Claiming the coveted PGA Championship title is one of the four steps any golfer needs to take if they want to become a Grand Slam winner.

The second Major of the golfing season is unique in that it's the only Major that only allows professionals to compete, giving it an extra air of prestige.

The event has been running since way back in 1916, when a match play format was used, before converting to strokeplay in 1958 and becoming the tournament we know and love today.

Of course, with great prestige comes great payouts, and the PGA Championship purse is naturally among the biggest in the golfing world.

Winning the Wanamaker Trophy is one thing, but landing a share of the huge purse is a very nice bonus indeed.

While Jack Nicklaus holds the records for the most wins at the PGA Championship (during the strokeplay era), he doesn't come close to featuring on the all-time list of top earners from the event.

Interestingly, when we look at the top 10 earners in PGA Championship history, there are two golfers who haven't actually won the tournament.

Justin Rose takes tenth place, with earnings of $3,540,011 across a whopping 23 events. The British star's best finish at the PGA Championship was a tie for third back in 2012, which earned him $384,500.

Bryson DeChambeau is also on the list in seventh with earnings of $4,636,217. He's racked up that impressive amount from just eight involvements in the PGA Championship, with back-to-back second place finishes in 2024 and 2025 earning him $2,837,332 alone.

It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise, at least when you really think about it, that Brooks Koepka is at the top of the PGA Championship money list. He's won the tournament more than anyone else in the past couple of decades with three triumphs coming in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

Koepka is clear out in front, too, with earnings of $9,456,726 from 13 events putting him well ahead of Tiger Woods, who comes in second place with winnings of $7,354,862 from 23 events.

Woods did win the tournament four times (in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007), but the money on offer back then is nothing compared to where the game of golf is now.

With 32 involvements, Phil Mickelson is the golfer in the top 10 who has featured in the PGA Championship the most, and his earnings of $6,510,066 put him third in the all-time list.

That's not much of a shock considering Lefty also made the cut in 27 out of those 32 events with two victories.

He's followed by another two-time winner, Rory McIlroy. His wins in 2012 and 2014 earned him a combined $3,245,000 towards his total of $6,349,228 over the years.

Rounding out the top five is 2025 PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler. That win secured Scheffler $3.42m last year, and he's already earned $6,152,768 from just six events.

The rest of the top 10 includes Justin Thomas ($5,672,581) thanks to his two victories at the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2022.

2015 champion Jason Day ($4,369,608) is in eighth place and Xander Schauffele, who won in 2024, comes in ninth with earnings of $4,363,822 across nine involvements in the PGA Championship.

Another triumph this year for McIlroy or Scheffler would send them to the top of the pile ahead of Koepka, but that man will be desperate to add a fourth title to his name and extend his lead at the top of the money list.

Many people have highlighted the risk Justin Rose could be taking in making his big move to McLaren Golf - but the man himself has no issues after revealing just how much input he's had in developing the newest club manufacturer's irons that've just been launched.

The question had to be asked. Rose is 45 but playing some of the best golf of his career, still winning on the PGA Tour and still challenging in Majors.

So is joining McLaren Golf a smart move for Rose? It looks a risk on paper, but since the Englishman says he's been involved from the start, he doesn't see it that way.

And in fact, he says that years of being an equipment free agent have taught him exactly what he wants from his irons - needs which he's fed in to McLaren Golf's development.

"It's something I've been involved with from the outset, really helping the engineering team, really testing the very first editions of the club," Rose said when explaining the move ahead of the Cadillac Championship.

"So yeah, I've been kind of working with the project for well over a year probably.

"Clubs are feeling great. Obviously a lot of my own preferences have gone into the irons that I'm playing. I'm excited to finally get them in the bag and sort of just enjoy them now for the rest of the season. "

Rose referenced his ill-fated spell with Honma and says he's learned a lot from that 2019 move and feels in a "better place now to kind of go down this path" with McLaren Golf.

And after spending so long as a free agent he's been able to chop and change his bag at will, which has given him definitive answers on what he wants in his irons - so as opposed to joining a new manufacturer and having to adapt to the product, Rose has shaped the new McLaren irons himself.

"Do you know what, I don't think I've been playing the perfect set of clubs for me," Rose explained.

"I think when you're not with an equipment manufacturer, there's a little bit of temptation just to bounce around anyway there's so many good options out there.

"But at the same time I've learned so much from being brand agnostic for a while that I kind of have my own preference list now. I feel like I'm in an environment where I can take all my preferences to one place where they can execute on that for me.

"So from my point of view, no, I'm actually looking at what can be better. I'm looking to mitigate risk.

"I think there's some best practices that we're kind of, we've sort of put into development really that I think are giving me what I feel are a fantastic set of golf clubs.

"I'm looking at some of the performance data that I'm getting on the range and places like that and out performing what I have. So that's the exciting part for me.

"Obviously there's going to be a refinement process. You can test all you want, you got to get the clubs in play, and there's going to be little mini situations out there, different lies, all sorts of things, just getting comfortable. But in the long-term, no, I don't see there being an issue at all."

More to come for McLaren Golf?

Fellow Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter has also put McLaren irons into his bag and Michelle Wie West is a third big name to join as a player and investor.

Rose says McLaren "want to operate in that sort of high end, high performance category" rather than as a mass manufacturer and that after texting with Poulter about his experiences with the clubs, there could be more to follow.

"I think it's an opportunity for a lot of players to sort of test it, to explore what we've been working on," said Rose, who will no doubt attract a lot of attention on the driving ranges of upcoming PGA Tour events.

Rose will use a mix of the new McLaren Golf irons from 4-iron through to wedge, with the majority the bladed Series 1 but a 4-iron, and possibly 5-iron, from the more forgiving Series 3.

"I got the two sets available. I got the 1s and 3s. The 1s are very much a good player blade. The 3s are very much more your approachable mid handicap style club, which is just performing so well in my long irons that I can't not put it in," said Rose.

And although irons are the only clubs released so far, Rose says he could well combine with McLaren Golf on the rest of the bag later on in the process, including woods and putters.

"I think it will be ultimately hopefully doing everything at some point," Rose said. "I got lots of ideas on every part of the game. This is a good place for me to be able to put my ideas down and let the smart engineers go figure it out."

There is always so much emotion stirring among golf fans in the immediate aftermath of Major championships, with hot takes aplenty doing the rounds.

Some have more substance than others. From "Rory McIlroy could complete the double Career Grand Slam" to "Jon Rahm's poor Major form is all down to LIV Golf and he might be coming back to the PGA Tour soon" - these knee-jerk reactions are common.

As it relates to Justin Rose, the common theme among even some of his most ardent supporters in the aftermath of a disappointing Masters Sunday is that the Englishman's quest for a second Major is probably over.

A T3rd result in 2026 means Rose has now ended second or third at The Masters on four separate occasions over his career without winning. The only man with more top-3 results minus a a Green Jacket is Greg Norman with six.

Recency bias, combined with previous near-misses, makes it so easy to write Rose off now. But I don't think this is the end of his Major chances.

Of course three bogeys on the second nine at Augusta National at the crucial stage of the tournament is never going to be enough, but to look at one nine-hole stretch is too short-sighted.

Considering the wider context, I believe the 45-year-old will have several more opportunities to add to his 2013 US Open victory - and potentially at the year's first Major.

The simple facts are these. Rose was leading The Masters through 63 holes. Results prove the course clearly suits his game and all those years of experience are only going to further enhance his understanding of what to do and where he can miss. Then it's about executing.

As far as producing the shots go, the man can still clearly play. Rose averaged almost 305 yards off the tee at Augusta National last week (32nd), he hit just over 80% of all fairways (T9th) and found more than 72% of all greens (T5th).

Going back further, Rose absolutely obliterated the Farmer's Insurance Open field at Torrey Pines back in February to win by seven strokes.

Then look at McIlroy, who is now a two-time champion. It took him 17 attempts to win one before he finally cracked the code.

Yes, McIlroy is nine years younger than Rose, but so what? Rose keeps such good care of his body with an incredibly disciplined program that age - to him - does truly seem to be just a number.

And speaking of figures, Rose is World No.4 again. That proves his performances of late are not flashes in the pan - as is the case for a few of his more junior multi-Major winning peers - and he remains one of the most consistent performers on the planet.

He's still playing at an incredibly high level around the world - proved by another outstanding performance at the Ryder Cup last September - and this has been the case for a long time.

Plus, not only does Rose have six top-10s at The Masters since 2015, he has also produced a top-10 in at least one of the four Majors every season aside from 2022 during that time. Who says the end is in sight?

Providing he retains that hunger and desire to compete at the top level and continues to enjoy the process, Rose's chances of Major glory should remain high.

And, by the sounds of his comments at the end of The 2026 Masters, Rose is still well up for the fight.

He said: "I would say in the last sort of two years I've really kind of re-kicked on and re-energized my career and myself and have a lot of belief in myself that there is a lot of runway ahead.

"I think there was a tough period early sort of 2021. '22, '23. Really feel like middle of '23 onwards kind of feel like I played some good golf.

"These are the tournaments I focus on. These are the tournaments why I practice. These are the tournaments that get me going that sort of extra mile to sort of have to show up and keep being in these great arenas is kind of why I practice, yeah."

Rose clearly still believes in his chances of more Major glory, and so do I.

What do you think? Can Rose win another Major before retiring or do you believe that's it for him? Let us know in the comments box below.

Age is just a number for Justin Rose, who continues to be one of the very best players on the PGA Tour despite now being 45-years-old.

He's won plenty of big events, including the 2013 US Open, but the Majors have eluded the Englishman for most of his career.

That bittersweet defeat to Rory McIlroy at The Masters in 2025 was the third time Rose has been runner-up at Augusta National. Even seeing his good friend secure the Green Jacket will not really have softened that blow.

Still, Rose is a titan of the game and a vital member of Europe's Ryder Cup team over the last 18 years, winning five times in golf's ultimate event.

He's hugely popular among his peers and the fact he is still battling it out at the very top of the golfing world speaks volumes for his talent and perisistence.

Indeed, few would begrudge Rose another Major or two. But, it's the key figures around him that have helped keep him on track for success all these years. Let's take a look at who they are.

Justin Rose's Caddie - Mark 'Fooch' Fulcher

Rose has been strutting his stuff in the public eye since 1998 and has been supported by a number of different caddies during that time.

While Gareth Lord, David Clark, and Josh Cassell have had big roles to play in Rose's career, it's Mark 'Fooch' Fulcher who has been the most constant presence on the bag.

Fulcher worked with Rose between 2008 and 2019 during arguably his most successful period. Together, they won nine PGA Tour titles, five DP World Tour trophies, and secured that Major victory at Merion.

After parting ways for a few years, Rose reunited with 'Fooch' in 2023 for the Ryder Cup in Rome. Fulcher has been Justin Rose's caddie since then, helping him recapture his best form.

Justin Rose's Wife - Kate Rose

Behind every great man is a great woman, and Kate Rose has been alongside Rose since they met in 2000. Kate previously worked for IMG, a sports media agency who represented Rose, and she would travel to events he was participating in.

The pair got married in December 2006, and they now have two children together. Their son, Leo, was born in 2009, and Lottie was born three years later.

Together, Justin Rose and his wife have done great things for the world of golf. They started the Rose Ladies Series in 2020, and also founded the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation in 2009, which helps fight childhood hunger in Orlando.

Kate is a regular patron at most of the PGA Tour events and, of course, the Ryder Cup, cheering on Justin from behind the ropes.

Justin Rose's Swing Coach - Mark Blackburn

Since 2023, Rose has worked with swing coach Mark Blackburn to improve his overall game, and it seems to have worked.

Blackburn takes a rather holistic, biomechanical approach to his coaching. He's helped Rose improve his ball speed and compression, while also making his grip slightly more strong.

Rose is not the only golfer Blackburn works with. The likes of Max Homa and Collin Morikawa are the most notable collaborators with Blackburn in recent years.

Justin Rose's Putting Coach - Phil Kenyon

Justin Rose is one of the most dependable putters in the game, and he has Phil Kenyon to thank for that. Kenyon coaches a slew of the best golfers, including Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood, and has previously worked with Rory McIlroy.

Kenyon was hired by Rose in 2016 after statistician Mark Broadie told the golfer the main area he could make up the most ground in would be on the greens.

Interestingly, Kenyon quickly identified a radial deviation in Rose's wrist which meant his thumb would move at the start of his downstroke. This led to a more open club face and plenty of missed putts.

Rose adopted the claw grip to fix this and managed to climb the strokes gained in putting charts (from 122nd when Kenyon joined him, to 17th at his peak). Indeed, this huge change allowed Rose to claim the world number one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) in 2018, too.

Speaking to Golf Digest about the impact of Kenyon, Rose said: "I had to go on a journey to truly become a master at the craft. Phil has been instrumental in that journey."

Justin Rose's Performance Coach - Jason Goldsmith

Goldsmith has worked with Rose to improve the mental side of his game for the past decade, helping him achieve a more resilient mindset and build a dependable pre-shot routine.

On Goldsmith's work, Rose says on his website: "Jason has guided me using techniques that quiet my mind and sharpen my focus... [He] has the ability to blend the technical and non-technical aspects of my game."

Rose also specifically praises Goldsmith for his contribution to the Olympic gold medal win in 2016, reaching the number one spot on the OWGR, and his FedEx Cup Championship in 2025.

Justin Rose's Health and Performance Specialist - Justin Buckthorp

In the modern game of golf, fitness and physicality is just as important as swing mechanics and mentality, so it's not surprising that Justin Rose has a top health specialist in his team.

Buckthorp puts Rose through his paces in the gym and helps form his dietary plan to ensure the 45-year-old stays sharp and at peak levels every time he steps on the course.

On Buckthorp's role, Rose said: "He’s much more than a fitness trainer. He looks after my nutrition and pretty much everything that goes into performing well."

Justin Rose's Agent - Mark Steinberg

Top level sports agent Mark Steinberg has represented Rose since way back in 2013 as part of the Excel Sports Management agency.

Steinberg also works with Tiger Woods, among other notable clients. He joined forces with Rose in the wake of his US Open triumph, with a view to making the golfer a more marketable name in the United States.

You will also find Paul McDonnell carrying out work for Rose as his agent when it comes to events and publicity across Europe.

Rose was formerly represented by Marcus Day of 4Sports & Entertainment.

If you want to still be challenging with the young guns on the PGA Tour it takes some work, as Justin Rose has explained with his extreme recovery routine.

Rose was a dominant wire-to-wire winner of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines recently - becoming the oldest winner of the event and setting a new tournament scoring record.

So even as a 45-year-old, Rose is not only competing on the PGA Tour but able to dominate, and that comes down to not only his golfing ability but how meticulous he is in both his preparation and, crucially, his recovery.

Speaking to Dan Rapaport, Rose detailed just how far he goes in terms of his recovery when going through what a regular day would look like with an early 8am tee time - and it's caused a huge reaction among golf fans.

Rose said that for an 8am tee time he would be up 5am for an early morning massage with his trainer "doing a little bit of soft tissue stuff around the lumbar region" even before breakfast.

From there it's breakfast and a visit to the fitness trailers they have at PGA Tour venues for a quick 30-minute warm-up "just to get a little bit of pep in my step" before then getting on to the golf.

Rose says he'll only get to the range about 40 minutes before his tee-time.

"I don't like that long on the range," he says. "I'll probably hit balls for 30 minutes and then get going."

After the round Rose is not one to go hit the range hard again like a Bryson DeChambeau might do, not unless something is seriously wrong in his game - but it's his recovery routine that has people talking.

That's because Rose has his own "recovery bus" as he likes to call it, which is an RV that he's stripped out and fitted with some of the most cutting edge recovery systems.

"We've got a hot plunge, cold plunge, infrared sauna, steam shower - steam shower's my favourite especially during allergy season," said Rose.

"There's a red light bed and we've got a spin bike with fresh oxygen."

Rose gave golf.com a tour of his RV a couple of years ago at The Masters when he was able to park up across the street from Augusta National.

Citing a cocktail of hot and cold plunges as his favorite, Rose says he emerges from the recovery bus "feeling brand new" - and the way he's been playing golf lately it's hard to argue.

It doesn't stop there though for one of the hardest workers on tour, as even though he's had an early start, Rose will wait until the next day's pin placements come out before doing some homework on those before calling it a day.

"Typically I feel like my day is always 6 until 8," Rose added. "Then the pin placements come out at 8pm so I like to get them, put them in my book and work out my strategy for the next day.

"So I feel like my mind's not switching off from golf until about nine o'clock at night. It's kind of a long day but hey, I feel like I'm out here to work is the way I look at it."

Having such a routine over almost three decades as a pro shows why Rose has always been spoken about as the ultimate professional - and definitely one of the hardest workers.

It's a routine that has served him well over a superb career, and one that especially in terms of recovery still has him playing at the very top level into his mid-40s.

And who knows, it may just be that extra edge he needs to finally add a second Major to his record even in the twilight of his career.

There's been plenty in the golfing news recently and two big storylines at Torrey Pines helped the Farmers Insurance Open draw in a bumper TV audience.

Golf Channel is reporting its broadcast of Justin Rose's wire-to-wire victory saw an increase in viewers of 102% from last year's Farmers Insurance Open.

Brooks Koepka making his PGA Tour return after leaving LIV Golf will have no doubt added to the surge in ratings - with every round seeing at least a 75% increase on last year to make it the most watched Farmers Insurance Open since 2020, Tiger Woods' last appearance.

Overall, Golf Channel averaged 542,000 viewers across the four tournament days, according to the Sports Business Journal, with Thursday's live action pulling in 362,000 on average, up 87% from last year, and Friday doing even better with 455,000 constituting an increase of 115% from 2025.

And it's a bit of a trend for Golf Channel which says that the last two PGA Tour events it has broadcast, the Farmers and the American Express, doubled last year's ratings.

It was a strong showing across the board at Torrey Pines, with CBS averaging 2.36 million viewer over the weekend, representing a 63% increase on last year, while an average of 2.9m watched Rose complete his dominant success on Sunday, up from 1.7m for last year's final round.

And more positive news came from ESPN for the PGA Tour Live simulcast on the opening two days ahead of Golf Channel's coverage.

Thursday averaged 381,000 viewers and Friday's second round brought in just over 400,000 for a pretty healthy couple of days.

They're solid numbers all round for the PGA Tour, which no doubt reflect the two big stories that grabbed the public attention - firstly Koepka making a surprisingly swift return from LIV Golf.

Koepka's battle to make the cut will have kept golf fans watching on, while 45-year-old Rose's brilliance also seemed to capture the imagination.

Despite his advancing years the Englishman led the rest of his PGA Tour rivals a merry dance and almost lapped the field on his way to a record winning score at Torrey Pines.

The PGA Tour now moves on to TPC Scottsdale and the chaos that is the WM Phoenix Open, which it will hope can attract even more viewers tuning in to see all the madness unfold.

Justin Rose got his 2026 off to a stunning start with a record-breaking wire-to-wire victory at the Farmers Insurance Open.

His 23-under-par total of 265 is the lowest 72-hole score in the San Diego event's history after also breaking the 36 and 54-hole records, while he became the first over-45 since 2000 to win a PGA Tour event by seven-strokes.

It was Rose's 13th PGA Tour title and second in quick succession after his win at the FedEx St Jude Championship in August.

He moves up to 3rd in the Official World Golf Ranking, behind only Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, and said after his win that he felt validated after choosing not to join LIV Golf - something he has spoken about many times over the past few years.

The Englishman seemed an obvious candidate to join the Saudi-backed tour as a former World No.1 and Major winner in his forties, who witnessed many of his close friends and peers join the league like Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.

While his fellow over-40 European colleagues either remain in LIV Golf or have been relegated in Stenson's case, Rose has continued on the traditional path with the goal of winning another Major.

He has come so close since, having finished runner-up at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon before losing to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at Augusta last year.

He said it would have been 'easy to do other things' and credited his decision to stay on the elite US circuit in order to chase his dreams, and that is likely the reason why he has been 'knocking on the door' at Majors since.

"Yeah, I feel like, yeah, my career goals have always only been attainable by staying on the European Tour and the PGA Tour because access to them is not, you know, not possible the other way," Rose said.

"But obviously I want to play in amongst the best players in the world. That obviously for me is kind of what keeps me motivated, what keeps me hungry, what keeps me pushing.

"So yeah, it would have been easy to potentially do other things, but none of that excited me I don't think really.

"And none of it gave me access to what I wanted to achieve. So I kind of always felt like my childhood self wouldn't feel very good about making that decision and kind of giving up on those dreams.

"I feel like, yeah, I've been close. I would say, you know, sniffing and knocking on the door of a couple Majors since those decisions were made and those moments.

"Yeah, it did validate the decision. Yeah, the way things are in the world of golf right now, yeah, I feel like it's good to see people wanting to kind of play where it motivates them to be their best."

Rose begins the 2026 Major season among the favorites to win one of the big four events after turning his career around since dropping out of the world's top 75 at the end of 2022.

Since winning at Torrey in 2019 atop the OWGR, the Englishman went winless until the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am after changing equipment and struggling with his game.

He credits recommitting himself to his profession as well as linking up with Mark Blackburn and reuniting with his caddie, Mark 'Fooch' Fulcher, as key additions to his team for this latest phase of his career.

"I would say I've always tried really hard but I think maybe post-Covid-ish, at that time, like 2021, that era. So coming off the back of getting to World No.1, started to play pretty poor golf I think in 2020, 2021 maybe in 2022," he said of his slump following his spell as World No.1.

"I can't even remember, they all blend into one another. But I felt like at that point, yeah, I needed to make a shift but I don't want to go out like this.

"I don't want to just having been No.1 in the world and just kind of drift into nowhere. So I felt like there was a bit of I'm not going to let that happen sort of mentality. So a bit of a recommitment.

"Obviously a reassembling of a team as well. Mark Blackburn's been a fantastic addition. That was kind of back into '22, into '23. He's kept me on point, we have a great blueprint.

"He's really been wonderful for me as well, you know, along with Fooch coming back on the bag as well. So yeah, there's been a few changes, but yeah, the commitment as well."

So, what next for Justin Rose's career? There's only one thing on his mind.

"Majors is where I have my attention, for sure. I mean, obviously like I said, I've achieved a lot in the game, but I've achieved a lot of it just once," he said.

"So I'll take multiple of anything that I've achieved for sure would be great. But if I look at my career, yeah, I've been really close to the Open, I've been really close to the Masters.

"The dream of winning all four was obviously the ultimate goal since I've been a kid. but it seems a long way off to think that way, but if you think about some of the results I've had in the last year or 18 months, I'm not that far away so may as well keep believing."

Justin Rose cruised to his 13th PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open, taking the title for the second time with a classy final round of 70 to win by seven.

Given the 45-year-old’s vast experience, it was hard to see any other outcome at the start of play, with the Englishman leading by six, and so it proved.

Rose began the day on 21 under, with Ryo Hisatsune his nearest challenger and Joel Dahmen two further back on 13 under.

However, any hopes his final group playing partners had of unsettling him largely failed to materialise, although Hisatsune had closed the gap to four before Rose’s first birdie of the day at the sixth.

The Japanese star also birdied the hole, as did Dahmen, but by that point, the American had already made his first bogey of the day at the fifth.

Two more birdies came for Rose at the eighth and ninth, meaning that, at the turn, his lead was seven on 24 under, with Hisatsune remaining his closest challenger.

At the 11th, that became eight when Hisatsune made his first bogey of the day. Rose almost relinquished the extra cushion immediately following a poor putt for birdie from long range, but he made no mistake with his par putt, and on he went.

By that stage, Rose, who beat Adam Scott by two at the Torrey Pines event seven years ago, had his sights firmly on the tournament scoring record, which was made by George Burns in 1987 with a 22 under and matched by Tiger Woods in 1999.

However, that ambition was dented at the 12th with Rose’s one blip of the day, when he could only bogey after missing the fairway left with his tee shot.

