Golf

Apenas cinco meses después de colgar los palos de golf, Michelle Wie West le cuenta a TMZ Sports que hay una mínima posibilidad de que se retire en el futuro.

"Nunca digas nunca", dijo esta semana en el aeropuerto de Los Ángeles.

Sin embargo, Wie West, que le puso punto y final a su carrera en julio, tras el US Women's Open de este año, cree que es casi seguro que haya terminado para siempre.

En cuanto a su retiro, Wie West dijo que el golf sigue formando parte de su rutina semanal, pero que no es ni de lejos lo que solía ser cuando era un fenómeno de grandes campeonatos.

"Definitivamente no practico, eso es seguro", dijo con una sonrisa. "Sólo juego".

Wie West dice que también ha estado haciendo un poco de jardinería... y siendo madre de su hija.

Si pensabas que ahora que su tiempo en los greens profesionales ha terminado, la vida de Michelle se ha vuelto relajada... ella dijo que no es el caso, diciéndo: "Soy madre, ¡no me relajo!".

Just five months into hanging up her golf spikes, Michelle Wie West is admitting to TMZ Sports there's at least a modicum of a chance she unretires at some point in the future.

"Never say never," she said out at LAX this week.

Then again, Wie West -- who called it a career in July following this year's U.S. Women's Open -- said she believes she's almost certainly done for good.

As for what she's been up to in retirement ... Wie West said golf is still part of her weekly routine -- it's just nowhere near what it used to be when she was a phenom hunting for major championships.

"I definitely don't practice, that's for sure," she said with a smile. "I just play."

Wie West says she's also been doing a little gardening ... and being a mom to her daughter.

And, if you thought any relaxation was involved now that her time on pro greens is over ... she said that's simply not the case, hilariously telling us, "I'm a mom -- I don't relax!"

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya's breaking down Francis Ngannou's odds of beating Tyson Fury in the boxing ring Saturday night ... putting his chance squarely at "ZERO," flat out telling us it ain't happening!

TMZ Sports was chatting with ODLH -- as he was promoting boxing star Ryan Garcia's upcoming return to the ring -- when we asked him about today's fight in Saudi Arabia ... pitting The Predator, MMA's most feared striker, vs. The Gypsy King, the best heavyweight boxer in the world.

"I think I have a better chance at beating Tiger Woods in golf," Oscar told us ... not mincing a single word.

We followed up ... no chance at all?!

"Zero," De La Hoya responded.

"I'll tell you one thing about Tyson Fury and Ngannou. It's gonna be entertaining, while it lasts I believe. Tyson Fury, you have to realize, he went in there against [Deontay] Wilder. He goes in there vs. Wladimir Klitschko, so he's a fighter all his life inside the boxing ring."

Despite clearly seeing no way the former UFC champ can win, Oscar still gave him credit for accepting the bout.

"Ngannou, I commend him for even trying this. I take my hat off to him for even trying this. He's gonna make a s***load of money. I just think when Tyson Fury gets his number and his rhythm, he's gonna play with him and probably knock him out."

FYI, Francis last fought in January 2022 -- a UFC contest -- against heavyweight contender, Ciryl Gane. Ngannou won by unanimous decision. Tyson last fought and beat Derek Chisora by TKO in December 2022.

Fury is regarded as not just the best heavyweight boxer of his era, but of of the greatest ever, period. Meanwhile, Ngannou, a striker who puts fear in his opponents, has never boxed professionally.

Bottom line, there might not be anyone out there who knows boxing better than De La Hoya ... but as they say, there's a reason they play the game, or in this case, have the fight.

Brooks Koepka's wife, Jena Sims, just reached a major milestone in her modeling career -- she's going to be in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue!!

The golf star's partner shared the big news on Friday ... revealing after a long audition process, she was one of seven finalists to get picked out of the 2023 open casting call to be a "rookie" in next year's magazine.

Sims was understandably emotional about the announcement ... saying, "I just cried in public."

"I think I'm still in shock. Like, I cannot believe it."

Joining Sims in the issue are Penny Lane, Brittney Nicole, Berkleigh Wright, Achieng Agutu, Nina Cash and Sharina Gutierrez. It's the first time the publication chose to welcome all seven finalists to the S.I. Swim family.

