The British Open at Royal Portrush expects record breaking crowd. (Photo: Getty)
Royal Portrush is set to make history once again. The R&A announced that it expects a staggering 278,000 fans to descend on the famed links this July for the 153rd Open Championship — a figure that would make it one of the most attended Opens of all time.
The turnout will mark the largest sporting event ever staged in Northern Ireland, with an estimated economic impact of £213 million. Ticket demand has been unprecedented, with over one million applications submitted. Only the 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022 — which drew 290,000 spectators — has attracted a larger crowd.
Lowry and McIlroy Set for Homecoming Battle
Portrush last hosted The Open in 2019, when Shane Lowry thrilled the home crowds with a commanding six-shot victory, drawing a then-record 237,750 fans over four days. Six years later, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch as Lowry prepares for a potential showdown with fellow fan favorite Rory McIlroy — fresh off his long-awaited Masters triumph and the favorite to capture more major glory in 2025.
New family home for the McIlroy Family. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy’s life, both on and off the course, has long been a source of fascination for the sporting world. His victories, setbacks, outspoken nature, and commitment to the game consistently draw the spotlight. Recent weeks have been no different, as media attention intensified following McIlroy’s appearance at the Masters — not just for his performance, but for his movements beyond Augusta’s fairways.
One stop on McIlroy’s post-Masters itinerary brought him home to Northern Ireland, where he reunited with his parents, Rosie and Gerry, in Holywood. The visit served as a celebration, compensating for their absence at Augusta as they prepared for a relocation of their own.
McIlroy Lays New Foundations at Wentworth Estate
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, construction is well underway on a significant new project for the McIlroy family: a home in England’s prestigious Wentworth Estate, just outside London. The development, situated near the storied Wentworth Club — host venue for the BMW PGA Championship — signals a new chapter for McIlroy, his wife Erica Stoll, and their young daughter, Poppy. Reports suggest the move was motivated in part by a desire for a fresh start for the couple.
“It’s not every day you get to fulfil one of your lifelong goals and dreams,” McIlroy reflected during the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. “We first went to London with Erica and Poppy to see our new home that we’re building and we made the trip over to Belfast to see a few other people that are important to us. Just to be with them, to be with Erica and Poppy and my mum and dad.”
Suspended over a LIV-linked event, Wesley Bryan addresses fans directly on YouTube—with reflection, respect, and resolve. (Photo: Youtube@Bryan Bros Golf)
For most of his career, Wesley Bryan has been as comfortable in front of a camera as he is over a wedge shot. Trick shots, Tour wins, YouTube content — he’s built a name straddling the line between entertainer and elite athlete. But now, the PGA Tour veteran finds himself at the center of a different kind of story: one where the future of golf collides head-on with its rules of the past.
The PGA Tour suspended Bryan following his appearance at “The Duels: Miami,” a LIV Golf-adjacent creator event. The response? A 3-minute YouTube video, shot from a golf cart, layered with gratitude, introspection, and an unmistakable undercurrent of defiance.
“It’s Been an Emotional Rollercoaster”
In the video, Bryan isn’t teeing off or goofing around with influencers. He’s seated quietly in a golf cart, speaking directly to his audience — not as a content creator, not as a PGA Tour player, but as someone genuinely trying to make sense of where golf is headed.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” he admits early in the video. The PGA Tour had suspended him for playing in an event connected to LIV — without securing a mandatory release. But instead of firing back, Bryan starts with something unexpected: gratitude.
He thanks the Tour. For the tournaments. For the platform. For the eight years of opportunities. It’s a tone that’s disarming — reflective rather than reactive. There’s no hint of rage. Only a desire to explain.
YouTube, LIV, and a Grey Area in the Rulebook
To understand the controversy, it helps to understand the event. “The Duels: Miami” wasn’t a traditional tournament. It wasn’t sanctioned, it wasn’t ranked, and it wasn’t played for a seven-figure purse. It was a content shoot — part challenge, part entertainment — streamed on YouTube, not broadcast on national television.
Bryan played alongside YouTubers and major champions alike, all of it captured on Grant Horvat’s channel. The problem? The PGA Tour’s policy requires players to seek permission before appearing in non-Tour events, particularly those linked to LIV Golf. Bryan didn’t — because, as he sees it, it wasn’t a competitive event at all.
For Bryan, YouTube isn’t a hobby. It’s a career lane that has grown up alongside his Tour life — one he’s cultivated for over a decade. It’s also part of a larger shift in golf, where Gen Z fans are just as likely to follow Grant Horvat or Rick Shiels as they are to tune into CBS on a Sunday.