Rose’s lead was reduced to six after his par at the 13th was bettered by Hisatsune’s birdie, but he remained firmly in control despite the valiant efforts of his closest rival on the leaderboard.

Rose's advantage was back to seven at the 16th, when Hisatsune endured his second bogey of the round to relinquish solo second, instead sharing it with Si Woo Kim and Pierceson Coody at 16 under, the latter of whom was back in the clubhouse following a round of 65.

At the 17th, Hisatsune slipped again with another bogey, putting him in a tie for third, while another par for Rose kept him at 23 under and only needing to avoid a bogey to beat Burns’ and Woods’ long-standing record.

On the 72nd hole, a par 5, Rose was on the fairway and 79 yards from the hole with his second shot, before leaving himself two putts to break the record after his third.

From 38 feet, his birdie attempt came up short by 20 inches, but he wrapped up for par to give him his second Farmers Insurance Open title, his 13th on the PGA Tour overall, and the new tournament scoring record.

Rose also became the oldest winner of the tournament, adding to his list of achievements. Coody, Kim and Hisatsune placed T2 on 16 under.

Following his win, Rose admitted the tournament scoring record had been in his mind during the round, saying: "Yeah, I was keenly aware of it actually. It was the only thing I was focused on the last three holes.

"I don't know if you know it, but yeah, I wasn't exactly running the ball at the hole, you know. The last couple greens, they were kind of tricky downhillers. I know the line on those putts so they were kind of makeable in my head, but yeah, I was trying to get in the clubhouse at 23 or better."

Away from the frontrunners, one player creating huge interest at the start of the week was Brooks Koepka, who was making his PGA Tour return after four years with LIV Golf.

In the end, he didn’t get close to Rose, finishing on four under and in a tie for 56th. He’ll be back at the WM Phoenix Open, where he will be looking for his third win at the TPC Scottsdale event.

FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN LEADERBOARD

• 1st -23 Justin Rose
• T2 -16 Pierceson Coody
• T2 -16 Si Woo Kim
• T2 -16 Ryo Hisatsune
• T5 -15 Jake Knapp
• T5 -15 Stephan Jaeger
• T7 -14 Sahith Theegala
• T7 -14 Andrew Novak
• T7 -14 Joel Dahmen
• 10th -13 Maverick McNealy

FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN PAYOUT

• Farmers Insurance Open Prize Money Payout 2026

UPDATES FROM...

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open final round at Torrey Pines.

Justin Rose leads by seven strokes at the turn and appears destined to claim his second title at this event as well as a 13th PGA Tour prize overall - if you include the US Open in 2013.

It would be his second win in America in six months, as well. Not bad for a 45-year-old...

Sit back and relax as we bring you all of the key updates from the back nine at Torrey Pines. Thank you for tuning in!

STARTS ON THE LINE FOR JOEL DAHMEN

With a lead of seven, it would take a minor miracle for anyone to trouble Justin Rose over the back nine, but it's interesting further down the leaderboard, too, not least for Joel Dahmen.

The popular American only has conditional PGA Tour status this season, meaning he needs as many starts as he can get. If he finishes solo second, he'll top the Aon Swing 5 standings, all but guaranteeing starts at Signature Events the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational.

Even if he gets in the top five of the standings after next week's WM Phoenix Open, where he has a sponsor's exemption, he will book his place at those events.

He's currently eighth in the standings, so he needs a good back nine to give himself a strong chance. He's T4 on the 11th hole.

HISATSUNE SLIP SEES ROSE EXTEND LEAD

The leader, meanwhile, is on the 11th green, seeking his fourth birdie in his last six holes.

Before that long putt, the man in second, Ryo Hisatsune, drops back to 16 under with a bogey, and Rose leads by eight.

Rose fumbles his chance with a poor putt, and now he has work to do to make par. He makes no mistake and the lead remains eight.

KOEPKA CATCH-UP

One of the big stories heading into the tournament was the return of Brooks Koepka to PGA Tour action after four years with LIV Golf.

He's not troubling Rose, sitting in T53 at four under with a handful of holes to play, but he'll probably take that as he eases his way back into life on the circuit. He'll also play in next week's WM Phoenix Open, which he's won twice.

TROUBLE AT THE 12TH FOR THE FINAL GROUP

At the 12th, Rose finds the rough left from his tee, and his approach leaves a chip onto the green. Playing partner Hisatsune, meanwhile, drives his tee shot right, and his second isn't much prettier, missing the green by a long way left. He has work to do to avoid slipping further back here. His third is much better, onto the green, but can he save par.

Before we find out, Dahmen bogeys to drop to 13 under and T9.

JUSTIN ROSE BOGEYS THE 12TH

Finishing up on the 12th, Hisastune drains his putt to save par, before Rose, racing a 13-footer for par, narrowly misses right and that'll be his first bogey of the day.

RECORD ON THE HORIZON FOR ROSE

Despite that rare bogey for Rose at the 12th, he's still on track to set the scoring record at the tournament. Rose is at 23 under, while the record is 22 under.

SHUFFLING OF THE PACK

It's a case of shuffling the pack for everyone behind Rose, and Pierceson Coody is the latest to join a group of players in T4 after a birdie at the 16th.

Soon after, Si Woo Kim makes a birdie at the 13th to move him level with Hisatsune in T2 at 16 under. Rose still leads by seven.

ROSE STROLLING ON

It's a glorious day in California, with short sleeves in order as the sun beams down - and none more so than for Justin Rose, who leads by seven on the par-5 13th.

His tee shot is left of the fairway, but his second is fine, settling on the right side of the fairway as his stroll in the Torrey Pines sun continues.

PAR FOR ROSE AT THE 13TH

Continuing on the 13th, Rose faces a 40-foot birdie putt, but that runs out of steam with barely two feet to go. He should still make his par as the Farmers Insurance Open scoring record remains firmly in his sights.

Hisatsume, meanwhile, makes a birdie to reduce the gap to six.

HISATSUNE HANGING ON

Rose is at the 14th and finds a bunker with his first, before digging himself out of trouble by finding the green from the sand. It still leaves a long birdie putt, which heads left, but that'll be another par.

It's less certain for Hisatsune at the same hole, whose long birdie putt comes up way short. Can he stay solo second? He can and we move onto the 15th.

NOT QUITE DAHMEN'S DAY

Rose and Hisatsune's playing partner is Joel Dahmen, but he's not really fired today. At the 15th, he's one over for his final round and needs to find some momentum to force his way into the Aon Swing 5 and the chance of a couple of Signature Events.

FAMOUS NAME BACK IN THE CLUBHOUSE

There's a very famous surname high up on the leaderboard and it belongs to 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody's grandson, Pierceson. He's done the family name proud, completing a round of 65 to head to the clubhouse in a tie for third on 16 under.

BRILLIANT FROM THE LEADER

Justin Rose is eyeing another birdie at the 15th after sending his approach straight over the pin before it stops in its tracks. He has about 13 feet to move to 24 under.

He pushes his birdie putt past the hole, but makes his par as he marches on.

ROSE SHOWS CLASS

Justin Rose isn't just showing his class with a club in his hand, he's showing it with his interactions with fans, too, making the day of some young spectators by taking time out to interact with them.

ROSE INCREASES LEAD AT THE 16TH

Rose is five under for par 3s this week, but that's not his best effort at the 16th, failing to even reach the green...

He opts for the putter from 57 feet and it's a good decision, as he putts it to within 20 inches.

Then Rose's lead goes to seven after a bogey from Hisatsune, before the leader taps in for par.

There's now a three-way tie for second between Hisatsune, Si Woo Kim and Pierceson Coody.

KOEPKA COMPLETES FIRST EVENT SINCE PGA TOUR RETURN

Brooks Koepka's PGA Tour return finishes at four under after a final round of 70. He's currently back in the clubhouse in a tie for 56th.

He'll be back at the WM Phoenix Open, the scene of his most recent non-Major PGA Tour win, which he achieved in 2021.

LOVELY FROM DAHMEN AT THE 17TH

The final group are on the 17th, and Joel Dahmen gets out of bother from a bunker with a beauty onto the green. He could make a birdie here.

SCORING RECORD IN TOUCHING DISTANCE FOR ROSE

Not for the first time today, Rose faces a long putt for birdie, this time at the 17th, and also not for the first time, it comes up short. It'll be another par and the tournament scoring record looks set to be beaten with Rose at 23 under and that standing at 22 under.

Meanwhile, Dahmen narrowly misses his birdie chance while Hisatsune makes his second bogey in a row to drop back to T3.

FINAL HOLE FOR THE FINAL GROUP

At the par-5 18th, Rose finds the fairway with his tee shot, but it makes little difference with a seven-shot lead over Pierceson Coody, who is back in the clubhouse. It's all eyes on the scoring record now for the Englishman as the title's well and truly in the bag.

ROSE ROMPING HOME

After three shots, Rose is on the green, needing to two-putt or better to beat the scoring record.

JUSTIN ROSE WINS FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN!

Rose is 38 feet from the hole with his birdie putt, but it comes up short. He has about 20 inches for par and of course he doesn't miss. Justin Rose is the Farmers Insurance Open champion after setting a new tournament scoring record after a wire-to-wire victory.

You can't judge a season from just one round, but Justin Rose starting the year quickly could be a good sign for him in his search for a second Major.

At 45 Rose is no spring chicken, but he's shown he still has more than enough in his game to add to his 2013 US Open title - as he showed by running Rory McIlroy close in that epic Masters playoff last year.

Rose made his 2026 debut at Torrey Pines and made it in style with a flawless 10-under round of 62 giving him the first-round lead at the Farmers Insurance Open.

A good finish in San Diego would not only be a fine way to start the year for Rose, but also a good omen for the Majors, especially The Masters, as there's a pattern behind his best finishes at Augusta National.

It's not exactly rocket science to work out that the players in solid form at the start of the year will go well in the opening Major of the season - and that's certainly the case with Rose.

As the Englishman has seven top 10s at The Masters and before six of those he started his year by recording at least one top-six finish in the events leading up to Augusta.

Rose has had a top-three finish five times before going on to land in the top 10 at The Masters - including in both 2017 and 2025 when he lost in playoffs against Sergio Garcia and McIlroy.

There are plenty of missed cuts in there as can be the case early in the year, but if Rose starts well he usually goes on to contend - and if he does that a few times in the opening three months then watch out for him at Augusta.

Rose had a T3 and T8 before almost ruining McIlroy's Grand Slam dream last year, but that was far from a one-off.

In 2017 Rose finished second, T4 twice and another couple of top 15s before being edged out by Garcia, while even in the Covid times ahead of the 2021 Masters he still managed a T2 out in Saudi Arabia in the build-up.

The T10 in 2016 came after four solid tournaments and even way back in 2007 the trend was set with a third and T5 before also bagging a big T5 in just his third trip to Augusta.

Rose won WGC-Cadillac Championship in 2012 and had a T5 at The Honda Classic before finishing T8 at Augusta, proving again that when he finds form early in the year he'll head down Magnolia Lane full of confidence.

Rose is a momentum player, and even though 2015 is the anomaly of the group it may be that his timing was just off, as although there was no great form before his Masters T2 he won his very next PGA Tour start and lost out in a playoff just two starts later.

So if Rose starts to string together some decent finishes at the start of the year then watch out for him making another charge at The Masters.

Rose's early form before Masters top 10s

As one of the front runners for the job, Justin Rose says it would be a huge honor to be the next European Ryder Cup captain - and says Luke Donald may have set a new precedent for the role.

His thrilling FedEx St Jude Championship success booked his Ryder Cup spot this year, but at 45 Rose is being touted as a favorite to be captain in Ireland in 2027.

With the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black closing in, examinations of the two captains are hotting up - with two unusual situations in play for both Europe and Team USA.

Keegan Bradley looks set to be player-captain, while Luke Donald is taking charge of his second consecutive Ryder Cup - something which Rose said could be a theme going forward.

Donald stepped into the role when Henrik Stenson lost the captaincy after joining LIV Golf, and with the likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia out of contention it made sense for Donald to reprise his role in New York.

And Rose thinks that with the modern Ryder Cup captaincy being such an all-consuming role, maybe now captains should have a chance to lead the team in both home and away events.

"I don't think there's ever a perfect time to be Ryder Cup captain," said Rose ahead of the BMW Championship. "It's a big commitment. That's what I've learned over the last few years of watching Luke go about it.

"It's an undertaking that is really, really important, and it's probably a two-year - it's probably at least a 14,15-month commitment, and who knows if this day the modern way to do it is try to do a home and away? Obviously that's what's happened with Luke now."

As for his own personal ambitions, Rose looks to fit the criteria and says he would jump at the chance to lead Europe - with Adare Manor in 2027 looking a real possibility.

"It's a big decision if that's the decision you take, and if it's a decision that you choose that you want that opportunity and also that obligation because I think it is one," added Rose.

"So you're either going to do it while you're still a relevant player because actually in some ways that's great because you are around the players and you're on Tour, or you're going to do it when you finish playing, and that means you're going to spend two years on Tour anyway when you're not that good at golf, and that's kind of a frustrating place to be as a competitor and a player.

"There's never a perfect time to do it, but the opportunity for me personally, it's a huge honor, and I'd love to take it on."

Keegan Bradley's 'almost played too well for his own liking'

Rose was also asked being a player-captain, and while not going as far as Rory McIlroy in saying it's an impossible job, says Bradley has given himself something of a headache with his form this year.

"I'm sure you're thinking about Keegan and want me to say something about Keegan," Rose added.

"He's obviously a charismatic and fiery competitor, and obviously, I think with that will become a great captain. He's almost played too well for his own liking in a sense.

"The best way to win the Ryder Cup is to win points, so if he feels like he's an absolute strategic, brilliant mind, then maybe he's focused one way. Or if he thinks, damn, I'm playing well, I need to win points, I'm going to do it that way.

"So he's going to figure out the best way to do it for him. That's his job as captain now."

Veteran pro, Justin Rose is anticipating a "golden summer of my career" in the coming years after claiming his 12th PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Championship on Sunday.

Rose snuck down the rail to bypass good friend, Tommy Fleetwood and World No.1, Scottie Scheffler in the final round at TPC Southwind, later going on to defeat US Open winner, JJ Spaun on the third playoff hole in an inspirational display of defiance.

The man who recently celebrated his 45th birthday was seemingly out of the contest midway through the back nine before reeling off four consecutive birdies from the 14th hole to force extra holes.

After failing in his chance to lift the title in regulation, Rose recalibrated and overcame a potentially embarrassing moment near the water to battle past Spaun - a man he will face once again at the Ryder Cup next month.

Before the hotly-anticipated biennial contest, though, the new World No.9 - who is the oldest man in the top-10 by nine years - is aiming for a second FedEx Cup and to prove that those closing in on the PGA Tour Champions can still cut it loose with the kids.

Asked about the sense of pride he feels regarding his latest win in a professional career which has spanned 27 years, Rose said: "Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of sense of pride in that. I think I'm not alone in it.

"There have been guys that have done it, but there's a pretty short list of guys that are competitive in that 45 to 50 sort of age range. Historically it was a bit of a waiting room for the Champions Tour.

"Obviously Phil [Mickelson] bucked the trend; he won a Major at 50. I feel like that's good motivation. I still feel like there is that golden summer of my career available to me. That's what I've been pushing for."

If recent results are taken into account, the former World No.1 is certainly justified in feeling like retirement remains a long way off yet.

Since a heart-warming effort to finish T2nd at The Open in 2024 after coming through Final Qualifying, Rose returned in 2025 with a T3rd at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a T8th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a solo-sixth at the Genesis Scottish Open and a playoff defeat to Rory McIlroy at The Masters.

Although the FedEx St Jude Championship success was his first win since the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rose insists his ability to contend at the world's biggest tournaments well into his 40s gives him the belief that more big titles remain a legitimate possibility.

He continued: "Moments like getting close at [Royal] Troon and then obviously getting close at Augusta, they're signals that it's possible. This is another really, really, really important signal that I'm on the right track with my game, and actually maybe even getting a little bit better at the moment.

"Will I ever be the best player that I was when I was maybe 2018 No. 1 in the world? I don't know, but I don't have to be I don't think, as long as I can find it at the key times.

"Yeah, I've been able to do that -- I've shown good signs, I think. But winning is winning. I think proving that to yourself, even though I've come close and I felt good in contention, getting over the line is still difficult, and obviously I've won, like, twice in six years now, but this one felt good.

"I felt like I had to hit the shots, I had to step up again and again and again in the playoff. I felt ready for it. I felt calm. I felt collected. I think that's when you learn most about yourself.

"I feel excited about where I'm at at 45 and I feel like there's a good bit of runway ahead."

Ahead of the year's final men's Major in a couple of weeks, two golfing stars have been enjoying some time away from preparing for The Open by attending one of the most iconic British institutions in a different sport - Wimbledon.

The Championships, as they are also known, take place in south-west London every July and feature nearly all of the game's very best talent across two weeks on grass courts so pure that they initially rival the surfaces at Augusta National.

And something which has become almost as traditional as strawberries and cream or Brits talking about the weather, big names from across the world of celebrity have descended on SW19 to catch a glimpse of the action.

Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood have been among the first stars to arrive at Wimbledon in 2025, with the 2013 US Open champion and his wife, Kate pictured enjoying Tuesday's matches on Centre Court alongside the likes of Russell Crowe, Cliff Richard, Cate Blanchett and Rebel Wilson.

Rose saw 2024 women's champion, Barbora Krejcikova take down Alexandra Eala in three sets to eventually begin her title defence in a successful manner before gentleman's No.3 seed, Alexander Zverev was shocked across five sets by unseeded Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech.

The final match on Wimbledon's Centre Court on Tuesday featured avid golfer, Novak Djokovic and France's Alexandre Muller, with the Serbian coming through in four sets.

Less than 24 hours later, it was Fleetwood and his wife Clare's turn to be invited into the Royal Box. They were photographed near John Cena, Olivia Rodrigo, Dave Grohl, Thomas Tuchel, Tom Daley, Judd Apatow and Nick Jonas - among others.

On Wednesday, the 34-year-old - who recently narrowly missed out on landing his maiden PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship - watched World No.1, Aryna Sabalenka see off Marie Bouzkova in straight sets before reigning gentleman's champion, Carlos Alcaraz faced off against unseeded British talent, Ollie Tarvet.

Prior to his first-round match a couple of days earlier, the Spaniard was filmed practicing his golf swing before walking out into one of the most famous tennis stadiums in the world.

Fleetwood and Rose have been regular visitors to Wimbledon in the past, with the likes of Luke Donald, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Charley Hull and Tyrrell Hatton also visiting The Championships recently.

In the days after their visit to SW19 is over, Fleetwood and Rose will travel north to take their place among the big names joining defending champion, Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open.

Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele are among the bumper field at The Renaissance Club for the co-sanctioned event as they prepare for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush the following week.

Fleetwood has a number of top-10s at the Scottish Open over the past few years while Rose is no slouch when it comes to links golf, either, having made it through Final Qualifying for The Open in 2024 and then run Schauffele extremely close at Royal Troon.

Justin Rose has been confirmed for his Asian Tour International Series debut at the Hong Kong Open in November.

The Englishman won the Hong Kong Open in 2015 and will make his return to Fanling Golf Club, also known as Hong Kong Golf Club, host of the championship since its inception in 1959.

Rose will be joined by fellow PGA Tour player and two-time Asian Tour winner Tom Kim.

“Hong Kong holds a special place in my heart, as does the Hong Kong Open, as when I won at Fanling I was playing some of the best golf of my life,” said Rose.

“I’ve had some great form this year and can’t wait to return.

“I cannot believe that seven years has slipped by since I was last in Hong Kong. You know, I tell people whenever I'm asked that it’s one of my favourite cities in the world; Hong Kong is right up there at the top of the list. I have great memories of the tournament and the golf course especially.

“The Hong Kong Golf Club is a true classic in the sense that it's got an old school feel about it. It tests everybody's game, whether you're a long hitter or a short hitter."

DP World Tour players can face sanctions for playing in Asian Tour events if they do not have a conflicting event release granted, and Golf Monthly understands that Rose has applied for a release from the DP World Tour to play in the Hong Kong Open, due to the fact that it takes place the same week as the Australian PGA Championship. We do not believe there has been a decision yet.

Rose won the event in 2015 when it was co-sanctioned between the Asian Tour and European Tour. He has one other Asian Tour victory, which came at the 2017 Indonesian Masters.

Defending champion Ben Campbell, who edged out Cameron Smith last year, and home favorite Taichi Kho have also been confirmed in the Hong Kong Open field.

The event is part of the LIV Golf-backed International Series, which sees ten elevated $2m purse tournaments that award the series' winner a spot in the LIV Golf League.

American John Catlin currently leads the rankings after winning the International Series Macau in March, where he shot the Asian Tour's first ever 59. He was then 2nd at the International Series Morocco in July.

The Hong Kong Open takes place from November 21st-24th. It will be the second big event hosted at the club this year after the inaugural LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament in March, where Abraham Ancer triumphed in a playoff.

LIV Golf Hong Kong is set to return again in March 2025 after four events were announced for the 2025 LIV Golf schedule.

Justin Rose admits he is currently struggling to see how the top three tours in men's professional golf can possibly unite while finding a situation which works for everyone involved.

Discussions remain ongoing between officials of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf regarding a potential joining of forces in order to end the fracture on the men's side, but the latest reports suggest progress - if any - has been slow.

While Rose is not privvy to the exact nature of the talks, the Englishman stated that simply working out a schedule which all of the best players in the world will agree to is becoming almost impossible given the general saturation of the calendar.

The 11-time PGA Tour winner also suggested he was not surprised by the invention of LIV given the increasing number of tournaments introduced over time.

The 44-year-old stated that golf's main issue right now, from an elite player's point of view, is that many only want to play a maximum of 22 times a season, restricting the amount of time fans may look to engage with the sport and consequently cutting down how many sponsors partner up with leading events.

As a result of the sport being pulled in so many different directions by its key stakeholders, Rose admitted he is unclear on what a win-win resolution might look like.

Speaking ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week, the DP World Tour's signature event, Rose said: "I think that's why we're in the predicament that we're in, because historically, or even if you looked at the PGA Tour a while back, I don't know how many tournaments, I'm going to say 45, but there were a lot of tournaments, and obviously the top players have seemed to only want to play 20 to 25 it times a year tops, 22 probably seems to be the magic number. Majors plus 18.

"I think that's why there was an opportunity for someone, a tour, a league to kind of have the concept, at least hypothetically, that the top players want to play X amount of times together, and that's why we are where we are."

Including the Majors and FedEx Cup Playoffs, the PGA Tour offered its members the chance to play a maximum of 34 events in 2024. Including the Olympic Games in Paris, Scottie Scheffler only played 20 times as he framed his schedule around the biggest championships.

Meanwhile, LIV's Individual champion for 2024, Jon Rahm, only teed it up 16 times including the Olympics and is highly unlikely to compete at more than 20 tournaments before the year is out. Rory McIlroy has recently made comments about cutting down his schedule again, too.

Rose continued: "That's been a very hard thing to figure out, obviously, because we have different nationalities, different tours, how do you all kind of get into that position? That's why I can't quite see what the future is in terms of us coming back together because I think you're still limited to the fact that there's only a certain amount of weeks that the top players want to play.

"So you can create this league, that league, this tour, supplement with this, but if it accumulates to 30 tournaments, you're still going to get players choosing, no matter how much money you put up, not to play."

Scheffler has previously mentioned that he would play the Majors for 'significantly less' money - a view that Rose says he and 96% of others would agree with.

Scheffler's Ryder Cup rival pointed out that nearly every top player frames their season around being in the best possible shape come the Majors, and - no matter which tour someone competes on - that is always likely to be the case.

Rose said: "Ultimately, you're going to look at the four majors and go, 'okay, I need to be fresh and ready for these; this is my preparation.' You have a family component to your life. All the other factors that come into play.

