On July 16th, 2026, pre-tournament coverage of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale delivered massive off-course drama, from the R&A banning influencers to Bryson DeChambeau brushing off scathing criticism ahead of a pivotal major week.

• The R&A and USGA dropped administrative bombs at Royal Birkdale, firmly rejecting a YouTube "creator classic" while revealing the PGA Tour has finally softened its hardline stance against the controversial golf ball rollback and equipment bifurcation.
• R&A CEO Mark Darbon refused to host "narcissistic grifters" to "remain true to their heritage," while USGA CEO Mike Whan noted the Tour backed off its 2023 "point blank" resistance.
• Matt Fitzpatrick added to the off-course tension, warning that the rise in golf gambling leaves players vulnerable to fans "shouting on someone's backswing."

• Facing a potential grand slam of missed cuts, Bryson DeChambeau took heavy fire from Brandel Chamblee over his shifting priorities, though Bryson brushed off the criticism with jokes ahead of his Thursday pairing with Scottie Scheffler.
• Chamblee scathingly claimed Bryson went from chasing Scheffler to "chasing Grant Horvat" and wanting to "outdo every YouTuber."
• Unbothered, Bryson spent his practice round lightheartedly testing a 3-wood sweep putt and joking about a Lamborghini.

• Scottie Scheffler is taking the end of his historic 78-event cut streak in stride, while 18-year-old Ukrainian amateur Lev Grinberg prepares for an emotional major championship debut with his home country weighing heavily on his mind.
• Scheffler noted that losing a playoff "hurts his soul" much more than a missed cut, while Grinberg is playing for his grandfather in Kyiv, who always asks, "Did you win?"
• A friend of Scheffler's drafted an unsent text joking about his new free time to "go to the next tournament."

Harris English's caddie Eric Larson was denied a UK visa over a 1995 drug conviction, joking about his Delta credit while English called it "wild" • Jordan Spieth's iconic 2017 drop zone on Birkdale's 13th hole is officially gone, replaced by a spectator village • Rory McIlroy pulled off a one-in-a-million practice swing, simultaneously hitting his own ball onto the green and blasting a lost ball out of the thick fescue.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 15th, 2026, we preview the 154th Open Championship at a baked-out Royal Birkdale, breaking down Patrick Reed's shock departure from LIV Golf and the growing superstar demands to overhaul the major championship schedule.

• In a massive breaking news segment, we unpack Patrick Reed’s sudden exit from LIV Golf. Missing the traditional adrenaline, he's now targeting the DP World Tour to secure a 2027 PGA Tour card.
• "Start and finish my career on the PGA Tour."
• Reed admits he genuinely misses the adrenaline of traditional tournament formats after years of playing on the LIV circuit.

• The game's biggest stars are getting vocal. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler delivered a morbidly existential press conference, while Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm pitched radical overhauls to the major championship schedule and geography.
• "When it ends I am going somewhere else," Scheffler stated, while Rahm admitted his mental struggles: "God it is hard it is very hard."
• Rory is officially done being the PGA Tour's shield, demanding the compressed 100-day major season be stretched out to give players a breather.

• Staring down a potential "missed cut slam," Bryson DeChambeau is debuting brand new 3D-printed irons at Birkdale. But Nick Faldo isn't buying the tech, delivering a scathing podcast critique of Bryson's links strategy.
• Faldo claims Bryson "has zero clue of strategy" and must learn to "thread" rather than attack.
• Bryson's futuristic new irons literally "take about an hour to print," but Faldo jokingly coined his current major run the "Rough Slam."

• A massive European heatwave has turned Royal Birkdale into concrete. Meanwhile, R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon is cracking down on the galleries with "The Open Commitment," targeting gambling and influencer disruptions.
• Lucas Herbert compared the turf to "a game of country cricket" where a 3-iron runs 300 yards.
• The R&A's strict new fan code of conduct is specifically designed to force "shared respect" back into the spectator experience.

