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PGA Tour Champions

Pate Returns to Competition After Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Steve Pate is back competing on the PGA Tour Champions this week at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, marking a significant return following a serious health challenge.

The veteran golfer was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs in April 2025 and subsequently underwent chemotherapy beginning in June. Despite the demanding treatment regimen, Pate has made his way back to competitive golf at Tiburon Golf Club, where the 54-hole tournament runs through February 15th.

A Resilient Comeback

Pate’s return to the course represents more than a typical tournament appearance. His participation underscores the determination required to overcome serious illness while maintaining the competitive spirit that has defined his career on golf’s senior circuit. The Chubb Classic, with its $1.8 million purse, provides the stage for this comeback effort.

The event features a strong field including defending champion Justin Leonard, alongside other notable competitors such as Davis Love III, Darren Clarke, Angel Cabrera, and Corey Pavin. Notably, Bernhard Langer will compete in pursuit of his sixth Chubb Classic title, seeking to extend his record-breaking 47 victories on the PGA Tour Champions.

German representation at the event includes Alex Cejka, the 55-year-old competing alongside other international competitors on what remains one of professional golf’s most competitive senior circuits.

Pate’s presence at Tiburon Golf Club this week demonstrates the resilience required at the highest levels of professional sport, and his continuation in competition serves as an inspiration to many in the golf community.

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LIV Tour

Rahm Sets Pace at LIV Golf Adelaide as World’s Best Compete

Adelaide, Australia — Jon Rahm has taken the lead heading into the weekend at LIV Golf Adelaide with an immaculate nine-under 63, positioning himself as the favourite for the $4 million first prize at The Grange Golf Club.

Rahm’s blemish-free round highlighted a strong opening stretch for LIV Golf League‘s Adelaide event, the second stop of the 2026 season. The Spanish player’s consistency and precision with the putter have given him a commanding advantage as the field enters the weekend phase of competition.

The Adelaide tournament marks a significant moment for professional golf, as this is the first LIV Golf event to award Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, underscoring the league’s integration into the broader competitive structure of professional golf.

## Fierce Competition at Pebble Beach

Across the Pacific, the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am continues to attract the world’s elite players. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, headlines the field competing on the iconic California coastline. The tournament, which carries a $20 million purse with $3.6 million for the victor, represents the first PGA Tour Signature Event of the season.

Title defender Rory McIlroy returns to defend his crown, while emerging star Chris Gotterup has captured attention with two victories in as many weeks. His back-to-back wins at the Sony Open and Phoenix Open have positioned him as a genuine threat. DACH representatives Stephan Jäger and Sepp Straka, a four-time PGA Tour winner, are competing alongside Matti Schmid.

## Record Pursuits and Veteran Excellence

Meanwhile, legendary German golfer Bernhard Langer continues his remarkable career at the Chubb Classic on the PGA Tour Champions. The 68-year-old is pursuing a record-tying sixth title at the Florida event. With 47 Champions Tour victories already to his credit—a record itself—Langer remains a formidable competitor on the seniors circuit. Fellow German Alex Cejka, 55, is also competing in Naples.

The week also features extensive participation from German, Austrian, and Swiss golfers across multiple tours. The Ladies European Tour opened its season with the PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh, where German talents including Laura Funfstuck, the recent winner of the PIF London Championship, are competing for the $5 million prize fund.

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LIV Tour

Corrius Joins Elite Albatross Club at LIV Golf Adelaide

The LIV Golf League witnessed a rare moment of brilliance on the greens this week as Pau Corrius recorded the third albatross in the league’s history during competition in Adelaide.

The remarkable double-eagle puts Corrius in exclusive company within the relatively young professional circuit. Only two other players have achieved the feat since LIV Golf’s inception: Richard Bland during the Mexico event in 2025, and Brendan Steele at the Greenbrier tournament in 2024.

A Rare Achievement on Golf’s Biggest Stage

Albatrosses remain among golf’s most elusive achievements, requiring a player to score three under par on a single hole. In professional competition, such moments are celebrated across the sport, regardless of tour affiliation. For a player to join this distinguished group at an international event underscores both the caliber of competition and the element of fortune required for such a shot.

The Adelaide event, held at The Grange Golf Club, continues to showcase exceptional play from the league’s competitors. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith represent among the top contenders competing this week.

The Ripper GC Connection

The home team advantage looms large at the Australian venue. Ripper GC, featuring Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, and breakout star Elvis Smylie, brings momentum into the event after sweeping both individual and team honors at the Riyadh tournament last week. The 23-year-old Smylie announced his arrival on the global stage with a debut victory, signaling a changing of the guard in professional golf.

The tournament represents the first LIV Golf event where competitors earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, elevating the competitive significance for players worldwide. Among the international contingent competing this week is Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who captains the Cleeks GC team.

The Adelaide event continues through February 15, with Corrius’ albatross already etched into LIV Golf lore.

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Ladies European Tour

Ciganda’s Ace Highlights Star-Studded Saudi Ladies International

The Ladies European Tour kicked off its season in style this week at the PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh, where Carlota Ciganda delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable moments with a casual ace that had galleries buzzing.

The Spanish golfer’s hole-in-one came during competition at Riyadh Golf Club, showcasing the kind of precise shotmaking that defines elite women’s professional golf. With a purse of 5 million USD—the largest in Ladies European Tour history outside of major championships—the tournament attracted the world’s best female competitors.

Elite Field Convenes in Saudi Arabia

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit returned to defend her title, joined by a stellar field including Charley Hull, Celine Boutier, Danielle Kang, and Amy Yang. The event marks a significant moment for professional women’s golf, with the tournament serving as the season opener for many competitors.

The DACH region sent a strong contingent to compete. Germany’s Esther Henseleit, who serves as a Golf Saudi ambassador, was joined by fellow German players Laura Funfstuck—the 2025 PIF London Championship winner—Olivia Cowan, Helen Briem, Alexandra Försterling, and Leonie Harm. Austria contributed Emma Spitz, while Switzerland’s entries included Chiara Tamburlini, Kim Metraux, and Albane Valenzuela.

Growing Investment in Women’s Golf

The tournament represents continued investment in women’s professional golf, with significant prize money reflecting the sport’s increasing commercial appeal. Ciganda’s ace exemplified the level of skill on display, adding to the spectacle of a competition that continues to elevate the profile of women’s professional golf internationally.

The season is now in full swing across multiple tours, with PGA Tour events, LIV Golf League competitions, and Champions Tour action competing for attention across the professional landscape.

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Korn Ferry Tour

Nicholas Captures First Korn Ferry Tour Title at Country Bogota

James Nicholas secured his first Korn Ferry Tour title with a memorable finish at Country Bogota, capping off a breakthrough moment in his professional career with a walk-off eagle that will long be remembered.

The victory represents a significant milestone for Nicholas, who has been working toward this achievement throughout his time on the developmental tour. His grandmother’s longstanding belief in his abilities to produce such moments—particularly eagles—came to fruition in dramatic fashion on the final hole.

A Dream Realized

For many professional golfers, the first tour title carries special significance. It validates years of dedication, practice, and perseverance through the ranks of professional competition. Nicholas’s walk-off eagle at Country Bogota provided exactly that kind of validation, delivering the kind of finishing moment that becomes part of a player’s career narrative.

The Korn Ferry Tour serves as an important pathway for developing talent in professional golf, offering players the opportunity to compete at an elevated level while working toward their goals on major professional circuits. Victories on this tour frequently serve as launching points for players seeking to establish themselves at higher levels of competition.

Looking Forward

Nicholas’s breakthrough victory provides momentum as he continues his professional journey. The confidence gained from a first title win often translates into improved performances in subsequent competitions, as players combine technical skill with the psychological benefit of having achieved a significant goal.

For those following Nicholas’s career, this moment marks a turning point—evidence that the hard work and dedication have yielded tangible results on the course.

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LIV Tour

Anthony Kim Joins 4Aces GC for Remainder of 2026 LIV Season

Anthony Kim has secured a team placement for the remainder of the 2026 LIV Golf League season, joining Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC. The move marks a transition from his previous status as an independent Wild Card player to a full-time team member.

Kim’s placement represents a significant development in LIV Golf’s competitive structure, as the league continues to refine its team compositions ahead of the Adelaide event this week. The 4Aces GC roster now features a strengthened lineup as the season progresses through its early events.

