Skratch Golf – News

Cleveland Pays Tribute To 588 Wedges With Limited Box Set

Ryan Barath — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:40:22 +0000

To celebrate the original 588 wedges, Cleveland Golf is bringing back a classic with a modern twist.

In the world of wedges, the number 588 represents a seismic shift in the modernization of wedge design, thanks to the man behind it, Roger Cleveland. The Cleveland 588 is one of the most significant wedge designs of all time and helped to change the way many people think about short game clubs, and now the icon returns with a limited edition box set.

The 588 has always meant something special to me because of how golfers embraced it. Seeing players build real trust in that wedge, leaning on it in the moments that matter most was unforgettable. And now a new generation will have a chance to experience that too.

-Roger Cleveland, Founder and Designer.

Built to the original specs, but armed with modern technologies, this limited set features 52°, 56°, and 60° wedges with uniquely logoed True Temper S400 and Golf Pride Victory grips.

Other technologies included in the set are Cleveland Golf’s proprietary Z-Alloy, ZipCore, HydraZip, UltiZip grooves, and Rotex Face Milling. All of which are designed to improve feel, better control center of gravity, and help with maximizing spin and control.

Price & Availability

The 588 Wedge Box set is available starting today, May 8th. There are only 588 available for sale, and priced at a very attractive $588 price point.

The Matt Fitzpatrick Bettinardi Putter Has Arrived Grooves and All

Ryan Barath — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:13:02 +0000

With their top staffer on an all-time streak, Bettinardi is introducing two new putters directly from Matt Fitzpatrick's personal models.

Matt Fitzpatrick is the exact opposite of a tinkerer; in fact, he's more of a perfectionist, which is why, when he was looking to replace his most trusted putter, he turned to Bettinardi to bring exactly what he wanted to life.

From start to finish, the process of refining Matt's personal putter involved more than 30 prototypes, but the results of the time and effort put in by the team at Bettinardi speak for themselves, with Matt gaming his personal BB1 FF blade and, at times, the BB48-F mallet to multiple wins.

Matt Fitzpatrick holds his equipment to an exceptionally high standard, and that's exactly the standard we already work to every day in Tinley Park (home of the Bettinardi production facility). We're proud that our craftsmanship is what he trusts on Tour, and now golfers everywhere get to experience putters built to reflect his standards.

- Sam Bettinardi, President of Bettinardi Golf

Putter Details

Both putters are one-piece milled from 303 Stainless Steel with a headweight of 350 grams. They both utilize Matt's preferred rolled topline from address and a two-toned finish to aid in alignment. And, now for the first time, they are available to consumers.

A Groovy Little Story

Although not everyone reading is likely old enough to remember YES! Golf, we can't ignore the fact that the new Bettinardi features the same C-grooves as the original YES! putters - "c" for concentric. The design for the original C-Groove was filed in 1995 and then granted in 1997 to Harold Swash the inventor. Eventually YES! was bought by Adams, which was then bought by TaylorMade and in 2015 the patent officially expired (Patent here: US5637044A).

Thanks to the expired patent Bettinardi is just doing what they do best, applying there advanced manufacturing capabilities to deliver a exception product made to tight tolerances, it just so happens that the putter features a C-groove "style" face or as they call it Fitz Face.

This isn't a take one way or the other—just the facts for anyone curious about where this groove design originally came from.

Price & Availability

The BB1 Fitz Flow (BB1 FF) and the BB48 Fitz (BB48-F) will be available to order starting today, May 8th at Bettinardi.com, on location at Studio B in Oak Brook, and at select retailers.

Both putters are priced at $550

Golf Feels Harder in Spring. Allergies Might Be Why.

Brittany Romano — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:45 +0000

Brain fog. Watery eyes. Bad sleep. Heavy legs. Allergy season can quietly wreck a golf round long before you realize what’s happening. Here are the stops on tour that get hit the hardest.

Spring golf has a way of making you question everything.

You blame the swing. The winter rust. Maybe the greens. Maybe your putting. Maybe your entire existence after a three-putt on the first few holes of the season.

But sometimes the real issue is a lot less technical.

Seasonal allergies can quietly wreck a round. Think watery eyes, congestion, fatigue, headaches, bad sleep and the kind of brain fog that makes a swing-woe feel like a full body experience. In a sport that relies so heavily on focus, patience and energy, feeling even a little off can add up fast.

And the science backs it up.

Getty Images

Research published in Clinics in Sports Medicine Journal found that allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies can reduce athletic performance through nasal congestion, disrupted sleep, fatigue, slower reaction time, headaches, and reduced concentration.

AR [Allergic Rhinitis, or the immune response to inhaled allergens] has been associated with alteration in central nervous system function, which may significantly affect the athlete's ability to perform," the study reported. "Subjects who have AR experienced decrements in reaction time, attention, and vigilance when exposed to pollen."

According to the study, allergy symptoms can also affect breathing efficiency, recovery, and perceived exertion—small things that become a lot bigger over a four- or five-hour round.

These aren’t the things that show up on a launch monitor and to make things worse, how your body reacts to allergens changes depending on the season and region you're in.

Allergies have gotten in the way for dozens of pros over the years. Jason Day thought he was experiencing vertigo in 2023 that turned out to be severe allergies in Austin at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Bubba Watson's allergies are so severe he has twice WD from events (2009 at the AT&T National at Congressional in Maryland and 2014 API in Orlando)

The PGA TOUR says nearly 85 percent of players are affected by seasonal allergies, which helps explain why the PGA TOUR recently named Zyrtec its first official allergy relief sponsor. It’s less a niche issue and more a spring reality for anyone spending five hours outside.

That’s also why Zyrtec now has an on-site presence at tour stops in high-allergen regions like the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, the Truist Championship in Charlotte, and the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Spend a day with the allergens in these regions and you’ll be quick to realize that it’s not just a marketing campaign.

Akshay Bhatia, a Zyrtec ambassador has been candid about how his first appearance at the Masters was tainted by allergies, telling Forbes it was the worst allergies he’d ever experienced. He recalls his congestion and eye watering was so bad that he had to carry around a big towel during his practice round.

That’s Augusta in a nutshell of pine pollen, blooming azaleas and oak pollen—it is perhaps one of the most beautiful allergy traps in sports.

Any packing list for patrons or players should always include allergy medicine to avoid something as predictable as allergies from ruining the experience.

"Throughout my career, it seems my intense allergy symptoms tend to hit during the hardest and most important weeks of my year," Bhatia said after the TOUR announced its partnership with Zyrtec. I'm not letting them affect how I show up on the course."

Where Golf Allergies Hit Hardest (And What to Watch Out For)

Many of the best spring golf destinations also happen to be allergy hot zones. Here are some of the regions of the U.S. to watch out for when traveling to tournaments and buddies trips. You may not experience allergy symptoms at home, but every region and season have different allergens that can sneak up on you.

Accuweather publishes maps each year that outline peak times of year for tree, grass and weed pollen. Here’s what we’ve learned and what we’re watching out for planning our next golf trip.

Tree pollen starts mid-March across the south, cuts across the middle of the U.S. in mid-April and peaks up north in May and June. According to Accuweather, the Ohio Valley is expected to be one of the hardest-hit regions this year.

The Masters was right in the middle of that peak season. The two other tournaments in that region are both safely outside of peak tree Pollen season, FedEx St. Jude Championship (Memphis, TN) and the BMW Championship (St. Louis, MO) in early and late August, respectively.

Via Getty Images

Those headed to Cincinnati in a few weeks for the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship may feel some early effects of tree pollen via elm, juniper and poplar trees.

Grass pollen starts later in the season with May hitting hard on the west coast, through Texas and into the Gulf Coast. The Pacific North West gets hit in June around the same time as the mid-Atlantic states. Later into July is when those in the Northeast and Midwest will feel the effects of grass pollen. Rainfall will exacerbate pollen levels as grass grows quicker.

The first two of four PGA TOUR’s stops in Texas this year narrowly avoided peak grass pollen season—Texas Children’s Houston Open (Houston) and Valero Texas Open (St. Antonio). Although the late May Texas swing of the CJ Cup (McKinney) and Charles Schwab Challenge (Fort Worth) may feel a little itchy.

Unfortunately for LPGA players, there are three mid-season events snack in the middle of peak grass allergen zones in June’s Dow Championship (Midland, MI), Mejier LPGA Classic (Belmont, MI) and at Hazeltine for the KMPG Women's PGA Championship (Chaska, MN).

A view from the second hole of Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Gary Kellner/PGA of America via Getty Images)

Ragweed and other weed pollen come into play in late-summer and early-fall months—August in the south and September up north. The Rockies are expected to get hit the worst this year but that entire swath of the United States is without a PGA or LPGA stop this year.

Beyond tour stops, nearly every bucket list golf destination has an allergen to watch out for:

Florida stops like Orlando and Ponte Vedra bring heavy grass pollen, oak pollen, and mold into the mix.

Hilton Head, Pinehurst, and Charlotte get slammed with pine pollen and spring tree pollen.

Scottsdale trades pine trees for desert blooms and sudden spring spikes.

And if you’ve ever played Myrtle Beach in peak spring, you already know coastal grasses do not care about your tee time.

Basically: if the course turns yellow every April, your score might not be the only thing suffering.

The Bigger WTGL Story Isn’t About Who’s Missing

Addie Parker — Tue, 05 May 2026 22:04:38 +0000

It's about who signed on and why. The league's plan to make LPGA unsung players into must-know stars isn't misguided by any means.

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Ever since WTGL was announced in January, there’s been one player everyone has wanted to see join more than anyone else. And as the season has started—with Nelly Korda playing some of the best golf we're seeing from anyone—her absence from the committed player list has only become a bigger talking point. That’s understandable. But the conversation has reached a point where it hangs over nearly every discussion about the league, which feels...a bit unfair.

At the LPGA's season opener in Florida, Korda openly expressed her thoughts on the league missing an opportunity by not having men and women compete alongside each other, saying "There's no greater way to grow the game, and it would have been revolutionary. It would have been the first time, I think, that men and women are on the same playing field, playing for the same exact amount of money. But I also think it's great that we are getting this opportunity, so that's my mixed feelings."

Like many others, I agreed with her (and I still do). I feel like her involvement would give the league an added layer of legitimacy and it's something that I'm still holding out hope for, if she stays healthy throughout this season.

But I'm also at the point that I don't feel like WTGL, just like the LPGA Tour, doesn't need one star, it's needs a collective who can bring out the best in each other. And ultimately the reality, though many may disagree, is that Nelly Korda (and her participation) is not going to be the thing that makes or breaks WTGL.

By design team golf is the easiest, most simplified why to unionize players and giving them a common goal. Just by having one or two matches a week for 6-8 weeks is more time together than they get with the current schedule, having the Solheim Cup and International Crown every other year.

The camaraderie that comes from being on those teams is something that every LPGA player who has had the opportunity to experience them speaks about and with such sentimental fervor. They crave the competition that turns into representing more than just themselves.

Team United States reacts after winning the Solheim Cup during the Sunday Singles matches during the final round of the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Earlier this week, ahead of play at the Mizuho Americas Open, six new faces were named to join WTGL for its first season, bringing the total to 14 players.

Celine Boutier, Danielle Kang, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, Minjee Lee, and Albane Valenzuela will join fellow LPGA stars Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Lottie Woad, Brooke Henderson, Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson, and Michelle Wie West for the inaugural season that will kick off later this year.

And it feels kismet that the latest iteration of WTGL commits came during the week of the Mizuho, the event hosted by none other than Wie West, especially due to the fact that 36-year-old has announced that she'll be coming out of retirement for the league's maiden season.

The 2014 U.S. Women's Open champion's added involvement (going from TGL team owner to WTGL player) was the little dose of nostalgia that gave this thing legs in my opinion. Her commitment is such a great get as she's still one of the most recognizable names and faces in the game. Her popularity has spanned over two decades, she remains connected with so many players that she's the bridge between generations.

"I think these players, LPGA players, have such amazing personalities. You can kind of already tell with the press conferences that have been coming out," Wie West said earlier this week at Mizuho. "I think any platform that can give LPGA players a sounding board and opportunity to showcase their talent, personalities, I think TGL is perfect for that. I think we're going to reach new audiences hopefully."

And something that I think needs to be emphasized is that the players who are involved aren't random. In fact it's all very intentional. I reached out to team who developed TGL and are working on building out the women's league for comment and this is what they shared, "Player recruitment for WTGL has been very positive. The 14 LPGA Tour players now committed—a group that includes major champions, Olympians, Solheim Cup players and global stars—reflects the enthusiasm we’re seeing from players, ownership groups and partners as we prepare for WTGL’s inaugural season."

And when you put it in laymen's terms like that, it helps to put things into perspective.

This is an entertainment product just as much as it is a competition, and collecting personalities who can not only play incredible golf, but add value outside of their golf game is exactly why the league was created. This isn't just the LPGA 2.0, this is something different.

WTGL has a player relations team that is in ongoing conversations with the athletes and the Tour to help build out a roster that reflects the depth, talent, personality and global reach of women's golf. And conversations are far from finalized.

"Having gone through a similar process with TGL, we understand the importance of balancing player schedules, competitive fit, team chemistry and broader league goals when building rosters. Most importantly, we are prioritizing players’ LPGA and professional schedules. WTGL is designed to be complementary to the LPGA season and to provide an additional platform for LPGA stars to showcase their talent and personalities in a new team environment," the league told Skratch.

Back in February, I finally got the chance to see exactly how the TGL sausage is made. I had seen it on TV, I had followed the social media buzz primarily on Twitter, but you don't really get it until you can experience up close. And as far as live sports are concerned, TGL has legs to be the the snack-able version of golf that casual fans need, in order for our game to keep growing. For the ones who want more action and banter, TGL and soon, WTGL will be the answer.

Because let's face it, not everyone is going to go out and buy tickets to the average Tour event. And though professional golf broadcasts are steadily improving the on the fan and viewer experience, they still cater towards the golf traditionalists. And not everyone is getting equal screen time, this is a new pathway for the unsung stars of the Tour to put themselves out there and grow a following.

TGL is higher in energy, the technology is cool, and golf fans get to interact with each other in a new way—which was an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise for me. Just like at a baseball game or sitting in a football stadium, you're sat next to complete strangers who are there for the exact same reason you are, and the shared intimacy that can happen only at a live sporting event is palpable at the SoFi Center.

My one caveat is that ticket prices for TGL matches are far more expensive than I expected. The average cost for one ticket will run you around $160-$250. It places limitation on those in the area who are curious about the product and takes away the spontaneity of a causal fan looking for something to do early in the week. The average LPGA event ticket runs from $30-$60 for general admission, and I think that's the sweet spot for this kind of thing—make it feels more accessible for all.

Inside the SoFi Center.(Image credit: Skratch)

Outside of Wie West's involvement, the diversity in the talent that WTGL will bring can't be understated.

For starters, Megan Khang is undoubtably one of the most charismatic players in golf, period. Her energy is infections. She's beloved by so many in women's golf and she deserves a spotlight like WTGL. She was built for this and I can't wait for folks to see her in action. (And fair warning, she said she'll need a possible bleep button for the mic.)

Then there's the rising talent in players like Lottie Woad and Rose Zhang, two golfers who have experienced success in their careers so early, both winning their LPGA professional debuts.

Charley Hull is the people's princess. She's so beloved by everyone and I think she's another one who will be able to dish it. She's quick-witted and doesn't waist time when she's playing, so the format will allow her to shine bright.

Minjee Lee brings a calming aura, and so does Andrea Lee, but calm doesn't mean lack of fire power. I mean the list goes on as to why these players were selected. It makes sense.

There are no misses in this lineup if you look at it holistically. The league works when everyone wants to be there and is bought in. That’s the entire point of a team format like this: the product is stronger when the spotlight is shared instead of resting on one person’s shoulders.

I believe that WTGL doesn’t need a singular face to validate it. If anything, building the league around a collective instead of one undeniable superstar gives it a chance to create new stars, new rivalries, and a deeper connection with fans. A roster full of invested players matters, and dare I say, more than one name dominating the conversation.

Mountain Ridge Delivers a True LPGA Test During Mizuho’s Liberty National Hiatus

Addie Parker — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:51:15 +0000

Mountain Ridge’s demanding setup is quickly establishing itself as a worthy challenge.

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — "It feels like a major," has been the sentiment from players all week at this year's Mizuho Americas Open. A scheduled rotation, due to the PGA TOUR hosting an event at Liberty National next year, opened the door for a new kind of test for the LPGA at Mountain Ridge—and it's paying off.

After walking the course early in the week and then speaking with a few players, I must admit that I was a bit surprised to see just how low scores were on Thursday with Andrea Lee setting the tone at 6-under par.

The putting surfaces are fast, the fall off on some the of the green complexes are steep, and the pin placements are borderline sadistic. Just look at this putt that Hannah Gregg, who competes primarily on the LET circuit had during the Monday qualifier. Gregg said only breathed on the ball and it ran nearly 20 yards off the green.

Insanity.

Even with some moderate to heavy rain on Wednesday, the course was playing firm and fast on Thursday. Lee, who for the first time in her career held the outright lead after the first round at an LPGA event, was also a bit shocked to see her stats. "I really didn't see 6-under today to be honest, so I'm quite pleased that," she said in her post-round presser. "The game plan going into it was just staying really patient, trying to hit as many greens and fairways as possible, and just know that pars is good score and trying to minimize bogeys."

It was a rather clinical day for the Stanford grad, who hit every fairway and only missed two greens all day.

Lydia Ko, powered by her NYC coffee claw clip also made some moves Thursday afternoon, carding an opening round of 65, that included two bogeys and an eagle!

She went off early for her second round, making some early bogeys but remains in contention at 4-under par.

As for the marquee player this week and tournament host Michelle Wie West, it was a tough day in the office for her first competitive round in nearly three years, carding a brutal 10-over par round of 82.

After the fact, she said that her game and this course took her to some dark and grim places on Thursday. "Golf can take you places, and I went places today. But, you know, you got to see the big picture at the end of the day. I'm so proud of what we built here...I think if you look at my round, I think the one takeaway that you can get from that is these girls out here are amazing. They make these golf courses look a lot easier than they actually are."

But I will say, it felt kind of surreal to see Wie West back out there, with her husband Jonnie on the bag. I wasn't at Pebble Beach three years ago, so the last time I saw the 2014 U.S. Women's Open Champion play was when I was a little girl, well over a decade ago. So to be able to talk to her about her golf this week has felt pretty full circle.

I followed Wie West as she was ending her round and what I saw was a gutsy competitor who still has a desire to be the best she can be, despite being out of the saddle for a bit. The countdown to see her at Riv is so on.

