NTSB Report Father On Meth Drove Pickup Killing Golf Team ... Not 13-Year-Old Boy
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Six Univ. of Southwest student-athlete golfers were not killed by a 13-year-old boy driving a pickup truck -- as originally suspected -- it turns out the teen's dad, who had meth in his system, was behind the wheel during the horrific, fatal accident.
The crash occurred in West Texas in March around 8:17 PM ... and left six athletes -- age 18 to 22 -- and one 26-year-old male coach dead after a 2007 Dodge pickup truck veered across the center line and into the Ford van carrying the team, who just competed in a tournament. Two students survived, but were seriously injured.
Shortly after the accident, authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the 13-year-old, who did not have a license, was driving the pickup at the time of the head-on collision.
However, after a more thorough investigation, the NTSB is revising its story in a new preliminary report ... indicating the teenage boy's 38-year-old father was actually the driver, and when authorities tested his blood, they found methamphetamine.
They did not specify how much of the drug was in his system ... or whether it would've impacted his ability to operate a vehicle.
The NTSB say they used DNA to reach the new conclusion.
Both the 13-year-old and the father also died.
The NTSB also points out there's no evidence to suggest the crash was caused by a sudden flat tire, or any other catastrophic incident that could've caused the crash.
In the wake of the accident, Bryson DeChambeau and other star golfers, and ordinary people, donated money to the surviving student-athletes and the families of those who were tragically killed.
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Tiger Woods Slams LIV Golf Defectors ... 'I Just Don't Understand It'
Tiger Woods is teeing off on LIV Golf ... making it clear on Tuesday that he ain't a fan of the new org., or the golfers who have defected to it.
The 46-year-old railed against the new, Saudi-backed league for several minutes during a meeting with media members ahead of this week's The Open tourney ... explaining he just doesn't understand how guys have ditched the PGA Tour for it.
"I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position," Woods said of the LIV golfers.
Woods, who reportedly turned down a massive offer to play in LIV Golf earlier this year, explained he believes the Tour has given athletes the chance to "earn what we get" and establish a legacy -- something he clearly thinks is lacking in the new golf league.
🗣️ "I just don't see how that move is positive in the long term"
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 12, 2022 @SkySportsGolf
Tiger Woods has his say on the LIV golf series 👇 pic.twitter.com/sPyfUwMqwc
In fact, Woods questioned how anyone taking the guaranteed payday from the new org. could find a desire to try to get better going forward.
"What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice?" the golf legend said. "What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money upfront and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They’re playing blaring music and have all these atmospheres that are different."
Woods also said he agreed with The Open's decision to ban LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman from some of this week's most meaningful events.
"Greg has done some things that I don’t think is in the best interest of our game," Woods said, "and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport."
LIV Golf officially kicked off its first event last month in England. More than a dozen of the top players in the world -- including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau -- have elected to play in it.
The PGA Tour, meanwhile, has suspended all of the defectors indefinitely, saying in a statement in June that anyone who follows suit will face similar punishments.
It's unclear yet what the four major championship events will do with the LIV golfers going forward -- though Tiger said even the slightest possibility of a ban from those tourneys would have turned him off to the idea immediately.
"That is a possibility, that some players will never, ever get a chance to play in a major championship, never get a chance to experience this right here, walk down the fairways at Augusta National. That, to me, I just don't understand it."
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ROB RIGGLE Dating Pro Golfer Kasia Kay ... 'Holey Moley' Connection!!!
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Rob Riggle is dating as he goes through a nasty divorce with his estranged wife, and his new girlfriend isn't just a professional golfer ... she's a former contestant on his game show.
Rob is dating Kasia Kay ... they recently went Instagram official and are leaving "💗" emojis on their photos together, so it's pretty serious.
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Kasia's IG feed is littered with tons of pics of her and Rob at golf courses, Hollywood events and NFL games and they look super happy.
Rob and Kasia had a working relationship before getting romantic ... she appeared as a contestant on season 2 of ABC's "Holey Moley," which Rob co-hosts with Joe Tessitore.
TMZ broke the story ... Rob's wife, Tiffany, filed for divorce in October 2020 and listed May 2, 2020, as the date of separation.
It's worth noting, Kasia's "Holey Moley" episode aired in July 2020 -- and a source close to Rob is telling us there was no overlap with his ex-wife.
Kasia posted her first IG pic with Rob in July 2021, a group selfie with RR, "The Office" star Brian Baumgartner and retired MLB star Chase Utley. We're told the relationship's only recently gotten more serious.
