Good Morning, Stumpers!

And we are off to the weekend at Augusta. This could potentially setup to be one of the great finales in recent Masters memory, so many storylines to follow. We’ll cover a bunch of them today. On top of that, we look back at the invention of the catcher’s mask, some college hoops transfers, and some sad news out of the Quarterback department. Happy Saturday!

Today’s Rundown

What’s in today’s edition?

• ⛳️ We head to the weekend at Augusta + Rory’s Surge

• 🏀 South Carolina loses playmaker

• 🎸 Beatles song. Easy.

• ⚾️ The beginning of the catcher’s mask

On This Day

On This Day…

😷 Catchers Mask Put In Play

Think about playing the catchers position in baseball and NOT having a mask to protect you… that is insanity. How many teeth were knocked out? How many guys were knock out cold? Dang, baseball in it’s infancy was DANGEROUS!

On this in 1877, Harvard’s Jim Tyng was the first baseball player to ever wear a catcher’s mask! Fred Thayer, a Harvard undergrad, converted a fencer’s mask for Tyng to use. It’s that Harvard ingenuity!

Today’s Trivia

🧠 Test your sports knowledge…

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: B. False! In 2008 and 2019, the golfer who led after the first round of The Masters went on to WIN the whole dang thing.

Before We Dive In…

👀 Yesterday’s Must See’s

• ⛳️ Where does this rank in all-time leaderboards?

• 🔋 Playoff Jimmy LOADING!

• 🏀 OKC Duo combines for 65…Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins!

🔍️ Stump Spotlight

Breakthrough on the Course

⛳️ ROR-ing Back

Look, I’m not gonna color code this, I want Rory to win this tournament. So keep that in mind as you read this.

When Rory stumbled through the last couples holes on day one of The Masters, we all thought the same thing: “Here we go, again”. After last years memorable collapse in the last round, I couldn’t help but think that. Coming into this years tournament, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing how this is Rory’s tournament to lose. When he went into the clubhouse at even par after 18 holes, many questioned how loud they were touting Rory.

What I love so much about Rory is that he just keeps playing golf. No matter how he played the day before, how poor a performance was, or even how good it was, he just keeps pushing forward. And push is exactly what he did yesterday.

Rory birdied 2, 10, 11, and then eagled 13, and then ended the day with one more birdie on the 15th hole. 15 was the hole that was his undoing on Thursday. He ended the day with a 6-under 66 and now sits in a tie for third in the clubhouse heading into the weekend. He started slow and steady, but quieted all the doubters with a magical 5-under on the second nine.

Even when his birdie putts couldn’t fall on the first nine, he kept playing golf, like he always does. His round not only showed you the importance of championship golf experience. You’re never out of it. Rory lucked out with having an early second round tee time, as a majority of the afternoon golfers had a lot of trouble with the wind and didn’t quite score as high.

Patience and luck won’t really be enough for Rory and his quest to the finally put on the Green Jacket, but he’s put himself into prime position to challenge the rest of the field heading into moving day. It’s going to take grit, heart, and strength. Three things that Rory has certainly proved time and time and again that he’s full of.

The Hot Stove

⛳️ Day 2 of The Masters

This isn’t the first time that Justin Rose has finished atop of the leaderboards after a day at The Masters. In fact, this is the 10th time he’s done so, but never won. Can he hold on heading into the weekend with an all-star cast behind him.

Heading into day two, Justin Rose had built himself a comfortable lead and was ready to set the tone early as he had an early tee time. Rose was up and down, ending the day just one under par, finishing with a one stroke lead at -8. Behind him, however, is where it get’s interesting. In solo second is Bryson DeChambeau, who looks as poised as ever to bring home another major championship. Rory McIlroy, who we featured in our main story, had a remarkable turnaround and is tied for third with Corey Conners. The rest of the top 20 is filled with massive names. Shane Lowry, Tyrell Hatton, and Scottie Scheffler all sit in a tie in third at -5. Victor Hovland, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, and Brian Harman are all within 6 shots of the lead. WOOF! This one is going to be WILD. Cinema at Augusta.

😲 Raiders’ Carr May be Out for Season

I can’t believe this is the first I have been hearing of Derek Carr and his absurd shoulder injury. Apparently, it’s bad enough that puts his status for the whole 2025 season in jeopardy.

Carr has not played a game since he broke several bones in his non-throwing hand in a Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants. Carr dealt with a shoulder injury in 2023, when he sprained his AC joint at the beginning of the season, although he did not miss any games. It may be time for the Saints to think about moving on from Carr, as his restructured contract only ties him with the franchise through 2025. The Saints hold the ninth pick in this years draft, and other than Carr, the QBs on the roster are Jacob Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Ben DiNucci. Could Shedeur be the answer at 9 if he falls to New Orleans?

🏀 South Carolina Loses Fulwiley to Portal

MiLaysia Fulwiley, a key piece to South Carolina’s last two Final Four women’s basketball teams, announced her intention to enter the transfer portal yesterday. The No. 13th ranked recruit in the 2023 draft, Fulwiley stayed in her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, to stary her college career. She was a spark plug off of the bench this year and managed to win the SEC Sixth Player of the Year this past season. She averaged 11.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in her South Carolina career. In a larger role, she will surely fill up the stat sheet even more. I can’t imagine a world where she doesn’t find a home where she can be a starter and come into her own.

⬇️ Quick Links

• 📈 WNBA draft ticket prices soaring

• 🤕 Grizzlies’ Wells likely to miss rest of year after hard fall

• 🏈 Drew Lock returns to Seahawks for second stint

What To Watch

🏀 OFF Day in the NBA

⚾️ Major League Baseball

• FS1: Giants @ Yankees (3:05 PM)

• More To Watch: Tigers @ Twins (2:10 PM), Phillies @ Cardinals (2:!5 PM), Blue Jays @ O’s (4:05 PM), Red Sox @ White Sox (4:10 PM), Angels @ Astros (7:10 PM), Cubs @ Dodgers (9:10 PM), Rangers @ Mariners (9:40 PM), full schedule

🏒 NHL Action

• ABC: Capitals @ Blue Jackets (12:30 PM), Rangers @ Hurricanes (3:00 PM)

• NHL Network: Jets @ Blackhawks (7:00 PM)

• ESPN+: Avs @ Kings (4:00 PM), Sabres @ Panthers (6:00 PM), Canadiens @ Maple Leafs (7:00 PM)

⚽️ International Soccer

• Premier League: Man City vs Crystal Palace (7:30 AM on USA), Forest vs Everton (10:00 AM on USA), Arsenal vs Brentford (12:30 PM on USA)

• LALIGA: Real Sociedad vs Mallorca (8:00 AM), Leganes vs Barcelona (3:00 PM)

• Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund (12:30 PM)

• MLS: A PACKED 12-game slate

⛳️ Day THREE of The Masters live from Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia! Here’s a link to the leaderboard as it develops…

The Moment You’ve Been Waiting For

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