| | | | | | | Presented By Global X ETFs | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Apr 11, 2022 | | 👋 Happy Monday! Welcome back. 🚨 Breaking: Frank Vogel is out as Lakers coach, ESPN reports. Today's word count: 1,988 words (8 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: ⛳️ Scheffler outshines them all |  | | | Scottie Scheffler, Masters champion. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images | | | | Scottie Scheffler dominated the 2022 Masters, winning his first major and cementing his status as the hottest golfer on Earth. Why it matters: Scheffler, 25, joins Jordan Spieth (2015) and Tiger Woods (1997, 2001) as the only players age 25 or younger to win the Masters over the last 40 years. The big picture: Eight weeks ago, Scheffler had zero PGA Tour wins and $8.7 million in earnings. 57 days later, he was four wins, $17.6 million in earnings, a green jacket and a No. 1 world ranking. Not bad. - After a week that revolved around Tiger Woods, the spotlight shifted this weekend, putting the focus back on the generation he inspired.
- "I play Tiger's irons," said Scheffler on Sunday. "I wear his shoes. I wore his shirt this week. ... We're so glad to have him back."
By the numbers: Scheffler was the only player in the field with four red rounds (69-61-71-71) and he was the leader from Friday afternoon through Sunday, finishing at 10-under par. - Despite ending with a four-putt double bogey on No. 18, the New Jersey-born Texan finished three strokes ahead of a surging Rory McIlory, who shot a record-tying final round 64.
- Cameron Smith, who closed the gap to one stroke early Sunday before falling apart on the back nine, tied for third with Shane Lowry at five-under. Collin Morikawa was fifth at four-under.
- Ted Scott, Scheffler's caddie, was set to retire last fall before Scheffler recruited him. Now, he has three Masters victories, having won twice with Bubba Watson (2012, 2014).
Scottie Scheffler kisses his wife, Meredith, after walking off the 18th green. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images What he's saying: Scheffler said he woke up Sunday and "cried like a baby" because he didn't think he was ready for the moment. But his wife, Meredith, helped him regain his composure. "My identity isn't a golf score. Like Meredith told me this morning, if you win this golf tournament, if you lose by ten shots, if you never win another golf tournament again, I'm still going to love you, and you're still going to be the same person." Flashback: After winning the WGC Match Play last month, Scheffler's dad hugged him and told him, "I'm more proud of who you are than your golf. You're a wonderful young man." I love this family. The bottom line: The world's top golfer has won golf's top event. And while nothing is assured in this sport (19 different winners in the past 24 majors), it certainly feels like a superstar has been born. Go deeper: Congratulations to "EvanTree" for winning our Masters Fantasy League with Harold Varner III (first-timer), Dustin Johnson (past champ), Scheffler (U.S.) and Smith (international). Email me (kendall@axios.com) to claim your prize. |     | | | | | | 2. 🏀 Bring on the NBA playoffs |  | | | Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios | | | | The NBA regular season concluded on Sunday, putting a bow on the league's first 82-game slate since 2018-19. - Scoring title: Joel Embiid (30.6) is the first international player to lead the NBA in scoring and the first center in 40 years to average 30+ ppg.
- Best team: The Suns (64-18) won eight more games than anyone else, and their away record (32-9) was better than every team's home record.
- Fun fact: Eastern Conference teams went 226-224 against Western Conference teams, ending the West's streak of 13 straight seasons with a winning interconference record.
What's next: The top six teams in each conference have secured playoff spots, while seeds 7–10 will compete in the play-in tournament running tomorrow through Friday. The first round begins Saturday. East: - No. 1 Heat vs. No. 8 seed
- No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 seed
- No. 3 Bucks vs. No. 6 Bulls
- No. 4 76ers vs. No. 5 Raptors
- Play-in: No. 7 Nets vs. No. 8 Cavaliers (Tuesday, 7pm ET); No. 9 Hawks vs. No. 10 Hornets (Wednesday, 7pm)
West: - No. 1 Suns vs. No. 8 seed
- No. 2 Grizzlies vs. No. 7 seed
- No. 3 Warriors vs. No. 6 Nuggets
- No. 4 Mavericks vs. No. 5 Jazz
- Play-in: No. 7 Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Clippers (Tuesday, 9:30pm); No. 9 Pelicans vs. No. 10 Spurs (Wednesday, 9:30pm)
How it works: The winner of the 7-8 game earns the No. 7 seed. The loser hosts the winner of the 9-10 game, and the winner of that game earns the No. 8 seed. Go deeper: The 75 things you need to know about the NBA postseason (ESPN) | | | | | | | | 3. ⚾️ Barriers broken: Women in baseball | Kelsie Whitmore struck out the first batter she faced as a FerryHawk. Source: Giphy Kelsie Whitmore's historic baseball journey continues today when the Atlantic League's Staten Island FerryHawks begin spring training, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Why it matters: This is the highest level of pro baseball reached by a woman since 2000, and Whitmore, who signed on Friday, is one of the only women ever to play in a league with connections to MLB. "I've been working for an opportunity like this my whole life, and I'm ready to get after it and compete." Catch up quick: For Whitmore, it's always been about baseball, which she chose over softball at age 6. "She wanted to throw overhand [and] do what baseball players do," her dad told SI. "So I didn't set the direction. She did." - That led Whitmore, now 23, to the USA Baseball women's team, where she starred as an elite pitcher (1.35 ERA at the 2015 Pan-Am Games) and hitter (.348 BA in the 2019 Pan-Am Games).
