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Bryson DeChambeau set to win The Masters?

Bryson DeChambeau set to win the Masters? (Photo: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau set to win the Masters? (Photo: Getty)

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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Ein Beitrag geteilt von PrimeTime Golf (@primetimegolf_)

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

Tee Times at the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Tee Times at the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)

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)
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Top Tours

What had to be proven: Trump is involved in the PIF deal

President Donald Trump. (Image: getty)
US President Donald Trump. (Image: getty)

Last week, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Player Director Adam Scott were in Washington to talk to US President Donald Trump about the planned involvement of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF as a minority investor in the new PGA Tour Enterprises venture. Since the announcement of the framework agreement by Monahan and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan in June 2023, negotiations have been very slow and complicated, not least due to the expected objections from the previously Democrat-dominated US Department of Justice and the antitrust authority based there. The Donald, on the other hand (“The best players in the world should also play on a joint tour”), had already been touting in his full-bodied manner before his re-election that he would wrap up the deal within 15 minutes.

“When the leader of the free world spends his time playing golf, I am very happy. This game is important. It conveys values that this world needs more of at the moment. It brings us together and connects us with each other.”

Scott O’Neil, new CEO of LIV Golf, in an interview with Al Arabiya News

The Gulf Post has already pointed out several times that Trump’s relations with the Saudis and with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally, as well as the Republican dictate in the US government bodies, should be very conducive to an agreement. This is exactly what will happen. “We have asked the President to commit himself for the good of the sport, the country and all countries involved,” reads a statement issued by Monahan, Scott and Tiger Woods – also a player director. “We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final agreement and paved the way for the reunification of men’s professional golf.” That sounds like a very deep kowtow to the White House. And Scott O’Neil’s statement is better left uncommented …

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LIV Tour

McKibbin and his LIV movement: Pragmatists or pioneers of the contemporary spirit?

Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)
Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)

Tom McKibbin is probably the best known of the six new additions to the LIV Golf League 2025. With 292,500 dollars for a tie for 15th place, the Northern Irishman only collected around 50,000 dollars less at the season opener than for winning the Porsche European Open 2023 on the DP World Tour. And there will probably be a share of the team success in Riyadh anyway, which will earn Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII three million dollars. McKibbin’s move to the competitive circuit is therefore likely to have already paid off, for which he even threw Rory McIlroy’s advice to the wind. The two share the same home club, Holywood GC near Belfast, and the four-time major winner – a millennial by the way – had advised his young colleague to work his way up the DP World Tour and make a go of it on the PGA Tour, for which McKibbin qualified last year: “If I were you, I’d make a different decision to the one you’re thinking of making. It would be a waste of your enormous potential.”

McKibbin on missing out: “I am not in these Majors anyway”

But McKibbin didn’t care and chose the penuncle. Of course, if he was offered such prospects – why not take them? The Northern Irishman is just the latest in a series of young players to follow the call of fast money: Money first, what’s the rocky road to the majors or team competitions like the Ryder Cup compared to that. McKibbin’s mantra in this regard could not be more pragmatic and is as telling as it is significant: “I’m not in these majors at the moment anyway, so it doesn’t bother me too much.” He was number 106 in the world when he switched sides, but now there are no more OWGR points for the time being. And the appointment to the GB&I team for the Team Cup 2025, i.e. the nomination to the extended circle of European Ryder Cuppers, doesn’t seem to have triggered a surge of ambition either: Profession instead of vocation, the path of least resistance and work-life balance instead of competitive toughness and perseverance. And that at the age of 22. Oh, right, McKibbin has an excuse for that too: “I made this decision because I’m young. It [LIV] is something completely different; something that probably appeals to more people my age.”

For some, this fulfills every cliché that is often attributed to Generation Z and the attitude of these so-called millennial children towards challenges. For example, the management consultant and lawyer Susanne Nickel, who wrote a book in 2024 entitled “Verzogen, verweichlicht, verletzt” (Spoiled, effeminate, hurt) and defines Gen Z as the product of an affluent society that tends to overprotect and lacks discipline, motivation and resilience. So, if the Zoomers determine the zeitgeist, McKibbin would be a “model boy”.

