Callaway Golf Korea launches Full Toe SP wedge

Callaway Golf Korea announced Thursday the official domestic launch of its new Full Toe SP wedge. The Full Toe SP features full-face grooves running from heel to toe, a newly designed full-toe shape and the highest center of gravity the company has ever achieved in a wedge. The club is engineered to deliver consistent spin and control across a variety of open-face situations, giving golfers greater freedom and precision around the green and in bunkers. The face is equipped with Spin Gen 2.0 grooves from heel to toe. The groove area has been expanded by 48 percent compared to previous models, with tighter spacing that increases the contact area between the ball and the face. The redesigned full-toe shape raises the toe section to widen the effective striking area across the entire face — particularly when the face is opened. The head incorporates a Spin Pocket structure that redistributes weight from the lower portion of the head to the upper section, achieving the highest center of gravity in the line's history. The design increases spin and improves performance on open-face shots. A J-grind sole — featuring an aggressively trimmed heel and a smooth, curved sole profile — is also included. "The Full Toe SP wedge is designed with full-face grooves to allow golfers to play more freely across a variety of lies and situations," a Callaway Golf Korea official said. "It will be an attractive option for golfers who want to go beyond a single standardized shot and instead control trajectory and spin to execute a wide range of short-game shots depending on the situation."

Sept. 3, 2026

Song Ya-dong: Umar will struggle to bounce back from KO loss

Chinese fighter casts doubt on Umar's title hopes 'I was laughing — I knew I could beat him easily,' Song says Song Ya-dong, the Chinese fighter who pulled off a stunning upset by knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov, has delivered a pointed assessment of his fallen opponent's future prospects. Song, 28, stopped Nurmagomedov, the No. 3-ranked bantamweight, with a right uppercut 1 minute and 48 seconds into the second round at the UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song Ya-dong main event, held Saturday (Korean Standard Time) at the Pudong Development Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China. Umar, a cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, had been installed as a heavy favorite heading into the bout but was dropped by an unexpected counter punch from Song on home soil, dealing a serious blow to his title ambitions. Umar had been chasing another title shot after losing to then-champion Merab Dvalishvili in January last year and then stringing together two consecutive wins. Song was skeptical that Umar would ever claim the belt. In an interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on Wednesday (local time), Song was asked whether Nurmagomedov could one day become champion. "I'm not sure he can become champion. He has a big problem," Song said. "It's really hard to come back after suffering such a devastating KO." Song also said he had already identified a habit in Umar's game: the Russian tends to dip his head whenever he shoots for a takedown. Song said he had devised a strategy before the fight to exploit exactly that moment, and the plan worked. The "big problem" Song referred to was not the head-dipping habit itself, but rather the physical and mental toll a knockout loss of that severity can take on a fighter. Song's claim may be something of an overgeneralization, but some fighters do struggle to recover after a brutal stoppage, dealing with recurring knockdowns or a lingering fear of getting hit. Song also pushed back against any suggestion that his win was a lucky punch. "If you watch the fight, you'll see I was smiling the whole time," he said. "I felt like I could beat this guy very easily. After the first round, I felt Umar wasn't that strong. Even when he was on top of me, I could get back up. And on the feet, I was able to control the distance really well." Song is widely regarded within the UFC as a humble and understated fighter, which makes his pointed dismissal of Umar's abilities and future prospects all the more striking. The tension may have a personal dimension as well. Immediately after the fight, as Song was celebrating inside the cage, Umar's younger brother Usman Nurmagomedov rushed out from the corner and appeared to lunge at Song — an incident that may have left some lingering ill will. Meanwhile, Umar has struck a defiant tone in response to Song's assessment. On the same day, he posted on social media: "It's not over until I win. Inshallah."

