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‘Pissed off’ Derrick Henry deserves respect amid fumbling issues

Sport 6 Mins Read
  • Five-time Pro Bowler’s recent fumbles happening at a rate that’s never before occurred in his 10-year career.
  • Henry has been openly transparent and accountable in the aftermath of his turnovers.
  • The Ravens face the Chiefs in a battle of 1-2 teams Sunday, and Henry usually plays well against K.C.

It was striking to see such an intimidating man, one who’s terrorized brutes the likes of NFL defenders for the better part of a decade, so disconsolate.

But that would describe 6-2, 252-pound Baltimore Ravens superstar running back Derrick Henry on Monday night, his third fumble in three games contributing to his team’s second loss. Both of his lost fumbles have corresponded to the defeats of a 1-2 team awash in Super Bowl expectations in 2025.

Wearing a gray sweatshirt at the team’s training facility Wednesday, Henry, his hood framing his face, didn’t seem to be shouldering the entire weight of the world two days later. Yet he remained heavily burdened by his untimely mistakes – his fumbles in those losses to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions both occurring in the fourth quarter.

“I’m still pissed off. I’m still mad at myself,” Henry told reporters. “(I)t’s a problem I have to get fixed, so I’m working on it. I’m working as hard as I can to get this issue resolved, and it’s tough right now.

“It’s just been consecutive weeks, back-to-back-to back, which is crazy. That’s why you all saw me distraught. I was just like, ‘I can’t believe this happened for a third time.’ But, I’ve just got to go back to work and push forward even though it’s hard. Nobody can fix it but yourself, so I’ve got to accept it like a man. Everything that comes with it, I accept, because it’s my responsibility to take care of the ball for this organization.” 

Henry, 31, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time rushing king is in his 10th NFL season and second with the Ravens. He’s gone entire years without fumbling. He lost just one in 2024, when he led the AFC with 1,921 rushing yards. Prior to Monday, he’d never lost multiple fourth-quarter fumbles in the same campaign.

This almost certainly isn’t a chronic issue, yet Henry is attacking it with Biblical ferocity.

“Maybe it’s just something God wanted to put me through, and maybe he’s testing my faith right now,” he said. “I just have to keep believing and keep working. I told my family the other day, ‘Those tables turn, and this hasn’t turned my way, but when they do, I’ll be ready.’

“I feel like I’m letting my teammates down, which I don’t want to do. Everybody knows it’s not happening on purpose, but it’s a problem that I have to get fixed, and I’m going to go out there and work every day to make sure that the problem is resolved.”

The Ravens don’t have much time to wait.

Already in the midst of a short week, they’re traveling to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who are grappling with their own disappointing 1-2 start. But K.C. is also 5-1 against Baltimore since the teams’ respective quarterbacks and multiple MVP winners, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, became starters.

“(I)t is a huge game. We’re 1-2. We don’t want to be 1-2, and the same thing for them,” said Henry.

“(W)e’ve got to be focused and do what we need to do to be ready for Sunday.”

Henry certainly seems to be and has been especially effective over the years against the Chiefs, against whom he’s averaged nearly 100 rushing yards and scored nine touchdowns in seven career meetings.

But he deserves credit for more than that.

Early Tuesday morning, then again Wednesday, he provided insightful, thoughtful answers to his struggles while exposing his vulnerability. He also made himself available – not once, but twice – to face the music when he could have given clipped, boilerplate responses or hidden from reporters entirely as many embattled players over the years have chosen to do.

Maybe that’s why, aside from Henry’s own concern, no one else in the Ravens’ flock seems to be sharing it.

“He is very, very accountable. When somebody cares so much about what they’re doing, and they’re so accomplished – so talented and so good, works so hard – as a coach, you just can’t worry about that,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday.

“I’m not worried about Derrick Henry at all.”

It’s also worth noting that his fumble against Buffalo completely changed the arc of a game that Baltimore lost 41-40 after blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead. But his giveaway against Detroit occurred with 8:26 to go and only cost the Ravens a field goal. They had plenty of time to overcome the gaffe – even if it might be a while before Henry escapes his newfound meme status after slipping and crashing onto Baltimore’s bench after slamming his helmet in frustration following his miscue.

“(Y)ou’re going to always put the blame on yourself,” Jackson said Wednesday.

“We still could have executed and made something happen. We can’t fault him for that. Players mess up.”

And let’s not forget to credit defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for masterfully forcing the fumble, Henry never seeing the Lions star retracing his way into the play before punching the ball loose.

Moving forward? Seems like a fairly safe bet that Henry goes back to spilling defenders with his patented stiff-arm as opposed to spilling the ball yet again – particularly considering how he’s feeling.

