Educators and reading enthusiasts throughout the country rejoiced when cameras caught the Eagles’ leading receiver reading a book while he was on the bench late in the second half Sunday. Even better, the clip of Brown thumbing through his well-read copy of “Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life” remains a topic of conversation several days after the game.

Clips of Brown reading are still circulating on social media. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni talked about it Tuesday and anchors on Philadelphia’s local Fox station were reading as their show began Monday. ‘Inner Excellence’ is now No. 1 on Amazon’s list of best-selling books, with one person writing, “A.J. Brown recommended this book, so I’m looking forward to reading it. Fly Eagles Fly.”

At a time when kids are reading at some of the lowest levels ever, Brown making reading all the rage could be a game-changer.

“We’re in a reading crisis,” said Sasha Quinton, executive vice president and president of School Reading Events at Scholastic.

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“We need help. Somebody like A.J. Brown reading is so powerful not only for the child, but for parents, too, to inspire them. It’s carrying a dual impact, which is tremendous.”

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that all of America is reading less. We were already spending more time on screens — computers, tablets, cell phones — before the pandemic, and that exploded during COVID when school, work and free time were all taking place online. Kids now spend 1.5 more hours on screens a day than they did before the pandemic, Quinton said.

That, coupled with a shift in teaching that emphasizes standardized testing, has meant kids do very little reading for fun anymore. In Scholastic’s most recent Kids & Family Reading Report, the number of kids aged 6 to 17 who said they read five to seven days a week dropped from 37% in 2010 to 28% in 2022. According to the latest American Time Use Survey, released last summer by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adolescents aged 15 to 19 read for fun for just eight minutes a day.

More concerning, 53% of kids 12 to 17 in the Scholastic report said they didn’t enjoy reading books for fun or enjoyed it only a little.

The academic ramifications of that are obvious.

Kids who read develop a better capacity to comprehend and write because the grammar and vocabulary used in books is more complex than what’s found on social media, said Catherine Snow, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. They also develop better cognitive skills because they’re not only absorbing what they’re reading, they’re incorporating it with what they already know.  

“That integration is something that doesn’t happen if what you’re reading is little bits of trivia,” Snow said.

But it also has an impact in everyday life. Quinton said there are adults who cannot understand the labels of their medications or comprehend their doctor’s instructions because they don’t have the reading comprehension. The same for contracts and directions.

“The big message is there are opportunities for learning from reading a book that are being forfeited if kids never read books,” Snow said.

“We’re not going to get kids to read books just by telling them to,” Snow added. “Having this little nudge that one piece of a route to success for an athlete is knowing how to read and reading well and enjoying reading is a great message.”

Particularly for younger kids, Quinton said.

Studies have shown that interest in reading for fun begins declining around age 9. At that age, parents are no longer reading to their kids and kids are getting more involved in extracurricular activities. Like sports. They’re also starting to figure out who they are and what interests them. Like sports.

If those kids see Brown reading, or hear him say he likes reading, it might encourage them to pick up a book, too.

“Reading improves our students’ performances in the classroom. It also gives our scholars exposure to different cultures, people and places,” Tony B. Watlington Sr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

“Seeing Eagles receiver A.J. Brown read lets our children know that they can perform at an exceptional level in sports and in the classroom,” Watlington added. “They don’t have to choose.”

In fact, reading makes Brown an even better player.

Brown is a big reader — two books a month, mostly non-fiction — and said he finds that re-reading passages that made an impression on him between drives helps him stay focused and centered. He’s had a book with him on the bench each week; the wild-card game was just the first time anyone spotted it.

“When they see somebody reading on the sidelines, and choosing to do it, and it’s joyful for them and they’re using it to better themselves, it really does carry significant weight because kids want to emulate their heroes,” Quinton said. “It’s powerful.”

Athletes are often role models because of what they do on the field. Brown is setting a terrific example by what he does off the field, too.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

When Bill Belichick fled to the college ranks in December, this season’s NFL coaching carousel seemingly was left without a figure who would loom over the search process. At least that was the case until Monday night.

That’s when news broke that Colorado coach Deion Sanders had been in touch with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who earlier in the day confirmed the team was parting ways with Mike McCarthy after five years. Sanders himself later confirmed the connection.

‘To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,’ Sanders told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday night. ‘I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.’

Even with no formal interview set, perhaps the biggest brands in football coaching and American team sports have now been linked to one another.

Sanders, 57, engineered rapid turnarounds both at Jackson State and Colorado. In his second season leading the Buffaloes, he posted a 9-4 mark while helping Travis Hunter win the Heisman Trophy. Between his impressive track record in the college ranks and Hall of Fame work as a cornerback for the Cowboys – including playing a key role in helping the franchise win its last Super Bowl title during the 1995 season – it’s easy to understand how the interest on Dallas’ part first materialized.