Rahm pushes for majors in Australia and Asia • McIlroy wants the major season spread out • Scheffler doesn't care about his historical trophy count

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 14th, 2026, we preview a firm and fast 154th Open Championship overshadowed by Phil Mickelson's scandalous withdrawal, break down a radical 2028 PGA Tour overhaul, and recap major victories for Haeran Ryu and Zach Johnson.

• Royal Birkdale is playing incredibly fast and firm, rendering traditional target golf dead. Meanwhile, the tournament is reeling from Phil Mickelson’s shocking withdrawal following massive misconduct allegations, alongside Louis Oosthuizen bowing out with a back injury.
• Eamon Lynch called Phil's reputation "battered beyond recognition" after a Golf Digest report detailed Ashley Perez's resurfaced allegations, quoting Mickelson: "I am going to leave my bedroom door open tonight and when Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me."
• Former Morrisons delivery driver Joe Dean is the ultimate Cinderella story; after qualifying, he is roughing it ("I am sleeping in my car at the moment...") and plans to marry his caddie Emily next Tuesday because "it was cheaper."

• Brian Rolapp proposed a radical 2028 PGA Tour restructure featuring a two-tier relegation system: a $20M, no-cut Championship tier and a Challenger Series. Meanwhile, players are desperately adjusting their bags for Birkdale's brutal, baked-out conditions.
• Rolapp defended the structural overhaul: "All the stuff we do is completely irrelevant if the game is not good and pure." On the course, Jordan Spieth warned that "five irons are running out to three hundred yards."
• Johnson Wagner is predicting a missed cut for Bryson DeChambeau, prompting Bryson to desperately test a new 60-degree wedge for Birkdale's soft sand, pleading, "Dude like I can not not have this..."

• Haeran Ryu captured the Amundi Evian Championship in a thrilling playoff over Brooke Henderson. Over on the Champions Tour, Zach Johnson secured his first senior major victory at the Kaulig Companies Championship.
• Ryu fired a historic 11-under 60 on Saturday to set up her win, calling her ultimate victory "just a dream..."
• Johnson's milestone major victory serves as a historic farewell, marking the final Champions Tour event to be held at the iconic Firestone Country Club.

Rory McIlroy is working to fix a left miss in the heavy coastal winds • Louis Oosthuizen officially withdraws from The Open with a back injury • Joe Dean shoots a 68 to survive the new Monday Last Chance Qualifier

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 13th, 2026, we break down the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open, where Tom Kim delivered a flawless Sunday performance to capture an emotional victory.

• Tom Kim ended a grueling 1,001-day winless drought, firing a bogey-free 64 to finish at 17-under and claim the $1.575 million prize, sealed by a clutch 203-yard 4-iron dagger on the 16th hole.
• Trevor Immelman called the performance an "absolute clinic" in accuracy, while Kim admitted to eating "humble pie" and finally trusting his "shot shape."
• Kim switched back to his trusty 2022 Scotty Cameron blade putter for the win and received a congratulatory text from Tiger Woods that Kim said "shows you the person he is."

• Min Woo Lee made a fierce Sunday charge to finish solo second at 15-under, while hometown favorite Robert MacIntyre thrilled the Scottish crowds to secure a 13-under finish despite falling just short.
• MacIntyre lamented missing out on the ultimate prize, stating it was a "shame I could not give [the fans] something" to celebrate.
• Lee pulled off a miraculous fescue save on 16 dubbed "from haggis to filet mignon" by the broadcast, while MacIntyre wowed fans with a 301-yard driver off the deck on the 12th hole.

$1.575M payday for Kim • Bogey-free Sunday 64 • 301-yard driver off the deck

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 12th, 2026, severe weather and thick fog suspended Round 3 of the Genesis Scottish Open, setting up a grueling 28-hole Sunday while Scottie Scheffler's historic cut streak officially came to an end.

