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The Crypto.com Showdown kicks off on Tuesday when Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka take on Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. Why does this one have the promise to be the best made-for-TV match yet — and why might it flop?

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): Sometimes the golf can take a backseat in these matches (and, for what it’s worth, I’ve been game to watch ’em every time), but here the emphasis is squarely on the golf, and that’s a good thing. They’ve got four appointment-viewing golfers. They’ve got LIV vs. the PGA Tour. If they just play and don’t try too hard, this should be terrific. As for why it might flop? It’s football season. During football season there’s not much oxygen left for any other sport.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Par won’t do much good here so it will be four of the best in the game playing no-holds-barred, birdie-or-bust golf. That makes for decent entertainment, especially with the LIV vs Tour overlay. Fairly or not, many will take it as a measuring stick of the rival tours. Dylan is right. Football season is tough competition. But ratings aside, it could be a bust if the banter is as cringe-inducing as it often gets in these miked-up confections. There’s a reason none of these guys has been asked to host a Comedy Central roast. 

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Here’s the exciting reality: It might not stink! And that pretty much makes it the best made-for-TV golf event since the Brady/Manning/Tiger/Phil match back in 2020. If you’ve decided to assume these events will be insufferably corny until proven otherwise, I think that’s fair. But I also think these are the right characters competing under the right structure, to make something that might be enjoyable to diehards and casuals alike. That’s good enough for me. 

If Bryson DeChambeau — already the YouTube influencer he is — is the most important piece of this match being a hit, which player is the second-most important to its success?

Dethier: McIlroy. He’s not the PGA Tour standard-bearer that he was at the beginning of this LIV-Tour rivalry, but he still moves the needle as much as any non-Tiger-Woods golfer in the world. There’s not a weak link here, though — everybody brings something.

Sens: Agreed. Any of the four is capable of putting on a scorching show. But next up after Rory has to be Scheffler, the world’s best player coming off an epic season, with a chance to put yet another punctuation on his dominance.

Colgan: Scottie is the first long-term, no-brainer World No. 1 in like, a dozen years, and I’d argue golf’s ability to convert his dominance into viewers is the biggest challenge facing the sport after reunification. 

Tiger Woods returns to the course this week for the first time since July when he’ll team up with his son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship in Florida. Will we learn anything about Woods’ form and health this week — or should we just sit back and enjoy some family golf?

Dethier: We’ll see him swing and we’ll see him walk and we’ll even see him hit some pressure putts! Let’s not get carried away — not by Woods’ form nor by his son’s. But yeah, I think what we see this week from Woods will give us some sort of hint at what to expect from his 2025.

Sens: To borrow from Bobby Jones, there are two types of golf, tournament golf and hit-and-giggle father-and-son golf, and they are not at all alike. For one thing, Tiger will be allowed to use a cart. You can’t do that at Augusta. That’s just one of many reasons why we shouldn’t use this as a barometer of anything more than what it is.

Colgan: It’s Tiger playing in a televised golf event. Can we convince ourselves we’ve learned something? Obviously yes. We will, whether we should or not.

Scottie Scheffler won PGA Tour Player of the Year honors for a third consecutive season, matching a feat only accomplished by Tiger Woods. (Tiger won five in a row once and three in a row another time.) If you’re Vegas, what are you setting the odds at for Scheffler to make it four in a row next season? And who would you give the second-best odds to?

Dethier: Sheesh — this is a good question. Golf is a fickle game, even for World No. 1s, but given Scheffler’s dominance you can’t go longer than about 2-1 odds. Xander Schauffele is second, with McIlroy just a tick behind him.

Sens: For a brief time, it seemed like Scheffler’s putter might undo him. But he straightened that out well enough. Nor did becoming a father slow him down, as it has other players. I’d put him at close to even money, though Dylan’s right again. The next has to be Schauffele. Unless there’s a sudden truce with LIV, the Tours merge, and Bryson gets back into the full-time mix.

Colgan: I would make Scottie a prohibitive favorite — maybe even odds. He’s been that good. And nobody (sans Schauffele, who just won two majors in one year and STILL lost POTY) is particularly close.  

Speaking of Scheffler, his famed 2012 GMC Yukon XL (with 184,000 miles on it) has been put up for auction with a starting bid of $50,000. Proceeds from the sale will support the Triumph Over Kid Cancer charity. Forget a green jacket or claret jug, what random piece of golf memorabilia would you most like to get your hands on?

Dethier: If we’re handing out cars I’ll take just one of the two Genesis whips Will Zalatoris won at Riviera last year. Or, I dunno. Maybe an old Top Flite hat. Good vibes there.

Sens: I’m not much of a merch guy or a souvenir collector, and I’ve got no romantic attachment to any golf artifacts. But if someone wants to hand me the first-place check from the FedEx Cup at season’s end, I’d accept it.

Colgan: Jim Nantz, if you’re reading this, please let me get a hands on a game-used version of one of those sweet, sweet Vineyard Vines ties.

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Tiger Woods spoke to the media at his Hero World Challenge, calling last season a wash and still unsure about how healthy he’ll be to play consistently in 2025. What was your biggest takeaway from Tiger’s time with the media, and how much longer do you think he’ll approach each season hoping but unsure if he’ll play a few majors before he decides to hang it up for good? Are we close to that?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): It’s like deja vu at this press conference every year. Tiger seems to always be frustrated with his health and unsure of what he’ll be able to do the coming season. When he said he hoped to play once a month it turned out that wasn’t even close. But none of this is surprising at this point; it’s just reality. The guy’s body has been through a lot. That said, I think this will be the status quo going forward. He’s still competitive and is going to play as much as he can and I don’t think a full-fledged retirement is coming soon unless things get substantially worse. But I’m also curious how much (if at all) he’ll play on the Champions Tour when he gets to cruise around in a cart. That day is approaching quickly.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Agreed, Josh. Tiger famously plays things close to the vest. But for a long while now, I don’t think he’s known much more about his plans than the rest of us have, and those plans have been to play as many majors as possible, along with a tiny handful of other events. All of the majors are available to him for pretty much as long as he’s willing to hold out hope. And I don’t expect him to give up on them entirely anytime soon. But as Red Sox second baseman Jerry Remy said when he became a broadcaster: we’re all day to day, even GOATs.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Tiger is always going to say he’s hoping to play the majors (and a few other select tournaments), but the reality is his body isn’t going to allow that. The day his car veered off the road in 2021, his career effectively ended. It remains to be seen how long it will take him to accept that fact.  

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman confirmed reports that had been circulating for weeks, which is that he’ll be out as the league’s CEO following his three-year run. (Former Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Scott O’Neil has been reported as his replacement.) How will Norman’s time as CEO at LIV be remembered? And years from now, how significant will his role have been in whatever the pro golf landscape looks like?

Berhow: Norman’s had such a bizarre and complex relationship with the sport. It’s actually quite difficult to keep this answer concise, but in short he did well to sign some big-name players away from the Tour — Rahm, Bryson, Brooks, etc. — and, like it or not, brought disruption to the game that some fans and players thought was due for disrupting. But he also never got a quality TV deal, which was crucial to LIV Golf expanding its reach and proving it was more than just a hit-and-giggle start-up with a weird format that was streamed on YouTube. Would LIV Golf or the pro golf landscape look that differently right now without Norman, and if someone else had just taken that role? Probably not much, but Norman will be forever tied to it.

