Tag

GOLF

Browsing

The golf world is buzzing with excitement as the R&A officially announces that the 2027 Open Championship will be held at the iconic Old Course at St Andrews from July 15-18.

This will mark the 31st time the historic course has hosted the prestigious tournament, further cementing its reputation as one of golf’s most legendary venues. Known for its rich history and breathtaking landscapes, St Andrews has been the stage for unforgettable moments, including Bobby Jones’s 1927 triumph and Cameron Smith’s thrilling win in 2022.

As anticipation builds, golf enthusiasts are reflecting on the Old Course’s evolution over the years. While updates like new tee boxes and bunkers have modernized the course, it remains a true test of skill, demanding precision, strategy, and mental toughness. Fans worldwide are already counting down the days until the world’s top golfers compete for the coveted Claret Jug.

St. Andrews Sets Up Splendidly for Tiger Woods' Return to Major  Championship Golf - Sports Illustrated

READ: Greg Norman issues daring LIV Golf request to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Among the chatter surrounding the 2027 Open is a significant prediction that has fans buzzing: Could this be Tiger Woods’s farewell to competitive golf? Woods, who turns 50 this year, has sparked speculation about his future.

Though he has previously stated he doesn’t plan to retire until 60, fans are wondering if the 2027 Open at St Andrews might be his swan song. “Early prediction: THIS will be Tiger’s final Open Championship,” one fan remarked, while another envisioned, “Picture this: The year is 2027 and a teary-eyed Tiger Woods is wearing Sunday Red for the final time at St Andrews.”

The reasoning behind these predictions lies in timing and circumstance. By 2027, Woods will be 51 years old. With the next Open at St Andrews not scheduled until 2032-when Woods would be 56-many believe this could be his last chance to compete at this iconic venue.

Additionally, his recent physical challenges, including a microdiscectomy in 2024, have raised questions about his ability to endure the physical demands of competitive play. One fan poignantly noted, “Tiger gets St. Andrews one last time,” reflecting the emotional weight of such a possibility.

Meanwhile, Woods’s potential transition to the senior circuit is also generating buzz. Players like Padraig Harrington have admitted they’re preparing for his arrival, underscoring his enduring influence on the sport. Whether or not 2027 marks Woods’s farewell, one thing is certain: all eyes will be on St Andrews as it once again becomes the epicenter of golf history.

The 23-time grand slam winner may be a legend in the tennis world but it seems she’s got some convincing to do when it comes to golf. 

Williams’ presence at SoFI Stadium is actually down to part-owning the ‘Los Angeles Golf Club’ team alongside sister Venus and husband Alexis Ohanian.

The team comprises Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood. Although only the aforementioned first three were in action on Monday night with Fleetwood competing in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Serena Williams

JUST IN: Greg Norman issues daring LIV Golf request to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Williams was alongside Ohanian watching in the stands before joining the commentary booth for an interview and to color commentate for a few holes. But her presence didn’t go down well. At one point in the broadcast, cameras showed Williams looking confused before joining in clapping.

During her interview, Williams appeared to openly admit that watching golf made her miss tennis even more. Asked to reflect on tennis with the Australian Open currently taking place, she said: “I’m obsessed with the sport. I didn’t realize until I was sat here watching golf.”

The public opinion from ESPN viewers soon came flooding in. One posted on X: “Serena Williams knows next to nothing about golf.” Another added: “Serena Williams has absolutely no idea what’s going on and I love it.”

TGL presented by SoFi: LA v JUP

Another posted on X: “This Serena Williams interview might have just killed TLG before it even took two steps.” A different viewer simply said: “Serena Williams has no idea what’s going on.”

In agreement, this X user said: “Serena Williams has no clue what is happening.” And they weren’t alone, another added: “Serena Williams looks awfully confused.”

Finally, on a more polite note, this user said: “God bless her for being there but Serena Williams has absolutely no idea what’s going on TGL.”