"So that is the however-many-million-dollar question that we're all trying to figure out, like what is the product and what is the best way of the top players playing together in an attractive, condensed, manageable way? Not just for us but for the product itself and for the fans' attention and all of that."

The Team Cup (formerly the Hero Cup) will return in 2025 for its second edition, two years after the inaugural match, as teams from Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland compete over three days of action.

With that due to begin on 10 January at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, the playing captains have been confirmed. Francesco Molinari will lead the 10-man Continental Europe team, with Justin Rose at the helm for Great Britain & Ireland. 

The match will be 2018 Open champion Molinari's second stint in the role after he led Continental Europe to victory early last year, although it will be 2013 US Open winner Rose’s first time as captain as he takes over from 2023 Great Britain & Ireland leader Tommy Fleetwood.

The contest offers players an opportunity to gain valuable experience of team match play golf ahead of the Ryder Cup, which takes place at Bethpage Black in September next year. 

It also gives Team Europe captain Luke Donald the chance to cast his eye over some of the players who could potentially make the trip to the US to defend the trophy the team won at Marco Simone in 2023.

Donald explained why he thinks the match is a worthwhile endeavor. He said: “I’m really pleased that the Team Cup is returning as it provided some invaluable experience for a lot of players last year. I think all of us got a lot out of the week in terms of experiencing the uniqueness of a team environment.

“It also helped everyone involved to understand, through the past Ryder Cup captains who came and spoke to the players during the event, just what it means to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup."

On the appointment of Molinari and Rose, Donald added: “I am delighted that Francesco and Justin will assume the role of captains.

"We saw what Francesco was capable of when he led Continental Europe to a great victory in 2023 and Justin was inspirational both inside and outside the ropes at Marco Simone last year. I’m excited to see them go head-to-head.”

Molinari said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to captain Continental Europe again and to try and successfully defend the Team Cup. It was a really special week in 2023 and was great to see players from so many different countries across the Continent working towards one single goal."

Rose cited the chance to form a successful team from DP World Tour stars as a big attraction. He said: “There is so much exciting talent from Great Britain and Ireland on the DP World Tour right now – it will be great to have the chance to try and mould them into a winning team.”

Teams will be selected from the leading four available Continental European and Great Britain & Ireland players from the 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, with the five additional players on each side being chosen by the captains, although Donald will have some input at that stage.

The teams will play one session of fourball on Friday, two sessions of foursomes on Saturday and one session of singles on Sunday. Meanwhile, every player will compete in all four sessions.  Each match will be worth a point, with the team reaching 12.5 points declared the winner.

Justin Rose admitted he was "choking back tears" as he walked off the 18th green at Royal Troon on Sunday having just secured what would turn out to be a T2 finish at The Open via a 72nd-hole birdie.

Rose began the final round two behind overnight leader Billy Horschel on three-under for the Championship and was in the hunt for the second Major trophy of his career to back up the 2013 US Open victory at Merion.

But despite some inspired golf by the 43-year-old - particularly at the weekend - Xander Schauffele proved simply too good for everyone and collected another huge title courtesy of a nine-under total.

The American won his second Major of 2024 by two strokes from Rose and Horschel just months after breaking his duck in the biggest events by lifting the PGA Championship at Valhalla. At the same event, Rose produced what was - at the time - his best result of the season via a T6 finish.

Although it was not to be for Rose at Royal Troon, the man who had originally burst onto the scene at the 1998 Open Championship stated he was still "super proud" of everything he had done this week and "left it all out there" on the links.

Describing his immediate emotions after a brutal examination of golf, Rose said: "Yeah, pretty -- two emotions: Gutted when I walked off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong out there today.

"I kind of got off to the start I wanted. I really played the way I wanted to today. I got off on the front foot. I played my way right into the tournament early doors. Felt comfortable with it all day. Did a lot of the hard things really well on the golf course today.

"Yeah, just a critical moment midway through the back nine just momentum-wise. Obviously Xander got it going. I hit a couple of really good putts that didn't fall, and then suddenly that lead stretched.

"In terms of how I played and the execution of my emotions today, my mindset, I left it all out there. I'm super proud of how I competed."

Rose's performance at Royal Troon this week was something of a surprise to many, if not the man himself, after six missed cuts and only one top-10 (PGA Championship) from 17 starts.

The South African-born golfer also came through final qualifying at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club to even make it to a 21st Open Championship of his career.

Yet, Rose believes he is far from in the twilight of his career and could go on to have many more chances at Majors - proved by the two best performances of his season coming in the blue-chip events.

Rose said: "Yeah, that's the deal I made with myself today - to come off with no regrets. Obviously, yeah, I'll have a few more chances, of course, but you know that this is a great opportunity today. You want to walk off the golf course going, yeah, I didn't squander that.

"I ran putts at the hole today. I feel like I had opportunities. I felt like I took a lot of them. But I felt super comfortable out there, which the fact that I haven't really been in contention much this year, that gives me a lot of heart.

"Two major championships this year, strongest fields in golf, they've been my two best weeks.

"Yeah, I've got a lot of confidence that I can -- like I said, that's what I'm gunning for. That's what I'm working hard for is to have these big time moments in my career.

"I felt like Rome [Ryder Cup] was one of them a few months back. I put that up there in terms of what it meant to me, in terms of what I'm looking for toward the end of my career. I'm looking for those big-stage moments, and today was nearly it. It was a lot of fun."

As with any Major, there are some significant perks of winning The Open, including prize money of $3.1m in 2024 and exemptions into all four Majors for years to come.

Winner Xander Schauffele also gets to keep the famous Claret Jug for the year, while the prestige of being named Champion Golfer of the Year, as well as a place in the history books, further securing his legacy following victory at the PGA Championship earlier in the year.

It’s far from doom and gloom for Justin Rose and Billy Horschel, though, who finished two behind Schauffele in second, with some enviable rewards heading their way. Here are some of the top bonuses the pair get for finishing runner-up at The Open.

Prize Money

The 2024 edition of the Major at Royal Troon offered a record prize money payout of $17m. While winner Schauffele claims $3.1m, it’s far from a paltry sum for the two runners-up, with Rose and Horschel each claiming a $1,443,500 payout, a figure that outstrips the prize money handed out to the winner of some PGA Tour events.

Exemptions

Rose and Horschel can rest assured that their spots at the following year’s tournament are guaranteed as the top 10 and ties all qualify. 

That means there will be no need for the pair to fret over variables including world ranking or whether there will be a need to endure the marathon of final qualifying to earn a spot at Royal Portrush in 2025. 

It’s not just The Open they get to experience next year, either. The top four, including ties, also claim their place at the following year’s Masters.

World Ranking Points

One of the best ways to qualify for any of the four Majors is to attain a high enough world ranking, and finishing runner-up at The Open can go a long way to achieving that aim, with 60 world ranking points on offer to players finishing second. 

That’s not too far short of the points typically awarded for victory at the PGA Tour’s prestigious signature events, although it is admittedly still significantly less than the haul of 100 points awarded to The Open champion.

FedEx Cup Points

One of the biggest incentives for PGA Tour players is to reach the FedEx Cup Playoffs, culminating in the Tour Championship, which in 2023 handed winner Viktor Hovland prize money of $18m. 

Players jostle for places in the Playoffs throughout the season, with PGA Tour events typically offering 500 points to the winner and 700 points at its signature events. While 750 points are awarded to the winner of the Majors, including The Open, the runners-up still claimed plenty of valuable points, with 400 heading the way of Rose and Horschel.

Silver Salver Trophy

The Claret Jug is one of the most coveted trophies in golf, and while it will undoubtedly pain anyone finishing second to see someone other than them lift the trophy, Rose and Horschel receive the Silver Salver, which, unlike the Claret Jug, they get to keep.

Having qualified for The 152nd Open Championship at the start of July, Justin Rose is making the most of his appearance at the final men's Major of 2024, with the Englishman sat in a tie for second going into the final round

Having produced three top 10 finishes in the tournament, including a runner-up spot in 2018, Rose is hoping to go one better this time around, with one key aspect for his run of good form coming from the flatstick, which the former Major winner changed a week prior to The Open at Royal Troon.

At both The Open Qualifying event and Genesis Scottish Open, Rose was seen wielding a Scotty Cameron mallet style putter instead of his usual Axis1 Rose Putter, but the model in question is currently unknown.

What we do know is that it has a SuperStroke grip on it, which looks to be the same model as the one on his Axis1, with the shape of the Scotty Cameron resembling that of the Phantom X 5 and 5.5. Lastly, there is a unique alignment aid on the top of the putter.

It's no secret that Rose does like to change his equipment set-up. Back in 2019, he introduced the Axis1 to his bag, with the putter standing out due to the heel counterweight that sticks out ahead of the face. Throughout his time with it, he racked up a few PGA Tour victories, and sat inside the top 40 in terms of Strokes Gained: Putting from 2020 - 2023.

Along with the putter change, the 43-year-old has put the new Titleist GT driver into the bag in 2024, specifically the GT3, with Rose still using a TaylorMade M6 fairway wood, a model that was released in 2019. 

Seemingly, he is opting for an almost full bag of Titleist clubs now, as Rose is using the Titleist T100 and MB 620 irons, as well as Vokey wedges. Certainly, at The Open, they have worked well for the former US Open winner, who goes into the final round one stroke back of the lead.

A host of famous golfing faces have attended the world-famous Wimbledon tennis championships this year ahead of what is a busy upcoming period in their own sport.

The Scottish Open, the Evian Championship, the Open Championship, and the AIG Women's Open Championship are all taking place over the coming days and weeks, with the many of the best players hoping to fulfil their own Major ambitions.

But before attention switched back to swinging a club, several stars of golf were on Centre Court to hear the 'whoosh' and 'thwack' of tennis racket on ball at one of the most iconic sporting venues anywhere on the planet.

Justin Rose and his wife Kate were in the Royal Box on day three of Wimbledon to watch Daniil Medvedev defeat Alexandre Muller, Emma Navarro see off Naomi Osaka, and Jannik Sinner edge past Matteo Berrettini in a thrilling battle of two Italian powerhouses.

Rose's day out came a day after he had played 36 holes and made it through to the Open at Royal Troon via final qualifying. On X, the Englishman said: "One of my favourite days of the year @Wimbledon. My body is still recovering from those 36 holes yesterday!! Thank you again for all the support."

One man who did not require qualifying to book his tee time at Royal Troon was Rose's Ryder Cup teammate, Ludvig Aberg. The World No.4 was on Centre Court with his girlfriend Olivia - who played college tennis at Texas Tech between 2018 and 2023 - on Sunday to watch defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz win in four sets against Ugo Humbert of France and Great Britain's Emma Radacanu lose to New Zealand's Lulu Sun.

As with any golfer who sees a stretch of perfectly-manicured grass, Aberg admitted he was desperate to hit some kind of shot with a golf club. In his own Instagram post, Aberg said: "Me and @olivia_jorgipeet at @wimbledon. Kinda wanted to hit a full 60 off the grass court. Thank you @rolex!"

Aberg was in attendance at Wimbledon on a day where several high-profile names from across a variety of sports were inside the Royal Box on Centre Court.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Britain's most successful male and female Olympians of all time Sir Jason Kenny and his wife Dame Laura Kenny (cycling), England's European Championship-winning captain Leah Williamson, and Britain's most successful sailor of all time Sir Ben Ainslie joined World No.8 Charley Hull in the seats reserved for VIPs.

Hull posted on Instagram simply to say: "Loving the tennis" underneath a photo of her posing in front of Centre Court.

The Englishwoman was not the only Solheim Cup star enjoying the venue which is synonymous with strawberries and cream, however, with Anna Nordqvist, Emily Kristine Pedersen, and Rose Zhang all pictured at The Championships in south-west London.

Ladies European Tour golfer Gemma Dryburgh shared a picture to social media of her watching some of the tennis on an outside court.

On Monday, a handful more of Team Europe's Ryder Cup heroes headed over to Wimbledon to watch a few matches prior to returning north for the Scottish Open. Captain Luke Donald and wife Diane attended along with Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Images of the group - shared by the PGA Tour - surfaced hours after a photo of them at dinner in London with their partners and Rory McIlroy plus Nicolai Hojgaard.

Many of the aforementioned names will return to more familiar territory this week, with the Evian Championship and the Scottish Open on the agenda.

Justin Rose was the star attraction at Burnham and Berrow in Somerset, England for Open Final Qualifying and he put in a stunning performance to make it to Royal Troon.

The Englishman topped the leaderboard after 36-holes of links golf thanks to rounds of 66 and 68 to take one of the four spots up for grabs and qualify for his 21st Open Championship.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former World No.1 said he still hopes to lift the Claret Jug, having been as close as T2nd in 2018 at Carnoustie.

"Right now I've a little bit of a buzz because it's super exciting to have got through," Rose told Sky Sports.

"There's moments where you'll just want to qualify for The Open just to be at another Open - and that might come in my career - but I still feel like I can win The Open.

"And to win it, you've got to be in it, so that was key today to come here and get the job done to give myself an opportunity at that dream."

Rose burst onto the scene at the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale where he famously holed a wedge shot on the 72nd hole for birdie to finish T4th.

The then-17-year-old took the silver medal as leading amateur and went on to have a career that has included a Major victory, an Olympic gold medal, six Ryder Cup appearances and a total of 25 professional wins.

The 2013 US Open champion has missed two of his three Major cuts this year but had a brilliant PGA Championship in May, where he finished T6th after a third round 64 (-7).

He was one of 16 men to make it through Open Final Qualifying, with the 152nd championship taking place at Royal Troon later this month for the first time since 2016.

Rose's close friend Henrik Stenson claimed the Claret Jug back then, defeating Phil Mickelson with a final round 63 in an all-time battle.

The 16 players to qualify for the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon have been confirmed, after 36 holes of final qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports, Burnham and Berrow, West Lancashire and Dundonald Links.

With the top four from the four qualifiers making it through, the field for The Open in two weeks is now almost complete.

Justin Rose secured his spot after rounds of 66 and 68 to finish in a tie for first at Burnham and Berrow.

The 2013 US Open champ finished on eight-under alongside English amateur Dominic Clemons, while LIV Golfer Abraham Ancer and Charli Lindh of Sweden outlasted India's Anirban Lahiri to claim the other two spots via a three-for-two playoff. 

“The Open’s been a bit of a fairytale and love story for me since I was 14 and I qualified at Scotscraig," Rose said. “Sometimes you take it for granted – you’re exempt, you turn up and play for many years, but as you get older, things get a little harder so in some ways it’s good to have to qualify because it makes you appreciate The Open a little more and how special it is."

LIV Golf star and 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia will miss out on The Open for the second year in a row after finishing two strokes behind the qualifying spots in West Lancashire. 

Amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry and LIV Golfer Sam Horsfield claimed the top qualifying spots at six-under, with Englishman Daniel Brown and Masahiro Kawamura of Japan finishing a shot behind. 

England's Matthew Southgate, Elvis Smylie of Australia and Spanish amateurs Jaime Montojo Fernandez and Luis Masaveu made it through at Royal Cinque Ports.

At Dundonald, Sam Hutsby won by three strokes and will be joined at Troon by Spain's Angel Hidalgo, Galway amateur Liam Nolan and Jack McDonald of Scotland. 

The 16 qualifiers from Open Final Qualifying

Burnham and Berrow

-8 Justin Rose

-7 Dominic Clemons (a)

-5 Charlie Lindh*

-5 Abraham Ancer*

Dundonald Links

-8 Sam Hutsby

-5 Angel Hidalgo

-5 Liam Nolan (a)

-4 Jack McDonald*

Royal Cinque Ports

-6 Matthew Southgate

-3 Elvis Smylie

-3 Jaime Montojo Fernandez (a)

-2 Luis Masaveu (a)*

West Lancashire

-6 Matthew Dodd-Berry (a)

-6 Sam Horsfield

-5 Daniel Brown

-5 Masahiro Kawamura

*qualified via playoff

Follow all the action from the Open Final Qualifying as it happened, or view the full leaderboard from all four sites.

Updates from:

Hello and welcome to updates as some big names, journeymen pros and upcoming amateurs battle it out for the 16 spots up for grabs at Royal Troon.

Who will make it? Find out with our latest updates throughout the afternoon.

ROSE AND ANCER IN THE HUNT AT BURNHAM & BERROW

Four spots are available at each of the four qualifying venues today, with PGA Tour player Justin Rose and LIV Golf's Abraham Ancer in a good position at Burnham & Berrow in Sommerset, England. 

Ancer is currently tied for the lead with English amateur Dominic Clemons at -7, with both players through seven holes in round two.  

Rose, a former world No.1 and Open runner-up, is a shot back at -6 after his first three holes of round two. 

Former Open low amateur Chris Wood currently occupies the fourth qualifying spot at -5, with three players tied at -4. 

A big crowd has gathered to watch local favorite Rose at the course.

GARCIA IN CONTENTION AT WEST LANCASHIRE

LIV Golf's Sergio Garcia is the star attraction at the qualifying event in West Lancashire, and is looking to return to The Open after missing out last year for the first time since 1997.

Garcia's bid to claim one of the four qualifying spots got off to a slow start, quite literally, after his group was handed a slow play warning in the first round. 

The Spaniard was reportedly "furious" with the call, but managed to card a one-under 71 in the first round, before continuing his solid play into the second round to sit in a tie for fourth at -2, alongside six other players. 

Japan's Masahiro Kawamura has opened a two-shot lead at the top after a red-hot four-under through 12 holes in the second round, with Sam Horsefield (-4) and Oliver Lindell (-3) trailing.

Garcia's LIV Golf colleague Carlos Ortiz is in a tie for 10th at -1.

TIGHT RACE AT DUNDONALD LINKS

Englishman Sam Hutsby is looking good to qualify for the 152nd Open as he leads at the top by four shots, with three holes to play in his second round. 

Hutsby is three-under so far after shooting a 67 in his first round. 

Meanwhile, there is a tight race for the remaining spots, with Liam Jonhston, Tim Widing and amateur Liam Nolan locked in a tie for second at -4.

Sweden's Widing is currently No.3 on the Korn Ferry Tour standings following back-to-back victories in April.

LIV Golf's Peter Uihlein is six strokes off the top four at +2.

SHOOTOUT AT ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

The battle for the top four at Royal Cinque Ports is set to be a shootout, with Matthew Southgate leading by one stroke and six players tied for second a shot back.

Andreas Halvorsen, Elvis Smylie, Aaron Cockerill, Eugenio Chacarra, Jamie Rutherford and Branden Grace are tied at -2, while four players are locked at -1.

LIV's Graeme McDowell has work to do at +2 if he wants to make his first Open appearance in five years.

HORSFIELD CHASING FIRST MAJOR APPEARANCE SINCE 2022

English LIV Golf star Sam Horsfield has put himself in a good position to qualify for his first Major since 2022. 

He sits in second at -5 through nine holes in his second round at West Lancashire, with three players tied two shots back at -3. Masahiro Kawamura of Japan leads at -6.

Horsfield finished in second at LIV's most recent event in Nashville, six shots behind runaway winner Tyrrell Hatton. 

The 27-year-old's last Major appearance was in 2022, when he missed the cut at The Open at St Andrews. 

ROSE MOVES INTO LEAD WITH THREE STRAIGHT BIRDIES

Justin Rose has sunk three birdies in a row to sit in a tie for the lead at Burnham & Berrow alongside amateur Dominic Clemons. 

Rose opened his second round with two pars before knocking in three straight birds to claim the top spot, before Clemons joined him on -8 with his fifth birdie of the day.

Abraham Ancer is a shot back at -7, while Anirban Lahiri and Chris Wood are in a tie for fourth at -5.

GARCIA FALLS BACK AFTER BOGEY

Sergio Garcia has fallen two shots behind the top four at West Lancashire after a bogey on his 11th hole in round two. 

Garcia, who has competed at the Masters and US Open this season, is in a tie for ninth and has six holes left to move up the leaderboard.

SOUTHGATE EXTENDS LEAD AT ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

Matthew Southgate has started his back nine with two straight birdies, taking him two shots clear at the top. 

Southgate has five birdies and one bogey for his second round so far, and sits at -5 with seven holes to go.

He leads Andreas Halvoersen and Jamie Rutherford at -3, with three players tied in fourth a shot back.

The Englishman is looking to make The Open via final qualifying for the fifth time in his career.

GARCIA SINKS A BIG PUTT TO STAY IN THE HUNT

Garcia has kept himself in the race with a clutch birdie putt at the par-4 fourth hole, prompting big cheers from the crowd.

The Major winner, who started on the back nine, rolled in a nice putt from about 12 feet to move to -2.

He is still two strokes behind the top four with five holes to play in his round. 

ROSE FIRST COMPETED AT OPEN FINAL QUALIFYING IN 1995

HOW THINGS STAND

Here's a snapshot of the current leaders at the four venues.

Burnham & Berrow

-8 Justin Rose

-7 Dominic Clemons, Justin Walters

-6 Abraham Ancer

Dundonald Links

-8 Sam Hutsby

-6 Liam Nolan 

-5 Tim Widing

-4 Daniel Young

Royal Cinque Ports

-4 Matthew Southgate

-4 Jamie Rutherford

-2 Andreas Halvorsen, James Allan, Elvis Smylie, Jaime Montojo Fernandez, Branden Grace

West Lancashire

-6 Masahiro Kawamura

-5 Sam Horsfield

-4 Ben Schmidt, Daniel Brown, Matthew Dodd-Berry

HUTSBY FINISHES ON -8

Sam Hutsby has carded a three-under 69 for his second round and holds a two-stroke lead in the clubhouse at Dundonald Links. 

It is now a waiting game for the Englishman as the rest of the players finish their second rounds. 

Hutsby's closest rival is currently amateur Liam Nolan, who is at -6 with five holes to go.

He has a four stroke advantage over Daniel Young, who is in fourth place with eight to go.

WALTERS MAKES A BIG MOVE, ANCER DROPS A SHOT

South African Justin Walters has rocketed up the leaderboard at Burnham & Below thanks two birdies and an eagle in his first five holes.

Walters is now tied for second alongside Dominic Clemons at -7, with Justin Rose leading at -8.

Meanwhile, Abraham Ancer has fallen back to -6 after a bogey on No.12, but still clings on to the fourth spot. He has two birdies and two bogeys so far, with six holes to go in his second round.

GARCIA A SHOT BACK

Sergio Garcia is fighting hard to stay in the race at West Lancashire.

He is one shot behind the top four with three holes to play in his round, after back-to-back birdies on his 13th and 14th holes.

He then converted a tricky up-and-down on the par-3 sixth (his 15th hole) to stay in the hunt, but he's slowly running out of holes. 

Kawamura leads the way on -5, with four players tied at -4. Sam Bairstow is with Garcia at -3.

CLUBHOUSE LEADER SAM HUTSBY 'IN SHOCK' 

Sam Hutsby, who leads at Dundonald Links on -8 after rounds of 67 and 69, said he was shocked to have played so well after a "grind all day".

“In a little bit of shock," he told the R&A's Final Qualifying Radio. "It was a grind all day and I can’t believe I’ve only made one bogey.

"I knew the course was playing difficult so I had to stay patient. I’m a bit lost for words at the moment.

“The bunkers are so brutal around here and I found quite a few of them today. But I managed to recover and the eagle at the par-5 really got my second round going."

GARCIA MISSES BIRDIE CHANCE

Garcia had a good opportunity to join the group at -4 but couldn't convert a decent birdie chance on No.7. 

The Spaniard (-3) will need at least a birdie in his last two holes to have a chance at qualification. 

Kawamura is the clubhouse leader at -5 after a three-under 69, while amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry is also at -5 with four holes to go. 

Three English players are in a tie for third at -4: Ben Schmidt, Daniel Brown and Sam Horsfield.

HIDALGO HOLES OUT ON THE LAST!

