- MVP Refutes Rumor He Has Heat With AEW Star
- Nuggets’ Christian Braun reaches $125M extension, agent says
- Backstage Report On WWE’s Plans For World Heavyweight Championship Match At SNME
- Former WWE Diva ‘Gets The Itch To Return All The Timeâ€
- ‘Perfect shots all the way’: D3 golfer aces same hole twice in same day
- Brock & CW Anderson Open Up About Their MLW Tag Team Roots
- ‘Danny Rohl jumps from Sheffield Wednesday frying pan into Rangers furnace’
- Bobby Fish Opens Up About Recent Health And Personal Issues
Browsing: Favorite
This week the PGA Tour heads to Utah for the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, where a top U.S. Ryder Cup snub is the betting favorite. Here is everything you need to know about the Bank of Utah Championship odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
Bank of Utah Championship betting favorites
After a week off, the PGA Tour’s FedEx Fall resumes this week in Utah. The field features a mix of proven PGA Tour stars and players trying to earn their Tour cards for 2026.
Leading the odds as betting favorite is Maverick McNealy at +1400 odds-to-win. McNealy didn’t follow up his 2024 RSM Classic victory with a win in the regular season this year, but he did have a solid season nonetheless.
Angry Open champion unleashes surprise club smash… after perfect shot
By:
Kevin Cunningham
He earned a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational among seven total top-10 finishes. He finished the Tour Championship in 23rd place in the FedEx Cup standings, comfortably earning starts in all Signature Events next year.
Despite finishing 10th in the U.S. Ryder Cup ranking, McNealy was snubbed for a captain’s pick by Keegan Bradley.
In Utah, McNealy is hoping to add a second-career Tour win to finish off the year in style.
There’s a three-way tie for second in the pre-tournament odds for the Bank of Utah Championship. Alex Noren, Kurt Kitayama and Michael Thorbjornsen are locked at +2000 odds-to-win.
Jason Day is among a trio of players at +2200.
You can see the top 20 and ties in the Bank of Utah Championship betting odds as of Monday morning below, or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for GOLF’s Top Stories Newsletter!
Get the latest golf news and our most-read stories delivered to your inbox daily!
SIGN UP NOW
2025 Bank of Utah Championship odds
Maverick McNealy (+1400)
Alex Noren (+2000)
Kurt Kitayama (+2000)
Michael Thorbjornsen (+2000)
Jason Day (+2200)
Davis Thompson (+2200)
Kevin Yu (+2500)
Thorbjorn Olesen (+3000)
Rico Hoey (+3000)
Matt Wallace (+3500)
Emiliano Grillo (+4000)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+4000)
Ryan Gerard (+4000)
Alex Smalley (+4000)
Steven Fisk (+4000)
Pierceson Coody (+4000)
Max Homa (+4500)
Luke Clanton (+4500)
Sahith Theegala (+5000)
Billy Horschel (+5000)
Kevin Cunningham
As senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.
Oct 18, 2025, 06:43 PM ET
University of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello has emerged as a front-runner for the San Francisco Giants’ managerial job, and a resolution on a potential deal is expected in the next 24 to 72 hours, sources told ESPN on Saturday, confirming multiple reports.
Should the sides agree on a contract, Vitello would become the first manager in major league history to jump directly from a college program to the big leagues without experience in a professional organization.
Vitello, 47, led Tennessee to a College World Series title in 2024 and is regarded as one of the best coaches in college baseball. He would replace Bob Melvin, who was fired Sept. 29 after an 81-81 season, the Giants’ fourth consecutive season without a playoff berth.
San Francisco president of baseball operations Buster Posey has considered several managerial candidates, among them former Giants catcher Nick Hundley and a pair of other former big league catchers, Kurt Suzuki and Vance Wilson. The Giants have instead trained their interest on Vitello, who has distinguished himself as one of the preeminent recruiters and talent developers in the country during a two-decade career as an assistant and head coach in college.
The buyout on his deal at Tennessee is $3 million, the same as his annual salary, sources said.
Editor’s Picks
1 Related
The move from college to professional baseball is rare, though not unprecedented. Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy spent 25 years coaching in college before joining the San Diego Padres, with whom he managed in the minor leagues. Murphy then spent eight years as the Brewers’ bench coach before taking over as manager in 2024, when he was named National League Manager of the Year.
Vitello’s transition to the major leagues would come at a far more rapid pace. He would inherit a Giants team competing in a loaded National League West, with the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers clinching a World Series berth Friday night. San Francisco returns a core of first baseman Rafael Devers, shortstop Willy Adames and third baseman Matt Chapman, and is expected to be active in free agency this winter, sources said.
After more than 10 years as an assistant coach at Missouri, TCU and Arkansas, Vitello took over a moribund Tennessee program before the 2018 season and posted a 341-131 record, advancing to the College World Series in 2021, 2023 and 2024. With a pair of eventual first-round picks and four second-rounders, Tennessee beat Texas A&M to win the school’s first baseball national championship in 2024.
Vitello, whose boisterous personality endeared him at Tennessee and chafed other SEC schools, would enter a different realm in MLB. Whereas college jobs are often defined by the success of recruiting classes, major league teams are constructed by baseball operations departments, with the manager relied upon for clubhouse cohesion, in-game decision-making, bullpen usage and daily media interactions.