Speaking about her involvement in TGL, Williams said: “It’s so exciting to be here as a team owner and just get a different look at things.”

“It’s so wild. It’s something that you see a little bit in tennis, and we see it all the time in basketball, right? But we don’t really see it so much in golf. Actually we never see that in golf, right?

“So it’s just so good to kind of see their personalities and just see them shine as golfers as they are, because they’re usually so focused, so serious and so ready. So it’s so cool to see a new aspect.”

Discussing the format of the competition, she said: “I love this format. I think it’s so cool. It’s such a good way to engage the fans.”

Outgoing LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has called out Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, urging them to acknowledge the benefits they’ve reaped from the emergence of the controversial golf league.

Despite being vocal critics of LIV and showing loyalty to the PGA Tour, Norman believes both golf icons have profited from the competition LIV has introduced. Norman has stepped down from his role to be replaced by Scott O’Neil, an experienced sports and entertainment executive. Norman is expected to continue working for LIV in some capacity.

“I would love them to recognise the fact that – like Tiger with his PIP money (Player Impact Program) – that only came because of LIV, right?” Norman told Australian Golf Digest. “So Tiger benefitted from that. Rory’s definitely benefitted from that.

Greg Norman pays 'zero attention' to Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and  insists he's staying as LIV CEO | Golf News | Sky Sports

READ: ‘Word Got Out’: Charlie Woods Impact Laid Bare as His Frantic Search for a Breakthrough Continues

“I would love to sit down and talk to them about it, no question about it. Because I’m not a judgmental person and you only learn the facts and truth when you hear the other side of it.

“But, yes, would I like to sit down with them? Sure, absolutely. And you know what? I’d win the debate.”

The relationship between Norman and McIlroy has been marked by public sparring over LIV, with McIlroy recently endorsing Norman’s departure as a positive step for the league. This comes after Norman had accused McIlroy of being “brainwashed” by the PGA Tour.

Discussions regarding a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV’s backers – Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – are still happening, but Norman has stepped away from the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Woods and McIlroy have launched their new TGL league, blending traditional golf with simulated indoor play.

The league which saw Woods play and will see McIlroy’s debut next Monday amid other renowned players, hasn’t captured Norman’s attention. “No, I haven’t watched a bit of it because there’s a couple of players who’ve been very vocal against me,” Norman added.

“So I’m not going to say anything positive or negative about it. All I can say is: The more golf gets exposure in different ways, the better off it is.

“Simulator golf is simulator golf. We had Putt-Putt and all those miniature golf courses we built around the world. I think innovation is a wonderful thing, I’m not going to belittle that. I wish them all the very best and success because it’s the market, right? They’re going to be pulling people into the game of golf.”

Fans were expecting top players to participate with high hopes for the next PGA Tour event, i.e., the Farmers Insurance Open.

However, there has been a shock wave that spread after the news of Xander Schauffele withdrawing from the event. The news came in on January 18th, 2025, a few days before the event where his team cited a medical issue as the reason for withdrawing. It was a huge shock as the World No. 2 has been featured at the event for the last 9 years.

But what’s more shocking for the PGA Tour’s fourth calendar event is the addition to the withdrawal list. The 156 players list, a day after the news of Schauffele, saw more players withdrawing from the tournament.

PGA Tour LIV Golf merge: Jay Monahan, golf's largest hypocrite, backstabs  players - SBNation.com

JUST IN: Paige Spiranac Enjoys the Confusing “TikTok Drama” as U.S. Ban Could Have Nearly Cost Her a $100,000

As per the post shared by PGA Tour Communication on X, it reshaped the list of players, while writing the names of players missing out and joining in as replacements. The list included the 2024 edition runner-up who missed the title with a stroke difference to Matthieu Pavon, i.e., Nicolai Hojgaard was among the top picks for fans based on his previous year’s performance.

