ORLANDO, Florida – By the time Bryson DeChambeau teed off on the fourth hole Thursday at Bay Hill, some 50 yards away a throng of anxious spectators had already lined up around the sixth tee box.

With the wind still blowing steadily from the southwest, DeChambeau, who has recently hinted at driving the green at the par-5 sixth, thought to himself, Man, it may be possible if the wind kind of flips a little bit. Deep down, though, he knew it wouldn’t – at least not Thursday – and two holes later when he stepped on the tee at the 555-yard hole, he was already prepared to disappoint.

“There was a high expectation level of me trying to go for the green there and it was a little pressure that I wasn't expecting,” said DeChambeau, who handled the situation with levity, first reaching for an iron and inciting a chorus of groans. He eventually grabbed driver, hammered a 309-yard drive on a much more conservative line and converted an easy two-putt birdie.

“I hit a great drive, it would have flown [the water] had I hit it to the left, but you don't know, if I barely mis-hit it, it won't get over and then I'm re-teeing again, which is not fun.”

If Ernie Els is known as “The Big Easy,” then consider DeChambeau “The Big Teasy.”

For months DeChambeau has appeared steadfast in his commitment to drive the sixth green, which would require about a 350-yard carry over water. He said in January that he would “100 percent” go for it if the conditions were right. They weren’t during Thursday’s opening round, but DeChambeau still managed to shoot 5-under 67 while hitting 11 of 14 fairways and finish the morning wave one shot off of Rory McIlroy’s lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“He drove the ball extremely well today,” said playing competitor Jordan Spieth. “I think he only had one drive that kind of went offline on [No.] 4, and he still made birdie. So, at that speed, that's impressive.

DeChambeau also currently leads the field in strokes gained: off-the-tee, a product, he says, of a new driver he recently put in play that features a heavier head and provides better accuracy. Of course, in this case, more accuracy means less distance, which means less probability that DeChambeau drives No. 6 this week.

“If it was one of my normal drivers at 2,000 spin, I totally could have done it today,” DeChambeau said, “but if it's more downwind I'll be able to do it tomorrow, hopefully, or sometime during the weekend.”

DeChambeau explained that he would need at least a 10-mph wind to finally pull the trigger, and that breeze would need to be coming from the northeast. He’ll get both starting Friday, though it appears he may still aim 30 yards left of the putting surface, where the carry is about 10 yards less, and give himself just a pitch shot into the hole.

With DeChambeau, who knows what he will decide to do? The only certainty is that all eyes will continue to be on the sixth hole whenever he steps to the tee.

“He said if he gets any downwind he's going to give it a go," Spieth said. "Hopefully I can just tee off first and get out of the way, get off to a good start, get off first, put one out there in the fairway and then just watch.

"You’re lying if you're not saying you're interested and going to be entertained.”

Tottenham Hotspur rode their luck in the quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Fulham on Thursday thanks to an own-goal by Tosin Adarabioyo and the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Victory dragged Tottenham back into the race for a Champions League spot with Jose Mourinho's eighth-placed side on 42 points from 26 matches, four points behind Everton in fourth, ahead of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace.

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"In this period we need three points. Fulham are a very good team," Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld told BT Sport. "We should be better on the ball but without it we did everything we could to keep a clean sheet."

Seconds after an unmarked Harry Kane failed to head his team in front, Tottenham took the lead from a quick counter-attack in the 19th minute when Son Heung-min's cross was met by Dele Alli before going over the line following a touch by Adarabioyo.

Fulham began the second half brightly and thought they had equalised through Josh Maja but his effort was controversially chalked off by VAR after Davinson Sanchez kicked the ball onto Mario Lemina's hand as Tottenham looked to clear.

"For the players and maybe referees it's a difficult one because some are high intensity and not on purpose but they get given," Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said.

"As players I think what we wish is some kind of consistency in the reviews with the handball situations but I haven't seen it so I can't say if it was on or not."

Midfielder Alli looked sharp in his first league start since the opening day of the season and combined well with Son late in the first half, but the forward was unable to head in the England international's cross from a tight angle.

Fulham pushed on after going behind as Antonee Robinson weaved his way into Spurs' penalty area in the dying seconds of the first half and found Maja who set up Lemina, but the Gabon midfielder's shot flew over the crossbar.

Fulham stayed 18th in the table and deep in relegation trouble, three points behind Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Quinton de Kock remains central to South African cricket's plans although there is no indication of when he will be ready to play again.

De Kock is on a mental health break and did not take part in the recent CSA domestic T20 Challenge. He is unlikely to feature in the first-class competition this month, and has been relieved of the national captaincy in all formats.

