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Rory McIlroy Suggests PGA Tour Should Play Less in ‘Diminished’ Golf Ecosystem
Rory McIlroy is cutting down the number of times he will play in 2025—and for the sport’s health, he feels the PGA Tour should do the same.
“I think 47 or 50 tournaments a year is definitely too many,” the 35-year-old said Tuesday ahead of his season debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Ratings and interest in the sport appears to be waning. The first reason could be that the professional game is fractured, and McIlroy said that he “would like to think that something happens pretty soon” regarding the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. However, there have been other initiatives to drive viewership in golf, such as the TGL and YouTube influencers.
But it has created a saturated golf landscape.
“I think (the golf ecosystem) already has been diminished,” McIlroy said. “I would say yeah, look, the one thing about TGL’s only going to last two months. You get this sort of big burst of it in January, February and a little bit of March, then it’s done. It’s gone for 10 months basically. I would say that is hopefully somewhat additive to the ecosystem.
“YouTube is like golf entertainment-adjacent, whatever. Those guys are killing it. They found a niche and it’s really cool and it serves a purpose for a lot of people.”
McIlroy, though, sees the pros and cons of all these forms of golf.
“Look, I would much rather sit down and watch real golfers play real tournaments and that’s just my opinion,” the Northern Irishman said. “That to me is more entertaining. But I understand that other people want something different and that’s totally fine as well.
“I think there’s space for all of this. Yeah, I can see when the golf consumer might get a little fatigued of everything that’s sort of available to them. So to scale it back a little bit and maybe have a little more scarcity in some of the stuff that we do, like the NFL, I think mightn’t be a bad thing.”
Even with several stars playing on LIV, McIlroy believes “the majority of probably the best players in the world are still” on the PGA Tour. Therefore, aside from playing less, he’s aware of other suggestions to improve the product, such as playing classic venues, speeding up the pace of play and more engagement with the fans, which Justin Thomas has lobbied for.
But that likely won’t happen overnight. So if people don’t want to watch what the sport currently has to offer, McIlroy is fine with that.
“There’s a lot of things about golf that are very different than other sports, but I think that’s what makes it unique,” the four-time major champion said. “I don’t think we should try to dumb down golf to appeal to more people.
“Golf is golf at the end of the day. It’s been this way for hundreds of years. I really like the way golf is and I think a lot of other people do, too, but I still understand the critiques of how the entertainment product could get better. It’s a multifaceted thing and I think pace of play is one thing. Player accessibility and all that, that’s what we’re talking about, but it takes a while to put that sort of ball into motion.
“These are all the things that have been getting kicked around. But like first and foremost we’re professional golfers, we want to go out there and shoot the best score possible that we can and try to beat each other. Hopefully, people find that entertaining, and if not, then I don’t know what to tell them.”
Rory McIlroy, one of the top golfers in the world, recently made a suggestion that has sparked some debate among golf fans and professionals. In a recent interview, McIlroy expressed his belief that the PGA Tour should consider playing fewer events in order to preserve the integrity of the sport in what he called a “diminished” golf ecosystem.McIlroy pointed out that the current schedule of events, with tournaments taking place nearly every week throughout the year, can be exhausting for players and may lead to a decrease in the overall quality of play. He argued that by reducing the number of events, players would have more time to rest and prepare for the tournaments they do play in, ultimately leading to better performances on the course.
While some may see McIlroy’s suggestion as controversial, others have supported his stance, noting that a more condensed schedule could help to increase the prestige of each individual event and create more excitement for fans.
As the PGA Tour continues to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of professional golf, it will be interesting to see if McIlroy’s idea gains traction and leads to any changes in the schedule. In the meantime, fans can look forward to watching McIlroy and other top players compete in the many events on the PGA Tour calendar.
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#Rory #McIlroy #Suggests #PGA #Tour #Play #Diminished #Golf #EcosystemRory McIlroy, Shane Lowry chasing Sepp Straka after windy, rainy day at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Sepp Straka took a trip down to the beach that derailed his round Saturday, and then recovered with four birdies on his last five holes in a cold, whipping wind for a 2-under 70 to reclaim the lead over the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
McIlroy was practically flawless, at least in the nasty conditions, by getting through the exposed stretch of Pebble Beach without dropping a shot and chipping his way around for a bogey-free 65.
Lowry got off to a birdie-eagle-birdie start that allowed for a few mistakes around the turn and he finished with two birdies on the last three holes for a 65.
Just don’t get the idea Irish weather was well-suited for McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Lowry (Ireland), especially because they now are neighbors in South Florida.
“It might suit me somewhat, but I don’t enjoy it,” Lowry said. “I live in Florida for a reason. I think my game is well-equipped to handle these conditions and I go out there, kind of no fear, and I know I just need to batten down the hatches and make pars when I can.”
The second signature event of the year produced big names at the top, and this one had a distinctive Ryder Cup feel — European, that is.
