Stephan Jäger’s frustration during the Rocket Classic led to repeated strikes at the tee box, causing widespread outrage in the golf community.
Category: PGA Tour
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa has ended his relationship with his caddie Joe Greiner ahead of the 2025 Rocket Classic. This marks the second caddie change this season for the 28-year-old American, who is still searching for the perfect partnership on the golf course. The separation came as a surprise, as Greiner had only been at Morikawa’s side since May 2025 and had accompanied him to the last five tournaments, in each of which Morikawa made the cut.
Collin Morikawa’s caddie break-up: What’s behind it?
Greiner, who previously worked for Max Homa and briefly for Justin Thomas, was Morikawa’s choice after parting ways with J.J. Jakovac in April 2025. With Jakovac, who had been with Morikawa since his professional debut, the Californian won six tournaments on the PGA Tour, including the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. But Morikawa was looking for a fresh start when he parted ways with Jakovac in April. Greiner was supposed to fill that void, but after just five tournaments, including a shared 17th place at the Truist Championship and a 42nd place at the Travelers Championship, Morikawa decided to make another change.
A never-ending search process?
Daniel Rapaport from Sports Illustrated described Morikawa’s caddie search as “endless”, which underlines the challenges the player will have to overcome this season. Morikawa himself emphasized that the chemistry between player and caddie is crucial: “Just because two people are great at what they do doesn’t mean we’re going to be great together,” For the Rocket Classic, KK Limbhasut, a former college teammate of Morikawa, will serve as a substitute caddie. Limbhasut, who plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, is only a temporary solution, however, as Morikawa is still looking for a long-term partner. Morikawa himself remains optimistic: “It’s a process that I’m going through,” he said. “We’ll find out when the time comes and I will let everyone know.”
The role of the caddie is of central importance on the PGA Tour. He not only helps with strategy on the course, but is also a psychological anchor. Morikawa’s performances in recent months, including a shared 50th place at the PGA Championship and a 23rd place at the US Open, show that he remains competitive despite the changes, but lacks consistency. Parting ways with Greiner could be an attempt to restore that consistency.
Reactions and outlook
The caddie change caused a new dispute between Collin Morikawa and the media. In a press conference before the Rocket Classic, Morikawa expressed his frustration with the coverage of his caddie change. A reporter from Golfweek, Adam Schupak, had published an article that he said criticized Morikawa and “made him sound bad” for not responding to questions about the caddie change during a pro-am event. Morikawa defended himself: “Those guys [his pro-am partners] are paying a lot of money, they’re very important to the community, they’re very important to the Rocket Classic.”
Morikawa had recently clashed with the golf media when he denied interviews after rounds and insisted he doesn’t “owe anyone anything” to the media in response to subsequent criticism.
The PGA Tour is undergoing a major leadership transition: Brian Rolapp, a seasoned executive from the National Football League (NFL), has been named the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will oversee operations for both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises. Current Commissioner Jay Monahan will gradually transfer responsibilities to Rolapp and remain in office through the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth handover. This move comes at a pivotal moment for the Tour, which faces challenges such as media rights negotiations and ongoing competition from the LIV Golf League.
Brian Rolapp Appointed PGA Tour CEO: A Visionary Leader
Rolapp brings over two decades of experience from the NFL, where he most recently served as Chief Media and Business Officer, shaping the league’s media and business strategy. Under his leadership, the NFL secured multi-billion-dollar media deals with partners such as ESPN, Amazon, and Netflix, generating more than $10 billion in annual revenue. His expertise in launching the digital platform NFL+ could prove especially influential for the PGA Tour, which is aiming to expand its digital footprint through platforms like PGA Tour Live. “I’m a passionate golfer and a fan of the PGA Tour,” Rolapp stated in an open letter. He also emphasized his commitment to fully understanding the complexities of professional golf in order to represent the interests of players, sponsors, and fans alike.
Jay Monahan’s Role During the Transition
Jay Monahan, who has served as PGA Tour Commissioner since 2017, has been at the center of attention in recent years—particularly due to his involvement in the controversial negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which finances the LIV Golf League. Although a framework agreement was announced in June 2023, a final deal has yet to be completed. Going forward, Monahan will focus on strategic duties as a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board and the PGA Tour Enterprises Board. “Brian Rolapp is the ideal choice for the next chapter of the PGA Tour,” Monahan said, noting that Rolapp’s experience would be critical in stabilizing the Tour and unlocking new revenue opportunities during a time of significant change.
The CEO Search: Tiger Woods Played a Key Role
Rolapp was unanimously selected by a search committee that included Monahan, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott. “Brian’s appointment is a win for players, fans, and partners,” Woods said in a statement. As one of the Tour’s most influential figures, Woods praised Rolapp’s respect for the game and his fresh perspective. The PGA Tour faces several strategic priorities: its current media rights deals, which expire in 2030, will need to be renegotiated, and the integration of the Strategic Sports Group (SSG)—which has invested $1.5 billion—requires clear direction. Rolapp’s track record with the NFL suggests he is well-equipped to tackle these issues with vision and resolve.
