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PGA Championship 2024: Rory McIlroy Within Striking Distance of the Top

Rory McIlroy sits on the upper end of the leaderboard after his first round at he the PGA Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
Rory McIlroy sits on the upper end of the leaderboard after his first round at he the PGA Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Rory McIlroy came to the PGA Championship 2024 in Kentucky with two victories under his belt. McIlroy was able to build on his good form on the first day. The 2014 winner proved his ability with a flawless performance, especially on the second half of the course. At the end of his round, McIlroy is within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard.

He started the round with a birdie on 10, taking advantage of the par-5 with a fantastic shot on the green. He already went two-under on 13. On 17 McIlroy hat to note down his only bogey of the day, landing in the green bunker after playing from the fairway bunker. He got that shot back on hole 1 and added a birdie series on holes 5, 6 and 7 for a round of 66. That puts him four shots behind leader Xander Schauffele.

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Rory McIlroy in Contention at the PGA Championship 2024

Q. 5-under 66 but felt like you might have left a few out there. How would you categorize this round?

RORY McILROY: I don’t know about that. I sort of felt like it was pretty scrappy for the most part. I don’t really feel like I left many out there. I thought I got a lot out of my game today. Some good up-and-downs, the chip-in on 6.

I had a little bit of a scrappy part around the turn there, but overall really happy with — not really happy with how I played but at least happy with the score.

Q. A bit of an adventure on 18 but you got out with a par. Could you go through that hole?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, so I was pretty sure it was in the water off the tee, and then when I got up there, I guess the two ball-spotters or marshals said they didn’t really see it or couldn’t really hear it. I went over to the other side just to check, but was pretty sure it was in the water.

Yeah, dropped and took my medicine, and yeah, made a great up-and-down from about 120 yards to make par, which was important after making bogey on 17. That kept any momentum that I had going into the next nine.

Q. Is it the kind of golf course that you feel like can get harder as the week wears on, or do you feel like you’re going to have to keep the pedal to the metal all week?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, the greens could get a little bit firmer, so that could make it a little more tricky. But even if the fairways dry out, the zoysia, the ball doesn’t really go anywhere when it lands.

I could see it getting a touch firmer, but I still think it’s going to be pretty low scoring.

Q. Was it nice to be inside the ropes and just to concentrate on golf? Obviously other things going on this week.

RORY McILROY: It’s always nice to be inside the ropes.

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Q. We always ask players about compartmentalizing. Is that something you’re good at and you’re going to have to rely on this week?

RORY McILROY: Happy to be here.

Q. You hit a bunch of good wedge shots today. You mentioned one just earlier. I know that was something that Butch said you guys kind of talked about. Is there anything you’re going to that’s just helping you with that stuff?

RORY McILROY: I think just the same feelings I’ve been having with my golf swing, feeling strength in the club face on the way back, and then trying to keep that strength so that it forces me to really get out of the way on the down swing. That’s the thought with the wedges and with the irons.

Q. It seems like the scores are a little bit lower today. Did you see anything out on the course and conditions that may have led to that?

RORY McILROY: It’s soft. Greens are really soft, especially for the guys that played last week at Quail Hollow where the greens were particularly firm. You come to greens like this, second shots are easier. Chip shots are easier if you do miss the greens.

I think just the difference between last week in Charlotte and this week, it’s a big difference, and I think for the guys that played last week. It’s just a little less challenging at the minute around the greens.

Q. You’ve already touched a little bit on the 18th hole, but I was hoping you could expand a little more not just on saving par there, but then the very next hole it hits the flagstick and you get birdie. How key was that two-hole stretch to you getting this round today?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it was. It was huge. I could have easily bogeyed 18 and been back to even par, and then again, that ball on 1 could have hit the flagstick and went anywhere. I could have made bogey from that. Potentially being 1-over par through 10, I’m 2-under. So it’s a three-shot difference. It’s a big swing.

Rory McIlroy’s Tee Times at the PGA Championship 2024
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PGA Championship 2024 – Tiger Woods: “You Can’t Win a Tournament Unless You Make the Cut”

Despite his pain, Tiger Woods played a solid first round at the PGA Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
Despite his pain, Tiger Woods played a solid first round at the PGA Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Tiger Woods’ first round of the PGA Championship 2024 didn’t come easy to the 15-time major champion. After two finishing bogeys he signed a round of one over par, putting him for now in the middle of the field.

His round started with an early bogey on 11, after he missed the green on the par-3. A 17 ft 11 in putt got him that shot back in 13, but a journey into the rough of the 15th hole cost Woods one more shot on his first nine. While he couldn’t take advantage of the par-5 18, he evened out his score with a birdie on 3 after a perfect tee shot. Tiger Woods got a glimpse of one under par despite landing in the green bunker on 7, but two bogeys caused by three-putts dragged his score back to a one over par 72.

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Tiger Woods on his first round at the PGA Championship 2024

Q. Tiger, it looked like you were moving pretty well physically. Do you feel like — I know every day is different for you, but do you feel like zooming out you’re getting stronger?

TIGER WOODS: I am getting stronger for sure. It’s just that I just don’t play a whole lot of competitive rounds. I haven’t played since the Masters. So it’s a little bit different than being at home and playing a flat Florida course.

Q. You spoke about what happened Saturday at Augusta. Is that a thing you know how your body — can you tell the night before? Do you not know until the morning of or when you start swinging the club?

TIGER WOODS: Each day is a little bit different. Some days, it’s better than others. It’s just the way it is. My body is just that way. Some days, it feels great, and other days, a bit of a struggle.

