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Rory McIlroy: World number two consults Tiger Woods' ex-coach Butch Harmon before Masters

Rory McIlroy has consulted Tiger Woods' former coach Butch Harmon in a bid to address the issues in his game prior to his latest bid to win The Masters.

World number two McIlroy will become the sixth player to win all four men's majors if he wins next week's Masters.

But with just one top-20 finish on the PGA Tour this season, the 34-year-old has sought Harmon's help.

Harmon, 80, worked with Woods for his first eight major wins before splitting with the then-world number one in 2002.

"I went last week to see Butch Harmon for a golf lesson," McIlroy told the I Can Fly podcast.

"I've seen him over the years, like once every few years. I'll say, 'Hey, Butch, can I just come see you and you can take a look and see what you think'."

McIlroy's long-time coach is fellow Northern Irishman Michael Bannon, although the four-time major winner has also worked with Englishman Pete Cowen.

Florida-based McIlroy added that when he was leaving for the airport for his trip to meet Harmon in Las Vegas, his daughter Poppy asked him where he was going.

When he said he was going for a golf lesson, McIlroy added: "She said, 'Dada, you already know how to play golf'. That's probably the best piece of advice I've gotten in the last three years."

Harmon has also coached Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Greg Norman to major triumphs.

McIlroy has made nine unsuccessful attempts at Augusta to complete the career Grand Slam, with his best finish a second place behind Scottie Scheffler in 2022, in addition to five other performances in the top 10.


BBC
 
Texas Open: Rory McIlroy six shots off lead as Akshay Bhatia sets pace

Akshay Bhatia shot a nine-under-par 63 to open up a three-shot lead after the first round of the Texas Open.

Fellow Americans Brendon Todd and Justin Lower are tied for second at the Tournament Players Club in San Antonio.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is six shots off the lead after a bogey-free 69 in his final tournament before The Masters next week.

"My game over the last few months has been quite volatile, so [I am] pretty happy to play a solid round," he said.

World number two McIlroy made three birdies, including a 13ft putt on the par-five eighth, in blustery conditions.

The four-time major champion has been working with Tiger Woods' former coach Butch Harmon to make minor adjustments to his game.

"He gave me a tiny little something that I went with. It's felt a little better over the last two weeks and felt pretty good out there," McIlroy told PGA Tour.com., external

"What I've been trying to do the last couple weeks is no different than what I've been trying to do previously. He just sort of gave me a different way to do it."

Scotland's Martin Laird and Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are eight shots off the lead on one under.


BBC
 
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy lost ground at the Texas Open with a level-par 72 in the third round.

The world number two was six shots behind leader Akshay Bhatia but is now 10 adrift after the 22-year-old American fired a four-under par 68.

McIlroy made only one bogey over the first two days but started Saturday with a double bogey.

Although the 34-year-old gave himself hope when he birdied his last two holes, Bhatia then did just the same.


BBC
 
LIV golfer Joaquin Niemann says the breakaway tour needs to be recognised in the official world rankings because the current system can be "a lie".

With LIV events not given ranking points, Chile's Niemann is 91st in the world yet among the favourites to win the Masters at Augusta on Sunday.

He won two of LIV's first three events in 2024, continuing his form having won the Australian Open in December.

"Right now the game is divided and it is not helping," Niemann said.

"It is hard to get a ranking system where everyone is happy."

Niemann, 25, has been given a special invitation to play at the Masters, which begins at Augusta National on Thursday and concludes on Sunday.


BBC
 
Akshay Bhatia overcame a shoulder injury and a stunning surge from Denny McCarthy to win a play-off at the Texas Open and seal his Masters spot.

Bhatia was six shots clear at the turn before McCarthy, 31, birdied eight of his last nine holes to reach 20 under.

Bhatia also birdied the final hole to force a play-off but hurt his shoulder celebrating the crucial putt.

The 22-year-old was able to play on after treatment and sealed his second PGA Tour win at the first extra hole.

Source: BBC
 

Masters tee-times for rounds one and two: McIlroy, Woods, Rahm & Scheffler pairings​

Rory McIlroy will get his 10th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam under way at 15:42 BST on Thursday when the Masters starts at Augusta National.

The Northern Irishman plays with the only man ranked higher than him in the world, 2022 victor Scottie Scheffler, and fellow American Xander Schauffele.

Spain's defending champion Jon Rahm is out in the group before at 15:30, alongside England's Matt Fitzpatrick.

Five-time winner Tiger Woods is among the later starters, going out at 18:24.

Record six-time winner Jack Nicklaus, three-time champion Gary Player and twice winner Tom Watson will hit the ceremonial opening tee shots before South Africa's Erik Van Rooyen is first to tee off at 13:00 (08:00 local time).

The final group of 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson, 2021 Open winner Collin Morikawa and England's Tommy Fleetwood will get under way six hours later.

www.bbc.com

Masters tee-times for rounds one and two: McIlroy, Woods, Rahm & Scheffler pairings

Rory McIlroy will get his 10th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam under way at 15:42 BST on Thursday when the Masters starts at Augusta National.
www.bbc.com
 
Day one of the Masters at Augusta has been delayed due to the weather

Gate openings and tee times have been delayed until further notice. The first round will not begin before 9am (2pm UK)

Sky News
 
Masters 2024: Bryson DeChambeau leads as Scottie Scheffler and Danny Willett chase

Bryson DeChambeau leads by one from Scottie Scheffler after the first round of the Masters was completed on Friday.

The LIV golfer finished seven under par but world number one Scheffler showed ominous touch in his bogey-free 66.

Max Homa and Nicolai Hojgaard were among 27 players finishing their rounds on Friday and both are at five under, while Tiger Woods hit a one-over 73.

England's 2016 winner Danny Willett, playing his first tournament since September, is four under par.

The performance of Willett, given his struggles with injury surprised even himself. The 36-year-old underwent shoulder surgery in late September and was expected to be out for at least 12 months but has returned within six.

"I was still unsure on Monday if I was going to play or not," Willett, who holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to move within three of the lead, told Sky Sports.

"I've been sat at home watching guys play golf on TV for six months. It's good to be back."

Rory McIlroy hit a 71 and defending champion Jon Rahm a one-over 73.


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Masters 2024: Bryson DeChambeau leads as Scottie Scheffler and Danny Willett chase

Bryson DeChambeau shoots a seven-under-par 65 to lead by one from Scottie Scheffler on storm-shortened first day at the 88th Masters.
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Tiger Woods breaks cuts record at Augusta as Scheffler, DeChambeau and Homa share lead

American trio Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa share the lead while Tiger Woods made a record 24th consecutive halfway cut at the Masters.

Homa's 71 was one of only eight under par rounds on a blustery day two at Augusta as he improved to six under.

Round one leader DeChambeau shot a 73, while Scheffler scrambled a 72.

England's Tommy Fleetwood and Danny Willett are five back at one under, but Rory McIlroy's challenge faded with a 77 that leaves him at four over.

Willett had been four under on the 18th tee but a wayward drive and taking two shots to get out of a greenside bunker led to a triple-bogey seven.

Defending champion Jon Rahm conceded he had been "fighting all day" as he signed for a 76 and squeezed into the weekend on five over, one shot inside the cut mark.

Woods, who carved out a 72 to reach halfway on one over, insisted after his round that "anyone who makes the weekend has a chance".

It was a tough day for all the players, with strong and gusting winds playing havoc throughout and contributing to glacially slow play, with balls moving on greens and sand being blown from bunkers.

The only player to shoot in the 60s was Masters debutant Ludvig Aberg whose three-under 69 saw him surge into the top seven on two under.

McIlroy, Scheffler and Xander Schauffele were one of the last groups to finish and took six hours and two minutes to complete their 18 holes.

Danish debutant Nicolai Hojgaard is two off the lead after mixing four birdies with five bogeys in his 73. He is one ahead of two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and Australian Cameron Davis.

Woods makes history at Augusta

Before the tournament, Woods jointly held the record for most consecutive cuts at tournaments played with Fred Couples and Gary Player on 23.

When he began his streak of made cuts in April 1997, 17 of the players in this week's field were not even born.

On Friday, Woods needed to finish five holes from round one before swiftly moving into round two.

