Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tarzana, Calif.

Iwai tied the course record in pristine conditions at the El Caballero Country Club. Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad and South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai each carded 63 at the 2025 event. Lindblad went on to earn her first LPGA victory in the tournament, posting a 21-under four-day total.

Korea's Sei Young Kim and a pair of players from Thailand are two strokes behind Iwai at 7 under. Patty Tavatanakit completed her round early in the day while countrywoman Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Kim were part of the afternoon groups.

Nine players finished tied for fifth at 6 under, including recent winner Lauren Coughlin and countrywoman Jessica Porvasnik.

Iwai, the 20th-ranked player in the Women's World Golf Rankings, produced an incredible stretch of golf on the back nine, where she started her round. She birdied holes 11 through 15, then eagled the par-5 16th hole and posted a score of 29 on the inward half of the course.

She birdied Nos. 1 and 5 and played the four par-fives on the course at 4 under.

Iwai, who won the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in her rookie season of 2025, credited an early start to her excellent round.

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"Good time tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable so I had a feeling so relaxing," said Iwai. "I had good feeling. I had fun."

After the brilliant run on the back nine, Iwai admitted to thinking about an extraordinary round.

"A little bit thinking 58 or 9 score," she said. "But golf is not easy. That's why I focus my routine. I try myself. I don't think too much."

Tavatanakit was only 1 under after bogeying the par-5 seventh hole. But she closed the outward half birdie-birdie and then birdied four of her last six holes on the day. She has missed two of three cuts to date and realizes there is a lot of golf left this weekend.

"I think that's what I find hard to adjust coming back into like full season tournament play," said Tavatanakit. "When you stop for a while just kind of been working on your swing and stuff, but you just kind of, you know, not think about hitting the numbers.

"I feel like I've been kind of building that ever since San Francisco, when we were there. I mean, I feel like my game has always been there. Just a little bit here and there is just kind of rusty."

Coughlin just won two handily weeks ago at the Aramco Championship, defeating runner-up Nelly Korda by five strokes. She played bogey-free golf on Thursday, closing with a 32 on the inward half.

--Field Level Media

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 17, 2026

Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tar...

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No charges to be filed against Taylor Frankie Paul's ex-boyfriend in Utah case

Dakota Mortensen, the ex-boyfriend of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” starTaylor Frankie Paul, will not be charged in relation to an allegation of domestic violence this year, the Utah city of Draper said.

In a statement, the city announced the city prosecutor's decision two days after the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Officedeclined to file charges against Paul.

"The Draper City Prosecutor reviewed the DA’s findings and, upon further review of the Draper Police case, has declined to file any charges against Taylor Frankie Paul or Dakota Mortensen related to an investigation of domestic assault claims," the city said.

Mortensen filed a complaint of domestic violence against Paul on Feb. 23, and Paul counter-claimed an assault by him.

“After a thorough investigation by Draper Police, the City Prosecutor has determined that there is insufficient corroborating evidence to support filing criminal charges against either party,” the city said in the statement.

The police department said it "would only pursue the investigation further if additional information is provided that supports the prosecution of either party.”

NBC News has reached out to representatives for Paul for comment.

Mortensen declined to comment when he was reached by phone.

In the incident in February, a friend reported that Paul assaulted Mortensen, according to police records obtained through a Utah public records request.

Mortensen told police that Paul attacked him, grabbed his throat, scratched him and threw objects at him, according to Draper police records. Paul told police that she told Mortensen to leave her home and he refused and that at one point Mortensen grabbed her and hit her head against the dashboard of his vehicle, according to the police documents.

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Police said in the documents about the investigation that the city prosecutor “advised that neither Taylor or Dakota are credible witnesses, with both their statements being fraught with inconsistencies.”

The documents reviewed include accounts from both Mortensen and Paul. They describe in detail at least one domestic violence incident with allegations hurled against each other. Both parties refer toadditional incidentsbut those are not described at length.

NBC News has also reviewed photos and videos included in the police documents. The photos show injuries Paul and Mortensen said they suffered during the alleged domestic violence incidents, including bruises, scratches and other abrasions on both of their bodies, including their arms, legs, necks and faces.

Videos reviewed and included in the documents capture interviews between each of the parties and police officers, bodycam footage and audio of 911 calls placed.