Apart from him, Collin Morikawa, who failed to qualify last year at the Farmers Insurance Open, started strongly to change it. He was runner-up at his first appearance of the season, which was the Sentry 2025. However, unfortunately, this year too he will not be in the top rankers. The three-name list of players withdrawing also had Tyler McCumber, who was struggling with injuries and was away from the course for the last 2 years. He participated in two events in 2024, out of which he missed a cut in one and withdrew from one.

Now to make up the full-field event, Hayden Springer is coming in as a replacement for Nicolai Hojgaard. Hayden recorded a T33 finish last year while having 4 top 10s in the entire season. Along with him, Wesley Bryan, and S.H. Kim will be joining in as replacements at the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Even though some of the top names have withdrawn, there is still a great list of players whom fans should not miss teeing off live.

Besides the long list of players, there are some promising names that fans would be delighted to see. At the top, is the Sentry winner with the lowest recorded total, Hideki Matsuyama. The record-breaking start of the year for the golfer is expected to continue and fans are eager to see him break more records.

Along with the recent champion, Ludvig Aberg will also be contesting at the event. He has been among the favorites with his consistent performance. Last year he had 3 runner-up finishes and 6 top 10s, additionally. Even the first event of this season saw him deliver a great performance with which he recorded a T5 finish. Further on the list of players, two 6-time PGA Tour title winners Max Homa and Tony Finau are also part of the roster.

Even though some top names have withdrawn, there are still many prominent names that might get a record added under their name this season.

TikTok is back again! And Paige Spiranac is enjoying the moment!

Just hours ago, the popular social media app had blacked out. As the headlines of its eventual ban were spreading like wildfire, users of the app were surprised that it was down without any prior update. Even though they were anticipating it to stop working eventually, everyone expected a scheduled shutdown of the app.

Now that it is back after a brief issue, Paige Spiranac is now poking fun at the unrest it caused among the citizens of the U.S. She tweeted, “The TikTok drama the past 24 hours reminds me of the scene in Almost Famous where they thought their plane was going to crash so they told each other their deep dark secrets then seconds later the turbulence was over lol.” It clearly seems that Spiranac is enjoying the moment and all the drama that it caused in the U.S.A.

Paige Spiranac

READ: ‘Word Got Out’: Charlie Woods Impact Laid Bare as His Frantic Search for a Breakthrough Continues

This is surprising coming from Spiranac who recently nearly suffered losses due to the temporary shutdown of TikTok in the States. The golf queen receives a considerable paycheck from sponsorships and ads she runs on her TikTok account. The earnings go up to nearly $100,000. While the ban would eventually cause her to lose those earnings, it’s great to see that she is not that bummed about it. In fact, she even found the entire blackout fiasco to be hilarious.

Paige Spiranac

Before the application got back online, the users in the U.S. were in for a rude awakening as it became inaccessible owing to the law passed by a bipartisan majority in Congress last year. Lawmakers and U.S. officials gave the deadline of January 19 to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its stake in the app or be cut from the U.S. market. And we all see how that played out.

Before the Sunday ban, the video-sharing platform voluntarily shut down its services, and the users who got on the application had a message waiting for them that read: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message reads. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Moving on, the influencer is not the first one to share her opinion about the blackout. A few hours ago, Charley Hull had also shared her views about the TikTok ban. Let’s see what she had to say.

The news of TikTok getting banned seems to be a hot topic across the globe. Charley Hull had also posted a story about what she thinks of the situation. Sharing a picture of herself posing in a vehicle, the fashionista said, “Tick tock is being banned to be honest I think we should all be going bk to old school ban all social media.” She seems to be clearly done with anything that has to do with social media.

The LPGA Tour star also had another suggestion to add. Hull stated, “go bk to a Nokia phone and live life in the moment. Grantee the whole world would be a happier healthier place 💯.” It seems that the 2x LPGA Tour champion is missing the early 2000s, which is surprising considering that she would have been under 10 years old during that time. It seems that the ban on TikTok is not affecting our favorite golfers/social media queens one bit.

Who wouldn’t know the family of Tiger Woods?

