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LIV Tour

Brooks Koepka tells it like it really is: LIV is “behind where we should be’

Admission: While the LIV Golf League likes to indulge in superlatives, there are some protagonists on the competition circuit who take a very realistic view of the construct. Brooks Koepka, for example, who, as usual, doesn’t mince his words and clearly states that the LIV has not developed as desired. ‘Look we’re four years in, it’s just getting its feet wet and figuring out what direction they want it to go,’ said the five-time major winner on “The Joe Pomp Show” hosted by Joe Pompliano, an entrepreneur and investor who likes to get involved in the business of opinion-making in golf. Koepka admitted during the interview: ‘We are behind, to be quite fair. Behind where we should be. From bringing sponsors in to hitting the international market and the US market.”

Brooks Koepka: LIV Golf behind expectations

But it’s fun, it’s evolving, technologies evolving, and look its just golf at the end of the day, and you got to make it more fun and entertaining and the attention span that the younger generation has isnt as long as everyone sitting on the couch watching golf for five six hours.

“You have to be able to innovate and create different things – thats what we’re trying to do, TGL’s doing the same thing – its just a matter of putting a good product out in front of people and at the end of the day if you put good golf in front of people they are going to want to watch it.

Brooks Koepka

The 34-year-old obviously combines this with a side blow against the previous LIV impresario Greg Norman, even if he does not mention his name. But criticism resonates when Koepka places his hopes in the new CEO Scott O’Neil: ‘Obviously, there’s been a lot of change and hires of people within LIV, and I think Scott’s a great guy, and he can lead LIV to where it needs to be and where I think it should be’

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Highlights Tours

Masters 2025 Tickets: The Price of the Augusta Dream

When it comes to iconic sporting events, few can rival the allure of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Since its inaugural edition in 1934, the Masters has grown into one of golf’s four Major championships, attracting not only the world’s finest players but also a parade of celebrities, business magnates, and die-hard fans. The tournament’s tradition, the unique atmosphere, and the symbolic Green Jacket make it a dream for many fans. Unsurprisingly, demand for tickets is immense.

Masters 2025: A Golden Ticket for the Lucky Few

Every year, only a limited number of tickets are made available to the general public, and many fans find themselves empty-handed in their quest to witness the Masters in person. Official ticket prices are, by sporting standards, relatively moderate: Practice Round tickets (Monday to Wednesday) are priced at $100 per day, while Tournament Round tickets (Thursday to Sunday) cost $140 per day.

How to Get Tickets?

Most of these tickets are allocated through a lottery system run by Augusta National via the official Masters website. For the 2025 tournament, the application period took place in summer 2024. The exact number of available tickets is a closely guarded secret, making it difficult to gauge one’s chances of success.

If You’re Buying Now, Be Ready to Pay a Premium

For those who missed out in the lottery, the secondary market is the only remaining — and very expensive — option. According to Golf.com, platforms like StubHub and Viagogo list Practice Round tickets at around $1,500 per day. A full four-day tournament pass costs approximately $6,800. Tickets for the Final Round on Sunday are available from $1,800 upwards. Depending on demand, prices on these platforms can fluctuate dramatically, often reaching astronomical levels.

Buyer Beware: Risks of the Secondary Market

It’s important to note that reselling Masters tickets is officially prohibited. Any tickets acquired on the secondary market may be invalidated by tournament officials. Fans tempted to buy should exercise extreme caution and ensure they’re dealing with a reputable seller to avoid falling victim to scams.

Are There Any Alternatives to Experience the Masters in Augusta?

There are, but they come with their own hurdles:

Patron Badges

The coveted “Patron Badges” are effectively lifetime passes to the Masters — and beyond priceless. These badges are typically passed down within families and rarely change hands. On the open market, they’re virtually impossible to obtain.

Hospitality Packages

Several travel and hospitality providers offer premium Masters packages, which include tournament tickets, luxury accommodations, private transportation, and VIP access to exclusive areas of Augusta National. However, these packages command a hefty price tag — often running into the tens of thousands of dollars. Anyone considering this route should only book through verified, official partners.

