Author: Max Hollweck

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Professionals

Scottie Scheffler: $8 Million Earned While Sitting on the Couch

Scottie Scheffler secured a massive bonus due to his dominance on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler secured a massive bonus due to his dominance on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)

Sounding like something out of a fairy tale, Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Olympic champion, found himself $8 million richer this past weekend—all while relaxing on the couch with his family. While many of his peers were battling it out at the Wyndham Championship and the women were competing in golf at the Olympics in Paris, Scheffler opted for a quieter weekend at home with his wife Meredith and their baby, Bennett.

Scottie Scheffler Collects Big Bonus

Despite not swinging a club, the World No. 1 golfer saw his bank account swell overnight, thanks to the “Comcast Business Tour Top 10” bonus. Scheffler secured this massive payout by dominating the season-long points race, a competition that concluded with the Wyndham Championship. His lead was so substantial that no one could catch him, ensuring he would take home the top prize.

This windfall brings Scheffler’s earnings for the season to an astounding $36.148 million, including both prizes and bonuses. And the season isn’t over yet. With the FedEx Cup Playoffs just around the corner, there are still several lucrative opportunities on the horizon.

Scheffler’s success this year is nothing short of remarkable, and his latest financial gain—earned without lifting a finger—highlights just how dominant he has been throughout the season. As the playoffs loom, all eyes will be on Scheffler to see if he can continue this incredible run and add even more to his already impressive earnings.

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Highlights Tours

Golf Olympics 2024: Dates and Participants – All You Need to Know About the Tournaments

Golf Olympics 2024: All information on the men's and women's tournaments. (Source: Getty)
Golf Olympics 2024: All information on the men's and women's tournaments. (Source: Getty)

At the golf tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, 60 male and 60 female golfers will be competing for one of the coveted medals and eternal glory. Below you will find the answers to the most important questions about the men’s and women’s Olympic golf tournaments.

Live Scores of Women’s Golf at the Olympics 2024

Golf Olympics 2024: All Information About the Women’s Tournament

When will the golf tournament at the 2024 Olympics take place?

The women’s golf competition at the 2024 Olympic Games will take place from Wednesday, August 7 to Saturday, August 10.

Where will the golfers play the tournament at the 2024 Olympics?

The game is played on the Albatros course at Le Golf National. The course is the venue for the Open de France and hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup, which was won by Europe. The course is located around 40 km from the Olympic Village in the south-west of the French capital Paris.

How many participants will there be in the 2024 Olympic Games golf tournament?

A total of 60 female golfers will be competing in the tournament in Paris. The complicated qualification system is designed to ensure a diverse field with athletes from a wide range of countries. To explain: all players from the top 15 of the Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR), which is based on the women’s world rankings, qualify, with a limit of four golfers per nation. The rest of the field will be filled with the best athletes outside the top 15, with a limit of two women per nation. If a nation, such as the USA, already has more than two players in the top 15, then the countrywomen outside the top 15 no longer have a chance to participate. If a country has one player in the top 15, another player from outside the top 15 can join them.

Which stars will compete in women’s golf at the 2024 Olympics?

Nelly Korda, the current world number one and reigning Olympic champion, will be competing in Paris. Other stars include French hopeful Celine Boutier and Lydia Ko, who has already won silver and bronze in golf at the Olympics.

What will the women’s golf tournament look like at the 2024 Olympics?

Four rounds will be played in the usual strokeplay format. If there is a tie in any position among the top 3 at the end of the tournament, there will be a play-off. In 2021, for example, there was an epic seven-player play-off for bronze in the men’s event, which was won by C.T. Pan.

Final fun facts about the women’s Olympic golf tournament:

  1. Ines Laklalech from Morocco is the lowest-ranked player in the tournament in 321st place in the women’s world rankings.
  2. The USA and South Korea have the most female athletes with three golfers each.
  3. Although Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain, the Northern Irish athletes are taking part for Ireland.
  4. The highest-ranked player in the world rankings who has not qualified is Ally Ewing (ranked 16th) from the USA.
  5. The reigning US Open winner Yuka Saso (Japan) still competed for the Philippines at the last Games.

