Turning professional just last month, Beth Coulter has enjoyed a fine start in the paid ranks, already earning a victory on the Ladies European Tour Access Series.

Claiming a maiden win at the Women's Irish Challenge last week, another playoff stood between her and a second straight victory on the circuit.

However, what followed can only be described as bizarre, with Coulter missing out on the win in a rather peculiar way.

Finishing five-over-par at the CSK Steel Women’s Open in Denmark, following rounds of 70, 76 and 75, Coulter found herself in a three-way playoff alongside Moa Svedenskiold and amateur Lena Geier.

At the first playoff hole, both Svedenskiold and Coulter made par, while Geier bogeyed. This eliminated the German, with the playoff going from three to two.

Shortly after the elimination of Geier, at the second playoff hole, the Swede made par from the thick rough that was next to the greenside bunker, while Coulter narrowly missed her par attempt and picked up her golf ball.

This handed the trophy to Svedenskiold, or so we thought...

After the celebrations on the 18th green, Svedenskiold was informed by a Rules Official that she had been assessed a two-stroke penalty for unlawfully building a stance in the bunker, which meant her score went from a par to a double bogey.

Although Coulter would have made the bogey and won, the fact she picked up her golf ball meant she was assessed a one-shot penalty, with the Irishwoman forced to replace her ball and tap-in to keep the playoff going.

Further drama followed as Svedenskiold made a bogey at the third playoff hole, despite hitting her tee shot into the penalty area.

Eventually, at the fourth time of asking, Svedenskiold was able to make an up-and-down for par to defeat Coulter, as the 22-year-old earned her second win on the LET Access Series, two months after her first at the Ladies German Challenge.

"It’s been a long day, so I’m exhausted," explained Svedenskiold, who added "Obviously really, really proud of how I handled it.

"I was standing in the bunker. The ball was outside in the rough. I took my stance, I hit the shot and made par. Beth missed her putt for par, and I thought I won.

"Back on the 18th, I was just trying to stay calm. I was trying to stay in myself and trust my game. Obviously it was confusing at first, but then the ruling…

"There was an official behind me, so I was okay, I’ll just continue trying to stay patient and played my game and ended up winning."

Both Svedenskiold and Coulter improved their rankings in the LET Access Series Order of Merit significantly, with the former moving to the top of the standings, while Coulter is now sixth.

The duo are on-course for Rookie of the Year honors but, crucially, both are also on-course for Ladies European Tour cards, which are handed to the top seven players in the Order of Merit at the end of the season.

After 36 holes of the Wyndham Championship, Brooks Koepka finds himself just outside the top 20, with the five-time Major winner needing a strong week to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Sitting seven-under, Koepka is five back of leader Beau Hossler, with the former introducing yet another new putter to his set-up, this time a prototype, custom Scotty Cameron.

The model in question is a Phantom 3, which possesses a custom Teryllium insert, a similar configuration used on his previous gamers that earned him Major accolades.

It's the first time that the insert has been added to this model of putter, with Koepka previously using it on a Phantom 9.5R, as well as the Newport 2 that netted him his five Majors.

Certainly, through the first two rounds at Sedgefield Country Club, it appears to be working, as the American is 22nd in terms of Strokes Gained: Putting, gaining 2.215 shots on the field.

In fact, for the first round, Koepka ranked 9th in SG: Putting, as he made up 2.6 shots on the greens, while his second round he lost 0.357 shots, putting him 83rd.

Going into the week at the Wyndham Championship, Koepka is 86th in the FedEx Cup standings, as he searches for a spot in the Playoffs after returning to the PGA Tour from the LIV Golf League in January.

Producing a best result of T9th at the Cognizant Classic, the 36-year-old would need a solo fourth finish, at best, to move on to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Certainly, he'll hope the flat stick does a lot of the lifting over Saturday and Sunday, as Koepka ranks eighth in SG: Approach the Green, but 116th in SG: Putting throughout the 2026 season.

That Putting position has improved over the last few months, but Koepka is yet to find a putter that has suited his game.

Experimenting with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X and Tour V, as well as a Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R and his Newport 2 blade, the Phantom 3.2 is the newest addition to the bag.

Combining the forgiveness of a mallet and feel of the blade, the Teryllium insert will hopefully give Koepka that familiarity feeling as he goes in search of a season-best result and first win since 2024 - the LIV Golf Greenbrier event.

The Wyndham Championship is the final PGA Tour event of the 2026 regulation season, with crucial FedEx Cup points up for grabs at Sedgefield Country Club.

Some players are needing strong performances to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs next week, but one of those who won't be at the FedEx St. Jude Championship is Aaron Wise, who was disqualified on Friday.

At 5.26pm, local time, play at the Wyndham Championship was suspended due to a dangerous weather situation, with play then resuming 34 minutes later at 6pm.

Wise, who fired a two-over-par first round on Thursday, found himself one-over for the day on Friday, meaning he was three-over for the tournament.

Given that he had four holes remaining, it was never likely that he was going to make it to the three-under cutline, with the former PGA Tour winner opting not to return to the course following the weather delay.

Because the committee wasn't informed, and as Wise wasn't in position at the time of resumption, he was disqualified after breaking Rule 5.7(c) 2.

Said rule states: "A player must resume play from where they stopped play on a hole or, if between two holes, at the next teeing area, even if play is resumed on a later day.

"The player must be present at the location identified in (1) and ready to play at the time set by the Committee for play to resume, and The player must resume play at (and not before) that time.

"If the ability to resume play is delayed for any reason (such as when players in the group ahead need to play first and move out of the way), there is no breach of this Rule if the player is present and ready to play when the player’s group is able to resume play.

"Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7c(2): Disqualification."

It's not the first time that we have seen this penalty applied to professional golfers.

Back at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November 2024, Raul Pereda was disqualified on Saturday morning as the 28-year-old wasn't in place to carry on his second round after play was suspended on Friday.

Like Wise, Pereda was down the leaderboard and battling to make the cut but, with it unlikely he would make it, he was among the many withdrawals at that competition.

In terms of this week's Wyndham Championship, Beau Hossler leads at the halfway point, with the American searching for a first PGA Tour win and a spot in next week's Playoffs.

Hossler leads Jordan Smith and recently turned professional, Ben James, by a single shot, as notable names look to earn their places in the Playoffs via strong performances.

Speaking to Bloomberg News, PGA Tour CEO, Brian Rolapp, has confirmed that the circuit won't strike a deal with the LIV Golf League following financial difficulties in 2026.

"There’s no merger, no conversations, we’ve been really concentrated on the PGA Tour,” explained Rolapp in an exclusive interview.

He went on to add: "We've been mainly focused on where we're going and improving our product."

The news comes just days after the LIV Golf League secured funding from an unnamed investor, which should keep the league going through the remainder of 2027 after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia pulled funding at the end of April.

It's thought that the investment is between $250 to $300 million, and would make its players "majority equity holders" in the circuit, calling it "a first for a major global sports league."

Despite this, Rolapp has no interest in working alongside LIV Golf, which is a far cry from June 2023, when news broke that the PGA Tour, under Jay Monahan, and the PIF of Saudi Arabia, the former backers of the circuit, would strike a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis.

Since then, though, talks have stagnated between the two and, consequently, both have gone on different paths.

After Monahan stepped down from his role as CEO, Rolapp has taken over and re-shaped the circuit, introducing a Championship Series and a Challenger Series that will begin in 2028.

This is one of the key areas the PGA Tour is looking to explore going forward, with the new format set to embrace upcoming talent, such as Miles Russell, who has been predicted to go far in the pro leagues.

At the age of 15, he became the youngest player to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour and, two years later in 2026, he made the weekend at the US Open on his Major debut.

From 2028, players will now be promoted and relegated in a two-tier series format and, speaking about the move, Rolapp stated: "We’ve opened up the meritocracy of golf. If he’s that good, we’ve worked out a system where he will work his way up."

Innovation is a big-part of Rolapp's mantra and, continuing to speak to Bloomberg, the soon to be PGA Tour Commissioner, explained: "Any professional sport, worth it's salt, will always challenge where it is.

"One thing I learnt from the NFL is that if you're not going forward, you're going backwards. When I took the job (at the PGA Tour) I made it clear that we're going to honor tradition, but we're not going to be overly bound by it.

"Huge innovation doesn't happen without a crisis. A lot of short-comings in professional golf came with a little bit of competition.

"Competition is a good thing, and we've seen that, and we're trying to build something that outlives all of us here...

"I think we (the PGA Tour) have a lot of stars and there's a misconception of professional golf that only a given competition matters if one or two golfers are in it.

"When you look at professional golf, the difference between winning and losing a competition is one stroke over four days... The reality is we have a great collection of some pretty amazing golfers.

"The established guys, like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, or (Jackson) Koivun and these younger guys. We have this amazing roster of veterans and young guys and it's our job to showcase them better."

Having never missed a FedEx Cup Playoff in his career, Jason Day failed to meet the required target to carry on his impressive streak at the Wyndham Championship.

Needing to make the cut, at a minimum, the Australian carded rounds of 71 and 73 to comfortably miss the weekend in North Carolina, with his 18-year record of making the FedEx Cup Playoffs ending in the process.

Coming into the week, Day was 75th in the standings and one of many players needing strong performances at the final regulation event of the season, due to the fact the top 70 move on to the FedEx Cup Playoffs next week.

However, it wasn't to be for Day, who explained to media how injuries had played their part throughout 2026, a season where he was forced to withdraw multiple times from competitions.

"I'm looking forward to taking some time off. My body's been really awful actually this year, so just to try and grind through it has been tough," he stated on Friday.

"The last two days have been pretty hard to try and get my body ready. I wanted to play like 3M and Detroit and unfortunately I couldn't do anything there.

"Yeah, it was a good streak obviously, but I would have loved to keep the streak going. But things happen, you know. You're not going to keep everything going forever.

"Best to kind of take some time off, get my body sorted and try and come out next year and play well."

Along with Day, there were notable names who also failed to make the cut at the Wyndham Championship, while others didn't quite have the misfortune.

Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau, Marco Penge, Brooks Koepka and Billy Horschel are among the players sitting in-and-around the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings, and all five made the weekend.

Battling it out for crucial points, check out the big names who were unable to join them at Sedgefield Country Club.

Notables Names Who Missed The Wyndham Championship Cut

Brian Harman (-2)

Harman fired rounds of 67 and 71 to finish two-under and one back of the three-under cutline. It's his fifth missed weekend of the season, but the Major winner should still qualify for the Playoffs next week, having started 63rd in the standings pre-tournament.

Ryan Gerard (-2)

Like Harman, Gerard carded rounds of 67 and 71 to miss the cut by one, ending the American's recent run of form. He's inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings, so will comfortably make it into the Playoffs.

Ben Griffin (-2)

Griffin will make it into the Playoffs, but he will come into the stretch out of form as he missed a second straight cut via back-to-back rounds of 69.

Mac Meissner (-2)

Meissner was narrowly outside the top 70 in the standings, but a two-under-par missed cut means he will not be at the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week.

Johnny Keefer (-1)

The American was also needing a big performance at the Wyndham Championship, but a missed cut means Keefer won't be present at the Playoffs.

Lucas Glover (E)

The former Major winner produced rounds of 69 and 71 to finish well back of the cutline, with Glover unable to advance up the FedEx Cup standings as he missed the Playoffs.

Steven Fisk (+2)

At the halfway stage, Fisk is the player occupying the 70th spot in the FedEx Cup standings and, with a missed cut, it means he will be in for a long weekend of leaderboard watching.

Sepp Straka (+3)

Straka is safely through to the Playoffs next week, but he'll be going into the week in poor form, missing three cuts in five starts and registering a best finish of T67th in that time.

Rory McIlroy will return to action at the FedEx St Jude Championship next week, returning to the event he skipped last year.

McIlroy hasn't played since The Open at Royal Birkdale but will tee it up again at TPC Southwind in Memphis in the opening FedEx Cup Playoff event on the PGA Tour.

The Northern Irishman is 12th in the current FedEx Cup standings and with his lighter schedule this year some expected him to again miss the tournament, as he did 12 months ago when he was guaranteed of his place in the Tour Championship.

McIlroy's played in just 11 counting events this year, and even though he's playing in Memphis he'll still fall just short of the PGA Tour minimum 15 that's usually required.

The 37-year-old has already stated though that the PGA Tour has always been aware of his plans, with Brian Rolapp and his executives giving him a pass this year and citing an "extenuating circumstances" clause in the rulebook.

The World No.2 has had an injury this season, and after winning back-to-back Masters titles he's played just once in between each Major while also moving into a new home in Wentworth.

McIlroy will now take aim at a fourth FedEx Cup triumph though after being confirmed in the 70-man field at TPC Southwind - where if nothing else he can shake off any rust ahead of the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

We're not quite sure whether McIlroy would've played the St Jude Championship had he been on course to play his PGA Tour minimum events or if the plan would always have been to play all three playoff tournaments.

Another possible reason for McIlroy's lighter year so far could be him always planning to have a busy late summer and autumn, starting with the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

McIlroy will then return to the DP World Tour as he goes in search of a fifth consecutive European No.1 title and eighth overall. He's currently second on the Race To Dubai behind Patrick Reed.

McIlroy will play in the Amgen Irish Open ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before the closing DP World Tour events in the Middle East take center stage.

He'll also play in the DP World India Championship and the Australian Open, along with the Cathedral Invitational after that, as he continues to build a more global aspect to his schedule.

Long-term PGA Tour sponsor FedEx says it's "disappointed" the St Jude Championship will not be a top tier event in the new 2028 schedule.

It what could be a sign of a shake-up in both the season-long points race and FedEx Cup Playoffs, one of the PGA Tour's biggest sponsors has seen its tournament suffer a big fall from grace.

The St Jude Championship in Memphis has been the opening playoff tournament since 2022, but the PGA Tour has confirmed it has not made the cut for the 2028 Championship Series.

Memphis has hosted a PGA Tour event since 1958 and a statement from the Tour hinted that it could play host to a second-string Challenger Series event. But losing elite status is still a major blow.

The PGA Tour has five tournaments confirmed for the 2028 Championship Series - with The Sentry, Travelers Championship, Sompo Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Cadillac Championship all signed up. But the FedEx St Jude Championship has missed the cut.

"As we prepare for the FedEx St Jude Championship next week and again in 2027, we remain in close conversation about the future of our partnership," read the Tour statement.

"We are grateful to FedEx for all it contributes to the sport, and the positive impact they make in the community, including in Memphis with St Jude.

"As we implement a new competitive model and map out our schedule for 2028 and beyond, we believe Memphis is well-positioned to remain part of the PGA Tour."

The reaction from FedEx was one of disappointment, but they did seem to be keen on accepting a Challenger Series spot if that does indeed materialize.

"While we are disappointed the FedEx St Jude Championship will not be part of the new Championship Series, we are encouraged by their plans to find other opportunities to bring professional golf to Memphis," FedEx said in a statement.

"Regardless of the tournament's next chapter, our commitment to Memphis is unwavering."

End of an era for FedEx Cup Playoffs?

Perhaps a bigger quesiton though is what it all could mean for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the format of which is still being thrashed out by the brains trust at the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour boss Brian Rolapp said a few weeks ago that FedEx has been "an amazing partner" and added "we're in an existing contract, and we're going to honor that" but it sounds like the end of the line once the sponsorship agreement ends in 2027.

FedEx has sponsored the event at TPC Southwind since 1986, and became a huge Tour supporter when sponsoring the FedEx Cup in 2007. Both deals expire at the end of next season and it looks unlikely the big one at least, including the Playoffs, will not be renewed.

With talk of new markets, a new season-long structure and even a matchplay element to the end-of-season events, the PGA Tour seems keen to also bring in a new sponsor to highlight the fact it's an all-new competition being introduced.

FedEx stumped up huge sums over the last two decades in sponsoring the PGA Tour's points race and Playoffs, which include the hefty bonuses paid out after the Tour Championship.

But whatever format the new season-ending competition takes, it seems FedEx may not be the name associated with them moving forward.

There's been so much uncertainty about LIV Golf's future that you could forgive some of the players for being a bit distracted and burdened by it all - but not Ian Poulter.

As the Englishman says it's been a "walk in the park" dealing with the uncertainty as CEO Scott O'Neil furiously chased down new investment to keep the league going.

With the Saudi PIF pulling out after the end of this season the race has been on for O'Neil to attract investors - but news that a potential candidate has been found came as a big relief to the league and its players.

Some have admitted that not knowing the future was off-putting, with a lack of clarity from offical LIV channels but plenty of leaks in the media.

But Poulter, due to a combination of his usual confidence and also his years of experience in business outside of playing golf, has been taking it all in his stride.

"To be honest, it's pretty easy," Poulter said at LIV Golf New York of dealing with the outside noise surrounding the new potential investor.

"We've had a lot going on for five years. This is a walk in the park, I've got to be honest."

The 50-year-old shot an opening 66 to sit in second place after 18 holes at Trump Bedminster, adding some welcome form on the course to the good news off it.

LIV investor 'amazing news'

And although he had his toungue in cheek initial response, his considered opinion was to greet the news as a huge step forward for the league and its players.

He also revealed that the incoming investor has only been secured in the last couple of weeks.

"Look, it's amazing news," said Poulter. "Two weeks ago we didn't have it there. Right now it's right there in place. I think it's exceptional someone believes in the product. There's going to be a lot of options for a lot of guys to have it go forward.

"It's extremely exciting, and the hours that people have worked to find that funding, I respect them for all those hours that they've been trying. It's amazing news."

After finishing fourh in the US Senior Open then 15th at LIV Golf UK, Poulter is finding some fine form despite turning 50 and suffering a recent knee injury - but ironically time off injured may have helped his game.

"We touched on picking up an injury three months ago, and I don't know why that should help, but maybe it's made me look at my golf game a little bit different and take it easy when I need to take it easy," he added.

"I'm swinging the golf club as good as I've ever swung it right now. On video it's great. I don't need to video it all that often because every time I put it on, I feel very good.

"We're pretty fortunate, as playing golf the way we play golf all around the world - and I've done it for a very long time. Look, I'm just happy playing golf."

LIV Golf secured a lifeline this week when the circuit announced it had an "agreement in place with a lead investor" to secure the tour's future for 2027 and beyond.

It is great news for LIV Golf after losing the Saudi PIF's funding, but there are still plenty of questions relating to what's next.

The main one on my mind right now surrounds the players, and in particular which ones might be looking elsewhere to try and get themselves back into the PGA Tour ecosystem.

The PGA Tour recently unveiled its Championship Series for 2028, which will be the top of a two-tier structure and feature the best players in the world fighting for big money and Official World Golf Ranking points.

LIV once looked like it could be a genuine rival to the PGA Tour, but that is no longer the case.

Without LIV's Asian Tour feeder system, following the circuit partnering with the PGA and DP World Tours, its OWGR points and Major pathways could be at risk.