• Severe weather and thick fog suspended Round 3, forcing leaders into a grueling 28-hole marathon Sunday. Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick tied Michael Thorbjornsen for the lead at eleven-under, officially taking over the longest active cut streak on tour.
• Fitzpatrick on his dominance (Data Golf ranks this the 218th best season since 1983): "This stretch of sort of March February onwards to now it is definitely the best golf I have played in my career for sure."
• Jordan Smith survived a terrifying bunker ricochet on the second hole, ducking to avoid injury before resiliently bouncing back with two birdies to reach ten-under.

• We officially post-mortem the end of an era as Scottie Scheffler misses the weekend, snapping his legendary cut streak. He now pivots his focus to Birkdale, searching for answers on the greens.
• The historic streak ends at 1,428 days and 78 tournaments. Scheffler noted, "did not really hit it close enough... maybe this golf course just does not suit my eye much."
• Rory McIlroy isn't taking any chances with his own game, arriving three hours and fifteen minutes early with a blue and yellow backpack for a "full on training session."

• Historic North Berwick Golf Club is battling severe coastal erosion following Storm Babet, prompting the launch of a new charity to save the links while American real estate interest in the area paradoxically skyrockets.
• Course Manager Kyle Cruickshank lamented that the storms "kept taking more and more of the coastline away," while Andrew Smith notes US buyers have surged 68% for the "lifestyle heritage scenery."
• Daniel Hillier hit a viral beach recovery shot right over the new gabion baskets (as described by Stuart Bayne), adding a wild chapter to the course's ongoing battle with the sea.

Norwegian fans delivered an electric Viking Clap for Viktor Hovland on the 15th hole • Min Woo Lee loved the rowdy Scandinavian energy from the galleries • Stuart Bayne breaks down the mechanics of Hillier's viral beach shot over the gabion baskets

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 11th, 2026, Round 2 of the Genesis Scottish Open delivered massive shockwaves as Scottie Scheffler missed his first cut in nearly four years, leaving a star-studded three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.

• The unthinkable happened at the Renaissance Club as Scottie Scheffler missed his first cut in 78 events, struggling with bogeys on the back nine and a missed six-footer on the 9th to finish at even par.
• Scheffler noted the course didn't suit his eye and plans to "get down to Birkdale a little earlier," while Matt Fitzpatrick (65) takes over the Tour's longest active cut streak at 28.
• Before the missed cut, Scheffler was already making waves with traditionalists who sparked a backlash over him wearing gym shorts during his practice round.

• A three-way tie for the lead emerged at nine-under, featuring Rory McIlroy's wind-defying 66, Tom Kim's miraculous fescue escape, and Jordan Smith's scorching round-of-the-day 63 fueled by a red-hot putter.
• McIlroy unleashed a massive 314-yard carry to drive the 14th green, while Kim patiently noted after his hybrid birdie on 16, "you've got to really wait for your time."
• Min Woo Lee sits just one back at eight-under, crediting a spectacular 2-iron eagle for curing his mental struggles and stopping him from "beating myself up."

• Jon Rahm bounced back with a clutch 65 to make the cut on the number in his first PGA Tour start since LIV, while hometown hero Robert MacIntyre electrified the Scottish crowds.
• Tommy Fleetwood dropped his 56-degree wedge to carry both a 9-wood and 3-iron, which TaylorMade's Adrian Reitveld called the "perfect set up for Birkdale."
• Broadcaster Ewen Murray shared his romanticized local travel tips, recommending The Leddie in Aberlady and Alandas food van for haddock and chips because "the simple things in life are always the most memorable."

Fitzpatrick smashed a 353-yard drive on 18, claiming this is the "best golf I've played in my career" • MacIntyre's 31-foot birdie on 15 resulted in deafening roars from fans who "know how to get behind their own" • Fleetwood's unique bag setup gives him both high and low 235-yard shot options for the links conditions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 10th, 2026, mild weather at The Renaissance Club yielded a five-way tie for the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, setting the stage for a brutal Friday windstorm.

