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UPCOMING

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GLF--MASTERS

Description: Coverage from Tuesday at the Masters.

GLF--Masters-Rose

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Justin Rose is someone who looks at a glass half-full, and that goes for the Masters, too. He has been a runner-up three times. He’s 45, knowing only four players older have won majors. And his optimism is as high as ever. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 700 words, photos.

GLF--Masters-Newcomers

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- First-timers almost never win the Masters. Then again, they rarely show up with a resume like Chris Gotterup. He already has four PGA Tour wins, meaning he’ll be the third player since World War II to make his Masters debut with that many. He joins Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman as the highest ranked first-timers this week. By Noah Trister. SENT: 650 words, photos.

GLF--Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Rory McIlroy is soaking up a week like no other. He was at Augusta National all weekend. He hosts the champions dinner on Tuesday. And then comes the important stuff -- trying to win back-to-back. By Doug Ferguson. Text, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.

GLF--Masters-Woodland

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Less than three years after surgery for a brain tumor that could well have ended his life, Gary Woodland was back to winning on the PGA Tour. His victory at the Houston Open just over a week ago was the improbable culmination of a dream. Now, he will try to write an even better ending at the Masters. By Dave Skretta. Text, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.

GLF--Masters-DeChambeau

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Bryson DeChambeau has quite the history at Augusta National, whether it’s been his near-misses in the Masters, his quip that a bulked up version of himself had rendered it a par-67 layout, or hoisting a sign over his shoulder and moving it to clear his approach shot to a green. Just about all that seems to be missing is a victory. By Noah Trister. Text, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.

GLF--Masters-Notebook

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- You can bet that U.S. Amateur champ Mason Howell is enjoying every minute of his first Masters. It helps that the high school senior, and future Georgia Bulldog, is also missing school this week. By Dave Skretta. Text, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.

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BKC--T25-MENS POLL

DESCRIPTION: The Associated Press releases the final AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll of the season.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text, Photo

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HKN--ATLANTIC DIVISION RACE

DESCRIPTION: The Atlantic Division is as competitive as ever, and Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff can’t be more proud to have his upstart Sabres firmly in the mix of teams competing for first place in a three-team race — including Tampa Bay and Montreal — that likely won’t be decided until the final day of the season. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 650 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 4:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Champions League quarterfinals first leg. Matches start at 3 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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HKN--SHARKS-CELEBRINI

DESCRIPTION: Macklin Celebrini has helped carry the San Jose Sharks into playoff contentions thanks to one of the best seasons ever by a teenager in the NHL. By Josh Dubow. 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--BULLS-FUTURE

DESCRIPTION: President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf address the Chicago Bulls’ future after firing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on Monday, ending a six-year run that produced just one playoff appearance. By Andrew Seligman. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BBO--DIAMONDBACKS-METS

DESCRIPTION: Zac Gallen is scheduled to pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks against Freddy Peralta and the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series. The start time was moved up 3 hours because of a forecast for cold weather. 300 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 04/07/2026 7:10 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-OWGR

The Masters has players from 23 countries. The world ranking is one reason for the global growth

SUMMARY: Bernhard Langer celebrates his footnote in history at the Masters this week. It’s the 40-year anniversary of the Official World Golf Ranking. Langer was No. 1 in 1986 when it first came out. Langer says the world ranking was a key to globalize golf at a time when the PGA Tour made it hard on Europeans. He says the majors buying into the ranking gave them more opportunity to play. Before the ranking, Langer says Americans didn’t know much about players beyond their shores. Now the Masters has players from 23 countries. Forty years ago, only 11 nations were represented.

WORDS: 918 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 1:27 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0038badc939d10276cb6342e61288eb4&mediaType=text

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BKC--PORTAL ROUNDUP

Kansas’ Bidunga, Wake Forest’s Harris, Saint Mary’s Murauskas among players entering men’s portal

SUMMARY: Kansas big man Flory Bidunga, Wake Forest’s Juke Harris and Saint Mary’s Paulius Murauskas are among the parade of players entering the transfer portal on the first of 15 days Division I men’s basketball players can go looking for a new school. Bidunga was the Big 12 defensive player of the year and an all-conference first-team pick. Harris was voted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most improved player after he increased his scoring average from 6.1 points per game to 21.4. Murauskas was the West Coast Conference’s second-leading scorer with 18.4 points per game and had two 30-point games.

