Author: Laura Gailus

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Rory McIlroy on the British Open 2025: “This Tournament was circled”

Rory McIlroy ahead of the British Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

When Rory McIlroy walked the fairways of Royal Portrush at 7 a.m. on Monday morning, he was awake – but barely rested. The plan: head out early, before the course filled up, before the buzz kicked in.
“I got about four hours of sleep, so I’m looking forward to taking a nap after this,” said McIlroy. “I just wanted to get out early, sort of beat the rush, beat the crowd, and do my work with not a lot of people around.”

The place is familiar to him, but much has changed – not only on the course, but within himself. “Yeah, it means an awful lot,” McIlroy said when asked what it was like to return. “It’s weird, it doesn’t feel like six years has passed since 2019. I think it’s amazing that Portrush has this opportunity so soon after the last Open to host again.”

Returning with a Green Jacket in the bag and clarity in his mindset, McIlroy revealed: “When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably, I don’t know, circled, even more so than the Masters for different reasons.”

Back Where It All Began: Rory McIlroy Returns to The Open

It’s McIlroy’s first Open at Portrush since his difficult home appearance in 2019. Then, the expectations were immense – and the start rough. “I think I remember the ovation I got on the first tee on Thursday and not being prepared for it or not being ready for how I was going to feel,” McIlroy recalled. “Then the golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it.” But one image stands out: “I remember the run on Friday… I hit a 6-iron into the 14th, second shot, and I remember the roar from the crowd… walking up to that green and getting a standing ovation. It was really special.” This time, he’s determined to do things differently: “I think in ’19 I probably tried to isolate, and I think it’s better for everyone if I embrace it… not try to shy away from it or hide away from it, and I think that’ll make for a better experience for everyone involved.”

Goals After the Masters – What Comes After the Summit?

The win at the Masters in April was historic. Grand Slam complete. And then? “I’ve done something that I’ve told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it’s like I still feel like I have a lot more to give,” McIlroy said. “I probably just didn’t give myself enough time to let it all sink in.” He added: “That’s the nature of professional golf. They do a very good job of keeping you on the hamster wheel, and you feel like it’s hard to get off at times.” But recent results helped: “It’s been an amazing year. The fact that I’m here at Portrush with the green jacket… I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I’m very capable of doing that.”

Early Start, Clear Mind

Just hours after the Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy arrived in Portrush. At dawn, he was on the first tee. “What I noticed about this golf course today… I have a real appreciation for how well bunkered it is off the tee,” McIlroy said. “There’s always one bunker or another bunker in play.” He also pointed out the sloping greens: “The greens are quite slopey here for a links golf course… you’re having to play two feet of break.” And the evolution of his playing style? “I think when I shot that 61 when I was 16, I had a little bit of a clue of what I was doing, but I certainly didn’t have as much of an understanding of the game or of my game as I do now.”

What counts now is readiness – and the will to go all the way:
“I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way… But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament.”

Rory McIlroys Pressekonferenz in Royal Portrush der Open

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Shane Lowry’s British Open 2025 Strategy: “I Just Need to Play Like S***”

Shane Lowry during his interview ahead of the British Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Shane Lowry is back in front of the microphones at Royal Portrush. Same place, new chapter. In 2019, he lifted the Claret Jug here — a record-breaking performance and unforgettable scenes. Now, for the British Open 2025, he’s brought those memories along — but he’s intentionally leaving them out of the equation. “What I did was very special, and to walk down the 18th hole with a six-shot lead, I’m probably never going to do that again so I’m not going to try and replicate that this week,” Lowry said. “I just need to get my head down on Thursday morning and get after it and see what happens.” The grandstands are back, the grass is tighter, the expectations higher — but Shane Lowry is staying grounded. No myth, just a golf course. “No matter what I done then, it doesn’t give me any God-given right to do anything special this week.”

Lowry on the British Open 2025: The Worse It Feels, the Better It Plays?

Lowry doesn’t shy away from mental games — including with himself. “How am I feeling? I’m feeling great the last two days, so that’s not great,” he laughed. “I’ve had a great week of practice. I just need to play shit for the next couple of days, and I’ll be all right.”
He knows from experience that things can click when they feel off. “Go back to 2019 here, I had a meltdown on the Wednesday because I thought I wasn’t going to go out and play well, but then that focuses me in a little bit more.”

Working with coach Neil Manchip and sports psychologist Bob Rotella, Lowry focuses on keeping expectations in check. “If I can keep my complacency away and my expectation down, that’s when I’m at my best.”

Home Turf Over Scotland

His preparation this year was different. “I do feel like I played too much golf in the lead-up to the U.S. Open. I played 9 of 11 weeks, and I feel like that really got to me. When the going got tough, I wasn’t there for it mentally, and that’s my own fault.”

