McIlroy mania in Melbourne, Scheffler goes blue in the Bahamas, new TGL holes, and Korda tops women’s golf earnings. The Back Nine.
What if? Just a week ago, we reflected on the dramatic slump of 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year Cam Smith, who had missed seven consecutive cuts. But at the Crown Australian Open, the LIV golfer bounced back with a runner-up finish at the iconic Royal Melbourne, proving his critics wrong. The 32-year-old still has it. And if it weren’t for that fatal bogey on the par-4 18th, who knows if Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen might have cracked under playoff pressure. But the Dane was spared the extra holes as Smith missed a five-foot par putt, carded another closing bogey, and fell one shot short of a title he’s never won but dearly wants alongside the majors.
Understandably, the local hero wasn’t in the mood to celebrate a tournament where he finally showed form again and declined to comment. Neergaard-Petersen stepped in with praise: “He’s a class guy, and it was great to be out there with him today.”
McIlroy praises the Australian Open
All’s well that ends well: Rory McIlroy made peace with Royal Melbourne, despite blind shots and a banana peel incident. With birdies on the final two holes, he shot 69 to finish T14 in his first return to Australia in 11 years. “It was a great week. Melbourne is a fantastic sports city. What happened here and what was shown on TV surely made an impression in Europe and the U.S. This tournament has huge potential and is regaining the importance it deserves,” said the five-time major champion, who was celebrated like a rockstar by over 100,000 fans — a true McIlroy-mania that likely justified every dollar of his appearance fee.
PGA Tour 2027: Rolapp and Woods brief players
Next steps: PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp and board member Tiger Woods met with the 20 players at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas to discuss potential structural changes starting in 2027. Harris English had already mentioned a reduced schedule of 20–22 Signature Events post-Super Bowl. Woods, also chair of the Future Competitions Committee, emphasized the importance of involving players after consulting fans, sponsors, media, and tournament directors. He floated the idea of a full overhaul or gradual changes, aiming to create a more fan-friendly, recognizable product — though not everyone agrees. One thing is clear: top players would benefit financially from such restructuring.
Scottie Scheffler debuts blue driver
New gear: At the Hero World Challenge, Scottie Scheffler debuted TaylorMade’s new Qi4D driver, joining Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood. While McIlroy uses a light gray face and Fleetwood a dark gray, Scheffler went with a bold blue version at 8 degrees loft. The results? Impressive — averaging 293 meters off the tee and hitting 84% of fairways.