The reluctance of MLB teams to dip into the college ranks for managers is long established and has run counter to the hiring practices of other professional sports leagues. NFL teams have regularly plucked head coaches from the college ranks, and in the NBA, there is no stigma associated with college coaches. The closest facsimile to Vitello’s hiring was in 2019, when pitching coach Wes Johnson left the University of Arkansas to take the same role with the Minnesota Twins. Johnson left the Twins in 2022 to accept the pitching coach job at LSU before joining Georgia as its head coach a year later.
Vitello’s philosophies on the game and personality intrigued Posey and aligned with what the future Hall of Famer hopes to build in San Francisco, sources said. In an interview with ESPN in June, Vitello said his reputation as a rabble-rouser did not bother him and that he had no plans to change his approach to coaching, which called for boundary-pushing.
“I think you don’t know where the line is until you cross it. And then you make an adjustment,” Vitello said. “I don’t want our guys, if they give them a coloring book, I don’t want them just coloring inside the lines. You know, come up with something different.”
If you watch Rory McIlroy on the range at any tour event, chances are that you’ll see him toting around a little green ball with him — and this week at the DP World India Championship was no different.
Early this week, a video of McIlroy using his trusty training aid, The Connector by Sure Golf, went viral on social media.
While some fans are already familiar with this tool, many are just discovering its benefits. So, let’s break down why this simple device is so effective.
What is it?
The Connector is a foam ball designed to promote proper arm and wrist positioning throughout the golf swing, and you can purchase your own at the link below.
The Connector by Sure Golf
Introducing the Most Versatile Training Aid in Golf
Correct Body-Arm Synchronisation
Suitable for ALL Skills
Assured Swing Performance Enhancement
Improves Compression
Learn by Sensation, Not Information
Unique Soft Memory Foam Construction
Suitable for ALL Skills
Roll it Pure…Hit Crisp Chips…Flight your Pitches…Compress your Iron Shots…Launch your Drives…The Connector up-skills all aspects of your games for a radical shift in performance.
Perfect Body-Arm Synchronization
The Connector effortlessly trains the correct arm structure to work in unison with your body. This unified action is the cornerstone of all effective golf swings, laying the groundwork for perfect fundamentals.
Powerful Impact Alignments
The Connector illuminates the path to creating powerful impact alignments, which results in significantly more compression—the key difference often seen between amateur and professional golfers.
To use it, just place it between your forearms with the alignment rods facing up. As you make a few swings, focus on squeezing the ball just enough to keep it in place. You should quickly feel your upper body, core, and lower body syncing up almost immediately.
How it helps
In the video above, you can see McIlroy rehearsing with this tool, and it seems like he’s focusing on a few key positions in his swing: mid-backswing, top of the swing, and delivery.
With the Connector, he can work on all of these aspects of his swing at once. Let’s look at each and how this tool can help.
Mid-backswing
At this point in the swing, the goal is to keep the arms in front of the chest while the trail arm folds naturally. To get in this position, the arms need a bit of structure and the right amount of space. If they collapse or separate, this can drain power from the swing.
The Connector helps keep the arms in front of the chest and the forearms properly spaced, promoting a wide, structured backswing. This helps to cultivate power on the way back — loading the swing with a ton of speed that’s ready to fire on the way down.
Top of the swing
In position two, the Connector helps the arms stay connected and structured. By squeezing the device at the top of the swing, the arms won’t disconnect or drift away from the body — a common cause of improper sequencing in the downswing.
It also keeps the elbows close together and the arms in front of the chest, which is an optimal position to get in to shallow the club effectively — a cornerstone of McIlroy’s effortless power.
Delivery
During the delivery — right before impact — the arms should be extended out front and connected as everything rotates through the shot. But, if timing gets off or the arms get stuck too far inside, players often end up casting the club or extending early. Using the Connector helps keep everything in a compact position that’s working together in proper sequence, making it easier to “slot” the club for a powerful delivery at impact.
It’s easy to see why this training aid has earned a permanent spot in McIlroy’s range routine. Whether you’re building better structure, working on sequencing, or just trying to clean things up, The Connector is a simple tool that delivers meaningful feedback — and it’s one the pros trust.
The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall Series rolls on this week as the Tour heads to Japan for the 2025 Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club, where two-time major champion Xander Schauffele is the outright betting favorite. Here’s everything you need to know about the Baycurrent Classic odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
Baycurrent Classic betting favorites
After taking a week off following their Ryder Cup loss at Bethpage Black, two members of Team USA will tee it up this week in Japan: Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
Despite a down season, Schauffele enters the week as the betting favorite at +1000 odds-to-win. Schauffele started to rediscover his form late in the summer. He carded back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Genesis Scottish Open and Open Championship. But he followed that up with mediocre showings in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where he went T22-T28 while failing to make the Tour Championship.
Morikawa comes in second on the odds board at +1600 odds-to-win. He’s followed by Hideki Matsuyamaat +1800 odds-to-win.
Highlights from the final round of the Sanderson Farms
2025 Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup is next at +2200 odds-to-win, along with European Ryder Cup vice captain Alex Noren and Kurt Kitayama.
You can see the top 20 and ties in the Baycurrent Classic betting odds as of Monday morning below, or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for GOLF’s Top Stories Newsletter!
Get the latest golf news and our most-read stories delivered to your inbox daily!