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Uncategorized

DeChambeau’s Indian Sojourn: Expanding Horizons and Forging Connections

The two-time U.S. Open champion made a strategic stop on the Asian Tour. (Photo: Getty)

Bryson DeChambeau’s latest venture beyond familiar fairways may not have ended with silverware, but his visit to India for the International Series India was a triumph in more ways than one. The two-time U.S. Open champion finished runner-up to fellow American Ollie Schniederjans at the season-opening event of the Asian Tour’s flagship series, held from Thursday to Saturday at the DLF Golf and Country Club near Delhi. While a four-stroke deficit meant DeChambeau fell just short of victory, his presence alone made history—never before had a reigning major champion teed it up on Indian soil. And he wasn’t alone. Flanked by his Crushers teammates and fellow LIV Golf stars like Joaquin Niemann—who shared third place with Abraham Ancer—DeChambeau’s participation underscored a broader narrative: the global expansion of professional golf.

From the outset, all attention was on DeChambeau, and he did not disappoint. He thrilled spectators with his power game, reinforced LIV Golf’s branding, and in doing so, shone a light on an untapped market that the PGA Tour continues to overlook. With marquee names such as Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth showing little appetite for long-haul commitments, DeChambeau seized the opportunity. His investment in the region is no mere afterthought—his recruitment of Indian standout Anirban Lahiri to the Crushers speaks to a calculated effort to leverage local connections and fan engagement.

Speaking to the platform “Flushingitgolf,” the 31-year-old encapsulated his broader ambitions: “It’s going to be so much fun. But it’s more than just golf [in India], it’s about creating relationships. What’s wonderful about the game of golf is that you can create and develop relationships and inspire new fans all around the globe. That’s a really great thing. A sentiment that many in the sport would do well to embrace.

Beyond his on-course exploits, DeChambeau’s approach to personal branding and fan engagement sets him apart. In an era where golf media is evolving—balancing tradition with innovative platforms like TGL and the rapid growth of social content—DeChambeau has carved out a unique niche. His digital presence is no accident. YouTube influencer Joe Pompliano recently revealed that DeChambeau has funneled $1 million into his channel and employs a dedicated team to produce high-quality content. “Am I making money off of it right now? No, I’m not. That’s the cool part though, I hope that people see them doing it because there is a genuine interest in growing the game golf,” DeChambeau insists. And, for once, it’s easy to take him at his word.

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Panorama

Storm Éowyn destroys golf courses

(Photo: Facebook.com/@Thornhill Golf Clubs)
(Photo: Facebook.com/@Thornhill Golf Clubs)

Damage report: ‘Storm Éowyn caused severe devastation in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Friday,’ reported the news agency Agence France Press (AFP), for example. ‘Gale-force winds with record wind speeds of over 180 kilometres per hour uprooted trees, knocked down power lines and caused train and flight cancellations. In Ireland, a man was killed when a tree fell on his car, according to police reports. In total, almost a million households were temporarily without power.’ Und naturally, Éowyn also hit a lot of golf courses. The most prominent ‘victim’, for example, was the world’s most famous opening hole. On hole 1 of the Machrihanish Old Course on the Scottish peninsula of Kintyre, known as the Battery, where a cut in the Atlantic Ocean has to be played over from the tee, the storm drove the sea inland and flooded the fairway. Until further notice, the round therefore begins with hole two.

There are also documents of destruction from other places; the comments speak for themselves:

It remains to be seen what further damage will be reported – especially in terms of coastal erosion, which by its very nature affects link courses in particular.