As we previously reported, Sims joined the search back in 2022 ... saying it was her lifelong dream to be featured in the annual swimsuit edition.

Now, she's joining fellow sports WAGs like Camille Kostek, Christen Harper, Olivia Culpo and Kate Bock who have also landed the honor of posing in the mag in the past.

It's been an amazing year for the Koepkas -- they welcomed their first child together, Crew, back in July.

The golf world is mourning the death of Ivor Robson -- better known as the "Voice of The Open" -- including Tiger Woods who thanked the icon for making each Open Championship "so memorable."

The Open released a statement on Tuesday announcing the death of Robson at 83.

Tiger paid tribute once the sad news broke, writing, "Thank you Ivor for making each one of my Open starts so memorable," Woods said on X.

Other golfers honored Robson, as well. Thomas Bjorn called him "a real legend in our world who will be deeply missed" and Paul McGinley described him as "the most famous & popular first tee starter golfer has ever had."

McGinley added ... "His legacy will be that iconic and quintessential British voice of his."

Robson began his career at The Open in 1975 ... and was one of the most admired announcers in sports until his retirement in 2015 after 41 Championships.

In fact, Robson, who established the famous "On the tee" introduction, was known to not even take bathroom breaks during the Championships.

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews), expressed sadness over Robson's passing.

"He was popular and well respected among all golfers who played in The Open and I know that they will share in our sadness at this news," Slumbers said.

"On behalf of all of us at The R&A, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife of 61 years, Lesley, and the Robson family."

In 2015, when Ivor called his last Open Championship, he said ... "It has been a wonderful career. It's been a great honor," Robson said at his final announcement. The way I have been treated by players, officials, sponsors ... thank you all very much."

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are taking their on-field chemistry to a completely new sport -- the Kansas City Chiefs superstars are teaming up as investors in the Alpine Formula One team ... part of a massive, $210 million investment!!

Otro Capital announced a star-studded list of sports superstars that are joining its partnership with Alpine on Tuesday ... which includes the pair of two-time Super Bowl winners, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Anthony Joshua and soccer players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata.

Otro said it hopes the addition of popular athletes from all different parts of the sports world will bring new fans to Alpine ... and help in areas like media, tickets and merch.

Mahomes spoke about the business move ... saying, "I've always had a passion for all sports. The opportunity to lead an investor group with Travis in Alpine F1 alongside Otro Capital was one I couldn’t pass up."

"It's an exciting time for the sport and this is an opportunity to bring our shared values to the world stage. I’m looking forward to being a part of its growth."

Kelce added ... "I am thrilled to lead an investor group and join forces with Patrick and the team at Otro Capital on this exciting venture with Alpine F1. Our shared passion for excellence and innovation forms the cornerstone of this partnership."

"It’s about being able to contribute to a sport that demands precision, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of success. I am looking forward to this new chapter and can’t wait to see what we achieve together."

Alpine -- which also has financial backing from actors Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan and Rob McElhenney through Maximum Effort Investments -- is currently sixth in the constructor standings thanks to drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly ... so it'll be interesting to see if the Chiefs duo's success can rub off on them.

¡El campo de juego Marco Simone Golf & Country Club en Italia, anfitrión del prestigioso torneo Ryder Cup celebrado la semana pasada, estalló en llamas el jueves cuando una estructura en el campo se incendió!

El incendio, que se originó en una suite de tres plantas, se produjo menos de una semana después de que cientos de miles de aficionados abarrotaran el campo para presenciar el famoso torneo de golf de Roma, dominado por los europeos.

El humo negro se podía ver a kilómetros de distancia y varios bomberos se apresuraron a llegar al lugar para combatir las llamas.

"Un incendio fue reportado en una de las estructuras temporales del ala derecha de la primera calle en el Marco Simone Golf & Country Club a primera hora de esta tarde", escribió la Ryder Cup Europa en un comunicado.

"Los bomberos locales fueron llamados al lugar de los hechos a las 17:07 hora local y rápidamente controlaron el incendio".

A pesar de lo mal que pintaban las cosas, nadie resultó herido.

Las autoridades también dicen que no hubo daños en el campo de golf, excepto por el edificio temporal que fue envuelto en llamas.

Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy, the host of last week's prestigious Ryder Cup golf tourney, erupted in flames on Thursday as a structure on the course caught fire!

