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It does NOT end well: U.S. Amateur players try to recreate Tiger Woods’ ‘greatest shot’

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Tiger Woods USGA

The U.S. Amateur returns to Hazeltine National this week for the first time since 2006, as the best amateurs in the world take to the Minnesota brute, whose narrow fairways and small greens make it a ball-striker’s delight.

One guy who may not view Hazeltine as fondly is Tiger Woods, who narrowly lost the PGA Championship at the course in 2002 and 2009, the latter of which the only time he lost a major after being the 54-hole leader.

That said, the course is the site of what Tiger has said is the greatest shot of his life. That came in 2002 on the 18th hole in the second round, when Woods was nestled under the lip of a fairway bunker, with the ball below his feet, over 200 yards from the hole, with wind howling off the left and towering trees between him and the green. He took 3-iron, picked it off the sand and hit it inside 20 feet. Oh, yeah, and he made the putt for birdie.

READ: LIV Golf Doping Controversy: Brooks Koepka Steals Bryson DeChambeau’s Move to Save Face

Immediately after, announcers called it “one of the best shots” they had ever seen, and last year, Tiger confirmed to TaylorMade that it was his best ever, saying he’s “never felt contact that solid in his life.” Given all the remarkable shots that he’s hit over his career, that Tiger picked this one should be proof enough of how incredible it was, but if you needed any more confirmation, the USGA has us covered.

A day before the opening round of the U.S. Amateur, the USGA asked a few competitors to try and recreate the remarkable shot. Take a look to see how it went.

Woof. By our rough count, that’s seven shots into the lip, seven cleared the lip but judging by the tracers and reactions, none found the green. And these guys had it easier than Woods, with what seemed like much less wind, far fewer trees between them and the hole, and the assist of 22 years of club technology advancements.

Judging by these attempts—and fails—let’s consider any debate about Tiger’s best shot over.

The U.S. Amateur began Monday with a field of 312 players competing over two rounds of stroke play at Hazeltine and co-host Chaska Town Course. After Tuesday’s second round, the field will be cut to 64 and six rounds of match play will determine the national champion.

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GOLF

LIV Golf Doping Controversy: Brooks Koepka Steals Bryson DeChambeau’s Move to Save Face

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Brooks Koepka Bryson DeChambeau

LIV Golf Doping Controversy – Brooks Koepka Steals Bryson DeChambeau’s Move to Save Face at $25M Showdown

John Catlin joined Bryson DeChambeau‘s Crushers GC as a replacement for Charles Howell III at LIV Golf Houston after Howell was sidelined due to a tibia injury in his left leg. Interestingly, Catlin had decent performances, with T7 in Nashville being his best. However, who would have thought Catlin would be back again on the LIV golf field, and this time as a part of Brooks Koepka’s team?

PGA Tour should move cautiously with Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka feud - Sports Illustrated

READ: ‘I fully accept the sanctions’: LIV Golf pro suspended after positive drugs test

Yes, you read it right. Recently, bunkered.com revealed that Catlin is joining Koepka’s Smash GC as a replacement for Graeme McDowell for the $25 million Greenbrier showdown. The reason McDowell is out of the field of the upcoming event is that he has been suspended for one event for violating LIV Golf’s anti-doping rules. The golfer tested positive for R-methamphetamine, a banned substance that he claims was used in a nasal spray for congestion.

Talking about it, McDowell shared a post on X and said, “Ahead of LIV Nashville, I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep. In an effort to manage it, I used a generic Vick’s nasal decongestant without realizing it might be on the banned list.” Not only will he miss out on the next $25 million event, but the golfer was also fined $125,000. Meanwhile, John Catlin will play as his replacement at LIV Golf Greenbrier.

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GOLF

“I fully accept the sanctions”: LIV Golf pro suspended after positive drugs test

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LIV Golf

LIV Golf pro Graeme McDowell has been suspended and fined from one tournament after he tested positive for a banned substance. 

McDowell took to X on 11 August to confirm he had used a ‘generic’ Vicks nasal decongestant ahead of LIV Nashville after struggling to sleep.

The golfer didn’t realise that it was on the list of prohibited substances, he said.