And with just ten events planned for 2027, its players will have to supplement it with other tour starts - although the PGA Tour remains closed due to 12-month suspensions from when any player teed it up in a LIV event.

So the option for its top stars will be to play ten LIV events and around 8-12 other tournaments on the DP World and Asian Tours, or exclusively play on the DPWT and in Asia to try and earn their way up to the PGA Tour for 2028 and beyond.

Playing a full season on LIV in 2027 would mean their quest to make it to the PGA Tour would be delayed by another year, so there are likely many players currently facing very big decisions.

Golf Monthly understands the earning potential for LIV players will still be very high in 'LIV 2.0', but it's unlikely it would be able to match the PGA Tour Championship Series in 2028, and it certainly wouldn't be able to match it in terms of OWGR points and Major pathways either.

That's why I believe any LIV golfer with genuine ambition to get to the top of the game will be seriously considering their options. My hunch is we may even be surprised by some of the players who opt to leave.

Flushing It Golf stated "insiders expect a significant number" not to commit their future to the league - so which players could be thinking about moving on?

The first two players to mention are of course LIV's biggest stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.

DeChambeau is hugely passionate about LIV Golf and is said to have been in investor meetings with the league pitching to secure its future. He is one of the biggest golf YouTubers, with over 2.8m subscribers, and is qualified for all four Majors in 2027, 2028 and 2029, as well as the US Open until 2034, so he may be more than happy to stay.

He would be the face of the league, own the biggest equity and be able to mix its ten events with YouTube, Majors and other tour events where he'd command big appearance fees.

He was also one of the the 11 players to sue the PGA Tour in 2022 before removing his name from the litigation the following year, so he may not wish to return due to principle and the reception he'd receive from a portion of the membership.

PGA Tour players have equity in the business so many of them would love to have Bryson back, but that will not be a view held by everyone.

Jon Rahm's situation, on the other hand, is completely different.

The Spaniard is said to be owed up to $150m from his original contract according to reports, and receiving a big chunk of equity in LIV 2.0 may not be enough to keep him.

He was not pitching to potential investors and he does not have a YouTube channel. Instead, his focus is purely on competition and legacy.

When asked at LIV Golf UK if he expects to be playing in the league next year, he wasn't able to give an answer.

"I'm not going to share anything that I can't share with you guys right now," he said at his press conference.

Then, a week later, Scott O'Neil was also unable to confirm if DeChambeau and Rahm would be staying put.

"Would certainly love them to come along for the ride and journey because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that," O'Neil said when specifically asked about the multiple Major-winning duo.

"I think we have enough support from enough players, and we have such an interesting format and global format, I think we'll do quite well in getting the right stars for this game."

Rahm was right up there with Scottie Scheffler as the best player in the sport before he left, and the move has ultimately not turned out to be a great one for his game.

He has earned a huge amount of money, but he appears to have lost his edge in the big tournaments despite dominating on LIV, having just completed his third consecutive season without a Major victory.

Rahm joined LIV as the Masters champion after winning two Majors in three years, and he had just won four times in 2023 to top the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings heading into the Playoffs.

He does have four top-10s in Majors since joining LIV, but that is underachieving for a golfer of Rahm's talent.

He lives in America and loved his time on the PGA Tour, where he won 11 times in seven seasons, and I would not be surprised to see him pursue a return in 2027 to get back competing against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in the biggest events.

If Rahm leaves the league, I also would not be surprised to see Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt follow him.

His Legion XIII teammates are all capable of playing on the PGA Tour Championship Series in 2028 and could earn their cards via the DP World Tour next year. Hatton previously reached the World No.5 spot before joining LIV, while McKibbin earned his PGA Tour status before switching to the team tour.

Surratt is just 22 and he may feel like now is the time to try and work his way up the professional golf ladder and join his fellow former college stars in the big league.

Two of Rahm's countrymen, David Puig and Josele Ballester, are also players I could see moving on. Both could play important roles for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup over the coming years if they keep progressing, including next year at Adare Manor.

"There's a lot of uncertainty. We're here this week at Bedminster so I'm just trying to focus on that. I played pretty good golf the last couple, three years so I got a lot of options in my case, which is great," Puig told Garrett Johnston from Beyond The Clubhouse on behalf of Golf Monthly.

Ballester says he plans to play DP World Tour Q-School this winter in the hopes of playing a mix of LIV Golf, DPWT and Asian Tour next season, so he appears to be happy continuing with LIV.

To realistically make the Ryder Cup team, and to play in the PGA Tour Championship or Challenger Series in 2028, they would need to play a full season on the DP World Tour next year, or win big tournaments and make big impacts in the Majors.

Another interesting figure is Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean is clearly one of the game's biggest talents, as seen at Riviera in 2022 when he opened up with back-to-back 63s to win his second PGA Tour title at the Genesis Invitational.

The former World No.1 amateur has loved his time on LIV Golf, earning tens and tens of millions and winning eight times. He may think now is the time to move on.

Had Niemann remained with the PGA Tour, I truly believe he would have won multiple times over the past few seasons and would be inside the world's top 10, or even five, now and be one of the biggest names in golf.

I can easily see him achieving that in the coming years if he did wish to pursue the PGA Tour again.

Niemann is captain of Torque GC, and if he left it might not be a huge surprise to see Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer and Sebastian Munoz follow.

They're all world class players based in America with PGA Tour victories under their belts and the ability to challenge at Majors, as seen by Ortiz's T4 at the US Open in 2025.

Lucas Herbert seems very happy at LIV Golf, but as a PGA Tour winner who recently finished T6th at The Open, he may also be starting to question his future. He admitted his team has been in contact with the PGA Tour, but that may have just been incase LIV folded entirely.

"I haven't personally had any discussions, but I think my manager has," he said, with teammates Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman recently pledging their loyalty.

"If LIV were to go away and you've got nowhere to play, I think ultimately you need somewhere to play as a professional golfer. So we're just doing due diligence, having that conversation.

"As I said, I haven't had it personally, and my preference would be to still be playing out here if that was still an option."

He clearly loves LIV Golf and being part of the all-Australian Ripper GC, but it feels like the 30-year-old is ready to make the jump up to becoming an elite player with the ability to become the top Australian male golfer in the world.

Can he reach the world's top 10 and win Majors by playing on LIV Golf 2.0 and the DP World Tour? That could be the question he's currently weighing up.

And then there is likely a handful of other players who we may not be expecting, similar to when Eugenio Chacarra left to chase his dream of the PGA Tour.

LIV has not been a success for Matthew Wolff, who turned pro alongside Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland in 2019 and won in his third start on the PGA Tour. Last year's NCAA champion Michael La Sasso has also not enjoyed the best start to life on the circuit.

On the other hand, though, don't underestimate the players' love for LIV Golf.

The events are fun, will still be lucrative, take place at great courses (on the whole) and there certainly seems to be a real family feel about the circuit. Many of the players have a huge attachment to the league, some have stakes in their franchises, and are fully invested with faith in the leadership and vision.

"I’ve got full trust in this process. The product is great. I love every single event. I’ve had so much fun," Thomas Detry said.

"So I haven’t really thought about what’s for next year. I’m committed here for the foreseeable future, I love it.

"And I’ve got faith in everybody, I’ve got faith in the leadership as well. So I haven’t really thought too much about it."

Not everyone wants to play on the PGA Tour, either. Europeans especially don't always tend to enjoy basing themselves in America, constantly on the road visiting new courses and cities, and there can be a lonely feel to it - especially if you're missing cuts.

LIV's purses are going down, but they're still going to be higher than the DP World Tour's, and many will have made more money than they could have imagined already so the desire to play a full 27-event season grinding to make cuts week-in, week-out may no longer be there.

Plenty will be more than happy to play their ten LIV events and then compete sporadically on other circuits like the DP World Tour, HotelPlanner Tour, Asian Tour, Korean Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

I expect the majority of LIV's roster to remain on board, but we will almost certainly see a few big names jump ship.

If a player wants to become World No.1, win Majors and become one of the biggest stars in the game, it feels like now is the perfect opportunity for a change.

It's set to be a very interesting off-season for the LIV players and what they do next. I'd be interested to hear your views in the comments section below. Do you agree with me? Or do you think I'm underestimating LIV 2.0?

Josele Ballester is one of a number of LIV Golf players whose plans for next season could include a trip to DP World Tour Qualifying School this November.

The Spaniard says he's prepared to try his luck in Qualifying School in a bid to secure a card - and he's not the only one as Golf Monthly understands the DP World Tour has been inundated with LIV pros enquiring about entering Q School.

Thomas Pieters has already told us that he'd head to Q School to earn back a DP World Tour card, and Ballester will follow suit if he can't play his way in before then.

"There's definitely many things that need to happen before seeing myself in that scenario, because I'm working on getting my membership at DP through the non-members affiliate list," Ballester told Garrett Johnston from Beyond The Clubhouse on behalf of Golf Monthly.

"I've still got to play a little better with hopefully a couple more invites and if that doesn't happen I'm going to have to go to Q School and and do my best over there. But I would love to mix both and have a pretty full calendar next year."

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil has announced a possible new investor to help the league continue into 2027 and beyond, but even if that proves to be the case it will be a more condensed schedule.

It leaves plenty of space for LIV players to fill in their schedules, and Ballester is busy trying to navigate an increasingly complicated world golfing landscape, with the DP World Tour's new affiliation with the Asian Tour also offering an opportunity.

The 22-year-old claimed his maiden professional title at the PIF Saudi International last November so should have opportunities to play there.

"Honestly I don't know," he said of his Asian Tour eligibility. "And I'm curious to see how is it going to apply for me next year because although it's been partnered with LIV throughout these years, I'm also a champion on the Asian Tour.

"So I feel like I should have some sort of a status on the Asian Tour for next year. And I also don't know how that's going to apply for certain tournaments or invites that might be sanctioned with DP [World Tour] so just curious to see how that plays."

Ballester's Eventful Career Path To Date

He'll only turn 23 this August, but it's already been an eventful ride for Ballester, who won the 2024 US Amateur before finishing third in the 2025 PGA Tour University rankings.

The Arizona State star turned down the Korn Ferry Tour card that was on offer though, and instead moved to LIV Golf and joined Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC in June last year.

He's had five top 10s in 19 LIV events so far, including one playoff defeat last year, and made his first Major cut this year at Royal Birkdale after getting into The Open for the second time.

Ballester made a big decision to turn down a traditional route into the pros of taking up a Korn Ferry Tour place and trying to play his way onto the PGA Tour, and that route could well now see him having to tackle Q School in Europe.

But he insists that his first year as a pro has set him up nicely for the future, having experienced plenty of ups and downs and drama on and off the course.

"I feel like I'm in a way better spot than when I was when I turned pro right away, last year," says Ballester

"This year and couple of months of me being a professional have been really great for not just my game but my life as a professional outside of the golf course.

"I think I've changed a few things that have made me more professional and I think that's showing off on the course as well.

"I've lived many moments in my professional career, although it's been pretty short. I've been able to contend in events, lost in a playoff, I've won a tournament, I've been top ten many times, I've also missed cuts, I've also been in the bottom, so I feel it has given me a lot of experience, but it has also proved to me that when I'm playing good I can contend among the best players in the world."

There's a host of young Spanish talent lining up to be the next Sergio Garcia or next Jon Rahm - Ballester has been tipped to be the very best of the class but he may have to get through a tough Q School process to prove it.

And with a reduced LIV Golf season next year, the DP World Tour could be the beneficiary and Qualifying School in Spain this year could be a star-studded affair.

Thomas Detry has no 'Plan B' lined up and has faith in LIV Golf leadership to secure the tour's future - saying he's "committed here for the foreseeable future, I love it".

The Belgian spoke to Garrett Johnston from Beyond The Clubhouse on behalf of Golf Monthly about the ongoing LIV Golf saga, but does not seem too concerned about the future.

Detry also has some beef with critics of LIV Golf, saying he's received nothing but positive feedback from anyone who's attended an event in person, and has turned off his social media due to negative comments about the team tour.

The 33-year-old says there's a big difference between the on-course experience at LIV Golf events and the "outrageous comments on social media" which are "a bit weird really" and taken "completely out of context".

"Listen, there’s been so much speculation at the start and sort of mid-season, especially on social media and obviously you can’t help yourself and read some of it," Detry said about all the talk over LIV's future this year.

"And you quickly find out that most of the stuff out there is actually lies and not true."

Detry turned off social media, and now CEO Scott O'Neil has made an announcement over a possible investor he's just focused on playing golf.

"So as a matter of fact I just turned off my social media, I’m not really on Instagram anymore pretty much," he added.

"So I’m not really spending that much time out there and, you know, it’s human nature. I was a little bit worried at the start but now there's something to be said. I’m just a great golfer, I know where I belong and whatever happens, happens."

And if LIV Golf doesn't survive for some reason, Detry will cross that bridge when he comes to it, as he's made no plans to play elsewhere - except for the DP World Tour after the end of the LIV season.

"To be really honest with you, I haven’t really thought about it too much," he insisted. "Again I’ve got full trust in this process. The product is great. I love every single event. I’ve had so much fun.

"So I haven’t really thought about what’s for next year. I’m committed here for the foreseeable future, I love it. And I’ve got faith in everybody, I’ve got faith in the leadership as well. So I haven’t really thought too much about it.

"I just play day by day and I’m just committed to playing well this week, the next couple of weeks and then finish off the season on DP World Tour once the season is over here."

Detry blasts LIV critics - challenges them to attend an event

Detry hit out at the amount of reports about LIV Golf that go out on social platforms and in the media - saying a lot are based just on rumors - although O'Neil's team have been criticized for a lack of clear communication to both the public and players in the past.

"The communication is what it is," said Detry. "I mean it all gets blown out so quickly on social media.

"There was one little rumor being spread and every single media outlet just takes it out of context and promotes it, so it’s really tough to someone that doesn’t really understand the ecosystem out here to really understand really what’s happening.

"We’re here every single week and and we know how successful those tournaments are and we see everything running, we see how much players are enjoying it.

"So that’s where I think it’s tough for someone like me at least. You experience something on a golf course and then the next day you just go home and then you read some outrageous comments on social media which is a bit weird really, just completely out of context.

"To be honest, haven’t really been on social media the last couple of months, so I don’t know. But I’ll give you an example, after South Africa, it was such a fantastic event, I don't know how anybody could have said anything negative about the event and you still manage to read some negative quotes out of it. So it’s pretty strange."

Detry claims that everyone who attends a LIV event goes away happy, in contrast to the negative comments spread by people who haven't had that tournament experience.

"I mean the number one thing that I tell to people who are sort of who’ve got opinions on it, first of all, everybody who sort of has a negative opinion on it has never been to an event," said Detry.

"I have not met one person yet who’s been to a LIV event actually physically and has come out of it disappointed.

"All the people who’ve been to LIV events have really enjoyed it and and and say it’s fantastic. So listen, people are pretty stubborn, you know, it’s not always easy to make them change their their minds, but I’ll tell [them] to come and see for themselves and see if they enjoy it or not."

As the last regular tournament before the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Wyndham Championship takes on greater significance as a last-chance saloon for those battling to make the top 70. But who needs what to make it through?

Top of that list is Jackson Koivun as the 21-year-old tees it up in North Carolina in that final 70th spot in the FedEx Cup standings despite making just five pro starts on the PGA Tour.

Since the FedEx Cup Playoffs went to a 70-man field the fewest numbers of starts a player has made to qualify is 13 - Rory McIlroy has played in just 11 this season, but Koivun is aiming to do it in just six, and his first six as a pro at that.

Koivun's incredible victory at the 3M Open catapulted him into the top 70 in the standings, along with the Presidents Cup reckoning, and a T31 at last week's Rocket Classic kept him there.

He's right on the bubble at Sedgefield Country Club with a trip to the FedEx St Jude Championship and also a possible spot in Brandt Snedeker's Team USA on the line - so it's another big test of nerve for the impressive 21-year-old.

Koivun sits in that 70th and final place to make the St Jude Championship, but holds just under a 12-point advantage over Mac Meissner in 71st, with Keegan Bradley in 72nd just over 17 points in arrears.

Young Koivun will feel good about his chances, as he finished tied for fifth at last year's Wyndham Championship as an amateur, but if he's not challenging he'll face an anxious look around the leaderboard to see if anyone's close to knocking him out.

So with plenty to play for and the likes of Bradley, Jason Day and Brooks Koepka among the big names in danger of missing the FedEx Cup Playoffs, it looks like an exciting finish in store to the regular PGA Tour campaign.

FedEx Cup Playoffs standings & top 70 scenarios

The current top 59 in the FedEx Cup standings have already booked their spots in the top 70, while Shane Lowry has skipped the Wyndham but is all-but in at 60th and with a healthy cushion.

You'd expect the bottom five in the current top 70 to be most at risk, ranging from number 65 Aldrich Potgieter, who should be fine with a 45-point gap, while Steven Fisk, in 69th, is just 27 points ahead of Meissner.

There's not normally too much movement in the final event of the regular season, but a couple of big weeks for players just outside the top 70 can really shake things up.

The chasing pack have plenty to do though, with just the top seven being able to finish outside the top 10 and still have a chance of making it to Memphis.

Here's what the closest challengers need at the Wyndham Championship to stand any chance of cracking the top 70. The minimum finishes below are the least they need to overhaul Koivun if he fails to secure any points this week so they'll likely need even more.

2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs qualifying bubble

Former Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin is not a big fan of LIV Golf, as he offered some forthright opinions on not only the team golf tour but also the current state of the sport.

Jacklin accused the Saudi PIF of trying to "manufacture or buy history" by ploughing billions of dollars into LIV Golf - and produce a format the two-time Major champion is no fan of.

CEO Scott O'Neil has just revealed a new investor he says will see LIV Golf continue beyond this season, when the Saudi PIF pulls its funding - but Jacklin always thought the league was a "non-starter".

Speaking to business consultants Champions (UK) ahead of hosting the annual British Par 3 Championship, Jacklin also gave his strong views on the new PGA Tour structure, the DP World Tour and the continued distance debate in golf.

“It was backed by enormous wealth and supported by figures such as Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman, but I always thought it was a non-starter," is how Jacklin describes LIV Golf.

“They thought they could manufacture or buy history, and you cannot do that."

And unsurprisingly for a golfing traditionalist such as Jacklin, the LIV Golf format was not exactly to his liking.

“I do not understand who wants music playing on the tees, shotgun starts and uncertainty over where the eventual winner will finish," he added.

"The whole thing feels contrived."

Jacklin says LIV Golf caused "chaos" in the sport with the huge influx in cash countered by a similar move from the PGA Tour - all of which has turned him off from modern pro golf.

“That kind of money was brought into golf, and it threw everything into chaos, including the PGA Tour.

“There is now so much money swirling around the PGA Tour that, to a large extent, I have lost interest. The money in golf has become obscene, and it has turned it into a completely different game."