“It’s embarrassing for me to be talking about this, because I am having this issue,” he said. “But you have to hold the ball high and tight to keep it away from the defense, keep it away from the defender so you keep the ball.

“But just know I’m working. I’m working, and it’s rough right now, but it’s going to come back around. I promise you.” 

Sounds like a man poised to come up big, literally and figuratively.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Investing

How to Use Gold Investments as a Hedge

Investing 7 Mins Read

It can be tempting for investors to focus on specific assets or strategies when building an investment portfolio, but those taking a long-term approach will want to diversify in order to balance out potential portfolio instability.

Gold has a reputation for being a reliable diversifier because it can act as a hedge against various risks.

For those unfamiliar with the term, put simply, a hedge is an investment position whose main purpose is to offset potential losses or gains related to another asset. But how does that work, and what’s the best way to get exposure to gold as a hedge?

Read on for a look at how this strategy works and why it’s worth considering.

In this article

    Why use gold investments as a hedge?

    Gold is looked at as a hedge investment in many different situations. The first and most popular use of gold as a source of protection is as a hedge against the decline of a currency, typically the US dollar. When the dollar slips, the yellow metal not only becomes less expensive to hold, but also tends to rise in value.

    “Gold’s relationship with the dollar is determined by US-based gold supply and demand, as well as by the status of the dollar as the reserve currency globally,” states the World Gold Council. “Historically, a weak dollar tends to provide a stronger boost to gold’s performance than the drag created by a strong dollar.”

    By holding the precious metal as a diversification tool when the economy negatively affects currencies, investors can incur gains from the metal’s increased value.

    The second reason why gold makes a good hedge is that it can act as a defense against inflation. When the cost of living begins to rise, the stock market often falls. In those cases, investors with assets that are negatively affected by a volatile market need something to balance that out — that’s where gold comes in.

    Over the past 50 years, investors have seen gold make huge gains when the stock market is crumbling. As Investopedia points out, “This is because, when fiat currency loses its purchasing power to inflation, gold tends to be priced in those currency units and thus tends to arise along with everything else.”

    Interestingly, the yellow metal has also been used as a hedge against deflation, which happens when prices drop, the economy is in a downturn and excessive debt looms. This situation has not occurred since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and to a much smaller degree after the 2008 financial crisis.

    Market participants may decide to hoard cash in this type of scenario, and the safest place to hold cash is in gold. Again, while this situation is not commonplace, many investors keep the yellow metal in their portfolios on the off chance that another massive period of deflation will take place.

    Finally, gold can be used as a general portfolio hedge when market participants hold investments that are not related to one another. Since the precious metal generally has a negative correlation to stocks, bonds and other financial instruments, investors often diversify by creating a portfolio that combines gold with stocks and bonds in order to reduce both volatility and risk.

    While it is true that the yellow metal goes through times of volatility, it has always maintained its value over the long term, making it a steady addition to investors’ portfolios.

    Those who have decided to add gold to their portfolio as a hedge have a variety of options. Here’s an overview of three of the most popular ways of getting exposure to gold.

    1. How to use physical gold as a hedge

    Investors can get the most direct exposure to gold by buying physical gold, and holding the physical metal also adds diversification from digital assets. Physical gold can be purchased through government mints, private mints, precious metals dealers and even jewelry stores.

    Physical gold investors should generally focus on 0.999 fine items, as these will also be the easiest to sell. The majority of gold bullion products fit this description.

    One of the most common choices for investors are gold bullion coins, such as the South African Krugerrand or the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, which are 0.999 fine. The American Gold Eagle is reputable and popular as well, but has a lower purity at 91.67 percent. Another option is gold rounds, which are similar to coins, but are not legal tender, making them often slightly cheaper.

    Gold bars are another popular option, and because they come in a variety of sizes, they can accommodate a range of investors. Large investments may best be made in bars since bigger sizes are available. Further, it is often easier to manage several large products than it is to manage an array of smaller gold items.

    When deciding on what to purchase, gold buyers will want to keep their plans for selling in mind. For example, large products may be more difficult and thus slower to sell, meaning it could be harder to take advantage of gold price movements or convert it to cash in an emergency. Individuals making ongoing or significant investments may therefore want to consider purchasing gold in various weights to give them versatility.

    Click here to learn more about physical gold as an investment.

    Click here to learn what moves the gold price and the highest price for gold is.

    2. How to use gold ETFs as a hedge

    One of the common ways investors add gold as a hedge is through investing in a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF), which trade on a stock exchange just like equities. There are several kinds of gold ETFs, offering exposure to different aspects of the gold market. Gold ETFs can offer investors access to gold price movements by holding physical gold or the gold futures market through holding futures contracts. There are also gold ETFs focused on gold mining stocks, providing a more stable alternative to investing in individual gold stocks.