Q. Do you have a target ball speed in mind or a number where you can say, I’m fast or slow today?

TIGER WOODS: No, I don’t even know what my ball speed is. I couldn’t tell you. I do at home on the range, but when I’m out here at a tournament, I don’t look at any of that. I’m just trying to hit shots and hit the ball on my numbers more than anything else.

Q. How much of the first green could you see for your second shot on the first?

TIGER WOODS: I could see the whole green. I could see it underneath the trees. I just had to go around a few trees. Hit a nice little draw 8-iron in there. I was expecting to hit it just left of the green and chip back up, but it dug in and landed soft and dug in and had a 25-footer.

Q. How would you rate that shot in terms of difficulty?

TIGER WOODS: (Laughing). You’ve seen me play. I’ve hit a few shots out of the trees.

Q. You said the other day you wish you were a little sharper. In which areas did you think you were better than you thought you might be or maybe were you not — were you sort of where you thought you were today?

TIGER WOODS: It’s just the competitive flow. It took me probably three holes to get back into competitive flow again and get a feel for hitting the ball out there in competition, adrenaline, temperatures, green speeds. These are all things that normally I adjust to very quickly, and it just took me a few holes to get into it.

Made that putt on 12 and got me going and made another putt on 13.

Q. In the past few years, even if you’ve had to withdraw from majors, you’ve still made the cut. You’ve still succeeded in doing so. I’m wondering if you think there’s an art to playing a certain way and grinding out a made cut that you seem to understand better than others?

TIGER WOODS: Well, you can’t win a tournament unless you make the cut. That’s the whole idea is get to the weekend so that you can participate and have a chance to win.

I’ve been on the cut number and have won tournaments, or I’ve been ahead and leading tournaments and I’ve won tournaments. But you have to get to the weekend in order to win a golf tournament.

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Q. I thought the rough was more difficult than what I was expecting after watching practice rounds. Could you talk about that? And I know the three-putt on 9 was frustrating, but I thought you —

TIGER WOODS: And 8.

Q. You had more than 90 feet in putts today. Could you address those two.

TIGER WOODS: Well, I three-whipped the last two holes. Wasn’t very good. Bad speed on 8; whipped it past the hole.

And 9, hit it short. Hit it off the heel of the putt and blocked the second one. So wasn’t very good on the last two holes.

But what was the first part of the question?

Q. The rough.

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, the rough is dense. It’s just very dense. With the rain we got and just the moisture on it, I know they’ve topped it off, but it’s just really lush.

You can get lies where it sits up. You can get a 3-wood on it. And there are other lies — a couple times I had to pitch out sideways. I laid up at 13 and 14 — sorry, 15.

Depends on the lie, and you don’t have to worry about that if you drive it in the fairway, and I just need to do a better job of that.

Q. Obviously most of you guys, you don’t win most weeks. You have to be very resilient. What’s the moment in your career or the stretch of golf that you’ve had in your career where you’re proudest of the resilience that you showed?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think that I’ve made a few cuts in a row, what was it, 140-some odd.

So you have to just grind it out. It’s a marathon. Major championships are a long grind. It’s just plotting along. It’s not a sprint. It’s just a grind.

I had a few years where I was able to participate for a very long time.

Tiger Woods’ Tee Times for the PGA Championship
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PGA Championship: Major Debut at 61 After 20 Years Without Playing Golf

Tracy Phillips competes in her first PGA Championship at the age of 61. (Photo: twitter.com/@TJEckertKTUL)
Tracy Phillips competes in her first PGA Championship at the age of 61. (Photo: twitter.com/@TJEckertKTUL)

40 years ago, he was considered one of the greatest golf talents in the USA, won national junior championships and wanted to become a tour pro. Then he got injured and the dream was over. But things got even worse for Tracy Phillips: Yips meant that he didn’t touch a club for 20 years, although he continued to work as a PGA Pro. Now, at the age of 61, he is taking part in a major for the first time at the PGA Championship. A truly crazy story.

A slipped disc halted his young career, reports golf.com in a detailed story about the man who not only topped the US amateur rankings as a junior, but also later went to university on a golf scholarship. After an eight-month injury break due to a herniated disc, he had lost his “natural swing”, says Phillips. With a lot of work and training, he wanted to get back to his old level, but it was at a pro-am in Wyoming that he felt for the first time that something was wrong. “The first hole was a par-5 and there was an in-course out of bounds to the right and there was an out-of-bounds pasture to the left. I stepped up and proceeded to hit a driver on the range, hit a driver out of bounds left and then finally just hit a 7-iron down the fairway just to get it in. I think at that time, it was just like, it was obvious — I was just toast.” golf.com quotes Phillips as saying.

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At 61: Playing the PGA Championship for the First Time

The search for his old form had tired him so much that at some point he no longer felt like playing. Yips, those uncontrolled muscle twitches that all golfers fear, were the reason. They usually occur when putting, but the now 61-year-old experienced them time and again with the driver. Not only did this make a career on the tour impossible, it also made it impossible to even put a ball in play.

Like his father, who was a golf teacher for 40 years, he concentrated on his pupils. And didn’t play golf himself for 20 years. It was only the persuasion of a few friends that convinced him to return to the golf course. While he enjoyed playing with his buddies again, he also steadily improved. A few qualifying tournaments later, he had already qualified for the US Club Pro Championships again and competed there for several years. Even though he missed the cut more often than he made it, his passion was rekindled.