Also included in the documents is audio of a 911 call made by Mortensen's roommate, who identifies himself as Cru Eaton. Eatoninitially reported the incidentthat took place at the end of February.

Police referred the case to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, because the couple’s child was home at the time, the city said in Thursday’s statement.

Allegations of domestic violence between the couple made headlines last month when a leaked video from a 2023 incident went viral. The video, posted online byTMZ,appeared to show Paulhurling a chair at Mortensen as he protested.

The couple’s on-and-off relationship was depicted in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which premiered in 2024.Filming for season fivewaspaused last month,sources have told NBC News.

Paul was to be the centerpiece of season 22 of ABC's “The Bachelorette,” but after the 2023 video was leaked, the networkpulled the upcoming season.

Mortensen will beedited out of the upcoming seasonof "Vanderpump Villa," a source familiar with the show confirmed to NBC News.

Draper is a city of around 50,000 in Salt Lake and Utah counties, south of Salt Lake City and in the metropolitan area.

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 17, 2026

No charges to be filed against Taylor Frankie Paul's ex-boyfriend in Utah case

Dakota Mortensen, the ex-boyfriend of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” starTaylor Frankie Paul, will not be charged in relation to an all...

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The Dodgers shattered MLB's spending record at $515 million in 2025, 7 times the lowest payroll

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball's spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to theirsecond straight World Series title, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner's office, and Los Angeles is projected for the highest total again in 2026.

Rangers Dodgers Baseball

Los Angeles' 2025 spending included records for payroll at $345.3 million and tax of $169.4 million for a total of $514.6 million. Despite several contracts discounted to reflect deferred payments, the Dodgers' total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.

Spending by the Dodgers last year topped theprevious high of $430.4 million by the 2024 New York Mets— and Los Angeles' total didn't include the$6.5 million signing bonus given pitcher Roki Sasakias part of a minor league contract.

The Mets and Dodgers combined to spend $948.3 million. The ratio of the five highest spenders to the five lowest increased from 3.6 in 2021 to a record-high 4.7 last year.

The Dodgers in 2025 ended the Mets' three-year streak as the top payroll, boosted by $8.5 million in earned bonuses by retiring ace Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles' total would have been about $71 million higher but for the use of deferred money for seven players that resulted in discounting for their payroll calculations.Shohei Ohtani counts at $28.2 millionbecause $68 million of his $70 million salary last year isn't due until 2035.

The Mets finished second in payroll at $342.1 million and with tax had a total spend of $433.7 million.

In the first five seasons after owner Steve Cohen bought the team, the Mets spent $1.44 billion without winning a title: $1.11 billion in payroll and $320 million in tax.

Both the Mets and Dodgers exceeded the previous record-high payrollset by the 2024 Mets at $333.3 million.

Lois Angeles is projected as of MLB’s opening-day figures to lead in 2026 spending with a $323.3 million payroll for its 40-man roster and a $163.7 million tax for a $487.1 million total. The Mets began with a record payroll at $358.4 million and have a projected tax of $124.1 million for a $482.5 million spend.

Cleveland has the lowest opening day 40-man payroll this year at $75.5 million.

Total spending, based on regular payrolls, rose 3.1% to $5.32 billion last year from $5.16 billion in 2024 and has increased 31.3% in four seasons under the current labor contract from $4.05 billion in 2021.

Those figures do not include the $50 million annual pre-arbitration bonus pool that began in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement or allocations for benefits, which are included in MLB's luxury tax payrolls.

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Among luxury tax payrolls, eight teams began 2026 over the $244 million tax threshold. The Dodgers ($415.2 million), Mets ($379.2 million) and New York Yankees ($339.6 million) were followed by Toronto ($319.5 million), Philadelphia ($315.2 million), Boston ($263.7 million), San Diego ($260.1 million) and Atlanta ($247.9 million).

The Chicago Cubs started $25,000 under and Detroit $2.5 million below. Payrolls increase and decrease during the season due to trades and roster moves.

The Yankees finished 2025 with the third-highest regular payroll at $301.5 million, followed by Philadelphia ($291.9 million), AL champion Toronto ($253.1 million), Houston ($236.4 million) and Texas ($229.9 million).