    It is important to keep in mind that investors who own gold ETFs do not own any physical gold — even gold ETFs that track physical gold generally cannot be redeemed for it, with the exception of the Vaneck Merk Gold ETF (ARCA:OUNZ). Nonetheless, gold ETFs are a good option for getting exposure to the precious metal without personally trading physical gold, gold futures or gold stocks.

    Click here for a list of five biggest gold ETFs and more information on gold ETFs.

    Click here for a list of top ASX-listed gold ETFs.

    3. How to use gold futures as a hedge

    A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell gold on a date in the future for a price determined when the contract is initiated. In a gold futures transaction, two parties agree on a price, the amount of gold being purchased and the future delivery month.

    The futures market is often referred to as an arena for paper trading. The bulk of the activity is just that, as metal is not actually exchanged and settlements are made in cash. It allows investors to buy or sell gold as they want without management fees, and taxes are split between short-term and long-term capital gains.

    In some cases, the futures market can be an arena for purchasing physical gold. However, obtaining gold through the futures market requires a large investment and involves a list of additional costs. The process can be complicated, cumbersome and lengthy, which is why actually buying physical gold through futures is considered best for highly experienced market participants.

    Click here to learn more about gold futures.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Investing

    Top 5 Palladium and Platinum Countries by Production

    Investing 8 Mins Read

    Platinum-group metals (PGMs) include platinum, palladium, rhodium and other metals, all of which are prized for their durability, resistance to corrosion and excellent catalytic properties.

    The automotive industry is the world’s largest consumer of these metals, which among other things are used in catalytic converters for vehicle exhaust systems. A rebound and continued growth in auto production is projected in the coming years, particularly in developing markets, and this should increase demand for PGMs, especially when it comes to platinum and palladium.

    On the supply side, the platinum market slid into a significant deficit in 2024, which has extended into 2025 and is expected to continue into the next year. These fundamentals led platinum prices to a 12 year high of US$1,495 per ounce on September 23, 2025.

    But where do platinum and palladium come from? The list of the world’s top palladium- and platinum-mining countries is a short one, and most PGMs come from South Africa and Russia. We dive into the miners, markets and regulations affecting the top PGM countries below, and you can also learn more about the companies mining these metals here.

    Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and electricity shortages in South Africa are expected to seriously hamper the ability of these nations to bring PGMs to market.

    So what other countries are platinum and palladium producers, and which countries hold the most platinum and palladium reserves? Below is a list of the five top producers in 2024, as per the latest data from the US Geological Survey.

    1. South Africa

    Platinum production: 120,000 kilograms
    Palladium production: 72,000 kilograms
    PGM reserves: 63 million kilograms

    South Africa is top of the list of the world’s top platinum producers, with production of 120,000 kilograms in 2024. South Africa is also a major producer of palladium, taking second place globally with 72,000 kilograms last year. The country holds the largest-known reserves of PGMs globally at 63 million kilograms, accounting for over 75 percent of known global reserves.

    According to the US Geological Survey, 2024 production of PGMs in South Africa ‘decreased compared with (74,900 kilograms) in 2023 owing to declining prices, higher costs associated with deep-level mining, labor disputes, and ongoing disruptions to the supply of electricity.’

    The Bushveld complex is the largest PGMs resource in the world, and represents a large majority of annual global production of platinum and palladium. Impala Platinum Holdings (OTCQX:IMPUF,JSE:IMP), commonly called Implats, is a significant producer in the complex, which hosts the company’s Impala Rustenburg mine, Marula mine, Bafokeng and Two Rivers joint venture.

    2. Russia

    Platinum production: 18,000 kilograms
    Palladium production: 75,000 kilograms
    PGM reserves: 16 million kilograms

    Despite being the world’s second biggest platinum-mining country, Russia’s annual production trails behind South Africa’s by a large margin, coming in at 18,000 kilograms for 2024. That said, Russia was the world’s top palladium producer in 2024, putting out 75,000 kilograms last year — 3,000 kilograms higher than South Africa’s output.

    Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel (MCX:GMKN) is the world’s largest palladium producer, and it plans to invest US$35 billion in infrastructure upgrades between 2021 and 2030, which will ultimately result in higher metals output.

    While Russia held its spot as the top palladium producer last year, its palladium production dropped significantly from 87,000 kilograms in 2023. The USGS attributed the drop to ‘disruptions from natural disasters, lower metal grades and ore recovery, ongoing issues related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and planned outages at a major metallurgical plant.’