DP World Tour just a feeder for PGA Tour

On the future of the PGA Tour, Jacklin does not think the new two-tiered system being introduced is a huge change, more an adjustment of the current format, while it's confirmed in his mind the status of golf in Europe.

“I think they have essentially reshaped what they already had," he says. "The Korn Ferry Tour was always the second tier and provided players with a route onto the main tour. They have simply made it a little clearer and more straightforward.

“It is also clear that the DP World Tour has become a feeder tour for the PGA Tour."

As someone who played in a different era, Jacklin echoes the sentiments of many from that generation when it comes to the issue of technology and distance in golf.

“Do not even get me started on what the USGA and The R&A have allowed to happen with equipment and the ball," said the 82-year-old.

“The game now has little to do with the one I started playing in 1953. It is time for me to step back and observe from afar. I will watch and hope everybody is happy doing what they are doing.”

The August edition of Golf Monthly is a special double pack, featuring your regular issue plus a bonus Solheim Cup magazine. We have exclusive interviews with Matt Fitzpatrick and Ben Griffin, outline some of the worst golfing crimes and how they should be punished, and follow two GM staff members on their quest to qualify for The Open.

If you’re looking to improve your own game, our main focus this month is on how to understand your swing. We also help you to stop freezing over short putts and explain the importance of lag in the golf swing. On the equipment side of things, we look at the best fairway woods of 2026 and also count down six pre-owned clubs that offer incredible value for money.

Our Solheim Cup special includes interviews with some of the big names on both sides, as well as a look back at some memorable moments and an in-depth preview of this year’s matches in the Netherlands.

You can buy the magazine here or subscribe to Golf Monthly to never miss an issue. Click here for more details

The Best Instruction

Our main instruction focus this month is on taking you through the key components of the golf swing. Experiment with these components on the range. What happens if you do ‘X’ or ‘Y’? How does this affect ball flight? We guarantee that your understanding of the swing will improve dramatically.

Matt Fitzpatrick Exclusive

Matt Fitzpatrick has established himself as England’s top golfer thanks to four wins since November. Now he is targeting more Majors and maybe even Ryder Cup success alongside brother Alex.

Crime And Punishment

Fergus Bisset outlines five of the most heinous golfing misdemeanours and how they should be dealt with.

The Latest Gear

Our team of gear experts have been hard at work once again putting the latest launches through their paces. This month we feature the new Titleist GTS300 mini drivers, Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges and much more.

Ben Griffin Exclusive

Ben Griffin walked away from professional golf after a difficult 2019. Now, he’s a three-time PGA Tour winner and Ryder Cup player. He tells Robin Barwick about his journey.

Solheim Cup Special

Our 36-page Solheim Cup special includes big-name interviews, an in-depth preview of this September's event, a look back at some of the most memorable moments over the years and much more.

The Best Courses You Can Play

Our course experts travel up and down the UK and beyond to bring you the best places to play in the coming year. This month, we focus on Alister MacKenzie's Irish odyssey, visit The Machrie and Close House, and take a tour of some of the best courses in East Lothian.

Shot Scope produces some of the best golf gadgets money can buy and the company has today evolved it's offering further with the launch of its first ever Apple Watch app.

The convenience the Apple Watch provides is undeniable and users are now able to access a wealth of strategy-enhancing information via the app on the popular smart watch.

This crucial information includes detailed hole and green contour maps, as well as GPS distances and shot tracking.

Like Shot Scope's GPS devices, which include the new H50 GPS, you will find crisp and clear overhead visuals of each hole with hazards and other areas of interest. The watch app also possesses the ability to tap to any point on the hole for specific yardages.

Speaking of yardages, you are able to see the distance to the front and back of every hazard as you face it, as well as to the front, middle, and back of the green - just like what you get on the best golf GPS watches.

This amount of detail carries on to the greens themselves, as Shot Scope's mapping team have been able to include every break, borrow, and undulation on the putting surface.

Shot Scope is always looking for ways to help save your shots on the course and, back in May, it announced the Shot Scope 6 feature.

By creating this program, it means golfers can track every shot played, giving them access to over 100 tour level statistics.

Among these statistics are Strokes Gained and Handicap Benchmarking on the Shot Scope performance dashboard, meaning you can analyse your post-round figures and seek areas of improvement.

In fact, according to Shot Scope, hundreds of thousands of golfers around the world have saved an average of 4.1 strokes using the brand's technology.

Launching on Apple Watch, Shot Scope users now have the ability to collect data on one platform, as well as deviate between their golf and personal aspects like health, exercise and contacts.

Unlike other brands that charge an ongoing fee, Shot Scope only ask for a one-off payment of £149.99, meaning users have a lifetime subscription to all of the various data points.

"Our philosophy has always been to make game improvement accessible and transparent," explained David Hunter, CEO of Shot Scope.

"Many competitors tie golfers into monthly subscription fees that quickly turn their apps into expensive, long-term commitments.

"By offering lifetime access for a single, one-time payment, we are providing unbeatable value alongside world-class technology."

LIV Golf League CEO Scott O'Neil has confirmed that a deal has been agreed for investors have come on board to save the circuit's future.

In a statement from O'Neil, it read: "LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the League’s next era, driven by and for the players.

"We’re also seeing strong interest from more than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth.

"Notably, our next chapter will make our players the majority equity holders in LIV Golf, a first for a major global sports league, and gives the League the foundation to keep growing the game worldwide.

"We anticipate finalizing terms in the coming weeks, with the goal of entering a transaction in September. In the meantime, our focus is on delivering a great week for fans and players at Bedminster and finishing the 2026 season strong.’"

The announcement comes just a day after O'Neil held a meeting with LIV players, which was followed by a players-only meeting led by two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau.

As of writing, the investors aren't publicly known, with the reported figure sitting between $250m and $300m.

It has also been reported that, for 2027, the League will move to ten events, with five taking place in the US and five worldwide. This would be four fewer than the 14 in the schedule for this year.

It's still not confirmed as to whether the Michigan Team Championship will go ahead in 2026, though, with no update provided during the meeting.

It's not just tournament purses, though, as reports on X from Monday Q Info and Flushing It Golf suggest Jon Rahm is allegedly still owed "as much as $150m" from his LIV contract.

The Spaniard, who joined LIV Golf for a huge nine-figure sum back at the start of 2024, signed a contract that was reportedly 'back loaded', meaning he could miss out on some of the money he signed for if the circuit were to go bust.

Rahm has been coy on his LIV future in recent weeks. When asked if he will still be a LIV player next year, he said at JCB last week: "I'm not going to share anything that I can't share with you guys right now."

"So many of them came because this was a good opportunity for them to make some money, and this second bite at the apple is equity instead of cash," O'Neil told media on Wednesday.

"That's great. That's an unbelievable opportunity."

The LIV CEO spoke to reporters ahead of the New York event at Trump Bedminster, when he remained coy on any details from the new agreement.

He also could not confirm if it would allow for Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau to continue.

"Would certainly love them to come along for the ride and journey because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that," he said when specifically asked about his two biggest stars.

"I think we have enough support from enough players, and we have such an interesting format and global format, I think we'll do quite well in getting the right stars for this game."

While huge efforts have gone in to saving LIV and creating a 2.0 version for 2027, O'Neil did suggest the circuit's future could be secured beyond just next year. He was asked if there will be a LIV Golf season in 2027 if the investment goes through, and simply responded: "And '28 and '29 and '30."

Thomas Pieters has walked back on comments he made earlier this year when he hinted he would retire from professional golf if the LIV Golf League folded.

LIV's future is currently up in the air with potential investors for 'LIV 2.0' amid reports of bankruptcy, staff lay-offs and big names potentially missing out on money owed from contracts signed to join the circuit.

Pieters told Dan Rapaport in May he was 'ready to retire' when he heard the news of the PIF withdrawing its funding for the tour, but he now says he has a plan B of returning to the DP World Tour and hopes to play in the 2028 Olympics.

The Belgian has six DP World Tour wins, including the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and joined LIV Golf in 2023. He currently plays on Dustin Johnson's 4Aces GC.

"I’ve talked since with my team and and I’m in a really like happy place in my life at at this moment and, you know, talking with my family about going like - I love the Olympics. I would love to do one more Olympics. That would be you know 2028 and then I think we go from there," Pieters told Garrett Johnston from Beyond The Clubhouse on behalf of Golf Monthly.

Pieters hopes LIV Golf can continue into 2026, but if not he will be back competing in Europe.

"For me there’s only one plan B, to go back and play in Europe. But like I said I’d rather play out here so Europe is a great kind of fallback thing and like I can go to Q school, I can play on the Challenge [HotelPlanner] Tour. We’ll see. it’s not really on my mind at this point. It’s just something if LIV finishes then yeah, we’ll see what happens."

Pieters admits the LIV staff members he sees are working around the clock to secure the league's future. He also discussed the Asian Tour's deal with the DP World and PGA Tours, admitting he has learned everyone and each organization needs to look out for themselves first.

"I think we just kinda go by whatever we get fed from from LIV itself. We’ve got a player meeting later today, so hopefully we find out a little bit more," he said.

"And you know the last three, four tournaments you see the CEO, everybody looks knackered. You can tell they’re working hard behind the scenes. So hopefully they get this thing done and funded.

"Everybody’s kinda looking out for themselves and I think that’s the thing what we’ve learned in golf as well over the last couple of years.

"You have to look out for yourself. And they’re [Asian Tour] doing that by making an alliance there which suits them, which is great.

"Everybody’s making a plan B I think at this point, but I really hope we can all stay here and play here because I think it’s a great product."

There are multiple storylines to look out for at the Wyndham Championship, which is the final tournament of the PGA Tour's regulation season.

Playing as the warm-up to the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs next week, just 70 players in those standings will advance to the opening event, with notable names needing strong performances at Sedgefield Country Club.

Cameron Young returns as the defending champion, following his six shot win last year.

The World No.3 is the favorite to retain the trophy, following an excellent 2026 that has seen wins at The Players Championship and Cadillac Championship.

Recent 3M Open winner, Jackson Koivun, is also present in North Carolina, while Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Aaron Rai and Brooks Koepka are among the notable names teeing it up.

In terms of the latter, he is well outside the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings, meaning Koepka needs a good week to make it through to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Keegan Bradley, Jason Day and Tony Finau are part of the big names who also need strong weeks at the Wyndham Championship to make the Playoffs, where the first and second round tee times were revealed on Tuesday night.

Defending champion, Young, is alongside Alex Fitzpatrick and Thomas for his first two rounds, getting under way at 7.45am (EDT) from the 10th on Thursday and 1.05pm on Friday.

Koivun, meanwhile, tees it up with Matsuyama and Sahith Theegala at 12.54pm (first) and 7.34am (10th) on Thursday and Friday.

PGA Championship winner Rai is alongside Genesis Scottish Open winner, Tom Kim, for his first two days, as well as Memorial Tournament winner JT Poston. They tee off at 8.07am (10th) for the first round and 1.27pm on Friday.

A total of 500 FedEx Cup points goes to the winner and, with the Playoffs starting next week, there's all to play for at the final event of the regulation season.

Check out the full first and second round tee times for the Wyndham Championship below...

Wyndham Championship Tee Times: Round One

All times EDT

1st Hole

• 6.50am: Austin Eckroat, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith
• 7.01am: Erik van Rooyen, Pierceson Coody, Hank Lebioda
• 7.12am: Camilo Villegas, Adam Svensson, Kevin Roy
• 7.23am: Adam Schenk, Michael Brennan, Tony Finau
• 7.34am: Aldrich Potgieter, Joe Highsmith, Maverick McNealy
• 7.45am: Brian Campbell, Kevin Yu, Kevin Streelman
• 7.56am: Stefano Mazzoli, Ricky Castillo, Cam Davis
• 8.07am: Matt McCarty, Billy Horschel, Aaron Wise
• 8.18am: Beau Hossler, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ben Silverman
• 8.29am: Brice Garnett, David Lipsky, Ben Kohles
• 8.40am: Jackson Suber, Gordon Sargent, Luke Clanton
• 8.51am: Kristoffer Ventura, Hayden Springer, John Parry
• 12.10pm: Mackenzie Hughes, Andrew Putnam, Doug Ghim
• 12.21pm: Matt Wallace, Keith Mitchell, Chandler Phillips
• 12.32pm: Michael Kim, Patrick Rodgers, Max Greyserman
• 12.43pm: Brandt Snedeker, Andrew Novak, Stephan Jaeger
• 12.54pm: Jackson Koivun, Hideki Matsuyama, Sahith Theegala
• 1.05pm: Ryan Gerard, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth
• 1.16pm: Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka, Alex Smalley
• 1.27pm: Patton Kizzire, Ryo Hisatsune, Max McGreevy
• 1.38pm: Lee Hodges, Emiliano Grillo, Eric Cole
• 1.49pm: Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Ben James, Christo Lamprecht
• 2.00pm: Johnny Keefer, AJ Ewart, Blades Brown
• 2.11pm: Alejandro Tosti, Jimmy Stanger, Lorenzo Rodriguez (a)

10th Hole

• 6.50am: Austin Smotherman, Thorbjorn Olesen, Takumi Kanaya
• 7.01am: Luke List, Tom Hoge, Mac Meissner
• 7.12am: Denny McCarthy, Sam Stevens, Rico Hoey
• 7.23am: Steven Fisk, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
• 7.34am: Davis Thompson, Sungjae Im, Webb Simpson
• 7.45am: Cameron Young, Alex Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas
• 7.56am: Bud Cauley, Keegan Bradley, Brooks Koepka
• 8.07am: Tom Kim, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
• 8.18am: Lanto Griffin, Zac Blair, Justin Lower
• 8.29am: Marco Penge, Davis Chatfield, Marcelo Rozo
• 8.40am: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, John VanDerLaan, Keenan Huskey
• 8.51am: Zecheng Dou, Pontus Nyholm, Tyler Collet
• 12.10pm: William McGirt, Dylan Wu, Rasmus Hojgaard
• 12.21pm: Taylor Moore, Vince Whaley, Danny Walker
• 12.32pm: Rafael Campos, Matthieu Pavon, Chad Ramey
• 12.43pm: Nico Echavarria, Nick Taylor, Chris Kirk
• 12.54pm: William Mouw, Brian Harman, Davis Riley
• 1.05pm: Harry Hall, Lucas Glover, Alex Noren
• 1.16pm: Karl Vilips, David Skinns, Matt Kuchar
• 1.27pm: Nick Dunlap, CT Pan, Mark Hubbard
• 1.38pm: Peter Malnati, Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen
• 1.49pm: Haotong Li, Chandler Blanchet, Neal Shipley
• 2.00pm: Jesper Svensson, Zach Bauchou, Adrien Saddier
• 2.11pm: Patrick Fishburn, Jeffrey Kang, Kihei Akina (a)
• 2.22pm: Trace Crowe, Kensei Hirata, Cooper Hrabak

Wyndham Championship Tee Times: Round Two

1st Hole

• 6.50am: William McGirt, Dylan Wu, Rasmus Hojgaard
• 7.01am: Taylor Moore, Vince Whaley, Danny Walker
• 7.12am: Rafael Campos, Matthieu Pavon, Chad Ramey
• 7.23am: Nico Echavarria, Nick Taylor, Chris Kirk
• 7.34am: William Mouw, Brian Harman, Davis Riley
• 7.45am: Harry Hall, Lucas Glover, Alex Noren
• 7.56am: Karl Vilips, David Skinns, Matt Kuchar
• 8.07am: Nick Dunlap, CT Pan, Mark Hubbard
• 8.18am: Peter Malnati, Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen
• 8.29am: Haotong Li, Chandler Blanchet, Neal Shipley
• 8.40am: Jesper Svensson, Zach Bauchou, Adrien Saddier
• 8.51am: Patrick Fishburn, Jeffrey Kang, Kihei Akina (a)
• 9.02am: Trace Crowe, Kensei Hirata, Cooper Hrabak
• 12.10pm: Austin Smotherman, Thorbjorn Olesen, Takumi Kanaya
• 12.21pm: Luke List, Tom Hoge, Mac Meissner
• 12.32pm: Denny McCarthy, Sam Stevens, Rico Hoey
• 12.43pm: Steven Fisk, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
• 12.54pm: Davis Thompson, Sungjae Im, Webb Simpson
• 1.05pm: Cameron Young, Alex Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas
• 1.16pm: Bud Cauley, Keegan Bradley, Brooks Koepka
• 1.27pm: Tom Kim, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
• 1.38pm: Lanto Griffin, Zac Blair, Justin Lower
• 1.49pm: Marco Penge, Davis Chatfield, Marcelo Rozo
• 2.00pm: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, John VanDerLaan, Keenan Huskey
• 2.11pm: Zecheng Dou, Pontus Nyholm, Tyler Collet

10th Hole

• 6.50am: Mackenzie Hughes, Andrew Putnam, Doug Ghim
• 7.01am: Matt Wallace, Keith Mitchell, Chandler Phillips
• 7.12am: Michael Kim, Patrick Rodgers, Max Greyserman
• 7.23am: Brandt Snedeker, Andrew Novak, Stephan Jaeger
• 7.34am: Jackson Koivun, Hideki Matsuyama, Sahith Theegala
• 7.45am: Ryan Gerard, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth
• 7.56am: Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka, Alex Smalley
• 8.07am: Patton Kizzire, Ryo Hisatsune, Max McGreevy
• 8.18am: Lee Hodges, Emiliano Grillo, Eric Cole
• 8.29am: Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Ben James, Christo Lamprecht
• 8.40am: Johnny Keefer, AJ Ewart, Blades Brown
• 8.51am: Alejandro Tosti, Jimmy Stanger, Lorenzo Rodriguez (a)
• 12.10pm: Austin Eckroat, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith
• 12.21pm: Erik van Rooyen, Pierceson Coody, Hank Lebioda
• 12.32pm: Camilo Villegas, Adam Svensson, Kevin Roy
• 12.43pm: Adam Schenk, Michael Brennan, Tony Finau
• 12.54pm: Aldrich Potgieter, Joe Highsmith, Maverick McNealy
• 1.05pm: Brian Campbell, Kevin Yu, Kevin Streelman
• 1.16pm: Stefano Mazzoli, Ricky Castillo, Cam Davis
• 1.27pm: Matt McCarty, Billy Horschel, Aaron Wise
• 1.38pm: Beau Hossler, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ben Silverman
• 1.49pm: Brice Garnett, David Lipsky, Ben Kohles
• 2.00pm: Jackson Suber, Gordon Sargent, Luke Clanton
• 2.11pm: Kristoffer Ventura, Hayden Springer, John Parry

This Week In Golf: Our regular look at the biggest stories in professional golf, tournament previews and other key details you need to know about the days ahead.

It has already been a very busy week in the world of golf, with Anna Nordqvist confirming her 2026 European Solheim Cup team following the AIG Women's Open.

