PGA Tour Tee Times: Patrick Rodgers is set to tee off at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. (Photo: Getty)
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, the penultimate event in the PGA Tour’s Fall Series, is just around the corner. Set on the challenging par-71 layout of the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, this tournament offers a prize purse of $6.9 million, drawing top golf professionals from around the globe. Colombian star Camilo Villegas returns as the defending champion, hoping to replicate his victory amidst strong international competition.
Coverage on Sky kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with broadcasts beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
PGA Tour Tee Times of American Players
In the first round, Patrick Rodgers is set to play alongside South Korea’s Seung-Yul Noh and fellow American Justin Lower, beginning their opening round at 07:00, with their second round scheduled for 11:30.
Vincent Whaley will tee off with Scotland’s Martin Laird and Jacob Bridgeman from the USA, starting at 07:11 for their first round, followed by an 11:41 start for their second.
Dylan Wu joins Sweden’s Henrik Norlander and Samuel Stevens from the USA for an initial tee time of 07:22, with their second round at 11:52.
Peter Malnati will play with Canada’s Nick Taylor and Chun-an Yu from Taiwan, beginning their first round at 07:33, and their second at 12:03.
Lastly, Lucas Glover tees off alongside fellow American Brendon Todd and Colombia’s Nicolas Echavarria. Their opening round is at 07:44, followed by a second round at 12:14.
Emilio Gonzalez violated the rules of golf at the 2024 World Wide Technology Championship. (Source: Getty)
At the World Wide Technology Championship, which took place from 7 to 10 November on the El Cardonal at Diamante golf course, Emilio Gonzalez from Mexico was disqualified after his second round due to ‘serious misconduct’.
According to golf.com, Gonzalez hit his first ball into a desert area on hole 15 on Friday and then played a provisional ball. He began searching for the first ball, and within three minutes a ball was found in the area in question. However, Gonzalez did not identify it and instead continued to play with the provisional ball. This behaviour violated Rule 18.3c (3), which states:
‘If the provisional ball has not become the ball in play and a ball is found that might be the original ball, the player must make all reasonable efforts to identify that ball. If the player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player under Rule 1.2a if it decides that this was serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game.’
As Gonzalez had not made a ‘reasonable effort’ to identify his ball, according to the rules officer, he was disqualified.
Rules of golf: The found ball must be identified
The rules also state that the player may ask his teammates not to look for the original ball. However, they are not obliged to honour this request. If a ball is found, the player must identify it immediately (Rule 18.2a (1)). If the ball found is the original ball, it is in play and must be continued. The provisional ball is now considered to be the wrong ball and may no longer be played. According to Rule 6.3c, playing the wrong ball leads to the basic penalty of two strokes and must be corrected immediately, otherwise the player is disqualified.
John Daly of the USA holds the Claret Jug after the British Open at St Andrews Golf Club in Fife, Scotland. Daly won the event with a score of 282. (Photo: Jon Cuban / Allsport / Getty)
A good deal? Golden Age Auctions is currently auctioning off the replica of the Claret Jug that John Daly received for winning the 1995 Open Championship in St Andrews. According to the auction house, Daly sold his trophy to Golden Age back in 2015. The auction will run until 17 November and the highest bid for the silver jug is currently just under 80,000 dollars. If similar auctions are used for comparison, the sum is likely to rise dramatically over the next few days: In July of this year, an unknown bidder bought the replica of Gary Player’s third Open success at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1974 for a whopping 481,068 dollars. (Written by Michael Basche)
Scottish actor Sean Connery, best known as Secret Agent 007 in the James Bond films, sets off for a game of golf. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone/Getty Images)
Sean Connery was the archetypal James Bond. The Scottish ‘007’ actor, who died in 2020, delivered one of, if not the most legendary golf scenes in cinema history in his duel with Gert Fröbe in ‘Goldfinger’. And Connery, who was a keen golfer himself and played almost every day after the end of his acting career, also provided the perfect answer to the question of why the game fascinates us all so much in this interview published just last week. In a nutshell: golf captivates you and is an addiction. The game reveals our character. It has dignity, it is inexhaustible and as unfair as life. And it’s easy to cheat – but you only ever penalise yourself in the process. And you have to live with the knowledge of it. (Written by Michael Basche)
Nelly Korda at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Last weekend, Sports Illustrated announced that world number one golfer Nelly Korda will appear in the 2025 Swimsuit Issue. The 26-year-old is the first athlete confirmed for this year’s issue and the first LPGA player to appear in the Swimsuit Issue since Natalie Gulbis in 2012. The first photos from the shoot were released on Thursday and show Korda in a confident and stylish look – a fitting presentation for the six-time LPGA winner of the 2024 season.
