Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm and J.J. Spaun share the lead after carding nine-under-par rounds of 64 on the first day of the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Thursday.
Two-time major winner Morikawa reeled off a career-best six straight birdies from the 10th to 15th holes, before ending his round with a birdie on the par-five 18th.
Fellow American Spaun was an early leader with five birdies on his front nine, enjoying a run of four consecutive birdies from the 12th to the 15th too.
Former world number one Jon Rahm, who was among the last to finish the day's play, bounced back from a bogey on the 14th hole, birdieing three of his final four holes to grab a share of the lead.
The trio are one stroke ahead of South Korean Tom Kim, who managed two eagles in his eight-under-par round of 65. Kim holed out spectacularly off one bounce on the sixth hole from 116 feet, while he repeated the feat on the 15th after a fine approach which was one of the best shots of the day.
Six players are next at seven under, including world number two Scottie Scheffler who finished his round with four birdies on the final five holes.
Scheffler is tied with Tom Hoge, Aaron Wise, Sungjae Im, Matt Fitzpatrick and Mackenzie Hughes.
Six players are a further shot back including Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland and Hideki Matsuyama.
Jalen Hurts was a limited participant at Philadelphia Eagles practice again on Thursday but there are positive signs towards him playing in Sunday's regular season finale against the New York Giants.
Hurts suffered a sprain to his right throwing shoulder in the Eagles' 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears on December 18 and missed their past two games, both losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints with Gardner Minshew starting at QB.
Philadelphia takes on the Giants on Sunday where victory will clinch the NFC top seed for the Eagles, but a defeat will leave them vulnerable, with the Cowboys potentially even jumping them to take out the NFC East.
Eagles quarterback Hurts has been a key part of their success this season, but has not been able to fully participate in practice since sustaining the sprain.
Philadelphia team-mate A.J. Brown revealed that Hurts took first-team reps on Thursday in a positive sign.
"We're all excited. We're all excited to see him back, doing his thing," Brown told reporters.
"He's locked in for sure. He definitely had a tempo about him today, even in the walkthrough. He was telling guys to 'come on, hurry up, get going.' Glad he's back."
Prior to the injury, Hurts was an MVP candidate with a 67.3 per cent completion rate for 3,472 yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed 747 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said earlier in the week that Hurts' status is "day by day", with no rush to make a decision on his availability.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is adamant his side will be ready to take the field on Sunday against the New England Patriots in honour of Damar Hamlin's request.
The Bills returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals was suspended mid-game after Hamlin collapsed having suffered a cardiac arrest on the field.
Hamlin had to be resuscitated on the field and has been in intensive care in hospital in a critical condition since, but the Bills provided a medical update stating he was showing "remarkable improvement" on Thursday.
Hamlin's father Mario spoke to the Bills players and insisted that he and his son want them to play on Sunday.
"He didn't tell us, he demanded us," Allen told reporters. "You can't not honour his request to go out there and charge forward to the best of our abilities.
"Obviously, we'll be playing with less heavy hearts now, knowing that today's news was a lot of tears of joy. To know that's what he wants and that's what his dad wants, I think guys are excited to get out there."
Allen said "I do" when asked if he believed the Bills' players would be ready to take to the field on Sunday as scheduled.
"For every person it's going to be a little different. Putting that helmet back on today was really good for our team to go through that progress," Allen said.
"Some people are going to be changed forever after being on that field and feeling those emotions. The updates that we keep getting on Damar are lifting our spirits. Leaning on each other. We've had some open, honest and deep talks.
"We've had some unbelievable embraces as men, just hugging somebody, you need every bit of it. The fact we keep hearing good news about Damar keeps pushing us forward."
Allen conceded it would be difficult not to let the Hamlin situation enter his mind when they enter the field on Sunday, but insisted they had to shut it out.
"It's hard not to let it creep into your mind," he said. "We've been reassured this is the freakiest of freak accidents.
"The mental aspect of it, going out on that field, if you have that thought, that's putting yourself at risk even more.