Crazy scenes at Dundonald Links as Angel Hidalgo holes out from around 120 yards on his final hole for eagle to move into a tie for second at -5. 

Hidalgo's incredible shot completed a three-under 69 for his second round, all but securing his spot at The Open.

With Hutsby in the clubhouse at -8, it leaves Liam Nolan (-5), Tim Widing (-4) and Daniel Young (-4) as the main contenders for the remaining two spots.

ANCER OUT OF TOP FOUR AFTER TRIPLE BOGEY

Abraham Ancer's chances of qualifying for The Open took a major blow after he slumped to a triple bogey on the par-3 14th. 

Ancer misjudged two chips in a row to card a costly triple, but managed to bounce back on the following hole with a crucial birdie.

The LIV Golf player is now one shot behind the qualifying spots with three holes to go. 

Clemons leads at -9, with Rose a shot back. Charlie Lindh and Justin Walters are tied for third on -6.

FOUR-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD AT WEST LANCASHIRE

There is a four-way tie at the top at West Lancashire, while Sergio Garcia needs something special on the last to have a chance. 

Daniel Brown and Masahiro Kawamura are both in the clubhouse at -5, with Matthew Dodd-Berry and Sam Horsfield tied for the lead with three holes to play. 

It means Garcia will need at least an eagle on his final hole to have any chance at qualification.

HIDALGO ON HIS STUNNING FINISH

Hidalgo has all but secured a spot at The Open after a sensational eagle hole out on his final hole to jump to a tie for second at Dundonald Links. 

Speaking to R&A's Final Qualifying Radio after his stunning finish, Hidalgo said: "I'm still shaking.

"The second shot was perfect distance, it was the first time all day I had a full club and at that type of moment with nerves I prefer to have a full club.

"Obviously I didn't see the ball go in, but to be honest, I don't care. I just jumped and cried with my caddie and we deserve it. We fight a lot, all this year we've not really had luck, so if finally I take the place (in The Open) it would be a really good gift."

GARCIA SET TO MISS THE OPEN

Sergio Garcia will likely miss The Open once again after carding a two-under 70 for his second round. 

He currently sits in a tie for sixth at West Lancashire on -3, with three players already in the clubhouse with better scores. 

His only hope will be for both leader Matthew Dodd-Berry (-6) and Sam Horsfield (-5) to drop several shots in their final holes - which isn't looking too likely.

Carlos Ortiz and Sam Bairstow have both also finished on -3. 

GARCIA: 'SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T GO YOUR WAY'

After narrowly missing out at West Lancashire last year, Sergio Garcia looks set to fall short of Open qualification once again.

His rounds of 71 and 70 doesn't look like it will be enough for what would've been his 100th Major of his career. 

Speaking after his round, he said: "I come here and I try my hardest to get into The Open. It would be nice to make The Open my 100th major, but it was tough conditions and sometimes things don't go your way. I tried all I could and that's all I can ask myself for."

HORSFIELD SET TO BE ONLY LIV PLAYER TO QUALIFY

Sam Horsfield has birdied his 16th hole to tie the lead at West Lancashire. 

He joins amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry at the top on -6, with Daniel Brown and Masahiro Kawamura both in the clubhouse at -5.

Horsfield, who has two holes to go, looks like he'll be the only LIV Golf player to earn a spot at Royal Troon in today's final qualifying.

ONE SPOT UP FOR GRABS AT DUNDONALD

The top three players at Dundonald Links are in the clubhouse, with one spot up for grabs.

Sam Hustby (-8), Angel Hidalgo (-5) and Liam Nolan (-5) have finished their second rounds, leaving three players at -4 in the final spot.

Jack McDonald, Tim Widing and Daniel Young are locked at -4, but Young is the only one still out on the course and can claim the last spot with a birdie on his final two holes.

ROSE STUMBLES BUT STAYS IN TOP FOUR

Justin Rose has made his first mistake of his second round with a costly double bogey on the par-4 12th. 

It drops him to -6 in a tie for third with Charlie Lindh at Burnham & Bellow.

Anirban Lahiri and Abraham Ancer are both in the clubhouse at -5, while Ross McGowan and Henric Sturehed are still in with a shot at -4 and -3 respectively.

SOUTHGATE CARDS STUNNING -5

Matthew Southgate looks like he has secured a spot at the 152nd Open after a superb five-under 67 in his second round at Royal Clinque Ports. 

Southgate leads the field by three strokes and is set to make The Open via final qualiyfing for the fifth time.

Australian Elvis Smylie and Spanish amateur Jaime Montojo Fernandez are also looking good at -3, while Jamie Rutherford, Luis Masaveu and Branden Grace are locked at -2.

ROSE BOUNCES BACK WITH A BIRDIE

Rose has immediately bounced back from his triple bogey with a birdie on the par-5 13th at Burnham & Berrow. 

The English veteran is now in solo second at -7 with five holes to go, one shot behind clubhouse leader Dominic Clemons. 

Four players are locked at -5 in a tie for third: Anirban Lahiri (69), Abraham Ancer (72), Charlie Lindh (thru 17) and Justin Walters (thru 11).

SOUTHGATE 'OVER THE MOON' AFTER DOMINANT DISPLAY

Matthew Southgate says he is "over the moon" after a brilliant five-under 67 to finish with a three-shot lead at Royal Cinque Ports. 

"I'm over the moon," he said after his round. "That was a real test of links golf. It took a lot of patience, a lot of working out.

"It just reminds me of my dad. The Open is the absolute best, I can't wait. It just means everything."

DUNDONALD SET FOR THREE-WAY PLAYOFF

Daniel Young has finished on -4, meaning he will join Jack McDonald and Tim Widing in a three-way playoff to decide the fourth player at Dundonald Links to qualify for The Open. 

The playoff will start on hole 10 in a sudden death format, with holes 11 and 18 used if necessary.

Sam Hutsby (-8), Angel Hidalgo (-5) and amateur Liam Nolan (-5) have secured their spots at Royal Troon. 

ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR ROSE

Rose is now tied for the lead with Dominic Clemons at Burnham & Bellow thanks to a birdie at the 15th. 

He is now looking good for qualification after a double bogey scare at the 12th.

Four players remain tied on -5, with Justin Walters the only one still out on the course on the 13th. 

FOUR QUALIFIERS AT WEST LANCASHIRE CONFIRMED

The four players at West Lancashire who will be teeing off at Royal Troon have been confirmed. 

Amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry and LIV Golf's Sam Horsfield have finished in a tie for first at -6, while Daniel Brown and Masahiro Kawamura also booked their spots at The Open at -5.

ANOTHER PLAYOFF AT ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

Jamie Rutherford, Branden Grace and amateur Luis Masaveu will compete in a three-way playoff for the last remaining spot at Royal Cinque Ports. 

The trio finished on -2 and will move on to a sudden-death playoff.

Matthew Southgate (-6), Elvis Smylie (-3) and Jaime Montojo Fernandez (-3) have qualified for The Open in two weeks.

10 OF 16 QUALIFIERS CONFIRMED

10 players have qualified so far: Sam Hutsby, Angel Hidalgo, Liam Nolan (a), Matthew Southgate, Elvis Smylie, Jaime Montojo Fernandez (a), Matthew Dodd-Berry (a), Sam Horsfield, Daniel Brown and Masahiro Kawamura.

The leaders at Burnham & Berrow, Dominic Clemons and Justin Rose, are also looking good for qualification.

MCDONALD WINS THE PLAYOFF AT DUNDONALD

Jack McDonald has nailed a 12-foot birdie putt to book his spot at The Open after a playoff against Daniel Young and Tim Widing. 

All three players hit the green on the first sudden-death playoff hole, but McDonald was the only one to sink a birdie.

The Scot, who is a member of Kilmarnock Barassie which is near Royal Troon, can now use his local knowledge at The Open in two weeks. 

ROSE TEES OFF ON 18TH; WALTERS HOPES TO BREAK TIE

Rose looks like he's done enough to qualify for The Open as he sits in a tie for the lead with one hole to go. 

Unless Rose blows up on the last, he will join Dominic Clemons - who is in the clubhouse at -8 - at The Open. 

Meanwhile, Justin Walters is the only man who can break the tie for third, with three others in the clubhouse at -5. 

Walters and Henric Sturehed (-3) have four holes to go.

ROSE QUALIFIES FOR THE OPEN

Rose has tapped in for par at the 18th to secure his spot at Royal Troon. 

The 43-year-old is in the clubhouse with a tie for the lead at -8, alongside amateur Dominic Clemons. 

Both Rose and Clemons, who are three shots ahead of the four players in third, will qualify for The Open.

Rose was a popular player at Burnham & Berrow, with a big crowd following him today.

PLAYOFF CONTINUES AT ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

The three-way playoff at Royal Cinque Ports will move on to the second.

Branden Grace, Jamie Rutherford and Luis Masaveu could only manage pars on the first sudden-death hole.

DODD-BERRY'S 'GREATEST MOMENT'

Amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry said it was a dream come true to qualify for The Open at Royal Troon. 

Dodd-Berry finished in a tie for first alongside Sam Horsfield at West Lancashire. 

"It’s the greatest moment, it’s everything I’ve worked towards. I did it a year late, last year would have been great at my home course but I’m really excited to go to Troon," he said.

"The support today was incredible."

MASAVEU WINS THE PLAYOFF AT ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

Spanish amateur Luis Masaveu has booked his spot at The Open after a birdie on the second hole of a three-way playoff at Royal Cinque Ports. 

Masaveu joins clubmate and fellow amateur Jaime Montojo Fernandez, who finished one stroke ahead to also qualify for Royal Troon. 

Jamie Rutherford and Branden Grace both couldn't convert their birdie chances to leave Masaveu as the last man standing in the playoff for the last qualifying spot. 

ROSE DELIGHTED TO CONTINUE OPEN 'FAIRYTALE'

Speaking after his second round, Rose said he was happy with his performance and was looking forward to competing at another Open Championship - a "fairytale" that began when he first played in Open final qualifying at the age of 14.

"There was obviously huge motivation," he said. "The Open has been a bit of a fairytale and love story for me since I was 14, to be honest with you.

"The Open has always been super special and you can kind of take it for granted. As you get a little older, things get harder and in a way I think it's a good thing to happen (having to qualify) as it makes you appreciate how special it is."

14 DOWN, TWO TO GO

With Rose and Clemons qualified, two spots remain at Burnham & Berrow.

All eyes are still on Justin Walters, who is the only man who has his fate in his hands. Walters has one hole to go and is tied with three others at -5.

The equation is simple at the last: A birdie to qualify, a par would lead to a four-way playoff, and a bogey or worse would end his hopes. 

Anirban Lahiri, Charlie Lindh and Abraham Ancer are all in the clubhouse at -5.

MCDONALD ON HIS PLAYOFF WIN

Jack McDonald, who secured his spot at The Open after a three-way playoff at Dundonald Links, says he "can't believe" that he will be teeing off at Royal Troon in two weeks' time. 

"I remember playing in the Amateur Championship in 2012 at Royal Troon and I was like, 'how good would it be to play in an Open there?' And I just can’t believe that is going to happen now," he said.

FIVE AMATEURS QUALIFY FOR THE OPEN

Five of the 16 spots at Royal Troon were claimed by amateurs. 

Matthew Dodd-Berry, Jaime Montojo Fernandez, Luis Masaveu, Liam Nolan and Dominic Clemons have all done enough to qualify for The Open in two weeks. 

The story of the day might be Montojo Fernandez and Masaveu, who both grew up playing at Royal Club La Moraleja in Madrid and qualified together at Royal Cinque Ports today. 

SCORE CONFUSION AS WALTERS MISSES PLAYOFF

Justin Walters has missed out on the playoff for the final qualifying spots at Burnham & Berrow, after some confusion around his score. 

Online scores had Walters at -5 as he headed to his final hole of the day, but the South African said he was actually on -4, according to R&A's Final Qualifying Radio. 

Walters - who knew he had to make a birdie at the last - couldn't convert, meaning he will miss the playoff for the two remaining spots by just one stroke. 

It means Anirban Lahiri, Charlie Lindh and Abraham Ancer will battle it out in a three-for-two playoff.

TWO REMAINING SPOTS TO BE DECIDED IN PLAYOFF

With the sun slowly setting at Burnham & Berrow, three players will fight for two qualifying spots to The Open. 

India's Anirban Lahiri, Sweden's Charlie Lindh and Abraham Ancer of Mexico had all finished their second round a while back, but are now back on the course in a three-for-two, sudden-death playoff. 

If they can't finish before it gets too dark, they will have to come back in the morning. 

ANCER AND LINDH MAKE IT TO TROON

And just like that, it's all over. Abraham Ancer and Charlie Lindh have both qualified in the three-for-two playoff, with Anirban Lahiri missing out. 

Ancer was the first to secure his par on the first playoff hole, before Lahiri could only manage a bogey. It meant Lindh had to hole his par putt to make it through, and he made no mistake.

So that confirms the four players to qualify at Burnham & Berrow: Rose, Clemons, Ancer and Lindh.

THE 16 QUALIFIERS CONFIRMED

So that confirms the 16 players who will tee off at Royal Troon in two weeks after 36 holes of final qualifying.

Here are the 16 qualifiers:

• Justin Rose
• Dominic Clemons (a)
• Charlie Lindh
• Abraham Ancer
• Sam Hutsby
• Angel Hidalgo
• Liam Nolan (a)
• Jack McDonald
• Matthew Southgate
• Elvis Smylie
• Jaime Montojo Fernandez (a)
• Luis Masaveu (a)
• Matthew Dodd-Berry (a)
• Sam Horsfield
• Daniel Brown
• Masahiro Kawamura

ROSE: 'I STILL FEEL LIKE I CAN WIN THE OPEN'

Justin Rose admits there could come a day when he will be happy to merely qualify for The Open, but for now, he still believes he can win it. 

Speaking to Sky Sports after he finished in a tie for first at Burnham & Bellow, Rose said: "There's moments where you just want to qualify for The Open, and I'm sure that might come in my career just to be at another Open. 

"But I still feel like I can win The Open. To win it, you've got to be in it. That was key today to come here and get that job done, and give myself the opportunity at that dream."

European stalwarts Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia are just two of a host of big names from the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf lining up in Final Qualifying for next month's 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

A minimum of 16 places in The Open will be up for grabs on Tuesday 2 July when players will compete over 36 holes at four Final Qualifying events spread across England and Scotland.

Royal Cinque Ports in Kent, Somerset's Burnham and Berrow, West Lancashire in the north west and Dundonald Links in Scotland will be the four host venues when plenty of big names will be battling to make it to Troon.

Garcia saw his run of 25 straight Open Championship appearances come to an end last year as he finished T6 in Final Qualifying at West Lancashire - but will return to the same venue this year hoping for better fortunes.

The 2017 Masters champion has shown his desire to play in the Majors despite his LIV Golf status limiting his chances of getting in automatically - as he's gone through qualifying to make the last two US Opens.

The 44-year-old will now try again to get back into the Open - where he's had two runners-up finishes, a T2 at 2014 at Hoylake and that famous playoff defeat to Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie in 2007.

Garcia headlines the West Lancashire field along with fellow LIV golf player Marc Leishman, who has also lost an Open playoff, to Zach Johnson at St Andrews in 2015

Several other LIV Golf players are joining Garcia at West Lancashire including Sebastian Munoz, Kieran Vincent, Carlos Ortiz, Jason Kokrak and Sam Horsfield.

Former US Open champion Rose will be teeing it up at Burnham and Berrow in a bid to make his 21st Open Championship appearance.

Rose made his mark on the game at The Open when he famously holed out from 50 yards at Royal Birkdale to finish tied fourth as an amateur in 1998 - a finish he's only managed to better once when finishing T2 in 2018.

Again, Rose will be joined by LIV golfers such as Anirban Lahiri and Abraham Ancer, recent European Open winner Laurie Canter and the world's No.6 ranked amateur Wenyi Ding from China.

Branden Grace, who holds the record for the lowest ever Open round of 62, will attempt to make his 12th appearance as he takes up his Final Qualifying challenge at Royal Cinque Ports.

Grace is joined by former US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Swede Alex Noren and Belgian Thomas Detry - who has shone in the last two Majors finishing T4 and T14.

After his surprising qualification for the US Open, Robert Rock is back and trying to make The Open after coming through Regional Qualifying to make the line-up at Dundonald Links.

Rock has the likes of young Northern Irish star Tom McKibbin, American Peter Uihlein and New Zealander Danny Lee for company in Scotland.

Notable names in Final Qualifying for The Open

Burnham and Berrow

• Anirban Lahiri
• Laurie Canter
• Abraham Ancer
• Justin Rose
• Wenyi Ding
• Justin Harding

Dundonald Links

• Tom McKibbin
• Robert Rock
• Peter Uihlein
• Danny Lee
• Patrick Rodgers

West Lancashire

• Sebastian Munoz
• Kieran Vincent
• Sergio Garcia
• Carlos Ortiz
• Jason Kokrak
• Marc Leishman
• Sam Horsfield

Royal Cinque Ports

• Alex Noren
• Graeme McDowell
• Eugenio Characarra
• Branden Grace
• Thomas Detry

After Hideki Matsuyama claimed $4m for his win at the third of the PGA Tour’s signature events of 2024, the Genesis Invitational, it’s back to a regular event this week with the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta.

As a result, many of the world’s best players have opted not to head south from LA, while the prize fund of $8.1m if significantly lower than the $20m available at the Riviera Country Club tournament.

Despite that, there is still an eye-catching first prize on offer, with the winner set to claim $1.458m – over half of the entire purse of $2.5m for the other big men’s tournament taking place this week, the Magical Kenya Open on the DP World Tour.

The purse is also $400,000 higher than the 2023 edition of the tournament, when Tony Finau held off the challenge of Jon Rahm to win $1.386m. This week’s runner-up will have the consolation of an $882,900 payday. There are also 500 FedEx Cup points for grabs.

Below is the full prize money payout for the 2024 Mexico Open at Vadanta Vallarta.

Mexico Open Prize Money Payout 2024

Who Are The Star Names In The Mexico Open?

Four of the world’s top 50 are competing at the tournament, including defending champion Tony Finau. Last year, the American beat Spaniard Jon Rahm to claim the trophy by three shots, and he will be confident of a similar outcome given he is the highest-ranked player in the field at World No.24.

Ten places beneath Finau in the rankings is Team Europe Ryder Cup player Nicolai Hojgaard, who is still looking for his maiden PGA Tour win. Will this be the occasion?

Emiliano Grillo, who won the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge, and Ryan Fox who was one of 10 DP World Tour players to secure PGA Tour cards for the 2024 season, also play.

Rahm, who won the title in 2022, is unavailable after signing LIV Golf, and that also applies to Mexico’s two best players, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, but there is a place in the field for another Mexican, 2021 winner Alvaro Ortiz, whose three-shot win came in the tournament’s last as a PGA Tour Latinoamerica event.

Eight-time DP World Tour winner Thorbjorn Olesen, another member of Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team, Robert MacIntyre, and Charley Hoffman, who finished runner up at the WM Phoenix Open, also play.

Most people take a bit of time re-adjusting to their day job following a spell away on holiday - be it over Christmas or after a summer trip. Apparently, the same is true for golfers, highlighted by an unusual mistake from Justin Rose during the first round of The Sentry on Thursday.

The highly-experienced 43-year-old admitted he hit the wrong ball on the seventh hole of Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course, leading to a two-stroke penalty and causing a logistical problem for both he and one of his playing partners, either Taylor Moore or Andrew Putnam.

In stroke play, if you play the wrong ball then a general penalty of two strokes applies – added to your score at the end of the hole. You must also correct the mistake by continuing play with your original ball by playing it as it lies or taking relief under the Rules.

Luckily for Rose, in a way, he realised the error before holing out. If he had completed the seventh with the incorrect ball, he would have been disqualified.

Rose's error arrived during his first competitive round since finishing in a tie for eighth at December's Hero World Challenge in The Bahamas - also the location for Tiger Woods' latest professional comeback.

The Englishman had found conditions a little trickier than most through the front nine at Kapalua, sitting at one-over thanks to five pars through the opening six holes. The misdemeanour at seven - and another bogey at nine - saw Rose make the turn in 40 shots, but his back-nine recovery was simply excellent.

Making a par at 10, 14, and 17, Rose recorded birdies at each of the other six holes to move back up to a tie for 46th on two-under. He remains some way behind leader, Sahith Theegala, however, with the American on nine-under and just a single stroke ahead of five players - including Collin Morikawa, Jason Day, and Viktor Hovland.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Rose admitted his mistake and called his return "interesting." He said: "First day back at work after the festive period was interesting @TheSentry I hit the wrong ball on the 7th!!"

This week's accident was not the first time Rose has incurred a shot penalty via unfortunate circumstances. In 2013, during the third round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms, the 23-time winner was a penalized by one stroke after inadvertently moving his ball via a small divot kicked up from a practice swing.

Rose - who had won the same tournament at Cog Hill two years previously - had set up to visualize the shot around 10 feet behind before clipping the turf and sending a small piece of mud and grass cascading into his ball, nudging it forward by a few inches.

While instances of professionals hitting the wrong ball are extremely rare, it does still happen. In 2019, Paul Lawrie and Carl Mason were disqualified from the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship for playing each other's golf ball by mistake.

And in January 2022, Mackenzie Hughes - who snuck into the 2024 Sentry as a result of Jon Rahm's move to the LIV Golf League - fell foul of a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong ball. Painfully, the incident saw him miss the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open by a single shot.

Oversized putter grips have become more and more popular on tour in recent times as professionals look to find any edge possible. This has filtered down into the club golfer also, with many new best putter models now coming fitted with an oversized grip as standard. But do they actually help you hole more putts?

The theory behind thicker putter grips has to do with making the hands less active during the stroke. Some grip manufacturers suggest that because your fingers don't wrap all the way around a thick putter grip they naturally relax more than when using a traditional grip, whereas others feel that the thicker grip encourages the putter to be placed more in the palm of the hand rather than the fingers, which reduces leverage and as such the ability to manipulate the face.

It's this benefit that has wooed the likes of Sergio Garcia, a notoriously nervy putter who has tried every style going, and it's this same benefit that could help any of you looking for how to cure the putting yips.

Before you make a change, it's a worthwhile exercise to gather some simple data so you can later evaluate whether or not switching your putter grip has been successful. Traditional statistics such as putts per round, are unfortunately not a great indication of how you are putting as they are so heavily influenced by how close you are actually hitting the ball to the hole. For example, if you hit it onto every green at around 70ft from the hole, then 36 putts for the day would be an exceptional effort. However, if you hit it to 10ft on every hole, 36 putts might be considered a poor day. The most accurate data to judge yourself with is strokes gained putting. Arccos is a great way of collating this data.

How do I choose the correct grip?

Right, so you have decided that you would like to try an oversize putter grip. So how do you choose the best putter grip from the hundreds available?

Firstly, you need to decide how you would like to position your hands on this new grip because this could have a significant impact on the best design and size of the grip you choose. Are you going to use a standard, right below left, reverse overlap grip? Or are you going to be using something different? There are so many ways to grip a putter; claw grip, left below right, prayer grip, the list goes on. The reason that it is important to make a decision on this first, is that grip manufacturers now offer specific grips for different methods. For example, Superstroke offers a grip designed specifically for the claw method, with the geometry and taper of the grip built to fit your hands more comfortably in that style. Two Thumb produces grips that are designed with the prayer grip in mind. The prayer grip is when your palms are exactly facing one another, with your thumbs level on the front of the grip which facilitates level shoulders at address. Companies like Evnroll are now even creating specific grips for the arm lock style made popular by players such as Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Kuchar.