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But as Sanders well knows, not all coaching jobs are comparable to one another – least of all the ones that involve working for Jones, the owner, general manager and decision-maker standing over all matters related to ‘America’s Team.’ And even with the two sides expected to continue discussions, several roadblocks or even potential deal-breakers could be ahead.

Here are seven reasons that Sanders’ candidacy with the Cowboys might eventually fizzle out – with the caveat that both sides could prove this piece wrong in the coming weeks:

1. There’s no easy path for the Cowboys to land Shedeur Sanders

Though Deion Sanders has long signaled he’s more than content to remain in Boulder, he did recently acknowledge intrigue in one potential setup at the pro level.

‘The only way I would consider (an NFL job) is to coach my sons,’ Sanders said last week on ‘GMA3: What You Need to Know.’

Sanders emphasized that would mean both football-playing sons: Shedeur, the quarterback who claimed the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Shilo, a safety.

Jones certainly has been an advocate for folding family into one’s career – just watch his star turn during his ‘Landman’ cameo for confirmation. And finding a way to secure Shilo shouldn’t be too much of a problem for any franchise interested in the Sanders family. But getting a shot at the former might be a dead end for Dallas.

Put aside the Dak Prescott matter for one minute – we’ll come back to it. The Cowboys are currently set to pick 12th in the first round of April’s NFL draft. Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, is widely projected to be a top-three selection in a class short on surefire Day 1 signal-callers. To move up to either of the first two spots currently owned by the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, respectively, the Cowboys might have to give up something resembling what the Chicago Bears ceded two years ago. The package to get to No. 1 featured wide receiver DJ Moore, the No. 9 overall pick, an additional first-rounder (which would become the top pick in 2024) and two second-rounders.

That would be quite the ask in any interview, especially given that Jones couldn’t negotiate with other teams from a position of strength in any scenario in which he tried to move up. But that’s all likely a pipe dream, anyway, in part because of point No. 2.

2. Trading Dak Prescott is a non-starter

Jones is just over four months removed from making Prescott the highest-paid player in league history with a four-year, $240 million extension. Even after a trying 7-10 campaign in which Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, moving on from the 2023 MVP runner-up and one of his personal favorites in order to embark on a costly pursuit of an unknown – albeit a talented one – would constitute a remarkable about-face for Jones.

It’s also entirely unviable.

Moving Prescott before June 1 would incur a dead cap hit of $103.2 million, according to Over The Cap, a figure that would be more 20% higher than the Denver Broncos’ record $85 million blow for releasing Russell Wilson.

There’s also the little matter of Prescott having a no-trade clause. That essentially means no dice in Dallas for a potential Shedeur and Deion pairing.

3. The personnel problem

Running into a wall in any potential push for Shedeur would be just one of the first of what likely would be many player-acquisition frustrations for Deion.

At Colorado, Sanders was able to rapidly reshape the team’s roster to his own liking through use of the transfer portal. In Dallas, he’d largely be saddled with holdovers from the McCarthy era, with Jones resisting all calls to give up his GM powers and annually refusing a wider reset. And with the Cowboys currently projected to be just above the cap threshold, according to Over The Cap, it’s a good bet that Jones will once again turn out his pockets in explaining why the team will yet again sit on the sidelines throughout most of the free agency action.

4. The financial elements might not add up for Jones

Securing Sanders would require Jones to pay an $8 million buyout to Colorado. The cost-conscious owner let his last two coaches’ contracts expire, so this additional fee might be hard for him to tolerate.

And any negotiation with Jones could prove difficult given how he has balked at dead money for coaches, including when speaking with USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell last summer about McCarthy’s lack of an extension last summer.

5. The experience factor

Maybe Jones is ready to take a leap of faith after his experience with McCarthy. But three of his last four hires have had NFL head-coaching experience, and the win-now mandate remains.

Like any college coach without previous experience leading a professional team, Sanders should be expected to have a learning curve if he makes the jump. Would Jones be able to tolerate that given the makeup of his veteran-laden team?

6. Assembling the right coaching staff could be tricky

Unlike Jim Harbaugh, Sanders can’t rely on past pro coaching connections and a robust existing staff to quickly assemble a group of pro-ready assistants. His most experienced aide for a potential transition would be offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, whose units ranked in the bottom third of the league in scoring during three of his last four pro years as head coach of the New York Giants and offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Is he equipped to ignite an attack that lost its spark and needs to establish something beyond the connection between Prescott and CeeDee Lamb? While Sanders might be able to lock in some of McCarthy’s assistants to help make a transition easier for everyone, the CEO-style head coach might find it hard to surround himself with the proper coaching support, at least in Year 1.