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Opinions

Donald Trump promotes Saudi involvement in the USA – What this means for golf

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

The news is not directly related to golf, but the implications are obvious: Donald Trump, the right-wing populist in the White House, is boosting the American economy with the help of Saudi Arabia, to whose tune he danced during his first term as US president. Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman wants the PIF sovereign wealth fund to invest an additional 600 billion dollars in the USA over the next four years and to buy US goods and weapons. The strongman of the regime in Riyadh made this promise to the 45th and now 47th President of the United States last week in a telephone call after his inauguration. Bin Salman is thus courting Trump’s favour and positioning the monarchy as a counterweight to the expected economic and trade conflicts with China, Europe and possibly also Russia.

Friendly relationship between Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia

Bin Salman and Trump have maintained a friendly relationship since Trump’s first term in office. Just how close the business relationship is was demonstrated shortly after the re-election when Bin Salman’s business vizier Yasir Al-Rumayyan was spotted in Trump’s neighbourhood. The PIF led by Al-Rumayyan has direct and indirect economic ties with the US president’s holding company, which benefits from Saudi construction projects and LIV Golf League events at Trump golf courses, six in total since 2022.

The consequences of the growing Saudi influence in the USA are also likely to spill over into the golf industry. The approval of the Saudi minority stake in PGA Tour Enterprises, for example – including Trump’s muzzle for the US Department of Justice and a presidential moratorium on all bureaucratic hurdles – which the PGA Tour and PIF have been working on since June 2023. The Donald recently reiterated in a podcast that it would take him less than 15 minutes to finalise the deal between the PIF and PGA Tour: ‘We have bigger problems than that, but I think we should have one tour. And the best players in the world should compete against each other on this tour.’ He speaks from the heart of golf fans. Or Trump sympathisers like Bryson DeChambeau.

Tempi passati: Definitely gone are the days when Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Investigative Committee, castigated ‘the ability of a brutal, repressive regime to buy influence over a cherished American institution’. Now the Republicans are in charge and a different wind is blowing in the USA in general, a quasi-dictatorial wind fuelled by the tech oligarchs. The PGA Tour and the PGA of America are also likely to hang their flags in the same wind sooner or later, having withdrawn tournaments and majors from the Trump Organisation eight years ago. Even more so if a separate world tour is actually created, organised by PGA Tour Enterprises – and thanks to the protected PIF participation, certainly also with guest appearances on Trump courses. Turnberry in Scotland, for example, which has been put on ice by the R&A for the Open-Rota and therefore lies fallow in terms of major tournaments, springs to mind.

By the way, Trump played golf with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan last November shortly after his re-election. And the following day, he and ‘special advisor’ Elon Musk met PIF boss Al-Rumayyan, with whom Musk also has business ties, at a martial arts event in New York. And so the circle closes.

Even Rory McIlroy assumes that a US President Donald Trump would be more conducive to reunification: ‘He has good relations with Saudi Arabia. He loves golf and has a good relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, who knows.’ It will be an exciting four years. Politically. Economically. Socially. And also for men’s professional golf.

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Live Panorama

TGL: Atlanta Drive Makes a Statement Against New York

Wrap-up at the TGL match between Atlanta Drive GC and New York GC. (Photo: X/@TGL)
Wrap-up at the TGL match between Atlanta Drive GC and New York GC. (Photo: X/@TGL)

The third match day of the TGL brought a new match and a new record in the still young history of the league. Atlanta Drive GC, led by Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay, beat New York Golf Club 4-0 at the SoFi Centre in Palm Beach Gardens. This was the first shutout victory in the young history of TGL.

TGL: Atlanta Drive Takes Early Command

Atlanta controlled the action right from the start. Even in the ‘triples’ format, in which all three players on the team take it in turns to hit, the team’s dominance prevailed. The very first hole set the tone for the entire match. Cameron Young’s tee shot landed out of bounds and Atlanta Drive took the opportunity to take the lead with a solid par. In contrast, New York continued to struggle with accuracy on the greens in the triples session.
Justin Thomas established himself as the driving force behind Atlanta Drive GC. The two-time major winner holed a 7-metre putt on the fourth hole to take a 2-0 lead into the individual matches.

