Many folks assume that you can’t play any fun golf games unless you have an even number of players.

For that reason, most people will limit their golf groups to either 2 or 4 people. However, as you’ll soon discover in this article, that isn’t necessary.

A foursome may be the most common grouping on the golf course, but there are tons of fantastic games that can be played with 5 golfers (especially if you’re playing a fun betting game). Let’s look at some of the best five-person games for your next round of golf.

After trying out a few of these fun games, you’ll find that there’s just something special about playing golf in a team format.

1. Two Carts

Here’s a fantastic golf game for 5 players, and it’s a great way to get some added exercise. As the game’s name implies, only 2 carts can be driven. This means that there are only enough seats for 4 golfers.

All 5 players will tee off on the first hole and abide by regular stroke play rules. Each golfer plays their own ball and adds up their shots. At the end of the hole, the golfer with the highest number of strokes has to walk the next hole.

This game is loads of fun because the other 4 players get to comfortably ride in the carts and crack jokes at the loser who has to walk. However, the loser can get a seat back in one of the carts on the next hole if they don’t shoot the highest net score again. This game is easy to play, and everyone will enjoy it.

2. Wolf

We wrote an in-depth piece on how to play Wolf and how much fun it can be for larger groups of golfers. Wolf is possibly the most popular golf gambling game on the planet because the stakes can be whatever the group decides. Here’s how it works:

Gather near the first tee box to decide who gets to be the wolf on the first hole. The easiest way to do this is to spin a tee until the rotation of play is established. Each player will take turns being the wolf.

The advantage of being the wolf is that you can decide whether you want to play with a teammate or as the lone wolf. If the team format is chosen, each team will play a best ball scramble after each golfer has hit their tee shots. The wolf also gets the privilege of being the first player to tee off on that hole.

After the wolf hits their tee ball, he can announce that he’s the lone wolf or wait until others hit their tee shots. However, if the wolf wants to team up with another golfer, he must announce it directly after their tee shot.

If the lone wolf wins the hole, they get 2 points instead of just one. The other 4 players get 1 point each if the lone wolf loses the hole. If the team format is chosen, each player on the winning team receives one point at the end of the hole.

Another great thing about Wolf is that there are a ton of variations, which means that golfers will never get bored with it. For example, players can agree to play for a set amount or change their bets on each hole.

3. Round Robin

Want a golf game that keeps things fresh and is never dull? Round Robin is an excellent choice for a group of 5 golfers because the matchups change every 3 or every 6 holes. This keeps one team from dominating the entire round of golf.

When playing Round Robin, the format is that a team of 3 golfers takes on the other 2. Once either 3 or 6 holes have been played, the rotation changes, and the golfers must re-pair.

Need help deciding who to re-pair with? Golfers can take turns spinning a tee (just like in Wolf). Whichever person the tee points to is your partner.

Golfers can also toss golf balls toward a target and decide the groups based on the closest golf balls. In Round Robin, each golfer should keep up with their own score and how many matches they won. The winner is whoever won the most matches at the end of the round.

4. Best Ball Scramble

This game is perfect for beginners, those with high handicaps, or a group that just wants to have a good time. The beauty of the Best Ball Scramble is that everyone is on the same team! On a side note, I might’ve given up learning how to play golf if not for this game.

In Best Ball Scramble, each golfer hits their own ball off the tee. The players will then decide which person had the best drive, and everyone will hit their second shot from that position. The rotation continues until the hole is completed.

Once the hole is finished, the team of 5 records its score. Best Ball Scramble is one of the most fun golf games out there, and it’s even more enjoyable with a few adult beverages.

5. High vs. Low

High vs. Low is usually played with a foursome, but it works well for a group of 5. In this game, the 2 golfers with the lowest handicaps team up against the 3 golfers with the highest handicaps.

The teams will follow the best ball scramble format and record their scores after each hole. Though the logic may sound a bit weird, there’s not much of an advantage for the low handicappers because the threesome is getting to hit an extra shot.

If one team beats the other pretty badly, you can switch the teams up after 9 holes have been played. The goal is to make things as fun and competitive as possible.

6. Stableford

This game is a favorite of scratch golfers or those with low handicaps. Instead of traditional stroke play, Stableford follows its own unique scoring system. An albatross is worth 5 points, eagles score you 4, birdies count as 3, pars count as 2, and a bogey gets you 1 point.

Double bogeys, or worse, don’t come with any points. A nice thing about Stableford is that it doesn’t penalize a golfer too severely after a bad hole. They simply won’t get any points for that hole.

When playing Stableford, the player with the highest score wins instead of the lowest, like in regular stroke play. Another cool thing about Stableford is that it works well for a group of 5 golfers. Golfers can decide before the round if they want to team up with a 2 vs. 3 format or play every golfer for themselves.

7. Captain’s Choice

Here’s another outstanding golf game for larger groups. Tear up a sheet of paper into 5 pieces and number each piece 1 through 5. Have each golfer draw out a number.