Graeme McDowell suspended for violating LIV Golf's doping policy

READ: Rory McIlroy reaches unwanted career milestone

The 45-year-old said he did not think to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) because of the ‘over the counter nature’ of the medicine.

In his statement, McDowell said he ‘deeply’ regretted the oversight and he fully accepted the sanctions imposed by the breakaway tour.

He also appeared to hit out at the PGA Tour by saying that LIV, ‘Unlike other tours’, enforces rules rigorously.

The former European Ryder Cup star appeared to confirm he has been banned from competing in one LIV event.

McDowell said he looks forward to getting back into action at LIV Chicago over 13-15 September.

It means that he won’t be in the field at The Greenbrier next week and explains why he withdrew from last week’s Asian Tour event.

McDowell and his LIV peer Ian Poulter were expected to headline the International Series event at Foxhills in Surrey.

But both players pulled out. Poulter cited the recurrence of an ankle injury whilst McDowell did not give a reason.

“Ahead of LIV Nashville, I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep,” McDowell said in a statement.

“In an effort to manage it, I used a generic Vicks nasal decongestant without realising it might be on the banned list.

“As a professional golfer, I understand the importance of checking all medications and the option to apply for a TUE.

“Unfortunately, I did not think to do this due to the over the counter nature of the medicine, and I deeply regret the oversight.

“I fully accept the sanctions imposed by LIV.”

He continued: “LIV’s Anti-Doping Policy is designed to be thorough and transparent.

“Unlike some other tours, LIV enforces these rules rigorously, which made this situation particularly challenging for me.

“However, I respect the rules and penalties – they are essential for maintaining the integrity of the sport.

“I’m proud of my 22-year career and the way I’ve conducted myself throughout it.

“Now, I’m focused on moving forward and getting back on the golf course.

“I look forward to seeing everyone at LIV Chicago.”

McDowell's statement on X

It has been reported that McDowell has been fined $125,000 (£98,000) for the offence.

The results of McDowell and his team from LIV Nashville will be disqualified following his suspension.

McDowell was among the first wave of players to join the controversial, Saudi-backed league in June 2022.

He resigned his membership with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour 30 minutes before the first tee shots were hit in LIV’s inaugural event at Centurion Club.

McDowell is currently a member of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC.

He spent the first two campaigns as part of Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks outfit.

McDowell has not played in a major championship since the 2020 U.S. Open, when his 10-year exemption for winning the tournament expired.

He has since tumbled to 972 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

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Rory McIlroy reaches unwanted career milestone

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Rory McIlroy PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy has reached an unwanted milestone in his career as 10 August marks the beginning of a second decade in his hunt for a fifth major.

Rory McIlroy knew this day was coming 22 holes into the final men’s major of the year at Royal Troon.

The four-time major champion was hoping to stick around for the weekend at The Open by making inroads early in his second round.

Fighting sickness, Rory McIlroy salvages 71 to open PGA Championship - PGA TOUR

READ: ‘Did Everything I Could..’: Phil Mickelson Revives Feud With Jay Monahan & Exposes Own Mistreatment by PGA Tour

But things went south quickly and, by the time he reached the 7th tee he was already 6-over for the day and thinking of holiday destinations.

He likely was thinking of how he was going to have to spend the next nine months being asked the same questions about whether or not he’ll ever win The Masters.

McIlroy pointed out there was still a lot to play for, such as the Olympic Games, FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai.

But we all know what he cares most about, don’t we?

Legacy, history and an annual seat at the table next to Tiger Woods at Augusta National.

Now we have arrived at 10 August 2024.

The date marks the beginning of a second decade in McIlroy’s bid for a fifth major championship.

His last major triumph came as a bushy-haired 25-year-old when he claimed the PGA Championship in darkness at Valhalla.

Few would have expected that a drought this long was to follow but this is where we are.

Since that day in Louisville, Kentucky, 39 men’s major championships have been played and won by 26 different players.

Some golfers in the same generation as McIlroy have won multiple times in that span.

Brooks Koepka is now a five-time major champion.

Jon Rahm has won two.