SIGN UP NOW
2025 Baycurrent Classic odds
Xander Schauffele (+1000)
Collin Morikawa (+1600)
Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)
Alex Noren (+2200)
Chris Gotterup (+2200)
Kurt Kitayama (+2200)
Si Woo Kim (+2500)
Rasmus Hojgaard (+2800)
Garrick Higgo (+3300)
Kevin Yu (+3300)
Min Woo Lee (+3500)
Wyndham Clark (+3500)
Michael Kim (+3500)
Michael Thorbjornsen (+3500)
Max Homa (+4000)
Adam Scott (+4000)
Sungjae Im (+4500)
Vince Whaley (+4500)
Gary Woodland (+4500)
Emiliano Grillo (+4500)
Josh Schrock
Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf.com. Before joining GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. A native Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time hiking with his wife and dog, thinking of how the Ducks will break his heart again, and trying to become semi-proficient at chipping. A true romantic for golf, Josh will never stop trying to break 90 and never lose faith that Rory McIlroy’s major drought will end (updated: he did it). Josh Schrock can be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
Halloween may still be weeks away, but if you’re like me, the winter holidays are already top of mind. As crazy as it seems to be thinking of gifts so early, I know I can’t be alone here, because I’ve already received two holiday toy catalogs in the mail. Life comes at you fast!
I’m definitely a fan of early shopping, though. And honing in on your favorite items ahead of the holiday rush can help you price-track over the next couple of months to ensure you’re getting the best possible deals.
That’s why, in the lead up to the holiday season, the GOLF staff is aiming to provide you with some gift-giving inspiration by delivering personally-curated lists of products that made an impact of us this year. The items we will showcase over the coming weeks truly impressed us when we wore or tried them out ourselves — and we’re confident they’ll do the same for you!
To get the shopping party started, I’m kicking things off with my own list of favorites below. Some items are golfy, some lifestyle-inspired, all are fabulous. Happy browsing, and cheers to a festive holiday gifting season ahead.
My 7 favorite products of the year
TravisMathew dress and jacket
I received this dress-and-jacket combo as a gift, and I just can’t say enough good things about them. To me, these two pieces are exactly what multi-functional golf apparel should aspire to be: perfectly appropriate for wear on the course, but with a cut and style that make for a seamless transition anywhere.
The golf dress is notoriously hard to get right, and this one is my favorite I’ve ever worn. It’s super comfortable, snug-fitting (and waist-cinching!) in all the right places. The length is sporty, without being too short. And the feel is superb. A 10/10! Plus, the jacket so lightweight, I even wore it on a 90-degree day, just for sun protection.
TravisMathew Moveknit Sleeveless Polo Dress 2.0
With a polo neckline and built in shorties, you can high step and ninja kick your way into your best score or fastest grocery run yet.
TravisMathew Travel Day Tech Woven Jacket
Think of this full-zip, lightweight stretch Tech Woven jacket the same way you would your go-to best friend.
Johnnie-O skirt
Finding a golf skirt that fits just right is a tough ask — especially for someone with a short frame like me. Length is a delicate balance — an inch too long looks frumpy, too short just feels wrong once you turn a certain age. Finding that perfect middle ground feels like a victory, and this Johnnie-O skirt wins the prize. I’m a fan of many pieces in their newly-launched women’s collection, but this skirt became a fast favorite. It is so flattering, with comfy, snug and stretchy fit, front pleat and fun contrast undershorts.
Johnnie-O Ashlyn Performance Skort
Built for sports or everyday wear, this skort is sure to be your new favorite.
WMP sunglasses
As an Arizona resident, I live in sunglasses — both on and off the course. And this year, I fell in love with a new-to-me brand. WMP makes sunnies that are trendy, lightweight and durable, with crystal-clear lenses. These babies look like designer shades but are a fraction of the price, which I appreciate because my glasses tend to take a beating. Browse through WMP’s selections for men and women and you’ll struggle to select just one frame. But at such a reasonable price point, you’ll still feel good about buying several.
WMP Eyewear Stormi
Blends vintage nostalgia and modern aesthetics with its sleek, square shape and subtle cat eye corners.
Adidas shoes
My favorite golf shoe characteristic is its ability to function as a lifestyle shoe off the course, and it really doesn’t get any more lifestyley than these awesome Adidas Gazelles. I have two pairs, and wear them everywhere. And as an added bonus: they’re just as comfortable without socks as they are with.
Adidas Gazelle Spikeless Golf Shoes
All the details of the original sneakers plus cushioning and traction for extended comfort on the course.
Asher gloves
Once you go colorful, there’s really no going back to standard, boring white gloves, and Asher offers a number of beautiful, colorful options. I’m especially partial to the muted shades like Nimbus and Eggshell, which go with everything, but still offer a bit of fashionable flair.
ASHER Ladies Evergreen Eggshell
The Eggshell Premium is made entirely with a single-piece, precision cut, AAA Cabretta Leather. The Premium Evergreen Collection delivers the very highest tour-grade quality materials with color and style.
100% Precision cut AAA Premium Cabretta Leather
Leather Closure
$28 from Fairway Jockey
Sunday Golf Stand Bag
I reviewed this bag for GOLF’s weekly “I Tried It” series several months ago, and it remains one of my favorite products of the year. This bag has received a multidtude of compliments, and for good reason. The color is rich without being too bright, and the vegan leather is easy to keep clean. Eight pockets provide ample storage for walking or riding — and I especially love the “Frosty” pocket, with room for four beverages.