Fans know every detail about the 15-time major champion. Be it his family, kid’s history, or his early life, fans read every available information. However, now Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, is in the same sports, fans are eager to see him play and expect the same results from him too.

Whether junior Woods has stood up to the expectations is still debatable as the amateur golfer is in the phase of turning professional. But what is sure is his impact on the events. Even with just his appearance, there is an enormous wave of fans that join in the junior-level golf tournament.

JUST IN: A Journey Inside Tiger Woods’ competitive genius

Talking on a similar line, the host of the AJGA tournament Will Lowery during the Par 3 Podcast shared about his debut. The host Stephen Malbon asked Lowery, “Talk about the North Carolina tournament. What is the tournament?” Sharing for which the former professional golfer shared his gratitude for getting the opportunity to host the tournament. He said, “I was fortunate enough to have a great relationship with AJGA. You know, Jason Etzen, and Stephen Hamblin, they allowed me to, you know, host the AJGA Tournament. I have North Carolina.”

Sharing further about the impact of Charlie Woods, he shared, “A buzz came last year, my second year when Tiger Woods’s son Charlie played in it for the first time. So that was his first-ever AJGA event. Word got out and that kind of, you know, skyrocketed, took off from there.” The impact of the 15-year-olds’ participation led to the success of the Will Lowery Junior Championship and that same impact can be seen in multiple events as well.

The event which took place in March 2024, saw security personnel and armed police protect Junior Woods from an overwhelming crowd. Even earlier, during the Cognizant Classic, the large number of fans swarming Woods affected his play. However, even though the fans in large numbers expect him to follow in the footsteps of his father. Some critics have addressed him as failing to fill in Tiger Woods’s shoes.

Being the son of the most successful golfer brings in expectations. Even at 15, people expect the amateur golfer to perform like his father, a feat he has struggled with. Starting from the 2024 season, junior Woods missed the cut at the Cognizant Classic and the U.S. Open qualifier for which he was positioned at the 124th position.

His struggle continued as he finished T103 at the Future Masters at Dothan Country Club with two rounds recording 73-76, respectively. The performance of Charlie Woods, when compared with Tiger Woods’s glorious career, will always feel less intimidating as he is in the phase of evolving as a junior golfer.

However, during his last appearance with his father at the PNC Championship, the 15-year-old had shut down the criticisms with his performance. He even recorded his first-ever hole-in-one, which was a great relief for the fans who were expecting the best from Charlie Woods.

The encouraging practice session presents a familiar golfer pitfall.

You know how it goes: hit it solidly on the range, march to the first tee brimming with confidence, then wonder why it all unravels on the course. I’ve written about this dynamic before, mostly because I’ve lived it.

The inverse scenario can be found in a story recently shared by the former PGA Tour player-turned-Golf Channel announcer Tripp Isenhour watching Tiger Woods on the range after a round at Torrey Pines in the mid-2000s. As Isenhour recounted, Woods struggled so much with his driver that day he put it away and started hitting an assortment of shots with a 6-iron: first way up in the air, then curving 40 yards in either direction, then some low bullets barely off the ground. When Isenhour asked why, Woods responded, “If this is where I am going to be tomorrow then I might need these shots.”

It was vintage Woods thinking two moves ahead. “That’s the reason why I’m a freaking announcer now and not playing the Champions Tour,” Isenhour, who is also the founder of TournamentMindset.com, elaborated by phone. “Because when that happened to me, my thought was, ‘Damn it, I gotta fix my swing.’ ”

U.S. Open - Preview Day 2

READ: PGA Tour forced to move Tiger Woods’ Genesis Invitational due to LA wildfires

By contrast, Woods showcased a mindset the clinical and sports psychologist Bhrett McCabe and I have been studying in recent months, including in a cover story we wrote for Golf Digest’s April issue after McCabe’s client Nick Dunlap became the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event. The disconnect between the range and the course, for example, stems from a misconception that competition hinges on technical proficiency. I better be hitting it OK, we think, otherwise I’m screwed. But as Woods and Dunlap have shown, the real key is accessing what you can and compartmentalizing the rest.

This “Competitive IQ,” as we call it, can be found in a wide range of high performers in golf and beyond, rooted in three core principles: awareness, acceptance, and adaptability. More than just being “clutch,” the trait reflects an understanding of where practice ends and competition begins, and how to prepare accordingly.

“The Tiger story illustrates his ultimate superpower, which was he was always willing to look not at what he had as a definition of his ability to compete that day, but what he could do with what he had,” McCabe says. “He was able to compete and use his higher-level skills to compete against others who were often stuck in what we call the ‘competition paradox.’ When stress intensified, they reverted back to trying to control their mechanics and he didn’t. That’s what made Tiger great.”

With Woods at Torrey Pines, for instance, awareness was recognizing he didn’t have full command of his swing and needed to approach the final round differently. When he stuffed his driver back in the bag, that was acceptance; frustrated as he was with the club he decided this wasn’t the time to try to fix it. “That was a time where I saw someone say, forgive my language, ‘F– it. I’m not going to hit the ball that straight tomorrow, so I’m going to have to beat you from where I’m going to be,’” Isenhour said. Woods’ willingness to test a series of recovery shots that he’d likely need if he was spraying the ball off the tee was the same adaptability he had displayed throughout his career. Don’t forget this is the same golfer who won the ‘97 Masters by 12 shots, then decided to rebuild his swing once he determined he needed it to hold up better under pressure.

It’s telling that even the most talented golfer in history recognized where his talent had limits. Those of us who fail to sense how competition is different, meanwhile, often spin our wheels trying to find something temporarily out of reach, which exacerbates the problem. Why? Because Competitive IQ also factors in our hardwiring, and how it shapes our response to different situations. The responses themselves are rarely the problem. The problem is when we spend precious energy railing against elements outside our control.

 “Stress isn’t negative or positive. It’s just a demand upon the body,” McCabe says. “If we choose to believe it as a sign of weaknesses, we will spend our time trying to fix our mechanisms. If we look at it as a situation that we must respond to, we will then change our mindset to be in the moment.”

Due to the devastating wildfires tearing through Los Angeles, the PGA Tour has had to shuffle The Genesis Invitational from its usual spot at the Riviera Country Club.

The prestigious tournament, typically held at the Riviera, found itself in jeopardy as terrifying fires overwhelmed LA, destroying entire neighbourhoods along with countless businesses and homes, and, tragically, 25 lives have been lost to the flames that continue to rage on.

Just last week, it was revealed that the Genesis might not go ahead since the host venue is in the middle of an evacuation area. Despite being unscathed so far, the club was cleared out and remains unused.

Firefighters are still battling the inferno, and as a result, the PGA Tour confirmed this Thursday that shifting the venue was the only practical decision. However, the dates remain fixed, and a top-notch line-up is expected, including world-renowned players Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Collin Morikawa.

READ: Tiger Woods hilariously mocked by his son Charlie after comical error during TGL debut

In their announcement, the PGA Tour emphasised: “The PGA TOUR’s focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of those affected by the unprecedented natural disaster in Greater Los Angeles.

“We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires.”

“In collaboration with Genesis, The Riviera Country Club and TGR Live, and out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that The Genesis Invitational 2025 will be played at an alternate location the week of Feb. 10-16. A venue update and additional tournament information will be provided in the coming days.

“The PGA TOUR is identifying the most impactful ways the tournament can support the Los Angeles community and the ongoing relief efforts. We encourage fans to join the support at PGATOUR.com/SupportLA.”

Speaking at his TGL debut this week, Woods expressed his sadness at the current situation in Los Angeles. Speaking before the announcement to move the tournament was made, Woods said: “It’s just sad. Max [Homa] and I have grown up there. We’re So Cal kids.”

“To see what has happened, I’ve known a couple people that have lost everything, so it’s just hard. As far as the Genesis, we’re trying to just figure everything out and make sure that everyone is safe and we have meetings scheduled going forward.

