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NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during first round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament, in Caledon, Ont., on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju used to swing a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome — now he's a big deal on the PGA Tour

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 9:24 PM CDT

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Sudarshan Yellamaraju has gone from the little kid swinging a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome to a big deal on the PGA Tour.

In the process, he’s become an inspiration to supporters young and old thanks to a unique personal journey to the highest level of his sport, while giving golf fans around here their first true local product to cheer for since Selkirk’s Glen Hnatiuk was a regular more than a quarter-century ago.

“I feel like I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I maybe don’t realize the impact,” the 24-year-old told the Free Press in a telephone interview.

“But I’ve got a lot of messages from people and kids and it kind of brought a different perspective of what I do. The idea that you could be inspiring others, it gives a different perspective for sure. It’s very cool.”

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‘It’s been a lot of fun for me’: Jets’ Vilardi honoured by team nomination for humanitarian award

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

‘It’s been a lot of fun for me’: Jets’ Vilardi honoured by team nomination for humanitarian award

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 4:03 PM CDT

Gabe Vilardi learned plenty of valuable lessons as a child, ones that continue to guide him to this day.

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Yesterday at 4:03 PM CDT

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES

Gabe Vilardi is a frequent contributor to the Project 11 program and regularly volunteers to speak with students about mental health.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Gabe Vilardi is a frequent contributor to the Project 11 program and regularly volunteers to speak with students about mental health.

Jets’ season on the brink

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Jets’ season on the brink

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:43 PM CDT

The margin for error has seismically shifted from slim to none.

By virtue of a 7-1 shellacking at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Jets playoff hopes are officially on life support and they’re now perilously close to next-year country.

Coupled with the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon, the Jets now face a five-point deficit in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with just three games remaining in the regular season.

That essentially ensures the Jets must run the table, while also receiving plenty of help on the out of town scoreboard.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:43 PM CDT

JOHN WOODS / THE CANDIAN PRESS

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period in Winnipeg on Saturday.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANDIAN PRESS Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period in Winnipeg on Saturday.

Blue Jays place pitcher Bieber on 60-day injured list, acquire Sosa from White Sox

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays place pitcher Bieber on 60-day injured list, acquire Sosa from White Sox

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 1:26 PM CDT

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have placed right-handed pitcher Shane Bieber on the 60-day injured list.

The move announced Monday means Bieber must stay inactive 60 days from his initial injured list placement. Toronto put him on the 15-day IL on March 22 with elbow inflammation, making him unavailable until at least May 21.

Toronto acquired Bieber from Cleveland at last year's trade deadline. The 2020 American League Cy Young winner went 4-2 with a 3.57 earned-run average in seven appearances with Toronto after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Bieber went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five post-season appearances as Toronto advanced to Game 7 of the World Series. He then exercised his US$16-million player option in the off-season rather than explore free agency.

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Updated: 1:26 PM CDT

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber throws at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Friday Feb. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber throws at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Friday Feb. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Astros lose another starter, Cody Bolton leaves Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Mariners with back injury

Andrew Destin, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Astros lose another starter, Cody Bolton leaves Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Mariners with back injury

Andrew Destin, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 6:54 PM CDT

SEATTLE (AP) — Houston Astros starter Cody Bolton left Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the second inning because of mid-back tightness.

During his first major league start last Monday, Bolton was hit on the back by a 102.5 mph line drive, but still threw 4 1/3 innings in a 9-7 loss.

Bolton (0-1) walked his first three batters in the second inning Sunday, then was joined on the mound by Astros manager Joe Espada and an athletic trainer.

“It was that area where he got hit with a line drive," Espada said. “It just got tied up on him.”

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Yesterday at 6:54 PM CDT

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cody Bolton leaves the game against the Seattle Marinersdue to injury with a trainer during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Cody Bolton leaves the game against the Seattle Marinersdue to injury with a trainer during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Justin Rose rues his miscues through Amen Corner and another lost chance at winning the Masters

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Justin Rose rues his miscues through Amen Corner and another lost chance at winning the Masters

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:52 PM CDT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Perhaps the only solace Justin Rose can take from another Sunday heartbreak at the Masters is that he didn’t finish second again.

He finished in a four-way tie for third.

The popular 45-year-old Englishman, who lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy last year, ended up two shots behind him on Sunday. For a brief moment, it was Rose with a two-shot lead in the final round at Augusta National, until a series of mistakes through Amen Corner and a couple of birdies by the defending champ through the same stretch of holes dealt Rose another dose of disappointment.

Two-time champion Scottie Scheffler made a late charge to finish second at 11 under, and Rose was another shot back, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley and Cameron Young, who played in the final group with McIlroy but never got anything going.

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Yesterday at 6:52 PM CDT

Justin Rose, of England, reacts after missing a putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Justin Rose, of England, reacts after missing a putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Natalie Sago becomes 3rd woman ever picked to referee NBA playoff games

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Natalie Sago becomes 3rd woman ever picked to referee NBA playoff games

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read 1:01 PM CDT

NBA referee Natalie Sago thought a bad call was about to take place. A bad phone call, that is.

