Category: PGA Tour

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Shane Lowry’s ball hits Volunteer

Shane Lowry at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo: Getty)
Shane Lowry at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo: Getty)

In the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday, an incident in the leading flight caused a brief moment of shock: Shane Lowry hit a ball that then struck a volunteer.

Lowry slightly misjudged his tee shot on hole 15 of the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links and missed the fairway on the right-hand side. A volunteer was standing there and the ball hit him on the left shoulder in flight. He fell to the ground, but fortunately remained uninjured: CBS reporters announced shortly afterwards that the volunteer was fine and in good health.

Shane Lowry’s behaviour criticised

The incident caused a lot of discussion on social media. The particular misfortune of the volunteer, who was in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time, was summarised by a comment on X: “Wow… that’s like getting struck by lightning. What are the odds? He’s all by himself too”.

Sky Sports commentator Andrew Coltart criticised Shane Lowry for not warning the volunteer loudly: “Didn’t hear him shout ‘fore’. We need to be hearing players shout ‘fore’.” But some fans on X defended Lowry: “That volunteer was irresponsible. He should have been looking at the ball or standing further in the rough. There’s no reason for him to be standing that close to the fairway”. One suggestion from the community was: “I’ll never understand why the spotters in the landing areas aren’t given hard hats with sponsor logo??!! Perfect opportunity for volunteer safety and good pr for sponsor!!!”

Another volunteer who was on site at Pebble Beach posted in the comments and confirmed that the person concerned was fine, but that he would still be feeling the pain the next day. It is also said that the volunteer received a medal from a PGA rules official.

Shane Lowry went into the final round in a tie for second place and played for the title in the final flight together with Rory McIlroy and Sepp Straka. Lowry finished the tournament in second place behind McIlroy with a round of 68 (-4).

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Tee Times for Rory McIlroy’s Seaon Opener

The Tee Times for the PGA-Elite at Pebble Beach. (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Tour tee times for the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am have been officially announced – and with them, anticipation is building for one of the most historic tournaments in golf. From February 6 to 9, the world’s best golfers will gather at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California to compete in the second Signature Event of the season. With a prize purse of $20 million and $3.6 million for the winner, the tournament is a true heavyweight on the tour schedule. Defending champion Wyndham Clark will also be returning.

TV coverage begins on Thursday and Friday at 5:45 PM, on Saturday at 5:30 PM, and on Sunday at 5:00 PM on Sky.

The PGA Tour Tee Times

Patrick Cantlay takes to Spyglass Hill Links at 06:53, accompanied by Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. He’ll continue his tournament run with a 09:53 start at Pebble Beach.

Sahith Theegala is set to launch his tournament at 07:06 on Pebble Beach Golf Links, teeing off alongside Wyndham Clark. The pair will then take on Spyglass Hill Links at 10:06 for round two.

Rory McIlroy kicks off his first round at 08:48, joined by Sweden’s rising star Ludvig Åberg on Spyglass Hill Links. He’ll return to action for round two at 09:53 on the picturesque Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Collin Morikawa is pairing up with South Korea’s Tom Kim. They take on Spyglass Hill Links at 08:35 for their opening round, before shifting to Pebble Beach at 09:40 for round two.

Scottie Scheffler is set to begin his tournament at 09:01 on Spyglass Hill Links, pairing up with Brian Harman. He’ll then tackle his second round at 10:06 on Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Tommy Fleetwood takes to Spyglass Hill Links at 09:14, alongside Keegan Bradley from the USA. Their second round sees them moving to Pebble Beach for a 10:19 tee time.

Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, a dynamic duo from the USA, bring their skills to Spyglass Hill Links at 09:27 for their first round, then shift gears for their second round at 10:32 on Pebble Beach.

Viktor Hovland teams up with Rickie Fowler for an exciting start at 10:32 on Pebble Beach Golf Links, before heading over to Spyglass Hill Links for round two at 09:27.

Player(s)Round 1Round 2
Patrick Cantlay, Robert MacIntyre06:53 (SH)09:53 (PB)
Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark07:06 (PB)10:06 (SH)
Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg08:48 (SH)09:53 (PB)
Collin Morikawa, Tom Kim08:35 (SH)09:40 (PB)
Scottie Scheffler, Brian Harman09:01 (SH)10:06 (PB)
Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley09:14 (SH)10:19 (PB)
Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth09:27 (SH)10:32 (PB)
Viktor Hovland, Rickie Fowler10:32 (PB)09:27 (SH)

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PGA Tour

Jon Rahm and the Status of his Ryder Cup Relationship: It’s Getting Complicated

Photo: Getty
Photo: Getty

What’s the difference between Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton? No, it’s not the fact that one looks like a Basque bear, while the other – albeit English – looks like an Irish leprechaun in a tall hat under his baseball cap and all too often behaves like one. Like on Saturday at the Dubai Desert Classic, when Hatton smashed a tee marker in anger.