Sens: With their financial muscle, the Saudis presumably could have found any number of people to help them disrupt the men’s pro game. But Norman was the perfect vessel for it: a global star with restless ambition and–given that a rival tour was his idea all along– a super-sharp axe to grind. This weight of his name surely didn’t hurt with recruiting a bunch of the guys that LIV now has. But distaste for Norman might have helped turn off others, and did little to further the prospect of negotiations.

Melton: Norman will be remembered as a polarizing and disruptive figure. Whether you see that as a good thing or a bad one is up to you. 

From one outgoing CEO to another, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, commissioner of the LPGA Tour, announced she will step down from her role in January, two years before her contract reportedly expired. While purses rose significantly since Marcoux Samaan took over in May 2021, the 2024 season ended with a Solheim Cup parking debacle and a key sponsor calling out the Tour at its season-ending event. What will be Marcoux Samaan’s legacy? And what do you think ultimately led to this early departure?

Berhow: Purses raised drastically in her time and while that’s not completely due to a league’s CEO, they get to take a ton of the credit. Increasing the purses and expanding the league’s reach and exposure were probably the two most important items on her to-do list when she started, and while one was accomplished I’m not sure the other was. Was that completely her fault? Probably not, but if the boss can take credit for purse increases they need to take the fall when things don’t go so well. Nelly Korda had a historic season and it just never seemed to gain as much traction as it should have. (Again, Korda probably could have helped herself more here too.) Finally, the Solheim Cup parking snafu was bad and the immediate response wasn’t much better.

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Sens: I don’t think you can lay the parking debacle entirely at her feet. Her role is big-picture, not the nitty-gritty of on-the-ground logistics . But it was bad optics (and the sluggish communications response was amateurish), and part of the boss’s job is taking heat when such things go wrong. That the third round of the season-ending CME Championship was shown on tape-delay was another bad look. But that was a TV contract negotiated before Marcous Samaan took over. Again, though, the buck has to stop somewhere, so that becomes entwined in her legacy as well. In her defense, I think frustrations with the LPGA the season are reflective of an issue across the board in professional golf: players and organizations and networks want and expect more money than the market actually warrants. Golf is a niche sport.

Melton: I’ll give Mollie credit, she helped raise purses across the LPGA Tour and was generally well-liked among players. Ultimately, however, her inability to operate as an effective communicator was her downfall. The problems the LPGA Tour faces are too large for one singular figure to fix and I’d expect the next commish to face similar headwinds. At a bare minimum, though, they need to find someone who can better communicate with fans, sponsors and the media. 

Following a year in which NBC Sports held mini “tryouts” for its lead analyst role, the network announced Kevin Kisner will be the replacement to take over the full-time gig most recently held by Paul Azinger. Do you like the Kisner selection over the other candidates?

Berhow: I think Kisner’s laid-back personality and relationship with so many current Tour pros played to his advantage, but from that chair it’s also their job to be critical when necessary. How often will Kisner pull that arrow from his quiver? We’ll find out.

Sens: Kisner can be funny and he obviously knows what it’s like to be out there, but there’s no doubt that close ties to the players he’s covering is both a benefit and a liability. I understand that Brandel Chamblee is not universally beloved, but I also think he’s as smart and incisive as there is in golf. I would have liked to see him in the role.

Melton: It’s fine. The hire isn’t ground-breaking, but it’s not a total flop either. I would’ve preferred to see Chamblee in the booth, but alas. 

Two top American players returned rejuvenated last week, with Jordan Spieth taking on the Hero after a wrist injury and a bulked-up Will Zalatoris teeing it up on the DP World Tour following his first healthy offseason in years. Both sounded optimistic about 2025. Who will have the better season?

Berhow: Willy Z. He’s had a year to get more comfortable with the broomstick putter and his new swing. He seems healthy, excited and committed. I like him to win at least once next season and would not be surprised to see him do it twice.

Sens: Zalatoris. Even when he was winning majors, Spieth was reliant on an otherworldly scrambling and putting game, which is difficult to sustain. Maybe more importantly, he has also been through a long period of struggles with his game as a whole, which takes a toll on the confidence. 

Melton: My coworkers nailed it. Zalatoris looked like one of the best players in the world before his injury troubles. If he’s back to 100 percent, look out.

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The PGA Tour released its nominees for the 2024 Jack Nicklaus Award and Arnold Palmer Award, with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy battling for POY and Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon nominated for Rookie of the Year. Any predictions?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Scheffler’s seven-win season and the fact that most of them were in bigger events will be tough to top, even with Xander’s double-major year. (P.S. Scottie’s Olympic gold doesn’t hurt his chances, either.) The ROY race should be tighter, but not by much. Pavon won once and had a nice run at the Masters, but it’s hard to bet against the headlines Nick Dunlap made when he became the first amateur to win since Phil and the first player to win as an amateur and pro in the same season.

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): Scottie is a lock. In terms of win quality, Pavon’s title at the Farmers Insurance Open was probably the strongest in terms of prestige. But Josh, you make a great case for Nick Dunlap. I think you’re right. If all wins are equal, doing it as an amateur should be worth double anyway, and Dunlap won another tournament too, for good measure. He gets the nod from me.

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It’s Scottie, who had a ridiculous, historic season. But as crazy as it sounds, I think Scheffler would have traded his season for Schauffele’s until he won the gold medal. A player’s major count is his most important number and Schauffele got two to Scheffler’s one. But Olympic gold is in a category of its own; pair that with his Masters title, add in the Players and a bundle of additional Tour wins, cap it off with the FedEx Cup title and he’s the clear winner. As for Rookie of the Year? Dunlap won twice and is therefore the easy pick. Max Greyserman has shown some red-hot form, though, and may be the guy to watch for 2025.

It’s Hero World Challenge week, and while the 15-time major-winning host won’t be teeing it up, we will hear from him in his annual pre-tournament press conference. What are you hoping to learn from Tiger Woods when he speaks to the media next week?

Berhow: We seem to constantly get no-update updates on the state of the pending merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but hopefully Tiger has a little more intel on current happenings and where everything stands. As a prominent figure in golf, if he voices any displeasure or skepticism, it will make waves. But maybe it’s wishful thinking that even his thoughts will have that much impact at this point.

Marksbury: I’m still not ready for Tiger’s full transition from player to elder statesman. An update on the LIV/PGA Tour proceedings would be great, but I also want to know how he’s healing from his latest procedure and if competitive golf is far away. A tentative schedule of when we can expect to see him tee it up next year would be nice too.

Dethier: At the moment the people really want to know if Team Woods will be taking on the PNC. I’m legitimately curious to take his temperature on the TGL, too — how invested and excited is he? But Berhow’s right that we should at least be able to read between the lines of whatever sidestep he offers on the PIF-PGA Tour relationship. Mostly it’ll be good to see Woods out and about; the world hasn’t seen much of him since The Open.

GOLF recently released its latest rankings of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S. (including the public list) and with it some survey results we collected from golf fans like you. What was the most interesting nugget you noticed?

Berhow: About 1/3 of those surveyed said they wouldn’t pay more than $100 to play a Top 100 Course. While I think that figure is about right, I think it also reminds that there’s a large portion of people out there who are more into golf for the recreation, sport and camaraderie rather than checking off a bucket list gem — and that’s just fine. It’s important to have courses to support that, too.

Marksbury: I was very surprised at how many respondents (55 percent!) said a course’s designer matters to them when they’re choosing where to play. Unless I’m headed to a heralded or bucket-list destination in which the designer is basically synonymous with the course, a given course’s designer is often something I think about after I play, rather than before.

