2026 U.S. Open Takeaways: Wyndham Clark Makes History, Sam Burns Delivers Again, and Shinnecock Hills Yields Record Scoring

The 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club delivered everything fans expect from America's national championship: drama, history, elite performances, and a leaderboard packed with some of the game's biggest stars.

While Wyndham Clark ultimately hoisted the trophy for the second time in his career, the championship produced several storylines that will be remembered long after the final putt dropped.

Wyndham Clark Joins Exclusive Company

Wyndham Clark's victory was impressive for more than just the trophy itself.

Entering the week ranked No. 34 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Clark became only the second player since the rankings were introduced in 1986 to win multiple U.S. Opens while being ranked outside the world's top 30 on both occasions. The only other player to accomplish the feat is Lee Janzen.

Clark's win also continued a recent trend in the championship. For the fourth consecutive year, the U.S. Open champion entered the tournament ranked outside the top 20 in the world, further proving that major championships remain golf's ultimate equalizer.

Sam Burns Continues His U.S. Open Consistency

Although he fell just short of claiming his first major championship, Sam Burns once again demonstrated that he thrives in U.S. Open conditions.

Burns finished runner-up after recording top-10 finishes in each of the last three championships. He tied for ninth at Pinehurst in 2024, tied for seventh at Oakmont in 2025, and followed those performances with another strong showing at Shinnecock Hills.

No other player can claim a top-10 finish in all three of the last U.S. Opens, making Burns the championship's most consistent performer during that span.

Shinnecock Hills Offers More Birdie Opportunities

Known as one of the toughest tests in championship golf, Shinnecock Hills played noticeably more forgiving on Sunday.

The final-round scoring average was 71.389, the third-lowest Sunday scoring average in U.S. Open history. Only the 2019 championship at Pebble Beach and the 2015 championship at Chambers Bay produced lower final-round averages.

The number also established a new record for the lowest final-round scoring average among the five U.S. Opens contested at Shinnecock Hills.

For a venue often associated with survival rather than scoring, Sunday's conditions allowed players to attack.

Under-Par Rounds Pile Up on Sunday

The scoring trends were reflected throughout the leaderboard.

Seventeen players finished Sunday's final round under par, the highest total in a U.S. Open final round since 33 players broke par at Pebble Beach in 2019.

Interestingly, the performance was still in line with previous championships at Shinnecock Hills. The course produced 15 under-par final rounds in 2018, 16 in 1995, and 13 in 1986.

While the course remained challenging, it rewarded aggressive play and precise execution more than many expected heading into the week.

Scottie Scheffler's Historic Run Continues

Even without adding another major trophy to his collection, Scottie Scheffler continued to strengthen his place among golf's modern greats.

Scheffler finished tied for fourth, marking his 17th top-10 finish in his last 22 major championship starts. That level of consistency places him in extraordinarily rare company.

Since 1950, only four other players have achieved at least 17 top-10 finishes in a 22-major span: Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

It's a statistic that highlights just how dominant Scheffler has been on golf's biggest stages and serves as another reminder that his next major victory may not be far away.

A Championship to Remember

The 2026 U.S. Open featured a little bit of everything: a repeat champion making history, a rising star continuing his major championship breakthrough, record-setting scoring at one of golf's most demanding venues, and another remarkable chapter in Scottie Scheffler's sustained excellence.

For a championship that has spent 130 years defining greatness in golf, Shinnecock Hills once again delivered a week worthy of the U.S. Open legacy.

Masters Ticket Lottery Opens for 2027 Tournament

Golf fans, this is not a drill — your chance to get Masters tickets for 2027 is officially open right now! The Masters ticket lottery launched today, but you've only got until June 20 to enter. Here's how it works: Head to Masters.com, create an account if you don't already have one, and submit your application. You can request up to four tickets for practice rounds Monday through Wednesday, and up to two tickets for each tournament round Thursday through Sunday. Want to enter for every day? You can. But if you're selected, you'll only win tickets for one day, chosen by Augusta National. Practice-round tickets cost $125 to $150, while tournament rounds are $160 per ticket. Winners are usually notified in July, so after you apply, it's time to start hoping. And one more thing: avoid buying tickets from third-party sellers. Augusta National says those tickets can be rejected at the gate. So, are you entering the lottery? And if you win, which day would you want to attend?

Scheffler Returns to Defend at Revamped TPC Craig Ranch

After one of the most entertaining major championships in recent memory, the PGA Tour heads from the intensity of the PGA Championship to the familiar Texas swing for this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

The event returns to TPC Craig Ranch for the sixth time, but this year’s tournament arrives with a dramatically different look. Following Scottie Scheffler’s dominant eight-shot victory in 2025, the course underwent a $25 million renovation — the first significant redesign since the venue opened in 2004.

Scheffler’s performance last year was historic in more ways than one. His eight-shot margin marked the second-largest victory in tournament history, trailing only Sam Snead’s 10-shot win in 1957. The world No. 1 also tied the lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history with a blistering 253, matching marks set by Ludvig Åberg at the 2023 RSM Classic and Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii.

Now Scheffler returns to defend his title on a course that should look and play significantly different from the one he dismantled a year ago.

The Byron Nelson remains one of the Tour’s most historic stops. It was the first PGA Tour event named after a professional golfer, honoring legendary Texan Byron Nelson, whose résumé includes 52 PGA Tour victories and a record-setting 18-win season in 1945, including 11 consecutive titles.

While Scheffler enters as the clear headliner, recent tournament history suggests international players have thrived at Craig Ranch. Five of the last six champions have come from outside the United States, including Sung Kang, K.H. Lee, Jason Day and Taylor Pendrith.

One of the more intriguing storylines this week belongs to Texas native Pierceson Coody, who will make his fifth career start at the event. The 26-year-old has quietly pieced together a strong season with seven top-25 finishes in 14 starts, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Golf history runs deep in the Coody family. His grandfather, Charles Coody, won three PGA Tour titles, including the 1971 Masters and the 1964 Byron Nelson.