Team Structure and Season Momentum

The 4Aces GC joins other competitive teams in the LIV Golf League as they prepare for the Adelaide event at The Grange Golf Club this week. With prize money reaching 30 million USD for the tournament—including 4 million for the individual winner and 3 million for the team champion—teams are actively positioning themselves for strong performances throughout the season.

Kim’s integration into the 4Aces GC roster comes as the league has introduced Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for LIV Golf events, adding another dimension to competition. The transition from Wild Card status to permanent team membership provides Kim with consistency and team support as the season develops.

The move underscores LIV Golf’s continued evolution in team dynamics and player positioning as it establishes itself within the broader professional golf landscape.

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Ladies European Tour

Ciganda’s Ace Highlights Week of High Stakes Across Global Tours

The golf calendar this week, February 10-16, 2026, brings high-profile action across multiple tours and continents, with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy among the headliners competing at the season’s premier events.

Pebble Beach and LIV Golf Adelaide Lead the Week

The PGA Tour‘s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am begins February 12 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, offering $20 million in prize money with the winner receiving $3.6 million. Scheffler, the world number one, will face defending champion McIlroy, along with in-form Chris Gotterup, who has notched two victories in three weeks following wins at the Sony Open and Phoenix Open. Justin Rose, fresh from his Farmers Insurance Open victory, also headlines the field.

The tournament represents the first Signature Event of the season and features the traditional celebrity pro-am format, with notable participants including Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. German representatives Stephan Jäger and Matti Schmid will compete, with Jäger finishing tied-seventh last year. Austria’s Sepp Straka, a four-time PGA Tour winner, aims for a strong showing after a similar finish in 2025.

Meanwhile, the LIV Golf League moves to The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia, for LIV Golf Adelaide, running February 12-15. The $30 million event marks the league’s first tournament offering Official World Golf Ranking points. Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau headline a field seeking to dethrone defending champion Joaquin Niemann. The Ripper GC team, buoyed by Elvis Smylie’s remarkable debut victory in Riyadh last week at age 23, will compete on home soil with teammates Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, and Lucas Herbert.

Champions Tour and International Action

The PGA Tour Champions hosts the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, February 13-15, where Bernhard Langer pursues his sixth title at the event. The 68-year-old German veteran holds 47 career Champions Tour victories, a tour record, and sits one Chubb Classic win away from equaling his own tournament record of six titles. Justin Leonard defends, while fellow past champions Davis Love III and Darren Clarke compete for the $1.8 million purse. Germany’s Alex Cejka, 55, also features in the field.

The Ladies European Tour opens its season with the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club, February 11-14, a $5 million event—the largest on the calendar outside major championships. Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit returns to face Charley Hull, Celine Boutier, and Amy Yang. Germany’s Laura Funfstuck, who captured the PIF London Championship in 2025, leads a strong contingent of DACH representatives including Esther Henseleit, who serves as a Golf Saudi ambassador. Helen Briem, newly competing on the LPGA Tour in 2026, also appears in the field alongside Olivia Cowan, Alexandra Försterling, and Leonie Harm. Austria’s Emma Spitz and Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, Albane Valenzuela, and Kim Metraux round out the regional presence.

Carlota Ciganda’s ace this week highlighted the competitive spirit evident across all competition levels. Her hole-in-one marked the season’s first for the professional circuit, capturing the kind of individual brilliance that defines tournament golf.

This article was created with the help of AI and editorially reviewed. Report an issue

Categories
PGA Tour

McIlroy Eyes Pebble Beach Defense After Historic 2025 Run

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LIV Tour

Elvis Smylie Makes History with First OWGR Points in LIV Golf

Elvis Smylie has become the first player to benefit from the Official World Golf Ranking’s recognition of LIV Golf League events, climbing from 133rd to 77th in the world rankings following his debut victory in Riyadh last week.

Continue reading “Elvis Smylie Makes History with First OWGR Points in LIV Golf”
Categories
European Tour

McIlroy Opens 2026 DP World Tour Season with Impressive 66

Continue reading “McIlroy Opens 2026 DP World Tour Season with Impressive 66”