Four of the top five spenders reached the playoffs, except the Mets, along with teams whose payrolls ranked ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 25th.

The Dodgers boosted payroll the most in 2025 at $74.4 million. Other teams with big 2025 increases were Detroit ($61.9 million), Baltimore ($60.2 million to $165.6 million), San Diego ($45.6 million to $217.6 million), Philadelphia ($42.8 million) and Toronto ($34.7 million).

Fifteen teams cut payroll from 2024 to 2025, led by the Chicago White Sox (by $66.1 million to $87.9 million), St. Louis ($39.3 million to $139.1 million), Miami ($29.4 million to $68.8 million) and San Francisco (by $28 million to $182.9 million). The Cardinals have further slashed payroll to $102.3 million on opening day this year, and that includes about $47.4 million attributable to trades involving three players no longer with the Cardinals: Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.

The Yankees cut payroll by $9.4 million from 2024 to 2025 and have raised it to $302.8 million this year.

Eleven teams topped $200 million in 2025,matching the record set in 2023. Five teams were below $100 million, one more than therecord-low in 2024.

Regular payrolls for last year are based on 2025 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses and non-cash compensation for 40-man rosters. Deferred salaries and bonus payments are discounted to present-day values, and termination pay, option buyouts and cash transactions among clubs are accounted for.

MLB calculated the average salary as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded to 26, at $4,611,595. The players' association, using a slightly different methodology, arrived at$4,721,393,

Luxury taxis based on payrolls with average annual values that include benefits and thepre-arbitration bonus pool. The players' association doesn't think tax payments should be used in measuring disparity because half the tax money goes to a commissioner’s discretionary fund distributed among teams eligible to receive revenue-sharing money which have grown their non-media local revenue.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 17, 2026

The Dodgers shattered MLB's spending record at $515 million in 2025, 7 times the lowest payroll

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball's spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury ta...

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Sydney Sweeney Boldly Rejoins American Eagle, Sends Brutal Message To Haters After ‘Great Jeans’ Scandal

Sydney Sweeneyhas once again found herself at the center of anonline debateafter making a bold return toAmerican Eaglein anew ad campaign.

The actress appeared in the brand’s latest summer ad, referencing last year’s“great jeans”controversy and continuing her partnership with American Eagle.

Her comeback also marks a time when she is also facingrenewed scrutinyover her sultry look in season 3 ofEuphoria,with both moments fueling fresh reactions across social media.

“Back in the spotlight like nothing happened—she knows how to keep the attention,” one user wrote.

Sydney Sweeney made a return with a new American Eagle ad directly referencing last year’s controversy

Image credits:AE

In the latest campaign titledSyd for Short: American Eagle Jean Shorts,Sweeneyappeared modelling denim cutoffs in a relaxed, beachside setting.

The campaign, launched for Summer 2026, focused on everyday styling, featuring the actress incasual looks.

In the video, she playfully asked, “What brand am I wearing?” before answering her own question with a subtle nod to the pastcontroversy, “Yeah… that one.”

Image credits:AE

The moment was widely seen as a direct reference to her 2025 campaign, which had sparked intense debateonline.

Despite previous backlash, the brand doubled down on itspartnership.

Image credits:AE

“There’s something timeless about a great pair ofjeanshorts… they make you feel confident without trying too hard,” Sweeney said in a statement.

The campaign also continued itscollaborationwithCrisis Text Line, with proceeds from select denim pieces supporting mental health initiatives.

Sweeney’s new American Eagle ad came after the original “great jeans” campaign sparked widespread backlash

Image credits:AE

Sweeney’s first campaign withAmerican Eagle, released in July 2025, featured the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” a play on “genes.”

The ad quickly went viral, but reactions were sharply divided. While some critics accused the campaign of promotingideaslinked to eugenics and exclusionary beauty standards, few compared it to “Nazi propaganda.”

American Eagle responded on August 1, stating, “ ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans… Great jeans look good on everyone.”

Image credits:JoeLowson

Despite the controversy, the campaign proved commercially successful. The brand reported strongsales, with denim pieces selling out and the ad contributing to increased revenue and visibility.

However, online reactions remain split following Sweeney’s comeback.

