Thursday 18 January 2024
This week’s HERO Dubai Desert Classic celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. We spoke to the Emirate Club’s Manager, Dean Nelson, to find out how it has changed Dubai golf. This year sees defending champ Rory McIlroy playing alongside some of the world’s biggest stars, all competing for the $9million prize pool at this prestigious DP World Tour Rolex Series...
Written by Rob Jerram on Monday 15 January 2024
The PGA Tour heads to California for the American Express with a star-studded field, but the defending champion won’t be there. Jon Rahm shot 27-under-par on his way to a one-shot victory over Davis Thompson in 2023 but, having defected to LIV Golf for huge money in the off-season, the Spaniard is ineligible having been suspended by the PGA Tour. World No.1...
Written by Rob Jerram on Monday 15 January 2024
Rory McIlroy is favorite to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for a fourth time as the DP World Tour heads to Emirates Golf Club for the first elevated Rolex Series event of 2024. McIlroy returns to the tournament as defending champion having beaten Patrick Reed by one shot last January thanks to a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole. It’s...
Written by Michael Catling on Thursday 11 January 2024
The DP World Tour has confirmed that Keith Pelley is to leave his position as Chief Executive to return to his native Canada. Pelley has agreed to become the new CEO and President of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), which owns multiple Toronto-based sports franchises. They include NFL’s Maple Leafs, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, and MLS side Toronto FC. Guy Kinnings will...
Written by Ross Tugwood on Wednesday 10 January 2024
As the newly revamped 2024 season tees off, Today’s Golfer reflects on what it takes to succeed on tour and the metrics that matter most. Merger mayhem, mega money moves, ‘Capgate’ controversy, and the battle to bifurcate – 2023’s off-course antics proved more turbulent than ever before. “Golf is a mess”, puts Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, as the PGA Tour’s reimagined calendar-year schedule...
Written by Michael Catling on Wednesday 10 January 2024
After nine years as CEO of The R&A, Martin Slumbers has announced he is set to leave his post at the end of the year. The 63-year-old, who also serves as the Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, will oversee The 152nd Open at Royal Troon and the return of the Women’s Open to St Andrews, before...
Written by Michael Catling on Tuesday 9 January 2024
Tiger Woods and Nike have ended their long-term partnership after 27 years, both parties have confirmed. Tiger announced that he was moving on to a new clothing sponsor in a statement posted on social media. “Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate enough to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” read the statement. “The days since...
Written by Will Shreeve-Peacock on Monday 8 January 2024
The PGA Tour stays in Hawaii for The Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club – the second event of the 2024 season. The Field | Who will win? | Tee Times After the first signature event of 2024 at The Sentry, Hawaii welcomes more PGA Tour talent to the islands. The Sony Open will see 144 players, far from the...
Written by Rob Jerram on Monday 8 January 2024
The first DP World Tour event of 2024 sees Rory McIlroy tee it up in the opening event of the International Swing – the inaugural Dubai Invitational. Jump to: Tee times | Leaderboard | Odds The four-time Major winner and reigning Race to Dubai winner sat out last week’s signature PGA Tour event The Sentry to headline the field at Dubai Creek...
Written by Rob Jerram on Friday 5 January 2024
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has responded to Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman admitted he was “too judgmental” of players who joined the Saudi-backed tour. Norman and McIlroy have often traded verbal blows since LIV’s launch in 2022, but the Australian was quick to praise the four-time Major champion for his comments in an in-depth interview with the ‘Stick to Football’...
Written by Rob Jerram on Wednesday 3 January 2024
The first PGA Tour event of 2024 sees some of the biggest names in golf head to Hawaii for The Sentry – the first of the season’s eight signature events. Formerly known as The Sentry Tournament of Champions, a reduced field of 59 players will battle it out for the £15.9 million ($20m) purse across the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui. Defending...
Written by Rob Jerram on Wednesday 3 January 2024
Rory McIlroy admits he’s been too judgemental of players joining LIV Golf and now accepts the Saudi-backed Tour. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, the four-time Major champ revealed he’s never received an offer to join LIV as he covered a huge range of topics, including his hopes of winning...
Written by Michael Catling on Thursday 14 December 2023
After months of rumors and denials, Jon Rahm sent shockwaves through the golfing world by signing a £450 million deal to side with the Saudis. But what does LIV’s latest powerplay mean for the PGA Tour and Jay Monahan, and how will it impact the framework agreement and the future of professional golf? All your burning questions are answered here… What the...
Written by Rob Jerram on Tuesday 12 December 2023
Masters champion and golf legend Fred Couples wants players to be honest and admit they’re joining LIV Golf for the money. The 64-year-old says he’s sick of players leaving the PGA Tour, where he’s won 15 times, to join the Saudi-backed tour and then claiming they’ve moved because “it’s a great product”. “I want to see the next superstar say, ‘You know...
Written by Michael Catling on Friday 8 December 2023
Masters champion Jon Rahm has joined LIV Golf, pocketing £450 million to become the world’s highest-paid athlete and the Saudi-backed tour’s biggest signing. We break down the Ryder Cup star’s move, the reaction, and what it means for the future of men’s professional golf. The World No.3’s defection from the PGA Tour – understood to be worth a staggering £450 million...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 6 December 2023
In an exclusive extract from his new book, LIV and Let Die, Alan Shipnuck shares the views of tour pros who have had enough of Rory McIlroy. As Rory and Tiger have further emerged as the faces and voices of the Tour, they have evoked the activism of Jack and Arnie when the Tour was born of rebellion in 1968 as...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 6 December 2023
In an exclusive extract from his new book, LIV and Let Die, Alan Shipnuck explains why LIV Golf players don’t appear on the Golf Channel and why Patrick Reed only started filing lawsuits once he’d left the PGA Tour. During these tumultuous times, no member of the media has provoked stronger feelings than Chamblee, the Golf Channel analyst. “He has to...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 6 December 2023
In an exclusive extract from his new book, LIV and Let Die, Alan Shipnuck reveals the drama that went on behind the scenes at the 2022 Open in St Andrews. A consensus began to build among the Tour’s leading men: They needed more money, of course, but the product would have to be refreshed. A bedrock principle in the Premier Golf...
Written by Rob Jerram on Wednesday 6 December 2023
In an explosive and exclusive interview about his new book, LIV and Let Die, author Alan Shipnuck talks about Tiger Woods’ car crash, the future of tour golf, player greed, beef with Justin Thomas, and much more. When Alan Shipnuck filed the final copy of his latest book, LIV And Let Die, on June 5, he was a relieved man. He’d...
Tuesday 28 November 2023
The DP World Tour’s Opening Swing continues in South Africa, but will a sixth consecutive South African lift the trophy? The South African Open is one of the oldest National golf championships in the world, dating back to 1903. It remains one of the most prestigious events on the South-African-based Sunshine Tour and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, kicking...