Looking Ahead: Plan Early for Masters 2026

For fans hoping to secure a spot at Augusta in 2026, the lottery will reopen from June 1 to June 20, 2025. Early planning is key, as demand continues to climb year after year. It’s also worth exploring hospitality options and offers from official partners to maximize your chances of making that dream trip to Augusta a reality.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: McIlroy Headlines Star-Studded Field in Houston

As the PGA Tour shifts from the Florida Swing to Texas, all eyes turn to Memorial Park Golf Course for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The par-70 layout in the heart of Houston hosts one of the spring season’s key stops, offering a $9.5 million purse and a competitive field that includes defending champion Stephan Jaeger and world number one Scottie Scheffler. And Rory McIlroy returns to the event for the first time in over a decade.

PGA Tour Tee Times: The British Players

Danny Willett, representing England, starts his first round at 7:42 AM with Trey Mullinax from the USA and Mac Meissner also from the USA. For the second round, they will tee off at 12:52 PM.

Rory McIlroy opens his Houston campaign at 7:53 AM on Thursday alongside Americans Maverick McNealy and Wyndham Clark, with the same trio set to tee off again at 1:03 PM on Friday.

Harry Hall of England will tee off his first round at 8:37 AM with Mackenzie Hughes from Canada and Chris Gotterup from the USA. Their second-round tee time is at 1:47 PM.

Matt Wallace, also from England, starts at 1:25 PM for the first round with Gary Woodland from the USA and Matt McCarty from the USA. His second round will begin at 8:15 AM.

Aaron Rai from England tees at 1:36 PM with Adam Svensson from Canada and Seamus Power from Ireland. His second round is scheduled for 8:26 AM.

Paul Waring of England begins his first round at 2:31 PM alongside Jeremy Paul from Germany and Noah Kent from the USA. The second round will be at 9:21 AM.

Round Time Player Nationality Playing Partners
Round 1 7:42 AM Danny Willett ENG Trey Mullinax (USA), Mac Meissner (USA)
Round 1 7:53 AM Rory McIlroy NIR Maverick McNealy (USA), Wyndham Clark (USA)
Round 1 8:37 AM Harry Hall ENG Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Chris Gotterup (USA)
Round 1 1:25 PM Matt Wallace ENG Gary Woodland (USA), Matt McCarty (USA)
Round 1 1:36 PM Aaron Rai ENG Adam Svensson (CAN), Seamus Power (IRL)
Round 1 2:31 PM Paul Waring ENG Jeremy Paul (GER), Noah Kent (USA)
Round 2 8:15 AM Matt Wallace ENG Gary Woodland (USA), Matt McCarty (USA)
Round 2 8:26 AM Aaron Rai ENG Adam Svensson (CAN), Seamus Power (IRL)
Round 2 9:21 AM Paul Waring ENG Jeremy Paul (GER), Noah Kent (USA)
Round 2 12:52 PM Danny Willett ENG Trey Mullinax (USA), Mac Meissner (USA)
Round 2 1:03 PM Rory McIlroy NIR Maverick McNealy (USA), Wyndham Clark (USA)
Round 2 1:47 PM Harry Hall ENG Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Chris Gotterup (USA)

Categories
Panorama

Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump: “Love is in the Air…”

Tiger Woods has made his relationship with Vanessa Trump (47) official. The former wife of Donald Trump Jr. and onetime daughter-in-law of the 45th and 47th President of the United States confirmed the romance via a springtime post on social media platform X. The post began with a telling line: “Love is in the air…”

While the new couple made headlines off the course, their children were in the spotlight on it – though with mixed results. At the prestigious Sage Valley Invitational in Graniteville, South Carolina, one of the premier junior events in American golf, both Charlie Woods and Kai Trump were in the field.

