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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
USGA's Cryptic Response to Justin Thomas' U.S. Open Oakmont Challenge
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just when it seemed that the golf world could not be more excited given the approaching US Open event, Justin Thomas shook social media with a proposal that touched the hearts of literally every fan. "So much talk about 'what would X handicap shoot at Oakmont'... Why don't we find a way to make it happen?" Thomas posted on his X account, which has more than 780,000 followers. "Have a 5, 10, 18 whatever handicap play Monday after the @usopengolf. Back tees full rules of golf, and see what happens?" "May have to let a few groups thru and allow for 6-7 hours but I think we're all here for it, no??" The proposal has unleashed a torrent of reactions. Thomas' post has received over 3.5 million views and more than 2,800 comments, including the one everyone was waiting for. Among those who reacted to Thomas' proposal was the USGA, which posted a cryptic message: "Should we?" As the organizer of the US Open, the USGA has the power to make this idea a reality. They not only hold ownership of the third major of the season, but also control the handicapping system, which is essential for measuring the skill level of the amateur participants in the proposed event. In less than eight hours, more than 1,800 fans have responded to the USGA, the vast majority of them asking the organization to make Justin Thomas' proposal a reality: ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Justin Thomas of The United States prepares to hit a shot during the pro-am as a preview to the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2025 at Arnold Palmer Bay... ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Justin Thomas of The United States prepares to hit a shot during the pro-am as a preview to the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2025 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 05, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) More Getty Images The USGA organizes all of the national amateur championships in the United States, so it has plenty of experience working with players at that level. It seems that Thomas developed this idea after being asked what score an 18-handicapper could achieve at Oakmont. He and several colleagues offered their opinions. The general consensus was that a player of that level would score well above 100, if they finish the course at all. More Golf: 2025 US Open: Marquee Pairings You'll Want to Watch at Oakmont
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Ratings Spike Rarely Seen This Century amid Justin Thomas' Win
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The golf world witnessed a ratings revolution once again, and this time, Justin Thomas was at the forefront. After donning the prestigious checkered jacket at RBC Heritage, the PGA Tour shattered viewership records, passing the numbers set by Scottie Scheffler last year and Rory McIlroy during his Players Championship victory. As a result, the professional's victory, which ended his winless streak, proved to be a massive draw for the PGA Tour. Sunday's final round of the RBC Heritage drew an average of 4.362 million viewers with a peak over six million. It was the most watched final round of the event in 23 years. Additionally, Paramount+ continues to see record numbers for its PGA Tour coverage in 2025, according to CBS Sports. ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Justin Thomas of The United States prepares to hit a shot during the pro-am as a preview to the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2025 at Arnold Palmer Bay... ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Justin Thomas of The United States prepares to hit a shot during the pro-am as a preview to the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2025 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 05, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) More Getty Images This was an increase from Sottie Scheffler's win last year that drew 2.5 million viewers. While Matt Fitzpatrick's playoff victory over Jordan Spieth in 2023 saw 4.15 million viewers. Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal noted that CBS drew in 3.3 million viewers during the third and fourth rounds, a remarkable 62% increase from last year. Even the early round coverage on the Golf Channel set a record for RBC Heritage, attracting nearly 536,000 viewers. The PGA Tour's health and negotiation leverage with LIV Golf continues to strengthen. The 2025 Masters also saw a significant boost in TV ratings, with 12.71 million viewers tuning in to witness Rory McIlroy's highly anticipated victory. McIlroy's win turned out to be the most-watched Augusta event in six years, with the final round witnessing a 33% increase in viewership compared to the 2024 edition. There's no doubt now that when history is being made on the course, golf fans take notice and tune in, making these events must-watch television. More Golf: Phil Mickelson Makes Stunning Equity Decision with Golf Influencer Grant Horvat