Straka, the Austrian-born Georgia Bulldog coming off a win in the California desert, blasted out of the sand to 4 feet for one last birdie that putt him at 16-under 200, one shot ahead of McIlroy and Lowry, his Ryder Cup teammates from Marco Simone.
Justin Rose of England, a Pebble Beach winner in 2023 and part of Team Europe later that year, was another shot behind.
Scottie Scheffler, in his 2025 debut delayed by his hand surgery from a freak puncture wound, held it together for a 69 and was six shots behind.
Gone are the days of the old Crosby Clambake, with amateurs having left on Friday. But it was reminiscent of the Clambake weather, not the prettiest pictures but a delight to see golf’s best players have their hands full with a wind ripping off the Pacific Ocean.
Scheffler couldn’t believe it when he hit a 5-iron as pure as can be on the 10th hole and watched it fly only 155 yards, 20 yards short of his target. Lowry knows the feeling. He drilled a 3-iron and came up short.
McIlroy had a suitable game plan. When the wind arrived as he was on the sixth hole, he said he turned to caddie Harry Diamond and said, “Let’s try to chip the ball around today.”
“I feel like I didn’t make a full swing after that,” McIlroy said.
Here’s a look at tee times, groupings and how to watch the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He had to save par six times from the rough and bunkers, none more valuable than from down in the high grass below the 10th green to 6 feet and a key par putt.
“That was a key up-and-down to just to keep the momentum of the round going,” he said.
The 10th hole is where Straka nearly came undone. His approach sailed well to the right, over the cliff and onto the beach. He went down to the sand and picked up his golf ball, taking the penalty shot instead of trying the dramatic shot off the beach, and did well to salvage bogey.
But he bogeyed the next two holes, going from a four-shot lead early in the round to trailing by two shots. Straka, though, is equipped with newfound confidence and steadied himself on the way in with birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, a 30-foot birdie putt for the only birdie of the day on the par-3 17th and his closing birdie.
It sets up a final round in which six players are separated by two shots and Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, hanging around on the edge of contention. He didn’t birdie a par 5 until the last hole — two par 5s on the front were in benign conditions — but made a pair of birdies late.
“I hung in there on a day where I didn’t have my best stuff,” Scheffler said.
McIlroy doesn’t usually have great success on the West Coast — his lone California victory was in early May in the Match Play at Harding Park in 2015 — but has talked about this being a big year for him on several front. Pebble Beach wasn’t at the front of his mind, but it is now.
“It’s really cool to be in contention this early in the season,” he said.
McIlroy and Lowry both began the week making a hole-in-one — Lowry on the seventh hole at Pebble Beach, McIlroy on the 15th at Spyglass — and now the longtime friends from Irish golf will be in the final group with Straka.
“There’s a few courses in the world that you would like to win on and this is definitely one of them,” Lowry said. “So you try not to think about stuff like that and hopefully it comes to you someday.”
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are in hot pursuit of Sepp Straka after a windy and rainy day at Pebble Beach. The challenging conditions didn’t seem to faze Straka, who managed to hold onto his lead heading into the final round of the tournament.McIlroy and Lowry, however, are not far behind and are determined to close the gap and come out on top. With their skill and experience, they are sure to put up a tough fight in what promises to be an exciting finish.
Stay tuned as these talented golfers battle it out in what is sure to be a thrilling conclusion to the tournament at Pebble Beach. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell.
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Rory McIlroy aces 15th hole at Spyglass Hill in PGA Tour return
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — It took only six holes for Rory McIlroy to make a splash in his season debut on the PGA Tour.
Playing in Thursday’s first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, McIlroy aced the par-3 15th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. With just 119 yards to the hole, the world No. 3 sawed off a wedge and flew the ball straight into the cup, rattling the flagstick on its way down.
“It’s such an elevated tee that the ball’s in the air and you know it’s on line but you don’t know whether to say go or sit or spin or release or whatever,” McIlroy said. “It’s sort of weird, you’re looking at it and you’re sort of watching where it might land on the green, and the thing just disappears.”
It was the second career ace on the PGA Tour for McIlroy, who made his first during the first round of the 2023 Travelers Championship.
“Honestly, it was lucky, I don’t see many balls nowadays go straight in the hole and stay in the hole,” McIlroy said of Thursday’s ace. “Pretty fortunate because it could have come out and went back in the water or do anything. It was a good swing, good wedge shot.”
The hole-in-one pushed McIlroy — who started his round on the 10th hole — to 3-under through six holes and near the top of the leaderboard in the early stages of the tournament. He finished his round with three birdies in his final four holes for a 6-under 66 and sits two shots back of Russell Henley‘s lead.
Prior to this week, McIlroy had not played on the PGA Tour since the Tour Championship in early September. He won once on tour in 2024 and finished second to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open.
McIlroy said Thursday he played more golf, mostly socially, than usual between the end of the 2024 season and the beginning of this one, which has helped him feel more ready than usual at this point in the year.
