Author: Laura Gailus

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Professionals

Rory McIlroy’s global tour: What his 2025 tournament schedule looks like

Rory McIlroy's global schedule. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy's global schedule. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy spoke big words about a more global future for golf at the start of 2024 – now he is putting his money where his mouth is. His tournament calendar for 2025 looks much more international than in previous years. The Northern Irishman wants to play less in the USA and focus more on tournaments that have fallen into oblivion for many professionals, especially national Opens with a long history.

Rory McIlroy: From Oakmont to Portrush

Right at the start of the summer, the first of several national championships gets underway: Rory McIlroy plays the Canadian Open, followed by the U.S. Open in Oakmont as the third major. The Travelers Championship in Connecticut is then on the agenda before things get more international – the Scottish Open on traditional links soil, followed by the Open Championship in July. However, the tournament at Royal Portrush is closer to a home game than almost any other.

This will be followed by the hot phase of the FedEx Cup play-offs in the USA. It remains to be seen whether Rory McIlroy will play all three stages. He already hinted in advance that he might miss the first event in Memphis. After that, his focus will clearly shift back towards Europe and Asia.

Finale in Asia and Australia?

September takes McIlroy to the Irish Open at the K Club – another building block in his “National Open” strategy. The flagship event of the DP World Tour, the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth, follows immediately afterwards. After that, he will probably be part of the European Ryder Cup team. And then comes a special highlight: McIlroy’s first participation in the DP World India Championship in New Delhi – a completely new tournament that will be held for the first time in 2025.

The DP World Tour Playoffs will follow in November and December – and then another National Open date: the Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Rory McIlroy returns to a place where he has not played for over a decade – this time with a two-year contract in his pocket. The tournaments in India and Australia are part of the “Back 9” phase of the DP World Tour and lead directly to the final in Dubai, which McIlroy also plans to play in.

Rory McIlroy’s schedule moving forward: National Open National Open (Oakmont 😉) Travelers National Open (His national) Open Championship FedEx Playoffs National Open (Irish) DPWT Flagship Ryder Cup India Championship (brand new) DPWT Playoffs National Open (Aussie) — Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) May 21, 2025

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Live

Tiger Woods’ TGL Expands: Detroit Joins League with Motor City Golf Club

Detroit will join Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL as the league’s newest team. (Photo: Getty)

The TGL is growing – and its latest addition comes from a city with a deep-rooted sports legacy: Detroit. Starting in 2027, the Motor City Golf Club will tee it up as the seventh team in the tech-fueled golf league. Until now, the franchises have only entailed major metropolitan hubs like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. And now, Detroit brings the Midwest into the fold.

NFL Power Meets Next-Gen Golf

Backed by an ownership group steeped in pro sports pedigree, the Motor City Golf Club enters the TGL with serious muscle. Leading the charge is the Hamp family, long-time stakeholders in the NFL’s Detroit Lions. Michael and Peter Hamp, along with Kevin Kelleher and investment firm Middle West Partners, are at the forefront of the project. They’re joined by high-profile names such as Rob Walton, owner of the Denver Broncos, and a dynamic group of investors from the tech, sports, and business worlds.

While TGL matches are played in a specialized indoor arena and not in each franchise’s hometown, the Detroit team is built to reflect the spirit and sports culture of the city. This isn’t just a golf team—it’s a symbol of Motor City pride.

New Name, Familiar Format

Motor City Golf Club becomes the seventh team in the TGL lineup, joining Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links GC, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. The league’s fast-paced format remains unchanged: three out of four PGA Tour players per team compete in each match, battling over 15 holes that blend high-tech driving simulations with real short-game play. Each event wraps in under two hours and is broadcast live on ESPN, complete with a roaring arena crowd.

What’s Next for Detroit’s Franchise?

Following the successful inaugural 2025 season — where Atlanta Drive GC clinched the first-ever TGL title — and an upcoming second season in 2026, Detroit will officially take to the tee in year three.

