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USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Unassuming? Scottie Scheffler's hometown experience at Chipotle defines feelings on fame
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – To hear Jordan Spieth tell it, Scottie Scheffler, the Champion Golfer of the Year after winning the British Open on Sunday, is the most unassuming, family man in modern professional sports, who happens to like to talk trash with the best of them. Asked about what makes Scheffler unique, Spieth said, 'I wouldn't necessarily think that the golf swing makes as much of a difference as the personality match. I'm thinking about so many other sports, and Nikola Jokic is the only guy I can think of that's a superstar that's equally unassuming in any sport in the modern era, and I'm happy if anybody else can find another example, but it's very rare.' When someone suggested tennis great Roger Federer, Spieth considered and agreed that perhaps his demeanor when he competed on the court is that same, but noted, 'but he made more off the court than he did on all time, and he cared to. When Scottie is done playing, he's not going to show back up at tournaments. I can promise you that.' That, in part, is what makes Scheffler a unicorn of sorts. He has gone to great lengths to create a cocoon of normalcy away from the course. He doesn't chase all the endorsements he could do and the photo shoots and commercials. He just wants to hang at home with his childhood friends and his family and be dad. 'I would say my greatest priorities are my faith and my family. Those come first for me,' he explained during his winner's press conference. 'Golf is third in that order. I've said it for a long time, golf is not how I identify myself. I don't identify myself by winning tournaments, chasing trophies, being famous or whatever it is.' To highlight how he deals with fame, he told the story of the two Chipotle restaurants that he eats at when he's home in Dallas. But the one near Southern Methodist University's campus and not far from where he grew up has become difficult for him to eat there without getting bombarded by fans. 'There's another one in a different part of town that I'm not going to tell you where it is, but if I go there, nobody recognizes me ever,' he said, drawing laughter from the media in the room. 'So famous is just one of those things. In some circles, like right now I'm the best player in the world. This week I was the best player in the world. I'm sitting here with the trophy. We're going to start all over in Memphis, back to even-par, show goes on. It's hard to describe what it feels like because, yeah, I don't feel any different because I've won a golf tournament. This is not the be-all, end-all for me, but I'm extremely grateful for it.' 'It sucks for us': Scottie Scheffler's dominance has broken other professional golfers Webb Simpson, a past U.S. Open champion, co-hosts a podcast and in one episode Scheffler was the guest and Simpson articulated what he thinks make Scheffler different from so many other athletic stars. 'It's super rare in sports to see the top of the top, who are the best at their sport, faithfully walk with God,' Simpson told Scheffler. 'A lot of young listeners, high school guys or even college kids around us, they are fearful that if they walk with the Lord they're going to lose their competitive edge. Somehow, somebody thought a long time ago that because you're a Christian means you're a soft competitor. But you embody a faithful man of God who is a fierce competitor.' When Simpson asked Scheffler how he is able to do that, Scheffler gave an equally telling answer: 'I feel like God kind of created me with a little bit of extra competitiveness. Since I was a kid, whatever we were doing, I always wanted to be the best at that thing.' As a professional golfer, Scheffler expressed gratitude for being able to live out his dream. But it took a lot of hard work. 'I kid you not, I have worked since I was two or three years old to have a chance to play professional golf for a living, and now I've been able to win tournaments I've just dreamed of playing in,' he said. 'It's an amazing feeling.'
