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PGA Tour

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

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

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?

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

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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Panorama

Billy Horschel vs. alligator: 60-degree wedge in special use

On the first day of the Cognizant Classic in Florida, golf pro Billy Horschel had an unusual encounter with an unexpected guest – an alligator. While Horschel shot a round of 66 and fought his way to a tied 16th place, the scene on the 6th hole caused quite a stir. However, the six-time PGA Tour winner remained ice-cold and proved that he can handle not only a golf ball but also reptiles.

Billy Horschel: ‘I’m not afraid of gators’

The scene occurred when Horschel had just finished his putt on the sixth hole and was marching towards the seventh tee. Suddenly he noticed an alligator crawling slowly across the green – directly towards the crowd. A police officer who was on site tried to chase the animal away, but to no effect.

“Yeah, we were on No. 6 green and I just putted out, went to the left side of the green there. Right about to walk to 7 I saw the gator coming across,” Horschel explained. “The cop who was working with us walked over there and tried to shoo him, but he didn’t have anything to touch him and he was trying to get as close as he could. It was either someone was going to have to go up to No. 8 and grab a rake or I was 30 yards away, 25 yards away, and I just grabbed a club and went over there and pushed him away.”

60-Degree Wedge in Action

Billy Horschel, who himself played college golf for the Florida Gators, showed no fear of the reptile. With a 60-degree wedge in his hand, he approached the alligator and skilfully directed it back into the water.

“I’m not afraid of gators. Listen, as I tell most people, I said, they’re more afraid of you. The majority of the time they’re only going to come after you during mating season where they’re a little aggressive and then if you’re around their nest when they’ve got some eggs,” Horschel said. “The majority of the time, they’re fine. I grew up with my dad grabbing their tail when they’re on the side of the bank and shooing them back in the water. I never touched a tail with my hand but I’ve done it with a club. Not that big of a deal.”

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Fun Panorama

Unusual dress code: You have to play naked on this golf course

Forget dress codes and tight polo shirts! On the world’s only officially recognized naturist golf course, La Jenny, on the French Atlantic coast, things are different: here golfers swing their clubs the way God created them. In the midst of pine forests and dunes, a unique golfing experience awaits – without any clothing getting in the way, but with maximum freedom of movement.

FKK Golf: The naked madness

La Jenny is no ordinary golf course. Here, nudity is not only tolerated, but expressly encouraged – as long as the weather cooperates. The course offers six holes: three par-3s (70 to 130 meters) and three par-4s (220 to 330 meters). Beginners and experienced golfers alike will find a challenge here. But one question remains: Where to put the tee? Creativity is required – because there is no trouser pocket here!

More freedom of movement – fewer tan lines!

Without tight polo shirts or pinching belts, the golf swing feels freer than ever before. So if you’ve always wanted to hone your technique without any clothes getting in the way – here’s your chance. Another bonus: The unloved tan lines are a thing of the past. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can borrow everything from the clubhouse – from clubs to golf balls. Only clothing is not on the rental list here.

La Jenny is located in the picturesque Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and is part of a larger naturist village known for its relaxed and respectful atmosphere. Since its opening in 1993, the golf course has developed into a real highlight for nature-loving golfers. After the round, the clubhouse with its cozy lounge and spacious terrace invites you to relax. Here you can enjoy coffee, fruit juices or even French wines – in the best of company, of course, and still completely informal.

La Jenny is not the only place where nude golf can be played. At Cypress Cove Resort in Florida, there is also the opportunity to play a round on the Chip n Putt course in the nude – but there it is optional, unlike at La Jenny, where nudity is mandatory.

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Uncategorized

Golf training: Tiger Woods gives important tips for the draw

Even a superstar like Tiger Woods has to adapt with increasing age and all kinds of health problems. In a short video on GolfDigest’s X-Channel (formerly Twitter), the now 49-year-old explains how he manages a consistent draw off the tee despite dwindling mobility. Tiger achieves the right-left curve (for right-handers) by adjusting the target line and the feeling of closing the shoulders slightly compared to the target.

Watch the video for more on Tiger Woods’ draw tips

Categories
Highlights Tours

Solheim Cup 2026: Anna Nordqvist takes command for Europe

For Anna Nordqvist, the Solheim Cup is more than just a tournament – it is part of her golf DNA. In 2003, as a teenager in Sweden, she stood on the fairway and watched her first Solheim Cup live. At the time, she had just started playing golf properly. Now, more than 20 years later, she returns as captain – and thus comes full circle.

Since her debut in 2009, she has played for Europe in nine Solheim Cups and was the playing vice-captain in 2023 and 2024. Now she is taking over the helm from Suzann Pettersen and aims to lead Europe to victory at the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. “The Solheim Cup has played such a huge part in my career ever since I made my debut in 2009 in Chicago”, said Nordqvist in the tournaments’ press release. “The friendships I have made, and the memories created during the nine matches I’ve played, make it so incredibly special to be given the opportunity to be European Captain at my tenth Solheim Cup!”