“I’m maybe not searching as much,” he said. “I stayed pretty busy in that October period where I did a lot of swing work. Then I also played quite a lot of golf in December, which I don’t usually play, so I felt like that kept me a little more sharp.”
The last player to ace the 15th hole at Spyglass was Justin Rose in 2023. He went on to win the tournament.
Just hours after McIlroy made his ace, Shane Lowry followed suit and made an ace of his own on Pebble Beach’s iconic par-3 7th hole. The hole was playing 113 yards Thursday and Lowry’s ball landed short of the hole and spun right into it, sending Lowry and his playing partners into celebration.
As pointed out by golf statistician Justin Ray, Lowry — who also shot 66 on Thursday — now has three career aces on tour — at TPC Sawgrass’s 17th hole, Augusta National’s 16th hole and now Pebble’s 7th.
Rory McIlroy aces 15th hole at Spyglass Hill in PGA Tour returnIn a stunning display of skill and precision, Rory McIlroy hit a hole-in-one on the 15th hole at Spyglass Hill during his PGA Tour return. The crowd erupted in cheers as the ball sailed through the air and landed directly in the cup, securing McIlroy an eagle on the challenging par-3 hole.
McIlroy’s ace was a highlight of his round, showcasing his mastery of the game and reaffirming his status as one of the top golfers in the world. The moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media, with fans and fellow players alike praising McIlroy’s incredible shot.
After a brief celebration, McIlroy continued his round with confidence and poise, finishing the day with a solid score and setting himself up for a strong performance in the tournament. His ace on the 15th hole will surely be remembered as one of the standout moments of the event, further solidifying McIlroy’s place in golfing history.
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McIlroy and Lowry come up aces, Scheffler back with a 67 and Henley takes Pebble Beach lead
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry decorated stunning views Thursday with a hole-in-one for each on different courses. Russell Henley birdied his last two holes for an 8-under 64 and the lead. And there was Scottie Scheffler, looking very much like he was never away.
Scheffler, out of golf for a month from a freak injury making ravioli, opened with a bogey at Spyglass Hill, didn’t make another bogey the rest of the way, missed only one green and began his encore with a 67.
“I like what I saw today,” Scheffler said, who wound up missing two tournaments to start the year. “I hit a few errant shots out there, but overall kept the course in front of me for the most part, so I was able to make a decent amount of birdies.”
Jordan Spieth, the three-time major champion who last played in August before season-ending surgery on his left wrist, had the birdies dry up after a solid start on the back nine at Spyglass Hill, and he had to settle for a 70.
The conditions were as calm as they probably will get this week, with some cloud cover and cool weather. Pebble Beach typically is the place to be when the wind doesn’t blow because of the scoring opportunities, particularly on the first seven holes. It’s the worst place to be — in golf competition terms, anyway — when the wind arrives.
The crowd was relatively quiet — the product of a signature event and losing 76 players and amateurs, for decades the fabric of the AT&T — until coming to life as Scheffler’s fairway metal barely covered the bunker on the par-5 14 to set up an eagle putt.
But it wasn’t for Scheffler. McIlroy was playing ahead of him, and his sand wedge from 119 yards flew straight into the cup for an ace.
“It’s such an elevated tee that the ball’s in the air and you know it’s on line but you don’t know whether to say, ‘Go!’ or ‘Sit!’ or ‘Spin,’ or ‘Release’ or whatever,” McIlroy said. “You’re looking at it and you’re watching where it might land on the green and the thing just disappears.”
McIlroy shot 66, including a 33 on the back nine without a 3 on his scorecard. He had a 1 from the ace, a birdie on the par-3 12th and birdies on both par 5s.
RELATED: Rory McIlroy sharp — even perfect, at times — in first round of his PGA Tour season
Lowry was at Pebble Beach when he hit a beauty of 54-degree wedge that landed to the left and rolled into the cup. It was a great shot. And yes, there’s a little fortune for all good golf shots.
Lowry aces Pebble Beach’s iconic 7th hole
Shane Lowry accomplished what just about every golfer must dream of, hitting an ace on Pebble Beach’s iconic 7th hole during Round 1 of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
“Big bounce, it was perfect. It just spun and spun right into the hole. It was pretty cool,” Lowry said. “I know I’m pretty good at times, but you know, a bit of luck every now and then is helpful, too.”
Jim Nantz of CBS Sports, who lives at Pebble, mentioned “Life complete” for Lowry to have made an ace of one of the prettiest — and famous — par 3s in the world. Augusta National might like a word. Lowry also has a hole-in-on on the 16th hole at the Masters, along with a hole-in-one on the island 17th at the TPC Sawgrass. Luck of the Irish, indeed.
RELATED: Shane Lowry one-ups countryman Rory McIlroy with hole-in-one at Pebble Beach’s iconic seventh
Lowry also opened with a 66 and plays Spyglass Hill on Friday, with the chance of wind and rain increasing each day.