- She switched to softball in college only because baseball wasn't an option, and last year at Cal State Fullerton she was named the Big West Conference position player of the year.
- She's played professionally before, too: In 2016 with the Sonoma Stompers and last summer with the Portland Pickles, both independent clubs.
The backdrop: Stories like Whitmore's are rare because girls have so few opportunities to play baseball, which oddly enough stems from a 1975 court ruling that should have had the opposite effect. - The court's decision was that Little League must allow girls to play on boys teams, but backlash from parents resulted in Little League introducing softball and encouraging girls to play that instead.
- That status quo persists to this day, though some are trying to change it. Baseball For All, a non-profit founded in 2010, hosted the inaugural women's college club baseball championship last month.
The big picture: More women's baseball history was made on Friday when Tampa Tarpons (Yankees Single-A) skipper Rachel Balkovec became the first full-time female manager in affiliated baseball history. "I was blatantly discriminated against [early in my career]. Some people say not to say that ... but I think it's important to say because it lets you know how much change has happened." 🎥 Watch: On the basis of sex: Girls and baseball (YouTube) | | | | | | | | A message from Global X ETFs | | The rise of cyber threats is not just a news story, it's a reality | | |  | | | | If we're lucky, cybersecurity can feel like an afterthought. But as the world continues to digitalize, more of our data and devices are potentially at risk. Explore the Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) for exposure to companies preventing intrusions and attacks — all in single trade. Explore BUG. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round | | Courtesy: NFL 💔 RIP, Dwayne: Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins died Saturday at age 24 after being hit by a truck. "He was a man trying to become the best version of himself, just like we all are," wrote college and NFL teammate Terry McLaurin. 🥎 36 straight: Oklahoma softball is 36-0 (!), the best start in D-I history. They're outscoring opponents 354-27 (!!) and 30 of their games have ended early (!!!) due to the mercy rule (up 8+ runs after the fifth or sixth inning). 💉 Ineligible to play: 76ers defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle is prohibited from entering Canada because he isn't fully vaccinated, so he can't play games in Toronto during their first-round series. 🏆 Hold your breath: Egyptian swimmer Omar Hegazy, who lost his leg in 2015, broke the Guinness World Record for "longest distance swam underwater with one breath," swimming over 185 feet. 🏈 Back to football: The Eagles have signed Olympic hurdler Devon Allen to a three-year deal. Allen, who last played football at Oregon in 2016, ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash in front of scouts last week. | | | | | | | | 5. ⚾️ Weekend in review: Baseball returns |  | | | Opening Day at Denver's Coors Field. Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images | | | | Baseball's return featured power displays from superstars, a bench-clearing near-brawl and Bose headphones. Highlights from the weekend: - Bad blood: The benches cleared in Friday's Mets-Nats game after Francisco Lindor became the fourth Met hit in 14 innings. Pete Alonso, one of the hit batsmen, got the last laugh with a grand slam in Saturday's win.
- Priceless reaction: Astros rookie Jeremy Peña hit his first career HR while his parents were being interviewed during Apple TV's Friday night broadcast. Pure elation ensued.
- Longest, hardest: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s first HR of the season was the farthest (467 feet) and hardest (118 MPH) of his career.
- Mic'd up: Players being interviewed during live action never fails to entertain, especially when the ball comes their way. More of this!
- 15 straight: The Rays swept the Orioles and have now won 15 straight against Baltimore. Only the Dodgers have a longer active streak against one opponent (16 vs. Pirates).