Dethier: I was just surprised that 10 percent of survey-takers had played Pine Valley and nearly half of you know someone who has. I knew you all were golf sickos, I just didn’t realize how well-connected you were.

Drivers

With a nod to Thanksgiving, what golf moment or part of the game are you thankful for right now?

Berhow: Friends to take buddies’ trips with, slope buttons on rangefinders, good push carts, high-quality brats at the turn and strong post-round IPAs on patios.

Marksbury: Josh, what a list! Hard to top. I’ll go with that first-tee feeling, when the anticipation is at a high and the round — and all its potential unrealized glories — is still ahead of you.

Dethier: Every time you get out on a crisp fall day it just feels like you’re stealing one. Thankful for fall golf, for a course with a view and for the relief when the one group holding you up drops out after nine.

And on a different note, our Josh Sens compiled a list of our annual ‘Turkey Award‘ winners for 2024, which was a look back at some of the more unsavory headlines from the year. Who or what is your winner in that category for this year?

Berhow: Oh boy, some worthy candidates no doubt. Hard to top the mess in Phoenix, although arresting the World No. 1 player might do that.

Marksbury: Scottie’s arrest, hands down. I’m still mad about it.

Dethier: There was something strange and hilarious about Matt Kuchar singlehandedly extending the Wyndham Championship into Monday. Probably less hilarious for tournament staffers who had to come back first thing, though.

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Maverick McNealy closed the 2024 PGA Tour season with the first victory of his career, beating three others by a shot at the RSM Classic on Sunday. What took the former top-ranked amateur so long to get his first title on Tour, and do you expect it to snowball into a breakout 2025?

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): That seems like a loaded question. Winning is hard on the PGA Tour. We’ve seen numerous top-ranked amateurs get to the PGA Tour and never win, and we’ve also seen plenty who have gone on to have hall-of-fame careers. While he was dealing with an injury last year, he still played better in 2022 than he did this year, even with the win. I say it’s likely he wins again, but I don’t expect him to suddenly become a top-10 or top-20 player.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): He’s kind of unique where he’s never been a star but has never really struggled to keep his PGA Tour card. He’s just been… pretty good: solid off the tee, not so great into greens and a very good putter. It was a matter of time. It’s not a fluke he had so much success at the collegiate level. The first one’s always the hardest. He’d definitely be a breakout contender for next year.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Golf’s a funny old game. Mav had six top 10s this season but also 13 missed cuts or withdrawals. Forecasting what players are capable of from one week to the next is nearly impossible. What a month for Mav, though! He helped mastermind the Tour’s recently announced revamp of its FedEx Cup points distribution system, and now he has his first Tour title. If only he’d lobbied the Tour to dole out more points for the RSM…

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Last week we found out (officially) that come 2026, only 100 players will earn full-time PGA Tour status. But for 2025, that magic number is still 125, and we learned those players at the season-ending RSM Classic on Sunday. Which player who made it just inside (or outside) that cut line was the most notable to you?

Hirsh: Has to be Joel Dahmen, who put together a Sunday 64 to finish No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. Dahmen has struggled with adjusting to his newfound fame since being a key figure in the Netflix “Full Swing” docuseries. Having him on Tour makes for a much more entertaining, compelling and relatable product, so having him struggle to get into fields under the past champion category wouldn’t have been much fun. I still think his best years are yet to come.

Berhow: Yeah, hard to argue with Dahmen, since he was the biggest name within a few of that No. 125 spot. Two other young former college standouts, Parker and Pierceson Coody, both landed on the wrong side of that line, too.

Bastable: Must say, I didn’t foresee anyone in the Creator Classic field making a run at a Tour card, but that’s what Wes Bryan did, narrowly missing out by three spots. When Bryan took heat for playing in that hit-and-giggle event for influencers earlier this year, he tweeted, “Are there actually ppl mad that I’m playing in this event? I have filmed 100+ long form youtube videos over the last two years…missed almost every cut on the pga tour…and hardly ever practice.” Not exactly a recipe for Tour success. But Bryan still found a way to stay relevant until an MC this week doomed his card hopes.

We’ll spend more time next month unpacking the year that was on the PGA Tour, but off the top of your head, what’s the one big thing you learned or will remember about the 2024 PGA Tour season?

Hirsh: Honestly, that a Tiger-like run is still possible. I think I had started thinking that the generation of kids who got into golf because of Tiger Woods had made the sport too deep for anyone to really go on a run of victories like he did nearly two decades ago. Scottie Scheffler disproved that theory this year. No, he didn’t win multiple majors like Woods did do so often, but until Scheffler’s 2024 no one had won seven times in a Tour season since Woods in 2007. And it’s not like Scheffler’s competition was weak, either. Sure, LIV Golf has taken away Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, Jaco Neimann and others, but Scheffler was winning against Xander Schauffele, who won two majors himself, week in and week out. Let’s not forget about that gold medal win, too.

Berhow: Scottie Scheffler will never go back to Louisville.

Bastable: Yeah, the Scheffler PGA fiasco will go down as the one of the wildest sports stories of all time, but still, this year might be remembered more for what happened off the course. Or, more the point, what didn’t happen. And that will continue to be the case until the PGA Tour and PIF finally strike a deal. The drawn-out negotiations have sucked so much oxygen out of the room. Total bummer.

Also complete is the 2024 LPGA season, with Jeeno Thitikul winning the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Nelly Korda tied for fifth to put a bow on a spectacular seven-win campaign. Quick: Will Korda match or surpass that season-win total again in her career?

Hirsh: I’ll go ahead and say it: yes! For as incredible as Korda’s season was, it was also kind of weird. She missed three cuts randomly in the middle of the season that included two majors, she took two months off between her first and second wins, she let chances to win the Open and Olympics slip away and she also dealt with some injury. As long as her mechanics stay intact, I could see her winning in bunches like this for a few more years.

Berhow: Yes. And boy, that sounds crazy to say, but I came to that conclusion in my head pretty quickly. I think she can keep getting better — as Jack mentioned, she had some weird things happen this year too — and I would not be a bit surprised to see her do this again.

Bastable: ​​Buzzkill Bastable says no. Seven wins is staggering, and the tour is only getting deeper, meaning victories will become increasingly harder to come by. As Jack notes, Nelly’s also been prone to injuries; winning in bunches requires staying healthy.

Last week, GOLF released its latest ranking of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play, a list full of superstar layouts accessible to any Average Joe. If you were creating the ultimate public-golf road trip with this list in mind, where are you taking our readers?

Hirsh: I’ve used this space before to shout-out my former hometown of Bend, Ore., and I will do it again. Bend is represented on our latest Top 100 Courses You can Play list with Pronghorn’s two courses, but it has so much more to offer. Sunriver’s Crosswater course once was in the top 15 of our ranking and I believe it is one of the most beautiful inland courses I have ever played. The list goes on and on with Tetherow, Brasada Ranch, Black Butte Ranch and more. Within 90 minutes is an absolutely fantastic hidden gem in the mountains called Tokatee, which is on GOLF’s list of America’s best golf courses for under $100. And while a five-hour drive to Bandon Dunes may seem long, it is one of the most scenic drives you can take.

