Those who love golf know that Tiger Woods would always wear his trademark red and black gear on the final days of tournaments. But, since Woods couldn’t participate at the WGC-Workday Championship in Bradenton, Florida, others followed Tiger’s tradition.

Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jason Day, along with other golfers, were seen wearing red and black in honor of Woods. Woods was not participating because he was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles earlier this week.

Many of the players, along with the PGA Tour’s official Twitter account, posted about the golfers that were showing their support for Tiger by wearing his signature outfit.

Woods noticed the gesture and conveyed his appreciation to the other golfers on Twitter in his first personal statement since his accident.

“It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the tv and saw all the red shirts. To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time,” Woods said.

On Sunday, at the Gainbridge LBPA event led by Annika Sorenstam in Orlando, FL, many female golfers also sported Woods’ black pants and red shirt combination to show their support, per the LPGA official Twitter account.

In the accident, Woods suffered multiple fractures to his leg and a shattered ankle. However, the 45-year old is still in “good spirits.”

Billy Horschel sank a 60-foot birdie putt at Hole No. 14 at TPC Four Seasons in Irving, Texas on Sunday to tie the lead and eventually defeat Jason Day for his first AT&T Byron Nelson title.

Billy Horchel Sinks 60-foot hole-in-one to tie Jason Day for lead at Byron Nelson

The 30-year-old Florida native had missed the cut in his last four starts, and won the tournament after Australia’s Day hit his 4-foot par putt left of the 18th hole.

Horschel had advanced after finishing with a 5-under 65 on Friday and birdying his last three holes on Saturday to earn a playoff spot alongside Day and South Korean-born American James Hahn. 

With one of the most amazing shots of his career, Horschel tied the lead at -11 before hitting the par-5, 573-yard 16th hole in two. He finished at 1-under 69 on Sunday after equalizing with Day (68) at 12-under 268 for the playoff.

“When I hit it I knew it was on a perfect line and I thought I got it to the hole. … I just wanted to finish it off there,” Horschel said, before expressing surprise at Day’s final miss. “I didn’t expect him to miss it. I was expecting to go back to the tee and play the hole again.”

The victory marked Horschel’s fourth PGA Tour title and first since 2014, when he won the Tour Championship and BMW Championship. In his only two past Nelsons (2011 and 2012), he missed the cut at 13 over through 36 holes both years. Sunday’s Nelson was the 35th and final such tournament to be played in Irving. Next year, the competition will be held at Trinity Forest Golf Club south of downtown Dallas.

Hahn, who led in the third round, finished one stroke behind after shooting 71. He narrowly missed an eagle at Hole No. 18 that would have landed him in the playoff with Horschel and Day.

The 35-year-old Seoul native, who was seeking a PGA Tour triumph in his third straight season, held the 54-hole lead but bogeys on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 ruined his chances. Hahn also delivered a great effort on the 72nd hole:

Day, who won the first of his ten PGA titles at Irving in 2010, only led once on Sunday. when he pitched in from 78 feet from the rough by the green-side bunker at the 477-yard 15th.

However, at Hole No. 16 — one of the easiest at TPC Four Seasons — the Australian World No. 4’s wayward tee shot struck a spectator. Day walked over to the woman to ensure she was unhurt, then hit an approach that settled on the green, although a 9-foot birdie chance sat right beside the hole.

“I only had one top 10 up to this point. To be able to play the way I did today, I played some good solid golf,” Day said. “It’s a little disappointing, but it’s not the first tournament I’m going to lose. … I feel good about my game.”

Earlier this year, Horschel crashed out of a five-golfer playoff at the RSM Classic after he barely missed a birdie putt on the first extra hole, then surprisingly missed a two-foot putt.

“I know that feeling,” Horschel said of Day’s shocking playoff miss. “I told Jason it’s not the way I wanted to win. I know it’s not the way he wants me to win.”

Day’s birdie on the 15th hole Sunday was his last of the day but gave him a one-stroke lead.