Bryson DeChambeau battled back from wrist and hip injuries to claim his second major at the 2024 U.S. Open.

Now McIlroy has Scottie Scheffler and an increasingly confident Xander Schauffele to contend with.

There’s also a young Swede by the name of Ludvig Aberg who the Ulsterman will be wary of.

At 35 years old, you could argue that McIlroy is now teeing it up on the back nine of his career.

But he’ll take solace from the fact that, providing he takes care of his body and remains focussed he’ll have plenty more chances of glory.

And he’ll take note of the history books.

Phil Mickelson was 34 years old when he got his hands on his first major in golf, 12 years after he made his professional debut.

Lefty went on to win five more, including the 2021 PGA Championship when he became the oldest major winner in history at 50 years, 11 months and seven days.

But this is a young man’s game.

Who knows what’s in store for the next chapter of McIlroy’s career.

Whatever comes to pass, we know it will be a captivating watch.

McIlroy has made no secret of the fact that winning The Masters is the ultimate goal.

He would complete the career grand slam and join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Gary Player as the only golfers to win each and every major.

“I’d love to win The Masters,” McIlroy told reporters at the turn of the year.

“It’s the only major that I haven’t won.

“St Andrews is where the game started, but Augusta has become this cathedral of golf in some way, and all the greats of the game have won there in the past.

“It’s the only major that we go back to each year on the same golf course.

“It seems like it gets bigger and bigger every year, and it’s the first major of the year too – it’s more hyped up.”

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy record in majors since 2014:

2014

  • Masters: T8
  • U.S. Open: T23
  • The Open Championship: Win
  • PGA Championship: Win

2015

  • Masters: 4th
  • U.S. Open: T9
  • The Open Championship: Did not play (Injury)
  • PGA Championship: 17th

2016

  • Masters: T10
  • U.S. Open: MC
  • The Open Championship: T5
  • PGA Championship: MC

2017

  • Masters: T7
  • U.S. Open: MC
  • The Open Championship: T4
  • PGA Championship: T22

2018

  • Masters: T5
  • U.S. Open: MC
  • The Open Championship: T2
  • PGA Championship: T50

2019

  • Masters: T21
  • U.S. Open: T9
  • The Open Championship: MC
  • PGA Championship: T8

2020

  • Masters: T5
  • U.S. Open: T8
  • The Open Championship: Postponed
  • PGA Championship: T33

2021

  • Masters: MC
  • U.S. Open: T7
  • The Open Championship: T46
  • PGA Championship: T49

2022

  • Masters: 2
  • U.S. Open: T5
  • The Open Championship: 3rd
  • PGA Championship: 8th

2023

  • Masters: Missed Cut
  • U.S. Open: 2
  • The Open Championship: T6
  • PGA Championship: T7

Summary:

  • Wins: 2
  • Top 5 finishes: 15
  • Missed cuts: 7
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GOLF

‘Did Everything I Could..’: Phil Mickelson Revives Feud With Jay Monahan & Exposes Own Mistreatment by PGA Tour

By
Phil Mickelson Jay Monahan

Phil Mickelson doesn’t want to leave any doubt over his contribution to the PGA Tour. 

Lefty in a recent conversation, spoke of his involvement in various sponsorship deals that the PGA Tour landed. Mickelson revealed he was ‘brought in’ to resolve a few stalemates.

His words, which are worth quoting in full, read: “For 30-plus years I did everything I could to help build the PGA Tour brand, and I would be brought in to help close the deal with many CEOs when they were on the brink of potentially signing a deal, whether it was Bob Diamond at Barclays, it was Rick Waddell at Northern Trust, it was the guys at Shell, Marvin Odom (sic). There were about seven to 10 times that I would come in and try to close the deal. That was my way to help trying to build the PGA Tour at that time. I’m no longer part of the Tour.”