Previously this year, he had only played 25 holes at a tournament before he withdrew through illness from the second round of the Genesis Invitational in February, so walking 23 in one day was likely to be a challenge.

However, despite his physical exertions, the 48-year-old American showed all his nous to navigate a rollercoaster front nine where he carded three birdies and three bogeys.

With the wind strengthening as his round progressed, he produced a series of fine par putts and a birdie on the 15th, after dropping a shot at 14, to stay well above the cut line.

"I'm tired. And I'm really really hungry, I could do with some food and some caffeine," said the 15-time major champion when asked how he felt after his round.

American group lead the way

In 87 previous Masters tournaments, the United States have supplied 63 of the winners. At the halfway stage, this edition is heading the same way.

World number one Scheffler looked marginally more ruffled in the weather conditions than he had when shooting 66 in the first round but again showed impeccable course management to join the leaders.

He briefly dropped two shots back when bogeying the seventh but immediately rebounded with a birdie and held the outright lead midway through his round.

An uncharacteristic mistake at the par-five 13th, when he hit his second shot into the stream protecting the green, cost him a shot but he played conservative golf for the rest of his round to ensure he stayed at the top.

After an impressive opening round of 65, DeChambeau battled tentative putting and swirling winds to try and maintain his lead.

His highlight came at 13 when he found the trees off the tee so opted to play his second down the 14th fairway and then hit his third to 14 feet and holed the birdie putt.

However, he came unstuck at the last when he misjudged the wind when hitting his second shot and ended up 65 feet from the pin. A three-putt bogey followed.

"That was one of the toughest tests of golf I have had in my life," said DeChambeau. "The conditions were so difficult.

"Shooting one over par was not bad. I have a chance and all I can ask for is to play my way into an opportunity come Sunday."

Meanwhile, Homa, who was playing with Woods, enjoyed a sparkling start, birdieing the second and the fourth to join DeChambeau at the top of the leaderboard on seven under.

He briefly led the tournament after DeChambeau bogeyed the fourth and, after dropping a shot on the 11th, he parred his way home.

McIlroy and Rahm among many to struggle

After shooting under par for the first time in six years in his opening round at the Masters on Thursday, McIlroy was only six shots off the lead.

However, amid the swirling winds, he went backwards on Friday.

Bogeys at five and seven were followed by a damaging double bogey at the 11th when he found the water.

Rahm also struggled. One over after round one, he made three bogeys plus a double bogey, but found excellent birdies on 15 and 16 to ensure he made the cut.

At least they will both play this weekend. The Open champion Brian Harman dropped 11 shots on the final eight holes of his first round early on Friday and although he responded with a level-par 72 in round two, his nine-over total sees him eliminated from the tournament.

He was joined on that number by 2015 Masters winner Jordan Spieth, who imploded at the 15th in round one, making a quadruple-bogey nine, and posted a 73 in round two. The 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson is also going home after finishing on 13 over.

It was also a tough day for England's Justin Rose who dropped five shots to end up at seven over.

However, Vijay Singh, who won his Green Jacket in 2000, did make the cut at the age of 61. The popular Fijian bogeyed the 18th to finish one over for round two and four over for the championship.

BBC
 
Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler earns second Green Jacket at Augusta National

World number one Scottie Scheffler won the Masters for a second time after a commanding performance at Augusta National demonstrated why he was the red-hot pre-tournament favourite.

Scheffler, who led overnight by a shot, hit a four-under 68 in Sunday's final round to finish four clear on 11 under.

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg shot 69 to finish runner-up on his major debut.

England's Tommy Fleetwood (69) ended joint fourth with American pair Collin Morikawa (74) and Max Homa (73).

Fleetwood put together an impressive round to make a late charge up the leaderboard and record his best finish at the Masters.


www.bbc.com

Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler earns second Green Jacket at Augusta National

World number one Scottie Scheffler wins the Masters for a second time after keeping his nerve at Augusta National as his rivals faltered.
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Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler's win at Augusta and Ludvig Aberg's runner-up to be cherished

Assessing Scottie Scheffler's imperious Masters success, it was worth recalling the season of 2009 when Tiger Woods seemed destined to sweep all before him at the majors, only to emerge empty handed from all four of the biggest tournaments.

Back then Woods was an undisputed world number one. Before the Masters he won at Bay Hill, before the US Open he triumphed at Memorial, he added the AT&T National title in the build up to The Open and won at Firestone before the US PGA Championship.

Each time he arrived at that year's majors he came in as red-hot favourite but faltered - he even missed the cut at the Turnberry Open. In the build up that week, I remember being asked on air whether we should bet on the field or Tiger?

I chose Woods and soon after earned admonishment from former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher - then the most seasoned voice on our BBC 5Live commentary team - for my naivety.

"Always take the field in golf, if you're given the choice," he advised.

This sport, like few others, is so incredibly unpredictable. The influence of the weather, the time of day, the variables of topography and talent conspire to confound all too regularly. We should view Scheffler's latest achievement in this context.

To win any tournament you have to beat a large number of opponents. In this case it was 88 rivals to land the title at the 88th Masters. At the remaining majors the will be trying to beat 155 others each time.

To win a tennis grand slam - and this does not diminish such a feat - a champion must win seven matches. More often than not the better player prevails, which is why it is easier to predict who will be there at the sharp end of a grand slam.


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Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler's win at Augusta and Ludvig Aberg's runner-up to be cherished

Scottie Scheffler confirmed himself as the best golfer on the planet with Sunday's Masters victory but Ludvig Aberg's performance should not go unnoticed, writes Iain Carter.
www.bbc.com
 
Rory McIlroy: 'I'll play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career' - world number two dismisses LIV Golf link

Rory McIlroy says he will play on the PGA Tour "for the rest of my career" as he quashed rumours of him making a big-money move to LIV Golf.

A report by City AM on Sunday said the four-time major winner had been offered $850m (£683m) to join the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit.

But McIlroy dismissed the report in an interview with Golf Channel, external on Tuesday.

"I honestly don't know how these things get started," said the Northern Irishman, 34.

"I've never been offered a number from LIV and have never contemplated going to LIV."

McIlroy has been one of LIV Golf's most vocal critics since the breakaway tour was launched in 2022.

However, he admitted to feeling like a "sacrificial lamb" after a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund, which funds LIV, was announced in June last year.



www.bbc.com

Rory McIlroy: 'I'll play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career' - world number two dismisses LIV Golf link

Rory McIlroy says he will play on the PGA Tour "for the rest of my career" as he quashes rumours of him making a big-money move to LIV Golf.
www.bbc.com
 
American world number one Nelly Korda equalled an LPGA record by winning her fifth tournament in a row as she claimed the first women's major of the year at the Chevron Championship in Texas.

Korda, 25, started the final round one shot behind the leader, South Korea's Ryu Hae-ran.

But her three-under par on a gusty course saw her finish on 13 under to win by two shots.

It is the second major of her career.


BBC
 
Scheffler wins storm-delayed RBC Heritage

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler continued his dominance by winning the storm-delayed RBC Heritage in South Carolina for his fourth win in five starts.

The world number one, 27, carded a three-under-par 68 in the final round to finish on 19 under and win by four shots from fellow American Sahith Theegala.

Sunday's final round was halted for more than two hours by inclement weather before darkness stopped play from finishing.

Scheffler returned on Monday with a five-shot lead and three holes to play and he wrapped up a comfortable triumph.

He becomes the first player to follow a Masters win with victory at the RBC Heritage since Germany's Bernhard Langer in 1985.

Scheffler is also the first player to win four times in five starts on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods in 2007-08.

Before his back-to-back wins this month, Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and The Players Championship in March.

"I got off to a slow start on Thursday but other than that I played some really nice golf in the middle of the tournament and it's nice to be done," said Scheffler.

"I think mentally the last month or so has been as good as I've been in a long time and I think that is why I'm seeing some of the results."

Austria's Sepp Straka was the highest European, finishing in joint fifth with on 14 under, while Masters runner-up Ludvig Aaberg was joint 10th on 12 under.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy shot a final-round 74 to finish well off the pace on seven under.


BBC
 
'Exhausted' Korda pulls out of next LPGA Tour event

Nelly Korda has withdrawn from this week's LPGA Tour event "to get some rest" after winning her second major title at the Chevron Championship.