    3. Zimbabwe

    Platinum production: 19,000 kilograms
    Palladium production: 15,000 kilograms
    PGM reserves: 1.2 million kilograms

    Zimbabwe is a major producer of both platinum and palladium, producing 19,000 and 15,000 kilograms of the precious metals respectively in 2024. Zimplats Holdings (ASX:ZIM) is the biggest platinum miner in the country, and it is 87 percent owned by Implats.

    In October 2022, Zimbabwe introduced a policy that allows it to stockpile physical metals, including PGMs. A change to the country’s existing cash royalties on miners, the rules require mining companies to instead pay the royalties based on their production in a 50/50 combination of cash and refined metals.

    The policy currently applies to PGMs, gold, diamonds and lithium. However, it is dynamic, with the option to add or subtract affected metals and change royalty percentages based on factors such as geological scarcity and demand trends.

    In January 2025, the Government of Zimbabwe officially implemented a 5 percent levy on unbeneficiated platinum exports, which it had postponed to allow mining companies time to build refining capacity.

    In line with the government’s goal of adding value to the country’s platinum products, Zimplats has expanded its smelting capacity and is making slow progress on a US$190 million refurbishment of its mothballed base metals refinery to process PGM mattes into pure platinum metal concentrates.

    4. Canada

    Platinum production: 5,200 kilograms
    Palladium production: 15,000 kilograms
    PGM reserves: 310,000 kilograms

    Canada’s strong palladium production of 15,000 kilograms tied with Zimbabwe to make it the third highest producer globally in 2024. Canada’s platinum production was also significant at 5,200 kilograms. The North American country’s palladium and platinum production were nearly both on par with the previous year.

    The country only holds 310,000 kilograms of known PGMs reserves — the lowest total reserves on this list — but companies continue to explore for PGMs in Canada in search of more deposits.

    Canadian PGMs production takes place mainly in the province of Ontario, but PGMs output also comes out of Québec and Manitoba. The country has one primary PGMs-producing mine, the Lac des Iles mine in Western Ontario, which is owned by Implats Canada. The remainder of the country’s production is as a by-product of Canada’s nickel mines.

    5. United States

    Platinum production: 2,000 kilograms
    Palladium production: 8,000 kilograms
    PGM reserves: 820,000 kilograms

    The United States produced 8,000 kilograms of palladium in 2024 alongside 2,900 kilograms of platinum. The US holds 820,000 kilograms of identified PGM reserves.

    Sibanye Stillwater’s (NYSE:SBSW,JSE:SSW) Stillwater Complex in Montana is the only primary producer of PGMs in the US. The company also maintains a smelter, refinery and laboratory in Montana and recovers PGMs from spent catalytic convertor material from vehicles.

    Low palladium prices forced Sibanye Stillwater to curtail production and layoff about 700 employees at the Stillwater Complex in 2024. The company has pointed to Russia flooding the palladium market to depress prices.

    In response, on July 30, 2025, Sibanye Stillwater and related industry participants filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) on imports of unwrought palladium from Russia.

    On September 18, the ITC determined there is a reasonable indication the industry was ‘materially injured’ by the Russian imports, and commenced the final phase of investigations.

    FAQs for investing in palladium and platinum

    What is platinum?

    Platinum is a precious metal that belongs to the platinum-group metals category. Platinum has a silverish-white hue and is represented by the symbol Pt and atomic number 78 on the periodic table of elements.

    What is platinum used for?

    Platinum has several uses, including playing a large role in the auto industry for its ability to reduce emissions. Additionally, platinum is in high demand for jewelry and as an investment metal.

    Platinum is also benefiting from growing demand from the hydrogen fuel cell sector. The metal is a key catalyst in the process that converts hydrogen into electricity.

    What is palladium metal?

    Palladium fits into the precious metals category and is a PGM. It is represented by the symbol Pd and atomic number 46 on the periodic table of elements. Palladium has a silvery-white color and is prized for its rarity.

    What is palladium used for?

    The automotive sector is the primary end user of palladium. The metal is a key component in the catalytic convertors of internal combustion engine vehicles, where it is used to reduce emissions.

    Like platinum, palladium is used in jewelry and valued as an investment. It has other smaller-scale uses, and is consumed in various ways by the medical and dental fields, among others.

    What is the best way to invest in palladium?

    While there is no single best way to investing in palladium, those interested in gaining exposure to this market have a variety of options. Investors who prefer more tangible assets can add physical palladium to their portfolios, including palladium bullion and coins. Palladium exchange-traded funds such as the Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust (ARCA:SPPP) and the Aberdeen Standard Physical Palladium Shares (ARCA:PALL) offer another route. Palladium-focused stocks are yet another option, with pure-play palladium miners including Sibanye-Stillwater and Impala Platinum Holdings.

    Why are metals like gold, platinum and palladium so expensive?

