win – Ultra Golfing

Aaron Rai’s stunning PGA Championship win was story about fathers and sons

admin — Sat, 30 May 2026 16:37:34 +0000

Aaron Rai’s long, winding journey to his PGA Championship win at Aronimink started, as so many unlikely stories do, with his parents and sacrifices.

Rai’s parents immigrated to England from India and Kenya. His father, Amrik, was an amateur tennis player who gave up his own dream of playing professional tennis to put golf clubs in Aaron’s hands at the age of four. Rai’s mother, Dalvir, worked multiple jobs to help the family cover membership and tournament fees.

Amrik knew very little about golf but observed his son’s natural swing, set out to teach himself the mechanics of the game, and created an environment where Rai could grow at his own pace. When he was 7, Rai was gifted a set of Titleist 690 MB irons by his father. Amrik cleaned those irons with a pin and baby oil to prevent rust. When they weren’t being used, they were protected by iron covers, which Rai still uses to this day as a nod to his upbringing. Rai mostly practiced with his father growing up. He played on a customized course with his dad that grew in length as he did. He didn’t play off ladies’ tees until he was 12. He and his father were building toward something. That environment Amrik created made Aaron Rai comfortable being Aaron Rai, playing how he played and doing things his own way, believing they’d lead him to where he wanted to go.

“I think my dad played a really big role in that. For the most part, it was just the two of us who used to go onto the golf course and practice together, probably up until I was 13 or 14,” Rai said after winning the PGA. “So I think he was very much an advocate to really just stay in your lane, focus on the things that you can do. And I didn’t really mix with a lot of other junior golfers, which didn’t give me a perspective of what was normal. So I think he kind of sheltered me to be able to develop in a way that made sense for me, in a way that I guess was a little bit unique with two gloves, with iron covers, et cetera.

“I think by the time he probably allowed me to play more kind of club golf, play professional golf, I felt like I was strong enough in why I did certain things to be able to continue to move that forward. I knew the reasons why I do them. I believe in the reasons why I do them.”

Rai’s PGA Championship win resonated because he’s different. In a sheltered world of privilege, Aaron Rai ascended the professional golf ladder with humility, grace, and kindness. As players left Aronimink after Rai had blown past them, they were all thrilled that Rai was the one who had bested them — that one of the best people on the PGA Tour now had a career prize.

“You won’t find one person on the property who’s not happy for him,” Rory McIlroy said.

What has endeared Aaron Rai to his peers, those who work at the PGA Tour and now golf fans at large, was imprinted on him by his parents at a very young age. The humbling nature of golf has only reinforced what Rai has long believed: That being a good person is more important than putting the ball in the cup.

“I think a lot of that has come from upbringing, my mom, my dad, my siblings,” Rai said. “Golf in itself is an extremely humbling game. There’s so much hard work and discipline that goes into acquiring the skills to become better, but you also realize that nothing is ever given in this game at any point, whether it’s a tournament, whether it’s a practice round, whether it’s even away from a tournament week. All of these things have to be done diligently and require focus.

“It’s very humbling as well. So I think you put all of that together, the game requires the focus and attention, but the humility just goes hand in hand with the game and my upbringing as well.”

Rai’s road to becoming one of the biggest longshot major winners in recent memory started with his working-class parents in Wolverhampton. His dad walked many miles of that journey alongside, believing a moment like the one that unfolded outside Philadelphia would come.

But as it turns out, his father missed his winning moment. Amrik loves to travel around the U.K. in his camper and had fallen asleep before Rai had finished running away from the best players in the world.

“He was actually asleep,” Rai said on “5 Clubs.” “He’s got a camper van and he loves being out in that and traveling around the U.K. in his camper van. Also, with the time difference that was there, he had actually fallen asleep for the last hour, hour and a half of that round. So when I got back into the clubhouse after finishing, I tried calling him. But it didn’t go through, and I figured he was asleep.

“I just left him a voicemail to just say thank you more than anything else.”

As Aaron Rai basked in the glow of his major championship victory, he was asked to reflect on the sacrifices his parents made to get him to that point, and on the working-class upbringing that helped shape a different kind of major champion.

He started to become emotional as he thought about how his parents had boosted him up on their shoulders, as all good parents do for their children.

“It’s probably hard for me to really express everything that I feel towards them. I think I’ll get way too emotional to speak,” Rai said. “Starting with my dad, he was with me every day that I went to practice from the age of 4, 5 years old. He actually quit his job and started to focus on my golf from a really young age. I used to read a lot about golf. He used to obviously be really active in everything he did with me around the game. My mom has been absolutely incredible as well. She works extremely long hours to just provide for the house really, especially with my dad also not working as much.

“Obviously, I would love to share this with them. It would be amazing if they were here. I can’t put into words how much they’ve done in terms of the support, in terms of the care, in terms of love. Again, I wouldn’t be here without them at all.”

Later in the evening, with his champion’s duties finished, Rai tried his father again. This time, he answered.

Source link

Here’s everything a PGA Tour win gave Matt Fitzpatrick’s brother Alex

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:43:13 +0000

Matt Fitzpatrick will collect a check, but really, Alex Fitzpatrick will emerge from this week’s Zurich Classic as the winner.

You needed only to watch the scene on the 18th green on Sunday evening at the Zurich Classic to know that was true. It was there, on the 18th, that the Fitzpatrick Brothers emerged victorious after a glorious mid-range sand-shot from elder brother (and U.S. Open champ) Matt. And it was there, on the 18th, that Alex realized the fulfillment of his greatest life dream.

“Yeah, I’m still lost for words,” Alex Fitzpatrick said afterward, still gobsmacked. “Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness. Like Matt said, at the start of the week it was coming here to be a family and spend time with each other, eat Mr. B’s, and have a great week. To be sitting here now and done what we did, yeah, I’m pretty speechless.”