"It was felt that the burden of leadership was just too much for a person or a player like Quinton," said Graeme Smith, Cricket South Africa's director of cricket. "We wanted to free him up.

"His commitment to South African cricket is there. We want to get the best out of him as a player and as a team man. He'll certainly form part of our leadership group, but we felt this was the right way to move for South African cricket and back a consistent way forward."

De Kock was appointed South Africa's white-ball captain last February, when Faf du Plessis was removed from the role, and asked to stand-in as temporary Test captain for this summer. He took them to a home series win over Sri Lanka, though his own form suffered, and then defeat in Pakistan, where his unease with the struggles of living in a biosecure environment and leading the team became apparent.

On the Pakistan tour, when it was announced that Australia had postponed their three-Test series in South Africa that was due to be played in March, national coach Mark Boucher said de Kock would be released from the burden of Test captaincy as soon as the international season ended. He did not discuss de Kock's ODI or T20 leadership, but selection convener Victor Mpitsang and Smith have decided it is best for de Kock to also be freed from those roles.

"He hasn't been fired," Mpitsang said. "The agreement with Quinton when I got into the job was that we needed a Test captain, and it was just an interim job until after the Australian series, which never happened. Quinton probably feels that he needs to focus on his game. I wouldn't want to see that as a burden because, at the time we made that decision. We've come to an agreement to say that he doesn't need the captaincy any more."

Asked what de Kock's feelings around being stripped of the captaincy across the board was, Smith acknowledged it would have been tough on him.

"There's always a bit of emotion around these things," Smith said. "Quinton understands that there's a burden that comes with leadership. It hasn't been an easy time for him either. He's a proud guy. I'm sure there's a bit of emotions and feelings around this.

"We have engaged with Quinton on this and the burden of leadership has been mentioned on a number of occasions. It required us to make a tough and important decision for South African cricket."

Smith and Mpitsang have decided to split the captaincy between Dean Elgar (Tests) and Temba Bavuma (ODIs and T20s) because "we feel it's a very difficult job to captain in all three formats," Smith said. "The stresses on one man to do that, the workloads, the job in itself… we felt it was too much to give to one person."

With no Tests scheduled for South Africa until the end of the year, Elgar will have to wait to begin his work, but Bavuma's starts next month. South Africa host Pakistan for three ODIs and four T20s between April 2 and 16, and could be without several key players, who will be required at the IPL.

"That series is very important, especially the one-day series. It's still the qualifying period for the 50-over World Cup. A few of the T20 players might have to leave earlier, but we'll still have some players in the T20 side," Mpitsang said.

It is not known whether de Kock will be back to playing at that time, be it for South Africa or the IPL and it is likely his availability will depend on medical advice. De Kock is contracted to the Mumbai Indians.

For the first time in league history, the NBA will have a referee crew composed entirely of graduates of historically Black colleges and universities officiating Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta.

With the NBA supporting and celebrating HBCUs as a theme of this weekend's All-Star Game, Tom Washington will be the crew chief for the game joined by officials Courtney Kirkland and Tony Brown.

"It means opportunity," Kirkland, who is in his 21st season as an NBA official and is a 1999 graduate of Southern University, told ESPN. "To show and prove that we can do this craft. For many years before, it was believed that we couldn't do this craft.

"You can go back to the years when Bill Russell was playing, it was believed that African Americans couldn't play the game of basketball, it was believed that African Americans couldn't referee the game of basketball. To be able to fast forward to the year 2021, it is understood that we can do this craft."

Kirkland was part of last year's All-Star Game crew, which featured all Black officials. This weekend, the crew of three HBCU graduates will represent their alma maters and HBCU heritage; they also live in Atlanta.

For Washington, officiating this All-Star Game with his fellow HBCU grads will equal the proudest moment of his 30 seasons; he previously was part of the first three-person African American Finals crew for Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals.

"This is just as, if not more, a proud moment," said Washington, who graduated from Norfolk State University in 1978. "Actually recognizing the heritage of the HBCUs and me being a part of it and hopefully representing it in a most honorable way along the way."

"The fact that the NBA is taking time to honor and put HBCUs out in front is actually humbling," Washington added. "It is an honor and privilege."

During this weekend's All-Star events, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association will commit over $3 million in funds and resources to highlight the importance of HBCUs and raise awareness and support around the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

All-Star Weekend will also feature performances and content by HBCU musical groups, distinguished alumni and students.

"First off, just being a Black man, in this current state and time," said Brown, who is in his 19th season and is a 1989 graduate of Clark Atlanta University. "It is very empowering to go out and continue to stay positive, encourage other people to get educated and do what's right and just try to reach one, teach one, and be a good human being."