As for the player roster, branding, or team logo? That’s still under wraps. Details are expected in the coming months, but insiders say the choice of Detroit was no coincidence. With its deep sporting roots, engaged fanbase, and media-savvy market, the city was a natural fit for TGL’s first expansion move.

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Highlights Tours

“Kept the Honor With a Double” – Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship 2025

Scottie Scheffler during the first round of the PGA Championship 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Teeing off in Thursday’s featured morning group at the 107th PGA Championship, the world’s top three players — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele — arrived at a rain-soaked Quail Hollow Club with lofty expectations and major pedigree. But on a damp and demanding layout, the trio encountered a rude welcome from “The Green Mile,” and particularly the par-4 16th, where all three made double bogey in stunning succession.

For Scheffler, currently ranked World No. 1, the round was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. The Texan carded everything from chip-in eagle to water-ball double, ultimately grinding out a two-under 69 that kept him well in contention at T20 despite the chaos.

“I kept the honor with making a double on a hole,” Scheffler quipped afterward. “I think that will probably be the first and last time I do that in my career — unless we get some crazy weather conditions.”

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2025

Trouble on the 16th of the PGA Championship 2025: A Shared Collapse

Coming off an electric eagle on the par-5 15th — a 35-foot chip-in from short and right of the green — Scheffler appeared poised to climb the leaderboard. Instead, the 16th handed him an unwelcome dose of reality. After a perfect drive into the fairway, he found his approach shot sinking into the water, citing a muddied ball as the culprit.

“I hit it in the middle of the fairway, you’ve got mud on your ball, and it’s tough to control where it goes after that,” Scheffler explained. “You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision, all of a sudden you have absolutely no control. But I don’t make the rules. I just have to deal with the consequences.”

He wasn’t alone. Playing partners McIlroy and Schauffele also found disaster on the 535-yard hole. McIlroy’s drive hooked left into thick rough, leaving him with a steep sidehill lie. Attempting to escape, he slipped in the mud and barely advanced the ball, leading to a scrambling double bogey. Schauffele’s approach also found water from the fairway, undone by a similar mud ball — a rare display of collective vulnerability from golf’s elite.

“It’s not every day that one hole brings the top three players in the world to their knees,” one broadcaster aptly put it.

Follow the 2025 PGA Championship live blog

A Debate Over Mud and Rules

The conditions at Quail Hollow, already softened by days of heavy rain, led to significant player frustration over the decision not to allow preferred lies — colloquially known as “lift, clean, and place.”

Scheffler didn’t hide his dismay: “In American golf, it’s significantly different. When you have overseeded fairways that are not sand-capped, there’s going to be a lot of mud on the ball,” he said. “When you think about the purest test of golf, I don’t personally think hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway should get you punished for it.”

He later emphasized, however, that he wouldn’t let the ruling derail his tournament. “It cost me two shots today, and if I let it bother me, it could’ve cost me five more. But I didn’t. I just moved forward.”

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2025: Favorites Falter as Local Hero Shines

At the PGA Championship 2025, Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele get off to a slow start. (Photos: Getty)

The PGA Championship 2025 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina promised a spectacle – and delivered, albeit not in the way many expected. Almost quietly and unnoticed, Jhonattan Vegas made his way to the top of the 2025 PGA Championship leaderboard, teeing off in one of the final groups. The Venezuelan seized his chances on the wet course at Quail Hollow Club and took the lead at seven under par. And what was expected to be a showcase of golf’s elite turned into a struggle with the course, the weather – and themselves. The world’s top ten? Nowhere to be seen among the best ten of the day.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2025

PGA Championship 2025: Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele Struggle Together

Teeing off in the featured morning group, the world’s top three players set out to make an early statement. But on a damp and demanding Quail Hollow, Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele encountered trouble – and plenty of it – particularly at the notorious par-4 16th hole, the gateway to the punishing finishing stretch known as the “Green Mile.” This marks the first time in at least three decades that not a single player from the top 10 of the world rankings is among the top ten of a major – after the first round.