If you wanted to know why Alex Fitzpatrick was speechless, the trophy celebration didn’t provide all the answers. You see, his win was bigger than just a title at a PGA Tour event, and bigger than a winner’s check. By winning at the Zurich, the younger Fitzpatrick also clinched a series of career-altering perks, which we list in their entirety below.

What Alex Fitzpatrick really won at the Zurich Classic

1. A PGA Tour card

The biggest and most significant benefit of Alex Fitzpatrick’s victory is PGA Tour status. By virtue of a winner’s exemption, Alex earned full PGA Tour status through the end of 2028, giving him the rarest gift in pro golf — job security — for the next 18 months.

2. A PGA Championship invite

Hopefully Alex hadn’t planned out his spring break for the second week in May, because those plans went up in smoke the second his final putt hit the bottom of the cup. Fitzpatrick earned an invite into the PGA Championship at Aronimink with his win, giving him his second career major championship start, following only the 2023 Open Championship.

3. A Players Championship invite

Thanks to his victory on Sunday, Fitzpatrick will also play in the PGA Tour’s flagship event next March at TPC Sawgrass.

4. Signature Events!

If you’re a player with $3 million in career earnings and you’re hoping to multiply your bank account, the Tour’s $20 million Signature Events series is a pretty good place to start. Fitzpatrick will have the chance to do exactly that over the coming months thanks to the Signature Events invites he received on Sunday evening. Fitzpatrick will spend the rest of his 2026 teeing up in some of the most lucrative events in golf, including the Cadillac Championship, Truist Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.

5. $1,375,000

Fitzpatrick’s win wasn’t just about money, but it was a little bit about money. He’d won $3 million in his career as a pro prior to Sunday’s victory, and he won nearly half of that total on Sunday evening, adding $1.375 million to his career earnings with the win.

Source link

RORY MCILROY: “IT’S JUST REALLY DIFFICULT TO WIN THE MASTERS”

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:25:28 +0000

Speaking to the media just minutes after reclaiming the Green Jacket, Rory McIlroy reflects on his week at Augusta and discusses how he is reassessing his future goals in light of his return to winning majors

Last year you completed the career grand slam, and this year became the fourth player to defend your title. Could you share your emotions after going back-to-back?

RORY McILROY: I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the grand slam, and then this year I realised it’s just really difficult to win the Masters. I tried to convince myself it was both.

Yeah, just incredible. I obviously did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. I don’t think I would have believed anyone if they said to me all you have to do is shoot even-par for the weekend and you’ll win. I definitely thought I was going to need to go out there and at least shoot a couple of under-par scores.

Yesterday [Saturday], I felt the golf course was gettable pretty much all day, but today [Sunday] the wind was up a little bit. It was gusty. It made things definitely a little more tricky, especially on the back nine.

I just had to hang in there. I did a decent green session on Saturday night and tried to figure a couple of things out, and I definitely hit my irons better today. I think I struck the ball better today overall, which was good to see, but I still needed to rely on my short game those last few holes. The up-and-down on 16 and the up-and-down on 17 were huge.

I was just delighted to be able to get it done. Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow if I wasn’t able to get myself over the finish line.

Can you just take us through what you were trying to do with the tee shot on 12, and if that was the line you were going for, and what club you hit?

The wind was in off the left. I played a practice round with Tom Watson in 2009, and he said to me on the 12th tee he always waited until he felt where the wind should be and then just hit it as soon as you can.

So that’s what I did. The wind was all over the place. When I stood up on the tee, it felt like it was off the right, and I looked at the 11th flag, it was blowing right to left. But I was patient, and I waited to feel where the wind should have been coming from, and I knew it was just a perfect three-quarter 9-iron.

I aimed it at the middle of the bunker. Probably didn’t anticipate it to drift as far right as it did. That’s why you give yourself a little bit of margin for error. That was a really good golf shot at the right time and probably a golf shot I wouldn’t have been able to hit yesterday if I didn’t go to the range and try to figure a few things out and try to neutralize the ball flight a little bit. Yeah, it was an absolutely huge shot for me in the tournament.

What do you think this tournament and this golf course has taught you about life?

Maybe that good things come to those who wait. Just keep going. I find myself in a very similar position today to where I was in the last round last year, two or three behind, but I played solid golf after that.

I was 4-under for an 11-hole stretch there, which is what I needed to do to give myself that cushion going up the last. I just tried really hard to focus on myself. I thought that if I could get to 14-under everyone else would struggle to get to that score. So that was the number I had in my head. I got to 13 on the last and had that two-shot cushion.
I didn’t quite get there, but yeah, just keep going. Keep your head down and keep it going. If you put the hours in and work on the right things, eventually it will come good for you.

This game has such odd mystery to it. What is it about golf where a player is never exactly the same from one day to the next?

You have a lot of time to think. You’re out there a long time. There’s a long time between shots. There’s a long time between rounds.

Of all the big sports, I do think golf is the most mentally challenging. I think it’s hard to stay in the same mental space for four days in a row. I was in a great mental space, like say on the 13th tee shot, for example. All of my practice rounds up here, the weeks leading into it, Monday, Tuesday, great. I hit two left on Wednesday off the tee. Then Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I didn’t sniff hitting the fairway.

So, it’s just there’s little things that happen that just start to make you second guess things. It’s just very hard to stay in the right spot mentally for a long period of time.

How was it having your parents in attendance for this? How did that change the emotional experience for you today?

I caught myself on the golf course a couple of times thinking about them, and I was like ‘no, not yet, not yet’. Yeah, it’s really cool to have them here. They missed it last year, and the first thing I wanted to do was fly home to see them because I obviously wouldn’t be sitting up here if it wasn’t for them.

I had to convince them to come this year because they thought the reason I won last year was because they weren’t here. I said on the putting green that I’m glad we proved that wrong, so they can keep coming as long as they want.

Given you had a six-shot lead after 36 holes and then were two shots behind with nine holes to play. You don’t like to make things easy on yourself.