Rather, what is meant is the loudly proclaimed claim of both to be called up for Bethpage Black, for the European Ryder Cup team’s away match on Long Island in September.

Hatton Strengthens Ryder Cup Bid, While Rahm Faces Struggles

While Hatton underlined his claim again yesterday with victory in Dubai after winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October, his eighth title in his 200th start on the DP World Tour, Rahm lacks precisely such successes. Instead, the Spanish LIV star made a false start to the 2025 golf year, firing an underground 77 after an opening 69 on Friday and missing the weekend – also because he lost out in the battle with a bush.

Now, of all times, the supposed Ryder Cup top performer has missed his first cut at a Rolex Series event and his third in more than four years. Now, of course, it is premature and completely inappropriate to pass the sporting baton on the 30-year-old. Team boss Luke Donald will hardly be able to avoid giving Rahm the wild card for his fourth continental competition anyway; after all, he finished second and sixth in his two Spanish home appearances in autumn 2024. Nevertheless, the status of the relationship with regard to the Ryder Cup is likely to remain unchanged: It’s going to be complicated.

Rahm’s Ryder Cup Chances Clouded by Legal Issues

After all, Rahm is virtually operating in a legal vacuum and is speculating that he will ‘survive’ in it until September. That does have a certain flavour. As a reminder, the Spaniard – like Hatton – has lodged an appeal against the multi-million fine imposed by the DP World Tour for the unauthorised switch to the LIV League, is playing under a temporary injunction and is counting on the expected judgement against him not being passed until after the Ryder Cup. The competent appeals court has already legitimised the Tour’s sanctions in other cases, and should a decision be made in Rahm’s case before September, he would have to pay in order to actually be able to play in the USA.

Anyone who doubts that Rahm would also pay without hesitation if, as hoped, the fine is not due until after Bethpage Black. The man to whom the Saudis are paying a guaranteed fee of 450 million dollars for four years and who was already worth over 50 million dollars beforehand has a family of four to feed, so you have to keep your pennies together. Irony off again. Instead, it would be desirable for Rahm to do the same as Hatton – not in terms of tea markers, but to mask the stale odour of his tactics with the fragrance of sporting success. The Englishman also plays with the proviso of a revision. But at least he wins. And gets a lot of encouragement for it:

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Favorit Xander Schauffele WDs from American Express

Xander Schauffele WDs from American Express on PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Xander Schauffele WDs from American Express on PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)

After Scottie Scheffler withdrew from the American Express on the PGA Tour due to his hand injury, Xander Schauffele, the world No. 2 and two-time major winner, was considered the main favourite for the tournament. But on Monday, the 31-year-old also withdrew from this week’s event, which is regarded as one of the easiest tournaments on the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour: Xander Schauffele withdraws from American Express

The reason for Schauffele’s cancellation is medical reasons, ESPN was told by his manager, but no specific details were given. Schauffele had most recently started his season at The Sentry and suffered a heavy defeat at the TGL premiere with the New York Golf Club.

Following the cancellation of Schauffele and Scheffler, who wants to give his hand more time to heal after an injury at Christmas, Wyndham Clark is the only player from the world’s top 10 who will be competing this week. Like Schauffele, Clark took part in the TGL premiere in Florida and was part of the victorious Bay GC. He starts the tournament in 7th place in the world rankings. Defending champion Nick Dunlap, who won the tournament last year as an amateur, will also be competing. He was the first winning amateur since 1991.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler still out of action

Scottie Scheffler still injured. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler still injured. (Image: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler, who already missed the PGA Tour’s first tournament of the year with The Sentry, is also withdrawing from the American Express, he announced on Instagram on Monday.

PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler withdraws from American Express

“After consulting with my medical team, I have made the decision to withdraw from the American Express tournament next week to give my injury more time to heal,” Scheffler said on Instagram.

Scheffler had injured himself on Christmas Day while cooking Christmas dinner on broken glass and had to have surgery on his right hand to remove small pieces of glass. Following the injury, Scheffler’s manager Blake Smith spoke of a recovery period of “three to four weeks”. While Scheffer withdrew from The Sentry, he was still targeting The American Express to start the year at that point.

Instead, the two-time Masters winner is taking some more time to heal and has the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the second signature event of the year, as his next target. It takes place from January 30 to February 2. After an absolute 2024 season in which he earned the title of “Player of the Year” for the third time in a row, it remains to be seen whether Scheffler can continue his dominance on the tour.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Tour Championship changing to a group format?

