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PGA of America forms Golf Relief and Assistance Fund to aid disaster victims industrywide

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – In response to the recent series of tragic weather events, the PGA of America has announced the formation of the Golf Relief and Assistance Fund, which will help provide relief to individuals in the golf industry who have suffered as a result of a current or future qualified disaster.

The Golf Relief and Assistance Fund was created so the PGA of America and other industry participants can support PGA Members and other golf industry personnel in qualified disaster situations. The PGA launched this fund with a contribution of $250,000. The fund will be administered by the largest community foundation in the world, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, of Mountain View, California.

“We view the Golf Relief and Assistance Fund as a model of how the PGA Member can help show the positive role the PGA plays in the golf industry,” said PGA President Paul Levy. “We look to our Members to help spread the word about the availability of this fund to their fellow PGA Members and to others in golf industry communities who may be in need.”

To either make a tax-deductible contribution to the Golf Relief and Assistance Fund or to apply for assistance, please visit GolfReliefFund.org.

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Manchester United set to extend wonderkid’s contract amid European transfer links

Manchester United have opened contract negotiations with Luca Ercolani, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

According to Tuttomercatoweb via the Daily Express, the Italian defender will be offered an extension by the club as a reward for his efforts in the development team since his switch from Serie D outfit Forli back in 2016.

The 18-year-old has not yet managed to earn his senior debut for United, but he has been tipped for a bright future and is already attracting interest from a whole host of European clubs.

The Red Devils have taken steps to ensure that they retain his services for the foreseeable future, in the hope that he can soon stake a claim for a place in the first team.

The young defender has already been capped for Italy at U-20 level and he has also been a regular for United in the UEFA Youth League, impressing at the back with a maturity which belies his tender age.

Luca Ercolani

United are currently enjoying a resurgence under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has staked his claim to land the permanent manager’s job with six wins from his first six games at the helm.

The Norwegian enjoyed a stellar playing career at Old Trafford and he knows the club inside out, which means he is well aware of the value placed in the future academy stars.

Ercolani is United’s Italian wonderkid and the fact that they have made his future a priority issue to sort out at this stage of the season just goes to show how much faith they have in him long-term.

Solskjaer has managed to shore up United’s leaky defence since coming in, but the damage was already done while Jose Mourinho was in charge and the team’s record now reads 32 goals conceded in just 22 Premier League matches this term.

Some supporters would surely be happy to see Ercolani granted a cameo appearance or two in the coming months, rather than embracing the alternative, which is watching the club shell out extortionate fees for defensive reinforcements in the transfer market.

£53m star attracted by Chelsea transfer offer but Arsenal and Liverpool still in the running

Bayern Munich attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is reportedly attracting a long list of suitors in the transfer market.

According to the latest update on the Colombia international’s future from Don Balon, Chelsea are the latest Premier League club to make him an offer.

MORE: Barcelona closing in on surprise transfer as alternative to Chelsea duo

The Spanish outlet claims this follows interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, who they claim still seem to be leading the charge to snap him up.

Rodriguez has not been at his best at Bayern, and also struggled towards the end of his time at Real Madrid, from whom he is on loan at the Allianz Arena.

A move to the Premier League could now be on the cards for the 27-year-old, who seemed to have the world at his feet just a few years ago when he shone for Monaco and had an outstanding campaign at the 2014 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot.

James Rodriguez is a transfer target for Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea

Don Balon also links Rodriguez with the likes of Napoli, where he could be reunited with his old manager Carlo Ancelotti.

“Sign yours next” – These Liverpool fans call for Reds ace to follow Andy Robertson’s footsteps and extend Anfield stay

Liverpool fans have called for James Milner to extend his contract with the club following the news that Andy Robertson has penned a new five-year deal at Anfield.

According to the BBC, the Scottish international has agreed a new long-term contract with the club that will see him stay at Anfield until 2024, news that will put smiles on the faces of all the club’s fans.

It’s not hard to see why Liverpool have decided to tie Robertson down to a new deal given the form the Scot has been in so far this term, and this news has seen Reds fans call for Milner to follow Robertson’s footsteps and agree a new deal with the club as well.

Milner has been a key part of Liverpool’s side ever since he joined on a free from Manchester City a few years ago, and it looks like Liverpool fans are desperate to see the 33-year-old extend his stay at Anfield if the replies to his latest tweet are anything to go by.

After congratulating Robertson on his new contract, fans replied to Milner’s tweet asking him when he’s going to sign his new deal and extend his stay at Anfield as well.

Given how he’s performed for the Reds over the years, it’s easy to see why supporters of the club are see keen to see Milner put pen to paper on a new deal at Anfield!

Watch Phil Mickelson trash talk Tiger Woods at The Northern Trust

The trash talk started on Twitter. Now it's spreading onto the course.

Earlier this week, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson announced their $9 million head-to-head showdown event, The Match, will be played over Thanksgiving weekend.

MORE: Tiger, Phil announce The Match | B/R Live

Immediately after the announcement, the two had some fun on Twitter (more on that below). But on Saturday, Phil took the trash talking out onto the course.

As Mickelson hit his tee shot on the par-3 No. 2 on Saturday at The Northern Trust, someone said, "That's gotta be better than Tiger's."