Yeah. I used to make it easy back in my early 20s when I was winning these things by eight shots. No, it’s just it’s hard. It’s hard to win golf tournaments – especially around Augusta. You’ve had maybe a couple of runaway winners over the years, but it always seems to be a very tight finish at this golf course. I think it’s the nature of the course, it’s the nature of what’s at stake.

I walked into the dining in the locker room yesterday, and I sat with Shane [Lowry] and Tyrrell [Hatton], and they were both saying, ‘geez, like when we finished, we were like one or two behind, and then all of a sudden we’re seven behind’. And I said ‘Boys, there’s a long way to go. There’s a lot that can happen in a golf tournament over 36 holes or even 18 holes.’

I certainly didn’t think I was home and dry after Friday night, and I knew I still had lots of work to do. But I still thought I would need to shoot under-par to get the job done, but thankfully I did enough.

Can you just grade the different parts of your game throughout the week? Driving, irons, around the greens, putting. I’m curious what is your conception of how you played versus how you think you could have played?

I felt like I didn’t drive the ball great. I drove it better today, but I would give my overall driving a B-minus. For three days my irons were really good, Thursday, Friday, and today I felt like I hit some better iron shots. Saturday was really poor, so I’d give that a B.

Then my scrambling and my short game and my putting, that’s what won me the tournament this week. Even the chip on 17 wasn’t that easy today. That was a really good chip shot. So, I’d give my short game and my putting an A-plus.

Can you explain the situation hitting balls Saturday night and what you were able to work out and how that might have helped you today?

My swing path was just getting a little bit too far to the right with every club in the bag, so I was just hitting too much of a draw. Then when the path is coming from that far inside, if you don’t keep your body moving at all, the ball is just going to go dead left.

So I focused on hitting quite a few cut shots; really trying to open up my lower body through impact. When I do that, it helps me stabilize the club face and start the ball more on line with more of a neutral flight.

That was really the feel that I tried to get last night, and that was the feel I brought into today. Starting at the 1st hole, I hit some much better iron shots.

What were your conversations like with your caddie, Harry, today, especially coming up 18 after your tee shot?

There wasn’t really much to say. I think we were both just hoping that my ball wasn’t in a really bad spot or behind a tree. I was just hoping that I had a swing. No, it was pretty quiet out there. It was pretty tense. After the double-bogey on six we were just sort of talking try to get back to even-par for the day after nine. He was trying to encourage me, telling me there’s plenty of time left, just try to keep hitting fairways and greens.

There wasn’t a ton of talk out there. I think we both knew what we needed to do. I just needed to step up and execute.

You were pretty open last year after you won about taking some time to really soak it in before getting back to the grind. Is this going to be the same or different, do you think?

I think different. I said at the start of the weekend here I felt like the grand slam was the destination, and I realised it wasn’t. I’ve just won my sixth major and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body.

I don’t want to put a number on it, but I feel like this win is just a part of the journey. I still have things I want to achieve, but I still want to enjoy it as well.

I’ve waited so long to win the Masters, and suddenly I win two in a row. So, I still want to enjoy it. I’ve got a couple of weeks off before I go back to play competitive golf, but I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year post winning this tournament.

You’ve avoided number goals throughout your life, but you have said you would like to be considered the greatest European of all time. We’ll debate it forever, but how does it feel to at least be in that conversation now?

Yeah, like today I tie Nick [Faldo] for major wins, so there’s obviously going to be that conversation, and that debate is going to be hard. But it’s a cool conversation to be a part of.

Again, it took me 10 years to win my fifth major, and then my sixth one’s come pretty soon after it. I’m not putting a number on it, but I certainly don’t want to stop here.

I just wonder if you can compare and contrast in the moment the emotion last year versus this year of winning here. Not just the moment you won, but the process of trying to win.

It felt similar. I felt like I was a lot more controlled over the last few holes. I made really good swings, hit some good tee shots, hit the 17th fairway for the first time this week, which was a good swing, which I needed to do. Once I got that ball up-and-down from the back of 16, I just said to myself on the 17th tee, I just need four more good swings. I made one, but somehow I got it done.

In the moment, I think when the ball trickled by the cup on 18 and I marked it there from two inches or whatever, I just looked at the back of the green, and I give it one of these because I saw my mum and dad and Erica and Poppy, and I was just like I can’t believe I’ve just done it again. I wasn’t as emotional as I was last year, but just, wow, it’s amazing. I can’t believe I did it again.

You were behind Cameron Young early on and then you were behind Justin Rose, and then you had Scottie Scheffler breathing down your neck. Was there any point today when you felt like you might have let this one slip away?

I don’t know if it ever felt that way. I think, if I hadn’t birdied the 7th and 8th holes, that I would have started to have to push a little bit. But I think the birdies on 7 and 8, Justin bogeying 11 and 12, I and then me birdieing 12, I never felt like I was out of it. I never felt like I had to press at all.

I knew that there was some important shots coming up, but I really just felt, okay, if I just don’t make any bogeys, if I just sort of limit the mistakes over these next few holes, knowing with how the back nine of the Masters goes and people are inevitably going to make a couple of mistakes here and there, I felt like if I was the one not to make the mistake, then I would be in a good spot.

It was stressful to watch, but you didn’t look all that stressed or flustered yourself. What was the moment of greatest stress during the final day, and how did you get through that moment?

I’d say walking off the 18th tee not knowing where my ball was. I think that was the moment of greatest stress. It could go anywhere. It could be anywhere.

There were a few others. I thought my second putt on 11 was huge to avoid making bogey there. That green, I felt, was a lot slower than the rest of the greens this week just because it was new and definitely different characteristics in terms of the slopes of that green are so different than what it used to be. Cam and I both left our putts short there, but I held a really good second putt, which was a big point in the day, I felt.

You talked so much coming into this week about your preparation. I’m curious if this is the most prepared you feel you’ve been before a major championship and what you can take from your prep for this that you’re going to try to implement moving forward?