    Precious metal gold has long been valued as a form of currency and a store of wealth, all of which have built up its high intrinsic value. Platinum and palladium are 30 times rarer than gold, much harder to mine and are in high demand due to their important industrial uses.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Sport

    WNBA semifinals series forces Jonas Brothers to reschedule concert

    Sport 1 Min Read

    The Phoenix Mercury evened their WNBA semifinal series against the Minnesota Lynx with an 89-83 road victory on Tuesday, guaranteeing the series will go to a Game 4.

    Both Games 3 and 4 will be played at PHX Arena, and with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday, the Jonas Brothers have been forced to adjust and reschedule a date on their latest tour.

    The band of brothers was originally scheduled to perform at PHX Arena the evening of Sunday, Sept. 28, as part of The JONAS20 Hometown Tour.

    The Jonas Brothers will now instead perform on Monday, Sept. 29.

    Any tickets purchased for the original concert date will still be valid for the new date. If fans are unable to attend the concert on the new date, they will have the opportunity to request a refund, but it must be made by 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. 

    The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Meet the wives and girlfriends for every golfer at the 2025 Ryder Cup

    Sport 10 Mins Read

    The Ryder Cup isn’t just a showcase for the best golfers from the United States and Europe. The lead-up to the sport’s most prestigious international team event also puts a spotlight on their wives and girlfriends.

    Yes, the WAGs of professional golf are part the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup and they were out in full force on Tuesday, Sept. 23 for the traditional Ryder Cup welcome dinner before the first tee shots of 2025 are hit starting Friday morning. This year’s gala feast was held at Hempstead House, a 50,000 square foot, Tudor-style mansion in New York near Bethpage Black Golf Course, and the annual photos featuring the Ryder Cup golfers and their significant others have once again turned into popular talking points.

    The U.S. team wore black Ralph Lauren suits without ties and the Europe team wore Loro Piana black suits and ties with grey-and-white striped dress shirts and black leather loafers. Their wives and girlfriends, however, stood out wearing designer gowns and dresses in an array of colors and styles.

    So who are these women? And are there any single golfers playing at this year’s Ryder Cup? Here’s a breakdown of what to know about the wives and girlfriends for every golfer participating in the 2025 Ryder Cup:

    Ryder Cup WAGS 2025: Wives and girlfriends for every golfer

    United States

    Bryson DeChambeau

    The 32-year-old might be one of the few single golfers at this year’s Ryder Cup. He has long been rumored to be dating Lilia Schneider, a golf internet personality and college golfer at Marian University in Indianapolis last year. But neither DeChambeau nor Schneider have confirmed the relationship to this point and DeChambeau attended Tuesday’s Ryder Cup gala stag.

    Xander Schauffele

    The two-time major winner will play his first professional event as a father at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Schauffele and his wife, Maya, recently became parents to their first son, Victor. It’s why Schauffele elected not to play in the Procore Championship along with the rest of the U.S. Ryder Cup team earlier this month. Schauffele noted after he won the 2024 PGA Championship that his wife ‘has the most inside track to my emotions on a day-to-day basis.’

    “It’s been awesome. I feel very lucky to have my wife. She’s at home with him right now. I miss him a bunch,” Schauffele said earlier this week. “It’s been cool to sort of learn what it’s like to be a dad, and I look forward to everything that comes with that.”

    Scottie Scheffler

    Justin Thomas

    Thomas and his wife, Jillian Wiesniewski, are both from Kentucky and had their first child in November 2024. Jordan Spieth was the best man at their wedding two years earlier. Thomas revealed after he won the 2017 PGA Championship that he had Wiesniewski, then his girlfriend, changed her flight to later on Sunday because he had a feeling he was going to win his first major.

    Russell Henley

    One of the U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies is married to artist Teil Duncan. ‘She puts steel in my spine,’ Henley told reporters after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2025. “She’s tough on me when she needs to be and just super supportive.’

    Sam Burns

    The 29-year-old and his wife, Caroline, are from the same town (Shreveport, Louisiana). She once revealed to WJCL News in Savannah, Georgia, that she was Burns’ first Valentine as a 5-year-old. The two went to different high schools and didn’t start dating until each attended LSU. Burns said he proposed on the way to dinner one night while he was playing in the 2019 RBC Heritage. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Bear, in 2024.

    Patrick Cantlay

    After being in the middle of a lot of drama at the 2023 Ryder Cup, Cantlay married his wife, Nikki Guidish, in Rome the day after the event ended. Justin Thomas and LPGA star Nelly Korda were among those in attendance.

    Collin Morikawa

    Morikawa and his wife, Katherine, met while he was playing college golf for California and she was playing golf at Pepperdine. She ran in the 2024 NYC Marathon after being inspired to start running while reading the book, ‘Can’t Hurt Me,’ by runner and author David Goggins, according to the New York Post. The couple got married in November 2022.