Justin Thomas Leads Atlanta to a Perfect Debut

Atlanta Drive followed up in the individual matches. Justin Thomas defeated Young with a birdie on the tenth hole, while Billy Horschel scored against Matt Fitzpatrick after the latter landed in the water and then in two bunkers. Thomas went one better with another long putt on the 13th hole and finally secured Atlanta’s historic shutout – and didn’t even have to resort to the strategic ‘hammer’ option to secure the 4-0 win.

Preview to the Upcoming Challenges

With this win, Atlanta Drive moves to the top of the SoFi Cup standings and now prepares for a doubleheader on 17 February against Los Angeles GC and The Bay Golf Club. New York Golf Club, on the other hand, with two losses under their belt, will take on Jupiter Links GC in an attempt to salvage their season.

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European Challenge Tour

Challenge Tour: Name change for a golf tour

Challenge Tour becomes HotelPlanner Tour. (Photo: HotelPlanner Tour)
Challenge Tour becomes HotelPlanner Tour. (Photo: HotelPlanner Tour)

The Challenge Tour is entering 2025 with an exciting new addition: HotelPlanner, a leading company in the field of travel technology, is becoming the official title sponsor of the tour. From the coming season, the tour will be called the ‘HotelPlanner Tour’. This partnership marks the first title sponsorship of the Challenge Tour since its official foundation in 1989 and represents a milestone in the history of golf’s second division.

Challenge Tour: New name, new chances?

The collaboration is intended to promote the development of the tour by not only increasing the prize money, but also enhancing the quality of the events along the ‘Road to Mallorca’. With a record prize fund of over nine million euros for the 2025 season, the HotelPlanner Tour will offer players new financial incentives. At least €300,000 in prize money has been earmarked for each European event, which means an increase in prize money for a total of 16 tournaments this season. The tour calendar includes 29 events in 18 different countries on three continents. The highlight of the season will be the Rolex Grand Final in Mallorca, supported by The R&A. However, the partnership between HotelPlanner and the Challenge Tour goes beyond title sponsorship. The company will invest in six events in 2025 and support a total of 40 tournaments during the multi-year collaboration. The exact duration of the partnership has not yet been announced.

‘We are delighted to become the title partner of the Challenge Tour. The Challenge Tour has been the foundation of so many great golfing names and we are excited to see the HotelPlanner Tour continue to open doors for the next generation of superstars.’ explains HotelPlanner CEO Tim Hentschel.

HotelPlanner’s strategic partnership with the Challenge Tour comes at a time when the golf market is becoming increasingly globalised and connected. HotelPlanner uses a combination of artificial intelligence and a global customer service network to help travellers worldwide. This technology will also help to drive the Tour’s growth by providing a strong platform for international travel and events, the Tour has revealed.

Name changes in golf

In recent years, name changes for golf tours have become a strategic means of promoting the economic and organisational development of tournaments. One example of this is the renaming of the European Tour to the DP World Tour in 2022, after the global logistics company DP World was acquired as the main sponsor. Another renaming was that of the Korn Ferry Tour, which was known as the Web.com Tour until 2019 after partnering with global recruitment consultancy Korn Ferry.

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Fun Panorama

Watch: DP World Tour Stars receive influencer training

(Screenshot: Youtube.com/@dpworldtour)
(Screenshot: Youtube.com/@dpworldtour)

Chapeau to the DP World Tour social media team. It couldn’t be more imaginative and funny. Whether it was the staged round table to find a Ryder Cup team captain or the self-help course in anger management for Tyrrell Hatton – it was all world class, including the cinematic realisation. The creative team’s latest coup is an influencer training course for tour professionals aka: How do I put myself in the limelight in the best and most effective way, how do I generate maximum attention. It goes without saying that there is a pinch of self-irony and a wink. But enough words, the result speaks for itself: