The kickoff of Philadelphia being the epicenter of all things that pertain to major sporting events begins in about 48 hours, when Aronimink becomes the latest host of the PGA Championship.
It’s the first major men’s championship in our area since the U.S. Open came to Ardmore’s Merion Golf Club in 2013. To get you ready for it all, and to give you a taste of the Delaware Valley’s impact on the game, you should check out our Very Philly Guide to the PGA Tournament.
When you’re done that, play a virtual round on Aronimink’s 18-hole course courtesy of the Inquirer interactive team, and read all about a native son competing this weekend in Delco’s Braden Shattuck, who had quite the path to being a part of the field to capture one of golf’s greatest prizes.
Also, the swag for sale at Aronimink is a golf lover’s dream, and we aren’t just talking about commemorative umbrellas and polos.
We’re looking at a nice day throughout the region today. Expect sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-60s. Nice. 👍🏽
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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When the Sixers extended Joel Embiid’s time in Philly with a three-year contract worth an estimated $192 million, they saw the value of a player who, when healthy, is one of the best in the NBA.
However, the team didn’t anticipate multiple injuries, surgeries, and setbacks that made his appearance a dice roll on any given night, proof of how sparingly he played during the team’s playoff run that came to a close on Sunday night.
Now, the question of what happens next is a fair one explored in the latest piece from Marcus Hayes, who suggests not much will change for this team while Embiid remains the driving force on the Sixers’ roster.
What we’re...
❤️ Sharing: This remarkable story of how two rival baseball programs became a band of brothers in order to save a man’s life.
👃🏻 Reading: Former Phillies outfielder Aaron Rowand as he recalls one of the most painful moments of his life when he collided with the outfield wall.
👏🏽 Applauding: Flyers prospect Jack Berglund, who just collected an invitation to join Team Sweden at the World Championships later this month.
🤔 Wondering: How strong must the bandwidth be to put the Eagles game on in space?
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said about three weeks ago that it typically takes 40 games to get a true sense of what kind of team you have.
A lot has changed for his club since then. At the time, the Phillies were on a losing streak that extended to 10 straight. And Rob Thomson was still the manager.
Following the Phillies’ 6-0 win over the Rockies on Sunday, they reached 41 games with a 19-22 record, now with Don Mattingly at the helm. Mattingly has a 10-3 record since taking over as interim manager on April 28.
So, to borrow Dombrowski’s words, where are the Phillies “shaping up” now under Mattingly?
Next: The Phillies open a series in Boston at 6:45 tonight (NBCSP).
Thanksgiving will hold a bit of extra special meaning across the region this year, as yesterday Fox announced that the Eagles will face the Dallas Cowboys in a 4:30 p.m., Turkey Day showdown.
It will also mark the first Eagles game on Thanksgiving since 2015 and their first against Dallas since 2014. The Eagles played the day after Thanksgiving last year, in a 24-15 holiday letdown to the Chicago Bears.
The announcement added to a short list of marquee games we know of like the Los Angeles Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers in Australia (Sept. 10, 8:35 p.m., Netflix), and the Cowboys facing the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil, where the Eagles started 2024, if you recall.
Inquirer writer Rob Tornoe has more on Eagles-Cowboys in Philly, and even more NFL action to take a look at.
“The Sixers are blessed that the answer is now clear. It may not be actionable. But it is beyond dispute. They can no longer afford to straddle the border between an obvious future and a past that never bore fruit.” — The latest from Murphy looks at what he believes a second-round fallout for the Sixers gave the franchise, perspective-wise, on where it stands and what needs to change if there’s truly a goal to go even further.
🧠 Trivia time
What is the name of the architect who designed the 18-hole course at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square?
A) Sam Snead
B) Donald Ross
C) Mike Plume
D) Gary Player
Stat that matters
20⅓. The number of scoreless innings on the mound for Phillies hurler Cristopher Sánchez.
What you’re saying about the Phillies
We asked: What’s your enduring concern for the otherwise red-hot Phillies?
So far, the Phillies like Mattingly, but there are concerns. Marsh has been amazing, and hopefully Bohm will snap out of it, but other than the absence of a right-handed power-hitting outfielder, I think the starting pitching concerns me more than anything else. I think Painter is really struggling and might not be ready. Nola is no longer dependable, and Wheeler does not look to be 100% yet, and apparently, no one in the system is ready to come up. — Everett S.
If forced to identify one player who’s most concerning for me, it’s gotta be Andrew Painter. We can’t just say, “Oh, he’s still young, and he’s only a fifth starter, and he’s coming off Tommy John surgery.” No. This guy was so special that we nixed several potential trades that could have significantly improved our team. Looking at his performance last year in Lehigh Valley and so far this season, there just isn’t much of a glimmer that suggests special. Honorable mention goes to another pitcher whose inconsistency last season was overlooked as the Phils rewarded him with 5 years and $135 million, and now he is even more inconsistent. Jesús Luzardo dazzles every third start or so, looking like a Cy Young candidate. Then he spends the intervening starts trying to strike everyone out but can’t find the strike zone, throwing 100 pitches by the 5th inning. The result so far is a 6 ERA. — Greg B.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Alex Coffey, Garland Fordice, Scott Lauber, Marcus Hayes, Sam Morris, Owen Hewitt, Hira Qureshi, Rob Tornoe, David Murphy, and Gabriela Carroll.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
That’s my time. My colleague Bella will be here to get your day started tomorrow. Until then, enjoy today. — Kerith