"Because we work so hard at our game, our job is not to be seen. So when we do our job properly, they won't even know that there are three Black men out there officiating. They will know that the game went on without a hitch. But if they [tune in] before the game, that may be the only time they say, 'Oh, OK, [the crew is made up of HBCU grads].' And hopefully people from my alma mater will say he is one of us. That is the sense of pride that we will share together."

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Instead of Media Day, IndyCar kicked off its Content Days Thursday morning in Indianapolis.

The two-day affair includes a variety of photo shoots, television interviews and a Zoom Room for the print media to interview competitors ahead of the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series season.

Like most of these affairs, the questions ranged from the serious, to the inane; from Will Power’s rebound season to Conor Daly’s mullet haircut.

The event is held at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis and concludes on Friday with the annual IndyCar drivers meeting when IndyCar President Jay Frye, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles and possibly series owner Roger Penske will speak to the drivers and other key team personnel about the upcoming season.

Power is one of the more high-profile drivers in the series. The Team Penske star is the 2014 NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner. He also has 62 poles, five short of Mario Andretti’s record of 67.

He won two races in 2020 but finished fifth in points. For any other driver, that’s a successful season, but not for Power.

This year is both the final year of his contract and what he believes will be his rebound season.

“It actually does feel a little bit that way, considering we’ve started the last four seasons in a really bad way,” Power said. “It certainly isn’t speed that’s the issue. It’s our bad days are just too bad. Our bad days are DNFs and multiple laps down. They’re not like a 10th place or a seventh place, and that’s our problem. The speed is certainly not. Winning is certainly not. Consistently, whether it’s mistakes on pit lane or mistakes by me, you just – we have to have a solid beginning to the season – I mean, you’ve just got to have a solid season, and that obviously includes the beginning.

“I said it last year, it’s a huge focus, and that did not happen for us. This year, again, if we can just have a solid first few races, I think it gives the team confidence and myself confidence.”

While Power looks to rebound and contend for a championship, former teammate Helio Castroneves feels rejuvenated. He will compete in six races for Meyer Shank Racing this year after more than 20 years driving for Team Penske.

“It’s huge,” the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner said. “Obviously, when you spend 20-plus years in one place (Team Penske), it’s a habit. They know what you like. I know what they like. So, you kind of like follow that format.

“Now there is more things to explore in all aspects. Again, Penske always been open mind, but we have obviously their process, but now with a different process and understanding this open mind with Shank Racing, it is really cool to understand. It going to take a little time. As I say, it’s a process. But I’m excited. I’m ready for this challenge.

“I believe hopefully all these years that I been with a great organization, we can make it also this together. I won’t be the guy doing it, but together we can also make this incredible organization to the top as well.”

But in today’s world, where the unusual gets most of the attention, the leader in that category was Daly, who gave mullet wearers all over the world reason to feel proud.

“I feel pretty good about it honestly,” Daly said of his new haircut. “After seeing it come out of the fryer this morning, whatever they do to hair, it was pretty cool. We’re just going to let it live a little bit. I’m not sure when, what the timeline looks like. I feel pretty strong about it now. Josef Newgarden even said to me this morning, ‘wow, you look good.’

“As a man who had to grow up going up against Josef Newgarden, not only in the driving category but also the looks category, because that guy is just a finely tuned specimen, he just looks like a Greek God, it’s impressive to hear that from him, so I feel pretty good about it.”

So, how did Newgarden feel about Daly’s Greek God comment?

“I thought he looked amazing,” Newgarden said of Daly. “It’s not for me, but it fits him. At this point he’s built a brand, okay? I think he should own it, which he clearly is. You show up with that type of a haircut, he is on brand for Conor Daly. I thought he looked good. That was professionally done. I don’t know if he told you his backstory. He went to a hairdresser this morning and got that done up. The commitment level, admirable. I admire the level of commitment he has for his brand. Good for him. Good for him. He is a very committed person.

“I think Conor probably gets a bad rap at times. From a personal note, I’ve known Conor since he was a young kid. We grew up together racing karts. He’s a super talented individual. He does work very hard and tries to get the most out of himself and out of situations that he’s in.

“Don’t be deceived by this brand that he’s got going on around him. I do think he’s a hard-working individual. Yeah, I support what he’s doing. I think it looks great.

“Pretty sure he went through like three cans of hairspray. He literally got up this morning to have someone do that before he showed up.”

More interviews will take place through Friday as part of the NTT IndyCar Series Content Day, which means another range of answers from the serious to the comical.