Rob's divorce turned ugly shortly when, as we first reported, he accused his ex of spying on him via hidden camera, hacking him and taking $28,000 of his cash. He's now suing Tiffany, in addition to the divorce.
On the flip side for Rob ... the front 9 with Kasia's looking great!
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Dept. Of Justice Investigating PGA Tour ... Anticompetitive Practices??
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The Department of Justice is investigating whether the PGA Tour -- who punished players for signing with wealthy Saudi golf startup, LIV Golf -- engaged in anticompetitive practices, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Agents of players have been contacted by the antitrust division of the DOJ in recent months, and asked about the Tour's rules preventing players from playing in other golf events, and the punishment of players who signed with LIV, according to the report.
Of course, many top players have signed with the new, Saudi Arabia-backed organization ... Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and others have signed incredibly lucrative deals with LIV.
TMZ Sports contacted the PGA Tour which acknowledged the investigation, but didn't seem worried in the least.
"This was not unexpected. We went through this in 1994 and we are confident in a similar outcome," a spokesperson for the Tour told us.
FYI, PGA's referring to a Federal Trade Commission investigation in the mid-90s that looked into the Tour's rules barring players from participating in rival tournaments. The FTC dropped the investigation by 1995.
As for what could happen with this investigation ... the DOJ could pursue punishment of the PGA Tour. Or, players who signed with LIV, and/or the organization itself, could file an antitrust lawsuit against the Tour.
LIV Golf burst onto the scene last year. Former great Greg Norman is commissioner ... but the major benefit was LIV's endlessly deep pockets. The organization offered prize money and other avenues of income with which the PGA Tour seemingly could not compete.
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Steph Curry Hits Insane Golf Shot At Tourney ... 97-Yard Eagle!!!
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If you thought Steph Curry's range was limited to just shooting deep 3s, think again ... 'cause the newly-crowned Finals MVP just holed out a golf shot -- from 97 yards away!!
Curry nailed the incredible eagle on Friday afternoon at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe ... and even the announcers marveled at just how wild the stroke was.
WOW!@StephenCurry30 is used to hitting shots from downtown, but this one was from 97 yards out! @ACChampionship pic.twitter.com/bCpAajysrs
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 8, 2022 @GolfChannel
The Golden State Warriors star -- on the par-4, 13th hole at the event -- smashed his second shot just past the hole ... but because of all the spin he put on it, it rolled backward and straight into the cup.
Curry lost his mind celebrating the feat -- dapping up his dad and brother while going crazy on the course.
POV: Steph Curry was HYPE after draining this long shot at the @ACChampionship! 🗣
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 8, 2022 @NBCSports
📺: @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/4nmoGz2o4M
It's been a fun week for Curry while out at the event in Tahoe ... the NBA superstar also had an awesome moment with a fan on Thursday -- when he made the guy do 30 push-ups to land an autograph.
Yup, even weeks removed from an NBA title ... it's still really great to be Steph.
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Jon Rahm Unloads After Bad Shot ... 'Great F***ing Draw, You A**hole'
Jon Rahm is gonna have to wash his mouth out with soap -- the golf star let the expletives fly after a bad shot during the second round of the Scottish Open on Friday ... and it was all caught on a hot mic!!
"Great draw," Rahm shouted after his shot hit a wall. "Great f***ing draw, you a**hole."
Sheesh ... hopefully, the kiddos weren't tuning in to the broadcast!!
“Great f***ing draw you asshole" Jon Rahm is DEFINITELY one of us 😂 pic.twitter.com/MxLfBAoOoN
— CourseAmigos GP (@courseamigos) July 8, 2022 @courseamigos
The announcer had some fun with Rahm's outburst ... sarcastically saying, "I don't think he liked it."
The 27-year-old clearly ain't happy with his play today -- he's currently +2 and sitting tied for 20th.
Despite being a gentleman's sport, these NSFW moments happen all the time on the links ... from Tiger Woods to Tom Brady to Justin Thomas.
Rahm -- the current #3 player in the world -- is the 2021 U.S. Open winner ... so we're sure he can turn things around.
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Steph Curry You Want My Autograph??? Gimme 30 Push-ups!!!
If you want an autograph from Steph Curry ... you might wanna start hitting the gym, because one fan needed to drop and give the NBA star 30 push-ups to secure his signature.
The NBA Finals MVP was playing golf Thursday at a celebrity tournament in Lake Tahoe, CA when a young fan asked how many push-ups he needed to do for a John Hancock.
Steph told the fan the magic number was 30 -- the same number he wears for the Golden State Warriors -- so the kid removed his hat and emptied his pockets before busting out 30 perfect pushups right on the tee box.