The rotation of the teams depends on the number you draw. Numbers 1 and 4 will face off against Numbers 2 and 3. The one who draws Number 5 is a wild card, and they must switch teams every 3 holes.

Each team will play a best-ball scramble. This is a neat feature of Captain’s Choice because the Number 5 golfer can help both teams quite a bit. Each player should keep their own scorecard to determine if the Number 5 golfer belongs to the winning or losing team.

After half the round is completed, the golfers can vote on whether they want to change up the teams or keep them the same for another 9 holes.

8. Ghost

Not a lot of golfers have heard of Ghost, and no were aren’t talking about the classic movie with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Ghost is the perfect solution for any group of golfers with an odd number. The ghost is an imaginary player who plays on the team with the least number of players.

Before you get all weirded out and think that Ghost is just an imaginary game for kid golfers, let us explain. If a group of 5 golfers wants to play a team match, they’ll split up as 3 vs. 2. The ghost will play on the team with only 2 golfers.

Here’s the dirty little secret about the ghost: he’s a scratch golfer that shoots par on every hole. That means that whichever team the ghost plays on can do no worse than par! Each team will play a best-ball scramble, record their scores, and the ghost can give handicap strokes on certain holes.

A lot of folks like Ghost because it can easily be played with match play or stroke play rules. The team who plays with the ghost can let it all hang out and take greater risks. This can lead to some incredibly good or incredibly bad shots, which will lead to lots of laughs on the golf course.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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The internal space is cleverly divided to provide a separate space for weddings and private parties, while a wrap-around patio overlooking the 12th and 18th greens almost doubles the footprint available for hosting members and visitors. Huge bi-folding doors enhance the feeling of space, creating a smooth transition between inside and out, while an open kitchen with a serving hatch that opens up to the patio provides the opportunity for golfers to grab a quick snack and a drink en route to the first or 10th tee. Two kitchens, including one with a wood-fired pizza oven and an Argentinian grill – show the ambition of the club to offer more than your standard sandwich platter and chips combo – although they can do that too – and shows why Pyrford is also proving a popular venue for those for whom chasing a small white ball has no appeal.

Strolling around the Pyrford Lakes Golf Club, mature woodlands frame the course, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Cattails and water lilies adorn the 23-acre lakefront. From the overflowing parking lot to the bustling afternoon scene on the club’s terrace, each scene is filled with unique memories.

You can embroider this unique experience into  PVC Patches: birds flying over the lake during your swing, the view from the terrace next to the 12th green, or sharing a meal with fellow golfers around the Argentinian grill—all become part of your unique design.

Whether sewn onto a golf bag, polo shirt, or hat, you can capture this joyful experience. GSJJ’s fast customization allows you to enjoy ultra-fast image processing and precise reproduction of details, instantly bringing your golf memories to life.

The improved course and the stylish clubhouse has proved an attractive proposition to golfers too, with the club now enjoying an extremely healthy membership of over 950, spread between 7-day, 5-day, Intermediate and Flexible members. The latter is a points-based scheme that enables points to be exchanged for tee times, with the number of points depending on day, time and holes played. It enables golfers to join the Get Golfing family for as little as £250, with points being able to be used at any of the company’s other 10 venues, including nearby Hampton Court Palace, North Downs in Surrey, Redlibbets in Kent, and the most recent addition, Winter Hill in Berkshire.

Membership fees are paid by monthly by direct debit, and with no joining fee and no big upfront annual membership costs, the barrier to entry is kept low, ensuring golfers can find a membership that suits their budget and their schedule. In line with its remit to grow the game, Get Golfing doesn’t charge a membership fee for juniors, so it’s not surprising that the club boasts a strong group of U18s, with 170 youngsters enjoying the freedom to use the club’s course and practice facilities at no cost, before hopefully staying with the club when they hit adulthood.

Whether it’s to play golf – club, social or society – host a family or business function or simply enjoy a bite to eat, Pyrford Lakes ticks all the boxes and plenty more besides. But don’t take my word for it – although you definitely should – come and experience it for yourself!

To book a tee time, visit golf.pyrfordgolf.co.uk/visitorbooking. To enquire about membership, visit pyrfordgolf.co.uk or call 01483 723555. For more information about Get Golfing, visit getgolfing.org

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Cobra’s OPTM drivers use refined internal weighting and face design to help golfers hit straighter tee shots without giving up ball speed.

• Cobra has released its new OPTM line of drivers, which includes four distinct models: X, LS, Max-K, and Max-D.
• The OPTM family is designed to be Cobra’s most stable and accurate driver line by maximizing moment of inertia (MOI).
• Each driver features a 460cc titanium head, carbon-fiber components, and a highly adjustable hosel.
• The four models are tailored for different player needs, from low-spin performance to maximum forgiveness and draw bias.