The importance of becoming South African cricket's first black African captain is not lost on Temba Bavuma, but that isn't all he wants to be known for.

"I understand the deeply rooted significance of it all," he said. "In being the first black African (cricket) captain in our country - you don't have to look too far in our history and our political situation in our country - so I can completely understand why people in our country would celebrate it for what it is.

"I'd be lying if I said it does not make me think of where everything started for me, and how I've been able to go through a journey and get to this point. But combined with being known as the first black African captain, I'd also like to be known as someone who led the team very well and created a legacy for himself."

Bavuma was unveiled as South Africa's white-ball captain and red-ball vice-captain on Thursday, two days after he was asked if he wanted to do the job by the powers that be and four days after he led his domestic franchise, the Lions, to a second T20 title in three years.

"I was offered the position as captain and it came to me as a surprise, but it was a no-brainer," he said. "I don't think a lot of people would turn down this type of honour and privilege.

"Obviously there's anxiety about not knowing what to expect but a lot of comfort comes from the fact that I know my players and the people who have entrusted me with the decision, I draw a lot of confidence from that because those are people of stature."

People like South Africa's most successful captain, Graeme Smith, who is now Cricket South Africa's director of cricket and was instrumental to the process of appointing Bavuma, alongside selection convener Victor Mpitsang.

"We've always known about Temba's leadership qualities." Smith said. We wanted to provide a space of support and get behind Temba and get him playing well again.

"We've noticed his leadership credentials, the way he's been operating in the squad and experience he brings. The nature of his tactical captaincy at the Lions, and the feedback we've received from within the squad -- from the managers and coaches -- has been really positive around Temba."

The same cannot be said with as much confidence about his form. Mention Bavuma, and not far behind comes the trivia that his only Test century came five years ago, or that after 44 Tests his average is 32.26. There are reasons - South Africa's batting overall has been so poor that he often runs out of partners, for example - and concerns, such as that he bats too slowly, for why Bavuma's Test numbers aren't better.

But his new appointment should not be about that. It should also not be about the fact that he has only played six ODIs and eight T20s. Smith had only played eight Tests and 19 ODIs when he was made captain, so there's precedent for appointing someone without reams of international experience.

What it should be about is the form Bavuma has demonstrated when has captained.He finished the most recent CSA T20 Challenge as the second-leading run-scorer and in the 2018-19 season, when he captained the Lions to the same title, he was the third-highest run-scorer, his hundred in the final securing the trophy.

"I've enjoyed the responsibility of leading the side. I've done it now for several years, particularly with the Lions. It's a balancing act between your own ambitions as a player and the interests of the team," Bavuma said. "And winning, that's the other thing. Everything I do, the decisions I make, are geared towards what is best for the team. I've been able to get results that have been favourable. Being captain is something I enjoy. It comes with pressures, like anything in sport and the world."

Bavuma's nous for taking teams on trophy runs - he also earned a first-class title with the Lions - is ultimately what led to his appointment, with World Cups in mind. There are three white-ball World Cups in the next two years - the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 and the fifty-over World Cup in 2023 - and Bavuma will captain South Africa in all of them. That means there's a lot of expectation on Bavuma, but he is used to it.

He has been since he became the country's first black African Test batsman and first black African centurion. Then, Bavuma spoke about the seriousness with which he took his position as a role-model to young kids. He has since started a foundation to address some of the socio-economic concerns in the country and provide opportunities for children to play sport, knowing the value it has in nation-building, especially in a country as fractured as South Africa.

In a place where advantage and its opposite determine who has access to sports facilities and coaching, there is still a widening gulf between the haves and have-nots and in South Africa that divide is often along racial lines. That is what makes the demographics of its national teams so important and so topical.

South Africa's other major sports, specifically rugby (which has a similar history of white dominance) has already had a black captain who produced a fairytale result. In 2019, Siya Kolisi led the Springboks to a third World Cup trophy, under the mantra Stronger Together. That same year, the national cricket team became the first to crash out of the ODI World Cup and returned their worst showing at the event.

In the aftermath of that tournament, South African cricket was plunged into a level of chaos from which they have yet to recover. At administrative level, they remain without a permanent board, or CEO and the restructure of the domestic game is ongoing. On the playing field, they won just one of five trophies available to them last summer and one of three this season and have finished seventh on the World Test Championship points table.

In conversations about favourites for the next white-ball World Cups, South Africa are not considered among the front-runners. It would be unfair to expect Bavuma to change that, but he has been tasked with "shifting South African cricket into a positive space," as Smith put it, and he seems up for the task.