“The Rule Was Not Meant To Cover Content Creation On Youtube”
Bryan makes it clear: this isn’t about defiance. It’s about definitions. He respects the PGA Tour, and he’s not looking to blow up the rulebook — but he is questioning whether the rules have kept up with the game.
“I want to be clear. I do respect the authorities that are in place at the tour, but because of the ambiguity and the rules and regulations that were written I do, a as a member of the PGA Tour, have a right to appeal their decision,” he says. “I don’t feel like when the rule was written, that it was meant to cover content creation on YouTube, I feel like it was meant to cover organized professional high-level golf events. And with that being said, I plan on carrying out my right to appeal.”
So, he’s appealing. Not to win an argument, but to seek clarity — for himself, for other content creators in golf, and for the next generation of players who might find themselves walking the same line between entertainment and elite sport.
What happens next will likely be decided behind closed doors. But the bigger question — how golf defines itself in the digital age — is one that’s far from settled.
A small mistake with big consequences: At the Corales Puntacana Championship, a breach of the rules was Ben Crane’s undoing. After making a mistake at the PGA Tour event, he disqualified himself.
On hole 8 of the third round in the Dominican Republic, the ball supposedly landed in the water after the tee shot. Crane then played a second ball from the tee, which came to rest near the penalty area. Once there, however, the American found two balls. His first ball had not landed in the water but hit the rocks and bounced back onto the course. Crane made a mistake in identifying the ball and inadvertently continued to play his first ball. As the second ball was already in play, this was illegal. It was not until the following hole that Crane discovered scratches on his ball caused by the impact with the rocks and realized his mistake.
Rules of golf: Wrong ball played
The Rules of Golf state that, as a rule, a hole must be played with one ball from start to finish. Rule 6.3b states: “If the player’s original ball has not been found and the player put another ball in play to take stroke-and-distance relief or as allowed under a Rule that applies when it is known or virtually certain what happened to the ball: The player must continue playing with the substituted ball, and the player must not play the original ball even if it is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time.”
If a player continues to play with the original ball, this is regarded as playing the wrong ball. According to Rule 6.3c(1), a player is obliged to correct a mistake before teeing off on the next hole. It states: “If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.”
Ben Crane addressed the public after the incident via his X account and described the situation from his perspective. He explained how the mistake came about and why he decided to take the consequences in the form of self-disqualification. His honest account and the decision to hold himself accountable were widely appreciated in the golf community.
Rory McIlroy passes the 100 million dollar mark in prize money and reaches a new career milestone. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy has reached another milestone in his impressive career: the Northern Irishman is only the second player in the history of the PGA Tour to pass the 100 million dollar mark in official prize money. Only Tiger Woods was able to break this mark before him. But how did McIlroy achieve this historic success, and can he even overtake Woods in the coming years?
Rory McIlroy’s recent successes bring crucial millions
A decisive factor in McIlroy’s financial success was his victory at the 2025 Players Championship. In a nerve-wracking play-off, he secured the title and the prize money of 4.5 million dollars from a total pool of 25 million US dollars.
Another lucrative highlight was his triumph at the 2024 DP World Tour Championship. With a final score of 15 under par and a flawless final round, McIlroy secured the prize money of 3 million dollars and further increased his financial cushion.
How prize money is transforming golf
McIlroy’s monetary success is not just a personal triumph, but also an indicator of the increasing commercialization of golf. Increasing sponsorship deals, growing media coverage and higher prize money have made the PGA Tour one of the most lucrative sports leagues in the world in recent decades.
McIlroy already topped the European Tour’s money list in 2018 after finishing in a tie for second place at the Open Championship. This took him over the €35 million mark in prize money on the European Tour.
Can McIlroy overtake Tiger Woods?
Despite McIlroy’s impressive financial record, Tiger Woods remains unrivaled with over 120 million dollars in official PGA Tour prize money. However, the rising prize money and McIlroy’s consistent performance could make the race for the number one spot in the money rankings exciting in the coming years.
At 35, McIlroy is at a stage where many golfers reach their financial peaks. If he continues to strategically participate in tournaments that pay out large prize money, he could actually catch up with Woods in the next few years.
McIlroy as a giant of golf
Rory McIlroy has played his way into the exclusive league of golf millionaires through a combination of sporting ability, strategic tournament planning and economic foresight. The coming years will show whether he can break Tiger Woods’ 120 million dollar mark. But one thing is certain: McIlroy is not just a top golfer – he is a brand in his own right.
