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Rory McIlroy Secures Early Spot for 2025 Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy has become the first player to qualify for Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black. The Northern Irishman will celebrate his eighth consecutive appearance and will once again play a key role under captain Luke Donald. With four wins this season and an impressive Ryder Cup track record, McIlroy underscores his importance to Europe.

Rory McIlroy: The Hard Road to Qualification

Rory McIlroy secured his Ryder Cup spot early through outstanding performances on the PGA Tour. Thanks to the European Points List system, which ranks players based on DP World Tour and co-sanctioned event results – he quickly rose to the top. His four season victories, including his Masters triumph at Augusta, made him the undisputed number one. For McIlroy, this qualification confirms not just his consistency but also his unwavering class at the highest level.

The Ryder Cup: A Special Challenge

For Rory McIlroy, an eighth Ryder Cup appearance represents both a special honor and a significant responsibility. As the team’s most experienced player under captain Luke Donald, he’ll take a leadership role at Bethpage Black. The course’s demanding architecture and the away-game atmosphere present one of golf’s toughest challenges.

McIlroy’s record speaks for itself: Five wins in seven appearances demonstrate his reliability in this event. Whether in Foursomes, Fourballs, or Singles, he consistently delivers under pressure. But his value extends beyond play – as a bridge between veterans and rookies, he strengthens team cohesion and assists Donald with tactical decisions. This combination of competitive excellence and leadership makes McIlroy indispensable for Europe’s New York campaign.

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US Open 2025: Golf’s Richest Major Maintains Record Purse

Despite no increase to the overall prize fund, the US Open once again cements its status as the most lucrative of the four majors. The USGA confirmed that the 2025 edition at Oakmont carried a total purse of $21.5 million—matching last year’s figure, but still outpacing The Masters, The Open, and the PGA Championship.

With his dramatic victory sealed by a 20-meter birdie putt on the 72nd hole, JJ Spaun takes home a winner’s check of $4.3 million—equaling the sum Bryson DeChambeau earned for his triumph at Los Angeles Country Club in 2024.

While other majors have made incremental moves to boost their prize money, the US Open’s benchmark-setting purse continues to make it the financial pinnacle of major championship golf.

The Prize Money at the US Open 2025

Ranking Player Score Price Money
1 J.J. Spaun -1 $4,300,000
2 Robert MacIntyre +1 $2,322,000
3 Viktor Hovland +2 $1,459,284
T4 Cameron Young +3 $1,023,014
T4 Tyrrell Hatton +3 $1,023,014
T4 Carlos Ortiz +3 $1,023,014
T7 Jon Rahm +4 $681,131
T7 Scottie Scheffler +4 $681,131
T7 San Burns +4 $681,131
T10 Ben Griffin +5 $507,118
T10 Russell Henley +5 $507,118
T12 Xander Schauffele +6 $427,901
T12 Brooks Koepka +6 $427,901
T12 Chris Kirk +6 $427,901
T12 Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6 $427,901
T12 Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson +6 $427,901
T12 Thirston Lawrence +6 $427,901
T12 Adam Scott +6 $427,901
T19 Rory McIlroy +7 $267,054
T19 Ryan Fox +7 $267,054
T19 Victor Perez +7 $267,054
T19 Emiliano Grillo +7 $267,054
T23 Collin Morikawa +8 $204,515
T23 Patrick Reed +8 $204,515
T23 Jordan Spieth +8 $204,515
T23 Thomas Detry +8 $204,515
T23 Jason Day +8 $204,515
T23 Sam Stevens +8 $204,515
T23 Matt Wallace +8 $204,515
T23 Max Greyserman +8 $204,515
T23 Nick Taylor +8 $204,515
T23 Chris Gotterup +8 $204,515
T33 Tom Kim +9 $121,567
T33 Aaron Rai +9 $121,567
T33 J.T. Poston +9 $121,567
T33 Keegan Bradley +9 $121,567
37 Maverick McNealy +10 $101,379
T38 Taylor Pendrith +11 $96,991
T38 Tony Finau +11 $96,991
T38 Matt Fitzpatrick +11 $96,991
T38 Marc Leishman +11 $96,991
T42 Hideki Matsuyama +12 $79,436
T42 Andrew Novak +12 $79,436
T42 Si Woo Kim +12 $79,436
T42 Trevor Cone +12 $79,436
T46 Niklas Norgaard +13 $62,320
T46 Daniel Berger +13 $62,320
T46 Rasmus Hojgaard +13 $62,320
T46 Jhonattan Vegas +13 $62,320
T50 Ryan McCormick +14 $50,251
T50 Michael Kim +14 $50,251
T50 Adam Schenk +14 $50,251
T50 Mackenzie Hughes +14 $50,251
T50 Ryan Gerard +14 $50,251
T55 Justin Hastings +15 $46,081
T55 Laurie Canter +15 $46,081
T57 Sungjae Kim +16 $45,203
T57 Denny McCarthy +16 $45,203
T59 Harris English +18 $44,326
T59 Brian Harman +18 $44,326
T61 Jordan Smith +19 $43,448
T61 Johnny Keefer +19 $43,448
T61 James Nicholas +19 $43,448
T64 Cam Davis +22 $42,131
T64 Matthieu Pavon +22 $42,131
66 Philip Barbaree Jr. +24 $41,254
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Highlights Tours