Click here to see how you can follow the rest of the Mizuho action this weekend.

Bad Weather Looms at Mizuho, But Jeeno Thitikul Remains Unfazed

Addie Parker — Fri, 08 May 2026 22:27:28 +0000

The World No. 2 is finding her form this week as she seeks to defend her Mizuho title.

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — As winds howled for much of Friday's second round at Mountain Ridge, few players (20 to be exact) found themselves in the red figures after the second round of the Mizuho Americas Open.

Thursday afternoon’s low scoring came as a bit of a surprise given just how tricky some of the pins were set up and with how firm the greens were playing. But today was a different story, as players were on the defense against the gusty conditions.

Lydia Ko backed up her opening round of 67 with a 3-over par 75, and felt like today was playing like a British Open, with a U.S. Open set up.

"The wind was picking up but I did think we got pretty lucky in the first half of our round. It was meant to be a little bit breezier today than yesterday. For at least the front nine it was pretty calm," Ko said after her round today.

"You get some and you lose some, but it's a course where the holes can play completely different. I hit 5-wood into the green on 11 in my practice round and gap wedge yesterday...when it [the wind] does pick up like this, I think putting actually becomes one of the hardest parts because the ball is oscillating and you're trying to stay calm and not move all around the place. You just have to be patient. It's almost like a British Open, but at a U.S. Open setup."

Tournament host, Michelle Wie West shot 82-80 in her first competitive return since the 2023 U.S. Women's Open.

The second round clubhouse leaders were Celine Boutier and Arpichaya Yubol, the only two players to post rounds of 68. They're sitting at T-4 and T-6, respectively. Though it was World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul who really shined on Friday, building a three-shot lead heading into the weekend.

Thitikul is coming off of her first missed cut of the season at the Chevron Championship, and has noted recent iron struggles, but over the course of the week at Mountain Ridge, she's been nearly flawless with her approach shots hitting 32 out of 36 greens.

After her round she joked not to jinx her iron play, saying "Don't say my iron is good, please. (Laughing.) I always like to call my coach every single day, from March until now. I have things feeling-wise, technique-wise that I think could be improve, but, I mean, I think it's just golf and I'm less overthinking about it maybe."

Thitikul won three times in 2025, with Mizuho being her first. And though the course may be different, she's picking up right where she left off.

As for the rest of the weekend, tee times and broadcast times are being moved up due to incoming weather. Live coverage of the third round will be from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on CNBC and Golf Channel Digital.

Tee times are scheduled to go off between 7:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10 in groups of three.

Did The LPGA's Pace of Play Actually Improve Last Season?

Addie Parker — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:57:18 +0000

The data says yes.

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Another viral video from this week’s LPGA event, the Mizuho Americas Open, is making the rounds thanks to Ryan French a.k.a Monday Q Info—and it’s reigniting the conversation around pace of play.

French shared a post of notoriously fast player Charley Hull, who was paired alongside major winners Hannah Green and Lydia Ko, during the opening round at Mountain Ridge showcasing her quick pace in a sub-40 second clip.

Pace of play on the LPGA Tour has been one of its biggest pain points up until last year when a new policy went into effect to help remedy the problem.

Announced in February 2025, the Tour set the tone for how to help move things along, because it really had gotten out of hand. Some events, especially the majors, would exceed its broadcast window by almost an hour, and when it comes to growing the visibility of women's golf, you simply can't have your athletes not taking advantage of the (already) limited time they're given on people's screens.

The TLDR of the new policy basically stated that players who were deemed to be in violation of the allotted time given would not only receive a penalty stroke but could also be fined. The Tour, its officials, and players had to all agree upon this new change, and the all-around consensus is that the ante needed to be upped for pace of play to be taken seriously.

"I think that implementing harsher rules is going to be good for the game of golf," said World No. 1 Nelly Korda when the policy was first introduced. "They were saying at the [player] meeting, at the end of the day, we're a form of entertainment. If we're taking really long out there, I mean, that's not entertaining."

The new policy went into effect at the 2025 Ford Championship, so, how has the speed of the LPGA changed since?

At the end of last season, it was reported that the player who had the most holes timed last year (88) has been cut in half this year (43), which LPGA Player President Vicki Goetze-Ackerman believes shows that "people are actually making an effort". Plus, the Tour only missed one TV window in 2025. That event hasn't been identified.

But perhaps the most telling evidence that things had been drastically sped up came at the Tour's season finale—the CME Group Tour Championship—when there were no split tees for the final round and no threesomes. Meaning all 60 players in the field went off the first hole and did so in pairs.

Since 2016, the Tour and tournament officials would have athletes go off in threesomes off the first and 10th holes because things moved a bit too slow for the broadcast window, but with this new policy things have appeared to move faster allowing for a shift at the season's end.

At the Rolex LPGA Awards back in November, I sat across from Lexi Thompson who joined the Tour in 2012 at the age of 17, and asked her if this has been a faster year that she can recall from memory. To which she quickly responded with, "for sure".

Thompson herself got caught in some cross fire about playing "slow" at the 2025 U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills when she was paired with Korda and Charley Hull—two of the faster players on Tour. The 30-year-old isn't slow by any means and that was an instance of social media turning a nothing-burger into something. But what is something is that in just eight months, the LPGA has managed to mitigate one of the things fans have been outspoken about for quite some time.

Is this the perfect, end-all-be-all solution? Probably not. There's always room for improvement, but this is a step in the right (and faster) direction.

This page was first published on November 25, 2025. Last updated May 8, 2026.

Early Forecast for the PGA Championship at Aronimink

Riley Hamel — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:30:01 +0000

Aronimink should get some rain early in the week, but the weekend at next week's PGA Championship looks beautiful.

All eyes may be on Quail Hollow and the Truist Championship at the moment, but you’d be lying to yourself if you said you weren’t thinking about next week’s PGA Championship just a little bit.

Donald Ross’ Aronmink Golf Club, located just outside of Philadelphia, last hosted the best men golfers in the world in 2018 for the BMW Championship, won by Keegan Bradley at 20 under. It’s a fitting host for this year’s PGA given the fact that the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary, a country born in the city of Brotherly Love.

Now, as most of you know, it’s tough to trust an early forecast—being a meteorologist must be the easiest job in the world. Still, we wanted to lay out what the weather is shaping up to be once the golf world descends upon Aronimink.

Early Forecast for the PGA Championship

Tuesday (Practice Round)

Temperature: 62

Conditions: Partly Cloudy

Wind: 12 MPH NW

Wednesday (Practice Round)

Temperature: 59

Conditions: 59% Chance of Rain

Wind: 7 MPH ESE

Thursday (First Round)

Temperature: 62

Conditions: 55% Chance of Rain

Wind: 10 MPH E

Friday (Second Round)

Temperature: 66

Conditions: 56% Chance of Rain

Wind: 13 MPH NE

Saturday (Third Round)

Temperature: 71

Conditions: Sunny

Wind: 8 MPH NNW

Sunday (Final Round)

Temperature: 74

Conditions: Sunny

Wind: 15 MPH NW

The PGA TOUR's New Player Social Media Policy is Bait for Bryson DeChambeau

Riley Hamel — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:56:44 +0000

With LIV Golf in a tailspin, the PGA TOUR just eliminated Bryson DeChambeau's main concern about a potential comeback.

With YouTube Golf's relentless growth and its consistent inclusion of the world's best players, the PGA TOUR is overhauling its guidelines for player content creation—somewhere, Bryson DeChambeau's ears just perked up.

Just days ago, he told Skratch's Garrett Johnson that the ability to film at TOUR stops was a genuine obstacle to his return. "It's one of (the obstacles)," he said. "If you look at it, it's affiliate marketing, so me being able to create content on that golf course that week at that event should only bring value to the tournament, and that's what I care about most—entertaining, like I've always said from day one."

As it turns out, he only had to wait a few days for those concerns to become moot.

On Friday morning, David Rumsey of the Front Office Sports reported that the TOUR is set to embrace players pulling double duty as content creators. The changes were unveiled at a PAC meeting earlier this week and are expected to take effect later this month.

The updates include: the freedom to post six shots from the broadcast per round (up from one); 120 minutes of highlights to YouTube per event (up from 60, though posts must come at least 72 hours after the event concludes); the ability to earn ad revenue on content captured during practice rounds and pro-ams; and the elimination of a rule requiring players to transfer ownership of their YouTube channels to the TOUR in order to use archive footage.

A TOUR spokesperson confirmed with Skratch the report and said the rollout is expected sometime in May.

"The PGA TOUR strives to provide the most athlete-friendly social media guidelines in professional sports, in order to equip our players as they engage and grow their individual brands—and the PGA TOUR's fanbase—while protecting the TOUR's commercial business for the benefit of the entire membership," the spokesperson said early Friday morning.

To be clear, this policy wasn't drafted in the few days since DeChambeau aired his grievances—these things take time and pass through plenty of hands. But the timing carries familiar echoes of the Returning Members Program.

When the TOUR learned Brooks Koepka wanted out of LIV Golf, it quietly built a pathway back for a handful of players it was happy to welcome home. The 2022 major championship cutoff was no accident—Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship in 2021, and the door was never going to open for him.

Now, with LIV in a tailspin after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced it would pull its backing following 2026—and with rumors swirling of players already sounding out a potential return—the TOUR had reason to act. The target, clearly, was the one player seriously weighing a future in pro golf against a future on YouTube full time: DeChambeau, whose LIV contract expires at the end of 2026.

If a more permissive content policy is what it takes to bring him back to the negotiating table, that's more than enough motivation for the TOUR to make some changes—especially when the prize is one of the most popular and polarizing players in the game. And as a bonus, players like Tommy Fleetwood and Jason Day, who have already dipped into content creation, stand to benefit as well.

With LIV's future in serious doubt, the TOUR just eliminated DeChambeau's biggest concern regarding a comeback—now we have to wait and see if he takes the bait.

Golf’s Best Europeans Honor Seve Ballesteros on the 15th Anniversary of His Passing

Riley Hamel — Thu, 07 May 2026 23:47:27 +0000

On the 15th anniversary of his passing, European players honored Seve Ballesteros by wearing white polos and navy pants.

On May 7, 2011, the golf world lost Seve Ballesteros. To this day, his memory powers the world’s best European golfers, especially at the Ryder Cup.

Fifteen years after his passing, players who grew up idolizing the five-time major champion wore a white polo and navy pants in his honor.

At the PGA TOUR’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Reitan honored their hero, as did many others at LIV Golf Virginia, including his countryman, Jon Rahm.

Players Honor Seve Ballesteros

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose

Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Jon Rahm, and Ian Poulter

As a pro, Ballesteros won 90 events, including nine on TOUR, the 1979, 1984, and 1988 Open, and the 1980 and 1983 Masters. When he served as the European Ryder Cup captain in 1997, his team won in his home country of Spain at Valderrama.

The Big Guide To Mini Drivers: Every 2026 Model Compared

Ryan Barath — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:20:00 +0000

Here’s how the latest mini drivers compare in shape, specs, adjustability, and who they’re actually made for.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times: Mini drivers are here to stay—and they serve a real purpose for a lot of golfers. But just because they’re all called “mini drivers” doesn’t mean they’re all built the same.

Like irons, wedges, and putters, every manufacturer has its own design philosophy in the form of shape, weighting, loft packages, and playability off the tee and turf. So here’s a look at the mini drivers currently on the market, and how each one stacks up in terms of function, features, and specs.

TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini

Like the original namesake R7 (and now the Qi4D Driver), the R7 Quad Mini features 4-way adjustable weighting—but the similarities stop there. It also features an infinity carbon crown and brings with it all of the other standard technology features of previous generation minis, including a 4-degree adjustable hosel sleeve, speed pocket, and twist face.

At 305 cc the R7 fits right in the middle of the pack for size, but still skews to be used more off the tee than off the deck at an estimated 70/30 split for most players. Although a new 15.5° opens a whole new world of possibilities.

It comes in lofts of 11.5°, 13.5°, and now 15.5° (right hand only) and a standard length of 43.75”.

Price: $480

Callaway Elyte Mini (Midnight Edition)

The Callaway Elyte Mini Driver takes everything you know and love about the Elyte driver and, as the name suggests, makes it mini. It comes with a three-way adjustable weight along the rear of the driver to fine-tune ball flight, plus an adjustable hosel to tune lie and loft independently.

I made this for Callaway's last mini-release, and this gives me a great excuse to share it again (just replace AI Smoke with Elyte).

At 340 cc, the Elye mini is the largest of the mini drivers on the market by more than 10% and is, by design, the most forgiving and easiest to hit off the tee. Unless you’re a golfer who possesses a lot of club head speed, the Elyte mini is best reserved to be used primarily as a secondary tee option.

It comes in lofts 11.5° and 13.5° in right and left-handed and a standard length of 43.75”.

Price: $520 (Midnight Edition)

Titleist GT280

The GT280 was a long time coming for Titleist, and unlike the rest of the minis on this list sits firmly under the 300cc size at (I’ll give you one second to guess…too late) 280cc. This allows it to occupy a very unique space in the mini driver category because it was specifically designed to be used as easily off the deck as off the tee.

As far as features are concerned, the GT280 comes with Titleist’s SureFit hosel adapter to adjust lie and loft independently, and front and back weights to help dial in ball flight and spin.

It only comes in one loft: 13°, but is available in both right and left-handed, and a standard length of 43.5”.

Price: $500

In some news, following the recent release of the GTS drivers and fairway woods on tour, Titleist has also launched a new GTS300 which we can expect to replace the GT280 this summer.

PXG Secret Weapon

Until the Cobra King Tec MD came along, the PXG Secret Weapon was the most adjustable mini driver on market.

The PXG features 4 way adjustable sole weighting to help fine tune ball flight, with the heel and toe bias weights located along the most perimeter compared to the other models. It also has PXG’s adjustable hosel which can adjust loft by 1.5° up or down.

At 300cc, it’s just a hair smaller than the TaylorMade but from a profile perspective has a flatter leading edge that moves towards the heel and toe to increase lower face forgiveness.

It only comes in one loft: 13°, but is available in both right and left-handed, and a standard length of 43.75”.

Price: $450

Cobra King Tec MD (Mini Driver)

The King MD mini driver is big driver tech in a mini driver package, with some fairway wood magic thrown in for good measure.

It was designed around the concept of offering a secondary tee option without giving up potential playability from the fairway when required. The carbon crown helps to push the center of gravity lower in the head, with the weight savings used to create adjustable sole weighting for fine tuning.

The feature that truly separates the King TEC-MD from others in the mini driver category is Cobra’s Future Fit 33 hosel because it allows for so much fine tuning or lie and loft. This is particularly helpful for adjusting the lie angle, which is a critical spec in helping reduce fairway wood dispersion and improving turf interaction.

It only comes in one loft: 13.5°, but is available in both right and left-handed, and a standard length of 43.75”.

Price: $480

This page was first published on February 18, 2026. Last updated May 7, 2026

Gary Player: ‘It’s an Absolute Joke’ How Much Easier Golf is Today

Riley Hamel — Thu, 07 May 2026 20:20:12 +0000

"I mean it’s—it’s a joke how much easier golf is now. It is absolutely a joke.”

Gary Player won his first PGA TOUR event in 1958. By the time he hung it up, he had 24 TOUR wins and nine major championships on his resume. Safe to say he’s been playing this game for a long time.

On Thursday, the man famous for donning all black joined Skratch’s Vanity Index podcast and discussed golf’s differences between when he was out there playing and what the guys are facing today. Long story short: it’s much, much easier now.

“I was getting ready to get my driver ready for Augusta,” he told hosts Chad Mumm and Wells Adams. “PXG fly a guy in with all shafts and heads, and they got a screwdriver there they can make it fade, hook, high, low. Anything you like—hit it straight. I mean it’s—it’s a joke how much easier golf is now. It is absolutely a joke.”

He also brought up an interesting point that it’s impossible to compare players from different eras due to the incredible evolution of equipment.

During the chat with Mumm and Adams, Player also discussed his journey to the Career Grand Slam and a whole lot more.

Vanity Index Podcast airs every Wednesday on Golf Channel at 10AM EST. Listen to this Episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The Numbers Behind Titleist’s Growing GTS Driver Adoption on Tour

Ryan Barath — Tue, 05 May 2026 17:37:07 +0000

With more tour pros making the switch each week, the early performance gains from Titleist’s GTS drivers are starting to stand out.

*In Partnership with Titleist*

Since Titleist launched the GTS drivers at the Houston Open as part of its tour validation process, there has been a steady stream of players making the switch in search of any advantage they can find off the tee. But tour players don’t change drivers just because one shows up at their door.

With status in majors, world ranking points, the FedEx Cup, and, of course, millions of dollars on the line, there has to be a reason to make the switch, so after the recent Cadillac Championship, we decided to dive into the numbers to see how the GTS driver has helped those who have made the transition.

Players Who Have Switched

The lineup yet to be released to the public includes three new models: GTS2, GTS3 and GTS4. Over 50 players have made the switch to a GTS model as of the Cadillac Championship, including equipment free agents (for clubs) like Patrick Cantlay, Nick Taylor, and Kurt Kitayama, plus Titleist staffers like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

Once we dive into the numbers, it's easy to understand why these players have made the switch.

What’s especially notable is how quickly players have adopted the new driver during Titleist’s tour seeding process. Often, pros are reluctant to change drivers mid-season unless the performance gains are obvious. Then when equipment free agents start to make the switch too, that says even more.

By The Numbers

Starting with Patrick Cantlay, at the most recent Cadillac Championship, he averaged just over 303 yards off the tee compared to his season average of 299.5 yards with a new GTS4 in the bag. Nick Taylor, who also moved to a GTS4, averaged just over 300 yards at Doral compared to his previous season average of 295 yards.

These jumps might not seem massive, we’re not talking about 30-yard gains here, but at the highest level, even a few extra yards while maintaining control can create a meaningful advantage.

One player who did see a big jump was Kurt Kitayama, who added 17 yards to his 2026 PGA TOUR season average at Doral by averaging over 330 yards off the tee for the event with a GTS3.

What also stands out with the GTS lineup—based on what we know publicly so far—is the added emphasis on adjustability. Compared to the previous GT models, the GTS drivers appear to offer more front-to-back CG tuning, additional rear weighting, and more fitting flexibility overall. For tour players chasing small gains in launch, spin, and dispersion, those added tuning options can make a meaningful difference.

As for Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, their stats tell a similar story.

