Today in Golf for May 19th, 2025, recaps Scottie Scheffler's dominant PGA Championship victory at Quail Hollow, his third major title, amidst compelling storylines from Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and the challenging course itself.

• Scottie Scheffler secured his third major title at the PGA Championship, finishing 11-under for a five-stroke win at Quail Hollow, remarkably achieving this despite admitting he wasn't playing his "best stuff" and was "hitting it left."
• Brandel Chamblee highlighted Scheffler's dominance, noting he leads strokes gained approach and total for three years, a feat "only Tiger Woods has done that."
• Emotional 18th green scenes featured caddie Ted Scott, wife Meredith ("So proud of you!"), and their baby ("Hey buddy!"), with Scheffler crediting coach Randy Smith as "family."

• Harris English (final round 65), Bryson DeChambeau (70, lamenting R3 struggles: "It cost me three shots"), and Davis Riley (with a "slam dunk" hole-out) all valiantly chased, ultimately sharing T2, five strokes adrift.
• Paul McGinley on DeChambeau: "If this guy ever figures out the iron play, he is going to be Scottie Scheffler."
• J.T. Poston (T5) fed off the "Hickory shouts" from the home crowd, while Alex Noren faded from the final group with a 76 (T16).

• Jon Rahm (T10) spoke candidly about his intense major hunger ("Hard to express how hungry I may be"), asserting his LIV Golf move wasn't to blame for recent major struggles, citing swing issues.
• Rory McIlroy's T43 finish was marked by a four-day media silence (Rich Beem: "I find that very bizarre") and a non-conforming driver issue earlier in the week.
• Rahm had a memorable fan interaction, signing a glove for a spectator he hit, who joked, "That may not be enough."

• Quail Hollow presented a stern examination, with the infamous "Green Mile" playing a brutal +420 for the field through R3, and the 17th hole yielding just 33.8% GIR on Saturday.
• Champion Scheffler acknowledged the difficulty: "You could hit two good shots and not end up with birdie chances."
• Max Homa endured a frustrating T68 finish, punctuated by a visible club throw, showcasing the immense pressure.

A • Scheffler's bogey-birdie start • Bryson's "golf is the worst four letter word" • Amanda Balionis's 3rd major question to Scottie

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

Recapping Round Three of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where Scottie Scheffler's blistering 65, featuring back-to-back eagles, catapulted him to a three-shot lead heading into a compelling final round.

• Lead bullet – Scottie Scheffler fired a "blistering sixty five," including back-to-back eagles, to seize a three-shot lead at eleven under, masterfully handling Quail Hollow's "really tough" and "gusty" conditions.
• Secondary bullet – He credited a "good little swing thought" from coach Randy Smith about his hips ("Randy saw yesterday was maybe my hips weren't moving the way he wanted to") and was seen grinding on the range post-round.
• Tertiary bullet – Despite his dominance, Scheffler admitted, "Sorry, I'm just nervous," but remained focused on "more good golf" for Sunday, showcasing his relentless pursuit even after an early bogey where he felt he "hit two pretty good shots."

• Lead bullet – Alex Noren's strong sixty six propelled him to solo second at eight under, anticipating "probably a little bit firmer greens" and confident he knows "what you have to do out here."
• Secondary bullet – Jon Rahm is a major factor at six under after a superb sixty seven, declaring he's "as hungry as anybody can be," happy with his game, and even got an "assist from Viktor Hovland on the read."
• Tertiary bullet – Davis Riley (sixty seven) and J.T. Poston (sixty eight) are tied for third at seven under, with Poston recalling a previous day's par save as "big for momentum" because "That felt like it was better than a three."

• Lead bullet – Bryson DeChambeau carded a sixty nine, "Firing up the crowd" with a fist pump on seventeen, while Rory McIlroy's struggles (seventy two, two over) continued, with analysts citing an emotional "hangover."
• Secondary bullet – Paul McGinley suggested McIlroy's recent win meant "This tournament has probably just come a little too early to reset," while Brandel Chamblee called his driving "perhaps the worst I've ever seen him."
• Tertiary bullet – Conversely, former leader Jhonattan Vegas (seventy three), Matt Fitzpatrick (seventy two), and particularly Max Homa, with a "brutal" seventy six, plummeted down the leaderboard as Quail Hollow firmed up.