Under Rolapp’s leadership, the Tour could strengthen its global presence through new media partnerships and digital innovation. His experience in monetizing sports rights may also help grow the Tour’s current annual revenue, which stands at approximately $2.3 billion. At the same time, he must carefully balance modernization with the sport’s rich traditions to maintain its loyal fan base. Close collaboration with Monahan during the transition phase will be essential to ensure continuity.
Almost the entire elite of the PGA Tour will be competing in this week’s Memorial Tournament presented by Workday in Muirfield Village. However, one particularly prominent name is missing from the list of participants: Rory McIlroy has opted out of the signature event organized by Jack Nicklaus. The tournament host is surprised that McIlroy did not inform him in advance, but does not hold it against the Northern Irishman.
Jack Nicklaus: “It’s just his call”
Rory McIlroy recently realigned his tournament calendar: Less focus on the USA, but more starts at national Open tournaments around the globe. As he has committed to the Canadian Open next week, followed by the US Open, McIlroy is taking a break from the Memorial Tournament. It is already the third signature event of the season that he has skipped. Instead, he has played a number of tournaments with a rather weaker field of participants, giving them additional attention and is now making more international appearances.
Jack Nicklaus, host of the Memorial Tournament, self-confessed Rory fan and long-time supporter of the Northern Irishman, only found out about his withdrawal in the middle of last week. As he admitted at the pre-tournament press conference, he was a little caught off guard by the news: ““Yeah, it surprised me,” Nicklaus said. “But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call.”
Even though Nicklaus would have been delighted to welcome McIlroy to Muirfield Village, he was understanding: “I don’t hold anything against Rory for that. He did what he likes to play. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a U.S. Open. And so he, that’s what he’s doing. So, you know, I really don’t have a comment on it. It’s very difficult, very difficult. I mean, I’m a big Rory fan, I always have been. I’m sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.”
Of course, the headline is provocative, and there is certainly no question of a team mode, a franchise concept or even poaching established golfing greats. But the fact that Saudi Arabia is casting covetous glances at women’s golf was already hinted at by its former calorifier Greg Norman during his time in office. Now Riyadh has manifested this interest and donated a Global Series to the European Ladies Tour (LET), initially with five events in five countries, financed and supported by the sovereign wealth fund PIF. In return, the Aramco Team Series has been dropped or renamed.
The PIF Global Series is organized and hosted by the LET, four of the five tournaments are endowed with two million dollars, plus the PIF Saudi Ladies International with a pot of five million dollars. Attentive observers of the women’s golf scene will have noticed that the first two competitions have already taken place: In February, Jeeno Thitikul won 675,000 dollars at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and last weekend Korean Hyo Joo Kim celebrated a home victory in Seoul. Other venues include the Centurion Club near London (August 8-10), Houston (September 5-7) and Mission Hills in Shenzen, China (November 6-8).
As in the LIV Golf League, the PIF Global Series also has a team and an individual ranking, and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan is sticking to his vision of team golf. The captains are named based on the world rankings and can then put together their teams. Europe’s figurehead Charley Hull is naturally delighted – and not just because the Englishwoman is an ambassador for Saudi Golf anyway. In view of the generally low prize money at the LET, such multi-million dollar commitments are more than welcome. “Golf Saudi and PIF have shown themselves to be true trailblazers for women’s golf and have once again demonstrated their commitment to equal opportunities,” said Hull. Who would have thought that the Saudis would be talked about like this?
The PGA Championship 2025 promises one of the strongest fields of the year and now two more LIV Golf players have joined. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and Spain’s David Puig have received late invitations to the major at Quail Hollow, increasing LIV’s presence amid ongoing debates about world ranking points and qualification criteria.
PGA Championship: Golf’s Deepest Major Field?
The PGA Championship is renowned for its inclusivity. While the Masters maintains strict entry limits, the PGA of America traditionally invites nearly all top-100 players, unless they qualify otherwise. Since LIV events offer no world ranking points, stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka rely on past major wins or special exemptions. Others, such as Joaquín Niemann, depend on invitations despite consistent LIV performances.
Tom McKibbin: Northern Ireland’s Rising LIV Star
Tom McKibbin could have played on the PGA Tour after securing his card via a strong 18th-place finish in the 2024 DP World Tour Race to Dubai. Despite warnings from Rory McIlroy, the 22-year-old joined LIV Golf, where he now plays for Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII.
Currently ranked 115th in the world, which is too low for automatic PGA Championship qualification, McKibbin’s steady LIV performances, including a team win in LIV’s season opener in Saudi Arabia, convinced the PGA of America to extend an invite. Legion XIII confirmed his participation via social media on Tuesday.
