Bridging the gap between established journalism and fan media. Podcast available, search: ‘Flushing It Golf’. Contact Tom Hobbs: flushingitgolf@gmail.com
England, United Kingdom
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Executives hit the market with LIV Golf 2.0 last week, framing it as “built by the players, for the players.” It has an emphasis on player ownership, an increased schedule utilising national opens, but reduced purses.
The schedule consists of 10 team events, and 8-10 national opens, with 5 “team majors” and 5 “team signature events”. The “majors” are to be played on 5 continents in line with the most successful events: Australia, South Africa, UK, Hong Kong and Mexico. And the signature events are to be hosted predominantly in the US, around the 4 major championships.
The purse sizes is fluid and dependent on the new investors. From an extensive amount of sourcing, I expect them to be $15 million for 5 events and $10 million for the rest. With a potential weighting that distributes more money at the top of the leaderboard.
A well placed LIV Golf source said:
“We are very confident future purses will be above DP World Tour levels and player take home will be in line with the PGA Tour.”
From sourcing within player ranks, the purse sizes are, obviously, one of the most important factors impacting their commitment. Several players suggested to me if the purses fall in line with the DP World Tour they probably wouldn’t stay. But at $10-$15 million it’s a different proposition. More clarity is needed though on both LIV Golf’s future and the new structure of the PGA Tour to get a better picture.
I’ve spoken directly to at least a dozen players who told me they are fully committed to LIV Golf, and if it exists, they will be there. Bryson DeChambeau is leading that charge and it’s understating it to say he’s committed. He desperately wants LIV Golf to succeed and to build a global golf league that’s built for the 21st century. He’s thinking long term and his enthusiasm is truly infectious.
But a big question is what will Jon Rahm do? It’s difficult to get any real feel of it as he didn’t do media outside press conferences. But he did answer my question on whether he was taking a similar role to Bryson in trying to secure investment and he replied, “I am not, no.” The full quote is on my timeline.
I was told, however, that Jon had encouraged other players to avoid reading the media because of the amount of misinformation. There was also a Legion XIII hospitality area, where the GM, Jeff Koski, was hosting current and potential future partners while offering Imperial Gran Reserva, the Rioja that Jon served at his 2024 Masters Champions Dinner.
The players will be given equity in the league itself or team franchises to encourage them to stay, further committing those taking this option to the success of the league’s future. The majority of the media rights will be returned to the players. Giving them the opportunity to build their own online brands on socials and sign personal partnerships.
The size of the fields is unclear at this stage, but the shotgun start will continue, so the possibility of adding 2 more expansion teams to take the league to 15 franchises (60 players) would likely be top end. I fully expect them to utilise the Asian Tour pathways to fill many of the open spots, especially if players leave. That would help further appease the OWGR concerns and increase the ability to build their own stars. But sources were also confident they could attract established names with potential equity in the league.
Multiple sources indicated that Fox Sports are ready to sign a new deal with LIV Golf as soon as the league is ready. LIV Golf are also working with networks on a potential broadcast model that incorporates TV viewership with YouTube and social media in an attempt to unlock revenue streams across digital IP.
I’ve spent several days going back and forth through notes and transcripts, sourcing information the best I can. I think even in these early stages as they take LIV Golf 2.0 to market this is as fair and accurate of a representation as I can offer.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments 👍
I travelled to Valderrama last week fully expecting to write LIV Golf’s obituary. There were rumours of essential vendors pulling the plug, and from the outside, it appeared as though the uncertainty had escalated to near fatal levels. But when I arrived on pro am day, it was the same as it ever was.
The range was bustling with high profile business leaders anxiously waiting to tackle Valderrama’s challenge. And players were preparing for another $30 million tournament. However, under the surface, it’s still far from “business as usual.”
The fate of LIV Golf was described to me by a senior player as “incredibly simple. We need funding. If we don’t get it, it’s over. If we do, then we get to work on building the future.”
That certainly is a simple way of looking at it. But trying to piece together how a cash strapped sports league can continue when it’s currently owned by a sovereign wealth fund that’s cut the billions of dollars in investment is not that easy.
The future is being described by executives as “LIV Golf 2.0,” and they are fortunate enough that the lavish spending of the previous leadership means they already have a talent pool of stars to draw large crowds around the globe, attracting 6 figure attendances twice this year. They also have the infrastructure and the IP. Now they just need someone to invest.