Sunday Golf Ryder S-Class | Dusty Pink Vegan Leather Full Size Stand Bag
Product Details:
Introducing the Sunday Golf Ryder S-Class in Dusty Pink—because real golfers wear pink, and they do it in style. This dusty pink stunner isn’t just here to look pretty; it’s here to bring some serious game to the course. Soft and sweet on the outside, tough and ready for action on the inside—just like you. If you’re the type who likes to look fresh while sinking putts, the Dusty Pink Ryder S-Class is the bag you didn’t know you needed, until now.
Features:
Water-Resistant Vegan Leather
Easy-Clean Surface
Backpack Style Strap System
Golf Cart Approved
Built-In Carry Handle
5-Way Full-length dividers that holds up to 14 clubs
Insulated 4 Can Frosty Pocket that keeps your drinks cold
Smell-proof pocket
Velour Lined Valuables Pocket
High-tech water-resistant zippers
Flat base for golf carts
Velcro Glove Holder
Tee Holder
Dual-flex stand full-size stand
Rain hood included
Bag Specs & Dimensions:
Size: 34.5” (H) x 6.5” (W)
Weight: 4.9 lbs
Divider Dimensions: 10″ x 7″
$299.99 from Fairway Jockey
Alberto Del Rio was part of the WWE family for several years before his departure back in 2016. He worked closely with Vince McMahon during his time in WWE and has now revealed why McMahon considered him a favorite.
While speaking to Eduardo Bates, Alberto Del Rio revealed his thoughts about working with Vince McMahon, saying that Vince was the creative force behind the entire golden era of WWE.
Del Rio explained that most people donâ€t really understand how much Vince shaped the wrestling world, calling him the mastermind of the industry. Alberto said that he was one of Vinceâ€s favorites because of his hard work, professionalism, and ability to connect with the audience.
Mexicoâ€s Greatest Export added that he could make fans believe in everything happening in the ring and feel the emotion exactly as he wanted them to.
“Vince created all the characters—the entire golden era of WWE exists because of him. What most people donâ€t know—because they really donâ€t know him—is that heâ€s the mastermind behind the industry. Everything we have in wrestling today exists thanks to him. I was always one of his favorites because of my dedication, professionalism, and effectiveness—because Alberto Del Rio can do whatever he wants with the crowd. He makes them believe, makes them feel that whatâ€s happening in the ring is real, exactly as he intends it to be.â€
Itâ€s clear that Del Rio and Vince McMahon had a good relationship, which is why he even defends McMahon while his trafficking lawsuit continues. Regardless, many fans might not agree with what Del Rio had to say and thatâ€s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Do you think Vince McMahonâ€s influence on wrestling will ever be matched?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know how you feel about Alberto Del Rioâ€s praise for the WWE legend.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Bubba Ray Dudley (Photo credit Scott Lunn – @ScottLunn © PWTorch)
SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
I love tag team wrestling. The added rules, different pace, chaos that can happen, and the stories that can be told are just a few of the things I love about it. Itâ€s sometimes difficult, though, to let myself be a fan of tag team wrestling. Itâ€s often the forgotten division.
There have been times where tag team wrestling was super hot. The Attitude Era known for the original TLC match, but also had a division full of teams like the APA, Too Cool, and the New Age Outlaws who werenâ€t a part of that match who are all legendary tag teams. In the ’80s, the Midnight Express, Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, and The Fantastics would often travel between territories while you could watch the WWF and see the Rockers, Nasty Boys, Hart Foundation, and British Bulldogs. Today, Smackdown seems to be the tag team brand, even holding the tremendous TLC match that happened near – but probably should have been on – WrestleMania.
One brand that has often been most consistent in featuring tag teams has been TNA. When founding the company, Jeff Jarrett had the belief that wrestling was a three-ring circus where there was a different type of act in different segments. You have your main event, and that where the stars and the drama are. This is usually the main reason tickets are sold.
Before that, you have the acts that are more niche. A TNA PPV in the formative years would feature something crazy from the X-Division, often multi-person, to start the show with lots of energy. Youâ€d also have a womenâ€s match, a hardcore match, a comedy match, and some type of secondary singles match not over a championship. There was also always a slot to feature their tag teams.
Not only top level teams would be formed while there like Americaâ€s Most Wanted and The Motor City Machine Guns, but legendary tag teams would do some of their best work there, including two teams set to face off at Bound For Glory. There is a lot of wrestling on television, and I am very limited on both time and funds to spend on wrestling, but this promo sold at least one more ticket on Impact that night.
These really are two of the absolute best teams with bodies of work thatâ€s gone through four decades, often interacting with each other. The respect these men had for their teammates and opponents and the want to cement their legacies has me excited and I couldnâ€t miss Bound for Glory this year.
Not only did it sell a ticket, that promo made me stop to think about my favorite tag teams. Not a definitive top five list, as there is too much debate around this.
I would love to hear your top five teams, and look forward to posting this on the NerdstalgiaShop [ Facebook and letting you share yours with me.
Harlem Heat
I love a great brother tag team. The way they can know each other and how to work together when the teams are often comprised of green wrestlers is very helpful. Teams are a great way to break in, giving some sense of a net in that you can take a breather if overwhelmed in front of a crowd when starting, and what better partner than someone youâ€ve either known your whole life or for at least their entire life.
Booker T and Stevie Ray stood out. Big guys who were brothers who sounded legitimately like they ran in tough neighborhoods growing up, because they did. Legitimacy is too often missing in todayâ€s wrestling. The promos were engaging, the entrance song was fire, and they were incredible in the ring.