David Puig: Spain’s Bold College-to-LIV Prospect
David Puig jumped straight from college to LIV Golf. The 23-year-old sits 20th in LIV’s individual standings and recently impressed with a T4 at the Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour.
Yet Puig’s world ranking slipped to 107th, typically insufficient for PGA Championship entry. Like McKibbin, he earned a late invitation, a golden opportunity to compete against golf’s elite and chase crucial ranking points.
LIV Stars at the PGA Championship
Beyond McKibbin and Puig, marquee LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith will tee off at Quail Hollow. These major champions remain world-class despite LIV’s ranking-points drought.
All eyes are on DeChambeau as a potential contender, while veterans like Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed add experience. Rising talents like Niemann, Dean Burmester, and Eugenio Chacarra round out the field. Even Richard Bland, Laurie Canter, and McKibbin underscore LIV’s depth. For all, the PGA Championship is a chance to chase glory and global legitimacy.
LIV’s World Ranking Dilemma
The PGA Championship highlights LIV players’ qualification hurdles. Without ranking points on their tour, majors and sporadic DP World/Asian Tour starts are their only paths to climb the standings.
Niemann secured a U.S. Open spot via LIV’s performance, aided by a new rule granting starts to three top unqualified LIV players. For McKibbin and Puig, Quail Hollow offers a critical opportunity to play their way up the rankings.
The Truist Championship, part of the PGA Tour, takes place at The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. With a par of 70, the event offers a $20 million prize pool. Reigning champion Rory McIlroy will defend his title.
PGA Tour Tee Times for UK Players at Truist Championship
Robert MacIntyre, hailing from Scotland, will join the field for the Truist Championship. MacIntyre begins Round 1 on Thursday at 11:20 AM alongside Davis Thompson from the USA and Denny McCarthy, also of the USA. For Round 2 on Friday, this group will tee off at 12:26 PM.
Aaron Rai, representing England, will start his Truist Championship campaign on Thursday at 11:53 AM. He partners with Austin Eckroat from the USA and Will Zalatoris, also of the USA. In the second round, Rai and his fellow players have a start time of 12:59 PM.
Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, the defending champion, is set to play in the company of Tommy Fleetwood from England and Justin Thomas from the USA. Their first-round tee time is 12:26 PM on Thursday, while for the second round, they will commence at 11:20 AM on Friday.
Justin Rose, another English golfer, shares his tee time with Shane Lowry from Ireland and Keegan Bradley from the USA. They begin Round 1 at 12:26 PM on Thursday and their second-round start is set for 11:20 AM on Friday.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, representing England, will tackle the first round at 12:59 PM. Alongside him are Thomas Detry from Belgium and Christiaan Bezuidenhout from South Africa. On Friday, Round 2 for this group is scheduled to begin at 11:53 AM.
| Player Name | Nationality | Round | Tee Time | Flight Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert MacIntyre | Scotland | 1 | 11:20 AM | Davis Thompson, USA; Denny McCarthy, USA |
| Aaron Rai | England | 1 | 11:53 AM | Austin Eckroat, USA; Will Zalatoris, USA |
| Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | 1 | 12:26 PM | Tommy Fleetwood, England; Justin Thomas, USA |
| Justin Rose | England | 1 | 12:26 PM | Shane Lowry, Ireland; Keegan Bradley, USA |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | England | 1 | 12:59 PM | Thomas Detry, Belgium; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa |
| Robert MacIntyre | Scotland | 2 | 12:26 PM | Davis Thompson, USA; Denny McCarthy, USA |
| Aaron Rai | England | 2 | 12:59 PM | Austin Eckroat, USA; Will Zalatoris, USA |
| Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | 2 | 11:20 AM | Tommy Fleetwood, England; Justin Thomas, USA |
| Justin Rose | England | 2 | 11:20 AM | Shane Lowry, Ireland; Keegan Bradley, USA |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | England | 2 | 11:53 AM | Thomas Detry, Belgium; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa |
Royal Portrush is set to make history once again. The R&A announced that it expects a staggering 278,000 fans to descend on the famed links this July for the 153rd Open Championship — a figure that would make it one of the most attended Opens of all time.
The turnout will mark the largest sporting event ever staged in Northern Ireland, with an estimated economic impact of £213 million. Ticket demand has been unprecedented, with over one million applications submitted. Only the 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022 — which drew 290,000 spectators — has attracted a larger crowd.
Lowry and McIlroy Set for Homecoming Battle
Portrush last hosted The Open in 2019, when Shane Lowry thrilled the home crowds with a commanding six-shot victory, drawing a then-record 237,750 fans over four days. Six years later, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch as Lowry prepares for a potential showdown with fellow fan favorite Rory McIlroy — fresh off his long-awaited Masters triumph and the favorite to capture more major glory in 2025.