"Oh, it is," Mickelson replied.

The crowd's reaction to Phil's trask talk says it all.

Mickelson did beat Tiger on the second hole. While Woods had a par, Mickelson birdied. Woods ended the round bogey-free and shot a 3-under on Saturday to reach 3-under for the tournament.

Mickelson also shot 3-under on Saturday, but he's 9-under through three rounds.

MORE: How Tiger, Phil compare in every round they played together

When the two went back-and-forth on Twitter, Tiger tweeted "It's on" at Phil.

Phil then tweeted back: "I bet you think this is the easiest $9M you will ever make."

Manchester United open talks with agent over potential £135million forward transfer

Manchester United have reportedly contacted the agent of Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho over a transfer to Old Trafford.

The Brazil international has struggled for as much playing time at the Nou Camp lately after a generally unconvincing start to life in La Liga.

MORE: Manchester United star opens talks over potential January transfer to Euro giants

Coutinho only left Liverpool for Barcelona this time last year, but considering his dazzling performances during his time in the Premier League, he’s been well below-par in his time with Barca.

United are now linked as having made contact with Coutinho’s representatives over a potential transfer, according to Mundo Deportivo.

This follows reports that the 26-year-old had also been the subject of an opening offer from the Red Devils of around £108million, though Barcelona would ask for more like £135m, according to Don Balon.

Philippe Coutinho celebrates a goal for Barcelona

BREAKING: Chelsea close in on first January signing as player undergoes medical

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on the transfer of Gonzalo Higuain as he has already completed part of his medical.

The Argentina international remains in Italy with loan club AC Milan, but he is now expected to terminate that loan deal early and leave Juventus for a temporary move to Stamford Bridge.

MORE: Chelsea in talks to seal AMBITIOUS €120million transfer ahead of Manchester United & Liverpool

Various sources state Chelsea can either extend the loan for another season beyond this one, or sign Higuain permanently for around £45-50million in the summer.

For now, however, the 31-year-old remains in Milan and has only just started medical procedures over there, according to the Chelsea Echo.

Higuain seems an ideal signing for CFC to solve their problems up front, with Alvaro Morata’s Atletico Madrid transfer also nearly done.

Video: Gonzalo Higuain responds to Chelsea transfer questions at airport

AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain was asked about rumours linking him with an imminent transfer to Chelsea at the airport.

The Argentina international, on loan at Milan from Juventus, is expected to become a Chelsea player on loan for the rest of the season, according to tweets last night from reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

MORE: Chelsea star takes to Twitter to respond to rumours he’s set to come out as gay

However, when quizzed about his future, Higuain did not appear keen to give anything away.

His quotes are roughly translated as: ‘Were you waiting for me? Chelsea? If you are looking for a mess with me, you will never find it.’

Chelsea fans will hope something can be made official soon as the 31-year-old looks exactly the kind of striker they need to come in as an upgrade on Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal star undergoes medical as transfer away described as a done deal by journalist

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has done the first part of his medical with Juventus ahead of what looks like an all-but-done transfer to Turin.

This update comes from Goal’s Romeo Agresti, who states on Twitter that the Wales international has undergone the first part of medical examinations in a clinic in London ahead of joining Juventus in the summer.

MORE: Talks today: Arsenal to resume negotiations over key January transfer

Ramsey looks a quality signing for the Italian giants on a free transfer, with his contract at Arsenal due to expire at the end of the season.

This is a big loss for the Gunners as well, with Ramsey long one of the team’s most important players in eleven years at the Emirates Stadium.

Juve have a solid recent history of snapping up big players on free transfers, having done so with successful signings like Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Dani Alves, Sami Khedira and Emre Can.

LPGA's Brittany Lincicome set to play in PGA Tour event

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Brittany Lincicome is set to join an elite group — female professionals playing in a PGA Tour event.
 
Lincicome said Friday at the U.S. Women's Open that she was asked to play in the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky July 19-22.
 
"I love competing with the guys," she said. "I feel like I step up my game when I play with them. I play a little harder, try a little harder when I play against them. I always thought it would be cool to try."
 
Her exemption for the event was first reported by Golf Digest.
 
Tom Murray, president and CEO of Perio, which owns the Barbasol and Pure Silk brands, reached out to her a couple of weeks ago, Lincicome said.
 
"I was kind of torn," she said. "Obviously I can already hear people saying you are trying to compare yourself to the men. That's not what it is."
 
Other female pros who have played in a PGA Tour event include Michelle Wie, Babe Zaharias, Annika Sorenstam and Suzy Whaley.
 
The 32-year-old Lincicome is an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour. She said she's already feeling more nervous about it than she would a major championship and is uncertain what kind of reception she'll get.
 
"I feel like in a major, it's on me because it's what I do," Lincicome said. "That, I feel like every time I walk by one of those guys they are going to look at me like, Why the heck are you here? What are you doing here kind of a look. Hopefully they are really nice."
 
Lincicome is sixth on the LPGA Tour in driving distance.
 
"The golf course sounds like it's pretty wide open," she said. "It's going to be obviously pretty far, but that's nothing I don't think I can handle."
 
 
This article was written by John Zenor from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.