US Open 2025: JJ Spaun Wins US Open with 20-Meter Putt

The final day of the US Open 2025 was filled with high drama. Oakmont showed its teeth, causing the leaders to stumble and bringing unexpected contenders back into play, like JJ Spaun. Although he started the final round in second place, he was five over par after just six holes, and most had already written him off. But then came a rain delay that changed everything.

JJ Spaun Wins US Open 2025 with Incredible Back Nine

After the weather delay, Spaun returned with a monster putt on hole 12, sinking a 12-meter birdie and turning his round around. He had another birdie chance on 13, missed it, but capitalized with a great approach on 14. While his competitors were struggling to create birdie opportunities, Spaun bounced back from a bogey and reached the 17th with an eagle chance – he had birdied the hole in every previous round. He didn’t make the five-meter eagle putt, but a birdie was enough to take sole possession of the lead ahead of Robert MacIntyre, who was already in the clubhouse. On 18, all Spaun needed to do was play it safe – get on the green and two-putt to avoid a Monday playoff. But Spaun didn’t want to win his first major title by playing it safe. He drained a 20-meter putt for birdie to claim his first major in spectacular fashion. JJ Spaun wins the US Open 2025 at one under par in just his second appearance at the tournament.

 
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“I thought it was a good thing having the delay,” the newly crowned champion said after the round. “It happened to me at the Players earlier this year where I was kind of struggling on the front nine. I had the lead going into Sunday, and we had a four-hour delay, I think. I ended up turning that round into a nice fight where I got myself into the playoff.”

He continued. “All I was thinking was – and even my whole team, my coach, my caddie, they were like, Oh, dude, this is exactly what we need. And it was. We went back out and capitalized on kind of — I changed my outfit. I’m like, I’m done wearing those clothes. I just needed to reset everything, kind of like start the whole routine over.”

Robert MacIntyre Finishes Second Despite Poor Start

Robert MacIntyre began the day seven shots off the lead, so the idea that he could win seemed far-fetched. “Obviously it didn’t get off to the best of starts,” he said.

“I was 2-over through 3 and then holed a lovely putt on 4, par-5 for eagle. That kind of settled me down. That got me into somewhat of a groove and back in the golf tournament.”

Then the back nine was just all about fighting. Obviously the rain delay. My previous rain delay comebacks haven’t been strong. Today was a day that I said to myself, Why not? Why not it be me today? When I was going round, and I just trusted myself, trusted my caddie Mike, trusted all the work that I’ve done, and we’re sitting here in the clubhouse nicely and just wait and see.”

He followed that up with a flawless back nine, carding two birdies to secure solo second place. And although you’d think the Scottish player would be used to this kind of weather, he says of himself that he’s “a fair-weather golfer now that I moved to the PGA Tour.”

While those two soared, Sam Burns and Adam Scott crashed. Between them, they shot a combined 17 over par on the final day, despite holding the lead early on.