This leaves a big question. What does the PIF want in return?
Nobody within the league is sure of the answer, but there’s likely just 2 options. The PIF either take pennies on the dollar for selling ownership, or they bankrupt the organisation and risk a high profile PR disaster that comes with voiding so many massive contracts.
It’s difficult to see them risking bankruptcy. Especially when they could have pulled the plug in Mexico City and have committed to showcasing events until the end of the season. So it’s more likely they just walk away, exonerating themselves of the extensive burden to creditors.
This leaves another big question. Who would take on a business that has been haemorrhaging cash every quarter for 4 years?
While on a range walk ahead of the pro am day, I asked this question 2 major players in the business industry. Both of them suggested private equity firms are always looking for opportunities to take on distressed assets they can purchase for virtually nothing. “Someone will see value and believe they can turn it around. They always do. Live sport is hot right now.”
I’m not in private equity, but it’s not too hard to see how a global sports league that’s had billions of dollars poured in from the start would be an attractive proposition if offered for a discounted $250-350 million investment. Especially when one of the biggest stars in the sport, Bryson DeChambeau, is fully committed and leading the charge.
Scott O’Neil, Chris Heck and the other executives were hired to turn the business around and stop the cash burn. They began working on LIV Golf 2.0 during the 2025 off season, but with the PIF pulling funding, that’s now just on a greatly accelerated timeline.
Once LIV Golf Andalucia finishes, the league faces a 7 week break in their schedule where executives will be hitting the market in an attempt to secure investment. They appear bullish on how it will go, but it won’t be an easy task.
With PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp set to speak after a board meeting at the Travelers Championship, and several LIV Golf players competing in events on other tours, there is bound to plenty of speculation.
The next 7 weeks are probably going to be the most important in the history of LIV Golf.
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COLETRAIN
Didn’t think I’d ever see a “shirts off” celebration in women’s golf 😂
LPGA
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Eric Patterson
It’s really cool that Augusta National allows so much behind the scenes footage of the Masters. Rory walking around the Champions Locker Room is so cool. There’s so much history within that property 🙌
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Justin Rose deserves so much credit for his performance today. 10 birdies at Augusta National in the final round of the Masters to make it to a playoff is so impressive. He’s given us so many memories over the years and just continues to keep delivering. What a man! 🙌
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Jon Rahm just drove a 462 yard par 4. Golf at elevation is insane
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45 year old Justin Rose could have joined LIV in 2022 but instead committed to the PGA Tour. Since then, he’s won twice, come runner up in 2 majors, qualified for 2 Ryder Cups and will likely be top 10 in the world again tomorrow. Mad respect 👏🏴
PGA TOUR
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397
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Bob McIntyre just posted this on Instagram giving some banter to the fans who shouted things at him at the Ryder Cup. What a legend! 😂🇪🇺
Golf Sicko
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European fans chanting “is this a library” on the first tee during a quiet period, which Shane Lowry enjoyed. Good banter 😂🇪🇺
nitter.app/choppingitgolf/status/…
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The Ryder Cup crowd was out of control at Bethpage and this will have definitely played a part. It wasn’t even 7am when an official announcer was leading the 1st tee grandstand into a chant of “fuck you Rory” on the mic.
Completely unacceptable
Brendan Porath
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Rory McIlory:
“I’m not gonna putt until they shut up”
nitter.app/choppingitgolf/status/…
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Rory McIlroy’s season:
- Wins the Masters to complete the career slam
- Wins The Players
- Wins the Irish Open
- Wins at Pebble
- Probably gonna win another Race to Dubai
And now he’s just won an away Ryder Cup in New York. What a year 👏🇪🇺
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Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott has posted a public apology to Francesco Molinari on his Instagram page. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and there will be less hostilities at the Ryder Cup today 🤝
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The World Number 1 crying after getting a 9&7 beat down by a kid who was in college 4 months ago. The Ryder Cup is one of a kind!
Sky Sports Golf
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Crazy stat of the day:
Since joining LIV and being banned by the PGA Tour, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have more PGA Tour sanctioned wins than Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler combined.
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The only European ever to win the career grand slam. Look how proud he is. So happy for him!