Once you have made your decision on your preferred method, how do you know what grip to choose? Well, with so many to choose from, the only real method of selection from here is getting your hands on some grips and seeing what sits comfortably with your chosen style. This may not be that easy, as your local pro shop may not have extensive stock, although companies like Superstroke often have displays of example grips in stores. If finance permits, there are several online grip retailers that will allow you to order multiple grips to try, then simply return (unused of course) those that didn’t suit your preferences.  

In my experience here, don’t rely on generic sizing charts or what tour players are using; trust your own judgment, and go with what feels most comfortable and gives you the most confidence.

Now that you have your new grip, get out and practice with it. Once you’re happy, start collecting some more data to find out if the new grip has made a positive difference to your game.

Are there any drawbacks?

Whilst I don’t believe there are any specific negatives inherent in using a thicker putter grip, there are a couple of points worth noting. Firstly, the feel of a putter can dramatically change when going from a standard-sized putter grip to an oversized model. This has to do with a couple of things.

Firstly, both the static mass and swing weight of your putter can be affected by this change. With putter grips varying between as little as 45 grams up to well over 100 grams, the feel of the putter during your stroke will certainly change depending on where your choice falls. For example, whilst a heavier grip will obviously add static mass to your putter, you may find you have less awareness of the clubhead or a lighter feel during the stroke. This is because the balance of the club has shifted slightly, with more of the club's total weight distributed at the grip end. These changes aren’t necessarily bad, just something that will take some adjusting to. A knowledgeable professional will be able to guide you through this and adjust the head weight if required.

Another point to note is that some players take a little time to adjust to the pace of longer putts after making this type of grip change. Some of this could be attributed to the aforementioned weight issues, but others feel that taking the fingers and wrists out of the stroke affects their ability to use their natural touch and feel the pace as effectively. My feeling on this is that this is simply a mental hurdle to overcome rather than anything physiological.

Should I give it a try?

If you aren’t holing enough putts with your standard-sized putter grip, or even struggling with the dreaded yips, trying out an oversized putter grip is certainly a worthwhile exercise. The concept of removing excessive hand manipulation is sound and with so many of the best players in the world now using them, there is a real chance you could benefit too. 

Experiment, pick your preferred method, find a grip that is comfortable for that style, and then hit the putting green. It could be the change you’ve been looking for.

How To Watch Genesis Scottish Open Live Stream 2023

Rory McIlroy, who has not won in Scotland in his career, leads going into the final round by one a shot after a three-under par third-round. He was four under after 11 holes but, in his own words, “made that first bogey on 12 and it was a little scrappy coming in from there.”

It is congested at the top of the leaderboard with 17 players within 5 shots of the lead. There is a competition-within-a-competition in that the final three qualifying places for The Open will go to the three highest finishers at the Genesis Scottish Open who have not already qualified. Eric Cole and Byeong Hun An lead the chase for these places.

To make sure you miss none of the action, below are all the streaming and broadcast details on how to watch a Genesis Scottish Open live stream from wherever you are, as well as today's tee times.

The Genesis Scottish Open boasts a stellar field including defending champion Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Jordan Spieth. Eight of the world’s top-10 ranked golfers will be playing with only Jon Rahm and LIV Golf’s Cam Smith absent. The field also includes the current US Open champion, and world number 11, Wyndham Clark, and past Major champions Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Adam Scott.

The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. This, allied to it being played the week before the Open Championship with a prize fund of $9,000,000, has attracted many top golfers from the US circuit.

It is a modern course on the East Lothian coast adjacent to Muirfield, designed by American Tom Doak. It opened in 2008, and was extensively remodelled a few years later. Built with the intention of attracting top professional events, it has been home to the Scottish Open since 2019, and has also hosted the 2017 Scottish Senior Open and the Ladies Scottish Opens of 2019 and 2020.

The course is “packed with variety, originality and wow-factor,” according to our reviewer Rob Smith. Although not a true links course, it does blend aspects of links and inland golf, as it runs through and beside ancient pine woodland, along cliffs and over drystone walls. It opens with several holes carved through the forest before heading towards the Firth of Forth where the best holes are found around the turn.

If you're looking for a Genesis Scottish Open live stream, the article below will tell you how to watch the latest tournament from the DP World Tour.

UK TV Schedule – How To Watch Genesis Scottish Open Live Stream

All times BST

Thursday, July 13: 8am-6.30pm (Sky Sports Golf)

Friday, July 14: 8am-6.30pm (Sky Sports Golf)

Saturday, July 15: 7am-2pm (Sky Sports Golf)

Sunday, July 16: 7am-2pm (Sky Sports Golf)

In the UK, Sky Sports should be your first port of call as Sky Sports Golf will televise action from the event. At the moment Sky has some great deals on Sky Sports for those looking to upgrade and those looking to sign up to Sky for the first time.

You can get all eight Sky Sports channels in HD for just £25 a month which not only includes all the golf action, but you can also watch the football, cricket, Formula 1, NFL and a whole host of other sporting events.

Genesis Scottish Open Live Stream Live Stream: How to watch from outside your country

There are loads of easy ways to watch golf in 2023 including in the US, UK and almost anywhere else but you won't be able to tune into your regular streaming service if you're away from home because of geo-blocking. Fortunately, VPNs allow you to tune in from abroad and let you watch the same legal, high-quality golf live stream you would at home.

ExpressVPN is one of the best out there. It's easy to use, boasts strong security features, is very easy to setup and is compatible with most major streaming devices, including the  Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation.

Best of all, ExpressVPN comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. This is the #1 rated VPN in the world right now. You can try it out for a month for free or sign up for an annual plan and get 3 months absolutely free.

US TV Schedule – How To Watch Genesis Scottish Open Live Stream

All times EDT

Thursday, July 13: 8.30am-12.30pm (Golf Channel)

Friday, July 14: 8.30am-12.30pm (Golf Channel)

Saturday, July 15: 4am-6am (Golf Channel)

Sunday, July 16: 4.30am-6.30am-12pm (Golf Channel) 

NBC's Golf Channel will televise the action from the Genesis Scottish Open. If you already have the Golf Channel as part of your cable TV package, then you're all set.

No cable? No problem. Try a cord-cutting TV service such as fuboTV ($74.99), AT&T TV Now ($80/m) or Sling ($51/m) to watch the Golf Channel. There are no long contracts with these services. You can try them and cancel whenever you've had enough. FuboTV has a 7-day free trial.

For Sling you'll need the Sling Blue package plus the Sports Extra add-on which usually has a very reasonable introductory price for your first month. Again, just cancel when you're done.

Australia TV Schedule – How To Watch Genesis Scottish Open Live Stream

All times AEST

Thursday, July 13: 5pm-3.30am Kayo Sports (Fox Sports)

Friday, July 14: 5pm-3.30am Kayo Sports (Fox Sports)

Saturday, July 15: 7.30pm-5am Kayo Sports (Fox Sports)

Sunday, July 16: 7.30pm-5am Kayo Sports (Fox Sports)

As ever in Australia the most comprehensive golf coverage is offered by Kayo Sports where you can watch Fox Sports that broadcasts the PGA Tour coverage. Not only can you watch the action from North Berwick here, it also has all the PGA Tour, DP World Tour events and the Majors. It also has events on the LPGA as well.

It also offers access to over 50 sports live and on-demand, with some its big name channels including Fox Sports, ESPN, and beIN Sports.

It's also good value at either $25 for Kayo One, $30 for Kayo Basic or $35 for Kayo Premium. Basic lets you stream sport on two devices at once, while Premium allows you to watch on up to three screens simultaneously, so it represents great value if your household has different sporting tastes or you're splitting the cost of the subscription. There's even a free 7-day trial.

As ever, Aussies out of the country can access their favourite streaming service just like they would at home can use a VPN to watch their Tour live stream of choice.

Genesis Scottish Open tee times and pairings: Round 4

Leading players’ tee times (in PT/ET/BST/AEST) and scores:

* = not currently qualified into this year’s Open Championship

• 12.02am/3.02am/8.02am/5.02pm Xander Schauffele (-7), Tyrrell Hatton (-8), Sebastian Soderberg* (-8)
• 12.13am/3.13am/8.13am/5.13pm Joakim Lagergren* (-8), David Lingmerth* (-8), Robert MacIntyre (-8)
• 12.24am/3.24am/8.24am/5.24pm Max Homa (-9), Harry Hall (-9), Tom Hoge (-9)
• 12.35am/3.35am/8.35am/5.35pm Byeong Hun An* (-10), Scottie Scheffler (-10), Shane Lowry (-10)
• 12.46am/3.46am/8.46am/5.46pm JT Poston (-10), Eric Cole* (-10), Brian Harman (-11)
• 12.57am/3.57am/8.57am/5.57pm Tommy Fleetwood (-11), Tom Kim (-12), Rory McIlroy (-13)

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example

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Padraig Harrington has been backed for a sensational wildcard to play for Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup.

Captain Luke Donald has six picks for September’s contest in Rome at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

Europe are bidding to wrestle the trophy back from USA after Harrington was skipper in 2021 in a record 19-9 thrashing. 

But Harrington, who turns 52 next month, has enjoyed considerable success on the PGA Tour Champions where he is seventh on this season’s money list with $1,136,136. 

He secured his fifth victory on the Tour last month at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open and also came tied 27th in the US Open won by Wyndham Clark.

The Irish pro has played in six Ryder Cups and has 10.5 points from 25 matches. And former pro Wayne Riley, now a Sky Sports commentator as well as a columnist in Golf Monthly, thinks Donald should consider picking the veteran and pairing him with fellow Irishmen like Rory McIlroy or Shane Lowry.

Riley, speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, insisted: “Let’s think about Harrington.

“He was top 30 in the US Open. I think it would be great. His experience in the locker room would be sensational. He is thrashing the ball and hitting it as far as the youngsters.

“The way he played last year was unbelievable on that Champions Tour.
“Imagine seeing him and Rory or Shane Lowry - you wouldn’t understand a word they said.

“I don’t think it would happen but I would loved to have seen it.”

Half of Donald's 12-man team will qualify automatically for the event through the standings.

He and American counterpart Zach Johnson have until Sunday September 3 to decide on their final picks.

There are expected to be four places up for grabs in the European team as Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry are likely to make it.

But recently Adrian Meronk, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard have thrust themselves into equation too.

Aberg, a former amateur world number one, fired a final-round 63 at the John Deere Classic last Sunday to finish in a share of fourth place. He also impressed Donald by shooting 65 and 67 when playing with the skipper the previous week in Detroit in the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Donald has admitted the youngster, who only turned pro in June, is firmly on his radar for September.

America are hot favourites but have not had Ryder Cup success on European soil since 1993.

Riley added: “Rome is going to be American-style golf from watching the Italian Opens there, just to get my eye in.”

Justin Rose credits a clear blueprint in his game for his resurgence in form and his cleanest round of golf this year at the British Masters - as he sets his sights on a big challenge at the Open.

Rose shot a seven-under-par 65 at The Belfry to lead the British Masters by one in what he describes as his "cleanest" round of the year.

It continues the return to form of the 42-year-old, who claimed his first win in four years at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour earlier this year.

The 2013 US Open champion has been pretty consistent since then, and he credits his return to form to having more clarity in his game.

"I think just a bit more clarity week-to-week and what I'm working on in my game," Rose said on what t he catalyst has been for his return to form.

"Not searching for something that's going to work that particular week and then sort of throw that out and then try something the next week, which is obviously sometimes when you have to do because if it's not working, you've got to try and find something that is working.

"But I think anybody who is playing in a rich vein of form has fairly simple thoughts and has good, strong feels and you kind of layer those feels week-to-week-to-week which obviously builds trust in your game. 

"I think I have a clear sort of blueprint with what I'm working on and can build momentum behind it."

Rose said he felt good from the start at The Belfry, and produced what he felt was his best round of the year.

"Felt very comfortable with my game from the first shot, really," he added. "Hit a beautiful little wedge into the 10th hole. 

"Got off to a good start, nice birdie there, and I actually think that's probably the best, cleanest round of golf I've played in a long, long time, probably even this year, as well as I have been playing."

Rose targets Open challenge

A missed cut at the US Open followed a T16 finish at the The Masters and a T9 in a fine display at the PGA Championship - which is solid Major form heading into the Open at Royal Liverpool.

Rose is using the British Masters and Scottish Open to prepare, in a "British swing" he hopes will sharpen his game up for Hoylake.

"You always try to look at the season in little blocks and little runs of golf, and I would say this is sort of British swing of golf is exactly what it is.

"Obviously you have this week and into the Scottish Open and obviously culminating with the Major championship, which deserves to get the full attention.

"So a good month of golf ahead, which you hope to progress through nicely."

Justin Rose hopes only good things are coming the DP World Tour’s way on the back of its deal with the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund.

The agreement shocked the golf world when it was announced earlier in the month, and while much of the attention has been on how the PGA Tour will be affected, it could have a profound effect on the European circuit, too.

Rose competes on the DP World Tour in this week’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry, and, during the build-up, he explained how he hopes the new set-up, however it plays out, will encourage the best European players to participate in their home tournaments.

He said: “I think it's very, very important. I think these tournaments have a great support and great history and I think they deserve to really have had the support of tours, which they do, but also have the support of top players because that's clearly the currency in which we all trade in, top players kind of make a tournament.”

After over a year of division at the top of the game, Rose also expressed his desire for harmony to be restored. He continued: “Obviously if there's too much competition, like three tours vying for one product, which is the players, it does become very, very difficult. So hopefully that is what we're all trying to move towards with all the noise that's going on at the moment, is one more unified system and set up, which I guess is the ultimate goal.”

There is still plenty of confusion over exactly what the future of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf, which is financed by the PIF, will look like. However, Rose appeared optimistic that it can be positive for the DP World Tour.

He said: “Hopefully the DP World Tour is going to be a huge beneficiary of any changes that might come along in the future. We can only hope and events like this will have a much better chance of getting them from strength of strength.”

Rose has won the British Masters once in his career, albeit over two decades ago. However, the 2013 US Open champion admitted his win in 2002 still stands among his career highlights.

He said: “It is still one of the most significant victories in my career. More from an emotional point of view than anything. It was the one victory that my father was actually able to be there on the 18th green and witnessed himself in person, one of my only as a professional, and he was able to see that. It will forever be special from that point of view.

“Obviously there was a great back and forth between myself and Ian Poulter. We had a great duel, a ding-dong battle. He actually hosted me that week, so I wasn't very gracious as a guest. It was an amazing week for sure.”

Sir Nick Faldo will host the tournament from this year until 2026, and Rose said he believes the six-time Major winner’s presence will enhance it. He continued: “It's going to be well supported and it has some energy building around it, obviously Nick supporting the event now and being attached to it for the foreseeable future, I think is pretty good. It gives it more depth in terms of history and significance. So I feel like the tournament is in a good spot.”

'I Like The Way The Team Is Shaping Up'

Rose then turned his attention to the Ryder Cup, which he has played in five times, including victory the last time it was held in Europe in 2018. 

He explained he feels the Europeans should have a strong team for September’s tournament at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome. He said: “I like the way the team is shaping up. We’re now coming into that last few months and I think the European team looks to have a really strong base.”

Scoring records are being broken left, right and center at the US Open this week as Los Angeles Country Club poses slightly less of a stern test that many are used to in America's national open.

Considered to be 'golf's toughest test', the 123rd US Open has been somewhat of a birdie-fest at the top of the leaderboard, with Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele becoming the first players in history to shoot 62s in a US Open. Fowler tied the 36-hole scoring record and also made 18 birdies in his first 36 holes, the most ever in a US Open.

Not everyone has been tearing it up though, with LACC still able to catch out players with its fast, sloping fairways and greens as well as thick rough. The golfers who didn't quite bring their 'A games' have struggled, and there's plenty of big names who are heading out of Los Angeles early.

The top-60 and ties make it through to the weekend at the US Open, and the cut mark fell at two-over-par, meaning that anyone at +3 or worse missed out.

Perhaps the biggest and most notable name is Phil Mickelson, who has finished runner-up six times in the US Open and only needs the fabled trophy to complete the career grand slam.

Lefty was one-under-par after 18 holes but a 74 on Friday meant he missed the cut for the third time in the past four years with a score of three-over-par, agonisingly just a single stroke shy of making it to the weekend.

The most surprising performance came from Justin Thomas, with the two-time Major winner finishing towards the bottom of the leaderboard after two days at 14-over-par. It hasn't exactly been a stellar year for Thomas so far, after missing the cut at The Masters and now US Open to go with his T65th at the PGA Championship.

Thomas reportedly said his score was "humiliating and embarrassing" and described his performance as the "lowest I’ve felt."

Justin finished 36 holes a total of 24 strokes behind his close friend Rickie Fowler, and another close friend of theirs, the 2015 US Open winner, Jordan Spieth also missed the cut. Spieth joined Mickelson at three-over to miss out by a single stroke.

Another big name Max Homa, playing in his home city, also missed out on four-over. Justin Rose also posted four-over despite a valiant effort on Friday. He shot a two-under 68 but the damage was done on Thursday with a 76.

Other Major winners to be going home early are Justin Rose, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari and Keegan Bradley.

Notable players to miss the cut at the US Open:

• +3 Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth
• +4 Max Homa, Justin Rose
• +5 Adam Scott
• +9 Jason Day
• +14 Justin Thomas

View all the scores on the US Open website

Olympic spirit was high when golf's return to one of the biggest sporting events in the world was announced after more than a 100-year absence.

Not since 1904 in St. Louis had golfers battled it out for the fabled gold medal, before Peter Dawson and Ty Vatow, president and vice president of the International Golf Federation (IGF) respectively at the time, led the argument for the sport to be reinstated. 

And in 2009, the International Olympic Committee voted in favour of golf's bid and confirmed it would be part of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"It's the end of a long journey, or the beginning of a new one," Dawson said, after the first tee shot was struck at the Olympic Golf Course in Brazil's capital city.

The field for both the men's and women's competition was limited to 60 players and based on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Specifically, the top 15 in the rankings at the cutoff point were eligible, although each country was limited to a maximum of four players.

Outside the top 15, a maximum of two from each country that didn't already have two or more representatives then qualified until the field was set. Competition was particularly tough to make Team USA. Americans have long dominated the world rankings, but in the end, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler suited up for the stars and stripes.

Kuchar finished highest of the American contingent in the 72-hole stroke play shootout, clinching the bronze medal behind Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson who took gold and silver respectively, but the event seemed to take on particular significance for Fowler. He marked the occasion by getting a tattoo of the iconic Olympic rings on his right forearm.

Fowler finished in a tie for 37th at level par, alongside Danny Willett and 13 shots out of the medals, but will always be able to say he represented his country on arguably the grandest stage in all of sport.

During the Games, Fowler was pictured hanging out with fellow athletes from other sports and even got an Olympics-themed haircut. Former Olympic diver Sam Dorman, who won a silver medal in Rio, tweeted "Forever Olympians @RickieFowler" after the pair got inked with matching tattoos.

But Fowler wasn't the only American to get a permanent reminder of his Olympics experience. Lexi Thompson, who finished in a tie for 19th in 2016 and 33rd at the 2021 Tokyo Games, also got a commemorative tattoo on her left wrist, as can be seen below.

For all the money the biggest names in golf now play for, especially on the men's side, it shows that there are some things that can't be measured in zeros in a bank account. 

At the end of a hugely dramatic four-hole playoff with Tommy Fleetwood, home hero Nick Taylor holed the longest putt of his career to win the RBC Canadian Open and his third PGA Tour event.

Not since 1954 had a Canadian lifted the country's national title and Taylor ended that drought in thrilling style. He recovered from an opening-round 75 to finish tied on 17-under with Fleetwood after 72 holes before sealing the deal courtesy of a mammoth 72-foot eagle putt in front of an adoring home crowd.

"I'm speechless, this is for all the guys that are here," Taylor said. "This is for my family at home, I'm very speechless, this is the most incredible feeling ever."

As for the putt to win, he added: "I knew it was going to be slow with all the rain we had so I wanted to get it as close as I could because I thought Tommy was going to make it. It's unbelievable, I don't quite know what to say."

Taylor began the day three behind C.T. Pan but took the solo lead after three birdies in his opening six, carrying on where he left off after a Saturday 63.

It was a lead he held at least a share of until a bogey at the 16th dropped him one behind a charging Tyrrell Hatton, who recovered from a double-bogey on the 8th to fire a 64 and set the clubhouse target at -16.

Taylor, who putted brilliantly all day, holed from 18ft on 17 and then 11ft on 18 to end Hatton and Aaron Rai's hopes, before Fleetwood put himself in pole position to end his wait for a PGA Tour title with some stunning ball-striking on the closing stretch.

Birdies at 16 and 17 got the Englishman to 17-under with just the par-5 18th to play, but he couldn't capitalise after finding the rough off the tee and with his lay-up. In the end, he did well to make par and send the tournament to a playoff.

It was advantage Taylor as the pair returned to the 18th until Fleetwood silenced the crowd by holing from 20 feet with his opponent in close. Taylor had appeared set to have a five-footer to win but kept his cool to follow Fleetwood in and stay alive.

Fleetwood then had chances to win from 11 and 13 feet on the second and third playoff holes respectively that he will be left to rue leaving Toronto, but there can be no denying the fitting finale fans were treated to at the end of a landmark week in men's professional golf.

For all the off-course drama that has transcended the sport for all the wrong reasons, the finish in Canada was anything but, as Taylor produced a moment of magic to end the 69-year wait for a home winner and spark wild celebrations.

"It feels, I can't even describe it," Taylor said. "This is the most incredible feeling. The fans were unbelievable all day. Every green, every tee box I was getting ovations and to make those last two putts to give myself a chance to do that, I'm speechless."

RBC Canadian Open Leaderboard 2023

*won in a playoff

• -17 Taylor*, Fleetwood
• -16 Hatton, Rai, Pan 
• -14 Cole, Hubbard
• -13 Rose

Useful Links

• Ludvig Aberg Finishes Seven Under In Pro Debut
• RBC Canadian Open Purse, Prize Money And Field 2023
• McIlroy In Contention For Third Consecutive RBC Canadian Open Win
• Michael Block Misses RBC Canadian Open Cut
• RBC Canadian Open 2023 Live Stream

HELLO AND WELCOME

The final round of the RBC Canadian Open is set to be a cracker, with a host of big names chasing overnight leader C.T. Pan. Rory McIlroy is one of six that starts the day two back as he looks to win Canada's national event for the third time in succession.

Alongside McIlroy are Englishmen Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, while Aaron Rai sits a further shot behind. The action is already underway, with the final group set to get going at 2.15pm EDT (7.15pm BST).

Fitzy off to a flyer

Some big early moves are being made, with reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick among them. The Englishman has birdied his first two holes to get to -8. 

Chez Reavie holds the round of the day so far with a seven-under 65, while Ryan Moore at -5 through 14 is the lowest of those on the course just now.

Tee time reminder

As we wait for full coverage to start, a brief reminder of when the leaders are out. 

• 1.45pm EDT (6.45pm BST): Andrew Novak, Nick Taylor
• 1.55pm EDT (6.55pm BST): Justin Rose, Harry Higgs
• 2.05pm EDT (7.05pm BST): Rory McIlroy, Mark Hubbard
• 2.15pm EDT (7.15pm BST): C.T. Pan, Tommy Fleetwood

Same story for Rory - can he convert this time?

Just a week after the disappointment of Sunday at the Memorial, McIlroy is back in with a shout of capturing his 24th PGA Tour title. For someone who hasn't been at his best all year, he's notched up some cracking results.

His stats for the first three rounds tell a similar story to last week. The Northern Irishman ranks first for strokes gained off the tee and third on the greens. As for the bits in between, he is 34th with his approach play and 37th around the greens.

However, little of that matters when under pressure to win on the PGA Tour. That pressure seemed to get the better of him at Muirfield Village so he'll be desperate to put that right today, especially with the US Open fast approaching.

Home hero gets going

Corey Conners is off and running to one of the loudest cheers of the day. He starts four behind and well in it.

