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Bryson DeChambeau set to win The Masters?

Bryson DeChambeau set to win the Masters? (Photo: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau set to win the Masters? (Photo: Getty)

Numbers don’t lie: statisticians have calculated the average age of Masters winners since 2014 and come up with the following figures: 31 years old, ranked 9.4 in the world rankings, eight appearances at Augusta National Golf Club before winning the Green Jacket. Well, that all points to Bryson DeChambeau, who is currently number 10 in the OWGR and is making his ninth appearance at Augusta this year at the age of 31. The outcome of the 89th Masters seems therefore certain – Rory McIlroy will once again fail to win the first major of the year, which would also make him a career Grand Slam winner.

 
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DeChambeau is already looking forward to the garden party in Georgia, he has made his peace with the course, which he once disrespectfully demoted to a par-67 course and paid bitterly for it. The golfing world, on the other hand, is looking forward to BDC, who – not least thanks to his social media presence and YouTube activities – is currently probably the most popular player in professional golf.

And not least because of interludes like this one: During the second round of the LIV event in Adelaide, DeChambeau hit the ball into the bushes, on the par-5 13th at the Grange Golf Club and lost his bearings a little. What to do? Quite simple: the 31-year-old simply boarded the balcony of a house on the edge of the fairway – much to the amazement of the residents.

 
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Text: Michael Basche

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OWGR: Jon Rahm out of Top 50

(Foto: Getty)
(Foto: Getty)

The Genesis Invitational caused some movement in the top 10 of the world rankings. At the top of the world golf rankings, Scottie Scheffler unsurprisingly remains in first place, followed by Xander Schauffele in second, while Rory McIlroy missed out on catching up with Schauffele thanks to a mediocre weekend performance. Ludvig Aberg’s win sees him move up from 6th to 4th place, while Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama both drop one place as a result. Places 7 to 10 include Wyndham Clark, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Thomas, who improved from 11th to 9th with a top finish at Torrey Pines, and Tommy Fleetwood, who moved up from 12th to the top 10. Thomas is back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since the spring of 2023.

Further down, Jon Rahm drops out of the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time since 2017. Since his switch to LIV in December 2023, he has missed out on quite a few world ranking points and is ranked 52nd this week. Interestingly, team-mate Hatton, who switched at a similar time, is still successfully holding his own in the top 10 thanks to his excellent record on the DP World Tour, including two victories.

See the complete Official World Golf Ranking here

How the OWGR works

The World Golf Ranking lists all professional golfers who have collected world ranking points. It refers to the last two years. Points collected more than two years ago expire at the end of the corresponding calendar week. The player who has the best points average in relation to the number of tournaments played is at the top of the world golf ranking list and not necessarily the player who has collected the most points in absolute terms (points collected: number of tournaments played). The maximum number of tournaments included in the World Golf Ranking is 52. If a player plays more in the relevant scoring period, the last 52 results are counted. The minimum divisor is 40. How many points are awarded for the World Golf Ranking for a tournament depends on the strength of the field taking part.

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Panorama

The Tough Reality Behind the Dream of the PGA Tour

Golf professional and coach Alex Romo breaks down the financial reality of mini tour golf in a social media video. (Source: Instagram @alexromogolf)

The road to the PGA Tour is paved with talent, dedication, and financial risk. For many aspiring professionals, mini tours provide a proving ground, but as Alex Romo recently highlighted, they come with a steep price—and no guarantees.

$2,500 Upfront – and No Promises

Reaching the PGA Tour is a long and costly journey. Most players start on mini tours—small, regional circuits designed to give professionals competitive experience. Unlike the PGA Tour, however, these events offer no guaranteed income. Players pay entry fees, cover travel expenses, and hope to play well enough to turn a profit.

Golf professional Alex Romo recently shared the financial breakdown of a week on the Asher Tour: a $1,350 entry fee, $600 for accommodations, $280 for gas, $60 for golf balls, and $200 for food. That totals roughly $2,500 before hitting a single shot.