Victory on Sunday gave the American a fifth tour win in five starts, matching a record run achieved by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and Annika Sorenstam in 2004-05.

"After grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted," wrote the world number one on X.

"With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season."

Korda's run of victories started with the LPGA Drive On Championship in the last week of January.

The 25-year-old then took seven weeks off before returning in late March to win three events in three weeks - the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, Ford Championship and T-Mobile Match Play - before claiming the Chevron Championship title.

Korda added that she would be "cheering everyone on from afar" in this week's JM Eagle LA Championship.

Her next scheduled LPGA Tour appearance is in the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey, which starts on 9 May.


BBC
 
Ryder Cup stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton remain eligible for selection for Europe’s defence of the trophy next year, as long as they pay fines and serve bans that will follow their move to the rival LIV Golf League.

BBC
 
McIlroy & Lowry win Zurich Classic title in play-off

Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a play-off.

American Ramey and French player Trainer shot a nine-under 63 to set a target of 25 under.

McIlroy and Lowry birdied the final hole to post 68 and force a play-off.

They parred the first play-off hole to win after Trainer missed his par putt.

It's a 25th PGA Tour title for McIlroy and third for former Open champion Lowry.

They started the final round two off the pace and fell five behind before four birdies in five holes around the turn put them in contention.

American duo Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard finished a shot adrift with four players tied on 23 under.


BBC
 
Royal Troon will have longest hole in Open history

Royal Troon will have the longest hole in Open history when the Ayrshire links plays host to the 152nd championship in July.

The sixth hole will measure 623 yards - 22 more than it did when Troon staged the 2016 Open - when it hosts the battle for the Claret Jug from 18-21 July.

Two holes later, the players could then play the shortest hole in the championship's long history.

The iconic par-three eighth, the ‘Postage Stamp’, will measure 123 yards on the scorecard but organisers the Royal & Ancient (R&A) is considering reducing that to 99 yards for one round, weather permitting.

The R&A can use a forward tee and a front pin position to create a hole that would play fewer than 100 yards.

Overall though, the R&A's preferred architects Mackenzie & Ebert have generally lengthened the links for the 2024 Open.

The creation of nine new tees means an overall increase of 195 yards to 7,385 - just 36 fewer than the record at Carnoustie in 2007.

There are new bunker positions - on the first and sixth fairways as well as next to the sixth green.

The 15th - which was the 16th before the addition of the new 17th - played 620 yards at Royal Liverpool last year after being stretched by 45 yards since Rory McIlroy's win at Hoylake in 2014.

This year’s championship has sold out, ensuring a record attendance for a Troon Open of 250,000 - an increase of more than 70,000 people from 2016, when Henrik Stenson prevailed in a thrilling duel with Phil Mickelson.


BBC
 
Former Ryder Cup golfer Peter Oosterhuis has died at the age of 75.

The Englishman was twice a runner-up at The Open, in 1974 and 1982, and topped the European Tour's Order of Merit from 1971 to 1974.

He later became a TV commentator and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.


BBC
 
English teen Kim makes cut with Wallace one shot off lead

English teenager Kris Kim became the youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour since 2015 as compatriot Matt Wallace dropped to one shot off the lead at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Amateur Kim, 16, followed up his first-round 68 with a 67 to move to seven under par on his PGA Tour debut.

“I'm happy,” said Kim, who hit six birdies and two bogeys in the second round. “I can't wait to get started again [on Saturday].

"I've enjoyed it so much the last couple of days and being here two more days makes it so much sweeter.”

Kim is the youngest player to make a PGA Tour cut since Kyle Suppa did so aged 16 at the 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii.

Overnight leader Wallace carded a five-under par 66, which included an eagle, four birdies and one bogey, to move to 13 under, with American Jake Knapp in the lead on 14 under.

American and world number 20 Jordan Spieth - the highest ranked player in the field - missed the cut by two strokes as he finished on four under par after a second round 70.

BBC
 
Pendrith holds nerve to win maiden PGA Tour title

Canadian Taylor Pendrith held his nerve with a birdie at the final hole to win his first PGA Tour title at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas.

Pendrith trailed Ben Kohles by one shot approaching the last after the American had birdied both the 16th and 17th.

But a bad drive from Kohles on the 18th left him under pressure.

After he missed a par putt, which could have secured a play-off, he was punished by the coolness of Pendrith.

Pendrith had moved to 22 under for the tournament after a birdie at the 12th but he failed to pick up another shot for the next five holes as Kohles made his late charge to move onto 23 under.

But when the 32-year-old Canadian, who had led by one shot going into the final round but who has struggled with wrist and shoulder injuries, was presented with his winning opportunity courtesy of a three foot putt, he made no mistake.


BBC
 
Koepka wins LIV Singapore before US PGA defence

American Brooks Koepka won the LIV Singapore event as he builds up to defending his US PGA Championship title later this month.

Koepka shot a three-under-par final-round 68 to finish on 15 under, two shots ahead of Australia's Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith.

"It's all starting to come around. I've put in a lot of work and I like the way things are trending," said Koepka.

"I just need to go back next week and make sure everything continues, do the right stuff and go from there."

Koepka, 34, led by three strokes going into the final round and carded four birdies and a bogey on the way to becoming the first player to win four titles on the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League.

"I just played very consistently and happy with the way I played all week," said Koepka.

"I made a couple of clutch putts today and the ball-striking was solid. I didn't really think I made too many mistakes. And that's a great feeling when it kind of feels easy."

England's Tyrrell Hatton shot a 66 to finish on 11 under, with Spaniard Jon Rahm a further two shots back on nine under after a 67.

Meanwhile, Spaniard Adrian Otaegui won the China Open on the DP World Tour with a brilliant final round of 65.

The tournament was shortened to 54 holes when the third round was cancelled because of thunder and lightning in the Shenzhen area.

Otaegui, who started the last day five shots behind leader Sebastian Soderberg, carded seven birdies to set a clubhouse target of 18 under par.

It proved enough for victory as Guido Migliozzi finished second on 17 under and Soderberg, who went to the 18th level with Otaegui only to hit a double bogey, on 16 under.

England's Paul Waring also finished on 16 under after a final-round 69.

"I had to wait a little bit since I finished, see what was happening in the final group but luckily for me, things turned up well and I'm extremely happy," said Otaegui, whose win earned him a place at the US PGA at Valhalla Golf Club.

"I have been putting well, I was feeling more and more confident through the week with the putter and I knew if I had birdie chances that I could potentially hole a few.

"I think I was actually feeling more calm through the round."


BBC
 

TGL: Ludvig Åberg and Wyndham Clark team up for Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's simulator golf league​

US Open champion Wyndham Clark and European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg are the latest golfers announced to be joining TGL, the new Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-backed simulator league coming in 2025.

Clark and Åberg will join Ireland's Shane Lowry and Min Woo Lee of Australia on the roster of the California-based Bay Golf Club.

Bay GC is owned by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry along with co-owners Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala.

The TGL is a made-for-TV golf league from Woods and McIlroy's TMRW Sports venture, with the pair among the 24 PGA Tour players committed to competing in six four-man teams from January in Florida.

Its launch was delayed from 2024 to 2025 after damage sustained to the tournament venue at the purpose-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, last November.

No injuries were reported and most of the technology was not impacted by the collapse, although damage has been considered too significant in time for the event to launch as scheduled.

The TGL's first three matches will take place on the first three Tuesdays in January 2025, with the rest of the schedule for the six-team league will be announced later.

"It's kind of cool having an international team," Clark told ESPN upon his signing. "We all get along. We've had dinner together, and I'm friends with Shane and Min Woo and getting to know Ludvig better.

"I feel confident about our team, and it's going to be fun."

 
McKibbin's rise leads to NI Open host role at 21

Tom McKibbin's rise in the golfing world has been further emphasised by him being named tournament host for this year's NI Open European Challenge Tour event.

McKibbin, 21, is touring professional at Galgorm Castle where the event will take place in late July.

The tournament, which returns to the second-tier Challenge Tour calendar after a four-year absence, will go under the banner of 'The NI Open, presented by Tom McKibbin'.

"It's pretty cool to have it this early," said McKibbin, of having his name directly associated with a professional tournament.

