Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Sept. 9 #351

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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is rather difficult. Let’s hope you know your golf, and are familiar with a certain midwestern state. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: They enforce the rules.

Green group hint: Show Me State jock.

Blue group hint: Fore!

Purple group hint: Bird of prey.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Officials.

Green group: A Missouri athlete.

Blue group: Last 4 golfers to win The Masters, familiarly

Purple group: ____ hawk

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is officials. The four answers are judge, linesman, referee and umpire.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is a Missouri athlete. The four answers are Blue, Cardinal, Chief and Tiger.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is the last four golfers to win The Masters, familiarly. The four answers are Hideki, Jon, Rory and Scottie.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ hawk.  The four answers are ball, black, jay and sea.