Golf Olympics 2024: All Information About the Men’s Tournament

When will the golf tournament at the 2024 Olympics take place?

The men’s golf competition at the 2024 Olympics will take place from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4.

Where will the golfers play the tournament at the 2024 Olympics?

The game is played on the Albatros course at Le Golf National. The course is the venue for the Open de France and hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup, which was won by Europe. The course is located around 40 km from the Olympic Village in the south-west of the French capital Paris.

How many participants will there be in the 2024 Olympic Games golf tournament?

A total of 60 golfers will be competing in the Olympic tournament in Paris. The complicated qualification system is designed to ensure a diverse field with athletes from a wide range of countries. To explain: all players from the top 15 of the Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR), which is based on the world rankings, qualify, with a limit of four golfers per nation. The rest of the field will be filled with the best athletes outside the top 15, with a limit of two men per nation. If a nation, such as the USA, already has more than two players in the top 15, then the countrymen outside the top 15 no longer have a chance to participate. If a country has one player in the top 15, one player from outside the top 15 can join them.

Which stars will compete in golf at the 2024 Olympics?

Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one and high-flyer of the season, is the favorite. His biggest rival is likely to be this season’s two-time Major winner, Xander Schauffele. Other stars include European hopefuls Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg.

What is the tournament format for golf at the 2024 Olympics?

Four rounds are played in the usual strokeplay format. The player who needs the fewest strokes for the total of 72 holes wins the gold medal. If there is a tie for one of the top 3 positions at the end of the tournament, there will be a play-off. This takes place between all players in the same position and decides the medals.

Final fun facts about the men’s Olympic golf tournament:

  1. Fabrizio Zanotti from Paraguay, 343rd in the world rankings, is the lowest-ranked player in the tournament.
  2. Team USA will feature four top golfers, including Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, who are both among the world’s leading players.
  3. Despite his victory at the 2024 US Open, Bryson DeChambeau was unable to secure a place on the Olympic team. LIV colleague and former Major winner Cam Smith will also miss the tournament.
  4. The highest-ranked player in the world rankings who has not qualified is Patrick Cantlay (ranked 8th) from the USA.
All Tee Times for Women’s Golf at the Olympics 2024
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Highlights Tours

Shane Lowry: Flag Bearer For Ireland at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics 2024

Shane Lowry at the Olympics 2024. (Source: Getty)
Shane Lowry at the Olympics 2024. (Source: Getty)

You rubbed your eyes in disbelief: there he stood on the deck of the boat with the Irish delegation, drenched, hair clapped to his head, but proud and happy and with his hand on the flag. Shane Lowry shared the honor of flag bearer for Ireland with hurdler Sarah Lavin at the spectacular opening of the Paris Olympics. “I didn’t even tell my mom beforehand, it would have been in the Tullamore Tribune the next day,” grinned the 2019 Portrush Golfer of the Year champion and two-time Ryder Cupper after completing the momentous task: ”I’m not sure you can even dream about it as a kid because it’s so far away. To be able to do this is absolutely unforgettable.”

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Shane Lowry (@shanelowrygolf)

More Golf Stars at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics 2024

Lowry (37) was not the only happy golfer’s face in the crowd of athletes on and along the Seine that evening. Ines Laklalech and Fabrizio Zanotti were also in action as flag bearers, for Morocco and Paraguay respectively.

Live Scores of Golf at the Olympics 2024

Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark met basketball superstar Steph Curry, Min Woo Lee appeared with a rain propeller over the Australian team outfit and so on. Below is a small collection of impressions from the first few days of the Olympics, before the men’s tournament begins on Thursday at Le Golf National, where the newly crowned Open champion Xander Schauffele is the defending champion.

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Golf Digest (@golfdigest)

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von DP World Tour (@dpworldtour)

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von DP World Tour (@dpworldtour)

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Wyndham Clark (@wyndhamclark)

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: Si Woo Kim Makes First Hole-in-One

Si Woo Kim has played the first hole-in-one of the British Open 2024. (Source: Getty)
Si Woo Kim has played the first hole-in-one of the British Open 2024. (Source: Getty)

Huge cheers could be heard in the background of the broadcast of the British Open 2024. However, the reason for the fans’ ecstasy was not clear at first. It took a few minutes before the officials found the trigger and the scene was shown on TV. The image panned to the 17th tee of the Royal Troon GC, where Si Wo Kim was getting ready to tee off, and it quickly became clear that a hole-in-one must have been the reason for the so-called “Open Roar” that went through the crowd.

Si Wo Kim With the First Ace of The Open Championship 2024

And so it was. Like many other players that day, the South Korean took advantage of the favorable conditions and let his tee shot on the 217-meter par-3 hole come up just short of the green. After a forward bounce, it quickly became apparent that the ball was rolling perfectly towards the hole. The appreciative applause grew louder by the second as the ball approached its target. Just as Kim had almost turned around, the ball finally fell into the hole and the applause turned into cheers. The ace also did Kim good on the leaderboard. Thanks to the two strokes gained, the South Korean jumped back to even par for the day shortly before the end of the round and thus avoided losing places on the leaderboard.

Footage of the Hole-in-One

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Highlights Tours

Climate at The Open Championship 2024 Causes Problems for Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau struggled at the first round of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau struggled at the first round of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Bryson DeChambeau, the two-time US Open Champion, began his campaign at the 152nd Open Championship with high hopes and expectations. Instead of advancing towards grasping the coveted Claret Jug, DeChambeau found himself languishing with a score of +5, placing him at T96 among the field. This unexpected performance has led to humorous comparisons with Rory McIlroy, who is faring even worse, two strokes behind DeChambeau.

Bryson DeChambeau Struggles with Equipment at The Open Championship 2024

DeChambeau, known as “The Scientist” for his analytical approach to golf, offered a detailed and scientific explanation for his underwhelming performance. According to him, the issue lies with his equipment and its incompatibility with the conditions at Troon. “I’m not achieving the necessary ball speed of 190 mph, especially when using my driver or 3-wood. These clubs are designed for such high speeds. Moreover, in these colder conditions, the ball doesn’t compress as needed, preventing me from hitting the desired parameters,” DeChambeau explained.

To understand this issue, it’s important to note the specifics of DeChambeau’s equipment. His Krank driver has a loft of just five degrees, and his 3-wood has a loft of nine degrees. Generating sufficient speed to launch the ball correctly with such low lofts is crucial. Golf balls also perform optimally at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. However, the temperatures at Troon ranged between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius during the first round, adding to DeChambeau’s challenges. He also uses a low-spin ball, which exacerbates the difficulty under these conditions. Essentially, his equipment is not well-suited for the typical conditions of a links course like Troon.

It’s worth noting that the weather during the practice rounds was significantly more favorable, potentially misleading DeChambeau regarding the suitability of his equipment. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether “The Scientist” can adapt his tools and strategy to overcome these challenges. Golf enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if DeChambeau can turn his fortunes around and climb up the leaderboard.

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: The Victims of the Postage Stamp

The eight hole of the Royal Troon GC claimed plenty victims at the first day of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
The eight hole of the Royal Troon GC claimed plenty victims at the first day of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Rory McIlroy continues to collect negative records instead of majors. His opening round of 78 (+7) at Royal Troon marked his worst major round since his 79 at the start of Royal Portrush in 2019. Even worse, the Northern Irishman ranked only 130th in the “Strokes Gained” category, on a course that demands the utmost precision. “I didn’t do my job well enough,” McIlroy admitted with some regret yesterday. “My new goal at this Open Championship can only be to go out today and somehow make the cut.”

Since his problems yesterday began on the infamous eighth hole, a closer look at the Postage Stamp is warranted, especially considering McIlroy’s double bogey made him one of its notable victims.

The Challenge of The Open Championship 2024: The Postage Stamp

The Postage Stamp, a mere 123-yard par-3, has always been a highlight of Royal Troon, a course that earned its royal designation in 1978, 100 years after its founding. Despite its short length, this hole has claimed many professional scalps over the years. Designed by Willie Fernie in 1881 and named after the distant Ailsa Rock, it was Willie Park Jr., a two-time Champion Golfer, who famously dubbed it the “Postage Stamp” due to its tiny 245-square-meter green.