"When Gary Henry [the managing director of Galgorm Castle] came to me at the end of the year and suggested the idea, it was something I was very keen about straight away."

Prior commitments during tournament week mean McKibbin won't compete in the event proper, which takes place from 25-28 July, but he will be in action in the pro-am on 23 July.

"I’ll be there playing in the pro-am and I’m sure I’ll come back up on Sunday to see some of the action," added McKibbin, who clinched his first DP World Tour triumph last year with a memorable victory at the European Open in Hamburg


BBC
 

PGA Championship invites 7 LIV players​

The PGA Championship officially has Tiger Woods in a field released Tuesday that includes invitations to seven players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf, giving the major the entire top 100 in the world ranking at Valhalla next week.

The PGA of America strives to have the top 100 in the world to maintain its reputation for having the strongest field of the four majors, although it is not part of the criteria.

Instead, the PGA uses a catch-all category of “special invitations.” The group of LIV players includes Patrick Reed, whose tie for 12th in the Masters moved him inside the top 100. He is at No. 92, and the invitation keeps alive his streak of playing every major since the 2014 Masters.

The PGA Championship returns to Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, for the fourth time on May 16-19. Rory McIlroy won at Valhalla the last time it was there in 2014. The course is best known for Woods winning a playoff over Bob May in 2000 for his third straight major.

Joaquin Niemann, who won the Australian Open in December and has two LIV Golf wins this year, already received an invitation. The surprise was Talor Gooch announcing in an X post on Monday that he had received an invitation.

It was a sign the PGA of America's selection committee was looking at LIV results on their own, as Gooch doesn't play much outside the Saudi league. He won three times on LIV in 2023 and won the season points list.

Other invitations went to Dean Burmester, Lucas Herbert, Adrian Meronk, all of them inside the top 100 in the world. The seventh invitation went to David Puig, the 22-year-old from Spain who is No. 106 in the world ranking. Puig has finished in the top 10 in six of his last seven tournaments on the Asian Tour, including two wins.

LIV will be represented by 16 players, down from 18 a year ago. Among those left off the list was former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who won twice late last year in South Africa in tournaments co-sanctioned by the European tour. He is No. 125 in the world.

The LIV group includes defending champion Brooks Koepka, who goes for a fourth PGA Championship title. He is the only active LIV player to win a major after leaving the PGA TOUR.

Kerry Haigh, the championship director for the PGA of America, has said he would consider deserving players from tours around the world. Invitations were given to Tim Widing of Sweden, who has won consecutive tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Another invitation went to Kazuma Kobori, a 22-year-old born in Japan who now plays under the New Zealand flag. He has won three times this year in the Webex Players Series on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The field has 21 club professionals — 20 from the PGA Professional Championship last week, and Michael Block, who qualified by finishing among the top 15 last year at Oak Hill.

The PGA is keeping two spots open in case the winners of the Wells Fargo Championship and the Myrtle Beach Classic are not already eligible. Only four players in the 69-man field at the Wells Fargo Championship have not qualified. The first alternate is Doug Ghim.

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PGA Championship invites 7 LIV players

The PGA Championship officially has Tiger Woods in a field released Tuesday that includes invitations to seven players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf, giving the major the entire top 100 in the world ranking at Valhalla next week.The PGA of America strives to have the top 100 in the world to...
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Rory McIlroy has called for professional golf to follow the example of the Northern Ireland peace process and seek "a compromise" that brings the divided parties together.

Amid the ongoing schism between the PGA Tour and the breakaway LIV circuit, the world number two recalled the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 peace deal that helped to end the Troubles in his homeland.

McIlroy said there would need to be concessions made in any deal between the two golf tours and stressed the benefit of reaching an accord soon.

"I sort of liken it to like when Northern Ireland went through the peace process in the '90s and the Good Friday Agreement. Neither side was happy," McIlroy said.

"Catholics weren't happy, Protestants weren't happy, but it brought peace and then you just sort of learn to live with whatever has been negotiated, right?"

Speaking ahead of this week's Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, McIlroy added: "That was in 1998, and 20, 25, 30 years ahead, my generation doesn't know any different. It's just this is what it's always been like and we've never known anything but peace.

"That's sort of my little way of trying to think about it and trying to make both sides see that there could be a compromise here.

"It's probably not going to feel great for either side, but if it's a place where the game of golf starts to thrive again and we can all get back together, then I think that's ultimately a really good thing."

McIlroy not returning to policy board
As the PGA Tour and LIV continue to search for a way forward, McIlroy will not return to the former's policy board.

The 35-year-old stepped down from the board in November 2023 to focus on his game.

However, last month he had intimated he was willing to return, stating he felt he could accelerate the pace of merger talks between the two factions.

Despite talks around him replacing Webb Simpson on the board taking place, McIlroy revealed he would instead "just keep doing what I'm doing".

He said: "It just got pretty complicated and pretty messy.

"With the way it happened, it opened up some wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before and I think there was a subset of people on the board who were uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.

Source: BBC
 
McIlroy three shots off pace at Wells Fargo

Rory McIlroy is three shots behind leader Xander Schauffele after an encouraging first round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.

The Northern Irishman shot a four-under-par 67 to leave him tied with Collin Morikawa and Alex Noren in second.

An eagle, three birdies and a bogey took McIlroy to four under through the front nine but he failed to build on that on the back nine with three birdies and three bogeys.

McIlroy, who won his first PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in 2010, has won the tournament three times.

"Playing in front of these fans, I feel like Charlotte has sort of taken me in as one of their own.

"It's been a great journey. I've had some awesome memories, and obviously I'm trying to keep making more of those."

Seven-time PGA Tour winner Schauffele dropped just one shot during his opening round, hitting six birdies and an eagle.

England's Tommy Fleetwood is on level par with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose three over.

The second men's major of the year, the US PGA Championship, takes place next week in Valhalla.


BBC
 

Korda closes on lead as she chases record title​

Nelly Korda enjoyed a sublime second round at the Cognizant Founders Cup to move to four shots off the lead as she chases a record-breaking sixth straight LPGA Tour title.

The 25-year-old American carded a bogey-free six-under-par 66 despite cold and wet conditions at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey.

Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom also hit a superb 66 to move into a share of the lead with American Rose Zhang on 13 under.

Zhang, who had led Sagstrom by two strokes overnight, shot a four-under 68.

World number one Korda won her fifth tour title in a row at last month's Chevron Championship, matching the record held by Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam.

"There's definitely more pressure on you when everyone is trying to get you, and there is something fun about trying to catch the leaders," said Korda, who was six shots off the lead after round one.

England's Mel Reid is fifth after a level-par 72, while compatriot Georgia Hall is a shot further back on four under.

Ireland's Leona Maguire, who started round two on six under, fell back after a four-over 76.

Source: BBC
 
Zhang reels in Sagstrom to win Founders Cup

Rose Zhang made a stunning late run to overhaul Madelene Sagstrom and win the Cognizant Founders Cup by two shots.

Zhang fired four birdies in her last five holes to card a six-under 66 and finish on 24 under at the Upper Montclair County Club.

Sagstrom had looked to be cruising to victory when a fifth birdie of the day put her three shots clear at the 12th before Zhang's late charge.

"I'm still shaking right now, but I never gave up," said American Zhang, 20, who claimed a second professional victory.

"I always knew that I had something in me to just grind it out and enjoy the time against an extremely solid player."

Sweden's Sagstrom was left holding back tears after narrowly missing out on a second LPGA Tour win, conceding she had been affected by nerves when bogeying the first.

"It was just pure nerves," she said. "I played unbelievable golf this week, so I have to look at the positives. It sucks, and it hurts a bit. But my time will come."

Australia's Gabriela Ruffels finished a distant third on nine under.

Nelly Korda missed the chance to become the first player to win six consecutive LPGA Tour titles, carding a one-over par 73 in her final round to finish tied for seventh on seven under.

Meanwhile, England's Charley Hull was the runner-up at the Aramco Team Series in Seoul.

Hull hit a four-under final round of 68 to finish three shots adrift of South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo, who claimed a second Ladies European Tour title.