7. The talks might be mutually beneficial even if they lead nowhere

To be fair, there’s ample reason for both parties to explore this opportunity. But the upside for Sanders and Jones doesn’t hinge entirely on a partnership coming to fruition.

Sanders, who in November said he has his ‘kickstand down’ in Boulder, is seemingly due for a contract extension after outpacing expectations just two years into his five-year, $29.5 million deal. Talking over career options with the 82-year-old owner, who is free to spend as much of his estimated net worth of $16.6 billion on coaches as he likes, can’t hurt his cause.

Jones, meanwhile, has seized the spotlight in the middle of the NFL playoffs, with the Cowboys now set to dominate the sports discourse for the coming days.

Recall what he told ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler about her story on the Cowboys’ abundant fan tours.

‘The fact that you and I are talking about an issue that seems, to you, controversial, is very much a part of the plan that will create interest,’ Jones said, according to Kahler. ‘You will create a ton of interest.’

For the moment, at least, Jones and Sanders have done exactly that.

Winning an Olympic medal is a pinnacle moment for most athletes, but the well-earned piece of hardware has turned sour for some of the 2024 Paris Olympics competitors — but, they’ll be getting new ones, if they wish.

Monnaie de Paris, which produced the medals for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, said it will ‘replace all damaged medals at the athletes’ request’ after multiple complaints about the medals deteriorating and tarnishing.

Shortly after U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Huston won a bronze medal in July, he revealed the award was already showing some wear and tear, adding the front of it was chipped and that it lost its shine. British diver Yasmin Harper also said the bronze medal she won in the women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard diving event had ‘small bits of tarnishing.’

Evidently, Huston and Harper weren’t the only ones that had complaints. French website La Lettre said more than 100 medals from the Games were returned due to the decline in quality. Now, months after the Olympics ended, a process to replace the medals will begin.

“The Monnaie de Paris has taken the issue of damaged medals very seriously since the first exchange requests in August, and has mobilized its internal teams,” it said in a statement to The Associated Press. ‘Since then, the company has modified and optimized its relative varnishing process. The Monnaie de Paris will replace all damaged medals at the athletes’ request during the first quarter of 2025.’

The International Olympic Committee also told the outlet that Paris organizers are in contact with the committees with athletes that have filed complaints, and the replacement process will start in the coming weeks.

USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Monnaie de Paris and the IOC for comment.

The medals were designed by Chaumet, a luxury French jeweler. Each weighing 18 grams, the most significant part of the medals is that every one of them includes a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower pieces were used in the hexagon shape in its iron color with the 2024 Olympic Games logo on it. The six metal appendages on the hexagon also came from the original Eiffel Tower.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic continued to build into the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in the second round on Wednesday, taking another step towards a 25th Grand Slam title.

For the top players, the first week of a major is all about finding a groove in the full heat of competition and Djokovic could not have wished for more from his first two opponents, both making their Grand Slam debuts.

On Monday, inspired American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy gave the 10-times Melbourne Park champion the runaround for the first hour of their first-round clash, and 21-year-old Faria presented another set of problems for Djokovic to solve.

Faria’s victory in the opening round was his first at tour level, while Djokovic moved out of a tie with Roger Federer to claim another record merely by taking to the court for his 430th Grand Slam match.

The gap in experience looked like a chasm in a one-sided opening set but Faria stormed back into the contest by winning the second set in a tiebreaker on the back of some fine ball-striking and all-court athleticism.

Djokovic, with one-time adversary Andy Murray again in his coaching box, broke for 4-2 in the third set, however, and fully quashed the threat offered by the world No. 125 in the fourth to set up a meeting with Czech Tomas Machac.

‘I love this court, I love competition,’ the 37-year-old Serbian said after reaching the third round of the Australian Open for the 17th time with his 14th ace of the match.

‘I think I responded well in the third set and particularly the fourth. He was playing lights-out tennis at the end of the second set and start of the third and I had to weather the storm.

‘I told him at the net, ‘the future is bright for you so carry on.’ ‘

Carlos Alcaraz rolls

After clubbing 14 aces in a whirlwind victory at the Australian Open on Wednesday, Carlos Alcaraz made no secret of his aspirations for his retooled serve.

‘Am I a serve bot?’ Alcaraz scribbled on a camera lens at Margaret Court Arena where he thrashed Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the third round.