At Doral, Jordan averaged 315 yards compared to his 2026 tour average of just over 308 yards, and Justin gained 9 yards with his 316-yard average with his new GTS2. The other notable part is that, Justin not only gained distance, but also hit over 66% of his fairways compared to his 55% season average.

Early returns don’t tell the whole story, but the trend is already becoming clear. Players aren’t just testing the new GTS drivers, they’re putting them straight into competition and seeing immediate gains. And with an updated tech package and new fitting tools built in, it’s easy to understand why more players are making the switch at a point in the season where every shot matters more.

As for retail, Titleist has already teased a May launch, so it’s fair to expect availability around then. And with more players continuing to make the switch each week, we’ll likely learn even more about the new GTS lineup in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.

If The LPGA Had Signature Events, Mizuho Would Be One of Them

Addie Parker — Mon, 05 May 2025 17:32:50 +0000

With an iconic host, exciting player incentives, and a prime host course just outside NYC, the Mizuho Americas Open stands out as one of the LPGA’s top events.

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Signature events, previously called designated events, on the PGA TOUR can feel like mini majors at times. The elite player fields, increased prize money, and of course, the venues that host these events—are all elevated compared to regular weeks on the schedule.

They're little doses and reminders that golf's expansion boils over from the major weeks and people are paying attention—and for the LPGA Tour— the Mizuho Americas Open is exactly that.

It’s a special week across the Hudson River, just outside New York City, as the Tour returns to Mountain Ridge Country Club for the first time in four years. The stage is set with 120 LPGA professionals competing alongside an elite amateur field featuring the AJGA’s top 24 ranked players.

With its unique format and the presence of tournament host Michelle Wie West, the Mizuho Americas Open is quickly establishing itself as one of the standout events on the schedule—despite being only a few years old. Here’s why.

Host Course(s)

For the last three years, Mizuho has been contested at Liberty National, which is just a stone's throw away from the Statue of Liberty and a mere ferry ride from lower Manhattan.

Getty Images

Liberty National was once a a clean-up project. The now luxurious golf club had several dark, and well, dirty past lives. It was used as uses as an oil refinery, storage facility, and during the First World War, the location housed ammunition. During the Second World War, part of land was used as a prisoner of war camp. But its course engineers and designers of the course, saw an aerial shot of the grounds, they had a vision for a golf course that would sit across from the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Lower Manhattan. And over the year's it become a premier attraction site for professional golf, serving as host to not just Mizuho but a total of nine PGA TOUR events, including the 2017 President's Cup.

But in it's fourth year, this special tournament will revisit a course of LPGA's past in Mountain Ridge Country Club, located 20 miles outside of NYC. It’s a challenging course, featuring beautiful views, significant elevation changes, and complex greens that give it the feel of a major championship test. Previously, this course has hosted the 2021 Founders Cup when Jin Young Ko won with a score of 18-under-par.

Mizuho will continue to be the title sponsor of this event through 2030, and in two years, Liberty National will be the host venue once more, and hopefully for the long run!

Michelle Wie West Doing Double-Duty!

In the past, Michelle Wie West has just acted as tournament host, you know, greeting folks, talking to media, speaking on panels, doing all the things a good host does. But this year, things are looking a little bit different for Wiezy as she has also accepted a sponsor invitation into the field this week.

And she may be more locked in than normal, but Wie West hasn't skimped on being the hostess with the mostest! Each player is getting a Ford courtesy car for the week, along with a $250 Starbucks gift card for a little off-course libation.

But perhaps one of my favorite elements of this week is the mentorship program between the pros and the amateurs playing in the event that Wie West has helped forge. She was barely a teen when the golf world was introduced to her so she knows first-hand what it's like to experience the big stage at an early age, and wants this event to be a leading force in connecting the current generation of LPGA players with the next ones up.

Giving Pro-Am a Whole New Meaning

Mizuho's separating element is by far its unique format that offers an opportunity for top-ranked AJGA junior golfers to compete side-by-side with the best LPGA players in the world.

While the pros will play in normal stroke play tournament format, the amateurs use a Modified Stableford format where points will be awarded based on a score for each hole.

There's a winner for each division. Previous LPGA winners include Rose Zhang (2023), Nelly Korda (2024), and Jeeno Thitikul (2025). It was also Zhang's first ever LPGA win, making her the first player in 51 years to win her professional debut. A feat Lottie Woad also accomplished last year.

Yana Wilson, who won the amateur division in 2023 will tee it up this week as a 2026 LPGA rookie!

Getty Images

How To Watch/TV and Streaming

Thursday, May 7: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital); 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Live)

Friday, May 8: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital); 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Live)

Saturday, May 9: 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital); 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel Live)

Sunday, May 10: 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Golf Channel Digital); 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CBS/Paramount+)

This page was first published on May 5, 2025. Last updated May 6, 2026.

Sunday Golf Finally Made a Carry Bag for Lefties

Ryan Barath — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:56:37 +0000

If you happen to be a golfer of the left-handed persuasion, Sunday Golf could have the most comfortable bag you've ever carried.

It used to be that if you wanted to play golf, you had to play right-handed. Then at some point, left-handed clubs became a lot more readily available, and those who felt more comfy swinging from the other side finally could.

My dad, for example, a left-handed hockey player, started playing golf right-handed simply because lefty clubs were hard to find. Thankfully, that part of the game has changed quite a bit. Now Sunday Golf is applying that same thinking to carry bags with the Ryder Lefty.

Now Sunday Golf is applying that same thinking to carry bags with the Ryder Lefty. Beyond simply flipping the carry orientation, the Ryder Lefty still includes the features golfers expect from a modern stand bag—comfortable backpack-style straps, full-length dividers, water-resistant zippers, a cooler pocket and a flat base that works well on carts.

Image Courtesy Sunday Golf

What Is A Lefty Golf Bag?

The simplest explanation is that you get all the above features, but the protective hip pad and pockets have swapped sides, so you can instinctively pick up the bag with your dominant left hand rather than your right, like most traditional bags.

The biggest difference is simple: the pockets, hip pad, and strap orientation are reversed so the bag sits more naturally for golfers who carry with their left side leading. Swapping those to the other side of the bag make it so lefties can instinctively pick up the bag with their dominant left hand rather than the right, like most traditional bags demand.

It sounds like a small tweak, but for left-handed golfers who walk often, it can make a surprisingly noticeable difference over 18 holes.

For lefties who’ve spent years adapting to right-handed bags, it’s one of those ideas that feels obvious once you see it.

Rory McIlroy Sounds Like a Golfer With Nothing Left to Prove and Everything Left to Win

Riley Hamel — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:12:36 +0000

McIlroy says Augusta validated the work he’s put in over the last few years. Now he’s chasing what comes next.

We haven’t seen much of Rory McIlroy over the last few months—well, inside the ropes anyway. He gutted out a bad back at THE PLAYERS, took nearly a month off before winning his second straight Green Jacket, and now he returns to Quail Hollow for the Truist Championship, his first start since the Masters.

Why bother going through the grind of weekly events when you can just show up and win? I’d do the same thing.

But for those who were at their local movie theater over the weekend, McIlroy made a surprising cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Two years ago, after he beat J.J. Spaun in a Monday playoff to win his second PLAYERS title, McIlroy said that he relaxed that Sunday night ahead of the playoff by watching the original The Devil Wears Prada. David Frankel, the film’s director, said when that came across his desk, he knew he had to get McIlroy involved in the sequel. The Northern Irishman never expected to hear from Frankel, but the director’s son played for the Stanford golf team and told his dad about McIlroy’s preparation.

When the team reached out to McIlroy, he was on the fence about getting involved—but then he asked his wife, Erica.

“She’s like, ‘yeah, absolutely!’ Then I texted back and said, ‘Do you think Erica could be in it, too?’ And they’re like, ‘Sure, bring her along!’ We spent a day in New York and did it, and it was an unbelievable experience,” McIlroy said on this week’s episode of the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce.

McIlroy also touched on his Masters win, golf dad tips, the “shrink the game” movement, and his Mount Rushmore of courses, plus tons more.

As for the Truist, McIlroy enters as the betting favorite and for good reason. He’s won here four times, including the last time it was held at Quail Hollow (2024). Even outside the wins, he's turned this place into his personal ATM.

For that reason alone, it’s easy to think of him winning again come Sunday afternoon. But after hearing him discuss his motivation following his sixth major win, another win in five days feels like a foregone conclusion.

“I felt like winning the Grand Slam was like this—was going to be this life-changing thing, and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, no, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing,” McIlroy told the media Wednesday.

“So this year, I think winning was validation for all the work that I've put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I'm winning majors. I'm excited for the road ahead. I'm excited for this week, I'm excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale. I feel like, if anything, I'm more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I've ever been.”

A motivated McIlroy could be a nightmare for the rest of the TOUR so stay tuned beacuse we might get an early glimpse of that this week at one of his favorite stops.

Bryson DeChambeau’s TOUR Comeback Could Be Less Complicated Than He Thinks

Garrett Johnston — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:18:29 +0000

On Wednesday, DeChambeau pondered the TOUR’s social media policy, and also told Skratch “I don’t even think it’s Brian Rolapp or anybody like one of the top executives, it’s really if the players want me back and if not, then I understand that.”

POTOMAC FALLS, Va. — Bryson DeChambeau has built one of the biggest golf audiences in the world outside of tournament broadcasts.

His YouTube channel currently sits at 2.69 million subscribers, and his Break 50 series continues to thrive with a mix of athletes, celebrities, and creators ranging from Steph Curry to Carlos Alcaraz and John Daly.

And after speaking with DeChambeau on Wednesday at LIV Golf Virginia, it’s clear content creation is no longer just a side project for him—it’s a major part of how he views his future in golf.

“So if I was to film a video during the week of one of their events with a content creator or a celebrity, that would be in violation to my knowledge,” DeChambeau told Skratch on this week in DC.

DeChambeau pointed to the PGA TOUR’s social media policy as one of the potential hurdles he sees if he were ever to pursue a return to the TOUR.

“It’s their policy, they didn’t let me do it when I was on there. I asked various times,” DeChambeau said. “They didn’t let Grant Horvat or Garrett Clark do some videos during the Monday, Tuesday practice rounds. That’s the truth.”

The PGA TOUR later clarified to Skratch that third-party creators such as Horvat and Clark operate under different guidelines than TOUR members themselves. Under the TOUR’s current Player On-Site Social Media Policy, players are permitted to capture and post content during practice rounds and pro-am days.

“It’s one of them,” DeChambeau said of the obstacles facing any potential return. “If you look at it, it’s affiliate marketing, so me being able to create content on that golf course that week at that event should only bring value to the tournament, and that’s what I care about most, entertaining like I’ve always said from day one.”

When told the TOUR said it allows players to create content on-site during practice rounds and pro-am days, DeChambeau pointed to specific creator restrictions he’s seen in the past.

“You should talk to Garrett Clark about that then, because they didn’t allow him to post a Wednesday Pro-Am video, if you want to get into the semantics of it,” DeChambeau said.

But the more DeChambeau talked after the LIV Virginia Pro-Am this week, the clearer it became that this conversation wasn’t really about one specific policy. It was about flexibility. And about how much his priorities have changed since leaving the PGA TOUR in 2022.

“I think there’s a way to solve any problem,” DeChambeau said. “It’s really about if the membership wants me back and if they just want me back. That’s what it’s about.

“I don’t even think it’s Brian Rolapp or anybody like one of the top executives, it’s really if the players want me back and if not, then I understand that.”

To DeChambeau, that appears to be the bigger hurdle.

DeChambeau was part of the initial lawsuit against the PGA TOUR when he left in 2022, and lingering resentment from some TOUR members could still complicate any future return.

Former TOUR pro Tom Lehman explained to Skratch last week how he would feel if he was part of the current membership about letting LIV players back.

“I would not let them back ahead of anybody, they would be the last guy on the PGA TOUR totem pole and they’ve got to work their way up,” Lehman said.

Asked about Tom Lehman’s recent comments regarding LIV players returning to the PGA TOUR, DeChambeau suggested there are likely already routes back for players with previous TOUR status and an obvious route for any player looking to earn their tour card for the first time. But he quickly shifted the conversation toward something he views as more important: acceptance from the membership itself.

“But for players that do have exemptions I think it’s fair that we utilize those exemptions and then for me it’s really about how can I help impact the game in the most positive way. Whether you believe that I’m doing that or not, that’s just what I want to do.”

The two-time major champion acknowledged that plenty of people seem to have opinions about what his future in golf should look like.

“Everybody can tell me what I want to do, but I think what matters also is what makes me happy,” DeChambeau said.

Is that LIV and the YouTube channel?

DeChambeau’s answer left plenty of room for interpretation.

“It’s ever changing. It can always change based on new information,” DeChambeau said. “But I think doing a bunch of content creation and doing it more freely, and then also playing events that want me is great, it’s a great opportunity.”

Whether that future eventually includes the PGA TOUR remains unclear. But after spending time with DeChambeau on Tuesday and Wednesday in DC, one thing felt obvious: tournament golf is no longer the only thing shaping how he sees his career.

Bryson DeChambeau Isn’t Talking About Saving LIV. He’s Talking About Saving Golf

Garrett Johnston — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:10:50 +0000

“Egos would need to get dropped,” DeChambeau said Tuesday while discussing LIV’s uncertain future and golf’s fractured landscape.

POTOMAC FALLS, Va. — For the first time since LIV Golf’s future suddenly became the biggest question hanging over professional golf, Bryson DeChambeau stood in front of reporters Tuesday and tried to explain where he thinks this all goes next.

For the better part of four years, LIV Golf’s stars talked like challengers trying to break the sport’s existing power structure. But after spending the day at Trump National D.C. on Tuesday, the tone across the board sounded noticeably different.

It wasn’t really DeChambeau's YouTube comments that stood out (we'll get to that). Or even the uncertainty around funding. It was the way 32-year-old kept talking like someone trying to preserve something instead of disrupt it.

“Egos would need to get dropped, everybody’s going to need to come in with a level-headed playing field, with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf,” DeChambeau told a small group of reporters, including Skratch, late Tuesday. “That’s why I came over here (to LIV), that’s why I do what I do on YouTube, that’s why I’m on the PCSFN (President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition), that’s why I love this great game. What we can go do for this great game is unfathomable if we all come together on it.”

Hours before DeChambeau spoke, O’Neil sat in the media center and delivered a message that sounded notably similar: LIV isn’t dead, but the next phase might look different than the first. The morning press conferences were rooted less in bravado, and more toward realism. Less talk about disruption, disruption, disruption. More talk about sustainability and, believe it or not, compromise.

And it’s not just a PGA TOUR issue when it comes to finding a way to move forward amicably. Jon Rahm’s ongoing fines and tension with the DP World Tour continue to underscore how unresolved golf’s fractured landscape remains, even as LIV heavyweights increasingly acknowledge concessions may eventually be necessary.

Nobody sounded particularly interested in re-litigating the past. The conversations were far more focused on finding stability and figuring out what professional golf looks like next.

Earlier in the day, DeChambeau visited the White House in his role on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition before arriving at Trump National for LIV Virginia. Just a small detour on what’s been a turbulent last three weeks for DeChambeau’s day job as the centerpiece member of LIV.

Once he arrived, though, the conversations quickly shifted toward uncertainty surrounding the future of the league.

DeChambeau said on Tuesday at LIV Virginia at Trump National D.C. that he’s spoken with the PGA TOUR recently, but not with the intention about his potential pathway back to his former Tour if LIV does not exist in 2026.

"I think, from my perspective, I'd love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more," DeChambeau said. "I would love to. I'd love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I'd love to play tournaments that want me.”

And while the internet quickly latched onto the YouTube clips and hypothetical future schedules, that wasn’t really the most interesting part of DeChambeau’s session.

The more DeChambeau talked, the less he sounded like one of LIV’s original disruptors and the more he sounded like an investor trying to stabilize a business entering a very uncertain phase. That shift may be partially explained by how little players themselves appear to have known about the funding uncertainty surrounding the league.

“I was completely shocked. I didn’t expect it to happen,” DeChambeau said. “Only a couple months before that we were here until 2032. But I hadn’t had any communication and obviously they are moving in a different direction.”

DeChambeau was also surprised by PIF governor and LIV Golf architect Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s decision to step down from his position last week.

DeChambeau said Tuesday that he and Yasir had communicated “quite a bit” on various topics since Bryson’s move to LIV in 2022, but that he received no advance warning about the decision.

“Unfortunately (heard nothing), but look again, I have nothing bad to say,” DeChambeau said. “They provided me with an incredible opportunity to play golf around the globe, and win a bunch of tournaments, and influence the world in hopefully a good way.”

LIV’s uncertain funding already impacted the schedule when next month’s LIV Golf Louisiana event was removed, and DeChambeau acknowledged Tuesday that the league may ultimately need to look different moving forward.

“I hope not. I don’t think so,” DeChambeau said when asked whether additional events could disappear from the schedule. “I think Scott (O’Neil, the CEO) is doing a great job with helping the sustainability of LIV for this year. He’s trying to get all the economics lined up for this year, and let it wind down on their own terms, whatever way they want to wind it down.

“And then come up with a business model that’s enticing to everybody in the golf world.”

At one point Tuesday, DeChambeau openly acknowledged the possibility that LIV’s current structure may not survive intact.

“Look, if we come up with a good business plan, and there’s some (private equity) who want to get in, and they see the value in it, that they value the team franchises and cleaning up the top company, then I think there’s a pathway forward,” DeChambeau said.

Would that include smaller purses and smaller events? At the moment, each LIV event carries a $30 million purse.

“I think there are a few different models, and the PGA TOUR is not doing great either, to be honest about the situation,” DeChambeau said. “Yes, they’ve got the media, they’ve got everybody on that side that helps pump it up and they’re reducing field sizes, cutting employees, and restructuring their business too.”

DeChambeau ultimately framed the current moment less as a battle between LIV and the PGA TOUR and more as a crossroads for professional golf as a whole.

“As long as the professional game doesn’t go to zero and there was positive competition and it created value towards the players and the ecosystem, and if we can come up with a good business plan for the game of golf, not just on our side, but on their side too for the 2030 media rights negotiation, if we can all come up with something, we can do something really special for the game,” DeChambeau said.

There is hope on DeChambeau’s side that the PGA TOUR would look at LIV without PIF funding as less of a threat than it’s been, and that they might be more cooperative.

“Look, if we’ve got a great business model and they’re interested in combining forces, that’s the Kumbaya moment,” DeChambeau said. “It’s our job to come up with a better business plan on the top-company side.”

DeChambeau also pointed to franchise growth and localized investment as one possible future model for LIV.