Henley was at Spyglass, which had a course average (69.775) that was 1.6 shots more than Pebble Beach. Viktor Hovland, Cam Davis, Jake Knapp and Justin Rose shot 65 at Pebble Beach, while Sepp Straka and Rasmus Hojgaard shot their 65s at Spyglass.
Scheffler went from the hill right of the 10th fairway at Spyglass to a front bunker, blasted out some 20 feet and missed his par putt. That was his only bogey, though he was 1 over until lacing the fairway metal to 30 feet for two-putt birdie on the par-5 14th, just as McIlroy on the hole next to him plucked his ball from the cup.
According to golf analyst Justin Ray, Scheffler had his 100th round on the PGA Tour since 2022 with one bogey or fewer. That’s what McIlroy was raving about when he spoke of golf’s best player earlier in the week. A month away, and a failed attempt at cutting ravioli dough with a wine glass, hasn’t changed that.
McIlroy and Lowry come up aces at Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Scheffler back with a 67 and Henley takes the leadIn a thrilling day of golf at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both came up big with impressive performances on the course. McIlroy, known for his powerful drives and stellar short game, showed why he is one of the top players in the world by carding a stellar round that included multiple birdies and an eagle. Lowry, the 2019 Open Champion, also had a fantastic day, showcasing his precision and skill with a solid round that put him in contention.
Meanwhile, rising star Scottie Scheffler made a strong comeback with a solid 67, putting him in a good position heading into the weekend. Scheffler, who has been making waves on the PGA Tour with his consistent play, showed once again why he is a player to watch out for in the future.
But it was Russell Henley who stole the show, taking the lead at Pebble Beach with a stellar performance that included a flawless round of golf. Henley, known for his consistent play and solid putting, showed why he is a force to be reckoned with on the tour.
As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on these top players as they battle it out for the title at Pebble Beach. Stay tuned for more updates on the action-packed tournament!
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Rory McIlroy hits remarkable slam dunk hole-in-one at Pebble Beach Pro-Am as Scottie Scheffler returns from ‘stupid’ injury
CNN
—
Rory McIlroy hit just the second hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career on Thursday, a remarkable slam dunk ace on Hole 15 of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill.
The four-time major champion, playing in his first PGA Tour event of the year, took a wedge and drilled his shot 119 yards directly into the hole without bouncing, before celebrating with his caddie and playing partners, including Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Åberg. His only other hole-in-one on the Tour came at the Travelers Championship in 2023.
“It’s such an elevated tee that the ball’s in the air and you know it’s online, but you don’t know whether to say ‘Go’ or ‘Sit’ or ‘Spin’ or ‘Release’ or whatever,” he said afterwards. “You’re looking at it and you’re watching where it might land on the green and the thing just disappears.
“It was a good swing, good wedge shot. It was obviously a nice little moment.”
Another of McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates, Shane Lowry, emulated the 26-time PGA Tour winner with his own ace at Pebble Beach’s iconic Hole 7, which he celebrated no less fervently despite the ball taking the more traditional route of landing on the green and rolling in.
It was the third of Lowry’s PGA Tour career, following holes-in-one at the Masters in 2016 and the Players Championship in 2022, and it marked the first time since 2009 that the Pebble Beach tournament has seen more than one ace in a single round, according to Sky Sports.
Both McIlroy and Lowry finished on six-under-par, two shots behind the leader, American Russell Henley. Jake Knapp, Justin Rose, Cam Davis, Sepp Straka, Rasmus Højgaard and Viktor Hovland each finished one shot behind Henley.
The tournament also saw the return of Scottie Scheffler, who was playing in his first competitive tournament of the year after sustaining what he called a “stupid” injury to his hand while rolling out ravioli dough with a wine glass on Christmas Day.
The world No. 1, who missed two tournaments to start the year, opened with a bogey but quickly settled in and made sure it was his only one of the day.
According to golf analyst Justin Ray, it was the 100th PGA Tour round since the beginning of 2022 in which Scheffler has played and made one or fewer bogeys. The American finished five-under-par.
“I like what I saw today,” he said afterwards, per The Associated Press. “I hit a few errant shots out there, but overall kept the course in front of me for the most part, so I was able to make a decent amount of birdies.”
The second round of the tournament begins on Friday.
Rory McIlroy hits remarkable slam dunk hole-in-one at Pebble Beach Pro-Am as Scottie Scheffler returns from ‘stupid’ injuryIn a stunning display of skill and precision, Rory McIlroy wowed spectators at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a jaw-dropping hole-in-one that was nothing short of remarkable. The Northern Irish golfer hit a perfect shot that sailed through the air, bounced on the green, and then rolled straight into the cup for an unforgettable slam dunk ace.
But McIlroy wasn’t the only player making headlines at the prestigious tournament. Scottie Scheffler also made a triumphant return to the course after recovering from what he called a “stupid” injury. The American golfer had been sidelined for weeks due to a freak accident off the course, but he showed no signs of rust as he made his comeback with impressive play.