Rory McIlroy’s struggles on the Postage Stamp stand out, especially given his stature in the golfing world. His double bogey there contributed significantly to his dismal opening round. “I need to be more precise, especially on holes like the eighth,” McIlroy reflected. The small green and the surrounding bunkers make the Postage Stamp a hole where precision and calm under pressure are paramount. In addition to the Northern Irishman, the difficult hole claimed other victims. Major winners Colin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark also recorded double bogeys and Tiger Woods and Ludvig Aberg each had to accept a bogey. However, the Postage Stamp can also reward precision. Yesterday, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay demonstrated how to navigate this tricky par-3 successfully.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its unpredictability, the Postage Stamp remains a favorite among many professionals. It encapsulates the essence of links golf: challenging, strategic, and at times, unforgiving. For McIlroy, it was a reminder of the thin line between success and failure at the highest level.

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Highlights Tours

Olympics 2024: Why Is Rory McIlroy Competing for Ireland?

Rory McIlroy will compete for Ireland again at the 2024 Olympics. (Source: Getty)
Rory McIlroy will compete for Ireland again at the 2024 Olympics. (Source: Getty)

As in Tokyo 2020, Rory McIlroy has once again decided to compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games. McIlroy comes from Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and should therefore actually be competing for Great Britain. However, there is an exemption for athletes from Northern Ireland.

Rory McIlroy chooses Ireland for the 2024 Olympics

Northern Ireland has a unique position in international sport. Olympic athletes from Northern Ireland have the opportunity to compete for either the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain and Northern Ireland (effectively the United Kingdom). This choice reflects the complex and divided history of the region. “Team GB” is the name under which athletes from Great Britain compete at the Olympics, a name that does not directly include Northern Ireland. There have been calls in the past to rename the team ‘Team UK’ to reflect this inclusion.

McIlroy, who always played under the Irish flag in his youth, chose Ireland despite saying he felt more British. “I made it more difficult for myself than it needed to be,” McIlroy explained. “My thoughts were more about what other people would think. Once I put that behind me and just did what was right for me, the decision became easy. It was an internal battle with all those thoughts.” He continued, “Once I gave up trying not to upset anyone, the decision was pretty easy. I’m going to play golf for the country or nation I’ve always played for, from my junior and amateur days through to the professional game. Although the Olympics give me that choice, there really wasn’t a choice because I’ve played golf for Ireland all my life. Why should that change just because the tournament changes? That was my decision.”

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2025: Keegan Bradley Named US Captain

Keegan Bradley has been named captain of the US team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Source: Getty)
Keegan Bradley has been named captain of the US team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Source: Getty)

Keegan Bradley will captain the US team at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. After months of discussions and despite Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner and eight-time Ryder Cup participant, being the clear favorite, Bradley was surprisingly chosen.

 
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Bradley Becomes the Youngest Captain Since Arnold Palmer

Bradley was already a contender for the captaincy of the US team in 2023, but was ultimately not selected. Less than a year later, he has now been named captain of the team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. At 38, he is the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. The two-time Ryder Cup participant played college golf at St. John’s University in Queens, just a short drive from Bethpage, and regularly competed in tournaments there. “I am incredibly honored to be given this opportunity to lead the U.S. team in the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Bradley said in a statement. “My passion and appreciation for golf’s greatest team event have never been stronger. The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particulary special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I look forward to starting preparations for 2025.”

 
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Tiger Woods turned down captaincy for the 2025 Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods, who had previously been considered the favorite for the role of captain, had to pull out due to his duties as Player Director on the PGA Tour Policy Board. The PGA of America delayed the appointment of a captain for months, hoping to clear the way for Woods to become captain, and even appointed former caddie and NBC Sports analyst John Wood as “team manager”. He was supposed to take on some of the captain’s workload. When still no major progress had been made in early July, Woods was forced to turn down the captaincy. However, he could still theoretically take part in the Ryder Cup as a player or vice-captain.

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Ladies European Tour

English Star Charley Hull Withdraws From Aramco Team Series Event

Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series Event in London. (Source: Getty)
Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series Event in London. (Source: Getty)

English golf star Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series London at Centurion Club early on the first day of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Hull played only six holes before making the difficult decision to pull out on medical grounds.