“So I think there’s some opportunity there, and the reason I’m so keen on it, the financials are great, but there’s an opportunity beyond that. And that’s building brick-and-mortar buildings and building academies, building home golf courses, really creating value in homegrown markets and grassroots-ing this, which we haven’t done.”

Whether golf’s power structure is actually capable of the compromise DeChambeau described remains unclear. But after a day spent around LIV Virginia, one thing felt obvious:

The people inside LIV aren’t really talking like disruptors anymore.

They’re talking like stakeholders trying to preserve a future that suddenly feels a lot less guaranteed than it once did.

Three Players to Watch at the Truist Championship

Riley Hamel — Wed, 06 May 2026 16:49:12 +0000

Xander Schauffele has been the silver medalist at his last two trips to Quail Hollow—is it finally his turn to raise the hardware?

Another week, another Signature Event. Feels like we could have spaced these out a bit, no? Regardless, the best players on the PGA TOUR have made their way to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow. With Scottie Scheffler taking the week off, it feels inevitable that Rory McIlroy will once again win at one of his favorite tracks on TOUR. But we have a few other players worth keeping an eye on.

Before we dive into that, let’s cover a little housekeeping.

Come Sunday, the winner will head to the PGA Championship with $3.6 million of the $20 million purse and 700 FedExCup Points. As for Quail Hollow, it’s a par-71 designed by George Cobb that measures 7,583 yards on the scorecard.

Now, let’s dive in.

Three Players to Watch at the Truist Championship

Xander Schauffele (+950)

I don’t love this number, but in this spot, I felt like I had to take it.

Over his last four starts, Schauffele has finished third, T-4, T-9, and T-12. Plus, he’s finished second in the last two Truist Championships held at Quail Hollow. Just feels like a must bet.

Si Woo Kim (22/1)

Not too many players have been more consistent than Si Woo Kim this season. In 12 starts, he has eight top-25 finishes and enters the week on the heels of back-to-back top fives. A win feels inevitable at this point, and I think it could very well happen on Sunday.

Kim’s had some recent success at Quail Hollow, tying for 16th here in 2024—it was called the Wells Fargo Championship at the time—and at the PGA Championship last season, he finished T-8 despite a 2-over final round.

Rickie Fowler (40/1)

After a few missed cuts in Texas, Rickie has found his game. Over his last two starts, he’s finished T-8 at the RBC Heritage and T-9 at the Cadillac Championship.

Not only did Fowler win his first TOUR title at Quail Hollow, but he also tied for 14th a few years back. He’ll have good form and good vibes to lean on this week—I like that combination.

Jon Rahm, DP World Tour Reach Détente...With a Price

Brittany Romano — Tue, 05 May 2026 15:20:08 +0000

Fines paid. Starts promised. One of golf’s biggest stars is threading the needle between LIV and legacy pathways.

For a while, it felt like Jon Rahm was trying to live in two timelines at once. One where he’d taken the LIV money, and another where the old-world pathways still mattered. Now, those timelines have finally met in the middle.

"There's no longer a standoff," Rahm said Tuesday at a press conference ahead of the LIV Virginia event. "We were able to reach an agreement. There was some concessions on both sides. I offered some; they extended an olive branch. Obviously we've reached an agreement. That will not be a stress anymore."

In a statement released by the DP World Tour, the tour confirmed it has reached an agreement with Rahm on “conditional releases” that will allow him to continue playing on LIV Golf through the remainder of the 2026 season. The catch? Rahm will pay all outstanding fines dating back to 2024 and log a slate of DP World Tour starts outside the majors, Golfweek's Cam Jourdan reported early Tuesday.

“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season," a spokesperson from the DP World Tour said. "This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the Majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.”

In other words, access comes at a cost. Rahm previously refused to pay any fines or accept settlement offers requiring him to commit to a minimum number of events in Europe.

This has been the quiet tension hanging over Rahm’s LIV move since day one. When he jumped in late 2023, it was not just about the money (a reportedly $350 million signing bonus) or the team format (he is captain of the Legion XIII team). It was about what he might be giving up. World ranking points remain murky. Ryder Cup eligibility a chess match. And the DP World Tour, once a reliable fallback and proving ground, turned into a gatekeeper.

Rahm never fully slammed that door shut. He kept talking about the Ryder Cup. Kept signaling that Europe still mattered. But talk only gets you so far when there are fines stacking up and regulations written for a different era.

Rahm said he's leaving the contract negotiations to those with a law degree joking: "I have very few talents in my life, and reading a contract or business are not two of them."

Rahm continued regarding his current contract:

"I have several years on my contract left, and I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that. So I don't see many ways out, and as of right now, I'm not really thinking about it since we still have a season to play and majors to compete for. So it's not something I want to think about just yet."

This agreement is the first real sign of compromise. By paying the fines, Rahm is essentially clearing his ledger and buying back into a system he stepped outside of. By committing to additional starts, he is also giving the DP World Tour something it needs: relevance, star power and a bridge, however fragile, between golf’s fractured ecosystems.

It is not a full reconciliation. It is not a merger. But it is movement. A calculated concession for the DP World Tour.

For LIV, it is a sign that even its biggest stars are still tethered, in some way, to the old circuits.

Marking yet another reminder that in 2026, professional golf is not operating on clean lines. It is negotiating them in real time.

The PGA Championship Field That Brings (Almost) Everyone Together

Brittany Romano — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:32:44 +0000

The 2026 PGA Championship field is set, stacked with major winners, multi-tour depth, club pros, and a couple of spots still up for grabs. The mix is the point.

In two short weeks, the second men’s major of the year continues the spring golf sprint, landing in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. Aronimink Golf Club will host its second PGA Championship and its first in the modern era. The last time the Wanamaker Trophy was handed out here was 1962, when Gary Player won in a very different version of the game.

A lot has changed since then.

But the PGA Championship has stayed relatively open by design. The PGA of America has continued to allow LIV Golf players into the field, which has kept this major closer to a full snapshot of the sport than most. In 2023, Brooks Koepka became the first LIV player to win the PGA Championship, overpowering Oak Hill (Rochester, NY) at the peak of the sport’s divide.

With LIV’s future still unsettled and tour status shifting week to week, that openness matters more than ever.

The field for the 2026 PGA Championship is now official, and like always, it is less about the list and more about what the list represents.

154 players are currently listed in the field for Aronimink, with two final spots reserved for upcoming winners out of the Myrtle Beach Classic and Truist Championship. The headline numbers tell the story quickly: 28 major winners, 20 PGA of America Golf Professionals and players representing 26 countries.

LIV players are in. PGA TOUR players are in. DP World Tour regulars are in. However fractured the professional game might feel week to week, this is one of the few places it all still overlaps.

Phil Mickelson was initially listed in the field but is no longer playing, as reported on X by Flushing It Golf shortly after the field was posted.

“I wish I could," Mickelson told Flushing It Golf. "I can’t unfortunately. I’m hoping to play the rest of the year after that but I honestly don’t know.”

The PGA of America confirmed in a release saying:

"Two-time PGA Champion Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the field due to a personal health matter with his family. Phil will be replaced by the first alternate, Max Homa."

Reviewing the field overall, you’ve got the expected heavyweights like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth anchoring the top end. Also highlighting the field is three-time PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka that's never one to count out in a major.

Also keep an eye on Jon Rahm, who is halfway toward his career grand slam and will likely show up on more DP World Tour leaderboards as he tries to get his mind of the LIV negotiations.

And then you’ve got the part that makes this championship feel different every year: the club pros. Twenty players who spent their winter teaching, grinding, and qualifying their way into the same field as the best players in the world. Names like Michael Block return, along with a fresh wave of PGA of America professionals who will get their four rounds on one of the biggest stages in the sport.

And that’s why the field drop always matters more than it looks on paper. It’s not just a list of names. It’s one of the few times all of golf agrees to show up in the same place and play the damn game.

Full Field for 2026 PGA Championship

*Denotes PGA of America Golf Professionals (Corebridge Financial Team).

A–F

Åberg, Ludvig

Ayora, Angel

Berg, Derek*

Berger, Daniel

Bezuidenhout, Christiaan

Bhatia, Akshay

Bide, Francisco*

Blanchet, Chandler

Block, Michael*

Bradley, Keegan

Brennan, Michael

Bridgeman, Jacob

Brown, Daniel

Burns, Sam

Campbell, Brian

Cantlay, Patrick

Castillo, Ricky

Cauley, Bud

Cink, Stewart

Clark, Wyndham

Collet, Tyler*

Conners, Corey

Coody, Pierceson

Day, Jason

DeChambeau, Bryson

Detry, Thomas

Donald, Luke

Droemer, Jesse*

Dufner, Jason

Echavarria, Nico

English, Harris

Fisher, Bryce*

Fisk, Steven

Fitzpatrick, Alex

Fitzpatrick, Matthew

Fleetwood, Tommy

Fox, Ryan

Fowler, Rickie

G–L

Gabriele, Chris*

Geddes, Mark*

Gerard, Ryan

Glover, Lucas

Gotterup, Chris

Griffin, Ben

Grillo, Emiliano

Greyserman, Max

Gumberg, Jordan

Hall, Harry

Harman, Brian

Harrington, Pádraig

Hatton, Tyrrell

Haynes, Zach*

Henley, Russell

Higa, Kazuki

Higgo, Garrick

Highsmith, Joe

Hillier, Daniel

Hisatsune, Ryo

Hoey, Rico

Højgaard, Nicolai

Højgaard, Rasmus

Holt, Ian

Homa, Max

Horschel, Billy

Hovland, Viktor

Hurt, Austin*

Im, Sungjae

Jaeger, Stephan

Jarvis, Casey

Johnson, Dustin

Jones, Jared*

Kaneko, Kota

Katrude, Michael*

Kaymer, Martin

Keefer, John

Kern, Ben*

Kim, Michael

Kim, Si Woo

Kirk, Chris

Kitayama, Kurt

Knapp, Jake

Koepka, Brooks

Lee, Min Woo

Lenahan, Ryan*

Li, Haotong

Lindberg, Mikael

Lipsky, David

Lowry, Shane

M–R

MacIntyre, Robert

Matsuyama, Hideki

McCarthy, Denny

McCarty, Matt

McClure, Paul*

McGreevy, Max

McIlroy, Rory

McKibbin, Tom

McNealy, Maverick

Micheel, Shaun

Mitchell, Keith

Morikawa, Collin

Mouw, William

Neergaard-Petersen, Rasmus

Niemann, Joaquin

Noren, Alex

Novak, Andrew

Parry, John

Pendrith, Taylor

Penge, Marco

Polland, Ben*

Poston, J.T.

Potgieter, Aldrich

Puig, David

Putnam, Andrew

Rahm, Jon

Rai, Aaron

Reed, Patrick

Reitan, Kristoffer

Rodgers, Patrick

Rose, Justin

Riley, Davis

S–Z

Saddier, Adrien

Sapp, Garrett*

Schaper, Jayden

Schauffele, Xander

Scheffler, Scottie

Schenk, Adam

Schmid, Matti

Scott, Adam

Shattuck, Braden*

Smalley, Alex

Smith, Cameron

Smith, Jordan

Smotherman, Austin

Smylie, Elvis

Smyth, Travis

Spaun, J.J.

Spieth, Jordan

Stevens, Sam

Straka, Sepp

Sullivan, Andy

Taylor, Nick

Theegala, Sahith

Thomas, Justin

Thorbjornsen, Michael

Valimaki, Sami

Vegas, Jhonattan

Vermeer, Ryan*

Walker, Jimmy

Wallace, Matt

Wiesberger, Bernd

Wiseman, Timothy*

Woodland, Gary

Yang, Y.E.

Young, Cameron

Alternates

Yellamaraju, Sudarshan

Hoge, Tom

Yu, Kevin

Meissner, Mac

Finau, Tony

Roy, Kevin

Thompson, Davis

Scott O’Neil Says He’s “Meant for This Moment” of Uncertainty With LIV Golf

Garrett Johnston — Tue, 05 May 2026 17:29:48 +0000

“I believe this is what I am meant for. I love this moment.”

POTOMAC FALLS, Va. — LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil finally addressed the media Tuesday morning at LIV Golf Virginia for the first time since the PIF formally announced that they will no longer be backing LIV Golf beyond this season.

The room felt it. Not tense exactly, but heavier than usual. About 40 reporters filled the seats, with LIV staff and team personnel lining the back wall of the indoor tennis facility that’s doubling as the media center this week. O’Neil sat on the podium next to LIV’s Chief Communications Officer Ilana Finley who led the questioning to start.

O’Neil didn’t come out swinging. Instead, he opened by wishing the room a happy early Mother’s Day and asking reporters to text their moms before launching into a story about two shoe salesmen—one who saw a market with no shoes as a failure, the other as an opportunity.

It was a clear signal: this was going to be framed as the latter. O’Neil’s tone stayed upbeat as he pivoted to the players, emphasizing their role as partners in the league.

“From a player standpoint, I've never experienced anything like having players as partners. From a business standpoint, the momentum is pretty special,” O’Neil said, adding later on in the interview, "I understand where some of your emotions are, mine are in a can do: Let's get the plan set, let's surround ourselves with extraordinary talent, and let's get after it.”

That optimism was quickly tested when the conversation turned to the league’s financial uncertainty.

"This moment for me...I understand uncertainty is difficult for some people, and I understand that not knowing what tomorrow brings can be a challenge,” O’Neil said. “This is 100 percent what I love to do, this moment. Everybody is meant for a certain thing in their life. I believe this is what I am meant for. I love this moment.”

When asked about how to reset with another business model, O’Neil kept it general and repeatedly framed the situation as an opportunity to reset the business rather than a threat to its future.

“First and foremost, we need to get the players settled, on board, and focusing on golf,” O’Neil said. "Secondly, we have to create a plan that's a business plan, a business that works from a business standpoint, from a profit and loss standpoint, like every other business in the world, and we are well on our way to that.”

Behind the scenes, LIV has already started that process. Just last week, LIV added a partnership with Alix Partners, a restructuring firm to help them overhaul their business model and secure external investment. O’Neil addressed that decision Tuesday morning naming the partnership's purpose as “tuning our business plan to make this a business, outstanding,”

“In terms of pushing, prodding, making sure we have the longest runway we could possibly have. They are extraordinary advisers," O’Neil said.

O’Neil also mentioned their longtime partnership law firms like Gibson Dunn and Ducera Partners as a key for their strategic development over these next crucial months as well. And while contracts are certainly a topic widely discussed at this stage in the LIV timeline and these partners will no doubt have a heavy involvement, O’Neil doubled down on his vision for LIV. Even as the topic of speculation about whether players might leave LIV after 2026 came up, O’Neil put a positive spin on that possibility.

“I believe that when we have a business plan and we raise money, that this is the place the players will choose? I do. I know these players. I know their caddies. I know their spouses, their girlfriends, partners, I know their kids, and this is a place that golfers want to play,” O’Neil said.

“This is a really, really special community, and it's different. In the most important sport in the world, it's also the loneliest sport in the world, and this is a place where you show up like family. So I have a lot of confidence that this is a place that players want to be.”

That confidence will be tested in the months ahead as LIV works to secure new funding and define what the next version of the league looks like.

In the meantime, the clock is ticking.

Every Winning Putter From The 2026 PGA TOUR Season (So Far)

Ryan Barath — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:45:25 +0000

Every winner and every putter used to win on the PGA Tour in 2026, and how you can find them.

It's hard to stop a hot putter on the PGA Tour, and so far in 2026, mallets continue to be a hot commodity with players across the board, especially in the winner's circle. Now, whether this trend continues for the rest of the season can't quite be predicted yet, but it will be something we will continue to monitor.

So with mallets on the mind, and the goal of once again following the trends as the PGA Tour season continues to roll on - let's dive into the winning putters on the PGA TOUR this season.

Featured Brands:Taylormade | Odyssey | Ping | Scotty Cameron |

Chris Gotterup - Sony Open: TaylorMade Spider

The TaylorMade Spider started off 2025 exactly how it finished the 2025 FedEx Cup - with a win. This time, it was Chris Gotterup instead of Tommy Fleetwood holding the trophy at the end.

Could this be another year of Spider dominance?

Scottie Scheffler - Amex: TaylorMade Spider

It's hard to stop the best player in the world when every part of their game is firing on all cylinders, and Scottie came to the Amex with one goal in mind: a win to start the season - mission accomplished.

Just like in 2025, Scottie's putter has remained unchanged from his L-Neck Spider, and I don't imagine it's going anywhere anytime soon.

Justin Rose - Farmers Insurance: Scotty Cameron T5 Phantom Proto

At Torrey Pines in sunny Southern California, Justin Rose beat a stacked field and marched to victory after shooting a first-round 62 on the Torrey Pines North course.

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

From there is was pretty smooth sailing on the South Course with rounds of 65, 68, and 70 on Sunday to beat Pierceson Coody, Si Woo Kim and Ryo Hisatsune by 7-shots.

Chris Gotterup - WM Phoenix Open: TaylorMade Spider

Although it took a playoff over Hideki Matsuyama, Chris Gotterup became the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2026 at the WM Phoenix after draining a bomb on the first playoff hole.

With this win, the TaylorMade Spider sits at 3 wins in 4 events so far (with only one belonging to Scottie Scheffler). Maybe we could be seeing this Spider trend continue after all.

Jacob Bridgeman - Genesis Invitational: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

On a course that had soft yet fast greens, putting was challenge at Riviera during the Genesis Invitational, but Jacob Bridgeman had no issues while using his TaylorMade Spider Tour. He capitalized on his great approach play (he ranked first amongst the field at Riviera), and also ranked number 1 in putting to secure his first win on the PGA TOUR.

Nico Echavarria - Cognizant Classic: Odyssey TriHot 5K Seven

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

With clutch puttings down the stretch, Nico Echavarria secured the third win of his PGA Tour career at the Cognizant Classic. His putter of choice is an Odyssey TriHot Seven which featues additional mass placed towards the face for added forgiveness and face control.

Akshay Bhatia - Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard: Odyssey Jailbird 380 Broom

Although it took an extra hole against Daniel Berger, it was Akshay who came out on top at Bay Hill. It was an impressive performance that included gaining over 10 strokes on the greens against the field, which goes to show just how solid he was all week.

Cameron Young - The PLAYERS: Scotty Cameron: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R Tour Prototype

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

Considering that putting used to be a liability for Cameron Young, in the last two years he has completed changed the narative (and stats) to become one of the top putters on the PGA Tour. Sure he might have hit the longest recorded drive down the 18th hole on Sunday, but it was his putter that helped him secure his biggest victory.

