Bobby Cox has died. Baseball pays tribute to the Braves' Hall of Fame manager

Notable reaction to the death of former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox:

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper. Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched.” — The Atlanta Braves

“I never wanted to go anywhere else; I wanted to play for Bobby.” — Hall of Fame pitcher and current Fox analyst John Smoltz

“I remember ’99 when we lost the World Series to the Yankees. I mean, to a man, everybody in the room felt like we let Bobby down. That’s how we felt. And that’s powerful, you know, and that doesn’t just happen in professional sports. But that just goes to show how guys felt about Bobby. We, to a man, we felt like we let him down.” — Braves manager Walt Weiss

“My favorite memory of Bobby is 2017 spring training. Charlie was 6 months old. … To see Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, the joy on his face when he saw my 6-month-old son, that’s stuff I will never forget. Him and Pam just, like, loving on Charlie while he was in the stroller, those are the fond memories I have.” — Former Braves and current Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman

“Skip — thank you for helping shape me as a coach and as an MLB manager. Your guidance and belief in me will always mean a lot. Thank you for the time You took in helping me make my transition from player to coach. And I ended up loving cigars after all (smiley face emoji). Much respect always.” — Ozzie Guillen, who played two seasons with Atlanta and won a World Series title managing the White Sox in 2005, on X

“Bobby Cox led one of the greatest eras of sustained excellence in baseball history. As manager of the Braves, his clubs became an October fixture, representing consistency, professionalism, and championship-caliber baseball for an entire generation of fans. Through his leadership, eye for talent, and commitment to player development, Bobby helped shape the careers of numerous Hall of Famers and guided the Braves to Atlanta’s first major professional sports championship in 1995.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Bobby’s family, the Braves organization, the many players and coaches whose lives he impacted throughout his 29-year managerial career, and Braves fans everywhere.” — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Blue Jays Manager Bobby Cox. Before tonight’s game, we held a moment of silence to remember one of the game’s greats. Bobby managed us to our first division title in 1985, also winning Manager of the Year that year. Our thoughts are with his family and the Braves organization.” — The Toronto Blue Jays on X

“The Yankees join the baseball community in mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Bobby Cox. We offer our deepest condolences to Bobby’s family, friends and loved ones.” — The New York Yankees on X

“Over 29 seasons as a big league manager, Bobby Cox earned loyalty and respect from his players with his steady hand and passionate heart.” — National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

“Thank you for everything you meant to Atlanta, Skip.” — The Atlanta Falcons on X

“Atlanta has lost a true icon in Bobby Cox. His leadership helped define one of the most successful eras not only for the Atlanta Braves, but for the city's sports identity. Known for guiding the club through a historic run that included a World Series title and sustained excellence, his influence will be felt for generations. Our thoughts are with his family and with the entire baseball community as we remember a figure who meant so much to the City of Atlanta.” — Atlanta United FC on X

“Georgia and Braves Country have lost a true legend today with the passing of Bobby Cox. Shepherding the Braves for over 20 years, he led the franchise to 14 straight division crowns and a World Series title during his second stint, solidifying him in the hearts of generations of fans as the beloved manager we will all remember.” — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on X

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

FILE - Former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, left, looks on with Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, before a spring training baseball game against the Florida Marlins on March 23, 2011 in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

FILE - Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox signs autographs for fans prior to the start of the spring training game with the New York Mets on March 27, 2003 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Tony Ranze, File)

FILE - Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox smiles while smoking a cigar in the dugout with his coaching staff before the start of workouts Feb. 22, 2004, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette, File)

FILE - Former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is honored during a ceremony before a baseball game between the Braves and the San Diego Padres in Atlanta, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cameron Young is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour, and he's showing no signs up letting up.

Seeking to win back-to-back events, Young threatened the course record at Quail Hollow on Saturday before settling for an 8-under 63, leaving him two shots behind Alex Fitzpatrick at the Truist Championship.

Fitzpatrick was at 14-under 199 through 54 holes, one shot ahead of Norway's Kristoffer Reitan after each shot 64.

Young, who won last week’s Cadillac Championship at Doral by six strokes, needed to play the final two holes in 2 under to break Rory McIlroy’s course record of 10-under 61, set in 2015.

But his birdie putt on No. 17 stopped inches from the hole and his drive on the 18th settled in pine straw behind a tree, forcing him to punch out and leading to his only bogey of the day.

“I know (the record was) 10 under and I knew I was at nine,” Young said. “But that wasn’t my thought. I was just trying to hit it somewhere right of the hole on 17 and hit a couple good shots on 18. Unfortunately had one of my few bad swings of the day on 18.”

Before that, Young had sent his shot from a fairway bunker 238 yards away to within a few feet of the hole on No. 7 for eagle. He seized that momentum to birdie six of his next nine holes.

Matt Fitzpatrick was one of the favorites to win the Truist Championship — but it turns out little brother Alex is the one to watch this week.

Alex Fitzpatrick, who only earned his PGA Tour card two weeks ago when he teamed with his brother to win the win the Zurich Classic, rebounded from his only bogey of the day with a tee shot to 8 feet on the par-3 17th hole for birdie to reach 14 under.

Matt Fitzpatrick is a former U.S. Open champion who's currently ranked fourth in the world, and Alex said having his brother to lean on has been invaluable.

“I feel like he’s been and done everything that I want to do in the game — whether that’s Ryder Cup and win majors,” said Alex Fitzpatrick, who tied for ninth last week at Doral. “So having him being around and me being there for all of that, I felt like I got a really good sense of what it takes and what the atmosphere is like.”

Reitan, also a rookie, made some noise at the Masters before going 73-77 over the weekend to finish tied for 41st. He closed Saturday with four birdies over the final six holes to surge into second place.

“Just the opportunity to be near the leaderboard on a Sunday at a PGA Tour event, you know, rookie season — I’m just over the moon about that,” Reitan said.

Nicolai Hojgaard was four shots behind along with second-round leader Sungjae Im, who struggled down the stretch and shot 70.

Im skulled a bunker shot on the 15th hole, and the ball hit a grandstand and rolled back across the green before settling not far from where he began. It was one of two bogeys for the South Korean over the final four holes.

Justin Thomas, J.J. Spaun and Tommy Fleetwood were five shots back.

Rory McIlroy, the world's No. 2 player and four-time tournament champion, had a disastrous day, shooting 75 to fall out of contention.

Playing in his first event since winning his second Masters, McIlroy looked like he might make a charge up the leaderboard after bombing his drive down the middle on No. 1 and hitting his approach within a few feet for birdie.

But he didn't make another birdie until the 15th hole, with six bogeys in between on one of his favorite courses. He fell 13 shots off the pace.

Fitzpatrick could have a challenge holding the lead on Sunday.

Young has won three of his last 14 starts, including the Players Championship in March, to move to No. 3 in the world.

“I’m playing great,” Young said. “There is not a ton going on in my head, which is I think a very good thing. There is all kinds of stuff, but it’s nothing complicated. I’m thinking about shots and I’m thinking about my execution and that’s mainly where my head is at.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the third tee during third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Cameron Young hits from the 14th fairway during third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Alex Fitzpatrick, of England, hits from the third tee during third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Alex Fitzpatrick, of England, follows his shot on the 15gh green during third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Cameron Young flips his golf ball on the 12th green during third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)