Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart AwardNew Foto - Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award

Paul Azinger is getting what he considers the greatest honor of his career. He was announced Monday as recipient of the Payne Stewart Award that recognizes traits belonging to his closest friend on the PGA Tour. The award began in 2000, a year after Stewart and three others died in a plane crash. It has become one of the top awards in golf, with a ceremony televised live from Atlanta during the Tour Championship in August. "To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments in my life," Azinger said. Azinger is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship that he won in a playoff. He is equally known for reshaping the Ryder Cup qualification system and leading the Americans to a rare victory against Europe in 2008. He now works as a television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. The award honors a player who shows character, sportsmanship and commitment to charity. Azinger and his wife, Toni, in 2021 opened the Azinger Family Compassion Center, which serves vulnerable and struggling families in Manatee County in Florida. The Southern Company, which sponsors the award, donates $300,000 toward the recipient's charity and $200,000 to Stewart Family Foundation programs. Stewart, a three-time major champion and thereigning U.S. Open champion when he died in 1999, and Azinger were close friends on tour. Azinger was the main speaker at Stewart's memorial service, rolling up his pants to look like plus fours and wearing a tam o'shanter cap. "Payne displayed the ultimate character, sportsmanship and service to others throughout his career. He set the standard for how to represent the game of golf, so to be recognized for this award is truly humbling," Azinger said. The ceremony will be Aug. 19. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson received the inaugural award.Brandt Snedekerreceived it last year. Other winners over the years have included Tom Watson and Nick Price, Steve Stricker and Tom Lehman. "If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. "His values align with the character and charitable pursuits that Payne displayed throughout his career, and it's only fitting that Paul be honored with this year's award." ___ AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award

Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award Paul Azinger is getting what he considers the greatest honor of h...
Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 seasonNew Foto - Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season

The Pittsburgh Steelers really understand the meaning of a throwback. The team is taking things all the way back to its inaugural season after announcing new 1933 throwback uniforms Monday. The uniforms are a modernized version of the jerseys the team wore back in 1933. The Steelers introduced the new uniforms in a post on X. Forged in Pittsburgh. Defined by Legacy.📝:https://t.co/9AOP1ZGt7epic.twitter.com/uNyGGGBYTm — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers)July 21, 2025 The stripes on the front of the jersey are a clear callback to 1933, when the team's gold jerseyscontained black stripeson the arms, neck and chest. Football players weren't required to wear helmets in 1933, so the modernized version of the uniform introduced something a little different on that front. The franchise has generally relied on its iconic black helmet in recent years, but that's going to change in the throwbacks. To celebrate the 1933 season, the team will wear a gold helmet with a black stripe, an inverse of their usual helmet. Tight end Pat Freiermuth wasa big fanof that change, per the Steelers' website. "We've worn black helmets since I've been here, and well before that, and just switching it up to a new helmet I love. It gets players excited. It gets the fans excited. It's something cool to showcase. After we wear them, I want to keep that helmet forever. It's super cool." Another new aspect introduced on the throwbacks is the Pittsburgh crest near the left shoulder. That crest, which wasn't present on the 1933 uniforms, pays homage to the city of Pittsburgh. It's a celebration of the connection between the franchise and its city. The throwbacks will debut in Week 8, when the Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers. The team did not announce any additional games in which they will wear the new throwbacks. That game against the Packers should draw plenty of eyes, though. It's not only a prime-time matchup, but it's also the first time Aaron Rodgers will face the Packers since leaving the team after the 2022 NFL season. Whether he wins or loses that matchup, Rodgers will at least do it in style.

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season

Steelers throwback uniforms: Team introduces new jersey that pays homage to inaugural 1933 season The Pittsburgh Steelers really understand ...
Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup rosterNew Foto - Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster

Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley committed to Bryson DeChambeau being part of the U.S. roster at Bethpage Black in September. In a text message to Sports Illustrated, Bradley confirmed there was a spot reserved for DeChambeau regardless of whether he remains in the top six in points to earn an automatic qualifying bid. DeChambeau was fifth in points when The Open Championship ended Sunday. "Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup," SI reported of Bradley's text message Sunday night. "He brings so much. He brings energy, passion but most importantly, he's one of the best players on the planet." DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open winner and currently No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was fifth in points heading into the Open at Royal Portrush. After the top six automatic qualifiers are settled, Bradley will select the remaining six players to play on his Ryder Cup roster in Farmingdale, N.Y. DeChambeau finished tied for 10th at the Open at 9-under. He left Northern Ireland on Sunday thinking about being part of the U.S. team. "I hope I can bring a lot of energy and a tsunami of a crowd that's going to be rooting for Team USA," he said. DeChambeau, 31, became emotional when asked if he had any communication with Bradley this week. "I talked with him briefly, and then he put something in our lockers that was pretty inspirational," he said. "It's a personal message." Bradley wrote individualized messages to players who are in the top 15 on the current points list. "It meant a lot," DeChambeau said. "This year's no joke. We're tired of it. We're tired of losing." Since 2010, Team Europe has won five of the seven Ryder Cup competitions and is the defending champion. --Field Level Media

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster

Keegan Bradley: Bryson DeChambeau already on U.S. Ryder Cup roster Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley committed to Bryson DeChambeau being par...
JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary dramaNew Foto - JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama

As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's list of possible running mates last year,a mix of joy and dreadset in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dreadwas more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries — in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration — Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the president's political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs.Mike DeWinein Ohio andRon DeSantisin Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. "Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trump's endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans," said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. "I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio." Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husted's clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trump's endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trump's support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the president's backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and theOhio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWine's 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husted's long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. "Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasn't anybody like Jon Husted in those fields," Temple said. "Husted has been around for 25 years. He's got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community … so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field." Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohio's state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. "He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows," said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husted's positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the party's base. "These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics," Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone who's been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. "We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class," Husted said. "I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what it's like in Appalachia versus what it's like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that I've been doing this." Husted said he's forged a "solid" relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signedHusted-sponsored legislationrolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes beforepostinghis "Complete and Total Endorsement" of Husted on Truth Social. Trump's endorsement, Husted said, "has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable." The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. "I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate," Husted said. "It's not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. I'm tested. We're tough. We know what we're doing and we've got a great campaign." As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, "I don't bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and we'll win." Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the state's Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. "Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed," said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president — a necessary step toward clearing a primary field — had been an open question. Moody's super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the president's top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandalrelated to a lawsuitseeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he rancloser than expectedto Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, "not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election." "Just like Kamala, they won't play here," Johnson said.

JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama

JD Vance and Marco Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump's l...
Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for Trump to release Epstein files: 'Let people see'New Foto - Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for Trump to release Epstein files: 'Let people see'

Florida Gov.Ron DeSantiscalled on the Trump administration to release all the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claiming that Epstein and his former partner Ghislaine Maxwell didn't act alone. DeSantis' remarks come as a range of critics, including progressive Democrats and conservative firebrands, have accused the Justice Department of botching a review of files on the disgraced financier. The calls for openness follow the news last week from TheWall Street Journalthat Trump sent a lewd letter to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. Trump has denied the report andsued the Journal over it. For years, PresidentDonald Trumpand top Republican officials have called for transparency aboutEpstein's alleged "client list"and said that Epstein didn't die by suicide in 2019. Many of the same people are upset that theJustice Departmentreport indicated there was no such list and that he took his own life. "What I would say is just release it, let people see. But I do think there's a desire for justice because Jeffrey Epstein and (Ghislaine) Maxwell didn't just do this amongst themselves. I mean, there were obviously other people involved, and yet no one's been brought to justice," DeSantis toldFox News on July 20. Last year, DeSantissigned legislationthat would authorize "the public release of grand jury documents," including those related to a 2006 Florida investigation into Epstein's abuse of underage girls. In July 2006, Epsteinwas indicted by a grand juryon a felony charge of soliciting prostitution. He was arrested and spent one night in the Palm Beach County jail. He was released the following day on $3,000 bond. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Florida.  He served a 13-month stint in county jail and was regularly allowed to leaveas part of a generous work release program. He died in a New York federal detention center in 2019 before he could be tried on sex trafficking charges. Amid public clamor over the Justice Department's report, Trump directed Attorney GeneralPam Bondion July 17 to produce grand jury testimony from Epstein's sex-trafficking case, assuming a court will allow it. Contributing: Kinsey Crowleyand Holly Baltz, USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Gov. DeSantis calls on Trump admin to release Epstein files

Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for Trump to release Epstein files: 'Let people see'

Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for Trump to release Epstein files: 'Let people see' Florida Gov.Ron DeSantiscalled on the Trump administrat...

 

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