The fun interaction is all on video ... and Steph even signed the jersey before the fan reached the finish line, drawing a laugh from the crowd.
Fresh off his fourth NBA championship, Steph is playing in the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe along as part of a field stacked with celebs.
Steph's going up against the likes of Justin Timberlake, Miles Teller, Ray Romano, Colin Jost, Nick Jonas, Joe Buck, Bret Baier and Anthony Anderson ... plus famous athletes like Aaron Rodgers, Charles Barkley, Vince Carter, Patrick Mahomes, Tony Romo, The Miz, Emmitt Smith and Steve Young.
Chef Curry's been living it up since winning the Finals last month ... chugging tequila at a championship parade after-party and hitting up a theme park with his family.
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Tom Brady Roasts Josh Allen Over Golf Diss ... '0-5 All Time'
Tom Brady is firing back at Josh Allen -- who essentially called the GOAT a crappy golfer -- reminding the Bills star that whenever the two meet head-to-head, it's Brady who owns him!
Allen -- who competed with Patrick Mahomes against TB12 and Aaron Rodgers in "The Match" earlier this month -- was asked on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast this week what order he would rank the superstar quarterbacks as golfers.
"I'd say, Aaron, Pat, myself, Tom," Allen said, motioning to the floor when referencing Brady.
Love this confidence after moving to 0-5 all time head to head. This is why Josh will succeed in this league! https://t.co/ZeE4fEsARc
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) June 23, 2022 @TomBrady
"Oh, Tom was that bad?" host Will Compton asked, before Allen replied quickly, "Yeah!"
Brady got wind of Allen's comments and didn't waste any time letting the world know he's punked Josh every single time the two have met on the football field AND the golf course.
"Love this confidence after moving to 0-5 all-time head-to-head," Brady wrote on his social media page. "This is why Josh will succeed in this league!"
Although Brady wasn't the hero the day at "The Match" (Rodgers came through in the clutch for the team), TB12 has indeed gotten the better of Josh on the gridiron.
A-Rod for the WIN! 🎯 #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/et3paek5DB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 2, 2022 @BleacherReport
The last time Brady and Allen squared off before the golf event, it was Tom who outdueled the 26-year-old in an instant NFL classic this past season -- as the Bucs defeated Buffalo, 33-27.
But, fortunately for Allen and Bills Mafia, he could get another crack at the GOAT ... since Brady is, after all, coming back for at least another season with Tampa.
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Golf Star Paige Spiranac Dubbed World's Sexiest Woman ... In New Maxim Issue
Already holding the title of most-followed golfer on social media, Paige Spiranac just added another impressive item to her resume -- Maxim's Sexiest Woman Alive.
The mag just announced the honor ... officially crowning the golf star and influencer hottest on the planet in its latest "Hot 100" edition on Thursday.
And, Paige was fired up to hold the title ... saying in a post on her Instagram, "I am so honored by being named the sexiest woman alive by @maximmag this year!"
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"When I got the call," she added, "I kept asking them, 'are you sure?' because I was truly in disbelief."
Paige gained fame several years ago after winning a golf tournament, when fans noticed her swing -- and her looks.
Soon after, Paige became a social media star ... and now has more followers on IG than Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson!!
Paige is no longer competing as a pro golfer -- she spends most of her time working on business adventures and her podcast -- but, don't it get it twisted, she's still got plenty of game on the course.
You'll recall, she made a hole-in-one last year in front of Gary Player!!!
Yeah, talk about a great eight months!
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Brooks Koepka's Wife Makes Audition Tape For S.I. Swim ... I Wanna Be A Rookie!!
Brooks Koepka's new wife, Jena Sims, is taking a shot at her lifelong dream ... by throwing her hat in the ring to be a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie.
The 33-year-old former "Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader" star-turned-model announced her goal in a TikTok this week ... saying she's a "firm believer in going after what you want."
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Sims notes her mindset helped her get her now-husband's attention by sliding into his DMs ... which started a romance that went public at the U.S. Open in 2017.
The couple got engaged in 2021 ... and got hitched at an extravagant Turks and Caicos ceremony this past weekend.
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Now, the former pageant contestant has her eyes set on gracing the pages of the iconic magazine ... and using the SI Swim platform to help kids all over the world notice their inner beauty.
Many other WAGs have been featured in the issue over the past years -- including Jared Goff's GF, Christen Harper, Russell Wilson's wife, Ciara, Rob Gronkowski's GF, Camille Kostek, Kevin Love's fiancée, Kate Bock, and Christian McCaffrey's GF, Olivia Culpo.