Hatton on the move

Another player making solid progress is Tyrrell Hatton. Two birdies in his first three holes take him to -10 and within four.

Rai in the red

Aaron Rai makes the best possible start, hitting his second to the 1st from 125 yards into about 10 feet, dispatching it for an opening birdie to join the group at -12.

Alongside Rai, Conners can't convert from closer and has to settle for par.

Still no full coverage

This crossover period of broadcasters really is just quite rubbish. We're still waiting on full coverage to commence in Canada, with around 20 minutes until the final pairing tee off.

In the interim, we're stuck listening to some questionable punditry. 

Hatton birdie

It's more good news for Hatton, who makes his third birdie of the day on the 4th. His second shot from 170 yards was a beauty and he converted from six feet with the putter. Simple!

Can Novak follow in namesake's footsteps?

It was a good day for one Novak as Serbian Novak Djokovic captured his third French Open and 23rd Grand Slam title earlier today. Andrew Novak is out to win his first PGA Tour event and got off to a great start, birdieing the first to get to -13 and within one of C.T. Pan.

McIlroy underway

It wasn't convincing but McIlroy is off and running. He pushes his tee shot into the semi rough and will have 115 yards for his second. An early test of the wedge game.

Par to start for McIlroy

After a good second to about 12 feet, McIlroy can't convert for an opening birdie. No damage done, though, and he heads to the 2nd in the big group at -12.

Final group get going

The final group is off. C.T. Pan and Tommy Fleetwood both find the rough with their opening tee shots, but hit the green in two. Pan will have a lengthy birdie putt while Fleetwood is within 10ft. 

Tommy Lad!

Is it finally Fleetwood's time to get over the line in a PGA Tour event? He makes a great start with a birdie at the 1st to immediately reduce his arrears to one to his playing partner. Could be huge!

Rai to -13, Hatton on fire 

There are four English players within two of Pan. Leading the charge so far is Aaron Rai, who makes his second birdie of the day at the 4th to get to -13 and just one behind.

He could be joined soon by Hatton, who hits another laser-like iron shot into the 7th. He'll have 10 feet for his fifth birdie of the day.

Fleetwood joins Pan at the top

What a start for Fleetwood. A superb tee shot on the 2nd is followed by an average wedge shot from 78 yards, but he makes up for it by slotting the 15-footer to get to -14 and into a share of the lead.

The birdies are flowing so far today.

Huge save for Rory, Hatton in trouble

Another errant wedge shot lands McIlroy in trouble on the 3rd but he hits a great recovery chip and holes the resultant putt. That could prove to be a huge par save.

Ahead, Hatton finds the hazard off the 8th tee and will have a job holding station at -12.

Home favourite within one

Taylor is flying the flag for Canada so far and gets within one with a birdie at the 4th. And he could soon find himself in a tie for the lead, with the final group in trouble on the 3rd.

Seven-way tie at the top

Both Fleetwood and Pan are unable to save par on the 3rd, meaning we now have a seven-way tie at the top at -13. This RBC Canadian Open is amazingly well poised for a thrilling finale.

How Rose got to -13

That'll do it!

Hatton makes double

Hatton compounds errors on the 8th after hitting his tee shot into the water and he eventually racks up a double-bogey that drops him to -10. That'll be mega disappointing after such a hot start.

Ludvig Aberg caps off brilliant debut

The highly fancied Ludvig Aberg finishes off his PGA Tour debut with three straight birdies for a round of 70 and a seven-under total. What a superb performance by the Swede. Remember the name, folks.

Taylor hits the front, Fleetwood saves par

A Canadian leads the Canadian Open on his own. After shooting a nine-under 63 yesterday, Taylor now hits the front on his own at -14 after three birdies in his opening six holes today. The latest comes at the difficult 6th as he curls in a 15-footer.

Back at the 4th, Fleetwood avoids a second successive bogey with a monster par save from about 25 feet. Huge for momentum.

McIlroy struggling

The day is proving eerily similar to last Sunday so far for Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman has failed to get going and the first move he makes is backwards with a bogey at the 5th to drop to -11. He's now three behind and in need of some momentum. 

Taylor to -15, McIlroy now five back

There is no stopping the Nick Taylor train. Another birdie at the par-5 7th briefly takes the Canadian two clear at -15, before his lead is trimmed to one by Aaron Rai, who birdies the 8th to get to -14.

Behind, it's more bad news for McIlroy, who comes up short with his second to the 6th and fails to get up-and-down for par. He's now five behind.

Rose finds the water on 8

The Englishman takes an iron for safety on the 8th but blocks it into the water - rookie mistake. He's forced to hit a provisional and launches a drive within 70 yards of the green. He'll do well to drop just one shot here.

Elsewhere, McIlroy shaves the edge with his birdie putt on the par-5 7th. He's sporting a frustrated Sunday figure for the second week in a row.

Birdies drying up

Amid the quite frankly awful chat in the Sky Sports studio, the action on the course is little better, with the players in contention all struggling momentarily.

Rose makes double-bogey on the 8th to drop back to -12, while the final group of Pan and Fleetwood have had little to cheer about for some time.

Taylor three clear

The home favourite continues to putt the lights out. He makes his fifth birdie of the day at the 10th to get to -16 and three clear after Rai bogeys the 11th. Amazingly, he has needed just 12 putts through 10 holes.

Unsurprisingly, he is leading the field in strokes gained putting so far, picking up more than three shots against the field average. 

Eric Cole posts round of the day

Eric Cole reduces Taylor's lead to two after finishing up on 18 with his fourth consecutive birdie and a round of 63. The American made eight birdies in his final 12 holes to vault himself into solo second at -14. What a round!

All change at the top

And just like that Taylor's lead is down to one. The Canadian leaves himself a 60-footer for birdie on the par-3 11th but can't get down in two, leading to his first bogey of the day that drops him back to -15.

In the final group Fleetwood sinks a six-footer to get to -14 and within one of Taylor all of a sudden. Rai then joins his fellow Englishman with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 12th. It's heating up again all of a sudden.

Hatton's impressive recovery

After finding the water on the 8th, Hatton dropped from -12 to -10 and looked out of it. The Englishman has, however, done brilliantly to recover back to -13 with three holes to play. He'll likely need to birdie all of them to have a chance but you never know...

Taylor restores two-shot lead

A stunning second to the par-5 12th gives Taylor a look from 20 feet for eagle. He gives it a good run but settles for a birdie four that takes him back to -16 and two clear.

Oh Canada

The par-3 14th is set up as a kind of mini-stadium hole, with standing fans surrounding the tee and singing at every opportunity. I think it's the national anthem and it's a little bizarre if I'm honest.

Anyway, back to the important stuff. Hatton has made another birdie at the 16th to get to -14. Sadly, the cameras aren't picking up anything he's doing so I can't provide any more details than that.

What of McIlroy?

Still no good news to report about Rory McIlroy. He had a good chance at the 10th for his first birdie of the day but missed it left. That's about all that's been shown of the World No. 3, understandably so. 

He's -10 through 11 and set for another disappointing Sunday when in contention. Is it a mental thing? If it isn't, it might soon be. Big finish required or that's another blow heading into next week's US Open.

Another birdie for Hatton

We've now had a quick recap of Hatton's last few holes as he moves within one of the lead with a third birdie in a row and a fifth in eight holes at 17. The Englishman is -15 with just the par-5 18th to play. He could set a proper clubhouse target if he can pick up one more shot. 

Fleetwood and Rai join Hatton

There are now three Englishmen tied for second, one shot behind Taylor. Fleetwood joins Hatton at -15 after holing a 20-footer on the tricky par-3 11th, before Rai birdies the par-4 15th from a few feet closer.

Hatton in the house at -16

From the semi rough, Hatton's second into 18 must have looked on the money until it pulled up a couple yards shot in the thick rough. He can't believe it but dusts himself off to get up-and-down for a fourth consecutive birdie and a round of 64. 

He's in the clubhouse at -16, which is an incredible effort after the 8th-hole double-bogey that took him back to -10. Will it be enough? It'll likely be one or two shy but stranger things have happened.

Hatton leads on his own

Taylor, who has held the lead since birdieing the 6th, loses it on 16. The Canadian finds the rough off the tee and with his second and can't get up-and-down from short of the green, meaning Hatton leads on his own at -16.

Rai with lengthy eagle putt for solo lead

Two great shots into 18 for Rai leaves him 51 feet for an eagle that would vault him into the lead on his own at -17. Realistically, though, he'll be looking to two-putt and join Hatton in the clubhouse at -16.

Behind, Taylor has 18 feet on the 17th for a comeback birdie to get to -16. It's anyone's to win at this stage.

Taylor makes it

Wow! A brilliant putt under the utmost pressure with all the fans pulling for him gets Taylor to -16 and back into a tie for the lead with Hatton. Just the par-5 18th remains for the home hero.

Rai in the clubhouse at -16

His eagle putt pulls up short but Rai makes no mistake with the birdie effort, closing out an impressive 67 to join Hatton in the clubhouse at -16. As it stands, three are tied at the top, with Fleetwood lurking a shot further back.

Don't go anywhere.

Taylor through the back on 18

From the semi rough, Taylor launches his second through the back of the 18th green into the rough. He might be able to get relief from a sprinkler and get a drop onto the fringe, which would be a huge break. We'll find out soon.

Taylor makes birdie!

The Canadian opts not to ask for a rules official and nudges his chip down to 11 feet. This to take the solo lead in the clubhouse with everyone in the gallery rooting him on and he curls it in.

It's a birdie-birdie finish and a closing 66 for Taylor that takes him to -17 and means the best Hatton and Rai can do is a tie for second. Huge putt.

Fleetwood to -16

Can Fleetwood spoil the party? He's certainly doing everything he can. A piped drive on 16 puts him within wedge distance and he sticks it to 8 feet before burying the birdie putt. 

The Englishman is now -16 and one behind Taylor with two to play.

How Taylor took the lead

What a moment!

Tommy Lad

What a display of ball-striking Fleetwood is putting on. Another incredible driver-wedge combo on 17 sets him up with a three-footer to tie Taylor for the lead.

Fleetwood ties the lead

Fleetwood makes no mistake from three feet and joins Taylor at -17 with the par-5 18th to play. He has been absolutely superb today, especially since turning for home.

Alongside Fleetwood, overnight leader Pan has enjoyed a resurgence with three birdies in his last four. He's now -15 but looks likely to come up at least a couple shots shy.

Drama

With the chance of a first PGA Tour win within his grasp, Fleetwood finds the rough with an iron off the tee and then compounds the error by finding the rough with his lay-up shot.

He's got 82 yards left for his third into the par-5 from what looks like a really tricky spot. Advantage Taylor.

McIlroy closes with 72

Another disappointing Sunday comes to an end for Rory McIlroy. He started two back and in the penultimate group but couldn't get anything going and cut a frustrated figure throughout a lacklustre display.

In the end, a level-par 72 sees him finish -12 and in a tie for ninth.

Fleetwood has lengthy putt to win

With the ball well below his feet, Fleetwood does well just to find the green. He'll have 46 feet to win and two putts to force a playoff with Taylor. 

Pan's chip to get to -17 doesn't fall so the best he can do is a tie for second.

We're going to a playoff

Credit to Fleetwood. After probably two of his worst shots of the week, he coaxes his putt to win down to the hole and salvages a par five to take the Canadian Open to extra holes.

Back to 18 we go

Here we go then. Fleetwood and Taylor will play 18 twice if still no winner before heading to the 9th and back to the 18th.

Both on fairway

Taylor is up first and finds the fairway before Fleetwood follows suit - what the Englishman would have given for that 20 minutes ago. 

Nerves showing

From 277 yards, Fleetwood pipes a mini driver but it leaks a hair right and ends up in the rough. With a chance to take advantage from 30 yards closer, Taylor hits a horrible shot that squirts out really low and right. It also winds up in the right rough but he looks like he'll have a really tricky stance with his feet in the bunker.

Advantage Taylor

Taylor has his trail foot in the sand but hits a remarkable shot, lobbing it to around five feet to the delight of the fans. 

Up next, Fleetwood gets it all wrong and his ball shoots out the rough to about 20 feet.

Advantage Taylor.

Wow - Fleetwood drains it to stay alive

Drama!! Fleetwood takes no time at all, steps up and slots his putt for birdie straight in the middle, letting out a wild celebration.

As the heavens open, Taylor pours his five-footer in to continue the playoff. Back to the 18th tee we go.

WATCH: Fleetwood's putt

Scenes.

Fleetwood finds fairway, Taylor in rough

Taylor is up first again but this time his tee shot tails right and bounds into the rough. The good news for the Canadian is that his ball looks to be sitting nicely.

Fleetwood is sticking to his guns with an iron and lasers a lovely draw down the middle.

Fleetwood in trouble

The Englishman carves his second well right into the grandstand. He'll get free relief but will be in a tricky spot for his third shot, meaning he'll likely need to hole another lengthy putt if he is to make birdie.

From the rough, Taylor's comes out a little left and pulls up just short of the green, 44 yards away from the hole.

Advantage Fleetwood

The swings in this playoff are hard to keep up with. Taylor comes up 20 feet short with his chip shot, opening the door for Fleetwood.

From a tough spot, the Englishman plays a great shot to 11 feet.

Both players miss

Taylor's putt slips past the right edge, meaning Fleetwood has a chance to win it. But he can't get it to drop, so the players will now go to the 9th hole.

Birdie chances upcoming

Taylor's tee shot into the 159-yard par-3 is leaking a little but gets a nice nudge off the collar of rough before it spins back onto the fringe, about 15 feet away.

Up next, Fleetwood hits a cracking nine-iron right down the flag, coming up about 10 feet short. It's a putting contest.

The playoff continues

Taylor's birdie putt is in the jaws but pulls up a foot short, leaving Fleetwood with another chance to win. Again, he can't get it to fall, so the pair will go back to the 18th.

It's pandemonium among the fans, who are charging between holes to make sure they don't miss any of the action.

Team Europe vs Team Canada

A few familiar faces out in support...

Taylor in a divot, Fleetwood in the bunker

Taylor looks like he's hit a good tee shot but it trickles into the semi rough and seems to settle in a divot. You couldn't write it.

With another little opening, Fleetwood pulls his into the fairway bunker. A really poor error that could prove costly. We'll see.

Taylor finds the green

All Fleetwood can do is lay-up, which he does, finding the fairway. He'll have 85 yards left for his third.

Taylor knuckles a fairway wood out his tricky lie which chases up the left and finds the front portion of the green, leaving him more than 70 feet from the hole.

Taylor wins it from 70 feet!!

Fleetwood feathers a wedge to around 12 feet, which will be on pretty much the same line as the previous putt he had to win on 18.

From distance and roared on by the home crowd, Taylor amazingly sinks his 70-footer to win the Canadian Open. What a way to do it at the end of a crazy day of golf. Wow!

The winning moment

Just incredible - what a way to win it!

Thanks for joining

Anyway, that's all from us for this week. Thanks a lot for following along with our live coverage. We'll be back for the US Open in four days!

Rory McIlroy showed signs of returning to his very best during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open, and he remains well in contention for his first PGA Tour win of 2023 and his third in a row in the tournament.

The 34-year-old heads into Sunday’s final round on 12-under following his six-under 66, which included a 29-foot birdie on the 13th, to leave him two shots behind overnight leader C.T Pan.

McIlroy's far from alone chasing the Taiwanese player, though, with five other players tied for second to set up an intriguing fourth round. 

Tommy Fleetwood hit five birdies on the back nine to leave him in contention for his maiden win on the PGA Tour. Fellow Englishman Justin Rose also rallied brilliantly on the back nine, with six birdies in his last seven holes, while Mark Hubbard, Harry Higgs and Andrew Novak complete the chasing pack of six.

A birdie for Pan on the 17th was enough to separate him from the others, and his round got even better on the final hole with another birdie on the par-5 to take a two-shot cushion into Sunday as he looks for his second PGA Tour win. 

With his recent history in the RBC Canadian Open and his current ranking of third in the world, though, much of the attention will be on McIlroy on Sunday as he aims to become the first player to win the tournament three times in a row.

Despite holding such a strong position, he will not be taking anything for granted, particularly after heading into the final round of last week’s Memorial Tournament tied for the lead before fading on the Sunday.

McIlroy eventually had to settle for a tie for seventh at Muirfield Village, which hinted he hasn’t quite seen off his difficulties over recent months after missing the cut at both The Players Championship and The Masters.

Nevertheless, he was encouraged by his round at Oakdale Golf and Country Club that included six birdies. He said: “I got off to a great start. Three under through that first nine holes I felt was a really good effort. Kept it going through the first part of the back nine. Then the putter went a little cold on me over those last five holes. 

"But, yeah, overall, it's great to put myself in with a shot tomorrow. There's a lot of people up there around the lead, so it's going to be a fun day. I would love to win the Canadian Open for the third time. I've never won a tournament three times in a row."

Justin Rose says it won’t be easy for some LIV Golf players to get back onto the PGA Tour, and would be more worried about the future from their perspective than players who stayed.

The 42-year-old admits that he had the right profile for a player thinking about joining LIV, being over 40 and in the last few years struggling for form.

But the Englishman says he never thought about joining Greg Norman’s new tour – as he never wanted to risk missing the Majors and still fancied himself to have an Indian summer in his career.

“Obviously playing Major championship golf was always the thing I could never give up. So I was kind of always very content,” Rose said of his decision to stay on the PGA Tour.

“I'd probably be more concerned if I was on LIV right now than on the PGA Tour.”

One thorny issue from the big merger news is that of LIV players returning to the PGA Tour, and Rose says that some form of sanctions or reintegration process will have to be sorted out.

“We're looking for a harmonious world of golf. This is what I think this is designed to achieve. That's not going to be overnight,” Rose added.

“Obviously there's a lot of players that you guys want to watch play golf, who we know all know who they are on LIV. They got a lot to offer the game of golf. I think just because they made a certain decision doesn't mean they're outcasts forever.

“I don't know what the protocols will be, to be honest with you. I think there would be if it's just a straight, hey, boys, come on back, that's not going to sit well with anybody out here necessarily.

Rose added that players who may not have that star power to get sponsor invites, and who have slipped down the rankings due to playing with LIV, will face a tough time.

“I'm sure it's going to need some massaging to get it right. There's a lot of guys that have gone to LIV that, I don't even know what's going to happen, obviously, but they have sacrificed a lot as well in terms of ranking and all these times of things.

“So there might not be such an easy step for a few of them if that's the case, if it comes down to, you know, exemptions and what your categories are on the PGA Tour. It's going to be very different for different guys.”

After backing himself to stay and challenge, Rose was then back winning when he claimed the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – and was delighted he proved he could still win tournaments, as he targets a renaissance late in his career.

“I was kind of in that age category where you could see that I was maybe a good candidate to sort of think about going (to LIV). But I didn't, I wasn't ready for anything like that.

“I still believe in myself and like I said I still feel like I've got that Indian summer of my career to look forward to. So I still feel hungry. I still love the game. I still think I can get better.”

PGA pro Omar Uresti finds himself in a pretty special threeball this week, following the withdrawal of former US Open champion Webb Simpson. 

Simpson has been forced out through illness, but Uresti will be relishing the opportunity to go and perform alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, also previous US Open champions.

Uresti, 54, has played on the PGA Tour nearly 400 times, and although he has yet to taste victory on the ‘big tour’, he is unlikely to be overawed in Major company.

With nearly $4m in prize money to his name, the former University of Texas All-American knows what he’s capable of. A two-time winner of the PGA of America’s PGA Professional Championship, he boasts a lot of experience.

Still, it's quite the group to join. As a reserve, you're just hopeful of playing, but Uresti has landed himself a dream group. 

Not only is the man from Austin, Texas, going to have a fair bit of television time, he'll also have the opportunity to discuss all things PGA Tour and LIV Golf with world number three McIlroy, who's been one of the most vocal on the controversial merger this week.

Whether or not this affects Uresti's game or not remains to be seen. The trio teed off at 07.33am (12.33pm GMT), and the journeyman made a solid par on the 10th, his first hole.

McIlroy, meanwhile, showed no early signs of being worn out by all the pre tournament merger discussions, the defending champion opening his account with a birdie. 

After two missed cuts in his only two appearances on the PGA Tour this season, Uresti, whose niece is married to fellow professional and Tour player, Nick Watney, will be hoping that he can at least stick around for the weekend.

For inspiration, he need only think about Michael Block's incredible accomplishment at the PGA Championship last month, where the 46-year-old club pro finished in a tie for 15th.

That, of course, was only part of the story. He also made a remarkable hole-in-one. Talking of aces, according to the PGA Tour's website, Uresti says a hole-in-one, that he made at the age of eight, ranks as one of his biggest thrills.

A decent weekend in Toronto would surely rank fairly highly, too. 

The 2023 RBC Canadian Open is set to get underway from a new course at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. We’ve only seen a handful of winners at this event since 2016, including Rory McIlroy, who leads all golfers in the field at +450 to win outright for the third consecutive time. It’s a feat that has yet to be achieved elsewhere this season, while no one has won the RBC Canadian Open three straight times in over a century.

McIlroy had a share of the lead at The Memorial Tournament last weekend before imploding with numerous bogeys down the stretch. He is equipped with some of the most potent skills, primarily his driver, but finding greens in regulation and putting have been weaknesses for the Irishman this season. This leads to opening up the outright winner conversation with other golfers in the field at this non-Designated event, scheduled one week before the season's third major at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Several English and Irish golfers are in the mix at the top of the outright odds leaderboard right now, including Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, and Justin Rose. Whether it’s due to their sharp irons, strong drivers, or precise putting ability, the RBC Canadian Open is a great opportunity for anyone competing in this field to rack up the winning purse, FedExCup points, and momentum entering the season's third major.

Let’s review the current betting odds, course overview, previous winners, and some relevant betting stats before digging into the top players to bet for the outright winner during the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

Before we get into our picks for the RBC Canadian Open, make sure to take a moment to check out these awesome sports betting offers for this week. We have teamed up with OddsChecker to ensure that you turn $6 into $400 worth of guaranteed bonuses, or you can use one of the HUGE first bet offers to wager with more confidence on your 2023 RBC Canadian Open selections this week.

RBC Canadian Open Betting Odds

2023 RBC Canadian Open Betting Preview

Previous Winners

• 2022 - Rory McIlroy (-19)
• 2021 - Cancelled
• 2020 - Cancelled
• 2019 - Rory McIlroy (-22)
• 2018 - Dustin Johnson (-23)
• 2017 - Jhonattan Vegas (-21)
• 2016 - Jhonattan Vegas (-12)

Relevant Betting Stats

• Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green
• Strokes Gained Approaching the Green
• Strokes Gained Putting
• Sand Save percentage
• Scrambling

Course Layout

Oakdale Golf & Country Club will play as a par 72 at 7,264 yards. It’s a new course and the 37th venue to host the RBC Canadian Open. While there won't be near as many water hazards to worry about, most of the fairways are doglegged, with greens that tend to run on the smaller side of average. Dozens of sand bunkers strategically placed in the doglegged sections of the fairways and flanking the smaller greens means that ball striking will be the desired skill set to possess for players seeking red scorecards. 

Water isn't introduced until the 9th hole; sand bunkers and tall rough are placed at some of the most difficult breaks in the doglegged fairways, creating problematic lies for errant tee shots and approach shots alike. Of course, if the putter is hot, there will be fewer problems for golfers who are better at scrambling than finding greens in regulation. A lot of the par 4s and par 5s run shorter than other courses we've seen lately, but shorter length doesn’t always mean lower scores. Getting it up and down, manufacturing birdies, and achieving par breakers will be the recipe for success.