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Philipps has already played several majors on the senior tour in recent years (and made cuts), even if he doesn’t regularly compete against Bernhard Langer and co. He has now made it into the field of a men’s major for the first time via the qualifying tournaments of the PGA of America. At the age of 61 and after a 20-year break. “The very thing that took me out of the game for 20 years is kind of my strong suit.,” says Phillips, delighted with his renewed love for his driver.

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“It’s concerning”: Rory McIlroy On PGA-LIV Merger

Rory McIlroy at the 2024 PGA Championship press conference. (image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy at the 2024 PGA Championship press conference. (image: Getty)

After back-to-back wins Rory McIlroy is pretty confident going into the PGA Championship 2024. With a good game state and the momentum on his side, the Northern Irishman eyes with his first major title in ten years. In his press conference McIlroy excluded all questions about his personal life, leaving his recently filed divorce for this interview.

Rory McIlroy’s Tee Times at the PGA Championship 2024

Rory McIlroy about the PGA Championship 2024: “I have a lot of confidence and quite a bit of momentum “

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, we are very pleased with welcome Rory McIlroy to the 106th PGA Championship. I believe you all saw the statement yesterday from Rory’s communication team specifically that he will not be making any additional comments on his private life, so thank you all for respecting his wishes.

A win on Sunday at Quail Hollow and you won the last major championship here at Valhalla ten years ago. How do you feel coming into this week?

RORY McILROY: I feel good. Obviously had a great day on Sunday at a golf course that I’ve grown to love over the years and had a lot of success at, coming to a venue where I’ve had some success at before as well.

Obviously get to go back to Quail Hollow every year. Don’t really get to come back here too much. Today was the first time I was on the golf course since ten years ago, so it was good to refamiliarize myself with the place.

The golf course is a little different than it was ten years ago, a little longer. A couple little minor changes but for the most part pretty much the same that I can remember from ten years ago.

But yeah, look, game feels good coming off the back of two wins, a fun one in New Orleans with Shane, and then a really good performance last week.

Just trying to keep the momentum going.

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Q. How long has it been since you had this level of confidence in your game, and what other than the victories, what in the technical part of it is giving you that confidence?

RORY McILROY: Yes, I would say — I think I was asked this question last week. I went on a run last summer, sort of from — it was actually after this tournament. I felt like my game wasn’t in really good shape after Oak Hill. Sort of needed to reset, work on a few things.

But then I came back out. I played Memorial, Canada, U.S. Open, Travelers, Scottish Open, Open, Playoffs. That stretch of golf, I think I had, like, ten top 10s in a row. I got the win in Scotland.

So my game felt pretty — it doesn’t seem like that long ago that my game has felt this good. But I would say from a technical standpoint, some of the shots that I hit last week, some of the three-quarter shots, some of the wedge shots, some of the iron shots, combined with, you know, how good I feel with the driver at the minute, you know, when I can see those three-quarter shots and those wedge shots going and starting on the right line, you know, that obviously gives me a lot of confidence.

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Q. We’ve talked through the years about how you’ve tried to go back to a mentality of just show up somewhere, play a practice round, and then go out there and play free. When you come back here, do you think of the mentality that you had when you won here ten years ago, and do you try to use that again?

RORY McILROY: Sometimes I struggle to remember what I did yesterday. So I don’t — I think if I look that far back, I mean, it’s hard to rekindle those feelings and those memories. I can vaguely remember, you know, coming here off the back of winning The Open and the old WGC at Akron.

But you know, I think it’s all about confidence and momentum, and I have a lot of confidence and quite a bit of momentum coming into this week. So as I said at the start, it’s just about trying to keep that going.

But as you say, like trying to play with freedom, I think this is a golf course that allows you to play with freedom because it’s a big golf course. The corridors are wide, not too dissimilar to last week at Quail Hollow, so you can open your shoulders up off the tee and try to take your chances from there.

Q. Can I ask you about Jimmy’s board resignation, what you thought about that and what the implications might be in your mind?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, honestly I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA TOUR, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game.

Jimmy was basically “the” relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA TOUR and PIF. It’s been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months, and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that.

So it is, it’s really, really disappointing, and you know, I think the TOUR is in a worse place because of it. We’ll see. We’ll see where it goes from here and we’ll see what happens.

But you know, I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was, you know, as low as it had been and then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side, it’s concerning.

Jimmy Dunne – The ‘Architect’ of the PGA Tour-PIF Deal Resigns

Q. So Shane Lowry mentioned that you told him that what you had off the tee, the driver at Zurich was the best you’ve ever driven the ball and you also said you like to play your way into form. Why is it that you are able to play your way into form?

RORY McILROY: So from a driving perspective, yeah, I think it’s — honestly it’s probably the best driver I’ve had in the last few years.

I’ve really gotten comfortable with the driver, and I think some of the technical things in my swing are just a little bit better, and I’m — the good drives are still very good but the bad drives aren’t as bad so the misses aren’t as wild.

And then — sorry, what was the second part of the question?

Q. Just you’ve always historically said you like to play your way into form. Why is that the case for you?

RORY McILROY: Play into form. For me, it’s not — I can — I can stand all day on a driving range and hit balls and not really learn anything. Because I think so many of us out here have got such great hands and have hit so many golf balls in our lifetime that we are just going to be able to figure it out some way. So you know, change a little feeling here or there. So to me, I learn the most about my game just by playing. I’ve played a lot this year. I’ve sort of figured out where my weaknesses are, what my tendencies are, how I can manage my game better, and yeah, I just — after the win in New Orleans, I didn’t pick up a club for six days. I hit balls for a couple of hours at The Grove on Sunday before going to Quail Hollow and I go and produce a performance like that.