Sept. 3, 2026

Pereira's sister looks to follow her oppa into the UFC

Alini Pereira set to face Muay Thai standout at DWCS 96 Alini Pereira, 35, the younger sister of two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira, is looking to follow her oppa into the UFC. Alini is set to fight Smilla Sundell at DWCS 96, scheduled for Oct. 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A win — and a strong enough impression on UFC CEO Dana White — could earn her a contract. Like her brother, she is a late bloomer. She competed in kickboxing under the Glory banner and in karate combat, where she became the inaugural flyweight champion. She only began competing in MMA in 2022 and carries a modest 3-2 record. In her most recent bout, at the Netflix MVP event in May, she edged Jade Mathon-Wong by split decision — with Alex himself in her corner, drawing considerable attention. It is hard to shake the impression that a mid-30s fighter with a thin MMA record received a DWCS offer largely on the strength of her brother's wide influence on UFC business. The matchup itself, however, is anything but easy. Sundell is a genuine prospect, and foreign media have noted that if Alini was hoping for a smooth path to the UFC, Sundell is about as tough a draw as she could have gotten. The 21-year-old Swede has spent years competing at the highest levels of combat sports despite her age. Formerly known as Smilla Fairtex, she made her name in ONE Championship, Asia's largest MMA organization, where she became the inaugural women's strawweight Muay Thai world champion. Remarkably, Sundell was just 17 at the time, setting a record as the youngest champion in ONE Championship history. Her striking record of 40 bouts — 36 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw — dwarfs Alini's in both volume and quality. Since relocating her training base to Las Vegas, she has also been building her MMA career steadily. Her official MMA record stands at just 2-0, yet she is considered the favorite for exactly that reason. Alex Pereira stepped away from the spotlight after an ambitious bid for the interim heavyweight title ended in a loss to Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House event in June. Now the question is whether Alini can pull off an upset and give her brother's comeback a boost.

Sept. 3, 2026

Tiger Woods gets 5-year license suspension in plea deal; girlfriend Vanessa Trump by his side

Tiger Woods has had his driver's license suspended for five years after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over a vehicle rollover accident. Judge Darren Steel of Martin County Circuit Court in Florida handed down the ruling Thursday (Korean Standard Time), finding Woods guilty of reckless and careless driving. Under the agreement, Woods avoided the more serious charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but was fined approximately $1,500 and received the five-year license suspension. Steel issued a stern warning, saying Woods would be sent to jail immediately if caught driving again for any reason. Woods has 30 days to appeal the ruling. Woods had initially pleaded not guilty but chose to enter a plea deal with prosecutors to reduce the charges. Rather than continue the legal fight, he entered a no-contest plea to the reckless and careless driving charges — a disposition that carries the same legal weight as a guilty verdict. The incident occurred in March on a residential road in Jupiter Island, Florida, when the SUV Woods was driving collided with a truck towing a trailer while attempting to pass it, then rolled onto its side. Neither Woods nor the truck driver sustained physical injuries, but the other vehicle suffered approximately $5,000 in property damage. A roadside breathalyzer test at the scene detected no alcohol. However, two hydrocodone pills — an opioid painkiller — were found in Woods' pocket, and he refused to submit to a urine test. Police arrested him on charges of drugged driving and refusal to submit to testing before releasing him on bail. Thursday's court appearance was Woods' first in-person hearing since the accident in March. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, accompanied him and sat behind the defendant's table. Vanessa is the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of US President Donald Trump. She and Woods began dating in late 2024 and made their relationship public in early 2025. Throughout the accident and trial proceedings, she has remained at Woods' side as a source of emotional support.

Sept. 3, 2026

Volleyball star Lee Da-young turns heads with bikini photos ahead of overseas move

Lee Da-young, 30, a former South Korean national team volleyball player who left the domestic league following a school bullying controversy, has drawn attention online after posting bold bikini photos ahead of a move abroad with her twin sister Lee Jae-young. Lee shared several photos on her social media account Wednesday, captioning them "summer's last days." The images show Lee in a revealing bikini that leaves little to the imagination. Fans were particularly struck by her tall frame and toned, athletic physique. Commenters flooded the post with heart emojis and messages including "Are you an athlete or a model?", "You can really feel that athletic firmness" and "The twins are my eternal idols." Lee and her twin sister Lee Jae-young have each signed with Turan VC of the Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League and will play together in the 2026-2027 season. It will be the first time the two sisters have shared a team since playing for PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece in 2021, a gap of about five years. Once among the biggest stars in South Korean women's volleyball, the pair were in effect forced out of the domestic league after allegations emerged that they had bullied classmates in middle school. They have since played in leagues across Greece, Romania and France, and will now reunite on the same court for the first time in roughly five years.