"Coach [Sean McDermott] has done a great job making sure guys understand that and that mentally you need to be bought into.
"As humans, it's hard not to feel that way, but just to know the track record of the league. Obviously, there's injuries, that's part of sport and this is the worst possible case you can think of."
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott believes assistant trainer Denny Kellington is the "real hero" after the cardiac arrest of Damar Hamlin on Monday.
The Bills' safety collapsed on the field following a hit on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kellington gave Hamlin life-saving CPR before he was taken to hospital.
Doctors shared a significant update on Thursday, stating the 24-year-old had "won the game of life" in further explanation of a Bills statement that declared Hamlin to be "neurologically intact".
The quick actions of Kellington to administer CPR prevented a tragedy and McDermott took a moment to hail his actions in the team's first media availability since Hamlin's collapse.
"To give it context, Denny is one of our assistant trainers. Just like our team, their team go through mock exercises for these sorts of things, but we're not around for those. As they say, practice pays off," he told reporters.
"For an assistant to find himself in that position and take charge and step up like he did, it's nothing short of amazing.
"The courage that took, you talk about a real leader and a real hero, for saving Damar's life. I admire his strength."
The Bills are unlikely to complete the suspended Week 17 clash against the Bengals but are back in action this weekend against the New England Patriots as the regular season comes to a close.
Playing so soon after such a traumatic event will be a difficult scenario, but McDermott said Hamlin's father, Mario, had told them it is what his son would have wanted.
"I feel strongly that as his dad Mario had mentioned to us, that this is what Damar would have wanted. We owe that to Damar and to his family," he added.
The Bills sit 12-3 for the season, already clinching the AFC East, but have an outside chance of securing the No. 1 seed in Sunday's finale, with the NFL's decision on the suspended Bengals game pending too.
The New York Yankees have hired former Mets general manager Omar Minaya as a senior advisor to baseball operations.
Minaya is the second former general manager to join the Yankees front office this week. The team hired onetime San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean on Tuesday to work as an executive advisor to GM Brian Cashman.
The 64-year-old Minaya served as GM of the Mets from 2004 to 2010 after becoming Major League Baseball's first Hispanic general manager when he held that role for the Montreal Expos from 2002 to 2004.
Minaya returned to the Mets in 2017, following a three-year stint as an advisor for the MLB Players Association, as an assistant to then-GM Sandy Alderson.
He left that post following the 2020 season but was rehired by the organisation in 2021 as a team ambassador.
The New York City native also worked as the San Diego Padres' vice-president of baseball operations from 2011 to 2015 and spent the 2022 season as an amateur scouting consultant for MLB.
Minaya is the third former general manager currently employed by the Yankees. Former Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry has been with the club since 2012 as a special assignment scout.
Damar Hamlin "won the game of life" when he survived an on-field cardiac arrest in the Buffalo Bills' game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a doctor treating the safety.
Dr Timothy Pritts said Hamlin still needed assistance with his breathing, and the 24-year-old remains in intensive care at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
However, he can communicate by writing and Pritts expanded on what the Bills meant when they described Hamlin as "neurologically intact".
"His first note was, 'Did we win?'," Pritts said.
"It's not only that the lights are on. We know that he's home. All the cylinders are firing right in his brain."
Hamlin collapsed after a collision with wide receiver Tee Higgins and had to be resuscitated on the field, before the game was abandoned.
He received "textbook" medical attention at the stadium, Pritts' colleague Dr William A. Knight said.
Pritts explained: "He's made substantial progress. It appears his neurological condition and function is intact. We are very proud to report that, very happy for him and his family and the Buffalo Bills organisation."
Hamlin is receiving extensive medical attention, but Pritts said: "This marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care."
Pritts added: "To paraphrase one of our partners, when he asked, 'Did we win?', the answer is, 'Yes, Damar, you won. You won the game of life.' That's probably the most important thing out of this.
"We really need to keep him at the centre of everything else that's going on. We really want to ensure a good outcome for him."