Gear: Cobra OPTM X, LS, Max-K and Max-D drivers

Veteran golf course architect Brian Silva and his longtime associate, Brian Johnson, announced Tuesday they have restructured their business relationship as partners and formed a new firm, Silva & Johnson, LTD. The new partnership has three restoration jobs already.

Increased 3D Stability Enables Enhanced Accuracy

Hi-Res Images: LINK

Carlsbad, Calif. – COBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today introduced its new family of OPTM metalwoods. Features of the new OPTM family include POI (Product of Inertia) Shaping, Adaptive POI Weighting, H.O.T. Face and FUTUREFIT33. The four models available are OPTM LS, OPTM X, OPTM MAX-K and OPTM MAX-D.

The groundbreaking new low POI design of each OPTM driver, which is delivered via both improved shaping and adaptive weighting, works with Cobra’s other metalwood technologies to reduce shot dispersion by up to 23 percent. Unlike MOI (moment of inertia), which is a measure of how resistant a clubhead is to twisting on off-center hits on the vertical and horizontal axes, POI measures how a clubhead rotates diagonally across all axes at once. For that reason, a high MOI is desired to correct off-center hits while a low POI is desired to deliver more accurate shots that don’t create as much gear effect. The result is tighter dispersion down range.

“MOI is still important, but POI is the next frontier in terms of overall accuracy,” said Jose Miraflor, VP of Product Architecture and Consumer Connections at Cobra Puma Golf. “In design, we want to increase MOI (stability) while also reducing POI (3D twisting). POI finetunes forgiveness into directional consistency as it allows the clubhead to rotate more naturally with your swing. If you’re playing a 10k driver but wonder why hits on the high toe, for example, are still producing noticeably wild results, it’s probable your driver has a high POI design, which is a common fault of many current high MOI models.”

Each driver in the OPTM family features unique AI-Optimized POI Shaping to increase rotational stability as well as AI Optimized Adaptive POI Weighting for enhanced CG placement. Clubhead shapes are more rounded to place the CG more in the center of the clubhead, while AI-optimized external weights are placed in new locations with the goal of producing the lowest POI possible. The LS driver, which features a Tour profile and tends to work best for faster swingers, features weight ports in the high toe, mid heel and back, with 11g, 7g, and 3g moveable weights, while the X model features a Tour preferred profile and weight ports in the mid-high toe and back with 11g and 3g moveable weights. The Max-K, the most forgiving of the four models with the highest MOI, features an oversize profile for maximum forgiveness and a fixed 11g rear weight. The Max-D, which is aimed at players who desire slice correction, features a lightweight design, built-in draw bias, and oversized profile with a fixed 11g weight in the heel area of the clubhead.

“A poll of golfers asking what would inspire them to buy a new driver indicates the top three reasons are distance, accuracy and forgiveness,” said Miraflor. “Cobra is traditionally known for distance and in 2025, our Max-K driver delivered exceptional forgiveness. In 2026, we are delivering our longest, most accurate drivers ever.”  

The new OPTM metalwood family also features COBRA’s patented FUTUREFIT33 ADJUSTABLE HOSEL SYSTEM, which is the most significant and innovative metalwood fitting technology to date. The system allows for 33 unique loft and lie settings that can be adjusted independently, unlocking an unprecedented number of fitting options. All 33 settings can be accessed quickly and easily on the spot, allowing fitters and golfers the opportunity to make desired adjustments in a studio, at home or on the range.

All four new OPTM drivers also feature a multi-material construction with lightweight gloss carbon crown and lightweight titanium frame. A forged face insert with H.O.T. Face Technology with 15 hot spots across the clubface delivers a higher CT across the face for more robust distance and ball speeds.  

The men’s OPTM family of drivers ($599 each) are available in the following specifications:

OPTM LS Driver Specifications:

The OPTM LS comes in RH/LH (*LH available in MCA Kai’li White 60 (S) with all other shafts custom) with a choice of three premium aftermarket shafts in select flexes including: MCA Kai’li White 60 (S); MCA Kai’li Blue 60 (R and S), and True Temper Project X Denali Black Frost (S and X). Lamkin® SuperStroke Crossline grips (50g) come standard. 

OPTM X Driver Specifications:

The OPTM X Driver comes in RH/LH (*LH available in stock MCA Kai’li Blue 60, (R and S), with all other shafts custom) with a choice of five premium aftermarket shafts in select flexes including: MCA Kai’li White 60 (S and X); MCA Kai’li Blue 60 (R and S); MCA Kai’li Red 50 (R and A); True Temper Denali Black Frost 60 (S); True Temper Project X Denali Blue Frost CB 60 (R). Lamkin SuperStroke Crossline grips (50g) come standard. 

OPTM MAX-K Driver Specifications:

The OPTM MAX-K Driver comes in RH/LH (*LH available in stock True Temper Project X Denali Blue Frost CB 60, (R and S) with all other shafts custom) with a choice of four premium aftermarket shafts in select flexes: MCA Kai’li White 60 (S); True Temper Denali Blue 60 (R, S, X); MCA Kai’li Red 50 (R and A); True Temper Project X Denali Blue Frost CB 60 (S and R). Lamkin SuperStroke Crossline grips (50g) come standard.    