• Lead bullet – We touched on big names who missed the cut, including Dustin Johnson's poor major form, Brooks Koepka's heckler exchange, and Phil Mickelson's first PGA Championship quadruple bogey.
• Secondary bullet – These stories underscored the challenging nature of Quail Hollow, with questions like "What has gone wrong for the Liv Golf star?" for DJ, and Koepka retorting, "You want to come down here and say it?"
• Tertiary bullet – Frank Nobilo also praised Bryson DeChambeau's pitching wedge on thirteen as "sensational," a bright spot amidst the widespread difficulty on the course.

A • Scheffler's hip fix from Randy Smith • Rahm's "Five wood draw" confirmation • Rory's orange shirt speculation & media silence

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

Friday's PGA Championship Round Two saw Jhonattan Vegas cling to his lead at eight-under despite a late stumble, as Matthieu Pavon and Max Homa surged with brilliant rounds to challenge at Quail Hollow.

• Lead bullet – Jhonattan Vegas (-8) bravely held his PGA Championship lead after a 70, battling sleep deprivation ("felt like I only got three hours sleep") and a final-hole double bogey, emphasizing his new major mindset to "test your game."
• Secondary bullet – Vegas admitted his fatigue, stating, "It felt like I only got three hours sleep," but remains focused on his goal to "put yourself in positions."
• Tertiary bullet – Despite the late double, Vegas's resilience kept him atop a leaderboard packed with chasing stars looking to capitalize on any mistake.

• Lead bullet – Matthieu Pavon (65) and Max Homa (64) lit up Quail Hollow, with Pavon matching the lowest major round by a Frenchman and Homa carding a career-best major score to sit T2 alongside Si Woo Kim (64).
• Secondary bullet – Pavon credited "a clear game plan" for his bogey-free day and noted mud balls as a key challenge: "the guy who's going to do the best is the guy who's going to deal the best with it."
• Tertiary bullet – Homa's 64 featured a near ace on the 14th, humorously described as "one of the rare occasions in golf where the further you walk up to the green, the closer it got," and he also discussed his "stonecutter credo."

• Lead bullet – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (-5) voiced strong frustration with mud balls and rules decisions, stating one ruling was "completely taken away from us" and declaring, "this is going to be the last answer that I give on this subject [mud balls]."
• Secondary bullet – Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth battled hard to make the weekend, with CBS commentators noting Rory's need to "get off the mat" to continue his challenge.
• Tertiary bullet – Matt Fitzpatrick (T2) lamented "It is the worst I've ever played" despite his position, and weighed in on the 'lift, clean, and place' debate, suggesting officials "just don't like the look" of invoking it.

• Lead bullet – Major shockwaves as defending champion Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson all missed the cut, with Koepka's form called part of "the worst stretch of his professional career... since his twenty twenty three PGA triumph" by Brandel Chamblee.
• Secondary bullet – Chris DiMarco credited his "old i two tens" irons and Quail Hollow's "perfect" greens, while Tom McKibbin felt his Liv Golf experience ("it's not too much of a surprise to me anymore") prepared him for big events.
• Tertiary bullet – Tyrrell Hatton's temper flared again, with one outburst described as potentially warranting "a response from the North Carolina Mecklenburg Police Department," while veteran Richard Bland played solidly to sit at three-under.

A • Vegas: "three hours sleep" • Pavon: mud ball mastery key • Homa: "stonecutter credo" • Scheffler: done with mud talk • Koepka's "worst stretch"

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

Today's PGA Championship first round saw Jhonattan Vegas shoot a career-best 64 to lead, while a controversial 'mud ball' situation frustrated players and several top stars struggled.

• Lead bullet – 40-year-old Jhonattan Vegas fired a career-best major round of 7-under 64 to take a surprising two-shot lead at the PGA Championship, calling his performance "Incredible."
• Secondary bullet – Rookie Ryan Gerard (66), hearing "so many Go Heels today," and Cam Davis (66), crediting "good preparation," sit T2.
• Tertiary bullet – Alternate Alex Smalley (67) also impressed, having "prepared just like I could any other tournament."