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If Scottie Scheffler wasn’t famous, an innocent man could be going to prison. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
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Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup record as a player:
2004 away - won 18.5-9.5
2006 home - won 18.5-9.5
2010 home - won 14.5-13.5
2012 away - won 14.5-13.5
As a captain:
2023 home - won 16.5-11.5
2025 away - won 15-13
Get a statue up outside Wentworth! 🇪🇺
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Rory McIlroy on crowd behaviour at the Ryder Cup:
“Look, I don't think we should ever accept that in golf. I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to you unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people.
“Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup. But you know, we will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable, and for me, it's -- you know, come and support your home team. Come and support your team.
“I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed that people -- I didn't hear a lot of shouts for Scottie today, but I heard a lot of shouts against me. It's like, support your players. That's the thing.
“Look, it was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played, and we tried to -- I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”
Well said 👏 🇪🇺
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Just a Dad and his lad playing the Old Course 🙌
@dunhilllinks
Tommy Fleetwood played the Old Course today with his son Frankie, who celebrated his birthday at the weekend. Frankie was still wearing his Ryder Cup Europe jacket too. Maybe he’ll play on that side one day just like his Dad 🇪🇺
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This guy waited his whole life to play the Old Course at St Andrew’s and then does this off the first 🤣
Tom
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This is such a cool shot to watch. Imagination around the greens is everything at Oakmont 👌
U.S. Open
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Look how happy Bryson is. Don’t take anyone seriously who says he’s fake or disingenuous. They’re full of shit.
Sky Sports Golf
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Viktor Hovland after winning $21.6M in 8 days:
“It’s not like I’m spending money out the wazoo every week. I don’t need a lot to be happy, I don’t need a lot to live within my means. So, obviously it’s nice for my family to have that protection and my eventual kids that I’ll have in the future, it’s nice to have that. But, it’s not something that drives me, it’s not something that gives me meaning. I find meaning in other places.”
Viktor is the best! 🙌🇳🇴
Golfweek
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Rory just told the crowd to “shut the fuck up”
nitter.app/choppingitgolf/status/…
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European fans chanting “are you watching Donald Trump” as Luke Donald and Team Europe head up to receive the Ryder Cup trophy 🇪🇺
Ryder Cup Europe
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Shane Lowry just had to be held back from going after someone in the crowd...
I’ve never seen anything like this at a golf tournament before.
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MetcalfAlGaib
Rory McIlroy covered up Bryson DeChambeau’s name with a European flag while celebrating winning the Ryder Cup
Today's Golfer
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Who’s the strokes gained leader in partying on Team Europe?
Tyrrell: “Sepp. Sepp will stay undefeated.”
Sepp: “I don't know, in Rome I was leaving for the airport and I still saw Tyrrell.”
Shane: “People will think it's me, but I'll be gone early.”
Justin: “Sepp, hands down.”
Rory: “Dark horse in the back right!”
Justin: (Looking incredulous) “I got a bit scared of myself after 2018.”
Rory: “Fitzy has to fill in his stat sheet from today” (laughter).
Their chemistry is incredible! 😂🇪🇺
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Lasse
Shane Lowry had a wild night celebrating the Ryder Cup win last night. I love seeing these videos, we never normally see this side of the players! 😂🍻🇪🇺
Suzie McGuire 🏴🎤💝
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Fair play to these lads. They’ve been abused from the crowd all day and they’ve given it their all to take another point for Europe. Just brilliant! 🙌🇪🇺
Ryder Cup Europe
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340
8,384
147,511
Bob Mac came into this Ryder Cup off an MC and clearly struggling with his game. He then went undefeated and turned over the US Open Champ to be the leading points scorer of any European rookie. Now he’s singing proclaimers like the champion he is!! 👊🇪🇺
Ryder Cup Europe
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The starter to the players and caddies at the Ryder Cup tomorrow:
nitter.app/Bartnior/status/149795…
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This guy has a “detonation” golf ball that sounds like a gun going off when he hits it. Check out the reactions of the other golfers! 😂
T. Bernadetti
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Rory McIlroy chirping back to the crowd at the Ryder Cup yesterday:
“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!”
We’ve never seen anything like that at a golf tournament before and likely never will again. Hopefully there’s a better tone at Bethpage today.
Ten-Golf
The Ryder Cup crowd was out of control at Bethpage and this will have definitely played a part. It wasn’t even 7am when an official announcer was leading the 1st tee grandstand into a chant of “fuck you Rory” on the mic.