Sam Burns in particular was a hot favorite at the start of the round, sitting at four under par. He lost three strokes on the front nine but still held the lead, even extending it to two shots with a birdie on 10. But then the momentum shifted, hard. A double bogey on 11 meant no player was under par anymore, and after a bogey on 12, Burns was tied with Adam Scott, opening the door for a dramatic showdown over the final nine holes. At that point, six players were within two shots, including Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland. Burns’ next double bogey on the 15th, after finding the bunker, effectively took him out of the title race.

Adam Scott fared no better after the rain delay. Following a bogey on 8, he played the back nine in six over par, including a double bogey on 16, where he struggled with the thick rough. Scott dropped to a tie for 12th, while Burns finished tied for 7th.

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Uncategorized

Rory McIlroy at the US Open 2025: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do”

The third round of the US Open 2025 was disappointing for Rory McIlroy. With a round of 74, the Northern Irishman dropped back to tied 49th place. Although he faced the press after the round, his statements showed visible frustration, not only with his game, but also in his dealings with the media.

US Open 2025: A tired Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was brief after his round on Saturday: He described his US Open in two words – “pretty average” – and when asked if he hadn’t hoped for more, he replied tersely “I was hoping to play better, but I didn’t.” To a certain extent, he puts this down to his Masters victory. After that he had run out of steam a little and was struggling with a lack of motivation. According to him, however, the new driver was responsible for this week’s performance.

He only just made the cut on Friday – thanks to a late birdie finish – but that didn’t seem to bother him much: “Yeah, it’s funny, like it’s much easier being on the cut line when you don’t really care if you’re here for the weekend or not.” However, he made it clear that he wasn’t enjoying the tournament: McIlroy said he was most looking forward to “hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here.”

Rory McIlroy distances himself from the press

McIlroy is also reserved in his dealings with the media. After his Masters victory, he frequently turned down press inquiries, including at the US Open. One of the reasons for this was a leaked driver test at the PGA Championship in which his club failed. McIlroy emphasized that this should have remained confidential. He explained that he was frustrated by the media landscape and did not feel obliged to give interviews. “ I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do”, he said.

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Highlights Tours

US Open 2025: Wyndham Clark destroys locker room after missing the cut

The Oakmont Country Club once again proves to be a merciless test at the 2025 US Open. Only a handful of players are managing to stay under par on the historic par-70 course – and defending champion Wyndham Clark is not among them. After two disappointing rounds of 74 (+8), the American missed the cut and was eliminated from the tournament on Friday.

According to a post by Tron Carter on X, Clark let his frustration boil over after the second round and damaged several lockers in the player area. Photos from inside the clubhouse show broken locker doors and torn panels, reportedly caused by kicks or punches. The USGA confirmed to U.S. media that the incident is under investigation. A fine or further sanctions are possible.

Clark faced heavy criticism on social media for his outburst. While frustration after an early major exit may be understandable, repeated misconduct on the big stage raises serious questions.

Wyndham Clark: US Open outburst not his first incident

Clark had already made headlines earlier this year during the 2025 PGA Championship. In the final round, he angrily hurled his driver into a sponsor board after a poor tee shot – all caught on live television.

Shortly afterward, Clark showed remorse and posted a public apology on Instagram, describing his behavior as “immature and disrespectful.”

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Tee Times for the 2025 US Open

The final day at Oakmont Country Club promises high tension – as the US Open 2025 enters the decisive round with a tight leaderboard. Sam Burns leads Adam Scott by one stroke and the duo will form the final flight on Sunday evening. Directly in front: J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland, both only just behind. Scottie Scheffler starts at 7:04 pm together with Nick Taylor, Rory McIlroy starts at 3:36 pm with Andrew Novak.