For players who fail to make the cut, the financial loss is immediate. There are no appearance fees, no safety nets—just the reality of professional golf at an unforgiving level.

Breaking Even Requires Elite Play

Even for those who make the cut, turning a profit is far from guaranteed. At the event Romo analyzed, tournament winner Michael Feagles finished at 16-under par over three rounds, earning $20,000. A strong payday, but the numbers below him tell a different story.

To break even, a player needed to finish at least seventh, which required shooting 10-under par. Romo pointed out that a scratch golfer—typically considered elite at the amateur level—would average around 75 on this course. To contend, a player needed to perform at the level of a +6.3 handicap, just shy of Scottie Scheffler’s +7.5.

On the PGA Tour, that kind of golf is worth millions. On a mini tour, finishing seventh merely covers expenses. Those who barely made the cut but finished near the bottom saw little return. The last-place finisher after the cut earned just $600—well below the $2,500 needed to break even.

No Clear Path to the PGA Tour

Unlike the Korn Ferry Tour or international development tours, mini tours do not offer Official World Golf Ranking points or direct promotion pathways. Instead, they serve as testing grounds—players who consistently perform well may attract sponsor interest or receive exemptions into higher-level events. But success on a mini tour does not guarantee a PGA Tour opportunity.

For Romo, this particular event ended with a missed cut by three strokes. His 72.5 scoring average translated to a +2.5 handicap—a strong showing on a demanding course. But without making the cut, there was no prize money. And without prize money, the $2,500 investment became just another expense in the pursuit of a bigger dream.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: Patrick Reed’s Hole-in-One Sends Adelaide into a Frenzy

Patrick Reed aces the 12th hole at LIV Golf Adelaide. (Photo: Getty)

It took less than half an hour for LIV Golf Adelaide to serve up its first unforgettable moment in the first round. Former Masters champion Patrick Reed stood on the iconic 12th hole at The Grange Golf Club—dubbed the “Watering Hole.” A short par 3, framed by a sea of revelers primed for fireworks. And then came the shot: The ball landed, rolled, and disappeared into the cup. The already frenzied grandstand erupted. Beer cups flew skyward, rained down onto the fairway and green, and Reed, arms thrust in triumph, basked in the chaos. A hole-in-one on this stage? A guaranteed spectacle.

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Reed’s Shot Causes LIV Golf Frenzy

Reed’s start had been anything but remarkable. Opening his round on the 11th in LIV’s shotgun format, he stumbled out of the gate with a bogey. But the 12th hole, a par-3, flipped the script. A crisp strike, an ideal ball flight, a clean landing—and just like that, the ball disappeared.

An Ace for an Ace(s)

If there’s a hole built for these moments, it’s the 12th. Chase Koepka’s ace here in 2023 set the precedent, and Reed’s effort only added to the lore. As his ball vanished, the crowd detonated in celebration. Drinks took flight, cups littered the green, and Reed soaked in the moment, grinning ear to ear. Northern Ireland’s commentator David Feherty summed it up dryly: “Well, that didn’t take long.” The atmosphere rivaled the electric 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, known for producing golf’s biggest party moments.

First-Round Takeaways

Despite the magic moment, Reed couldn’t sustain the momentum, finishing the day at one-over par. Meanwhile, Sam Horsfield surged to the top of the leaderboard, carding six birdies for a six-under-par round.

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Panorama

TaylorMade and Dustin Johnson: Parting ways after 18 years

Unusual picture: At the LIV Golf opening event, Dustin Johnson is seen without his TaylorMade cap - the first time in 18 years. (Photo: Getty)
Unusual picture: At the LIV Golf opening event, Dustin Johnson is seen without his TaylorMade cap - the first time in 18 years. (Photo: Getty)

For nearly two decades, Dustin Johnson and TaylorMade were inseparable. But after 18 years, their partnership has come to an end, and the two-time major champion is now without an official equipment deal, as confirmed by Golf.com.