This year’s field includes two of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by Scheffler and Si Woo Kim. The tournament also features five former Byron Nelson champions: Billy Horschel, Aaron Wise, K.H. Lee, Pendrith and Scheffler.

Five major champions are also in the field, including five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, giving the event added star power just days removed from the season’s second major.

After the drama and pressure of the PGA Championship, the Byron Nelson offers a different kind of challenge: a renovated course, a historically low-scoring setup, and a field eager to chase down the game’s top-ranked player in his home state.

Aaron Rai’s Brilliant Back-Nine Charge Put a Fitting Finish on a Wild PGA Championship

The 2026 PGA Championship had everything: star collapses, impossible pin locations, angry exchanges with fans, LIV-vs.-PGA tension, and a Sunday leaderboard that looked ready to turn into total chaos. And then, through all of it, Aaron Rai delivered the kind of closing stretch that instantly becomes part of major championship history.

Rai’s final-round 65 at Aronimink wasn’t just enough to win his first major championship. It was historic.

Over his final 10 holes, Rai played them in 6-under par, becoming just the third player in modern major championship history to finish that strongly and still win the tournament. The other two names on that list tell you everything you need to know about the company he joined: Cameron Smith at the 2022 Open Championship and Jack Nicklaus during his legendary 1986 Masters victory.

That closing stretch transformed what had been a tense, crowded Sunday into a coronation.

Rai entered the final round chasing, not leading. But while bigger names stumbled around Aronimink’s punishing setup, he got steadier as the pressure mounted. His tournament scores — 70, 69, 67, 65 — made him the first player in PGA Championship history to improve his score in every single round en route to victory.

That almost never happens in major championships because majors are designed to break players down physically and mentally as the week progresses. Instead, Rai got sharper.

The victory also carried broader historical significance for European golf. Rai became the first player representing England to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes captured the first two editions of the event in 1916 and 1919. And in the modern era of the four current majors, this is the first season in which Europeans have captured both of the first two majors of the year.

The week, though, will also be remembered for how brutally Aronimink tested the world’s best players.

Players spent much of the championship openly complaining about course setup, particularly the hole locations. Scottie Scheffler called one Friday pin placement among the hardest he had ever seen. Rory McIlroy unraveled late Thursday, then boiled over Sunday during a heated interaction with a fan after a “U-S-A!” chant from the crowd.

And still, amid all the carnage, somebody nearly stole the championship outright.

Kurt Kitayama fired a stunning final-round 63, tying the major championship record for the lowest final round ever recorded. He became just the second player to shoot 63 in the final round of a PGA Championship, joining Brad Faxon in 1995.

For a few hours Sunday afternoon, Kitayama’s charge looked like it might become one of the great major comebacks ever. Instead, it became the final obstacle Rai calmly stepped over on his way to the Wanamaker Trophy.

That’s ultimately what made this PGA Championship memorable.

It wasn’t dominance from start to finish. It wasn’t survival golf. It was escalation. Every hour brought more tension, more volatility, and more opportunities for the tournament to spin sideways.

And when the dust settled, the player standing tallest was the one who improved every single day and played his best golf when the pressure was greatest.

Aaron Rai didn’t just win the PGA Championship.

He closed it like a major champion.

YouTube Creator Ryan Ruffels Wins The Q at Myrtle Beach

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) — Play Golf Myrtle Beach (PGMB), the premier resource for the Golf Capital of the World, is excited to announce Ryan Ruffels as the winner of The Q at Myrtle Beach. With the victory, Ruffels secures the final spot in the 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, set for May 7-10 at Dunes Golf & Beach Club. 

The innovative, two-round competition, which saw eight of the world’s most popular golf creators battle for a PGA TOUR exemption, concluded April 30 in a high-stakes finale at Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club. 

Making his debut appearance in the event, Ruffels, an Orlando-based professional golfer with 20 career PGA TOUR starts, leveraged his experience to navigate the pressure-packed finale. Ruffels edged Grant Horvat, who finished second among the field of heavy hitters that included George Bryan IV, who was seeking redemption after a runner-up finish in the inaugural event. 

Following a series of intense head-to-head match-play contests during the first round at Rivers Edge Golf Club, four finalists, Ruffels, Grant Horvat, Micah Morris and Luke Kwon advanced to the final round for a stroke-play shootout to determine who claims the exemption and a spot in the tournament field. 

Horvat seized early momentum with four consecutive birdies to open his round, but three bogeys before the turn allowed Ruffels to stay within striking distance. Ruffels’ professional experience proved to be the decisive advantage on the back nine, where he remained bogey-free and recorded pivotal birdies on the 14th and 16th holes. While Horvat moved back to even-par with a birdie on the 15th, a bogey on the 17th and a double bogey on the 18th ended his title hopes. Ruffels remained composed to finish with a 1-under-par 71, two strokes ahead of Horvat, who finished with a 1-over-par 73. Kwon and Morris finished T3 after carding scores of 5-over-par 77. 

“This is what you dream about when you start creating content, the chance to bridge the gap and prove you can still compete at the highest level,” said Ryan Ruffels. “Playing against competitors like George and Grant with a PGA TOUR spot on the line is a massive adrenaline rush. I’m honored to represent the creator community next week at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.”

Ruffels joins past champions Matt Atkins (2024) and Nathan Franks (2025) as winners of the event. Ruffels will make his return to the PGA TOUR on May 7 when he makes his debut in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

“The Q at Myrtle Beach continues to prove that it is the premier platform for bridging the gap between the worlds of digital and professional golf,” said Kyle Oland, Director of Marketing for Golf Tourism Solutions. “Ryan’s clutch play to come from behind down the stretch demonstrates the level of talent residing in the YouTube golf space. This wasn’t an exhibition; it was a high-stakes battle, and we can’t wait to see Ryan compete against the best in the world at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.”

The Q at Myrtle Beach is a first-of-its-kind competition, generating millions of views and serving as the inspiration for other creator-centric events such as the PGA TOUR’s Creator Classic. Its innovative approach to bridge the gap between professional golf and digital golf creators has been recognized nationally, including being honored with the PGA TOUR’s “Best In-Class Element” award in 2024. Fans can watch the full journey of the 2026 competition on YouTube. The first round is available on Grant Horvat’s channel, while the Championship Round is hosted on the Bryan Bros channel.

