Day: June 3, 2025

Max Homa, a six-time PGA Tour winner, took an unusual approach at the U.S. Open final qualifier this week—he carried his own bag for all 36 holes. Competing at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio, Homa went without a caddie following his recent split with longtime bagman Bill Harke. With no replacement yet, he opted to handle the full weight of the round—literally. Playing solo in a physically demanding qualifier, Homa managed to shoot 5-under-par across two rounds. His solid performance earned him a spot in a five-man playoff for the final U.S. Open berth. Unfortunately, the playoff didn’t go his way. Cameron Young secured the last qualifying slot with a clutch birdie, while Homa came up short, missing out on both the spot and a backup alternate position after a costly four-putt. Despite the setback, Homa remained grounded. He reflected on the solitude of the day, describing it as a peaceful and introspective experience. Walking the course alone, he said, gave him time to focus purely on the game. Currently ranked No. 90 in the world, Homa still has one last opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Open. A win at the RBC Canadian Open this week could move him into the top 60, which would secure him a spot at Oakmont. While he didn’t clinch a place in the major just yet, Homa’s solo effort earned widespread respect—and served as a reminder of his resilience and dedication to the sport.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter put on a show Monday night, blasting three home runs in a dominant 13–1 win over the Chicago White Sox. The performance marked the first three-homer game of Carpenter’s career and the first for a Tigers player in nearly a decade. Carpenter got things started early with a two-run shot in the first inning. He followed that up with another homer in the fourth and capped off his night with a solo blast in the sixth. In total, he drove in five runs and powered a relentless Detroit offense that collected 16 hits. It wasn’t just Carpenter swinging the bat. Dillon Dingler and Wenceel Pérez also homered, while Parker Meadows returned to the lineup with a double, a triple, and three runs scored. Meadows was making his season debut after recovering from an arm injury. On the mound, Jack Flaherty delivered a strong outing for Detroit, allowing just one run across six innings of work. His effort helped keep the White Sox at bay as the Tigers took control early and never looked back. With the win, Detroit moved to 4–0 against Chicago this season and became the first team in Major League Baseball to hit the 40-win mark in 2025. Meanwhile, the White Sox continued their downward slide, having now lost seven of their last eight games. Carpenter’s explosive night solidified his role as a crucial piece of Detroit’s success this season and gave fans a performance to remember.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has earned one of the NFL’s most recognizable honors: the cover spot on Madden NFL 26. The announcement comes after a historic year in which Barkley shattered the single-season rushing record and helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. What makes the cover especially memorable is its focus on Barkley’s gravity-defying leap over a Jacksonville Jaguars defender—a reverse hurdle that instantly went viral. The unforgettable move has now been immortalized, as EA Sports recreated the moment for the game’s cover art using practical effects, including suspending Barkley with wires. Adding to his achievements, Barkley has also joined the elite “99 Club,” which features players awarded the highest possible rating in the Madden franchise. He becomes the first offensive player from the Eagles to receive this distinction. In a statement, Barkley called the honor “a dream come true.” The game is scheduled for release on August 14, 2025, and will be available across several platforms—including the Nintendo Switch 2, marking the series’ first appearance on a Nintendo console in over a decade. While fans celebrate Barkley’s rise, some have raised the topic of the “Madden Curse”—a long-standing superstition that cover athletes often face setbacks the following season. However, recent stars like Patrick Mahomes have bucked the trend, continuing to perform at elite levels. With the new season ahead, Barkley’s spotlight only grows brighter. The question now is whether he can carry the momentum into another championship run—and prove that superstition has no place in his story.