Stevie Ray was the larger of the two and was the powerhouse. Heâ€d be the one to throw around smaller opponents or step up when against a larger man in a team. He was the protective big brother that many big brothers could identify with, and little bothers could look up to when a babyface was someone who took care of his family.
Booker was the star from the start. He was flashier and was looking for the pops with his break dance comeback that would be christened the Spinaroonie. The Harlem Hangover, a forward flip into a leg drop from the top rope, was always a memorable finisher.
Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard
Honestly, this is mostly about my love of “Double A.†Arn Anderson was a great tag wrestler whether he was paired with Tully, Bobby Eaton, Ole Anderson, or Larry Zbyszko. He was the fundamental tag team strategist. Watching him taught me early in my fandom about cutting off the ring, working body parts, and referee distractions becoming a heelâ€s advantage.
The partner he arguably had the most success with was Tully Blanchard. Both being in the Four Horsemen, they were a natural pairing since Ole, who Arn had usually paired up with, would no longer be an option. Not only being part of a massive run due to that group and touring with the Great American Bash and both being integral in War Games, but even took this team to the WWF, known there as The Brainbusters.
Itâ€s who many of the great teams point to as a major influence, including the embodiment of the team who wrestles today in AEW as FTR.
QUICK NOTE:Â Did you know you can read an ad-free, silky-smooth-loading version of this website with a PWTorch VIP Membership? Also, unlock 35+ years of archives including nearly 2,000 PWTorch Weekly Newsletters dating back to the late 1980s, hundreds of retro radio shows from the 1990s, and two decades of podcasts including Post-PPV Roundtable Podcasts dating back to the mid-2000s. Plus, new VIP-exclusive articles and podcasts throughout the week, fully compatible with the native Apple Podcasts app. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON VIP MEMBERSHIP
Steiner Brothers
Another brother tag team and another ’90s WCW tag team. It’s hard to argue that these two do not belong. When I started watching, all I did was hear about Scott Steiner, as he was out with an injury. His brother Rick had collegiate style headgear on, so he was a mat wrestler, which I was also obsessed with, plus he hung out with Sting, which made them cool in my book. Iâ€d read about Scott in magazines and see him in old matches when Iâ€d rent an old PPV on VHS, so his comeback and getting back together with his brother to dominate the tag division was something I looked forward to.
Before I watched and before Scott wrestled professionally, Rick already had a solid career. Being a member of the Varsity Club with Kevin Sullivan and Mike Rotunda and his runs with the World TV Championship already made Scott a star just coming in as this guyâ€s brother. More legitimacy coming from a strong Michigan Wrestling background were some of the pavement that led to later stars such as Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley, and Brock Lesnar. After their run, each would go into singles, and Iâ€d loved to have seen one last run as a team, but their work holds up to go back and revisit.
Dudley Boys/Team 3D
Through Busted Open Radio and LFG, Bubba Ray Dudley/Bully Ray has become one of my favorite people to listen to talk about wrestling. He has great insight and instinct. His years of playing multiple roles in many companies has really rounded him out to be one of the most brilliant wrestling minds not contributing to creative in any company. Knowing when to turn tough on, when to play a coward. His knowledge on timing and milking the situation.
Bubba has a reputation for being a loud and brash person, probably because he is. But heâ€s also often correct! He and D-Von took this act from a large comedy group and made people fear two men in fake horn-rimmed glasses and tie-dyed t-shirts. They took that team to main events of ECW, to the main stage of WrestleMania, and Madison Squre Garden for WWE. They also achieved success in TNA and All Japan as well, becoming the most decorated tag team in history. Just ask Bubba, heâ€ll tell you.
Iâ€ve also always appreciated the simple beauty of the make up of the team as well. A white, brash New York guy, and a black son of a preacher. Itâ€s barely talked about, which is maybe my favorite part. Unity.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “The Nicky’s Club” with Nick Barbati, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
The Usos
You canâ€t get a more bookend of a tag team than twin brothers. Literally knowing each other their entire lives and growing up in a wrestling family set them up, and they did that family lineage proud.
Always exciting, even when the tag team division barely existed. They always made the most of the minutes given. Colorful ring gear, a move, or big moment would make them memorable for the fan watching, but never really developed who they were behind the characters.
Total Divas did a lot for The Usos’ careers. This was the first time seeing John Fatu, or Big Jim as we know him now. His playful banter with Naomi showed the wit, charm, and fun side of the Uso brother. After that, we started to see the loss of face paint. The brothers joined the Bloodline and cemented their spot.
Having actually sat through many seasons of Total Divas (if I can get my wife to watch anything wrestling, Iâ€m always in), and having my favorite matches of the year they wrestled being underrated tag matches between them and Goldust & Cody Rhodes, I was ecstatic the year they got to main event night one of WrestleMania against Kevin Owen & Sami Zayn. Not only for them, but for tag team wrestling.
(Griffin is a lifelong fan of wrestling, superheroes, and rebellious music of all forms. He is the owner of Nerdstalgia, and you can shop online, learn about visiting the store in Colorado Springs, or catch him at a comic con in the Rocky Mountain area by going to http://nerdstalgia.shop.)
The Ryder Cup is over and we’re back to the FedEx Cup Fall season, where a ton of pros are playing for PGA Tour cards and priority in 2026.
This week it’s the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., where the favorites to win according to Fanatics Sportsbook are Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee, who are both +2000.