Dustin Johnson, the World No. 1, finished at 69 to tie for 13th at 6 under.

Sergio Garcia, the defending champion, recorded birdies on six of his final eight holes Saturday to get within four strokes of the lead. The Spaniard’s closing 74 put him 4 under and tied for 20th.

Horschel earned $1.35 million with Sunday’s victory.

IRVING, TX – MAY 21: Billy Horschel plays his shot from the 11th tee during the Final Round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas on May 21, 2017 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Dustin Johnson was forced to withdraw from the 2017 Masters at Augusta on Thursday just before his afternoon tee time in the opening round.

Masters 2017 Round 2 Recap, Highlights, And Leaderboard

Johnson and his team had seemed sure on Wednesday he would be fine to play on Thursday after the 32-year-old American and World No. 1 golfer injured his lower back and elbows while falling down a short flight of stairs.

Charley Hoffman (-3) maintains the lead in the second round, though he’s falling off slightly. The 40-year-old American is, however, +3 for the day largely due to three straight bogeys early in the round.

Hoffman finished Round 1 with a 4-shot lead, the biggest advantage after just one round at Augusta in 62 years. Hoffman is playing in his fourth Masters, and has had much success in the tournament. He’s finished in the top 30 in all three previous events, including in 2015 when he opened the tournament with a 67 that had him tied for second behind eventual champion Jordan Spieth. Hoffman ended up tied for ninth that year.

Phil Mickelson (-1) started off the 2017 Masters strong, and is tied for fourth. Meanwhile, other top players like Spieth (+3), Jason Day (+2), Rickie Fowler (+1) and Rory McIlroy (E) all had varying performances on Thursday. McIlroy is the favorite to win this year’s Masters. Englishman Danny Willett won last year’s Masters after Spieth fell apart in the final round. Spieth recently said Johnson was the man to beat at Augusta this year.

Here is the recap of the first round on Thursday:

 Spaniard Sergio Garcia, meanwhile, remains in contention after finishing with 69 and recording six birdies and three bogies. Here is the 70th-ranked 37-year-old faired on Friday:

Here’s a great putt from Rickie Fowler on Friday:

And here are the highlights from early-afternoon play on Friday:

Here is an interesting statistic common to all Masters winners from the last 11 years, and how it relates to this year’s opening round at Augusta:

And finally, here is the full leaderboard for second-round play:

Jason Day is the world’s No. 3-ranked golfer, and is also a former No. 1, although he demonstrates how great a person he is off the course as well.

Jason Day Withdraws From WGC Dell-Match Play To Be With Ailing Mother

The Australian pulled out of Wednesday’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas after only six holes to be with his mother, who is suffering from lung cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday.

Day, 29, revealed that his mother, Dening, was diagnosed at the beginning of the year and was told she had 12 months to live. The golfer brought her from Australia to Columbus, Ohio, where he has been living for several years. She is reportedly being treated at the The James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State.

“It’s really hard to even comprehend being on the golf course right now, because of what she’s gone through,” a tear-filled Day told reporters in Austin, after conceding his match against Pat Perez.

“It’s been very, very emotional, as you can tell. I’ve already gone through it once with my dad, and I know how it feels. And it’s hard enough to see another one go through it.”

Day’s father, Alvin, died of stomach cancer when he was 11. The eventual PGA Championship winner and his sister were raised in poverty in rural Australia by their mother until he managed to get into a golf academy, where he learned to improve in the game.

Day said his mother’s “diagnosis was much better” now that she is in the U.S., and he was “glad brought her over here.” He added, “I just need some time away with her to make sure that everything goes well, because this has been very, very tough for me.

“So I’m going to do my best and try and be there the best I can for her, because she is the reason that I’m playing golf today.”

Day also shut down any rumors that he was leaving the tournament early due to his poor health, alluding to a brief back problem he experience at last year’s Match Play.

“Family first,” he said.