The 2022 issue just dropped ... so it'll be a few months before we find out if Sims gets added to the list.
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Tiger Woods I'm A Billionaire!!!
LeBron James is gonna have to make some room in the 3 Comma Club ... 'cause Tiger Woods officially has a billion-dollar net worth.
Just one week after it was announced the Lakers superstar reached the financial milestone, Forbes is now reporting the golf legend has achieved the same feat.
It's actually surprising that 46-year-old Woods hadn't hit billionaire status earlier in his career -- back in April, the outlet estimated he'd earned $1.7 billion over the course of his pro career before taxes and agent fees ... with less than 10% of that coming from prize money.
Woods has made a killing off being the face of brands like Gatorade, Nike and Rolex ... and his TGR Ventures has invested in a number of golf-related companies in recent years.
The 15-time major winner has undoubtedly brought a ton of interest to the sport ... which has resulted in more money in his pockets, thanks to lucrative TV deals increasing prize money on the PGA Tour.
Despite several personal controversies throughout his career -- including his single-car accident on Thanksgiving in 2009, going public about his sex addiction and being arrested on suspicion of DUI in 2017 -- Woods has remained one of the top-earning athletes each year.
Woods' achievement comes on the heels of a reported "high nine digits" offer to play for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour ... which he rejected.
Woods is now one of three billionaire athletes in America -- joining James and Michael Jordan -- and that's pretty good company.
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Phil Mickelson & Other Golf Stars Suspended By PGA Tour Indefinitely ... For Playing In LIV League
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The PGA Tour has just dropped the hammer on Phil Mickelson and the other golf stars who have defected to the new LIV league ... announcing Thursday it's suspended the guys indefinitely.
Commissioner Jay Monahan explained the punishment in a lengthy memo to PGA Tour golfers ... saying players like Phil, Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia "are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup."
PGA Tour suspends current and future LIV players. pic.twitter.com/lKhxo27Ida
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) June 9, 2022 @eamonlynch
In the memo, Monahan said the ruling came down because the players' decisions to join the new Saudi-backed golf league violated the org.'s "Tournament Regulations."
Monahan vowed similar punishments for anyone who follows in their footsteps.
Monahan specifically named 17 golfers who were receiving the punishment -- though he noted 10 (including Johnson) have already resigned their memberships.
It should be noted, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed -- who have reportedly committed to eventually joining the LIV League -- were not named in the memo.
It's unclear if the suspended golfers will ever be allowed to play in the PGA Tour again ... Monahan said in the statement that's to be determined.
LIV officials, meanwhile, blasted Monahan for the decision ... saying in a statement Thursday, "Today's announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members."
"It's troubling the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing," they added. "This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of free agency is beginning as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London, and beyond."
LIV Golf kicked off its eight-event series this week at the Centurion Club in London.
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ESPN Anchor Sage Steele I'm Lucky To Be Alive ... After Being Struck By Golf Ball At PGA Championship
ESPN anchor Sage Steele returned to work on Wednesday less than three weeks after she was struck in the face by a golf ball -- and she said on-air that she felt fortunate to still be alive.
Steele was hit at the PGA Championship on May 19 by an errant Jon Rahm drive ... and she explained during an episode of "SportsCenter" on Wednesday morning that she feared for her life after impact.
Sage Steele apparently got hit hard with a golf ball from a Jon Rahm tee shot at PGA Championship pic.twitter.com/YEUMOLOuIK
— Piñata Farms 🪅 (@pinatafarms) May 20, 2022 @pinatafarms
"One moment you're out on a course just innocently watching amazing golfers play out at a golf major," Steele said. "Next moment, you're on the ground. You're in pain with your entire life flashing before your eyes, scared to death, trying to comprehend what the hell just happened."
Wednesday, @sagesteele returned to the Noon ET edition of @SportsCenter - for the first time since she was struck in the face by a golf ball on May 19 at the PGA Championship
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 8, 2022 @ESPNPR
She expressed gratitude for the support she received after the accident pic.twitter.com/wMVViXUWPA
Steele thanked God on the show, and said that she feels like "the luckiest person in the world to still be here and be standing after that."
The 49-year-old also thanked her co-host, Matt Barrie, for all that he did out at the event and at the hospital to keep her calm.
Steele suffered undisclosed mouth injuries in the incident -- and shared a photo showing the golf ball caused her to bleed profusely.
She said she's spent countless hours with her dentist in wake of it all, and added there's still more work to be done on the road to recovery.
Barrie, meanwhile, commended his co-host for her strength, saying, "I'll say this and I've said this before, you took that like a champ. Most people would've passed out."