OPTM MAX-D Driver Specifications:

The OPTM MAX-D Driver comes in RH/LH (*LH available in stock Denali Red 50 (R) with all other shafts custom) with a choice of two premium aftermarket shafts in select flexes: MCA Kai’li Red 50 (A, R, S); MCA Vanquish 40 (R and A). Lamkin SuperStroke Crossline grips (50g) come standard.

The OPTM MAX-K and MAX-D Drivers are also available in a women’s edition ($599), featuring a black gloss crown and sole with gloss silver and mint green accents.  

OPTM MAX-K Women’s Driver Specifications:

OPTM MAX-D Women’s Driver Specifications:

The OPTM MAX-K and MAX-D Women’s Drivers come in right hand and left hand (the MAX-D left hand is available in custom only) with an aftermarket MCA Vanquish 40 (43g) shaft in Ladies flex. An undersize Lamkin SuperStroke Crossline grip (45g) comes standard.

OPTM Fairways and Hybrids

Complementing the impressive line of OPTM drivers is a full lineup of fairway metals featuring the same innovative technologies, including ADAPTIVE POI WEIGHTING, FUTUREFIT33, and H.O.T. FACE. The new OPTM fairway metals are available in three models (LS, X, and MAX) to fit the full spectrum of golfers. Details of the three new models:

OPTM LS Titanium Fairway ($469) – The LS is designed to provide a combination of maximum ball speed and accuracy with the deepest face and lowest spin rates of the three OPTM models. 3g, 11g, and 14g moveable weights in the rear, heel, and toe areas allow for optimized POI and customized performance while a low and forward CG location yields the fastest speed in the OPTM fairway family. Other features include FUTUREFIT33 Technology, which provides 33 loft and lie combinations for maximized ball flight tuning and variable thickness H.O.T. Face Technology for improved launch and faster ball speeds on off-center strikes. The LS comes in 3W (14.5 ^o), 3 HF (16 ^o) and 5W (17.5 ^o) with Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60 (X and S) shaft.  

OPTM X Fairway ($369) – The OPTM X provides the most balanced combination of fast speed and forgiveness of the three fairway models. The X model features a mid-CG location and medium face height with 3g and 17g moveable weights in the rear and toe areas of the clubhead. Other features include FUTUREFIT33 Technology, which provides 33 loft and lie combinations for maximized ball flight tuning and variable thickness H.O.T. Face Technology for improved launch and faster ball speeds on off-center strikes. The X model comes in 3W (15.0 ^o), 3HF (16.5 ^o), 5W (18 ^o), 7W (21 ^o), and 9W (24 ^o) with Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 60 (X, S and R).

OPTM MAX Fairway ($329) – The MAX is designed to provide the most forgiveness with draw bias in the OPTM fairway line with a back and heel biased CG and the shallowest face of the three models. Weight ports in the rear and heel positions with 14g and 3g moveable weights allow for customized performance. The MAX fairway is available in 3W (15.5 ^o), 5W (18.5 ^o), 7W (21.5 ^o), and 9W (24.5^o) with Mitsubishi Kai’li Red 50 (S, R and A) shaft.  

The OPTM MAX is also available in a women’s model in 3W (18.5^o), 5W (21.5^o), and 7W (24.5 ^o) with Mitsubishi Vanquish shaft in Ladies flex.  

New OPTM hybrids ($329 each) fill out COBRA’s collection of new metalwood offerings and feature updated shaping that includes a slightly larger address profile and shallower face height for easier launch and optimized trajectory. ADAPTIVE WEIGHTING for improved CG placement and H.O.T. FACE Technology for added speed make the OPTM hybrids faster and easier to launch than previous models. Like all clubs in the OPTM family, FUTUREFIT33 Technology, which provides 33 loft and lie combinations for maximized ball flight tuning, is also standard. The OPTM Hybrids are available in 3H (19 ^o), 4H (21 ^o), 5H (24 ^o), and 6H (28 ^o) with KBS PG HYBRID graphite shafts in 85 (S), 75 (R), and 65 (A) flexes. OPTM Women’s Hybrid is also available in 4H (21 ^o), 5H (24 ^o), 6H (28 ^o), and 7H (31 ^o) with KBS PG Hybrid 55 (L) flex graphite shafts.

All COBRA OPTM products will be available for fitting and pre-sale on January 13, 2026, and will be available at retail and online on January 20, 2026. For more information, visit www.cobragolf.com.

Media Contacts:

Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

About COBRA PUMA GOLF

COBRA PUMA GOLF is a corporate division of PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. COBRA PUMA GOLF is an inclusive company, promoting game enjoyment for golfers of all abilities, attitudes and styles. The brand’s full-range portfolio includes COBRA Golf’s high-performance drivers, fairways, hybrids, wedges, putters, and irons, as well as PUMA Golf’s sport lifestyle inspired footwear, apparel and accessories. Fusing performance and style, COBRA PUMA GOLF brings a focus on innovation, technology, compelling design and superior performance with an edge to the global golf marketplace. For more information, visit cobragolf.com and cobragolf.com/pumagolf.      