Serving has been on the four-times Grand Slam champion’s mind at Melbourne Park after tweaking his motion in the offseason.

He was not thrilled with its performance in his first round win against Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko where he landed less than 60% of his first serves and had six aces.

Wednesday’s figures were more encouraging for the meticulous Spaniard, who more than doubled the ace count and won 32 out of 36 points (89%) on his first serve.

It came after a long service training session with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero on Tuesday.

‘I felt more comfortable on it, yes. I think the serve’s about confidence and feelings,’ he told reporters.

‘Today I felt great. The throw of the ball was great today, which it helps a lot in the serve today.’

Though having won the French Open and a second Wimbledon crown last year with his previous serving action, Alcaraz was unhappy with its accuracy and overall strain on the body.

The new movement is a little more relaxed with a looser wrist to try to improve timing.

Alcaraz said he still has much to improve on if he wants to rival the top ‘serve bots’ like American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

As third seed with four Grand Slam titles under his belt, Alcaraz would seem a shoo-in for centre court scheduling at Melbourne Park but has played both his matches this year at Margaret Court Arena.

Players can submit their preferences to organisers but there are no guarantees they will be accommodated.

Alcaraz said he would rather play on Rod Laver Arena’s centre court, where women’s double defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and 10-times champion Novak Djokovic had the early slots on Wednesday.

But he was content to keep playing on the lesser courts if it meant an early night’s sleep.

‘Obviously I want to play on Rod Laver, but we have to see the schedule, as well. As I said many times, I don’t like to play night sessions.’

Here’s to the search for the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Good luck, prospects. Mike McCarthy gave it a shot, but in five years couldn’t take the franchise any further in the quest for championship glory than his predecessors – including Jason Garrett, Wade Phillips and Bill Parcells – so they are starting over again.

Of course, the drama will be thick. After all, this is Jerry Jones’ team. Following a week in limbo, when Jones and McCarthy engaged in meetings to review another season that turned to dust and project the future, it ended Monday with McCarthy, 61, becoming a coaching free agent and another key job posting hitting the NFL landscape.

Wanted: Head coach for an underachieving team. Lots of exposure attached to the NFL’s most valuable franchise. High salary comes with many perks. Must be willing to operate in the shadow of the league’s highest-profile owner (and GM). Immense pressure to produce tradition-rich franchise’s first Super Bowl berth after 29-year drought (and counting). Final say on personnel moves? Forget it. Comes with foundational talents Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons…and serious salary cap issues. Never mind the fan tours at team headquarters. They come with the culture.

There’s a healthy debate about how coveted the job will be for top-notch coaches – if you caught Cowboys legend Troy Aikman’s take on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” pregame show, there are significant doubts about that – but somebody’s gotta do it.

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Despite the perceived drawbacks, that the Cowboys job is on that mega stage – “only the big room,” is how Parcells described the lure of coming out of retirement for the gig in 2003 – will be enticing enough as one of only 32 in the league.

McCarthy came with his Super Bowl resume, yet despite getting the best out of Prescott and winning the locker room, the clock ran out. Never mind that the Cowboys (7-10 in 2024, following three consecutive 12-5 campaigns) played hard for McCarthy down the stretch, and all without Prescott, finished at midseason due to a hamstring injury. The compliments from Jones in recent weeks didn’t ensure that the coach, who publicly expressed his desire to return, were not valid clues after all.

In many ways, it seems that the course was set for McCarthy a year ago, when the Cowboys suffered arguably the worst playoff loss in franchise history at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. It also appeared to some degree that McCarthy was set up to fail after his contract wasn’t extended last year. The Cowboys signed Prescott and Lamb to top-market extensions, but they weren’t completed until the just before the start of the season and latter part of training camp, respectively, fueling drama. Even worse, the Cowboys had a miserable time of it during free agency – for instance, Derrick Henry wanted to play for Dallas, where he has a home, but didn’t even get a call for the Cowboys, with Jones contending they couldn’t afford him.

And look at Henry now. The Cowboys sure could’ve used him.

McCarthy ultimately couldn’t deliver the championship run that has eluded the Cowboys since the mid-1990s, when the franchise last played in an NFC title game. That his final, injury-battered unit was less talented than the previous groups offered no grace.

The thinking that Jones couldn’t find a better coach on the market will now have to be proven, while McCarthy, kept in check last week when Jones denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview him, will interview with…the Bears.

But who fits with the Cowboys now?

It’s almost a given to expect that Kellen Moore, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, would be a consideration. Moore, who transitioned from Prescott’s backup quarterback to begin his coaching career with the Cowboys, was thought of so highly by Jones that McCarthy inherited Moore as the hand-picked coordinator and play-caller when he took the job in 2020. Then again, Moore left for a reason in 2023, and his first year with the Eagles – boosted by Saquon Barkley’s phenomenal season – has included so many questions about the viability of the passing game.