A change to the Tour Championship format might be in the works. (Photo: Getty)
A change to the Tour Championship format might be in the works. (Photo: Getty)

Schedule: The PGA Tour is considering a change to the tournament format for the Tour Championship. According to US media reports, a bracket solution is being discussed for the season finale at East Lake Country Club, i.e. dividing the field of participants into two groups, which will then play out the champion in stroke play and match play. The current format is controversial among active players, but a format with direct duels would be well received. ‘I’d like to see something the players are excited about and the fans are excited about,’ said Patrick Cantlay, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, which has to approve a change. As only the top 30 players of the season or the play-offs are competing in East Lake anyway, the problem that makes a match play format unattractive for standard tournaments would also be obsolete: because no underdogs could fight their way through to the semi-finals or final and then possibly rather unattractive names with low ratings would duel each other at prime time on Sunday.

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PGA Tour

TGL “Jupiter Links GC”: Tiger’s Team in Signature “Tiger Red”

Jupiter Links GC featuring Tiger Woods, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner, and Max Homa. (Images: Getty and TGL Media Hub)

The Jupiter Links Golf Club represents the TGL team of co-founder Tiger Woods. Joined by Kevin Kisner, Max Homa, and Tom Kim, Tiger has assembled a dynamic roster of distinctive personalities.

Kevin Kisner, a four-time PGA Tour winner, is known as much for his candid TV appearances with NBC as for his golfing prowess, even though his current form falls short of his peak. Meanwhile, Max Homa, a fan-favorite on social media, is celebrated as one of the most exciting players of the new generation.

Speaking of rising stars, the inclusion of Tom Kim is a testament to Tiger’s eye for talent. The 22-year-old South Korean has already claimed three PGA Tour titles, showcasing his passion and charisma on the course. A standout moment was his role as an emotional leader during the 2024 Presidents Cup, where he electrified crowds with his performances.

Naming and Branding: A Nod to Jupiter and the Sunshine State

Named after Tiger’s hometown of Jupiter, Florida, the team has backing from TGR Ventures (Tiger Woods) and David Blitzer, a prominent investor involved with teams like the Washington Commanders (NFL) and Philadelphia 76ers (NBA).

“The Palm Flag” and “Tiger Red”

The team logo, dubbed the “Palm Flag,” blends beach and golf themes. It features a palm tree and a golf flag, with a segmented flagpole representing the three players who compete in each match. The red circle at the base symbolizes the rising sun on the horizon.

When it comes to colors, the legendary “Tiger Red” is front and center, paying homage to Tiger’s iconic Sunday attire. Complementary tones include midnight blue, sand, and sunrise red, reflecting Jupiter’s coastal charm.

Fast Facts About Jupiter Links GC

Team NameJupiter Links GC
PlayersTiger Woods, Kevin Kisner, Max Homa (USA), Tom Kim (KOR)
InvestorsTiger Woods (TGR Ventures), David Blitzer
LogoPalm Flag
Team ColorsTiger Red, Midnight Blue, Sand, Sunrise Red

Schedule

  • January 14, 2025: vs. Los Angeles Golf Club
  • January 27, 2025: vs. Boston Common Golf
  • February 18, 2025: vs. New York Golf Club
  • February 25, 2025: vs. The Bay Golf Club
  • March 4, 2025: vs. Atlanta Drive GC
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PGA Tour

Scottie Scheffler Withdraws from Season Opener

Scottie Scheffler during the third round of “The Sentry” 2024 in Maui, Hawaii. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler during the third round of “The Sentry” 2024 in Maui, Hawaii. (Image: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler misses the PGA Tour season opener in Hawaii. The 28-year-old suffered an injury to his right palm while preparing dinner on Dec. 25. Scheffler’s manager, Blake Smith, said in a statement released Friday: “On Christmas Day while preparing dinner, Scottie sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass. Small glass fragments remained in the palm which required surgery. He has been told that he should be back to 100 percent in three to four weeks. Unfortunately, he will have to withdraw from The Sentry.”

The US American will therefore not be able to compete at “The Sentry” in Hawaii, the season opener. The tournament takes place from January 2 to 5 on Maui, a Hawaiian island. The venue is the “Plantation Course at Kapalua” (par 73). Scheffler’s next planned tournament is “The American Express” from January 16 to 19, according to his manager Blake Smith.

Scottie Scheffler and his historic season

Scottie Scheffler has had a memorable 2024 season. He won seven official PGA Tour tournaments, including the US Masters and the Players Championship, where he became the first player ever to successfully defend the title. In August, he won Olympic gold and shed tears at the award ceremony afterwards. Scheffler was also successful in team competitions in 2024. With Team USA, he defeated Team International by 18 1/2 to 11 1/2 points at the Presidents Cup in Canada at the end of September.