As the Pebble Beach Pro-Am continues, golf fans around the world are eagerly anticipating more thrilling moments and unforgettable shots from some of the sport’s biggest stars. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from this exciting event.
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Rory McIlroy — Scaling back number of events may aid PGA Tour
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — After an early-morning cross-country flight following his TGL debut in Florida on Monday night, Rory McIlroy arrived at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Tuesday ahead of the PGA Tour’s second signature event of the season.
McIlroy has yet to play stateside this year, but the talk surrounding him Tuesday wasn’t about the state of his game but rather about the state of golf as an entertainment product.
“When we’re growing up dreaming of [being] professional golfers and trying to get the best out of ourselves, the last thing on our mind is being an entertainer,” McIlroy said. “I really like the way golf is, and I think a lot of other people do, too, but I still understand the critiques of how the entertainment product could get better.”
McIlroy acknowledged that the splintering of the game — between PGA Tour events, TGL, LIV (which kicks off its season in Saudi Arabia next week) and the recent rise in popularity for content creator-driven YouTube golf — also might be leading to an oversaturation of the game. TV ratings for PGA Tour events, for example, have seen drops this season.
“I think there’s space for all of this,” McIlroy said. “But I can see when the golf consumer might get a little fatigued.”
In response to concern about other forms of the sport taking away from the PGA Tour, McIlroy said he believes the tour’s product already has been diminished in recent years and that the number of events on the schedule has not helped.
“I think 47 or 50 tournaments a year is definitely too many,” he said. “To scale it back and have a little more scarcity, like the NFL, might not be a bad thing.”
The four-time major winner said Tuesday he likely will play fewer events this season while meeting the minimum requirements to maintain membership on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. The world No. 3 played in 27 events last year; he said Tuesday he expects to play around 22 events this year. McIlroy’s TGL team, Boston Common, also has four regular-season matches remaining.
McIlroy said TGL’s audience has skewed younger, which would accomplish its goal of appealing to that demographic with a “bite-sized” version of the sport. But he remained adamant that competitiveness, above all else, will be the main factor for creating an entertaining product in golf overall.
“We’re professional golfers, we want to go out there and shoot the best score possible that we can and try to beat each other,” McIlroy said. “Hopefully people find that entertaining, and if not, then I don’t know what to tell them.”
With the advent of LIV, however, that competitiveness in the game has suffered due to the exits from the PGA Tour of players such as Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau. And while McIlroy argued Tuesday that the PGA Tour is where most of the best players in the world still remain, he noted the fastest way to improve the entertainment product is to have tournaments featuring all of the best players in the world outside of the four major championships.
“I think in this day and age, you know, it’s become a hobby to bash golf and where golf is and is it entertaining? Is it not entertaining?” McIlroy said. “I came out on the wrong side of it last year, but I would say the last round of the U.S. Open (when he was outdueled by DeChambeau) was pretty entertaining last year, and that was pure competitive golf. I think the more we can get to scenarios like that, the better.”
Even while speaking Tuesday, McIlroy appeared to be grappling with the issue at the crux of what has plagued the sport in recent years — the push and pull between golf’s staunch tradition and its apparent need to evolve.
“I don’t think we should try to dumb down golf to appeal to more people. Golf is golf at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s been this way for hundreds of years. There’s a lot of things about golf that are very different than other sports, but I think that’s what makes it unique.”
Rory McIlroy, one of the top golfers in the world, has recently announced his decision to scale back the number of events he plays on the PGA Tour. This decision has sparked a debate among fans and analysts about whether this move could actually benefit the tour.McIlroy, who is known for his aggressive playing style and intense schedule, has stated that he wants to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to his tournament schedule. By playing in fewer events, he believes he can better maintain his physical and mental health, as well as improve his performance in the events he does play in.
Some argue that McIlroy’s decision could actually benefit the PGA Tour as a whole. By reducing the number of events he plays in, McIlroy may be able to bring more attention and excitement to the tournaments he does participate in. This could lead to increased viewership, ticket sales, and sponsorships for those events, ultimately benefiting the tour as a whole.
On the other hand, some worry that McIlroy’s absence from certain events could hurt the overall competitiveness and star power of the tour. Without one of the top players in the world at every event, some fear that fans may lose interest in those tournaments and the tour as a whole.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether McIlroy’s decision to scale back his number of events will have a positive or negative impact on the PGA Tour. But one thing is certain: his presence and performance on the tour will continue to be a major factor in shaping the future of professional golf.
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#Rory #McIlroy #Scaling #number #events #aid #PGA #TourRory McIlroy has 1 joke — after hearing about Scottie Scheffler’s hand injury
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler last June at the U.S. Open.
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For Rory McIlroy, things didn’t add up. He seemingly had done the math.
Last year, Scottie Scheffler earned over $29 million in PGA Tour prize money, right? Check.
Over his career, he’s up to $71 million, which puts him third on the Tour’s all-time list, behind just Tiger Woods and McIlroy himself, right? Check.