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Tiger Woods Won't Play In U.S. Open 'My Body Needs More Time'
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Tiger Woods is officially out of the U.S. Open ... the golf superstar just announced his surgically repaired leg is not in good enough shape to compete in the major tournament.
"My body needs more time to get stronger for major championship golf," Woods said in a tweet on Tuesday morning.
The 46-year-old, who badly injured his leg in a car accident in February 2021, had competed in both the Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this year. But, in both major tourneys, Woods' leg seemed to really bother him.
Uh oh. Tiger Woods walking with a bit of a limp today that we didn't see earlier in the week. 😞 pic.twitter.com/reGRw24P6l
— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) April 6, 2022 @CorkGaines
At the Masters in April, he performed well in the first two rounds, but struggled in the last two. At the PGA Championship in May, he labored around the course for three rounds before he eventually withdrew prior to the fourth round.
#TigerWoods with a grimace and a limp on his last tee shot of the day
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) May 19, 2022 @SICscore
He finished his first round at +4 and was tied for 91st
⛳️Full recap here: https://t.co/Hf5tsoBgX8 pic.twitter.com/hXIt5miP6N
Tiger did say, though, he was hopeful he'd be able to get his body strong enough to compete in the last major of golf's calendar year -- The Open Championship -- which is slated to begin on July 14.
"I'm excited to get back out there soon!" Woods said.
The U.S. Open, meanwhile, is slated to begin on June 16. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the event.
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Dustin Johnson Resigns From PGA Tour ... To Play In Saudi-Backed LIV League
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Dustin Johnson's days of playing on the PGA Tour are over -- at least for right now -- the golf superstar just announced he's resigning his membership in order to play full-time in the Saudi-backed LIV league.
DJ broke the news during a meeting with media members at Centurion Club near London on Tuesday ... just days before he's set to tee it up for the first time at a LIV Golf Invitational Series event.
"For right now," Johnson said, "I resign my membership from the Tour. I'm going to play here for now, and that's the plan."
BREAKING🚨: Dustin Johnson RESIGNS from the PGA Tour
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 7, 2022 @SkySportsNews
The golfer is now ineligible to play in the Ryder Cup. pic.twitter.com/LLmlmIDKmF
The new league -- which is backed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia -- has been controversial, due to the country's past record of human rights violations.
Golfers who have defected to the league have been accused of taking loads of cash to play and effectively help the country "sports wash" that track record.
In addition, the PGA Tour has not been friendly about the rival league ... threatening suspensions and bans for golfers who accept the invite to play in it.
Johnson -- who reportedly received around $125 million to golf in the new league -- said the decision to leave the Tour ultimately came down to "what's best for me and my family."
Now ineligible for the Ryder Cup, Johnson said he was unsure if he'd be allowed to participate in golf's major events from here.
Other golf superstars, meanwhile, have joined in Johnson's decision to play in the league -- most notably, Phil Mickelson revealed on Monday he, too, has accepted the invite. He has not, however, formally resigned from the Tour yet.
Top golfers Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na and Sergio Garcia have joined as well. Tiger Woods, however, reportedly turned down a "nine-digit" offer to play.
The first of seven initial LIV events begins on Thursday in England.
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Golf Star Danielle Kang Playing With Tumor On Spine ... At U.S. Open
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Danielle Kang, one of the world's best golfers, revealed she's been playing in the U.S. Women's Open with a tumor on her spine.
The 29-year-old made the shocking revelation on Friday ... saying she received the diagnosis from doctors "a few weeks ago."
Kang -- the #12 player in the world -- said she's undergone extensive testing, and is waiting for doctors to tell her if the tumor is benign or malignant.
"I’ve gone through a lot of procedures so far, and with the process of elimination, we are narrowing it down,” she said Friday. "It’s going to take time."
It's been a rough few months for Kang -- she's been dealing with back pain, which forced her to withdraw from the Lotte Championship in early April. She also pulled out of the Palos Verde Championship later that month.
The golf sensation is optimistic doctors will be able to tell her the condition of the tumor ... and identify whether it's the source of the pain in her back.
Despite the health scare, Kang had her sights set on finishing out the week in hopes of making the cut ... but admits she's not feeling "fantastic" out there on the course at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in San Francisco.
"My goal right now is to get through this week," Kang said. "I wanted to make the cut. I wanted to play four rounds out here and then my focus was going to be getting better after that."
"The only thing on my mind has been to play the U.S. Open."
As for when Kang will tee it up again ... she plans to have more tests done next week, so there's no definitive timetable for her return.