Tag: live-pga-tour

Categories
PGA Tour

TGL: Internationality and Team Spirit at The Bay Golf Club

The players of The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry. (Photos: Getty)
The players of The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry. (Photos: Getty)

The Bay Golf Club will start in the TGL from January 2025. The American West Coast team bears the name of the “Bay Area” around San Francisco. The main investor is Avenue Sports Fund, and NBA superstar Stephen Curry is also on board.

Marc Lasry, CEO of Avenue Capital Group, emphasized the importance of the region and the innovative focus of the team: “Avenue Sports Fund invested in The Bay Golf Club because we are excited to bring a new team and innovative game to the growing number of Golf fans regionally and nationally,” said Lasry.

TGL: Players at The Bay Golf Club

The team is characterized in particular by the internationality of its squad: With team members from Sweden, the USA, Ireland and Australia, it unites three continents.

Ludvig Åberg experienced a meteoric rise as a professional. The talented Swede turned professional in 2023 and quickly established himself on the PGA Tour. In the same year, he celebrated his first title win at the RSM Classic and successfully represented Team Europe at the Ryder Cup.

The team also has a major winner in Wyndham Clark: the American triumphed at the US Open in 2023 and added two more PGA Tour titles to his record. In 2024, he represented the USA at the Olympic Games and the Presidents Cup.

The third member of the team, Min Woo Lee, has already celebrated international success and achieved several top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. The Australian is also very active on social media and is appreciated for his humorous nature.

Shane Lowry is known for his great passion for team competitions, which he also demonstrated as part of the victorious 2023 Ryder Cup team. His victory at the Open in 2019 represents his greatest individual success. The professional from Ireland, who has been active on the international golf scene since 2009, brings a wealth of experience with him.

Behind the Scenes in the Simulator

A series of short videos published by The Bay Golf Club on Instagram give an insight into the team’s press day. You can see game scenes in the simulator, including playing from an indoor bunker and on the putting green.

 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von the smylie show (@thesmylieshow)

TGL: The Most Important Information on “The Bay Golf Club” at a Glance

Teamname The Bay Golf Club
The Four Players  Ludvig Åberg (Sweden), Wyndham Clark (USA), Min Woo Lee (Australia), Shane Lowry (Ireland)
Ownership Avenue Sports Fund with Marc Lasry, Stephen Curry
Limited Partners Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Alex Albon, Leonardo Fioravanti, Kanoa Igarashi, John Stones
Logo Landscape with three sequoias, a golf ball in the background
Team Colors Green, Turquoise

Match Dates:

  • January 7, 2025: vs. New York Golf Club
  • February 17, 2025: vs. Atlanta Drive Golf Club
  • February 17, 2025: vs. Boston Common Golf
  • February 25, 2025: vs. Florida Jupiter Links Golf Club
  • March 3, 2025: vs. Los Angeles Golf Club
Categories
LIV Tour PGA Tour

PGA destroys LIV Golf: A showdown at Shadow Creek

The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)
The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)

It was billed as a clash of giants, but in the end the “showdown” between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour at Shadow Creek turned out to be a one-sided affair. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA Tour) gave their opponents Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (LIV Golf) no chance and showed who currently has the upper hand in professional golf.

Rory McIlroy’s: A picture-book eagle putt

Scheffler and McIlroy made it clear from the very first minute that they had arrived as favorites. Rory McIlroy, who was on top form right from the start, provided the highlight of the evening with an eagle putt over 12 meters on the fourth hole. “Rory’s start was important for our team,” said Scheffler, praising his partner. This gave the PGA stars an unassailable lead early on.

Rusty and outclassed: LIV remains without a chance

DeChambeau and Koepka, who had not competed since the end of the LIV season in September, looked visibly rusty and were unable to counter the pressure from their opponents.

The format of the match was divided into three segments: a six-hole four-ball match, a six-hole four-ball match and singles matches over the last six holes. Despite the different formats, the LIV players were not in the lead in any of the matches. In the four-ball, they were already hopelessly behind after just four holes, and Koepka also sealed the loss of points in the foursome with a three-putt bogey on the last hole.