But there’s also a couple of other players you should keep your eyes on, according to GOLF Subpar podcast co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.
For their Fanatics Sportsbook bets of the week, Knost picked Alex Smalley to top 20 (+170) and Stoltz picked Max Homa to top 10 (+400).
“I’m going with a big return,” Stoltz said. “This is a man who has played in a Ryder Cup, played in a Presidents Cup, didn’t have his best stuff this past year. He’s been working hard on his game and I don’t expect him to be down for long. In this field I think [the odds] are pretty good.”
You can find complete Fanatics Sportsbook betting odds for the Sanderson Farms Championship here, and you can listen to the full episode of the latest Subpar (the best of Ryder Cup week) here or watch on the YouTube channel here.
Use code SUBPAR at sign-up to claim a welcome offer
The PGA Tour kicks back into gear this week with the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss., where two-time Tour winner Akshay Bhatia is the the outright betting favorite. Here is everything you need to know about the Sanderson Farms Championship odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
Sanderson Farms betting favorites
While all the U.S. Ryder Cup stars are taking this week off, one American rising star whose won multiple times on Tour is in the field: Akshay Bhatia.
Bhatia comes into the Sanderson Farms as the betting favorite with +2000 odds-to-win. He earned that spot with a solid season on Tour this year. Though he didn’t add to his win total, Bhatia collected four top 10s and finished 13th in the FedEx Cup standings after the Tour Championship.
Behind him are two veteran Tour pros locked in second at +2200: Davis Thompson and Michael Thorbjornsen.
Two European Ryder Cup players, one from the 2023 team and one from the 2025 squad, are also in the field, twin brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard. Rasmus, who helped Europe to victory at Bethpage Black last week, comes in with +2800 odds-to-win, with Nicolai just behind him at +3000.
You can see the top 20 and ties in the Sanderson Farms Championship betting odds as of Tuesday morning below, or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for GOLF’s Top Stories Newsletter!
Get the latest golf news and our most-read stories delivered to your inbox daily!
SIGN UP NOW
2025 Sanderson Farms Championship odds
Akshay Bhatia (+2000)
Davis Thompson (+2200)
Michael Thorbjornsen (+2200)
Kevin Yu (+2500)
Min Woo lee (+2500)
Rasmus Hojgaard (+2500)
Nicolai Hojgaard (+3000)
Alex Smalley (+3500)
J.T. Poston (+3500)
Rico Hoey (+3500)
Emiliano Grillo (+4000)
Keith Mitchell (+4000)
Matt Wallace (+4000)
Max Homa (+4000)
Beau Hossler (+4500)
Cameron Champ (+4500)
Jacob Bridgeman (+4500)
Luke Clanton (+4500)
Mackenzie Hughes (+4500)
Sam Stevens (+4500)
Kevin Cunningham
As senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.
WWE
The return of AJ Lee after a decade was one of the most exciting homecomings in WWE history. She cut her first promo on “WWE Raw,” where she introduced herself to younger fans with the witty line that she was “your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler.” While Lee was establishing herself as a big deal to those who may not be familiar with her, she wasn’t wrong in the comment. The former three-time Divas Champion’s unique character and personality inspired many young girls during her time in WWE, some of whom are in the wrestling business today.
Roxanne Perez is one current WWE star who grew up idolizing Lee. The pair is so close now, Perez jokingly refers to Lee as “mom.” Following her return, Perez recreated a photo of the pair backstage from when Perez met the former Divas Champion as a little girl. The former NXT Women’s Champion has talked about how much she related to Lee, as a “little four-foot nothing tomboy Latina,” who saw herself in Lee. Perez said that watching her idol made her realize she could follow in her footsteps. She has also been adamant about wanting a match with Lee.Â
Perez’s close friend, former “NXT” star Cora Jade, now known as Elayna Black on the independent scene, is also a huge fan of Lee. She even cosplayed as her idol during a Halloween battle royal back in October 2022. WWE ID talent Zayda Steel, who performs on EVOLVE, also cites Lee as her inspiration to become a wrestler. She called Lee her “Lita,” which brings things full circle, as Lita is Lee’s favorite wrestler.
“I remember when I was that girl crying because I was so excited to finally meet Lita,” Lee once said. “To have girls crying over me is surreal.”
CM Punk
Elsa/Getty Images
Lee’s husband, CM Punk, has also been an inspiration for many stars throughout the wrestling business. After spending a few years in Ring of Honor, Punk debuted in WWE in 2005, and many stars of today have followed his lengthy career as they grew up. Most notable is one of his former opponents in AEW, MJF, who cut an impassioned promo on “AEW Dynamite” in November 2021 about how Punk broke his heart when he walked out on WWE back in 2011. MJF even brought photographic proof to his promo and showed off a photo of himself as a kid meeting “The Second City Saint.”Â
Another AEW star, Adam Cole, credited Punk on an episode of Renee Paquette’s “Oral Sessions” podcast as one of two wrestlers (Bryan Danielson being the other) who got him into independent wrestling, thus influencing the beginning of his career heavily. Cole said Punk helped him realize wrestling existed out of WWE, ECW, and WCW. On the WWE side of things, former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has said CM Punk was one WWE star whom she idolized growing up in Australia. She said she loved listening to Punk cut promos.