The LIV Golf news has also been rumbling on, with the team tour returning to Trump Bedminster this week. A player's meeting was held on Tuesday and CEO Scott O'Neil is set to speak to the media on Wednesday amid reports of impending bankruptcy, 2027 investment for 'LIV 2.0', a canceled Team Championship and players being owed money from their big contracts.

We also have the final PGA Tour regular event of the season before the Playoffs as well as the 126th US Women's Amateur Championship and PIF London Championship.

So, what has happened already this week? And what do we have to look forward to?

Will Jon Rahm get his LIV money?

Reports on X from Monday Q Info and Flushing It Golf suggest Jon Rahm is allegedly still owed "as much as $150m" from his LIV contract - which would be in doubt if the tour files for bankruptcy.

Flushing It states Rahm would be the "largest creditor" if so, and to offset that he will be entitled to more equity in LIV Golf 2.0.

Rahm, who joined LIV Golf for a huge nine-figure sum back at the start of 2024, signed a contract that was reportedly 'back loaded', meaning he could miss out on some of the money he signed for.

The Spaniard has been coy on his LIV future in recent weeks. When asked if he will still be a LIV player next year, he said at JCB last week: "I'm not going to share anything that I can't share with you guys right now."

LIV player meeting

LIV Golf held a player's meeting at Bedminster on Tuesday afternoon for management to inform players of what could be next for the circuit.

Reports state Bryson DeChambeau, who has been in investor pitches with LIV officials, was leading it after CEO Scott O'Neil left the room.

According to David Rumsey of Front Office Sports, Richard Bland said the meeting was "positive" but there was no concrete news.

Golf Monthly understands there will be no announcements on LIV Golf's future or its scheduled Michigan Team Championship until after the Bedminster tournament.

Lucas Herbert: My team has been in contact with the PGA Tour

With LIV's future in doubt, it's only sensible for players to start thinking about where they'll be playing next year - especially as a 'LIV 2.0' would only feature ten events anyway.

One of those players is Lucas Herbert, the LIV UK champion who finished T6th at The Open. The Australian told media on Tuesday that his team has been in contact with the PGA Tour.

"I haven't personally had any discussions but I think my manager has," he said.

"If LIV were to go away and you've got nowhere to play, I think ultimately you need somewhere to play as a professional golfer.

"So we're just doing due diligence, having that conversation. As I said, I haven't had it personally, and my preference would be to still be playing out here if that was still an option.

"Yeah, I think conversations have been had without me being privy to them. I don't know the results of any of those either. Yeah, that's my update."

Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman both confirmed they had not spoken to the PGA Tour and remained hopeful of continuing with LIV Golf.

"I mean, if it was the only option, I think that's where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 percent. It would go back to old times," Smith said on a potential PGA Tour return before confirming his plans.

"No, I'm contracted to the end of next year, so I was expecting to play until the end of next year and renegotiate and hopefully go on."

Leishman said, "No, I haven't. No. I'm confident there will be something next year.

"The team is working really hard, and I would certainly like to be here next year for sure, whether it looks how it does now or something different.

"I would assume if it is around it'll be something a little different, but I'm invested in this."

Wyndham Championship

The PGA Tour's final regular season event takes place at the Wyndham Championship, where players are aiming to make it into the top 70 to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Defending champion Cameron Young headlines a fairly weak field at Sedgefield Country Club, with three of world's top 20 teeing it up - Young, Aaron Rai and Ben Griffin. Justin Thomas and Hideki Matsuyama are some of the other standout players.

A number of big names on the verge of missing the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which get underway next week at the FedEx St Jude Championship.

LIV Golf New York

There has been plenty of LIV Golf talk this week, but not much about the actual golf tournament.

The circuit returns to Bedminster in New Jersey for the first time since 2023. Jon Rahm can wrap up his third consecutive Individual title.

Cameron Smith won here three years ago and his Ripper GC took the team title.

LIV Golf New York is the 11th tournament of the 2026 LIV Golf season, with Indianapolis up next before Michigan for the Team Championship - although unconfirmed reports state that is unlikely to take place.

US Women's Amateur

It's a huge week for the women's amateur game with the 126th US Women's Amateur Championship taking place at The Honors Course in Tennessee.

Stanford's Megha Ganne is defending champion after winning at Bandon Dunes last year.

Eight of the world's top 15 players are among the 156-strong field, headlined by No. 4 Farah O'Keefe. As always, there will be a 36-hole stroke play start before match play knockout rounds. The quarter-finals and semi-finals take place on Saturday before the 36-hole final on Sunday.

The winner will earn an exemption into the 2027 US Women's Open, an invitation into the 2027 Augusta National Women’s Amateur and likely exemptions into The Chevron Championship, AIG Women's Open and Amundi Evian Championship.

New Tour Issue Podcast episode out now

Our latest episode of Golf Monthly Tour Issue is now live, your one-stop shop for the latest tour golf action around the world. After two weeks away, our host Baz Plummer is back in the hot seat alongside regular contributors Matt Cradock and Johnny Leighfield to break down a thrilling week in professional golf.

This week, the team kicks off the episode with a deep dive into the AIG Women's Open, reflecting on a tense and entertaining finish at Royal Lytham and St Annes. We also look back on the Rocket Classic and preview this week's tournaments.

• Listen and subscribe to Golf Monthly Tour Issue on Apple Podcasts
• Listen and subscribe to Golf Monthly Tour Issue on Spotify

What else to know:

• The PIF London Championship on the Ladies European Tour returns to Centurion Club this week. Charley Hull, Patty Tavatanakit, Alison Lee and Shannon Tan are among the headline names
• Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed has committed to the British Masters and Nexo Championship
• Team Europe's 2027 Ryder Cup qualification process has been confirmed, starting at the British Masters and ending on August 22, 2027. Once again there will be six automatic qualifiers and six captain's picks
• Shiho Kuwaki is up to a career-high 16th in the world following her AIG Women's Open triumph
• Michael Thorbjornsen moved from 68th to 40th in the Official World Golf Ranking courtesy of his Rocket Classic win
• The Cadillac Championship was confirmed as a PGA Tour Championship Series event for 2028, joining The Sentry, the Sompo-sponsored event, the Travelers Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational

Although the PGA Tour season is almost at an end, that hasn't stopped Jason Day from overhauling nearly all of his equipment set-up.

An equipment-free agent, the Australian is able to use any club he likes and, ahead of the Wyndham Championship, that's exactly what he has done.

In a post on GolfWRX's Instagram, the main story comes in the form of new irons, where the Major winner has replaced his Avoda models with Callaway Apex MB, a traditional muscle back set that is actually hitting retailers soon.

Ranging from 6-iron to pitching wedge (or a 10-iron, as Callaway calls it), it appears the KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron Shaft 110s have remained in the set-up.

Another new club is the 5-iron, where Day has the cavity-back Callaway X Forged. Once again, this has the same KBS shaft as the Apex MB Raw.

Currently, it's unclear as to whether the set will remain for the Wyndham Championship, but it's a significant change after Day was spotted with Avoda Prototype models in the bag for the first time back in October 2025.

He used them throughout the remainder of that year, as well as a few other prototype models in 2026, with the curved-face present that we see in other Avoda iron sets.

Away from the irons, Day's equipment changes haven't stopped there, as he looks to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs with a strong week at Sedgefield Country Club.

Withdrawing from a handful of events recently due to a back injury, the 38-year-old is 75th in the FedEx Cup standings and, with the top 70 advancing to the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Day needs a strong performance to make it inside the magic number.

His Ping G430 LST driver has remained, but the Callaway Quantum Ti 3-wood and Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 5-wood have replaced his TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway woods. The 7-wood of the Stealth 2 appears to have remained, though.

If that's not enough, Day is also trialing Callaway Opus SP wedges in a 50°, 56° and 60° configuration, while even the putter isn't safe to a significant change.

Previously, the 13-time PGA Tour winner was using a TaylorMade Ghost Spider Itsy Bitsy Black, which helped him to the majority of his victories through 2014-2018.

Now, though, Day has been spotted with a custom blacked-out Odyssey White Hot OG #5, a more compact mallet design than that of the Spider.

One other notable name who is also looking for success this week is Hideki Matsuyama, who appears to have also changed his set-up.

Possessing one of the most unique golf bags on the PGA Tour circuit, the Major winner appears to have changed his wedge set-up, swapping the Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype for the Cleveland RTZ 2 Tour Racks.

The RTZ 2 came into the public eye earlier this week and, if Matsuyama were to move into them, it would be a significant one, given that he had been using the RTX 4 model since 2019.

Along with the wedges, he changed into the Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ driver at the Travelers Championship in June, as the brand rolled out their new metal wood range.

Going into the Wyndham Championship, the Japanese star is 24th in the FedEx Cup standings, meaning he will comfortably make it through to the Playoffs.

After a lengthy PGA Tour season, the final regulation event is upon us before the FedEx Cup Playoffs next week.

In total, 70 players will make it to the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where three events will decide the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winner.

Prior to all of that, though, it's the Wyndham Championship that'll decide on who advances to the Playoffs, with plenty of big players in danger of missing out.

From Major winners to Ryder Cup stars, notable names need strong performances at the final regulation event, which takes place at Sedgefield Country Club.

Cameron Young, who is already comfortably through to the Playoffs, defends his title after a six shot win last year, with plenty of names outside the top 70 teeing it up in North Carolina.

Check out who needs big weeks and are in danger of missing the FedEx Cup Playoffs below...

Keegan Bradley - 72nd

The former US Ryder Cup captain finds himself in 72nd place going into the Wyndham Championship, with Bradley needing a strong showing to make the Playoffs.

Claiming no top 10s in 2026, the American's best performance is a T12th at the RBC Heritage. What's more, he hasn't missed a FedEx Cup Playoff since gaining his PGA Tour card in 2011.

Jason Day - 75th

Although he started his season off well with a runner-up finish at The American Express, recent injuries mean Day sits 75th in the FedEx Cup standings going into the final regulation event of the year.

Withdrawing during the first round of the US Open due to injury, the Major winner then withdrew from the 3M Open, as well as the Rocket Classic. He is listed in the Wyndham Championship field, and will hope the injury clears up before teeing off on Thursday.

Brooks Koepka - 86th

Returning to the PGA Tour from the LIV Golf League at the start of the year, Koepka has endured mixed successes since he came back to the circuit.

Producing a best result of T9th at the Cognizant Classic, the five-time Major winner is 86th in the FedEx Cup standings and, although he is scheduled to play the Wyndham Championship, he did withdraw from the Rocket Classic due to personal reasons.

Tony Finau - 89th

Finau only just made it into the FedEx Cup Playoffs last year and, for 2026, he finds himself with an awful lot of work to do as he sits 89th in the standings.

Although he has made 15 of 21 cuts, just one top 10 means the six-time PGA Tour winner is in danger of missing the Playoffs for the first time since earning his playing rights on the PGA Tour.

Lucas Glover - 96th

It's been a mixed year for the former Major winner, as Glover has missed seven cuts but also secured T3rd and T5th finishes throughout 2026.

Because of the missed cuts, Glover is 96th in the standings and needs a strong result at the Wyndham Championship. He does have course form, though, having won to make the Playoffs in 2023.

Rasmus Hojgaard - 103rd

Producing his best finish of the year at last week's Rocket Classic, a solo fourth, Hojgaard has lots of work to do to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs next week.

Sitting 103rd in the standings, the Dane has missed five cuts in 2026 and also missed out on the playoffs last year, finishing 85th after making 15 of 20 cuts.

Michael Brennan - 105th

Like many on this list, Brennan has endured an up-and-down season that includes four top 25s and four missed cuts.

Sitting 105th in the standings, the American does come into the Wyndham Championship with form, finishing T24th and T15th in his last two starts, but he needs a good week to make the Playoffs.

Billy Horschel - 107th

Sitting 107th in the FedEx Cup standings, Horschel is on-course to make it back-to-back missed Playoffs after failing to make them last year.

Producing just one top 10, the eight-time PGA Tour winner has missed 10 cuts throughout the season, including four in his last five starts.

Marco Penge - 109th

Penge secured his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour and, throughout his rookie season, he has had his ups-and-downs.

Finishing T4th at the Valspar Championship, six missed cuts haven't helped, neither has a viral infection that caused Penge to take a break from golf and miss events like the US Open.

Chris Kirk - 127th

A six-time PGA Tour winner, Kirk finds himself comfortably outside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings, having made just 10 cuts in 18 starts.

Finishing T8th at the Rocket Classic in his last start, that's the only top 25 he's had all season, with Kirk needing to, realistically, win the Wyndham Championship to have a chance of making the Playoffs.

FedEx Cup Points List And Standings

*correct prior to Wyndham Championship

• 60th: Shane Lowry (670)
• 61st: Nick Taylor (643)
• 62nd: Harry Hall (628)
• 63rd: Brian Harman (609)
• 64th: Patrick Rodgers (600)
• 65th: Aldrich Potgieter (591)
• 66th: Ricky Castillo (582)
• 67th: Matti Schmid (580)
• 68th: Jordan Smith (574)
• 69th: Steven Fisk (573)
• 70th: Jackson Koivun (558)
• 71st: Mac Meissner (546)
• 72nd: Keegan Bradley (540)
• 73rd: Andrew Putnam (533)
• 74th: Johnny Keefer (504)
• 75th: Jason Day (495)
• 76th: Austin Smotherman (495)
• 77th: Stephan Jaegar (494)
• 78th: David Lipsky (487)
• 79th: Tom Hoge (473)
• 80th: Matt Wallace (470)
• 81st: Davis Thompson (463)
• 82nd: Jackson Suber (461)
• 83rd: Brandt Snedeker (458)
• 84th: Denny McCarthy (449)
• 85th: Taylor Pendrith (445)
• 86th: Brooks Koepka (435)
• 87th: John Parry (422)
• 88th: Kevin Roy (412)
• 89th: Tony Finau (412)
• 90th: Chandler Phillips (410)

Rory McIlroy has added the Cathedral Invitational to his schedule following the Australian Open in December, it has been revealed.

The World No.2 will make his second consecutive appearance Down Under later this year after also playing in the 2025 Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

This year's event takes place at Kingston Heath, and the six-time Major winner will then take the two-hour drive northeast of Melbourne to the exclusive Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club for the Cathedral Invitational.

The news was confirmed by former tour pros Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen on the Talk Birdie To Me podcast.

O'Hern, who is a member of the club, revealed it sent out an email to members last week confirming McIlroy's attendance and he had the all-clear from the general manager to share it to the wider golf world.

Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club's course was designed by Greg Norman and is said to have fewer than 200 members.

The mixed event was founded in 2022 and is a 36-hole tournament featuring a pro-am format on day one before a professionals-only final round.

It benefits Adam Scott's foundation and the 2013 Masters champion will defend his title this year after beating the likes of Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert to the title in 2025.

Geoff Ogilvy, Elvis Smylie, Cameron John, Karl Vilips and Wade Ormsby were among some of the other well-known tour pros to tee it up last time out.

O'Hern revealed on the podcast that it was Scott who asked McIlroy to play the event, asking the Northern Irishman for a rare favor. McIlroy reportedly said it would be 'no problem at all' to add the tournament to his schedule.

McIlroy is said to have committed to playing just 18 holes, which raises the question as to whether the event's format will be tweaked to just an 18-hole shootout.

It's set to be a bumper summer of golf Down Under, with reports stating Bryson DeChambeau could add his name to the Australian PGA Championship, which returns to Sydney for the first time since 1998. The Lakes Golf Club will host the event from Nov 26-29, with the Australian Open taking place the following week.

It's more positive momentum for golf in Australia after the PGA Tour confirmed earlier this year that it had partnered with the DP World Tour and to elevate the Australian Open, for 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The deal promises to continue "the tournament's momentum", boost the prize money, give the event a "distinct window in the global golf calendar" and "optimise the opportunity to attract the world’s best players."

'Inside The Ropes' is the chance for Golf Monthly's expert team to share its honest thoughts on the biggest subjects in the game. This time, we list our bugbears with professional golf that we think should be outlawed.

What should be outlawed from professional golf? That's the subject of this week's Inside The Ropes. The things that annoy us and ultimately we believe would be better off gone from the top-level game.

From long putting routines to long putters, controversial temporary immovable objects and the constant use of smartphones from spectators, here are some of the things our team want outlawed from pro golf...and be sure to let us know yours in the comments section at the bottom of the article:

Major putting green changes

NB: I find everything to do with the putting surface and the process of putting painful.

It all takes far longer than it should and TV broadcasters haven't yet mastered the art of cutting to the action at the appropriate point.

We don't need to see players surveying the putt from all sides of the hole or doing AimPoint; one practice stroke and the real thing is perfect. But, I appreciate it's a difficult job for directors, so let's make it easier for them.

My radical new plan is to outlaw marking the ball multiple times per green and capping it at once per hole.

If you're in the way of someone else after your first putt, finish out – I don't care if it's on the same line.

An even more out-there suggestion is to adopt the crazy golf model of continuing to putt until your ball is in the cup.

I also don't think caddies should be allowed to help read a putt. It's not a luxury afforded to the average amateur, and I don't think the pro game should be easier in any way than the unpaid ranks.

Phones

CK: It is, somehow, a Masters tradition that I only started really appreciating in the last two years or so, but my god does the patrons at Augusta National watching the golf with their eyes rather than through the camera app on their smartphone breathe some fresh air into a sporting event.

As a collective society, our phones have taken over our lives. I'm guilty of this too - I'm not proud of my screen time and I rarely leave a room in my flat without it in my pocket.

However, when I'm at a sporting event, I try my best not to go on it and to instead watch the action with my eyes and live in the moment.

The moment Scottie Scheffler's ball flies into the gallery, he's surrounded by an army of iPhones pointing at him.

Why not ban phones for spectators so we can all enjoy the golf in real time rather than through a screen?

Thick rough at the edge of water hazards

CK: Talk about niche, right? But I've had this opinion for years - why on earth is there a bank of rough preventing balls from feeding into the water on so many PGA Tour venues?

The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands springs to mind, where a water hazard is in play to the left of the drivable 15th hole, but balls always get saved by lush rough where they paint the red line.

Do this for 17 at TPC Sawgrass, too. Less rough means more jeopardy and the potential for more chaos. Is this unfair? Maybe a little, but technology in golf is de-skilling the game so it is time to fight back against -20 winning every week.

Tell the pampered pros to deal with it.

Ban dress codes on tour

JL: I feel pretty confident most of my colleagues will say broom-handle putters, but I don't agree. I tried one once and it was so awkward. So, if you can use it, all power to you.

What people really want is to avoid the doubt of anchoring, and that goes back to questioning each individual player's integrity rather than an issue with the club itself.

Instead, what I'd love to outlaw from professional golf is a ban on clothing restrictions.

I don't see what difference it makes for a pro to wear whatever they want, especially if it'll help them win.