Top Players To Bet For Outright RBC Canadian Open Winner

Matt Fitzpatrick (+1400) (Bet $100 to collect $1,500) Head to Bet365 for the best Matt Fitzpatrick odds

I love Matt Fitzpatrick’s game and how it fits at a course like Oakdale Golf & Country Club. Fitzpatrick has four T10 finishes this season, including an outright at the RBC Heritage event a few weeks ago. Plus, he’s ranked 34th in total strokes gained putting, 32nd tee-to-green, and 35th off-the-tee. He has a strong driver and is a top-25 scrambler so he can get up and down with the best of them. Fitzpatrick logged a T10 finish at this event in 2022, so I like his odds at 14/1. Don’t fret over a slow start, as the Englishman tends to find his rhythm during the weekend. You can compare the best value on this Matt Fitzpatrick pick via OddsChecker.

Justin Rose (+1800) (Bet $100 to collect $1,900) FanDuel has the best Justin Rose odds

Another Englishman I like at this event is Justin Rose. We’ve seen the 42-year-old golfer dominate at times this season. He collected an outright win at Pebble Beach back in February, and his four previous finishes entering this event are T16, T25, T9, and T12. Remember, most of these came during Majors or Designated events, so in a weaker field with an extra week to rest and prepare, I love betting Rose’s outright odds at 20/1. Still, need convincing? Rose is ranked 12 in total strokes gained, 23rd tee-to-green, 20th approaching the green, and 31st strokes gained putting. I love a quality scrambler, which Rose certainly is, so let’s ride on his 18/1 odds before they shorten.

Adam Hadwin (+4000) (Bet $100 to collect $4,100) Go to DraftKings for the best Adam Hadwin odds

I haven’t looked at Adam Hadwin much this year, but I like the picture that the stats paint. The 35-year-old Canadian will be teeing off to attempt to bring the RBC Canadian Open trophy back to a native Canadian for the first time in nearly seven decades. Hadwin only has one outright win, which came at Valspar in 2017, so he’s long overdue for a win. He’s currently going through a bit of a rough stretch, with MC, T34, and T40 in his last three starts, but Hadwin is solid when it comes to strokes gained, ranking 39th total, including fifth in scrambling from the rough and sixth putting inside of ten feet. It’s a long shot at 40/1, especially since Canadians tend to come up short in this event, but I feel good about Hadwin’s ability to make a run this week. Sprinkle a bit on his 40/1 odds, and let’s see where it takes us. Check Oddschecker for the best odds comparison on Adam Hadwin to win the RBC Canadian Open outright.

Eric Cole (+7500) (Bet $100 to collect $7,600) For the best Eric Cole odds go to DraftKings

We’re really digging into the value of this slate by recommending Eric Cole at 90/1 odds. The 34-year-old has not won a PGA Tour event since turning pro in 2009, but Cole is heating up with a few T25 finishes in his last couple of outings. I like Cole for his game and how it aligns with the potential rigors of Oakdale. He’s ranked 31st in total strokes gained, including 25th around the green and 28th strokes gained putting. While Cole’s driver tends to be a liability, along with finding greens in regulation, he ranks 17th in scrambling, so he can make up for a bad approach shot with a nice short game workaround and on the greens. We saw Kurt Kitayama earn his first outright win at a similar number earlier this year in a Designated event, so it’s not crazy to sprinkle on Cole’s generous 75/1 outright odds ahead of Thursday’s opening round.  

The PGA Tour heads north to Canada for the RBC Canadian Open, which was first played in 1904, and has been the longest running tournament outside of the Open Championship and U.S. Open. The Canadian Open is a tournament with a ton of history, and it has been won by the likes of Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy, amongst others. The event has moved around on the schedule a fair amount before settling in early June, prior to the U.S. Open. 

It has moved around to a number of different golf courses as well, and has been hosted at Royal Montreal, Toronto Golf Club, Glen Abbey, Hamilton Golf Club, and most recently, St. George’s Golf and Country Club. We will however be presented with a never-before-seen venue for the 2023 event, Oakdale Golf Club. Despite the tough schedule spot, many of the PGA Tour’s top names, including Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Cameron Young, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Sam Burns, and Matt Fitzpatrick, will all be making the trek to just outside of Toronto. McIlroy will be looking to collect his third consecutive Canadian Open title, and fireworks are sure to ensure at one of the liveliest tournaments of the year.

Before we get into our picks for the RBC Canadian Open, make sure to take a moment to check out these awesome sports betting offers for this week. We have teamed up with OddsChecker to ensure that you turn $6 into $400 worth of guaranteed bonuses, or you can use one of the HUGE first bet offers to wager with more confidence on your 2023 RBC Canadian Open selections this week.

RBC Canadian: Course Preview

Oakdale Golf Club

Oakdale Golf Club was founded in 1926 when a group of Toronto businessmen purchased a farm north of Toronto. Oakdale hired famed Canadian designer Stanley Thompson to craft the initial nine holes, and he added another nine a few years later. Canadian designer Robbie Robinson added the final nine in 1957. In recent years, the property has been restored by Ian Andrew. While we have not seen any professional competition at Oakdale, we can certainly draw from last year’s Canadian Open at St. George’s, which was also designed by Stanley Thompson, with work done by Robbie Robinson and Ian Andrew as well. St. George’s is objectively a more challenging golf course than Oakdale, and Rory McIlroy was still able to get to 19 under par last year. 

Depending on weather conditions throughout the tournament, we should certainly prepare for our champion to be crowned at 20-under par or better. Oakdale is a par 72, measuring a touch over 7,300 yards on the scorecard, but it uniquely features just three par fives and three par threes. Oakdale features a large plurality of both very short and very long par fours, which has me honing in on both wedge and long iron play, while I will be more forgiving on middle irons. I will ultimately be looking for players that thrive in easy scoring conditions, are elite inside 100 yards, and can get extremely hot on the greens, particularly those with a preference for Bent-grass.

RBC Canadian Open Key Stats

• Proximity Inside 100 yards
• Birdies or Better Gained
• Bent-grass Putting

Memorial Tournament: Outright Winner

Shane Lowry (+2000) (Bet $100 to collect $2,100) BetMGM has the best Shane Lowry odds

I’ve been riding the Shane Lowry train often this year, and I’m unwilling to give up now as he continues to ball-strike at an elite level, and his putter is beginning to finally show signs of life as well. Lowry is coming off a 16th-place finish at the Memorial, where he gained two strokes off the tee and 3.3 strokes on approach. Lowry has now gained strokes off the tee in six straight starts and on approach in eight straight starts. Yet truly most important is that the flat-stick is improving as well. Lowry has now gained strokes putting in back-to-back starts for the first time since last summer. 

The putter will need to get going this week on a course where we should expect a 20-under par or lower champion, which would be my one concern with the former Open Champion. Yet Lowry ranks second in this field in opportunities gained, 14th in proximity inside 100 yards, and 11th in proximity 175-200 yards. The only player in this field that can consistently generate more birdie looks per round than Lowry is his Northern Irish countryman, Rory McIlroy, and it is also worth noting that Lowry finished 10th last year at the Stanley Thompson-designed St. George’s. There’s little doubt in my mind that Lowry will be there come Sunday afternoon in Toronto.

As you can see from OddsChecker's odds comparison above, Shane Lowry's odds range from +1800 to +2000. This means if you were to bet $100 on Lowry to win at FanDuel or DraftKings, you would be giving up $200 worth of additional profit you could make just from betting with BetMGM or Bet365!

Adrian Meronk (+5000) (Bet $100 to collect $5,100) Get the best Adrian Meronk odds at BetMGM

While I always have some doubts about how play on the DP World Tour will translate to PGA Tour success, it’s absolutely clear to me that Adrian Meronk is ready to win at this level. The three-time DP World Tour winner is coming off a fifth at the KLM Open, and before that, he finished 40th at the PGA Championship, where he gained 4.7 strokes off the tee and 2.4 strokes on approach. Meronk has gained over 4.5 strokes off the tee in three straight starts, and he has gained over seven strokes ball-striking in three straight starts as well. 

I have little concerns about his ability to keep up in a low-scoring affair, as Meronk recently won the Irish Open at 20-under par. I believe that his elite driving ability will provide him with a number of flip wedges on the short par fours and allow him to take full advantage of Oakdale Golf Club. His value in the betting markets is still more than fair, given his lack of sample size on this side of the pond, and this is the perfect breakthrough spot for the big-hitting Pole.

Once again, you can see the power of odds comparison. OddsChecker has flagged that Adrian Meronk is +4000 on FanDuel and DraftKings but +4500 at Bet365 and +5000 at BetMGM. Claim an additional $1000 in profit just by betting your $100 on BetMGM this week rather than other popular sportsbooks.

Rory McIlroy has been confirmed as one of the players who will be in attendance at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open. 

The Northern Irishman will tee it up alongside a list of huge names for the co-sanctioned event. 

Some of those will included World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, two-time Major champion Justin Thomas and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele. 

Plenty of golfers from the UK and Ireland will also be in the field, with Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Seamus Power all set to add to the stellar cast of names. 

McIlroy is the latest addition to that list, after it was announced today that he will compete at The Renaissance Club on July 13, just a week before the Open Championship kicks off on July 20.

After it was announced this morning, McIlroy said: “I’m pleased to be able to add the Genesis Scottish Open to my schedule again this season. 

"The Scottish fans have always been very supportive of me and it would be great to win a title in the home of golf.”

A press release said: "The four-time Major winner brings further excitement to a stellar field that includes World Number One Scottie Scheffler, fellow Major champions Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Justin Thomas, defending champion Xander Schauffele, European Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, PGA TOUR winners Sam Burns, Max Homa, Im Sungjae and Seamus Power and Scotland’s number one, Robert MacIntyre."

His attendance at the Rolex Series event was teased this morning on Twitter, with the Scottish Open posting a picture of a golf bag featured the 34-year-old's trade-mark St Bernard dog head cover sitting in front of a grand stand at a previous tournament. 

The four-time Major winner was not in attendance at last year's event as Xander Schauffele, who despite hitting a bogey on the 18th, held on to beat Kurt Kitayama by one stroke. 

The Northern Irishman, meanwhile, had previously excluded himself from that event claiming he "hadn't got what he had been looking for" in his past two outings at the Scottish Open. 

After missing the cut in 2021 placing T88, McIlroy admitted that he was left with "more questions than answers" going into the Open Championship that season, and decided that he would abstain from the tournament in 2022. 

He has only played the Scottish open four times in the last 13 years, with his best finish coming in 2014 where he placed T14. 

But he will return this season to take on the North Berwick golf course, as he hopes to find his groove ahead of the Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club the following week.

Despite having won at the CJ Cup earlier this season, it's been a very difficult few months for the World No 3. 

He came into the season bounding in form after clinching both the FedEx Cup and the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai title. 

And it looked like McIlroy could end his career grand slam woes and finally claim a coveted green jacket too, after he came second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before coming third at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play. 

But after a disappointing opening two rounds at Augusta National, he missed the cut at the Masters and that knocked him off his stride, with the 34-year-old taking some time away from the game to focus on his wellbeing, notably missing out on one of his designated events. 

He rallied at the PGA Championship to card a solid T7 finish and will now participate in this weekend's Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio.

After what became the Michael Block show late into Sunday, the second major of the year has now come and gone as we turn our attention to Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge. In what will be the 77th time the event has been played at Colonial Country Club, this event is the longest-standing on Tour and, as always, attracts big names despite being just after the PGA Championship. 

Let’s take a closer look at the course and the top five guys according to my PGA Power Rankings for the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge.

Before we get into our Charles Schwab Challenge power rankings, make sure to take a moment to check out these awesome sports betting offers for this week. You can use one of the HUGE first bet offers to wager with more confidence on your 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge selections this week.

Charles Schwab Challenge Odds

Charles Schwab Challenge Course - Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, TX

While it might not be as long as last week’s challenge at Oak Hill Country Club, the Colonial CC still offers plenty of challenges as it is notoriously amongst the hardest these PGA Tour pros see every year.

Charles Schwab Challenge Power Rankings

Scottie Scheffler (+400) (Bet $100 to collect $500) The best Scottie Scheffler odds are at DraftKings

Even when he plays seemingly poorly, Scottie Scheffler finds a way to compete, finishing top 3 last week after a strong finish. The No. 2 player in the world behind only Jon Rahm, Scheffler is the heavy favorite this week for a good reason. 

Viktor Hovland (+1400) (Bet $100 to collect $1,500) Go to DraftKings for the best Viktor Hovland odds

If not for an errant shot that required a drop on 16 last week, Viktor Hovland very well could have been in, at the very least, a playoff with Brooks Koepka last week. With two top 25s here, Hovland has all the tools to compete.

Jordan Spieth (+1400) (Bet $100 to collect $1,500) Head to DraftKings for the best Jordan Spieth odds

Despite dealing with an injury, Jordan Spieth played admirably last week at Oak Hill, proving to most his injury isn’t as bad as many had thought. With nine top-15 finishes in 10 appearances here, look for another strong showing this week from Spieth.

Tony Finau (+1400) (Bet $100 to collect $1,500) For the best Tony Finau odds head over to DraftKings

In what will be his eighth time here, Tony Finau has never missed a cut and has finished as high as T4 (last year).

Collin Morikawa (+1600) Bet $100 to collect $1,700 DraftKings has the best Collin Morikawa odds

Collin Morikawa hasn’t been in the winner’s circle in quite some time, the 2021 Open Championship being the last. Even still, this is a two-time Major winner who is finally starting to strike the ball well again.

Michael Block had just had the best week of his life at Oak Hill. First he achieved a life long dream of making the cut at the PGA Championship and a Major in his seventh attempt.

Then he got to play with 2013 US Open winner and former World No.1 Justin Rose. Then he got paired with four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy on Sunday and went and made a slam dunk hole-in-one, the only ace of the week.

Block, whose previous best paycheck was $75,000, made around $300,000 for his 15th-place finish, which earned him the low PGA Pro honors and got him an invite back into next year's PGA Championship.

While he had a whirlwind of a dream week at Oak Hill, this coming week looks to be quite a special one, too.

That's because he'll be pegging it up on the PGA Tour at the iconic Colonial Country Club in Texas after receiving a tournament invite following his incredible PGA Championship performance.

The PGA Championship social feed filmed his reaction, where the Charles Schwab Challenge's tournament director Michael Tothe called him up and told him he had a spot in the event.

"Don't tell me what you're gonna tell me because if you tell me I'm gonna cry right now man," Block said.

"I am going to tell you what I'm about to tell you," Tothe said. "We would love for you to come and play in our golf tournament and we have an exemption available and we'd love for you to be in Fort Worth this week. The hair on my arms are standing up too.

"There's no better person for this last exemption to go to than you."

"Someone once told me that Colonial sets up good for an old pro like me," Block joked after composing himself and thanking Tothe for the invite.

Watch the video below:

Block has also been invited into the RBC Canadian Open next month.

Brooks Koepka looks to be the man to beat going into the final day of the PGA Championship, with the four-time Major winner looking to add yet another title to his incredible resume.

Playing with Bryson DeChambeau, Koepka fired a second consecutive round of 66 to move up the leaderboard and sit one shot ahead of Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners as he goes in search of a third PGA Championship title and a fifth Major victory.

Bizarrely, starting the third round, both Koepka and DeChambeau were both bood on the first tee box, however, that didn't phase the American, with Koepka firing five birdies and one bogey to sit top of the leaderboard with just one round left to go. 

Along with Koepka, Hovland and Conners, we also see Justin Rose, DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler in contention and, below, we have taken a look at the full rundown of the final round tee times for the 2023 PGA Championship...

Round four pairings and tee times

All times local (EDT). Add five hours on for BST, minus three hours for PT.

PGA Championship Round 4 tee times

• 7.50am: Ben Taylor, Mark Hubbard
• 8.00am: Joel Dahmen, Kazuki Higa
• 8.10am: Taylor Montgomery, Taylor Moore
• 8.20am: Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson
• 8.30am: Rikuya Hoshino, Lee Hodges
• 8.40am: Sihwan Kim, Zach Johnson
• 8.50am: Padraig Harrington, Matt Wallace
• 9.00am: Adrian Meronk, Pablo Larrazabal
• 9.10am: Thomas Detry, Tony Finau
• 9.20am: Callum Tarren, Yannik Paul
• 9.30am: Max Homa, J.T Poston
• 9.40am: Patrick Rodgers, Thriston Lawrence
• 9.50am: K.H. Lee, Denny McCarthy
• 10.10am: Adam Hadwin, Adam Scott
• 10.20am: Sam Stevens, Nicolai Hojgaard
• 10.30am: Tom Hoge, Lucas Herbert
• 10.40am: Dean Burmester, Jon Rahm
• 10.50am: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
• 11.00am: Harold Varner III, Mito Pereira
• 11.10am: Collin Morikawa, Beau Hossler
• 11.20am: Xander Schauffele, Chez Reavie
• 11.30am: Alex Smalley, Thomas Pieters
• 11.40am: Keegan Bradley, Matt NeSmith
• 12.00pm: Cameron Smith, Hayden Buckley
• 12.10pm: Tyrrell Hatton, Chris Kirk
• 12.20pm: Keith Mitchell, Taylor Pendrith
• 12.30pm: Adam Svensson, Sepp Straka
• 12.40pm: Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay
• 12.50pm: Cam Davis, Hideki Matsuyama
• 13.00pm: Kurt Kitayama, Ryan Fox
• 13.10pm: Min Woo Lee, Patrick Reed
• 13.20pm: Eric Cole, Shane Lowry
• 13.30pm: Stephan Jaeger, Victor Perez
• 13.50pm: Justin Suh, Tommy Fleetwood
• 14.00pm: Rory McIlroy, Michael Block
• 14.10pm: Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler
• 14.20pm: Corey Conners, Bryson DeChambeau
• 14.30pm: Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland

Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie says the hosts have got a much better chance of maintaining their winning form on home soil this year thanks to improvements over the last year.

Montgomerie, who led Europe to a dramatic Monday victory at Celtic Manor in 2010, says he would not have given them much chance a year ago, but some great form from the top four in particular has strengthened their case.

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy have both risen to World No.1 while the Spaniard and Matt Fitzpatrick have won Majors, with Viktor Hovland a regular contender in golf’s biggest events.

“I wouldn’t have given Europe much chance a year ago. I think we have improved a lot with our top four players in Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick who won again recently at the RBC,” Montgomerie told Forbes.

“There’s a good top four. Then you add in Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton and there’s a good next four. Then there’s some rookies and first timers.

“It’s not a bad team actually and we haven’t lost at home for 30 years. It’s a record that almost nobody can understand, the Belfry was the last time. So we have a record to sustain.”

Montgomerie insisted that even if the Americans again come over to Europe with the stronger-looking team in terms of world ranking, the “putting contest” that is the Ryder Cup is so different that those rankings don’t matter.

“We will be fighting like hell,” he added. “The Americans are good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a matter of who holes the putts at the right time.

“It’s a putting competition, match play, it’s a very short game. I’m not saying that some of our guys will beat Scottie Scheffler over their careers or over a tournament but over a round, they could. That’s why the Ryder Cup is so good and why the rankings go out the window.”

Europe’s recent success has come with some fine succession planning in terms of captains, but that has been thrown a curveball with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia all resigning after LIV Golf punishments.

Stenson was due to captain the side in Rome this year while Westwood, Garcia and Poulter looked nailed-on leaders in the years to come – leaving Europe with gaps to fill.

Some have suggested victorious former captains such as Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley be brought back for a second go to fill the void – but Montgomerie will not be putting his name forward if the call comes.

“I was told by Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam, three winning captains, ‘if you’ve won it, get out.’ Why go back into the lion’s den when it’s a fifty-fifty coin toss to be honest,” Monty added.

“Mine was within half a point. I was fortunate and lucky enough to be selected as a captain and very fortunate to win and leave happily. If anyone came to me and asked if I wanted to captain the team next year, I’d say ‘I’m sorry, I’ve been there, done that.”

Justin Rose is now firmly in the stalwart category as he tees it up for his 400th PGA Tour start this week at the RBC Heritage.

It may have been hard to imagine right back in the early days when he endured that infamous run of 21 consecutive missed cuts after turning pro, but he’s gone on to have an incredible career on both sides of the Atlantic.

The 42-year-old won the 2013 US Open at Merion and has topped the pile on both tours, finishing as then European Tour top dog in 2007 and becoming FedEx Cup champion in 2018, while he’s also spent 13 weeks as world number one.

From his first appearance on American soil at the 2002 PGA Championship to him taking up his full PGA Tour card in 2004 – Rose has gone on to play in 399 events overall, winning 11 times, with his latest coming at this year’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Rose will now peg it up at Harbour Town Golf Links this week for the RBC Heritage in what will be the 400th time in an event sanctioned by the PGA Tour.

"Time flies! 400th start on the @pgatour this week!” Rose wrote on Instagram. “As a Brit abroad, I just want to say thanks to all the fans for the support I’ve received over the years.

“I’ve been made to feel very much at home over here! I’m looking forward to many more starts, trophy lifts, and great memories in the years to come!

“My enthusiasm is still there to learn, refine and improve! Lucky to play a sport that offers you that chance to compete for such a long period of time!”

Rose had endured a lean time of things over the last few years, but his win at Pebble Beach not only ended a four-year drought but also showed signs that he was finding his way back.

A T16 finish at Augusta National after getting amongst the leaders all week in The Masters was also a confidence-booster for Rose, who will now be looking onwards and upwards while celebrating his milestone start.

This week, we’re back for another exciting stop on the PGA Tour at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The 2023 RBC Heritage just became a designated event, which means the majority of the best golfers on the Tour will head eastward from Augusta to the coastal shores of the low country in South Carolina for a chance to compete at Harbour Town Golf Links. It’s a par 71 track that runs just over 7,200 yards, featuring 3,700 square foot Bermudagrass greens, which is a much different test than players were dealt during The Masters. Ball striking and accuracy off of the tee and tee-to-green become more critical at the RBC Heritage, as the putting surfaces are a bit slower on Bermuda at 12.5 feet via the Stimpmeter.

It was exciting to watch Jon Rahm win his first Green Jacket after strong opening and closing rounds, battling the elements and delivering sensational iron play, and putting in to outplay Brooks Koepka down the stretch. My recommended DFS plays were a mixed bag of results. Jordan Spieth could’ve been in contention if not for a +4 round on Saturday, delivering a six-under-par closing round to climb into a T4 finish. Patrick Cantlay (T14), Sungjae Im (T16), and Justin Rose (T16) all logged T16 finishes or better, while Rory McIlroy suffered a huge disappointment by missing the cut at +5. Even Jason Day, who began The Masters at -5-under-par, imploded after making the cut, winding up T39 (+5) due to an absurdly high round of 80 on Sunday. Despite McIlroy and Day falling flat, the other four plays were commodities in DraftKings and FanDuel lineups, so hopefully, you tailed them and wound up cashing a few DFS contests. 

I’ve scoured the RBC Heritage slate and have identified six of my favorite prospects who can help us cash our DraftKings and FanDuel lineups at the RBC Heritage. Let’s find out why each player should be prioritized in DFS lineups ahead of Thursday’s opening tee times from Harbour Town Golf Links. 

Before we get into our RBC Heritage DFS Picks and Targets, make sure to take a moment to check out these awesome sports betting offers for this week. You can use one of the HUGE first bet offers to wager with more confidence on your 2023 RBC Heritage selections this week.

DraftKings $50,000 Maximum Salary

Jordan Spieth ($10,400)

We’ve heard Jordan Spieth talk about the mental exhaustion he’s experiencing due to an increased PGA Tour schedule, but that won’t stop me from recommending the defending champion at RBC Heritage. Spieth can be a bit volatile at times, but he’s one of the best bounce-back players on the PGA Tour and ranks 27th in strokes gained tee-to-green, which is a significant metric to adhere to when playing a short, precision course like the one we’re getting at Harbour Town. Spieth is also ranked 19th in strokes gained around the green, and the intermediate cut surrounding most of the Bermudagrass greens creates ideal conditions for him to collect his fifth T10 finish in 12 events played this season. He’s nearly $1K cheaper than Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, so consider Spieth a high-value blue-chip prospect to insert into DraftKings lineups this week. 