Sept. 2, 2026

Yoon Kyung-sik claims third win of season at KPGA David Golf Tour Event 16

First player to earn KPGA Tour seed under three-win category since rule's introduction Yoon Kyung-sik claimed his third win of the season at the 2026 KPGA David Golf Tour's 16th event — which carried a purse of 100 million won ($73,000) and a first-place prize of 20 million won — securing a KPGA Tour seed for the remainder of the season. In the final round Tuesday and Wednesday at Solago Country Club's Sol Course (par 71, 7,258 yards) in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, Yoon shot a 7-under-par 64 to finish at 13-under 129 and take the title. Entering the second round as the sole leader, Yoon made six birdies on the front nine alone, but Cha Kang-ho and Jeong Jae-hun mounted a strong charge, carding 10-under and 9-under rounds respectively on the day. Yoon dropped a shot at the par-4 14th, briefly falling into a tie. He steadied himself with consecutive pars from the par-4 15th through the par-3 17th, then sealed the victory with a birdie at the par-5 18th to avoid a playoff. He finished one stroke clear of the joint runners-up to claim his third title of the season. "All the players had a tough time in the difficult weather conditions," Yoon said after the win. "Rather than thinking about the result, I tried to focus on each shot one at a time, and I think that helped me work through the tough moments and come out on top." Yoon turned professional as an associate member in April 2018 and became a full tour pro in June of that year, spending most of his career on the second-tier circuit. He finished tied for 18th at the 2025 KPGA Tour qualifying tournament, earning a spot on the KPGA Tour for the 2025 season. Having previously won the 8th and 12th events on the KPGA David Golf Tour this season, Yoon's latest victory made him the first player to reach three wins on the tour, moving him to the top of both the integrated points standings (71,132.67 points) and the prize-money rankings with 71.16 million won. The win also qualified him for a KPGA Tour seed for the rest of the season under the category reserved for players who win three David Golf Tour events in a single year, making him the first beneficiary since the category was introduced in 2024. "I'm so happy to be the first player to win three David Golf Tour events since the system was put in place," Yoon said. "I'll make the most of the KPGA Tour starts I've been given, and I'll give everything I have in the four remaining David Golf Tour events as well." Cha Kang-ho (27) and Jeong Jae-hun (29) finished tied for second at 12-under 130.

Sept. 2, 2026

PBA signs MOU with Haedam Media to bring billiards stars to entertainment content

Professional Billiards Association Korea is venturing into entertainment content by leveraging its intellectual property. The PBA announced Wednesday that it signed an MOU with Haedam Media at the PBA Lounge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Haedam Media is a media services company that has built expertise in content commerce through the production of terrestrial and general programming, public R&D promotional videos and social media content. The company has worked across a wide range of formats, including current affairs, documentaries, entertainment shows and advertising. Under the agreement, the two sides plan to make full use of the PBA's intellectual property through initiatives including appearances by professional billiards players on entertainment and current affairs programs, branded and live-commerce productions, public institution campaigns and sponsorship content, and channel and AI live programming. The two companies plan to develop pilot content and release it in stages beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. PBA Vice President Jang Sang-jin said the partnership would combine the PBA's intellectual property with Haedam Media's accumulated experience to showcase players in a new light beyond the arena. "We hope this becomes a meaningful first shot at discovering new value in our players and opening up new possibilities for sports content in Korea," he said.

Sept. 2, 2026

46th President's Cup National Roller Sports Championships wrap up with all 6 disciplines