Berhow: The easy answer is to spend some time kicking around Pebble Beach or Pinehurst, etc., and playing all of those crazy-good — and often spendy — tracks, but I’m gonna use my homer card as well and pick a more Midwestern trip that won’t hurt your wallet quiet as much and isn’t as obvious. Play one of those elite Wisconsin courses (Whistling or Sand Valley or Erin Hills, etc.) but then stop off for a value play at Lawsonia, then head to Minnesota (which I’m surprised didn’t get one nod on our Top 100 You Can Play list) and go way up north and double up at Giants Ridges’ two courses before driving to nearby The Wilderness at Fortune Bay. It’s a great area that is home to three of the better public courses in the state, and unless you are brave enough to travel that far, a lot of out-of-staters don’t even know about it.

Bastable: No, Josh, the easy answer is, in fact, Bandon Dunes, which has five courses in the top 25. Bonus: the only road trip you need worry about is getting to the resort. A less obvious rec: the Tampa, Fla., area. Three Streamsong Top 100s, the new spread at Cabot Citrus Farms and the Copperhead course at Innisbrook are all within two hours of one another. Not a bad haul!

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The Telegraph reported the PGA of America is considering proposals and nearing a structure that would pay U.S. Ryder Cup players directly — reportedly $400,000 each — for the first time in the event’s nearly 100-year history. As for the European side? “The European consensus is we don’t want anything to change what we have over here,” said Rory McIlroy, “so we probably won’t be getting paid for Bethpage, which is totally fine.” While lots can change in the next year, how would the Ryder Cup dynamic be affected if one side was compensated and the other wasn’t?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): All the cliches about the American cult of individualism vs the European belief in the collective good definitely play out in Ryder Cup dynamics, and those dynamics sure seem to favor the Europeans. But I’m not sure one side getting paid would change much about the competition. What I think it would change is fan rooting interest. Given a choice between a mercenary team and players willing to play for free, I know which side I’d pull for every time. 

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I don’t think the dynamic would change much, but I agree with Josh: it strikes me as strange that one side could be compensated while the other is not. But if we’re being honest, it’s ridiculous the players aren’t paid for the Ryder Cup to begin with, so if this is what it takes to get the gears turning in the right direction, so be it.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): My two colleagues nailed it in the replies above. I’m not sure there’s any more I can add that hasn’t already been said. 

Speaking of McIlroy, he beat Rasmus Hojgaard by two to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and clinch his sixth Race to Dubai title. Given his close calls over the past year — U.S. Open, Irish Open — how big was this victory to end the year and how important was it for his mojo heading into 2025: very little, somewhat, or a lot?

Sens: In the grand scheme, very little. McIlroy has won plenty of events during his 10-year major drought. What he hasn’t won are the individual events he says mean the most to him. Maybe the swing changes he says he’s working on will get him over the hump this coming season. But I don’t expect another Race to Dubai title to get him past the mental-game issues that have pretty clearly been getting in his way in majors.

Colgan:  Psychologically, I think it was a pretty big deal. I think his surprisingly emotional interview after the tournament proved as much to be true. But the bigger question — can he defeat the demons that cost him the U.S. Open and nearly cost him the title on Sunday? — remains unanswered heading into ‘25. I think that’s the bigger piece of it. 

Melton: I don’t think it does a whole heck of a lot for his psyche considering winning these sorts of titles has never been the issue — it’s been winning in the four big ones. Another shiny trophy to add to the collection, but not the one he wants most. I don’t think this winning experience is gonna be make or break when it comes crunch time in the majors.

Paul Azinger is returning to the golf broadcasting booth 2025, as the former NBC lead analyst will take over the same role for the PGA Tour Champions (replacing the since-departed Lanny Wadkins). Given how Azinger aired dirty laundry on his way out the door from NBC last December, are you surprised by this hire? And do you think we’ll see the same version of Azinger we saw in the booth previous years?

Sens: A bit surprising. But a sensible hire in a lot of ways. Azinger will be covering guys from his own generation, so presumably he’ll have some fun personal anecdotes to share, among other insights that add color to color commentary. This time around also feels like lower stakes and less pressure than his first time in the tower, when he was filling the big shoes of Johnny Miller. I would hope – and expect–he’ll be more relaxed and freewheeling, which also makes for a better broadcast.

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Colgan: I’m pretty surprised, if only because ‘Zinger called his new employers at the Tour a “feeder” tour to LIV less than a year ago. But I also don’t think there are that many people alive who are qualified to speak about the PGA Tour Champions each week like Azinger is, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too shocked.

Melton: It’s always a surprise to see a reunion after burned bridges, but after the twists and turns pro golf has taken in recent years, it’s far from the most stunning reversal. I’m not sure his limited time on TV broadcasting the Champs Tour will make many waves, though. Most of the views for the senior tour come via muted TVs in muni grill rooms and bars anyways.

Two of the women’s game’s most popular players, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, faced off in the final grouping at The Annika on Sunday, with Korda ultimately shooting 67 to win by one shot. It was also somewhat of a rematch dating back to the fall, when Hull beat Korda 6 and 4 in Solheim Cup singles. How important is this Korda-Hull dynamic for the LPGA? Is it the “rivalry” the league needs?

Colgan: They’re two of the most marketable players in the LPGA right now, so I’d say it is important for the tour that they played together on Sunday. But I don’t think one singular rivalry is enough to move the needle. I think we should be talking about how to improve the product — pace of play is one notable area — so that when stars compete against one another during these bigger weekends, fans are incentivized to keep coming back.

Sens: James pretty much nails it. Rivalries between top players are always welcome. But one rivalry alone isn’t a silver bullet. What the magic cure might be is another matter. I’m not sure. The LPGA Tour is stocked with great players with engaging personalities who are far more media-friendly than their male counterparts. Why they aren’t more popular here — as they are on the Korean professional circuit, where they earn more and draw more fans than the guys — has to do with something deeper currents that make for uncomfortable conversations.

Melton: They’re definitely two of the most recognizable faces in the women’s game, but for it to be a true rivalry, Charley Hull is going to need to beef up her resume a bit. For as much buzz as she generates on social media, her CV is a bit light with just two LPGA wins in her entire career. Even if the “rivalry” does fully blossom, though, it’s not going to be a fix-all for the women’s game. As Sens alluded to above, that speaks to some deeper issues.

GOLF released its latest ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S. last week, with Pine Valley yet again coming in at No. 1 and 11 newcomers making the list. What stood out to you about the latest ranking? (Eds. note: Stay tuned for our newest Top 100 Courses You Can Play ranking that goes live on Tuesday.)

Sens: Just how much of the list tilts private. I don’t think that’s a flaw in the rankings, it’s simply a reflection of the way the game is drifting, and how much money there is at the higher end of the game. Money is pouring into restorations of great old private clubs, but also into super-exclusive new hideaways. As great as many resorts and daily-fee courses are these days, it’s gotten harder for public-access golf to compete rankings-wise.

Colgan: Man, I was shocked by the jump taken by The Lido, the mythical Long Island routing turned Wisconsin resort course. It’s up into the top 40 in the U.S., and given its story, it’s probably the public course I’m most eager to play. 

Melton: I enjoyed seeing Philly Cricket sneak into the Top 100 this time around. The Wissahickon course has long been one of my favorite in the northeast, so it’s nice to see it get some love in the rankings. 

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The post Tour Confidential: PGA Tour changes and the great Bernhard Langer  appeared first on Golf.

The post Tour Confidential: PGA Tour changes and the great Bernhard Langer  appeared first on Golf.