Tony Finau ($9,400)

Tony Finau has been a bit underwhelming since the 2023 PGA Tour season began; however, he’s consistently hovering around T25 finishes in 10 of 11 events played. The 33-year-old has some of the best irons, ranking fourth in total strokes gained, including fifth tee-to-green, third approaching the green, and 22nd in strokes gained putting. Finau has produced 12-21 birdies in each of his previous five events, yielding anywhere from 61.5 - 89.5 DraftKings fantasy points in DFS lineups. The last time Finau competed at RBC Heritage, he logged a T33 finish, staying below par in all four rounds. At $9.4K on DraftKings, we’re getting solid value by inserting Finau into lineups, so go ahead and add him with confidence, especially since his skill set aligns with the challenges of a course like Harbour Town. 

Justin Thomas ($8,900)

I have to be fully transparent here; recommending Justin Thomas is not something that I do a lot. However, he’s among the best strokes-gained tee-to-green players on the PGA Tour, ranking 11th, while no one performs better around the green. The putter has been Thomas’ Achilles heel this season, as he’s ranked 145th in this metric, but at Harbour Town, irons reign supreme. Few players do it better and more consistently than Thomas, so at an $8.9K salary on DraftKings, consider Thomas a massive value addition to lineups. Previous finishes of T35 and T8 at the RBC Heritage, combined with the motivation we can expect from Thomas after missing the cut at Augusta National last week, make him an ideal candidate to roster in DFS lineups. 

FanDuel - $60,000 Maximum Salary

Scottie Scheffler ($12,100)

It’ll be fun to watch Scottie Scheffler acclimate to Harbour Town for the first time in his career. You read that correctly. The World No. 1 ranked golfer will make his debut at RBC Heritage following its recent upgrade as a designated event on the PGA Tour. Scheffler is the best player when it comes to strokes gained tee-to-green, which we saw at Augusta, but the putter flared up and prevented him from contending on Sunday. That won’t be the case at Harbour Town, where irons and play around the green can reward players with red scorecards. We’re paying up for Scheffler at $12,100 on FanDuel, but he’s still $100 cheaper than Jon Rahm, plus his strengths fit the layout of Harbour Town. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking backing a player making his debut at a course, but we’re talking about Scheffler, not a value bin commodity. Let’s ride the hot hand, which hasn’t dipped below a T12 finish since October. 

Tommy Fleetwood ($9,700)

Since RBC Heritage tends to reward quality iron players, 32-year-old Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, is someone to prioritize in DFS lineups. Not only are we landing good value at a reduced salary, but Fleetwood has been solid in previous outings at Harbour Town, logging a T10 finish here in 2022 and a T25 back in 2019. He’s ranked 12th in strokes gained tee-to-green, second in strokes gained around the green, and 25th approaching the green. He’s one of the rare quality iron players who possess a consistently good putter, ranking 53rd in strokes gained putting. The key to Fleetwood’s success will be scrambling on the small greens, as he ranks outside the top 100 in hitting them in regulation while performing well with scrambling closer than 30 yards and from the rough. At a sub-$10K salary on FanDuel, I like Fleetwood’s floor and ceiling quite a bit, so plug him in. 

Chris Kirk ($9,600)

Staying in the mid-$9K range, Chris Kirk jumps off the board in terms of value. The 37-year-old is recently removed from his fifth outright win at The Honda Classic, which he’s followed up with two more T25 finishes, including a T10 at Valero. Kirk missed the cut at RBC Heritage last year but drew a T7 finish in 2021, staying below par in all four rounds and saving his best for the second and fourth rounds to climb into the top ten. He’s ranked 16th in total strokes gained, which includes 32nd tee-to-green, 12th around the green, and 24th putting. Kirk is also ranked inside the top ten when it comes to sand save percentage, which bodes well for him confronting the dozens of sand traps scattered throughout Harbour Town. Kirk is the best player in three-putt avoidance and has 63 - 84 FanDuel fantasy points in three of his previous four events, so he’s another rare player with quality putting and irons blended together to form an ideal prospect at RBC Heritage. 

After watching Jon Rahm win his first Green Jacket at The Masters, most of the PGA Tour’s top players will travel over the Georgia and South Carolina border to one of the most iconic vacation spots on the East Coast of the United States. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is where Harbour Town Golf Links is located, which will be the course hosting the 2023 RBC Heritage. It’s now a designated event on the PGA Tour, meaning players will be competing for more FedExCup points and a bigger purse en route to the FedExCup playoffs slated to begin later this Summer. The biggest name to withdraw, amid some controversy, is Rory McIlroy, who failed to make the cut at The Masters and has subsequently withdrawn from the RBC Heritage. 

Scottie Scheffler is set to make his debut at Harbour Town, while Rahm and Patrick Cantlay round out the top three outright betting favorites. Last year, Cantlay lost a sudden-death playoff to Jordan Spieth, who currently has the fifth-highest odds of winning and defending his title from a year ago. It’s important to note that Spieth has come out following his T4 finish at Augusta, speaking about exhaustion and his schedule, so it’ll be interesting to monitor his performance at Hilton Head. Other notable players to pay attention to include Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton, Jason Day, and Justin Thomas, who all rank 12th or better in strokes gained tee-to-green this season. Finding the greens on a shorter course is the recipe for a red scorecard, which is why quality iron players should be prioritized from a betting context this weekend. 

Let’s look at the top-ten betting odds, course layout, and a couple of players with the experience, skill set, and current form to win outright ahead of Thursday’s opening round at the 2023 RBC Heritage.

Before we get into our picks for RBC Heritage, make sure to take a moment to check out these awesome sports betting offers for this week. You can use one of the HUGE first bet offers to wager with more confidence on your 2023 RBC Heritage selections this week.

2023 RBC Heritage Odds

2023 RBC Heritage Betting Preview

Previous Winners

• 2022 - Jordan Spieth (-13)
• 2021 - Stewart Cink (-19)
• 2020 - Webb Simpson (-22)
• 2019 - C.T. Pan (-12)
• 2018 - Satoshi Kodaira (-12)
• 2017 - Wesley Bryan (-13)

Relevant Betting Stats

• Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green
• Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee
• Driving Accuracy
• Sand Save percentage
• Strokes Gained Approaching the Green

Course Layout

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par 71 that runs just north of 7,200 yards. While it isn’t one of the lengthier courses, it puts a premium on finesse. Ball striking and accuracy with irons are going to keep players atop the leaderboard, as the Bermudagrass greens are some of the smallest on the PGA Tour, measuring 3,700 square feet on average. It’s twice as small as Augusta National and four times smaller than the links courses overseas so errant tee shots will create many problems.

Overseeded Bermudagrass is the surface on the fairways, rough, and greens, which will run roughly 12.5 feet via the Stimpmeter. It won’t be quite as fast as the Bentgrass surfaces at Augusta, but it has enough pace to get chips and long putts into the hole. Rows of low-hanging trees blanket narrow fairways, while the water hazards tend to pop up on the tee-to-green par 3s. Designed by the legendary golf architect Pete Dye, along with friend and golf icon Jack Nicklaus, Harbour Town has been the location for the RBC Heritage for over five decades. It’s been modified recently to bolster the sand bunker locations, with a few holes extended in length to create additional challenges. 

Top Players to Bet for Outright RBC Heritage Winner

Scottie Scheffler (+850) (Bet $100 to collect $950) FanDuel Sportsbook has the best odds for Scottie Scheffler this week

Somehow, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is making his debut at Harbour Town this week. The 26-year-old logged a T10 finish at The Masters but has recorded two outright wins and hasn’t dipped outside of a T12 finish since The CJ Cup in October. Scheffler ranks first in strokes gained tee-to-green, which is a huge contributor towards his price as the outright betting favorite. 8/1 is fairly short as far as odds go, especially during a course debut, but Scheffler was dialed in with his irons at Augusta last weekend and should be able to transfer that momentum into a strong showing at Hilton Head. There’s no one better at finding the greens in regulation than Scheffler at 74.03 percent, so don’t hesitate to lay a hefty wager on the outright favorite making his debut at the RBC Heritage.

Patrick Cantlay (+1200) (Bet $100 to collect $1,300) Get the best odds for Patrick Cantlay at DraftKings Sportsbook

Last year, Patrick Cantlay came up short against Jordan Spieth in a playoff round at Harbour Town, but he had three rounds at three-under-par or lower. The 31-year-old is ranked first in par 5 scoring average, putting from three feet and scrambling from the fringe. We’re really here for Cantlay’s irons, which are powerful and precise, ranking sixth in total strokes gained, including seventh tee-to-green. He’s equipped with a reliable flat stick on the greens and is ranked second in total driving, accounting for accuracy and distance, so birdies should be plentiful during Cantlay’s return to the RBC Heritage. Cantlay’s previous finishes here are second, MC, T3, and T7, so he’s going to be a contender once Sunday afternoon arrives. Get ahead of it while his odds are sitting at 12/1. 

Viktor Hovland (+2200) (Bet $100 to collect $2,300) Head to DraftKings Sportsbook for the best Viktor Hovland odds

After crushing the first round of The Masters at -7-under-par, Viktor Hovland wound up with two rounds over-par en route to a quiet T7 finish. The 25-year-old Norwegian will be another notable talent making his debut at Harbour Town on Thursday, as its recent status as a designated event has drawn the top players from the PGA Tour, which includes Hovland. He has juicy value currently at 22/1 odds for his outright win probability, so we need to take advantage of the low expectations that sportsbooks have towards Hovland. He’s ranked 15th in strokes gained tee-to-green, eighth in strokes gained off-the-tee, and 29th in strokes gained approaching the green. Additionally, Hovland is ranked fourth in total driving and is 21st in scrambling, which bodes well for his ability to save par if he cannot sustain greens in regulation. Let’s lay a unit on Hovland, who has recorded an outright win in each of his previous three years on the PGA Tour. 

After the disruptions of Friday and Saturday, the weather has finally abated in Georgia, paving the way for a fascinating Masters Sunday at Augusta National. Brooks Koepka leads Jon Rahm by two at the conclusion of the third round, with a host of challengers ready to pounce should the leading duo falter.

Koepka was four clear when the third round resumed on Sunday morning but had his advantage halved over the closing 12 holes. Still, the American is in pole position to win his fifth Major championship and will tee off in the last group with Rahm at 2.33pm local time (7.33pm BST).

Behind, Viktor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay got themselves back into contention and make up the penultimate group.

One player who won't be in action is Tiger Woods, who withdrew due to injury. The 15-time Major champion was seen limping badly in the cold and wet Saturday conditions and said he had reaggravated his plantar fasciitis after battling to tie the record for the most consecutive cuts made at the Masters with Gary Player and Fred Couples.

Players started the third round in three-balls from the 1st and 10th in a bid to make up for the various weather delays, but will return to two-balls for Sunday's final round.

The Masters tee times - Final round 

All times EDT/BST, *indicates 10th tee start

12.30pm/5.30pm: Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala

12.39pm/5.39pm: Tom Kim, Keegan Bradley

12.49pm/5.49pm: Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth

12.58pm/5.58pm: Ryan Fox, Taylor Moore

1.08am/6.08pm: Sungjae Im, KH Lee

1.17pm/6.17pm: Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Young

1.27pm/6.27pm: Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick

1.36pm/6.36pm: Gary Woodland, Jason Day

1.46pm/6.46pm: Justin Rose, Shane Lowry

1.55pm/6.55pm: Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed

2.05pm/7.05pm: Collin Morikawa, Sam Bennett (A)

2.14pm/7.14pm: Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley

2.24pm/7.24pm: Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay

2.33pm/7.33pm: Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm

*12.30pm/5.30pm: Tyrrell Hatton, Max Homa

*12.39pm/5.39pm: Chris Kirk, Scott Stallings

*12.49pm/5.49pm: Cameron Smith, Sepp Straka

*12.58pm/5.58pm: Tommy Fleetwood, Abraham Ancer

*1.08pm/6.08pm: Si Woo Kim, Sam Burns

*1.17pm/6.17pm: Seamus Power, Adam Scott

*1.27pm/6.27pm: Harold Varner III, Harris English

*1.36pm/6.36pm: Zach Johnson, Mackenzie Hughes

*1.46pm/6.46pm: Talor Gooch, Thomas Pieters

*1.55pm/6.55pm: Charl Schwartzel, Dustin Johnson

*2.05pm/7.05pm: Mito Pereira, Fred Couples

*2.14pm/7.14pm: Billy Horschel, J.T Poston

*2.24pm/7.24pm: Keith Mitchell

The DP World Tour has reportedly won its arbitration panel hearing against LIV Golf in a verdict that essentially spells the end of the road for LIV's Europeans on the DP World Tour and in the Ryder Cup.

The Times originally reported that the verdict would go the DP World Tour's way and be officially confirmed on Thursday.

If the verdict does indeed go the way The Times has reported, it would essentially mean that Sergio Garcia's Ryder Cup career would be over, with the all-time record points scorer likely unable to play on the DP World Tour to earn qualification points. He could still be available for a wildcard pick but due to his public fallout with Rory McIlroy, it seems hard to imagine one would come his way.

A verdict in the DP World Tour's favor could also lead to players relinquishing their DP World Tour cards and therefore taking themselves out of the running for Team Europe.

Garcia plays in The Masters this week, where he told media at Augusta National that he hasn't paid attention or been a part of the hearing.

"I haven't heard. I haven't been a part of it. I tried to stay away from all that," he said.

"I can only do what I can do, and that is to play the tournaments I can play, try to play them the best way possible, and then everything else is out of my hands. So the decisions if we can get picked or will get picked or anything like that, it's not going to come down to me.

"It's going to come down to my game and if the captain, Luke, thinks that I'm good enough. We'll see."

The Spaniard, winner of the 2017 Masters, told Spanish outlet Marca in December that some Europeans had disappointed him and shown very little class.

“Because if there are three or four who if I'm there will be looking at me badly and do not want me there ... What do I bring to the team?,” he said. “I really want to be there to be me, to be the Sergio who plays the Ryder Cup, who loves and who puts an arm over everyone's shoulder to help.

“And if then you have people there who because you have decided to go to another Tour you are no longer their friend, you are the bad one, you are the one such or that, that has disappointed me and has taught me that really those people who thought they were friends of mine are not.

“Jon [Rahm] is not one of them, but there are others who have shown very little class."

Even though Masters champions can, in theory, play in the Major for life, there had been some doubt as to whether that would apply to LIV Golf players in 2023.

That question was finally answered in the months before the tournament when Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed LIV Golf players would be allowed to compete in the first Major of the year.

While that opened the door for 18 LIV Golf players to compete in 2023, six of those do so thanks to their previous victories in the tournament. Here's how they wrote their names into the history books.

Phil Mickelson – 2004, 2006, 2010

The LIV Golf player whose name is most synonymous with The Masters is Phil Mickelson. In fact, so regular had the American’s appearances been in the tournament that, even though he was mired in controversy at the time, it came as some surprise when, in 2022, he missed the tournament for the first time in 28 years.

Mickelson has worn the Green Jacket three times, first in 2004 after edging out South African Ernie Els by one shot after holing an 18-foot birdie on the 72nd hole. While Lefty failed to claim back-to-back victories after finishing 10th the following year, it wasn’t too long until he won again. In 2006, Mickelson had risen to the top of the leaderboard by the end of the third round and eased to a two-shot victory over Tim Clark despite bogeying the final hole.

The following three years brought a tie for 25th, a tie for fifth and an outright fifth before Mickelson claimed his hat-trick of Augusta National victories in 2010. Then, he beat another player who would eventually sign for LIV Golf, Lee Westwood, by three shots after pulling away from the Englishman on the back nine in the final round.

Charl Schwartzel – 2011

The year after Mickelson’s most recent Masters win, Charl Schwartzel claimed the title in only his second appearance in the tournament. The final round was a rollercoaster affair, with eight players sharing the lead at various points. However, Schwartzel came out on top, helped by an eagle on the third and four birdies to close out his round of 66. 

Schwartzel became the third South African to wear the Green Jacket after Gary Player and Trevor Immelman. He came close again in 2017 but eventually had to settle for third behind Justin Rose and another eventual LIV Golf player, Sergio Garcia.

Bubba Watson – 2012, 2014

Schwartzel couldn’t replicate the previous year’s form in the 2012 tournament, finishing tied for 50th. Still, another eventual LIV Golf player, Bubba Watson, claimed his first Major win after beating Louis Oosthuizen – who would also one day play on the circuit – in a playoff. Watson had been in contention throughout the tournament and eventually slugged it out with Oosthuizen and Matt Kuchar over the final round. After Oosthuizen and Watson edged out Kuchar to head for a playoff, Watson took the honours after his opponent narrowly missed out on a par on the second hole.

Two years later, Watson was at it again. As in 2012, he was solid throughout and after a to and fro with Jordan Spieth on the front nine of the final round, he opened up a two-shot lead, which eventually became three, as he closed out the victory, leaving Spieth and Swede Jonas Blixt having to settle for a tie for second.

Sergio Garcia – 2017

It took Spaniard Garcia 19 attempts to win his first Masters, but he finally achieved the feat three years after Watson’s most recent win with a defeat of Justin Rose in a playoff. The final round was not without controversy, with some TV viewers thinking Garcia’s ball moved while he removed some pine straw on the 13th. Masters Officials looked into the incident but determined there would be no penalty, and eventually, he defeated Rose after a birdie at the first playoff hole. 

That was Garcia’s only Major win to date, and he hasn’t come close to a second Masters title since, missing three out of four cuts in his five appearances between that win and the 2023 tournament.

Patrick Reed – 2018

One year after Garcia, another future LIV Golf player, Patrick Reed, claimed his only Major win to date. After taking a two-shot lead into the third round, the American strengthened his grip on the title thanks to a round of 67. That included four birdies and two eagles on the Saturday to head into the final day with a three-shot lead over career Grand Slam-chasing Rory McIlroy. 

Reed was not nearly as assured on the Sunday, hitting a round of 71 that included three bogeys, but it proved just enough to hold off the challenge of Rickie Fowler by one shot.

Dustin Johnson – 2020

Dustin Johnson had already come close to winning The Masters before finally getting over the line in 2020. The American had amassed four top-10 finishes, including a tie for second the year before, which made an Augusta National triumph seem like an inevitability at some point. 

Johnson got off to a blistering start with a round of 65 to leave him tied for the lead with Paul Casey and Dylan Frittelli. Then, a round of 70 saw him share the lead with four others going into the third day. Another 65 saw him ease into a four-shot lead that had become five by the end of the tournament. Sungjae Im and Cameron Smith were left trailing in his wake as Johnson claimed his second and, so far, most recent Major.

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Key Information

Royal Aberdeen, a firm fixture in the upper echelons of our Top 100 golf courses UK&I, has a progressive attitude towards continuous course improvements and that, combined with excellent reports on the superb condition of the course, means it continues to be a feature in the top 20 of the ranking. It's one of the very best courses in Scotland.

Archie and Robert Simpson from Carnoustie designed the first layout at Balgownie, before James Braid advised on alterations to the greens and bunkering in 1925. Hawtree and Company have more recently added their touches.

It’s an excellent out-and-back layout with a selection of highly memorable holes. The first strikes out from directly in front of the old-school, memorabilia-packed, clubhouse, straight towards the North Sea and a flag seemingly perched right on the shoreline. I always enjoy the start at Balgownie.

The layout then turns into the dunes, following the coastline to the turn. There’s an eclectic selection of holes asking for power, precision or both. The 8th is a great par-3, protected by 10 bunkers that seem to completely surround the green.

The course moves slightly inland as the run for home commences. Into the wind, the back nine can be extremely challenging. The stretch of long par-4s from the 13th to the 16th is particularly tough. The back nine has an unfair reputation for being weaker than the front nine. I don't think that's correct. Each of these holes requires two fine shots if a player is to reach in regulation.

Over the years Royal Aberdeen has played host to many memorable tournaments. Recently, Tom Watson won the British Senior Open at Balgownie in 2005, GB&I defeated the USA in the Walker Cup over the links in 2011 and Justin Rose triumphed in the AAM Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen in 2014. Royal Aberdeen hosted the 2018 Amateur Championship, won by Jovan Rebula.

Royal Aberdeen should be near the top of the must-play list for links connoisseurs.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…

The course is brilliant, it is natural and little has been forced. Much like the off course atmosphere which just fits so perfectly a club with such a long and illustrious history. Everything was presented in first class condition, but it was also understated. The course speaks for itself and those that play golf here know and appreciate what a special place it is. If I were looking to be a member anywhere in this area, this is my undisputed first choice.

Royal Aberdeen is a fantastic place to visit. It feels like a storied and classic golf club and comes with a stunning golf course to match. The welcome, particularly form the staff in the professional's shop, was excellent. They take pride in providing a quality visitor experience here. The opener, for me, is an instant favourite with its splendid teeing area overlooked by the clubhouse bar, and its tantalising drive and approach shot played towards the North Sea.

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Location

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Balgownie Course Scorecard

Best Courses Near to Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Best Places to Stay Near Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa - Book now at Booking.com
The Marcliffe has been recognised as Aberdeen's premier hotel for a number of years. Set in a leafy suburb, just a short drive from Balgownie, it delivers luxurious accommodation and fine dining. There's also a fitness centre, garden and terrace.

Malmaison Aberdeen - Book now at Booking.com A sophisticated hotel in central Aberdeen. A lively and stylish place to base yourself. Featuring a brasserie and sneaky whisky snug, there's also a nice wee spa.

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Balgownie Course Gallery

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Balgownie Course Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

• 2025/26 - 17
• 2023/24 - 16
• 2021/22 - 16
• 2019/20 – 16
• 2017/18 - 16
• 2015/16 - 17
• 2013/14 - 19
• 2011/12 - 21
• 2009/10 - 23

Frequently Asked Questions

It was reported earlier in the week that several LIV Golf players, including Patrick Reed, had been denied the chance to play in this week’s WGC-Match Play.

But why is that considering the Austin Country Club tournament is one of the World Golf Championships, which are part of the International Federation of PGA Tours (which encompasses tours worldwide) and not solely the PGA Tour, which has suspended LIV Golf players? To answer that question, it’s helpful to consider which LIV Golf players may have felt they had a case to play in the tournament and why.

The WGC-Match Play is open to the top 64 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as it stands after The Players Championship. Of course, some of those players invariably miss the event for one reason or another, and, on this occasion, PGA Tour players Justin Thomas and Justin Rose are absent.

That would extend the cut-off to World No.66, with LIV Golfers Cameron Smith, Abraham Ancer, Joaquin Niemann, Thomas Pieters, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Mito Pereira, Dustin Johnson and Reed all still above that threshold despite their drop down the world rankings in recent months.

The DP World Tour is one of the circuits co-sanctioning the event. So, even though LIV Golf players are suspended from the PGA Tour, shouldn’t those with DP World Tour memberships, at least, have a strong case for playing? After all, those players, one of whom is Reed, can still compete on the DP World Tour pending the outcome of the hearing to determine their futures on it.

The answer lies with the PGA Tour, which reportedly denied the applications because they are “subject to acceptance by the Host Tour and the International Federation of PGA Tours and may be rejected or revoked by either without liability at any time before or after commencement of Tournament play if a player fails to meet the eligibility requirements... (or) violates any of the Tournament Regulations of the Host Tour."

That last line is where the PGA Tour could wield its authority, because it insists that players competing in LIV Golf tournaments have violated its Conflicting Events Regulation. That rule requires releases for overseas tournaments, which the LIV Golf players didn’t secure, and is at the heart of why they were suspended by the PGA Tour to begin with.

Because those LIV Golf players are deemed in violation of the PGA Tour’s rules, it has the power to prevent them entering World Golf Championships, which it has - predictably - taken advantage of.  

As a result, several LIV Golf players who would have been eligible aren't and several more players beneath the World No.66 threshold, including last week’s World No.77 Justin Suh, are in the field for this week's event.