I joked last week and going into this week that this place feels like my home course. I haven’t played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks really. I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss. I’m pretty comfortable with all the shots around the greens.

Yeah, I think it’s a good blueprint, but I’m not going to take three weeks off before every major. It’s important to get to the major venues early, do your preparation, play. And not just play and look at things, but actually play. Go out there with one ball, shoot a score, and try to do it that way.

When I’ve talked to Jack Nicklaus over the years how he prepared for majors, and he would go the week before, and he would simulate a tournament. He’d play one ball for four days, shoot scores. So then when he got to the tournament, it felt second nature to him. I did a little bit of that leading up to here, and I think that’s certainly a good way to prepare going into the next majors.

Source link

WHO WILL WIN THE 90TH MASTERS? – Golf News

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:58:22 +0000

The Masters Tournament is more than just a golf event — it’s a rite of spring, a celebration of golfing tradition, and one of the most anticipated sporting occasions of the year.

As we enter Masters Week, the betting landscape is heating up, with punters and fans eager to place their wagers on who will slip into the coveted Green Jacket at Augusta National.

Held annually at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, The Masters was founded in 1934 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. Since then, it has become the first major of the golfing calendar and arguably the most revered. From the pristine azalea-lined fairways to the legendary Amen Corner, Augusta’s setting is as much a part of the Masters mystique as its champions.

Betting on the Masters has long been a popular pastime, with markets ranging from outright winner and top-five finishes to more niche bets like hole-in-one props or leader after each round. The drama, the course’s unpredictability, and the star-studded field combine to make it a punter’s paradise.

PAST CHAMPIONS: LEGENDS OF THE GAME

Some of golf’s greatest names have triumphed at Augusta. Jack Nicklaus holds the record with six Masters titles, while Tiger Woods famously secured his fifth in 2019, cementing one of sport’s greatest comebacks.

More recent winners include Hideki Matsuyama (2021), Scottie Scheffler (2022/2024), Jon Rahm (2023), and last year’s champion, Rory McIlroy, who completed the major career grand slam in nerve-jangling style, each showcasing a mix of composure, strategy, and brilliance required to tame Augusta.

THE 2026 BETTING FAVOURITES

As the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club approaches, the betting landscape is taking shape with key players emerging as frontrunners. Defending champion Rory McIlroy leads the pack following his stirring and long-awaited victory 12 months ago. With the proverbial monkey now off his back, the Northern Irishman will be able to play without the added pressure, and a freewheeling approach may spur him onto to further major success.

His form coming into the event is nothing to write home about, but the 36-year-old is gearing his seasons around peaking for the major championships these days, so it would be no surprise to see him return to the form that made him such a force last year.

Two-time Masters champions Scottie Scheffler, who currently heads the betting market at 11/2, will be driving down Magnolia Lane with similar question marks over his current form, with the world no.1 having failed to add a ‘W’ to his CV this year, although three top-five finishes from six events still point to a player primed to raise his game on the world’s biggest stage this week.

Other notable contenders include 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm, who has been enjoying some good results on LIV Golf League this season, although it remains to be seen whether his move to LIV Golf will impact his effectiveness to compete in the major championship.

Big-hitting Ludvig Åberg is also drawing attention in the Masters betting markets, reflecting his rising prominence in the golf world and his great showing in his first visit to Augusta National in 2024, weeks here he finished second, and his seventh-place effort last year. His failure to register wins from promising positions this season may put some punters off from investing in the 26-year-old Swede, but he clearly has the game to thrive around Augusta’s twists and turns.

Scottie Scheffler will be bidding to win his third green jacket this week after wins in 2022 and and 2024 (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

FINAL THOUGHTS

As always, betting on the Masters should come with a blend of passion and caution. Augusta is a course that rewards experience but isn’t afraid to yield to rising stars. Whether you’re backing a seasoned veteran or a breakout rookie, the 90th Masters promises high drama, unforgettable moments, and perhaps a big win for those who read the field just right.

SELECTED BETWAY ODDS

Scottie Scheffler 11/2

Bryson DeChambeau 10/1

Jon Rahm 10/1

Rory Mcllroy 11/1

Xander Schauffele 12/1

Ludvig Aberg 14/1

Brooks Koepka 33/1

Tommy Fleetwood 18/1

Matt Fitzpatrick 18/1

Justin Rose 25/1

Robert MacIntyre 25/1

Collin Morikawa 25/1

Hideki Matsuyama 28/1

Patrick Reed 33/1

Jordan Spieth 40/1

Viktor Hovland 40/1

Full odds can be found at Betway

Source link

Gary Woodland’s emphatic Houston Open win came with emotional message

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:44:12 +0000

Gary Woodland has dealt with more than his share of stressful situations. His back nine on Sunday wasn’t one of them.

By the time he made the turn in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Woodland had stretched a one-shot lead to five and transformed his afternoon into a stroll through Memorial Park — even if it didn’t feel like that.

“It felt a lot closer than five in my head, I can tell you that,” Woodland said after his win.

All that remained was a victory march — punctuated by the deep breaths that have become a central part of his routine — that carried him back to the winner’s circle for the first time since his U.S. Open triumph at Pebble Beach nearly seven years ago.

“Anybody that is struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up,” a choked-up Woodland said moments after his final putt dropped.

“It’s just another day, right, that I’ve got to keep healing. Today was a good day. But I’m going to keep fighting. I’ve got a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud of myself right now.”

“I wasn’t alone today.”

Gary Woodland gets emotional talking about what this day means to him and the people who support him.
pic.twitter.com/imRTPG78Xl

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) March 29, 2026

The emotional release was the latest unburdening for a 41-year-old who has battled demons fiercer than most Tour pros ever face. Two and a half years ago, Woodland was sidelined for four months after surgery to remove a brain lesion. Upon his return, he acknowledged feelings of fear and anxiety, a revelation that only hinted at the full depth of his struggles. Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, a more complete picture emerged when Woodland disclosed to Golf Channel that he’d been diagnosed with PTSD following his surgery, and that doctors had told him that in “an ideal world,” he wouldn’t be competing on Tour at all.