She was wrong.

The NBA on Monday announced the list of 36 officials selected to work this season's play-in tournament and first round of the playoffs. Sago is on the list, making her the third woman in league history — after Violet Palmer and Ashley Moyer-Gleich — to be picked for postseason work.

Sago got the word on Saturday from Albert Sanders, the NBA executive who runs referee operations. She was arriving at the airport in Salt Lake City when the call came in.

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1:01 PM CDT

Referee Natalie Sago reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans, April 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Referee Natalie Sago reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans, April 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Sports Editor's Picks

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Canadian men’s rugby squad returns to the ‘Peg for first time in 33 years

Supplied The Canadian men’s rugby team battles against the U.S. men’s squad during a match on Aug. 22, 2025. The team will play an international match in Winnipeg on July 18, 2026, for the first time in more than three decades.

Mike McIntyre:

Accolades pour in for Scott Oake ahead of impending sendoff

Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake will welcome Winnipeg’s Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks in his final After Hours segment on Saturday. JEFF MCINTOSH / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Taylor Allen:

Lawes talks pause, and possible retirement, from curling

Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Kaitlyn Lawes delivers a rock for Team Manitoba during the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts finals in February. The Winnipeg skip has decided to step away from curling and focus on her family.

Mike McIntyre:

Winkler-product records first career major league hit, walk-off RBI single

Erin Hooley / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winkler’s Tristan Peters (29) celebrates his game-winning walk-off RBI single with his Chicago White Sox teammates Friday over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Jerrad Peters:

All signs pointing to bloated boondoggle of a World Cup

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Canada’s Tani Oluwaseyi leaps over Tunisia’s Omar Rekik during the teams’ 0-0 draw on Tuesday. The way all three World Cup co-hosts — Canada, the United States and Mexico — have played recently has raised the concern that the second knockout stage may be as far as the co-hosts can reasonably advance.

Ken Wiebe:

Jets won’t go down without a fight

David Zalubowski / The Associated Press Winnipeg Jets left wing Cole Koepke (45) drives past Colorado Avalanche defenceman Brent Burns, right, to score in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. Increased secondary scoring by Koepke and others is part of the reason the Jets are still in the playoff race.

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Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras comes up big against his former team in St. Louis

David Solomon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras comes up big against his former team in St. Louis

David Solomon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 7:21 PM CDT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Boston Red Sox were looking for a spark when they acquired first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in a December trade.

Contreras delivered as advertised against his former team again on Sunday when he matched his career high of four hits and belted a two-run homer in the first inning of Boston’s 9-3 win over St. Louis.

The three-time All-Star finished with three RBIs — he also knocked in three runs Saturday night in a 7-1 victory over the Cardinals.

“There’s a reason we got him, right?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We needed a right-handed bat, and we got more than that. We got a guy that is playing great defense at first base. He controls the strike zone. He’s becoming a leader in the clubhouse. It’s fun to have him around.”

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Yesterday at 7:21 PM CDT

Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

Lee Hull returns to Blue Bombers as their receivers coach

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Lee Hull returns to Blue Bombers as their receivers coach

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 9:09 AM CDT

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hired Lee Hull as their receivers coach Monday.

Hull was a receiver with Winnipeg from 1990-92 and had a TD grab in the club's 50-11 win over Edmonton in the 1990 Grey Cup game. 

He rejoins the CFL club with a coaching resume that includes serving as head coach at Morgan State (2014-15) and Delaware State (2023-24), and either as an offensive co-ordinator, receivers and quarterback coach at Wagner College (2019) and Howard University (2020-22).

He was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's coach of the year in 2014 while at Morgan State.

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9:09 AM CDT

The new Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1980s-style logo is unveiled at a press conference at Canada Inn Stadium in Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. The CFL club is changing its helmet logo back to a simple 'W'. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The new Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1980s-style logo is unveiled at a press conference at Canada Inn Stadium in Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. The CFL club is changing its helmet logo back to a simple 'W'. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Who’s got Hart? AP picks the NHL MVP and other top awards as the playoffs arrive

Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Who’s got Hart? AP picks the NHL MVP and other top awards as the playoffs arrive

Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read 1:39 PM CDT

For a third consecutive year, there is no clear choice for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, and again the debate over the importance of “valuable” comes into play.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is on track to win the scoring race for the most points and the Art Ross Trophy, while Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon has the inside track for the league lead in goals. Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov is more than 40 points clear of his next-closest teammate and could be a Hart finalist for a second consecutive year.

AP Hockey Writers John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno give their predictions on who should take home all the major awards:

Hart Trophy, MVP

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1:39 PM CDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov poses with, from left, the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy after winning the honors at the NHL Awards, onJune 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov poses with, from left, the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy after winning the honors at the NHL Awards, onJune 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

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