SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- Long, long ago, in a golf galaxy far, far away, there existed a singular dominant player who presided over his peers with a steely glare and an iron fist, rarely squandering an opportunity to defeat these mortals on the grandest stages.If life in the Tiger Woods era sounded like something out of a fairy tale, then life in the post-Tiger Woods era -- The eclectic era? The parity party? -- feels like a return to normalcy, a chance for the game to play out as the golf gods had first intended.Rather than one player triumphing over the field on a regular basis, the major championships have recently resembled a bakery line, with every elite-level player grabbing that little pink ticket from the machine at the counter, then waiting for his number to be called to pick up a trophy. (Blame Jordan Spieth for double-dipping at the counter last year.)This years first three major champions -- Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson -- own a few notable commonalities. Each ranked among the worlds top 12 at the time of his win, and each claimed his first major title.It all serves as part of a bigger theme entering this weeks PGA Championship. Once a domain for dominance, the majors have become a turnstile for many of the worlds upper-echelon players.For just the fifth time since the inaugural Masters Tournament, there exists a chance that all four majors in a single year will be won by first-time champions. The difference between this year and 1959, 1969, 2003 and 2011, though, is that the 2016 champions list reads like a whos who of major contenders finally breaking through rather than a few surprises slipping through the cracks.Speaking of surprises, its less shocking that Willett, Johnson and Stenson have won than that Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy havent. Those players combined for seven major titles in the past five years, but now each is vying for the years final opportunity at a tournament that once rightly billed itself as Glorys Last Shot.Do I feel like Im playing five or 10 Tigers out there? No, I feel like that would be disrespectful towards Tiger, McIlroy said this week. But the fields are deeper and so many guys have chances to win tournaments. ... Golf, its in a good place in terms of how many good players we have, and I feel like its hard to separate yourself from the pack a little bit. But thats what were trying to do. Were trying to separate ourselves and trying to win tournaments and trying to be the best that we can, and hopefully that, in turn, is the best in the world.Or as Spieth more succinctly put it: I dont think theres any Tiger out here right now. I think thats fair to say. Only time will tell.Thats not to say the game is any better with a singular dominant player, nor any worse without one. Dominance tends to fuel the intrigue of the masses (see: Era, Tiger), but a brilliant competitive balance certainly doesnt hurt matters.This years first three majors have not only provided new yet deserving champions, they also have delivered excessive drama to the proceedings. Spieth led by five strokes entering the back nine of the Masters and lost by three; Johnson played his final round of the U.S. Open with a looming video review of a rules violation but never faltered; and Stenson simply provided the better half of one of the games greatest duels on a Sunday afternoon stage, outlasting Phil Mickelson at The Open.If there was going to be any backlash against different players winning majors, it was washed away in the drama of each of these tournaments.It just goes to show how stiff the competition has gotten over the years that Ive been out here, explained Day, 28, who won his only major title at last years PGA Championship. And then on top of it, the guys are just younger and stronger and fitter and faster, and they are just long out there. So just the competition is really, really tough right now. If you dont stay one step ahead of the young guys, its easy to get left behind.That serves as not only the overriding theme of golf this year, but also for this era. Whatever it is -- The eclectic era? The parity party? -- a different player taking his pink ticket and stepping up to the bakery counter when his number is called has clearly become the new normal. Rod Carew Jersey . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Justin Morneau Jersey . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. 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One of the most talked about fights of the year is the looming showdown between pound-for-pound elites Sergey Kovalev, owner of three light heavyweight world title belts and the best 175-pounder on the planet, and Andre Ward, the undefeated former super middleweight world champion who recently moved up in weight.They are signed, sealed and delivered to fight Nov. 19 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of an HBO PPV card. The winner will stake his claim to being the worlds pound-for-pound best.But, and theres a big but here: Both have to win interim bouts (or at least draw) to make their showdown official.On Aug. 6 in his hometown of Oakland, California, Ward (29-0, 15 KO) is set to face little-known Alexander Brand (25-1, 19 KOs), of Colombia, at the Oracle Arena. But Kovalev is up first for his interim bout.He has fought most of his career in the United States, but Kovalev returns home for only his third professional fight in Russia when he will defend his belts against contender Isaac Chilemba on Monday (HBO, 10:15 p.m. ET/PT, same-day tape delay) at the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia.Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs), who will be making his eighth title defense, has wanted to fight in Russia again and was very happy when Main Events promoter Kathy Duva was able to broker a deal to place the fight only a couple of hours by car from his hometown.I am so excited to fight in my home country of Russia, Kovalev said. It gives me great pride to bring my titles home at last. ...It truly feels as if the entire country is behind my back in this fight, said Kovalev, 33, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son. I can tell Im fighting at home. This support means a lot for me.But while there might be some hometown pressure on Kovalev to win and keep the big fight with Ward on course, Chilemba is playing with house money. He has nothing to lose in the biggest opportunity of his career.Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) is coming off a controversial decision loss to Eleider Alvarez in November on Alvarezs turf in Quebec City, but he landed the shot at Kovalev primarily because they are both promoted by Main Events, making it a relatively easy match to put together.I was disappointed after my fight with Alvarez, Chilemba said. When I got the call that this fight was offered you cant believe the joy that came over me. I knew I would get another chance to fight a tough opponent. I have been praying hard and I thank God that I finally got the opportunity.I have gained a lot experience from a lot of hard-fought fights in hometowns of my opponents. I am working on Kovalev. I am going to give him hell and not leave it in the judges hands. Everyone expects it to be an easy fight for him. I will put it all out there to make sure I get the decision.Said Duva: Isaac Chilemba is a legitimate top-10 light heavyweight contender and hes coming to win. He wont be intimidated by the crowd. We know he is focused on the biggest opportunity of his career and well see if he can capitalize on it.Duva is in an odd position because while she promotes both fighters, her company has a lot riding on making sure Kovalev-Ward takes place. But she said whatever happens in the ring Monday is out of her hands.My job is to make good fights, get good opportunities for my fighters, she said.dddddddddddd Isaac deserves a title fight. There are a lot of fighters who avoid risk to keep their records intact. We dont sign people here at Main Events who dont want to fight.When I suggest fighters that dont test Sergey, he gets annoyed. He is preparing to face Ward in the fall. He wants to be challenged (before that).Chilemba, 29, who was born on Malawi and fights out of South Africa, would love nothing more than to not only collect Kovalevs belts but to also throw a wrench into the best laid plans for his fight with Ward.I believe in myself. I believe in my abilities as a fighter, Chilemba said. Coming in I am not worried about anything else. Every mistake I have made in my personal life and my boxing life has made me stronger. I am confident. I trust my team and (trainer) Buddy (McGirt). I will be ready. I am where I am meant to be. I believe this is where I am going to show the world who I am and what I am made of. Kovalev is not invincible. He is not God. He is a man just like me. I will be the man to crush the Krusher.I believe I am the antidote to Kovalev. I am walking into this fight with only a few people believing in me. I am going to show the world. The pressure is on him. I love proving people wrong. That pushes me.Kovalev will be boxing in the same arena where he fought the last time he had a fight in Russia. That fight ended in tragedy when he knocked out Roman Simakov in the seventh round in December 2011. Three days later Simakov died as a result of head injuries suffered in the bout, one Kovalev rarely discusses.That was five years ago, I already forgot everything, Kovalev said when sitting down with reporters at an April news conference to announce the fight with Chilemba. Life is great for me now. Were going (to Russia) to do our job, make great fights in boxing. That is what I try to do.Duva said when she made the fight between Kovalev and Chilemba she did not realize at first that it was the same arena where tragedy struck. But when she talked to Egis Klimas, Kovalevs manager, and Kovalev about it, they reassured her it was not an issue.I did ask when I realized and was told by both Egis and Sergey that Sergey had put this in the past and hes not concerned its going to affect him, Duva said. There arent a lot of places near (his hometown) where the fight can take place so this is the biggest and the best one.Chilemba is aware of what happened last time Kovalev fought in Russia and said he has no concerns.Whatever happened at that time is not whats going to happen now, Chilemba said. The pressure is on Kovalev. He will be fighting in his hometown where he hasnt fought in a long time. My focus is on him. My mind is on him only.He needs to show his home people what he is made of. I am happy to go to fight anyone, anywhere, in their backyard, in their own house. I dont care. I will give a show. I am gunning for a win. I dont care where we are fighting. I dont care what Kovalev is made of. 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