He’d soldiered on anyway, with modest results. In his last 55 starts before this week, the best he’d managed was a pair of top-10s — one of them a runner-up finish at last year’s Houston Open.

Through the lean times, Woodland stayed open about his struggles, a transparency that only deepened his bond with fans and elevated his standing among peers.

After a sluggish start to 2026, a T14 at last week’s Valspar hinted that something might be building. Central to Woodland’s return to form was a rekindled relationship with swing coach Randy Smith, whom Woodland first worked with in 2005. A business conflict ended their partnership. At his wife Gabby’s urging, Woodland had reconnected with Smith, who, Woodland said, got him to stop guiding the ball and swinging freely again. Heading into this week, he led the Tour in driving distance.

“Randy’s got me in a spot now, my game’s better than it’s ever been,” Woodland said.

“He’s more than a golf coach to me. He’s always been that way,” Woodland said Sunday of Smith. “I needed him for more than golf. He stepped up and he’s helped me get to this point right here.”

Gary Woodland began Sunday with a one-shot edge over Nicolai Højgaard and six over the third player in their group, Min Woo Lee, who had edged Woodland by a stroke at last year’s Houston Open. That lead doubled almost immediately when Højgaard bogeyed the first hole. From there, Woodland pulled away steadily, turning what could have been a tense afternoon into something closer to a coronation.

It wasn’t just the driver doing the work. Woodland navigated Memorial’s large, contoured greens without a three-putt all week. As he walked up the 18th fairway Sunday, his victory a mere waiting formality, his two playing partners stopped and applauded, with Lee amping up the atmosphere by urging the crowd to chants of “Gary! Gary.”

“I tell you what, we play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said.

When his final putt went down for par, Woodland raised his hands, looked to the sky, then fell tearfully into Gabby’s arms.

His closing 67 left him at 21-under, a tournament record, five shots clear of Højgaard. But not all victories are measured in strokes.

“Just thankful. I’m blessed to be able to chase my dreams, there’s no doubt about that,” Woodland said, sitting next to the trophy. “I know it’s hard, but life’s hard, right? Everybody’s battling something. I’ve told myself the whole time, I wasn’t going to let this thing in my head win. From when I was diagnosed with this thing on my brain, the whole thing was, I wasn’t going to let it win. Today was evidence of that.”

Source link

Chris Gotterup Credits the Biggest Change in His Bag, New Bridgestone Tour B X, for His Second Win of the Season

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:11:53 +0000

VeloSurge Technology Powers Gotterup’s Huge WM Phoenix Open Victory

Link to High-Res Imagery

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Bridgestone Golf staffer Chris Gotterup earned his second PGA Tour victory of the new season and fourth of his young career using the brand new Bridgestone TOUR B X with MindSet golf ball on Sunday at the WM Phoenix Open with a final round of 64 and 16-under-par total. The dramatic playoff victory marks Gotterup’s second win in less than a month (he won the Sony Open in January), making him the hottest player on the PGA Tour and the leader in 2026 FedEx Cup standings.

“This was another great highlight in my career, and I couldn’t have done it without Bridgestone and the new TOUR B X with MindSet” said the New Jersey native. “With the new TOUR B X, I’m getting max speed and distance off the tee, and total control when it matters most around the greens. As far as I’m concerned, this is the best golf ball I’ve ever played, and the sky is the limit for the rest of the season.”

Gotterup’s extraordinary play featured six birdies on the back nine and three on the front, allowing him to pass both Hideki Matsuyama and Scottie Scheffler on the way to victory. Gotterup was also fourth in driving distance for the week, third in shots gained approach, third in shots gained around the greens, and seventh in shots gained off the tee.

“We believe deeply in Chris’ ability, heart and competitiveness and knew he was destined for big things,” said Dan Murphy, president of Bridgestone Golf. “His ability to handle pressure and win against the best in the world is incredible to see from such a young player, and we’re thrilled that he’s doing it with our new TOUR B X golf ball and our 220 MB forged irons.”

The new TOUR B X golf ball is built with VeloSurge technology, delivering a seamless synergy between the mantle and core. The new material discovery features a denser mantle material pushing the Moment of Inertia (MOI) to bounds never seen in a golf ball for increased ball speed and distance. Testing with Bridgestone TOUR staff members Chris Gotterup and Jason Day, along with amateur players of varying swing speeds, produced average gains of 2.3 mph in ball speed and 8.7 yards in distance across the board, making the new TOUR B family the most exciting and advanced available today.

To learn more about the TOUR B family of golf balls (X and XS for over 105 mph swingers, RX and RXS for under 105 mph swingers) and start playing the right golf ball for your game, please visit bridgestonegolf.com and try Bridgestone’s online ball fitting tool.

About Bridgestone Golf

Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over four million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection, OTTO Autonomous Ball Fitting, and its V-FIT video ball fitting. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Jason Day, Kurt Kitayama, Boo Weekley, and Chris Gotterup. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.

Media Contact: Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

Source link

Kim earns first win in nearly 16 years – Golf News

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:59:46 +0000

Anthony Kim completed one of the most inspirational and improbable comebacks that professional golf has ever seen, out-dueling Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau to win the individual title at LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday.

After 12-1/2 years away from competitive play due to injuries and personal challenges, Kim returned in 2024 to join LIV Golf. He struggled early while trying to shed the rust and recapture the magic during his early years as a pro.

Thanks to his mantra of “1% better every day” determination, he’s shown dramatic improvement the last few months – and this week at The Grange, he completed the journey, proving that anything is possible.

Not only did Kim capture his first win of any kind in nearly 16 years, he did so while in the final group against two of the best players in the world who simply could not keep up with his iron play and hot putter.