1. Last week, the PGA Tour notified members of several proposed changes that could take place in the 2026 season, a couple of which would be handing out fewer Tour cards and reducing field sizes for some events. “I hate all the changes they’re making,” Justin Lower said last week. “Seems like anytime I do something good they make a change.” Lower, due to his ranking, would be one of the players most likely affected if these changes go through, but with all the Signature Event tweaks, field-size adjustments and constant change in the men’s game lately, does he have a point about the Tour changing too much and even running the risk of confusing the average fan? Is the Tour’s constant change good, bad, or inevitable?

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Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): From the fan’s perspective, I think it depends on what you like about the pro game. Do you enjoy watching the stars and mostly familiar names week in and week out? Or do you prefer the occasional underdog? In a sentence, then, the dark horses might get squeezed out — but there’s the strong possibility that the quality of play will improve, as it’ll be harder to keep a Tour card. As for me, I’m a fan of stories — and telling them! — and I think we’ll lose some here. 

Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Lower definitely has a point, but he’s gonna have to work pretty hard to earn a ton of sympathy. He’s just not one of the 40 or 60 or even top 100 golfers in the world. The truth these days is you need to be a top player to have the system always working in your favor. That is earned by really good golf. 

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): He definitely has a point. And there’s definitely a cost to these changes. But the PGA Tour — and its big-time new consultants — have made this decision with fans and with simplicity in mind. I think this adds clarity to a confusing system, which is a good thing. Still work to do, of course … 

2. Another one of the proposed changes was tweaking the pathway to the Tour, and 20 Korn Ferry Tour grads will now receive PGA Tour cards instead of 30. The DP World Tour will once again award 10 cards. In an interview last week following the Tour’s proposed changes, DP World Tour chief Guy Kinnings said it wouldn’t surprise him if more Americans started to consider joining the DP World Tour. Do you agree? And are there advantages and disadvantages to this scenario?

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Piastowski: Yeah, I could potentially see that. On the DP World Tour, the purses are bigger, and the locations are more exotic. You can make a good living and travel the globe. But if your goal is the PGA Tour, 20 cards is still greater than 10. I’m questioning how much things change. 

Zak: Totally agree, but it’ll be in reverse. As in those who finish outside the top 125 on the Tour first, then head to Europe, rather than those coming from college to Europe on their way to the Tour ranks. But as long as the purses on the KFT are somewhat comparable, the proximity to home is going to be a better fit for most. 

Dethier: This week’s DP World Tour field was a reminder that it’s tough to put this circuit in a box — it’s an epic global tour that’s also a feeder tour, an outlet for LIV guys and a part-time stop for some of the biggest stars in the world. I’m all for incorporating it more fully in the PGA Tour system … but there are still big-picture identity questions it has to confront. But as Rory McIlroy said this week, it’s a tour with its options open.

3. Austin Eckroat won the World Wide Technology Championship, besting Justin Lower and Carson Young by one and Max Greyserman by two in Mexico. Greyserman talked earlier in the week about his close calls, and with his third-place finish here, he’s now placed in the top five five times in his 27 career starts (including three 2nds) and still hasn’t won on Tour. Is he the best current PGA Tour player without a victory? Or does someone else hold that title?

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Piastowski: I’ll cheat here a bit and go with Tommy Fleetwood — the seven-time DP World Tour winner and multiple-time Ryder Cupper has stunningly never won on the PGA Tour. But if we’re playing things straight up, gimme Denny McCarthy, maybe the Tour’s best putter. Golf is a hard game. This all being said, Greyserman’s too talented not to win, and I’m thinking he jumps off this list quickly. 

Zak: I think Greyserman needs to do it more than just one season to earn that title. It’s definitely Tommy lad, as Nick points out. And it might not be close? Cameron Young comes to mind, too. 

Dethier: Let’s get more specific: He’s on the hottest current run of anyone without a Tour win. There’s no guarantee one will ever come, but Greyserman seems to be the total package. He’s high on every watch list for 2025.

4. Ageless wonder Bernhard Langer won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday in Phoenix, extending his senior-circuit winning streak to 18 years and giving the 67-year-old pro his record-extending 47th win on PGA Tour Champions. Given Langer’s talent and longevity and the mass sums being made on the PGA Tour these days, is his PGA Tour Champions win record (which could still be added to) something that will ever be broken?

Piastowski: No. Unless that dude who wears red on Sunday — who turns 49 next month! — commits to a full Champions schedule. 

Zak: It will not be broken. It’s ridiculous. I see that level of pro golf only developing more parity moving forward, too. Langer’s records are safe. 

Dethier: The PGA Tour Champions is funny because your age works against you from the moment you make your debut. For everyone else, that is. Remarkable stuff and a testament to his discipline.

5. On Tuesday, GOLF will release its latest Top 100 Courses in the U.S. ranking, a list that dates back decades. Why do you believe this ranking continues to be important for the sport?

Piastowski: All kinds of reasons! But maybe the biggest is you, the golfer, wins. Courses typically want to be on these kinds of lists — so, in turn, you get better golf, better experiences, better everything. That said, here’s hoping we get better prices, too. 

Zak: I think it’s because we love lists, and there’s a ton of good stuff about this list. It allows for change when new courses come into play. It gives us all something to shoot for and talk about. It gives us a reason to travel! It’s a lot of things in one. 

Dethier: It’s important because we love talking about golf courses, and comparing them, and making lists of our favorites. Our Top 100 doesn’t have to be yours. It won’t be! But it’s a great jumping-off point for conversations, for debates, for dreams … and maybe even for making plans. It’s impossible to make a perfect list just like it’s impossible to compare pieces of art. But it’s worth giving it the ol’ college try anyway.

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The post Tour Confidential: Ryder Cup player pay, biggest PGA Tour change, Tour-PIF news appeared first on Golf.

The post Tour Confidential: Ryder Cup player pay, biggest PGA Tour change, Tour-PIF news appeared first on Golf.

Pending approval by the PGA Tour Policy Board, big changes are coming to the Tour regarding membership, field sizes, pace of play, Monday qualifiers and more. You can read about the proposed changes here (and some burning questions here), but what’s your take on the most significant development, and are you in favor of it?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The biggest news has to be that the number of full-status players will drop from 125 to 100. In short, it will make it a little more special to secure a PGA Tour card and strengthen that core group of members, but at the same time it’s not like the guys just outside that line won’t get any starts anywhere. Far from it. I don’t mind the cutthroat nature.

Josh Sens, senior writer, (@joshsens): That reduced number of full-timers is definitely the one that jumps out first. But cutting back on Monday qualifiers also caught my eye. At first blush, it seems like an unfortunate change, since who doesn’t love the Cinderella story of some unknown squeaking into a tournament at the last minute and going on to win? Thing is, the record shows that stories of that kind almost never happen, that most Monday qualifiers wind up missing the cut or being non-factors. Bottom line: reality trumps romance. In the end, it seems like a sensible change.

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Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Yeah, no doubt the trimming of the full-status number is the headliner change; that kind of reduction is going to be a big deal to the vast majority of players who have to scratch and claw for their livelihoods from season to season. In terms of a logical change, shrinking field sizes makes a lot of sense. Sure, we’ll lose out on a few Cinderella winners, but getting rounds completed before dark should be a priority. It’s wild that nearly three out of every 10 rounds this season spilled into the following day — that’s not good either for players or fans. Mostly, though, I found myself unmoved by these tweaks, none of which will make the Tour “product” significantly more compelling. The Tour and players should be laser-focused on how to improve the TV viewing experience, starting with sinking some of that surge in Tour investment into fewer commercial interruptions.

