Matt Fitzpatrick captures his third DP World Tour Championship title after a dramatic playoff against Rory McIlroy.
Tag: Ryder Cup
German players remain mid-pack while a tight leaderboard battle unfolds for PGA Tour cards at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Rory McIlroy heads into the final round of the DP World Tour Championship tied for the lead, with many contenders close behind.
Matt Fitzpatrick jumps into contention at the DP World Tour Championship with a stunning eagle on the front nine.
Justin Thomas has undergone back surgery and will miss the start of the 2026 season. His return date remains uncertain.
Thomas Rosenmüller made a strong move on Day 2 of the PGA Tour event in Bermuda. All three Germans made the cut.
Join Golf Post in early summer 2026 for an unforgettable golf trip to Lake Wörthersee in scenic Carinthia, Austria.
Golf in 2024 wasn’t just about birdies and bogeys. From legal entanglements and organizational blunders to unruly fan behavior, the year highlighted how golf often took a backseat to off-course drama. Here are the most talked-about moments.
Police Cars on the Fairway: Scottie Scheffler’s PGA Championship Saga
Sometimes reality outshines fiction. On the morning of the second round of the PGA Championship, world number one Scottie Scheffler found himself in an unexpected setting: handcuffed in the back of a police car.
The bizarre incident stemmed from a misunderstanding. While heading to the Valhalla Golf Club, Scheffler attempted to bypass a roadblock, assuming participants were allowed through. Unaware of his identity, the officers detained him briefly. Despite the ordeal, Scheffler made it to his tee time, but the episode became a defining narrative of the tournament.
The usually composed Texan caused yet another stir at the BMW Championship.
During the second round at Castle Pines, nothing seemed to go Scottie Scheffler’s way. After a poorly executed approach shot sent his ball into the water, his frustration boiled over into an uncharacteristically emotional outburst. “How is that possible? What the f*ck! That’s impossible!” he shouted, his caddie, Ted Scott, silently walking ahead.
The incident was followed by a double bogey, and Scheffler’s round ended on a disappointing even par.
WM Phoenix Open: When the Party Spirals Out of Control
Known as one of the liveliest stops on the golf calendar, the 2024 WM Phoenix Open teetered on the edge of chaos. With over 50 arrests, countless reports of alcohol-related misconduct, and overcrowded stands, the event’s exuberance reached its tipping point.
The 16th hole, famous for its electric atmosphere, became a safety concern as fans packed in beyond capacity. Organizers temporarily shut the gates, vowing stricter controls and considering attendance limits for future events. While players like Sahith Theegala praised the passionate crowd, others called for a return to a more traditional tournament ethos.
No Dutch Golfers at the Olympics: A Scandal in Paris
In one of the year’s most contentious stories, the Dutch Golf Federation barred its players from competing in the Paris Olympics, despite them meeting the qualification criteria. Joost Luiten, Darius van Driel, and Dewi Weber were deemed unlikely to finish in the top eight, prompting the federation to withhold their entries.
Luiten took legal action and won. However, by the time the ruling was made, his spot had been given to another player. This debacle underscored how bureaucratic decisions can overshadow athletes’ aspirations, sparking widespread criticism across the golf community.
Fitzpatrick’s Broken Driver Sparks Rule Debates
The BMW Championship brought golf’s rulebook under scrutiny when Matt Fitzpatrick was denied a replacement for his cracked driver. Despite visible damage affecting performance, officials ruled the defect insufficient to warrant a replacement.
Forced to finish his round without a driver, Fitzpatrick called the decision “an absolute disgrace.” The incident ignited debates on social media, with fans and experts alike calling for modernized rules to avoid such controversies in the future.
Empty Stands at the Solheim Cup: A Transportation Fiasco
The 2024 Solheim Cup started on a sour note due to massive logistical failures. Shuttle services intended to transport fans to Virginia’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Club collapsed under the strain, leaving thousands stranded in long lines while players teed off to sparse crowds.
Players like Lexi Thompson worked hard to energize the few attendees, but the iconic opening atmosphere was noticeably lacking. Organizers faced heavy criticism and pledged to overhaul the transport system for future events.
First tee shot goes in the air at 7:05 (in 25 minutes) and there are so many empty seats. Serious transportation issues going on this morning. Wish they could push back tee times but too much golf to get in. pic.twitter.com/VMSK9V2bh0
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) September 13, 2024
Ryder Cup 2025: Golf for the Elite?
Even before its first shot, the 2025 Ryder Cup stirred controversy with record-breaking ticket prices, reaching up to $749 for a single day. Fans voiced frustrations, accusing organizers of turning the beloved event into an exclusive luxury experience.
While the PGA of America defended the pricing as reflective of the tournament’s premium status, the backlash highlighted growing concerns about alienating the sport’s broader fanbase. Many wonder if the Ryder Cup’s spirit can survive this shift toward exclusivity.
The PGA of America has made a historic decision: Effective immediately, American Ryder Cup players and captains will receive direct compensation. Of the total 500,000 dollars that each player receives for their participation, 300,000 dollars will continue to go to charitable organizations. However, the remaining 200,000 dollars can be used freely by the athletes for the first time. The new regulation is causing discussion on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ryder Cup: Pay to play – or paid to play?
The PGA emphasized in its statement that the players had not actively asked for compensation. Nevertheless, the PGA believes it is justified to reward the players’ achievements. An official statement said: “The players and captains of the past and present are responsible for making the Ryder Cup one of the most special competitions in golf and one of the most sought-after events on the international sporting scene.” Since 1999, the amount of 200,000 dollars for charity has not been adjusted.
The news of the new compensation scheme triggered controversial reactions. European players such as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry made it clear that for them the honor of taking part in the Ryder Cup was above all else – so much so that they would even pay for it. Tiger Woods countered these comments with a clear statement: “If the Europeans want to pay for the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision.”
Despite the new addition, the American team seems to be keeping charity in mind. Captain Keegan Bradley announced that the players could donate the entire amount of 500,000 dollars. However, the decision of how to use the 200,000 dollars is up to each player. The discussion over the payments has sparked an unexpectedly emotional December – nine months before the 2025 Ryder Cup at the iconic Bethpage Black. While the USA is changing its structure, Europe is sticking to its tradition of playing exclusively for charity.
Hot Stuff: What a fuss there was about tickets for next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. ‘Scandal, profiteering, we’re being ripped off’, was the cry in view of the 750 dollars excluding fees etc. for a day ticket to the continental competition on a public golf course, for which the green fee is 75 dollars. But what can we say: the event was sold out within a few hours.
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According to the organising PGA of America, the tickets were sent to 47 countries, including 2,500 tickets to Europe. In addition to the 750 dollars per day, there were also 200 dollars in fees and 60 dollars for a parking ticket. Those who arrived too late can at best hope to be successful with SeatGeek, the PGA of America’s partner for the resale of tickets.
— PGA of America (@PGA) November 13, 2024
Written by Michael Basche