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Bryson DeChambeau hopes to crack Royal Portrush puzzle after 10-word admission
The 31-year-old heads to Royal Portrush for this year's Open in search of a breakthrough performance at the sport's original major; one which could see that named etched into both history and the Claret Jug. A combination of a big drive, and an even bigger personality, have seen Bryson DeChambeau become one of the biggest names in golf. And the 31-year-old heads to Royal Portrush for this year's Open in search of a breakthrough performance at the sport's original major; one which could see that named etched into both history and the Claret Jug. The puzzle presented by a British or Northern Irish links course is one the Californian has thus far not been able to solve. His best Open finish was T8 in 2022 at St Andrews alongside fellow Americans Patrick Cantley and 2017 champion Jordan Speith on 12-under-par. But DeChambeau, who now resides in Texas, never threatened the top of the leaderboard, a second round 74 made sure of that, as Australian Cameron Smith's blemish-free round of 64 – which featured eight birdies – took him to glory ahead of Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy. And after missing the cut at Royal Troon last year, he admitted: 'I really don't have the Open fully figured out yet.' Famous for his hard-hitting approach to the game, it was that very reason that three-time Open champion Nick Faldo highlighted as DeChambeau's Achilles heel when it comes to playing links golf. Speaking on Sky Sports commentary after DeChambeau's first round 76 – his highest opening effort at The Open since his debut at the major in 2017 - he said 'It's not surprising for me [why he struggled]. 'You talk about the rough. He wants to stay aggressive, stand up, and bash it down there, but that's just not how you play links golf. There's a serious priority in keeping it down the fairway.' But despite his record of only one top-ten finish at The Open, DeChambeau heads to the Antrim coast as one of the favourites. And with good reason too. The man is an extremely talented golfer, and by winning both the NCAA Division I championship, whilst at Southern Methodist University, and the U.S. Amateur in 2015, becoming only the fifth man to do so, his card was marked for greatness early. Then consider the fact he is also a two-time winner of the U.S. Open, which attests to his capabilities of adjusting his game at the world 's toughest set-ups. Who could forget the way he won the latter of those two at Pinehurst in 2024? After a back-and-forth final round – in which he was battling McIlroy for the title – DeChambeau produced one of golf's all-time iconic shots to pip his rival from Holywood. With his ball in the bunker 50 yards away from the green after his second shot, DeChambeau produced an up-and-down for the ages to land just shy of the hole. And thanks to McIlroy's missed three-footer for par - which capped off a horrendous final four holes for him as he dropped three shots - DeChambeau rolled home his par attempt to finish on six-under and take victory by a single stroke. His celebration was emphatic as a huge release of emotion poured out of him, - later dedicating the win to 1999 U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart, his golfing idol, and his father - but that shot showed the mental fortitude DeChambeau possesses, something he'll need if he's going to challenge for Open glory. He also won LIV Golf Korea in May, after joining the breakaway Saudi Arabian-backed Tour in 2022, in a show of where his game is at. And he has banged loudly on the door at two of this year's majors, finishing T5 at the Masters – having led during the final round – before finishing in a tie for second at the PGA Championship. He's getting used to being a man in contention, remarking ahead of LIV Golf Dallas: 'I'd say I'm disappointed that I haven't won one [a major] yet this year.' But that certainly has the potential to change. DeChambeau has famously always been a man to experiment with his game in search of an edge – he is not scared of change, rather, he embraces it. Take his clubs for example, since 2011, he has used irons and wedges that all have exactly the same length shafts – 37.5 inches – in a bid to have the same posture when taking the majority of his shots, while he also uses extra thick grips on his clubs. Due to his tendency to tinker, DeChambeau was known by the moniker 'The Scientist' during the early part of his career. So, it was no surprise to hear that that in the run-up to The Open, DeChambeau spoke about how he needed to change tack if he was going to be successful. 'I've got to fine-tune my game and focus on executing my shots the way I know I can on the golf course. I haven't been doing that recently,' he said. "A little bit more due diligence on my side of the coin. Not taking things for granted and focusing on what I can do to give myself the best chance to win at The Open. "Probably being a little more strategic that week.' If DeChambeau can temper his game and combine his strengths with the thought that is required to successfully plot your way around the Dunluce Links, then the rest of the field should certainly take heed. But there's more to him than just his outgoing persona and ability to hit a golf ball. He's experienced family trauma and bounced back, having lost his dad Jon in 2022 due to complications from diabetes that he had suffered from since the 1990s. After winning the first of his U.S. Opens, he explained to CNN: 'I always wanted my parents, especially my dad, to witness not only a PGA Tour event but a major championship. 