"It's a scary, daunting prospect," Bavuma said. "But there's a lot of excitement as well. Whether I'm ready or not, time will tell. I'm super willing and committed to the whole process. I'd like to lead the guys to something special."

The Detroit Lions have told cornerback Desmond Trufant that he will be released at the start of the league year, which begins on March 17, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Trufant signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Lions before the 2020 season to be the team's replacement for Darius Slay, who was traded to Philadelphia. Detroit still owes Trufant $3.5 million in guaranteed money for 2021.

It never quite worked out for Trufant, who was the Week 1 starter, as he spent most of the season with hamstring issues that limited him to 6 games, 1 interception and 4 passes defended. He also ended up in a playing-time battle with rookie first-round pick Jeff Okudah and second-year pro Amani Oruwariye for outside spots. Trufant's role as a No. 1 corner was in question for the 2021 season.

With both Oruwariye and Okudah under contract for the foreseeable future and being much younger, that made the 30-year-old Trufant expendable. He was scheduled to make $9.5 million in cash in 2021 and carry a salary-cap hit of $12.5 million.

By releasing him, the Lions saved $3 million in cap space -- and if he's designated as a post-June 1 cut, they'll save $6.5 million. He will carry a $6 million cap charge for the Lions this year, according to Roster Management System.

Releasing Trufant helps the Lions clear cap space after the trade of Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff.

On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions needed competition at cornerback.

"We need competition in that area. We need depth in areas," Campbell said. "We need competition. I mean, just because for example, we've got two young cornerbacks, man, you still want competition. You want guys that they're having to compete [with] that are able to push them, or they're pushing for that starting position. I mean, it's just healthy. It makes you better."

Trufant, a former first-round pick for Atlanta in 2013, made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and has started all 103 games he's played in during his career, making 14 interceptions with 83 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles and 7 fumble recoveries. He played all but last season with the Falcons.

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger is officially back with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2021 NFL season, the team announced Thursday.

The Steelers did not disclose the terms, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Roethlisberger willingly reduced his pay to $14 million from $19 million in this final year of his contract and spread the cash payment through 2022. The move lowers the team's salary-cap hit by more than $15 million.

"It is my greatest honor to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and give my all for this organization," Roethlisberger said in a statement issued by the team. "I am grateful to be at this stage of my career and more than happy to adjust my contract in a way that best helps the team address other players who are so vital to our success. I love this game and love to compete, and I believe in this team and my ability to deliver when called upon. It all starts with great preparation and I am ready to go."

Roethlisberger was previously under contract for the 2021 season, although the team made it clear he could not return with the $41.2 million cap hit.

"We are excited we were able to come to an agreement with Ben Roethlisberger on a new contract for him to return to the Steelers in 2021," general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. "We know that Ben can still play at a high level and do special things for this team. Our goal remains the same -- to put together a roster that will compete for another championship. We are happy that Ben will be one of our leaders to help us accomplish that goal."

Roethlisberger, who turned 39 earlier this week, threw 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, his first after major elbow surgery following a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2019 season.

He attempted 608 passes in the 2020 season -- tied for the second-highest total of his career -- and maintained throughout the season that his elbow felt fine and wasn't affecting his on-field performance, though dismal halves against the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and even the Cleveland Browns suggested otherwise at times.

Still, Roethlisberger showed an ability to stretch the field late in the season, upping his average air yards per attempt from 6 yards to 8 yards for the final three games.

After the season, Roethlisberger said he hoped the Steelers would want him back if he opted to return rather than retiring. Team president Art Rooney II and Colbert made it clear in offseason interviews and statements that Roethlisberger could not come back on his current contract but that they wanted the quarterback to return for one more season -- as long as they could free up money to field a competitive team around the quarterback.

With Roethlisberger's deal, the Steelers are close to cap-compliant for the start of the new league year on March 17.

Although Roethlisberger's restructured contract reduces his cap hit, the team still faces a difficult task in re-signing any of its 19 unrestricted free agents, including receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and linebacker Bud Dupree.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green did not travel to Phoenix and will not play in Thursday's first half finale against the Suns, according to a league source.

Curry, who is scheduled to participate in Sunday's All-Star Game, is resting Thursday on the second night of a back-to-back. This will be the second game of the season he will miss. Green will miss Thursday's game as he continues to recover from a sprained left ankle suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Athletic earlier reported news of Curry and Green's absence.

Warriors swingman Kelly Oubre, Jr. did travel to Phoenix but his status for Thursday's game remains unclear because of a sprained left wrist that caused him to miss Wednesday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Oubre suffered the injury during Tuesday's practice in Los Angeles.