READ: Rory McIlroy’s Marriage Story Taking an Unexpected Turn as PGA Fans Floored

It’s not clear in what capacity Lefty was involved. The PGA Tour signed a deal with Barclays Capital, the London-based multinational investment bank, in 2004 to host ‘The Barclays’ in Westchester Country Club, New York. The original deal ran through in 2010, and the next year, the Tour decided on an extension for another five years. The tournament was the first of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

It should be noted that Phil Mickelson also sported the Barclays logo on the right side of his polo shirt. He was one of the biggest draws at the Barclays event each year. However, they parted ways in 2017, with Mickelson moving to Intrepid Financial Partners, which, interestingly, was founded by former Barclays executive Hugh “Skip” McGee.

On the other hand, the Northern Trust succeeded Nissan as the Los Angeles event sponsor. Lefty notably played with the CEO, Rick Waddell, as recently as the 2017 Northern Trust Pro-Am. Reportedly, Waddell waited for Mickelson as his rented private jet got delayed due to fog. The Riviera event is now a Tiger Woods-hosted signature event, Genesis Invitational.

Whereas, the PGA Tour signed Shell Oil as a sponsor of its Houston event in 1992. For 25 years, the Houston stop was known as the Shell Houston Open, which Phil Mickelson won in 2011. Lefty was also a common face seen around the greens on each occasion. Interestingly, in 2011, the Tour also signed a six-year extension with the London HQ company.

From the timeline, it seems Phil Mickelson’s involvement in the sponsorship deals came under former commissioner Tim Finchem’s tenure. Jay Monahan succeeded Finchem in November of 2016. Mickelson has hinted that he tried to ‘build’ the PGA Tour even then, but Monahan torpedoed his proposals.

Mickelson refused to accept Monahan’s claim that he was the best leader to guide the PGA Tour. The 54-year-old accused Monahan of ‘strong-arming’ LIV golfers. The 45-time PGA Tour winner supported calls for Monahan’s ouster in the wake of the PGA Tour’s feud with LIV Golf. Mickelson further claimed he proposed an idea similar to the Signature events, which the Tour commissioner outrightly rejected.

The six-time major winner tweeted last year, “Before I left I brought a $1 billion commitment from a current PGATour partner to have 8 elevated events and give equity and ownership in these events to the players. JM’s quote was “ I don’t believe the league is going to happen so we won’t be doing that.” No vote, no discussion.”

It appears Mickelson wants to remind everyone that he has done whatever he could’ve for the betterment of the PGA Tour. But with Monahan at the helm, the relationship perhaps soured, and Mickelson saw an opportunity at LIV that he wanted to grab.

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GOLF

Rory McIlroy’s Marriage Story Taking an Unexpected Turn as PGA Fans Floored

By
Rory McIlroy Erica Stoll Amanda Balionis

There is nothing “un-complicated” about the concept of divorce and the necessary steps it takes for one to get to the final decision of it. But rarely do you see an entire retraction of the filing…except for the famous Northern Irish PGA Pro Golfer, Rory McIlroy, in the last few weeks. What a wild ride he must be on, and just days away from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When first diving behind the complex decisions Rory has made for his heart over the years, one would almost assume the worst. Back in 2013, McIlroy, about to tie the knot to Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, had just sent out official wedding invites but to no avail. After just a 5-month engagement, Rory broke Wozniacki’s heart over a 3-minute phone call while on tour, where we can only assume cliche lines like “it’s not you, I just need to focus on my career” were given.

The tennis star was left shattered and led to believe that McIlroy wasn’t prepared for the idea of marriage, as he confirmed with US Weekly reporters at the time. However, he was suspiciously reportedly not only seeing his now-wife, Erica Stoll, just months after but was wedded to the former PGA employee in 2017.

Amanda Balionis shares cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll make Olympics statement - The Mirror US

READ: Amanda Balionis cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll spotted at Olympics

To give you a little background on the love story between the Irishman and Stoll, the two met on the PGA tour in 2012 while McIlroy was clearly still engaged to be married. Stoll, a New Yorker socialite and former PGA Manager of the Championship Volunteer Operations since 2011, found herself swept by the charm of the champion and shortly left her position after they married to travel the world with the golfer.

Though it seemed like the two couldn’t possibly find any reason to detach, as she is known to accompany the athlete on many tournaments, Stoll reportedly claimed to US Weekly recently that she “felt lonely in the marriage” and that “Rory was a hard person to be married to.” The two share a 3-year-old daughter, Poppy.

