Entertainment
Tiger Woods advances to the Masters for a record 24th consecutive year
Woods is aiming for a record sixth green jacket.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – A howling blast – the kind that had wreaked havoc at Augusta National all day – hit the 18th green just as Tiger Woods was lining up for one other thorny putt. Fine particles of sand rose from the pearly white bunkers and lashed against the slippery green surface.
One caddy’s hat was blown off. Woods quickly turned around, avoiding the potentially painful daggers thrust into his eyes.
Do not worry.
It was just a breezy respite on the way to one other piece of Masters history on Friday.
When the outburst had died down enough to look again, Woods made a 5-foot putt for a par-par 72 for a record-tying 24th consecutive time.
Of course, he had his eyes on a much larger goal – a record sixth green jacket.
Woods surpassed the mark he shared with three-time champion Gary Player, who had advanced to the weekend 23 times in a row since 1959, and 1992 winner Fred Couples, whose streak stretched to 2007.
“I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” said Woods, who was 1-for-145 through 36 holes and 7 shots off the lead. “I’ve got two rounds already. I just need some food and some caffeine and I’ll be ready.”
It was a grueling day for the five-time Masters champion, especially since the 48-year-old suffered quite a few injuries, countless surgeries and a devastating automotive accident that nearly resulted in the lack of his right leg.
Woods returned to the course before sunrise to complete the final five holes of his opening round, which was cut short by darkness after storms Thursday morning delayed the start of the tournament by 2 1/2 hours.
He made several bogeys to finish with a 73, then had lower than an hour to rest before playing the next 18 holes.
Remarkably, on Friday he played only one hole lower than his total over the first three months of the year, and his improved body was now not able to deal with the regular schedule of events.
Even with this limited preparation, there’s something about Augusta National that at all times brings out the best in Woods.
“Yes, I’m tired. I was away for a while, competing and grinding. It was a long 23 holes, a long day,” he admitted. “But Lance (Bennett, his caddie) and I really put up a good fight today and we have a chance.”
Stewart Hagestad, an amateur who didn’t make the cut, was delighted with Woods’ performance.
“This guy has barely played at all in the last calendar year and he already has 1 year under his belt,” Hagestad said. “It’s a foreign thing. It’s unbelievable.”
While the crowd around the 18th green roared like it was Sunday, Woods’ steely demeanor turned into a broad smile as soon as the round ended. He hugged playing partner Jason Day and gave Bennett another big hug before walking triumphantly to the clubhouse as fans lined up on ropes four and five deep to applaud his effort.
“It was amazing,” said Max Homa, who accomplished the three-pointer with Woods and Day. “I always just wanted to watch him hit irons here and I was right next to him. It was really cool. His short game was really good. I don’t think I can explain how good some of his shots were today.”
Homa, who shared the lead with Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler at 6-under 138, was comfortable to hand the highlight over to Woods.
“He’s special,” Homa said. “The repair happened really quickly and if I felt tired and terrible, I imagine he felt even worse.”
Homa was extremely impressed with the way Woods kept his composure on the 18th green as the sand kicked up in gusts of up to 40 miles per hour for the second day in a row.
“We had a sand blast for 45 seconds and I turned around five times to avoid getting smashed in the face and he stood there like a statue and then he poured it right down the middle,” Homa said. “All the stereotypes you hear about him and all the old stories about how he’s going to handle it, it was cool to see it in person.”
Woods was as accurate as he’s ever been as a Masters skilled, hitting 25 of 28 fairways in the first two rounds. However, one wayward approach after one other forced him to make various attempts.
Fortunately for Woods, he knew where to miss, so he kept making nice chips and catchy putts to keep his rating safely above the cut line, which ended up being 6 overs.
“I was forced to go up and down a few times today and I did it,” Woods said. “I was able to hit a lot of those chips up and down because I left them in the perfect spot, and that means understanding how to play that golf course.”
Woods passed a section of six straight holes before the turn, where he only made a birdie and a bogey, but calmed things down a bit on the back nine with a bogey on the 14th – where his approach from 150 yards sailed into the gallery behind the green – and a two-putt birdie on 5, 15, after clearing the pond with two powerful shots.
Woods entered the weekend with a discouraging deficit and needed a near-record comeback to win the tournament. The biggest rally over 36 holes was made by Jack Burke Jr., who won the Masters tournament in 1956 after eight strokes back.
Even though history is against him, Woods still believes he has a probability to equal Jack Nicklaus’ record of half a dozen titles.
“I’m right there,” Woods said. “I don’t think anyone is going to run and hide right now.”
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The post Tiger Woods advances to Masters for 24th consecutive year appeared first on TheGrio.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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