Masters 2026: Brooks Koepka's driver was set to the wrong setting

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Brooks Koepka’s driver was set to the wrong setting.

Admittedly, this gets into the weeds of golf nerdity, but when you’re teeing it up at the Masters, golf nerdity is part of doing business.

So let’s explain:

Koepka uses a Titleist GT3, which allows for different settings. These settings are adjustable depending on what kind of ball flight you want — neutral, fade or draw. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but the gist is you set the club to your preferred setting.

Koepka’s preferred setting is “A1,” or standard. But on the driving range Thursday after Round 1 he realized his driver had been set to B1, which is more “flat.”

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“No one noticed it,” he said. “Switching back to A1, which is what we usually had it and just driving it better.”

Per Data Golf, Koepka lost .41 strokes off the tee Thursday, but gained .86 on Friday. Not surprising, he hit seven fairways Thursday compared to nine Friday and his score showed it — 72 in Round 1 vs. 69 in Round 2, which puts him 3-under for the tournament, nine shots back of Rory McIlroy.

While Koepka explained the error Friday, he didn’t make much of a thing of it.

“Ball striking has been really good this week. Putted better today. Short game has been kind of iffy,” he said after his round. “But, yeah, I like the way I'm playing right now. Just need to be a little bit more aggressive.”

Koepka, playing in his first major since leaving LIV Golf, currently sits in a tie for 13th.

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 12, 2026

Masters 2026: Brooks Koepka's driver was set to the wrong setting

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Brooks Koepka’s driver was set to the wrong setting. Admittedly, this gets into the weeds of golf nerdity, but whe...

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Inside Justin Bieber’s Coachella Performance, From His Setlist to Hailey Bieber’s Support

THE RUNDOWN

• Justin Bieber returned to Coachella to perform his headlining set.

• The star stuck to songs from his new albums Swag and Swag II, performing songs like “Yukon” and “Daisies.”

• Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner were spotted in the audience, supporting him.

After months of preparation, Justin Bieber returned to the stage at Coachella, performing his first headlining show at the festival last night. Bieber gave an intimate performance, pulling from his albumsSwagandSwag IIfor his setlist. Standout moments during the set included Bieber revisiting his past works with a live search through YouTube and a guest appearance from The Kid Laroi.

Fans quickly shared footage from his show on social media:

His wife, Hailey Bieber, was spotted in the crowd with her friend, Kylie Jenner.

The full set list included songs from his most recent albums and his past work:

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Back in October, a source detailed toPeoplehow much effort Bieber was putting into his Coachella performance.

At that point, Bieber was on Twitch, showing how he and his team were preparing for the festival. A source close to him told the outlet that Bieber was purposely showcasing his process as “his way of letting fans see that he’s excited and working hard for his headlining set at Coachella.”

In September, shortly after Bieber was announced as a headliner for the festival, a source gavePeoplean update on how he and his wife were doing amid the news.

“Both Justin and Hailey are thriving right now,” the source said. “They just celebrated their wedding anniversary; he’s on top of the charts; and she’s breaking records in beauty. They are both very focused. Justin’s super grateful for his fans. He’s hyped about Coachella. Hailey will be there of course.”

Bieber recentlyperformed“Yukon” at the Grammys, marking one of his first onstage appearances in years. TMZreportedthat last weekend, he had a private concert as well at the Troubadour in L.A.

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byAnio Baumeister

in

April 12, 2026

Inside Justin Bieber’s Coachella Performance, From His Setlist to Hailey Bieber’s Support

THE RUNDOWN Justin Bieber returned to Coachella to perform his headlining set. The star stuck to songs from ...

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Masters: Patrick Reed looking to play the heel to Rory McIlroy

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If not for the big magnolia tree off the right side of the 18th fairway, Saturday’s final pairing would be about as juicy as it gets for the Masters.

“Been behind it twice,” Patrick Reed lamented after finishing up his second consecutive 69 to head into the weekend at 6-under par.

Reed’s tee shot at 18 on Friday probably won’t be the difference in him winning or losing the tournament. But it did cost him the chance to play in the final group head-to-head with Rory McIlroy.

Reed and McIlroy have a complicated past

If you don’t recall, there’s some pretty interesting history in that pairing.

When Reed won this tournament in 2018, he and McIlroy were in the final group on Sunday — the last time they played together at the Masters. Even more memorable was their Ryder Cup duel in 2016 — one of the most electric singles matches in the history of the event with highlight-reel shots, back-and-forth trash talk and Reed earning the “Captain America” nickname with a 1-up victory as the U.S. team cruised to victory on Sunday.