The fire, which started in a three-story hospitality suite, happened less than a week after hundreds of thousands of fans packed the course to watch the famed golf tourney in Rome, dominated by the Europeans.

Billowing black smoke could be seen miles away ...  as multiple firefighters rushed to the scene and began battling the blaze.

“A fire was reported in one of the temporary hospitality structures to the right of the first fairway at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club earlier this afternoon,” Ryder Cup Europe wrote in a statement.

“Local fire crews were called to the scene at 5:07 PM local time and quickly brought the blaze under control."

Despite how bad things looked, no one was injured, most importantly.

Authorities also say there was no damage to the golf course ... outside of the temporary building that was engulfed in flames.

It's a tough time to be a Blazers fan, but NBA champ Byron Scott thinks Portland should be HAPPY after Damian Lillard got traded to the Bucks ... 'cause he's finally got a chance to win!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the former Laker out at KiKi Shepard's "Celebrity Golf Classic" this week ... and chopped it up about the blockbuster deal that sent Dame Time over to Giannis Antetokounmpo's squad.

Of course, it's a huge bummer for Portland fans to see their franchise player leave after 11 seasons ... but instead of taking the torches to their No. 0 jerseys, Byron believes it would be best to look at the silver lining by rooting for Lillard to get a championship with his new team.

"I think, obviously, Damian joining the Bucks -- a team that won a championship a couple years ago, and they got one of the best players, if not the best player in the league, in the Greek Freak, as I call him ... and adding Damian, who is motivated, who wants to win a championship, who has given his heart and soul to the Portland area -- I think they should be not so much upset that he's left, but they should be happy for him to get a chance to win."

Scott points out a major loss for the Bucks in the trade -- elite perimeter defender Jrue Holiday -- but he's predicting Milwaukee still makes it out of the East in his absence.

Es un momento difícil para ser un fan de los Blazers, pero el campeón de la NBA Byron Scott, piensa que Portland debe estar feliz luego de que Damian Lillard fue traspasado a los Bucks ¡porque por fin tendrá la oportunidad de ganar!

TMZ Sports se encontró con el ex Laker en el "Celebrity Golf Classic" de KiKi Shepard esta semana y habló sobre el acuerdo que le envió a Dame Time a la escuadra de Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Por supuesto que es un fastidio para los aficionados de Portland ver a su jugador franquicia irse después de 11 temporadas, pero en lugar de quemar sus camisetas No. 0, Byron cree que sería mejor mirar el lado positivo alentando a Lillard a ganar un campeonato con su nuevo equipo.

"Creo que Damian, uniéndose a los Bucks, un equipo que ganó un campeonato hace un par de años, que tiene uno de los mejores jugadores si no el mejor jugador de la liga en el Greek Freak (como yo le llamo) y añadiendo a Damian, que está motivado, que quiere ganar un campeonato, que le ha dado su corazón y alma a Portland... Creo que no deberían estar tan molestos porque se haya ido, sino que deberían estar felices de que tenga la oportunidad de ganar".

Scott señala una pérdida importante para los Bucks en el trato —el defensor de perímetro de élite, Jrue Holiday— pero predice que Milwaukee todavía logrará salir del Este en su ausencia.

The viral golfer who ripped his shirt off and threatened to fight others is no longer welcome at the scene of his bizarre outburst ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The golfer has reportedly been identified as John Reeb, a middle-aged man from Ohio with an extensive criminal history.

We spoke with Heather Ryan, the general manager of Crooked Creek Golf Course in Ottawa Lake, MI, who tells us Reeb is permanently banned from the course due to the behavior he showed in the viral video.

We're told the people Reeb threatened reported him to Crooked Creek staff shortly after the incident ... Reeb was then asked to leave the course and told he couldn't ever come back.

Heather tells us Reeb has also been banned from Cherrywood Golf Club ... another course they own in Ottawa Lake.

A golfer absolutely lost it during an altercation on the course this week ... ripping off his shirt and challenging at least one man to a fight on a tee box -- and the unreal scene was all caught on video.

It's unclear where and when exactly the dispute happened ... but it appeared it went down after a man in a green polo and khaki shorts nabbed someone else's ball.

You can hear in the video, several golfers seem to approach the guy and ask for the ball back ... but the man is clearly in no mood to return it.