“American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney really turned a ‘controversial’ moment into a multi-billion impression powerhouse,” one user wrote.

Image credits:AE

“Controversy? That campaign sold out in 48 hours. American Eagle knew exactly what they were doing,” another added.

Others were more critical. “She has absolutely no acting talent whatsoever,” one comment read, while another said, “I’m glad American Eagle has made it very clear where they stand.”

Sweeney also addressed the ad campaign scrutiny and explained her silence

Image credits:AE

Image credits:Kennywright0

AsreportedbyBored Panda,Sweeney admitted she was surprised by the campaign’s reaction in a December 2025 interview withPeople.

“I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” she said.

She also acknowledged that staying silent may have worsened the situation.

“In the past, my stance has been to never respond… but I’ve realized my silence has only widened the divide,” she explained.

Image credits:AE

She emphasized that her intentions were never political. “I’m against hate and divisiveness… I hope we focus more on what connects us.”

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In an earlier interview withGQin November 2025, she took a moreneutralstance, saying, “I did a jean ad… I know who I am… I don’t let other people define who I am.”

Image credits:AE

Her responses themselves became part of the conversation, with some viewers calling them dismissive, while others defended her approach.

“It wasn’t controversial at all, just people looking for something to hate,” one user wrote.

“Good for her. Capitalizing overdramajust like the rest of celebrities,” another added.

Sweeney’s American Eagle ad also comes amid fresh backlash overEuphoriaseason 3

Image credits:AE

Sweeney has been facingcriticismover her role as Cassie Howard inEuphoriaseason 3, which premiered on April 12, 2026.

Several scenes from the first episode sparked backlash, particularly those involving her character filmingexplicitcontent in exaggerated scenarios.

In one scene, Cassie appeared wearing a collar andleashwhile acting out a roleplay sequence, while another showed her dressed in a baby-like outfit.

“This is literally disgusting,” one viewer wrote. Another added, “Some scenes were clearly unnecessary and intended to humiliate her.”

Image credits:AE

Others questioned her involvement. “How can Sydney Sweeney agree to do something like this?” one comment read.

However, not all reactions werenegative.

“Girl, it’s called acting,” one user wrote. “She’s playing a messy character on a show that’s always been wild.”

Sweeney herself addressed her reaction to thestorylineat the Los Angeles premiere on April 8, saying, “I called Sam [Levinson] and went, ‘Oh my god.’ It was a big exhale.”

She had also previously described returning to the show as “comforting,” noting her long connection with the cast and crew, viaVariety.

“She’s not afraid of doing this again,” wrote one user

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byAnio Baumeister

in

April 17, 2026

Sydney Sweeney Boldly Rejoins American Eagle, Sends Brutal Message To Haters After ‘Great Jeans’ Scandal

Sydney Sweeneyhas once again found herself at the center of anonline debateafter making a bold return toAmerican Eaglein anew ad campai...

Read More

MLB ABS system stats are coming in: What players are best at challenges?

Ten percent of the season is in the books. DoesMajor League Baseballplay any differently after three weeks of theautomatic ball-strike challenge system?

Perhaps. Certainly, it is a nascent and evolving niche within the game, filled with trial and error, hot hands and teachable moments all in the name of trying to gain an edge – 0.1% of an edge, even – on the corners of the strike zone.

While things will certainly change, and something resembling normalization will occur over the rest of the season, there are a few hard and fast maxims about ABS that we feel comfortable rolling with. A look at six truths the so-called “robot umps” have yielded so far:

Games are longer

It’s true: The average nine-inning game is averaging 2 hours, 42 minutes, longest in the four years of the pitch-clock era. (The first three seasons produced nine-inning averages of 2:39, 2:36 and 2:38).

Certainly, there are plenty of factors that contribute to game time beyond the 30 or so seconds every ABS challenge takes. Teams are using 4.34 pitchers per game, the highest mark since 2021 and possibly a function of the early-season glut of off days enabling managers to more liberally deploy relievers.

Pitchers are also issuing 3.8 walks per game, the highest mark since 2000 and perhaps one that will normalize as the year proceeds and time is shaved off of games. So is it all the challenge system spiking game times?

Nope. But it’s certainly a contributing factor.