Now, one can argue that deep down Rory knew Wozniacki was not “his person,” and just simply dragged his feet on ending it with her. Honestly, not an uncommon choice made by many scared people on this planet.

However, due to recent filings, McIlroy seemed to be more of a creature of habit rather than a man with a plan. In June this year, McIlroy officially filed against wife Erica while on tour claiming the marriage was “irretrievably broken,” enforcing his prenup and requested joint custody over daughter Poppy. Just days after Mother’s Day, the filing came out of nowhere. Even worse, reports came out that he was seen getting cozy to yet another reporter, CBS personality Amanda Balionis. Stoll shared that she received papers coldly from a private investigator at their Florida home while McIlroy was away at a tournament.

While filming Netflix BTS docuseries Full Swing, in which the platform goes into the personal and professional lives of the men on the PGA, Balionis and McIlroy seemed to be getting “closer.” As Balionis is one of the main voices for the show, the two spent quite a bit of time together while filming and some reports even stated that the two were already dating as paparazzi photographed the two “hugging” on many occasions. The road for the married couple seemed ominous based on the facts, and, as we know, history tends to repeat itself…

But here’s the real kicker… despite the rumors of the two PGA love birds, the bad habits of the star and an official filing, McIlroy shocked the world with a statement on camera.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning,” said McIlroy. A notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, June 11. McIlroy chose to end the divorce plans, per documents obtained by Us Weekly, and the filing was reportedly closed out the same day.

Leading us to wonder if Rory had a change of heart for several reasons… the timing of the U.S. Open so close ahead at the time, a change of heart, their daughter’s well-being, Rory’s repetitive “bad boy” image… or all of the above?

All we know is that the two have yet to be photographed together since and we are all on pins and needles waiting to see if we will see Erica by Rory’s side representing Ireland in the 2024 Paris Olympics. McIlroy came up short at the U.S. Open without Stoll by his side, however, he was reported to have flown directly home to his wife and daughter following the loss.

Now, the question is: will his decision to continue his marriage to Erica work in the favor of Ireland in the Olympics? Only time will tell.

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“Ready for LA 2028!”: Uncertain Future Crumbles Infront of LIV Golf Jon Rahm

By
Jon Rahm Paris Olympic

Many would agree with Jon Rahm. However, only a few would truly understand the Spaniard’s words when he said, “It’s basically a dream come true.” 

He was alluding to the idea of winning a gold medal at the Olympics, something he missed by four strokes. But not to worry, since the athlete seems fairly confident about his 2028 chances in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old shared a series of pictures on his Instagram handle commemorating his appearance at the quadrennial event. He did so while mentioning how grateful he was for the whole experience: “It was a tough Sunday for sure but I remain grateful for a great week in Paris. The experience of representing my native Spain in the Olympics was special and something I will never forget.” But the highlight of it all came in the last line: “Ready for LA 2028! 🇪🇸”

 

READ: Is Tiger Woods Still the Richest Pro Golfer? 2024 Net Worth Explored

He sounds confident, doesn’t he? Well, the current world No. 10 did convey the same, despite LIV Golf not getting acknowledged by the ranking system. If the trend of the OWGR snub continues, then there is a high chance for the Spanish athlete to fall down in rankings while getting pushed out of the top 15. Sounds a bit similar to Bryson DeChambeau’s situation, right?! The 2024 U.S. Open champ had also been just short of making it into the top four ranked Americans on OWGR, resulting in his snub.

But it’s not as if the confidence is completely unfounded for Jon Rahm. The Spanish golfer needs to just do his best and rake in good finishes at the major championships if the Saudi-backed league continues to be without OWGR backing. He just needs to pull off a 2024 DeChambeau, which saw the ‘Scientist’ jump from No. 210 before the Masters to No. 9 after the Open Championship.

That’s not all. With the PIF-PGA Tour merger in the works, one can even anticipate the LIV Golf Pros being able to play in Tour-sanctioned events if everything transpires smoothly. Interestingly, the Transaction Subcommittee, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy, had met with PIF officials back in June. Although the result of the same remained a delay in the proceedings, the merger seems to be very well on the cards. But all of it is for naught if Rahm fails to card the medal, like in the recent event.