The singles matches on the last six holes finally decided the outcome: McIlroy and Scheffler won confidently, and the match ended on the 16th hole – before the spectators even got to see the famous par-3 17th hole at Shadow Creek.

DeChambeau, who wore an oversized jacket against the chilly evening air during the match, was nevertheless combative: “I’d love to get another opportunity,” said DeChambeau. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”

Scheffler and McIlroy’s victory earned them 5 million dollars each in cryptocurrency and capped off a successful year for both players. Scheffler had previously won in the Bahamas, while McIlroy had won the European Tour final in Dubai.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour seeks CEO for the first time: New leadership for new challenges

PGA Tour seeks CEO to support Jay Monahan for the first time (Photo: Getty)
PGA Tour seeks CEO to support Jay Monahan for the first time (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Tour is facing a historic change: for the first time in its history, a CEO is being sought who will work closely with Commissioner Jay Monahan. Monahan, the PGA Tour’s top executive since 2017, has initiated numerous reforms during his tenure, including the expansion of international tournaments and the increase in prize money. He currently faces the challenge of leading the Tour through a period of profound change, characterized by economic investment and competition from LIV Golf.

This decision marks a milestone in the restructuring of the organization, which is being driven by a $1.5 billion investment from private equity firms, notably Strategic Sports Group (SSG), as well as strategic partnerships such as with Fenway Sports Group. SSG is an alliance of leading US sports entrepreneurs working with the PGA Tour to strengthen its commercial objectives. In early 2024, the SSG made a $1.5 billion investment that went towards the creation of PGA Tour Enterprises, a for-profit subsidiary of the Tour.

Strategic realignment for the economic future of the PGA Tour

Jay Monahan announced the search in a year-end message and emphasized the opportunity to bring new perspectives to the leadership team. “Everything is on the table,” Monahan explained optimistically. The aim of the realignment is to secure the sporting and economic future of the PGA Tour and at the same time strengthen the integration of player interests.

While the Tour is seeking an agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which is a minority investor in LIV Golf, negotiations are still ongoing. Nevertheless, the first signs of rapprochement between PGA Tour and LIV Golf players can be seen at “The Showdown”, an exhibition match between top players from both camps – a small step towards reconciliation on the golf horizon.

The new CEO will play a key role in the strategic leadership of PGA Tour Enterprises, which oversees the Tour’s profitable businesses. The search committee, led by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, includes high-profile members such as Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. In parallel, the PGA Tour is planning innovative changes, including the modernization of the PGA Tour Studios for content production and the introduction of new competition formats, such as the TGL (Tomorrow Golf League), which launches in January.

The restructuring of the PGA Tour takes place in an environment of numerous changes in professional golf. In addition to the PGA Tour’s CEO search, the LPGA, the PGA of America and LIV Golf are also looking for new leadership.

Categories
PGA Tour

TGL Los Angeles Golf Club: Star Power and Experience Combined in California

The team members of the Los Angeles Golf Club of the TGL: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. (Photos: Getty)
The team members of the Los Angeles Golf Club of the TGL: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. (Photos: Getty)

The TGL is in the starting blocks and the Los Angeles Golf Club is getting ready for its launch in January. Founded by Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, the team is aiming to establish the new league as a pioneering golf innovation in Los Angeles. “Los Angeles is the perfect home for our TGL team. This city embodies the intersection of sports, technology, and entertainment, making it an ideal backdrop for the innovation and excitement we aim to bring to the world of golf and its fans,” explains Ohanian. The aim is to make golf accessible to everyone.

TGL: The Players at Los Angeles Golf Club

The team is made up of Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood and combines experience, star power and numerous successes.

Collin Morikawa, a native of Los Angeles, is a two-time major winner. In addition to his major successes, he has won several tournaments on the PGA Tour and won the 2021 Race to Dubai.

Sahith Theegala, who also grew up in California, has been playing on the PGA Tour since 2022. He has already won a title there and achieved several top 5 finishes.

