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Weekend sports lineup highlights include the British Open, the Baseball Hall of Fame induction and ‘El Trafico’

Posted at 9:17 AM, Jul 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-18 11:17:21-04

Earlier this week, Tiger Woods admitted that winning the Masters in April took a lot out of him. As to how the 15-time major champion was feeling heading into The Open Championship?

“It’s not quite as sharp as I’d like to have it right now,” Woods said to reporters.

Still, Woods said he believes that playing links golf, which The Open provides, gives him his best chance further into his 40s to try to win more majors. So, will he be in contention heading into the weekend?

While the golf action continues in Northern Ireland, other sport fans will gather in Cooperstown, New York, to witness history at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while Los Angeles braces for “El Trafico.”

Here’s your guide to the weekend’s biggest sporting events:

The Open Championship

The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, is the oldest major tournament in golf. This year, instead of being the third men’s major of the season, it’s now the last on the calendar, as the PGA Championship was held in May.

The 148th edition is at Royal Portrush, which last hosted The Open in 1951. Francesco Molinari won the event last year.

Watch it:

Friday: 1:30 a.m. ET on Golf Channel

Saturday: 5 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and 7 a.m. ET on NBC

Sunday: 4 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and 7 a.m. ET on NBC

International viewers, check local listings.

Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend

“I never thought I would see it in my lifetime.”

These are the words National Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson when he was asked about Mariano Rivera becoming the first unanimous baseball Hall of Fame inductee.

The first Hall of Fame class was elected in 1936, which included Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. But not even they were elected with a 100% vote.

Rivera was on the ballot of all 425 Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters, making it the first time in the 83 years a player received a unanimous vote.

Rivera is MLB’s all-time saves leader and a 13-time All-Star. He’s a five-time World Series champion in 19 seasons with the Yankees and was known for clutch performances in the playoffs, posting a career 0.70 earned-run average in 96 postseason games.

He will be joined in the 2019 class with the late Roy Halladay, who passed away in a 2017 plane crash, as well as Mike Mussina, Edgar Martinez, Harold Baines, and Lee Smith.

Watch it:

Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on MLB Network

International viewers: check local listings.

Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves

A key divisional series is the highlight this weekend in current Major League Baseball game action.

Heading into the season, the Philadelphia Phillies were the favorites to win the National League East. Instead, it’s the Atlanta Braves holding that top spot while the Washington Nationals have surged into second.

Atlanta and Washington face each other seven times in the course of 14 days — giving these two teams the potential to drastically impact the pennant race. Their four-game series in Atlanta continues this weekend.

Watch it:

Friday: 7:20 p.m. ET on MLB Network

Saturday: 7:20 p.m. ET on FS1

Sunday: 7:05 p.m. ET on ESPN

International viewers: check local listings.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC

In what is turning into one of the top rivalries in Major League Soccer, the Los Angeles Galaxy will take on Los Angeles FC on Friday night for the fourth time in league history. Both teams have been very successful in 2019, as LAFC (14-2-4) holds the best record in the MLS, while the Galaxy (11-8-1) are in third place in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy will have the home-field advantage in the city rivalry game aptly dubbed, “El Trafico.” The latest installment will be at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The Galaxy has not lost a game in the series to this point, with a 1-0-2 record.

Watch it:

Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN

International viewers: check local listings.

Africa Cup of Nations championship

Either Senegal or Algeria will secure the title as the champion of the continent. The two nations will collide in a rematch from the group stage, which Algeria won 1-0.

Senegal has been on a streak heading into the championship game. Outside of the loss to the Desert Foxes, the Lions of Teranga have not suffered a defeat in 13 matches. Liverpool forward Sadio Mane established himself early as a top scoring option in the tournament, with three goals for Senegal.

Algeria has been unbeaten in its last five games against Senegal and has won four of the last eight matches between the squads. Algeria has been the highest-scoring team in the tournament and is looking for its first Africa Cup of Nations Championship since 1990. Senegal has never won this tournament.

Watch it:

Friday at 3 p.m. ET on beIN Sports

International viewers: check local listings.