There’s also been subsequent beef between them. At a tournament in Dubai in 2023, after Reed had left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, Reed attempted to say hello to McIlroy on the driving range but was essentially rebuffed. The exchange ended with Reed reaching into his pocket and flicking a LIV tee toward McIlroy.

Why was McIlroy upset at Reed? Because Reed’s attorney, Larry Klayman, had served McIlroy with a subpoena on Christmas Eve as part of a wide-ranging defamation lawsuit against the PGA Tour for colluding with the DP World Tour to prevent players from leaving for LIV.

Of course, irony of ironies, Reed announced in January that he was leaving LIV to re-join the PGA Tour when he’s eligible later this summer.

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So in a tournament thatMcIlroy has grabbed by the neck with a six-stroke leadheading into the weekend, Reed playing the foil once again would have at least made for good theater. But thanks to his only bogey of the day, it was not to be — for now.

“The worst part and the thing that frustrated me most is I hit every golf shot how I wanted to,” Reed said. “On 18 you're having to get up and down, and then hit the putt where I wanted to and just doesn't go in. Things like that happen around here. In golf in general.”

Reed playing well heading into and at Augusta

Still, it would be hard for Reed to be disappointed with the way he’s playing. After some outstanding results this year on the DP World Tour, including wins at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters, he has differentiated himself from others who either recently left LIV or are stuck there for the foreseeable future by competing well against top-caliber fields. (See,Bryson DeChambeau, who missed the cut Friday.)

It suggests he’ll be a force when he does get back on the PGA Tour — especially if he can dig back into the heel persona that has long made him one of the most divisive players in the world.

“As a whole the game feels solid,” he said. “Just need to continue to give myself opportunities. Any time I sit there and shoot back-to-back 69s or anything in the 60s on Thursday, Friday in Augusta, you're happy.”

And who knows, if McIlroy doesn’t have his best stuff on Saturday, another 69 or something in that neighborhood could give Reed a chance to get back in this thing. The 35-year old who led nearby Augusta State to a couple of NCAA championships is obviously comfortable here, with five top-10 finishes in his last eight Masters, including the victory.

With McIlroy fully in control of the tournament heading into the weekend, a chance to look him in the eye on Sunday is all Reed can ask for at this point.

“After winning in '18, at that point I definitely felt like I have always wanted to put (the green jacket) on a second time,” Reed said. “As players and as professional golfers you always have to believe in yourself that you can. Until you do, you always have that just little voice of doubt in the back of your mind.

“I was able to close out in '18 and give myself some good opportunities since then. Hopefully we can go ahead and get my second one.”

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 12, 2026

Masters: Patrick Reed looking to play the heel to Rory McIlroy

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If not for the big magnolia tree off the right side of the 18th fairway, Saturday’s final pairing would be about as juic...

Read More

Dick Vitale releases update on latest health battle: 'Hope & pray for good results'

Dick Vitaleis asking for continuous prayers.

The legendary broadcastershared on Friday, April 10 on his social media page that he went in for a biopsy on Friday to look into some of the "abnormalities" that were found on a series of routine tests that he had done last week. It'sthe second updatein as many days from Vitale.

"Just leaving hospital after biopsy/now anesthesia has worn off," Vitale wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) to go along with a photo of him sitting in a wheelchair outside of a hospital. "Hope & pray for good results as they did study of my lungs where spots showed in Pet Scan & MRI's!"

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In his latest update before Friday, Vitale mentioned that he feels "great physically" and "sharp mentally" and that his doctors recommended some additional testing to determine the next steps of his latest battle. He underwent a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRIs in his last round of tests, which showed those "abnormalities."

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He also mentioned that "the roadmap" for his recovery would be determined after the biopsy, which he underwent on Friday.

Vitale has had multiple health battles, including with several types of cancer, over the last few years. He was declared cancer-free last year and made his return to broadcasting, which included a pair of broadcasts alongside Charles Barkley this season, one coming in the First Four of March Madness in Dayton, Ohio.

"I'm still doing games,"Vitale told USA TODAY Sportsback in March ahead of the First Four. "It's a miracle. It's absolutely a miracle. I get emotional about it sometimes."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dick Vitale shares heath update after biopsy: 'Pray for good results'

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 12, 2026

Dick Vitale releases update on latest health battle: 'Hope & pray for good results'

Dick Vitaleis asking for continuous prayers. The legendary broadcastershared on Friday, April 10 on his social media page that he...