I think you need to know yourself, and sometimes it’s about grinding on the range and working on technical stuff, but at other times, it’s just about getting on the golf course, playing with a card in your hand and understanding, you know, how you’re playing a game.

I think that the one thing about golf, compared to any other sport is we don’t practice on the field that we play on. So it would seem counterintuitive to spend all your time on the practice range instead of on the golf course. I’ve just tried to spend as much time on the golf course as I can.

Q. It’s been quite a few years for you. How are your energy levels, and just on a personal level, how are you doing?

RORY McILROY: I’m ready to play this week.

Q. Given the success of Europeans in other major championships, can you put your finger on why they have had relatively little success in this championship?

RORY McILROY: I mean, I think if you think of quintessential American golf, I think golf courses that we go to for the PGA Championship are usually somewhat like these.

I would say Kiawah was a little bit different, or maybe even somewhere like Southern Hills a couple years ago. But yeah, I don’t — I mean, I don’t know if I can put my finger on it. You know, it’s the same thing. I think G-Mac was the first — I don’t know if he was the first European or the first British player to win the U.S. Open since Jacklin in 1970. These things are cyclical. I don’t know if I can put my finger on it but just, you know, it’s a big golf course, thick rough, soft-ish greens. That seems to be more of an American style of play.

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PGA Championship 2024: Top Contenders and Potential Surprises

PGA Championship 2024: Which players are among the favorites? (Photos: Getty)

As the PGA Championship 2024 approaches, the golfing world is focused on Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This prestigious event, one of golf’s four major championships, will challenge players with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course, known for its length and strategic demands. Who will lift the Wanamaker Trophy this year? With a field filled with world-class golfers, including top favorites Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka, an exciting tournament is guaranteed. Here’s a look at the leading contenders and their chances.

Top Favorites for the PGA Championship 2024: Scheffler, McIlroy, and Koepka

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler enters the PGA Championship 2024 as a clear favorite. Currently ranked number one in the world, Scheffler has already secured four tournament victories this season, including the Masters Tournament 2024. With four wins and a runner-up finish in his last five starts, over $18 million in prize money, and nine top-10 finishes from ten events, he is in exceptional form. Returning from a brief break for the birth of his first child, Scheffler is poised to claim his third major title.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is another top contender this year. The Northern Irishman recently won the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship. A previous winner at Valhalla a decade ago and currently second in the world rankings, McIlroy brings confidence to Louisville. With his impressive driving distance and strong long game, McIlroy has a great chance to capture the title.

Brooks Koepka

Reigning PGA Champion Brooks Koepka is also a formidable candidate. Koepka has already claimed a victory on the LIV Golf Tour this year and has a proven track record in major championships. With five major wins, including three PGA Championship titles, Koepka is known for his prowess in big tournaments and poses a significant threat on the challenging Valhalla course.

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Potential Surprises: Ludvig Åberg and Xander Schauffele

Ludvig Åberg

In his first professional season, Ludvig Åberg has established himself as one of the best players, highlighted by a second-place finish at Pebble Beach and an impressive debut in major tournaments. Over his last four events, the young Swede has gained over 15.5 strokes with his approach shots and is among the top off-the-tee players. Despite limited major experience and a recent knee injury, Åberg has the potential to surprise at the PGA Championship.

Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele has consistently performed well over recent years and is currently ranked third in the world. Although he has faced challenges in securing tournament victories, Schauffele’s strength in long games and on the greens could finally lead him to his first major title in Valhalla.

Other Contenders: Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka

Aside from the top favorites, other players like Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka are also worth watching.

Max Homa

Max Homa has steadily improved over the past few years, recently showcasing a strong performance at the Masters. The American has thrived on long, demanding courses, having won three of his six PGA Tour titles on such layouts, making him well-suited for the conditions in Louisville.

Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa has regained his form since adjusting his putting style. The switch to a mallet putter has yielded significant improvements, making him a serious contender in Valhalla. Morikawa’s accuracy off the tee and putting skills make him a formidable competitor.

Sepp Straka

Sepp Straka may not be the longest off the tee, but his accuracy could be advantageous on Valhalla’s demanding layout. Straka has shown consistent performance this season and could spring a surprise. With solid results in recent major tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the British Open 2023, Straka has the potential to reach the top ranks.

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PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler: “Newborn in my Arms, Green Jacket in the Closet”

PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler on fatherhood and his dominant performance on the golf course. (Photo: Getty)
PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler on fatherhood and his dominant performance on the golf course. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler arrives at Valhalla for the 2024 PGA Championship roughly a week after the birth of his son. As number one golfer in the world, recent Masters winner and four time victor this season all eyes are set on him. And with his wife Meredith’s pregnancy already being the talk at Augusta, everyone wants to know how the current best golfer in the world is adjusting to fatherhood.

Scottie Scheffler’s Tee Times at the PGA Championship 2024

Scottie Scheffler’s talks to the media at the PGA Championship 2024

Q. Welcome to Valhalla in what is your fifth PGA Championship. Congratulations. How have the first few days of fatherhood been?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: First few days have been nice. It was good to get some time at home. It’s pretty wild. A lot of fun. It’s a pretty exciting time for Meredith and me.

As far as this week goes, yeah, excited to be here, excited to play, be here and compete. This is a major championship week, and this is what I practice and prepare for is to play my best at these events, and hopefully that trend will continue.

