that discoloration on his cheek was a skin condition, according to court records.

The relative told officers that Lee became upset when she told him to leave and began yelling at her before grabbing her shirt and shoving her into a wall multiple times.

‘(The relative) was then thrown to the ground while Mr. Lee kept screaming at her. Mr. Lee then began to strike her head with his fists making contact with her face and back of her head,’ court records said. ‘(The relative) stated that he struck her approximately 8-9 times in the head area with a closed fist.’

Officers said the female relative was taken to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries, which included obvious swelling to her left cheek and complaints that her head hurt.

‘(The relative) also had a cell phone recording of the initial assault that was given to police for evidence,’ court records said.

During the investigation into Monday’s incident, police learned of an alleged incident on Oct. 17, 2022, involving Lee and the mother of his child. That woman told police that Lee believed the woman had cheated on her, leading to an argument that began in an upstairs bedroom.

‘(The woman) was laying on the bed and Darron got on top of her, with his knees making contact with her knees, and his left hand on her neck where it remained for approximately 60 seconds,’ court records said. ‘During this time, (the woman) advised that Darron told her that he would kill her and their child.’

The woman also told police that Lee had punched the pillow beside her head multiple times and squeezed her throat, threw her phone and struck her in the side of the head.

The argument then continued into the downstairs area of the home. The woman told police that Lee ‘grabbed (her) by the neck and lifted her up.’

‘He then swung (her) around and dropped her onto the ground,’ court records said.

Lee then went back upstairs, at which point the woman was able to get their child and leave the home safely.

Lee reportedly told police that the woman had struck him in the face during the argument and again while they were going downstairs and denied ever putting his hands on the woman’s neck. Police reportedly viewed photographs of injuries the woman had taken that night by a relative, photos of a hole in the wall and a broken phone, as well as a journal entry the woman made related to the incident.

Lee was a star linebacker on Ohio State’s 2014 national championship team. The New Albany, Ohio, native was a late addition to the Buckeyes’ 2013 recruiting class. Lee played quarterback in high school and did not have an obvious college position. 

Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, now the head coach at the University of Wisconsin, believed Lee had potential as a linebacker and lobbied then-coach Urban Meyer to offer a scholarship. 

He emerged as a playmaker in the spring of 2014 and became integral in Ohio State’s run to the championship. He was named the defensive Most Valuable Player in Ohio State’s 42-35 victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal. 

Lee declared for the 2016 NFL draft and was taken 20th overall by the New York Jets. He was the last of five Ohio State first-round draft picks that year.

His NFL career was a disappointment. He struggled in pass coverage as a rookie and was fined several times by the Jets and the NFL in his second season. Late in his third season, the NFL suspended Lee for four games for a performance enhancement drug violation. 

The Jets traded Lee to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl that season, but Lee was on the inactive list for that game. 

The NFL again suspended Lee for four games in 2020. He then had brief stays with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders. 

The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t done adding former New England Patriots to the team this offseason.

This time, they’ll add a former player to the coaching staff.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola, who retired last July, is joining the Raiders as a coaching assistant/returns, according to the coaching staff roster on their website.  

Amendola, who helped the Patriots win Super Bowls 49 and 51, will reunite with Raiders coach Josh McDaniels.

Amendola spent 13 seasons in the NFL as a receiver and returner, his first four with the St. Louis Rams from 2009-12. McDaniels was the Rams offensive coordinator in 2011.

McDaniels and Amendola worked together during Amendola’s five-year stint with the Patriots from 2013-17, when McDaniels was Bill Belichick’s offensive coordinator.  

As much as Amendola was a reliable receiver, he led the NFL with 66 returns and 1,618 kick return yards as a rookie in 2009. He also led the league with a 12.0 yards per punt return average in 2015.

Amendola’s experience includes 1,860 punt return yards, 3,590 kick return yards and 6,212 receiving yards on 617 receptions. He had 24 touchdowns, with none in the return game.   

Amendola becomes another former Patriots player to join the Raiders after the team welcomed quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer and receiver Jakobi Meyers this offseason.

Rory McIlroy says the 2023 Masters is business as usual, even with LIV golfers competing alongside PGA Tour members at Augusta National.

McIlroy, who has been a vocal antagonist of the Saudi-financed LIV Golf tour, took the high road Tuesday while speaking to reporters in the Masters press room.

“Look, it’s a narrative and a storyline,’ McIlroy said, ‘but the Masters and the four major championships sit above all that noise, and that’s the way it should be this week.’

McIlroy’s comments showed his reverence for the legendary event, which will feature 18 players from LIV Golf in this year’s field. He has held a feud with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman since the tour’s 2021 inception and has been involved in dustups with LIV golfers, such as Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia.

So why has McIlroy called a cease-fire? It could be because the world No. 2 has a career grand slam at stake.

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McIlroy, who is a Masters win away from becoming just the fifth player in history to complete a career grand slam, finished second behind 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler last year.

“I felt last year that I maybe shed some of that scar tissue and felt like I sort of made breakthroughs,” McIlroy said. “I’m feeling as sort of relaxed as I ever have coming in here just in terms of I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just about as well as anyone.”

McIlroy is hoping it will be him celebrating on the 18th green Sunday, but what if it’s a LIV golfer? Norman said recently he expects the entire LIV contingent to storm the green if one of their golfers claims a green jacket.

McIlroy, who was relatively diplomatic navigating a sea of LIV-related questions, did push back on that notion.

“I think that only puts more pressure on themselves that they are not just playing for themselves and they are playing for this cause,” McIlroy said. “That might help in some way, I don’t know.”

Still, McIlroy doesn’t hold contentious relationships with all LIV golfers. He played a practice round Tuesday with Brooks Koepka and still sees Dustin Johnson regularly.

“It’s a very nuanced situation and there’s different dynamics,” McIlroy said. “You know, it’s OK to get on with Brooks and (Dustin Johnson) and maybe not get on with some other guys that went to LIV, right? It’s interpersonal relationships, that’s just how it goes.

“I think the more face time you get with some people, the more comfortable you become in some way.”

When asked whether he would be among those celebrating should a LIV golfer win the tournament, McIlroy offered a tongue-in-cheek response.

“Depends who it is.”