The 46th President's Cup National School and Workplace Team Roller Sports Championships concluded in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, after a run spanning two separate periods. The competition opened with skateboard and inline freestyle events on May 30 and 31, then resumed from Wednesday through Monday with speed skating, inline hockey, artistic and roller freestyle events. Andong, which also hosted the tournament last year, secured the rights to hold the competition as a combined meet — a strategic advantage, as cities that host all disciplines gain priority in future bidding. Notably, this year's edition included roller freestyle, which was incorporated into the federation in July, making it the first time all six disciplines governed by the Korea Roller Sports Federation were held under one national championship. According to the Korea Roller Sports Federation on Wednesday, Andong City Hall dominated the speed skating competition, claiming the top spot in the 3,000-meter relay in both the men's and women's divisions and pulling well clear of the second-place finishers to win the overall title in both categories. The women's open division title for Andong City Hall marked their second consecutive championship in effect — they won in 2024, and last year's competition was canceled due to wildfires. In the women's high school division, Jecheon Girls' High School in North Chungcheong Province edged Korea Hotel and Tourism High School, also of North Chungcheong Province, by a single point to claim the overall title, with Incheon Science High School finishing third. In the middle school division, Osong Middle School of North Chungcheong Province and Jeonju Middle School of North Jeolla Province took the overall titles in the boys' and girls' categories, respectively. In the elementary school boys' division, Busan's Superbi Club won the overall title. In the girls' division, Busan's The Lap — which had finished runner-up in the boys' division — claimed the overall title after a tense battle: the two clubs finished level on 37 points, with The Lap prevailing on silver medal count. The artistic competition, held Saturday and Sunday at the Andong Gymnasium indoor auxiliary arena, also served as a national team selection trial for a competition to be held in Asuncion, Paraguay, in October. Four athletes were selected to represent South Korea in inline free skating: Jo Ye-eun (second year, Hallim Arts High School, Seoul) and Park Ju-eun (second year, Sau High School, Gyeonggi Province) in the junior women's category, and Gam Yun-gyeong (Luminous, Seoul) and Jeon Ji-su (first year, Korea National Sport University, Seoul) in the senior women's category. The inline hockey competition drew 33 teams across seven divisions — first and second grade elementary, third and fourth grade elementary, fifth and sixth grade elementary, middle school, high school, open and women's — and ran for five days from Wednesday through Sunday. Goyang Twins U15 won the middle school division, CCM Dreams took the high school title, and Club H claimed the open division crown. The open division victory gave Club H three consecutive tournament wins, following triumphs at the 2026 Namwon Korea Open Inline Hockey Tournament in April and the 2026 President's Cup Korea Inline Hockey Championship in June. Adding their win at the 45th President's Cup last December, Club H has now won four straight national-level competitions. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Mustangs visited South Korea and played a series of friendly matches against domestic teams during the competition. The Mustangs fielded separate squads for the elementary, middle school and high school divisions, and their performances drew warm applause from spectators. In roller freestyle, Yun Jong-hyeon of the Gyeonggi Province Roller Sports Federation and Jang Seo-a of Sinsang Middle School in Seoul (second year) won the open division street event, while Gang Dong-jun of the Seoul Metropolitan Roller Sports Federation and Jang swept the park event gold medals. Jang competed in both the street and park disciplines and finished first in each. Yun and Jang have also made their mark internationally, finishing first and second, respectively, at the 2026 Roller Freestyle Park World Cup in Rome, Italy, in June. Korea Roller Sports Federation President Kim Gyeong-seok said he was pleased with how the competition concluded despite rain disrupting the outdoor schedule. "Because this was the first true national roller sports championships to include every discipline under the federation's umbrella, it marks a major milestone for how national competitions will be hosted and organized going forward," he said. Meanwhile, the 2026 national skateboard team selection trials are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Extreme Park Bowl in Andong. The park first-round competition will be held Saturday, followed by the street event Sunday. The selection process will conclude with the park second-round competition Tuesday at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. A total of eight athletes will be selected — six to compete in Olympic qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (two men and two women each in street and park), plus two reserve athletes.

Sept. 2, 2026

'Unexpected comeback': Spanish media scrutinize Moreno's record, AI controversy

The appointment of Roberto Moreno as South Korea's new interim head coach has reignited debate over his coaching credentials. The Korea Football Association approved Moreno's appointment at its seventh board meeting of the year, held Tuesday at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. He is set to lead the national team across six matches during the September-October and November international windows. Moreno's path to coaching was unconventional. Having never played professionally, he pursued a coaching career from an early age, spending three years from 2014 as an analyst with FC Barcelona's B team before moving up to assist manager Luis Enrique with the first team. From 2018 to 2019, he joined Enrique on the Spanish national team staff, serving as assistant coach and caretaker manager before eventually taking the top job himself. His record in charge of Spain was impressive. Moreno guided the side through UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying with seven wins and two draws, going unbeaten to secure a place at the tournament. The KFA valued his experience at top clubs and national teams, along with his ability to design tactics based on data analysis and opponent scouting. Away from Enrique's shadow, however, his career has been far from smooth. Spanish outlet OK Diario covered Moreno's move to South Korea on Wednesday (Korean Standard Time), highlighting what it called a "bitter" run of three consecutive managerial exits since leaving Spain. "Moreno previously served as assistant to Luis Enrique and even took charge of the Spanish national team," the outlet said. "Since then, he failed to make a significant mark at AS Monaco, Granada and PFC Sochi, yet has unexpectedly returned to the dugout by taking charge of the South Korean national team." The outlet added that he left Monaco after just half a season, failed to complete a full campaign at Granada, and was sacked at Sochi amid controversy — including allegations that he had used AI to select his starting lineups. "That same Moreno has now been given a fresh opportunity in South Korea," it said. In practice, Moreno was dismissed from Monaco after roughly seven months and left Granada before finishing a single season. At Russian club PFC Sochi, he could not prevent the team from being relegated in his first season, though he subsequently led them back to the top flight. He ultimately parted ways with the club after recording one draw and six defeats in seven matches following the start of the 2025-26 season. His time at Sochi was also clouded by allegations that he had relied on AI across the club's operations more broadly. A former club official who worked with Moreno at the time claimed he had used ChatGPT not only for training programs and match preparation, but also for scheduling player travel and managing transfer recruitment. Moreno flatly denied the allegations when they surfaced. In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, he said he had used ChatGPT solely for Russian-language translation and not for any football-related decisions such as tactics or squad selection, calling the former official's claims "completely false." He drew a clear distinction between delegating final decisions to AI and using data analysis as a tool, saying the two were entirely different matters.