The LAGC also has a very experienced player in Justin Rose. The Englishman turned professional in 1998 and has enjoyed numerous successes since then. His outstanding achievements include five Ryder Cup appearances, winning the 2016 Olympic gold medal and eleven titles on the PGA Tour. As a former world number one, Rose is one of the most consistent players of his generation.

Like Rose, the fourth team player, Tommy Fleetwood, comes from England. Fleetwood has already proven his strength in team events on several occasions. His match at the 2023 Ryder Cup was the deciding point. While he has already celebrated several victories on the DP World Tour, he has so far been denied a title on the PGA Tour, although he has already finished second and third there several times.

TGL: The Most Important Information about the “Los Angeles Golf Club” at a Glance

Team Name Los Angeles Golf Club
The Four PlayersCollin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala (both from the USA), Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood (both from England)
InvestorsAlexis Ohanian, Seven Seven Six, Neal Hubman, Serena Williams, Venus Williams
Limited PartnersAntetokounmpo Brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, Michelle Wie West, Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Shonda Rhimes
LogoThe letters “LA” in the foreground, a driver in the background
Team ColorsBlack, White

Match dates

January 14, 2025: vs. Florida Jupiter Links GC
February 4, 2025: vs. Boston Common Golf
February 17, 2025: vs. Atlanta Drive GC
February 24, 2025: vs. New York Golf Club
March 3, 2025: vs. The Bay Golf Club

Categories
Panorama

Tiger Woods on the TGL Mega Simulator

Photo: Getty
Photo: Getty

And he’s still playing: … again. Tiger Woods may not have made it onto the course and into the walking game at his Hero World Challenge, but the almost 49-year-old (December 30) is still able to play standing golf despite the sixth back operation he underwent in September. The 15-time major winner recently personally inspected the action area at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens/Florida, where the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he and his business partners Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley are staging with their joint company TMRW Sports, starts on January 7. Woods himself enters the competition with Jupiter Links on January 14, week two, against Los Angeles.

This week, he will then be able to ride in a cart when he and his son Charlie compete in the family tournament PNC Championship for the fifth time and try to make life difficult for the Daly duo and the defending champions Bernhard and Jason Langer.

Categories
Panorama

Friendship instead of“The Feud”: Koepka Calls DeChambeau a “Good Dude”

Will rivalry be followed by friendship? (Photo: Getty)
Will rivalry be followed by friendship? (Photo: Getty)

The Brooks-Bryson battle, the PR stunt implemented in golf history as The Feud, is a thing of the past: “We all get older, we all mature a bit, and then you realize: Hey, Bryson’s a good dude,” admitted the five-time major winner a few days ago, calling the two-time US Open champion and LIV colleague a ‘good dude’, with whom he will compete tomorrow in Las Vegas against PGA Tour stalwarts Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Before this duel, which has been stylized as “The Showdown”, the admission is of course no less promotional than the dispute that the two individualists had before switching to the competitive circuit: The emotional element now makes for a few headlines at the appropriate time; they’re letting it get a little human this time. “I think he’s severly misunderstood and I think the world is acutally starting to really see who Bryson DeChambeau really is,” added Koepka, and hit the tear ducts again: ”I’m the first person to admit it, I was wrong with what my original thoughts were.”

From Rivals to Stepbrothers: DeChambeau’s and Koepka’s Journey

The former rival and new buddy naturally returned the favor, which was certainly in the marketing strategists’ script. “I’ve always had respect for Brooks and what he’s done,” DeChambeau commented on Koepka’s statements. “Obviously, early on, we didn’t really understand each other. We had our spats, but when we both went to LIV, we realized we had quite a few things in common. Like stepbrothers, in a sense.” Ah, and so close to the festive season. It’s almost like a Christmas story, isn’t it?

Categories
Panorama PGA Tour

Woods’ Comeback: Tiger and Charlie at the 2024 PNC Championship

Tiger Woods and son Charlie at the 2023 PNC Championship in Florida. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods and son Charlie at the 2023 PNC Championship in Florida. (Photo: Getty)

Former world number one Tiger Woods will once again play alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando next week. Earlier this month, Woods said he was not “tournament sharp” due to his recovery from back surgery in September. However, Woods is now healthy enough to compete with his 15-year-old son Charlie in this special father-son tournament, where players are allowed to use golf carts.