'My parents gave up everything for me to play golf. They didn't have any free time. Every summer, they'd be driving me to golf tournaments. No matter what, they gave their whole life for me.' His heartfelt reaction to seeing his parents on a large screen after winning at Winged Foot – in a dominant display of hitting which saw him win by six shots on five-under-par – showed he was playing for his family as much as himself that day. In his earlier days, DeChambeau was a rough diamond, never far away from a controversial statement – claiming Augusta should be a par 67 following his first major title win certainly ruffled a few feathers. After the sport resumed post Covid, DeChambeau noticeably put on approximately 40lbs of muscle and subsequently became the longest driver on the PGA tour. It certainly helped him at Winged Foot, but ultimately, you don't end up having a great career in golf by simply belting the ball as far as you can. And in the same way his personality has gone from being aloof to a social media star – he has 3M Instagram followers and regularly posts videos of himself doing things like trying to break public golf course records, to trying to score a hole-in-one over his house to everything in between, including playing with President Donald Trump – his game has changed from being a one-trick pony to a bow with many strings to it. In order to win at Royal Portrush, a course DeChambeau described as 'diabolical' due to its challenging nature, the man crowned Champion Golfer of the Year will have shown talent, resilience, know-how and adaptability. DeChambeau has shown he has all those traits, all that is left for him to do now is use them all in tandem to crack the links puzzle.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs 90-man roster by jersey number: No. 30, RB Brashard Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Southern Methodist University running back Brashard Smith with the No. 228 pick in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft. Smith began his collegiate career with the University of Miami Hurricanes before transferring to SMU for the 2024 season. During his time with the Hurricanes, Smith primarily played as a wide receiver, but he converted to running back when he joined the Mustangs last season. As a collegian, Smith tallied 108 receptions for 1097 yards and eight receiving touchdowns, while also picking up 1509 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rusher in 253 attempts. What jersey number does Brashard Smith wear? Brashard Smith currently dons the No. 30 jersey for the Kansas City Chiefs, which is also worn by second-year defensive back Christian Roland-Wallace. How much money will Brashard Smith make in 2025? According to Smith will receive a base salary of $840,000 in addition to a prorated signing bonus of $33,369 in 2025. Top Brashard Smith highlight
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eddie Garcia, Packers kicker in 1980s and later a board member, dies at 65
Eddie Garcia, a member of the Green Bay Packers board of directors and former place-kicker for the team, died on June 5 at his home in Poygan. He was 65. The Packers drafted Garcia in the 10th round of the 1982 draft out of Southern Methodist University, where he is tied for the school record of 44 field goals. Advertisement Garcia was injured during the 1982 season, but took over kickoff duties in 1983, while Pro Football Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud kicked field goals and extra points. Stenerud left for the Minnesota Vikings the next season and Garcia did all the kicking for seven games, before he was injured again. He made three of nine field goals and 14 of 15 extra points. He was waived following the 1984 season. Eddie Garcia, Packers kicker and board member, died June 5, 2025. He was 65. Garcia was elected to the Packers board of directors in 2021. He served on the sales and marketing and Green Bay Packers Foundation committees. According to his obituary, his favorite part of his role with the Packers board was working on the Packers Foundation's distribution of money to local nonprofits and charities. He said he felt honored to help support the work being done across Wisconsin by those organizations. Advertisement Garcia was a graduate of Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, and after his football career, worked for Oshkosh Corp., much of the time in the Oshkosh Defense division, in sales and marketing. Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@ Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Eddie Garcia, Packers kicker and board member, dead at 65
Tatler Asia
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
9 celebrity novels that are actual must-reads
2. 'The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece' by Tom Hanks Above 'The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece' by Tom Hanks Leave it to Tom Hanks, America's dad, typewriter hoarder and certified history geek, to write a novel about making movies that's less gossipy tell-all, more literary homage. The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (2023) is a sweeping multigenerational story about a comic book adaptation turned mega-budget film, complete with a fictional comic insert and a rotating cast of quirky creatives. It's ambitious—maybe too ambitious, critics murmured—but undeniably sincere. Hanks has long moonlighted as a writer (his short story collection Uncommon Type was a bestseller), and here, he leans all the way in. Yes, there's some indulgent insider baseball, but there's also real heart in how he renders the weird, wonderful world of making art in America. In case you missed it: From clothes hangers to taxidermied animals: 8 celebrities and their eccentric collections 3. 