And Scheffler hurt himself — cooking ravioli at Christmas? Also check.
The news stunned when it started to circulate on Dec. 27. Scheffler, the world No. 1 and a nine-time winner last year, punctured his right hand with glass and needed surgery, his manager, Blake Smith, said. He’d also need to miss tournament play.
He missed four events. This week, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Scheffler is back. During his time away, he said he reflected some, an exercise he said he rarely does. “I just really wanted to jog my memory,” Scheffler said earlier this month. “And since I wasn’t able to play golf, I tried to almost train a little bit at home where I was reminding my brain of what I was feeling over certain shots and how my hands felt on the club and stuff like that. So I wasn’t, you know, totally checking out from golf, if that makes sense.”
But after hearing about the injury, McIlroy had a question on Tuesday in his pre-Pebble press conference.
He was wondering about the dinner prep. And the money made.
“I think he made enough money to hire a chef,” McIlroy cracked. “It’s like why are you cooking yourself?
“I was hoping it was going to be more of a fun story than that. We were together in Vegas on the 17th of December and played that match with Brooks and Bryson. Firstly, just concern and hope he was OK. It sounds like he is. It’s good that he’s teeing it up this week.
“Yeah, get a chef.”
Should you be curious, Scheffler later said he does have one. It’s his wife, Meredith. “She’s pretty cute,” he said.
Scottie Scheffler’s surprising secret for hitting more greens
On a slightly more serious note, McIlroy was also asked what he felt stood out in Scheffler’s 2024 campaign, outside of the basic statistics. It was an engaging question, as it gives you a bit of a window into what McIlroy values.
“I’ve never — this is anyone, this is Tiger, this is in the history of golf — I don’t think I’ve ever seen a golfer play as many bogey-free rounds as Scottie,” McIlroy said. “He just doesn’t make mistakes. It’s so impressive. He plays the right shot at the right time over and over and over again. You obviously need the technical ability to be able to do that, but he doesn’t make mistakes. And when you don’t make mistakes on the golf course, the game can become pretty easy.
“So super impressive. If he continues to do that, he’s going to be the dominant force that he was last year and the year before that.”
But is McIlroy right? On the stats page on the PGA Tour’s website, bogey-free rounds are not listed, though in looking at 2024, golf stats guru Justin Ray tweeted on Aug. 15 that Xander Schauffele had carded his Tour-best 19th bogey-free round, which was five better than Scheffler, the next-best pro in the category. (From that point, over 12 rounds, Schauffele and Scheffler posted three more bogey-free scorecards, though two of Scheffler’s came at the Hero World Challenge.)
Still, Scheffler’s bogey-free play is impressive. Below is a look at where the rounds were played.
– Sentry round 1, Jan. 4
– American Express round 2, Jan. 19
– American Express round 4, Jan. 21
– AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am round 2, Feb. 2
– WM Phoenix Open round 2, Feb. 9
– Arnold Palmer Invitational round 4, March 10
– Players Championship, round 4, March 17
– Texas Children’s Houston Open round 1, March 28
– Masters round 1, April 11
– RBC Heritage round 2, April 19
– RBC Heritage round 3, April 20
– Charles Schwab Challenge round 2, May 24
– Charles Schwab Challenge round 3, May 25
– Travelers Championship round 4, June 23
– FedEx St. Jude Championship round 2, Aug. 16
– Hero World Challenge round 2, Dec. 6
– Hero World Challenge round 4, Dec. 8
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am betting guide: 5 picks our gambling expert loves this week
“It’s a simple way to put it,” Scheffler said, “but I think having superior control of my golf ball is what enabled me to not make a lot of mistakes. That’s like having a good feel where my swing’s at so I know how to manage my way around the course, playing the appropriate shot. I made plenty of mistakes, but I think it’s more about managing where the miss is. And when I have a really good feel where the club is as I did for a lot of last season, I’m able to really work my way around the golf course.
“It’s a lot simpler than just not making a mistake. It’s easy to say play it to the middle of the green, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to hit the shots. I think at times last year I just had really good control of my ball and that’s how I was able to avoid the mistakes.”
There is also this: On July 25, Ray shared that Lydia Ko had posted her 131st bogey-free round since the start of the 2014 season — and the next-closest pro over that period (Lizette Salas) was at 84. (To finish the season, Ko posted seven more bogey-free rounds — the first, second and fourth rounds of the Kroger Queen City Championship, the first and second rounds of the BMW Ladies Championship, the third round of the Annika, and the fourth round of the CME Group Tour Championship.)