CBS Misses the Moment: Masters Broadcast Stumbles at the Finish Line

The 2026 Masters delivered no shortage of drama, but CBS Sports’ coverage faltered when it mattered most—on the final hole. As the tension peaked, a series of production missteps left viewers at home frustrated and disconnected from one of golf’s biggest moments.

The issues unfolded during Rory McIlroy’s closing stretch on the 18th hole. With the tournament hanging in the balance, CBS lost track of his approach shot, abruptly cutting away to his playing partner and leaving audiences without a clear view of where the ball landed. In a moment that demanded precision and clarity, the broadcast instead created confusion.

That uncertainty carried over to McIlroy’s next shot. Cameras struggled to confirm whether the ball sitting in a bunker was his, forcing viewers to rely on his own identification rather than a definitive visual from the broadcast team. For an event known for its meticulous presentation, it was a surprising lapse.

The most glaring miss came on the final putt. The chosen camera angle failed to clearly capture the ball dropping into the hole, dulling what should have been an unforgettable visual. Instead of a signature Masters moment, audiences were left piecing it together in real time.

The Masters remains one of the most revered events in sports, where storytelling and presentation are as important as the play itself. When coverage falls short in pivotal moments, it not only frustrates viewers but also diminishes the impact of the achievement on golf’s grandest stage.

Inside Augusta’s Unwritten Rules: Seven People Who Crossed the Line at the Masters

The mystique of the The Masters Tournament extends far beyond the competition itself. Held annually at Augusta National Golf Club, the event is as much about tradition and decorum as it is about world-class golf. From strict dress codes to the well-known ban on cell phones, expectations for behavior apply to everyone—players, media, and patrons alike.

Even subtle missteps can draw attention. Just ask Jason Day, whose bold fashion choices at the 2024 Masters prompted officials to request adjustments the following year. While Day complied and returned in 2026, others throughout the tournament’s history haven’t been as fortunate.

Here’s a look at seven notable figures—golfers, broadcasters, and fans—who faced consequences ranging from reprimands to lifetime bans.

Frank Stranahan

In 1948, Stranahan became one of the earliest examples of Augusta’s strict enforcement. Officials claimed he violated practice rules regarding hitting balls, resulting in his ban. Years later, he suggested that resentment from fellow competitors may have played a role in the fallout.

Jack Whitaker

During the 1966 broadcast, Whitaker referred to patrons near the 18th green as a “mob”—a term that didn’t sit well with Augusta leadership. He was removed from the following year’s telecast. Though eventually welcomed back as a patron, the incident remains one of the most famous broadcasting missteps in Masters history.

Kenny Mayne

Gary McCord

Mayne claims he was “banned for life” after making an offhand joke while covering another tournament. According to him, Augusta officials reacted immediately, ensuring he would not be welcomed at the Masters in any capacity.

Gary McCord

In 1994, McCord’s colorful commentary—comparing greens to “bikini wax” and referencing “body bags”—led to his removal from CBS’s Masters coverage. Augusta reportedly pushed for his dismissal, viewing his tone as inconsistent with the event’s standards.

Greg Norman

Not officially banned, but notably absent. The former world No. 1 and LIV Golf executive hasn’t received an invitation since 2023 amid tensions between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. Tournament officials emphasized their desire to keep the spotlight solely on the competition.

Clayton Baker

Clayton Baker

A fan learned the hard way that even sand is off-limits. Baker was arrested in 2012 after attempting to take sand from the course as a souvenir. Though charges were later dropped, the incident reportedly cost him thousands in legal fees and penalties—not to mention public embarrassment.

Wayne Player

In 2021, Wayne Player received a lifetime ban after promoting golf balls during a ceremonial moment honoring Lee Elder. The act was widely criticized as inappropriate, and Augusta swiftly revoked his credentials. Despite issuing apologies, the ban remains in place.

The Masters’ reputation is built not just on pristine fairways and iconic moments, but on a culture of respect and tradition that leaves little room for error. Whether it’s a poorly chosen word, a joke gone wrong, or a breach of etiquette, Augusta National has shown time and again that its standards are non-negotiable.

Augusta Bites Back: Double-Digit Carnage Signals a Brutal Start to the 2026 Masters

Davis Riley

If there were any doubts about how Augusta National intended to play this week, the first round of the 2026 Masters erased them quickly—and emphatically.

Ten players posted rounds of 80 or worse on Thursday, a jarring number for a tournament that typically rewards precision but rarely hands out scorecards that resemble survival logs. Even by Masters standards, this was a stern, unapologetic examination.

From the outset, the course looked firmer and faster than in recent years. Tee shots that would normally settle into forgiving portions of fairways chased into pine straw. Approach shots that landed pin-high bounded over greens and into tightly mown runoff areas, leaving players scrambling just to save bogey. Around the greens, the margin for error was razor-thin—miss your spot by a yard, and the ball was gone.

The difficulty wasn’t isolated to one stretch. Augusta National’s challenges were relentless and widespread. The par-3s, often the heartbeat of scoring swings, played more like landmines. The par-5 15th, traditionally a scoring opportunity, turned punitive in a hurry, with multiple players finding water and walking away with numbers that wrecked their rounds.

Perhaps most telling was how quickly rounds unraveled. A steady even-par card could morph into something far more damaging in the span of two holes. Players who appeared in control suddenly looked defensive, tentative—aware that aggression carried significant risk, but conservatism offered little safety.

The scoring distribution underscored the point. While a handful of players managed to navigate the test with discipline and patience, a sizable portion of the field found itself simply trying to hang on. Augusta National didn’t just challenge execution—it exposed indecision.

Weather conditions played their part, but this felt more like intent than accident. Firm greens, exacting pin placements and lightning-quick surfaces combined to restore a level of severity that has defined the Masters at its toughest. This was less about scoring and more about survival.

And that’s what made Thursday so compelling.