'Someday, Someday, Maybe' by Lauren Graham Above 'Someday, Someday, Maybe' by Lauren Graham Before Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life revived the Stars Hollow-verse, Lauren Graham dropped a debut novel that read like a nostalgic hug for every twenty-something dreamer. Someday, Someday, Maybe (2013) follows Franny Banks, a struggling actress in '90s New York trying to make it big before her self-imposed deadline runs out. It's smart, self-deprecating and semi-autobiographical, but never saccharine. Graham has a knack for internal monologue, and Franny's anxiety about career, love and rent feels as relevant as ever. While it didn't make the Pulitzer shortlist, the book sold well and was optioned for TV. Graham's turn as a writer shouldn't be surprising. She studied English at Barnard before her MFA at Southern Methodist University. She's also published a memoir, but Someday remains her most beloved piece of fiction. 4. 'Today I Feel Silly' by Jamie Lee Curtis Above 'Today I Feel Silly' by Jamie Lee Curtis Jamie Lee Curtis, it turns out, is a literary stealth icon. She's written over a dozen children's books, each one witty, rhythmic and deeply human. Today I Feel Silly (1998) is her best-known title, and it's not just cute—it's a tiny revolution. The story follows a young girl navigating big emotions with humour and honesty, giving kids permission to feel all the feelings. It topped The New York Times children's books list and became a go-to for teachers and therapists alike. Curtis isn't just stamping her name on someone else's rhymes; she crafts the verses herself (with illustrator Laura Cornell) and often draws from parenting experiences. In a market saturated with moralising bedtime tales, her work is fun, funky and unpretentiously wise. 5. 'Postcards from the Edge' by Carrie Fisher Above 'Postcards from the Edge' by Carrie Fisher Carrie Fisher's Postcards from the Edge (1987) is one of those rare celebrity novels that became a literary landmark. Loosely based on her own life after rehab, the novel chronicles the tumultuous life of Suzanne Vale, a rising actress recovering from drug addiction and a fraught relationship with her mother. Sound familiar? But it's not just autobiographical therapy in prose form. Fisher's voice is sardonic, whip-smart and heartbreakingly honest, a precursor to the confessional tone that would later dominate memoirs and podcasts alike. The book became a bestseller, a Meryl Streep film and a reminder that Fisher was always more than Princess Leia. Fisher would go on to write more celebrity novels ( Surrender the Pink , Delusions of Grandma ) and brilliant memoirs. But Postcards remains her most poignant piece of fiction. 6. 'The Gun Seller' by Hugh Laurie Above 'The Gun Seller' by Hugh Laurie Best known for his sardonic Dr House, Hugh Laurie's 1996 debut, The Gun Seller, took readers by surprise: not just because it was wildly funny and stylish, but because it was legitimately good. Think Graham Greene meets Douglas Adams. Here, a cynical espionage romp where ex-soldier Thomas Lang gets caught up in a weapons conspiracy far beyond his pay grade. The book sold briskly and was critically adored—so much so that fans begged for a sequel (he promised one, The Paper Soldiers , but it's yet to appear). With razor wit and a surprising amount of plot acrobatics, Laurie proved he could write with as much bite as he delivered onscreen. 7. 'Shopgirl' by Steve Martin Above 'Shopgirl' by Steve Martin You can't say terrific celebrity novels without thinking of the Father of the Bride . Before Only Murders in the Building gave him a second act on screen, Steve Martin quietly conquered the literary world. A card-carrying member of Mensa with a taste for Nabokov and noir, Martin's debut novella Shopgirl was released in 2000 to near-critical swooning. It was adapted into a film (which he also wrote and starred in) five years later. The story centres on Mirabelle, a lonely glove counter attendant at a luxury department store in Beverly Hills, and her melancholic, emotionally stunted relationship with a much older man. Equal parts delicate and devastating, the novel is a masterclass in restraint: dry, elegant and whisper-soft in its cruelty. Martin studied philosophy, wrote witty essays for The New Yorker and has since authored other celebrity novels, memoirs and plays. But Shopgirl remains his most haunting piece of fiction: the kind that sneaks up on you, like a perfume sample you didn't expect to linger. 8. 'The Land of Stories' by Chris Colfer Above 'The Land of Stories' by Chris Colfer While many celebrity novels come and go with the same fleeting flash as a red carpet cameo, The Land of Stories has become something far more lasting: a bona fide literary franchise. Chris Colfer, once known to millions as Kurt Hummel from Glee , didn't just write a children's fantasy novel for kicks; he built a six-book series (plus spin-offs, graphic novels and a film deal with 20th Century Studios) that turned into a publishing juggernaut. The premise? Twins Alex and Conner tumble into a magical realm where classic fairy tales collide with fast-paced adventure, cheeky political allegory and a touch of Broadway flair. Think The Chronicles of Narnia if Narnia were more into tea parties with Goldilocks and revolutions led by Red Riding Hood. Colfer, a lifelong reader and self-proclaimed fantasy nerd, wrote the first book in his early 20s and immediately landed on the New York Times bestseller list. 9. 'My French Whore' by Gene Wilder Above 'My French Whore' by Gene Wilder Gene Wilder is forever etched in film history as the eccentric genius behind Willy Wonka and Young Frankenstein , but few realise he was also a novelist of surprising literary grace. My French Whore (2003) tells the story of a timid British soldier in World War I who switches identities with a French spy. It is a premise ripe for farce, but handled with unexpected tenderness and humour. The novel's blend of romance, wartime tension and Wilder's trademark wit creates a charming, bittersweet narrative that's as layered as his film roles. Though better known for his physical comedy and screenwriting, Wilder's literary foray was met with warm critical appreciation, revealing a contemplative artist whose creativity extended far beyond the silver screen.