Nelly Korda shines with a confident look
🏌🏼♀️👱🏻♀️👙 #LOOK — Sports Illustrated Swimsuit just dropped this photo of world #1 @NellyKorda’s recent shoot 😲@NellyLegion
The published photos of the shoot, which Sports Illustrated shared on Instagram, showcase Korda in style. Further insights have now been published on the Sports Illustrated website, providing a look behind the scenes of the shoot.
A year full of highlights
The Swimsuit Issue announcement is another highlight in Korda’s year of athletic and public success. After winning six tournaments this season, including the first LPGA Major of the year, the Chevron Championship in April, she recently secured the LPGA’s Rolex Player of the Year award. However, she missed the tour’s Asian swing due to a minor neck injury, but was recently cleared to return to practice. Korda is expected to compete in the Annika Invitational at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, from November 14-17. It will be her first start since tying for 5th place at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September.
With the shoot for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Korda is also expanding her presence off the golf course. Back in May, she caused a attention at the Met Gala in New York when she became the first LPGA player to take part in this exclusive event. She is thus following in the footsteps of golfing legends such as Tiger Woods, who had previously attended the gala.
Bryan Kopsick, Ben Silverman's caddie, reveals how much money he makes. (Photo: Getty)
The prize money in golf has risen rapidly, especially in recent years. Provided they are successful, golfers win millions in winnings. But they don’t earn them alone: they are always accompanied by their caddies, who are also entitled to a share of the winnings. As a rule, the caddies are entitled to a fixed share of the prize money: ten per cent if they win, seven per cent for the top 10 and five per cent if they make the cut. Bryan Kopsick, PGA Tour caddie, has now revealed what he earned and what he spent last season.
This is how the caddie’s earnings are made up
Bryan Kopsick works as a caddie for Ben Silverman, a 36-year-old Canadian who is coming off his best season on the PGA Tour and is ranked 110th in the money list with earnings of more than $1.2 million. On X (formerly Twitter) he wrote: ‘How much are PGA Tour caddies paid?’ His calculation includes Silverman’s earnings, which amount to 1,262,599 US dollars from 24 events played. According to his calculation, he is entitled to eight per cent of the prize money per event, which in this case is 101,007.92 US dollars. In addition, he earns 2,000 US dollars per event. His total income is therefore 149,007.92 US dollars. He adds: ‘This does not include sponsorships/off course income OR travel expenses.’
How much are PGA Tour caddies paid?
Ben’s 2024 earnings – $1,262,599
Events played – 24
$1,262,599 x .08 = $101,007.92
24 events x $2,000 = $48,000.00
Total on course earnings $149,007.92
This does not include sponsorship/off course income OR travel expenses
The fact that Kopsick is not paid according to the 5/7/10 per cent rule is due to the fact that Ben Silverman is a ‘great guy’. At the end of the day, it is up to the players what they want to pay their caddies. However, he has to deduct around 50,000 US dollars in travelling and professional expenses from the approximately 150,000 US dollars. In turn, he can add income that he generates through sponsorship. However, there is no exact figure here.
‘We don’t do it for the money’
Kopsick also admits that the figures mentioned are from a very good year. In previous years, Silverman was still at home on the Korn Ferry Tour and had far lower profits (2021 – 74,890 US dollars, 2022 – 23,936 US dollars, 2023 – 522,828 US dollars). The shares Kopsick was entitled to can be easily calculated based on his presentation above: Significantly lower earnings.