One of Punk’s favorite wrestlers when he was a kid was another powerful force on the microphone, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. During a Q&A on X in 2020 (back when it was known as Twitter and Punk still used the platform), Punk said Piper was one of his favorites. In the Q&A, he also revealed that his March 2022 dog collar match against MJF was a “love letter” to Piper. In the months before his passing, Piper commended Punk for making the jump to UFC and said he was a big fan of “The Voice of the Voiceless” himself.
Sting
WWE
Sting was the childhood favorite of many kids who grew up watching WCW, but one of those kids who got to live out the dream was Darby Allin in AEW. Allin was by Sting’s side throughout his run in Tony Khan’s company and even won the AEW Tag Team Championships alongside “The Icon.” They defended the titles successfully in Sting’s final match, and it was something Allin was proud to be part of. Allin has praised Sting as a mentor and said teaming with him was an honor. Allin also said that he felt like their friendship outside of the ring was stronger than their bond inside of it.
While Allin has never come out and said that Sting was a childhood favorite of his before the pair got to work together, another former major player in AEW has. Cody Rhodes has said that Sting was one of his childhood favorites. He told WWE.com in May 2014 that he grew up a “WCW guy” and said the promotion’s crowning achievement was Sting’s run where he haunted the nWo without saying a word. Rhodes revealed he was meant to wrestle Sting in AEW before he left the company in February 2022 to return to WWE. Another WCW kid growing up was Charlotte Flair, and while she, of course, supported her father, Ric Flair, she has said she loved Sting, one of Ric’s biggest rivals, when she was young.
In June 2022, Sting revealed his own Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers. He told “The Schmo” that Hulk Hogan “had to be on there,” as well as Flair, The Rock, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Bret Hart
WWE
“The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be” Bret Hart inspired many stars in WWE today with his successes in the wrestling world. Hart held 17 titles throughout his career, with other big wins like King of the Ring and the Royal Rumble. One current star who has often expressed his love for Hart is CM Punk, who has even worn gear inspired by “The Hit Man.”
Punk, a hockey lover, has called Hart “the Wayne Gretzky” of professional wrestling. He said that he believes Hart is the measuring stick that all other wrestlers should hold themselves to. When he was still in AEW, following his dog collar match with MJF, Punk spoke about his love for Hart and how he hated that “The Hitman’s” career was cut short, calling it a “tragedy” and said he’d give up his own opportunity at a second chance at wrestling to give it to Hart. Prior to that, he dedicated his return match in AEW to Hart.
“The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns has also has called Hart his childhood inspiration. In an interview with ESPN, Reigns called Hart a “journeyman” who could put in 20-30 minutes of work in the ring every night. Hart’s niece, Natalya, has even commented on how many times she has heard Reigns say that her uncle made him want to become a wrestler. Elsewhere, in WWE, current United States Champion Sami Zayn is also a big fan of Hart, who he called “underrated” in an interview. He pondered why Hart’s name wasn’t the first that comes up when people talk about the best.
Eddie Guerrero
WWE
Eddie Guerrero is one of the most influential wrestlers in history and is often cited by current professional wrestling stars of the day as their inspiration. One of those stars who has always professed her admiration for “Latino Heat” is AEW’s Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE. Mone often uses moves made popular in the ring by Guerrero, including the “Three Amigos” trio of suplexes.Â
Mone wrote about her love for Guerrero in a 2024 edition of her “Mone Mag” newsletter where she called him a “beacon of hope, an embodiment of passion, and a source of inspiration.” Mone wrote that he “ignited a spark within her” when she was just 10 years old. She called Guerrero’s spirit her “guiding light” and even explained in her newsletter how she incorporated his “lie, cheat, steal” philosophy into her life in positive ways.
Raquel Rodriguez is another female star who credits Guerrero’s legacy for helping them in the industry. She said previously said that she has taken some of Guerrero’s style and attitude to incorporate into her own character. In addition to current and former WWE stars, TNA talent Chris Bey has also said that Guerrero is one of the reasons he wanted to become a professional wrestler. He told the “Arm Drag Takedown” podcast that when he watched Guerrero win the WWE World Championship, he realized he wanted to give that feeling to the world when fans watched him perform. He said that moment is when he knew that professional wrestling was what he wanted to do with his life.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, complete with his beer-swigging and middle finger-giving ways, was one of the most popular WWE stars in the Attitude Era that helped WWF thrive in, and eventually win, the Monday Night Wars, so it’s no wonder why many stars of today say he was their favorite growing up or that they were inspired by “The Texas Rattlesnake.”Â
One of those stars actually got Austin out of retirement and faced him in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 38 in a no holds barred match. Kevin Owens, who also uses the Stone Cold Stunner in the ring, put Austin at the top of his top three favorite wrestlers of all time. Owens recalled actually meeting Austin at an airport in 2005. He explained the star gave him the best piece of advice he had ever received, to keep running his mouth. Owens said he took the advice to heart and just kept talking, and it’s helped him get to the heights he’s gotten to in the industry.
Back in June 2021, Austin revealed his own Mt. Rushmore of wrestling, though decided to only name two out of the four spots. He said he would have to include Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, though did mention Bruno Sammartino, as well. He said he’d name Flair and Hogan and “leave the rest to everybody else.”
Chyna
WWE
“The Ninth Wonder of the World,” Chyna, who died in April 2016, was one of the original inspirations for girls who grew up watching professional wrestling. She inspired the next generation of women in the ring, and even helped bring one woman into WWE. Lisa Marie Varon, the former Victoria in WWE, credits Chyna for getting her into the business. Victoria and Chyna met at a Crunch Fitness in 2000 where the former was working, and Chyna helped her apply to the company after telling her she had a great look for wrestling.