The hope is that Hamlin is able to get back to the state of health in which he began Monday's game, but there will be no discussions about returning to football for the immediate future.
Knight said: "It's entirely too early to have that conversation. Our focus is on getting him better, getting him extubated and on the road to recovery."
Pritts said Hamlin had been able to "follow commands", as it was confirmed the NFL safety could move his hands and feet.
Although Hamlin has a breathing tube and cannot speak, the positivity from his doctors pointed towards a positive outcome, although it was said he has "many steps" still ahead of him.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bills said in a statement: "Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours.
"While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.
"We are grateful for the love and support we have received."
The Andretti Global team have announced plans to enter Formula One, joining forces with General Motors and the Cadillac brand.
Andretti is a name steeped in F1 history, with Mario Andretti winning the 1978 world title and his son, Michael, also a former driver on the grid.
Thursday's announcement by the American set-up follows FIA chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem stating this week he intends to launch a formal process for expressions of interest for prospective new F1 teams.
That has opened the door for Andretti's plans, with Andretti Global chairman Michael Andretti saying in a joint statement: "I feel that we are well suited to be a new team for Formula One and can bring value to the series and our partners, and excitement for the fans.
"I'm proud to have GM and Cadillac alongside us as we pursue this goal. GM and Andretti share a legacy born out of the love of racing.
"We now have the opportunity to combine our motorsport passions and dedication to innovation to build a true American F1 bid."
However, any new additions to the grid require the approval of F1, and it has been reported there is no prospect of a new team joining before 2026.
Andretti failed with a previous attempt to enter F1, with a 2021 bid to buy Sauber, but there remains an eagerness to join the grid for the next era of the sport – which is set to undergo significant changes in 2026.
Formula One is introducing a new engine formula that year, significantly increasing the power produced by the electrical part of hybrid engines and using synthetic, fully sustainable fuels – and there is already one new team set to join in 2026, following Audi's purchase of the Alfa Romero/Sauber team.
With Audi taking over an existing team, their transition onto the grid is far less complicated than the scenario for Andretti, who would require an expansion and would have to front a reported $200m fee that would be split among existing teams to offset any loss of prize money due to another team joining the revenue share.
F1 has had 10 teams on the grid since the 2015 season and issued a statement in response to Andretti's interest, which read: "There is great interest in the F1 project at this time, with a number of conversations continuing that are not as visible as others.
"We all want to ensure the championship remains credible and stable and any new entrant request will be assessed on criteria to meet those objectives by all the relevant stakeholders."
The NFL has been in shock this week, following the terrible scenes in Monday's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills.
Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest on the field has sent shockwaves through the sport, though it appears the 24-year-old is making progress in his recovery.
While Hamlin's health remains the league's priority over the rescheduling of that game from Week 17, there is also focus on the final round of fixtures.
There's plenty still be decided in Week 18, and Stats Perform has used Opta data to preview some of the key matchups.
SATURDAY (all times EST)
Chiefs (13-3) at Raiders (6-10) - 4:30pm
With the Bills and the Bengals having yet to finish the game that was rightly suspended on Monday, the AFC picture is not entirely clear. As things stand, a Kansas City Chiefs win in Las Vegas would mean they remain in with a chance of claiming the top seed, pending a decision on the Bengals-Bills game and the outcome of Buffalo's Week 18 clash against the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs have scored 28 or more points in nine consecutive games against the Raiders. The only longer streak of such games against a single opponent in NFL history is 10 by the Los Angeles Rams against the Green Bay Packers, and that came way back in 1949 to 1953.
Jerick McKinnon caught two touchdowns in Kansas City's 27-24 win over the Denver Broncos and has seven touchdown catches in the Chiefs' last five games. That is the most receiving touchdowns by a running back over a span of five team games in the Super Bowl era.
The Chiefs have scored 264 points on the road this season, averaging 33.0 points per game. If they hit their average on Saturday, they will finish with the third-most road points in a single season in NFL history, behind only the 2007 New England Patriots (314) and their own effort in 2018 (306).