• Mild Thursday conditions at The Renaissance Club created a crowded leaderboard, with Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger, and Rasmus Hojgaard all firing five-under 65s before Friday's howling winds arrive.
• McIlroy plans to play for another "decade," viewing the Grand Slam as a "continuous journey," while Kim noted links golf "rewards guys who accept results."
• Rory's rust-free return featured absolute "wizardry" from the bunker on the third hole ("Oh steady steady oh stop it"), and Cantlay adjusted to the slower greens by switching to a heavier putter.

• Making his 200th career PGA Tour start, Brooks Koepka fired a 66 and opened up in a major emotional segment about escaping a dark headspace, completely ignoring the ongoing PGA-LIV boardroom drama.
• "My son does not care if I shoot eighty or sixty five."
• Fatherhood has completely shifted Koepka's perspective, bringing him a newfound peace on the course and lifting him out of a dark mental state.

• Scottie Scheffler (68) is quickly calibrating to the firm Scottish turf, while hometown favorite Robert MacIntyre (67) and defending champion Chris Gotterup (68) remain firmly in the hunt heading into a treacherous Friday.
• MacIntyre pushed back against the idea of a $20 million purse, stating "it would be a bit mad."
• Scheffler's green-reading is so elite he literally broke the broadcast's AR aim line by hooking a putt three feet right ("what a genius"), while Gotterup is fully embracing his "villain role."

Xander Schauffele (70) defends Tour meritocracy ("You eat what you kill") • Jon Rahm in cutline danger after a brutal 73 • Eugenio Chacarra chases PGA Tour dreams via his DP World Tour transition

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On July 9th, 2026, we break down the ideological divide over the PGA Tour's 2028 restructuring, preview a star-studded Scottish Open, and examine golf's aggressive new stance on gambling-related fan harassment.

• The proposed 2028 two-tier Tour structure has ignited an ideological clash between the game's biggest stars, with the future and prestige of historic National Opens hanging in the balance as the divide deepens.
• Rory McIlroy argued, "You cannot call yourself a National Open anymore if it is a closed off tournament," while Scottie Scheffler countered that "getting the same guys playing against each other... is the best way to set up our schedule."
• Despite the heavy debate, Scheffler kept things light when asked about his 30th birthday, deadpanning that "my hair has been receding for years."

• Jon Rahm is utilizing a DP World Tour loophole to tee it up in Scotland to get "much more prepared for The Open," while Scottie Scheffler arrives strictly "to play golf and play well."
• Rory McIlroy gave Rahm's appearance his blessing, saying "having Jon in this event is better," while clapping back at reporters questioning his own post-U.S. Open rust: "What do you think I do in my off weeks?"
• Rory's "secret" Royal Birkdale scouting trip with Harry Diamond was completely blown by Sir Nick Faldo, prompting Rory to joke, "Faldo could not put his phone away."

• Following the abuse Wyndham Clark faced at the U.S. Open, the R&A is officially implementing "The Open Commitment" code of conduct at Royal Birkdale to combat the alarming rise of gambling-related fan harassment.
• Jordan Spieth highlighted the unique danger of the betting craze at the John Deere Classic: "I cannot think of another sport where a fan can have as much influence as in golf."
• Rowdy bettors beware—the new policy promises swift, Augusta-style ejections for anyone who crosses the line.

Jon Rahm said "never say never" to investing his own money to help LIV CEO Scott O'Neil raise $300 million amid the league's financial crisis • Tiger Woods is designing a massive new 7,310-yard TGR course at Tributer Resort on Lake Anna in Virginia • Firestone's South Course leaves the PGA Tour Champions schedule after 72 years, bidding farewell to a venue Stewart Cink called "hallowed ground in our game."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.