If he worked on a first-class golf course, he could also earn up to 100,000 US dollars. However, if the conditions here are not ideal, it would quickly remain at 40,000 to 60,000 US dollars. The caddie also argues: ‘It’s hard, but we don’t do it for the money. It’s extremely rewarding to try and help someone succeed at what they’re truly good at.’ He also says he has ‘the coolest job in the world’ and can eat ice cream the night before a competition despite his job in sport.
Pierce Brosnan (2 on the left) and his fellow actors pay a visit to Golfclub Feldafing. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)
Feldafing Golf Club on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria (Germany) played host to a number of high-profile guests: Pierce Brosnan visited the golf club on 1 November to take a break from his current film shoot in Munich. The film actor and producer has made a prestigious name for himself in Hollywood over the past few decades and caused quite a stir at the Bavarian golf club. Brosnan has been playing golf since he was a child: his handicap is estimated at 5.
Pierce Brosnan: A rare visit to Feldafing Golf Club
Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actor, born on 16 May 1953, who became known worldwide for his role as James Bond in the films of the 1990s and early 2000s, in which he impressed as an elegant and charismatic secret agent. In addition to Bond, he also starred in the musical film ‘Mamma Mia!’, where he showed his musical side. Brosnan is also a producer and is actively involved in environmental and human rights projects. His versatility and charisma make him a perennial star in the film industry.
Graduation the Bavarian way
The 71-year-old is currently in Germany for a new film production, as the Feldafing Golf Club reported on Instagram: ‘Brosnan teed off punctually at 10:30 a.m. with three fellow actors in bright sunshine and pleasant autumn temperatures.’ Brosnan enjoyed his time out on the golf course: ‘The actor was delighted with our golf course and praised its excellent condition, especially at this time of year.’ He will not have been surprised that the film star would not remain completely incognito: ‘After the round of golf, some members of the golf club had the opportunity to take photos with the likeable and charismatic actor.’
Pierce Brosnan with the juniors of the Feldafing Golf Club. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)
His day off was rounded off with a typical Bavarian dish, as the golf club revealed: ‘The former James Bond actor was looking forward to a culinary speciality after his day of golf: a delicious Wiener Schnitzel. In a brief conversation after the game, Brosnan revealed that he can only rarely enjoy this delicacy at home as his wife is a vegetarian.’
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Decision on the ninth extra hole
More excitement is not possible. After 18 holes on the final day of the DP World Tour tournament, it goes into extra time at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. After accompanying John Rahm for several holes on the round at the final of the tournament, I place myself directly behind the 18th green. Less than five metres apart from it, I experience unique and unforgettable golfing moments with a permanent view of the winner’s trophy.
Tension on the 18th hole and volunteer for a single moment (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Neither of the two players takes a risk, but hopes for a mistake by his opponent. The two switch back and forth between the 18th and 17th hole and offer us spectators a finale that is unrivaled in its crackling tension.
In the end, the 39-year-old Frenchman is the luckier one, finally celebrating his first DP World Tour tournament victory after many years and taking home the coveted trophy. Nine pars in a row are enough for his victory in extra time.
Tour Scramble as the format of the invitational tournament
I was particularly impressed by the pros’ shots into the lightning-fast greens and their putts. The following day, I have the pleasure of getting to know them myself as part of an invitational tournament. We start early in the morning and enjoy the special atmosphere that prevails on the course at this time of day. The dew on the tee boxes and fairways lends it a mystical atmosphere against the rising sun.
The early bird catches the worm (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
In the chosen format, only birdies are scored, taking into account the individual HCP. So scoring is not easy.
But for me, it’s not primarily the score that counts, but the unique experience of being able to play on this extremely well-kept world-class course under competitive conditions. It is ranked number two in Spain and number nine in continental Europe. That has its price. If you get the opportunity to tee off at the private club, you have to pay € 400,- for the green fee.
The course, designed by Robert Trent Jones more than 50 years ago, completely captivates me. The routing through the partly extremely hilly, partly flat terrain fascinates me just as much as the old trees and the huge palm trees.
The fairways are like walking on carpet. The state of maintenance cannot be surpassed. The greens are extremely fast and the putts seem never-ending, but they stay on track. This experience alone makes the round unique. The shots over the water and into the partly elevated greens also have their own special charm.