At a tournament known for its beauty, the brutality was front and center. Augusta National, pristine as ever, reminded the world that beneath its polished exterior lies one of golf’s most exacting tests.

If the opening round is any indication, this year’s Masters won’t simply be won—it will be endured.

Masters 2026: Why the Numbers Point to a Familiar Champion — and One Sleeper to Watch

If you’re trying to pick a Masters winner, history isn’t just helpful — it’s borderline predictive. And based on the trends you laid out, there’s a pretty clear profile emerging for who slips on the green jacket Sunday evening at Augusta National Golf Club.

The Case for the Favorite: Scottie Does It Again

Everything starts with Scottie Scheffler.

The world No. 1 has already proven he can dominate Augusta, and the historical markers are lining up almost too cleanly:

The No. 1-ranked player has won the Masters seven times — including Scheffler twice already.

This is his fifth straight Masters entering as No. 1, tying a record held by Tiger Woods — and we know how often Tiger converted those kinds of opportunities.

The Amen Corner stat is the clincher: you simply don’t win here if you leak shots on 11, 12, and 13.

Scheffler’s greatest strength? Control. He doesn’t beat himself, and that’s exactly what Augusta demands. You don’t need to go nuclear — you need to survive the course’s most volatile stretch.

And if the winning formula continues — playing Amen Corner at 2-under or better — Scheffler is as safe a bet as there is in modern golf.

Prediction: Scottie Scheffler wins the 2026 Masters.

The Dark Horse: Brooks Koepka Lurking

If you’re looking beyond the obvious, the name that jumps out from your notes is Brooks Koepka.

Five major championships. Zero green jackets.

That’s not just a stat — it’s a flashing neon sign.

Koepka lives for majors, and Augusta is the one gap in his résumé. Historically, players of his caliber don’t stay shut out forever. The list you cited — Trevino, Thomson, Els — tells us elite players without Masters wins tend to either break through… or become trivia.

Koepka doesn’t feel like trivia.

What makes him dangerous this week:

He thrives in high-pressure, major setups.

He has the discipline to navigate Amen Corner — the exact trait your key stat highlights.

He’s motivated by legacy now, not just wins.

If Scheffler stumbles even slightly, Koepka is the type of player who doesn’t just contend — he closes.

Dark Horse Pick: Brooks Koepka

Final Thought

Augusta doesn’t reward chaos — it rewards precision, patience, and experience. The numbers you pulled reinforce that this isn’t the place for flukes.

That’s why this week likely comes down to two types:

The best player in the world playing like it

Or a proven major killer finally filling in the last blank on his résumé

This year, the smart money says those two paths belong to Scheffler… and Koepka lurking right behind him.

Jason Day’s Masters Wardrobe Draws Augusta National’s Attention—Again

Jason Day is once again turning heads at The Masters Tournament—and not just for his play.

One year after tournament officials encouraged a more traditional look, Day’s bold fashion choices have reportedly sparked renewed concern at Augusta National Golf Club.

The former world No. 1, who parted ways with Nike in early 2024 to sign with Malbon Golf, debuted the company’s eye-catching “Birds of Georgia” collection earlier this week. On Monday, Day wore a vibrant, bird-themed shirt that quickly drew attention. While the outfit was originally designed to include matching pants, reports indicate tournament officials stepped in, asking him to switch to solid-colored trousers instead.

Additional pieces planned for the week—including a birdwatcher-inspired vest for practice rounds—continue the nature-driven theme. Fellow pro Sungjae Im, also sponsored by Malbon, is expected to wear similar bird-print designs. The collection features native species such as cardinals, blue jays, and eastern bluebirds.

Malbon Golf founder Stephen Malbon said the inspiration goes beyond aesthetics. He noted the designs are rooted in a connection to nature, even sharing bird sounds with Day in the lead-up to the tournament in hopes of sharpening his focus on the course.

This isn’t Day’s first run-in with Masters fashion expectations. In 2024, he made headlines with baggy pants and a bold sweater vest featuring oversized branding. Tournament officials asked him to remove the vest mid-round, a request he honored, later saying he didn’t want his outfit to become a distraction.

Despite the wardrobe buzz, Day’s track record at Augusta remains strong. The Australian finished runner-up in his Masters debut in 2011 and is making his 15th appearance at the storied venue this week.

2026 Valero Texas Open: Unpacking the Favorites and Eyeing a Dark Horse Contender

The Valero Texas Open, the final stop before golf's first major, the Masters, is teeing off this week at TPC San Antonio's Oaks course. While some big names like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are absent, the field is still strong, and predictions are swirling about who will claim the title. Early insights suggest a wide-open tournament, with many experts disagreeing on a definitive favorite.

The Contenders

The latest odds from FanDuel position Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg as co-favorites, both at +1500 (cbssports.com). Jordan Spieth and Russell Henley are close behind at +1600, with Robert MacIntyre at +2000 (cbssports.com).

SportsLine's proprietary model, which has an impressive track record including nailing 16 majors, simulated the tournament 10,000 times (cbssports.com). Interestingly, the model projects that Russell Henley, despite being one of the favorites, may barely crack the top five.

Another player garnering attention is Sepp Straka (29-1, DraftKings). Despite battling "chronic Tommy Fleetwood syndrome" (struggling with one bad round each week), Straka has finished in the top 15 in three of his last four signature events (golfdigest.com). His strong tee-to-green performance this year makes him a compelling choice, especially against a slightly weaker field this week.

The Dark Horse: Robert MacIntyre

While not a complete longshot, Robert MacIntyre at 20-1 (BetRivers) presents an intriguing dark horse pick. The Texas terrain, with its emphasis on short game, could play to MacIntyre's strengths. He has been exceptional off the tee and on the green this season, and his irons showed significant improvement at The Players, where he finished fourth (golfdigest.com). In his previous start at TPC San Antonio, he gained two strokes on the field tee-to-green and another two strokes with his putter, indicating his potential on this course (golfdigest.com). Given his strong form and suitability for the course, MacIntyre could surprise many and contend for the win.