Sept. 2, 2026

Tsarukyan vows to defend lightweight title at least 5 times if he wins belt

Eyes record over Makhachev rather than rematch; title shot could be more than a year away UFC lightweight top contender Arman Tsarukyan has set his sights on surpassing Islam Makhachev's four title defenses — provided he first captures the lightweight championship. Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in a pivotal bout at UFC 331 on Sept. 20 (Korean Standard Time). His camp has claimed he was promised a title shot with a win. Long regarded by fans and analysts as the division's de facto No. 1 contender, Tsarukyan would further cement that standing with a win over Ruffy, one of the lightweight division's elite fighters. Ranked second in the lightweight division on both the Meta UFC and media panel rankings, Tsarukyan had been set to challenge Makhachev for the title in early 2025, only for the bout to fall through due to injury just hours before the weigh-in. It would have been a rematch. Makhachev defeated Tsarukyan by unanimous decision in a closely contested first meeting in 2019. Since then, Makhachev has moved up to welterweight and claimed that title, while Tsarukyan has steadily worked his way toward a title shot of his own. Appearing on Paramount+'s "Deep Waters," Tsarukyan drew a line at moving up to welterweight for a rematch with Makhachev, saying he would rather chase new records at lightweight first. "Not yet. I need to defend the title at least five times. I want to break the lightweight record — Islam defended it four times, so I want to do five," he said. "After that, I'll think about whether to retire or move up to welterweight." Current UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is not expected to compete for the remainder of 2026. Gaethje recently said he injured both hands and does not expect to return to the octagon until 2027. If Tsarukyan is to be Gaethje's first title defense opponent, he may face a considerable wait. However, Tsarukyan has indicated he has no problem staying active on other platforms in the meantime.

Sept. 2, 2026

Ko Woo-suk signs with LG Twins for W500m: 'I'll give everything for the wins that remain'

Pitcher Ko Woo-suk, who returned home after attempting to break into Major League Baseball, has signed a one-year contract with his former club LG Twins worth 500 million won ($365,000). LG Twins announced Wednesday that it had completed Ko's registration, adding that he would receive 150 million won — equivalent to three months of the remaining season — as he is rejoining mid-season. Ko said through the club that he was grateful to fans who had cheered him on with unwavering passion both in Korea and in the United States. "There may not be much of the season left, but I will give everything I have on the mound for the team's remaining wins," he said. Ko contributed to LG's integrated championship in the 2023 season before receiving the club's permission to pursue a posting to Major League Baseball. He gained experience across several organizations, including the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins. Ko spent most of his time in the United States in the minor leagues. After being notified of his release by Minnesota and receiving no offers from other clubs, his status was transferred to the minors, at which point he decided to return to Korea and arrived back Tuesday. Under KBO rules, domestic players must be registered by July 31 each year to be eligible for the postseason, meaning Ko will not be available for LG's postseason run this year. Manager Yeom says Ko could take the mound as early as Thursday LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-up envisions using Ko as a key bullpen arm capable of pitching up to two innings at a stretch. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's Korea Baseball Organization game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Yeom said Ko had regularly thrown as many as two innings at a time in the United States. "Son Ju-young will continue as the closer, while Ko and Asia-quota player John Kennedy will handle longer stints in the bullpen," he said. Yeom said the postseason was roughly a month away, making it difficult to move Son back to the starting rotation. "Ko can only pitch during the regular season, so having him throw two innings in the middle of games should be the most effective use," he said. LG, the reigning integrated champions, have seen a string of key pitchers go down with injuries this season. "We're very glad to have Ko back," Yeom said. "He will clearly be a big help to the team." On timing, Yeom said Ko would need to rest Wednesday and Thursday, but added that he could potentially take the mound as early as Thursday against Doosan. Yeom said Ko had increased his reliance on breaking balls while in the United States, and that the wider strike zone in the KBO — expanded following the introduction of the automated ball-strike system — would work in Ko's favor. He added that KBO hitters had improved their ability to handle hard fastballs over the past three years as more power pitchers entered the league. "I'm not sure whether Ko's fastball will be as dominant as it once was, but with the greater emphasis on breaking balls, I expect him to be competitive," he said.