Q. Anything about the whole process of childbirth surprise you at all?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah. A lot. (Laughing).

I think it’s just wild watching Meredith go through that. It’s just nuts. I don’t really know how to describe it, watching the little dude come out of Meredith, and we waited, and it was a surprise for us whether it was going to be a boy or girl, so being able to tell my wife that it was a boy, yeah, it was a wild ride.

Extremely proud of Meredith after watching her go through that. It’s nuts. I’m glad it was her going through it and not me because I don’t know if I could have done it. It was pretty nuts.

Extremely proud of her, and the look on her face right after birth, she was just glowing, so proud of herself and so excited to have our little boy.

Scottie Scheffler Announces Birth of His First Child

Q. My wife wanted to insist that I ask about your wife. How is Meredith doing with the last week and specifically celebrating her first Mother’s Day?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Her first Mother’s Day was fun. Her first Mother’s Day was Sunday and then her birthday Monday, so it was a fun five, six days for us. She’s doing well, recovering nicely. We’re very fortunate to be in this position with a healthy mom and healthy baby. Hopefully that will continue.

Q. You were already at the point where people are starting to count up how many majors you might win, how many weeks you might be at No. 1. Staying in the moment is one thing when you’re in a tournament, but how do you stay in the moment between tournaments? How do you avoid looking forward and looking out into the future years and decades?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I mean, I think it’s pretty easy. I don’t really try to look that far ahead. If I listen to the narratives around myself, if it was two months ago it would probably look significantly different than it does now. I’m sure that wasn’t a conversation y’all were having two months ago and all of a sudden now it’s like, Oh, he’s going to win this many tournaments or do that and do this. I don’t really pay attention to it, I don’t really care about it. I’m trying to do the best I can out there each and every week, and as far as anything else, I’m not really too concerned with it.

I may win a lot of major championships, I may be stuck at two the rest of my career. It doesn’t really concern me in the moment. I’m just trying to prepare as best as possible for this week.

At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone. I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf and now I’m here. I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time I think at home.

But at the same time, I think the competitiveness in me doesn’t let me reflect too much and I was trying to do my best to get ready to play this week.

Q. With this being an Olympic year, have you given much thought to that yet, and are you planning to play in Paris this summer?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I definitely plan on playing. I think becoming an Olympian would be a dream come true, for sure. Be a nice little thing to be able to trash talk to my buddies about when they say golfers aren’t athletes. I can claim I’m an Olympian. I think it’s definitely a tournament that has been on my schedule, and I’ll definitely be playing there if I’m able.

Q. You had a big break at the end of last year, but in terms of three weeks off in the course of a season, that’s kind of rare for you. What is your frame of mind coming off reflections, special time you hadn’t golfed, competed in three weeks.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I was able to practice and play plenty at home. Obviously the last week was a bit different with our son coming. But yeah, I would say three weeks is probably a bit of a longer break than I would usually take. I’m sure on a normal year I probably would have been playing at the Nelson.

But yeah, definitely rested going into this week for sure. I don’t really feel like any rust has accumulated. I was able to practice and play a lot at home. I’m able to do stuff at home to simulate tournament golf, especially on the greens, competing and gambling with my buddies, I don’t really want to lose to them, either, so I was able to simulate a little bit of competition at home.

Q. Over the past couple weeks, what’s been the best piece of advice you’ve gotten on becoming a dad, and what’s the strangest piece of advice?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel like I haven’t really gotten too much unsolicited advice, which I’m a bit thankful for. Every kid, I’m sure, is a lot different, so I think you manage them each differently. Right now I’m literally just standing there changing diapers and handing him back to Meredith so he can feed, and just letting him sleep on me.

It’s exciting. I couldn’t imagine it being the way that it is, and it’s a lot of fun. I miss him like crazy. It was not easy to leave the house Monday morning.

But like I said, I told my son as I was leaving, I was like, I don’t want to leave you right now, but I need to. I’m called to do my job to the best of my ability, and I felt like showing up Wednesday night wouldn’t really be doing myself a service this week when it comes to playing and competing in the tournament, so I had to show up, especially with the weather forecast, showing up, being prepared and ready to play and being back home as quick as I can.

Q. Are there some commonalities in this amazing run you’ve put together, things maybe you notice that other people don’t necessarily, whether it’s unique in putting or any part of your game or the mental approach that stand out to you? It’s been an exceptionally hot run.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I’ve been playing pretty good. I’ve had some weeks where my swing didn’t feel 100 percent and I was able to make up for it with the putter. Then I had some weeks where maybe I wasn’t holing a ton of putts and I was able to make up for it with my ball-striking. I feel like I’m in a good head space.

Does anything stand out to me? I’m not really sure. I think I’ve just been playing some really good golf. This game is funny. Sometimes you get good breaks and sometimes you get bad breaks. I think it’s just a really difficult sport, and sometimes it can seem really easy, and then sometimes it can seem pretty tough.

The last couple months it seems like it has felt fairly easy at times. I think, as a professional, I think that’s always what you’re striving for, and it’s been nice to see some of the benefits of the work that I’ve put in and see some results on the course, as well.

Q. You’re going to expect some changes obviously in how you’ve done things. Can you talk about what you envisage coming in the future, whether it’s changing practice time, reduced time at certain times. The call and the pull of home is going to be greater obviously from now on.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think just the continued efficiency. Just continuing to get more efficient in the way I do things.