Matt Fitzpatrick - The Valspar Championship: Personal Bettinardi Proto

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

On a tough golf course, it was a long putt on the final hole that helped Matt Fitzpatrick take home his first PGA Tour win since the 2023 RBC Herritage.

Gary Woodland - Texas Children's Houston Open: Scotty Cameron GoLo CS Proto

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

In what is (in my opinion) the best story of the year so far on the PGA Tour, Gary Woodland, blew away the field at the Texas Children's Houston Open to win for the first time since the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

This victory came just weeks after an emotional interview with Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard where he revealed his struggle with PTSD on and off the golf course.

Although most people associate Gary with being one of the longest drivers on tour, he was also one of the top putters in Houston; he gained over 8 strokes on the field and ranked first for the event.

JJ Spaun - Valero Texas Open: L.A.B. Golf DF3

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

Coming down the stretch, JJ Spaun was clutch with the putter, especially on 17th hole where he hit it inside 10" and drained the eagle to get the lead and never give it up.

Rory McIlroy - The Masters: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Image Credit: Ryan Barath

Rory used his Spider Tour to win his second Masters and join an elite club of players including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Matt Fitzpatrick - The RBC Heritage: Personal Bettinardi Proto

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

Matt used his personal Bettinardi Prototype to win for the second time on Tour in 2026 at Hilton Head in a playoff against the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. There must be something about the course because Matt also won this even back in 2023.

Matt & Alex Fitzpatrick - Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Personal Bettinardi Proto & Odyssey Ai-One #7S

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

Not to sound like a broken record, but Matt Fitzpatrick won once again on the PGA TOUR in New Orleans, but this time did it with his brother Alex by his side. The win made it three for the year for Matt and also granted Alex a PGA TOUR Card to 2028 and access to signature events for the rest of the 2026 season.

Cameron Young - Cadillac Championship: Scotty Cameron: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R Tour Prototype

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

Another big event and another big win for Cameron Young.

When you're 3rd in strokes gained off the tee and number 1 in strokes gained putting, thats a recipe to be hard to beat and that what Cameron Young was in Miami. Not only did he dominate the field. but he beat the best player in the world by 6 shots.

*This page was first published on February 16, 2026. Last updated May 4, 2026.

There's a Clear Favorite at Quail Hollow's Truist Championship. Here's Why We Like Him.

Rick Gehman — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:38:44 +0000

McIlroy has won nearly 30% of his starts at Quail Hollow and is gaining 2.58 strokes per round at the venue. That is, by far, the best of anyone who has played at least five times in Charlotte.

The friendly confines of Quail Hollow will once again host the Truist Championship. Remember, this event was played at Philadelphia Cricket Club last year because Quail Hollow hosted the PGA Championship. So despite the swap in tournaments, we still have an excellent history at Quail Hollow, with an event being played there every year in recent memory.

This is a big-boy golf course that rewards distance, and it rewards it differently than what we saw last week in Miami. There are a handful of spots at Quail Hollow where carrying the ball about 315 yards in the air is a massive advantage. It’ll allow players to completely remove the trouble off the tee, and fairways widen for the longest of hitters. That’s also why the course history here is rather “sticky,” meaning players have consistent results year over year.

Winner: Rory McIlroy (+600)

Expect anything different? McIlroy has won nearly 30% of his starts at Quail Hollow and is gaining 2.58 strokes per round at the venue. That is, by far, the best of anyone who has played at least five times in Charlotte. It’s also the TOUR venue where McIlroy has the best record, making him an elite course horse for this week.

It also helps that he will enter the week off his Masters victory, where he was elite in every facet of the game. The Northern Irishman is getting warmed up for a summer run, and this is the best place for him to stretch his legs.

Winner: Xander Schauffele (+1250)

It’s been a frustrating time as an outright backer of Schauffele because he’s been on the verge of breaking through seemingly all season. He’ll enter this week with four straight top-12 finishes, all in the game’s biggest events. He often looks on top of his game before making one or two silly mistakes and playing himself out of the tournament.

If there was a place for everything to click, it just might be Quail Hollow, where Schauffele has gained 1.55 strokes per round in his 22 career rounds. That includes two runner-up finishes, and it’s a venue that should reward his elite ball-striking ability.

Top 5: Alex Smalley (+1025)

Smalley has rattled off three top-20s in his last four starts, including a T7 finish last week in Miami. Despite his great finish last week, he left a handful of shots out there coming down the stretch each day. He peppered greens in regulation and flashed greatness with the putter. He’s close to having everything click, and I want to get a lot of reward for my risk. I believe Smalley is capable of this top-5 upside in a week where his approach play will be rewarded.

Top 10: Chris Gotterup (+305)

As one of the longest hitters on TOUR, Gotterup is going to be able to remove lots of trouble off the tee, which gives him one of the higher floors in the field. He was dismal on approach last week in Miami, losing 6.18 strokes to the field, but that was uncharacteristic. It ended a stretch of nine straight starts gaining strokes on approach, which makes me think it’s more of an outlier than something to be concerned about.

This will be Gotterup’s first crack at Quail Hollow, and it will almost certainly be a place that suits him well.

Top 20: Alex Fitzpatrick (+290)

This is nearly a disrespectful number for a golfer who has two wins — Zurich Classic and Indian Open — and a T9 at the Cadillac Championship in his last three starts. He’s long off the tee and accurate too, as evidenced by the 4.15 strokes he gained off the tee last week at the Blue Monster. He’s playing the best golf of his life on a course that will reward his biggest strengths.

Top 20: Matt McCarty (+196)

I’m awarding the “Most Trending” player to McCarty, who has piled up stellar finishing positions as of late. He earned a T9 last week by gaining 5.69 strokes on approach, the second-best mark in the field.

There are hardly any holes in his game, but it will be critical that he plays out of the fairway this week. The only concern is that he’s not very long off the tee, but he’s made up for that with accuracy and precision en route to those recent strong finishes.

He’s in complete control of his game, and we’re only asking him to finish in the top 25% of this field.

Nelly Korda Makes Special Appearance on The Pat McAfee Show

Addie Parker — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:36:01 +0000

A crossover moment that could introduce women's golf to an entirely new wave of fans.

Two years ago, Nelly Korda made a surprise appearance on the red carpet of fashion's biggest night at the MET Gala.

Today, she's still stepping into new audiences, this time on one of ESPN's top-performing shows, The Pat McAfee Show. Hosted by former NFL punter Pat McAfee, the high-energy talk show is one of the most beloved in sports media, bringing McAfee's humor and candor to the trending conversations across all leagues—including the LPGA Tour.

She's one of, if not the first, LPGA player to be on the show, joining a pretty high-powered golfers lineup to have joined the show like Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, even new PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp has been a guest!

Korda talked about her recent wins, life on Tour, and even how she developed her silky smooth swing we're all obsessed with.

Things like this, branching out to newer and wider audiences is so, so good for the LPGA and I hope Korda continues to do so. Along with ESPN and McAfee to keep inviting more of these athletes on.

Every Winning Driver From The 2026 PGA TOUR Season (So Far)

Ryan Barath — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:57:22 +0000

Every winner and every driver used to win on the PGA Tour in 2026, and how you can find them.

Winning in golf is hard, and it's even harder on the PGA TOUR, which is why pros are always looking for ways to gain an edge from the tee to the green. Now, the old saying used to be that you would drive for show and putt for dough (we're talking money here, not pizza), but in today's modern game, driving is a key factor in success, and these are the drivers being used by the winners so far on Tour in 2026.

Chris Gotterup - Sony Open: Ping G440 LST

(Credit: Getty Images)

Chris Gotterup is one of the best drivers of the ball in golf, and that driving has already helped him earn two victories so far in 2026. Chris uses a Ping G440 LST (Low Spin Technology), which offers a great balance of stability with low spin performance—perfect for someone who averages over 124mph of club head speed!!

Scottie Scheffler - Amex: TaylorMade Qi10

(Credit: Getty Images)

Another season and another Scottie win with his faithful TaylorMade Qi10 driver. Even though he upgraded and tested the Qi4D during the silly-season, when the real money and FedEx Cup points were on the line he went back to his Qi10.

To be fair, I don't blame the guy. When it works it works, and for Scottie the Qi10 just works!

Justin Rose - Farmers Insurance: Callaway Ai Smoke TD MAX

Similar to Scottie, Justin Rose is using an older model from 2024, which is even more interesting because he switched into it more than halfway through the 2025 season. As far as his win at Torrey Pines, Justin beat a full field and marched to victory after shooting a first-round 62 on the Torrey Pines North course.

From there is was pretty smooth sailing on the South Course with rounds of 65, 68, and 70 on Sunday to beat Pierceson Coody, Si Woo Kim and Ryo Hisatsune by 7-shots.

Chris Gotterup - WM Phoenix Open: Ping G440 LST

(Credit: PGA Tour - TourCast)

Although it took an extra playoff hole against Hideki Matsuyama, Chris Gotterup became the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2026 at the WM Phoenix after smashing a nearly 350 yard driver down the 18th at TPC Scottsdale and then draining a bomb for birdie. Looks like he's keeping the Ping G440 LST in the bag for now.

Collin Morikawa - AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: TaylorMade Qi4D LS

Through wind and rain, Collin Morikawa controlled his golf ball marvelously around Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill to take home the win at the AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm. One way he did that was by managing spin off the tee and on approach, and as far as off the tee is concerned, he did it with a TaylorMade Qi4D LS.

Jacob Bridgeman - Genesis Invitational: TaylorMade Qi35 LS

(Credit: GolfWRX)

On a course that was playing soft, distance and accuracy was key, and Jacob Bridgeman took advantage off the tee with his TaylorMade Qi35 LS. Thanks to his great driving he was able to convert that into great approach play and ranked first amongst the field at Riviera.

Nico Echavarria - Cognizant Classic: Srixon Zxi LS Prototype

(Credit: GolfWRX)

In blustery conditions around PGA National, Nico Echavarria came from behind to beat Shane Lowry and earn himself an invitation to the Masters. On a tough driving course, his prototype Srixon Zxi LS helped to manages spin, which is a key factor when playing in the wind.

Akshay Bhatia - Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard: Callaway Rogue ST

(Credit: GolfWRX)

At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Akshay proved that sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks - or at least an older model driver can still compete with the best of them.

Cameron Young - The PLAYERS: Scotty Cameron: Titleist GT3

(Credit: Getty Images)

Beyond becoming one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, Cameron Young is also one of the longest and most accurate drivers. As for his victory at The PLAYERS, he put a stamp on the win on the final hole after smashing the longest drive ever recorded on the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Matt Fitzpatrick - The Valspar Championship: Titleist GT3

Based on the stats, Matt Fitzpatrick is one of the best drivers on the PGA Tour, and a big part of that has been thanks to his ability to gain speed over the last few years while also gaining extra control. Down the stretch on the difficult Copperhead Course, Matt showed off his driving skills and came away with the victory.

Gary Woodland - Texas Children's Houston Open: Cobra OPTM Max-K

(Photo: GolfWRX)

In what could easily be the best story of the year so far on the PGA TOUR, Gary Woodland, fresh off a recent emotional interview where he revealed his struggle with PTSD, arrived at Houston Memorial Park and blew away the field to win for the first time since the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

A sidebar is that Gary plays one of the heaviest driver setups on tour and is still the fastest on tour in 2026.

JJ Spaun - Valero Texas Open: Titleist GT3

(Credit: Getty Images)

JJ Spaun went to Texas looking for hit first win since his 2025 U.S. Open victory and came away from San Antonio the Texas Open Champ. He relied on strong driving including on on the 71st hole that lead to an eagle.

Rory McIlroy - The Masters: TaylorMade Qi4D

(Credit: Getty Images)

Rory came to Augusta National as the returning champion, and in 2027 he'll do it again after going back to back at the Masters. The difference was this time he didn't need a playoff to secure victory and did it with his Qi4D

Matt Fitzpatrick - The RBC Heritage: Titleist GT3

(Credit: Getty Images)

After a solid start to the season with a win at the Valspar, Matt came to Hilton Head Island and won his second RBC Heritage. He did it around a couse that requires precision and won in a playoff against Scottie Scheffler.

Matt & Alex Fitzpatrick - Zurich Classic of New Orleans: GT3 & Ping G440 LST

(Credit: Getty Images)

What's better than back-to-back wins? How about back-to-back wins with your brother?

Thats what Matt FItzpatrick with with his brither Alex to not only with the Zurich Classic, but also help Alex earn his full PGA Tour card.

Cameron Young - Cadillac Championship: Titleist GT3

Go big or go home is exactly what Cameron Young did around Doral for the Cadillac Championship. He was 3rd in strokes gained off the tee, and that's a pretty easy thing to do when you average over 315 yards off the tee for the tournament.

*This page was first published on February 16, 2026. Last updated May 4th, 2026.

This Popular Brand Doesn’t Do Golf—Except It Totally Does Now

Addie Parker — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:41:07 +0000

10 items at Anthropologie I'd wear on the course.

I'm claiming 2026 to be the year that my off-course style bleeds into my on-course golf style, in a way that would make Posh and Sporty Spice swell up with pride.

There's no reason that my personal style, in all facets of life, operate exclusively from one another, and perhaps some of you feel the same way. In your everyday life you have things figured out, but when it comes time to tee it up, you're left floundering, or vice versa. In this new chapter of life, I'm making it an active goal to be more intentional with what I'm buying and what I'm wearing, and that starts with where I'm shopping.

For years Anthropologie has been my go-to place to find pieces that I love. Case and point, for the Rolex LPGA Awards back in the fall, I needed a last-minute wardrobe spruce up and knew that old reliable would treat me well.

And recently I had an epiphany—if the store that I've formed a deep adoration for (and spent copious amounts of money at) has become my default place to shop for my everyday wear, why can't I search for golf pieces there?

By no means will Anthro replace my favorite golf brands for women's clothing, but I think it will be a great supplement. Here are 10 items that are already in my cart that I can't wait to rock on the golf course this year.

Related: The Best Golf Pants for Women

This page was first published on January 2, 2026. Last updated May 4, 2026.

Nelly Korda Goes Back-to-Back in Mexico, Captures 18th LPGA Tour Title

Addie Parker — Mon, 04 May 2026 13:33:20 +0000

And with it, Korda becomes the youngest American player since Nancy Lopez to reach the feat of 18 titles.

If Nelly Korda keeps this pace, she’ll enter the all-time greats conversation far sooner than expected.

In just her sixth start of the season, the World No. 1 (who just regained the rank last week after Chevron) has collected her third win, and has yet to place outside of the top-two this entire year.

It's difficult to not compare her red-hot start to what we saw from Korda in 2024, winning five consecutive times en route to a seven title season, but this feels different, because she seems different.

This version of Nelly Korda is more relaxed. When asked if she feels like she's living the best moments of her career, she had this to say, "In 2024 I won five in a row and my fifth one was a major...I can't say that one moment in my career was the best. I think all of them have had a different meaning and all of them have been so great in different ways. I'm just happy to be competing out here healthy, motivated. You know, I'm so happy on the golf course. I'm happy off the golf course."

And that happiness is palpable. With her same team around her, including her fiancee Casey, this version of Nelly seems more comfortable as someone who has the privilege of watching her up close and in action for the past several years.

En route to her 18th career victory, Korda set the new 72-hole tournament scoring record at the Riviera Maya Open with a total score of 271 (17-under par). She hit 52 out of 72 (or 72 percent) of greens in regulation for the week, to go a combined total of 13-under on par 5s through four rounds.

Korda recorded only two bogeys through 72 holes, the fewest in the field and was the only player to have all four rounds in the 60s.

And how's this for a fun little tidbit per Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek. Only three times in LPGA history has a player won by five or more shots after winning a major: Lorena Ochoa (2008 Corona Championship, 11 shots), Louise Suggs (1952 All-America Women's Open, 9 shots) and Se Ri Pak (1998 Jamie Farr Kroger, 9 shots).

It can't be easy to keep your mind steady when these records and stats come flying at you left and right, but Korda seems to managing just fine.

"I just think that, yes, I am living my best life for sure. But golf also humbles you, so I know that I need to enjoy these moments," she continued to say in her winning presser. "There have been so many times that legends have told me it smell the roses, so now I have a week off and I can officially smell the roses for a few days."

Korda will play one more time before the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera, at the Kroger Queen City Championship, but first she'll return home to Florida to relax and go to a hot yoga class.

Gear News You Can Use: Titleist Mini Driver & More At Quail Hollow

Ryan Barath — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:07:07 +0000

With the PGA Championship on the horizon, there is a lot to talk about in the world of golf gear this week in Charlotte.

This week in Charlotte is the final event before the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, which means players will be getting prepared for the second major of the year, while also trying to secure a Signature event win.

Quail Hollow is a course where Rory McIlroy has won four times, and although we don't expect any changes to his gear setup, it will be interesting to see how he performs when he returns to action. But speaking of gear news, there is still a lot going on.

New Titleist GTS300 Mini Driver

By all accounts, the new Titleist GTS300 (which just debuted today - see header image) is the next evolution of the Titleist mini driver, which, as it currently stands, is the GT280. Based on the name alone, we can expect this new one to be a slightly sized-up version of the GT280 with added tech from the upcoming GTS line.

According to Titleist, "The GTS300 represents the latest synthesis of Titleist’s metalwood technologies and continued collaboration with the game’s best players — including Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, whose feedback and testing helped influence the new model’s final design."

Now we just have to wait and see if anyone puts it in play this week.

GT Is Still Cooking

Speaking of Titlest metal woods, even with the GTS now on tour, the previous and still current GT line continues to rack up wins. Thanks to Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick and JJ SPaun, the Titleist GT3 has won 4 of the last 5 events, with the other wins belonging to Rory McIlroy (TaylorMade Qi4D) and Alex Fitspatrick (Ping G440 LST).

Bridgestone Closes U.S.-Based Ball Plant

In less exciting news, as of the start of this month, Bridgestone Golf has ceased manufacturing operations at its Covington, Georgia golf ball plant. The main objective of the restructuring is to consolidate all golf ball manufacturing to their more modern manufacturing facility in Japan.

This is not a reflection of the brands commitment to the North American market, especially since they have had a strong start to the season as far as sales and wins on the PGA Tour.

McLaren Launches New Irons

Last week McLaren Golf had a big launch event in Miami to debut their newest irons and staff players including Justin Rose, Michelle Wie West, and Ian Poulter.

Releated: Inside McLaren Golf’s First Real Equipment Drop

The irons are currently on presale, and I image we we can expect to see some more additions to their lineup later in the season. The most interesting part will be to follow how Justin Rose sets up his bag next week at the PGA Championship.

