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PGA Championship begins with sunshine and soft turf at Valhalla in Kentucky

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PGA Championship begins with sunshine and soft turf at Valhalla in Kentucky


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A PGA Championship filled with various layers of intrigue began Thursday after a 10-minute delay for fog, which quickly gave way to sunshine and a morning that figures to set the tone for Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

Weather has been an issue all week, with rain at times closing Valhalla Golf Club for brief periods during two days of practice.

McIlroy returns to the site of his last major 10 years ago that also was marked by weather when a two-hour rain delay on Sunday caused him to play into the group ahead so that he could finish before dark.

He starts this major just two days after news broke that he was getting divorced from his wife of seven years. McIlroy cut short his interview to 10 minutes with a request that all questions be related only to golf. Asked about his energy and how he was feeling, McIlroy said curtly, “I’m ready to play this week.”

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Woods also is a past champion at Valhalla from 24 years ago, when he was younger and before back surgeries, knee surgeries and a 2021 car crash. He is playing for only the third time this year.

Spieth is playing alongside defending champion Brooks Koepka. At stake for Spieth, again, is a chance to become the sixth player to win the career Grand Slam if he can hoist the Wanamaker Trophy at the end of the week.

Koepka only has two legs of the Grand Slam, but his major count already is at five.

“I’m just looking forward to a major championship,” Koepka said. “That kind of gets my excitement going.”

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, is among the few stars playing in the afternoon on a course that is soft and susceptible to low scoring. Scheffler hasn’t competed in three weeks, staying home in Dallas for the impending birth of his first child. A son they named Bennett was born May 8.

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He still comes into Valhalla with a load of momentum — four wins in his last five starts, one of them a second Masters green jacket, the exception a runner-up finish in Houston.

Being at home gave him time to reflect, and it was all good.

“I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf, and now I’m here,” Scheffler said. “I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time.

“The competitiveness in me doesn’t let me reflect too much. And I was trying to do my best to get ready to play this week.”

___

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

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Kentucky

‘I ain’t ever eating bologna again’: Father-son duo hits $1 million jackpot in Kentucky

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‘I ain’t ever eating bologna again’: Father-son duo hits $1 million jackpot in Kentucky


KENTUCKY (WDKY) — A man vowed to never eat bologna again after he and his son won the top prize on a scratch-off lottery ticket earlier this month in Kentucky.

Jody and his father took home a lump sum of $700,000 after hitting the $1 million jackpot on a Casino Nights scratch-off, per the Kentucky Lottery. Jody requested not to share his last name, and his father’s name wasn’t released.

The dad had purchased the $20 ticket on June 8 at the Adairville Market, a convenience store located roughly 12 miles away from Springfield, Tennessee, where Jody lives.

After buying the ticket, Jody’s father couldn’t wait to scratch it.

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“I said [to the clerk], ‘If I hit this million dollars, I ain’t ever eating bologna again,’” the dad said.

According to lottery officials, the top $1 million prize was revealed within the first couple of rows, where all three key symbols matched.

“It kind of shocked me,” the father said.

(Courtesy of Kentucky Lottery)

He told lottery officials that he immediately called Jody to share the exciting news.

Jody recalled his father saying, “You’ll never believe what I just did.”

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“And, I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘We just won $1,000,000!’” Jody continued. “I was sitting there thinking, ‘Yeah, right, I don’t believe you!’”

Jody said his dad drove to his home to show him the ticket, and they made plans to travel to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters on June 10 to claim their prize.

The big win didn’t change Jody’s weekend plans, however. He still decided to mow the lawn.

As for what he plans to do with the money, Jody said he wants to invest it.

“Houses are paid off. Cars paid off, done. We will be bill-free probably next week,” Jody said. “You become debt free, and you don’t have any bills.”

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Since they opted for the lump sum, they went home with a check for $504,000 after taxes, lottery officials said.



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Kentucky Women's Basketball getting back on track for a new season

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Kentucky Women's Basketball getting back on track for a new season


Last week, we saw most of the Kentucky Women’s Basketball roster move into their new home on campus, but now, we’re getting a sneak peek at what’s in store for the 2024-25 season following the team’s first week of practice.

In some new flicks released by the team, we get a glimpse into what some of the players have been working on during practice. On the left, 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack is working on post moves, Jordan Obi is chatting with assistant coach Josh Peterson, and Lexi Blue is putting some shots up.

Strack, the Virginia Tech transfer will be vital for the ‘Cats this upcoming season. The sophomore averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game her freshman season but didn’t show her true talents until the NCAA Tournament. The center scored 35 points over those final two games on 13-15 (86.7%) from the field.

6-foot-1 guard Jordan Obi transferred from the University of Pennsylvania for her final year of eligibility. Last season, she was named to the 2023-24 All-Ivy First Team and Academic All-Ivy. In 83 games at Penn, she averaged 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Obi’s ability to score on the perimeter and in the paint will be especially useful when matching up against SEC opponents.

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Incoming freshman Lexi Blue will also play a large role for the ‘Cats. Standing at 6-foot-2, the guard was ranked No. 40 in the 2024 class by ESPN. As a senior at Lake Highland Prep, Blue averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Blue’s size and versatility make her extremely valuable for Kentucky. She seems to be the perfect pickup for the Wildcats.

We even got to see Kenny Brooks in on the action in a video posted to social media on Thursday. To me, it seems like players are getting to know each other while working hard for the upcoming season. Chemistry is key, and we saw a glimpse of that at an outside-of-practice hangout the other day. This season is shaping up to be one we’ve dreamed of for years. Hopefully, this early hard work will pay off during the regular season.





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KSP hosts second annual Classics, Customs and Cruisers Car Show

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KSP hosts second annual Classics, Customs and Cruisers Car Show


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Lovers of classic cars flocked to the Kentucky Horse Park Saturday morning to show off their rides and get to know some state troopers. It was the second annual Kentucky State Police Classic, Customs and Cruisers Car Show. The money raised is supporting KSP’s Kentucky Trooper Outreach Program.

“Which is a somewhat newer nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that we put together to benefit a lot of the community engagement and outreach programs, events, just things that we participate in year-round all across the state of Kentucky to benefit mostly children, but also families,” said KSP Sergeant Matt Sudduth.

Sergeant Sudduth says their work includes hosting community events or initiatives like the Trooper Teddy Project or their Safety Town Exhibit at The Kentucky State Fair.

“Yes, we’ve got a job to do, but also, we’re a part of the Commonwealth, and we’re here not just to serve, but we’re part of that. We’re part of the state of Kentucky, too,” said Sergeant Sudduth.

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Dozens of people brought their cars to the show, each one with a different story.

“It’s a 1978 Pace car, the first year that Corvette was ever used for a Pace car,” said Herman Feldman. “This is a 1967 Oldsmobile 442. This was my dating car in high school,” said Ronnie Ray.

For retired KSP Trooper Mark Cool, his car of choice takes him back to his days in uniform.

“I worked out of the Richmond post, and I drove one of the KSP Mustangs as part of my duties as a state trooper. So I had a place in my heart for these old cars,” said Cool.

Cool says KSP bought ten of the Mustangs back in 1985. Unlike your typical patrol vehicle, they were only used for speed enforcement. Because there are so few of them, he had to have one when they hit auction. He’s since fully restored it.

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“It’s got all the equipment that it would have had the day it was in service, got radar, VASCAR, radios, blue lights, and the sirens,” said Cool.

To support the Kentucky Trooper Outreach Program, click here.



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