Patrick Mahomes has 5,000 passing yards (5,048) and 250 rushing yards (329) in a single season for the second time in his career, also doing so in 2018.
Titans (7-9) at Jaguars (8-8) - 8:15pm
It will be winner-take-all in the AFC South when the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans face off. The victor will clinch the division and become the fourth seed in the playoffs. While Jacksonville would still be able to make the postseason via a wild card should they lose, Tennessee must win if they are to avoid elimination.
The Jaguars are looking to sweep the season series with the Titans for the first time since 2005. The only other NFL teams that have gone that long since they last swept a current divisional opponent are the Cleveland Browns, who last swept the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1988, and New York Jets, who last swept the Patriots in 2000 (the Browns also have a chance to end their drought this week).
Jacksonville could become the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs immediately following back-to-back 14-loss seasons.
Meanwhile, the Titans are looking to avoid joining the 1994 Eagles as the only teams in league history to have at least seven wins before ending the season on a seven-game game losing streak.
SUNDAY
Giants (9-6-1) at Eagles (13-3) - 4:25pm
The Philadelphia Eagles have been the team to beat in the NFC all season, yet after successive defeats in the absence of Jalen Hurts, they now need a win to clinch the top seed.
Should they lose to the New York Giants, both the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers will have to suffer defeats in order for the Eagles to be guaranteed home advantage in the playoffs.
The omens are good for the Eagles, who have won eight straight home games against the Giants, tied for the second-longest home win streak against a single opponent in team history. It trails only their active 10-game home win streak against the Steelers that started in 1966.
A win against the Eagles would give the Giants 10 wins after having just four last season. It would be the first time New York earned double-digit wins in a season after having four or fewer wins since doing so in 1933 (11 wins after a 4-6 record in 1932).
Lions (8-8) @ Packers (8-8) - 8.20pm
Given the NFC East will get two of the conference's three wild cards, matters are relatively simple for the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. A Packers victory sends them through to the playoffs, while Detroit need to win and hope the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers are coming off a 41-17 win over the Vikings in which they had four takeaways and no giveaways. Green Bay are now 50-0-1 in the Super Bowl era (including playoffs) with a turnover margin of +4 or better in a game.
Green Bay's record at home against the Lions is 61-27-4, the most home wins by any team against a single opponent.
With another win, Aaron Rodgers would be the first QB in NFL history to have two seasons where his team was multiple games under .500 immediately before going on a five-or-greater game winning streak to end the regular season.
But the Lions have scored at least 20 points while throwing no interceptions in eight straight games, tied for the longest streak in NFL history (regular season) with the 2005 Broncos, 2010 Patriots and 2018-19 Ravens.
Elsewhere...
New England will clinch a playoff spot should they defeat the Bills, who are of course recovering from that incident involving Hamlin. The Bills have won their last two games against the Patriots and are looking for three straight wins in the series for the first time since 1999-2000.
The Miami Dolphins have lost five in a row but can make the playoffs should they beat the Jets. The matchup is perfectly balanced all-time at 56 wins apiece with one tie entering this game.
A run of five wins from six games has put the Steelers in playoff contention. They will have to beat the Browns and need results elsewhere go their way. Cleveland won against the Steelers in Week 3 this season. The Browns have not won multiple games against Pittsburgh in a season since the 1988 season.
The 49ers can still claim the top seed in the NFC by beating the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco beat Las Vegas in Week 17, 37-34, despite trailing by 10 points in the third quarter. It was the Niners' second-largest comeback victory in the second half under Kyle Shanahan.
It has been a terrible season for the Rams (5-11), but they are 7-3 in their last 10 games against Seattle. The Seahawks got a 27-23 win in Inglewood in Week 13, the closest game between these teams since a 30-29 Seahawks win in Week 5, 2019.
Jake Paul is making a move to mixed martial arts after signing a potentially highly lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League.
Social media influencer Paul is 6-0, with four knockouts, in his professional boxing career, having beaten former UFC champions such as Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.
However, he is making a switch to mixed martial arts with the PFL, which describes itself as a 'fighters-first' organisation.