As news of Scottie Scheffler’s hand injury spreads, Rory McIlroy has just one joke to share: “Looks like Scottie’s got a real ‘grip’ on the situation!” Wishing Scottie a speedy recovery and lots of laughter along the way. #GetWellSoonScottie #GolfHumor
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Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, golf, hand injury, joke, humor, PGA Tour, professional golf, sports injury, witty response, golf news, golf humor, golf rivalry
#Rory #McIlroy #joke #hearing #Scottie #Schefflers #hand #injuryMonday Leaderboard: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy face off at last in TGL
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are ready to do battle in TGL. (Mike Ehrmann/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images) Welcome to the Monday Leaderboard, where we run down the weekend’s top stories in the wonderful world of golf. Grab an Arnold Palmer, pull up a chair and get ready for a battle of titans …
1. Tiger vs. Rory: TGL’s marquee match has arrived
Think what you will about TGL, the new indoor golf league — fun addition to the golf universe or strange made-for-TV aberration — but it’s undeniable that we’ve arrived at the league’s big moment. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, giants of two generations and the founders behind TGL, will meet for the first time Monday night. You probably don’t much care about whether Tiger’s Jupiter Links Golf Club can bounce back from its initial humiliation, or whether Rory’s Boston Common Golf Club will shine in its debut. But if you’re a golf fan, you do care about seeing these two legends going head-to-head. It’s not Sunday at Augusta, true, but it’s still going to be fun, one way or another.
2. Return of the king at Pebble Beach
The AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach tees off this week with a bit of extra juice. It’s the second “signature” event of the year, but the first to feature Scottie Scheffler, returning to the links for the first time since injuring his hand on Christmas. He’ll be joined by McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and a whole bunch of other notable names, making this a true must-watch event. Scheffler had to have bits of glass surgically removed from his hand after breaking a glass, which means he’ll probably only win by seven or eight.
(Bruno Rouby / Yahoo Sports) 3. Slow play is out of control
All due respect to the players who competed in this past weekend’s Farmers Insurance Open, and the windy conditions at Torrey Pines, but this was a case study in why the game needs a shot clock, or slow-play penalties, or anything to keep the game moving. After the final threesome played the front nine holes in three hours, CBS analyst Dottie Pepper seethed. “I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace-of-play issue, and it’s respect,” she said. “For your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it. It’s just gotta get better.” TGL’s shot clock has brought a renewed focus to the speed of play, and CBS’ broadcasts are continuing the conversation … but not in a way that the PGA Tour would like.
4. Golf-ball rollback is under scrutiny
It’s a generally accepted truism that a golf-ball rollback would improve the current pro game by bringing strategy back into course management, preventing players from bombing drives and wedging their way onto the green. Rollback’s usage for casual players, however, is much less beneficial … and since several entities in the game are against “bifurcation,” or using different rules for pros and amateurs, there’s now some new pushback to planned rollback rules.
New PGA of America commissioner Derek Sprague voiced his concerns just days after taking over the job. “I don’t know one recreational golfer that wants to hit it shorter,” Sprague told Golf Digest. “I don’t think we want 30 or 40 million golfers to go out and have to not only buy new golf balls, but now buy new equipment to match the new golf ball. So it really puts a burden on the recreational player.” It’s all a matter of whom the rules are meant to serve, and whom they unfairly penalize. And the matter clearly isn’t anywhere close to solved, no matter when the rules are enforced.
5. Harris English claims Torrey Pines victory
Harris English entered Saturday’s final round at the Farmers Insurance Open with a one-shot lead, then promptly gave it away with two early bogeys. But he rallied to win by one shot over Sam Stevens. It’s English’s fifth PGA Tour victory, and one achieved in the toughest conditions so far this year on Tour.
Trophy of the Week: The Farmers Insurance Open
(AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Nice little trophy this time around for the Tour stop, a replica of Torrey’s famous windswept pines. Would’ve been better if they were actual size, but we go with what we can get. (Does he get to keep the surfboard?)
Mulligan of the Week: Max Homa’s daring escape
Nice job of dodging disaster here from Max Homa. The rest of us would’ve ended up in the drink, guaranteed.
That’ll do it for this week, friends. Hit ’em straight and roll ’em true, and we’ll see you back here next Monday.
It’s Monday, and that means it’s time for another exciting round of Monday Leaderboard! This week, all eyes are on Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as they face off at last in The Golf League (TGL).Woods, a seasoned veteran with multiple major championships under his belt, is looking to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. On the other hand, McIlroy, a young and talented golfer with a strong record of success, is eager to show that he can take on the best of the best.
The stage is set for an epic showdown between two of golf’s biggest stars, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Will Woods’ experience and skill prevail, or will McIlroy’s youthful energy and talent win the day?
Stay tuned to TGL to find out who will emerge victorious in this thrilling showdown between two golfing legends. Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments below!
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- Monday Leaderboard golf match
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#Monday #Leaderboard #Tiger #Woods #Rory #McIlroy #face #TGL
How to watch Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy TGL match: TV
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were present for the first-ever TGL match, but they did not compete.
Brennan Asplen/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images
The fourth match of the inaugural TGL season goes down Monday night at the Sofi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., with Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club facing off against Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf team. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the fourth TGL match, including full TGL TV coverage, streaming info, teams and more.