All three carded double bogeys at the 16th, each falling victim to a mix of errant tee shots, muddy lies, and mistimed putts. “I kept the honor with making a double on a hole, and I think that will probably be the first and last time I do that in my career unless we get some crazy weather conditions,” Scheffler quipped after salvaging a respectable 69. McIlroy struggled with accuracy and posted a 74, while Schauffele’s 72 leaves him chasing going into Friday.

Follow the 2025 PGA Championship live blog

Vegas takes advantage of late tee time and pulls ahead

While much of the morning spotlight was on McIlroy, Scheffler, and Schauffele, it was ultimately Jhonattan Vegas who made the headlines. Starting in the penultimate group, the Venezuelan played a flawless round with seven birdies in total. He saved five of them for his final six holes, including one from over 20 feet on the difficult par-4 ninth – his final hole of the day. It was the best round of his major career – in his 45th attempt. Vegas hadn’t qualified for the PGA Championship in three years. Now, he’s in the lead.

Strong starts from Gerard and Davis

Trailing Vegas in a tie for second are Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis. For Ryan Gerard, this week marks his PGA Championship debut. But as a North Carolina native, Quail Hollow is hardly unfamiliar territory. A former UNC standout, Gerard has played this course since his college days and even attended events here as a junior fan – watching legends like Tiger Woods.

That comfort translated to a composed and confident 66, highlighted by four consecutive birdies on the back nine and a stunning chip-in eagle at the par-5 15th. Though bogeys on holes 16 and 17 denied him solo possession of the lead, Gerard drew strength from the local support.

Joining Gerard as second in the leaderboard is Cam Davis, who displayed a textbook performance on the greens. The Australian notched seven birdies and needed just 24 putts – the fewest of any player in the field.

Davis kept his composure throughout the round, only faltering with a bogey on the 18th after a poor approach from the rough. Still, his 66 was enough to secure a share of the overnight lead and send a clear message: the 2025 PGA Championship is wide open.

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Professionals

Billy Horschel out for several months after hip surgery

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

Billy Horschel pulls the ripcord: After persistent problems, the eight-time PGA Tour winner has surgery on his right hip joint. This means a break of several months – in the middle of the decisive phase of the season.

Billy Horschel takes a break after hip surgery

The news came directly from himself: Billy Horschel announced earlier this week that he will undergo surgery on his right hip. The operation is to take place in Colorado and it is clear that the multiple PGA Tour winner will be out of the game for a while. His withdrawal from the Zurich Classic two weeks ago already suggested that something was wrong. Now it is clear that there is more to it than that. His statement speaks of a “preventative measure”, and the decision was made after consultation with doctors and the team. Billy Horschel hopes to be fit again by late summer or early fall. Until then, he will miss key tournaments – including the remaining majors.

Ryder Cup: Horschel’s chances dwindle

Billy Horschel has never been part of a Ryder Cup team – and now, of all times, when an opportunity could have presented itself, he has suffered a health setback. He is currently ranked 16th in the US rankings. Only six players qualify directly, the rest are in the hands of captain Keegan Bradley. Due to the forced break, Billy Horschel not only loses tournament starts, but above all time to collect points or recommend himself with strong performances. This makes a realistic Ryder Cup start more difficult – but the book is not yet closed.

What is still possible

Hope remains: if everything goes according to plan, Billy Horschel could tee off again in September – for example at the BMW PGA Championship, where he is the defending champion. The fall series of FedExCup events could also be a possibility. However, a start at the Open Championship in mid-July hardly seems feasible. And he remains eligible to play on the PGA Tour until 2026 thanks to his Memorial victory in 2022.