The Solheim Cup is coming to Bernadus Golf

From September 7-13, 2026, Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands will be the stage for one of the biggest events in women’s golf. “It’s a superb course,” says Nordqvist. “It’s also super close to Amsterdam so I think the fans are going to have an amazing experience enjoying its rich culture and the famous warm Dutch hospitality.” After the dramatic 14-14 draw in Spain in 2023 and the defeat in Virginia in 2024, the European team is keen to get the trophy back.

A new perspective on the sport

Nordqvist has experienced a lot on and off the course. In recent years, she has had to cope with serious personal setbacks, including the sudden death of her ex-husband and health challenges. But instead of being broken by them, she has fought back time and again.

“I think my life perspective has changed a little bit like the last couple of years and you’ve just got to do things that you want to do”, she told the Sky Sports Golf podcast.

Despite her new role, she remains active on the LPGA Tour – not only for personal ambition, but also to keep a closer eye on her potential team members. “I was interested because I wanted to do this at a time in my career when I can still be out there [competing]”, Nordqvist explained. “I still know the players, the coaches, the caddies and everyone, because I wanted to be approachable.”

Nordqvist has already spoken to former captains and wants to put her own stamp on the role. “There are so many things I admire about all the different captains. I think at the end of the day, you can learn and you can try to implement things, but I think the most important is just me trying to be myself.”

Categories
Panorama

Tiger Woods and the proximity to power

The new factors in professional golf: power lust, geopolitical aspects, economic influences, elitism, plus digital fire from media people 4.0.

In this context, the news fit that Kai Trump, the US president’s ambitious niece, is now sponsored by TaylorMade with a so-called NIL contract, according to which college athletes can benefit to a certain extent from “name, image, and likeness” . The 17-year-old is a prospective student at the University of Miami and has 5.4 million followers on social media.

Meeting of Tiger Woods and Kai Trump

Only a cynic would suspect that Tiger Woods had a hand in this—after all, he has recently been very visibly and seeking proximity to power in a variety of ways, fraternizing with the Trump clique, and allowing himself to be used for their agenda in more ways than just the National Black History Month.

 
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Panorama

Next meeting with Trump: The future of golf will be decided at the White House

Prove what had to be proven: 2025 is the year in which the world’s order is being rearranged. On a large scale – politically, economically, socially – and on a small scale, in golf, for example. And everything stands and falls with the disruptor, the self-proclaimed big shot in the White House, who wants to put his stamp on everything that is of interest and useful to him on this globe. Golf, anyway. Donald Trump may not have settled the tug-of-war between the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF and the PGA Tour for an investment in the commercial venture PGA Tour Enterprises within 15 minutes, as he once boasted. But negotiations have progressed at a breathtaking pace since Agent Orange returned to the Oval Office – not least because the parties are hoping for The Donald’s diktat for the U.S. Department of Justice. Last Thursday, a delegation of the establishment was again with the president, Commissioner Jay Monahan and player representative Adam Scott, who had already been heard the other day, as well as Tiger Woods, who had been unable to attend the previous time – and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan, which was the biggest news item of the meeting.

After the hours-long meeting, the PGA Tour released the usual blah-blah statement and spoke meaninglessly of a “constructive working session”. What was significant, of course, was not only that Trump’s “leadership” was once again praised, but that Al-Rumayyan was consistently and respectfully referred to as “His Excellency”. Monahan has sounded different before, but now it is time to bow down before the new balance of power and Trump’s presidential and private economic ties with the Saudis.

The president, in turn, took advantage of Woods’ presence and celebrated a high-profile joint appearance with the 15-time major winner on the occasion of National Black History Month, which, in view of Trump’s otherwise openly displayed racism, is not without a certain irony. At a dinner for the governors of the US states the next day, the president then declared: “There is a good chance that we will make it. I think there is a very good chance.”

 
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“And there’s Trump, who lives and breathes golf and has extensive business dealings with the Tour, with LIV and with Saudi Arabia. This is his world; in a public appearance post-meeting he led a “Ti-ger” chant and showered praise on Scott (“I’ve always tried to swing like Adam, it never worked out that way”) and he would love nothing more than to be the toast of the game.” Dylan Dethier in Golf.com

However and whenever it happens, one thing is clear: the future of golf will be defined and decided in the White House – and everything points to it being decided soon. If Trump puts the brakes on the Department of Justice, the only sticking point remaining is the future and staffing of the LIV league, which Al-Rumayyan apparently wants to hold on to.

The latest rumor was spread by Rex Hoggard from the “Golf Channel”. He claims to have learned from a LIV’ler that professionals from the rival circuit will be allowed to compete in the Players Championship (March 11-16) on the PGA Tour, of all things at their flagship event. However, the fact that the LIV event in Singapore is scheduled for that weekend speaks against this.