Hoodies, shorts, whatever - it's all good with me!

Long putters

EH: Yes Jonny, you were right - long putters are what I'd first put forward to be outlawed in professional golf.

The 2016 anchoring ban was supposed to be the end of the broom-handles, but the governing bodies were not tough enough on them.

Sure, anchoring is now a thing of the past but long putters are still a way for players who struggle with the yips and other flaws to continue to shoot low scores and contend. It seems a bit wrong to me.

If a pro struggles with the driver yips, they cannot turn to an alternate method, so I think putting should go back to being the art of mastering the short stick.

I would like to see the putter having to be the shortest club in the bag. Simple.

TIO

EH: Scottie Scheffler's TIO ruling at The Open was highly controversial, and I have long been saying the rule needs changing.

The pros are the best 0.001% of golfers in the world, and TIO structures almost act as safety zones and bumpers for them.

Yes, they are essentially 'temporary', but not for the golf tournament. They are permanently there all four days, and the players know it.

Find yourself up against a grandstand after over-shooting the green? Take a penalty drop.

Slice your drive behind a leaderboard? Flop it over or chip out sideways.

Hit it into a hospitality unit? Take a one-stroke drop from the point of entry. Easy.

Getting rid of the TIO rule in the pro game would make things harder for pros who are finding the game easier and easier at the top level thanks to the technology and science they benefit from.

Pre-shot routines over 45 secs

For me, a player should be ready to take their shot once their playing partner has played. Time and time again individuals aren't ready to go once someone else has gone and it's infuriating to watch.

I know players have their own individual quirks, but the fact some take minutes to play after they've been through yardage, wind, club, shot shape etc. is painful.

It genuinely feels like players have bets on to see who can have the most over the top and flamboyant pre-shot routine. Almost as if how many club twirls, glances at the flag and peculiar movements can be done before you eventually pull the trigger.

For me, if players were fined for making their pre-shot routine over 45 seconds that would really help. Take a leaf out of Ryan Fox's book. He's won an Open Championship and his speed of play is a shining example of how the game should be played.

7 and 9 woods

This is a controversial one, but I believe that the highest fairway wood the professionals should use is a 5-wood that's set at 18°, as I believe 7- and 9-woods are just cheat codes that eliminate the skill of hitting a long iron.

Introducing a 7-wood, or 9-wood, to the bag means players can stop the ball far more easily on the green with their tee shots on long par 3s and approach shots into long par 5s.

If they had to use a 2-iron, or 3-iron, it would involve a lot more skill, as they would have to manipulate the flight to create the stopping power to get it close to the flag.

What's more, these fairway woods are far easier to hit from the rough than long irons, an area where you should be punished when there's a chance of bogey being on the cards.

I'd rather 7-woods and 9-woods be replaced by long irons, especially when testing the best players on the planet.

What would you like to see outlawed from pro golf? Join the conversation in the comments section below.

Anna Nordqvist has announced her 12-woman side for the Solheim Cup, with a mix of experience and youth making it into the team event.

Taking place in the Netherlands' Bernardus Golf, the team is headlined by the likes of Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and AIG Women's Open runner-up Esther Henseleit.

Along with the trio, Woad, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes are the rookies in the team, as Europe look to win back the Solheim Cup after losing it in 2024.

Although notable names made it on Nordqvist's team, some big name players failed to qualify or earn a captain's pick.

From former Solheim Cup players to potential rookies, we take a look at which notable players are missing out on the September event.

Chiara Tamburlini

The player who will feel hardest done by is Tamburlini, who narrowly missed out on an automatic spot via the European Solheim Cup points list by 0.9 points.

Tamburlini arrived at the AIG Women's Open with a slender 1.1-point advantage over Helen Briem but, after missing the cut, it was out of the Swiss player's hands.

Esther Henseleit, who needed to finish second or better to overtake Tamburlini, then holed a 40-footer at the 72nd hole to force a playoff, which meant she overtook her fellow European into the second place spot.

Having not been selected as a captain's pick, it means Tamburlini narrowly misses out.

Madelene Sagstrom

A four-time Solheim Cup player, featuring in 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024, Sagstrom won't be at the team event this year due to the fact she is expecting her first child in September.

While pregnant, Sagstrom has played some tournaments, including the US Women's Open and the Dow Championship in June.

However, with the baby due the month of the Solheim Cup, the Swede won't be present in the Netherlands.

Georgia Hall

Like Sagstrom, Hall's reasoning for not being included in the European Solheim Cup team is down to pregnancy, with the Major winner announcing the birth of her first child in February.

Returning to the Ladies European Tour in May, finishing T28th, the Englishwoman has played a handful of events since, but her form is yet to return, highlighted by missed cuts at the Women's Scottish Open and AIG Women's Open.

A five-time Solheim Cup player, Hall has played in every edition since 2017 and holds a record of 10 wins, 9 losses and 2 ties.

Emily Kristine Pedersen

Pedersen has struggled for form since her last Solheim Cup appearance in 2024, with the Dane missing out on the CME Group Tour Championship last year.

The reason for the drop in form stems from a broken wrist, which was diagnosed at the beginning of February.

Since returning to action, Pedersen has made just one cut in six starts, appearing over the weekend at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.

A four-time Solheim Cup player, she holds a record of 7 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie.

Dewi Weber

Dewi Weber may have produced some great results in 2026, but the Dutch player won't be at the Solheim Cup in her home country of the Netherlands.

Although she is ranked higher than some on the current European Solheim Cup team, Weber isn't a member of the Ladies European Tour, meaning she couldn't qualify.

Racking up two top 10s on the LPGA Tour this year, including a T3rd at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, the 30-year-old will have to wait a little longer to gain her first Solheim Cup player experience.

Albane Valenzuela

Valenzuela played in the 2024 Solheim Cup but, following poor form in 2026, the Swiss player won't be present in the side two years on.

Making just three cuts in nine starts on the LPGA Tour this season, the highlight result came at the Blue Bay LPGA, where she finished T33rd.

In her debut Solheim Cup, the 28-year-old produced a record of 0 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie.

Ingrid Lindblad

After an incredible amateur career and claiming victory in her debut professional season, Lindblad was predicted to push on and challenge for a Solheim Cup place.

In the third start of her LPGA Tour rookie season, she won the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship but, since then, problems off the tee have seen her form slump.

Making eight cuts in 13 starts this season, the Swedish star still has time on her side as misses out on a spot on Nordqvist's team in 2026.

Helen Briem

Like Tamburlini, Briem had a chance to automatically qualify for the Solheim Cup via the points list, but a missed cut ended her chances of making the side.

Winning on the Ladies European Tour in May, the German's form on the LPGA Tour hasn't matched her results, with five cuts made in 11 starts.

Like others on this list, Briem has age on her side, with the 22-year-old only securing her LPGA Tour playing rights at the end of 2025.

Anna Nordqvist's 2026 European Solheim Cup team is now complete after the Swede named Leona Maguire, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes as her captain's picks.

They will join a strong and experienced line-up at The Netherlands' Bernardus Golf headlined by the likes of Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and AIG Women's Open runner-up Esther Henseleit.

Hull and Henseleit qualified from the LET Solheim Cup Points list, with Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Nanna Koerstz Madsen clinching their spots via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

In total, Nordqvist's side features four rookies, with Woad, Lopez Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes all set to make their debuts next month.

Anna Nordqvist's Solheim Cup captain's picks:

Leona Maguire

Maguire will play in her fourth consecutive Solheim Cup and has become a stalwart for Europe after going unbeaten in her 2021 debut at Inverness Club.

Julia Lopez Ramirez

The former World No.1 amateur will make her Solheim Cup debut, as she becomes the second Spaniard on the team for Bernardus Golf. Lopez Ramirez adds length to the Europeans, as she currently ranks 2nd in Driving Distance on the LPGA Tour.

Nastasia Nadaud

The LPGA rookie joins Celine Boutier as the second Frenchwoman on Nordqvist's side. Nadaud, at just 21, adds youth to the team as another European rookie.

Mimi Rhodes

The Englishwoman makes her Solheim Cup debut after a blistering start to her professional career with three Ladies European Tour victories in 2025. Rhodes has good team form, having secured the crucial half point for GB&I at Sunningdale in the 2024 Curtis Cup.

Solheim Cup 2026: Key details

The 2026 Solheim Cup heads to The Netherlands and Bernardus Golf, where Europe will look to win the trophy back after losing at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club last time out.

• Dates: September 11-13, 2026
• Venue: Bernardus Golf, The Netherlands
• Captains: Anna Nordqvist (Europe), Angela Stanford (USA)
• Holders: USA
• 2024: USA 15.5 - 12.5 Europe, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club

When is the USA's Solheim Cup team confirmed?

Following the CPKC Women’s Open, Aug 20-23, the top seven in the USA's Solheim Cup points list and the next two highest-ranked players in the world rankings will automatically qualify.

American captain Angela Stanford will make her picks on Monday August 24.

The final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes was proving a tight affair.

At the start of play, Yealimi Noh appeared to be closing in on her maiden Major title, beginning with a three-shot lead.

However, she gradually lost her grip on proceedings as the afternoon wore on, with several players still harboring realistic hopes of victory with just a handful of holes remaining.

That brought the possibility of a playoff to determine the winner firmly into the equation, but what is the format if two or more players share the lead after 72 holes?

If there’s not an outright winner in regulation, a sudden-death playoff will take place.

That will mean each player co-leading heads back to the 18th tee box, with the same hole played over and over until a winner is found.

Sudden-death is a format that has already been needed for a women’s Major this year, when Haeran Ryu defeated Brooke Henderson with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Since becoming a Major in 2001, the AIG Women’s Open has only needed one playoff to determine a winner.

That came four years ago, when Ashleigh Buhai beat In Gee Chun on the third extra hole at Muirfield.

However, the tournament has been around significantly longer, with the first edition taking place in 1976.

The following year, Vivien Saunders and Mary Everard finished tied after 72 holes, with Saunders winning on countback after her closing 76 bettered Everard's 79.

There have been two other playoffs in the event’s history, in 1988, when Corinne Dibnah beat Sally Little, and 1990, when Helen Alfredsson beat Jane Hill.

To say plenty was riding on the outcome of the AIG Women’s Open would be an understatement, with not only the distinction of a Major title alongside the winner’s name, but a host of other perks that come with taking the title.

They include an AIG Women’s Open exemption until the age of 60 and places in the other four Majors for the next five years.

There was life-changing money on the line, too, with this year’s winner Shiho Kuwaki earning a record $1.5m, before various factors reduce how much she really gets to keep. One of those is the money the Kuwaki will pay to her caddie, Toru Oda, from the $1.5m.

It is widely accepted that tournament winners generally give their caddies 10% of their prize money. Oda is expected to receive $150,000 for his role in helping Kuwaki win at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

That’s an increase from a year ago, when Miya Yamashita won $1,462,500, giving her caddie John Bennett around $146,250. In 2024, Lydia Ko won $1,350,000, of which around $135,000 would have been paid to her caddie Paul Cormack.

That $150,000 is not likely to be the full amount Oda will earn either, with players negotiating separate terms with their caddie.

For example, most caddies are either paid an annual salary or given a weekly base rate, although that information is generally kept between them.

The caddies of players finishing further down the leaderboard are also expected to be well compensated for their work.

Caddies of players finishing in the other positions in the top 10 of the AIG Women’s Open leaderboard are expected to receive around 7% of the prize money, with around 5% going to the caddies of other players in the field.

The final round of the AIG Women's Open had a tighter finish than seemed likely at the start of the day.

After 54 holes, Yealimi Noh led by three, but her relatively strong grip on proceedings gradually loosened as the afternoon wore on at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

That left the door ajar for several players, including Esther Henseleit and Shiho Kuwaki, and after finishing her round earlier, it was the latter who headed back to the clubhouse to see if she'd done enough after shooting 70.

Still, Noh and Henseleit had a chance to force a playoff, with both heading down the 18th needing a birdie.

Both players left themselves long birdie putts to force extra holes, and one of them, Henseleit, defied the odds to do just that and keep her chances of victory alive.

Kuwaki and Henseleit headed to the 18th tee box for the sudden-death playoff, and it was Kuwaki who edged out her opponent on the second extra hole.

That brings an array of perks for the LPGA of Japan Tour professional, including huge prize money, but how much did she win? Thanks to her victory, Kuwaki wins $1.5m of the record $10m prize money.

For comparison, a year ago, Miyu Yamashita won $1,462,500 for her AIG Women's Open victory.

While there will be understandable disappointment for Henseleit after running her opponent so close, she still ends the week significantly better off than she started it, with prize money of $994,669.

Below is what each player who made the cut won at the AIG Women's Open.

AIG WOMEN'S OPEN PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN

The Rocket Classic is set for a tight final round, with Davis Riley the 54-hole leader on 15-under, one clear of Michael Brennan, and four others tied for third on 12-under.

With $1.8m heading to the winner, plus the battle for positions in the FedEx Cup standings with just one event to come before the first of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, plenty is riding on the outcome of the final round at Detroit Golf Club.

However, a potential variable has been thrown into the mix with thunderstorms in the area.

With storms having already arrived, the Rocket Classic organizers acted swiftly by changing the final round tee times.

Split tees have been utilized with groups of three, with all groups getting underway in a window of a little over two hours. As a result, it is to be hoped play will conclude on Sunday as planned.

Certainly there is some room for optimism, looking at the forecast, which suggests the bulk of the inclement weather will hit earlier, with conditions becoming more settled during the afternoon.

Of course, with something as unpredictable as thunderstorms, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether that will be the case, although even if the worst happens and play has to be cancelled or suspended on Sunday, all would not necessarily be lost.

If there’s some play on Sunday but not enough for completion, those with golf left to play would return for a Monday finish.

The worst-case scenarios would be enough rain on Monday to prevent play from finishing, or a forecast poor enough to conclude that play wouldn't be able to resume.

If either of those situations comes to pass, the tournament would revert to 54 holes, with Riley crowned the winner.

The most recent time we had a Monday finish on the PGA Tour was in June for the Travelers Championship.

Meanwhile, the latter scenario would be reminiscent of a couple of years ago, when Wyndham Clark won at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am as the 54-hole leader.

On that occasion, when poor weather and strong winds were forecast to continue into the early hours of Monday, the PGA Tour made the decision to cancel the final round at 6pm local time, out of an "abundance of caution" for spectators and players.

That would be a last resort, and thankfully, Monday’s forecast indicates a far more settled, largely warm and sunny day, making it unlikely at this stage.

Weather Forecast For The Rocket Classic (Sunday and Monday)

The early play on Sunday is expected to be the worst affected by potential thunderstorms. Even if thunderstorms are avoided, there is around a 70% chance of rain.

By around 1pm EDT, the thunderstorms become more isolated with the potential for rain reducing to 50%.

The possibility of thunderstorms is expected to have passed by 3pm, though showers are still possible with a 30% rain probability, before cloudy and breezy conditions arrive around 5pm with just a 20% chance of rain.

On Monday, a predominantly warm and sunny day is anticipated.

Rocket Classic 2026: Sunday Forecast

• Sunday: Bands of rain and thunderstorms in the morning and early afternoon; showers tapering off mid tolate afternoon; Low: 67F; High: 73F; Winds: NE-NNE 5-15 mph

The final round of the 2026 Rocket Classic will feature split tees in a tighter timeframe on Sunday due to forecast thunderstorms in the Detroit area.

The inclement weather was due to arrive on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, with further troublesome conditions possible at the very end of the week.

In a bid to avoid the issues that come with thunderstorms as much as possible, Rocket Classic organizers opted to send those who made the cut off the first and 10th tees slightly earlier this afternoon.

Those who are effectively out of the running and simply playing for a greater share of the Rocket Classic prize money payout will begin as early as 10:33am ET (3:33pm BST) on Sunday.

Skipping ahead, Davis Riley heads the final group thanks to a sublime round of 63 (-7) on Saturday, just one stroke ahead of Michael Brennan who begins Sunday on 14-under-par for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard completes the trio and could easily crash the party given he is also on 14-under and fired an awesome nine-under 61 on Moving Day.

The final group are now due to begin at 12:45pm ET (5:45pm BST) and will have to face immense pressure from Chris Kirk, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young in the group ahead.

Ahead of a fascinating Sunday at the Rocket Classic, here are all of the final-round tee times from Detroit Golf Club.

2026 ROCKET CLASSIC SUNDAY TEE TIMES

1ST HOLE

ET (BST)

• 10:33am (3:33pm): Stephan Jaeger, Emiliano Grillo, Doug Ghim
• 10:44am (3:44pm): Ricky Castillo, Marco Penge, Keegan Bradley
• 10:55am (3:55pm): Thorbjorn Olesen, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Roy
• 11:06am (4:06pm): Davis Thompson, Austin Eckroat, Joe Highsmith
• 11:17am (4:17pm): Keita Nakajima, Zecheng Dou, Sungjae Im
• 11:28am (4:28pm): Ryan Gerard, Jordan Smith, Mac Meissner
• 11:39am (4:39pm): Adrien Saddier, David Lipsky, Russell Henley
• 11:50am (4:50pm): Patrick Cantlay, Kevin Yu, Rico Hoey
• 12:01pm (5:01pm): Luke Clanton, Justin Lower, Matt Wallace
• 12:12pm (5:12pm): Michael Kim, Ben James, Si Woo Kim
• 12:23pm (5:23pm): Kristoffer Ventura, Michael Thorbjornsen, Xander Schauffele
• 12:34pm (5:34pm): Chris Kirk, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young
• 12:45pm (5:45pm): Davis Riley, Michael Brennan, Rasmus Hojgaard

10TH HOLE

ET (BST)

• 10:33am (3:33pm): Chandler Blanchet, Johnny Keefer, Gordon Sargent
• 10:44am (3:44pm): Jackson Koivun, Ben Kohles, Hideki Matsuyama
• 10:55am (3:55pm): Corey Conners, Jacob Bridgeman, Neal Shipley
• 11:06am (4:06pm): Karl Vilips, Max Greyserman, Adam Schenk
• 11:17am (4:17pm): Jordan Spieth, JJ Spaun, Patrick Fishburn
• 11:28am (4:28pm): Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Zac Blair, Tony Finau
• 11:39am (4:39pm): Hank Lebioda, Nicolai Højgaard, Jackson Suber
• 11:50am (4:50pm): Matt Kuchar, Brian Campbell, Beau Hossler
• 12:01pm (5:01pm): Nick Taylor, Peter Malnati, Mark Hubbard
• 12:12pm (5:12pm): Dylan Wu, Harris English, Ryo Hisatsune
• 12:23pm (5:23pm): Matt McCarty, Adam Svensson
• 12:34pm (5:34pm): William Mouw, Marcelo Rozo

After 54 holes of the AIG Women's Open, Yealimi Noh leads by three in pursuit of her maiden Major title.

The American carded a 69 on Saturday, to put daylight between her and five others at the top of the leaderboard.

