BNT MISC

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods and his 13-year-old son, Charlie Woods, turned in an excellent team performance in the first round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday.

Playing in a scramble format, Tiger and Charlie carded a 13-under 59, placing them in a tie for second place, just two strokes behind Justin and Mike Thomas at 15-under.

The father-son Woods duo combined to record 11 birdies, one eagle and no bogeys in the first round of their third PNC Championship together.

Originally called the Father/Son Challenge, the PNC Championship has been played since 1995 and features PGA Tour or Champions Tour golfers who have won a major championship or the Players Championship in the past teaming with family members who are not currently professional golfers.

Tiger and Charlie have garnered the bulk of the attention in recent years since Tiger is arguably the greatest golfer of all time, while Charlie is a phenom who seemingly has a successful future in golf ahead of him.

Both Tiger and Charlie played well out of the gates, playing the front nine at eight-under par. Charlie was locked in with quality approaches and some lengthy putts, including a bomb of a birdie on No. 7:

As solid as Charlie was, Tiger truly turned heads Saturday with his play, especially since he has struggled significantly with injuries over the past several years.

Last year's PNC Championship was Woods' first tournament in a year, but he entered this year's tourney with a lot more golf under his belt in 2022, including playing in the seventh edition of The Match last week.

That seemingly served Tiger well, as he confidently sunk birdie putts, showed great club speed on his tee shots and approach shots, and even chipped in for eagle:

Tiger found himself in such a groove that Jason Sobel of The Action Network marveled at how well he was putting in particular:

While the back nine wasn't quite as good for Tiger and Charlie, they still managed five birdies and closed on a high note when Charlie made a birdie putt on the 18th:

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Woods' performance on Saturday was the fact that neither Tiger nor Charlie appeared to be 100 percent healthy.

Tiger will likely always be banged up due to the multiple back and knee surgeries he has undergone, in addition to a nagging foot injury currently, but Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek also snapped a photo of Charlie favoring his ankle:

Despite that, Tiger and Charlie put themselves in position to potentially win the PNC Championship in Sunday's second and final round after finishing second in the tournament last year.

Tiger has shown he can compete at a high level in the PNC Championship over the past couple of years, and while Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated was impressed by what the 46-year-old Woods did Saturday, he openly wondered if it could translate to bigger individual tournaments:

Tiger is a 15-time major champion after shockingly winning the 2019 Masters, but he hasn't come close to winning another major since then, including a 47th-place finish in this year's Masters, plus withdrawing from the PGA Championship and missing the cut at the Open Championship.

While Woods' pursuit of the record for most major championships will consider to be a huge story until he retires, none of it matters at the PNC Championship.

Tiger has made it clear many times how much playing alongside his son means to him, and it seemed to motivate him to play great golf Saturday.

The team of Justin Thomas and his father, Mike, finished Saturday's opening round play at the PNC Championship atop the scoreboard after shooting a 15-under 57.

That gave them a two-stroke lead over Team Singh and Team Woods.

The PNC Championship features PGA Tour stars paired with one of their family members in a two-person scramble format. The format allows teams to select the best drive or putt per stroke, while the discarded hit doesn't count against the score.

The day's highlight was undoubtedly the back and forth between the eventual leaders, Team Thomas, and the duo of Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie:

Team Langer ended the day in fourth (-12), while seven teams settled into a tie for fifth at 11 under.

The Woods' duo was one of the day's biggest stories, with young Charlie continuing to prove himself an adept golfer.

"Well this is what I see at home all the time, so I'm used to it," Tiger said of his son's impressive play after the round, before teasing him a touch. "Unfortunately, this is not the game plan that we had originally planned out. His ankle's not exactly feeling the best, so I've had to hit a couple more drives than I normally would. But obviously it was a great day. ... We're in a great position for tomorrow."

They'll be trying to catch a Team Thomas duo that had 11 birdies, two eagles and no bogeys on the day, an impressive round to say the least.

The round came under the backdrop of LIV CEO and commissioner Greg Norman saying he had reached out to Thomas about potentially defecting, during an interview with the magazine bunkered.

"I mean, we talked to JT," he said. "Me and another member of my team, we sat down with him and gave him the full presentation and, if you notice, he's not said much negative about what we're doing, presumably because he knows it and understands it."

Thomas had previously said back in June he was disappointed to see so many players leave for LIV Golf and wished they hadn't defected, calling the PGA Tour "the best place to play in the world."

After Thomas' previous comments, it's hard to imagine him making the switch. Whatever he decides, it didn't appear to be much of a distraction Saturday.