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For most of his career, Wesley Bryan has been as comfortable in front of a camera as he is over a wedge shot. Trick shots, Tour wins, YouTube content — he’s built a name straddling the line between entertainer and elite athlete. But now, the PGA Tour veteran finds himself at the center of a different kind of story: one where the future of golf collides head-on with its rules of the past.
The PGA Tour suspended Bryan following his appearance at “The Duels: Miami,” a LIV Golf-adjacent creator event. The response? A 3-minute YouTube video, shot from a golf cart, layered with gratitude, introspection, and an unmistakable undercurrent of defiance.
“It’s Been an Emotional Rollercoaster”
In the video, Bryan isn’t teeing off or goofing around with influencers. He’s seated quietly in a golf cart, speaking directly to his audience — not as a content creator, not as a PGA Tour player, but as someone genuinely trying to make sense of where golf is headed.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” he admits early in the video. The PGA Tour had suspended him for playing in an event connected to LIV — without securing a mandatory release. But instead of firing back, Bryan starts with something unexpected: gratitude.
He thanks the Tour. For the tournaments. For the platform. For the eight years of opportunities. It’s a tone that’s disarming — reflective rather than reactive. There’s no hint of rage. Only a desire to explain.
YouTube, LIV, and a Grey Area in the Rulebook
To understand the controversy, it helps to understand the event. “The Duels: Miami” wasn’t a traditional tournament. It wasn’t sanctioned, it wasn’t ranked, and it wasn’t played for a seven-figure purse. It was a content shoot — part challenge, part entertainment — streamed on YouTube, not broadcast on national television.
Bryan played alongside YouTubers and major champions alike, all of it captured on Grant Horvat’s channel. The problem? The PGA Tour’s policy requires players to seek permission before appearing in non-Tour events, particularly those linked to LIV Golf. Bryan didn’t — because, as he sees it, it wasn’t a competitive event at all.
For Bryan, YouTube isn’t a hobby. It’s a career lane that has grown up alongside his Tour life — one he’s cultivated for over a decade. It’s also part of a larger shift in golf, where Gen Z fans are just as likely to follow Grant Horvat or Rick Shiels as they are to tune into CBS on a Sunday.
“The Rule Was Not Meant To Cover Content Creation On Youtube”
Bryan makes it clear: this isn’t about defiance. It’s about definitions. He respects the PGA Tour, and he’s not looking to blow up the rulebook — but he is questioning whether the rules have kept up with the game.
“I want to be clear. I do respect the authorities that are in place at the tour, but because of the ambiguity and the rules and regulations that were written I do, a as a member of the PGA Tour, have a right to appeal their decision,” he says. “I don’t feel like when the rule was written, that it was meant to cover content creation on YouTube, I feel like it was meant to cover organized professional high-level golf events. And with that being said, I plan on carrying out my right to appeal.”
So, he’s appealing. Not to win an argument, but to seek clarity — for himself, for other content creators in golf, and for the next generation of players who might find themselves walking the same line between entertainment and elite sport.
What happens next will likely be decided behind closed doors. But the bigger question — how golf defines itself in the digital age — is one that’s far from settled.
Watch the full video here:
A small mistake with big consequences: At the Corales Puntacana Championship, a breach of the rules was Ben Crane’s undoing. After making a mistake at the PGA Tour event, he disqualified himself.
On hole 8 of the third round in the Dominican Republic, the ball supposedly landed in the water after the tee shot. Crane then played a second ball from the tee, which came to rest near the penalty area. Once there, however, the American found two balls. His first ball had not landed in the water but hit the rocks and bounced back onto the course. Crane made a mistake in identifying the ball and inadvertently continued to play his first ball. As the second ball was already in play, this was illegal. It was not until the following hole that Crane discovered scratches on his ball caused by the impact with the rocks and realized his mistake.
Rules of golf: Wrong ball played
The Rules of Golf state that, as a rule, a hole must be played with one ball from start to finish. Rule 6.3b states: “If the player’s original ball has not been found and the player put another ball in play to take stroke-and-distance relief or as allowed under a Rule that applies when it is known or virtually certain what happened to the ball: The player must continue playing with the substituted ball, and the player must not play the original ball even if it is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time.”
If a player continues to play with the original ball, this is regarded as playing the wrong ball. According to Rule 6.3c(1), a player is obliged to correct a mistake before teeing off on the next hole. It states: “If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.”
Disqualified myself today here is why. pic.twitter.com/i26Gxv8d80
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) April 19, 2025
Ben Crane addressed the public after the incident via his X account and described the situation from his perspective. He explained how the mistake came about and why he decided to take the consequences in the form of self-disqualification. His honest account and the decision to hold himself accountable were widely appreciated in the golf community.