Friday, July 24 – 9am Lucas Herbert breaks course record in LIV opening round
Fresh from a sixth-place finish at the Open Championship, Lucas Herbert fired an 11-under-par 61 to take a three-shot lead after the opening round of LIV Golf UK.
The Australian broke the JCB Golf and Country Club course record by one shot at Rocester, England, when he birdied No.16, but settled for pars on 17 and 18 to short-circuit his bid to break 60.
Friday, July 24 – 8am: This is it. This is the most brutal hole-in-one robbery we’ve ever seen.
We’ve seen countless of almost aces over the years. Heck, probably thousands. We’ve seen ricochets and bad bounces. We’ve heard the crack of the flagstick more times than we can count. But we don’t think we’ve ever seen a hole-in-one robbery quite as brazen – quite as cruel – as the one Jake Knapp experienced at the 3M Open on Thursday (AEST). Viewer discretion advised.
In the immortal words of Elaine Benes: I am speechless. I am without speech. The ball seemingly was half down before somehow spinning its way back up the flagstick and out. It fooled the gallery, who let out a mighty roar that quickly became a sickening groan. It fooled the broadcast, who could only stammer, “how is that possible?” We’re guessing it even fooled Knapp himself, at least for a moment. Kick-in birdies on the PGA Tour are never a bad thing, but when it’s this close to the alternative – the BIG kahuna – even an easy two stings. – Coleman Bentley
Friday, July 24 – 7am: Sungjae Im’s sweater game just put Jason Day on notice.
Ever since Day donned a sweater vest too loud for Augusta National, he has been the reigning king of golf knitwear. On Thursday at the 3M Open, however, a new challenger stepped into the throne room. Ladies and gentleman, we give you Sungjae HIM.
Maybe you love it. Maybe you’re shouting “SHRINK!” between huffs into a paper bag. Either way, I think we can all agree it’s a heck of a flex, especially for a guy outside of the FedEx Cup top 50. We’ll see if the two-time PGA Tour winner can cash the cheques his sweater is writing this week at TPC Twin Cities, but if not, things could get Sungjae GRIM (sorry, sorry, we had to).
– Coleman Bentley
Friday July 24 – 6am: Charley Hull was putting for birdie … she made a 9.
In case you needed more links golf in your life, the LPGA is across the pond for the next two weeks with the Women’s Scottish and British Opens. Charley Hull is likely wishing that she had a lot less links golf in her future right now.
At the par-5 fifth at Dundonald Links on Thursday night (AEST), Hull had about 15 feet for birdie to get back to level par. She walked off the green with a NINE. True story. It has to be seen to be believed:
Incredibly, Hull had nearly the same putt for nine as she did for birdie, and she was able to hole it to avoid a dreaded 10. That took some serious guts. It also took guts to play the rest of the round in just one over par, Hull finishing with a six-over 78. Certainly not how you want to kick off these next two weeks, but it’s only up from here. – Christopher Powers
Thursday, July 23 – 9pm: A trusted LIV Golf insider claims uncertainty surrounding the league’s financial future has prompted multiple players to begin plotting exits, with some eyeing pathways back to the PGA Tour.
Fresh questions have emerged over LIV Golf’s long-term future after respected insider Tom Hobbs, better known by his X (formerly Twitter) account Flushing It Golf, claimed seven players have already decided to leave the Saudi-backed circuit at the end of the season.
According to Hobbs, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil held a meeting with team captains at JCB Golf & Country Club following the recent news that the Asian Tour had joined golf’s new global pathway system. Captains were reportedly told there remains interest from potential investors, but Hobbs said the lack of concrete information has done little to reassure players.
“Captains were assured there is interest from potential investors, but the lack of details has done little to calm nerves,” Hobbs wrote.
He added: “Seven players have told me directly they plan to leave the league after the season finishes, regardless of whether LIV Golf finds funding.”
According to Hobbs, younger LIV players increasingly see the route taken by Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra as the blueprint for returning to the PGA Tour. Both have used the DP World Tour as a pathway back towards PGA Tour membership, while veteran players are instead focusing on preserving eligibility for PGA Tour Champions, following the path Pat Perez is expected to take.
The recent decision to integrate the Asian Tour into the global pathway system has also reportedly changed the thinking of several lower profile LIV players. Many already hold Asian Tour status through The International Series, giving them another avenue towards the DP World Tour and ultimately the PGA Tour.