Day’s wife Ellie also posted a touching photo of their family on Instagram and posted the following caption thanking all of their friends and her husband’s fans for their messages and prayers for her mother-in-law’s health:

“My family. Thankful for all the prayers and support, guys. I knew it would come out when the time was right and although it sucks to WD, this is the right thing to do. Thanks for loving us and lifting us up. Now that it’s “out” , my dear husband and mama D could use all the extra prayers. Forgive me for not getting back to all your kind texts and calls and posts. It really does mean a lot to us. #believingforthebest#mamaDisTOUGH #godisgoodallthetime#foriknowtheplansihaveforyou #teamDay #screwcancer ?@mandyleighphotography”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR90M_tgdQZ/

Caption:DORAL, FL – MARCH 10: Golfer Jason Day hits on the tenth fairway at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at the Trump Doral Golf Resort & Spa on March 10, 2013 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Jason Day, the World number one from Australia, is thrilled for the return of Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour at this week’s Farms Insurance Open in San Diego.

Jason Day Excited For Tiger Woods’ Return To PGA Tour Play At Farmer Insurance Open

The 29-year-old Australian has been placed in a marquee group with Woods, a 14-time major champion, and world number three Dustin Johnson for the first two rounds of the 156-player tournament, which begins Thursday at Torrey Pines.

Day– the 2015 champion at this event– has not played with close friend Woods, 41, since the opening rounds of the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews, when Day missed the playoff by one shot to tie the fourth.

“Yeah I’m excited to play with Tiger. I get a first-class seat to watch him,” Day said. “I think everyone has been waiting a long time and it’s good for the game of golf to have him back.”

Nevertheless, Day insisted fans control their expectations for Woods’ first full-field event after 16 months on the sidelines recovering from back surgery.

“Don’t judge his results too quickly; let him play tournaments and get back into the swing of things,” Day added. “It may work out that way for him but it’s very very difficult to come back.”

Woods counts eight pro titles at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 US Open, and is just as excited to play alongside Day and fellow American Johnson. He played at the Hero World Challenge last month, although that isn’t a PGA Tour event.

Johnson’s three victories in 2016 included the US Open and a World Golf Championships event.

“(They are) the best in the world and they’re good friends of mine. I couldn’t have asked for a better pairing,” said Woods.

The former world number one praised the work of Day and his long-time caddie and coach Colin Swatton to maintain golf’s top ranking since March last year.

“That’s to his credit. He’s worked so hard with Colin and his crew,” said Woods. “He keeps wanting to improve. He should be commended for that.”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – DECEMBER 02: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his shot on the second tee during round two of the Hero World Challenge at Albany, The Bahamas on December 2, 2016 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The time has come to call it quits.

Less than five weeks ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, many are wondering if the event will ever actually take place.

Stories continue to swirl around the negativity surrounding the 2016 host site on social media platforms, print newspapers and digital entities alike.

Whether it is concerns over the possible contraction of the Zika virus, questions about the city’s ability to protect athletes and fans, or the lack of medical attention available to visitors, it is clear that Rio is ill-prepared to host the biggest sporting event on earth.

All these stories lead to one conclusion: attending the Games in Rio is a dangerous endeavor.

The best course of action: cancel the Olympics in Rio, before any other lives are put at risk.

Zika

On Tuesday, golf’s No. 1 player in the world, Australian Jason Day, added his name to a lengthy list of athletes who will not be participating in the Rio Games.

The sport now has eight players, including Day and the world’s fourth-ranked player, Rory McIlroy, whom have chosen to withdraw their names from competition on account of concerns regarding the spread of the Zika virus, a relative of Dengue Fever and the West Nile virus, that has reached pandemic proportions in 2016.

What is most telling about the decisions made by these golfers to exclude themselves from competition is the fact that the Rio Games were supposed to signal a return to prominence for the sport of golf on the world stage.

Golf has not been part of Olympic Competition in 112 years, but the fact remains, Day, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, Irishman Shane Lowery, Fiji native Vijay Singh and Aussies Adam Scott and Marc Leishman have all pulled out despite their chance to return golf to glory.