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Brands

Arccos Distance Report: More Distance? Not for Amateurs

The 2025 Arccos Distance Report delivers global insights based on millions of tracked shots. (Source: Arccos)

Golf is getting longer—or so it seems when watching the professional tours. Drives of 300 yards, new ball regulations, and debates over course redesigns dominate the headlines. But away from the cameras and the spotlight of major championships, the story is different. According to the 2025 Arccos Distance Report, amateur driving distance has remained virtually unchanged. Men are averaging 224,7 yards off the tee, women around 176,2 yards—numbers nearly identical to those recorded in 2018. The data comes from over 6.5 million tracked drives. And it paints a clear picture: the distance boom simply isn’t happening in everyday golf.

Average driving distances for men and women since 2018. (Source: Arccos)

Arccos data says: Youth Hits Far—Age Hits Fairways

One factor that does make a clear difference is age. Male golfers between 15 and 19 years old average about 241,6 yards off the tee.

Driving distances among young male golfers by handicap, 2018–2024. (Source: Arccos)

Those over 70, on the other hand, average just 190,5 yards. The pattern holds for women as well: in their 20s, average drives exceed 201,1 yards, while in their 60s, they dip to around 158,4 yards.

Driving distances among older male golfers by handicap, 2018–2024. (Source: Arccos)

However, accuracy improves with every decade. Male golfers in their 70s find the fairway 60% of the time—compared to just 42% for those in their 20s. Less power, more precision.

Arccos data reveals: Less distance, more accuracy with age. (Source: Arccos)

Better Golf Means Longer—and Straighter

Does hitting it farther mean playing better? According to Arccos, yes. Golfers with a handicap under 5 average 250 yards off the tee. Those with handicaps over 30? Just 185 yards. But it’s not just about length—it’s also about accuracy. Better players not only hit it farther; they also hit more fairways, with nearly a 9-point edge in accuracy over high handicappers. Distance and control aren’t mutually exclusive—in fact, they go hand in hand.

And the Pros? A League of Their Own

While Arccos presents the numbers with scientific detachment, the governing bodies R&A and USGA continue their heated discussions over distance and potential “rollback” ball rules—aimed solely at the game’s elite. The plan: a rollback of roughly 14 yards, but only for tour players. For everyone else, the Arccos data offers reassurance: there’s no need to worry. The average golfer isn’t hitting it farther than seven years ago. But they are, ever so slightly, getting more accurate.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf and OWGR in new discussions over ranking points?

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman reportedly in new talks over World Ranking Points for the League (Photo: Getty)

Augusta was, as always, the stage for great golf moments – and apparently also for a meeting away from the fairways. At the Masters, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and the new OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman were seen under the famous oak tree – a place where important matters in golf are often discussed. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but according to multiple reports, talks between LIV Golf and the OWGR about possible recognition of the league for world ranking points are said to be taking place. This would be the first time since the rejected application in 2022 that the two sides have moved closer again.


Possible Changes to LIV Golf’s Format

Since its founding in 2022, LIV Golf has been striving for recognition by the OWGR. So far, this has failed due to criticism of the format—particularly because of the team competition and the lack of relegation. Now, it seems things are moving forward. With new leadership on both sides, structural reforms, and the first visible signs of rapprochement—as reports suggest—the door to the world rankings may be opening a little wider.

What also seems apparent: LIV Golf appears willing to make structural adjustments. To accommodate the OWGR, there are said to be plans for clearer sporting mobility in the future. Players who end up in the so called “Drop Zone” at the end of the season would automatically be eliminated. A return would then only be possible through the Promotions Event or the Asian Tour.

OWGR Points as the Key to the Majors

The debate over ranking points has tangible consequences for many LIV golfers. While top players like Jon Rahm or Brooks Koepka are secured through major successes, others lack guaranteed access to big tournaments. The world ranking is the central criterion—without points, no starts in the majors. Integration into the OWGR system would significantly improve the competitive prospects of many LIV golfers.