Impressive layout of the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Sunshine galore and fantastic golf courses
The sun shines more than 300 days a year in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. This makes it Spain’s leader among the regions with the most hours of sunshine, ahead of the Canary Islands and the Balearics. Due to its more than 70 golf courses, this stretch of coast is also known as the Costa del Golf.
Unobtrusive luxury
Sotogrande is the largest privately owned residence in Andalusia. It is located in the municipality of San Roque in Cádiz and extends over an area of 20 square kilometres from the Mediterranean 25 km east of Gibraltar to the foothills of the Sierra Almenara.
The community was founded 62 years ago by the Philippine-born visionary Joseph McMicking. As one of the most prestigious residential residences in Europe, today it offers exclusivity and privacy at its finest. Maintaining the rich Andalusian culture, it embodies a charm of elegance and luxury. Security is also a top priority.
Sotogrande is divided into four areas: Alto, Marina, Costa and La Reserva. A total of around 7,000 people currently live here. New properties are being built in La Reserva alone. Some of the properties currently available for purchase are located in the exclusive Village Verde apartment complex, some of which are still under construction. It interprets itself as a unique lifestyle location with perfect integration into the natural surroundings.
Trendy lifestyle oasis
The top hotel in the region is the SO/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort, which opened in 2021. Sotogrande’s only five-star hotel is located at the westernmost point of the Costa del Sol. It is part of the French Accor SO/Hotels & Resorts Group, the largest hotel group in the world. From here, we can reach the region’s top golf courses in a short time.
The hotel is located on a hillside, secluded and in complete tranquillity. It is surrounded by the southern Spanish landscape, characterized by cork oak forests and pine groves. It offers views to the sea in the distance, the gardens and the Almenara golf course.
A former cortijo in new splendour (photos SO/ Sotogrande and Juergen Linnenbuerger (right))
Avant-garde in a refreshing design
Natural colours and extravagant, bold shapes characterize the style of Spanish designer Dolores Cortes, who is responsible for the interior. It runs through the entire hotel, whose lightness and playfulness catch the eye as soon as you enter the lobby.
Hotel lobby and restaurant SoCiety (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
These attributes continue throughout the hotel complex and apply to every area of the former cortijo, a Spanish farmhouse. Conviviality, joie de vivre, wellness and indulgence are the top priorities and are met with a high-quality offering.
The management places particular emphasis on a sustainable and contemporary Andalusian lifestyle. With a simple white exterior, the shady arcades, manicured gardens and harmonious color palette in the interior areas and rooms contribute to a good mood from the very first moment. Everything is spacious and generously laid out.
152 stylishly designed rooms and studios as well as 36 spacious suites are arranged in terraces around the pool and restaurant areas. My 34 square meter modern SO Comfy King double room, has, like most of the rooms, its own balcony. Others have a terrace. I sleep heavenly in the comfortable bed.
In the 2,800 sqm Spa & Wellness Club Sotogrande, guests can relax in the sauna or in the indoor pool, work out 24/7 in the gym on state-of-the-art equipment or be pampered in the health and wellness centre.
Families with children are just as welcome at the resort as golfers. The SO/KIDS Club is the perfect place for the little ones. They can splash around happily in the family pool without disturbing any adults. The separate adults-only pool is available to them.
Adults-only pool (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The hotel also knows how to impress with its delicious food. This starts with the superb breakfast in the SoCiety Club House or on its terrace. The Cortijo Santa Maria 1962, located on the upper floor of the main building, and the IXO tapas bar below it impress with tasty snacks, light lunch menus and modern interpretations of traditional Andalusian dishes.
The service throughout the hotel is extremely professional, attentive and friendly.
An evening at the Trocadero Sotogrande, a beach club and restaurant located directly on the beach with a fantastic view of the Rock of Gibraltar, are a feast for the palate. The Patatas Bravas are the best I have ever had. We share the huge snapper with four people and savor every bite of the fresh catch. Alternatively, you can spend the end of the day at KE Sotogrande, one of the trendiest restaurants in Sotogrande Marina. We love the typical Andalusian dishes and can’t get enough of the famous Jamôn Ibérico.