According to a report from Golfweek, players and captains from the 2024 Presidents Cup were allowed to do what they pleased with their $250,000 stipend they received for playing in the event (in previous years, players were allowed to use those sums to donate to charities of their choice). Golfweek reported next year’s Ryder Cup stipend could be a similar format to the Presidents Cup. This news comes after the recent uproar over a massive uptick in Ryder Cup ticket prices. Given all this information, is it time to actually pay the players?

Berhow: I’d have to look back at my previous stance here, but I’m pretty sure I was against paying players and thought it wasn’t too much to ask millionaires to represent their country once every couple of years. But something about the increased Ryder Cup ticket prices at a place (Bethpage) that’s long been praised for and proud of its accessibility and affordability has irked me. Pay the players.

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Sens: In my ideal world, the PGA of America would use the proceeds to cover just the costs of running the event and give all the other profits to charity. And the rosters would be limited to (already very rich) players who are willing to play for pride and country. But I know that’s not how capitalism works.

Bastable: Players playing for nothing might have made sense in the early days of the Ryder Cup when teams crossed the Atlantic not by plane but by boat, but the times they are a-changin’. The event is now arguably the game’s second biggest spectacle behind the Masters, and a financial windfall — to the tune of tens of millions of dollars — for its organizing bodies. If getting paid (even on principle) is important to the players, then perhaps it’s time to cut them a check. Look at the Olympics, where no less than seven countries pay out their gold medalists six-figure bonuses. Here’s an idea: Ryder Cup teams could pay out their players on performance. Say, $50,000 for every point won. Make ’em earn it.   

Amid golf’s continued divide, there was another reported meeting last week between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan. How significant is this news in the interest of a deal being completed? A little? Or a lot?

Berhow: I’m bored with this. They have jets and can meet whenever they want.

Sens: Word is they were just trading casserole recipes. I read that on social media, so it must be true. Come to think of it, maybe they should try sharing a potluck meal. None of these other meetings seem to be leading anywhere

Bastable: Right. I think we’re all at or well past the point at which only an official announcement about the PGA Tour and PIF’s path forward together will get our attention. Fans are frustrated, jaded, disenchanted. Even when a deal is hammered out and presented, it’s going to take a long time to re-engage those fans who have walked over the past couple of years. I, for one, remain hopeful, though. There are too many smart people in the room — and the stakes are far too high — to screw this up.

The 10th installment of TNT’s The Match won’t involve any pro golfers, but instead a collection of eight actors, comedians and athletes. The Match: Superstars will feature Bill Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Phelps, Nate Bargatze, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Blake Griffin. The event takes place on Nov. 21-22 at Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. Thoughts on the new format/lineup?

Berhow: I’m going to shock myself here and say I’m mildly interested in this (at least more than other lineups). My gripe about The Match has always been that it’s difficult for most of these golf stars to flick on that switch and become entertaining between the golf shots, which is crucial to good television. But having some comedians (Murray, Bargatze) and characters (Sir Charles) and the inevitable squirrely shots from amateurs means there might be some fun unpredictability to this.

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Sens: Bill Murray is great. Charles Barkley can be funny. But the whole thing sounds painfully contrived to me. Now, if you got them altogether and let Nikki Glaser roast them on Comedy Central, I’d watch that.

Bastable: I’ve always felt A-list pros bring a sense of gravitas to The Match. Not to mention pressure. Remember when Tom Brady looked like a 25-handicapper in the 2020 edition with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods? That was great theater! You get the sense he wouldn’t have struggled so mightily with Blake Griffin and Nate Bargatze in tow instead. This next Match just feels like a watered-down version of the American Century.

Happy Halloween (a few days late)! What’s your favorite golfy Halloween costume you’ve stumbled upon over the years?

Berhow: I’ve always been a fan of the wholesome Masters caddie uniform, but one of my social feeds recently showed a group of about a dozen guys — a player, a caddie and fans in the gallery — walk through neighborhoods hitting shots like they were playing Augusta. Love the commitment.

Sens: I actually played a post-work twilight round on Halloween this year. I put a lot of work into the costume and showed up dressed like a golfer, but it was no use. The get-up fooled no one.

Bastable: I’m still waiting for someone to figure out how to dress up as the scariest thing in golf: aerated greens.

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The post Tour Confidential: TGL’s TV schedule, Tiger’s next start and more appeared first on Golf.

The post Tour Confidential: TGL’s TV schedule, Tiger’s next start and more appeared first on Golf.

TGL, the indoor, virtual golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, announced its TV schedule for 2025, with the first showdown airing in primetime on Tuesday, Jan. 7, on ESPN. Tiger Woods and his team won’t play on opening night — he’ll play the next week — but how important of a role do you think Woods will have when it comes to viewer interest?

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James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Uh, Tiger’s role in this league is basically the only thing that matters for viewer interest in the early days. The TGL is betting — and hoping — that fans will enjoy the concept enough that they’ll still feel compelled to watch during the non-Woods weeks. A lot depends on how the broadcast looks and feels, but my bet is they’ll steal elements from the ManningCast to expand player access (as basically every new sports telecast seems to be doing).

Josh Sens, senior editor, (@joshsens): This is not like the James Bond franchise, where you can swap out the leading actor without dimming public ticket sales. As James notes, Tiger is key to getting this thing kick-started. Though, long-term sustainability will likely hinge more on how compelled people feel to gamble on it.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Tiger will be a huge part of it, but the key will be using his name to get viewers in and then using the product to get them to come back. But this is a TV show, after all, so the golfers playing will need to be entertaining and carry the action when they aren’t hitting shots. I’ve always felt pros in The Match have struggled with that part, so we’ll have to see how it all goes down with TGL.

The venue for TGL, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., seats about 1,500 and tickets start at $160. If you are a fan in the area, what’s your interest level of attending one of these in person?

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Colgan: I would think pretty high! Some of the best players in golf, in a super intimate setting, in an area that’s already golf-mad? Seems like an okay business proposition to me.

Sens: Sartre had it wrong. Hell isn’t other people. Hell is sitting in an arena with a ton of other people, watching grown men hit golf balls into a screen. If I have $160 earmarked for entertainment, I’m playing golf. Not watching it indoors.

Berhow: As someone who lives several states away, I’m not buying a plane ticket to head south and watch the TGL, but if I was in the area I’d definitely consider it, mostly due to the curiosity factor. There are lots of worse ways to spend $160, (other) Josh! Plus, holding only that many people, you won’t exactly be sitting in the nosebleeds.

Seventeen of the 20 spots were announced for the Hero World Challenge to be played in December in the Bahamas, although the 15-time major-champ host will yet again be a last-minute decision coming off his September back surgery. Given what we know so far, do you think Woods plays?

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Colgan: I think he probably won’t play, considering the PNC Championship is just a few days later and would serve ostensibly the same purpose. Better safe than sorry.

Sens: Agreed. Granted, Tiger has shown a Deadpool-like capacity to bounce back from physical injury. But the agonies have now piled up to the point that I expect him to focus his energies on his hosting duties, while saving what remains of his back and knees and feet to play with his son.

Berhow: I disagree! I think he’ll play. We don’t know the specifics about his recovery, but the surgery was minor and he might very likely be healed by then.