Charlie Woods finished tied for 25th out of 36 players in his age group – a modest result for the 15-year-old son of the golf legend. Kai Trump, granddaughter of the former president, finished 24th and last in her division.

The overall boys’ title went to 16-year-old Miles Russell, widely regarded as one of the brightest rising stars in U.S. golf. Russell has already teed it up twice on the PGA Tour and, in 2024, made history as the youngest player ever to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour.

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Equipment

WITB Viktor Hovland: The Norwegian Returns to the Winner’s Circle

Viktor Hovland is back in style. At the 2025 Valspar Championship, the Norwegian staged a dramatic finish, carding three birdies over his final five holes to secure his seventh PGA Tour title—and his first since winning the FedExCup in 2023. His equipment? A trusted blend of Ping, a new power-packed TaylorMade fairway wood, and familiar Titleist tools.

Driver: Still Trusting the Ping G425 LST

When it comes to the big stick, Hovland sticks with what works. The Ping G425 LST driver, set at 9 degrees, continues to offer him consistent distance and control off the tee. The “LST” stands for Low Spin Technology, and it delivers a strong combination of accuracy and power. Hovland has long favored this model, and it once again proved reliable on the tight fairways of Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course.

(Image: Ping)

New Addition: TaylorMade SIM Ti 3-Wood

One of the fresh additions to Hovland’s bag is the TaylorMade SIM Ti 3-wood. Set at 15 degrees, this titanium-built fairway wood features a hefty 80-gram V-shaped sole weight designed to reduce turf interaction and generate more clubhead speed. It’s a potent weapon both off the tee and from the fairway—perfect for aggressive play on longer holes.

(Image: TaylorMade)

Long Game Tools: Titleist Utility and Classic Ping Irons

Complementing his long game setup is the Titleist U505 utility iron, which Hovland continues to rely on in the 3-iron slot. This driving iron is known for its solid feel, high launch, and precision—ideal for controlled tee shots and approach play where hybrids might deliver too little spin.

(Image: Titleist)

From 4-iron through pitching wedge, Hovland remains loyal to the Ping i210 irons, a 2018 classic. These players’ irons pair a compact muscle-back look in the shorter irons with a thinner, more responsive face in the longer irons. It’s a setup that’s served him well over the years—and continues to do so on tour.

(Image: Ping)

Short Game Update: Ping s159 Wedges

For his wedge play, Hovland has recently transitioned to the Ping s159 wedges in 50° and 56°, both with the versatile S grind. Released in 2024, the s159 line boasts sharper grooves, optimized spin, and a buttery-soft feel—ideal for a variety of conditions around the green.

(Image: Ping)

Completing his wedge setup is a familiar piece: the Ping Glide 2.0 lob wedge at 60° with a T grind, allowing Hovland to get creative with delicate shots and challenging lies close to the pin.

(Image: Ping)

On the Greens: Trusting the Ping PLD Prototype

On the putting surface, Hovland continues to roll with his Ping PLD DS72 prototype—the same model he wielded with confidence during his FedExCup run. Its milled face and copper finish make it both a performer and a standout in the bag. On Sunday’s back nine, it once again proved its worth.

(Image: Ping)

The Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Hovland rounds out his setup with the Titleist Pro V1. Known for its slightly flatter flight and consistent spin profile, the Pro V1 delivers in all phases—especially in the short game, where its soft feel and responsive touch give Hovland the control he needs.

(Image: Titleist)
Categories
Equipment

Callaway Golf announces new equipment partnership with Jon Rahm and Legion XIII

Today, Callaway Golf, the industry leader in equipment design, performance, and innovation, announced a new equipment partnership with Jon Rahm and his LIV Golf team Legion XIII.

“We are happy to partner with a world-class athlete in Jon Rahm, and his Legion XIII team,” said Chip Brewer, President and CEO of Topgolf Callaway Golf Brands. “We’re committed to being an equipment leader wherever top players are competing. Now the time is right to cement our relationship with Jon and his team – utilizing his exceptional talent and stature within the game to help engage and excite fans around the globe.”