The 2023 Masters champ had been at the top rungs of the leaderboard since day 1. He had even been well set at T1, that is, until a dominant Scottie Scheffler shot past him. The American’s run, coupled with Rahm’s horrid back nine, saw the 29-year-old crumble down at the end of Sunday. He carded four bogeys and a double bogey, alongside two birdies in the back nine alone. It was a truly unfortunate fourth round for the Spaniard.

The athlete, in the end, finished T5 with a score of 15-under-269, tied with McIlroy. He did so while dishing out a total of 24 birdies, 9 bogeys, 2 eagles, and 2 double bogeys over the four days of play. Had he been able to score a par putt instead of a double bogey or two of the same instead of two bogeys, then Rahm would have had a chance to force a playoff with Hideki Matsuyama for a bronze medal.

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GOLF

Is Tiger Woods Still the Richest Pro Golfer? 2024 Net Worth Explored

By
Tiger Woods PGA Tour

The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Tiger Woods, is known for his jaw-dropping golfing skills.

The golfer has proven to be one of the best to ever step foot on the greens having several wins under his belt, 82 PGA Tour wins, and 15 majors to be precise. Well, being the one with the highest Tour wins is not the only accolade he has earned as a golfer. Woods is also the first billionaire golfer in history!

As per Forbes, Woods is worth a whopping 1.3 billion dollars in 2024. For the whole of his career on the PGA Tour, the golfer has earned $120,999,166 in prize money, which makes him the leader of the all-time career earnings list of the Tour. In 2022, Woods officially joined the billionaire athlete club alongside LeBron James when Forbes declared his net worth to be at least $1 billion. If that was enough to blow your mind, read this. Despite turning down a lucrative offer from LIV Golf, and we’re talking a lot of numbers here, roughly around $700 million, Woods is the richest golfer.

After major letdown, Tiger Woods confronts one tough truth

READ: ‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough Doubts

However, you’ll be surprised to know that less than 10% of Woods’s income comes from his golf wins, as most of his career earnings come from his sponsors and endorsements. The 15-time major winner’s sponsors in 2024 are Gatorade, TaylorMade, and Rolex. Nike was also on the sponsorship list until early 2024. It came as a shock to everyone when, earlier this year, Woods said goodbye to his $500 million deal with one of the most popular shoe brands in the world.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods wrote on X.  Nike in response wrote, “It was a hell of a round, Tiger.” With billions of dollars to his name, Tiger Woods certainly knows how to make smart use of his wealth, especially with the kind of businessman he is!

Tiger Woods is more than just a golf legend; he’s a successful entrepreneur and a savvy businessman. Over the past 20 years, he has expanded his brand into various ventures, including charity work, golf course design, restaurants, apparel, and other golf-related ventures like TGL and Popstroke. Established in 1996, the TGR Foundation supports children and allows them to pursue their dreams. He has also hosted several charity events, including the Tiger Jam and Hero World Challenge, to raise funds for his foundation.

Woods has also made a name for himself in golf course design. With projects like El Cardonal in Mexico and Bluejack National in Texas, TGR Designs has a bright future ahead of itself. He also has his own restaurant, The Woods Jupiter, in Florida, which opened back in 2015. His latest ventures are TGL with Rory McIlroy: a league that will go live in January 2025, T-Squared with Justin Timberlake, and Sun Day Red in collaboration with TaylorMade that has been garnering a lot of backlash for one reason or another since its launch.

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GOLF

‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough Doubts

By
Scottie Scheffler Olympic

‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough to Eliminate LPGA Champ’s Doubts About Controversial Format

The men’s Olympic golf event in Paris has ended, with Scottie Scheffler standing tall atop the podium, a gold medal around his neck. Yet as the dust settles, some questions are beginning to arise about the Olympics stroke play format. Is golf’s traditional format fit for the Olympic stage? LPGA golfer Jenny Shin ignited a fierce debate on social media with her bold and provocative proposal.