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ECCO GOLF has announced the addition of PGA TOUR star Aaron Rai to its elite tour ambassador lineup. A consistent performer on the global stage and a familiar face within the ECCO GOLF community, Rai joins the brand’s roster of ambassadors as one of the most exciting English talents in the game today.

Currently ranked inside the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Rai has established himself as one of the most accurate and composed players on the PGA TOUR, with a breakout triumph at the Wyndham Championship in 2024. A three-time DP World Tour winner – with victories at the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open, the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, and the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – he has also transitioned seamlessly to the U.S. circuit, where his steady rise and professionalism have earned widespread respect among fans and fellow players.

Rai’s relationship with ECCO GOLF is longstanding, and he has been wearing ECCO GOLF shoes by choice for many years, including throughout his recent run of form on the PGA TOUR. His belief in the brand’s craftsmanship, comfort, and performance innovation makes this official partnership a natural next step in an already strong connection.

“I’m thrilled to officially become an ECCO GOLF ambassador,” said Rai. “I’ve worn ECCO shoes for a long time, because they’ve always given me the perfect combination of performance and comfort. I’ve long admired the brand’s dedication to quality and innovation, and it feels fantastic to make our partnership official. ECCO represents everything I value – attention to detail, comfort, and build quality – and I’m proud to now be representing the brand on tour.”

Rai joins a diverse and world-class group of ECCO GOLF ambassadors, including Thorbjørn Olesen, Aaron Rai, Thomas Bjørn, Erik van Rooyen, Lydia Ko, Lin Xiyu, and Freddy Schott, among others.

Timo Vollrath, Head of Global Marketing at ECCO GOLF, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Aaron to the ECCO GOLF ambassador family. He’s been a great friend of the brand for many years, and his professionalism, humility, and consistency align perfectly with our ethos. As one of the world’s best players and a longstanding wearer of ECCO GOLF shoes, this feels like a perfect fit, and we’re excited to support him as he continues his career.”

Player profile

Aaron Rai

Age: 30

Turned professional: 2012

Professional wins: 8

Career highlights:

2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

2024 Wyndham Championship

2020 Scottish Open

2018 Hong Kong Open

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We are here  U.S. Solheim Cup captain Angela Stanford. This is the last week of the season, the last week before we head into the Solheim Cup year.

Q. I know you’ve got an announcement, but first I just want to say, how are you feeling? It’s been more than six months now since you were announced as captain. Is it finally real?

It’s been awesome. I feel like I’m living a dream every single day. Everything I do, it seems like I do something for Solheim Cup every single day, and I love it.

I feel like I’ve been talking to more players lately, getting ready to roll into next year. But yeah, I still feel like I’m living a dream, and I’ve loved every second of it.

Q. You talk about having news or doing something every day. Today you’ve got some fun news to announce about how your team will literally look next year. What do you have to tell us?

We’re fired up to announce that B. Draddy and Zero Restriction will be the outfitters for the 2026 United States Solheim Cup team. I’m thrilled. I can’t wait. B. Draddy is extremely high end. I’m looking forward to seeing the launch of their ladies’ fall line this year.

Zero Restriction kind of speaks for itself. They’ve been keeping people dry and warm for a long time. They’ve done Presidents Cups. They’re very familiar with our team aspect. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to work with them.

Q. I know the last couple years you kind of let Stacy and the team handle the uniforms. What’s this been like this so far having to deal with that side of things?

It’s been a little difficult for me because usually I know what I want, but sometimes what I want and what it looks like aren’t the same thing.

Fortunately I’ve had Paula’s help quite a bit. Paula has been a life saver in this, not only because Paula has fashion sense and I do not. She’s been helpful there. But she’s also a player.

The things that we’ve talked about, of course we want to look good. I want more of a classy, very simple look. But Paula and I are on the same page when it comes to the functional aspect of it. You have to be comfortable out there, but you also — you can look good and be comfortable at the same time.

Q. You were up at the ANNIKA last week. We’ve had so many different winners on the Tour this year, 28, a good number of Americans, a number of strong players coming up for you. How are you feeling about the makeup of the U.S. Team as we now look to wrap this ’25 season?

I love it. I think there are a number of different ways this could go next year. I think we could have a very similar team. We could also have some new parts, new people, new players, and I love it either way.

I think our mentality, our mindset is going to be the same. We understand we have a huge challenge going over and playing in Europe, and I think that’s been the fun part for me right now is to start talking to the players about things that I think are important and just preparing them for what I want and what I expect of them in the off-season.

I feel like I might be a little bit different in that respect. I don’t really remember captains asking things from me in the off-season. But I just think there are things that we can work on all the time, and I think our mentality is going to matter when we get there, and I think you can train those things. I think you can work on things, so that way when you get there it’s not one big surprise.