    J.J. Spaun

    Spaun won the 2025 U.S. Open on Father’s Day with his wife, Melody, and their children there to celebrate. They’ve been married since 2019, but their first encounter after meeting through mutual friends didn’t go so smoothly.

    ‘I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m a pro golfer.’ Because I thought I was cool,’ Spaun recounted in 2023. ‘But she’s like, ‘I don’t even know. What does that mean? Like, does that mean you’re like rich or something?’ I was like, ‘No.’ And she’s like, ‘I don’t really care.’ And I was like, ‘All right.’

    ‘And we went like mini golfing or something and she’s like, ‘This is lame.”

    Harris English

    The 36-year-old making his second-consecutive Ryder Cup appearance married his wife, Helen Marie, in 2017. They both attended the University of Georgia. When English won the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January, he savored the moment celebrating on the 18th green with his wife and 1-year-old, Emilia, when he won the tournament.

    “I’ve been seeing over the years of people’s families coming out on 18 green and their children coming out to see them win,’ English said. ‘I’m so happy that she was there to see it. I have no idea if I’m going to win again or when I’m going to win again, but we’ll have those pictures for a lifetime.”

    Ben Griffin

    This 29-year-old Ryder Cup rookie got engaged to Dana Myeroff in July 2024 and they’re slated to get married in December, according to an Instagram post by Myeroff.

    Cameron Young

    The captain’s pick and Ryder Cup rookie is married to Kelsey Dalition. Their families knew one another growing up outside New York. Young told Golfweek in 2021 he played hockey for Dalition’s father and with her brother.

    “They’re not a golf family at all so Kelsey is kind of still learning the ropes,’ Young said. ‘It’s actually great for me, because the last thing I want to do when I get home is answer questions like, ‘Why’d you pull a 9-iron on 16?’ That would make my head explode, so that’s been a blessing.”

    Europe Ryder Cup WAGs

    Rory McIlroy

    The 2025 Masters champion has been married to his wife, Erica Stoll, since 2017. They met while Stoll was working for the PGA of America at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. ‘Erica that week was always the one that was checking us in and out. She was there at transportation, so she was always in the car park over there,’ McIlroy told Golf Channel in 2019. McIlroy filed for divorce in May 2024, but the couple eventually reconciled. They have a daughter, Poppy.

    Jon Rahm

    The 30-year-old Spanish LIV Golf star is married to Kelley Cahill Rahm, a former Arizona State track and field athlete. Rahm played college golf for the Sun Devils. The couple have three kids together. Kelley told the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2018 that she and Rahm met at a Halloween party as Arizona State freshmen. Rahm wore a SWAT team uniform, and she was dressed as a referee.

    Matt Fitzpatrick

    The 2022 U.S. Open champion will compete in his fourth Ryder Cup appearance for Europe, but his first as a married man. He and his wife, Katherine, got engaged in September 2023 after the Ryder Cup in Italy. Katherine was the runner-up in the 2014 Miss New Jersey pageant and revealed on Instagram earlier this year that she writes messages like ‘MF is cute’ and ‘I love you’ in bright red marker on his golf balls.

    Tyrrell Hatton

    The English LIV Golf star had several near-misses at majors this year, but nothing like his 2021 wedding day with wife, Emily Braisher. Hatton revealed that the driver got lost and the couple showed up 30 minutes late for their COVID-19 impacted ceremony in Asheville, North Carolina. Braisher, who previously wrote the ‘Wife on Tour’ blog, also famously interrupted Hatton in the middle of his backswing when she closed a port-o-potty door too loudly at a DP World Tour event in Italy.

    Justin Rose

    The 45-year-old PGA Tour veteran is the oldest golfer representing Europe this year, and he also appears to have the longest marriage. Rose and his wife, Kate Phillips, have been married since 2006. She notably was shown embracing Rory McIlory after he won the 2025 Masters while paired with her husband for the final round. The couple met when Kate worked at IMG while it was representing Rose at the time. She also served as caddie for Rose at the Indonesian Masters on their wedding anniversary in 2017. They founded the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation in 2009 that helps children living in poverty in Central Florida.

    Sepp Straka

    The 32-year-old Austrian met his wife, Paige, while he was a golfer at the University of Georgia and Paige was a student at Auburn. Straka missed the BMW PGA Championship in England that the rest of Europe’s Ryder Cup team played in earlier this month because he and his wife recently had their second child prematurely, according to Europe team captain Luke Donald. Straka didn’t want to be too far from home and his wife is not in New York this week.