Completely unacceptable
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Bryson DeChambeau played roulette with the Good Good guys and took an absolute whopper to the back from a cold egg. That bruise though! 😳😂
@b_dechambeau @goodgood_golf
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Viktor Hovland on what he’s spent his $34.5 million earnings on from this year:
“Nothing, not necessarily materialistic thing but I took my Mum on a nice trip to Malta and we went there hung out and ate good food and checked out some places and site see’d a little bit so that’s the stuff that’s cool.”
Viktor is the man. He really is! 🙌 🇳🇴
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“Hi is that the police? I’ve just seen a guy driving dangerously. I think you should come immediately”
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The sequence of this clip is hilarious. Feherty says Tyrrell Hatton has been very “calm”, he then misses a putt and loses it at the wind.
“Fuck you wind! 2 in a row just absolutely fucked me.”
There’s only 1 Tyrrell Hatton 🤣
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Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, banked more than $6 million this year. Decent.
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Joaco Niemann just aimed at a 1 yard gap between bunkers and hit the green at the Masters. Unbelievable!
Tee Times
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141
7,840
984,285
Neal Shipley has just become the first player since Viktor Hovland to win low amateur at the Masters and US Open in the same year. Class 👏
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91
7,677
260,521
Happy 33rd Birthday to Tyrrell Hatton, the sweariest man in golf. This is still one of my favourite clips of the year 😅
Flushing It
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350
7,516
1,495,327
Zach Johnson legitimately told the Masters patrons to fuck off after a triple on 12. You can hear it as clear as day here 😳
BK
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384
7,496
2,084,483
Former US Ryder Cup captain and hall of famer Tom Watson has taken to social media to apologise for the crowd behaviour at the Ryder Cup.
I’m really interested in what you all think about the crowd hostility, particularly if you’re a US fan?
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Tyrrell Hatton is on one today. You’ve got to love how the coverage stays on him the whole time and even zooms in! 😅😅😅
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That was a powerful interview with Peter Malnati about Grayson Murray. It really puts things into perspective.
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Min Woo Lee and Minjee Lee are just the third brother and sister combo to win on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. Are they the coolest siblings in golf? 🇦🇺
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In the 2006 Matchplay, Stephen Ames said about his match with Tiger Woods: “Anything can happen, especially where he’s hitting the ball.”
Tiger then won the first 9 holes to beat him 9&8!
“I think he understands now.”
PGA TOUR
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731
7,057
1,668,340
Bill Murray blocked his drive OB down the last at the Old Course, it hit a dog and about 3 people and ended up back in play! 😂
@dunhilllinks
DP World Tour
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176
7,232
1,995,900
Tommy Fleetwood played the Old Course today with his son Frankie, who celebrated his birthday at the weekend. Frankie was still wearing his Ryder Cup Europe jacket too. Maybe he’ll play on that side one day just like his Dad 🇪🇺
DP World Tour
51
108
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1,437,204
Rory McIlroy just have an emotive press conference explaining why he has been skipping media;
“It's more a frustration with you guys.”
This is worth a watch.
Paul Hodowanic
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Watch Rahm’s reaction 🤣🤣🤣
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Bryson DeChambeau has confirmed to Flushing It Golf that he will be donating his entire Ryder Cup payment to charity. Bryson is playing his first Ryder Cup match since going unbeaten in 2021 and he can’t wait to represent his country again 🇺🇸
Ryder Cup USA
For the first time ever the US Ryder Cup players will be paid to compete. Captain Keegan Bradley commented ahead of the playing at Bethpage:
“We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age and we felt like this was the best way to do it.”
European players however, will not be paid and are just playing for pride this week.
What are your thoughts on this? Should players be paid to compete in the Ryder Cup?
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Bryson DeChambeau reflects on his comeback from 5 down to get a half against Matt Fitzpatrick yesterday and the US Team’s Sunday fightback:
“I wasn't willing to give up for this team. They have been so amazing to me this week, and for however long I've known myself to be on this team, they have just been incredible. I couldn't give up for these guys.
“And so my thought process was to just keep swimming, just keep moving and keep fighting back. I fought my ass off today for this team, for this country, and we all fought hard today. You can see, it reflects in the leaderboard and what we did today.
