McIlroy mania in Melbourne, Scheffler goes blue in the Bahamas, new TGL holes, and Korda tops women’s golf earnings. The Back Nine.
What if? Just a week ago, we reflected on the dramatic slump of 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year Cam Smith, who had missed seven consecutive cuts. But at the Crown Australian Open, the LIV golfer bounced back, silencing critics with a runner-up finish at the iconic Royal Melbourne. Smith proved he still has what it takes. If not for a costly bogey on the par-4 18th, who knows if Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen might have cracked under playoff pressure. Instead, the Dane was spared the extra holes as Smith missed a five-foot par putt, carding a second straight bogey on the final hole and falling one shot short of a title he’s long coveted.
Understandably, the local hero wasn’t in the mood to celebrate a tournament where he finally showed flashes of brilliance again. Neergaard-Petersen stepped in with praise: ‘He’s a class act, and it was great to be out there with him today.’
McIlroy praises Australian Open and Melbourne
Rory McIlroy ended his first trip Down Under in 11 years on a high note, birdieing the final two holes for a 69 and a T14 finish. Despite earlier frustrations with blind shots and a banana peel incident, the Northern Irishman had only praise for the event. ‘It was a great week. Melbourne is a fantastic sports city. What happened here and what was shown on TV will have made a big impression in Europe and the U.S. This tournament has huge potential and is regaining the significance it deserves,’ said the five-time major winner, who was treated like a rockstar by over 100,000 fans, sparking full-blown McIlroy-mania.
PGA Tour 2027: Rolapp and Woods outline changes
On the Bahamas, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp and board member Tiger Woods met with the 20 players at the Hero World Challenge to discuss potential structural changes to the Tour starting in 2027. Woods, also head of the Future Competitions Committee, emphasized the importance of player input after consultations with fans, sponsors, and media. Options include a complete overhaul or gradual changes, with the goal of creating a more fan-friendly and recognizable product. Such a revamp would likely bring significant financial benefits to top players.
Scheffler debuts blue Qi4D driver
Scottie Scheffler debuted TaylorMade’s new Qi4D driver at the Hero World Challenge, opting for a unique blue face with 8 degrees of loft. While Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood also tested the club, Scheffler’s version resembled the Qi10 more closely. The results were promising: he averaged 293 yards off the tee and hit 84% of fairways.