Other potential "sleeper" picks include Keith Mitchell (+3000 at BetMGM), who has a strong history at the Valero Texas Open and an excellent tee game, and Denny McCarthy (+3300 at BetMGM), who has logged four Top 20 finishes in six career starts at this event, including a runner-up finish in 2024 (sports.yahoo.com).

The Valero Texas Open promises an exciting prelude to the Masters, with a field where any golfer could emerge victorious. While the favorites are certainly strong contenders, keeping an eye on players like Robert MacIntyre could lead to a surprising, and potentially very rewarding, outcome.

Masters, Prime Video to Debut New Amen Corner Feed

The Masters and Prime Video are debuting a new data-based feed around this year’s tournament. Prime Video last fall announced it was picking up four hours of Masters coverage for the first time in 2026: 1-3 p.m. ET on both Thursday and Friday.

But now the streamer has added a feed specifically for coverage around Amen Corner -- Augusta National’s famed 11th, 12th and 13th holes. The coverage, dubbed “Inside Amen Corner,” will air on Prime from approximately 10:45 a.m.-6 p.m. on the weekdays, and approximately 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m. on the weekend, covering only those holes. The coverage is in line with Prime Video’s “Prime Vision” alternate stream around its NFL games.

Inside Amen Corner, as Prime Vision is, will be data and stats-based and will have its own dedicated commentary team, which hasn’t yet been announced. The debut of the new feed on Prime comes 20 years after Augusta National debuted “Amen Corner Live,” the popular online stream that covers those same three holes.

Fitzpatrick Wins Through Frustration, Takes Aim at Slow Play at Valspar

Matthew Fitzpatrick finally returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour — but not without voicing a familiar frustration along the way.

The Englishman captured the Valspar Championship, shooting a steady three-under 68 on Sunday. Yet his victory came amid what he described as a disruptive, stop-and-start pace of play.

“That was really frustrating. It was slow today,” Fitzpatrick said afterward. “There was a lot of stop-start.”

Though he stopped short of naming his playing partner, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, the context was clear. Fitzpatrick’s comments echoed years of criticism he’s directed at slow play and the Tour’s handling of it — a stance he has previously labeled “appalling” and “a disgrace.”

The issue became particularly noticeable during a difficult stretch for Dumont de Chassart, whose round unraveled early with a triple-bogey 8 after hitting his opening tee shot out of bounds. Another 8 later in the round only compounded matters — along with the time it took to recover from those mistakes.

At one point, Fitzpatrick even played out of turn in an effort to keep things moving and eventually asked a rules official to intervene. NBC on-course reporter John Wood described Fitzpatrick as “perturbed,” while noting the pace was “glacial, to be kind.”

Rules official Orlando Pope confirmed that Dumont de Chassart was being monitored, which ultimately resulted in an official warning — though no penalty was issued.

Fitzpatrick pointed to a key distinction: high scores can naturally slow a round, but being unprepared to hit only makes matters worse.

“When you’re not ready to play a golf shot, it gets frustrating,” he said. “Especially when you’re playing well or in contention. It knocks you out of your rhythm.”

That disruption lingered for several holes, as Fitzpatrick tried to balance maintaining pace with staying focused on winning.

Still, he managed both.

Despite the interruptions, Fitzpatrick held on to secure his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years. Dumont de Chassart, meanwhile, finished T26 with a 74 — avoiding penalties but drawing attention to a long-debated issue.

Slow play remains one of golf’s most persistent challenges. It has been nearly a decade since the PGA Tour last issued a stroke penalty for pace-of-play violations, and while new measures have been discussed, meaningful enforcement remains elusive.

For Fitzpatrick, it’s more of the same conversation — one he’s not sure will ever lead to real change.

But on this Sunday, at least, it didn’t cost him the trophy.

Final Tune-Up Before Augusta: Deep Field Headlines 2026 Valspar Championship

With The Players Championship now in the rearview, attention naturally begins to drift toward The Masters. But before the season’s first major takes center stage, the Valspar Championship offers one final proving ground on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort.

Though not designated as a signature event, this year’s Valspar field is anything but lacking. A strong mix of major champions and rising stars arrives in Palm Harbor, Florida looking to sharpen their games before heading down Magnolia Lane.

Among the headliners, Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick come in riding momentum after strong performances at TPC Sawgrass, where both chased down eventual champion Cameron Young.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline belongs to Justin Thomas. After a rocky season debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the two-time major winner rebounded with a T8 finish at The Players. Now, he returns to a course that has consistently treated him well, still in search of a long-overdue victory at Copperhead.

Past champions Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland also enter the week with something to prove. Spieth continues to battle inconsistency and costly mistakes, while Hovland looks to rein in his driver despite otherwise solid results. Both, however, have already shown they can conquer this demanding par-71 layout when their games click.

Recent winners are adding even more intrigue. Akshay Bhatia and Jacob Bridgeman will each tee it up for a third consecutive week after impressive showings at Sawgrass. They’re joined by a deep supporting cast that includes Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Corey Conners and Sahith Theegala—all capable of contending come Sunday.

The tournament runs March 19–22 on the 7,352-yard Copperhead Course, a Larry Packard design known for demanding precision over power. With a $9.1 million purse and one last chance to build momentum before Augusta, the stakes feel higher than ever for a non-signature stop.

Picks to Watch

Winner: Akshay Bhatia (22-1)

Bhatia’s iron play was elite at TPC Sawgrass, and his confidence is surging. After a recent win and a solid showing last year at Copperhead, he looks primed to break through again.

Contender: Matt McCarty (60-1)

His putter has kept him competitive, and if his ball-striking rebounds, he has the tools to climb the leaderboard quickly.

Sleeper: Bud Cauley (75-1)

Quietly consistent, Cauley’s tee-to-green game and short-game touch make him a dangerous under-the-radar pick.

As the Florida Swing comes to a close, the Valspar Championship serves as more than just a stopgap—it’s a litmus test. For some, it’s about fine-tuning. For others, it’s about finding something—anything—before the bright lights of Augusta.

The Fifth Major We’ve Been Missing: Why the John Deere Classic Deserves a Bigger Stage

Every year, the debate begins again.