Shoulder Injury Forces Charley Hull To Withdraw

The decision came after Hull consulted with a physiotherapist following ongoing pain in her right shoulder, an injury she later revealed was the result of a “nasty fall” the previous Sunday. She took to social media to express her regret and disappointment: “Today I had to withdraw from [the Aramco Team Series London] following medical advice, due to ongoing pain in my right shoulder following a nasty fall on Sunday night. I’m so disappointed as I always love playing in this series, particularly in front of a home crowd.”

Hull also apologized to her fans, teammates, and the event organizers, expressing her sorrow for having to leave the competition prematurely. “Sorry to the fans who came out to watch, my playing partners for leaving you after 6 holes, and to all those behind the scenes who work tirelessly to make these events run so well,” she added.

In the tournament, Hull was playing alongside Annabel Dimmock and Christine Wolf. Hull, who was the squad’s captain, had selected her close friend and compatriot Dimmock with the final pick before the tournament, while Austrian golfer Wolf and an amateur player was randomly assigned to complete the team.

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Uncategorized

Golf History: All 59s and Better Rounds on the PGA Tour

Jim Furyk holds the record for the lowest round on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)
Jim Furyk holds the record for the lowest round on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)

Hayden Springer made headlines on the first day of the John Deere Classic by shooting a remarkable 59, joining an exclusive club of golfers. So far, only 14 such rounds have been recorded on the PGA Tour, with 13 rounds of 59 and one extraordinary round of 58.

Jim Furyk: The King of 59s

Jim Furyk is the only player who has ever achieved a round of 58 strokes. This historic feat was accomplished in 2016 at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, a par-70 course. Furyk needed 27 strokes on the front nine and 31 on the back nine, recording one eagle and ten birdies, including seven consecutive birdies from holes 6 to 12. This record still stands today. Furyk is not only the sole player to have a 58-round on the PGA Tour, but he is also the only one to have recorded two sub-60 rounds. In 2013, he shot a 59 during the second round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club, scoring one eagle, eleven birdies, and one bogey.

The history of 59-rounds begins with Al Geiberger, who broke this barrier in 1977 at the Memphis Classic on the Colonial Country Club course. It took 14 years for the next 59-round, achieved by Chip Beck at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991. David Duval followed in 1999 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with a 59, which earned him the tournament victory. Notably, 2010 saw two players breaking the 60-barrier: Stuart Appleby at the Greenbrier Classic and Paul Goydos at the John Deere Classic.

In recent years, the frequency of these outstanding rounds has increased. In 2017, two players shot 59s: Justin Thomas at the Sony Open and Adam Hadwin at the CareerBuilder Challenge. Justin Thomas even won the tournament by seven strokes. The following year, Brandt Snedeker joined this exclusive club at the Wyndham Championship. In 2024, two more players achieved this feat: Hayden Springer at the John Deere Classic and Cameron Young at the Travelers Championship. Remarkable performances also include Kevin Chappell, who set a record with nine consecutive birdies at the Greenbrier Classic in 2019, and Scottie Scheffler, who became the second player to break the 60-barrier during the FedExCup Playoffs with his 59 at the 2020 Northern Trust.

The Lowest Rounds in PGA Tour History

Name Year Course Score Par
Jim Furyk 2016 TPC River Highlands 58 70
Al Geiberger 1977 Colonial CC 59 72
Chip Beck 1991 Sunrise GC 59 72
David Duval 1999 PGA West Palmer Course 59 72
Paul Goydos 2010 TPC Deere Run 59 70
Stuart Appleby 2010 TPC Old White 59 70
Jim Furyk 2013 Conway Farms GC 59 71
Justin Thomas 2017 Waialae CC 59 70
Adam Hadwin 2017 La Quinta CC 59 72
Brandt Snedeker 2018 Sedgefield CC 59 70
Kevin Chappell 2019 Old White TPC 59 70
Scottie Scheffler 2020 TPC Boston 59 71
Cameron Young 2024 TPC River Highlands 59 70
Hayden Springer 2024 TPC Deere Run 59 71