The biggest event in professional bodybuilding is back, as the 2022 Mr. Olympia is already underway in Las Vegas.

Reigning (and back-to-back) champion Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay is looking to repeat after defeating 2019 champion and 2022 Arnold Classic champ Brandon Curry in each of the last two finals. The task won't be easy, though, as Curry is back to challenge Elssbiay once again—along with a group of determined competitors.

This year's list of top challengers includes 2021 fourth-place finisher Hunter Labrada, 2022 Arnold Classic runner-up William Bonac and 2021 Olympia third-place finisher Hadi Choopan.

However, it's Curry—who won this year's Arnold—who poses the biggest threat to Elssbiay's bid for the record books. His status as a former Mr. Olympia can't be dismissed, though it's worth noting that Bonac gave him a run in Columbus back in the spring.

From Muscle & Fitness: "Curry and Bonac had to go through two complete comparisons before a winner could be determined."

However, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler believes that Elssbiay should be considered the favorite.

"I think Ramy is going to repeat," Cutler said on YouTube (h/t Phil Blechman of BarBend).

Pre-judging for the Mr. Olympia began on Friday evening, with Elssbiay, Curry, Choopan, Samson Dauda, Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker earning spots in the final callout.

"Their on-stage orientation shifted, but it was clear that these six athletes were the ones competing for the O going into Saturday finals. Notably, Elssbiay posed on the fringes of the final callout," Roger Lockridge of BarBend wrote.

How will the rest of the event unfold? We'll find out when the finals take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casin on Saturday evening.

Remaining Event Schedule for Saturday, December 17

Beginning at 7 p.m. ET, Finals for:

• Mr. Olympia
• Men's Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
  
• Classic Physique Olympia

Full schedule can be found on the Mr. Olympia Official Site.

Past Winners and Preview

We've already noted that Elssbiay is coming off of back-to-back wins and is looking to three-peat. This is notable, as another win would see him tie with bodybuilding legends Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva with three titles.

Zane and Oliva are tied for seventh on the all-time wins list, one spot behind Cutler—who won four titles in five years between 2006 and 2010. Dorian Yates holds six Mr. Olympia crowns, while Arnold Schwarzenegger is tied with Heath with seven.

Heath's last win came in 2017, a year before Shawn Rhoden's lone win and two years before Curry's.

Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman top the all-time winner's list with eight Mr. Olympia titles apiece.

At 38 years old, Big Ramy probably doesn't have a chance of catching Haney and Coleman, but he has time to put himself in revered bodybuilding company.

Naturally, Curry is intent on spoiling Elssbiay's plans. He believes that he's put in the work necessary to dethrone the champ and reclaim his place as Mr. Olympia.

"I was able to put more time in this year, and I think it's going to pay off," Curry said during the Olympia press conference.

Big Ramy, though, (unsurprisingly) predicts that he'll reign supreme once again. In an Instagram post (h/t Vishnu Mohan of Sportskeeda), he predicted himself to take first, with Choopan, Curry and Bonac finishing second through fourth, respectively.

"I'm sharpening my weapons to defend my title in Las Vegas!" Elssbiay wrote in the post.

It would be unwise to count out the likes of Walker and Choopan, with the latter finishing third in two of the last three competitions. Yet this largely feels like it's going to be a posedown between Elssbiay and Curry for the right to hoist the Sandow Trophy.

Christian Pulisic may be back with Chelsea following the FIFA World Cup, but there is buzz that a change in scenery could be on the horizon come the January transfer window.

According to a report from ESPN, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal "have all been made aware of Pulisic's likely availability when the transfer window opens, and sources told ESPN the player's representatives are keen to find him a new club four years after he signed for Chelsea in a £58 million ($70.4 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund."

This week, Pulisic appeared on Steve Schlanger and Tim Ream's Indirect podcast and didn't exactly put to rest any looming doubts about his future at Stamford Bridge.

"Right now I'm absolutely back at Chelsea, focused and ready to finish the season," he said. "But you know how things work in football...things change quickly and anything can happen. At the moment, I am just pushing myself in training and working at Chelsea, because that's where I am right now."

Pulisic has thrived for the USMNT, scoring a goal and adding two assists in four games at the most recent World Cup. He is undoubtedly the face of men's soccer in the United States and one of the country's most talented and important players.

At Chelsea, however, his role and impact have waxed and waned. That comes down partially to a Chelsea roster loaded with talent in the attacking positions. Pulisic is left fighting for playing time alongside the likes of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, among others.