"You'll leave after I don't give you a goddamn thing," the guy says.

He and the others trade words for a few more minutes ... until the man blows a gasket -- and challenges someone to a fight.

"I'll plant you, bitch boy," he says. "Now get the f*** off the cart!"

He then rips off his shirt, flexes ... and screams, "You see that! That's a dude that's been to heaven, bitch. And you want to test God? You f***ing come get it, s*** stack!"

After calling the man mentally ill, the group of golfers disperses ... and the video ends.

Un golfista perdió los estribos durante un altercado en el campo de golf esta semana. Se arrancó la camiseta y retó a un hombre a pelear. La bizarra escena quedó grabada en vídeo.

No está claro dónde y cuándo ocurrió exactamente la disputa, pero parece que fue después de que un hombre vestido con un polo verde y pantalones cortos de color caqui le robara la bola a otro.

Se puede escuchar en el video que varios golfistas parecen acercarse al hombre y pedir la pelota de vuelta, pero el hombre está claramente de mal humor para devolverlo.

"Te irás después de que no te de ninguna maldita cosa", dice el tipo.

Él y los otros intercambian palabras durante unos minutos hasta que el hombre explota y reta a alguien a una pelea.

"Te la voy a dar hijo de puta", dice. "¡Ahora bájate del carro!"

A continuación se arranca la camisa, flexiona y grita: "¡¿Ves esto?! Este es un tipo creado en el cielo perra. ¿Quieres conocer a Dios? ¡Ven a buscarlo!"

Tras llamar enfermo al hombre, el grupo de golfistas se dispersa y el vídeo termina.

Golf superstar Phil Mickelson is addressing the rumors that have followed him for years ... coming clean about his gambling problem and opening up on his successful treatment.

Lefty dropped a statement on the matter Monday on social media ... saying while millions of fans will be enjoying their fantasy football season and betting in moderation, he will not -- and it's because his hobby turned into an obsession.

"I wont be betting this year because I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn’t any fun at all," Mickelson said ... adding his financial losses due to his gambling weren't devastating, but the impact it had on his personal life was crushing.

"'You’re here but you’re not with us,' is something I’ve been told often throughout my addiction," Mickelson said. "It affected those I care about in ways I wasn’t aware or could fully understand. It’s like a hurricane is going on outside and I’m isolated in a shelter oblivious to what was happening. When I came out there was so much damage to clean up that I just wanted to go back inside and not deal with it."

Mickelson said some people close to him throughout his addiction were enablers disguised as friends ... but there was one person in his corner who helped him through his darkest times -- his wife, Amy.

"I couldn’t have gotten through this without her," Mickelson added. "I’m so grateful for her strength in helping us get through the many challenges I’ve created for us. Because of her love, support, and commitment, I’m back on track to being the person I want to be."

Phil also revealed he sought professional help for years and is still recovering ... but is moving in the right direction every day without gambling.

American actor Christopher McDonald was in his early 40s when he rose to prominence with his antagonistic movie roles like playing Shooter McGavin -- the cocky, talented and arrogant pro golfer -- in "Happy Gilmore" starring Adam Sandler ... back in the 90s.

McDonald's other notable characters include 'Daryl' -- the controlling husband -- in "Thelma and Louise", 'Ward Cleaver' -- the white-collar workman in New York City -- in "Ward Cleaver" and 'Wilson Croft' -- who steals Flubber from professor Philip Brainard (played by Robin Williams) in "Flubber."

To this day, Christopher McDonald still hops into his 'Shooter McGavin' character when he's out on the green!

El actor estadounidense Christopher McDonald tenía poco más de 40 años cuando saltó a la fama con sus papeles antagónicos en el cine, como el de Scooter McGavin -el engreído, talentoso y arrogante golfista profesional- en "Happy Gilmore", protagonizada por Adam Sandler allá por los 90s.

Otros personajes notables de McDonald son 'Daryl' -el marido controlador en "Thelma y Louise"- 'Ward Cleaver', el obrero de cuello blanco de Nueva York en "Ward Cleaver" y 'Wilson Croft', que le roba a Flubber al profesor Philip Brainard (interpretado por Robin Williams) en "Flubber".

A día de hoy, Christopher McDonald sigue metiéndose en su personaje de 'Scooter McGavin' cuando sale al campo.