    Tommy Fleetwood

    The 34-year-old Englishman who finally broke through and won his first PGA Tour event to close out the 2025 FedEx Cup playoffs is married to Clare Craig. She also serves as his manager. There is a 23-year age gap between the two and Craig initially turned down Fleetwood’s initial attempts to start a romantic relationship because of that dynamic. Craig is 57 years old.

    Ludvig Åberg

    This rising PGA Tour star brought his girlfriend, OIivia Peet, to this year’s Ryder Cup festivities. Peet is a Manchester, England native who played college tennis at Texas Tech. Åberg, 25, played college golf at Texas Tech.

    Shane Lowry

    The 38-year-old Irish golfer married his wife, Wendy, in 2016. She is a former hospital nurse in Dublin. The couple met in 2012 and Wendy Lowry once shared a photo of their first night out together.

    “There were plenty of times I have been crying myself to sleep or wondering am I able to keep going but when you have a good strong woman behind you it makes it easier,” Shane Lowry told the Irish Independent in 2019. “I owe a lot to her.”

    Viktor Hovland

    The 28-year-old appears to be the lone single member of Europe’s team.

    Robert MacIntyre

    The 29-year-old lefty burst onto the international scene with his performance two years ago at the Ryder Cup and he had girlfriend, Shannon Hartley, with him at this year’s Ryder Cup gala. Hartley came with MacIntyre to the United States the past two years when he became a PGA Tour regular following his successful Ryder Cup debut.

    Rasmus Højgaard

    The 24-year-old Ryder Cup rookie was accompanied by his girlfriend, Julie Sander Danielsen, at the Ryder Cup gala. Højgaard makes frequent appearances on Danielsen’s Instagram page.

    This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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    Predicting the foursomes that will start competition at 2025 Ryder Cup

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    • Ryder Cup captains use practice round groupings to test potential pairings for the competition.
    • The U.S. and European teams held practice sessions at Bethpage Black ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup.
    • Speculation suggests Europe may stick with successful 2023 pairings, while the U.S. will feature new combinations.

    FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Four names beneath a tee time for a practice round can seem trivial. At a Ryder Cup, it’s telling. 

    Captains of both the U.S. and Europe sides assigned these foursomes for a reason – likely because the pairs in the group will be playing partners at some point during the first two days of Ryder Cup competition, which features foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best ball) matches on Friday and Saturday. 

    Here’s a look at how the practice pairings over the first two warm-up sessions have panned out. With the weather looking questionable Thursday, practice time at Bethpage Black could be over. 

    2025 Ryder Cup practice round groupings

    Europe Group 1 (Tuesday): Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose

    Europe Group 2 (Tuesday): Rasmus Højgaard, Viktor Hovland, Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka

    Europe Group 3 (Tuesday): Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm

    Europe Group 1 (Wednesday): Hatton, Lowry, Rahm, Straka

    Europe Group 2 (Wednesday): Fitzpatrick, Hovland, MacIntyre, McIlroy

    Europe Group 3 (Wednesday): Åberg, Højgaard, Fleetwood, Rose

    U.S. Group 1 (Tuesday): Harris English, Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler

    U.S. Group 2 (Tuesday): Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, Ben Griffin

    U.S. Group 3 (Tuesday): Sam Burns, JJ Spaun, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele

    U.S. Group 1 (Wednesday): DeChambeau, Thomas, Griffin, Young

    U.S. Group 2 (Wednesday): English, Henley, Scheffler, Spaun

    U.S. Group 3 (Wednesday): Burns, Cantlay, Morikawa, Schauffele

    Predicting 2025 Ryder Cup Friday foursomes (alternate shot)

    Earlier this week, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said his matchups and pairings have been ’90 percent’ decided. Europe captain Luke Donald has 11 of 12 players returning (Højgaard replacing his twin brother, Nicolai). This isn’t rocket science, but until the matchups are formally announced Thursday evening, speculation is as close as we can get. 

    Europe swept the foursome session to start the 2023 Ryder Cup so let’s assume Donald doesn’t change much:

    • Rahm/Hatton
    • Fleetwood/McIlroy
    • Åberg/Hovland
    • Straka/Lowry

    The Americans will definitely have a different look, however, since Thomas’ buddy Jordan Spieth isn’t on this team.

    • Scheffler/Henley
    • Schauffele/Cantlay 
    • Thomas/Griffin
    • DeChambeau/Spaun 

    How the best ball pairings shake out could depend on the morning, with Scheffler and DeChambeau likely doubling up for the Americans and McIlroy and Rahm doing the same for Europe. 

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    Mariners clinch first division title in 24 years

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    Ichiro Suzuki is 51 years old now, dark hair liberally sprinkled with gray, a Hall of Famer tagged with the stuffy title of ‘special assistant to the chairman’ on the Seattle Mariners masthead.