As a logical consequence of all this success, Scheffler was voted Player of the Year on the PGA Tour (Jack Nicklaus Award) for the third time in a row. He is also the first player since Tiger Woods in 2009 to spend an entire year at the top of the world rankings.

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PGA Tour

TGL: Internationality and Team Spirit at The Bay Golf Club

The players of The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry. (Photos: Getty)
The players of The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry. (Photos: Getty)

The Bay Golf Club will start in the TGL from January 2025. The American West Coast team bears the name of the “Bay Area” around San Francisco. The main investor is Avenue Sports Fund, and NBA superstar Stephen Curry is also on board.

Marc Lasry, CEO of Avenue Capital Group, emphasized the importance of the region and the innovative focus of the team: “Avenue Sports Fund invested in The Bay Golf Club because we are excited to bring a new team and innovative game to the growing number of Golf fans regionally and nationally,” said Lasry.

TGL: Players at The Bay Golf Club

The team is characterized in particular by the internationality of its squad: With team members from Sweden, the USA, Ireland and Australia, it unites three continents.

Ludvig Åberg experienced a meteoric rise as a professional. The talented Swede turned professional in 2023 and quickly established himself on the PGA Tour. In the same year, he celebrated his first title win at the RSM Classic and successfully represented Team Europe at the Ryder Cup.

The team also has a major winner in Wyndham Clark: the American triumphed at the US Open in 2023 and added two more PGA Tour titles to his record. In 2024, he represented the USA at the Olympic Games and the Presidents Cup.

The third member of the team, Min Woo Lee, has already celebrated international success and achieved several top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. The Australian is also very active on social media and is appreciated for his humorous nature.

Shane Lowry is known for his great passion for team competitions, which he also demonstrated as part of the victorious 2023 Ryder Cup team. His victory at the Open in 2019 represents his greatest individual success. The professional from Ireland, who has been active on the international golf scene since 2009, brings a wealth of experience with him.

Behind the Scenes in the Simulator

A series of short videos published by The Bay Golf Club on Instagram give an insight into the team’s press day. You can see game scenes in the simulator, including playing from an indoor bunker and on the putting green.

 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von the smylie show (@thesmylieshow)

TGL: The Most Important Information on “The Bay Golf Club” at a Glance

Teamname The Bay Golf Club
The Four Players  Ludvig Åberg (Sweden), Wyndham Clark (USA), Min Woo Lee (Australia), Shane Lowry (Ireland)
Ownership Avenue Sports Fund with Marc Lasry, Stephen Curry
Limited Partners Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Alex Albon, Leonardo Fioravanti, Kanoa Igarashi, John Stones
Logo Landscape with three sequoias, a golf ball in the background
Team Colors Green, Turquoise

Match Dates:

  • January 7, 2025: vs. New York Golf Club
  • February 17, 2025: vs. Atlanta Drive Golf Club
  • February 17, 2025: vs. Boston Common Golf
  • February 25, 2025: vs. Florida Jupiter Links Golf Club
  • March 3, 2025: vs. Los Angeles Golf Club
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LIV Tour PGA Tour

PGA destroys LIV Golf: A showdown at Shadow Creek

The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)
The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)

It was billed as a clash of giants, but in the end the “showdown” between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour at Shadow Creek turned out to be a one-sided affair. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA Tour) gave their opponents Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (LIV Golf) no chance and showed who currently has the upper hand in professional golf.

Rory McIlroy’s: A picture-book eagle putt

Scheffler and McIlroy made it clear from the very first minute that they had arrived as favorites. Rory McIlroy, who was on top form right from the start, provided the highlight of the evening with an eagle putt over 12 meters on the fourth hole. “Rory’s start was important for our team,” said Scheffler, praising his partner. This gave the PGA stars an unassailable lead early on.

Rusty and outclassed: LIV remains without a chance

DeChambeau and Koepka, who had not competed since the end of the LIV season in September, looked visibly rusty and were unable to counter the pressure from their opponents.

The format of the match was divided into three segments: a six-hole four-ball match, a six-hole four-ball match and singles matches over the last six holes. Despite the different formats, the LIV players were not in the lead in any of the matches. In the four-ball, they were already hopelessly behind after just four holes, and Koepka also sealed the loss of points in the foursome with a three-putt bogey on the last hole.

The singles matches on the last six holes finally decided the outcome: McIlroy and Scheffler won confidently, and the match ended on the 16th hole – before the spectators even got to see the famous par-3 17th hole at Shadow Creek.

DeChambeau, who wore an oversized jacket against the chilly evening air during the match, was nevertheless combative: “I’d love to get another opportunity,” said DeChambeau. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”

Scheffler and McIlroy’s victory earned them 5 million dollars each in cryptocurrency and capped off a successful year for both players. Scheffler had previously won in the Bahamas, while McIlroy had won the European Tour final in Dubai.