Rahm initially joined Callaway in 2021 and has earned both of his major championship wins – the 2021 U.S. Open and The Masters at Augusta in 2023 – while playing their equipment.

For the 2025 season, the current setup in Rahm’s bag includes the all-new Elyte Triple Diamond Driver, Apex TCB Irons, a Chrome Tour X Golf Ball, and an Odyssey Ai-One Putter. By partnering with Rahm, one of the best players in the world, and his team the Company can further showcase their innovative equipment at the highest levels.

“I’m so happy to enhance this incredible relationship with Callaway and also extend it with Legion XIII,” Rahm said. “I’ve played the best golf of my career with their equipment over the past four years, and they continue to set the bar higher with every new product line. I know this partnership will have a tremendously positive impact for me and my teammates.”

Text: Press release Callaway Golf

Categories
Panorama

Tiger Woods and the proximity to power

The new factors in professional golf: power lust, geopolitical aspects, economic influences, elitism, plus digital fire from media people 4.0.

In this context, the news fit that Kai Trump, the US president’s ambitious niece, is now sponsored by TaylorMade with a so-called NIL contract, according to which college athletes can benefit to a certain extent from “name, image, and likeness” . The 17-year-old is a prospective student at the University of Miami and has 5.4 million followers on social media.

Meeting of Tiger Woods and Kai Trump

Only a cynic would suspect that Tiger Woods had a hand in this—after all, he has recently been very visibly and seeking proximity to power in a variety of ways, fraternizing with the Trump clique, and allowing himself to be used for their agenda in more ways than just the National Black History Month.

 
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Panorama

Next meeting with Trump: The future of golf will be decided at the White House

Prove what had to be proven: 2025 is the year in which the world’s order is being rearranged. On a large scale – politically, economically, socially – and on a small scale, in golf, for example. And everything stands and falls with the disruptor, the self-proclaimed big shot in the White House, who wants to put his stamp on everything that is of interest and useful to him on this globe. Golf, anyway. Donald Trump may not have settled the tug-of-war between the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF and the PGA Tour for an investment in the commercial venture PGA Tour Enterprises within 15 minutes, as he once boasted. But negotiations have progressed at a breathtaking pace since Agent Orange returned to the Oval Office – not least because the parties are hoping for The Donald’s diktat for the U.S. Department of Justice. Last Thursday, a delegation of the establishment was again with the president, Commissioner Jay Monahan and player representative Adam Scott, who had already been heard the other day, as well as Tiger Woods, who had been unable to attend the previous time – and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan, which was the biggest news item of the meeting.

After the hours-long meeting, the PGA Tour released the usual blah-blah statement and spoke meaninglessly of a “constructive working session”. What was significant, of course, was not only that Trump’s “leadership” was once again praised, but that Al-Rumayyan was consistently and respectfully referred to as “His Excellency”. Monahan has sounded different before, but now it is time to bow down before the new balance of power and Trump’s presidential and private economic ties with the Saudis.

The president, in turn, took advantage of Woods’ presence and celebrated a high-profile joint appearance with the 15-time major winner on the occasion of National Black History Month, which, in view of Trump’s otherwise openly displayed racism, is not without a certain irony. At a dinner for the governors of the US states the next day, the president then declared: “There is a good chance that we will make it. I think there is a very good chance.”

 
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“And there’s Trump, who lives and breathes golf and has extensive business dealings with the Tour, with LIV and with Saudi Arabia. This is his world; in a public appearance post-meeting he led a “Ti-ger” chant and showered praise on Scott (“I’ve always tried to swing like Adam, it never worked out that way”) and he would love nothing more than to be the toast of the game.” Dylan Dethier in Golf.com

However and whenever it happens, one thing is clear: the future of golf will be defined and decided in the White House – and everything points to it being decided soon. If Trump puts the brakes on the Department of Justice, the only sticking point remaining is the future and staffing of the LIV league, which Al-Rumayyan apparently wants to hold on to.