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Highlights Tours

Trump Eyes Turnberry for 2028 British Open – But R&A Holds Final Say

Turning up the heat: Trump pushes for the British Open to return to Turnberry in 2028. (Photo: Getty)

Donald Trump isn’t letting up. The former U.S. President has spent years making it known: he wants the Open Championship back at Turnberry. The last time the Claret Jug was contested on the iconic Ayrshire links was in 2009, when roughly 120,000 spectators attended. The Open has since grown into a far bigger spectacle, and Trump believes the time is right for a return. The course may be ready – but is it ready enough?

Trump Wants the Open Back at Turnberry

If Donald Trump had his way, the 2028 Open Championship would be staged at a course he knows intimately: Turnberry. The storied Scottish links has been part of the Trump Organization since 2014, and the former president has repeatedly expressed his desire to see The Open return to the venue. According to British media reports, Trump has even raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Keir Starmer – not once, but multiple times.

Sources within the British government confirm there have been conversations with the R&A about hosting the Major. However, a spokesperson for the prime minister emphasized that decisions regarding Open venues rest solely with the championship’s organizers – not with politicians.

R&A Open to the Idea – With Conditions Attached

The R&A is sticking to that stance, but there are signs of interest. New CEO Mark Darbon recently stated he would welcome a return to Turnberry. Still, there’s a major caveat – and it has to do with logistics.

Since the 2009 Open, the event has grown dramatically. This year’s championship at Royal Portrush is expected to draw nearly 280,000 spectators – more than double Turnberry’s 2009 attendance. That’s the core issue: the area’s roads, railways, and accommodation infrastructure simply aren’t built for crowds of that scale.

Turnberry Under Review – No Decision Yet

Whether Turnberry can realistically host the 2028 Open is now the subject of a feasibility study. The R&A is currently assessing whether local infrastructure can be upgraded – and if so, at what cost. Early estimates suggest the required investment could run into the tens of millions.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Pro on Suspension: “It’s Been an Emotional Rollercoaster”

Suspended over a LIV-linked event, Wesley Bryan addresses fans directly on YouTube—with reflection, respect, and resolve. (Photo: Youtube@Bryan Bros Golf)

For most of his career, Wesley Bryan has been as comfortable in front of a camera as he is over a wedge shot. Trick shots, Tour wins, YouTube content — he’s built a name straddling the line between entertainer and elite athlete. But now, the PGA Tour veteran finds himself at the center of a different kind of story: one where the future of golf collides head-on with its rules of the past.

The PGA Tour suspended Bryan following his appearance at “The Duels: Miami,” a LIV Golf-adjacent creator event. The response? A 3-minute YouTube video, shot from a golf cart, layered with gratitude, introspection, and an unmistakable undercurrent of defiance.

“It’s Been an Emotional Rollercoaster”

In the video, Bryan isn’t teeing off or goofing around with influencers. He’s seated quietly in a golf cart, speaking directly to his audience — not as a content creator, not as a PGA Tour player, but as someone genuinely trying to make sense of where golf is headed.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” he admits early in the video. The PGA Tour had suspended him for playing in an event connected to LIV — without securing a mandatory release. But instead of firing back, Bryan starts with something unexpected: gratitude.

He thanks the Tour. For the tournaments. For the platform. For the eight years of opportunities. It’s a tone that’s disarming — reflective rather than reactive. There’s no hint of rage. Only a desire to explain.

YouTube, LIV, and a Grey Area in the Rulebook

To understand the controversy, it helps to understand the event. “The Duels: Miami” wasn’t a traditional tournament. It wasn’t sanctioned, it wasn’t ranked, and it wasn’t played for a seven-figure purse. It was a content shoot — part challenge, part entertainment — streamed on YouTube, not broadcast on national television.

Bryan played alongside YouTubers and major champions alike, all of it captured on Grant Horvat’s channel. The problem? The PGA Tour’s policy requires players to seek permission before appearing in non-Tour events, particularly those linked to LIV Golf. Bryan didn’t — because, as he sees it, it wasn’t a competitive event at all.