As a result, she's in the final group to tee it up on Sunday at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where she will play alongside one of the players in pursuit, Esther Henseleit. The duo begin at 9.35am EDT (2.35pm BST).

Jeeno Thitikul has long been touted as a future Major winner, and she remains firmly in the hunt in her last opportunity of 2026. She's grouped with Lucy Li on Sunday, with the pair getting started at 9.25am EDT (2.25pm BST).

That leaves two more on four under, Haeran Ryu, who is looking for her third consecutive Major title, and Shiho Kuwaki. They get underway at 9.15am EDT (2.15pm BST).

Local fans will be cheering on Englishwoman Lottie Woad on Sunday. She is four back of Noh on three under and grouped with Ayaka Furue, who is on two under. They begin at 9.05am EDT (2.05pm BST).

Another group featuring two world-class players features 2024 winner Lydia Ko and another English star, Charley Hull. They have a tee time of 8.45am EDT (1.45pm BST).

Here are all the tee times for the final round of the AIG Women's Open.

AIG Women's Open Tee Times: Final round

All times BST (EDT)

• 3.45am (8.45am): Casandra Alexander, Mi Hyang Lee
• 3.55am (8.55am): Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Aunchisa Utama
• 4.05am (9.05am): Aki Iwai, Julia Lopez Ramirez
• 4.15am (9.15am): Arpichaya Yubol, Anna Nordqvist
• 4.25am (9.25am): Auston Kim, Nasa Hataoka
• 4.35am (9.35am): Amanda Doherty, Jinyoung Ko
• 4.45am (9.45am): Alison Lee, Kajsa Arwefjall
• 5.00am (10.00am): Minji Kang, Alice Hewson
• 5.10am (10.10am): Maja Stark, Patty Tavatanakit
• 5.20am (10.20am): Amelia Garvey, Cara Gainer
• 5.30am (10.30am): Yana Wilson, Rose Zhang
• 5.40am (10.40am): Ariya Jutanugarn, Yuna Araki
• 5.50am (10.50am): Annabell Fuller, Yunseo Yang (a)
• 6.00am (11.00am): Hyojoo Kim, Nastasia Nadaud
• 6.15am (11.15am): Manon De Roey, Lindy Duncan
• 6.25am (11.25am): Jenny Shin, Amy Yang
• 6.35am (11.35am): Sara Kouskova, Pia Babnik
• 6.45am (11.45am): Paula Martin Sampedro (a), Mao Saigo
• 6.55am (11.55am): Hannah Green, Brooke Henderson
• 7.05am (12.05pm): Dewi Weber, Sei Young Kim
• 7.15am (12.15pm): Chizzy Iwai, Yuka Saso
• 7.30am (12.30pm): Celine Boutier, Mimi Rhodes
• 7.40am (12.40pm): Alexandra Forsterling, Jing Yan
• 7.50am (12.50pm): Lauren Coughlin, Robyn Choi
• 8.00am (1.00pm): Nelly Korda, Rio Takeda
• 8.10am (1.10pm): Shannon Tan, Wei Ling Hsu
• 8.20am (1.20pm): Carla Tejedo Mulet, Jinhee Im
• 8.30am (1.30pm): Ashleigh Buhai, Soo Bin Joo
• 8.45am (1.45pm): Lydia Ko, Charley Hull
• 8.55am (1.55pm): Chanettee Wannasaen, Minami Katsu
• 9.05am (2.05pm): Ayaka Furue, Lottie Woad
• 9.15am (2.15pm): Haeran Ryu, Shiho Kuwaki
• 9.25am (2.25pm): Jeeno Thitikul, Lucy Li
• 9.35am (2.35pm): Esther Henseleit, Yealimi Noh

The Rocket Classic offered plenty of incentives for the players, from the fact that it was the penultimate tournament in the battle for a place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs to the eye-catching prize money available.

That overall purse was raised $400,000 from when Aldrich Potgieter won last year, meaning $10 million was available in 2026.

In the end, Michael Thorbjornsen carded an epic final round of 63 to claim his maiden PGA Tour title, holding off big names including Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young in the process.

As well as various perks, including a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and the honor of winning the final edition of the Rocket Classic, Thorbjornsen also benefits from a huge payout.

Thanks to the increased prize money, Thorbjornsen earned $1,800,000 for his victory - the largest pay check of his career.

Schauffele finished solo runner-up at the event, giving him prize money of $1,090,000, which should ease the sting of defeat.

Everyone who finished inside the top 25 not only had a chance of improving their FedEx Cup ranking but also picking up a check for more than $100,000.

Below is what each player won at the Rocket Classic.

ROCKET CLASSIC PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN

The Wyndham Championship offers the final chance for players to secure a place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

As a result, many PGA Tour stars heading to Sedgefield Country Club will be doing so fully aware they’ll need a good week to reach the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings to progress to the first of the three Playoffs events, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

With the Rocket Classic not finishing until Sunday evening, there is plenty of scope for players to change position in the FedEx Cup standings, but we have a good idea of which ones confirmed for the Wyndham Championship will be playing for their places in the first Playoffs event.

Jackson Koivun, who won the 3M Open in just his third start since turning professional, began the Rocket Classic in 70th in the standings.

Andrew Putnam, Mac Meissner, Johnny Keefer, Jason Day, Austin Smotherman and Keegan Bradley – who are all in the Wyndham Championship field – were the players directly beneath him.

Just inside the top 70 at the start of the Rocket Classic, and all playing in the Wyndham Championship, were Jordan Smith, Ricky Castillo and Michael Thorbjornsen.

With those players, and others, all vying for a place in the top 70 of the standings, the tension is sure to be high throughout the week, but particularly as events come to a head next Sunday evening.

One player with no such concerns over his FedEx Cup Playoffs place is Cameron Young.

The American is having a brilliant year on the PGA Tour, winning its flagship event, The Players Championship, and the inaugural Cadillac Championship, to leave him third in the FedEx Cup standings.

It was at the Wyndham Championship a year ago that Young’s performance proved a catalyst for what was to come, when he beat Meissner by six to claim his maiden PGA Tour title at the 94th attempt.

The World No.3 headlines the field, looking to make it three wins this year.

Young is the only player in the world’s top 10 in the line-up, but there is plenty of top talent elsewhere, including Ben Griffin, who won three times on the PGA Tour last season.

2024 Wyndham Championship winner Aaron Rai, who also won this year's PGA Championship, plays as well, along with a man who has won the Major twice, Justin Thomas.

Other big names set to tee it up in North Carolina are 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, 2022 Wyndham Championship winner Tom Kim, Patrick Cantlay, who co-led the Rocket Classic at the halfway stage, and three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth.

It’s inevitable that, with a Major title and a shot at making history on the line, much of the focus at the AIG Women’s Open is on the top of the leaderboard. There are plenty of fascinating stories developing among those in contention, too.

They include whether Haeran Ryu can win her third consecutive Major, or whether players such as Jeeno Thitikul, Lottie Woad and Charley Hull will claim their first.

However, away from the spotlight at Royal Lytham & St Annes, other stories of heartache and triumph are unfolding.

Among the shocks were the likes of Major winner Ruoning Yin and defending champion Miyu Yamashita missing the cut, but for one player, confirming her place in the last two rounds was a big moment.

Sara Kouskova is making just her second AIG Women’s Open appearance, having qualified via the 2025 LET Order of Merit.

After opening with a six-over 77, the Czech player was staring down the barrel of her second consecutive missed cut at the Major.

Her prospects looked even bleaker after a second-hole bogey on Friday, before she responded with two birdies to leave her five over at the 18th.

Even then, she needed another push to scramble above the cut line, and she found the extra she needed, rolling in a birdie putt at the last for a 69 - eight shots better than her opening round - to secure her place for the weekend.

The moment the putt dropped, it was obvious what it meant to her, with Kouskova throwing her arms in the air in celebration before embracing playing partner Annabell Fuller.

The significance of the putt wasn’t lost on those watching, either, with cheers and warm applause greeting her crucial birdie.

The two-time LET winner received more congratulations as she left the 18th, where she wiped tears of joy from her eyes as she headed towards the recorder’s hut.

Kouskova held her own in the third round, too, finishing even for the day to stay on four over with 18 holes to play.

However, regardless of where she finishes on the leaderboard, the emotional reaction to Kouskova making the weekend serves as a reminder that, for some players, simply earning the chance to walk down the 18th fairway on Sunday is an achievement in itself.

The resumption of YouTube star Brad Dalke’s professional career has seen mixed results so far.

Dalke, who stepped away from pro golf to focus on content creation, made his comeback at the start of July at the BMW International Open, where he challenged for the title before finishing T30.

That came after he announced he would be playing in the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic thanks to a sponsor’s exemption, writing on social media: "It’s official! I will be playing in the 2026 @RocketClassic as a sponsor's exemption!

"It will be my first PGA Tour event in 10 years, and I am pumped. Big thank you to everyone at the Rocket for giving me this opportunity!"

While hopes were understandably high considering Dalke’s performance in Munich, it didn’t work out for the former Good Good star at Detroit Golf Club, with a nightmare 81 on Thursday followed by a 75 on Friday as he finished last on 16 over.

That was 26 shots back of second-round leaders Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Fishburn, leading Dalke to reflect on his sorry position on the leaderboard.

Against an image of the leaderboard on Instagram, he added a caption, which said: “This is just the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. Big thank you to the fans for all the support during a miserable couple of days on the course.”

Before his brace of appearances in recent weeks, Dalke hadn’t made a pro start since the Korn Ferry Tour’s Evans Scholars Invitational in 2020.

Dalke, who also played in the 2017 Masters and US Open, made his PGA Tour debut at the 2016 Valero Texas Open, where he missed the cut.

Thankfully for the 28-year-old, he won’t need to wait anything like as long for his next chance to impress on the PGA Tour.

He has also been handed a sponsor's exemption to the inaugural Good Good Championship, which takes place between November 12th and 15th at Creek Resort & Spa’s Fazio Canyons Course in Austin, Texas.

Cameron Young put on a masterclass on Friday at the Rocket Classic, with The Players Championship winner producing a nine-under 61 to share the lead alongside Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Fishburn.

Sitting 10-under-par, the trio are marginally clear of a stacked leaderboard at Detroit Golf Club, where 48 players are within five shots of the lead at the halfway stage.

Rickie Fowler is alongside Matt Wallace at nine-under, while Xander Schauffele is part of an eight-way share of sixth at eight-under-par.

Looking down the leaderboard, a mix of experience and youth makes up the remaining places.

Major winners Jordan Spieth, JJ Spaun and Keegan Bradley are in the logjam at seven-under and six-under, while the likes of PGA Tour rookies Luke Clanton and Marco Penge are also on the same scores.

Because of the congested nature, it'll be an intriguing watch on Saturday, when Ryder Cup teammates Young and Cantlay get their Moving Day underway at 1.50pm (EDT).

Teeing off in pairs, there are plenty of interesting groupings at Detroit Golf Club, and you can check out the full third round tee times for the Rocket Classic below...

Rocket Classic Tee Times: Round Three

All times EDT

• 7.30am: Neal Shipley
• 7.35am: William Mouw, Adam Svensson
• 7.45am: Marcelo Rozo, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
• 7.55am: Jackson Suber, Chandler Blanchet
• 8.05am: Dylan Wu, Rasmus Hojgaard
• 8.15am: Jordan Smith, Mac Meissner
• 8.25am: Keita Nakajima, Johnny Keefer
• 8.40am: Karl Vilips, Gordon Sargent
• 8.50am: Kevin Yu, Matt Kuchar
• 9.00am: Zecheng Dou, Jackson Koivun
• 9.10am: Harris English, Max Greyserman
• 9.20am: Sungjae Im, Brian Campbell
• 9.30am: Ryo Hisatsune, Matt McCarty
• 9.45am: Ben James, Beau Hossler
• 9.55am: Nick Taylor, Davis Thompson
• 10.05am: Si Woo Kim, Adam Schenk
• 10.15am: Zac Blair, Tony Finau
• 10.25am: Hank Lebioda, Ben Kohles
• 10.35am: Nicolai Hojgaard, Austin Eckroat
• 10.50am: Hideki Matsuyama, Joe Highsmith
• 11.00am: Rico Hoey, Thorbjorn Olesen
• 11.10am: Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Roy
• 11.20am: Mark Hubbard, Ricky Castillo
• 11.30am: Kristoffer Ventura, Adrien Saddier
• 11.40am: Jordan Spieth, Marco Penge
• 11.55am: Corey Conners, JJ Spaun
• 12.05pm: David Lipsky, Russell Henley
• 12.15pm: Keegan Bradley, Stephan Jaeger
• 12.25pm: Luke Clanton, Emiliano Grillo
• 12.35pm: Michael Thorbjornsen, Jacob Bridgeman
• 12.45pm: Doug Ghim, Justin Lower
• 1.00pm: Davis Riley, Ryan Gerard
• 1.10pm: Chris Kirk, Xander Schauffele
• 1.20pm: Michael Kim, Peter Malnati
• 1.30pm: Rickie Fowler, Michael Brennan
• 1.40pm: Patrick Fishburn, Matt Wallace
• 1.50pm: Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay

The PGA Tour is heading into the business end of its regulation season, with the Rocket Classic the penultimate event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

There's a lot at stake at Detroit Golf Club and, with the top 70 advancing through to the Playoffs following the Wyndham Championship next week, players are looking to wrap up as many points and as much prize money as they can.

At the halfway stage of the Rocket Classic, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Fishburn share the lead at 10-under, while Matt Wallace and Rickie Fowler are just one back of the trio at nine-under.

Xander Schauffele is among eight players sharing sixth spot at eight-under, while a further seven players are seven-under-par in a tight and congested leaderboard.

Although we are set to have an exciting finish over the remaining two days, there will be some notable names missing from the proceedings over the weekend.

It wasn't just big-named players who failed to surpass the three-under-par cutline, but also individuals who are lurking around the required spots in the FedEx Cup standings.

Check out the notable names who missed the Rocket Classic cut below...

Andrew Putnam (-2)

As of writing, Putnam is 71st in the FedEx Cup standings and, with a missed cut, will fall back of the top 70 places that make it through to the FedEx St. Jude Championship in two weeks time.

Carding rounds of 68 and 70, the American missed the cut by one at the Rocket Classic and will need a big week at the Wyndham Championship to crack the top 70.

Ben Griffin (-2)

Like Putnam, Griffin produced rounds of 68 and 70 to miss the cut at the Rocket Classic, his fifth of the 2026 season.

Parring every hole of his back nine on Friday, the former Ryder Cup player won't have to worry about missing the FedEx Cup Playoffs, as he is comfortably inside the top 70.

Jake Knapp (-2)

Knapp made a strong start to the year but, in April, he was blighted with an injury that meant two months away from the course.

Since returning, he has produced a best finish of T13th, but a missed cut at the Rocket Classic means four in six starts. He fired a three-under 67 on Thursday, but a one-over 71 on Friday led to a two-under score.

Tom Hoge (-1)

Currently, Hoge is 77th in the FedEx Cup standings and, with a missed cut this week, puts him in danger of missing the Playoffs.

Carding rounds of 70 and 69, the American has missed back-to-back weekends, as well as eight cuts in total through 2026.

Akshay Bhatia (-1)

The Arnold Palmer Invitational winner missed the cut at The Open Championship in his last start, meaning Bhatia has failed to make the weekend in back-to-back events.

Producing a two-under first round at the Rocket Classic, the 24-year-old would rue a triple bogey at his seventh hole on Friday, as well as a late bogey to be among seven players at one-under-par.

Chris Gotterup (+1)

Arguably the most surprising player to miss the cut was Gotterup, who carded an uncharacteristic three-over 73 on Friday to finish one-over for the tournament.

A three-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2026, the American hasn't missed a cut since the Genesis Invitational in February, which happens to be 14 events ago.

Denny McCarthy (+2)

McCarthy is 81st in the FedEx Cup standings and needed a big week at the Rocket Classic, but rounds of 69 and 73 means he will have it all to do at the Wyndham Championship.

Since 2022, McCarthy hasn't missed the Playoffs, but one top 10 and four missed cuts in 2026 means a good week is needed next week.

Aldrich Potgieter (+3)

The defending champion was unable to replicate his performance from last year, as Potgieter's first round of 76 meant an uphill battle to make the cut in Detroit.

Although he produced a three-under 67 on Friday, the South African was well back of the cutline, as he missed a 10th weekend of the season.

Wyndham Clark (+5)

Another big player to miss the cut at the Rocket Classic was US Open champion, Wyndham Clark.

A 71 and 74 meant the 32-year-old finished five-over-par for the tournament, as Clark made it back-to-back missed cuts having failed to make the weekend at The Open Championship.

Austin Smotherman (+12)

Sitting 75th in the FedEx Cup standings, Smotherman dented his chances of making the Playoffs via rounds of 77 and 75.

Missing his ninth cut of 2026, the American is projected to drop to 79th in the standings, but that can all change depending on the weekend action.

Brad Dalke (+16)

Dalke received a sponsor's invite into the Rocket Classic but, unlike the BMW International Open on the DP World Tour, the YouTube star was unable to make the cut.

Producing an 11-over-par opening round, a five-over 75 on Friday meant Dalke finished dead last in Detroit at 16-over-par.

The final Major of 2026 is set-up to be an exciting finish, with Haeran Ryu leading at the halfway stage on seven-under-par.

Having claimed the last two Major championships - KPMG Women's PGA Championship and Amundi Evian Championship - the South Korean is searching for a hattrick at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Carding rounds of 66 and 69, Ryu is one clear of Shiho Kuwaki at six-under, while Jeeno Thitikul and Yealimi Noh, who are searching for their first taste of Major success, are both five-under.

In terms of the top 10, Soo Bin Joo is solo fifth at three-under, while eight players share sixth spot at two-under.

Among them are home heroes Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, as well as Lauren Coughlin and amateur Paula Martin Sampedro.

On what promises to be an exciting Moving Day, the final pairing of Ryu and Kuwaki head out at 2.40pm (local time), while Noh and Thitikul tee off at 2.30pm.

Pairings that will draw attention are Hull and Coughlin at 2.00pm, while Woad and Major winner Celine Boutier at 1.35pm will gain some following.

In terms of the marquee group, though, that would be Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko at 1.15pm, with the duo alongside each other for a third straight day.

Both multiple-time Major winners are one-under-par and will look to make charges up the leaderboard on Saturday.