I’ve loved it. I’ve loved seeing them the last couple days. Saw a couple players today. Everybody seems to — early on when I saw them, we saw each other in Boston, but there was a different vibe yesterday, at Pelican and then today.

I think thinking about going into next year, it’s back on their radar. So yeah, this is been nice to see everybody.

Q. Obviously you had so many experiences playing on Solheim Cup teams, now captaining and assistant captaining a few Solheim Cup teams. What were some of your favourite looks that you got to wear for the other captains you played for, or least favourite?

I keep things really simple. I think a lot of patterns on the bottom were never really for me. We had a couple years where we had some wild patterns on our skirts and pants. I’m not much of a pattern person.

I think if anything, people will think that I’m being very simple with our design, but at the same time, I want the ladies to feel like they’re comfortable and they’re going to go out there and people are going to talk about our play, they’re not going to talk about our clothes, in that respect where I think we’re going to do some things early in the week that they’re going to talk about our uniforms, and I can’t wait for that stuff to work its way in. When we get there, it’ll be a really cool aspect of the week.

Q. Your thoughts or your plans; are you going to take some people over as you think about your schedule for next year, to play the course, to have team bonding over in Europe? What are your thoughts about that?

I think we’re going to have a team event in the spring on the West Coast. If players want to go over and play Bernardus before, they’re more than welcome. I’m not going to ask them to do that. I understand their schedules are usually pretty packed, and they have a lot of things that they’re committed to.

If anything, I would hope that they would play the Scottish. I hope they would play AIG. I know they’re going to play AIG. But anything that — I feel like Bernardus has a Scottish links feel to it, so I’m going to encourage them to think about playing the Scottish if it’s not on their schedule.

If they want to go play Bernardus, I would love it. But I think I’ve seen it both ways, and I’ve done it both ways. Early on in my career, I went and played early in Sweden a couple times. I think it’s good to get your bearings and know where things are, but really when we get there, they’re going to be so focused on learning the golf course and playing that I think we’re going to get everything we need to out of those four days before.

Q. You said you do stuff just about every day as we approach the off-season here. You’re sending Christmas cards. How will you stay in touch over the next few months?

ANGELA STANFORD: I do this weird thing that — so I love texts and email and all that, but I love face to face. I love talking to people in person. I guess I’m old school in that.

I’ll probably send them a few videos. I did that early on to the core of our players on this team, just to — I don’t know, I think there’s something about sending a video to somebody and talking through it. I think you can read things. When you read an email you’re not really getting — I don’t know, it’s just different. I’ll probably send them a couple of videos.

I’m really going to dig into stats this off-season. Going to start thinking about how specific stats fit Bernardus, go hole by hole. I’m going to dive pretty deep into this and just see if we can find the perfect match when it comes to players for this golf course.

Q. Obviously we had a lot more wins last year by Americans with Nelly and Lauren, et cetera. This year not as many. We’ve seen the emergence of Japanese golfers in terms of winning. Obviously a lot of Americans have played really well but the wins haven’t been there like the past few years. Is that a concern at this point?

No, not at all. I’m very aware of the ebb and flow of seasons, Solheim years and non-Solheim years. I know they’re all trying as hard as they possibly can.

But I also knew when I was playing that when it became a Solheim Cup year, I wanted to win those years, but I was also trying to earn points to make a team. When you get into that mentality, you start seeing better finishes, whether they’re thinking about it or not. I always did personally.

But I’m not worried about it. I just think it’s kind of the ebb and flow, and people are in different stages of their life.

For Nelly, not many people have ever won that many in a year, much less in a row. That’s something that I can only imagine is really difficult to follow. I kind of felt for her in that everybody just expects if you can do it once, you should be able to do it again.

I think Nelly handled it really well this year. She played amazing all year. Winning is hard. Winning is really hard. Personally I think that shows; we had 29 different winners; is that right? 27 or 29. That shows how hard it is to win out here.

I’m not worried about the Americans.

Q. How big do you consider your core group? You mentioned core. And when you get out next year and start having little face to face run into, how deep doing go? How many players?

My core group this time was about six of them, and I just went off of how many had played three or four in a row. I think it’s important to keep those players together and keep them informed.

I think we’ll go to 19 or 20 to invite to the event on the West Coast, fittings, different things like that because this may be — this is just my personal take on this, but it’s not just about next year; it’s about growing an American team for years to come.

I always thought it was an honor to get invited to team events. I thought it was an honor to get emails from a captain. I thought it was a big deal.

Q. Back when you were younger?

I remember I went to functions in 2004 and 2005 for Nancy and I didn’t make that team, but I made ’07, ’09, ’11. I want these younger players that get invited to these things to want to be there. It’s a big deal to be there.

I think it’s a big deal to grow American golf. I love thinking that it’s not just about 2026. Yes, we would like to win and we want to put together the best team we can, but I also want the ’28 team to be good and I want the ’30 team to be good.