• Lead bullet – The PGA of America's decision against preferred lies despite rain sparked a "mud ball" controversy, with their "outstanding" playing surfaces statement clashing sharply with widespread player discontent.
• Secondary bullet – Scottie Scheffler (69) found it "frustrating," while Xander Schauffele (72) termed a 16th-hole incident "ridiculous" and "kind of stupid," predicting mud balls would "get worse."
• Tertiary bullet – While Tommy Fleetwood (70) was accepting ("it's up to you to figure out how to control your ball"), Jon Rahm (70) was surprised by the no-lift-clean-and-place rule.

• Lead bullet – Several pre-tournament favorites stumbled, including Rory McIlroy (74) battling accuracy (hitting only 4 fairways), and Jordan Spieth (76) whose Grand Slam quest took a significant hit.
• Secondary bullet – Spieth's struggle was poignant given his past desire to win this major ("if I could only win one tournament... I'd pick this one"); other notables struggling included Thomas (73), Koepka (75), DJ (78), and Mickelson (79).
• Tertiary bullet – LIV Golfers saw mixed fortunes; Paul McGinley's pre-tournament critique about their major performances ("Bar Brooks and Bryson the rest have not turned up seriously") gained traction as many faltered.

A • Hatton's hot mic ("worst blinking...") • Scott (69) starts strong on "brutal" Quail finish • McIlroy's 4 fairways & "misalignment" talk

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

Today's episode dives into the PGA Championship's distinct identity as described by top players, Rory McIlroy's liberated post-Masters mindset, the intense Grand Slam aspirations, and early Ryder Cup selection strategies.

• Lead bullet – Jon Rahm highlights the PGA Championship's "versatility and variability" as its unique challenge, a sentiment echoed by Justin Thomas who notes "there is no classic PGA Championship venue."
• Secondary bullet – Kerry Haigh aims for a "strong but fair" setup, with Rahm describing Quail Hollow's current conditions as "amazing" with "firm" and "lightning fast" greens.
• Tertiary bullet – Rahm admits his record is comparatively weaker at this major due to its ever-changing nature, where "everything is drastically different" each year.

• Lead bullet – Rory McIlroy, believed by Jim Nantz to be playing "without a burden," reflects on his Masters win as a potential career highlight and coolly addresses Bryson DeChambeau's comments, while the Grand Slam remains a huge focus.
• Secondary bullet – Jordan Spieth passionately states, "if I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I'd pick this one," receiving Gary Player's public support for his quest.
• Tertiary bullet – Justin Thomas admitted Rory's win sparked "competitive jealousy," while Jon Rahm offers a different perspective, preferring a "Sir Nick Faldo" scenario of "six of two of them" if the slam isn't achieved.

• Lead bullet – European Captain Luke Donald seeks his "best twelve" for the Ryder Cup, considering stats, "gut instinct and personality matchups," and even "golf balls," noting "no assurances have been given right now" for players like Rahm.
• Secondary bullet – Bryson DeChambeau is "still grinding," having "Figured a couple things out with my golf swing," and is keen for another McIlroy battle, while Scottie Scheffler maintains his "endless pursuit of getting the best out of yourself."
• Tertiary bullet – Shane Lowry bluntly states his "bad" record at Quail Hollow ("no record around here at all"), while Xander Schauffele remains pragmatic about major wins and downplays Rahm's praise of his putting.

A • Nelly Korda's SI Swimsuit feature inspires • PGA Tour 2K adds Old Course & Schwab Challenge course • Padraig Harrington reflects on early tour transition • Rahm defers Ryder Cup selection questions to Donald.

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

Rory's Post-Masters Mindset & Spieth's Slam Quest at Quail Hollow; Plus Bryson, Rahm & Injury News

Episode Brief This episode (Date of Recording) dives deep into the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, analyzing top contenders like McIlroy and Spieth, their Grand Slam narratives, key player strategies, and crucial fitness updates.

• Lead bullet – Rory McIlroy approaches the PGA at Quail Hollow feeling 'lighter' post-Masters Grand Slam, despite Padraig Harrington's 'new burden' theory, leveraging his stellar course record and reduced tour politics involvement.
• Secondary bullet – Jordan Spieth, inspired by Rory, targets his ninth career Grand Slam attempt at the PGA, reporting positive wrist recovery and growing confidence.
• Tertiary bullet – Bryson DeChambeau discusses his respectful rivalry with McIlroy and past health battles, while Jon Rahm shares a Nicklaus-inspired mental strategy for major championships.