AIG Women's Open Tee Times: Round Three

All times BST; For Eastern Time -5hrs

• 8.50am: Pia Babnik, Sara Kouskova
• 9.00am: Manon de Roey, Cara Gainer
• 9.10am: Nastasia Nadaud, Ayaka Furue
• 9.20am: Hyojoo Kim, Yunseo Yang (a)
• 9.30am: Alison Lee, Amelia Garvey
• 9.40am: Carla Tejedo Mulet, Patty Tavatanakit
• 9.50am: Maja Stark, Casandra Alexander
• 10.05am: Annabell Fuller, Alexandra Forsterling
• 10.15am: Yuka Saso, Amy Yang
• 10.25am: Jin Young Ko, Wei Ling Hsu
• 10.35am: Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Mi Hyang Lee
• 10.45am: Ashleigh Buhai, Chizzy Iwai
• 10.55am: Arpichaya Yubol, Jenny Shin
• 11.05am: Lindy Duncan, Aki Iwai
• 11.20am: Yuna Araki, Sei Young Kim
• 11.30am: Amanda Doherty, Alice Hewson
• 11.40am: Dewi Weber, Brooke Henderson
• 11.50am: Hannah Green, Nasa Hataoka
• 12.00pm: Ariya Jutanugarn, Rose Zhang
• 12.10pm: Minji Kang, Shannon Tan
• 12.20pm: Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mao Saigo
• 12.35pm: Auston Kim, Anna Nordqvist
• 12.45pm: Esther Henseleit, Rio Takeda
• 12.55pm: Aunchisa Utama, Yana Wilson
• 1.05pm: Kajsa Arwefjall, Mimi Rhodes
• 1.15pm: Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko
• 1.25pm: Robyn Choi, Jinhee Im
• 1.35pm: Celine Boutier, Lottie Woad
• 1.50pm: Minami Katsu, Chanettee Wannasaen
• 2.00pm: Charley Hull, Lauren Coughlin
• 2.10pm: Paula Martin Sampedro (a), Lucy Li
• 2.20pm: Jing Yan, Soo Bin Joo
• 2.30pm: Yealimi Noh, Jeeno Thitikul
• 2.40pm: Shiho Kuwaki, Haeran Ryu

Haeran Ryu takes a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the AIG Women's Open, where the World No.3 will seek to win her third consecutive Major.

The Korean star followed up her opening 66 with a 70 on Friday to lead Japan's Shiho Kuwaki by one with 36 holes to play at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

A number of big names are in the chasing pack, including home favorites Lottie Woad and Charley Hull just five back in T6th.

However, plenty of notables fell by the wayside, with the cut coming in at four-over-par.

Here's a look at a number of big names, Major champions and Solheim Cup stalwarts who won't be around to contest for the title this weekend...

Big names to miss the 2026 AIG Women's Open cut

Andrea Lee: +5 (71-76)

Andrea Lee got off to a solid start courtesy of a level-par 71 on Thursday but a five-over-par 76 saw her agonizingly miss the cut by a single stroke. It's her first ever missed cut in the event in her seventh start.

The former Stanford star, who won the LPGA's Portland Classic in 2022, carded a disappointing five-over 76 in round two.

She made five bogeys and a double on Friday, with her birdie on the 18th ultimately too little, too late.

Leona Maguire: +5 (73-74)

Solheim Cup star Leona Maguire was another big name to miss out by a single stroke after 36-holes at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The Irishwoman will rue back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 in round two, which ultimately sealed her fate following a 73 on Thursday and a bogey-bogey start in round two.

Maguire has now missed four cuts in the five Majors this season.

Gaby Lopez: +5 (73-74)

Lopez was two-under after six holes of the championship but she missed the cut mark by a single stroke after a 74 on Friday to follow up her first-round 73.

The Mexican made an eagle and just two birdies in her first 36-holes along with nine bogeys, including two in a row to finish on Friday.

She would have hoped for better after finishing T2nd at the US Women's Open last month, which was her best Major finish to date.

Hinako Shibuno: +5 (74-73)

The 2019 champion at Woburn misses the cut at the AIG Women's Open for the fourth consecutive year.

The Japanese star finished bogey-bogey in round one for a lacklustre birdie-free 74 and a 73 featuring three birdies and five dropped shots sends her home early.

Lilia Vu: +5 (75-72)

Lilia Vu's difficult stretch continues after two bogeys in her final three holes saw her miss another Major cut.

The former World No.1, who won the Chevron Championship and AIG Women's Open in 2023 to become World No.1, has now missed nine consecutive cuts in the Majors.

The Californian is now ranked 171st in the world and looks set to miss out on the USA's Solheim Cup team.

Jennifer Kupcho: +6 (70-78)

Jennifer Kupcho continues her poor AIG Women's Open record, making it four consecutive missed cuts for six MCs in nine starts.

The 2022 ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship) winner started strong with a one-under-par 70 but made three doubles in a costly 78 on Friday.

Georgia Hall: +6 (76-72)

The 2018 Lytham champion is another big name going home early.

The damage was done on Thursday for Hall, where she failed to make a birdie in a five-over-par 76. She fared much better in round two with a two-under-par front nine but a double-bogey on the 18th left her at six-over for the tournament.

Hall only returned to the professional game in May after becoming a mother for the first time, so it was a good effort from the Englishwoman who is still adapting to balancing motherhood and elite-level sport.

Megan Khang: +7 (74-75)

Khang found herself needing a strong round two after a three-over-par 74 on Thursday but she failed to make a birdie on Friday to shoot 74-75 over the first two rounds.

The US Solheim Cup star bogeyed three of the first four holes on day two and parred her way in to comfortably miss the cut.

It means she misses three of the five Major cuts this year.

Minjee Lee: +7 (75-74)

Minjee Lee was two-under-par for her first six holes of the championship but it all unravelled from there.

The Australian went on to make two doubles and post a 75 before falling further back on Friday, although a one-under-par closing nine will hopefully give her some positive momentum for the rest of the season.

The three-time Major winner has now very uncharacteristically missed three consecutive Major cuts.

Miyu Yamashita: +7 (72-77)

It was not a dream return to the AIG Women's Open for the defending champion.

Yamashita was only one-over after round one and was set to just about make the weekend before a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 18th put her outside of the cut line.

It's her first Major missed cut in two years and a big surprise considering she was T4th at the Evian Championship just last month.

Allisen Corpuz: +10 (73-79)

Corpuz misses her third consecutive AIG Women's Open cut and second Major weekend in a row after also missing the cut at the Evian.

The 2023 US Open champion finished at 10-over-par for two days after making six bogeys in her opening eight holes of round two.

Grace Kim: +10 (75-77)

The 2025 Evian Championship winner managed just one birdie in 36 holes following nine bogeys and a double in two rounds at Lytham.

The Australian comfortably misses her first AIG Women's Open cut, which is the second Major weekend in a row where she won't have a tee time.

Ruoning Yin: +10 (73-79)

Yin misses her second successive AIG Women's Open cut to make it a third consecutive season without a Major victory. The World No.8 is the highest-ranked player in the field to miss the cut.

The former World No.1, who captured the 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, was out of sorts at Lytham - especially in round two.

The Chinese star made seven bogeys and a triple in her 79, which left her near the bottom of the leaderboard after 36 holes for an early exit.

Other notables to miss the 2026 AIG Women's Open cut:

• +5 Jiyai Shin
• +5 Aditi Ashok
• +5 Diksha Dagar
• +5 Pajaree Anannarukarn
• +5 Nanna Koerstz Madsen
• +6 Linn Grant
• +6 Jodi Ewart Shadoff
• +7 A Lim Kim
• +8 Perrine Delacour
• +8 Kiara Romero (a)
• +9 In Gee Chun
• +9 Carlota Ciganda
• +10 Maria Jose Marin (a)
• +10 Helen Briem
• +11 Yani Tseng
• +12 Steph Kyriacou
• +19 Ryann O'Toole
• +20 Sophia Popov

Could this finally be Charley Hull's time? After five runner-up finishes she's vowed to go for everything over the weekend at the AIG Women's Open in her quest to win her first Major.

Hull is undoubtedy one of the best female players not to win a Major despite coming so close on five occasions, and yet again she enters the weekend with high hopes of finally getting over the hump.

The 30-year-old has finished second once at the Chevron Championship, twice at the US Women's Open and twice at the AIG Women's Open - including both last year and in 2023.

And after adding a Friday 71 to her opening 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes she ended the day on two under and in a tie for fifth place when she finished her round - four shots off the clubhouse lead at the time.

Hull's recent plan for the Majors has been to try and just make the weekend with as few mistakes as possible, and then go for broke in the final two rounds.

That's certainly been the case in her last two near misses, both at this year's US Women's Open and last year's AIG Women's Open.

She played the second half of those tournaments in 13 and nine shots fewer respectively than the opening two rounds, but came up short by just a combined three shots.

Hull is well in touch again heading into the weekend, and she's not going to be holding anything back at Royal Lytham in her quest for glory.

"Just to go at everything," she said to Sky Sports about her gameplan. "I've just got to carry on with my good swing thoughts, the nerves should go away by then and I can just go for everything."

And that includes off the tee despite Lytham being riddled with bunkers all around the course - but attack may be the best form of defence according to Hull.

"Even off the tee, if you're not hitting driver and trying to take the bunkers out of play you can still find them. So you might as well hit driver and find a bunker 50 yards further down there and be closer to the green, make the hole a bit shorter."

Charley Hull's near misses in Majors

It does seem like it's coming. Hull's finished second in two of her last five Majors, with another top 10 in there too - and finishes of T2-20-2-T22 in her last four Women's Opens suggest this could be her week.

In her previous second places she's only once started the final round top of the leaderboard, and that resulted in her worst return - so maybe this week she'd be better off just tucked in behind and come flying home.

2026 US Women's Open

Hull started the final round three behind Nelly Korda, shot two better than the American but came up just one shot short. The margins were wafer thin, with just a couple of late putts missing while Korda's nervy effort on the last horseshoed around the cup but dropped.

That was the difference in an agonising result.

2025 AIG Women's Open

It was more frustration last year at Royal Porthcawl as Hull was three off the lead on Saturday night but could only get within two strokes of Miyu Yamashita.

2023 AIG Women's Open

Her best chance going into Sunday, Hull was tied at the top of the leaderboard at Walton Heath alongside Lilia Vu, but while she shot 67 Hull carded a bitterly disappointing 73 to fade away.

2023 US Women's Open

A stunning Sunday at Pebble Beach as Hull came storming through with a 66 in the final round. She started seven off the lead and six off eventual champion Allisen Corpuz - who managed to keep three strokes ahead thanks to a 69.

2016 Chevron Championship

Just two shots off Lexi Thompson's lead heading into Sunday, Hull shot 69 to overhaul the American, but sadly so did Lydia Ko to pip her by just a shot.

Charley Hull's major runner-up spots

Any good omens for Lytham?

These things in golf always tend to have a story behind them, so looking for omens is never a bad thing - even beyond Hull going close so many times.

Firstly, her big mate Georgia Hall won the Women's Open here at Lytham in 2018, so it'd be hugely apt if Hull would follow her buddy and claim her maiden Major on the same course.

And secondly, there's been plenty of pictures of Hull playing in the Pro-Am at Lytham in 2006 as a baby aged just 10!

So that would create a wonderful full circle moment if 20 years later she could lift the big prize at the some place she showcased her immense talent even as a kid.

Hull and her supporters will be hoping the stars can indeed align and she can land the Major victory her talent has long suggested would be a foregone conclusion.

If you have ever found yourself staring down a long approach to a green, wishing you could effortlessly launch the ball into the air and have it land as softly as a pitching wedge, you’re going to want to continue reading as Callaway's latest release might be exactly what you are looking for.

Callaway has today unveiled the Quantum Mini Spinner, a brand-new fairway wood designed specifically for golfers who need more spin, control, and confidence when attacking greens from a distance and who struggle to achieve the appropriate launch conditions with a long iron or even one of the best golf hybrids.

High-lofted fairway woods have gained some serious traction over the past couple of years, with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood just a few of the biggest names putting them in play. While the top players are typically playing much longer courses, all golfers can relate to the difficulty of holding firm greens from 200 yards out.

The Quantum Mini Spinner is built to directly address this issue, delivering the spin, precision, and stopping power that golfers see out of their scoring clubs but now in the confidence-inspiring head of a fairway wood. If you are looking at your current setup, this club could easily replace one of your long irons, a traditional fairway wood, or a hybrid that tends to roll out too far upon landing or go too far left through the air.

Key Technology

The secret behind the Mini Spinner lies in a clever combination of weight dynamics, club geometry, and face technology.

At the heart of the design is Callaway's Optimized Spin Construction, which pairs a high center of gravity with an AI-optimized high-spin face design. This combination has been designed to promote increased spin compared to regular fairway woods, tighter dispersion, and enhanced stopping power, which is crucial for those who are regularly hitting from distance into greens.

To further boost performance, Callaway has implemented a lightweight Carbon Sole Construction to allow mass to be strategically repositioned higher in the head, raising the center of gravity to generate the crucial extra spin needed for a soft landing.

To ensure players can consistently capitalize on these features, the Mini Spinner also features a shorter setup with a playing length 0.75" shorter than a traditional fairway wood. This will promote a much more consistent and steeper angle of attack impact and significantly improved control through impact.

Where It Excels On The Course

While this club is designed to be a weapon from the fairway, its characteristics suggest it will be an absolute game-changer when conditions get tough, especially when playing from the rough. The shortened shaft length should help achieve cleaner strikes when playing from the longer grass.

The club features Deep Face Versatility, incorporating a taller face profile that provides more usable face area. This offers added confidence and improved contact, especially when trying to extract the ball from thicker grass.

The idea of the center of gravity being placed higher - the opposite of a lot of forgiving fairway woods that use a lower CG to launch the ball - is for that increased spin. Think of this much like a bottom strike on a driver and how much that ball will usually spin up in the air compared to a strike higher on the face and above the CG location, which promotes a flatter, lower spinning ball flight.

Furthermore, the Quantum Mini Spinner utilizes a refined Step Sole Design, the same found on the rest of the Quantum fairway wood lineup. This specialized sole minimizes turf interaction, helping the club enter and exit the ground easily, promoting much cleaner strikes and more consistent center-face contact regardless of the lie.

For golfers who dread long approach shots or struggle to hold the putting surface with their current hybrids and woods, the Callaway Quantum Mini Spinner looks set to solve those problems and should be a serious contender for a place in your bag if that's an area where you struggle.

Let us know down in the comments below if this is a club you’re interested in trying and what it could replace in your bag.

Specs, Pricing And Availability

Lofts: 7W (21°), 9W (24°), 11W (27° - US Only)
Shafts: True Temper Denali Frost Silver (60g), Mistubishi Chemical Vanquish (50g) Mitsubishi Chemical Eldio (40g)
Pricing: $379/£359
On Sale Date: 14th August 2026

Team USA Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker says he'd "be dumb not to take a really good, hard look" at including Jackson Koivun in his side for Medinah this year.

Koivun had a stellar college career and translated that immediately into PGA Tour success with victory at the 3M Open in just his third event since turning pro.

The 21-year-old was one of the most highly-rated amateurs ever, and showed why when he held off Scottie Scheffler in Minnesota to claim the first of what will surely be many victories to come.

The win catapulted him into 70th in the FedEx Cup standings and started the debate about whether Koivun should be included in the USA's Presidents Cup team.

Despite his youth and inexperience the talent is obviously there, so Snedeker must be tempted to thrust the youngster into team golf action and see what he can do - especially with an away Ryder Cup coming up next year.

Snedeker admitted on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that Koivun was very much on his radar, and if he keeps his form up then he'll be a serious contender for a spot on the team regardless of his age.

"I’m not going to discredit a 21-year-old kid who’s played in, I don’t know, four or five events this year just because he’s been in college," said Snedeker.

"I wouldn’t be doing the team the right service, or him the right service.

"If he goes out and plays great golf in the next four or five weeks, earns a spot and shows that he’s willing to be one of the 12 best players for us, I’d be dumb not to take a really good, hard look at him."

Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk has spoken of creating more cohesion with the Presidents Cup, and with the USA's dominance over the International Team it would make sense to give Koivun a taste of team golf now.

If he makes the strides we expect then he could be right in the mix for Adare Manor and having the experience of a Presidents Cup under his belt would be a huge benefit.

Snedeker, who has played with Koivun, was impressed with how he handled the pressure of closing out a PGA Tour victory so early in his career.

"I actually got to play with Jackson a few years ago at Memorial when he was a freshman and I was obviously super impressed by his game then when he was 18, 19 years old. He’s only gotten better since then, so I give him a ton of credit," Snedeker added.

"What he did last week was not easy to do, especially being four or five starts into your professional career. And to handle the pressure like he did on Sunday was really impressive. Super excited for him, and super excited for the tour to have another young star."

Should Jackson Koivun make Presidents Cup?

Koivun shot 69 at the Rocket Classic as he returned to PGA Tour action after his 3M Open victory - playing alongside US Open champion Wyndham Clark and former Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley in a star grouping.

"He's just an incredible player," said Bradley. "Really. Really great guy. How old is he, 20, 21, something in there?

"He seems more mature and older, which makes him unique as a lot of the younger players that I have seen come out that are really good play a much different game.

"He's not a 195 ball speed guy, he's just a really solid player. I was really impressed."

Time will tell but if Koivun can maintain anything like the momentum he's built up then Snedeker might have no choice but to include him for the Presidents Cup and see exactly what he can do.

Charlie Woods shot a five-over round of 77 to miss the 54-hole cut at the Junior PGA Championship in Texas.

Woods made the traditional 36-hole cut at Frisco Fields Ranch after shooting 75-70 for a one-over total for two rounds, but there's also a third-round cut at the Junior PGA Championship.

A round of 77 saw Woods drop to six over for the tournament, with the cut mark after 54 holes coming at level par.

The 17-year-old son of 15-time Major champion Tiger Woods was just one over at the turn but struggled on the back nine with a double bogey at the 10th before three more bogeys in a row.

Charlie finished with seven bogeys and that double overall, cancelling out his three birdies on the day - two of which came on the final two holes as he showed admirable fighting spirit to at least finish on a high.

Jaden Soong led by two shots going into the final round after shooting 69 to get to eight under, with halfway leader Kailer Stone carding a disappointing 75 to drop into a tie for second with Ainslie Stanford.

It was another disappointment for Woods Jr though, who managed a T9 finish in last year's Junior PGA Championship but has had some mixed results recently.

Woods made another flying finish at the US Junior Amateur to make a playoff for the matchplay section, but missed out one of the two spots in a 14-man battle in frustrating fashion.

Woods was unhappy after he duffed a chip when a camera phone shutter sound clicked during his backswing.

Ahead of his senior year at the Benjamin School, before Woods heads off to college at Florida State, he also recently just missed out on qualifying for the US Amateur.

As a junior, Woods helped Benjamin win the State Championship and has shown flashes of his talent while also suffering some disappointing results - which is all par for the course during a life in competitive golf.

YouTube star Brad Dalke's eagerly-awaited return to the PGA Tour turned into a nightmare as he shot 81 in the opening round of the Rocket Classic.

After an impressive showing on the DP World Tour at the BMW International Open recently, hopes were high that his first PGA Tour start in a decade would go well.