Read More

Sabrina Carpenter apologizes for reaction to Arabic chant at Coachella

Sabrina Carpenteris apologizing over a controversial crowd interaction during herCoachellaset.

The "Please Please Please" singer, 26,said on Xshe is sorry for her reaction to hearing a zaghrouta, an Arabic call of celebration, in the crowd while performing on April 10 at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalin Indio, California.

"My apologies i didn't see this person with my eyes and couldn't hear clearly. my reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is!" Carpenter wrote on April 11, adding, "I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out."

Video footagecirculated on social mediashowing the Grammy-winning pop star expressing confusion and displeasure after hearing a zaghrouta, which she mistook for a yodel, in the audience while on stage at Coachella. "Is that what you're doing? I don't like it," she said.

Justin Bieber's Coachella setlist:Every song he performed in order

A fan could be heard yelling back, "It's my culture," to which the singer quipped, "That's your culture, is yodeling?" The person in the crowd could then be heard shouting, "It's a call of celebration," leading Carpenter to joke, "Is this Burning Man? What's going on? This is weird."

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ArabAmerica.com describesa zaghrouta as "a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound representing trills of joy" that is "commonly performed in weddings, parties, celebrations and sometimes in funerals to honor someone and to express strong emotions." In 2020,Shakiraincorporated one into her Super Bowl halftime show performance, leading numerous news outlets topublish articles explainingthe significance of the sound.

Sabrina Carpenter's 'pit stop':How to go during Coachella

Coachella 2026 kicked off Friday, April 10, with performers such as KATSEYE, Nine Inch Noize, Disclosure, Anyma and Sabrina Carpenter. See the best photos starting with the "Espresso" singer's headlining set.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sabrina Carpenter, seen through one of her video boards, performs her headlining set during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sabrina Carpenter performs her first headlining set on the video boards of the Coachella stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Disclosure performs at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Guy Lawrence of Disclosure performs at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Disclosure performs at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Disclosure performs at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Leven Kali performs a song with Disclosure at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Leven Kali performs a song with Disclosure at the Outdoor Theatre during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami join KATSEYE to sing ‘Golden’ on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> KATSEYE performs on the Sahara stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Moby performs in the Mojave tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Moby performs in the Mojave tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Moby performs in the Mojave tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Moby performs in the Mojave tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Jonas joins Teddy Swims on the Coachella Stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Jonas joins Teddy Swims on the Coachella Stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Teddy Swims performs on the Coachella Stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Andrea (left) and Jewlz of The Two Lips perform in the Sonora tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Andrea of The Two Lips smiles to the crowd while playing in the Sonora tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jewlz of The Two Lips performs in the Sonora tent during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Colet of Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sheena Catacutan of Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on Friday, April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Stacey of Bini sings on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Fans sing along and cheer for Bini during their Weekend 1 set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sheena Catacutan of Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sheena Catacutan of Bini performs on the Mojave stage during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Asheville alt-rock band Wednesday performs inside Sonora at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Asheville alt-rock band Wednesday performs inside Sonora at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See Coachella 2026 Weekend 1 kick off with Sabrina Carpenter, KATSEYE

Coachella 2026kicked off Friday, April 10, with performers such as KATSEYE, Nine Inch Noize, Disclosure, Anyma and Sabrina Carpenter. See the best photos starting with the "Espresso" singer's headlining set.

Some fans on social media expressed outrage over Carpenter's reaction, includingone user whocalled her comments "so insensitive and islamophobic" and added, "I am very disappointed in her."

Another X user wrote, "Do I think sabrina meant harm with her comment? no. do i think it highlights how little white women are conscious of things outside of themselves? yeah a little."

Carpenter headlined the first night of the music festival on April 10, performing a set that was filled with surprise celebrity cameos.Will Ferrellpopped up to play a frustrated electrician,Susan Sarandondelivered a lengthy monologue during an interlude, andSamuel L. Jacksonmade a voice cameo as a spiritual guide, who was heard during a break in Carpenter's "Juno" performance.

This was Carpenter's first time headlining at Coachella. She previously performed at the festival in 2024 and predicted she would be back, singing, "Coachella, see you back here when I headline."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sabrina Carpenter sorry for Coachella reaction to Arabic chant

byAnio Baumeister

in

April 12, 2026

Sabrina Carpenter apologizes for reaction to Arabic chant at Coachella

Sabrina Carpenteris apologizing over a controversial crowd interaction during herCoachellaset. The "Please Please Please...

Read More