The latest rumor was spread by Rex Hoggard from the “Golf Channel”. He claims to have learned from a LIV’ler that professionals from the rival circuit will be allowed to compete in the Players Championship (March 11-16) on the PGA Tour, of all things at their flagship event. However, the fact that the LIV event in Singapore is scheduled for that weekend speaks against this.

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Uncategorized

Bryson DeChambeau set to win The Masters?

Numbers don’t lie: statisticians have calculated the average age of Masters winners since 2014 and come up with the following figures: 31 years old, ranked 9.4 in the world rankings, eight appearances at Augusta National Golf Club before winning the Green Jacket. Well, that all points to Bryson DeChambeau, who is currently number 10 in the OWGR and is making his ninth appearance at Augusta this year at the age of 31. The outcome of the 89th Masters seems therefore certain – Rory McIlroy will once again fail to win the first major of the year, which would also make him a career Grand Slam winner.

 
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DeChambeau is already looking forward to the garden party in Georgia, he has made his peace with the course, which he once disrespectfully demoted to a par-67 course and paid bitterly for it. The golfing world, on the other hand, is looking forward to BDC, who – not least thanks to his social media presence and YouTube activities – is currently probably the most popular player in professional golf.

And not least because of interludes like this one: During the second round of the LIV event in Adelaide, DeChambeau hit the ball into the bushes, on the par-5 13th at the Grange Golf Club and lost his bearings a little. What to do? Quite simple: the 31-year-old simply boarded the balcony of a house on the edge of the fairway – much to the amazement of the residents.

 
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Text: Michael Basche

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Uncategorized

PGA Tour Tee Times: Scottie Scheffler with defending champion Matsuyama

The Genesis Invitational will take place at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, USA under host Tiger Woods. As part of the PGA Tour, the tournament offers a par of 72 and features a prize fund of $20,000,000. The defending champion is Hideki Matsuyama. Broadcasting begins Thursday and Friday at 3:15 PM, Saturday at 5:00 PM, and Sunday at 4:30 PM on Sky.

PGA Tour Tee Times for Highlight Players at Genesis Invitational

Wyndham Clark begins his tournament with fellow Americans Tony Finau and Justin Thomas. They tee off at 10:03 in the first round and at 11:09 in the second round.

Rory McIlroy is grouped with Viktor Hovland from Norway and Adam Scott from Australia. They start at 10:14 for the first round and at 11:20 in the second round.

Jordan Spieth, who received a tournament invite, pairs with Thomas Detry from Belgium and Ludvig Aberg from Sweden. Spieth’s tee times are 11:09 in the first round and 10:03 in the second round.

Scottie Scheffler joins defending champion Hideki Matsuyama from Japan and Collin Morikawa, another American. They begin at 11:20 in the first round and continue at 10:14 for the following round.

Keegan Bradley plays alongside Cameron Davis from Australia and Sungjae Im from South Korea. Their start times are 10:47 in the first round and 09:41 in the second round.

Round Time Player Teammate 1 Teammate 2
1 10:03 Wyndham Clark Tony Finau Justin Thomas
1 10:14 Rory McIlroy (GBR) Viktor Hovland (NOR) Adam Scott (AUS)
1 10:47 Keegan Bradley Cameron Davis (AUS) Sungjae Im (KOR)
1 11:09 Jordan Spieth Thomas Detry (BEL) Ludvig Aberg (SWE)
1 11:20 Scottie Scheffler Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) Collin Morikawa
2 09:41 Keegan Bradley Cameron Davis (AUS) Sungjae Im (KOR)
2 10:03 Jordan Spieth Thomas Detry (BEL) Ludvig Aberg (SWE)
2 10:14 Scottie Scheffler Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) Collin Morikawa
2 11:09 Wyndham Clark Tony Finau Justin Thomas
2 11:20 Rory McIlroy (GBR) Viktor Hovland (NOR) Adam Scott (AUS)