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SPORTS Thursday 23 February 2023
MLS expands playoffs to 9 teams from each conference

By ANNE M. PETERSON Champions League as well
AP Sports Writer so it’s a heavy lift.”
Major League Soccer is ex- Philadelphia Union coach
panding its playoffs to in- Jim Curtin was asked
clude the nine top finishers about the possibility of an
from each of its two confer- expanded playoff earlier
ences, 62% of the league’s this month, when reports
teams. surfaced that more teams
An opening “wild-card” would make the cut. Phila-
round will feature matches delphia played in the MLS
between the eighth- and Cup final last season, falling
ninth-seeded teams in the to LAFC on penalties after
Eastern and Western con- a 3-3 draw.
ferences at the stadium of “I can say from the last two
the higher seed. years, I think they’ve been
The first round will be a two of the most exciting
best-of-three series, with playoff series we’ve had
the top finisher in each as a league, and that’s the
conference facing the win- one difficult thing to move
ner of the wild-card match. away from now,” Curtin
The second seed will play said. “But this is pro sports,
the seventh, No. 3 will play and it’s certainly bigger
No. 6 and No. 4 will play No. than any team or any silly
5. The higher seed will host coach’s idea, so whatev-
first, with the series moving Los Angeles FC celebrates after a win over Austin FC in the MLS playoff Western Conference final er happens we’ll be pre-
to the lower seed for the soccer match Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Los Angeles. pared.”
second game, and then Associated Press In the previous format, only
back to the higher seed’s penalties. elimination: “I like one and whether it’s Open Cup, or the top seven teams from
home, if necessary. Seattle Sounders coach Bri- done. I am a one-and- Leagues Cup or you go each conference made
If the first round matches an Schmetzer said Tuesday done type of guy.” relatively deep in the play- the playoffs.
are tied at the end of reg- he hadn’t looked closely LA Galaxy coach Greg offs, you’re certainly going The top seeds each had a
ulation, the game will go at the playoff changes so Vanney said with the new to be (at) 50-plus games first-round bye to the con-
directly to a penalty shoot- he couldn’t comment in playoff format, as well as and that type of scenario,” ference semifinals.
out. The conference semi- detail, but understood that the expanded Leagues Vanney said. “And that’s Decision Day, the final day
finals, finals and MLS Cup Apple TV+, the league’s Cup competition that in- significantly more than of the regular season, is set
championship will all be sin- new broadcaster, wanted cluded all the MLS and Liga what teams, I think, have for Oct. 21, with the wild-
gle games, hosted by the more postseason games. MX teams for the first time, generally endured. You’ve card round scheduled for
higher seed. For the final However, Schmetzer was clubs will have a heavier seen more from teams that Oct. 25-26. The MLS Cup fi-

three rounds, tied matches clear about wanting play- load this season. are in Champions League nal will be played on Dec.
will go to extra time before off games to be single “In any of the tournaments, and we have teams in 9.q

Mixed team returns to PGA Tour and LPGA Tour in December

By DOUG FERGUSON ing our players’ incredible Daly and Laura Davies. momentum. Grant Thornton, which has
AP Golf Writer skills in a new context to a Tiger Woods played one “As we look to capitalize on a marketing partnership
PGA Tour and LPGA Tour new audience,” LPGA Tour year in the JC Penney Clas- the growing interest in the with the PGA Tour, has a
players will compete for a Commissioner Mollie Mar- sic with Kelli Kuehne. game of golf, the addition roster of corporate ambas-
$4 million purse on network coux Samaan said. Other tours in recent years of a mixed event to the cal- sadors in golf that includes
television as the tourna- “This is an important step have had official mixed endar has been a priority,” Rickie Fowler and Tony
ment long known as the forward for golf, women’s competitions. At the ISPS PGA Tour Commissioner Finau, and Nelly and Jes-
Shark Shootout becomes a golf and the LPGA.” Handa Australian Open, Jay Monahan said. sica Korda. q
mixed team event this year The Grant Thornton Invita- men and women com-
with 16 teams. tional will be Dec. 8-10 at peted on the same course
The tours formally an- Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, at the same time for equal
nounced the change Florida. Still to be deter- prize money in separate
Wednesday, with Grant mined is the format for the competition. Last year on
Thornton serving as the title 16 teams. the European tour, players
sponsor. The event began in 1989 competed in one compe-
The Associated Press first as the Shark Shootout, and tition from different sets of
reported the mixed team in recent years it has add- tees. Linn Grant of Sweden
event in December. ed LPGA Tour players to became the first woman to
“By joining forces with the the field. Other unofficial win a European tour title at
PGA Tour to host a mixed events, such as the CVS the Scandinavian Mixed.
event where the top male Charity Classic in Rhode A mixed event had been
and female golfers in the Island, also included wom- on the PGA Tour’s radar for
world compete alongside en. the last several years, and
each other, we’re going to But this will be the first fully there was consideration Tony Finau watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the
deliver a memorable and mixed event since the final to make the World Cup a second round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Friday, Feb.
entertaining experience edition of the JC Penney mixed event until the CO- 10, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
for all golf fans, showcas- Classic in 1999 won by John VID-19 pandemic halted Associated Press