Dalke, who last teed it up in a pro event in the USA at the 2017 US Open, received a sponsor's invite into the event in Detroit, but it could hardly have gone worse.

The 28-year-old carded seven bogeys, a double bogey and triple bogey against just one single birdie in his 11-over round that left him second bottom of the leaderboard.

Only Argentina's Alejandro Tosti with his 82 finished 18 holes below Dalke - who as a former college and amateur star is not your average YouTube golfer.

With so much online hype for his PGA Tour return, Dalke admitted it was a nightmare comeback after a disastrous day in Detroit.

“That round was nightmare fuel, my goodness," Dalke posted on social media.

"Goes without saying I played very, very poorly… but everything that could’ve gone wrong seemed to go wrong.

"Nothing I can do now except go play some more golf tomorrow.”

Some of the YouTube golfing community came out to defend Dalke after his woeful first-round effort, with the Bryan brothers posting their support.

"Regardless of what @DalkeKong3 shoots he’s still an insanely good golfer," they wrote on their X account.

"One bad round doesn’t define someone and won’t change our minds on how good he is!! Team Dalke for life."

Dalke also admitted that it was "a lonely feeling playing golf like that" but vowed to make "a strong finish tomorrow" and respond in Friday's second round.

Former Good Good Golf star Dalke shot 69-66 to sit just a shot off the lead going into the weekend at the BMW International Open in Munich, before eventually finishing T30.

The NCAA champion with the University of Oklahoma and 2015 Junior PGA Championship winner is also a runner-up at the US Amateur and has played in The Masters and US Open so is arguably the best YouTube golfer out there.

Dalke won the Creator Classic at Philadelphia Cricket Club in 2025, before winning the fourth edition of the contest at East Lake later in the year, while also landing the inaugural Internet Invitational hosted by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports..

Regardless of his finish in Detroit, Dalke will peg it up again on the PGA Tour at the first ever Good Good Championship in Austin, Texas in November.

Charley Hull is never one to back down on the golf course, and she's not doing it off the course either as she told critics of her caddie prank to "lighten up" at the AIG Women's Open.

Hull revealed before the Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes that she pranked caddie Adam Woodward with a fake scratchcard - making him believe he'd won £100,000 ($135,000) and filming the entire thing.

The 30-year-old has come in for some criticism for the prank, with plenty of talk on social media and with Dame Laura Davies calling it "extremely cruel" on the TV broadcast.

Hull, though, refused to apologise for her prank, and in typical Hull style said: "If people don't like it they can lump it."

Hull, who shot 70 in her opening round at Royal Lytham as she chases her maiden Major title, says she hasn't seen any online comments.

"I don't have any social media on my phone," she said, while adding that she would "100 percent" do it again.

"He thought it was funny after," she said of Woodward's reaction. "He's not uptight. Like it's a joke. If people don't like it they can lump it, do you know what I mean?

"And people that have complaints about it, I would say loosen up.

"I felt bad for Adsy, but at the end of the day I've just got to have a good week, and at the end of the week I'll buy him 100 scratchcards.

"Hopefully he can earn more money than that as well this week if we play well."

Hull says that she distances herself from social media during tournaments, so hasn't heard any outside noise while she concentrates on the job at hand.

That's a sound tactic these days with social media as it is, and with far more pressing matters such as searching for that elusive Major breakthrough.

This week, though, it has the added bonus of not being aware of all the negative reaction to her pranking of her caddie - although she believes she's done nothing wrong.

"I don't really have my social media on my phone on tournament weeks," Hull added. "So I delete it and when I go home I'll add it again. I don't really like people seeing me and tagging me and stuff. I like to keep in the present moment.

"But, yeah, I think people need to lighten up if they're taking that too seriously because it was pretty funny."

Hull's response is no surprise, she's one of the biggest characters in the women's game and has always done things her own way - so some negative comments over a prank were hardly going to ruffle her feathers.

But what do you think? Was Hull's prank too much or just a joke? Let us know by joining the conversation below...

The 20th edition of the Solheim Cup is just around the corner, with the biennial battle between the best golfers in the women’s game from Europe and the US taking place in September at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.

For the Europeans, the opportunity to qualify automatically for the 12-player team has now come down to the final women’s Major of the year, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

In total, eight automatic spots are up for grabs, with two via the Solheim Cup points list and the remaining six through the world rankings.

After that, anyone who misses out will be hoping to earn one of captain Anna Nordqvist's four wildcard picks, which she will reveal on Monday August 3rd.

For the Americans, there is more breathing space, with players fighting for positions until the end of the CPKC Women’s Open on August 23rd.

Once the tournament finishes, the top seven in the Solheim Cup standings will be guaranteed their places, with the next two in the world rankings not already qualified also securing their spots.

The final three places will be decided by captain Angela Stanford.

So, which big names are still facing uncertainty over their participation in the 2026 Solheim Cup?

Potential Team Europe Omissions

Leona Maguire

Leona Maguire can perhaps feel more confident than most in securing a place, although she may yet face an anxious wait for confirmation that she has done enough.

The Irishwoman was inside the world's top 40 for her third Solheim Cup appearance two years ago, but some patchy form since then means she's now 79th, with Swedish player Linn Grant in the final qualifying position via that route, in 50th.

To leapfrog Grant and qualify via either automatic route, Maguire, who is yet to win a Major and was nine off the lead after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, would need a strong finish at the tournament.

Maguire is currently 12th on the Solheim Cup points list, 57.53 points behind second-placed Chiara Tamburlini.

To overtake the Swiss player, she would need at least a runner-up finish at Royal Lytham & St Annes, although the exact requirement would depend on the performances of others.

It would be a surprise to see Maguire miss out on a captain's pick given her Solheim Cup experience, but this time around, it looks likely she'll need one from Nordqvist.

Georgia Hall

Englishwoman Georgia Hall is a Solheim Cup regular, but she’s relying on a captain’s pick to make it six consecutive appearances in 2026.

That’s because she is making her first start of the year at the AIG Women’s Open after giving birth in February.

With too much ground to make up to make the team via each of the qualifying routes, she is relying on Nordqvist's decision.

However, she will surely have a chance considering her vast experience and overall Solheim Cup record of 10–9–2.

Emily Kristine Pedersen

Another European who has run out of opportunities to qualify automatically is Emily Kristine Pedersen.

The Dane is not playing in the AIG Women’s Open, meaning her hopes also rest with Nordqvist.

That’s not an unusual situation for Pedersen, who didn’t qualify automatically in 2023 or 2024 either, but can she be confident of being a captain's pick for the third consecutive match?

She has collected wins in each of her last three Solheim Cup appearances, which will work in her favor, but she has only played five times in 2026, and she missed the cut on four of those occasions.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen

At least for LPGA Tour winner Madsen, there was a chance of automatic qualification ahead of the AIG Women’s Open.

However, an opening round of four over suggested she would struggle to do enough to make it via either her world ranking or the Solheim Cup points list.

In the plus column for a captain’s pick is the Dane's world ranking, which, at 63rd, makes her the highest-ranked European not in an automatic qualifying place.

She also has Solheim Cup experience, having played in 2021, where she had a 1-1-1 record.

Potential Team USA Omissions

Lexi Thompson

It was inevitable that Thompson would eventually begin falling down the world rankings once she scaled back her professional commitments.

Because of that, she will likely need a captain’s pick to compete in her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup.

Even with just four appearances in 2026 so far, that will surely be a temptation for Stanford, with Thompson having amassed 13.5 Solheim Cup points.

Lilia Vu

After winning two Majors in 2023, Lilia Vu stormed to the top of the world rankings, making her an automatic qualifier for the Solheim Cup that year and again in 2024.

However, by the time she made her second appearance at the match, her career had already suffered a setback with a lay-off due to a back injury.

Despite maintaining her position in the world’s top 10 until halfway through 2025, she has since struggled to find anything close to her best form, meaning she is now 171st in the world rankings.

With an automatic qualifying berth nowhere in sight and still in a run of poor form, she is surely in danger of being overlooked for a captain’s pick.

Megan Khang

Unlike Vu, Khang still has a realistic chance of forcing her way into the automatic qualifying picture, sitting 11th in the Solheim Cup standings.

However, several US players stand between her and her other route to automatic qualification, her world ranking, meaning it’s a big few weeks for Khang, who has played in the Solheim Cup four times.

With a 7-3-3 overall record, it seems likely she would be one of Stanford’s captain’s picks, but she’ll be keen not to leave anything to chance in the coming weeks.

Rose Zhang

After making a flying start to her professional career, Rose Zhang made her first two Solheim Cup appearances in 2023 and 2024, emerging with an impressive 4-2-1 overall record.

Life on the LPGA Tour has not been as easy for her in recent months, though, with a world ranking currently outside the top 70 and 14th in the Solheim Cup standings.

She has time to pull things round with some good performances between now and the CPKC Women’s Open, but with two T9s the best to show for her efforts in 2026 so far, she might be left hoping for a captain’s pick.

Alison Lee

Alison Lee, who made Solheim Cup appearances in 2015 and 2024, is still in the running for an automatic qualifying place.

However, she’ll need to either climb 10 places in the Solheim Cup standings or boost her current world ranking of 61st.

As things stand, Lee seems set to battle it out with Lindy Duncan and Jenny Bae for a qualifying spot via her world ranking.

Recent form, including T5 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, suggests she has reason to be confident.

There are several ways to measure a golfer's standing in the game, including the highest world ranking and the number of events won.

However, achievements don’t come much bigger than winning a Major, and in the women’s game, the biggest stars have five opportunities to do that each year.

Since 2013, the Chevron Championship, US Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open are the big five events of women’s golf.

There have been high-profile winners since the five-Major era began with the elevation of the Amundi Evian Championship. For some world-class talent, though, a Major title remains elusive.

Some are now approaching the twilight of their careers, but for others, many more opportunities remain to claim one or more of the coveted titles.

Here are 15 of the biggest names yet to win a women’s Major.

Jeeno Thitikul

Still aged just 23, the Thai star has already achieved more in the game than most players ever will.

That includes two CME Group Tour Championship titles and spells at the top of the world rankings.

Despite several close calls, though, she is yet to win a Major.

Ahead of the 2026 AIG Women's Open, the closest she had come was runner-up at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship.

With top-10s in all five women's Majors, it is surely a matter of time until Thitikul wins one, but until that day comes, it will remain an obvious omission from an otherwise glittering list of achievements.

Charley Hull

There are few players with more ability than Charley Hull, but does she win often enough given her huge talent?

Some would argue that the nine wins Hull has in her 13-year professional career are a few short of the number she should have at this stage.

However, it's not for the want of trying, particularly in Majors, where she has five runner-up finishes without a title.

The latest of those came at the 2026 US Women's Open, where Nelly Korda beat her by one.

That suggested she still has plenty of appetite to keep pushing, and if she does eventually win a Major, she will certainly have earned it.

Nasa Hataoka

Like Hull, Nasa Hataoka has come agonizingly close to winning a Major without managing it, including two runner-up finishes.

The most recent of those came in the 2021 US Women's Open, when she lost in a playoff to Yuka Saso.

A T6 at the 2026 US Women's Open aside, Hataoka's Major form hasn't been as strong in recent years, although at the age of 27, she should still have plenty of opportunities to add one of the big titles to her list of achievements.

Rose Zhang

After a record-setting amateur career, Rose Zhang arrived on the professional scene with some suggestions that she could be the women's game's equivalent of Tiger Woods.

A win in her first professional start, at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open, only raised expectations, and she followed that up with a second LPGA Tour title at the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup.

Her form has dipped more recently, but Zhang remains one of the most talented young players in women's golf, with plenty of years in the game to realize her huge potential with a Major title.

Angel Yin

It's not often that a Major season goes by without Angel Yin featuring in the top 10 at least once, but despite some remarkable consistency at the events, she hasn't won a title.

The two-time LPGA Tour winner couldn't have got much closer on two occasions, when she was runner-up.

The first time was at the 2019 US Women's Open, when she finished two back of Jeongeun Lee6.

Four years later, she got even closer, taking Lilia Vu to a playoff at the Chevron Championship, missing out after finding the water on the first extra hole as Vu made a birdie.

Carlota Ciganda

Carlota Ciganda is in the latter stages of her career, but the search for a maiden Major title continues.

The Spaniard, who turned professional in 2011, has come close on numerous occasions, recording top-10 finishes in all five Majors and placing third four times.

However, she is now 36, with the clock ticking on her chances of capping a memorable career with one of the biggest titles in the game.

Gaby Lopez

The Mexican is a three-time LPGA Tour winner, but she is yet to get over the line in a Major.

Lopez has four top-10 finishes in the tournaments, including T2 at this year's US Women's Open.

On that occasion, she was left stranded with Hull as Nelly Korda claimed her fourth Major title, but she will surely have found encouragement from running her so close at Riviera Country Club.

Lauren Coughlin

Another three-time LPGA Tour winner still awaiting a Major title is Lauren Coughlin.

The American has rarely brought her best form to the big events, although she still has two top-five finishes in Majors, both of which came in 2024.

The highest of those was T3 at the Chevron Championship, where she led after the first round before missing out to Nelly Korda by three.

A placing of fourth followed at the Amundi Evian Championship later in the year, but she has not really got close since.

Linn Grant

Linn Grant turned professional around the same time as another talented Swede, her friend Maja Stark, in 2021.

However, while Stark claimed her maiden Major title in the 2025 US Women's Open, Grant is still searching for her first success in one of the big events.

She has top 10s in all of them except the Chevron Championship, but three missed cuts and a T61 at the Amundi Evian Championship in 2026 suggested she needed to get back on track.

Grant's best form at Majors could return at any time, and at 27, she will surely have ample opportunities to prove her credentials.

Leona Maguire

Former World No.1 amateur Leona Maguire has built an excellent professional career, including LPGA Tour wins and starring in the Solheim Cup, but she has yet to crack the code in the Majors.

Maguire's best finish came in 2022 with T4 at the AIG Women's Open, but that's one of just four top-10s in the big events.

The most recent came in 2025, when she placed T7 at the Amundi Evian Championship, but before the AIG Women's Open, her 2026 Major season had been disappointing.

She'll be hoping to bounce back sooner rather than later, beginning at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Hye Jin Choi

Choi has 12 LPGA of Korea Tour wins, and she has demonstrated that form in the Majors, too, with seven top-10s, three of which came in 2025.

Ahead of the 2026 AIG Women's Open, the South Korean's Major season wasn't quite as productive.

Still, considering her record, she'll surely feel she can find her best form sooner rather than later as she continues striving for her maiden Major title.

Megan Khang

Another player with top-10 finishes in all five Majors is Megan Khang.

The closest the American has come to getting over the line is T3 at the 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, but it is far from the only time she has been firmly in contention, only to come up short.

Overall, Khang has 11 top-10 finishes in a Major without lifting a trophy.

Khang also had to wait before winning her maiden LPGA Tour title, with victory finally coming in 2023 after 33 top 10s.

That will give her hope that, where it comes to a Major title, patience could be a virtue.

Lottie Woad

Of all the players on this list, Lottie Woad is the least experienced, with the 22-year-old only turning pro in 2025.

She soon made her mark, though, winning the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in her first professional start.

By that point, she had already made an impression at Majors, winning low amateur honors with a T10 at the 2024 AIG Women's Open and T3 at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship.

With four top-10 Major finishes in a little more than two years, it appears only a matter of time before she wins her maiden Major title.

Akie Awai

Akie Awai is a six-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, while she also has an LPGA Tour title to her name. To add to her growing reputation, she has a solid record in Majors, too.

The Japanese star only made her Major debut in 2023, but she has placed in the top-10 three times, including third at the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship.

At the age of just 24, there is no hurry for Awai to win a Major, although the early signs indicate she will get there at some stage.

Chizzy Iwai

Like her twin sister Akie, Chizzy Iwai has multiple LPGA of Japan Tour titles and an LPGA Tour victory under her belt.

She hasn't made as big an impact as Akie in the events so far, but the 24-year-old has shown glimpses, including T4 at the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

While we await either Iwai sister to get over the line at a Major, it seems likely that at least one of them will achieve the feat as their careers progress.

Big changes are coming to the PGA Tour for 2028 and we're starting to see exactly what that looks like with four tournaments confirmed for the new-look Championship Series calendar after the Arnold Palmer Invitational was officially announced.

Brian Rolapp unveiled his vision for the new PGA Tour in June, with a new two-tier system coming into operation along with changes such as matchplay being introduced for the season-ending Tour Championship.

The Championship Series will contain 15 events outside of the Majors and Players Championship, with 120 players battling for $20m prize purses and a focus on iconic golf courses as venues.

Below that will sit the Challenger Series, with fields of 144 playing for $4m each week and some events given full exposure being played during off weeks for the top tier.

And we now know four of the 15 Championship Series events, with two iconic venues as expected being among the first names on the new-look calendar.

The Sentry at Torrey Pines has officially been named as a 2028 Championship Series event, and it could well be the season opener in what will be a landmark campaign on the PGA Tour.

Sentry is taking over from Farmers Insurance as title sponsor of the former San Diego Open, following the removal of the Tournamanet of Champions in Hawaii from the PGA Tour schedule.

So the software giant will now put its name on the event at the brilliant Torrey Pines, which has staged a PGA Tour event since 1952 and also hosted the US Open twice.

Joining The Sentry will be the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill - the latest event to be announced by the PGA Tour on Thursday.

And the Travelers Championship, another $20m Signature Event for the last three years, played at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, has also been confirmed in the line-up.

The fourth event confirmed for the 2028 Championship Series still has some pretty important details to be finalized - namely a host market and course.

An announcement was made though to welcome new sponsor Sompo, a Japanese insurance firm, to the PGA Tour as it will back an event next year at Silverado Resort’s North Course in Napa, California.

Taking place at the end of July 2027, the Sompo Championship will effectively replace the departing Rocket Classic in Detroit, but for 2028 it will move to a new permanent home which is reportedly most likely to be in Seattle.

So that's four of the slated 15 Championship Series events confirmed, which ones will be next?

Which current events or new courses would you like to see on the PGA Tour Championship Series in 2028? Let us know by joining the conversation below..

Which events & venues will join 2028 Championship Series?

The Travelers and Arnold Palmer Invitational were two of eight Signature Events this year, and all of the remaining six are expected to make it onto the Championship Series schedule.

So the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, RBC Heritage, Cadillac Championship, Truist Championship and The Memorial should all follow.

The Genesis has the most doubts surrounding it purely due to Riviera playing host to the Olympics in 2028, so it may be that an alternative venue is named initially.

You'd have to imagine the WM Phoenix Open will make it as one of the loudest and most attended events on the PGA Tour, and many believe it will be named as a top tier event soon.

Rolapp has also targeted new markets to explore for these new big events, and with Seattle set to get the Sompo Championship it leaves the likes of New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Denver as likely landing spots.