Woods and his Son Charlie Back on the Green

Woods, who turns 49 this month, has not played since The Open in July, where he missed the cut for the third time in a row. The PNC Championship now offers him the opportunity to return to the course in a more relaxed atmosphere. The father-son duo finished fifth last year and tied for second in 2021.

“I’m very excited to head back to the PNC Championship next week with Charlie”, Tiger Woods said in a statement. “Playing together is something we look forward to, and it’s always more special when you’re surrounded by friends and family.”

A Game of Generations

The tournament attracts current and former professional Tour golfers who play with a parent or child. German legend Bernhard Langer and his son Jason return to defend their title. Fijian Vijay Singh and his son Qass, as well as American Nelly Korda and her father Petr will also be in Florida.

Woods did not take part in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last week to continue recovering from his sixth publicized back surgery – the first since 2021 – and missed most of the 2023 season due to a lower leg fusion needed to treat post-traumatic arthritis he suffered in a car accident in 2021.

Categories
PGA Tour

Three Times in a Row: Scottie Scheffler Is Once Again Player of the Year

Scottie Scheffler is PGA Tour Player of the Year 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler is PGA Tour Player of the Year 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler has made golfing history by becoming only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award for Player of the Year on the PGA Tour for the third time in a row. The 28-year-old American and current world number one received an impressive 91 percent of the votes from his fellow players. While Rory McIlroy has won the award three times, Scheffler and Woods are the only two players to have won it three times in a row.

Seven Tour Titles and Olympic Gold for Scheffler

Scheffler won a total of seven titles in the 2024 season, including his second Masters title at Augusta National in April. He is the first player since Woods in 2007 to win seven titles in a single season. In addition, he capped off his outstanding season by winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. Scheffler says he reserved his best golf for his victory at the Olympics, calling that triumphant moment the highlight of his career.

“I think we’re always looking to compare somebody to Tiger Woods,” Scheffler said after receiving the award. “I saw it a lot growing up, but there’s really only one Tiger – that’s just kind of it.” Woods has won the award 11 times in his career, including five in a row between 1999 and 2003 and three in a row from 2005 through 2007.

The Player of the Year award was determined by a member vote. PGA Tour members who participated in at least 15 events during the 2024 season were eligible to vote. The voting period ran from November 25 to December 4. Scheffler won an impressive 91 percent of the votes from his fellow players, underlining his undisputed status in the golf world.

Categories
Panorama

TGL New York Golf Club: Star Players and Prominent Investors

The players of TGL Team "New York Golf Club": Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick. (Photos: Getty)
The players of TGL Team "New York Golf Club": Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick. (Photos: Getty)

Cohen Private Ventures recently announced that the New York Golf Club is backed by a group of prominent investors, including Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia (both former professional baseball players), John McEnroe (former tennis player), Eli Manning and Michael Strahan (both former NFL players) and Jimmy Fallon. The New York Golf Club is one of the teams in the TGL, a golf league founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley. Steve A. Cohen, known as the owner of the New York Mets, acquired the rights to the team in September 2023.

Four of the new investors of the TGL team “New York Golf Club”. From left: Eli Manning, Jimmy Fallon, Michael Strahan, Derek Jeter. (Photos: Getty)

TGL New York Golf Club: The Players

The player line-up includes PGA Tour players Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young, and Rickie Fowler. This line-up was announced back in April 2024 and combines experience, success and team spirit.

World number two Xander Schauffele can look back on an outstanding 2024 season: with victories at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, he secured two major titles and cemented his reputation as one of the best players in the world. Schauffele already won the Olympic gold medal in 2020 and has been consistently in the top 10 of the world rankings for years.

Matt Fitzpatrick, also a major winner, triumphed at the U.S. Open in 2022. He has also enjoyed several successes on the PGA Tour, most recently winning the RBC Heritage 2023, as well as on the DP World Tour.