WORDS: 570 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 12:25 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5e43aa5169ed9d404d0a4aa92cef2202&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP-WHAT WE LEARNED

Michigan gets its moment, then the transfer portal opens and the scramble for 2027 begins

SUMMARY: The transfer portal has opened in college basketball, marking a crucial phase for teams aiming for the 2027 title. More than 1,200 players have already entered the portal, with hundreds more expected. Michigan won the NCAA championship with transfers playing key roles. The Big Ten swept the football championship and both Division I basketball titles this year.

WORDS: 1242 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 12:03 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a11a72a874d0cacdf2494b8927de5b08&mediaType=text

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ENT--BOOKS-KAEPERNICK

Colin Kaepernick to publish memoir ‘The Perilous Fight’ in September

SUMMARY: Colin Kaepernick will publish his life story, “The Perilous Fight,” on Sept. 15. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and activist completed the memoir almost 10 years after he first knelt during the national anthem. His protest against police violence and racial inequality sparked both support and criticism. Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, aims to provide context for his actions. He describes his journey from a Black kid navigating identity to an athlete realizing the game was bigger than football. Legacy Lit describes the book as part memoir, part manifesto.

WORDS: 329 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 11:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:33aea6e654caeb8804dad0286c66c3e9&mediaType=text

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FBN--MCMICHAEL-CTE

Bears Hall of Famer Steve McMichael had CTE, researchers say. He died in 2025 after fighting ALS

SUMMARY: Hall of Fame defensive lineman Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. McMichael died last year at 67 after a five-year fight with ALS. His wife said the key member of the dominating defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl pledged his brain to research to help understand the link between CTE and ALS. CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It can only be diagnosed after death.

WORDS: 416 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 9:29 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e70796b69133e70c24ec5bd2a83b7446&mediaType=text

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SOC--DERBY-AGYEMANG

Achilles injury ends US forward Patrick Agyemang’s World Cup hopes

SUMMARY: United States international Patrick Agyemang will miss his home World Cup after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury. Agyemang was visibly emotional when he was stretchered off during Derby’s 2-0 victory over Stoke in the second-tier English Championship on Monday. Derby has confirmed the striker will miss soccer’s biggest tournament. The World Cup is being held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in June and July. Agyemang has helped Derby into contention for promotion to the Premier League with a team-leading 10 goals since arriving last summer from Charlotte in Major League Soccer.

WORDS: 203 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 7:40 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d4520d2917eb2233b014dd54a153dd5&mediaType=text

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BKN--AROUND THE NBA

The NBA often saves its best basketball for the playoffs. It’s reasonable to expect that again

SUMMARY: The NBA, typically, saves its best for last. Here’s hoping that rings true again this spring. You may have noticed there’s a lot of bad basketball out there right now. Blowouts are happening with record-setting regularity. Some teams are tanking, which is forcing the NBA’s hand to make changes to the lottery system. And Giannis Antetokounmpo says he and the Milwaukee Bucks need couples therapy. But perhaps the real problem here is those storylines are overshadowing so much of what is good as the NBA gets set for its best time of year, the playoffs.

WORDS: 959 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 6:04 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d784318baa415d5d92f37450b4b6de40&mediaType=text

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GLF--MASTERS-ROSE

Justin Rose has 3 runner-up finishes at the Masters. He sees that as a good sign

SUMMARY: Justin Rose is the eternal optimist when it comes to the Masters. Never mind that he is in the Augusta National record book as the only player to twice lose a playoff without ever having won the green jacket. Or that his name is on the Masters trophy three times, but only because the club mentions the runner-up. The 45-year-old isn’t worried about his age. He already won this year at Torrey Pines. He says Augusta National is a happy place where he feels comfortable. And he looks forward to having another chance to win there.

WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 6:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cb9c0eb8a593b473ca4e97693d234e6b&mediaType=text

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GLF--MASTERS-NEWCOMERS

Will a Masters debut turn into a win? History suggests not, but there are a few newcomers to watch

SUMMARY: First-time participants almost never win the Masters. Then again, they rarely show up with a resume like Chris Gotterup’s. The 26-year-old Gotterup already has four PGA Tour wins. He’ll be the third player since World War II to make his Masters debut with that many. He’s already won twice this year and joins Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman as the highest-ranked first-timers this week. Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has a Masters rookie won the tournament, and before that nobody had won his debut since Gene Sarazen in the second year of the event.

WORDS: 719 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d25a1a56ad013875f2af9b5090a75cda&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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GLF--Masters: Coverage from Wednesday at the Masters.