Sept. 2, 2026

Korea Racing Authority seeks 15 youth interns for hands-on work experience

The Korea Racing Authority announced it will hire 15 youth interns under its second experiential youth internship program of 2026, aimed at giving young job seekers hands-on work experience and strengthening their employability. The positions span four fields: administrative support (8), horse industry specialist (2), AI and big data specialist (1), and illegal activity enforcement support (4). Successful candidates will spend three months gaining practical experience at worksites across the country — including the authority's main facility in Gwacheon and branch offices in Busan, South Gyeongsang Province, Yeongcheon and Guri — or through remote work arrangements. Applicants must be between 15 and 34 years old, with no restrictions on education level, gender or field of study. The authority will apply a blind hiring process, excluding information such as educational background and family relationships from applications and interviews to ensure fair selection. Particularly, all positions except the horse industry specialist role will be filled through a track reserved for people with disabilities and candidates from socially disadvantaged groups. Interns who complete the program, as well as those who receive outstanding performance evaluations, will receive preferential treatment — including bonus points in the document screening stage — when the authority holds future full-time recruitment drives. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 16, with appointments scheduled for Oct. 15. Further details are available on the Korea Racing Authority's recruitment website and through the public institution job portal Job-Alio.

Sept. 2, 2026

Golfzon Market to hold first screen golf tournament with W10m in prizes

Golfzon Market, a golf equipment store chain operated by Golfzon Commerce, will hold the "Golfzon Market Screen Golf Tournament" from Thursday through Sept. 27, the company said. The tournament — the first screen golf competition Golfzon Market has organized — will feature awards across multiple categories, including stroke play, longest drive, nearest to the pin and double birdie. Category prizes include a Callaway Quantum full set and a Titleist GTS driver, and all participants will receive online and in-store discount coupons from Golfzon Market. Total prizes and benefits are valued at 10 million won ($7,300). Customers wishing to enter can visit any Golfzon Park store nationwide equipped with a TwoVision NX Plus, TwoVision NX or TwoVision Plus simulator, log in, and search for "Golfzon Market Golf Tournament" or tournament number 1306814 in competition mode. Hwang Un-tae, business division head at Golfzon Commerce, said he hoped many people would join the Golfzon Market Screen Golf Tournament to test their skills and enjoy the wide range of prizes available across the various categories.

Sept. 2, 2026

Majesty Golf marks 55th anniversary with two-month festival

Majesty Golf announced Wednesday it will hold a two-month anniversary festival — the Majesty 55th Anniversary Festival — throughout September and October to mark the company's 55th year in business. Customers who purchase a Majesty Golf club and complete official product registration will be entered into a draw, with five winners receiving a factory tour and golf tour alongside Majesty Golf ambassadors Kim Ja-young and Kim Young. An additional 50 participants will receive a limited-edition Majesty headcover, and all event entrants will receive one dozen Majesty Tour Specialized Balls. Customers who purchase the full set of the 55th Anniversary Special Edition, set to launch Sept. 18, will receive a special edition golf bag set comprising a caddie bag and Boston bag, while supplies last. Separate promotions will also run: buyers of the Prestigio 14 iron set will receive a caddie bag, and buyers of a driver will receive a Boston bag. Customers who test-swing a Majesty club and participate via QR code will be entered into a monthly draw of 55 winners — one will receive a Prestigio 14 driver, four will receive a travel carrier, and 50 will receive one dozen Majesty Tour Specialized Balls. "The 55 years Majesty has walked represent a journey of building our own unique value through craftsmanship and technical excellence — a journey we have shared with our customers," a company official said. "Through this festival, we hope to express our gratitude to our customers and offer them a special way to experience the heritage and brand value Majesty has built over 55 years."

Sept. 2, 2026

Road FC 078 racks up 7.44 million online streams on event day with K-pop acts

Monsta X, Fifty Fifty performances draw attention Road FC 078 drew more than 7 million online streams on the day of the event, boosted by K-pop performances on the card. The event was held Saturday at Jangchung Arena in Seoul. To mark mixed martial arts' inclusion as an official sport at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the event featured a send-off ceremony for South Korea's national MMA team alongside celebratory performances by K-pop groups Monsta X and Fifty Fifty. Road FC said Wednesday that its live stream on the Daum portal recorded 7.44 million views on the day of the event. The 18 bouts on the card also drew attention in their own right, with a string of upsets and emphatic knockouts. Kim Hyun-woo stopped Yang Ji-yong by KO in the second round to claim the interim bantamweight title, while Pyeon Ye-jun knocked out Russian contender Sunnatulo Azizov. The next event, Road FC 079, is scheduled for Nov. 1 at Jangchung Arena in Seoul.