From the hotel directly onto the golf course
The Almenara golf course is located directly on the SO/Sotogande Hotel grounds. It was designed by the British golf course architect Dave Thomas and redesigned by the legendary Spanish player Manuel Piñero. It is one of the most extensive on the Costa del Sol and borders Los Alcornocales NaturalPark. Its clubhouse towers over the tee of the first hole.
Pro shop and terrace (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Its paths run through the very hilly terrain in complete tranquillity. They are surrounded by mature trees. Two large lakes provide the golfing and visual highlights. It is fair, fun to play and allows for a good score. The green fee for hotel guests for 18 holes in the low season is € 100 including buggy.
Varied holes at the Almenara Golf Club (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The club’s latest project is the Almenara Golf Academy, which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in April 2025. It will include a 9-hole par 3 course, a driving range with grass tees, a trop tracer, a putting green and chipping area as well as a pro zone with practice holes. A halfway bar, a fitting centre and a floodlight facility will round off the golf offer perfectly and set a new benchmark for training opportunities in the region.
Elite courses in the immediate neighborhood
The resort offers various attractive stay and play packages, which also include playing, besides Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, other top Spanish golf courses in the neighborhood. These include Spain’s golf flagship, Real Golf Club Valderrama and La Reserva Club. This the youngest but longest of the Championship courses in Sotogrande.
The very hilly course was founded in 2003. Our round there leads uphill and downhill through two idyllic valleys, surrounded by dense, old trees. It has been the venue for European Tour Tournaments since 2014.
The layout is impressive. The fairways are wide, its greens are large, extremely fast and well protected by large bunkers. Their white sand shines in the sun. Water also comes into play.
The clubhouse in the style of a hacienda sits enthroned at the highest point of the course behind the 18th green. The green fee including buggy costs from € 250 in the low season, depending on the season and course utilization.
(View on the La Reserva Golf Club (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
After a round of golf, you can relax in the avant-garde The Beach, which is located directly below the clubhouse. An artificial lagoon with a beach for families, a separate garden with an adults-only pool and a lake for water sports are just as much a part of it as a restaurant.
Here, too, we encounter the finest lifestyle: Sotogrande leaves nothing to be desired.
The World Wide Technology Championship is set to take place at the El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico. Part of the PGA Tour, this tournament offers a $7.2 million prize purse with Erik van Rooyen as the reigning champion. The course has a par of 72.
Martin Laird, representing Scotland, will tee off in the opening round at 06:30 alongside David Skinns from England and Carl Yuan from China. Their second round is scheduled for 11:05. Luke Donald, hailing from England, begins his first round at 07:36 with Troy Merritt from the USA and Seung-Yul Noh from South Korea. In the second round, they will start at 112:11. Ben Taylor, another player from England, starts his first round at 07:47 accompanied by Vincent Whaley from the USA and Brandon Wu from the USA. Their second round is set for 12:22. Danny Willett from England begins his tournament at 11:05 along with Tim Wilkinson from New Zealand and Rico Hoey from the USA. Their morning round is scheduled for 06:30 the next day. Harry Hall, also from England, tees off at 11:38 with Cameron Young from the USA and Austin Eckroat also from the USA for the first round. Their second round tees off at 07:03.
Matt Kuchar at the World Wide Technology Championship. (Photo: Getty)
The World Wide Technology Championship is set to take place at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico. This tournament on the PGA Tour features a par-72 course and offers a prize purse of $7.2 million. The current titleholder is Erik van Rooyen.
PGA Tour Tee Times of American Players
Matt Kuchar will start alongside Luke List and Ryan Brehm, both from the USA. Their first round is scheduled for 07:14, followed by the next round at 11:49. Hayden Springer, paired with South Africans Garrick Higgo and Chandler Phillips from the USA, tees off at 06:30, with the second round at 11:05. Joseph Bramlett, alongside fellow Americans Josh Teater and Zac Blair, begins his tournament at 06:41, with a follow-up round at 11:16. Kevin Tway will be accompanied by Sam Ryder and Pierceson Coody, both from the USA. Their opening round is at 06:52, and they will continue at 11:27. Chez Reavie teams up with J.J. Spaun and Adam Schenk, all from the USA, with their initial tee time at 07:03, followed by a second round at 11:38.
