Financial outlook for Koepka, relief for Faldo, Woods’ birthday celebration, a brazen robbery, Daly’s new campsite. The Back Nine.
Not everyone was pleased: Vijay Singh literally cashes in his tour card at the tender age of 62 – and of course, some voices are grumbling. For example, that the man from Fiji is taking a start spot from those who desperately need tournament appearances to secure their livelihood. There is some truth to that, since with career prize money of over 71 million dollars, Singh probably no longer has to worry about making ends meet. But the three-time major winner is a competitor at heart and a ‘training beast’ who wants to have another go – 24 years after his PGA Tour debut at 29 and 34 tournament wins later. He is motivated by competing against much younger players. Moreover, the rule allowing a tour card via career earnings exemption for a season of the player’s choice exists for a reason.
Singh immediately proved himself at his first tour restart. 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 at the Masters to make a cut on the PGA Tour. With his weekend performance in Hawaii, Singh achieved the rare feat of making a cut on the PGA Tour in the fourth decade of his professional career. He now has a total of 506 cuts made out of 638 attempts and finished tied for 40th place with further rounds of 68 and 69 strokes, five under par for the tournament.
Koepka Allowed to Compete for FedEx Cup Millions
Another Lex Koepka? The LIV returnee could make serious money this season. Originally, Brooks Koepka agreed to rejoin the PGA Tour under conditions that included donating five million dollars to charity, forfeiting shares in the Player Equity Program, and opting out of participation in the FedEx Cup bonus pool filled with 40 million dollars in 2026. However, this prize money was recently declared official prize money by the tour. The five-time major winner is now eligible to compete for the ten million dollar winner’s check and other cash prizes if he qualifies for the season finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Sir Nick Faldo: Open-Heart Surgery and Recovery
Looking ahead to the Masters: Sir Nick Faldo underwent open-heart surgery in the USA and has returned in good spirits on social media. The six-time major winner, now 68 years old, spent two weeks in Cleveland with his wife Lindsay and had his ascending aorta repaired prophylactically at the Cleveland Clinic by renowned heart surgeon Dr. Lars Svensson. \”Home has never felt so good,\” Faldo shared, 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 Celebration
As a matter of record: here are some highlights from the gala event commemorating Tiger Woods’ 50th birthday, hosted by his TGR Foundation