Sept. 2, 2026

Hwang Hee-chan joins Schalke 04 on loan, returning to Germany after five years

South Korea national team forward Hwang Hee-chan has left Wolverhampton Wanderers of the English Championship to join Bundesliga club Schalke 04 on loan. Schalke announced the signing Wednesday (Korean Standard Time) on its website. The loan from Wolverhampton runs for one season through June 30, 2027. Hwang, who played for Leipzig in Germany until 2021, returns to the German top flight five years later. Local media reports say the loan deal includes an option for Schalke to sign Hwang permanently by paying Wolverhampton a transfer fee of 3 million euros ($3.48 million) at the end of the season. Hwang's future at Wolverhampton had been uncertain, and he secured the move just hours before the transfer deadline closed at 7 a.m. Wednesday. He had been seeking a transfer after Wolverhampton was relegated from the Premier League as the bottom club last season. Several clubs from the Premier League and the Championship were mentioned as potential destinations, but Hwang ultimately ended up in a Schalke shirt. Schalke spent three seasons in Germany's second division from 2023 to 2026 before winning the second-division title last season to earn promotion back to the Bundesliga. The club has never won the Bundesliga title, finishing as runner-up seven times. "I watched Schalke's matches last season and felt this club would be a good fit for me," Hwang said. "When I was at Leipzig in 2021, I visited Schalke's home ground, but there were no fans in the stands because of COVID-19. Now I can't wait to play in front of a full crowd as a Schalke player." Hwang's Schalke debut is expected to come in the club's Bundesliga Round 2 home match against Bayern Munich at Veltins-Arena on Sunday at 1:30 a.m. The match sets up a likely "Korean derby" showdown with national team defender Kim Min-jae.

Sept. 2, 2026

Im Sung-jae named to International team for Presidents Cup

Three Koreans set for 2026 event as Kim Si-woo, Kim Joo-hyung earn automatic spots; captain calls Im 'most fun in the team room' Im Sung-jae will compete in the Presidents Cup, the PGA Tour's team match-play event between the United States and an International squad. The captain's picks for both teams were announced Wednesday (Korean Standard Time) during a live broadcast of the 2026 Presidents Cup Selection Special at PGA Tour Studios in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. International team captain Geoff Ogilvy named six captain's picks: Im Sung-jae (South Korea), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), Corey Conners (Canada), Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Ryo Hisatsune (Japan) and Nick Taylor (Canada). The selection marks Im's fourth Presidents Cup appearance, following his debut at Royal Melbourne in 2019 and subsequent appearances in 2022 and 2024. "Im Sung-jae is an indispensable member of the International team," Ogilvy said. "He has an outstanding ability to make birdies, and he is the most fun guy in the team room — everyone loves him." Three of the captain's picks — Echavarria, Hisatsune and Taylor — will be making their Presidents Cup debuts. Earlier, Kim Si-woo and Kim Joo-hyung of South Korea had secured automatic qualifying spots alongside Ryan Fox (New Zealand), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Min Woo Lee (Australia) and Adam Scott (Australia). With Im now added as a captain's pick, three Korean players — Kim Si-woo, Kim Joo-hyung and Im Sung-jae — will compete together at this year's Presidents Cup. United States captain Brandt Snedeker selected Jacob Bridgeman, Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas. Bridgeman, Gotterup and Koivun will all be making their Presidents Cup debuts.

Sept. 2, 2026

'I dedicate this to my late mentor': Lee Gil-su wins PBA Dream Tour 4th event

Defeats Lee Young-min 3-1 in final Lee Gil-su, 39, has lifted the trophy at the PBA Dream Tour (second division) 4th event. In the final held Tuesday at PBA Stadium in Kintex, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Lee defeated Lee Young-min by a set score of 3-1 (15-12, 11-15, 15-4, 15-7) in the 2026-2027 PBA Dream Tour 4th event. With the victory, Lee claimed the first-place prize of 10 million won ($7,280) and 10,000 ranking points, vaulting from 25th place (1,750 points) to first (11,750 points) in the season standings and putting himself in a strong position for promotion to the first division. Lee made his Dream Tour debut in the 2020-21 season and earned promotion to the first division after finishing runner-up at the 5th event of the 2024-25 Dream Tour season. He was relegated after just one season in the top flight, but has bounced back strongly this season — reaching the quarterfinals of the 2nd event before winning the 4th — putting promotion firmly within reach. "This is the happiest day of my life in billiards," Lee said. "It's my first title, even if it's in the Dream Tour. This was my second final appearance, and I played determined not to lose. Luck was on my side, and that's how I was able to win." He added, "The mentor who taught me billiards passed away recently. It feels like he gave me this victory as a gift. I want to dedicate this joy to him." With Lee's victory closing out the Dream Tour 4th event, the PBA will host the Welcome Savings Bank PBA Team League Pohang City Tour 2026-2027 from Sept. 10 to 18 at the indoor gymnasium of Pohang General Athletics Stadium in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