Actually, I was at home working out on Sunday and it was like the fastest workout I ever did at home, just because I was ready to go back in the living room and hang out with Mer and our son. I think a lot of that will come naturally, just being as focused as I can and trying to stay present. When I’m out here at the golf course doing my job, I’m able to focus on that. Then when I get home, I’m able to leave the golf course there and focus on being with my wife and son.

Q. You built a nice record in the PGA Championship already. You hadn’t seen Valhalla, but as you come here, what are you expecting of a PGA test?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think with the weather forecast this week, it may not be — the scores may not be as close to par as some other major championships. We’ll see how the golf course plays. Like I said, I only played nine holes yesterday and today, so as the tournament goes on we’ll see how the course plays. But with soft greens and soft fairways, I’d imagine the scores would be fairly low here. I don’t know exactly what the winning score will be like, but I think it’ll be — scores would be a little bit lower, I think, than the last major.

But with any major championship, there’s a lot more pressure. The golf courses are always a bit tougher. This is a place where I feel like when you’re hitting it really well, the golf course can open up for you, and there’s definitely a lot of holes where you’ve got to put the ball in play, just with the thick rough. A lot of good elevation change around this golf course. After playing 18 holes, it seems like a really good fair test of golf. Par-3s seem pretty difficult. There’s a couple par-5s you can get after, and then there’s some par-4s that are the same way, but then there’s also a couple par-4s that are pretty challenging.

I think around this golf course you’ve got a good mix of holes, and as players we look for the best test of golf, not necessarily what the winning score is going to be. Just because it’s even par doesn’t mean it was a great test of golf. I think what we’re looking for is be rewarded for good shots and punished for bad ones, and from what I’ve seen around this golf course, it seems like an appropriate test.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024
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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2024: Tiger Woods on His Possible Ryder Cup Captaincy “We’re Still Talking”

Tiger Woods in his pre tournament press conference before the PGA Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)
Tiger Woods in his pre tournament press conference before the PGA Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)

Before the start of the 2024 PGA Championship Tiger Woods talks about his expectations and recent experiences at the Masters in April. The “GOAT” also states, that the Ryder Cup captaincy is still under discussion.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024

PGA Championship 2024: Tiger Woods “I wish my game was a little bit sharper”

THE MODERATOR:  You were part of the one of the most memorable finishes in this championship’s history back in 2000. When you look back at that PGA, what do you remember most?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I just remember the pressure that I felt, the chance, an opportunity to do something that Ben Hogan did in 1953. The summer was a whirlwind. I was playing well, then coming into this event, being able to play in Jack’s — play with Jack in his last PGA Championship, and also just the timeline. Jack played with Gene Sarazen in his last PGA, and I was playing with Jack in his last PGA, so just the connection with all that.

Obviously making a putt on 18 and getting into the playoff and making a nice putt on the 16th hole, running after it. A lot of great memories from that week. To be able to go head-to-head with Bob May, who was arguably probably one of the best junior golfers that Southern Cal ever produced. It was a fun week and a fun — unbelievable moment, really.

Q. Expanding on that a little bit. When you look at this great collection of victories and majors you’ve won, where does that Sunday with Bob May fit in?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think that the duel between us both, I think if I remember this correctly, Bob shot three straight 66s, and our back nine, we both shot 31 on the back nine. With leading a championship and both of us playing as well as we did, with all of that pressure and we kept feeding off of one another. He would make a putt, I would make a putt, I would make a putt, he would make a putt. It was a fun back nine.

That was the first year they went to the three-hole playoff, and when we got in at the scoring table, I remember that we were informed it was a three-hole playoff and Bob was completely shocked by that because I don’t think that it really got out that much that potentially it could be the way it plays out, and going back to 16, as I said, I made a nice putt there, ran after it. He made an unbelievable chip from the right rough and almost holed it. Again, we never really missed shots on that back nine and then in the three-hole playoff. For us to shoot those low of scores, it was special.

Tiger Woods’ 2024 PGA Championship Tee Times

Q. Since the last time that you were here in 2014 do you feel like the course has changed a great deal or is it pretty much the same place?

TIGER WOODS: It’s gotten bigger. Gotten a little bit longer. I think they extended six tees since we played in 2014. Opened up some of the areas so there’s more flow, less trees. Definitely different than when we played in 2000. But it’s still the same framework that we played in 2000. So, the same corridors, but it’s just gotten a little bit bigger, a little bit longer, just like all golf courses or all championships that we go to now. I’m looking forward to one day they say we shortened this hole up, because it seems like every time we come back and play it’s always getting longer.

Q. State of your game, state of your body and state of your ability to play what’s a pretty hilly golf course?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, my body’s okay. It is what it is. I wish my game was a little bit sharper. Again, I don’t have a lot of competitive reps, so I am having to rely on my practice sessions and getting stuff done either at home or here on-site.

But at the end of the day, I need to be ready mentally and physically come Thursday, and these days of practicing, eating on the golf course, that’s one of the reasons I came up here on Sunday was to knock off some of the work that I have to do in charting greens, get all that stuff done early, so I can focus on literally playing and plotting my way around.

Q. We just had Max in here earlier this morning and he was talking about the two rounds he played with you at Augusta and was raving about what you still do on the golf course and the shots you’re still able to hit. Curious, how much of a tease is it for you when you know you still have it in there even at this age and how do you kind of deal with that as you go?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I can still hit shots. It’s getting around is more of the difficulty that I face day-to-day and the recovery of pushing myself either in practice or in competition days. You saw it at Augusta. I was there after two days and didn’t do very well on the weekend.