    And he’s also the physical embodiment of just how long the Mariners have gone between American League West division titles.

    Suzuki was just a rookie in 2001 when he kick-started the Mariners to a 116-win season, the AL West title and a Most Valuable Player award to go along with his top rookie honor, seemingly ushering in an era of prosperity.

    The game can be cruel, however, and the wait sometimes interminable to repeat such success. Which is why the city of Seattle and the Mariners themselves could finally exhale on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when they defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-2 to seal their first AL West title in 24 years.

    The Mariners completed a startling rise from consistent yet benign threat to, perhaps, the team to beat in the AL playoffs with a resounding finishing kick, winning 16 of their last 17 games to blast past the Houston Astros and end their streak of seven consecutive full-season division titles.

    And from start to finish, the Big Dumper was their bell cow.

    Cal Raleigh’s otherworldly season continued in the clincher, as he hit his 59th and 60th home runs in the rout of the Rockies, sending the crowd at T-Mobile Park into delirium with a first-inning, upper deck shot and an eighth-inning blast for No. 60.

    Raleigh is no Ichiro – not bound for 3,000 hits nor blessed with otherworldly athletic ability. But Raleigh has driven the Mariners this far behind his impeccable handling of the Mariners’ excellent pitching staff and the 60 home runs he has crushed – most ever for a primary catcher or switch-hitter in major league history.

    The resurgence of Julio Rodriguez – he now has 32 homers and 28 stolen bases – and continued offensive emergence of shortstop J.P. Crawford has galvanized a Mariners lineup that has been reluctant to add to an offensively flaccid group the previous two seasons.

    This year, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto finally went big at the trade deadline, importing corner infielders Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor. While Suarez has struggled, Naylor has shined, accruing an .820 OPS and 2.1 WAR in less than two months while lengthening Seattle’s lineup.

    And now, the Mariners (89-69) find themselves in an enviable spot: Closing in on the AL’s second-best record and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They clinched the division flag by wiping out the Rockies, as Raleigh hit home runs No. 59 and No. 60, and Rodriguez his 32nd, an appropriate flourish to capture the AL West title.

    The Mariners’ lone playoff appearance the past quarter-century came in 2022, when they won a wild-card series at Toronto before those Astros swept them out of the AL Division Series.

    Now, they should be able to cool their heels and begin their playoff quest at home against a wild-card survivor.

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    Upcoming FIFA tournament includes Afghan refugee women’s team

    Sport 3 Mins Read

    A team of Afghan refugees will participate in its first international soccer tournament, which will be a round-robin event for four women’s national teams in the United Arab Emirates, FIFA announced Wednesday.

    Dubbed ‘FIFA Unites: Women’s Series,’ the tournament will also feature national teams from Chad, Libya, and the UAE. The tournament will be held in Dubai Oct. 23-29, with all matches set to stream on FIFA+.

    ‘Ensuring that all women have access to football is a priority for FIFA and a key element in shaping the future of our sport,’ FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement announcing the event.

    Using the training grounds that typically host the English women’s and men’s national teams, FIFA last week hosted a talent identification camp for the Afghan refugee team, with roughly 70 players participating. Head coach Pauline Hamill and her coaching staff plan on narrowing that group down to a final 23-player squad to take part in October’s games.

    The Afghan national team began play in 2007, but the Taliban-led government banned women from playing sports in August 2021. With significant worries that the ban would extend to punishment for players who had participated, the Australian government led an effort to evacuate 75 women athletes from Afghanistan.

    The refugee team, which FIFA plans to recognize as representing Afghanistan, would be making its debut on the international stage. Many resettled players have teamed up to play in Australian lower-league soccer as the Melbourne Victory FC Afghan Women’s Team.

    The last officially-recognized game for an Afghan women’s national soccer team was Dec. 1, 2018, a 5-0 loss to Tajikistan at the Central Asian Football Association Women’s Championship. FIFA statutes expressly bar governments from interfering in the affairs of their country’s recognized soccer federation. However, despite the actions of the Afghan government banning a women’s national team from play, the Afghanistan Football Federation has never faced sanctions from FIFA.

    The UAE national team, which played its first international match in 2010, is currently ranked 117th out of 196 teams that meet the threshold for evaluation. The team’s coach, Vera Pauw, was accused of abusive conduct during her tenure leading the NWSL’s Houston Dash, and is currently barred from any role in the league. Pauw has denied the allegations against her.

    The Chadian and Libyan teams are not currently ranked by FIFA due to inactivity. A report from UAE state-owned newspaper The National notes Libya last played a FIFA-sanctioned game in 2019. By participating in the ‘FIFA Unites: Women’s Series,’ both will qualify for a place in the next FIFA rankings, which will be released in December.

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