In addition to Chyna’s direct influence on Victoria, she inspired a host of women who compete in WWE today. Rhea Ripley is often compared to Chyna, and she told The Ringer in 2024 that Paul “Triple H” Levesque likes to “put her next to Chyna,” and her career grew into a Chyna-like path naturally. Ripley credited the late star for influencing her role in Judgment Day, as Chyna paved the way for women to get in the ring with men. She said Chyna proved women can beat up men, and be just as good as them.
Jade Cargill has previously recalled growing up watching Chyna and loving how she looked. Cargill said that watching Chyna empowered her and made her think that her own muscles looked great. Raquel Rodriguez was also influenced by Chyna and said on the “Short and To the Point” podcast that “The Ninth Wonder of the World” proved that women could compete with men in the ring. She called her “inspiring” and said watching her growing up was helpful, as she was always playing sports against boys.
The Undertaker
Kmazur/Getty Images
The Undertaker is one of the most recognizable WWE stars of all time with a career spanning over 30 years in the ring. He inspired many stars of WWE today who watched him throughout that time, including former “WWE NXT” North American Champion Ricky Saints, who called “The Deadman” his favorite wrestler of all time.
While many watched him growing up, some WWE stars have a more unique connection with Undertaker and why he could be considered one of their favorites. ‘Taker has always been known as a locker room leader, and Drew McIntyre revealed back in September 2022 that Undertaker was assigned to be his mentor in his early days in the business. McIntyre said Undertaker was his mentor when he was around 23 years old and he was “awesome.”
The late Bray Wyatt’s character was inspired by The Undertaker and he was also like a mentor to the late star. The pair feuded in 2015 in a clash of WWE’s spookiest, darkest characters and the feud culminated in a match at WrestleMania 31. Video of Wyatt hyping up Undertaker played ahead of a “WWE LFG: Legends & Future Greats” episode following Wyatt’s passing. In the video, Wyatt said that Undertaker teaches “everyone, everything” and that’s just how powerful he is. Fans even got to witness a special moment between the pair on “WWE Raw” in January 2023 when Undertaker whispered some words of validation the crowd couldn’t hear into Wyatt’s ear in the ring.
Undertaker has spoken about how much he likes some of the newer talents in WWE over the years. He said that he believes Wyatt should have broken his WrestleMania streak and has also praised McIntyre, as well as GUNTHER. He said he would have loved to see his Undertaker character wrestle “The Ring General.”
Shawn Michaels
WWE
“The Heart Break Kid,” one of the founding members of D-Generation X, Shawn Michaels, is an icon when it comes to professional wrestling history. Many stars over the years have expressed their love for “Mr. WrestleMania,” outside of the current crop of “WWE NXT” talent he manages at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
In addition to “Stone Cold,” Kevin Owens named Michaels as his first favorite wrestler growing up. Owens said that Michaels was the first reason he wanted to get into the wrestling business in the first place. He said it’s helped his own game to be able to sit around and talk to a guy he idolized about everything from life to Michaels’ philosophy. When speaking on the Chicago Bears’ YouTube channel in May, Seth Rollins also said that it was Michaels who inspired him to become a wrestler and Michaels has been his favorite wrestler since he was 10 or 11 years old. He explained he realized he could become a wrestler as someone who looked more like Michaels during a time when most stars looked like Hulk Hogan.
Kofi Kingston has mentioned that Michaels is his favorite because he was “at the top of his game” for almost four decades. Kingston gushed to WWE.com in 2014 that he had never seen a bad Michaels match and said he’s someone who can wrestle anyone regardless of their size.
Johnny Gargano is yet another former “NXT” star who was inspired by “The Showstopper” to get into the business. In 2021, he revealed that as a kid, he’d dance around to Michaels’ theme song daily, dress like him for Halloween, and even had Michaels/WWE-themed birthday parties. He called working with Michaels in NXT “a dream come true.”
The Rock
Ron Elkman/sports Imagery/Getty Images
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may have more time in Hollywood now than he did in a WWE ring, but those who grew up watching him from his debut in 1996 to 2004, then during his sporadic appearances before he returned for his “Once in a Lifetime” bouts with John Cena, were heavily influenced by his star power and work on the mic.
The Rock is the favorite wrestler of former WWE-turned-AEW star Ricochet. He’s said that Johnson’s charisma and presence are “just unmatched.” In 2016, back when he was still known as Prince Puma in Lucha Underground before signing WWE, Ricochet told Jim Ross on “The Ross Report” that The Rock became an inspiration to him, alongside Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. He said he had been “the biggest fan” of The Rock ever since WrestleMania 15, where the star was defeated by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWF Championship.
Montez Ford is also a big fan of The Rock, to the point he revealed he used to write his “Ks” like the Rock’s signature back in the day. Ford said that everything about him was “electrifying,” down to the way Rock dressed. Rock gave Ford a shoutout on his Instagram account and said that he respected his passion.
Michin once recounted a time where she met The Rock backstage and through tears, told him that he changed her life, because he was the reason she started watching wrestling in the first place. She said he took the time to listen to her and give her some advice and said she was a bigger fan because of it. Perez is another female star who was a big fan of The Rock as a kid, but admitted, because of her young age, she was a fan of his movies first, before she even knew what professional wrestling was.