Paul has been an outspoken critic of the UFC and its president Dana White over fighters' pay, and the PFL's new 'Super Fight' division will allow fighters to take 50 per cent of the pay-per-view revenue.
The American has also been given a role with the company as head of fighter advocacy, promoting the league and attracting new talent.
In a statement, Paul said: "I've proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I am going to do the same in MMA, and there is no limit to the positive impact I can make on the sport.
"I plan to enter the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that anything is possible with hard work and dedication."
It is unclear when Paul's first PFL fight will be, but one possible opponent is Nate Diaz, with the UFC great a free agent after his contract with White's company expired.
Paul hopes to face Diaz twice, first in a boxing match and then in a mixed martial arts bout.
"I've already disrupted boxing, and now it's time to disrupt MMA," Paul said.
"I'm so dedicated to this that I offered Nate Diaz a two-fight deal: first, we box, then six months later we fight MMA in the PFL SmartCage and lay it all on the line. Let's make it happen."
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is "quite confident" he will be fit for the start of the Six Nations after undergoing surgery on his cheekbone.
The fly-half went under the knife this week to repair damage done during Leinster's United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht last Sunday.
Sexton's injury blow raised concerns over his participation in the Six Nations, but former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman spoke to the number 10 after his procedure and revealed he should be ready to face Wales at the Principality Stadium on February 4.
"Sexton is quite confident he is going to be back for the first round," said Jackman.
He added: "He didn't have to get wired - it was a simpler procedure than we all feared.
"He is due back in four weeks so should be back for the first game against Wales which will be a huge boost for Ireland - he is delighted."
Sexton will retire after the Rugby World Cup in France this year, so this will be his last Six Nations.
Damar Hamlin is showing "remarkable improvement" in hospital following the cardiac arrest he suffered in Monday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bills issued a medical update on Thursday, in which it was also confirmed 24-year-old safety Hamlin "appears to be neurologically intact".
He remains in intensive care and in a critical condition, but a second consecutive day of positive news about Hamlin's condition offered hope of a strong recovery.
Hamlin collapsed after a collision with wide receiver Tee Higgins and had to be resuscitated on the field, before the game was abandoned.
He was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he has been treated since.
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport wrote on Twitter that Hamlin "opened his eyes last night and is responsive" and has been "gripping the hands of those close to him".
The Bills said in a statement: "Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours.
"While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.
"We are grateful for the love and support we have received."
Netball Jamaica has received a major financial boost towards its preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup scheduled for July 28-August 6 in Cape Town.
The association, on Tuesday, received a $10 million sponsorship from National Baking Company and are looking to raise $51 million to cover its expenses in the build-up to the marquee event.
“It is a big day for us at Netball Jamaica. We are grateful to National for coming on board,” said President Tricia Robinson.
Their final preparation before the World Cup will come in a three-match series against England which will take place from January 11th- January 15th.
“We are really looking forward to this tour. It will give the coaching staff an opportunity to see exactly where we are in terms of preparation for the World Cup,” Robinson said.
The first match, on the 11th January, will take place at Manchester’s AO Arena, before the teams travel down south to the Copper Box Arena in London for back-to-back games on the 14th and 15th January.
Emma Raducanu was in tears as she retired with an ankle injury at the ASB Classic 11 days before the Australian Open starts, while Coco Gauff beat Sofia Kenin to reach the quarter-finals.
Raducanu dished out a bagel to qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova in the first set of the round of 16 match in Auckland on Thursday, but the 2021 US Open champion was unable to continue after losing the second set 7-5.
The 20-year-old Brit ended a disappointing 2022 season early due to a wrist injury and suffered another blow ahead of the first major of this year, leaving the court in tears.
Gauff will be eyeing her maiden grand slam title in 2023 and she impressively dispatched fellow American Kenin 6-4 6-4 in the second round in the capital of New Zealand.
Top seed Gauff and her compatriot were forced to play indoors due to the rain and it was the 18-year-old who prevailed, breaking three times and saving six of the break points she faced.