I feel like the more they can be exposed to Solheim Cup events, even just talking to them, hopefully it makes them want to make those teams and be a part of making American golf better and better on this tour.

Q. Do you feel like we’re in or approaching a bit of a transition period on the U.S. side of things?

I seem to think that every time. It seems like we keep getting to a point where we feel like, oh, this team is going to be way different. I think it just sneaks up on you. I don’t think it’s something that — now you think about it, you have Nelly, you have Megan, you have Kupcho, we’re going to have Angel, Yealimi played in ’21. All of a sudden it feels like this is a core group. You realize that you’re like, what happened to all those players — I think it just kind of sneaks up on you.

I think we thought that for ’23 there was going to be huge turnover, and I don’t think there was, and that just speaks to American golf.

I think the stronger we can get from 1 to 20 or 30 or 40, it never feels like we have a huge turnover.

Q. I just wanted to ask you, can you share a couple moments? You played in six Solheim Cups. Can you share what your most memorable moment might have been out there on one of those matches?

By far, 2015 in Germany. Every time I get the chance to say I got to beat Suzann, I like to say it because not many people got to beat Suzann. Just that whole Sunday, coming back in singles. We were down 10-6. It was the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history. That’s definitely the one that stands out.

Winning in 2007 in Sweden, that was kind of on the tail end of Annika’s historic career. We’re playing in Sweden again — we played in 2003 in Sweden and I was the one that got waxed by Annika in singles and they just drilled us in 2003 in Sweden, and that was Annika at the height of Annika’s career. Then to come back in ’07 and get to beat them in Sweden, I thought that was pretty cool. That was a tough week. It was cold and rainy. I thought Betsy did a great job of kind of keeping the team together.

I guess most of my memories come from away Solheim Cups.

Q. On the Saturday night before they make the singles matches, can you just tell us a little “Inside Baseball” about who wants to go out first, who wants to go out last? Based on what you know, what position do you think probably would get the most pressure as the day progresses on a Sunday?

It’s always kind of tough because it depends on — specifically that Sunday in Germany, we had to win them all. It also depends on what the score is, where the points are going into Saturday night.

If we need four points to retain or win the Cup, then we’re probably top loading, like let’s get those points and get it over with. I think the strategy is always — you always have an idea of where you want your players to be, but if we have a chance to go out there and clinch it quick, let’s just send them out and get it done.

I think it all kind of depends on where we stand Saturday night.

Q. Nerves: Six matches, what was your most nervous moment?

I think I was nervous, I remember, in Chicago, 2009. This is one of my greatest regrets, also. I was paired with Stacy Lewis, and we were standing there on the tee — I’m sorry, it was ’11. I was nervous in ’09 at Rich Harvest Farms, but ’11, and it was Stacy’s rookie Solheim, and we were deciding on who was teeing off first. I kind of just pushed Stacy to tee off first. That’s probably one of my greatest regrets is that I just did not hit that first tee shot.

Yeah, I was nervous there. I learned a lot there. I certainly did not step up to the plate, and like I said, it is one of my biggest regrets.

Q. We’ve got about 10 months left. You’re going to be asked this question, but, Solheim Cup players: Has there been any discussion at all about being paid for the services you perform in a week and this is overseas? You know what happened with the Ryder Cup players. Do you want to share any information about that?

Well, I think the beautiful thing about our players is that nobody has ever asked to be paid. Our ladies love it.

I think we understand being a part of the LPGA Tour, we understand what it means to act like a founder. How do you make the game better? Sometimes you don’t always get paid for that. But when it comes to Solheim, those ladies love showing up for it.

We get stipends that take care of our families and friends, and I think everybody that goes that week knows that it’s for something bigger than just ourselves. We’ve just never really talked about it. Nobody has ever really brought it up because it’s like, we’re getting to play for our country. We’re getting to play for each other. We’re getting to grow women’s golf. We’re getting to play on this wonderful stage. Everybody in the world is watching us. We’re getting some cool uniforms. We’re getting to — all the great things that come from that week.

Personally, I don’t think you can put a price tag on it. Then you would have to figure out, well, how much. So we’ve never talked about it.

Q. I think Stacy still gives you grief for that moment in 2011, right?

ANGELA STANFORD: I know.

Q. The last time the world saw you, you were on the first tee at the Ryder Cup. I know that you are a student of other leadership, other teams. What were some of the mental notes you made as you watched the Ryder Cup this year?

I really paid attention to the captains. I watched how they were moving. I’m very aware — and Stacy has helped me with this. Stacy has told me that I need to be more aware of when I’m just standing around and need to be aware of how I stand. So I watched the captains, watched the players.

I did talk to Paula and the other assistants afterwards. But more so with Paula in that there were things that I saw that I just want to make sure our team is aware of, just the way we handle ourselves. If things start going south, how do we react to that.