Q. As a dad who is a golf professional, what advice would you have for Scottie Scheffler?

TIGER WOODS: Get some sleep. (Smiling.) I mean, he’s got obviously he and Meredith, fantastic, having their first, and those are — as we all of us who have had children, those are some tough years and ahead of them.

As I said, try and get some rest as much as you possibly can. He’s the No. 1 player in the world, and having a great, stable family life at home is important to having a great life out here on TOUR.

Scottie Scheffler: “Newborn in my Arms, Green Jacket in the Closet”

Q. The crowds you still see for practice rounds or even just the people who come out to watch you now at 48, do you feel differently when you see that now as opposed to even maybe 10 years ago or five years ago?

TIGER WOODS: I think that I appreciate it more now, just the fact that I don’t come out here very often. I don’t play much, and I’m at home where it’s quiet and it’s so different to coming out to practice rounds when there’s thousands of people out there like it was at Augusta.

A bunch of people came out today. Unfortunately the weather didn’t really cooperate. I’m sure there will be a lot more tomorrow now that it’s cleared out. But appreciating the warmth and the support of the fans is something that I probably 10 years ago certainly didn’t appreciate that then as much as I do now.

Q. Rory said last week in Charlotte that you and him see the future of golf a little bit differently. What’s your position, what do you see as the future?

TIGER WOODS: Well I think that we see the — it’s good to see it differently, but collectively as a whole we want to see whatever’s best for all the players, the fans, and the state of golf. How we get there, that’s to be determined, but the fact that we’re in this together and in this fight together to make golf better is what it’s all about.

Q. Justin mentioned earlier when he was in here that one of his core memories here is watching you when he was a kid win in 2000 here. What’s your sense for what as close as you are to him what this means for him to have this championship in his hometown?

TIGER WOODS: Well I think that, I don’t know if JT was in diapers still or not, but I think that having a major come to your hometown where you grew up and it’s special for him, it’s special for Mike and Jenny and everyone who’s been involved in his life.

This is his hometown. The fact that he’s able to play a major championship where he grew up is special. Unfortunately I can’t say that I ever have, just because I missed the U.S. Open at LA Country Club. It would have been nice to play in my hometown. But to have JT come here and — he’s going to get some appreciation from the fans and the ovations are going to be loud for him, as they should be.

Q. You said at the Masters that you were going to talk to Seth after that week about maybe captaining next year’s Ryder Cup team. Did that meeting take place, and if so, is there any update?

TIGER WOODS: We’re still talking. There’s nothing that has been confirmed yet. We’re still working on what that might look like. Also whether or not I have the time to do it. I’m dedicating my so much time to what we’re doing with the PGA TOUR, I don’t want to not fulfill the role of the captaincy if I can’t do it. What that all entails and representing Team USA and the commitments to the PGA of America, the players, and the fans and as I said, all of Team USA. I need to feel that I can give the amount of time that it deserves.

Q. Earlier you mentioned the state of golf and fans. Wondering from your advantage point where you think that relationship stands now and why?

TIGER WOODS: I think the fans are probably as tired as we are of the talk of not being about the game of golf and about not being about the players. It’s about what LIV is doing, what we’re doing, players coming back, players leaving, the fans just want to see us play together. How do we get there is to be determined.

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Highlights Tours

Scottie Scheffler Announces Birth of His First Child

Happy about the new addition to the family: Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty)
Happy about the new addition to the family: Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty)

For world number one Scottie Scheffler, a lot has happened in the past few days. Recently, the American golfer took a short break from the PGA Tour. Last week, his son was born. Scheffler had already announced beforehand that he would exclude participation in the PGA Championship 2024 if the birth of his child falls within the tournament period. After the birth, there is now nothing standing in the way of his participation in the second major of the year.

Scottie Scheffler’s announces Family Addition

Scheffler recently provided an update to his fans via Instagram, where he directed heartfelt words to his newborn: “Welcome to the world little one. Your mom & dad love you so much.”

For PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler and his wife Meredith Scudder, it is their first child. Although there has been no confirmation from the parents themselves, the official PGA Tour website announced that they have welcomed a baby boy named Bennett. Scheffler’s son was born on May 8th.

PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler to Compete in Major

These news should bring joy not only to Scottie Scheffler and his wife but also to golf fans, as Scheffler will not only become a father for the first time but also compete in the second major tournament of the year, the PGA Championship 2024. Previously, the 27-year-old had announced that he would exclude participation if the birth fell during the tournament period. With son Bennett being born last week, he will be part of the field for the PGA Championship 2024, competing for his second major title of the year.

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Highlights Tours Uncategorized

PGA Championship 2024: The Major Returns to Valhalla

The 2024 PGA Championship will take place in Valhalla this year. (Photo: Getty)
The 2024 PGA Championship will take place in Valhalla this year. (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Championship 2024 is coming up and this year it will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. The golf club, nestled in the beauty of Kentucky, is no stranger to hosting major golf events, and this will be the fourth time the PGA Championship has been held here. Past majors at Valhalla have seen golf legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy claim victory.

PGA Championship 2024: The rich history of the Major in Valhalla

As the dust of the track and the cheers of the fans started to settle at the 150th Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs, the agitation at nearby Valhalla Golf Club reignited with the preparations for the 106th PGA Championship. And the “most exciting two minutes in sports” gave way to “once in a decade golf celebration in Kentucky.” According to Churchill Downs, Mystik Dan’s win marked the first three-horse photo finish since 1947 and the first race decided by a nose margin since 1996. Like an echo of the Kentucky Derby, the three PGA Championships contested at Valhalla in the last three decades concluded with a photo finish or a nose margin–a playoff or one stroke difference in golf lingo.