The teenager will face Zhu Lin of China for a place in the semi-finals after she beat Venus Williams 3-6 6-2 7-5.
Leylah Fernandez inflicted a crushing 6-0 6-1 defeat on Julia Grabher after losing only two games in her first-round win over Brenda Fruhvirtova and the Canadian will now face Ysaline Bonaventure, who defeated Rebecca Marino in three sets.
Top seed Ons Jabeur made a winning start to the season at the Adelaide International, seeing off Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to set up a meeting with Marta Kostyuk
Irina-Camelia Begu claimed the scalp of Jelena Ostapenko with a 6-3 6-0 upset of the seventh seed, while Victoria Azarenka was a 6-2 7-5 winner against Zheng Qinwen and teenager Linda Noskova got past Claire Liu in straight sets.
Australia assistant coach Scott Wisemantel has resigned from his position just eight months out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Wisemantel returned to Australia's coaching set up in December 2019 after spending 18 months in a similar role with England.
In a big blow for the Wallabies ahead of the World Cup in France, they are now seeking a new right-hand man for head coach Dave Rennie.
Wisemantel confirmed in a statement on Rugby Australia's official website on Thursday that the decision was down to personal reasons.
"While this has been a very difficult decision, it's one that's best for me and my family at this point in time," he said.
"The World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and requires 100-per-cent commitment and that's something I'm unfortunately unable to give at the moment.
"I've loved being with this team under Dave and wish them all the best for their season and in the World Cup later this year."
Wisemantel boasts 20 years of coaching experience and has worked as an assistant at the past four World Cups with Australia, Samoa, Japan and 2019 finalists England.
Australia boss Rennie is disappointed to have lost a key member of his staff but understands the decision.
"Scott's a top man and one of the best coaches I've ever worked with," Rennie said.
"He's hugely respected around the world, has a mountain of experience at International level and an incredible rapport with our players.
"While we did all we could to try and keep Scott, we respect his decision and wish him, Gabs and the girls all the best.
"He's been a massive part of this group for the past three years and we'll miss him."
Australia concluded their 2022 campaign with three defeats from their five November internationals, having also finished third in the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies will face Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal in the pool phase of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which gets under way on September 8.
Patrick Swayze famously said "nobody puts Baby in the corner" in 'Dirty Dancing', but Scottie Scheffler joked he planned to do so for Bubba Watson at this year's Masters Champions dinner.
It was confirmed last month that LIV Golf defectors will be allowed to play at Augusta National provided they meet the eligibility criteria, as the civil war between the Saudi-backed breakaway series and the PGA Tour continues.
Two-time champion Watson is among a group of past victors such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, and Charl Schwartzel, while Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau can all tee it up due to successes at other major tournaments.
Jon Rahm shrewdly observed this week that "the Masters Champions Dinner's going to be a little tense compared to how it’s been in the past" as players from the warring tours gather in the same room.
Scheffler, aiming to regain world number one status in Hawaii at the Tour of Champions this week, did his part to diffuse any simmering tension with a cheeky comment about Watson during a chance meeting on vacation.
"Yeah, I haven't seen many of the LIV guys. I saw Bubba on vacation this year, and I told him that I was just going to have a separate table for him in the corner by himself. Only kidding, obviously!" the defending Masters champion quipped.
"I just walked into this restaurant and him and Angie [Watson's wife] were sitting there and I was like, 'Hey, man, what's up.'"
Scheffler did reflect on the strange events occurring in golf.
His locker at Hualalai Golf Club this week is next to defending champion Smith, who is ineligible to play following his defection to LIV.
Scheffler, though, remains confident the wounds will heal.
"In the world of golf, it's definitely a little sad what's happening. It's kind of weird this week. I get to my locker, and my locker's next to Cam Smith's locker, because he's a past champ here, and he's not here," he added.
"So, it's a little strange, but golf will move on. I think this stuff just takes time. Things will heal and we'll see what happens.
"All that stuff is not really for me. I can only show up and just try and play good golf, and I'm not going to LIV anytime soon and so it's not of a concern for me at the moment."