“I’m very overwhelmed with this feeling right now,” said Kim, who began the week working out visa issues to get into Australia, then officially signed with 4Aces GC just before the tournament started.

“But my plan is to keep getting better and start winning some more trophies.”

Individual Top 10
1 (-23) – Anthony Kim, 4Aces (67-67-68-63)
2 (-20) – Jon Rahm, Legion XIII (68-63-66-71)
T3 (-17) – Bryson DeChambeau, Crushers (66-67-64-74); Tyrrell Hatton, Legion XIII (69-69-66-67); Peter Uihlein, RangeGoats (69-67-67-68)
T6 (-16) – Lucas Herbert, Ripper (71-65-67-69); Dean Burmester, Southern Guards (69-71-67-65)
T8 (-15) – Cameron Smith, Ripper (72-67-64-70); Sebastián Muñoz, Torque (69-67-69-68); Branden Grace, Southern Guards (71-64-69-69); Marc Leishman, Ripper (66-72-70-65)

Source link

Patrick Reed holds off chase to win Qatar Masters – Golf News

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:12:37 +0000

The American completed another impressive week on the DP World Tour as he added victory at Doha Golf Club to his recent success at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

After starting the final round with a two shot lead, he was forced to dig deep to finish on sixteen under par and hold off strong challenges from Calum Hill and Oliver Lindell.

Final round drama in Doha

An early wobble saw Jacob Skov Olesen birdie the first hole while the American dropped a shot at the second, quickly bringing the chasing pack into contention. Lindell soon joined the lead and briefly moved one ahead after a blistering start that featured six birdies and two bogeys before his first par of the day came at the ninth.

The Finn birdied the eleventh but momentum swung again as back to back three putt bogeys followed. At the same time the eventual winner found birdies at the tenth and eleventh to regain control of the tournament.

Olesen also remained in the hunt despite dropped shots at the third and fifth. Birdies at the ninth and tenth lifted him back to thirteen under, where he was joined by Lindell and Dan Bradbury after the Englishman picked up his fifth birdie of the day.

Earlier in the clubhouse Jayden Schaper had set the pace with a bogey free seven under par sixty five to reach eleven under, a mark later surpassed by Johannes Veerman who holed a long birdie putt at the last to post thirteen under following a closing sixty eight.

Hill mounts late charge

Hill produced one of the moments of the day when he chipped in for eagle at the tenth, then caught fire with four birdies in a row from the fourteenth. A superb tee shot over the water at the par three seventeenth moved him to fourteen under and within one of the lead.

He emerged as the main threat after Bradbury missed a short par putt at the seventeenth and Lindell ran into trouble on the fifteenth, resulting in a costly double bogey.

The Scot could not quite complete the comeback after finding rocks with his tee shot at the last and had to settle for par and second place on fourteen under, his second consecutive runner up finish following last weeks play off defeat in Bahrain.

Reed seals fifth DP World Tour win

The leader steadied himself with a birdie at the fourteenth and then chose a conservative line into the penultimate green, safely navigating the water hazard. A composed two putt for par there left him needing only a routine finish at the last to secure his fifth DP World Tour title.

Afterwards he reflected on another memorable week. He said the recent run of form with two wins and a second place finish felt incredible and that he could not have asked for much more from the start of the season.

He admitted the front nine had been a struggle but was proud of how he responded, trusting his putting and committing fully once he reached the back nine. Despite the pressure he felt confident in his game and believed the best could still be to come.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington marked his five hundredth DP World Tour appearance with a one under par seventy one to finish the week on five under, making it four consecutive rounds under par for the three time major champion.

Source link

NELLY KORDA INTERVIEW: REFLECTING ON FIRST WIN IN 2026

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:58:50 +0000

Nelly Korda reflects on brutal conditions, mental discipline and trust in her process after a weather-shortened victory, as she opens the season with confidence, and a new driver in the bag in one of the finest rounds of her career at Lake Nona.

Q. Nelly…Take us through the week.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I mean, Thursday, Friday were great. The weather was maybe getting a little bit windier on Friday but conditions were super nice.

We knew ten days before this or a week before this that Saturday and Sunday were going to be really tough, especially with the wind projection for Saturday afternoon and then the cold temps that it was bringing for Sunday.

So it was just kind of mentally prepare for it. Yesterday was probably one of my best rounds I’ve ever played in my career. Just really proud of everything that Jay and I went through to get to that point of the process, the mental clarity of my shots, and commitment to each one of them.

So overall, just really happy.

You know, Orlando threw lot at us in a few days.

Q. Take us through the process of when you got to the course and getting ready to hopefully go out there and competing today and finding out the news.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I was fully mentally preparing foregoing out and playing 18, battling for the win.

You know, it was definitely getting a little bit antsy just sitting in dining kind of waiting to see what was going to happen throughout the day.

I knew once the girls were going to go out and finish the third round I just wanted to get out and just start my routine no matter what happened.

So went to the gym, warmed up, and then went to the putting green, did my routine there, and then walked to the range. Was still very routine-oriented. I tried to get into the mindset, because a couple years ago I was three back with two to play, so I was trying to give myself the mindset like anything can happen; just go out and still stick to your own process.

Q. Another tournament for you and Jess to share, both winning the event. Just how special is it when those moments overlap?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it’s crazy. Super grateful for that, that we get to share the sport, all these memories together. Wish she was out here like I was for hers.

Overall, just grateful for this game bringing us closer together and sharing so many great things that we get to look back on.

Q. Kind of piggybacking on that, when your sister won here Mardy Fish also won the celebrity side. How cool is that that not only do you share the tournament win, but also Mardy Fish seems to be a good luck charm for the Kordas.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, Mardy is great. I’ve known him for so many years obviously with the tennis background. He played really well, too. He’s such a solid great golfer.

So, yeah, I actually didn’t know that, that he won that year and he won the same year I did. But overall, I love spending time with Mardy. We haven’t (sic) gotten to play a couple times together, but every single time we have shared the golf course together it’s been a blast.