But golf is far from the only sport that has been affected by the Zika scare.

A SUCCINCT EXPLANATION OF THE ZIKA VIRUS

U.S. cyclist Tejay van Garderen, considered one of the world’s best in the sport, announced he will not be attending the games due to Zika concerns.

“Although the risks associated with the Zika virus can be minimal and precautions can be taken, my wife Jessica is pregnant, and I don’t want to risk bringing anything back that could potentially have an effect,” van Garderen said in a statement.

Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry offered a veiled Zika excuse when he announced that he would not be playing for Team USA in Rio due to “other factors.”

British long jumper Greg Rutherford has frozen some of his sperm in the event that he is stricken with the mosquito-borne illness and his girlfriend, Susie Verrill, wrote an op-ed for England’s Standard Issue Magazine explaining why she will not be attending the Games to cheer her partner on.

“The Zika news has caused no end of concern if we’re totally honest,” Verrill wrote in Standard Issue. “We’re not ones to worry unnecessarily, but after more than 100 medical experts stressed the Games should be moved to prevent the disease from spreading, this was a huge factor in us choosing to stay put.”

There is no known vaccine for Zika and what’s maybe most troubling is that the disease is often asymptonmatic.

So, not only would an athlete, or fan, be risking exposure, there’s a high probability they would not know when they had been exposed or contracted the disease and therefore would be vulnerable to spreading it further.

Health and Safety

Zika is not the only health scare athletes and visitors would have to contend with in Rio.

Signs have been strewn along overpasses at Rio de Janeiro International Airport that read, “Welcome, we have no hospitals.”

Images of protest have poured out of Brazil’s capital city in the wake of a gun battle that ensued at a hospital in Rio Sunday, when 20 gunmen stormed Hospital Souza Aguiar in order to free a drug kingpin.

Souza Aguiar is the same hospital that Brazilian officials suggested tourists make use of when visiting Rio to attend the Games.

After one patient and an off-duty officer were wounded in the attack, that ended up freeing the drug trafficker, policemen and other first responders staged a protest at the airport on Monday.

The first responders held a sign that read, “Welcome to Hell. Police and Firefighters don’t get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe.”

One officer, identifying himself only as Andre, told Agence France-Presse that the work conditions for first responders are beyond deplorable.

The simple, common items associated with day-to-day operations, or just human hygiene, are not available.

“At the stations we don’t have paper or ink for the printers, there’s no one to come in to clean,” Andre told AFP. “Some stations don’t have a water supply anymore so the toilets are not functioning. Members of the public bring toilet paper for us.”

If the city cannot muster the means to provide toilet paper to those protecting the public good, how can we expect them to keep athletes, fans and tourists safe?

The water is dangerous, the police can’t protect you and a mosquito bite could result in dire medical consequences.

Rio is better suited as the setting for the next Hunger Games than it would be a site for the globe’s oldest and largest sporting event.

The International Olympic Committee has an obligation to protect its athletes and patrons.

Cancel the Olympics in Rio now, before further calamity ensues.

The Oakmont Country Club golf course in Pensylvannia, venue of this year’s U.S. Open, is proving to be as difficult as Phil Mickelson said it would be just a few days ago.

U.S. Open Caddie Falls, Breaks Ankle During Practice Round AT OaKMONT

Amateur golfer Chris Crawford, who is playing in his first major tournament, watched his second string-caddie Bill Henaghan go down after injuring himself on the course on Tuesday during a practice round for the Open. As Australian Jason Day was lining up his shot on the 6th hole, Crawford’s caddie slid down a grass slope into a bunker right behind the PGA Championship winner, breaking his ankle in the process.

And yet, despite the great amount of pain he surely felt, Henaghan did not forget proper golf etiquette and suppressed his cries until Day, the World No. 1 and favorite to win the U.S. Open, finished his shot.