Sept. 2, 2026

Ex-champ Chimaev calls out four middleweights, including Strickland

Besides Strickland, who took his belt, Du Plessis, Imavov and Borralho also named Former UFC middleweight champion Hamzat Chimaev (32, UAE) is signaling his return — and he is not being picky about his next opponent, calling out four top-ranked middleweights at once. Chimaev lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 in May and has since repeatedly demanded a rematch. The defeat was the first loss of his MMA career, dropping his record to 15-1. With an immediate rematch looking uncertain, Chimaev appears unwilling to wait for just one option. He took to social media to call out Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. "I'm ready. Let me know when you are. Sean, Dricus, Nassourdine, Caio." The message made clear that Chimaev is prepared to fight again regardless of whether a title is on the line. His preferred opponent remains Strickland. Chimaev won the middleweight title by defeating Du Plessis at UFC 319, then entered UFC 328 as champion. His reign proved short-lived — he lost his first title defense to Strickland, who had been the underdog, suffering the first defeat of his professional career. Chimaev has repeatedly said he wants to fight Strickland again, but it remains unclear whether the UFC is interested in booking an immediate rematch. Strickland, too, appears reluctant to put the belt he just reclaimed on the line against the most dangerous possible opponent right away. That uncertainty has elevated the other three names as potential next opponents. Imavov cemented his standing as a leading title contender with a dominant decision win over Borralho at UFC Paris, further strengthening his position in the middleweight picture. Du Plessis also has unfinished business with Chimaev. He dropped the belt to Chimaev via a lopsided decision at UFC 319, then bounced back in July with a dominant win over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Borralho is the fourth name on Chimaev's list. Despite his loss to Imavov, he returned to winning ways with a victory over Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 in March. A fight with Chimaev would give Borralho another chance to prove himself against one of the middleweight division's biggest stars.

Sept. 2, 2026

Im Sung-jae confirmed as captain's pick for 2026 Presidents Cup, making fourth consecutive appearance

Im Sung-jae will compete at the 2026 Presidents Cup as a captain's pick. International team captain Geoff Ogilvy officially announced six captain's picks, including Im, according to Golfweek and other major golf media outlets Wednesday. The 2026 Presidents Cup will be held over four days from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27 (local time) at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. Im ranked ninth on the International team points list, falling just short of automatic qualification, but earned strong backing from Ogilvy to represent the International team for the fourth consecutive time. Im has now appeared at the Presidents Cup in 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026 — beginning with his debut at Royal Melbourne in Australia and continuing through Charlotte and Montreal. Im has compiled a 6-2-7 record across his Presidents Cup career. His precise tee shots, sharp iron play and steady composure — qualities that have defined his match-play performances — are expected to be assets again at this away event. Ogilvy's picks blended seasoned veterans with explosive young talent. Joining Im are Corey Conners and Nick Taylor of Canada, Nico Echavarria of Colombia, Ryo Hisatsune of Japan and Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa. With Kim Si-woo (ranked first) and Kim Ju-hyung (ranked fifth) having already secured automatic berths, Im's addition gives the International team three Korean players as core members. Kim Si-woo, selected automatically as the top points earner, has cemented his status as the team's ace, while Kim Ju-hyung is expected to set the tone with his trademark high energy and strength in the short game and match play. The International team has finalized its 12-man roster, combining automatic qualifiers — including Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee of Australia and Ryan Fox of New Zealand — with the six captain's picks. The International team's biggest challenge will be snapping the United States' winning streak. The team has won just once in the event's history — at the 1998 edition in Australia — and has lost 10 consecutive times to the Americans. The US team, captained by Brandt Snedeker, qualified Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player, along with Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley and Cameron Young through automatic selection. Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jacob Bridgeman and Jackson Koivun round out the roster as captain's picks.

Sept. 2, 2026