She Doesn’t Want To Go Pro...so Why Was Rachel Heck in an LPGA Qualifier?

Addie Parker — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:31:47 +0000

The former Stanford women's golf standout is still chasing competition...just not a pro career. Behind the reason she was Monday Q'ing it this week

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Monday Qualifiers never fail to bring out interesting storylines.

Tales of local heroes looking for their big break. Past stars looking for their redemption arc. You never know what you're going to get, but here's a kicker that wouldn't be on anyone's bingo card. A former standout college golfer—on one of the nation’s best teams—not far removed from her peak. She chose not to turn pro, instead focusing on staying competition-ready. Rachel Heck has long been something of an enigma, and the past few years of her golf journey have only made her story more compelling.

If you need a little fresher, in March 2024, Heck wrote an open letter on No Laying Up on why she's maintaining her amateur status.

In it she wrote, "After a couple of years of painful deliberation, I have come to realize that I do not want to play professional golf. I do not want a life on the road and in the public eye. I no longer dream of the U.S. Open trophies and the Hall of Fame. I realize now that these dreams were never what my dad intended when he first put a club in my hand. He pushed me when I was young so that I could find myself in the position I am right now: Stepping into the future equipped with the skills to tackle any challenge and the courage to pave my own path."

To this day, her words echo in my head, and I believe that Heck was brave to make the decision to walk away. She could've chosen the path that many viewed as simple. She had all the makings to become a great player on the LPGA, but after suffering from injuries, her time away showed her that there's more to life. And she sought after that.

And despite choosing to focus her time elsewhere, a she was still ranked inside the top-30 in the WAGR and qualified for a spot in last year's Augusta National Women's Amateur. She didn't make the weekend, but it was still an impressive feat for the Stanford alum who was (at the time) still going through her final year in school, while also preparing for an internship in private equity and final training to be a Lieutenant of the United States Air Force.

The girl is bad ass.

And though her dreams may have changed, Heck is still too good of a competitor to just walk away completely. Which is why she's teeing it up in this week's Mizuho Americas Open qualifier. First reported by Ryan French of Monday Q Info—Heck still won't be turning pro, but she would love to feel healthy and confident enough to continue to keep playing in elite amateur events like ANWA again. And now that she's residing in NYC, the local qualifier felt like an easy lay up.

She isn't playing full time by any means, but Heck is getting it in when she can. She posted to Instagram just a few days ago getting tuned up inside a simulator at Konnectgolf, a spot that's on our list of best indoor golf facilities in NYC!

Heck shot a 5-over par, 77 on Monday at Mountain Ridge Golf Course, in West Caldwell, New Jersey the new home of the Mizuho Americas Open. And though she didn't make it into the field, her story is just another example of why Monday qualifiers rock so much, and why golf needs more Rachel Heck's in it.

Rory McIlroy Returns to Action This Week at Quail Hollow

Riley Hamel — Fri, 01 May 2026 21:26:41 +0000

As the second major of the year approaches, Rory tees it back up at the Truist Championship while Scottie takes the week off.

Rory McIlroy hasn’t played since slipping on the Green Jacket—he skipped two Signature events during that span (RBC Heritage, Cadillac Championship)—but he’ll be back in action this week as the PGA TOUR heads to Quail Hollow for the Truist Championship.

Last year, the Truist was played at Philly Cricket, so you could say McIlroy will be “defending” his title from 2024, when he won by five shots over Xander Schauffele. In all, he’s won in Charlotte four times and has six other top-10 finishes across 13 starts. It’s fair to say he’s turned Quail Hollow into his personal ATM.

While the World No. 2 is set to tee it up the week before the PGA Championship at Aronimink, the same can’t be said for the man ahead of him. Scottie Scheffler has chosen to take the week off, which isn’t all that surprising, as he’s said on several occasions that he doesn’t like to play the week before major championships.

Regardless, the field will be stacked for the sixth Signature event of the season.

Field for the Truist Championship

The End of LIV as We Know It: How We Got Here, and What Now?

Alan Shipnuck — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:45:38 +0000

After years of disruption, big money, and bigger egos, LIV Golf faces its most uncertain moment yet.

For nearly a decade, the carcass of the Jeddah Tower blighted the skyline of one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest cities, a monument to the Kingdom’s ambition and fickleness. The Tower was supposed to be the tallest skyscraper in the world but construction abruptly halted in 2018 about a third of the way through, leaving pedestrians to gawk at the building’s exposed ribs. It is an easy metaphor for LIV Golf, a monument to excess that has now been abandoned by the Saudis and is publicly falling apart.

LIV has looked vulnerable since last December when Brooks Koepka, one of its founding fathers, defected to the PGA TOUR. Then Masters champ Patrick Reed bolted, too, even though he did not have a direct path back to the Tour and instead had to earn a promotion by way of a season on the European Tour. LIV was built on starpower; losing two of its most accomplished players felt like the beginning of the end. The hits just kept coming.

On April 14, Ryan French, a.k.a. Monday Q Info, had the biggest golf scoop in decades, reporting on Twitter that the $925 billion Saudi Public Investment Fund was on the verge of divesting from LIV. Two weeks of frenzied speculation and posturing ensued, including LIV’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, pronouncing that its season would continue “exactly as planned, uninterrupted, and at full throttle.” But now the artifice has crumbled.

On April 28, the state of Louisiana pulled the plug on the inaugural LIV New Orleans, which was to be played in June; the chef’s kiss was Governor Jeff Landry beginning the press release by thanking the PGA TOUR for its recent staging of the Zurich Class in New Orleans. On April 29, news broke that His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan had stepped down from LIV’s board of directors. Al-Rumayyan is the governor of the PIF and a golf tragic. LIV has always owed its existence entirely to the man known internally as The Investor. Al-Rumayyan’s retreat was an act of extreme cowardice; the captain should be the last person to abandon a sinking ship. On April 30th, the PIF made official that it would, in fact, stop funding LIV after 2026, having already lost a tidy $5 billion.

After four years of bluster and bitchiness, disruption and innovation, LIV Golf is done. At least, the days of the LIV golfers living like Louis XIV are finished as the tour desperately searches for alternative funding to try to endure in a smaller, less decadent manner. How did we get here? It is a tale with all the great Shakespearean themes: greed, hubris, betrayal, vengeance. It begins at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, in 2017…

After having outmaneuvered an uncle and a cousin to be named crown prince by his octogenarian father, Mohammed bin Salman quickly consolidated power. In May 2017, the 32-year-old ruler tightened his grip on Saudi society by rounding up hundreds of members of the ruling class and imprisoning them in the Riyadh Ritz, which overnight had been retrofitted with doors that would not open from the inside. Among the detainees in this so-called “Sheikdown” were billionaire tycoons, a dozen princes, and the head of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Officially, this was a corruption probe. There were allegations of torture and abuse; one detainee, Major General Ali Al-Qahtani, died during an “interrogation.” By the end of that unprecedented public humiliation, the prisoners had transferred more than $100 billion back to the state. Many of the transactions were overseen by Al-Rumayyan, a relative unknown installed by MBS in 2015 to oversee the PIF. Al-Rumayyan’s outsider status had been an asset, as MBS was looking to weaken the influence of the old guard. Now Al-Rumayyan’s fealty at such a high-stakes moment secured his place in the crown prince’s inner circle.

A year later, a commando group that reports directly to MBS assassinated dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, then a resident of the United States and a columnist for the Washington Post. MBS had turned himself into a darling of the international business community but became radioactive once Khashoggi’s murder was made public. Jeff Bezos canceled his appearance at the second annual Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel backed out of a $400 million investment from the PIF that he had been chasing for years, and Richard Branson pulled out of a $1 billion deal for his space travel company. Referencing Khashoggi’s murder, Branson said that it “would clearly change the ability of any of us to do business with the Saudi government.”

Golf played an unlikely role in the unfolding geopolitical drama. Al-Rumayyan had been wooing the European Tour for years, culminating in the launch of the inaugural Saudi International tournament to be played in January 2019…three months after Khashoggi’s assassination. At a moment when Saudi leaders were desperate for allies, the European Tour did them a monumental favor by not canceling the tournament. “We are a global tour that plays all over the world,” said Keith Pelley, then the Tour’s CEO. “Our board members and players were consistent in expressing the sentiment ‘We don’t mix politics with sport. You can’t be hypocritical and single out one country now.’”

Image: Keith Pelley and Yasir Al-Rumayyan at the 2019 Saudi International at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/WME IMG/WME IMG via Getty Images )

Determined to make its first tournament a smashing success, Al-Rumayyan’s Golf Saudi earmarked an unprecedented $20 million for appearance fees, with Koepka and Dustin Johnson each receiving in excess of $1.5 million. Reed, the reigning Masters champ, and Bryson DeChambeau also made the trip and spouted the predictable pablum about “growing the game.” Other players were loath to participate in such publicity stunts. Rory McIlroy turned down a reported $2.5 million appearance fee, saying, “One hundred percent, there’s a morality to it.” The battle had been joined for the soul of professional golf.

Buoyed by the success of the Saudi International, Al-Rumayyan went all-in on golf as a way to sportswash the criticism of his government’s human rights record. Golf Saudi pledged $500 million to the upstart Premier Golf League, an English concern that was trying to modernize professional golf. The PGL was proposing a jazzy 54-hole format with 4-man teams, a shotgun start, $20 million purses and a heavily international 14-tournament schedule. The PGL could never achieve lift-off, even after trying to partner with the European Tour and then the PGA TOUR. Burned by both failures, Al-Rumayyan finally accepted that getting a seat at the table would not be possible through partnership or compromise. No, he would have to buy it with the crushing weight of the PIF’s money. (Not for nothing, a McKinsey report commissioned by Golf Saudi to assess the viability of a breakaway league was referred to as “Project Wedge.”)

Image: Greg Norman and Dustin Johnson during the LIV Golf Invitational London Draft on June 07, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

LIV Golf was born in 2022, having essentially cut-and-pasted all of the PGL’s ideas. (In April 2026, the PGL sued Golf Saudi and the PIF for damages after years-long settlement talks broke down.) Al-Rumayyan installed Greg Norman as the figurehead, nearly three decades after the Shark had tried to form his own breakaway World Tour to compete against the PGA TOUR; it would have been funded by a fellow Australian iconoclast, Rupert Murdoch. “They could not possibly have selected a more divisive, controversial, or, frankly, disliked figure than Greg Norman,” says Deane Beman, the man who built the modern PGA TOUR as commissioner from 1974-94. “It was a very clear signal that they did not want to work within the existing structures of professional golf. What Norman did with the World Tour amounted to insurrection. The PGA TOUR gave him a platform to become an international star and make more money than he ever dreamed of, and he tried to tear it down. Those of us who love the Tour, who helped build it, the players who supported it and benefited from it all these years, we will never forget, and we will never forgive.”

Leaning into the disruptor role, LIV christened itself “Golf but louder.” The renegade pose appealed to a certain personality. As Tour loyalist Peter Jacobsen said, “It can’t be a coincidence that all the assholes went to LIV.”

But the press conference spars and cheesy music blasted across the venues made LIV seem as cool as a divorced dad wedging himself into skinny jeans. It is testament to the corrosive power of money that Al-Rumayyan was able to so easily purchase the loyalty of 48 players, including various major champions and Ryder Cup stars.

One of the glum realizations in the tour wars was that professional golfers—who, by definition, play the game for money— are not romantics like the rest of us. Surely Phil Mickelson would always play Pebble Beach to honor his beloved grandfather who caddied there, right? No way Reed would jilt his hometown event in Houston!

Turns out that for many big names, the tournaments between the major championships are just filler to keep themselves sharp and build their brands, and they don’t have the emotional attachment to the towns or the venues that we presume. Swapping out a Tour event in Hartford for a LIV event in Portland wasn’t a big deal—if the price was right. “What you have to understand about professional golfers is that they are all whores,” says a longtime agent with clients on both LIV and the PGA TOUR. “That is the starting point.”

Image: From left to right: Pat Perez, Talor Gooch, Team Captain Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed of 4 Aces GC celebrate with the team championship trophy at the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational in Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

For Al-Rumayyan, LIV was an exercise in soft power, a means to buying acceptance in the Western world and access to power. He found a kindred spirit in Donald Trump, a similarly transactional personality, whose eponymous courses hosted two of the eight tournaments in the inaugural 2022 season. “Hey, we have to play where people want us,” Sergio García said.

In the days before he hosted his first LIV event, at his Bedminster course, Trump inevitably stirred the pot. In a post on Truth Social he wrote, “All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year. If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were.”

That a former president was hosting a Saudi-backed venture in the shadow of Ground Zero touched off a series of protests on the roads leading into Trump Bedminster. (Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals, and questions about the extent of any Saudi government links have been debated for years.) Trump was unmoved, saying, “Nobody’s gotten to the bottom of 9/11”— an obfuscation that was outrageous even by his standards, given that the 9/11 Commission Report runs to 585 pages. He batted away questions about the demonstrators. The Saudi question has always been a shadow over LIV, sometimes expressed in thinly-veiled Islamaphobia.

During the second round at Bedminster, without giving anyone at LIV a heads- up, the former president hosted in his private box by the sixteenth tee two of that era’s most polarizing figures in American public life: Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson, who earlier in the week had done long on-air interviews with DeChambeau and Norman, brokered by LIV consultant Ari Fleischer, a contributor to Fox News. From the aerie by the sixteenth tee, Greene led the crowd in pro-Trump (“Four more years!”) and anti-Biden (“Let’s go, Brandon”) chants while Carlson looked on approvingly.

Image: Captain Cameron Smith of Ripper GC hits his shot from the 16th tee at the 2023 LIV Golf Invitational at Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club on in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The LIV Golf–Trump nexus was easily explained: both built their brands as oppressed underdogs fueled by grievance, paradoxically railing against the elites. For LIV— populated by golf royalty, funded by actual royals, fronted by a man who had spent 331 weeks as the world number one—that meant battling the staunch traditionalists at the PGA TOUR and the old boys running the OWGR. Trump—born into great wealth, educated at expensive private schools, builder of hotels and high rises and private golf clubs that are strictly for the 1 percent—convinced working-class folks that he was taking on the establishment that birthed him. The LIV Golf–Trump connection further complicated the public image of the upstart tour.

Then there was the lawfare. Three days after LIV Bedminster ended, eleven LIV players sued the Tour for antitrust violations in federal court. Their complaint centered on their year-long suspension by the Tour for playing in LIV tournaments without having been approved for a conflicting-event release. The plaintiffs were Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Ian Poulter, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak, Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, and Matt Jones.

LIV’s complaint would come to be identified by the name of the tour’s chief muckraker: Phil Mickelson et al. v. PGA TOUR, Inc. The Tour countersued, claiming that LIV had committed “tortious interference with contract” while seeking damages for lost profits and reputational and brand harm. The gentleman’s game had entered an era of unprecedented rancor.

Image: Scott O'Neil CEO of LIV Golf talks to Phil Mickelson of Hyflyers GC at 2025 LIV Golf Hong Kong at The Hong Kong Golf Club. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)

Attorney fees for the Tour began to exceed $5 million a month, an unsustainable burden. A titan of the financial world, Jimmy Dunne, was brought in to forge a truce. He delivered on June 6, 2023, when Al-Rumayyan and PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan shocked the world by appearing elbow-to-elbow on MSNBC to announce that the war was over.

The so-called “framework agreement” was billed as a merger between LIV and the Tour but was really just a way to end the lawsuits and provide an opportunity to discuss the PIF investing in the Tour. For six months the talks went nowhere, largely because the PGA TOUR board had been hijacked by Patrick Cantlay, who was bitter from having turned down a $75 million offer from LIV and wanted to punish the players who cashed in, and Tiger Woods, who brought an Old Testament sensibility by insisting those who went to LIV were traitors who should never be welcomed back. A frustrated Al-Rumayyan decided to send a shot across the bow, signing Jon Rahm to a $300 million deal in December 2023. Conventional wisdom was that if another big name bolted, the Tour would have to come with hat in hand to beg the Saudis to consummate a deal on whatever terms they saw fit. As one Tour executive told me in the days after Rahm’s signing, “It’s not full-blown panic around here, but close.”

Image: Jon Rahm of Legion XIII speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of LIV Golf Hong Kong at Hong Kong Golf Club on March 03, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

Noting correctly that LIV’s economics made no sense, PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan had labelled his adversaries an “irrational threat.” But Monahan belatedly began to fight dollars with dollars. In 2023 the Tour rolled out its first slate of $20 million “designated events” (later rebranded as Signatures) and slush funds like the $100 million Player Impact Program, which was a made-up way to funnel gobs of money to the top players who remained loyal.

Suddenly, Tour players were making LIV money, and no other top players followed Rahm unto the breach. And unlike LIV, the Tour was still producing homegrown stars—notably Scottie Scheffler, who won his second Masters in April 2024. By gathering the top players at the best Tour stops, the Signature events became smash hits.

In January 2024, a month after Rahm’s defection, the Tour answered by announcing a partnership with the Strategic Sports Group, a private equity firm that pledged up to $1.5 billion to give Ponte Vedra a new warchest. Players were granted equity stakes in their own league, a first for professional sports. The Tour weathered the storm.

When Trump was elected President in November ‘24 he seemed more concerned with bringing peace to the golf world than Gaza. Upon taking office he immediately summoned both sides to return to the bargaining table. Al-Rumayyan had long been celebrated as a master dealmaker but he badly overplayed his hand. The Tour offered a $500 million valuation of LIV, despite the fact it continued to hemorrhage a billion dollars a year. Al-Rumayyan is said to have been offended by what he considered the lowball opinion of his pet project.

This was the last chance to reunite the golf world; the PIF could have owned a piece of the Tour and The Investor could have been welcomed into golf’s inner sanctums, as he had always craved. But the deal never got done and the moment passed. Shortly thereafter, Rory McIlroy won the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam and cement his status as the game’s biggest star. LIV slid further into irrelevance.

Image: Brooks Koepka at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. (Getty Images)

In between Koepka’s rebellion and McIlroy winning a second straight Masters, war broke out in the Middle East. On March 2 of this year, drones targeted the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, leading to a fire and temporary shutdown that underscored the vulnerability of an economy built almost entirely on oil.

The next day, the PIF trumpeted a new 5-year strategic plan. A key tenet was to focus on domestic projects and reduce international spending by 10%. With a war raging and the Saudi economy getting squeezed, sports suddenly seemed frivolous and expendable. The PIF pulled its funding on Tom Brady’s flag football league, cancelled the Saudi Arabian Snooker Masters only two years into what was supposed to be a 10-year commitment, and sold its stake in the soccer team Al-Hilal. LIV was supposed to set the golf world on fire but its denouement could hardly be more prosaic: just another line-item eliminated by unseen bean-counters.