“But as of right now, we’re not really focused on the tournament. It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who’s struggling, who’s lost homes and had their lives changed.”

Charlie Woods couldn’t contain his laughter after watching his father make a comical error during his TGL debut on Tuesday night.

Woods is the co-founder of golf’s hi-tech revolution – alongside Rory McIlroy – and this week it was the 49-year-old’s turn to tee it up in Florida.

His Jupiter Links team – which also featured Max Homa and Kevin Kisner – suffered a heavy 12-1 loss to a Los Angeles team made up of Sahith Theegala, Collin Morikawa and Justin Rose.

Tiger Woods' Son Charlie Laughs as His Dad Gets Thrashed in First TGL Game

JUST IN: Paige Spiranac reacts to Kevin Kisner’s bunker blunder that left Tiger Woods in stitches

And the omens weren’t good as early as the second hole. On the 582-yard par five, Woods hit an approach from 101 yards out.

But the 1,500-strong crowd watched as his shot flew all the way over the back of the green – and into the water.

Woods stared at the ground – and then at the simulator screen – before cameras caught his son’s hilarious reaction.

As most of the crowd sighed and howled with disappointment, the 15-year-old could be seen laughing and pointing towards his father.

Later in the night, Woods Sr. also broke down in laughter after his teammate Kisner made a dreadful blunder from the sand.

On the penultimate hole, during his singles match against Collin Morikawa, Kisner found himself in the greenside bunker.

But he thinned his shot and watched it fly into the flagstick, prompting a hilarious reaction from his teammates.

Homa crouched in panic as the ball ricocheted off into the air, while Woods doubled over in fits of laughter.

Tiger Woods made a highly anticipated debut in the TGL, leading his team, Jupiter Links GC, against Los Angeles GC.

Walking out to the iconic “Eye of the Tiger, “Woods was all smiles, hyping up fans and promising an entertaining night of golf.

He set the tone with a confident opening shot, but the match quickly veered off course for Jupiter Links. The team suffered a resounding 12-1 defeat, with five penalty balls highlighting their struggles.

Paige Spiranac Reacts to Kevin Kisner's Bunker Blunder That Left Tiger...

READ: 3 Things That Went Wrong With Tiger Woods TGL During Debut Match

The night wasn’t just about the scoreline. Kevin Kisner, a member of Woods’ team, delivered one of the tournament’s most unforgettable-and unfortunate-moments. On the par-3 14th hole, Kisner found himself in a bunker. Attempting what should’ve been a routine shot, he miscalculated spectacularly, sending the ball flying straight into the flagstick. The ricochet drew laughter from the crowd, with even Woods unable to stifle his amusement. “It was one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen,”Woods admitted during the post-match press conference.

Kisner’s misstep quickly became a viral sensation. Social media buzzed with reactions, and golf influencer Paige Spiranac chimed in with her signature humor. Sharing a clip of the incident on X, she joked, “One of us! One of us! One of us!” playfully emphasizing her solidarity with Kisner while gently ribbing him.

Woods, never one to shy away from banter, poked fun at Kisner during the press conference. He joked about a microphone seemingly stuck in Kisner’s ear, adding to the hilarity of the night. Max Homa, another big name in the field, couldn’t stop laughing at the absurdity of the mishap, further solidifying the incident as the talk of the tournament.

Despite the comic relief, the night was bittersweet for Woods. While his team’s performance left much to be desired, the event showcased the TGL’s unique blend of competition and entertainment.“We’re here to have fun and showcase golf,”Woods said before the match. Though the result was disappointing, his lighthearted demeanor showed he’s embracing the TGL’s mission to bring a new energy to the sport.

Kisner’s bunker blunder, though embarrassing, became a reminder that even pros are human. As Woods put it, “It was just one of those weird nights.” With lessons learned and laughs shared, the TGL’s debut delivered plenty of drama, setting the stage for more unforgettable moments ahead.

Verified by MonsterInsights