Golf has four majors — The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. But for decades, fans and media have searched for a “fifth major.”

That label is most often attached to The Players Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.

But if golf were truly looking for a tournament that captures the heart of the game — the fans, the tradition, the players, and the spirit of competition — there’s another event quietly making a compelling case.

The unlikely contender?

The John Deere Classic.

A Tournament That Represents Golf’s Soul

Modern professional golf can sometimes feel distant from its roots. Massive corporate tents. Ticket prices that rival major sporting events. Courses that feel more like stadiums than communities.

The John Deere Classic is different.

Played at TPC Deere Run in the small Midwest community of Silvis, Illinois, the tournament embraces something many events have lost: accessibility. Fans walk alongside players. Volunteers know the competitors by name. And the atmosphere feels less like a spectacle and more like a celebration of the game.

If majors are meant to represent the pinnacle of golf, they should also represent its spirit. Few events do that better.

A Proven Launchpad for Stars

While the biggest names sometimes skip the week before The Open, the John Deere Classic has become one of the TOUR’s most important proving grounds.

Consider the list of players who announced themselves here:

Jordan Spieth captured his first PGA TOUR victory at the event in 2013 at just 19 years old.

Bryson DeChambeau won in 2017 during his rise toward becoming one of golf’s most polarizing and dominant figures.

Zach Johnson built his reputation with multiple victories in the Quad Cities before becoming a major champion.

The John Deere Classic doesn’t just crown champions. It introduces future stars.

The Best Week in Golf for Charity

If championships are measured by impact, the John Deere Classic quietly outperforms many of the sport’s biggest events.

The tournament has raised well over $170 million for charity, making it one of the most successful charitable events in professional golf history.

That impact reaches throughout the Quad Cities region and beyond, turning a single week of golf into a year-round force for good.

In an era where sports leagues increasingly talk about “community engagement,” the John Deere Classic doesn’t just talk about it — it delivers.

A Course That Demands Birdies — and Nerves

Majors are known for brutal difficulty, but greatness in golf can also come from pressure-packed scoring.

At TPC Deere Run, the winning score often pushes past 20-under-par. That means constant aggression, late charges, and Sunday leaderboards packed with players making birdies.

The result? One of the most entertaining finishes on the PGA TOUR calendar nearly every year.

It’s not survival golf. It’s shootout golf.

And fans love it.

Golf’s Most Underrated Atmosphere

While many TOUR stops feel transactional, the John Deere Classic has a sense of belonging.

Players routinely praise the hospitality. Families return year after year. Volunteers number in the thousands.

For many pros, it’s one of the most enjoyable weeks of the season — even if it doesn’t yet carry the prestige of the majors.

Maybe that’s the real argument.

The best tournaments in golf shouldn’t just be the hardest or the richest. They should be the ones players and fans genuinely love.

A Different Kind of “Fifth Major”

The truth is, the John Deere Classic will probably never be officially labeled a major.

But maybe that’s beside the point.

Majors represent the best of golf. Tradition. Competition. Community. History.

By those standards, the John Deere Classic already belongs in the conversation.

Golf may already have a fifth major.

It just happens to be in the cornfields of Illinois.

If It’s Not Scottie or Rory, Who Wins THE PLAYERS?

Every year at The Players Championship, the conversation usually starts with two names: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.

And for good reason. Scheffler has been the most dominant player in the world over the last two seasons, while McIlroy’s power and experience make him a threat every time he tees it up at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.

But let’s make things interesting.

If you can’t pick Scheffler or McIlroy, who is the best bet to win golf’s unofficial “fifth major”?

My pick: Collin Morikawa.

Why Morikawa Fits Sawgrass

TPC Sawgrass isn’t a course that simply rewards power. Precision is everything. Players must control their ball off the tee, hit exact iron distances, and avoid the water lurking on nearly every hole.

That’s exactly where Morikawa thrives.

Few players in the world strike their irons as purely as the two-time major champion. His ability to consistently hit greens and attack pins makes him perfectly suited for a course that punishes even slight mistakes.

If the putter cooperates for four days, Morikawa has the type of tee-to-green game that can separate him from the field.

Momentum Matters

Form heading into The Players often tells a story. Morikawa has been trending in the right direction, stacking strong finishes and looking increasingly comfortable with his game.

Confidence can be a powerful weapon at Sawgrass, where momentum can shift quickly and players must stay patient through a demanding layout.

If Morikawa keeps giving himself birdie chances with his irons, he’ll be in the mix when the tournament reaches the pressure cooker of Sunday afternoon.

A Few Names to Watch

Even beyond Morikawa, there are several players who feel primed for a run at The Players.

Ludvig Åberg continues to look like a future superstar and has the ball-striking ability to dominate any course.

Akshay Bhatia enters with serious momentum after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, showing he’s capable of closing against elite competition.

And then there’s Tommy Fleetwood, whose all-around game and experience in big events make him a dangerous contender whenever the stage gets bigger.

The Prediction

Sawgrass always produces a little chaos. Water, wind, and pressure have a way of creating dramatic Sundays.

But if it’s not Scheffler.

And it’s not McIlroy.

Don’t be surprised if Collin Morikawa is the one lifting the trophy on the 18th green.

And if that happens, it likely comes with a winning score somewhere around 13- or 14-under par — right in the sweet spot for a classic Players Championship finish.

Teen Phenom Blades Brown Nearly Makes History at Puerto Rico Open as Bhatia Wins Big at Bay Hill

Two PGA Tour events produced dramatically different stories on Sunday — a stunning comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a teenage star who came within striking distance of history at the Puerto Rico Open.

At Bay Hill, Akshay Bhatia delivered a charge worthy of Arnold Palmer himself.

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, 18-year-old Blades Brown nearly became the youngest PGA Tour winner in nearly a century before a single disastrous hole derailed his bid.

Bhatia’s Bay Hill comeback

Bhatia appeared out of the tournament early Sunday when he missed a 30-inch par putt that left him five shots behind. But the 24-year-old responded with the kind of fearless play Palmer famously preached.

“You must play boldly to win,” Palmer often said — and Bhatia did exactly that.

He ignited the back nine with four straight birdies, including a 60-foot bomb on the 11th. Suddenly the tournament at Bay Hill was alive.

With three holes to play, Bhatia was two shots back. On the par-5 16th, he launched a towering 6-iron at a tucked pin. The ball nearly dropped for albatross before settling inches away, setting up a short eagle and tying the lead.

The drama carried into the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999 against Daniel Berger. Berger’s par putt on the first extra hole slid by the cup, leaving Bhatia two putts from inside 30 feet to secure the victory.

He calmly rolled them in to capture his third PGA Tour title — and the biggest yet — at the $20 million signature event.

“If he was up there watching, he’s probably pretty proud of how that finished,” Bhatia said, wearing the tournament’s signature red cardigan.

The victory pushes Bhatia inside the world’s top 20 as the PGA Tour heads toward the Masters.

Blades Brown’s near-history in Puerto Rico

While Bhatia celebrated in Florida, a teenage prodigy was making headlines in Puerto Rico.

Brown entered the final round at Grand Reserve chasing history. At 18, the rising star had a chance to become the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931.

And for much of Sunday, it looked possible.

Brown held a one-shot lead with six holes to play, showing the poise of a veteran despite turning pro just last year — months after graduating high school.

Then came the 13th hole.

His tee shot found a fairway bunker, and his approach toward a green guarded by water drifted right and splashed into the hazard. After the drop, Brown got aggressive again and ran his wedge over the green. The result: triple bogey.

In the span of minutes, Brown went from leading the tournament to trailing by four.

He regrouped admirably, finishing with a 69 and birdieing the final hole to secure solo third, his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour.

The title ultimately went to Ricky Castillo, who capitalized on Brown’s stumble. Castillo made back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and closed with a bogey-free 67 to finish at 17-under, one shot ahead of Chandler Blanchet.

Despite the heartbreak, Brown left Puerto Rico with a breakthrough performance and a spot in the Valspar Championship.

For a player still technically a teenager, it was another sign that one of golf’s brightest young stars is already knocking on the door.

And if Sunday proved anything, it’s that Brown might not have to wait long for his first PGA Tour win.

Lowry’s Dream Finish Sinks in the Water at PGA National

(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) — Shane Lowry had already pictured the moment.

With a three-shot lead and three holes to play at the Cognizant Classic, the Irishman imagined his 4-year-old daughter — fiery red hair bouncing — racing across the 18th green at PGA National to celebrate his victory.

Instead, she watched her father’s title hopes disappear into the water.

Lowry’s commanding lead unraveled in stunning fashion Sunday when he carded back-to-back double bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes, tumbling into a tie for second — two shots behind Colombia’s Nico Echavarria.

“I wanted it so bad,” Lowry said. “Just to see her little ginger hair running down the 18th green would have been the most special thing in the world. I thought I had it. I thought I was going to win.”

For much of the afternoon, it looked inevitable.

But at the par-4 16th — the start of PGA National’s treacherous “Bear Trap” — Lowry’s trusted 3-iron drifted badly right and splashed into the water. After a penalty drop, a wedge back to the fairway and a bunker visit, he salvaged a double bogey.

Moments later, Echavarria seized the opening. His tee shot at the par-3 17th settled inside 10 feet. The birdie putt dropped, and he punched the air as Lowry’s advantage evaporated in a stunning five-shot swing.

Lowry’s struggles weren’t over. Another wayward tee shot at 17 found water, leading to a second consecutive double bogey. Just like that, the tournament was gone.

“I’m obviously extremely disappointed,” Lowry said. “I had the tournament in my hands, and I threw it away. What more can I say? That’s twice this year now so far. I’m getting good at it. … I played unbelievable all day, and one bad shot on 16 completely threw me for the last three holes.”

The collapse echoed an earlier heartbreak this season. At the Dubai Invitational in January, Lowry stood on the 72nd hole with the lead, only to make double bogey when a par would have secured a playoff berth.

His history at PGA National has been equally complicated. He has now finished 11th or better five straight years, including a near miss in 2022 when a sudden rainstorm hit the final hole and altered the tournament’s finish.

“I was beaten that day,” Lowry said. “But I beat myself today.”

Lowry, 38, hasn’t won an individual PGA Tour title in the United States since the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational. He did team with Rory McIlroy to capture the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and played a pivotal role in Europe’s victory at the 2023 Ryder Cup, sealing the win with the clinching putt.

That made Sunday’s sting all the more puzzling.

“How do I feel like this now when I went through what I did last September and got through that fine?” Lowry said. “I just felt like it was weird out there; I couldn’t feel the clubface the last three holes after my tee shot on 16. It was strange. What can I say? It’s very disappointing. This is going to be hard to take.”

For three holes, Lowry had the tournament — and a father’s dream — firmly in his grasp.

Then the water took both.

Rory McIlroy Pushes Back on ‘Fifth Major’ Talk as Brandel Chamblee Elevates The Players Above the Majors

Rory McIlroy isn’t buying the “fifth major” label — even as others in the golf world are trying to crown The Players Championship as something even bigger.

Speaking ahead of the 2026 U.S. season debut at Pebble Beach, McIlroy made it clear he has little appetite for rebranding The Players Championship, despite the PGA Tour’s renewed interest in elevating its flagship event. In fact, his stance comes as Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee recently went a step further, boldly claiming The Players is not just a fifth major — but better than the four traditional majors.

McIlroy? He’s not on board.

“Look, I’d love to have seven majors instead of five, that sounds great,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “But I’m a traditionalist, I’m a historian of the game. We have four major championships.”

For McIlroy, the hierarchy in golf is settled history: the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. Full stop.

The debate has resurfaced amid broader conversations about how the PGA Tour can grow its product — including adopting certain elements of the NFL model under former NFL executive Brian Rolapp. The Tour has examined everything from schedule adjustments to marketing strategies, and with that has come renewed attention on The Players as its marquee, Tour-owned spectacle.

