CHARLOTTE — The car doors had no handles—that is a standout memory to John Fields. So was knowing that the vehicle in which he was riding with PGA Tour player Jhonattan Vegas was bulletproof, and that the motorcycles zooming alongside weren’t ridden by tourists but hired protectors. To Fields, the men’s golf coach at the Read more…
We’re midway through the 107th PGA Championship, but it’s the end of the line for more than half the field. Seventy-four players out of the original 156 golfers made the 36-hole cut of one-over 143, including pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele on the number. At the top of the leaderboard is Read more…
CHARLOTTE — There’s something brewing here at Quail Hollow. We sense it, but can’t quite define it—is it good, bad, excitement, nervousness, outrage, or indifference? It’s too early to tell with this PGA Championship only halfway home. The crowds feel it too, carrying a frenetic energy they haven’t yet channeled in any particular direction. So Read more…
CHARLOTTE — By Scottie Scheffler standards, his second round at Quail Hollow wasn’t quite scintillating—his 68 moved him to give under on the tournament—but it was exactly what he needed. After an uneven opening round rife with mudballs in which he salvaged a two-under finish, he now finds himself tied for fifth place, three behind Read more…
Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, playing alongside World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, both rallied to make the cut Friday at the PGA Championship. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, among other big names, did not. They’re all looking up at Jhonattan Vegas, who has shot 64-70 at Quail Hollow to lead at eight-under-par, although he double Read more…
CHARLOTTE — The PGA Tour and major championships have tossed civility, and maybe fairness, aside when it comes to setting up par-3 holes these days. There were a couple of nearly 300-yard beasts in the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, and the tour last week had a 250-yarder in the Truist Read more…
Phil Mickelson’s fate at the PGA Championship—his 32nd start in the major—was decided on Thursday, an eight-over 79 at Quail Hollow in the first round essentially guaranteeing a missed cut in his future. That would deny Mickelson the chance to claim some history; he started the week tied with Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd for Read more…
CHARLOTTE — When players approach the tee of the 577-yard 15th, they’re greeted with a sign informing them that the neighboring 16th hole, which runs left of a lake on the left side, has been declared out of bounds. Again, tournaments often employ internal OB in situations like this because players have been known to Read more…
For the hardcore golf fan, there’s nothing like a major championship week. From the early morning extra coverage (well, after you figure out how to stream it) to the “Live From” wraps on Golf Channel, these are long days of being locked in watching golf. You really have to pace yourself. Of course, there’s always Read more…
It’s not that Katsuhiro Miura invented the idea of forging irons—or even perfected it. (Truly, he never stopped rethinking the way forged steel could become a work of art and a golf club at the same time). Miura, the founder and chief designer of Miura Golf, went about his work with a distinct passion and Read more…
Adam Hadwin was in the first group to tee off on Friday at 7 a.m., along with Keith Mitchell and Bob Sowards. By 9:45 a.m., he had already texted his wife to “book us flights.” As I’m writing this, Hadwin is still trying to survive the “Green Mile,” (oh, another bogey on No. 17), but Read more…
On major championship weeks, my Instagram feed is filled with golf things that I either can’t do, I shouldn’t do, or at least need to do much differently. Rory McIlroy launching high draws. Justin Thomas hitting spinny pitches. Bryson DeChambeau dialing in yardages down to the decimal point. If there is aspirational value in regular Read more…
Despite the deluge at Quail Hollow this week, one thing about the course has remained a constant: the greens are firm as hell. They appear to only be getting firmer on Friday at the PGA Championship, where Keith Mitchell began his second round with a bogey at the first and then missed the second green Read more…
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was exactly 362 days ago that I wrote about the scourge of mudballs at the 2024 PGA Championship, and now, here we are again, talking about the same issue during the first round of the 2025 PGA Championship. Let’s run through what’s happening… Mudball Basics Quail Hollow Country Club received more Read more…
Australian Golf Digest
