Friday's Report: Henley/Presidents Cup, high schools/Helene; Ex-UGA/Bama assistant Cochran's battle, UGA-Bama, Hawks; College f, NCAA landscape, NFL, MLB, WNBA, NASCAR NBA
Friday’s Sports Report is somewhat abbreviated, courtesy of Hurricane Helene
📰C📰O📰V📰E📰R📰A📰G📰E📰
Around/About Central Georgia
Henley shines in Presidents Cup debut
Playing in a huge event for the first time? And with the best player in the world? And on a new course?
Not really a problem for Russell Henley.
The Stratford and Georgia grad certainly held his own on the first day of the Presidents Cup in Montreal playing for the United States.
Henley teamed with world No. 1 for the first win of the day for the United States, which went on to take all five matches over the International team.
It was the first time since 2000 that the U.S. swept the first sessions.
Henley and Scheffler won three and two on Thursday over Sungjae Im and Tom Kim.
The first day was a four-ball format, where players played their own ball, but the best score on each hole won.
Henley had four birdies, which was matched by Kim. The difference was that Scheffler had three and Im had none.
It could have been a bigger win for the Americans.
“We had a couple chances in the middle of the match to kind of extend ourselves,” Scheffler said. “Russell, he stepped up in a big way there on 14 and 15 with back to back birdies to give us a 3-up lead.”
So much for any Presidents Cup rookie nerves.
“Making the team is one thing,” he said. “Then going out and getting a point for your team’s another. I just really wanted to get a point today. And obviously, love having Scottie as my partner.”
What worked Thursday was good enough for Friday, captain Jim Furyk putting Henley and Scottie Scheffler together again in the second round, which starts at 1 p.m.
Around/About Georgia
Former Georgia, Alabama coach Cochran's new life after addiction
What makes Alabama QB Milroe so 'different' to Smart
Following a legend, and facing his clone: DeBoer's first true test
Why Alabama-Georgia football stakes aren't so high anymore
Why the stakes are different for this showdown with Alabama
'That's just rat poison': Alabama players react to underdog status
Atlanta preparing for Saints offense that can change the game 'in a heartbeat'
Hawks preview: Who will the team tap as its starting small forward?
Baseball/MLB
As an era ends, the city that was home to the Oakland A’s comes to grips with their departure
Athletics bid emotional farewell to Oakland Coliseum that they called home since 1968
Ohtani’s 50-50 home run ball goes up for auction with starting bid of $500,000
College Football/South
For ACC teams, adding an NFL-like front office is the new norm for transfer-portal recruiting
Florida’s Napier talks RB touches, UCF coach Malzahn during bye week
Familiar showdown highlights SEC slate as No. 2 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama
Clemson’s Swinney shrugs off critics after 17th-ranked Tigers hot stretch going into Stanford game
ACC This Week: No. 15 Louisville looks to stay perfect against No. 16 Notre Dame
College Football
College football Week 5: Georgia-Alabama is nation’s highest-ranked September matchup since 2017
Football/NFL/USFL
Lawrence says season ‘can turn quick’ after 0-3 start and MNF debacle
Steelers LB Herbig grew up having to prove himself. It hasn’t stopped in the NFL
Pierce mum on possible changes as Raiders try to bounce back against the Browns
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been instrumental in 3-0 start, even without his usual production
Five backup QBs have already been pressed into starting duty with the NFL season just 3 weeks old
Richardson focused on improving accuracy following slow start for Colts
Rodgers is on the verge of 60,000 yards passing while lifting Jets’ rejuvenated, productive offense
Winless Titans know they need to protect young QB Will Levis and quickly
Prescott throws 2 TD passes and Cowboys win 7th straight over Giants
Golf
Presidents Cup results from opening session of matches
Scheffler’s trash-talking side comes out at the Presidents Cup against Kim
Scheffler brings the fire, shouts at Tom Kim
American sweep! Team USA wins all 5 matches in the opening session of Presidents Cup
WNBA
WNBA semifinals feature marquee players, a finals rematch and teams looking for first titles
Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White say social media vitriol toward WNBA players needs to end
Basketball/NBA
Rose, a No. 1 overall pick in 2008 and the 2011 NBA MVP, announces retirement
Unable to defend their NBA title, Nuggets duo Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic ready to lead new quest
Auto Racing
NASCAR playoffs exit Bristol with Kyle Larson in control again; don't trust him at Kansas
College Sports, the changing landscape
Opinion: UNLV's QB mess over NIL first of many to come until athletes are made employees
College Sports
UNLV and Air Force to remain in Mountain West with financial incentives, AP source says
Attorneys tweak $2.78B college settlement, remove the word ‘booster’ from NIL language
Scoreboards