Asked about the mood in the room at the Champions Dinner, Scheffler said: "With Augusta National being such a special place and with the history of the game and whatnot I think we can put all our stuff aside and just get together for a fun meal, all in a room together and just kind of celebrate the game of golf and Augusta National and just hang out."
Novak Djokovic is resigned to again missing marquee tournaments in the United States after confirming his stance on COVID-19 vaccinations remains unchanged.
The 21-time grand slam winner is set to sit out the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open after the US extended the requirement for all non-American nationals to be vaccinated.
Djokovic's participation at August's US Open may also be in doubt should those requirements, which are currently in place until April 10, continue to be extended.
But having also been forced to miss events in the likes of the US, Canada and Australia last year, Djokovic accepts he may have to do the same in 2023.
"I don't think there's anything official yet, so when it is we can speak about it," Djokovic told reporters on Thursday when asked about the US restrictions.
When told the rules have been certified by the US Transportation Security Administration, Djokovic replied: "I mean, if it is official then it is – what can I do? Nothing.
"You know my position, so it is what it is. I'm hoping [to play], but if I can't go, I can't go."
Djokovic, cleared to compete in Australia this year, was speaking after defeating Quentin Halys 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) in the last 16 of the Adelaide International.
The 35-year-old, who beat Constant Lestienne in straight sets in his opening singles match of 2023, trailed 5-2 in the first set but recovered well and then edged the second set.
"It was a great performance from my opponent today and I want to congratulate him for a great fight," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "He played like a top-10 opponent.
"He was serving big, hitting his spots and on a fast court like this it's tough to break, so two tie-breaks is a realistic score in today's match. I'm glad to overcome the challenge."
Djokovic will now face Denis Shapovalov, who saw off Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-3, for a place in the semi-finals.
"Denis is one of the most complete players out there," Djokovic said of his next opponent. "He has a very dynamic style of tennis.
"I haven't played him for a while so I'm looking forward to it. Every match from here gets tougher."
Sebastian Korda also advanced on Thursday with a 6-4 6-4 victory against Roberto Bautista-Agut, while Jannik Sinner beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
At the Maharashtra Open in Pune, top seed Marin Cilic withdrew from his quarter-final with Tallon Griekspoor due to a knee injury.
World number 95 Griekspoor will now face Aslan Karatsev for a place in the final.
Mike Budenholzer hailed Giannis Antetokounmpo for getting the Milwaukee Bucks over the line in a dramatic overtime win over the Toronto Raptors and admitted he would have handled the game differently in hindsight.
Just a day on from a career-high 55-point showing against the Washington Wizards, Antetokounmpo had a second triple-double of the season as his 30 points, 10 assists and 21 rebounds helped secure a 104-101 victory.
"I think Giannis, on a back-to-back, he used a lot of energy both last night, tonight," Budenholzer said. "They're very physical. For him to find a way to get us over the top was huge."
It should have been a more comfortable conclusion for the Bucks, who were leading by 21 points with 3:50 left on the clock in the fourth quarter.
With 3:22 remaining, Budenholzer – mindful of the back-to-back games – opted to sub out each of his five starters.
Fred VanVleet's back-to-back threes saw Budenholzer send them back in but Toronto recovered from 11 points down with a little over 40 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
"[There were a] couple of turnovers trying to inbound the ball against the press," Budenholzer said. "It felt like if we got the ball in we were able to get it across halfcourt and then we had a couple turnovers in the halfcourt that you just can't have that we've got to work on and improve.
"Definitely after, in hindsight, I would do it differently – I wouldn't take the guys out but, up 20, on a back-to-back, you hope that you can finish that out.
"But a 6-0 run in a matter of 15, 20 seconds, that probably gave them the life to take it all the way down. So, it’s unfortunate and we'd like to be better, including myself."
Antetokounmpo was typically influential in overtime, driving down court and finding Grayson Allen to hit the game-winning three with a pin-point pass despite falling out of bounds.