How to watch Tiger vs. Rory TGL Match
This week’s TGL match, the first to be played on a Monday night, might be the most anticipated matchup yet. Why? Because league founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will face off for the first time.
Joining Tiger on the Jupiter Links Golf Club team will be Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim. Supporting Rory on the Boston Common Golf team will be Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott.
While BCG are making their TGL debut Monday night, JLGC played their first match two weeks ago. Unfortunately for Tiger and his team, they got throttled 12-1 by a Los Angeles Golf Club led by Collin Morikawa. But the match did draw the biggest TV ratings yet for a TGL match.
The format for the fourth match will see the teams compete on a nine-hole simulator course in triples, and then alternate appearing in one-hole singles matches. While the simulator will be used for most shots, short game shots and putting will happen live around the stadium’s high-tech putting green.
ESPN will offer exclusive TV coverage of the fourth TGL match beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday night, while ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage online.
You can find complete streaming information and TV options for the fourth TGL match below.
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With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
How to watch on TV
ESPN will air exclusive TV coverage of the Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy TGL match from 6:30-8:30 p.m. ET on Monday night.
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the fourth TGL match online via ESPN+, which will provide a live simulcast of ESPN’s coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
The highly anticipated match between golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy is set to take place, and fans are eager to tune in. If you’re wondering how to watch this epic showdown, we’ve got you covered.The Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy TGL match will be broadcast on various TV networks, so here’s a guide on where to catch all the action:
– In the United States, the match will be aired on NBC Sports. You can tune in to the network on your cable or satellite provider to watch the event live.
– For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Golf will be broadcasting the match. Simply switch to the channel on your TV to watch the two golf superstars go head-to-head.
– Fans in other countries can check their local sports networks or streaming services to see if they will be showing the Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy match.Don’t miss out on this exciting golf event – mark your calendars and get ready to witness history in the making as these two golf greats battle it out on the course.
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#watch #Tiger #Woods #Rory #McIlroy #TGL #match
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth to make PGA Tour season debuts at Pebble Beach
The PGA Tour will finally get a star-studded field to display next week at Pebble Beach.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will make his season debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, returning after cutting himself with broken glass while making ravioli over the holidays. He needed the glass surgically removed, and it led to him withdrawing from The Sentry and American Express tournaments this month. Scheffler, who won nine times worldwide in 2024 including the Masters, will attempt to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
But it’s a week of debuts all around. Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy will also make his first PGA Tour start of the year at Pebble. The No. 3 player in the world typically waits a few weeks to join the West Coast swing after playing DP World Tour events over the winter. McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship in November for his sixth Race to Dubai title and finished T4 last week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will make his first appearance since undergoing wrist surgery after his 2024 season ended in August. The wrist injury first surfaced in 2023, but Spieth decided to play through it. It turned into the worst season of his professional career with just three top-20s in 22 starts. He finished outside the FedEx Cup top 50, meaning he’ll need sponsor exemptions to play in early signature events. AT&T, which counts Spieth as a longtime partner, gave him one for Pebble Beach.
However, Xander Schauffele is not in the field, withdrawing from the third-consecutive event with what Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported as a rib injury. Schauffele had been playing through the issue when he finished T30 at The Sentry to open the year but ultimately decided to rest from there.
One question mark who is playing is Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian played The Sentry with a broken toe and told reporters he’d see how he felt before committing to Pebble. He went to Dubai to play the DP World Tour event last and missed the cut. He’ll try to return to form in the second signature event of the season.
Pebble Beach will have eight of the OWGR top 10 golfers in the field and 17 of the top 20, making it the first real top event of the season.
This week’s event, the Farmers Insurance Open, has a particularly poor field relative to its history on the PGA Tour, due in part to some top names not being ready to begin their season and others choosing to withdraw after it became clear the tour would come back to Torrey Pines in two weeks for the Genesis Invitational. Hideki Matsuyama and Ludvig Åberg are the only two top 10 players in the tournament, which concludes Saturday.
Required reading
(Top photo of Rory McIlroy, left, and Scottie Scheffler: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
Exciting news for golf fans as three top players, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth, are set to make their PGA Tour season debuts at the prestigious Pebble Beach Golf Links. The iconic course will provide the perfect backdrop for these talented golfers to showcase their skills and compete against the best in the world.Scheffler, coming off a breakout season with two PGA Tour wins and a Ryder Cup appearance, will look to continue his impressive form at Pebble Beach. McIlroy, a four-time major champion and former world number one, will be aiming to kick off his season with a strong performance. And Spieth, a three-time major winner and former FedEx Cup champion, will be looking to add another title to his impressive resume.
With Pebble Beach’s stunning coastal views and challenging layout, fans can expect some exciting golf action as these three stars battle it out on one of the most iconic courses in the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these talented players in action as they tee it up at Pebble Beach for the start of the PGA Tour season.
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- Rory McIlroy Pebble Beach
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#Scottie #Scheffler #Rory #McIlroy #Jordan #Spieth #PGA #Tour #season #debuts #Pebble #Beach