The tickets for the US Masters 2025 are among the most coveted in golf (Photo: Getty)
When it comes to iconic sporting events, few can rival the allure of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Since its inaugural edition in 1934, the Masters has grown into one of golf’s four Major championships, attracting not only the world’s finest players but also a parade of celebrities, business magnates, and die-hard fans. The tournament’s tradition, the unique atmosphere, and the symbolic Green Jacket make it a dream for many fans. Unsurprisingly, demand for tickets is immense.
Masters 2025: A Golden Ticket for the Lucky Few
Every year, only a limited number of tickets are made available to the general public, and many fans find themselves empty-handed in their quest to witness the Masters in person. Official ticket prices are, by sporting standards, relatively moderate: Practice Round tickets (Monday to Wednesday) are priced at $100 per day, while Tournament Round tickets (Thursday to Sunday) cost $140 per day.
How to Get Tickets?
Most of these tickets are allocated through a lottery system run by Augusta National via the official Masters website. For the 2025 tournament, the application period took place in summer 2024. The exact number of available tickets is a closely guarded secret, making it difficult to gauge one’s chances of success.
If You’re Buying Now, Be Ready to Pay a Premium
For those who missed out in the lottery, the secondary market is the only remaining — and very expensive — option. According to Golf.com, platforms like StubHub and Viagogo list Practice Round tickets at around $1,500 per day. A full four-day tournament pass costs approximately $6,800. Tickets for the Final Round on Sunday are available from $1,800 upwards. Depending on demand, prices on these platforms can fluctuate dramatically, often reaching astronomical levels.
Buyer Beware: Risks of the Secondary Market
It’s important to note that reselling Masters tickets is officially prohibited. Any tickets acquired on the secondary market may be invalidated by tournament officials. Fans tempted to buy should exercise extreme caution and ensure they’re dealing with a reputable seller to avoid falling victim to scams.
Are There Any Alternatives to Experience the Masters in Augusta?
There are, but they come with their own hurdles:
Patron Badges
The coveted “Patron Badges” are effectively lifetime passes to the Masters — and beyond priceless. These badges are typically passed down within families and rarely change hands. On the open market, they’re virtually impossible to obtain.
Hospitality Packages
Several travel and hospitality providers offer premium Masters packages, which include tournament tickets, luxury accommodations, private transportation, and VIP access to exclusive areas of Augusta National. However, these packages command a hefty price tag — often running into the tens of thousands of dollars. Anyone considering this route should only book through verified, official partners.
Looking Ahead: Plan Early for Masters 2026
For fans hoping to secure a spot at Augusta in 2026, the lottery will reopen from June 1 to June 20, 2025. Early planning is key, as demand continues to climb year after year. It’s also worth exploring hospitality options and offers from official partners to maximize your chances of making that dream trip to Augusta a reality.
The PGA Tour Tee Times of the American Contingent. (Photo: Getty)
The PGA Tour rolls into Texas this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open, hosted at the ever-challenging Memorial Park Golf Course. With a par-70 layout and a purse of $9.5 million, this event is no mere warm-up—it’s a serious proving ground, especially with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Stephan Jaeger headlining a stacked field.
PGA Tour Tee Times: Americans in Action
Lanto Griffin will take to the course at 12:30 in the first round, playing alongside Chad Ramey and France’s Victor Perez. Their second round starts at 07:20.
The spotlight shines brightly on Rickie Fowler, who tees it up on Thursday at 13:03 alongside Scottie Scheffler and Sungjae Im. They’ll head out early on Friday at 07:53.
Tony Finau is paired with Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and Belgium’s Thomas Detry, teeing off at 13:14 for the first round. Their second round begins at 08:04.
The PGA Tour Tee Times of the British Contingent. (Photo: Getty)
As the PGA Tour shifts from the Florida Swing to Texas, all eyes turn to Memorial Park Golf Course for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The par-70 layout in the heart of Houston hosts one of the spring season’s key stops, offering a $9.5 million purse and a competitive field that includes defending champion Stephan Jaeger and world number one Scottie Scheffler. And Rory McIlroy returns to the event for the first time in over a decade.
PGA Tour Tee Times: The British Players
Danny Willett, representing England, starts his first round at 7:42 AM with Trey Mullinax from the USA and Mac Meissner also from the USA. For the second round, they will tee off at 12:52 PM.
Rory McIlroy opens his Houston campaign at 7:53 AM on Thursday alongside Americans Maverick McNealy and Wyndham Clark, with the same trio set to tee off again at 1:03 PM on Friday.
Harry Hall of England will tee off his first round at 8:37 AM with Mackenzie Hughes from Canada and Chris Gotterup from the USA. Their second-round tee time is at 1:47 PM.
Matt Wallace, also from England, starts at 1:25 PM for the first round with Gary Woodland from the USA and Matt McCarty from the USA. His second round will begin at 8:15 AM.