“I’ve snapped my ankle but go ahead Jason,” posted golf writer Benjamin Everill on his Twitter account, recounting the caddie’s words. “I’ll be okay!”

Day, however, stopped preparing his shot and decided to help the caddie instead of completing his round.

Pittsburgh Steelers team doctor Jim Bradley was walking with the group and evaluated the caddie.

“The guy just broke his ankle. It was pretty obvious what had happened,” Bradley said, according to Golf Channel.

As Crawford’s “Tuesday caddie” recovers, the young golfer must now quickly find a replacement before the tournament kicks off on Thursday. Hopefully, this incident won’t scare off too many other caddies.

Day, 28, also shared this photo on Twitter of Crawford and his caddie after the latter had finished being attended to:

OAKMONT, PA – JUNE 14: Christopher Crawfords’ caddie gets medical attention after injuring himself during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on June 14, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Australian professional golfer Jason Day won the World Golf Championships-Match Play in Austin on Sunday, his second title in the last seven days.

Jason Day wins World Golf Championships Match Play Final

Day, 28, has now won six of his last 13 tournaments, and all eyes will be on him as he heads to the Masters, which begin Thursday, April 7 in Augusta National in Georgia.

Day, the 2014 champion, claimed his second WGC-Match Play title after sweeping past South African Louis Oosthuizen 5 and 4 in the final after getting past a tense semi-final against world No.3 Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy 1-up in the morning.

“It will be fun to walk through the gates as No.1 in the world,” said Day after winning the WGC-Match Play.

Day is now the World No. 1 after his last victory.

“I can’t get complacent with how I’m playing right now…. I am looking forward to (the Masters),” said Day. “It’s one tournament that I’ve always wanted to win. It’s one tournament that I’ve always wanted to put the jacket on and go back every year. So the motivation and the want is there.”

The Australian also added that he’s mindful of his form in the last two trips down Augusta National’s Magnolia Lane.

After finishing in second and third place in his first three attempts there, his last two were even less fruitful, and led him to tie at 20th and 28th.

“The mindset is different. Knowing that I’ve been in the heat of the battle, especially more so recently and understanding what that feels like, because everyone knows when you’re standing there on Sunday at Augusta it’s quiet and you’re in your own little world.

“You have to be able to stay in your own world. You have to be able to focus on what you need to do to get the job done.

“I’m really going to enjoy it. I feel like I’m going to play well.”

Even more impressively, Day almost pulled out after the opening victory due to a bulging disc in his back.

“Four of my team tried to talk me out of it,” Day said, smiling. “I’m glad I didn’t listen.”

Caption: DORAL, FL – MARCH 10: Golfer Jason Day hits on the tenth fairway at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at the Trump Doral Golf Resort & Spa on March 10, 2013 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

On a night when he came within inches of a triple-double, LeBron James‘ on-court actions became secondary.

In the fourth quarter of a 104-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, James careened into the front row chasing a loose ball. The woman he landed on top of happened to be Ellie Day, the wife of PGA champion Jason Day. She would be attached to a backboard before being stretchered out of the arena; Day was taken to the hospital but was released on Friday morning.

While she was being tended to, James went over to check on her. “She squeezed my hand and said she was fine,” James said. “I think she was just a little weary. For me, obviously, her health is very important and hopefully she is doing well. The guys told me she’s doing great now. For me, just going for a loose ball, I tried to keep the possession going, I just hate that that was the end result.”

Cavs head coach David Blatt didn’t fully see the play, but was understandably concerned about the result. “Honestly, the only thing I saw was LeBron diving for the ball to save the ball,” he said. “I kind of got blocked and just saw a sea of bodies. We all hope that she’s ok. It’s always concerned me, the sideline seats. Always concerned me, because things like that, when you’re talking about players of this speed and physicality and effort level, it’s not a simple thing.” On the court, James finished the night with 33 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. He was supported by 14 points and 15 rebounds from center Tristan Thompson and 11 points from Kevin Love.  

Photo: LeBron James by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.