CNN
 — 

Rory McIlroy has a special shine to him as he returns to competitive action this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and who can blame him after finally ending years of heartbreak with victory at the Masters earlier this month.

After so many attempts to complete a historic career grand slam – winning all four of golf’s majors – the Northern Irishman finally was able to slip on the famous green jacket and enter himself into the record books.

There were emotional scenes in the aftermath of McIlroy’s victory at Augusta National, as the relief of the victory became apparent.

And as the 35-year-old returns to golfing action at TPC Louisiana on Thursday, McIlroy detailed the “absolutely amazing” reaction he’s had since his victory.

“It’s been an amazing few days after, and to be able to reflect on it and everything that happened and the magnitude of everything, I think the big thing for me is just how the whole journey sort of resonated with people and the people that have reached out to me,” McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday, also admitting that he came down with a cold in the days after his victory.

“It’s not every day you get to fulfill one of your lifelong goals and dreams, and I’ve just really tried to enjoy everything that comes along with that.”

McIlroy explained that he spent time celebrating in his new house outside of London, as well as visiting family and friends back in Northern Ireland.

He also detailed that he spoke to two US Presidents the day after his Masters victory – something he described as “pretty cool.”

“Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. Just all of it,” the five-time major winner said. “People that you would never even think that would watch golf or would know what’s going on, that was very, very humbling, I guess.

“I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times, and everything that you sort of try to put into getting the best out of yourself in that journey. I think people watching someone finally get it done, something they’ve been trying to do for a decade plus, I think it resonated with a lot of people.”

McIlroy returns to New Orleans as the defending champion in the pairs event with his Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry.

The two shared an emotional embrace close to the 18th green at Augusta National in the moments after McIlroy’s win and now look to retain their title at TPC Louisiana.

And the Northern Irishman admitted that he’s in the best place possible to continue his good form this week.

“I honestly could not be in a better place in my life professionally, personally, all of it,” he said. “It’s amazing what a year can do.

“This tournament last year was a really cool moment for both of us. I think it probably injected a little bit of joy back into golf for me in some way, which I think is really, really important, not to lose that. For me, I had a great year last year, and I think this tournament was sort of the catalyst to the really good golf that I played for the rest of the year.”

CNN
 — 

If a chastening 109-94 defeat to the Houston Rockets in Game 2 wasn’t enough to deal with, the Golden State Warriors are now also sweating on the health of Jimmy Butler.

The former Miami Heat star, who has helped transform Golden State’s fortunes since making his debut in February, took a hard fall on his tailbone late in the first quarter after being fouled by Amen Thompson.

Butler got up and made one of two free throws but was clearly struggling to even walk. He soon made his way gingerly back to the locker room while holding his lower back area and was ruled out for the rest of the game with a pelvis contusion.

The Warriors said Butler will undergo an MRI on Thursday.

Losing Butler for any period of time during the playoffs would be a huge blow to Golden State. After struggling for consistency during the regular season, Golden State finished the campaign on a 23-8 run after Butler’s debut to enter the playoffs as one of the NBA’s hottest teams.

Butler put in a vintage ‘Playoff Jimmy’ performance to help the Warriors win Game 1, registering 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.

“Hopefully, Jimmy will be able to play,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Butler’s availability for Game 3 on Saturday, per the Associated Press. “But if not, we have to go through our options and put together a plan.”

The Warriors were also without Brandin Podziemski for much of the game as the guard struggled with a stomach illness.

For the Rockets, Jalen Green bounced back from his playoff debut flub in Game 1 with a huge performance to lead his team to tie the best-of-seven series.

The Houston guard admitted “the lights were bright” and his legs were a “little shaky” after he put up just seven points in the series opener.

On Wednesday, however, Green went off for 38 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals. He made eight three-pointers, which is two more than the entire Rockets team managed in Game 1.

“I feel like a did a good job of answering back,” Green said. “From the beginning, my whole mindset from today was to go in and be aggressive and get back to being myself.”

Alperen Şengün added 17 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Rockets.

Steph Curry had 20 points for the Warriors to take him past 4,000 career points in the playoffs, making him just the 11th player in history to reach the landmark.

The two teams will next face off in Game 3 in the Bay Area on Saturday.

Madrid, Spain
CNN
 — 

It became one of the defining images of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite more than six months passing since US gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade atop the podium, the floor gold medalist says the moment still gives her “goosebumps.”

As well as the heart-warming display of sportsmanship earning Biles and Chiles plaudits around the world, it was also a historic moment as the trio became the first all-Black Olympics gymnastics podium.

“It was a really important moment on the podium,” Andrade told CNN Sports at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, where the Brazilian was named Comeback of the Year winner.

“Three female Black athletes, representing their nations, and showing that we deserve to be there. Knowing that it’s possible to make it happen and it was beautiful. It’s a moment that gives me goosebumps every time I remember it.”

Perhaps there is no better word that sums Andrade up than “comeback.”

The 25-year-old had considered quitting gymnastics after suffering three ACL tears – in 2015, 2017 and 2019 – one of the most brutal injuries for any athlete to overcome.

There is not only the painful and monotonous physical rehabilitation required after each major surgery, but also the grueling mental drain of facing one of the most arduous recovery processes in all of sports three times.

Not to mention the lingering fear that it could happen again with a slightly miscued landing or take off. Those setbacks – each of which could have been career-ending – made Andrade’s win over Biles in the floor final in Paris all the more remarkable.

So, what was it that gave Andrade the motivation to keep battling back?

“I think it has a lot do with the strength of my family and my team,” she said. “Every day in the gym showing me that regardless of my choice, if I wanted to carry on or not, they would be there to support me.

“I was sure that it was worth coming back, every time, and I returned alongside them and the results followed, so I’m very proud.”

Andrade, Brazil’s most decorated Olympian of all time with two golds, three silvers and a bronze, said being awarded the Comeback of the Year award “means a lot.”

“It’s recognition of my work, that of my team and of my story as an athlete, and so I feel very honored.”

The nail-biting battle in Paris – Andrade and Biles were separated by just 0.033 points – understandably has fans eager to see the two gymnastics greats go head-to-head at the Olympics again at Los Angeles 2028.

Biles remains unsure whether she will still be competing then, telling French newspaper L’Equipe this week that “2028 seems so far away.”

She also noted concerns over her body’s ability to keep pushing at the top level, revealing that her body “literally collapsed” after competing at Paris last year.

Andrade, however, said she wants to be there.

“Only God knows the future. Many things still need to happen,” she told CNN. “There’s qualifying, but there’s still a desire. It’s a dream of mine, so we’ll battle on, but let’s do it slowly.”