Jenny Shin, the LPGA star, shared her unvarnished viewpoint on her X handle. Shin’s comments suggest the current Olympic format may not be the most engaging. The traditional 4-day individual stroke play, used in most professional golf tournaments, might not be the best fit for the Olympics.

Olympic gold in hand, Scottie Scheffler says emotional display isn't as rare as we thought

READ: :Allow the countries to pick themselves”: Jon Rahm wants Olympic chiefs to make key change after LIV Golf stars snubbed

The Rolex Rankings No. 48, wrote, “Not my idea, however, I wonder how fun it would be if golf in Olympics was a different format than its regular 4-day event. 2-person team play, men & women team play from each country. After all, it’s not technically the strongest field compared to every other tournament they play.” Her post sparked a lively discussion on the future of Olympic golf, with many weighing in on her suggestion.

Moreover, Shin also believes that golf could benefit from a more collaborative and inclusive approach if a team-based or similar format is included in the Olympics. The results of this approach could potentially lead to more competitive, exciting, and unpredictable outcomes.

For those unfamiliar with the current format, the stroke play format means that the player with the fewest total number of shots after four days and 72 holes wins. The no-cut format, however, may not be the most fitting for the Olympic stage, according to the 31-year-old. Notably, it is similar to the LIV Golf format, which features a 54-hole format and is a day shorter, or like other alternative formats that could potentially, be explored.

But is Jenny Shin the only one who wonders about a different format for the quadrennial event?

Jenny Shin voiced the fans demanding a change

The golf community has been echoing similar sentiments for quite some time. When golf returned to the Olympics in 2016, many were thrilled, but some critics pointed out that the format didn’t provide a suitable platform for the sport. It is criticized for being ‘Boring’ and predictable, with many calling for a change.

Building on the momentum, fans and golf enthusiasts demand a change. They suggest alternative formats like stroke play and match play or team competitions. Furthermore, with the Olympics holding the authority to innovate, the golf community expects a more exciting and unpredictable format for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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GOLF

Charlie Woods bounces back from US Junior Amateur nightmare to win first ‘major’ title

By
Charlie Woods Tiger Woods US Junior Amateur

Charlie Woods got his hands on his first ‘major’ victory earlier this week, after the son of the great Tiger Woods won the South Florida Junior Cup.

Woods Jr shot rounds of 73, 68, 73 to ensure he was the only player under-par throughout the tournament at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course. This proved enough to crown him as the tournament winner, with the title one of the eight major events on the South Florida Junior Tour schedule.

“I wanted it so bad,” said the youngster in the aftermath. “I felt focused, and I knew what I had to do to get it done. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.”

Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, qualifies top for US Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills | Golf | The Guardian

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“I feel like it was a compilation of a lot of hard work this summer. I wanted to redeem myself, and I feel great about how I played.” His victory came just a week after he endured a tough time at the US Junior Amateur, as he missed the cut with his dad watching on.

Tiger himself had been in action a week prior, making just his fifth start of the season at The Open Championship. He too fell to the same fate as his son, as Woods missed the cut for the third time in four events, after battling in tough conditions at Royal Troon.

Woods is playing a part-time schedule on the PGA Tour, as he continues to battle a number of fitness issues on the back of injuries sustained in a car accident back in February 2021. Outside of the four majors, Woods has played just one regular Tour event this year; the Genesis Invitational in February.

This too ended prematurely though, as Woods was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness partway through the second round. And his missed cut at The Open in July brought a curtain down on his competitive season, after he announced he would be taking a break from action.

As a result, he confirmed in the aftermath of his missed cut that his next PGA Tour start will come in December when he hosts the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “I’m not going to play until then [the Hero World Challenge],” Woods said. I’m going to just keep getting physically better and keep working on it.”

He did however confirm that he also plans to compete in this year’s PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie, which comes in the aftermath of the Hero. “Hopefully just come back for our, what is it, our fifth major, the Father/Son [PNC Championship], so looking forward to it.”

The Woods duo have competed in the last three editions of the parent-child event at the Ritz Carlton in Florida, with their best finish coming back in 2021 when the pair ended the 54-hole tournament in second, two shots behind eventual winners John Daly and John Daly Jr.

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