From Rookie to Brand Icon

When Dustin Johnson turned professional in 2007, he immediately trusted TaylorMade. With their clubs, he secured 24 PGA Tour victories, won the U.S. Open in 2016, and triumphed at the Masters in 2020. Two contract extensions, in 2016 and 2021, highlighted the close bond between player and brand.

However, Johnson’s move to the LIV Golf League in 2022 shifted the dynamics of the partnership. While he continued using TaylorMade equipment, he became less visible in the brand’s marketing campaigns. Now, with his contract expiring, TaylorMade has opted not to renew the deal.

A Quiet Farewell

The season opener of the LIV Golf League in Riyadh made it official—Johnson no longer wore a TaylorMade cap, instead featuring logos of his 4Aces team and New Era. The split, long anticipated, was now confirmed.

Since joining LIV Golf, Johnson’s visibility in the sport has diminished. The Saudi-backed league’s tournaments do not contribute to the Official World Golf Ranking, causing the former No. 1 to drop to 578th place. His 2024 major championship performances have also been underwhelming, with two missed cuts and a best finish of T31 at The Open Championship.

Equipment-Free, But Still Using TaylorMade Clubs

Despite the end of his sponsorship, Johnson hasn’t completely moved on from TaylorMade. At the LIV opener in Riyadh, he had a Qi10 driver in his bag—though without the brand’s logo on his cap. Instead, he sported his team’s and New Era’s emblems. The split from TaylorMade follows another major departure—his separation from Adidas in 2023 after 15 years. His team is now outfitted by Extracurricular.

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Uncategorized

PGA Tour Tee Times: Scottie Scheffler with defending champion Matsuyama

Tee Times at the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Tee Times at the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)

The Genesis Invitational will take place at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, USA under host Tiger Woods. As part of the PGA Tour, the tournament offers a par of 72 and features a prize fund of $20,000,000. The defending champion is Hideki Matsuyama. Broadcasting begins Thursday and Friday at 3:15 PM, Saturday at 5:00 PM, and Sunday at 4:30 PM on Sky.

PGA Tour Tee Times for Highlight Players at Genesis Invitational

Wyndham Clark begins his tournament with fellow Americans Tony Finau and Justin Thomas. They tee off at 10:03 in the first round and at 11:09 in the second round.

Rory McIlroy is grouped with Viktor Hovland from Norway and Adam Scott from Australia. They start at 10:14 for the first round and at 11:20 in the second round.

Jordan Spieth, who received a tournament invite, pairs with Thomas Detry from Belgium and Ludvig Aberg from Sweden. Spieth’s tee times are 11:09 in the first round and 10:03 in the second round.

Scottie Scheffler joins defending champion Hideki Matsuyama from Japan and Collin Morikawa, another American. They begin at 11:20 in the first round and continue at 10:14 for the following round.

Keegan Bradley plays alongside Cameron Davis from Australia and Sungjae Im from South Korea. Their start times are 10:47 in the first round and 09:41 in the second round.

Round Time Player Teammate 1 Teammate 2
1 10:03 Wyndham Clark Tony Finau Justin Thomas
1 10:14 Rory McIlroy (GBR) Viktor Hovland (NOR) Adam Scott (AUS)
1 10:47 Keegan Bradley Cameron Davis (AUS) Sungjae Im (KOR)
1 11:09 Jordan Spieth Thomas Detry (BEL) Ludvig Aberg (SWE)
1 11:20 Scottie Scheffler Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) Collin Morikawa
2 09:41 Keegan Bradley Cameron Davis (AUS) Sungjae Im (KOR)
2 10:03 Jordan Spieth Thomas Detry (BEL) Ludvig Aberg (SWE)
2 10:14 Scottie Scheffler Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) Collin Morikawa
2 11:09 Wyndham Clark Tony Finau Justin Thomas
2 11:20 Rory McIlroy (GBR) Viktor Hovland (NOR) Adam Scott (AUS)
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Highlights Tours

PGA Tour: Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational

Just days after confirming his participation, Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the PGA Tour event. (Photo: Getty)

Tiger Woods will not be teeing it up at this week’s Genesis Invitational. The 15-time major champion made the decision to withdraw, citing the recent passing of his mother, Kultida Woods, who died last week. His anticipated return to official PGA Tour competition at Torrey Pines—his first since the 2024 Open Championship—will have to wait.