Aaron Rai from England tees at 1:36 PM with Adam Svensson from Canada and Seamus Power from Ireland. His second round is scheduled for 8:26 AM.
Paul Waring of England begins his first round at 2:31 PM alongside Jeremy Paul from Germany and Noah Kent from the USA. The second round will be at 9:21 AM.
Viktor Hovland is back in style. At the 2025 Valspar Championship, the Norwegian staged a dramatic finish, carding three birdies over his final five holes to secure his seventh PGA Tour title—and his first since winning the FedExCup in 2023. His equipment? A trusted blend of Ping, a new power-packed TaylorMade fairway wood, and familiar Titleist tools.
Driver: Still Trusting the Ping G425 LST
When it comes to the big stick, Hovland sticks with what works. The Ping G425 LST driver, set at 9 degrees, continues to offer him consistent distance and control off the tee. The “LST” stands for Low Spin Technology, and it delivers a strong combination of accuracy and power. Hovland has long favored this model, and it once again proved reliable on the tight fairways of Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course.
(Image: Ping)
New Addition: TaylorMade SIM Ti 3-Wood
One of the fresh additions to Hovland’s bag is the TaylorMade SIM Ti 3-wood. Set at 15 degrees, this titanium-built fairway wood features a hefty 80-gram V-shaped sole weight designed to reduce turf interaction and generate more clubhead speed. It’s a potent weapon both off the tee and from the fairway—perfect for aggressive play on longer holes.
(Image: TaylorMade)
Long Game Tools: Titleist Utility and Classic Ping Irons
Complementing his long game setup is the Titleist U505 utility iron, which Hovland continues to rely on in the 3-iron slot. This driving iron is known for its solid feel, high launch, and precision—ideal for controlled tee shots and approach play where hybrids might deliver too little spin.
(Image: Titleist)
From 4-iron through pitching wedge, Hovland remains loyal to the Ping i210 irons, a 2018 classic. These players’ irons pair a compact muscle-back look in the shorter irons with a thinner, more responsive face in the longer irons. It’s a setup that’s served him well over the years—and continues to do so on tour.
(Image: Ping)
Short Game Update: Ping s159 Wedges
For his wedge play, Hovland has recently transitioned to the Ping s159 wedges in 50° and 56°, both with the versatile S grind. Released in 2024, the s159 line boasts sharper grooves, optimized spin, and a buttery-soft feel—ideal for a variety of conditions around the green.
(Image: Ping)
Completing his wedge setup is a familiar piece: the Ping Glide 2.0 lob wedge at 60° with a T grind, allowing Hovland to get creative with delicate shots and challenging lies close to the pin.
(Image: Ping)
On the Greens: Trusting the Ping PLD Prototype
On the putting surface, Hovland continues to roll with his Ping PLD DS72 prototype—the same model he wielded with confidence during his FedExCup run. Its milled face and copper finish make it both a performer and a standout in the bag. On Sunday’s back nine, it once again proved its worth.
(Image: Ping)
The Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Hovland rounds out his setup with the Titleist Pro V1. Known for its slightly flatter flight and consistent spin profile, the Pro V1 delivers in all phases—especially in the short game, where its soft feel and responsive touch give Hovland the control he needs.
Rory McIlroy is closing the gap on Scottie Scheffler in the World Golf Ranking. (Photos: Getty)
For a long time, nothing has changed at the top of the world golf rankings: one name has been there for 95 weeks – Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler’s exceptional season in 2024 gave him a huge lead in the OWGR ranking. He was the undisputed leader and for a long time it looked as if no one could even come close to challenging him. But with his victory at the Players Championship 2025 and the title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February of this year, Rory McIlroy is getting closer and closer – and it actually seems possible now that he could overtake Scheffler and take back the top spot.
World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy is gaining ground on Scottie Scheffler
Mathematically, McIlroy could become the world number one again in just one month: if he wins both the Masters and the RBC Heritage and Scheffler performs poorly at both tournaments, McIlroy could soon call himself the best player in the world again.
The Northern Irishman has already announced that he will play in the Houston Open (March 27-30) before the Masters. But even a victory there would not be enough to take the top spot in the world rankings with a Masters victory – there are not enough world ranking points for that. In addition, Rory McIlroy is increasing his lead in the Ryder Cup qualification list: he is well ahead of Tyrrell Hatton in second place among the first-qualified players.
The top 10 of the world ranking otherwise remained stable after the Players Championship, with the exception of Tommy Fleetwood, who rose one place to 9th place, and Justin Thomas, who fell to 10th place.