Then there are the Detroit Lions coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Every team with an opening has targeted these two critical pieces to Detroit’s ability to seize the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Johnson, who pushes the buttons for a creative offense that the Cowboys were foil for during a rout in October, is a hot name on the market for the third consecutive season. Glenn’s stock, meanwhile, has skyrocketed as his defense has endured despite massive injury losses, including the fractured fibula and tibia that Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sustained, incidentally, in Dallas. There’s also a familiarity factor with the high-energy Glenn, who played cornerback under Parcells for two seasons with the Cowboys.

Timing, though, could hamper Dallas in pursuing any of the coaches still in the playoffs. Per NFL rules, interviews with coaches from existing playoff teams can’t be conducted until their teams are eliminated – or after the Super Bowl. Had the Cowboys parted ways with McCarthy last week, though, they could have had virtual interviews with those top prospects during a window last week. Still, the possibilities can’t be ignored – even if the Cowboys are behind the eight ball because the process of cutting the cord with McCarthy dragged on.

Yes, this is Jerry’s team. Thus, you can never rule out the possibility of a stunning move that shocks the NFL landscape.

Hello, Coach Prime?

Multiple reports surfaced on Monday that said Jones has already spoken to Deion Sanders about the job, with the Colorado coach later confirming the connection. Stay tuned.

One thing for sure: Sanders could surely handle the big stage. And given his years with the Cowboys during his Hall of Fame journey (including a Super Bowl ring), there’s undoubtedly a connection with Jones. Shoot, nobody is better equipped to deal with the Cowboys’ circus-like environment than Sanders, whose rise during two seasons at Colorado has continually fueled questions about whether he wants to ultimately coach in the NFL.

Sanders has seemingly softened his previous position about not wanting to coach on the pro level. He recently maintained that he would be open to the idea if he could coach his sons, star quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo. With Prescott receiving a massive contract extension in September that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player, it’s a stretch to expect that Shedeur Sanders would wind up with the Cowboys. Yet a report last week in the Las Vegas Journal-Review maintained that Sanders has some interest in the Raiders’ vacant job. If he would consider the Raiders, why not the Cowboys? Especially if he’s flexible about, well, the quarterback. And Sanders, by the way, still has a home in the Dallas area.

In any event, Jones has maintained – going back to Sanders’ tenure at Jackson State, at least – that he saw the Hall of Famer as a potential NFL head coach.

Other stuff to ponder: Would Jones tap the college ranks and try luring Steve Sarkisian from Texas? Would he buck the NFL and go after Jon Gruden, despite the former coach’s lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell? Would he call the Pittsburgh Steelers and inquire about trading for the embattled but well-respected Mike Tomlin?

With Jones, you just never know. Remember, he came into the NFL in 1989 with a shock as he replaced the legendary Tom Landry with Jimmy Johnson, and that worked out. Then when he split with Johnson in 1994, he brought in another college coach, Barry Switzer.

Did you hear the one about Jason Witten? Fans have been making a lot of noise on the internet suggesting that the team pursue the Hall of Fame-credentialed former tight end who has begun his coaching career, and coaching his son, at Liberty Christian High School in Argyle, Texas.

Maybe Witten can be the next Coach Prime or the next Dan Campbell, tight-end-turned coaching star. Check back in 10 years.

With the current crisis, the Cowboys have a sense of urgency that just can’t wait.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell on X @JarrettBell.

Tiger Woods’  TGL (TMRW Golf League) debut was not what he was hoping for. 

The Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala took down the Jupiter Links Golf Club, made up of Woods, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner, 12-1 on Tuesday at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

It was never close. LAGC jumped to a 5-0 lead early before Jupiter Golf Club even got their first point on the board. It appeared that Jupiter Golf Club was going to make a run on hole No. 7, but LAGC answered right back with Theegala’s nine-foot par putt to keep them from adding to their score. 

Jupiter Golf Club finished with six penalties on Tuesday.

How does the competition work? Think PGA Tour meets Top Golf. Players start by driving into a giant simulator screen before transitioning to a real green once their shot lands 50 yards or less from the hole. During the first nine holes, teammates alternate shots in the “triples” phase. The final six holes feature head-to-head matchups between players from each team, known as “singles.”