I did watch the American team all weekend, and I was also watching the Europeans, just trying to — anything I can learn to make us better, I’m trying, and that falls into that every single day. Every single day I’m trying to think of ways that we can give ourselves an advantage.

Q. It was a beautiful last couple days. You got to see a lot of golf. Overall, just again to wrap up, how excited are you for the opportunity you’ve got coming up next year in September?

I was just going to say, are you all sure you don’t have any more questions? I could sit here and talk about this all day. I literally could. I love it.

Q. When I looked up your resume, it said in 2024 you announced your retirement. Golfers don’t generally announce retirement, professional golfers. The question is are you officially retired? Did you announce that you were retiring? How does a pro golfer evolve into retirement?

I’m still working on that. I think for me personally, I use the word “retire” because in any mind, it was from the LPGA Tour, meaning I felt like I got to a point where — I think I could compete here and there, but I felt like I was doing a disservice to myself and this tour if I couldn’t give it everything I got for four days week in and week out. That’s me personally.

My life has changed quite a bit in the last couple years, so just off the course there were things that were more important, and that’s fine. I’m at an age where that’s okay.

I’d really, really — you never lose that competitive drive. I’m really, really trying to help grow the Legends Tour. I wish we had some more opportunities.

I love going out and competing there. That’s been awesome. So that competitive drive doesn’t go away.

But for me personally, I just out of respect for the Tour and the high level of golf, I just felt like it was time for me to move on, and I wanted to be Solheim Cup captain and I wanted to be — I’m kind of one of those all-or-none people, and I knew to win, to give ourselves a chance to win overseas, I have to be 100 percent committed to this. Honestly, I have not regretted that because it is going to take everything I have and everything we have to give it our best shot in Europe.

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Patrick Reed claimed the fourth DP World Tour title of his career with a composed four shot victory at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

Reed Delivers Under Pressure in Dubai

The American finished on fourteen under par to secure his first Rolex Series victory and become the sixth American winner of the Dallah Trophy. Reed showed patience throughout a testing final round, particularly on the front nine where he mixed eight pars with one bogey to reach the turn with his overnight lead trimmed to two.

Spain’s David Puig mounted an early challenge with three birdies from the eighth to briefly close the gap, but Reed steadied himself with a birdie at the par five tenth to maintain control of the contest.

Key Moments Shape Final Round

Momentum swung decisively on the back nine. Reed birdied the thirteenth as Puig dropped a shot on the same hole, restoring a four shot cushion with five holes to play. From there Reed played with authority, finding fairways and greens before parring his way home.

He finished five clear after Puig bogeyed the fifteenth, closing out a confident display to lift the Dallah Trophy for the first time.

Reed Reflects on Hard Fought Victory

“It has not fully set in yet,” Reed said. “Today was a lot harder than expected and I learned a lot about managing the round.

“I tried to protect the lead early and David made a great run, but my caddie reminded me it was time to go after it on the back nine. Once we made birdie at thirteen and he bogeyed, it was about staying patient and making no mistakes.”

Strong Supporting Cast on Leaderboard

Andy Sullivan recovered from a difficult start to finish birdie birdie and claim solo second place at ten under par. Julien Guerrier of France recorded his best Rolex Series finish in third at nine under after carding an eagle and two birdies.

Nicolai Hojgaard, Francesco Molinari and Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper finished a shot further back. Ricardo Gouveia, Marcus Armitage and Puig ended the week at seven under par, with Puig receiving a two shot penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the final hole.

Trophy Presentation and Distinguished Guests

Reed lifted the famous Dallah Trophy following the presentation ceremony led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The presentation party included senior figures from Dubai sport, government and tournament partners, alongside representatives from the DP World Tour and Dubai Golf.

South African amateur Christiaan Maas was also recognised with the Emirates Golf Federation Leading Amateur award.

Youth Golf and Creator Events Shine

Tournament celebrations began a week earlier with the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, which awarded World Amateur Golf Ranking points for the second year. Denmark’s Christian Hansen secured victory after a dramatic playoff on the Majlis Course.

Running alongside was the expanded Creators Dubai Desert Classic, bringing together sixteen leading sporting content creators. Canadian Mac Boucher won the gross title while England’s Temps claimed the net competition, earning both players a place in the tournament Pro Am.

Sustainability and Player Wellbeing in Focus

The 37th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic maintained its GEO Certified status, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable golf events. The Green Incubator Challenge returned in partnership with Deloitte, with UK based Notpla named winners for their seaweed based packaging solution.

The Mental Fitness and Recovery Zone also returned, offering players access to massage, breathwork and mindfulness services throughout the week.

Tournament Director Praises Week in Dubai

Executive Tournament Director Simon Corkill said:
“Congratulations to Patrick on a dominant and well deserved victory. He played outstanding golf all week and earned his place on the Dallah Trophy.

“We welcomed one of the strongest fields in our history and delivered an event that combined world class sport, family entertainment, sustainability innovation and player wellbeing. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027.”

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