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Cognizant Founders Cup: Rose Zhang wins by two shots

Rose Zhang makes a stunning late run to overhaul Madelene Sagstrom and win the Cognizant Founders Cup by two shots.
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McIlroy storms to Wells Fargo Championship win​

A stunning final back nine saw Rory McIlroy reel in overnight leader Xander Schauffele and claim a fourth career Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy trailed by two shots after seven holes, but four birdies and two eagles in the next eight saw the 35-year-old surge six shots clear.

The Northern Irishman eventually carded a six-under 65 to beat American Schauffele by five shots at Quail Hollow.

McIlroy has now claimed back-to-back PGA titles after winning the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry a fortnight ago.

The world number two says it feels like the "stars are aligning" as he turns his attention to the coming week's US PGA Championship at Valhalla - the scene of his most recent major championship victory in 2014.

"I really got some confidence winning in New Orleans with Shane," said McIlroy.

"Coming into this week, at a golf course I am comfortable with, my golf swing feels more comfortable than it has done.

"Going to a venue next week where I have won, it feels like the stars are aligning a little bit. But I have a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat.

"I am going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself."

South Korea's An Byeong-hun finished third after a 66, with Australia's Jason Day three shots further back after a closing 70.

Meanwhile, American Chris Gotterup won the first PGA Tour title of his career with a six-shot victory at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic.

The 24-year-old recovered from bogeying the first two holes to shoot a four-under final round of 67 and finish clear of compatriots Alistair Docherty and Davis Thompson on 22 under at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

The win earns PGA Tour rookie Gotterup a spot at the US PGA Championship.

Source: BBC
 
Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife Erica after seven years of marriage and on the eve of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Court records show McIlroy submitted a "petition for dissolution of marriage" in Palm Beach County in Florida on Monday, just three days before the start of the second men's major of the year.

A spokesperson for McIlroy released a statement, which read: "Rory McIlroy's communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed.

Source: SKY
 
Rory McIlroy says he is "ready to play" this week's US PGA Championship at Valhalla despite filing divorce papers on Monday.

The Northern Irishman, 35, has submitted a "petition for the dissolution of marriage" from Erica, his wife of seven years, to a court near their home in Florida.

The timing of the news shocked the golfing world, coming as it did at the start of a week in which McIlroy is hoping to end a near 10-year drought in the majors by repeating his US PGA victory at Valhalla, in August 2014.

The world number two arrived at the Kentucky course brimming with "confidence and momentum" after winning his past two PGA Tour events - the Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo - with expectations mounting of a showdown between him and Scottie Scheffler.


BBC
 
Lawlor leads Popert heading into G4D Open finale

Defending champion Brendan Lawlor and world number one Kipp Popert will again battle it out for the G4D Open in Friday's final round.

Irishman Lawlor hit a second successive 71 to move to two under and swap places with England's Popert, the top-ranked disability golfer.

Popert, who led overnight on four under, carded a 75 on a damp day at Woburn to fall one shot behind Lawlor.

Despite shooting a three-over-par round, the 25-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, said: "I'm excited because I know I'm playing well.

"I didn't get frustrated, I trusted myself. I’ll just stick to my gameplan and we'll have a nice battle."

Lawlor, who has a rare condition called Ellis-van Creveld syndrome that is characterised by a short stature and short limbs, beat Popert by two shots to win last year's inaugural title.

He said: "If Kipp goes out and shoots six under there's nothing I can do.

"But I want to go out and shoot an under-par round and see where it leaves me. It's going to be exciting."

Canadian Chris Willis is in third on four over, while 18-year-old Englishman Thomas Blizzard, who sat an A-level exam on Tuesday, is a shot further back.

Dutchwoman Daphne van Houten is the leading women’s player in a share of 24th place.

The championship is held in partnership between the DP World Tour and the R&A and supported by EDGA - formally the European Disabled Golf Association. It features 80 men and women, aged 15-68, playing in nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups.

An overall champion will be crowned, as well as an opposite sex winner, with a gross prize in each of the sport classes which cover various categories in standing, intellectual, visual and sitting.


BBC
 

Scheffler detained by police after traffic incident​


World number one Scottie Scheffler has been detained by police outside Valhalla Golf Club before the second round of the US PGA Championship.

ESPN reported Scheffler was stopped by police after "a misunderstanding with traffic flow".

Videos of the scene outside the course in Louisville, Kentucky, showed him handcuffed and being guided into the back of a police car.

The second round of the year’s second major has been delayed due to an unrelated accident near the course, tournament organisers said.

Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said a shuttle bus had struck and killed a pedestrian outside the golf club.

Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, reportedly attempted to avoid the scene of the incident before being stopped.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington who witnessed the incident, said: "Traffic had been backed up and building, Scottie Scheffler tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club using a side median, at which point a police officer instructed him to stop.

"Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he turned into Valhalla Golf Club at the entrance, about 10 to 20 yards from the point at which the police officer first told him to stop.

He added that "at that point the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car”, then proceeded to handcuff Scheffler and put him in the police car.

LMPD had earlier released a statement on the traffic accident.

"About 5:00 this morning, the LMPD responded to a call of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus," the statement read.

"Our preliminary investigation found that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Road south to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus that was travelling eastbound in the compulsory centre lane dedicated for buses.

"As a result, the pedestrian received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating."

Organisers later said the second round of the PGA Championship will begin at 13:35 BST after an 80-minute delay.

Scheffler, who has won four of his last five events, carded a four-under-par 67 in the first round on Thursday after a remarkable start that saw him hole a 167-yard nine-iron for an eagle-two on the opening hole.

He is chasing a third successive victory after winning the Masters and RBC Heritage in April before taking three weeks off for the birth of his first child.

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Scottie Scheffler: World number one detained by police near PGA Championship

World number one Scottie Scheffler is detained by police outside the US PGA Championship course at Valhalla.
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FearlessRoar said:

Scheffler detained by police after traffic incident​


World number one Scottie Scheffler has been detained by police outside Valhalla Golf Club before the second round of the US PGA Championship.

ESPN reported Scheffler was stopped by police after "a misunderstanding with traffic flow".

Videos of the scene outside the course in Louisville, Kentucky, showed him handcuffed and being guided into the back of a police car.

The second round of the year’s second major has been delayed due to an unrelated accident near the course, tournament organisers said.

Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said a shuttle bus had struck and killed a pedestrian outside the golf club.

Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, reportedly attempted to avoid the scene of the incident before being stopped.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington who witnessed the incident, said: "Traffic had been backed up and building, Scottie Scheffler tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club using a side median, at which point a police officer instructed him to stop.

"Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he turned into Valhalla Golf Club at the entrance, about 10 to 20 yards from the point at which the police officer first told him to stop.

He added that "at that point the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car”, then proceeded to handcuff Scheffler and put him in the police car.

LMPD had earlier released a statement on the traffic accident.

"About 5:00 this morning, the LMPD responded to a call of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus," the statement read.

"Our preliminary investigation found that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Road south to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus that was travelling eastbound in the compulsory centre lane dedicated for buses.

"As a result, the pedestrian received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating."

Organisers later said the second round of the PGA Championship will begin at 13:35 BST after an 80-minute delay.

Scheffler, who has won four of his last five events, carded a four-under-par 67 in the first round on Thursday after a remarkable start that saw him hole a 167-yard nine-iron for an eagle-two on the opening hole.

He is chasing a third successive victory after winning the Masters and RBC Heritage in April before taking three weeks off for the birth of his first child.

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Scottie Scheffler: World number one detained by police near PGA Championship

World number one Scottie Scheffler is detained by police outside the US PGA Championship course at Valhalla.
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Click to expand...

Scottie Scheffler warmed up for his second round at the US PGA Championship by "stretching in a jail cell" after being arrested on Friday morning.

The world number one was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer following an incident outside Valhalla Golf Club.

"My main focus after getting arrested was wondering if I could be able to come back out here and play, and fortunately I was able to do that," he said.

"I was never angry, just in shock and I was shaking the whole time. It was definitely a new feeling for me.

"The officer that took me to the jail was very kind. He was great. We had a nice chat in the car, that kind of helped calm me down."

After his release, Scheffler arrived at Valhalla Golf Club 54 minutes before his tee-time and went on to post a five-under 66 to improve his overall score to nine under.

He said his "heart goes out to the family" of a man struck and killed by a shuttle bus near the club on Friday morning. That incident led to the traffic jam that Scheffler was trying to avoid in an effort to get to the golf club for his morning tee-time.