Nico Echavarria won the Zozo Championship in Japan, beating Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman by a shot. Thomas, who held a share of the lead at one point, is still winless since the 2022 PGA Championship, a drought of 49 starts on the PGA Tour. Was his performance and close call this week more encouraging or discouraging?

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Colgan: I would say encouraging. JT played some of the best golf we’ve seen from him in a long time, and more importantly, he played some of the steadiest golf we’ve seen from him in a long time (just one bogey in 72 holes!). That’s the winning formula for him, he just didn’t get the win.

Sens: He put himself in contention to win a tournament. That’s no small thing, especially given his recent struggles. Encouraging. I don’t know how you could see it any other way.

Berhow: Encouraging. Winning golf tournaments is hard.

Following a chaotic 2024 WM Phoenix Open, organizers announced changes for the 2025 edition in what they say will be a “better, not bigger” event come February. Among the changes: a new entrance and expanded walkways, a fully digital ticketing format, relocated food and alcohol vendors to reduce foot traffic and more. Do you think these changes will be enough to solve the tournament’s issues? Or will its reputation mean tweaks like this won’t go as far as one might think?

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Colgan: I love the WM Phoenix Open, but I think it’s unlikely to change noticeably for as long as fans continue to attend in pursuit of getting absolutely sloshed.

Sens: Last year was a perfect storm, literally. Rain-soaked turf. Hordes of well-served fans. It was destined to turn into the Jackass Invitational. But I’m with James. Even in dry conditions, I don’t see how you alter the essential character of the tournament with these tweaks. The wildness is a feature, not a bug. 

Berhow: This might improve some of the logistics but I have a hard time thinking it’s going to change much more than that. The tournament’s biggest issue is its perception, and that’s more difficult to change. You’re still going to get that same throng of fans who attend simply because they think it’s a free pass to act like idiots.

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The post Tour Confidential: Ryder Cup outrage, LPGA Player of Year, LIV leadership appeared first on Golf.

A week after the 2025 Ryder Cup captains, Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald, visited New York City for a “Year Out” media blitz, the Ryder Cup made headlines again this week, this time for what it will cost fans to attend. Tickets for the event, which will be conducted at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, will run about $250 for practice rounds; $420 for the celebrity matches and the opening ceremony; and a whopping $750 for each of the three competition days — fees that have ignited outrage on social media. By way of explanation to our Sean Zak, the Ryder Cup’s championship director, Bryan Karns, said, “The general price is I think just indicative of (a) this market, (b) where we position ourselves, where we feel like we are [in the greater sports landscape], and then the demand.” What’s your take on the pricey rates?

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Two things can be true at once: the PGA of America is simply charging what fans (or enough fans, anyway) will be willing to pay, so can you really fault them for cashing in? But the organization also is willfully alienating a large swath of the golf-following populous by pricing them out. Compounding the awkwardness is (a) the players don’t get paid to play so surely some of those savings should be paid forward to fans, and (b) this edition of the event isn’t at some swank resort course — it’s at the country’s most famous muni, where weekday rates for state residents are only 70 bucks, and which has been the site of two so-called “People’s (U.S.) Opens.” The 2025 Ryder Cup’s exorbitant admission fee just feels incongruous to Bethpage’s DNA. Call it the Corporate Cup. 

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): Well said, Alan. Some tiered pricing would have been appreciated. Seems like there could have been an opportunity to offer a percentage of tickets by lottery at a more affordable price, and let the rest of them go sky-high to buyers with more disposable income. It’s a weird one, because as you mentioned, this is coming from an organization in which the mission is promoting and growing the game. But those initiatives cost money, and it has to come from somewhere!  

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): Jess, maybe you should take up a side gig as PGA of America consultant? This feels like the correct answer — at least give people some sort of chance to get in the gates for a couple hundred bucks before you raise prices for the rest of ‘em.

I wish I had a hotter take to share on this subject. On the one hand I think it stinks that there’s no way around a $750 ticket. On the other hand I guess I’d rather the PGA of America get that money than secondary sellers finding a market? It’s cool that the Ryder Cup has become such a hot ticket. But also — manage your expectations if you do end up going. It’s a great way to spend a day, the atmosphere rocks and team match play is the best. But it’s also tough to see every shot; you’ve gotta get comfortable with the idea that you’ll miss a lot, or watch it on a screen. So yeah, Alan, a bunch of things can be true at once…

Do you suspect the steep ticket prices will have any impact on the overall vibe of the event?

Bastable: I hope not! For as long as the Bethpage Ryder Cup has been on the calendar, I think we’ve all been looking forward to rowdy, wisecracking New Yawkers descending on the property and charging up what already is a hyper-charged event. I expect the place to be rocking no matter who fills the seats, even if some spectators are sipping not from plastic cups but crystal flutes.

Marksbury: I agree. As long as those seats are filled — and they will be! — the atmosphere will be incredible. Now, the U.S. just has to win…

Dethier: I have a feeling the rowdy fellas will find their way in regardless. This isn’t LACC, where the members got first crack at ticket-buying. I suspect these will still be bought by the good people of Long Island, who will just wince a little harder at checkout than they’d like.

With her wire-to-wire win at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea, Australian Hannah Green joined world No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 3 Lydia Ko as the only players to win three or more times in 2024. (Korda has six wins, including a major, and Ko has three titles, including a major, and also a gold medal for her win in the Paris Games.) With only five tournaments remaining on the ’24 schedule, does Korda already have Player of the Year honors clinched?

Bastable: Well, neither Korda nor Ko are playing next week in Malaysia so Ko actually has only a maximum of four starts to try and close the gap — and it’s a yawning gap at that: 100 points! (Read: insurmountable.) But if you’re looking for a 19th hole debate, if Ko were to win a couple more times before the year is out, you could make the case that she’s had the better year. That calculation would come down to how much stock you put in her Olympic title, which is not an official LPGA event and thus did not garner Ko any Rolex points. Either way, it’s been a banner for all three of these players. When stars do star things, it makes pro golf way more interesting.        

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Marksbury: I’ll play the other side of this debate! What Nelly has accomplished this season was incredible, full stop. BUT, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Ko’s gold medal is on par with a major championship. If she wins one more tournament this season — like the season-ending CME Group Championship, where she has an excellent record — that’s a pretty comparable resume to Nelly’s in my opinion.

Dethier: Korda’s year has been spectacular. But it’s also been bizarre. Take out the strange dog bite and her recent injury — which we still don’t know much about — and this is a season that could have reasonably finished with double-digit victories. How ‘bout this for fence-sitting: This was the year Korda cemented herself as the best player in the women’s game and she had a historically dominant start to the year. She should be Player of the Year. But I’ll take Ko’s fairy-tale story, because Olympic gold plus the Open at St. Andrews really did feel too good to be true.

Padraig Harrington, who these days plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour Champions, posited this week that the senior circuit might be the most cutthroat of the major golf tours when it comes to maintaining status. “I’m only on the tour a few years, and I’m only starting to realize, this has got to be the hardest, tightest tour to keep your card on in the world,” he said. “Thirty-six guys keep their card. And even if you win, you only get one-year exemption.” Your thoughts, please!

Bastable: If Paddy’s right, then Bernhard Langer’s sparkling 17-year run out there is all the more impressive. There’s no doubt the Champions tour is far more competitive than many fans realize, in part because the guys love playing out there so much that they don’t want to lose the privilege. Guess I’d never considered the specific challenge of keeping a Champions card, but 36 spots is indeed tight. Tougher than keeping a PGA Tour card? The bubble boys now sweating it out in the fall events might beg to differ.  