Q. When was the last time you won a tournament without hitting a shot on the final day?

NELLY KORDA: Probably never. (Laughter.) I don’t think so. As I said, every win of mine is very interesting always. But, yeah, to answer that question, probably never.

Q. An unusual way of going about it, but just to get the year off with a win, especially after coming close but not being able to last year.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, golf is a game of centimeters. You know, there were so many times last year where I wished I had an inch here or a centimeter there where it would’ve changed the story completely.

That’s how it goes sometimes. As long as you are mentally 100% in it and preparing to your best ability, that’s all you can control at the end of the day; same with weather.

So I was so close. I played really well last year. Obviously didn’t get the win, but I played some amazing golf the first three days this week and I’m really proud of myself, my team, and all the work that we have put in when no one was watching and everyone was talking about it.

So just very happy to get the first win of the year, and hopefully that leads into a great year, too. No matter what, like I’m always going put 100% into it. With results, when it comes to sports, you just never know. The only thing you can control is the level and the input that you put into your craft and your sport. I will always be doing that.

No matter the results, I know that mentally I’m doing that every single day I step on the golf course, and that’s what I’m proud of.

Q. Congratulations, first of all.

NELLY KORDA: Thank you.

Q. So this is a game of centimeters. Is there anything over the first three rounds that you can look at that you feel you did better than on the whole of last year?

NELLY KORDA: I did a lot of good last year. Just kind of wasn’t going my way. I guess I was just so focused on being really present, which I told myself to do that last year, too. Maybe the outside noise did make its way in a little bit more than I wanted to.

I learned a lot from that. I actually — there are times where it’s like, okay I’m very grateful to go through the lows because they make me appreciate the highs so much and make me appreciate what I need to really pay attention to and what is actually relevant to me.

As long as my team knows who I am and that I’m putting 110% into it and they’re on the same wave length of putting 110% in it, that’s all that matters to me.

Q. With the celebrities out there playing were you surprised that you guys didn’t tee off earlier? Looking at the forecast tomorrow were you surprised that Monday wasn’t an option?

NELLY KORDA: Listen, I think the LPGA is always going to do what’s best for the players. When it comes to the internal decisions, I like to focus on myself and prepare for what’s to come with the information that I have at hand.

I know from a bunch of girls that were out there playing and practicing before, probably 110% came back in and were like what are we doing right now?

So at the end of the day, I mean, what we have on the line versus what the celebrities have on the line is a little bit different. I think the LPGA made the decision to look after their players, and at the end of the day we can’t do anything about that. All we can do is prepare with the information we are told.

Q. Kind of unique conditions out here that you don’t normally see in a professional tournament with the wind and cold.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. You said you played one of your best rounds ever yesterday. What does that do for where mental fortitude knowing you can overcome the tough conditions and still perform?

NELLY KORDA: In 2024 I played in some brutal conditions. I’ve played in AIG British Women’s Open where the conditions are brutal. You really have to lock in. The more you play in those conditions the more you learn to really have the word patience just constantly going through your mind.

You’re going to hit some bad shots that will end up really poorly. It’s all about — in those circumstances it’s all about finding your ball, hitting it again, finding it, hitting it again, and kind of then diverting to the mindset of, okay, let’s see what we can do here. What do we have at hand.

At the end of the day those situations make me very present and I have to really dial in to, one, my target and, two, just commitment to the shot. Like everything is just about being 100% committed. I’ve had shots where it’s perfectly sunny out, 80 degrees and I’m in between two clubs, and I’m not committed to one and I kind of fly it out to the right because I’m not committed to it.

That had to go out the window in those conditions. Even if it’s the wrong decision, you have to be 100% committed to it.

Q. Sharing that stage with Mardy Fish, you went back and forth with the trophy a little bit. Who gets to take it home?

NELLY KORDA: I don’t know. He said he already has one of them and I don’t, so I guess I would take it.

Q. When a win like this happens, does it feel like a weight has been lifted for the rest of the season, and how do you look at the rest of the season?

NELLY KORDA: No, not necessarily. Like I want to perform week in and week out. I knew that everything I was doing last year was good enough to win; I just didn’t win.

It’s all about just your commitment and your practice. Like if you give your craft 100% and you know that you’re prepared week in and week out, you’re giving yourself the best opportunity to perform.

At the end of the day like that’s what we can control and that’s what I’m going to try and control.

Q. Nelly, you pointed so much to your team as a credit for your success. What role did they play in helping you get the win this week?

NELLY KORDA: Just keeping me very grounded and patient. Jay and I are out on the golf course, and then Kim off the golf course. I think we all just make sure that the outside noise is outside noise and what we’re doing internally, just to stay committed to that and just to stay very patience because we are doing the right thing and checking the boxes correctly and when the time was right, it was going to happen.

Q. Did you feel a sense of pressure being lifted off just getting last year behind you, no longer having the title defenses, and having a fresh year here?

NELLY KORDA: In a sense maybe, yeah. You know, I’m always so excited to come out and tee it up against the best players in the world. The day I don’t feel that is going to be a very bad day for me.

Still, even last year, you know, title defense, obviously you have a little bit of added pressure to yourself, but there is something so fun and exhilarating about those moments. I’ve said it a couple times: There is nothing better than going down the back nine when you’re in contention and feeling the rush of emotions.

But in a sense, yeah, it does feel nice for it to be a fresh year. You can say that it’s a fresh month, too. Last year I could have been like, okay, it’s October 1st; whatever I did this year is behind me.

But it’s all just honestly just mindset.

Q. You never want to take too much for granted, but what was the mental shift when you heard it was not going to go 72, it was only going to go 54?

NELLY KORDA: I was fully preparing that I was going to go out and play 18 until I saw that e-mail and until I saw that it was going back to 54.

