Monetary boost for Koepka, relief for Faldo, Tiger Woods’ birthday bash, a bold robbery, Daly’s new spot. The Back Nine.
Not everyone was pleased: Vijay Singh literally draws his tour card via career earnings exemption at the age of 62 – and of course, there are voices complaining that the Fijian takes a start spot from those who urgently need tournament entries to secure their livelihood. There’s some truth to that, as Singh’s career prize money exceeds 71 million dollars, meaning he probably no longer worries about daily bread. But the three-time major winner is a true sportsman with a strong competitive drive, especially a ‘training beast,’ and wants to compete again – 24 years after his PGA Tour debut at 29 and 34 tournament wins later. He is tempted by testing himself against much younger players. Moreover, if the rule granting a tour card by career money exemption for a season of choice exists…
Singh made an immediate impact on his first re-start on the tour. The veteran qualified for the weekend at the Sony Open with rounds of 68 and 70 strokes. Barely, but still. This makes Singh the oldest player since Fred Couples in 2023 Masters to make a cut on the PGA Tour. With his weekend play in Hawaii, Singh achieved the rare feat of making a cut on the PGA Tour in his fourth decade as a pro. Overall, he now has 506 of 638 cuts made and finished tied 40th after subsequent rounds of 68 and 69 strokes with five under par for the tournament.
Koepka Allowed to Compete for FedEx Cup Millions
Another Lex Koepka? The LIV returnee could still make a lot of money this season. Brooks Koepka had originally agreed to rejoin the PGA Tour with conditions to donate five million dollars to charity, forgo shares of the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program for five years, and abstain from the FedEx Cup bonus pool, which will be funded with 40 million dollars in 2026, paid out at the Tour Championship. However, this prize money was recently declared official earnings by the tour. The five-time major winner can now compete for the ten million dollar winner’s check and prize money for places, provided he qualifies for the season finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Sir Nick Faldo: Open-Heart Surgery
Looking ahead to the Masters: Sir Nick Faldo underwent open-heart surgery in the USA and now reports back cheerfully on social media. The six-time major winner, now 68 years old, spent two weeks with his wife Lindsay in Cleveland and had his enlarged aorta corrected preventively by the renowned heart surgeon Dr. Lars Svensson at the Cleveland Clinic. ‘Home has never felt so good,’ Faldo conveys, who will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his last of three Green Jackets (1989, 1990, 1996) at the 90th Masters next April.
Highlights from Tiger Woods’ Birthday Bash
Record keeping duty: Here are some impressions from the gala event for Tiger Woods’ 50th birthday, hosted