At Arsenal, cracking the starting 11 may not be much easier. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are entrenched as the starters on the wing, though Martinelli may see some time as a central striker while Gabriel Jesus is sidelined. Arsenal do lack depth on the wing, however, so Pulisic would be the next man up.

United equally are crowded at the attacking positions, with players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Antony and Anthony Elanga all jockeying for time.

So, Newcastle might offer the best avenue for a consistent role, though the soaring Magpies aren't devoid of talent themselves.

Whatever January holds for Pulisic, it wouldn't be shocking to see him depart Chelsea. A change in scenery feels like the right move.

Croatia captured third place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup through some thrilling attacking soccer inside the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.

Joško Gvardiol and Mislav Oršić scored the goals for Croatia.

But the reaction after the win over Morocco was more about praising Luka Modrić.

The 37-year-old likely played in his last World Cup game on Saturday. The Real Madrid star has been a vital piece of Croatia's last two World Cup runs. The European side was the runner-up to France four years ago in Russia.

Modrić has played 162 games for Croatia and scored 23 goals, the last of which was scored in the UEFA Nations League in September. He scored twice in Russia four years ago.

With 28 days of action in the books, the World Cup is set to wrap up with the closing ceremony and final between Argentina and France on Sunday.

Unlike an Olympics closing ceremony, which happens after the last event has been contested, the World Cup equivalent will be held prior to the FIFA tournament's final match.

Because of this, it's more truncated than you might expect; according to a press release from FIFA, it will last 15 minutes (compared to closer to 30 for the opening ceremony).

Here's everything you need to know to tune in to the World Cup closing ceremony in Qatar, as well as what to watch for when you do.

World Cup 2022 Closing Ceremony

Date: Sunday, December 18

Location: Lusail Stadium; Doha, Qatar

Time: 8 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local time)

TV: Fox, Telemundo (U.S.)

Live Stream: Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

FIFA had been keeping the full slate of closing ceremony performers under wraps, but on Friday night, it released a list of acts, including headliner Nigerian-American musician Davido, whose song with Aisha, "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)," is featured on the 2022 World Cup soundtrack.

Also taking the stage will be Ozuna and Gims performing "Arhbo" and an all-female lineup singing "Light the Sky," including Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad and Manal.

"'A Night to Remember' will reflect on the tournament through music and poetry," according to FIFA

Per ABC News, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will also "reportedly feature in a music video for this year's World Cup finale."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will lead the six-person U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony.

After the closing ceremony at 8 a.m. ET at Lusail Stadium—the largest venue that has hosted tournament games, with a capacity of 80,000—the final between Argentina and France, the 64th match of the tournament, will get underway at 10 a.m. ET. The opening ceremony was held at Al Bayt Stadium.

Both Argentina and France are looking to win a third World Cup title.

Much of the focus in the college football world is on bowl season and the upcoming College Football Playoff, but future championships could be won and lost before that on the recruiting trail.

This year's early National Signing period is from Dec. 21 through Dec. 23, and there are still a number of top options on the board as teams look to solidify their 2023 classes.

With that in mind, here is a look at the announcement schedules for some of the top unsigned players, per 247Sports.

• Damon Wilson, 5-star edge rusher: Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. ET
• James Smith, 5-star defensive lineman: Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. ET
• Qua Russaw, 5-star edge rusher: Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. ET
  
• Desmond Ricks, 5-star cornerback: Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET
  

One of the most interesting recruiting battles is for edge-rusher Damon Wilson considering it appears to be between Ohio State and Georgia. That those two teams will face each other in the CFP adds another layer to the recruitment.

In October, Peter Warren of On3 Sports suggested the Buckeyes held a "big lead," but On3's Chad Simmons said in December that Georgia was "the team to beat."

It is notable that the two crystal-ball selections on 247Sports are in favor of the Buckeyes.

The prediction here is Ohio State leans on legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who has coached the likes of Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, Chase Young and others, and lands a major recruiting win.

It's not all bad news for the SEC, though, as cornerback Desmond Ricks will end up at LSU.

Ricks visited the Tigers for the Alabama game, which ended up being an electric atmosphere and one of the most memorable contests of the entire college football season. LSU earned the dramatic 32-31 win in overtime when head coach Brian Kelly elected to go for the two-point conversion following his team's touchdown.

It surely made an impression, and the two crystal-ball predictions on 247Sports are in favor of the Tigers.

It likely doesn't hurt LSU's cause that other commits have done their best to recruit Ricks using social media.

Kelly has plenty of momentum on his side after winning the SEC West in his first season as the head coach at LSU and now has the opportunity to bring in a top-five recruiting class with a strong push.

Adding Ricks would help him do just that.