So what now? Golf Twitter is already gleefully dancing on LIV’s grave; supporters of the tour have always skewed noisy and belligerent, and now it’s time for payback. But in interviews with two LIV executives following the PIF divestment, they strained to be optimistic.

“The ironic thing,” said one, “is that the business is the strongest it’s ever been. We had over a hundred thousand fans on-site this year in Australia and South Africa. In Korea we sold out of premium hospitality. We now have blue-chip sponsors like Rolex and HSBC and we just announced a new TV deal across South Asia. Revenue is going to be up $100 million over last year. We have a handful of teams that are going to be profitable and others are very, very close. In 16 months, Scott [O’Neil] has built a real business that is nothing like what your friend Greg patched together.”

It’s a good sales pitch, but is there any way forward for LIV without the Saudis underwriting the show? “As a sector of the economy, sports is booming,” said the second exec.

“Institutional money is pouring into every level of professional sports. For us, everything is now on the table. A smaller schedule with only international events. A smaller footprint. If purses come down, if the schedule contracts, if the team franchises sell, it is a self-sustaining business. And it can probably be had for pennies on the dollar. It’s $5 billion to buy an NFL franchise. What if you could own a global golf tour with massive name recognition operating in world capitals for only a couple hundred million dollars? Someone will find that enticing.”

Executive number one noted LIV’s increased respectability: “We’re getting World Ranking points now. Fred Ridley just shouted us out at the Masters during the green jacket ceremony. That the money was coming from Saudi Arabia always made people squeamish. Take away that barrier and it gets much easier for us to maneuver in the marketplace.”

But what about the huge guaranteed contracts the PIF agreed to? Rahm alone is paid out $60 million a year before he gobbles up any prize money. Even with the PIF walking away, isn’t he (and sundry others) still owed the dough they were promised, which makes the math much more daunting? “That’s what lawyers are for,” said the second LIV exec.

It is going to be messy, of course. That’s the LIV way. But maybe there is the tiniest reason for optimism: in 2025, after blowing in the wind for 7 years, construction resumed on the Jeddah Tower. It has now surpassed 100 stories and keeps rising toward the heavens. Then again, as the steel bakes in the sun, it is a reminder that all that glitters is not gold.

Nelly Korda Keeps the Heater Going, in Early Contention in Mexico

Addie Parker — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:48:32 +0000

Through five starts this season, the World No. 1 hasn’t finished outside the top two—and she’s in the mix again in Mexico.

The Nelly Korda we're seeing in 2026, feels different from the one we saw win seven times in 2024.

There's no question that the World No. 1's game is in immaculate form, but her mental steadiness, the way she's carrying herself both on and off the course feels more complete. She's growing into herself and her abilities as a player and that's something to behold.

"I'm always striving to be better and to contend in every major, every tournament. Just because what I've accomplished, what's funny with sports is that's in the past. What you want to do is look to the future and look to improve and look to it contend in the bigger events," Korda said earlier in the week about her next set of goals. "Even if you get beat, it doesn't matter. That's kind of what motivates me to continuously put myself in that position."

Her dominant, wire-to-wire win at the Chevron felt like a statement, and it's carrying over into her play this week in Mexico. Korda is teeing it up this week for the first time at the LPGA's Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba and is taking early command carding opening rounds of 68-67, respectively.

But she's not running away with it like we saw her do in Houston.

LPGA veteran player Brianna Do is making just her third start this season and has a share of the lead alongside Korda, after her opening scores of 66-69.

Do has been making headlines recently after she qualified for the 81st U.S. Women's Open that will be held at the famed Riviera Country Club in a few weeks. It'll be the 36-year-old's first USWO in nine years!

A top-10 finish this week will be a huge momentum swing for her heading into the second major of the year that's right in her backyard.

Fire Up the Grills, the Block Party will Return to the PGA Championship

Riley Hamel — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:38 +0000

With a top-10 finish at the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes, Michael Block earned his spot at Aronimink later this month.

Four years ago, Michael Block won the hearts of golf fans with his performance at the PGA Championship. He converted a nasty up-and-down on the final hole to tie for 15th, automatically earning him a spot in the following PGA at Valhalla. But that wasn’t the highlight of his week.

Playing alongside Rory McIlroy in the final round, Block sent galleries and Golf Twitter into a frenzy with his hole-in-one at the par-3 15th.

However, the more time he’s spent in the spotlight, the more fans he’s lost. From endorsements with Raising Cane's and Malbon Golf to his statement about being one of the best players in the world if he could drive it like McIlroy, Block has created some buzz.

But if you’re still attending the Block Party, we have some great news for you. With a top-10 finish in this week’s PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes—we need more pro and amateur events at that place—Block earned a spot at Aronimink later this month.

It will be his tenth major championship start, and the man known as Blockie was vibing after accomplishing his mission on the cliffs of Oregon—fair warning: the video is a little on the cringe side.

Since flashing at Oak Hill in 2023, Block has missed two straight cuts at the PGA. Maybe we can get back in his bag in a few weeks outside Philadelphia.

The New Gear Drops That Didn’t Feel Like Noise

Ryan Barath — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:45:12 +0000

From rangefinders to covers, here are a few recent releases that stand out for the right reasons.

It's been another busy month for golf gear, and to be fair, it kind of feels like every month hits this point. From McLaren Golf entering the space to TaylorMade delivering its Shadowfall series, there was just a lot going on.

So here’s a quick roundup of some other releases you might have missed.

Bushnell Tour V7 Shift

This compact rangefinder packs a punch and features a super bright Dual-Color OLED Display with Slope First Technology. It also has features you've come to expect from Bushnell, including JOLT, a built-in magnet, up to 500 yards for pinseeking, 6x magnification, and a water-resistant design.

All this and a sleek carrying case for $400.

Wilson Staff Covers

Wilson Golf has been crushing it with modern tech in their irons (see the Staff Model XB), but they have also been not-so-quietly leaning into their retro styling, including the recent launch of some very slick and also reasonably priced headcovers.

Available in two driver options, plus a blade and mallet cover—you get a lot of vibes for $60 a pop.

Bettinardi Hexperimental 7 & 9

Bettinardi is adding to its Simply Balanced (low-torque) collection of putters with the Hexperimental 7 & 9, which feature a heel hosel to appeal to those golfers who prefer a more traditional look from address.

The best part is for those lefties who tend to miss out on launched like this, the #9 will be available for southpaws.

They are currently on pre-order for $550 and scheduled to ship June 3rd.

MaxFli XC1 Blades & XCW Wedges

In a bit of a surprise (but a VERY welcome one based on the initial response), Maxfli is adding to its line of forged irons by introducing a new blade as well as a collection of forged wedges.

The blade is forged from premium 1025 carbon steel, and co-Forged with internal tungsten weighting and Ceramic Matrix Composite in the longer irons (4 - 8 irons), to deliver added forgiveness along with precisely located center of gravity locations for optimal control.

The irons are priced at $1000 for an 8-piece set and the wedges are $130 each.

Malbon Taps Korea’s Design Language With Studio Seoul

Raymond Williams — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:42:49 +0000

A tech-driven remix of familiar Malbon staples

Every few months this conversation pops up. Why do some of our favorite brands feel… better overseas?

It usually comes down to licensing. Brands operating in places like Japan or Korea often have the freedom to reinterpret product for their local market. Different standards. Different expectations. And more often than not, a deeper obsession with fabric, fit, and finish.

That’s exactly what makes Malbon’s Studio Seoul collection interesting. Because instead of keeping that design language contained to Korea, they’ve brought it stateside.

This isn’t a full departure from what Malbon already does well. It’s more like a refinement. Familiar pieces show up, but with sharper proportions, more intentional drape, and a noticeable bump in technical detail. Extra zippers where they matter. Pockets that feel considered, not just added. Subtle contrast hits that elevate without overdoing it.

There’s also a broader cultural influence at play. Korea has long leaned into technical garments across fashion, not just sport. That mindset shows up here in a way that feels natural.

And then there’s the Sunjae Im factor. Malbon’s newest athlete brings that connection full circle, giving this collection a real on-course presence tied back to Seoul.

Lorena Ochoa's Legacy Isn't Measured in Majors

Addie Parker — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:11:54 +0000

The LPGA's return to Mexico is an opportunity for the golf world to celebrate the power and influence of who many crown the G.O.A.T., Lorena Ochoa.

When Lorena Ochoa announced her retirement at just 28 years old, she shocked the world with her decision. She was in what many would consider her "prime". Just shy of 30, playing on the LPGA Tour for less than a decade (2003 to 2010) and having already accumulated 27 career titles, including two majors, and 109 top-10s.

But her wins aren't what make her remarkable, those are just the added bonuses. Ochoa was and still is one of the most captivating players women's golf has ever seen. She was a stone-cold killer, insanely accurate ball-striker and an even better putter—but off the course, her ability to work a room, to influence the energy of a space and leave her mark is what not only puts her in the G.O.A.T. conversation but places her at the top of the list.

Lorena Ochoa of Mexico takes part in the First Tee ceremony prior to the start of the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Last year marked the first time in seven years that the LPGA Tour held an event in Mexico for the Riviera Maya Open at the El Camaleón course at Mayakoba, and it was hard to ignore the presence Ochoa carries around the place.

Though this isn't technically her event, she's definitely the hostess with the mostest bouncing around the place. From kicking off the week during Tuesday evening's open ceremony to hitting the first tee shot during the Wednesday pro-am, Ochoa's obligations during the week are plentiful. She's quite literally shaking hands and kissing babies, like she always has, and she's happy to do it.

Last year while we were on site, Ochoa told Skratch during the pro-am just how meaningful it was to her to see the LPGA in Mexico. "I was very emotional because of it all," Ochoa said. "It takes a lot to work together between the tourism, the support from the golf course, the sponsors. And I'm just happy to be here."

It's rather apparent just how much this event means to her, and for the other golfers in the field representing Latin America.

We're not even a month removed from Maria Jose Marin's historic win at the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur, becoming the first player from Colombia to hoist the trophy. "Of course this is a win for my country and just beyond proud to represent them. I am half Mexican too, so it is with great pride that I represent Mexico in the bottom of my heart," Marin said in her winning presser in response to what the win means to her, and what should would say to little girls who look like her.

"I can just say dream big. Never give up on your dreams. I would never, ever think that I was going to be right here right now, but it's just because all of my hard work and my perseverance and the love that I have for the game."

There are nine players hailing from Mexico and another five (including Marin) Latina women in the field on sponsor invites—all of which are products of Ochoa paving the way. She was the first from Mexico to win, to be a world No.1, and to achieve Hall of Fame status—she inspired an entire generation to get up and play.

"I think for Mexican golf this is huge," said Maria Fassi ahead of this week's tournament. "I grew up watching the best in the world play when we had the tournaments in Mexico City, and it's the reason why I'm here today. It's what inspired me to play professional golf. I wanted to be just like Lorena Ochoa and, you know, all the amazing players that came to play."

"We didn't have that for so long, and now that we're on or second year back after so many, we get to be that for so many of the girls and kids that come out and watch. So I think it's a huge leap into the growth of the game, and obviously for me as a Mexican player it's just such an honor and I take a lot of pride in playing for Mexico in Mexico, getting to show some of the girls our beautiful country."

There's no mistaking Ochoa's legacy, despite her retirement 15 years ago. She's revered amongst the next generation and so many aspire to follow in her footsteps. She shaped the game for so many in the current generation—and this week, this tournament is a testament to who she is not just what she accomplished.

This page was first published on May 22, 2025. Last updated April 30, 2026.

Brooks Koepka Is A Gear Free Agent Once Again

Ryan Barath — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:30:01 +0000

In a surprise announcement before the start of the Cadillac Championship, Brooks Koepka and Srixon Golf have officially parted ways.

Brooks Koepka has always been a golfer who, from the outside, likes to do things a little differently, and on the heels of a surprise announcement this morning, he'll get that chance once again after splitting with his official equipment supplier, Srixon.

Brooks Gear Background

After Nike left the hard goods equipment space in 2016, Brooks went the route of a lot of players and became an equipment free agent. During this time, he played a wide variety of gear from Titleist, TaylorMade, and, most notably, Mizuno irons, and won 4 Majors, including back-to-back U.S. Opens.

In 2021, he made the decision to sign an official agreement with Srixon to play their ball and irons, plus Cleveland wedges, since both live under the Dunlop Sports Brand. Srixon even went as far as bringing the tour-only prototype Brooks was using to retail: the Srixon Z-Star Diamond.

Although he did put their driver into play for several events, he never committed to playing it and usually relied on a TaylorMade or Titleist to go along with his old TaylorMade M2 Tour fairway wood.

Photo Credit: GolfWRX

But recently, the usual tinker-resistant Brooks has made a few changes to his gear, including putting a TaylorMade Spider into play and switching back to a Titleist ball.

If I were to play the role of speculator, I imagine the announcement today is based on his inability to commit to playing a Srixon ball, mixed with Brooks looking to free up his options when it comes to other parts of his club setup.

As for now, we will wait and see if any other changes are coming to his bag, as he looks to work his way up the FedEx Cup rankings and earn his way into the PGA TOUR Signature events.

Brooks Koepka’s Augusta Mock Neck Is Finally Here

Raymond Williams — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:10:34 +0000

The piece that split opinions now gets a closer look

Remember that mock neck Brooks Koepka wore at Augusta? The one that had people doing a double take all week. Some were into it, some weren’t sure what to make of it, but either way it stuck.

Well, it dropped.

Nike officially released the same mock neck top that Koepka wore on one of golf’s biggest stages, and it lands pretty much exactly how you remember it. Clean, fitted, and just different enough to feel like a shift. Not a polo, not a full departure from performance wear either. It sits somewhere in between, and that’s what made it interesting in the first place.

The fabric has a subtle texture to it, something you don’t always catch on broadcast but shows up in hand. The collar is structured without feeling stiff, and the overall shape leans athletic without going overly tight. It’s a simple piece, but one that carries a bit of extra weight because of where it showed up.

Ever Wonder What it's Like to Play in a Pro-Am in Mexico?

Addie Parker — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:55:55 +0000

I played in an LPGA pro am in Mexico—here's how it went.

When you get the call asking to participate in a pro-am in Mexico...you don't hesitate, you just say yes. No Real I.D. needed, grab your clubs and your passport, ask questions later and worry about everything after the flight home. At least that's what I did.

I've had the pleasure of playing in one other pro-am before, and I can tell you that it's one of my favorite rounds of golf ever. It's one thing to watch golf in person. It's another to be inside the ropes at tournaments, but being able to tee it up alongside the most elite golfers in the world, getting a front row seat to their process and picking their brains is the most unreal experience for any golfer of any level.

I don't mean to brag, but rather bring this one-of-a-kind opportunity of playing in the LPGA's Riviera Maya Open Pro-Am to life, like you were right there with me.

Here's the low-down on LPGA pro-ams in case you're unfamiliar. Usually, pro-ams occur the Wednesday before a tournament. Four amateurs (these typically are representatives of tournaments sponsors or partners, members of media, etc.) get paired up with two pros, one pro for your first nine and another for your back nine.

On the LPGA, pro-ams are not meant to serve as practice rounds for the players (though it is a way for players to get in reps), but rather an entertainment experience utilized as a chance for the tour's best ambassadors to be themselves and showcase their games to those who may not be able to see it on TV. There's something invaluable that happens when you put a player in a one-on-four situation, the organic conversations that are fostered on a golf course are unparalleled.

Pro-Ams can also serve as a way for the LPGA to engage with the local community and promote the sport. Last year, I had the opportunity to be a guest of the Tour in promotion of their first event back in Mexico in seven years. It was an opportunity to connect with the area and so see the efforts, headed by LPGA legend Lorena Ochoa, that Mexico and much of Latin America is doing to grow the game of golf.

In honor of the LPGA Tour running it back the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba this week, where the stunning El Camaleón Golf Course, a Greg Norman design, serves as the host venue for the second time—let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit my pro-am day from last year!

El Camaleón plays extremely tight—some fairways are merely a few paces wide. If you miss the short grass, there's no retrieving those balls so bring a case (not a box, a case) of balls. The greens are small, fast, and have a surprising amount of slope. Water is a factor, not on every hole but definitely some. Oh, and beware of wildlife, because a pack of spider monkeys may sit in any given fairway and take your ball!

The course is highlighted by its signature 7th hole that has a huge bunker cave. It's literally a cave that you can go in and basically feel like you've been transported to the underworld...it's wild.

Photo courtesy of El Camaleón Golf at Mayakoba

(Pro tip: the bunker cave is very much in play off the tee, so think smart.)

But man...it is stunning. The course itself feels like Mexico and Mexican golf. It's relatively flat, some holes run along the water where you have a perfect view of the beach and the ocean—and yes, drinks stations are situated on several holes for your hydration needs, and you're gonna need 'em.

It was a sweltering 92-degree day with over 80 percent humidity—but what else can you expect in Mexico during the summer? There were wind gusts up to 20mph, which added to the difficultly to an already demanding course in terms of ball-striking. If you're not accurate...good luck.

But that's what your teammates are for! Our pro-am format was a scramble, where each player hits and the group decides the best ball to hit from until the ball is in the hole, resulting in your score for that hole.

I was fortunate to play alongside a group of some real ballers.

We played our first nine with Dewi Weber, who joined the LPGA Tour in 2019. Weber has been finding her form as of late, playing really great golf but explained to me on the par-3 15th, that she feels as though her results are necessarily reflecting how well she's been playing and feeling. But Weber and I bonded over our love for style, both in golf and just fashion culture at large, the best eats in New York, and things that felt light and airy—she was the heartbeat of the team, truly.

We then played our back nine with Arpichaya Yubol a.k.a "Piano". Her father gave her that nickname because that's what he thought she should play—but instead the 23-year-old from Thailand is in her third season on the LPGA, with 13 career top-25 finishes to her name. She has nine career victories on the Thai LPGA Tour.

Piano and her caddie Michael fell in with our group seamlessly, understanding our rhythm and flow and providing great insight on how we should feel hitting certain shots. I was unfamiliar with her game, but I quickly learned that she has one of the best tempos I've ever seen (move over Jake Knapp) and is kind of a killer with dangerously accurate ball striking. She stuffed a 164-yard iron shot to like 4 feet for eagle for us like it was nothing.