US Open 2025 – Round 4 Tee Times

Tee Teetime Player 1 Player 2
11:52 pm Cam Davis
12:03 pm Matthieu Pavon Jordan Smith
12:14 pm Hideki Matsuyama Harris English
12:25 pm Ryan McCormick Taylor Pendrith
12:36 pm Johnny Keefer Michael Kim
12:47 pm James Nicholas Brian Harman
12:58 pm Philip Barbaree Sungjae Im
13:14 pm Niklas Norgaard Denny McCarthy
13:25 pm Daniel Berger Tony Finau
13:36 pm Rory McIlroy Andrew Novak
13:47 pm Adam Schenk Mackenzie Hughes
13:58 pm Justin Hastings (a) Matt Fitzpatrick
14:09 pm Collin Morikawa Rasmus Højgaard
14:20 pm Ryan Fox Corey Conners
14:36 pm Patrick Reed Laurie Canter
14:47 pm Jon Rahm Tom Kim
14:58 pm Maverick McNealy Xander Schauffele
15:09 pm Si Woo Kim Jhonattan Vegas
15:20 pm Aaron Rai Trevor Cone
15:31 pm Jordan Spieth J.T. Poston
15:42 pm Brooks Koepka Thomas Detry
15:58 pm Jason Day Chris Kirk
16:09 pm Keegan Bradley Sam Stevens
16:20 pm Matt Wallace Ryan Gerard
16:31 pm Ben Griffin Victor Perez
16:42 pm Russell Henley Emiliano Grillo
16:53 pm Max Greyserman Christiaan Bezuidenhout
17:04 pm Nick Taylor Scottie Scheffler
17:20 pm Chris Gotterup Marc Leishman
17:31 pm Cameron Young Robert MacIntyre
17:42 pm Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen Thriston Lawrence
17:53 pm Tyrrell Hatton Carlos Ortiz
18:04 pm Viktor Hovland J.J. Spaun
18:15 pm Adam Scott Sam Burns
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Highlights Tours

US Open 2025: Rory McIlroy and the Rules of Golf for the Pros

At the US Open 2025, it’s not just the narrow fairways and lightning-fast greens that make the pros sweat and think—it’s also the ditches. Yes, ditches. Dry, rather unremarkable, and yet officially part of the course, they come into play on six holes. And they prove that knowing the rules is not just for officials. Rory McIlroy knew that well when, during the US Open 2025 at Oakmont, he sent his drive into one of the notorious ditches on the 9th hole. They may look harmless, but these ditches are considered red penalty areas.

Golf Rule Education at the US Open 2025: Rory Shows How It’s Done

The USGA and The R&A lay it out clearly in Rule 17.1: If your ball ends up in a red penalty area, you have options. Play it as it lies, take stroke-and-distance relief, drop back on the line, or take lateral relief. After his errant tee shot, McIlroy opted for what many amateurs often do—but few pros execute so coolly: lateral relief, thank you Rule 17.1d(3). Two club-lengths from the entry point into the penalty area, no closer to the hole, and one penalty stroke. Rule-compliant and smart, because in Oakmont, “playing it as it lies” often means: playing it where it really shouldn’t be. And just to round it out, the USGA provided a handy explainer video on X.

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Patrick Reed Makes History with Albatross at the US Open 2025

The 4th hole at Oakmont isn’t typically the scene of fireworks — unless your name is Patrick Reed. At the 2025 U.S. Open, the Texan reached for his fairway wood on the 621-yard par-5, unleashed a second shot from 286 yards, and found the bottom of the cup. Albatross.

The gallery erupted before Reed even knew what had happened — the shot was blind, the green out of sight. Only the roar of the crowd told him he’d just made a little piece of golf history.

US Open 2025: Albatrosses Are Rare – Especially at Oakmont

Oakmont Country Club is synonymous with punishment. It’s a course that doesn’t give — it takes. Sub-par rounds are minor miracles. And yet, amid the 2025 edition of the championship, one of the rarest shots in golf made its surprise appearance. Albatrosses — scoring three under par on a single hole — are golf’s equivalent of lightning strikes: incredibly rare, and nearly always unforgettable.

Reed’s shot marked only the fourth albatross in U.S. Open history. Before him, only T.C. Chen (1985), Shaun Micheel (2010), and Nick Watney (2012) had managed it. But none at Oakmont — the course that has hosted the U.S. Open more than any other in history.

By the time Reed reached the green, the ball had already vanished into the hole. It was a surreal moment: a searching player, a celebrating crowd, and the scoreboard confirming the impossible — a “2” on a par-5.

Turning Point in a Grinding Round

Before the 4th, Reed’s round had little spark. A bogey on the 2nd, a string of steady pars — then came the fireworks. The albatross catapulted him from +1 to -2 in a single stroke, an instant shift in momentum on a course where most players were struggling to break par. On average, Oakmont was playing more than five strokes over par, even under ideal conditions.