Cameron Young brings a breath of fresh air to the team as a rookie. The native New Yorker was named Rookie of the Year in 2022 and impressed with several top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. He narrowly missed out on victory at the 2022 Open Championship.

Rickie Fowler has been active on the PGA Tour since 2009 and has achieved several victories and numerous top 10 finishes in those years. Having played in five Ryder Cups and three Presidents Cups, he has plenty of experience in the team format. For Fowler, the team game is a special affair of the heart in which he always gives his all with passion.

The Team at the Tonight Show

In November, the four team members paid a visit to Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show in New York to talk to the new investor about TGL.

 
 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von The Tonight Show (@fallontonight)

A video released by the PGA Tour shows highlights of the New York TGL team members’ visit to New York City. Among other things, they can be seen hitting balls in the simulator and talking to new investor and former NFL quarterback Eli Manning at a press event.

TGL was originally scheduled to start in 2024, but the start date has now been set for January 7, 2025. The schedule has also been finalized. In the innovative league, six teams of PGA Tour players will compete against each other in matches. Each match lasts around two hours and is played in a specially designed simulator arena in Palm Beach, Florida. The arena features a giant screen, virtual putting greens and a live audience.

TGL: All important information about the “New York Golf Club” at a glance

Team NameNew York Golf Club
The Four PlayersXander Schauffele, Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler (alle USA) und Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
InvestorsSteve Cohen and Cohen Private Ventures, Jimmy Fallon, Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, John McEnroe, Michael Strahan
LogoA blue bird, inspired by the official New York state bird, the Eastern bluebird
Team ColorsNew York Navy (dark blue), Birdie Blue (medium blue), Hudson Mist (light gray)

Match dates
January 7, 2025: vs. The Bay Golf Club
January 21, 2025: vs. Atlanta Drive GC
February 18, 2025: vs. Jupiter Links GC
February 24, 2025: vs. Los Angeles Golf Club
March 3, 2025: vs. Boston Common Golf

Categories
Panorama

Scottie Scheffler and the Spirit of Christmas: Money in Golf is Just a Bonus

Scottie Scheffler’s Hero World Challenge win brings Christmas cheer with triumph, faith, and heartfelt giving for a greater cause. (Photos: Getty)

Title defense? Check. Ninth victory of the year? Check. Another million dollars earned? Check. The opening story in this section rightfully belongs to Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the Hero World Challenge 2024 for most of the tournament—using a newfound claw grip for short putts, no less.

 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

This sets the perfect stage for what the 28-year-old shared in his media appearance before the event. When journalists pressed him for details on his conversations with the inactive host, Tiger Woods, during the Pro-Am, Scheffler was in a playful mood. “I think most of the time we just talk about money and how the purses need to be bigger,” he joked. “Today we really grinded on the Ryder Cup and how it’s just such BS that we’ve never gotten paid. Tiger was really frustrated, he feels like he hasn’t made enough money in his career. I feel the same way, I feel like last year I didn’t get paid enough for what I did. Mostly that, just a bunch of griping.”

 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Golf Digest (@golfdigest)

The laughter wasn’t necessary to signal that Scheffler wasn’t being serious. Yet, when it came to the topic of money later, the devout Christian and good-hearted Texan turned reflective—and honest. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t play golf for money. I’ve been playing golf my whole life for free and the money’s just a bonus. If somebody wants to pay us to come out here and play golf, that’s great, I’m not going to say no to it. I’m going to do the best I can in my community to steward that money well.”

It sounded like a Christmas sermon on the true values of the game and a tribute to its “Spirit of the Game.” Amid the greed often seen in professional golf and the obsession with money, one is inclined to believe the modest and grounded world No. 1. After his latest triumph in the Bahamas, Scheffler surpassed $30 million in prize money for the year.

A prime example of his humility is his trusty old GMC Yukon XL, which he’s driven since 2012 and is now auctioning off for pediatric cancer care. The arrival of baby Bennett prompted the realization: “I definitely drove it for too long,” Scheffler told Golfweek. Incidentally, the first bid of over $50,000 for the GMC came from CBS broadcasting legend Jim Nantz.

 
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Golf Digest (@golfdigest)