Scheffler Sets the Bar

“He is the bar that we’re all trying to get to,” Masters champion Rory McIlroy said after Scott Scheffler dominated in British Open.

July 21, 2025

Scottie Scheffler Dominates in British Open Victory for His 2nd Major Title This Year
AP News’ Doug Ferguson writes, “The enormous yellow scoreboard above the 18th green at Royal Portrush perfectly illustrated the state of golf these days. Scottie Scheffler’s name was at the top. No one was close.

“That’s how it was in the British Open on Sunday, when Scheffler never gave anyone a chance from the time his 9-iron settled a foot away for birdie on the first hole until he tapped in for a 3-under 68 and a four-shot victory over Harris English. That’s how it is in the sport, a level of dominance not seen since Tiger Woods.”

“He is the bar that we’re all trying to get to,” Masters champion Rory McIlroy said.
^{AP News}

WNBA Commissioner Confident CBA Will Be Signed By Deadline Despite Player Concerns
The Athletic’s Ben Pickman writes, “Engelbert characterized the talks as ‘constructive’ and said she believed the league and players would agree to a new CBA that is ‘transformational for the players, teams, owners and the future of our league.’”

The feeling was apparently not mutual.

“We have a long way to go. We’re gonna use this weekend to show our value and our worth and continue to be united because we do deserve more,” said Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, who is the first vice president of the WNBPA.
^{The Athletic}

MLB’s All-Star Game Was a Huge Hit, But Labor and Media Issues Remain Focal Points
SBJ’s Mike Mazzeo writes, “As usual, the week was a hit with viewers. The Home Run Derby drew an audience of 5.72 million on ESPN and the All-Star Game had 7.2 million viewers on Fox, both figures better than any other league’s All-Star events.

“Not everything was perfect, however. It’s been known for months that owners and players are far apart as the collective-bargaining agreement winds down to its Dec. 1, 2026, expiration, and the labor issue was a significant talking point in Atlanta, where MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred took the opportunity to express their points of view about a potential salary cap.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

‘Drive to Survive’ Audience Slowing on Netflix, While WWE ‘Raw’ Looks to Be Settling In
Interest around “Drive to Survive” seems to have slowed on Netflix, while the start to WWE’s “Raw” looks to be among the popular titles on the service, according to an analysis of views and hours watched released from internal Netflix data covering January through June.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NASCAR to Drop Chicago Street Race for 2026
NASCAR announced Friday night that the Chicago street race will not return next year, bringing a definitive conclusion to the question that was on the minds of not just the racing world but also Windy City residents. Following this month’s third edition of the street race, the racing series had 90 days to hash out the future of the event with the city of Chicago, according to the terms of its contract that was struck in 2022 via SBJ.
^{Sports Business Journal}

2031 Ryder Cup to Be Hosted in Girona, Spain, Says Catalan Golf Federation
Ramon Nogué, president of the Catalan golf federation, told the AP by phone Friday that “next week it will be official” that Girona will be announced as the host of the golfing event between the best male players of Europe and the United States.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Guardians Aren't Interested in Change After President Trump Calls for Them, Commanders to Go Back to Old Nicknames

JC Tretter, Don Davis Favorites for NFLPA Lead Role After Player Reps Meet: Sources
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini writes, “No timetable has been set for naming an interim executive director. A high-ranking executive in the NFL offices said Friday the league anticipates that whoever is appointed interim executive director will not be promoted to the full-time role. The league’s thinking stems from the belief that the union is ready to break from a group previously led by Howell and Tretter. But the support for Tretter during Friday’s call shows that he remains very much in contention to lead the organization.”
^{The Athletic}

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Unrivaled Makes NIL Splash During WNBA All-Star Weekend
FOS’ Colin Salao writes, “Women’s basketball is the center of the sports world this weekend thanks to the WNBA All-Star Game, but Unrivaled took the opportunity to break news of its own. The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league announced Saturday it has signed 14 NCAA women’s college basketball players to NIL deals. The players are: UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, and Kiki Rice; Texas’s Madison Booker; Iowa State’s Audi Crooks; UConn’s Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong; LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley; Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo; LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson; South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson; TCU’s Olivia Miles; Michigan’s Syla Swords; and USC’s JuJu Watkins.”
^{Front Office Sports}

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