Getty Images

The rest of our group was comprised of my new friend and fellow media member, Todd Kelly of Golfweek, Donna Mummert of the LPGA who heads Tournament Business Affairs (who we coined "Hot Donna" because she was simply on fire), and a shining star who I hope to see on our TV screens soon, a local Mexican golfer, Paloma Ibarra Ambia. She's 16-years-old and has a game that I'd pay a lot of money for, but what impressed me the most is that she knows exactly who she is and who she wants to become. When I asked her what her biggest dream in life was, with zero hesitation she said, "World No. 1 and in the Hall of Fame". Sound familiar?

Lorena Ochoa, the winningest Mexican golfer, was ranked the top player in the world for 158 consecutive weeks and was inducted into the hall of fame.

Ibarra Ambia is a student of the Xuntas—a non-profit performance golf program that Ochoa oversees that is geared towards developing young girls in Mexico and giving them the resources to compete.

Seeing her comfort level on the course, casually talking to and walking with Dewi and Piano was remarkable to witness, and was truly the best part of the day. I mean, I knew it was going to be an insane day that I'd think about probably forever, but I never anticipated walking away from the day feeling so connected to a group of strangers.

The ultimate purpose of the game comes out in full force during pro-ams, and that's simply connecting people to one another all for the sake of having fun and making core memories.

This page was first published on May 22, 2025. Last updated April 30, 2026.

ANWA Champion Maria Jose Marin Tees It up at the LPGA's Lone Latin America Stop

Addie Parker — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:08:06 +0000

Less than a month after her Augusta National Women’s Amateur win, Marin makes her next stop on the pro stage in Mexico.

It's hard to believe that yet another April has come and gone, but Maria Jose Marin's Saturday charge to the finish line at the Augusta National Women's Amateur will be talked about for quite a while.

The University of Arkansas star made her mark with her record-setting ,14-under victory, becoming the first woman from Latin America to win the prestigious event. Marin started the final round at Augusta National just a shot clear of the lead, and by the time she made the turn, she was three-under on the day.

When the 36-hole leader Asterisk Talley made a detrimental quadruple bogey on the par-3 12th, Marin made a birdie at the 13th—giving her the outright lead—and ultimately the victory.

Since then, Marin has competed in the SEC Women's Golf Championship where she finished T-12.

This week, the World No. 6 amateur is teeing it up in her first LPGA event since her ANWA win. She decided not to play in the first major of the season, the Chevron Championship, which she received an invitation to due to the overlap of dates for the SEC Championship.

The 19-year-old is one of several Latina women in the Riviera Maya Open field, the only LPGA event held in Latin America.

Her opening round of a 1-under par 71 puts currently has her inside the top-25. If she plays well, Marin has an opportunity to collect more points towards her LPGA LEAP status. Amateurs can earn two points for Top-10 (and ties) or 1 point for Top 40 (and ties) for any non-LPGA major event.

Marin currently has 11 LEAP points. A player needs 20 total points to earn LPGA membership.

Silent Ace: Rookie Melanie Green Didn’t Even Know She Dunked It

Addie Parker — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:34:33 +0000

A perfect shot, zero reaction, and one very delayed celebration.

The LPGA Tour is in Mexico this week for the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba—certainly not a bad place to be right after a major championship. The Fairmont resort is a luxurious, oceanfront getaway less than an hour from Cancun and is playing host to the world's best including World No. 1 Nelly Korda who is making her first trip down to the event.

And Korda isn't the only first-timer getting a taste of El Camaleon Golf Course. Melanie Green, a 2026 LPGA rookie, is also making her first appearance here in Mexico but is walking away with something extra special that can't be bought from a souvenir shop.

The par 3, 15th hole at El Camaleon is the only ocean-side hole on the course and Green made it the back drop to her first career ace! She hit her 7-iron 163 yards, that took a couple of bounces and rolled into the hole.

It was just Green, her caddie and her playing partners who were there to witness it and they all had a delayed reaction to it. "[I] tried to hit a 160 [yard] shot but the winds blowing a little left," Green said during an in-round interview. "He [her caddie] gave me my putter and I'm walking up here and I don't see my ball. And I say 'well you can take this, this is embarrassing', I didn't even hit the green!"

But she was mistaken because the ball was nuzzled safely into the hole.

With the spectacular shot, Green is sitting with the clubhouse lead of 6-under par.

How to Watch

Thursday, April 30: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Live); 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital)

Friday, May 1: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Live); 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital)

Saturday, May 2: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital); 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel Live)

Sunday, May 3: 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Golf Channel Digital); 1:00-3:00 p.m. (CBS Live / Paramount+)

What Oakley Sunglasses Is Rickie Fowler Wearing?

Raymond Williams — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:46:30 +0000

The oversized, rainbow-lens frames Rickie Fowler keeps reaching for aren’t just a vibe

You’ve probably noticed it by now. The sunglasses have gotten bigger. And the chatter around Rickie Fowler’s pair has grown right along with them.

He’s been leaning into the Oakley Sutro for a few weeks now, and they feel less like a one-off and more like part of the uniform. Oversized shield lens. Full coverage. That iridescent tint that shifts depending on the light. It’s equal parts performance tool and statement piece.

And if you’re curious, yes, you can shop them. Even better, Oakley lets you virtually try them on right now. Which feels necessary with a frame this bold.

For the First Time in Its History, All LPGA Major Purses Reach $9 Million or More

Addie Parker — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:22:56 +0000

Alexa, play "A Milli" by Lil Wayne.

There's never been a more lucrative time to be an LPGA athlete than now.

Over the past few weeks, really stretching back to the JM Eagle LA Championship, a steady stream of news and reports has centered on rising purses across the LPGA. Especially when it comes to the majors, and not just by a little… but in a significant way. Walter Wang, CEO of JM Eagle, helped spark that momentum in the lead-up to the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season, which was contested just last week.

It was that Tuesday of Chevron week when officials announced a $1 million increase pushing the total purse from $8 million up to $9 million. Then, earlier this week, it was the AIG Women's Open’s turn, raising its total purse to $10 million, up from $9.75 million in total payout just a year ago.

And it's not stopping there. The Amundi Evian Championship is also following suit, raising its purse to $9.1 million starting this year.

"Backed by the strong support of its Sponsors Club led by Amundi, Evian, Danone, and Rolex and further strengthened by the arrival of Hyosung, the tournament has decided, at the start of 2026, to raise its prize money for its 32nd edition," the announcement said.

There's been no official statement from the LPGA as of now but CMO Chad Coleman posted on X and LinkedIn celebrating this fourth purse increase announced in the last ten days.

"What an incredible signal from our partners who see what we see: that the best women's golfers in the world are must-watch athletes, and that the organizations betting on them early are going to look very smart," Coleman added on LinkedIn.

This means that for the first time in LPGA History, every major championship has a prize total of $9 million or more.

Go ahead and add this to the list of things we love to see!

LIV Golf is Set to Notify Players that its Funding is Almost Over

Riley Hamel — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:12:41 +0000

It's been in the tea leaves, but LIV Golf is now on the doorstep of alerting its membership that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will pull its backing following the 2026 season, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that LIV Golf will alert its membership by Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will be pulling its funding following the 2026 season. This had been floating around for the past few weeks ever since the Financial Times reported that the PIF was on the verge of cutting its backing on April 15. Now, it’s reportedly official.

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil recently told Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper that the league had funding through 2026, and that “LIV Golf, which marks its fifth anniversary this year, is working hard to create an environment where it can grow on its own...Like other general companies, we are trying to grow by attracting investment and expanding profits.”

On Tuesday, Louisiana Economic Development released a statement confirming that LIV was postponing its event in the state slated for June 25-28. Instead, LIV wants to move it to the fall. To avoid fans potentially connecting dots, LIV said in a statement that it wants to avoid “peak summer heat” and a “crowded global sports schedule.”

LIV’s future is murky—at best—and the next few months are bound to be extremely...interesting.

Why You Should Keep Your Eye on Cameron Young and Min Woo Lee in Miami

Rick Gehman — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:02:15 +0000

Our resident winner-picker on who he likes at Doral—plus—top 10 and 20 picks.

The PGA TOUR returns to Trump National Doral for the first time since 2016—the WGC Cadillac Championship which was won by Adam Scott. The course has hosted a variety of LIV events since then including two team championships and two regular events on that circuit. So despite not seeing the PGA TOUR play at the venue in a decade, we do have some other data points to increase the sample size.

As usual, the “Blue Monster” is likely to live up to its name. The course is LONG and I capitalized that for emphasis. It’ll stretch over 7,700 yards as a par-72 with a large chunk of that yardage coming on the par-5s. The average par-5 will play 611 yards which is going to be the second longest set of par-5s on TOUR behind only Oakmont last year for the U.S. Open.

Honestly, scoring might look pretty reminiscent of a U.S. Open with a few shots under par being a great score each day. Marc Leishman is the most recent winner at Doral, where he won LIV Miami at 6-under last year across three rounds. There were only six players under par for the event. Here are a few players who should set-up well for this week.

Winner: Cameron Young (+1475)

His name appears in this column often, and for good reason. Since the start of 2026, he’s gained +1.63 strokes per round which is the third best mark of anyone in this field. He’s sporting a 50% top-10 rate in his eight starts this year and has THE PLAYERS Championship victory as his statement moment. He’s dominant off-the-tee, ranking inside the top 25 in both distance and accuracy which will be critical around Doral. Despite his elite level driving, he’s not a one-dimensional player. He’s gaining +0.55 strokes on approach and he’s positive in both short-game categories. This is a stellar spot for him to continue his fantastic run of golf.

Winner: Min Woo Lee (+4100)

We are seeing the maturation process of Min Woo Lee happen right before our eyes. For the year, he’s gaining +1.38 strokes per round which would be the second best year of his career but, by far, his best year since becoming a full-time PGA TOUR player. His previous best, 2023, was played across the DP World Tour, Asian Tour and the PGA TOUR.

For the first time in his career, Min Woo Lee is a positive player in all four major strokes gained categories and he’s contended at a variety of venues. His three top-10s this year are at Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, and Memorial Park which further substantiates the claim that his game is evolving. Doral should be on the upper end of courses that fit his game.

Top 10: Justin Rose (+235)

Rosey refuses to take calls from Father Time and is coming off yet another great performance – a T3 at the Masters. He’s significantly improved his club speed over the past few years and he’s accurate enough to get around Doral without disaster. Speaking of Doral, he’s one of the few players in this field with substantial history at the venue. Rose has teed it up ten times at the Blue Monster which was highlighted by his win here in 2012.

Top 10: Rickie Fowler (+270)

Despite missing out on qualification for the Masters, Fowler has had a great season coming off a T8 at the RBC Heritage which marked his fifth top-20 finish of the year. The most valuable attribute for Fowler this week will be his driving accuracy, where he ranks 19th on TOUR. There is so much trouble lurking off-the-tees at Doral that this could be a significant separator. He’s also back to being a high-end putter which is something that he lost for a few years. The game is trending and this feels like it’ll be a proper set-up to match his skill-sets.

Top 20: Sudarshan Yellamaraju (+215)

His T52 finish at Harbour Town was one of his worst finishes of the year, but it makes sense! Yellamaraju was certainly hemmed in off-the-tee at Harbour Town and unable to tap into his driving prowess. That’ll change this week at Doral. He’s sporting a six event streak of gaining strokes on approach and he’s produced four top-20 finishes during that run. He was a late addition to the Zurich Classic being paired alongside Ryan Gerard where they finished 34th.

Top 20: Sungjae Im (+200)

It’s been a rocky return to golfer for Im who dealt with a wrist injury that delayed his 2026 campaign. He’s only played six events with mixed results – two missed cuts but a T4 at the Valspar Championship. Im has always thrived in Florida where precision and power are both equally critical to avoiding disaster. He’s shown flashes of greatness in all facets of his game but has yet to put all the pieces together. I’m trying to be early on Sungjae and am catching him at a solid price.

Top 20: Gary Woodland (+178)

The last time Woodland lost strokes off-the-tee was the Scottish Open of last year, 13 measured starts ago. He’s elite with the driving and the rest of his game has taken a massive step forward. Over his last 12 rounds alone, he’s gained +14.0 strokes on approach and another +11.8 with the putter. He’s firing on all cylinders and now heads to a course that should reward his strengths.

Three Players to Watch at the Cadillac Championship

Riley Hamel — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:09:15 +0000

There's plenty to like about Cameron Young's chances at Doral, but he's not the only player we're keeping an eye on at the Cadillac Championship.

After a decade away, the PGA TOUR returns to Doral this week for the revived Cadillac Championship, the fifth Signature Event of the season. The field is stacked—notable absentees include Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick—and I have three players you should keep an eye on.

But first, some housekeeping.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler—who enters the week with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Masters and RBC Heritage—is the betting favorite, at 3/1. Sunday's champion will take home $3.6 million of the $20 million purse and 700 FedExCup points. As for the golf course: Doral is a beast, a par 72 measuring just under 7,800 yards.

Now, three players worthy of some eyeballs in South Florida.

Three Players to Watch at the Cadillac Championship

Cameron Young (13/1)

Young is second on the odds board behind only Scheffler, and for good reason. Doral is a bomber's paradise, and few players do that better than the reigning PLAYERS champion. He ranks 32nd in driving distance and 24th in accuracy—good for second behind Matt Fitzpatrick in total driving.

And with nearly 7,800 yards to navigate, long-iron play will be crucial. Young ranks fourth in average proximity from 175–200 yards this season.

Stats aside, he's been flat-out balling. T-7 at the Genesis, T-3 at Bay Hill, a win at THE PLAYERS, T-3 at the Masters, T-25 at Harbour Town. It would be surprising not to see him in the mix come Sunday.

Adam Scott (35/1)

There's plenty of reason to like Scott at Doral—and that's before you factor in that he was the last champion here, back in 2016.

His long-iron play this season has been phenomenal: second in proximity from 150–175 yards, second from 175–200, 10th from 200–225, and fourth on approaches of 200 yards or longer. He also ranks 12th in total driving and, at 45 years old, 18th in distance.

A decade later, Scott winning at Doral again feels entirely plausible.

Sepp Straka (55/1)

Sepp Straka? Really? Yes—and here's why.

His long-iron game is stellar: third in average proximity from 175–200 yards this season, and 15 under across 77 attempts from that range, second only to Si Woo Kim. His Florida record over the last two seasons is also hard to ignore—T-13 at the '26 Arnold Palmer Invitational, T-8 at the '26 PLAYERS, T-11 at the '25 Cognizant Classic, T-5 at the '25 API, and T-14 at the '25 PLAYERS. There's something about the Austrian and the Sunshine State.

Inside McLaren Golf’s First Real Equipment Drop

Ryan Barath — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:37:42 +0000

After being spotted in Justin Rose’s bag, we’ve got all the details on the new McLaren Series 1 and Series 3 irons.

First, McLaren Golf was announced on March 2. Then their tour player and global ambassador, Justin Rose, was spotted with new irons in the bag this week at Doral. Now it’s time to dive into the details of their first real entry into the equipment space: the Series 1 and Series 3 irons.

But before we get to the tech, let me get one detail out of the way: contrary to some rumors floating around online, these irons will NOT be priced at $1,000 a club. In fact, that number isn’t even close.

Alex Fitzpatrick is Officially a PGA TOUR Member

Riley Hamel — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:41:08 +0000

Following the win in New Orleans, Alex Fitzpatrick is officially a PGA TOUR member and will play at Doral this week.

Alex Fitzpatrick has spent most of his career on the DP World Tour. But after he and his brother Matt won the Zurich Classic in New Orleans over the weekend, Alex had the opportunity to accept a PGA TOUR membership—and on Tuesday, he made it official.

With the win at TPC Louisiana, Alex is now exempt on TOUR through the 2028 season. He's also into the remaining Signature Events—including this week's Cadillac Championship at Doral—as well as the 2026 PGA Championship and 2027 THE PLAYERS.

On this week's episode of Dan on Golf, Matt told host Dan Rapaport that the brothers' win was "fairytale stuff."

It didn't come as a shock, however. Matt entered the week ranked third in the world, fresh off a win at the RBC Heritage and not far removed from claiming the Valspar Championship. That same week, Alex won the Hero Indian Open on the DP World Tour.

Safe to say the Fitzpatrick brothers were coming in hot.

A pair of siblings teaming up to win on TOUR is one of the coolest stories golf has seen in a while—and now we'll get to see a whole lot more of Alex.

Why the AIG Women’s Open’s Record $10 Million Purse Increase Matters

Addie Parker — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:37:31 +0000

With the bump, AIG becomes the third LPGA major to reach the $10 million mark.

At it's inception back in 1976, the AIG Women's Open has a prize fund of £500 or about $675 U.S. dollars.

Now, 50 years into it's tenure, that number looks a whole lot bigger...and I mean a whole lot bigger. This week, the R&A announced that this year's championship with see a significant boost in many ways, one of which is through a generous little boost in the purse to get it to $10 million.

"This is the sixth consecutive year that the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has been increased," said Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A. "These consistent and sustainable investments in the prize fund clearly demonstrate The R&A and AIG’s commitment to elevating the Championship on the global stage."

This will be the 50th anniversary of the AIG Women's Open, contest at Royal Lytham & St Annes this summer July 29 through August 2.

Last year's prize fund totaled, $9.75 million in total payout to players. That extra $250,000 goes a long way making this the third LPGA major to hit the $10 million mark.

In 2008 when the championship was last held at Sunningdale (which was also announced today as the 2028 AIG venue), the purse was just at $2.1 million. Catriona Mathew won the following year at Royal Lytham & St Annes taking about $330,000 of the $2.2 million purse.

For the next eight years the purse stayed steady with a few incremental increases around the $2.5-$3 million mark, including the last time the championship was contested at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018 where the overall purse was at $3.25 million. Georgia Hall took the win home with a $490,000 check in her pocket.

AIG's partnership began the following year in 2019 and was kicked off by a purse increase to $4.5 million for its first two years before a continued increase in subsequent years.

This steady, up-ticking trend is becoming increasingly popular amongst the majors. Just last week at the Chevron Championship, the purse had been pushed to $9 million, with Nelly Korda taking home $1,350,000.

The week before at the JM Eagle LA Championship, sponsor Walter Wang said live on air that he was throwing another million into their jackpot, making that event's purse the largest outside of the majors and the CME Group Tour Championship.

The U.S. Women’s Open still leads the way with a $12 million purse, but the AIG Women’s Open reaching $10 million feels significant because of how it got there—not overnight, but with steady investment over time.

Women’s golf doesn’t need one giant headline in a vacuum. It needs consistent, annual investment that keeps moving the sport forward.