Here are the best highlights and results from Woods’ TGL debut match:

Hole No. 15: Sahith Theegala eagles final hole

The final hole of the TGL match virtually took golfers to the Grand Canyon. Sahith Theegala of LAGC sunk a 6-foot eagle putt to win hole No. 15 – a par-5, 729-yard hole – and defeat Homa to go up, 12-1. 

Hole 14: Collin Morikawa defeats Kevin Kisner, again

Collin Morikawa sunk a 4-foot putt to win the hole and extend LAGC’s lead to 11-1.

Hole 13: Tiger Woods loses to Justin Rose in nightmare hole

Tiger Woods couldn’t find his stride. His tee shot landed in the water on hole No. 13 (par-4, 464 yards), incurring a one-stroke penalty. All Woods could do was laugh. He found the bunker on his next stroke. To make matters worse, his bunker shot landed… in the bunker again. Justin Rose easily won the hole to put LAGC up 10-1. 

Hole 12: Max Homa, Sahith Theegala tie

Max Homa of Jupiter Links Golf Club got a little bit of luck on hole No. 12 (par-3, 200 yards). His shot landed in the bunker and hoped out onto the green. Homa’s luck, however, appeared to run out. His 34-foot birdie putt to win the hole drifted right and then he missed a 7-foot par putt. Homa went head-to-head with LAGC’s Sahith Theegala, who also missed a 13-foot parr putt. They tied the hole. 

Hole 11: Collin Morikawa defeats Kevin Kisner

Kevin Kisner of Jupiter Links Golf Club faced off against Collin Morikawa of LAGC on hole No. 11 (par-4, 535 yards). Kisner’s tee shot went out of bounds, incurring yet another penalty. “That’s like my third penalty of the day,” Kisner said. Morikawa took advantage to claim the hole to give LAGC a 9-1 lead. 

Hole 10: Justin Rose misses dagger vs. Tiger Woods

The competition shifts to the ‘singles’ segment, where one player from each team goes head-to-head on each hole. Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club faced off against Justin Rose of LAGC on hole No. 10 (par-5, 616 yards). Jupiter Links Golf Club threw out the Hammer ahead of tee shots, doubling the value of the hole. 

Tiger Woods missed a 15-foot par putt when he made it to the green. LAGC instantly threw out their own hammer flag to increase the hole’s value to three points with Rose less than 6-feet away from the hole. Rose missed his putt slightly to the left to keep the Jupiter Links Golf Club’s hopes of getting back into it alive. 

Charlie Woods in attendance

Tiger Woods’ biggest fan (or critic) is his 15-year-old son. Charlie Woods was in attendance at SoFi Center on Tuesday for his dad’s TGL debut with the Jupiter Links Golf Club and he apparently had a lot to say about the team’s lackluster performance.

“Charlie tried to give us a pep talk, which was just him saying we aren’t really good,” Max Homa said ahead of hole No. 10, as his team trailed 8-1. “I don’t know if that was a pep talk, but our spirits are still high.”

Kevin Kisner jokingly asked if Charlie wanted to take his place: “Charlie, you want to come play? Come sub in, man.” 

Hole 9: LAGC capitalizes on hammer, leads 8-1

The final hole of “triples” is here and the Jupiter Links Golf Club has some major ground to make up if they want to stay in this. Hole No. 9 (par-5, 586 yards) offered both teams a challenge, as they each ended up in the bunker opposite sides of the hole. LAGC managed to get out unscathed. Did we mention a hammer is in play?

Jupiter Links Golf Club’s Max Homa set Tiger Woods up with a 8-foot putt for par that would have tied the hole, but Woods missed to the left, giving LAGC two points. They now lead 8-1.

Hole 8: Justin Rose extends LAGC’s lead 6-1

With five seconds left on the shot clock, Justin Rose stepped up and knocked down a 14-foot putt to win hole No. 8 (par-4, 436 yards) and give LAGC a 6-1 lead. ‘I’m loving it, digging it and having fun,’ Rose said afterward.

Hole 7: Sahith Theegala saves hole, teams tie

Momentum looked like it was shifting to the Jupiter Links Golf Club, but then Sahith Theegala entered the chat. Jupiter Links Golf Club was on the verge of picking up its second-straight point on hole No. 7 (par-3, 234 yards). All that stood in their way was a 9-foot putt that Theegala had to nail in order to tie the hole. LAGC called a timeout to talk over the putt, which drew boo birds from the crowd. But then Theegala stepped up and sunk it.

‘That was huge honestly. That was really big,’ Theegala said afterward. ‘You never want to let these guys in. Against the GOAT, you don’t want to give any breathing room.’

