Category: PGA Tour

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Jäger and Straka kick off with the world leaders

The PGA Tour tee times (Photos: Getty).
The PGA Tour tee times (Photos: Getty).

The Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 on the PGA Tour will take place from March 6 to March 9 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, enters the tournament as the defending champion, facing a star-studded field that includes nine of the world’s top ten players. As one of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, the tournament features a $20 million prize purse, with the winner earning $4 million and 700 FedEx Cup points. German-speaking golf fans will have their eyes on Stephan Jäger and Sepp Straka, who are both in the field.

Alongside Scheffler, other top stars in action include Rory McIlroy, a former API champion, Xander Schauffele, returning from a rib injury, and Ludvig Åberg, the recent Genesis Invitational winner.

PGA Tour Round 1 Tee Times

Ludvig Åberg from Sweden begins his first round at 3:00 PM CET, alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler.

Stephan Jäger from Germany tees off at 6:00 PM CET, playing with Corey Conners from Canada.

Sepp Straka from Austria starts his round at 6:35 PM CET, alongside Tony Finau from the USA.

Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland and Shane Lowry from Ireland follow at 7:00 PM CET.

Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas, both from the USA, begin their round at 7:10 PM CET.

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PGA Tour

LIV golfer qualifies for PGA Tour

Laurie Canter plays on the PGA Tour next week (Photo: Getty).
Laurie Canter plays on the PGA Tour next week (Photo: Getty).

For the first time, a former LIV golfer will participate in a regular PGA Tour event: Laurie Canter has qualified for The Players Championship and will tee off next week at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

The 35-year-old Englishman finished in second place at last week’s Investec South African Open after losing in a playoff against South African Dylan Naidoo. This result pushed Canter into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), allowing him to participate in the tournament. Canter will be the first LIV Golf player to compete in a regular PGA Tour event that is not a major.

Laurie Canter was an active member of the LIV Golf League during its first three seasons. In 2022, he joined as a founding member of Cleeks GC and played a significant role in the league’s first year. In 2023, he was a reserve player before participating in the first two LIV events in Mexico and Mayakoba in 2024. However, he has not played for LIV Golf since February 2024.

Start spot secured at the Players Championship on the PGA Tour

Thanks to his second-place finish in South Africa, Canter has qualified for The Players Championship, which will take place from March 14-17, 2024. The tournament is considered one of the most prestigious in the golf calendar and is often referred to as the “fifth major.” The PGA Tour invites the top 50 players from the OWGR to this event. Since it has been more than a year since he last played for LIV Golf, his eligibility for the PGA Tour has been reinstated, allowing him to compete in Florida. The PGA Tour prohibits non-members from participating until a year after their last LIV appearance.

In recent months, Canter has established himself on the DP World Tour. In addition to his victory in Bahrain and third place in Dubai, he finished the past season with six Top-25 finishes, including a win at the European Open in June.

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PGA Tour

Tiger Woods: Still No PGA Tour Start – When Will He Return?

Tiger Woods during his last PGA Tour appearance at the PNC Championship. (Source: Getty)

The field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hill is packed with top players, but Tiger Woods is not among them. He will not be teeing it up at the high-profile tournament in Bay Hill this week.

No Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Earlier this year, Woods stated his intention to compete more frequently in major tournaments. Ahead of the Masters, he planned to play multiple events and expressed confidence in his physical condition. However, his last appearance on Tour was in December at the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie Woods. His most recent individual start came eight months ago at the British Open.

At the recent Genesis Invitational, a Signature Event where Woods serves as tournament host, he withdrew from the field following the passing of his mother, Kultida.

Woods at the Seminole Pro-Member Tournament

On Monday, March 3, Woods will compete in the Seminole Pro-Member tournament in Florida. The exclusive event is traditionally held without TV coverage or detailed reporting. The format is best ball, and Woods will once again team up with former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.

The field features several notable names. Rory McIlroy is playing alongside his father, Gerry, while Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Nelly Korda are also in the lineup. NFL legend Tom Brady is among the high-profile participants.

TGL Return but Unclear PGA Tour Schedule

Beyond his individual schedule, Woods remains active in TGL. He missed his last match with Jupiter Links GC but is set to return on Tuesday for the team’s final regular-season matchup against Atlanta Drive GC. His next PGA Tour start remains uncertain. Many expect him to play at next week’s Players Championship, but there has been no official confirmation.

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PGA Tour

From Prison to The Open: Former Inmate Qualifies for Major

Ryan Peake secures victory in New Zealand and books his spot at The Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

In 2019, Ryan Peake walked out of prison after serving a five-year sentence. Just six years later, he is preparing to tee it up in one of golf’s most prestigious championships. With his victory at the New Zealand Open, part of the PGA Tour of Australasia, Peake secured a spot in The Open 2025 at Royal Portrush.

Golf Career After Five Years in Prison

Peake’s journey is unlike any other in professional golf. Once a promising amateur, he was sentenced to prison for assault at 21 while also being involved with the outlaw motorcycle gang “Rebels.” His connection to the sport was nearly severed—until his former coach, Ritchie Smith, reached out while Peake was still incarcerated. Smith encouraged him to return to golf after his release, and Peake committed fully to rebuilding his career.

This season, he earned his first tour card and immediately made an impact by winning in New Zealand. Since the tournament is part of The Open Qualifying Series, his victory secured him a place at Royal Portrush in July 2025.

Peake’s participation in the event was uncertain even before he teed off. Due to his criminal record, he was initially denied entry into New Zealand, only arriving at the tournament site, Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown, on the Tuesday of tournament week. Despite the late arrival, he settled quickly. Starting the final round four shots behind the leader, he kept his scorecard bogey-free. On the 18th green, he faced a decisive putt from just over two meters—and holed it, avoiding a playoff against three tied runners-up.

Peake: “I’ve Just Changed My Life”

“I’ve just changed my life,” Peake said after securing his biggest career victory. “This is what I do. I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I’m just out here playing golf.”

Peake emphasized the role his support system played in his comeback. “My coach, my family, my team, everyone believed. Most of all, I believed as well.”

With his win, Peake not only secured a place in The Open but also earned $112,000 and full status on the Asian Tour, ensuring more opportunities to test his game at the highest level.

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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.