Source: BBC
 
Schauffele wins first major at US PGA Championship

Xander Schauffele holed a nervy six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to win his first major with a record score on a gripping final day at the US PGA Championship.

The American held off the charging Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to win on 21 under at Valhalla, Kentucky.

Having led the tournament since equalling the best round at a major when he shot 62 on Thursday, the 30-year-old Californian carded a six-under 65 to claim the Wanamaker Trophy by one shot.

Six birdies in eight holes around the turn briefly put Norwegian Hovland into the lead but Schauffele responded with magnificent birdies on the 11th and 12th to wrestle it back.

DeChambeau profited with a birdie after his wild drive on 16 hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway and birdied the last to card a 64 and draw level with Schauffele, sparking raucous celebrations on the 18th green.

Hovland then had a putt to also get to 20 under, but crumbled under the pressure, taking three shots from 10 feet.

However, Olympic champion Schauffele, who has faced criticism for not closing out tournaments when well placed, stood up to the onslaught, rolling in a birdie of his own to secure the title.

England’s Justin Rose led the British challenge, finishing in a tie for sixth at 14 under par and with that becoming only the second player aged over 40, after the legendary Sam Snead, to make five consecutive top-15 finishes at this tournament.

Playing alongside Rose, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre failed to fire, although he closed with a superb eagle to post a 70 and 13 under total to cap a great week.

Shane Lowry of Ireland, who spectacularly equalled Schauffele’s record-low score for a round at a major on Saturday, went cold with his putter as he also went round Valhalla in 70 shots.

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who led jointly with Schauffele after round three, opened with 14 straight pars before bogeying the 15th. His solitary birdie came at the last in an otherwise disappointing round.

The world’s top two players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy rounded off disappointing weekends at eight and nine shots back respectively.


BBC
 

Schauffele wins first major at US PGA Championship​


Xander Schauffele holed a nervy six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to win his first major with a record score on a gripping final day at the US PGA Championship.

The American held off the charging Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to triumph on 21 under at Valhalla, Kentucky.

Having led the tournament since equalling the best round at a major when he shot 62 in round one, the 30-year-old Californian finished with a six-under 65 to claim the Wanamaker Trophy by one shot.

"I was emotional after the [winning] putt lipped in," said Schauffele. "It's been a while since I've won – I really did not want to go into a play-off with Bryson.

"My dad is in Hawaii and I managed to call him but I had to hang up quickly because he was making me cry."

Six birdies in eight holes around the turn briefly put Norwegian Hovland into the lead, but world number three Schauffele responded with magnificent birdies on the 11th and 12th to wrestle it back.

DeChambeau profited with a birdie after his wild drive on 16 hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway, and he also birdied the last to card a 64 and draw level with Schauffele, sparking raucous celebrations on the 18th green.

Hovland then had a putt to also get to 20 under, but crumbled under the pressure, taking three shots from 10 feet as he finished on 18 under.

However, Olympic champion Schauffele, who has faced criticism for not closing out tournaments when well placed, stood up to the onslaught, rolling in a birdie of his own to secure the title.

England’s Justin Rose led the British challenge, finishing in a tie for sixth at 14 under par and with that becoming only the second player aged over 40, after the legendary Sam Snead, to make five consecutive top-15 finishes at this tournament.

Playing alongside Rose, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre failed to fire, although he closed with a superb eagle to post a 70 and 13-under total to cap a great week.

Shane Lowry of Ireland, who spectacularly equalled Schauffele’s 62 on Saturday - becoming the fourth player to do so - went cold with his putter as he also carded a 70.

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who led jointly with Schauffele after round three, opened with 14 straight pars before bogeying the 15th. His solitary birdie came at the last in an otherwise disappointing round as he finished five off the pace.

The world’s top two players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy rounded off disappointing weekends at eight and nine shots back respectively.

Schauffele has 12 top-10 finishes at major tournaments and is consistently among the top players in the world, but had not won an event since the Scottish Open in 2022.

Indeed, the way he stumbled in the face of a charging McIlroy at Quail Hollow a week ago raised significant questions about his ability to close out victories.

At Valhalla, having held the lead from the outset, further questions were asked as the chasing pack closed in, especially on Sunday through DeChambeau and Hovland, playing two groups in front of him.

However, this sensational round of golf should end any lingering doubts over his temperament. The relief and jubilation was evident as he flung his arms skywards and took the acclaim of the crowd after sinking the winning putt.

He holed crucial putts at critical times, including for par at the sixth, after a fist-pumping DeChambeau had holed out from 37 feet at the same hole.

There were birdies at the seventh and ninth before, after a mistake at the 10th led to a bogey and opened the door for a surging Hovland to steal in front, he produced a magical tee shot on 11. He then holed another birdie at the 12th to inch back ahead.

The drama continued up ahead.

DeChambeau sent the crowd wild with his birdie at the last, the ball falling into the cup with its final revolution, pumping his fist and celebrating emphatically as he drew level with Schauffele.

Schauffele scrambled a par from a fairway bunker on the 17th, while his tee shot on the 18th squirmed into the rough and he had to hit his ball while standing in more sand.

As he did throughout the tournament though, Schauffele remained calm, punching his ball safely forwards and then chipping his next to six feet before holing out to silence the critics.

Only four players have led or jointly led in every round when winning their first major, with Schauffele joining an elite group that includes McIlroy (2011) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

Prospects of a first European winner at the US PGA since McIlroy won the last of his four majors at this Louisville course a decade ago were high after a stellar Saturday.

Hovland has been far from the player he appeared last autumn when he won twice and starred at the Ryder Cup.

He missed the cut at last month's Masters but he has linked back up with his former coach, and at Valhalla, named after the home of the Norse gods, he came close to providing Norway with a first major champion.

Given he now boasts four top-10 finishes at majors, he may have just inherited Schauffele’s previous title of best player to have not won one of these accolades.

As for Rose, bogeys on 17 and 18 blotted an otherwise excellent round. Like Hovland, it has not been a pretty 2024 for the 43-year-old, but a top-six finish proved once again he can still compete at the highest level.

Sadly for Lowry and MacIntyre, at a golf course where Team Europe surrendered the Ryder Cup in 2008, they were unable to find the birdies required to threaten the lead.

Meanwhile, pre-tournament favourites Scheffler and McIlroy started Sunday too far back to challenge.

It had been an unusual build-up to the championship with news dropping in the run-up of McIlroy’s impending divorce, while Scheffler was returning from taking some time off to be with his wife Meredith who gave birth to their first child on 8 May.

After a strong opening round, Scheffler was then arrested and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer on Friday morning.

Ultimately, wayward displays on Saturday cost them a shot at the title, as Scheffler shot over par for the first time in 2024 and McIlroy’s putter deserted him.

World number one Scheffler looked back to his normal self in an outstanding final round that included seven birdies, while McIlroy again flirted with ascending the leaderboard only to find the water twice on the back nine.

His quest for a first major in 10 years will recommence in four weeks at the US Open at Pinehurst.

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US PGA Championship: Xander Schauffele beats Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland

Xander Schauffele birdies the last hole to see off the challenge of Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to win his first major title.
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Scottie Scheffler's court date has been delayed until 3 June following his arrest during the US PGA Championship at Valhalla last week.

The 27-year-old was arrested on Friday 17 May after trying to drive into Valhalla Golf Club in heavy traffic and his arraignment date had been set for Tuesday, 21 May.

Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer.


BBC
 

Police to probe protocols during Scottie Scheffler arrest​

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on Tuesday said the city's police department will investigate whether its officers followed proper protocols when world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday outside Valhalla Golf Club, the site of last week's PGA Championship.

Louisville police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in a statement Tuesday that an update on the investigation will be provided Thursday.

"The internal investigation is still ongoing. Any policy violations that are revealed through the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed according to LMPD's disciplinary protocol," she said in the statement.

Greenberg said he thought it was "critically important" that police address its investigation, "not just in high-profile events like [those that] took place on Friday, but on a regular basis.

"And if policies are not being followed, there will be transparency about that. There will be action taken," he said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

An LMPD spokesperson confirmed to ESPN on Saturday that Det. Bryan Gillis failed to activate his bodycam video recorder before Scheffler was stopped, handcuffed and arrested.