Hole 6: Jupiter Links Golf Club wins first point

The Jupiter Links Golf Club is on the board. LAGC got off to a shaky start on hole No. 6 (Par-4, 474-yard) after Sahith Theegala’s tee shot ended up out of bounds, incurring a penalty shot. Collin Morikawa attempted to save his team with a Hail Mary on a 16-foot putt. He missed a hard to the left and LAGC conceded the hole to Jupiter Links Golf Club for their first point. LAGC leads 5-1.

Hole 5: Teams tie after hammer, timeout called

We have another hammer. This time, LAGC threw it down to double the value of hole No. 5 (Par-3, 170 yards) in an attempt to extend their lead. Tiger Woods nailed a 9-foot putt to give the Jupiter Links Golf Club a par. Justin Rose had to make a 6-foot putt to tie the hole, but Jupiter Links Golf Club attempted to ice him out by calling a timeout as Rose was about to attempt his putt. It didn’t matter. Rose nailed the putt to tie the hole. 

Hole 4: Tiger Woods’ hammer backfires; LAGC up 5-0

The Jupiter Links Golf Club is not afraid to throw down the hammer. They did so ahead of Woods’ tee shot that found the fairway on hole No. 4 (Par-5, 582 yards), but Kevin Kisner’s next stroke found the water and incurred a penalty. 

Meanwhile, LAGC safely found the green in two strokes. Justin Rose missed a 17-foot putt for the win, opening the door up for Tiger Woods to do some damage control. He had the opportunity to tie the hole, but missed a 7-foot putt. LAGC has a 5-0 lead.

Hole 3: Tiger Woods barley misses 42-foot putt, LAGC up 3-0

Tiger Woods almost won hole No. 3 (Par-3, 188 yards) for the Jupiter Links Golf Club on the green. Woods narrowly missed a 42-foot putt to the left. That opened the door for LAGC, who threw the hammer down to double the value of the hole ahead of Justin Rose’s 10-foot putt attempt for the win. Rose curled the ball in the pin to give his team a 3-0 lead. 

Hole 2: LAGC leads 1-0 

Adrenaline appeared to get the best of the Jupiter Links Golf Club on hole No. 2 (Par-5, 582 yard). Both Max Homa and Tiger Woods’ drives found the water. Homa’s shot was too far right, while Woods overshot the hole completely. Each water hazard incurred a stroke penalty and set the team back. ‘I don’t know what the hell happened. I don’t hit it that far. With my old body, I don’t know how it went that far,’ Woods laughed.

LACG took advantage of the errors and won the hole with a two-putt from Collin Morikawa.

Hole 1: Tiger Woods throws hammer, ties hole

The Jupiter Links Golf Club started off with a bang. Tiger Woods dropped the hammer ahead of his drive on hole No. 1 (Par-4, 376 yards), doubling the value of the hole to two points. 

“That was awesome,” Woods said after his opening drive. “Seriously man, that was the best. We get this place hopping with a little hammer. Let’s go.” 

Both teams ended the hole in a tie after finishing par. 

WATCH: Tiger Woods chooses ‘Eye of the Tiger’ as walkout song for TGL

The 15-time major winner makes his TGL debut at SoFi Center tonight, and the question on everyone’s mind was what music would the 49-year-old golf legend walk out to? Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, Tiger Woods opted for the classic 1982 rock hit ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor.

This came after the rest of his Jupiter Links team came out to the T.I. song ‘Bring Em Out’ and the entire Los Angeles team came out to ‘California Love’ by 2Pac and Dr. Dre. Unlike the rest of tonight’s contestants though, Woods’ career accomplishments were not read aloud by the MC. He walked out on his own, with only the song and cheers from the crowd. That’s the kind of aura Woods brings to the table. — Jon Hoefling

Serena Williams in the building

We have a GOAT sighting at SoFi Center and we aren’t talking about Tiger Woods. Serena Williams was on hand in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to watch Los Angeles Golf Club take on Jupiter Links Golf Club, alongside husband Alexis Ohanian. The broadcast showed her applauding the golfers as they made their grand entrances. 

The question is, who will Williams root for? She has allegiances to both clubs. Despite residing in Palm Beach Gardens, the 23-time major winner and Southern California native is the team owner of LAGC.

When is the TGL match between LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club?

Tiger Woods’ debut TGL match between his Jupiter Links Golf Club and the Los Angeles Golf Club is scheduled for Tuesday and tees off at 7 p.m. ET at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

How to watch the TGL match between LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club

The TGL match between Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club and the Los Angeles Golf Club will be televised nationally on ESPN with streaming available on ESPN+.