“I’m Just Not Ready”

Woods had signaled his intent to return to the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational, marking a significant step in his comeback following his latest back surgery. The 48-year-old, who had spent much of the past year recovering, had gradually reintroduced himself to competition through select exhibition events late last year.

However, the emotional toll of his mother’s passing proved too much. Three days after confirming his participation, Woods reversed course, explaining that he simply isn’t ready to compete.

“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods said in a statement on X. “I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”

A Tribute to Kultida Woods

Throughout his career, Woods has often credited his mother for her unwavering support. Kultida Woods was a fixture at many of his most significant triumphs, a quiet but resolute presence in the background. Her influence was profound, and Woods has frequently described her as his “biggest fan and greatest supporter.”

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” Woods wrote in a statement. “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie.”

The Wait for Woods’ Return Continues

The Genesis Invitational was expected to mark Woods’ first official PGA Tour start since the 2024 Open Championship. After undergoing yet another back surgery in September, Woods had made only limited appearances, notably alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in December. His participation at Torrey Pines was eagerly anticipated, with fans and tournament organizers alike hopeful for a competitive return.

Woods’ health has been a persistent storyline in recent years, including last year’s Genesis Invitational, where he withdrew during the second round due to illness. This year, with the tournament relocated from Riviera Country Club to Torrey Pines due to California wildfires, Woods would have been returning to one of his most iconic venues—the site of his legendary 2008 U.S. Open victory on a broken leg. However, for now, golf takes a backseat.

A New Opportunity in the Field

With Woods’ withdrawal, his spot in the Genesis Invitational field will be filled by Jake Knapp, who now has an unexpected chance to compete at Torrey Pines. Meanwhile, Woods has expressed hope that he may still make an appearance at the event later in the week, albeit in a non-playing capacity.

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Top Tours

What had to be proven: Trump is involved in the PIF deal

President Donald Trump. (Image: getty)
US President Donald Trump. (Image: getty)

Last week, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Player Director Adam Scott were in Washington to talk to US President Donald Trump about the planned involvement of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF as a minority investor in the new PGA Tour Enterprises venture. Since the announcement of the framework agreement by Monahan and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan in June 2023, negotiations have been very slow and complicated, not least due to the expected objections from the previously Democrat-dominated US Department of Justice and the antitrust authority based there. The Donald, on the other hand (“The best players in the world should also play on a joint tour”), had already been touting in his full-bodied manner before his re-election that he would wrap up the deal within 15 minutes.

“When the leader of the free world spends his time playing golf, I am very happy. This game is important. It conveys values that this world needs more of at the moment. It brings us together and connects us with each other.”

Scott O’Neil, new CEO of LIV Golf, in an interview with Al Arabiya News

The Gulf Post has already pointed out several times that Trump’s relations with the Saudis and with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally, as well as the Republican dictate in the US government bodies, should be very conducive to an agreement. This is exactly what will happen. “We have asked the President to commit himself for the good of the sport, the country and all countries involved,” reads a statement issued by Monahan, Scott and Tiger Woods – also a player director. “We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final agreement and paved the way for the reunification of men’s professional golf.” That sounds like a very deep kowtow to the White House. And Scott O’Neil’s statement is better left uncommented …

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LIV Tour

McKibbin and his LIV movement: Pragmatists or pioneers of the contemporary spirit?

Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)
Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)

Tom McKibbin is probably the best known of the six new additions to the LIV Golf League 2025. With 292,500 dollars for a tie for 15th place, the Northern Irishman only collected around 50,000 dollars less at the season opener than for winning the Porsche European Open 2023 on the DP World Tour. And there will probably be a share of the team success in Riyadh anyway, which will earn Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII three million dollars. McKibbin’s move to the competitive circuit is therefore likely to have already paid off, for which he even threw Rory McIlroy’s advice to the wind. The two share the same home club, Holywood GC near Belfast, and the four-time major winner – a millennial by the way – had advised his young colleague to work his way up the DP World Tour and make a go of it on the PGA Tour, for which McKibbin qualified last year: “If I were you, I’d make a different decision to the one you’re thinking of making. It would be a waste of your enormous potential.”

McKibbin on missing out: “I am not in these Majors anyway”

But McKibbin didn’t care and chose the penuncle. Of course, if he was offered such prospects – why not take them? The Northern Irishman is just the latest in a series of young players to follow the call of fast money: Money first, what’s the rocky road to the majors or team competitions like the Ryder Cup compared to that. McKibbin’s mantra in this regard could not be more pragmatic and is as telling as it is significant: “I’m not in these majors at the moment anyway, so it doesn’t bother me too much.” He was number 106 in the world when he switched sides, but now there are no more OWGR points for the time being. And the appointment to the GB&I team for the Team Cup 2025, i.e. the nomination to the extended circle of European Ryder Cuppers, doesn’t seem to have triggered a surge of ambition either: Profession instead of vocation, the path of least resistance and work-life balance instead of competitive toughness and perseverance. And that at the age of 22. Oh, right, McKibbin has an excuse for that too: “I made this decision because I’m young. It [LIV] is something completely different; something that probably appeals to more people my age.”

For some, this fulfills every cliché that is often attributed to Generation Z and the attitude of these so-called millennial children towards challenges. For example, the management consultant and lawyer Susanne Nickel, who wrote a book in 2024 entitled “Verzogen, verweichlicht, verletzt” (Spoiled, effeminate, hurt) and defines Gen Z as the product of an affluent society that tends to overprotect and lacks discipline, motivation and resilience. So, if the Zoomers determine the zeitgeist, McKibbin would be a “model boy”.

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Panorama

Outlook on golf development: “Golf is still in great health”

(Photo: Paola Andrea/ Unsplash)
(Photo: Paola Andrea/ Unsplash)

While the number of rounds played in the first three quarters of 2024 decreased compared to 2023, the figures for the fourth quarter reflect a different trend: in the period from October to December, the average number of rounds played in the UK rose by 17%. As a report by Sporting Insights shows, more golf was played on British courses at the end of 2024 than in the same period the previous year. The statistics allow conclusions to be drawn about how the popularity of golf is developing globally. Sporting Insights has been recording all rounds played on commercial golf courses on the British mainland since 2000.

Golf development: Optimism despite slight decline

“Upon publishing the half-year figures last year, we suggested that a lot of underlying indicators for growth were still strong. After a Q3 that was effectively flat against 2023 and now a strong Q4, we still feel that analysis holds,” said John Bushell, joint MD of Sporting Insights.

Play was particularly high in the north of England: There, the increase was 30%.The southern and northern regions of the UK saw a slight increase over 2023 throughout the year. As a result, despite the decline in the first three quarters, the average number of rounds played for the year fell by just 2% nationally, and is slightly higher than 2022 levels. There were also more average tee times used in 2024 than in 2023.

Sporting Insights believes that assessment of golf’s popularity falling back to pre-pandemic levels is exaggerated. According to Bushnell, the results show that the supposed decline in popularity has been overestimated: “As fashionable as it can be to put golf down, the truth is that the sport has demonstrated now over multiple years a sustained boost in participation, especially female participation, and in the total amount of play. Key metrics don’t get much more key than that.”

Difficulties due to rising costs

Nevertheless, there are challenges, as Bushnell acknowledged: “Golf is not immune to economic pressures affecting discretionary spending, and we know that many clubs are also feeling the pinch of rising operational costs, which will be a theme of 2025 and beyond. However, the bottom line is that golf does appear to have become a critical part of so many people’s lives that it is so far weathering the economic storm, at least as far as appetite to step up to the tee goes. […] Golf is still in great health and we are positive for 2025.”