For Bryan, YouTube isn’t a hobby. It’s a career lane that has grown up alongside his Tour life — one he’s cultivated for over a decade. It’s also part of a larger shift in golf, where Gen Z fans are just as likely to follow Grant Horvat or Rick Shiels as they are to tune into CBS on a Sunday.

“The Rule Was Not Meant To Cover Content Creation On Youtube”

Bryan makes it clear: this isn’t about defiance. It’s about definitions. He respects the PGA Tour, and he’s not looking to blow up the rulebook — but he is questioning whether the rules have kept up with the game.

“I want to be clear. I do respect the authorities that are in place at the tour, but because of the ambiguity and the rules and regulations that were written I do, a as a member of the PGA Tour, have a right to appeal their decision,” he says. “I don’t feel like when the rule was written, that it was meant to cover content creation on YouTube, I feel like it was meant to cover organized professional high-level golf events. And with that being said, I plan on carrying out my right to appeal.”

So, he’s appealing. Not to win an argument, but to seek clarity — for himself, for other content creators in golf, and for the next generation of players who might find themselves walking the same line between entertainment and elite sport.

What happens next will likely be decided behind closed doors. But the bigger question — how golf defines itself in the digital age — is one that’s far from settled.

Watch the full video here:

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Golfshoes

Duca Del Cosma Brings New Energy to the Fairways

Duca Del Cosma presents its new Spring/Summer 2025 golf shoe collection. (Photos: Duca Del Cosma)

For the upcoming 2025 season, Duca Del Cosma is stepping up its game — literally and figuratively. The Italian golf fashion brand has unveiled its Spring/Summer collection, combining new designs with technical upgrades aiming to make a difference where it matters: on the fairways.

At the heart of the new line-up are two innovative outsole concepts, alongside a revamped insole designed to keep golfers comfortable from the first tee to the 18th green. Whether you prefer classic looks or modern flair, Duca Del Cosma’s latest drop promises something for everyone.

Duca Del Cosma: Two Sole Designs, One Goal

At the core of the collection are the Airplay ROMA and Airplay MILANO outsoles. The ROMA sole leans towards a sporty profile, while the MILANO design carries a more traditional look. According to Duca Del Cosma, both models are built around one key feature: a lighter feel. The brand states the new models are up to 15 percent lighter than their predecessors, achieved through a recycled EVA midsole and a nylon shank designed to add stability during the swing.

A total of 38 new designs — available for both women and men — combined with two new outsole concepts. (Photo: Duca Del Cosma)

Enhanced Insole Technology for Comfort and Support

In addition to the new outsole designs, Duca Del Cosma introduces the INSITE® ARCHRELIEF® insole across its 2025 range. This insole is developed to support the foot arch, minimize pressure points, and improve overall foot stability. It is featured in 32 different models for women and men. The insole material is made from 50 percent plant-based content, stated as part of Duca Del Cosma’s commitment to more sustainable production processes.

Expanded Women’s Collection: Style Meets Performance

For women, the Spring/Summer 2025 line offers an even broader variety of styles, from athletic to classic. The sneaker-inspired LATINA model is equipped with the ROMA sole and a microfiber upper, while the TUSCANIA shoe features the traditional MILANO sole. Bold colors like Knockout Pink and Mint Green are part of the lineup, providing options for golfers looking to make a statement. The new CORTONA model pairs strong color accents with a sporty design and stable performance features.

Classic Style Meets Modern Comfort in Men’s Range

The men’s lineup also focuses on diversity. The athletic FORO model combines modern materials with the new ROMA outsole and advanced insole technology. The updated DAVANTI 2 builds on the previous model and, according to Duca Del Cosma, incorporates feedback from European Tour player Joost Luiten. For those who prefer a more classic look, the DANDY LEGGERO and DAVINCI LEGGERO models offer leather uppers, the MILANO sole, and understated color options.

(This article was created using materials provided by Duca Del Cosma.)