One anonymous LIV player told Hobbs: “I have to look after myself and my career. Every year I play on LIV is another suspension. I can play the next few events and make as much money as I can and then play in Asia and get DP invites. I could be on the PGA Tour in two years if I play well.”
Hobbs believes the past seven weeks represented a critical period for LIV Golf as it sought fresh investment to secure its future, but claims little meaningful progress has been made. “The last seven weeks were imperative for the future of the league and there appears to be no substantial progress on securing investment,” he wrote. “Officials are talking positively, as they always do, but without an investor officially signing and releasing funds, it means nothing. Players are, rightfully, making alternative plans to secure the future of their careers.”
While LIV Golf has not publicly commented on Hobbs’ claims, the report comes at a pivotal time for the breakaway league. Despite continuing to attract marquee names and stage events around the world, uncertainty remains over its long term funding model and what a potential investment deal could mean for the circuit’s future.
If Hobbs’ reporting proves accurate, the prospect of players beginning to leave voluntarily rather than simply reaching the end of lucrative contracts would mark a significant turning point for LIV Golf, with the coming months potentially shaping the next chapter of professional golf’s ongoing divide.
Thursday, July 23 – 11am: The hits just seem to keep coming for LIV Golf.
On Tuesday, the circuit lost a partner in the Asian Tour, which announced it was aligning with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Part of the portfolio that LIV Golf executives have been shopping to future investors is a schedule that includes Asian Tour events.
On Wednesday, Today’s Golfer in the UK published a story in which two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, captain of the Cleeks GC, said it was “highly unlikely” that LIV’s team championship, scheduled for next month at The Cardinal course in Michigan, will be played. The story said that the infrastructure at the course has yet to be built on the course.
On the bright side, Kaymer said that the Indianapolis event, set for a week before the Michigan stop, is most likely to happen. LIV’s UK tournament outside London begins Thursday. – Ryan Herrington
Thursday, July 23 – 10am: With a week off in Europe before heading into this week’s Women’s Scottish Open, followed by the Women’s British Open, World No.1 Nelly Korda enjoyed a nostalgic homecoming.
Her parents are Czech natives, and the family got to spend time in her father Petr’s hometown of Prague. “Lots of calories and food, but a lot of walking, too, so it kind of balanced out,” Korda said on Wednesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland. There were milestones, too, with Korda saying she drove on the “other side” of the road for the first time. “Parking, not very good. But everything else was great.”
She also conquered every American’s fear on the British roadway: roundabouts. “Yeah, a lot of roundabouts here,” she said. “Roundabout, roundabout, roundabout.” Coming off her first missed cut of the season at the Evian, Korda will hope for a strong prep this week as she heads into trying to win a third major this season in the Women’s British at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
– Tod Leonard
Thursday, July 23 – 9am: Ryan Fox’s Open Championship victory excited a lot of people, most specifically the equipment company he endorses.
Srixon got a big boost in enthusiasm for its ZXi RKT driver lineup after Fox captured the Open using a version of the ZXi RKT LS model, the ZXi RKT LS+. The lineup also includes the ZXi RKT and ZXi RKT Max models, and first appeared on the USGA conforming list last month, although the company has not released any details on the technology or when the drivers will make their appearance at retail.
In addition, Fox’s use of one of the Srixon Z-Star balls has led the company to issue a one-day sale in the US of two dozen Z-Star balls for $US62. The price point, of course, refers to Fox’s third-round 62, which tied the lowest round recorded in a men’s major championship. It’s also a 44-percent discount on the current retail price of $US55 a dozen. Fox used a special version of the Z-Star XV, the Z-Star XV Arrow. The deal only is available online at the company’s website through the end of the day. – Mike Stachura
Thursday, July 23 – 8am: Charlie Woods had a right to be upset at this photographer.
The 17-year-old son of 15-time major champ Tiger Woods was knocked out of the US Junior Amateur in a 14-for-2 playoff =on Wednesday morning and he wasn’t helped by an ill-timed click of the camera. Have a look and listen as Woods attempted to chip his third shot from the rough on the par-5 first hole at Saucon Valley’s Grace Course:
After hitting the shot, Woods dropped his club, spun around, and said, “Really dude?” According to the poster it was someone taking a photo with a mobile phone. Regardless, Woods’ shot wound up only reaching the fringe, where he three-putted to end his tournament. The top 64 players after two rounds of stroke play advanced to the match-play portion of the event. – Alex Myers