“We're not quitters. We're not people that go down easy. So, so proud to be a part of this team, and it was great to get a half-point out of it. Wish I would have gotten a point, though.”
The US needs some leaders heading into Adare Manor and Bryson is a guy who could definitely do that.
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Neal Shipley has secured his PGA Tour card for 2026 in his rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Neal won twice this year and has an active top 10 streak of 5 in a row. I can’t wait to see this lad on the main tour 🙌
@KornFerryTour
Korn Ferry Tour
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111
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Imagine playing behind these lads on a Saturday afternoon 😳
TheGolfDivoTee™
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6,509
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I cannot believe Bryson DeChambeau is not a featured group today at the Masters. He’s electric to watch!
The Masters
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337
6,557
347,973
Scottie Scheffler’s ball striking is another level, and his ability to call yardages before hitting a shot with any club throughout the bag really is exceptional.
Watch this video, it’s mind blowing how good he is.
TaylorMade Golf
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375
6,487
1,392,093
Bryson on Scottie:
"Scottie Scheffler has the best spin and distance control I've ever seen.. He controls the golf ball from a spin perspective so much better than everybody else.. Since Tiger Woods he's the best that we've seen"
That’s serious praise!
Pat McAfee
19
143
6,625
778,336
Tommy Fleetwood’s last few weeks:
- wins Fed Ex Cup
- wins Ryder Cup away at Bethpage
- wins in India with his son watching on
What a season! 🔥🏴
DP World Tour
20
147
6,567
201,269
Tyrrell Hatton just had to back off his shot to the party hole at LIV Golf Indianapolis twice because “I’m a little tea pot” was being played by the DJ, selected by his teammates including Jon Rahm.
What is going on out there 😂
FOX Sports: Golf
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Remember when Brooks and Bryson had beef? First man to congratulate Bryson on the range at LIV Golf Nashville was Brooks. Game respects game 🤝
Official OKGC
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Some of the LIV offers that were rumoured to have been rejected by players:
Tiger $800m
Hideki $400m
Rahm $300m
Willy Z $130m
Sam Burns $100m
I wonder how these guys feel right now 😕
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The 2019 Masters leaderboard was absolutely stacked down the stretch during the final round. It’s amazing that Tiger Woods was able to win this one against a lot of guys who grew up idolising him.
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Justin Rose played his nuts off today. 67 under that pressure is absolutely incredible. Fair play, indeed 👏🏴
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66
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Alex Fitzpatrick is playing on the Challenge Tour this year and is ranked 561st in the world. He just shot a moving day 65 to move into T4, 2 shots clear of his older brother Matt. This is his first ever major championship. Class 👏 🏴
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Bryson DeChambeau played a 510 yard par 5 with a junior set of clubs and went driver, driver, putt from the off the green, putt for a birdie 4. Easy game!
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The first tee at the Ryder Cup is pumping and it’s only 5:30 in the morning!
Jamie Kennedy
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10 years ago Rickie Fowler was 5 back with 6 to play at The Players. He then finished birdie, par, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie and birdied 17 twice in a playoff to win. What an incredible way to take home the biggest victory of his career 🔥
PGA TOUR
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Every time I see this vid of Ernie, Freddie and Vijay clipping balls down the range I find it mesmerising. Welcome to tempo town 👌
Golfballing
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The PGA Championship has paired the top 3 players in the world together for rounds 1 and 2 🔥
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Nico Peix
A 12 year old lad made a slam dunk ace with Tony Finau watching. Legend! 👏
PGA Jr. League
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233
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Bryson DeChambeau made the US Ryder Cup team automatically despite playing just 8 qualifying events across the 2 year qualification period.
Keegan Bradley acknowledged that achievement in his press conference yesterday:
“A lot to say about Bryson. One of the most incredible things is he qualified for this team off of eight starts, which is unheard of. But what I'm most impressed about Bryson is the effort that he's made to be a part of this team. He's had to travel, go out of his way to meet us in our places, and he's gone above and beyond what we would ever ask of a player, and that's the thing I'm most proud of.
“You can go on and on about what an incredible player he is and golfer, but what he's done for this team, putting in the extra effort, is amazing to see.”
Bryson is going to be a real spectacle at Bethpage in front of the New York fans!
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Jack Nicklaus won 6 green jackets at the Masters, the most of all time. But this is his favorite memory at Augusta. So cool 👌
The Masters
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