So instead of Scotland, he chose the familiar rhythm of home. “In the last two weeks I’ve played Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Hogs Head and Adare Manor… The weather was almost too good — that was the issue.” Being back home helped: “I haven’t been home to Ireland since Christmas as well, so I’ve been home for the last three weeks… I kind of feel like a little bit rejuvenated and ready to go again.”

His take on the season? “I’ve given myself a couple of chances to win, which I’m very disappointed that I didn’t… No matter how well you’re playing the season, if you don’t have a win beside your name at least once, you don’t really class it as been very good.”

Between Rory and Home-Crowd Pressure

Lowry and Rory McIlroy — more than just colleagues: “We have become quite close over the last number of years… I certainly feel like I’ve learned a lot from his work ethic and how I apply myself to the game now.”

And that iconic first-tee moment from 2019? “I reckon that first tee that morning in 2019 was the most nervous I’ve ever been… Rory didn’t do that. I remember talking to him… and he did put a lot of pressure on himself… I’m sure he’s not going to do that this week.”

What do they want now? “All we want to do is give ourselves a chance come the weekend, and if you give yourself a chance, you never know what could happen.”

Memories, Yes — Repeats, No

His face now appears on a mural near the club — but it’s not something that inflates his ego. “I’m happy I have to drive the other way. I don’t have to drive past it every day.”

And about the honour: “Honestly, I’m just myself. Day-to-day, I just happen to be okay at golf and lucky enough that I got to achieve some pretty cool things.”

Lowry on the course: “I think it’s perfect right now. I think it’s ready for a great week of golf… I forgot how well-bunkered it is.”
What the weather will do? Nobody knows. But for Lowry, there’s no pressure to repeat the past — only opportunity. “I feel like I’m a better golfer than I was in 2019. I am a better golfer than I was in 2019. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six. It’s just golf.”

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US Open 2025: Rory McIlroy and the Rules of Golf for the Pros

At the US Open 2025, it’s not just the narrow fairways and lightning-fast greens that make the pros sweat and think—it’s also the ditches. Yes, ditches. Dry, rather unremarkable, and yet officially part of the course, they come into play on six holes. And they prove that knowing the rules is not just for officials. Rory McIlroy knew that well when, during the US Open 2025 at Oakmont, he sent his drive into one of the notorious ditches on the 9th hole. They may look harmless, but these ditches are considered red penalty areas.

US Open 2025 Live Scores

Golf Rule Education at the US Open 2025: Rory Shows How It’s Done

The USGA and The R&A lay it out clearly in Rule 17.1: If your ball ends up in a red penalty area, you have options. Play it as it lies, take stroke-and-distance relief, drop back on the line, or take lateral relief. After his errant tee shot, McIlroy opted for what many amateurs often do—but few pros execute so coolly: lateral relief, thank you Rule 17.1d(3). Two club-lengths from the entry point into the penalty area, no closer to the hole, and one penalty stroke. Rule-compliant and smart, because in Oakmont, “playing it as it lies” often means: playing it where it really shouldn’t be. And just to round it out, the USGA provided a handy explainer video on X.

Go to the 2025 US Open Live Ticker
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Patrick Reed Makes History with Albatross at the US Open 2025

Patrick Reed during the first round at the US Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

The 4th hole at Oakmont isn’t typically the scene of fireworks — unless your name is Patrick Reed. At the 2025 U.S. Open, the Texan reached for his fairway wood on the 621-yard par-5, unleashed a second shot from 286 yards, and found the bottom of the cup. Albatross.

The gallery erupted before Reed even knew what had happened — the shot was blind, the green out of sight. Only the roar of the crowd told him he’d just made a little piece of golf history.

US Open 2025: Albatrosses Are Rare – Especially at Oakmont

Oakmont Country Club is synonymous with punishment. It’s a course that doesn’t give — it takes. Sub-par rounds are minor miracles. And yet, amid the 2025 edition of the championship, one of the rarest shots in golf made its surprise appearance. Albatrosses — scoring three under par on a single hole — are golf’s equivalent of lightning strikes: incredibly rare, and nearly always unforgettable.

Reed’s shot marked only the fourth albatross in U.S. Open history. Before him, only T.C. Chen (1985), Shaun Micheel (2010), and Nick Watney (2012) had managed it. But none at Oakmont — the course that has hosted the U.S. Open more than any other in history.

By the time Reed reached the green, the ball had already vanished into the hole. It was a surreal moment: a searching player, a celebrating crowd, and the scoreboard confirming the impossible — a “2” on a par-5.

US Open 2025 Live Scores

Turning Point in a Grinding Round

Before the 4th, Reed’s round had little spark. A bogey on the 2nd, a string of steady pars — then came the fireworks. The albatross catapulted him from +1 to -2 in a single stroke, an instant shift in momentum on a course where most players were struggling to break par. On average, Oakmont was playing more than five strokes over par, even under ideal conditions.

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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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“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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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.

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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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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.