The department's standard operating procedures for body-worn cameras (BWC), which were revised in December 2022, states that officers are required to "maintain their BWC in a constant state of operational readiness."

The procedures further state that officers "will immediately activate their BWC in recording mode prior to engaging in all law enforcement activities or encounters."

"From my understanding, based on the facts I am aware of right now, I understand why bodycam may not have been turned on at the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler," Greenberg said Tuesday. "I still have questions about why it was not on during Mr. Scheffler's arrest."

Greenberg previously said that footage of the incident was captured from a fixed camera across the street, which the city planned to release.

In a police report, Gillis alleged that when he attempted to stop Scheffler's SUV to give him instructions, the SUV accelerated and dragged him, causing injuries to his left wrist and knee.

Scheffler called the incident a "big misunderstanding" and a "chaotic situation." Scheffler was attempting to pass backed-up vehicles to enter the course. Traffic was stopped because of an unrelated fatal crash that killed a 69-year-old man up the road.

Scheffler was booked on four charges, including second degree assault of a police officer, a felony.

Scheffler was booked in a downtown detention center and released less than two hours before his second-round tee time. He carded a 5-under 66 in the second round and tied for eighth at 13 under on Sunday, 8 strokes behind winner Xander Schauffele.

An arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. ET on June 3.

Source: ESPN
 
England's Kim, 16, to make debut at British Masters

Sixteen-year-old English amateur Kris Kim will make his debut on Europe's DP World Tour at the British Masters in August.

Surrey-based Kim, the son of South Korean former LPGA player Suh Ji-hyun, became the youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour since 2015 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas earlier this month.

The teenager had five birdies and an eagle in a three-under-par opening 68 in McKinney before finishing 65th overall.

The British Masters will be hosted by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry from 29 August to 1 September.


BBC
 

Louisville police detective who arrested Scottie Scheffler disciplined for not activating body-worn camera​


Louisville Police disciplined the detective who arrested World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler last week for not activating his body-worn camera at the time of the arrest, Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Thursday.

Detective Bryan Gillis “should have turned on his body-worn camera, but did not,” she said. “His failure to do so is a violation of the LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment, subject category body-worn camera.”

The police chief said Gillis violated policy because he did not have his body-worn camera “operationally ready” as required. The detective has received “corrective action,” the chief said, though the specifics of that discipline were not made clear.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said they are not aware of any video footage that captures the initial interaction between police and Scheffler, but they are releasing video from a fixed pole camera and a police dash cam. The mayor praised the police chief for working quickly and with transparency in the internal investigation.

“Activating body-worn cameras is critically important for our police department to have evidence, to maintain community trust, to be transparent,” he said.

The news conference comes a week after Scheffler was arrested, charged with felony assault, released from jail and then made his tee time in a whirlwind few hours at the PGA Championship, one of golf’s four major tournaments.

Scheffler, 27, was attempting to drive to the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville for the second round of the tournament at about 6 a.m. when he came to the scene of a fatal crash. He allegedly injured a police officer who was directing traffic and was arrested, according to police.

The golfer, a new father with a sterling reputation, was charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer, along with lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, according to Jefferson County court records.

After taking a mugshot and warming up in a jail cell, he was released and made it to his tee time at the golf club. He then shot 5-under that day on his way to finishing the tournament in a tie for 8th place.

His attorney told CNN he plans to plead not guilty to the charges. Scheffler described the incident as a “big misunderstanding” during a “chaotic situation.”

“I feel like my head is still spinning. I can’t really explain what happened this morning. I did spend some time stretching in a jail cell. That’s a first for me,” Scheffler said last Friday. “I was fortunate to be able to make it back out and play some golf today.”

High-ranking police officials in Louisville have privately voiced concerns a felony charge against Scheffler is excessive, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Scheffler’s arraignment was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed to June due to his attorney’s scheduling issue.

He is scheduled to play Thursday afternoon in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

According to a Louisville Metro Police report, Scheffler was trying to drive into the golf course when he was stopped by an officer wearing a full police uniform and a yellow reflective rain jacket. The officer, identified as Gillis, stopped Scheffler and “attempted to give instructions,” the report states.

“Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground,” according to the report.

The detective suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee and was taken to the hospital for further treatment, the report states. His uniform pants, valued at about $80, “were damaged beyond repair,” the report adds.

Scheffler’s attorney, Steven Romines, said his client was headed to the golf course early to prepare to play.

“Due to the combination of event traffic and a traffic fatality in the area it was a very chaotic situation. He was proceeding as directed by another traffic officer and driving a marked player’s vehicle with credentials visible,” Romines said in a statement, referring to Scheffler. “In the confusion, Scottie is alleged to have disregarded a different officer’s traffic signals resulting in these charges.”

Multiple eyewitnesses have said Scheffler “did not do anything wrong” but drove as directed, according to Romines.

“He stopped immediately upon being directed to and never at any point assaulted any officer with his vehicle,” the statement reads. “We will plead not guilty and litigate this matter as needed.”

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington witnessed the encounter. When Scheffler arrived in a marked player courtesy vehicle, he tried to drive around the crash scene on a median, according to ESPN. Darlington wrote on social media that Scheffler “continued to drive about 10 to 20 yards toward the entrance” before stopping.

“The police officer attempted to attach himself to Scheffler’s car, and Scheffler then stopped his vehicle at the entrance to Valhalla,” Darlington wrote on X. “The police officer then began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car. When Scheffler exited the vehicle, the officer shoved Scheffler against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs.”

Police escorted a handcuffed Scheffler into a police vehicle, Darlington’s video shows.

“Right now he’s going to jail,” an officer at the scene says in the video.

 
Officer who arrested Scheffler is disciplined

The police officer who arrested world number one Scottie Scheffler last week has been disciplined for not activating his body-worn camera.

Scheffler was arrested by Bryan Gillis after trying to drive into Valhalla Golf Club for his second round at the US PGA Championship on 17 May.

The American was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer, all of which he denies.

Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Gillis has received "corrective action" following an internal investigation to see if policies were correctly followed.

"This corrective action has been notated on a performance observation form which is in line with our disciplinary protocol and practices," said Gwinn-Villaroel.

"We respect the judicial process and we will allow the courts to proceed accordingly."

Scheffler, who finished the US PGA Championship in a tie for eighth, had a court date set for 21 May but that has been pushed back to 3 June.



BBC
 
Murray's parents say golfer took own life

The parents of Grayson Murray have said the golfer "took his own life", after the PGA Tour announced the American had died at the age of 30.

Murray, a two-time winner on the tour, withdrew from this week's Charles Schwab Challenge event on Friday with illness, having played 16 holes of his second round.

"We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone," said Eric and Terry Murray.

"It's surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It's a nightmare.

"We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and - it seems - by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed."

A standout young player, Murray won three straight Junior World Championships from 2006-08.

He qualified for the PGA Tour in 2016-17, aged 22, and won his first title in 2017 with victory at the Barbasol Championship.

That gave him exemption on the tour to 2019 and, though he struggled with his game after that, he won back a tour spot this season.

He won a second career title with victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii, which moved him to a career-high ranking of 46 in the world.

Following that victory, Murray said he had been suffering with mental health issues.

He also said on social media in 2021 that he had been receiving treatment for alcoholism.

"We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support," Murray's parents added.

"Life wasn't always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.

"Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honour Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else."


BBC
 
England's Bland claims senior major title on debut

England's Richard Bland marked his first start in a senior event by claiming one of the over-50 game's five major titles, the Senior PGA Championship.

The 51-year-old, who now plays on the LIV Golf circuit, eagled the 15th on his way to an eight-under-par closing round of 63 for a 17-under total.

He finished three shots clear of Australia's Richard Green with another Australian, Greg Chalmers, a further shot back at Benton Harbour in Michigan.

Green moved into contention with two eagles on his back nine but Chalmers bogeyed his final three holes when well placed to challenge Bland.

Bland led after the opening two rounds but a third-round 74 saw him slip behind Chalmers and four-time major winner Ernie Els of South Africa.

But he started Sunday's final round strongly with eight birdies over his first 12 holes and although he bogeyed the 13th, he was boosted by picking up two shots at the 15th.