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US Open 2025: Disappointing Round for Bryson DeChambeau & Rory McIlroy

The first round of the US Open 2025 brought a sobering start for Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy began strongly with two birdies but was dragged down by four bogeys and a double bogey. DeChambeau struggled with a total of five bogeys. Both demonstrate how challenging the course is.

US Open 2025: Rory McIlroy’s strong start turns to disappointment

Rory McIlroy began his round at the US Open 2025 on the tenth hole and delivered an impressive opening. On the eleventh hole, he secured a well-earned birdie with a precise shot, followed by another strong moment on the twelfth, where he confidently sank the ball. These early successes raised hopes for a promising round. However, starting at the first hole, his momentum began to fade. A bogey on the first hole marked the initial setback, and he couldn’t avoid another bogey on the fourth. This trend continued with two more bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes. The low point came on the eighth hole, where he recorded a double bogey due to several poor chips. These mistakes dragged his overall score to +4, leaving him in a provisional tie for 62nd place at the end of his round.

Bryson DeChambeau battles the course

Bryson DeChambeau began his round at the US Open 2025 on the first hole and immediately faced a bogey on the par-four, setting a sobering tone. He secured a birdie on the third hole, but uncertainties persisted. Another birdie followed on the seventh, but it couldn’t solidify his momentum. The famous eighth hole, a 265-meter par-three, DeChambeau played to expectations with a par. On the twelfth hole, disaster struck: after two shots, he was behind the green on the 618 yard par-five and needed four more shots to hole out. His sixth shot was an eight-meter chip-in. Another bogey came on the thirteenth, followed by his fourth on the fourteenth. A fifth bogey on the eighteenth rounded out his opening. His score of +3 places him in a provisional tie for 49th.

Spaun surprises with lightning start

While big names like McIlroy, Scheffler, and DeChambeau are struggling, J.J. Spaun quietly climbs to the top of the leaderboard. The American gets off to a perfect start at the 2025 U.S. Open. No bogeys, four birdies – a round of 66 that almost feels surreal on this day. He’s also the only player in the early wave to remain bogey-free. Especially strong on Thursday: his short game. On the 10th, he chips in directly for birdie, and later he sinks multiple putts from beyond six feet. He shoots a 31 on his first nine holes – the best opening nine ever recorded at a U.S. Open held at Oakmont. And on the more difficult front nine, Spaun plays all holes at par – a rare balancing act on this course.

Spaun is benefitting from a short game tune-up he got just on Monday with a new coach. It seems to be paying off – he gains nearly four strokes on the field with his putting alone. The reward: the outright lead after round one.

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Panorama

Dustin Johnson drops glamorous pre-U.S. Open photos that are turning heads

Prominent LIV Golf star Dustin Johnson is turning heads with newly released glamorous photos featuring his wife Paulina Gretzky, just weeks before the prestigious 2025 U.S. Open. The Instagram-published images showcase the power couple in sophisticated poses, offering rare glimpses into the 40-year-old’s private life. Since joining LIV Golf, Johnson’s career pivot has sparked ongoing debate in the golf world. This article examines the latest developments, the couple’s background, and tournament expectations at Oakmont – including embedded social media posts.

Spotlight on Dustin Johnson: Glamour Before the U.S. Open

Dustin Johnson is making headlines before the 2025 U.S. Open – and this time, it’s not just about his powerful LIV Tour swing. The new images with wife Paulina Gretzky, posted to her 1M+-follower Instagram account, capture the couple in elegant settings. These photos may signal a deliberate pre-tournament attention strategy. While Johnson remains renowned for his monster drives and two Major victories, these off-course glamour shots could either amplify pressure or fuel his motivation. With Oakmont’s treacherous bunkers awaiting at the U.S. Open, the images are generating extra hype.

The Relationship of Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky

The relationship between Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky has been a highlight in the golf community for years. The couple first met in 2009, began dating in 2013, and celebrated their wedding in 2022 after a nearly decade-long engagement. Gretzky, daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, brings both glamour and strong support to the LIV Golf star. She regularly attends his tournaments and celebrated victories like his 2020 Masters win by his side. Together they have two sons, providing the family-oriented Johnson with a stable foundation.