The NFL has the Super Bowl — a singular, culture-stopping event that defines its season. The PGA Tour doesn’t quite have that equivalent. The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is the closest thing, boasting one of the strongest fields in golf and one of its most recognizable finishing holes. But McIlroy believes it doesn’t need a new title to validate its importance.

“It’s the Players. It doesn’t need to be anything else,” he said. “I would say it’s got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute. From an identity standpoint, I think the Players has got it nailed. It stands on its own without the label.”

That comment alone subtly underscores the tension. While McIlroy respects The Players’ stature — even suggesting it currently has a clearer identity than one of the four majors — he draws a firm line at rewriting history to elevate it.

Chamblee, however, has no such reservations. The outspoken analyst recently argued that The Players boasts a deeper field than any of the majors and, from a competitive standpoint, surpasses them all. In his view, the concentration of top-ranked players and the difficulty of Pete Dye’s Stadium Course make it golf’s strongest championship — regardless of legacy.

It’s a compelling argument in the modern era, where strength of field can be measured precisely. But for McIlroy, majors are about more than numbers.

They’re about history. Ritual. Cultural weight. Augusta in April. The U.S. Open’s grind. The Open’s links tradition. The Wanamaker Trophy.

“You want to see what five major championships looks like, look at the women’s game,” McIlroy added. “I don’t know how well that’s went for them.”

His point wasn’t dismissive so much as philosophical: adding labels doesn’t automatically create prestige. Prestige is earned over generations.

Ironically, as the PGA Tour looks to the NFL for inspiration — studying its short season, marketing cadence and event-building genius — McIlroy himself admits he’s not even much of a football fan.

“I’ve tried really hard with football,” he said. “I could watch a game of cricket for five days and be mesmerized. I didn’t grow up with it.”

Still, he appreciates the NFL’s model from a business standpoint. What he doesn’t seem ready to embrace is manufacturing a Super Bowl equivalent in golf by decree.

For now, McIlroy’s stance is clear: The Players Championship is elite. It’s essential. It might even have a sharper identity than one of the majors.

But it’s not a fifth major — and certainly not superior to the four that have defined the game for more than a century.

Whether that traditionalist view holds as the Tour evolves remains to be seen. But if the Players debate proves anything, it’s this: in modern golf, even history isn’t immune from revision attempts.

Can the Players Ever Be a Major? The PGA Tour Wants It to Be — History Isn’t So Sure

Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour’s still-new CEO, understands a stubborn truth about the sport he now runs: the Tour doesn’t own golf’s most precious real estate. The Masters belongs to Augusta National. The Ryder Cup belongs to everyone and no one. The British Open, U.S. Open and PGA Championship have histories and custodians far older than the modern Tour.

Brandel Chamblee

What the Tour does own is the Players Championship — born as the Tournament Players Championship in 1974 and permanently housed at TPC Sawgrass since 1982. If the Tour has a signature event, this is it. And if the Tour had its way, winning the Players would be celebrated on the same plane as winning a major.

That push was on full display again this week at the WM Phoenix Open, where Brandel Chamblee said, “The Players, to me, stands alone and above the other four major championships as not just a major — it is, in my estimation, the best major.”

Chamblee has been making some version of this argument for years. Context matters. He played the event a dozen times. He has covered it annually for Golf Channel since 2004. Golf Channel, of course, is contractually tied to the PGA Tour through 2030 and serves as the Tour’s primary Thursday–Friday broadcast partner. None of that makes Chamblee a mouthpiece — his career has been defined by independent thinking — but it does make him human. Human nature is undefeated.

His latest comments arrived neatly alongside the Tour’s new promotional push for the Players, which runs March 12–15. As my colleague Dylan Dethier noted, the Tour’s slick new 30-second ad closes with a bold proclamation in all caps: “MARCH IS GOING TO BE MAJOR.” The soundtrack is a pulsing 2016 club hit — an aesthetic more at home in Ibiza than in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Marketing can elevate an event’s vibe. It cannot manufacture its meaning.

Meaning comes from memory. Tiger Woods made Torrey Pines sacred in 2008 because of what that U.S. Open demanded of him — and what he gave back. You can’t quantify that kind of resonance. There’s no metric for it, no algorithm to reverse-engineer it. It simply accumulates, over decades, through moments that lodge themselves in our collective imagination.

Some players do buy the Tour’s argument. Michael Kim responded on X to Dylan’s story by saying he’d “honestly be prouder of winning the Players over the PGA.” I don’t doubt his sincerity. The Players purse now dwarfs the PGA Championship’s — Rory McIlroy earned $1 million more for winning at Sawgrass last year than Scottie Scheffler did for winning the PGA.

But would Scheffler trade titles with McIlroy? Not for a second. He’s chasing history, the same way Tiger, Jack, Phil, Rory, Watson, Seve and every other all-time great chased it. And history still lives with the majors — all four of them.

You can argue, if you like, that men’s golf really has only three Grand Slam events: the Masters and the two Opens. The math gets uncomfortable fast. Jack Nicklaus won five PGAs, often against fields filled with club professionals. Tiger Woods won four, against deeper fields on more demanding courses. Remove the PGA from the ledger and Nicklaus drops from 18 majors to 13. Woods from 15 to 11. Tom Watson stays at eight; Arnold Palmer stays at seven.

That accounting will never stick — not because it’s illogical, but because it’s impossible. Too many players, too many places, too much memory stand in the way. You don’t casually demote Hogan at Oakland Hills or Koepka at Bethpage. You don’t reclassify Pebble Beach or Olympic Club with a press release.

If the PGA Championship truly wanted to separate itself from the other majors, it would need radical imagination — say, an annual Pebble Beach home with a 54-hole stroke-play qualifier followed by a weekend match-play finish at Cypress Point. That’s a fight for another decade.

For now, the Players remains what it has always been: the Tour’s crown jewel, its richest prize, its most polished product — and not a major.

Which begs a response to Chamblee’s claim that the Players is the first of five majors: Have you ever met a kid on a sunburned August afternoon, standing over a five-footer on a beat-up practice green, whispering to himself, “This is for the Players”?