Els' closing 70 saw him finish tied-sixth with former Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco, with defending champion Steve Stricker one shot back and major champions Retief Goosen and Stewart Cink on nine under.

Bland became the oldest first-time winner on the DP World Tour when he won the 2021 British Masters at The Belfry in his 478th start, then joined LIV Golf the following year.

He had not played a senior event - for golfers aged 50 and above - of any kind before this week after having to turn down an invite to last year's Senior PGA because of a conflict with a LIV event.


BBC
 

Korda to take Woods-like dominance into US Open​

Nelly Korda arrives into the biggest week on the women’s golf calendar as a red-hot favourite to land her first US Open title having won six of her last seven tournaments.

It is a period of extraordinary dominance. In those tournaments, stretching back to late January, she has beaten a combined 883 competitors, losing to only six by finishing seventh in the only event she has not won.

In the half-dozen strokeplay events involved, she is an aggregate 74 under par.

The world standings show the points average gap between Korda and Lilia Vu, her closest rival, is greater than the margin between the world number two and any other golfer who features in the ranking list.

It is the stuff of Tiger Woods in his pomp and similar to the way Scottie Scheffler currently dominates the divided men’s game.

After Korda’s most recent win at the Mizuho Americas Cup in New Jersey, PGA Tour player Michael Kim posted on social media that the women’s world number one should be welcomed onto the leading men’s circuit.

"Would be really cool to see Nelly get an exemption to a PGA Tour tournament," said the American, who is routinely one of the most interesting and insightful players on X (formerly Twitter).

It seems to be a default position that when a female player starts to do something extraordinary on the LPGA Tour, they should be invited to see how they fare against the men.

Annika Sorenstam played the Colonial event in 2003 when the then 32-year-old Swede was at the height of her powers. Her five-over-par return, missing the cut by four, was seen as a triumph for women’s golf.

"She played amazing,” said compatriot Jesper Parnevik. "I guess we have the 'Shark', the 'Tiger' and now we have the 'Superwoman'."

Subsequently we have seen forays into the men’s game by the likes of Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson and on occasion they have added lustre and intrigue to otherwise humdrum, run-of-the-mill men’s tournaments.

With Korda, though, it feels different. She is bringing eyeballs to women's golf, setting a benchmark to which her rivals can aspire.

This is what really needs to be showcased. It is a fantastic opportunity for the female game to elevate itself in international sporting consciousness.

It comes at a time when their male counterparts are embroiled in the ongoing greedy mess that has ensued since the arrival of the breakaway LIV Golf circuit.

How Korda compares with the best men in the world is utterly irrelevant. What is significant is the way in which she is elevating the women’s game and especially at this week’s US Open.

She inevitably carries the burden of being a hot favourite and is the primary focus at Lancaster Country Club in Philadelphia. Everything suggests she is more than capable of handling the pressure.

As at the year’s first major, the Chevron Championship at Woodlands near Houston, the 25-year-old Floridian comes in after a week off following her most recent win.

On those firm, unreceptive greens in Texas, Korda proved herself a class apart to complete her second major victory. The 2021 Women’s PGA champion was nervous down the stretch but her technical brilliance saw her through.

Provided the vagaries of the draw do not intervene, there is every reason to believe she can continue this remarkable run.

Korda’s biggest threat is probably Australia’s world number five Hannah Green, the only other player to have won a tournament in which the American has played during the last four months.

But the 27-year-old from Perth, who won the 2019 PGA for her only major success, has never posted a top 10 in the ultra-tough conditions the USGA likes to create for their US Opens.

Several of the game's other big names have struggled to fire during this period. Vu is plagued by a back injury and has not played since late March, while Celine Boutier, the leading European, is without a top 10 in her last seven outings.

Defending champion Allison Corpuz has struggled, as have world number four Ruoning Yin and 2022 US Open winner Minjee Lee.

Britain’s Charley Hull could be a threat, having posted yet another runners-up finish at the Aramco event in Korea earlier this month, although compatriot Georgia Hall has yet to contend this year.

Hall says she sent a jokey text to Korda thanking her for pulling out of a recent tournament to give everyone else a chance.

That is how it feels right now, and as Hall said last week, the dominance of the world number one is "great for the game".

Source: BBC
 

Lexi Thompson to retire from professional golf at end of the season​

Lexi Thompson has announced she will retire from professional golf at the end of the season.

She is playing in her 18th Women's Open, and the fact she is only 29 speaks to a career that began at such a young age.

Thompson was 12 when she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, at the time the youngest ever to qualify. She also set an LPGA Tour record as the youngest winner when she captured the Navistar LPGA Classic at age 16. Both records since have been broken.

Thompson won 15 times on the LPGA Tour, but only one major at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California.

"While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time," said Thompson.

"At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule.

"I'm excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion, Leo.

"I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself."

She was a runner-up in four other majors, most notably being penalised four shots in the final round of the 2017 Kraft Nabisco from a rules violation the day before, and losing a five-shot lead at The Olympic Club in the 2021 U.S. Women's Open.

She grew up playing with her brothers, two of whom reached the PGA Tour, and was renowned for her power.

Source: SKY
 
Tom McKibbin hopes his first experience of defending a DP World Tour title this week will help get him into the "mental state of battling it out" ahead of his major championship debut next month

The Northern Irishman begins his defence of the European Open at Green Eagle Golf Courses in Hamburg on Thursday after capturing his maiden tour victory in style 12 months ago.

The 21-year-old is building up to his major debut at the US Open having secured his place at Pinehurst with a tied sixth finish at the Walton Abbey qualifier earlier this month.

"Pinehurst is obviously a very difficult golf course so really looking forward to it," McKibbin said.

"This week could actually be a good test for it because here is very, very hard.

"I sort of forgot how hard the course is. It's a very long golf course, very challenging off the tee, so long and straight is probably a good combo."

McKibbin carded a three-under 70 to win last year's European Open by two shots, closing out his victory in impressive fashion with a birdie on the par-five 18th after drawing his approach around a tree and on to the green.

"It was a lot warmer last year and the ball sort of got a bit of run on the fairways," added world number 147 McKibbin.

"It's playing a lot longer this year so I think driving will be very, very big again.

"I am very excited just to get over there [to America] to play and to see where my game is at. So this week should sort of get me into that mental state of battling it out."

Source: BBC
 
All police charges dropped against Scottie Scheffler

All charges against world number one Scottie Scheffler following his arrest at the US PGA Championship earlier this month have been dropped.

The American was arrested outside Valhalla Golf Club hours before his second round at the US PGA Championship on the morning of 17 May after trying to drive into the club in heavy traffic.

Scheffler had been charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer.

After reviewing the evidence, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell said Scheffler's actions did not "satisfy the elements of any criminal offence" and "corroborated" Scheffler's assertation that the incident was a "big misunderstanding".

Scheffler's attorney Steve Romines said the 27-year-old would not be filing a civil lawsuit and wanted to focus on his golfing career.

"We are pleased the case was dismissed today," Romines told reporters.

In a statement, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said it "respected" the County Attorney’s decision and the judicial process.

LMPD added that videos and documents, previously unreleased because of legal proceedings, will be made available "after appropriate redactions are made".

Play at the year's second major was delayed by 80 minutes because a shuttle bus had struck and killed a pedestrian, later named as John Mills, outside the golf club.

Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, reportedly attempted to avoid the scene before being stopped by police officer Bryan Gillis.

Videos of the scene outside the course in Louisville, Kentucky, showed Scheffler handcuffed and being guided into the back of a police car.

"The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr Scheffler," said O’Connell.

Gillis was later disciplined for not activating his body-worn camera during the incident.

Scheffler was released and returned to the course in time for his second round. The American went on to finish the tournament tied for eighth.


BBC
 
MacIntyre takes lead in Canada - and credits caddie dad

Bob MacIntyre says his dad Dougie did "a good job" as his stand-in caddie as the Scotsman took the joint lead at the halfway point in the Canadian Open.

The 27-year-old, who is bogey-free this week, followed up his opening 64 with a 66 to sit on 10 under alongside Ryan Fox at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

That is three better than overnight leader David Skinns after the Englishman could manage only a one-over 71, nine strokes worse than his opening round, to sit joint fourth.

MacIntyre is without a regular caddie at the moment and his father flew out on Sunday to carry for him this week.


BBC
 
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