• Lead bullet – Scottie Scheffler looks forward to his marquee pairing (McIlroy, Schauffele), Xander Schauffele aims to defend and challenge a 'freer' Rory, while Justin Thomas feels renewed Grand Slam ambition.
• Secondary bullet – Daniel Berger makes a welcome return from a long back injury, but Sahith Theegala's participation is uncertain due to a neck issue.
• Tertiary bullet – Several veterans like John Daly, Vijay Singh, Y.E. Yang, and Davis Love III will miss the PGA for the Regions Tradition; Billy Horschel is out post-hip surgery.

Rory's 2-year Aussie Open deal • Rahm values multiple majors over *just* the Slam • Spieth's wrist feeling good

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

This May 13th episode dives deep into the PGA Championship build-up, analyzing Rory McIlroy's Grand Slam quest, Scottie Scheffler's dominance, and other key storylines emerging from recent Tour action.

• Lead bullet – Focus shifts to Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship, with Rory McIlroy (+500) seeking the career Grand Slam despite recent driving woes (hitting just 8 of 28 fairways over the weekend at Truist), facing off against dominant World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+450).
• Secondary bullet – Scheffler enters fresh off a record-tying -31 victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, though questions linger about his limited Quail Hollow experience (0-3-1 at the 2022 Presidents Cup).
• Tertiary bullet – Defending champion Xander Schauffele hosted the Champions Dinner, treating past winners to smoked goat cheese dates and Wagyu New York strip steak ahead of his title defense on a course where he holds a strong record.

• Lead bullet – Jordan Spieth makes his ninth attempt at the career Grand Slam, quipping about Quail Hollow being "Rory McIlroy Country Club" after a closing 62 at the CJ Cup, while Jon Rahm's major form remains a question despite Liv success.
• Secondary bullet – Keep an eye on recent Liv Golf Korea winner Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, who finished T2 at the Truist Championship and won the 2017 PGA at this very course (Quail Hollow).
• Tertiary bullet – Analyst Jeff Sherman still believes in Rahm, who provided a lighter moment failing to recognize teammate Tyrrell Hatton's childhood photo in a humorous video clip.

• Lead bullet – Jeeno Thitikul captured her fifth LPGA title with a flawless bogey-free final 27 holes at the Mizuho Americas Open to reach World No. 2, while Ryan Fox secured his maiden PGA Tour win at the Myrtle Beach Classic.
• Secondary bullet – Fox sealed the Myrtle Beach Classic victory with a dramatic playoff chip-in, dedicating the Mother's Day trophy to his wife.
• Tertiary bullet – Veteran Richard Bland notably prioritized sleep and preparation over a dinner invitation with former President Donald Trump ahead of a tournament.

A • Sahith Theegala's PGA status uncertain due to neck injury withdrawal from Truist • Kai Trump commits to University of Miami golf (Fall '26) • New 165,000 sq ft PGA TOUR Studios facility opens in Ponte Vedra Beach, featuring Tiger Woods.

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

This Mother's Day weekend, Sepp Straka emotionally clinched his second PGA Tour victory of 2025 at the Truist Championship, while Ryan Fox dramatically chipped in for his maiden Tour title at the Myrtle Beach Classic.

• Lead bullet – Sepp Straka captured a poignant Mother's Day Truist Championship victory at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, his second of 2025, marked by emotional family reflections and overcoming immense pressure.
• Secondary bullet – Straka (-16), who shared the 54-hole lead, credited a "takeaway tweak" and stellar mid-range putting for his win, admitting he was "nauseous" from pressure despite not his best ball-striking.
• Tertiary bullet – The Austrian proudly represented his country, celebrating with family (wife Paige, child Leo) in Flourtown, where his parents met, and reflecting on overcoming past chipping yips.

• Lead bullet – Ryan Fox secured his maiden PGA Tour title at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic, sinking a stunning chip-in birdie on the first playoff hole against Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs.
• Secondary bullet – Fox (-15, R4 66) drew on DP World Tour experience for composure, with the win (witnessed by wife & daughters) significantly boosting his season and PGA Championship qualification.
• Tertiary bullet – Players praised the debuting Dunes course; Harry Higgs showed class (writing "be a savage"), while Mackenzie Hughes benefited from a "gift from the golf gods" bounce in the playoff.

A • JT & Lowry T2 at Truist (-14) • Rory: Wissahickon "too short," preps for Quail • Finau's Mother's Day charity raises $25k

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