- Manfred's gift: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred gave every player a pair of Bose headphones as a lockout peace offering.
P.S. ... The baseball highlight of the weekend happened in Japan, where 20-year-old Roki Sasaki threw the Nippon Baseball League's first perfect game in 28 years and struck out a record 19 bitters (including 13 straight). Go deeper: Opening weekend's winners and losers (CBS) | | | | | | | | 6. 🇺🇸 Photos across America | | Courtesy: University of Kansas LAWRENCE, Kan. — Thousands gathered along Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence on Sunday to celebrate the Jayhawks' men's basketball national championship. Khamzat Chimaev lands a punch against Gilbert Burns. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images JACKSONVILLE — UFC 273 did not disappoint, with Khamzat Chimaev defeating Gilbert Burns in an instant classic and Alexander Volkanovski pummeling Chan Sung Jung to retain his featherweight title. - Wild stat: Chimaev had only absorbed one significant strike in his four prior UFC fights. Against Burns, he absorbed 119 in three rounds.
Reilly Opelka (L) and John Isner. Photo: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images HOUSTON — 6-foot-11 Reilly Opelka beat 6-foot-10 John Isner, 6-3, 7-6(7), on Sunday to win the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship in the tallest ATP Tour final in the Open Era. - Elsewhere: World No. 13 Belinda Bencic beat No. 9 Ons Jabeur, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, to win the Charleston Open for her first clay-court title.
| | | | | | | | 7. 🌍 Photos around the world | | Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images MANCHESTER — Manchester City remain one point ahead of Liverpool following Sunday's thrilling 2-2 draw. In a Premier League season of the finest margins, that may be plenty. Seats filled with toys that will be donated. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images PIRAEUS, Greece — Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk is playing exhibition games around the world to bring attention to the plight of Ukrainians and raise money for the war effort. - The scene: They played Olympiakos on Saturday in their first game on tour. 5,000 people attended and the empty seats were filled with toys that will be donated to refugee children.
Charles Leclerc celebrates his second win of the season. Photo: Dan Istitene/Formula 1 via Getty Images MELBOURNE — Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) won the Australian Grand Prix to extend his lead in the drivers' championship. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) took second and George Russell (Mercedes) took third. | | | | | | | | 8. 📺 Watchlist: 2022 WNBA draft |  | | | Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images | | | | The Atlanta Dream will pick first in tonight's WNBA draft (7pm ET, ESPN), with Kentucky's Rhyne Howard and Baylor's NaLyssa Smith the two most likely choices. More to watch: Plus ... Friendly reminder that the new Tony Hawk HBO documentary is incredible, and you should watch it immediately. | | | | | | | | 9. 🏒 Frozen Four trivia |  | | | Congratulations to the Denver Pioneers. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images | | | | Denver beat Minnesota State, 5-1, on Saturday (highlights) to win its ninth men's hockey championship, tying Michigan for the most ever. - Question: Who ranks third with eight titles?
- Hint: Located in the fourth-least populated state.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🎥 Top plays: Weekend edition |  | | | Rory! Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images | | | | There were so many incredible plays this weekend, I had to upgrade the Top 10 to the Top 20. Easily the best list I've ever made. - ⛳️ Rory and Collin
- 🏀 Jaxson Hayes!!!
- ⚾️ Sensational grab
- 🏀 Jalen Green block
- 🏏 No glove, no problem
- ⚾️ Bobby Witt Jr.!!!
- ⛳️ Ace at Augusta
- ⚽️ An Olimpico!!!
- ⚾️ Runs it down
- ⚽️ Impossible angle
- ⚾️ Jazz snags it
- ⚾️ Over the ledge
- 🏀 Moe Wagner!!!
- ⚾️ At the wallAdell
- ⛳️ Scheffler for birdie
- 🏒 Baseball on ice
- 🏀 Jalen Green can fly
- ⚽️ From distance
- ⚾️ Oh my Lourdes
- 🥎 What a grab
Watch all 20. | | | | | | | | A message from Global X ETFs | | The rise of cyber threats is not just a news story, it's a reality | | |  | | | | If we're lucky, cybersecurity can feel like an afterthought. But as the world continues to digitalize, more of our data and devices are potentially at risk. Explore the Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) for exposure to companies preventing intrusions and attacks — all in single trade. Explore BUG. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "'Til next year Augusta" Baker Trivia answer: North Dakota 🙏 Thanks for reading. Follow us at @kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy, and tell friends to sign up for Axios Sports. |  | It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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