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Marksbury: I think Padraig is spot-on! For players who don’t have any previous PGA Tour status to fall back on, the Champ Tour is ultra competitive. Sure, there’s no cut in most events, but you really have to perform in order to stick around. And unless you can shoot 64 on a whim, it’s nearly impossible to break through Monday qualifiers, too.  

Dethier: In a way, Paddy’s right. (In a way Paddy’s always right.) After all, there’s no lack of talented 50-somethings playing golf and 36 cards is very, very few. But the best PGA Tour players — and those at the margins of status — are just so, so good that it’s tough to think anything could be more cutthroat than that.

According to a Sports Business Journal report, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, is on the hunt for a new LIV chief executive officer to replace Greg Norman. (Norman would remain on LIV’s senior leadership team, the report said.) Put on your recruiting cap and suggest a suitable Norman successor.

Bastable: Big job! One that requires business and marketing acumen, a fondness for travel and a track record of disruption. Is Elon available? Hmm…who else…Jay Monahan? Too soon?

Marksbury: I could see a tapped-in PGA Tour super-agent like Mark Steinberg being a good candidate. But given Tiger’s feelings about LIV, I guess that’s not likely to happen any time soon.

Dethier: How ‘bout Phil Mickelson? I’m not sure he’s ready to kiss his Hy-Flyer playing days goodbye, but he’s been essential to LIV’s vision every step of the way. If the goal is dialing back the divisiveness in negotiations, though, Lefty may not be the man… some low-key exec we know little about may be a wiser investment.

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The post Tour Confidential: Rory’s merger outlook, Ryder Cup learnings and more appeared first on Golf.

In an interview with The Scotsman, Rory McIlroy said it was likely LIV golfers and PGA Tour golfers would keep “doing their own thing for the foreseeable future.” The interview followed some interesting pairings at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where McIlroy played with both PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. What do you make of McIlroy’s assessment?

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Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): It comes across as confirmation of what has seemed apparent for a while now: the two are moving in separate orbits, with little intention of overlapping except for the occasional major and televised stunt event. The Tour, it seems, is comfortable enough with its private cash infusion that it can keep on keeping on for the time being. And LIV, which doesn’t need the money and likely never will, can do the same. None of this is especially good news for fans, but they’ve never been treated as the top priority in any of this anyway.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Bad news for those who want to see a unified professional game in the near future. Here’s to hoping things can get sorted out sooner rather than later. Every passing year with a fractured game does more damage — and the fans are the biggest losers. 

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It’s impossible to out-bleak those two answers, so let’s talk process. As I understand it, the Saudi PIF’s involvement with the PGA Tour would start with an investment in PGA Tour Enterprises, the Tour’s new for-profit wing. Then, with the gradual approval of the Department of Justice, things could (theoretically, depending on the cooperation of several important parties) eventually tick in the direction of unification. But yeah, we’re not on the brink of resolution, I don’t think.

The next Ryder Cup may be nearly a year away, but you wouldn’t know at this week’s press conference with captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald. One of the more surprising learnings was that Donald was in contact with European legend and LIV Golfer Sergio Garcia, who is apparently considering rejoining the DP World Tour in hopes of being able to play at Bethpage next fall. Use your glass ball, will Garcia and other LIV golfers like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton be on the European team next September?

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Sens: Rory McIlroy said he hopes that Rahm will be eligible, and you’ve got to bet enough other powerful voices in the game feel the same that it will happen. We should all hope it does. Makes for a better competition, and if nothing else, golf fans deserve a few days of Sergio Garcia playing in front of hostile New York crowds–assuming Donald deems the state of Sergio’s game–or his Ryder Cup history–justification enough for the pick.

Melton: Hatton and Rahm need to be on the team for the Euros to put out their most competitive team, but I’m not as sold on Segio. He’s still playing some decent golf, but as the European team showed last summer, they’ve got lots of young talent they can lean on. Perhaps he will be a part of the team as an assistant captain? 

Dethier: Rahm will be there. Hatton will be there. Sergio has been playing pretty well on LIV (and played well at Pinehurst) so it’s not out of the question. I’m not sure which other LIV pros would be in contention on the European side — Paul Casey? Richard Bland?!? — but to Sens’ point, if Garcia was upset with the unregulated crowds at Open Championship qualifying this summer, Bethpage would be a fascinating cauldron to drop him into…

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley, who used to sneak on Bethpage Black while in college, said he expects the New York crowd to cheer “proudly and loudly.” He said he wants it to be a tough place to play for both teams but, ’nobody on either team wants this to get uncomfortable or weird out there.” What kind of atmosphere do you expect on Long Island?

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Sens: Sorry, but that’s like saying, we’re going to hold a rabbit convention in a python pit but we’re really hoping there are no injuries or hurt feelings. 

Melton: It’s going to be rowdy and hostile for the Euros. New York sports fans aren’t especially kind to opposing teams, and the Ryder Cup will be no different. Expect lots of jeers and heckling from outside the ropes — and a few ejections, too.

Dethier: I expect the atmosphere to get both uncomfortable and weird. As we saw last fall, the European fans don’t have much restraint — but they definitely have more than their Long Island counterparts. It’s going to be glorious and, at least a couple times, over the top.

Nearly two weeks after the event concluded, we’re still hearing about the Tom Kim cursing controversy from the Presidents Cup. This time, U.S. team member Wyndham Clark offered his take of the events on “The Loop” podcast. Is this sort of chippiness a story or is this helping to legitimize the rivalry at the Presidents Cup?

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Sens: It is trivial, junior high stuff, which in today’s world, makes it headline news. But it could only legitimize a ‘rivalry’ if there were a rivalry to begin with. That can’t be the case when one side pretty much always beats up on the other.  The Presidents Cup isn’t a rivalry. It’s an abusive relationship.

Melton: Feels like a bit of a nothingburger. In sports, sometimes there’s a little trash talk — and that’s ok! No need to relitigate the tiniest disagreement.

Dethier: I think it’s a story just because clearly both sides still feel something about it. This will be, in some ways, the enduring legacy of this year’s Presidents Cup — ramped-up emotions on both sides. There may not be full-on bad blood, but things were a little tense leaving Montreal. That’s not a bad thing.

The PGA Tour visited Black Desert Resort in Irvins, Utah — not far from Zion National Park — for the inaugural Black Desert Championship this week. Should the PGA Tour be looking for more of these unique venues in exotic locales?

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Sens: Sure. In moderation. Variety is good, especially when it provides a breather from the cookie-cutter courses that have become so common on Tour. And if it gets more people to visit Zion, all the better. What a park! 

Melton: The pictures and videos I saw were pretty sweet, and it’s nice to see the Tour visit some unconventional locales. I wouldn’t mind seeing more variety in the locations the Tour goes to. Lord knows there are a few tourneys on the calendar that could use a shakeup. 

Dethier: I don’t think the Tour needs to specifically chase after exotic locales, but some outside-the-box thinking is more than welcome. And I do think this week’s Utah stop was a pretty perfect choice for a fall event; it looked and played great and it felt distinctly different than a garden-variety parkland country club. I expect relatively dismal ratings, but hopefully, once Cowboys-Lions became a blowout a few of you flipped over to Golf Channel to see the red rocks and epic vistas of Black Desert (and one of golf’s hottest players, Matt McCarty). Now if we could just get the Tour to stop by Boston, and Chicago, and Seattle…

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