Pictures of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo: PGA of America)

“I had a heartache in 96 when Mark Brooks beat me in a playoff,” said local golf star Kenny Perry about his defeat at the first PGA Championship in Kentucky. Four years later, Tiger Woods prevailed in a playoff against Bob May to win his fifth and third consecutive major at Valhalla. “Tiger was incredible,” remembers two-time Masters winner José María Olázabal, who shot a 9-under-par 63 course record on the third day and finished tied fourth. “I have great memories of that amazing round and Valhalla, a solid golf course with tough rough,” said the Spaniard. “But I specially remember the Ryder Cup there in 2008, when the Americans played really well.”

Perry was part of that American winning team captained by Paul Azinger.  “My dad, at 86 years old, came off the green in his bib overalls and gave me a hug. This is where I love to go, and to me, this is the pinnacle of golf in Kentucky,” added Perry about the 2008 Ryder Cup and Valhalla Golf Club. “We were fortunate to have epic and historic finishes,” said Jimmy Kirchdorfer, General Chairman of the 2024 PGA Championship. “A lot of people from Kentucky would say the Ryder Cup, when the US was struggling to win for a while, was the best sporting event they have ever been to.”

Jimmy Kirchdorfer and Justin Thomas. (Photo: PGA of America)

After the memorable victory of Rory McIlroy by one-stroke in the 2014 PGA Championship in the darkness, Kirchdorfer, along with the new co-owners of Valhalla Golf Club and its membership have been instrumental in bringing the PGA Championship back to Kentucky one decade later. “The tremendous response from the Louisville and Kentucky community has been essential to make this event a record-breaking championship,” said 2024 PGA Championship Director, Ryan Ogle, as he supports his assessment with staggering numbers.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the Wanamaker Trophy during the Award Ceremony for the 96th PGA Championship, at Valhalla Golf Club, on August 10, 2014 in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Over 200,000 spectators are expected during the week, breaking the record ticket sales set in 2018. Valhalla will accommodate 700,000 square feet of temporary flooring, over 285 tent structures, and 600 TVs will be spread across the property. On The Rocks, the Elijah Craig Bourbon Speakeasy by the 14th hole of Valhalla Golf Club will be one of the massive hospitality structures showcasing the official bourbon cocktail of the 2024 PGA Championship, the Elijah Craig Mulligan. “In terms of size, it will be more than double compared with 2014,” added Ogle, also highlighting the over 500 million households around the world with access to over 250 hours of live coverage.

The Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. (Photo: PGA of America)

“I am very excited about the PGA Championship in Kentucky. When the time comes, it will be a very special week,” said two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who will be playing a major in Valhalla for the first time. “I have been to Valhalla a handful of times. It is obviously well known and the most famous course in Kentucky, a special place,” added Thomas, who grew up playing golf at Harmony Landing Country Club, in Goshen, Kentucky, where his father Mike is still a pro.

Thomas will be the only Kentuckian at the traditional Champions Dinner, hosted by the 2023 winner Brooks Koepka at the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. “Whatever my mom is cooking at home would be my recommendation for food in Kentucky,” noted Thomas as a potential culinary advice to Koepka, who finished T-15 in Valhalla in 2014. That year, Michael Block, the PGA of America Golf Professional who became the people’s hero in 2023 when he finished T-15 at Oak Hill, made his debut in the PGA Championship in Valhalla after winning the PGA Professional Championship.

The beautiful Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. (Photo: PGA of America)

“Kentucky has been great. We have been staying downtown Louisville all week and everyone has been absolutely fantastic. It was a great experience,” said after missing the cut in 2014 Block, part of the Corebridge Financial Team of 21 PGA of America Professionals competing along the best in the world in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Live Blog: Chris Gotterup with Dominant Win

Chris Gotterup of the United States poses with the trophy after the final round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 12, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
Chris Gotterup of the United States poses with the trophy after the final round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 12, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

Myrtle Beach Classic 2024 Live Scores

The Myrtle Beach Classic in the season 2024 is being played in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States of America at the The Dunes Golf and Beach Club. The tournament starts at the Thursday, 9th of May and ends at the Sunday, 12th of May 2024.
The Myrtle Beach Classic is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $4,000,000.
The course for the tournament at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club plays at Par 71.

While the Wells Fargo Championship, a signature event on the PGA Tour, is taking place in North Carolina, the Tour is also playing in South Carolina as part of the first Myrtle Beach Classic.

PGA Tour live

Through the Golf Post Live Blog you can follow all results on the PGA Tour live. Alongside the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), the PGA Tour is the world’s largest tournament series in men’s professional golf. The tour attracts prize money that is just as high as the level of the international elite that comes together at quite a few of the tournaments. The annual highlights of the season are the four major tournaments (co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour), the Players Championship and the final FedExCup playoffs, which conclude the season every year. Signature events were created for this purpose. These include the three FedExCup playoff tournaments, The Sentry, the invitational tournaments (Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament) and four other tournaments, which can change annually.

The PGA Tour has gained its importance primarily through its ability to retain top players through the attractiveness of the tournaments and the size of the prize money, which has risen steadily in recent years. The FedExCup is the American equivalent of the European Race to Dubai, with players collecting points throughout the season until the FedExCup winner is crowned in three tournaments in August. The FedExCup playoffs consist of three tournaments: the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship and the final Tour Championship. The winner of the Tour Championship also becomes the winner of the FedEx Cup and secures the record jackpot of 25 million US dollars.