But then I still had the mindset — because in Bradenton, I was three back with two to play and I knew she still had a chance. You know, there has been some crazy things happen in the game of golf or in sports in general.

So still preparing for maybe playing a playoff, but I was still 100% trying to dial in mentally.

Q. Wanted to ask one more about outside noise. Where do you mostly hear outside noise and do you try to filter things out on social media or whatnot?

NELLY KORDA: I’ve definitely taken a step back from social media. There were weeks, especially last year, where I went like a month for without evening logging into my social media. Yeah, even if you don’t want to see it, it kind of still pops up. So I definitely unfollowed a lot of golf accounts. I have done that.

And I’ve just tried to — if I’m on social I try not to look at stuff. I think it’s just a distraction at the end of the day.

Q. Do you watch golf on TV?

NELLY KORDA: Rarely. No. And if I do — when I did it was always when Tiger played. So not really. I’ll watch the highlights now.

Q. Congratulations. I know this tournament has been one where you’ve won at this property before, not this event. You’ve had five Top 5s. How good does it feel to get this one knocked off the list finally?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it feels amazing. I’ve played some really solid golf out here. I’ve come close; just haven’t notched the victory.

But to play the golf that I played yesterday was, as I said, I think that’s one of my best rounds that I’ve ever played in my entire life.

To come out on top just feels amazing. To do that in front of my family and friends, fiance for the first time, was really special.

Q. Having him in the crowd, and I know you have such a happy life off the golf course right now, do you think that settles you? Do you really look at things like that?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, for sure. I love having him at events. I would say I’m a little bit of a hermit crab when I’m playing tournaments. I go to the golf course and I go to the hotel and maybe do I go out to dinner three times a week.

It’s nice. When my sister left and she got pregnant I think that was a really big mental adjustment for me not having my dinner buddy and having the person that I was so close to, so now I get to appreciate it when Casey comes out and weeks like this to have that — even if it’s in silence having a comfort there.

Q. What do you focus on when you play?

NELLY KORDA: Well, depends on the conditions. What do I focus on when I play? Usually Jason gives me three numbers. It’s the front of the green — well, actually a couple numbers, sorry.

The front of the green, the pin, and just over the green, and then we have a landing number. So when it comes to that, I focus in on my landing number, and then depending on the wind, if it’s left to right, right to left, I focus in on an exact target and keep it really simple.

NELLY’S NEW DRIVER

Nelly Korda played the same driver for over two years. In fact, she’s played that same driver head shape for eight years. So, why would she switch from something that helped her win 15 LPGA Tour titles and two major championships?

Simply put, the gains are real with Qi4D driver. In one start in 2026 with Qi4D, Nelly has one win (career win No. 16) after her dominant third round at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

“Immediately when I put this thing in the bag I loved it. It’s doing exactly what I want… having it under pressure on the golf course is what’s most important.” Nelly Korda

Source link

Patrick Reed likely locks up PGA Tour card for 2027 with Qatar win

admin — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:57:47 +0000

Just two weeks after leaving LIV Golf and declaring his intentions to return to the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed already appears close to locking up his card for the 2027 season.

On Sunday, Reed became the first American to win the DP World Tour’s Qatar Masters. The win, his second on the European circuit in three weeks, vaults Reed to the top of the Race To Dubai rankings. The top 10 players who are not already exempt on the PGA Tour receive cards at the end of the season. Reed won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic two weeks ago and lost in a playoff last week in Bahrain before hoisting the trophy in Qatar.

“This little run I’ve had, two wins and a second, it’s awesome,” Reed said. “We couldn’t ask anything more than what we did. It’s special to come out here, especially to get two wins early on in the season, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Two weeks ago, after his win in Dubai, Reed revealed that he was currently not under contract with LIV Golf and was still negotiating his return to the league. Three days later, Reed announced he was leaving LIV and planned to play on the DP World Tour in 2026 while he waited for his PGA Tour suspension, which lasts through the end of August, to end. He planned to use his past champions’ exemption to regain status. But with two wins and a playoff loss in his last three DP World Tour starts, Reed has already just about locked up a PGA Tour card for 2027.

The 2018 Masters champion currently has 2,259.70 points in the Race to Dubai. Last season, Jordan Smith finished 10th with 2,203.32 points. In 2024, Tom McKibbin, who eventually decided to forgo the PGA Tour to join LIV, finished 10th with 1,897.45 points.

Reed entered Sunday in Qatar with the lead, but early bogeys at No. 2 and No. 6 saw him drop from the lead. Reed steadied the ship on the back nine by making birdies at 10, 11 and 14 to eventually beat Callum Scott by two.

“It wasn’t looking very good there on the front nine,” Reed said. “To lose the lead like that and then to be able to kind of flip the switch there on the back nine obviously felt amazing. I just needed a putt to go in. I mean, I had 18 putts on the front nine; yesterday, I had 33 putts, so I felt like I was hitting the ball fine. I felt like right when we made the turn — you know, we were chasing at that point — I just decided to go for it and trust in the putter and trust in the process, and we were able to kind of get it done.

“I feel amazing. This one hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but today, with how stressful the day was, I was very proud because it very easily could have gotten away from me. The golf we’ve played since basically the offseason has been some stellar golf. I feel really confident in my golf game right now, and it’s always awesome to come and play the way we do, especially over here.”

With the win, Reed also moves into the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time since 2021. He is exempt into the Masters for life, but his position in the OWGR means he should be eligible to play all four major championships this season.

It has taken Patrick Reed all of three tournaments on the DP World Tour to likely secure his full-time PGA Tour card for the 2027 season.

But now sitting atop the Race To Dubai, Reed has his sights on becoming the first American to win the Race To Dubai since Collin Morikawa in 2021.

“It’s always on your radar,” Reed said. “Trust me, you’d rather be in the lead than hunting and chasing. It’s always been a dream of mine to be an American and come out here and win the Race to Dubai. And hey, we’re off to a fast start.”

Source link