Catchers are king

As one might have anticipated.

Nobody has the vantage point of a catcher, able to see exactly where a ball crossed the plate and, like machine learning, eventually figure out, most importantly, what the Hawk-Eye tracking system believes is a strike.

Accordingly, catchers are successfully challenging at a rate of 62% entering games of Tuesday, April 14. They account for 501 of the 522 attempts by fielders, though pitchers, emotional beings that they are, aren’t faring too poorly – they’re 10-for-21 so far.

As for hitters?

Consider them the foolishly aggrieved party. Helmet-tappers are successfully challenging at a rate of just 47%, with Ronald Acuña Jr. (2 for 6), Nolan Schanuel and Hunter Goodman (each 1 for 5) the most erratic.

Dillon Dingler is the ABS whisperer

So, who’s the best at this thing?

We’ll give an early nod to theDetroit Tigers’ Dillon Dingler. He’s currently 9-for-10 in getting balls overturned for his pitcher, the best rate for a catcher with more than five challenges. Victor Caratini (8-for-10) is right on his tail, while veteran J.T. Realmuto is perfect in five challenges so far.

Managers are working harder to get thrown out

Yep, arguing balls and strikes – traditionally the surest ticket to an early shower – is much harder to do with a pair of replay challenges in a manager’s back pocket.

Yet are skippers still getting tossed? You bet.

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Eight managers have been ejected so far, and the intent hasn’t changed much in the ABS era: Six of the eight got the heave-ho when their teams were trailing and, maybe, the manager saw fit to light a fire under the lads. Alas, none of the six clubs came back to win after their manager was ejected, though perhaps the histrionics proved whatever point the manager hoped.

One ejection did occurinan ABS situation: Derek Shelton, tossed with one out in the top of the ninth inning  after an overturned ball, just as theMinnesota Twinswere about to lose to the Baltimore Orioles. Runner’s interference resulted in two ejections, while a balk call, a disputed quick-pitch, a pair of check swings and an overturned out call at first accountedfor the others.

Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season

Cleveland Guardians players warm up asthe launch of NASA's Artemis IIis shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

The Twins are winning both sides of the ball

OK, so we won’t correlate ABS challenge success with on-field record just yet. Still, it’s hard to ignore that the Twins – consensus picks to finish last in the AL Central – are 10-7 and tied with Cleveland for the AL’s best record.

And they’ve won more batter’s challenges – 14 – than any team in the majors and lead the AL with 19 successful defensive challenges.

Sure, maybe the games have simply played out that the Twins have had a ton of chances to air a grievance. Either way, they’ve clearly chosen a path of aggression, as they lead in batter challenges (29) and are second to the Marlins with 28 defensive challenges.

Their percentages aren’t elite – they rank 15thamong batters with a 48% success rate and 10thdefensively at 68%.

But shooters shoot, as they say, and nobody’s gotten more calls overturned.

Umpires have gotten … worse?

So this is a tricky one.

There’s plenty of ways now to measure umpire aptitude, and we tend to lean on the very means-testedUmpire Scorecardsas our metric of choice. Within that, we can look at correct ball-strike percentage or other methods of accuracy.

For this exercise, we’ve chosen to highlight how many umpires rank in the positive for what they call “accuracy above expected,” or the difference between actual accuracy and expected accuracy given the web site’s “machine learning approach to estimating an umpire’s performance relative to their peers.”

Fair enough.

For what it’s worth, 76 of 91 umpires – or 83.5% - finished above 0 in accuracy above expected in 2025. This year? Just 54 of 83 – or 65% - rank in the positive.

Keep in mind: This is an extremely small sample size. A vast majority of umpires have had three or fewer plate assignments so far. Perhaps the accurate calls heat up with the weather, etc.

And maybe the umps’ confidence will level up when they realize ABS confirms that they were right a lot of times, too.

Perhaps that’s the ultimate truism: That humans can go toe-to-toe with robots just fine.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB ABS system stats: Challenge results, 2026 robo ump takeaways

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 17, 2026

MLB ABS system stats are coming in: What players are best at challenges?

Ten percent of the season is in the books. DoesMajor League Baseballplay any differently after three weeks of theautomatic ball-strike ...

Read More