"He was wide open," Antetokounmpo said. "I drove the ball, I saw VanVleet coming in from the corner and I was able to deliver the ball to Grayson and he caught it clean and I knew we had a chance when he caught it clean and shot the ball.
"It feels good. Obviously your body's tired and it's more mental than physical and just being able to go out there and get the job done back-to-back, it always feel good."
Aaron Rodgers remains unsure whether Sunday's game with the Detroit Lions will be his final outing at Lambeau Field as uncertainty again surrounds the legendary quarterback's Green Bay Packers future.
Four-time MVP Rodgers has struggled with injuries throughout the season and has once again flirted with the idea of calling time on his career at the end of the campaign.
The Packers head into their contest with the Lions seeking a win to secure a playoff spot, but a home game in the postseason is not possible.
That means Rodgers could run out at Lambeau Field for the final time this weekend, but the 39-year-old is not thinking too much about that scenario at this stage.
"I'm going to take some time after the season," Rodgers said on Wednesday. "I've got a lot of great memories here at Lambeau – and hopefully can add another one on Sunday.
"You don't know what the future holds. But when I think about that, it's nothing but gratitude. Not remorse or sadness, just gratitude for the time that I've been here.
"There are amazing memories that I've had on this field. There's been a lot of great moments, but I'm still undecided [about next season].
"We're all undecided about the future. I'm just going to enjoy Sunday night and hopefully have some more to play for."
Rodgers was the only member of the Packers' 53-man roster who did not take part in the jog-through style practice on Wednesday.
The one-time Super Bowl winner, who has been with the Packers since 2005, is hoping to overcome thumb and knee injuries.
"I just think that coming off a physical game and this point in the season, a lot of Wednesdays are like that anyways," head coach Matt LaFleur said.
"Above-the-neck days just allow our guys a little bit more time to recover. Then we'll get back on a more normal routine [on Thursday] and handle it the best we can."
Kevin Durant was philosophical after the Brooklyn Nets saw their 12-match winning streak ended, saying the team ran into "special players" against a hot Chicago Bulls side.
The Nets headed into Wednesday's contest as the in-form team but fell to a 121-112 defeat in Chicago, where six Bulls players finished with double figures for points.
DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams put up 22 apiece, while Nikola Vucevic scored 21 to go with 13 rebounds and Ayo Dosunmu and Zach Lavine finished with 17 and 13 points respectively.
Durant acknowledged the Bulls have "three elite scorers, from all angles of the floor" in reference to DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic, and added: "Their top two guys [DeRozan and LaVine] were 12 for 31 for 35 points.
"We can live with that. But Pat Williams made some shots and easy rolls to the rim. Ayo is playing great this year and put pressure on the rim.
"I felt like a lot of times we chased them a bit, and that was just consistent throughout the whole game, us just playing from behind.
"I think we definitely put our foot on the gas in spurts but they made shots. They're talented players, special players. When you've got your whole five in double figures, it's tough to stop that."
Defeat leaves the Nets third in the Eastern Conference but with an identical 25-13 record with the Milwaukee Bucks and just a game back from the table-topping Boston Celtics, who own the best record in the NBA.
For Durant, there were still plenty of good things to take out of the defeat.
"We understand how we want to play every night," he said. "I feel like the league is always on notice with the talent we have on our team.
"I don't think anybody takes us for granted when they're preparing for us each night. I think we found some things that were good for us on both ends of the floor and want to be consistent with executing those things as we move forward."
The Bulls, who are 10th in the conference, had lost their past two games prior to halting the Nets' charge.
Curiously, their record against the top three in the East this season stands at 6-1, but against teams who are under .500 they are 4-8.
"To come out here after those two tough losses and beat one of the hottest teams in the NBA, it's good," LaVine said. "I think we came out with the right attention to detail. We withstood their run at the end, and we beat them collectively.
"Because you know if you don't come in here and you don't have your A-game you're going to get blown out.
"I think that's the difference in our record. We come out here with the same attention to detail like we've all talked about I think that will flip around a lot of things."
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