Watch TGL action with a Fubo subscription

TGL: Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club odds

The Los Angeles Golf Club are favorites to defeat Jupiter Links Golf Club, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 14

Moneyline: Los Angeles Golf Club (-175); Jupiter Links Golf Club (+145)

TGL odds tournament winner

Los Angeles Golf Club and Bay Golf Club are favored to win the inaugural season, according to BetMGM. Here are the remaining odds for the season.

Los Angeles Golf Club (+350)
The Bay Golf Club (+350)
Boston Common Golf (+375)
Atlanta Drive GC (+450)
New York Golf Club (+550)
Jupiter Links Golf Club (+800)

TGL predictions: Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club

Golfweek: Gut says Jupiter Links Golf Club

Riley Hamel writes: ‘If you think I’m picking against Tiger Woods, you’re insane. Riding with the GOAT and two grade-A trash talkers in Max (Homa) and Kiz (Kevin Kisner) on Tuesday night.’

Sports Illustrated: Take Los Angeles

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Unless a lack of walking will allow Tiger to turn back the clock and Kisner can look better than he has in two years, we could be in for a second straight blowout.’

Covers: Los Angeles Golf Club

Neil Parker writes, ‘Unlike last week, the proper team is favored in the golf odds for this match, and I don’t think the Los Angeles Golf Club is chalky enough. Laying -170 odds might not jump off the page as a first-click option, but it has an implied probability of just 63% that L.A. will win, and I think it’s far closer to 70% (-233).’

Sports Illustrated: The Bay GC to win season

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Los Angeles GC and Boston Common GC have all four members of the team inside the top 50 in the world but both teams also sit atop the odds list with much shorter odds than we can get with The Bay GC at +460.

‘With alternate shot playing a significant role in the outcome of matches, I’d much rather bet a team with depth than one that’s top-heavy.’

LAGC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club: Who is playing in tonight’s TGL match?

Los Angeles Golf Club will send out Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala for tonight’s match. Jupiter Links Golf Club counters with Tiger Woods, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner.

What is TGL?

TGL, which unofficially stands for Tomorrow’s Golf League, is a new tech-infused golf league that will partner with the PGA Tour. The idea behind it is to combine the latest in golf technology with in-person competition.

TGL’s format is designed to, in Woods’ words, ‘bring a fresh, modern, and fast-paced twist to the game we all love so much.’

It will include a shot clock, timeouts, and both team and individual match play. The league will be comprised of six teams, with four players on each team for the inaugural 2025 season. — Steve Gardner

Is Tiger Woods playing TGL golf?

Woods and the Jupiter Links Club face the Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring golfers Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose. The LAGC is owned by Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, Venus Williams; and limited partners Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, Michelle Wie West, Tisha Alyn. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL teams: Rosters for debut golf league

Here are the six teams and their players competing in the first season of TGL:

Atlanta Drive GC

Patrick Cantlay
Lucas Glover
Billy Horschel
Justin Thomas

Boston Common Golf

Keegan Bradley
Hideki Matsuyama
Rory McIlroy
Adam Scott

The Bay Golf Club

Ludvig Åberg
Wyndham Clark
Shane Lowry
Min Woo Lee

Jupiter Links Golf Club

Max Homa
Tom Kim
Kevin Kisner
Tiger Woods

Los Angeles Golf Club

Tommy Fleetwood
Collin Morikawa
Justin Rose
Sahith Theegala

New York Golf Club

Matt Fitzpatrick
Rickie Fowler
Xander Schauffele
Cameron Young

TGL format: Rules for the inaugural season

Each TGL match is a competitive showcase of skill and strategy, consisting of two intense sessions. The first session is a nine-hole, 3-on-3 alternate-shot format known as ‘triples.’ In the second session, golfers compete in singles, going head-to-head over six holes, with each player playing two holes. A shot clock set to 40 seconds adds to the pressure, as any shot clock violation incurs a one-stroke penalty.

Each hole is worth one point. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation, the match will proceed to overtime. During overtime, players compete head-to-head, and the team that lands their shot closest to the pin will be declared the winner. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL schedule

All Times Eastern

TGL regular season

Tuesday, Jan. 7

The Bay Golf Club def. New York Golf Club, 9-2

Tuesday, Jan. 14

Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Jan. 21

New York Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Jan. 27

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Feb. 4

Boston Common Golf vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 17

Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay Golf Club, 4 p.m. (ESPN)
The Bay Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 18

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 24

Los Angeles Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Boston Common Golf vs Atlanta Drive GC, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 25

The Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, March 3

The Bay Golf Club vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
New York Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, March 4

Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

TGL semifinals

∎ March 17-18

The top four teams in the SoFi Cup standings compete in the semifinals.

TGL championship

∎ March 24-25

The championship series will be a best-of-three matches.

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