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USA Today
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Cutest Par 3 Contest moment? It might be Rory McIlroy's daughter slow-rolling in a putt
Cutest Par 3 Contest moment? It might be Rory McIlroy's daughter slow-rolling in a putt Show Caption Hide Caption Rory McIlroy explains why Augusta is his forever course Rory McIlroy opens up on why Augusta is his forever course, from childhood memories to pure beauty. The Masters The Masters Tournament is one of the more stressful events on the golf calendar each season. But for one day leading into the marquee major tournament, 91 members of the 95-player field can relax and create everlasting memories with their families with the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. That is most definitely the case for Rory McIlroy and his daughter, Poppy McIlroy, who had a special moment on the ninth hole during the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. The daughter of the four-major champion converted a lengthy putt — thanks to some last minute downhill speed. REQUIRED READING: 2025 Masters predictions: Expert picks, predictions for 2025 Masters winner As the putt went into the hole at Augusta National, Poppy was welcomed with a round of applause from the patrons near the hole, which included "Uncle" Shane Lowrey and Rory McIlroy both dropping their clubs and putting their hands up in the air in a touchdown celebration. All told, a moment that the McIlroy family will not forget from one of the most sacred golf courses in the sport. "I think every Masters week for me seems to get bigger and bigger each and every year and I think to do something like this, for me at least, allows me to forget about all that for a couple of hours on a Wednesday afternoon," Rory McIlroy told ESPN's Marty Smith earlier during the network's coverage on Wednesday. "It's just a really nice way and a relaxed way to go into business end of the week. "As time has gone along and Poppy has gotten a little bit bigger, I look forward to this day more and more each and every year. Just to see the excitement on her face this morning knowing it was going to be Par 3 (is great). It is such a fun afternoon." McIlroy enters the 2025 Masters Tournament playing some of his best golf of late, as he has already won both The PLAYERS Championship and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this season. A win at the 2025 Masters Tournament would end an 11-year major drought and make McIlroy just the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam, and the first since Tigers Woods did so. The four-time major champion is set to tee off in the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at 1:12 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 10 alongside Ludvig Aberg and Akshay Bhatia.
NBC Sports
16-03-2025
- Climate
- NBC Sports
NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL (THIRD ROUND)
*PROGRAMMING ALERT* - Sunday's Coverage Windows Updated – 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel, NBC/GOLF Channel Simulcast at 12 p.m. ET, NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET – All Coverage Streams on Peacock 'The golf course and the weather won today.' – Kevin Kisner 'He has played a brand of golf that is deserving of contending for the biggest title of his life tomorrow.' – Dan Hicks on J.J. Spaun (-12, Leader) 'This was a real test today – a test of golf, but for these players today, more a test of yourself.' – Brandel Chamblee on Live From on difficult weather conditions STAMFORD, Conn. – March 15, 2025 – NBC Sports presented comprehensive coverage of the second round of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on NBC and Peacock. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. **Due to potential inclement weather on Sunday, tomorrow's final round coverage will begin at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel. Coverage will simulcast on NBC and GOLF Channel at 12 p.m. ET before shifting to NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET. All coverage will stream on Peacock.** Dan Hicks and Terry Gannon handled play-by-play duties, while Kevin Kisner and Brad Faxon served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, John Wood, and Curt Byrum served as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks handled reports and interviews. Today's championship coverage also featured Dan Hicks and Kevin Kisner opening the broadcast from the new, state-of-the-art PGA TOUR Studios in Ponte Vedra Beach., Fla., on NBC and Peacock. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Johnson Wagner, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today's coverage. The PLAYERS Championship – Third Round Leaderboard ON CONDITIONS AT TPC SAWGRASS Faxon on the wind factoring into play: 'It's incredible, everyone thinks into the wind is the hardest but down winds can be hard to manage as well. Rory (McIlroy) has a gap wedge that he hits 125 yards. He hit one shot that went 149 yards, and the next one only went 139 yards. That's ten yards of discrepancy on one wedge shot. It's going to be really tough.' Wood on the wind: 'It's so hard today because the wind affects everything. You think, 'well it's an eight-foot putt, how can it affect it?' Well, you have to take into account for everything out here today.' Faxon on the island green 17th hole: 'Easily one of the most unsettling shots in golf. Particularly later in the weekend with the wind.' Kisner: 'The golf course and the weather won today.' Chamblee on Live From: 'This was a real test today – a test of golf, but for these players today, more a test of yourself.' Hicks: 'Pete Dye's place delivers 'crazy' every year.' ON J.J. SPAUN (-12, Leader) Kaufman on Spaun's recent success: 'He's been really consistent this year and it's because of his elite ball striking. He's been super consistent leading the field in tee-to-green this week.' Kisner on Spaun's caddie Mark Carens: 'He was on the bag for Si Woo Kim when he won THE PLAYERS Championship, and he also lives just outside the back gate here. He tries to play as much golf here as he can. He is really coaching up J.J. and they are rolling.' Hicks: 'He has played a brand of golf that is deserving of contending for the biggest title of his life tomorrow.' Kisner: 'I've spent a lot of time with J.J. I played a lot of rounds with him last season on TOUR. I've always thought he could be a heck of a player and I always talk to him about his attitude. He's very quick to get down on himself, he works hard on that, and I've said, 'If you're going to have a long career out here, you've got to quit beating yourself up. You're too good.'' ON BUD CAULEY (-11, 2nd) Cauley to Banks on what it would mean to get his first PGA TOUR victory at his hometown course and on what will be his 35th birthday: 'That would be amazing, there's a lot of golf left to play but as you mentioned I played this course every year growing up and even dreamt of playing it, let alone winning it. I'll give it a chance tomorrow and go out and have some fun.' Lerner on Live From: 'He is playing the role of Seabiscuit longshot.' ON LUCAS GLOVER (-9, T-3rd) Hicks on his chip-in eagle on No. 16: 'Just when you least expect it! Double bogey and then an eagle – typical Stadium Course stuff.' --NBC SPORTS--
NBC Sports
16-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
*PROGRAMMING ALERT* - NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES UPDATED COVERAGE WINDOWS FOR 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND
Final Round Coverage Begins at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel, NBC/GOLF Channel Simulcast at 12 p.m. ET, NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET ALL Final Round Coverage Streams on Peacock Beginning at 10 a.m. ET Live From THE PLAYERS – Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel, Leading into Final Round STAMFORD, Conn. – March 15, 2025 –NBC Sports announced updated coverage times for Sunday's final round of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock. The earlier coverage windows come following the PGA TOUR's announcement of earlier final round tee times due to potential inclement weather. Sunday's final round coverage will begin at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel, simulcast on NBC and GOLF Channel at noon ET, and shift to NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET. All coverage will stream on Peacock. Pre-game coverage will begin on GOLF Channel at 8 a.m. ET with Live From THE PLAYERS, and Live From will air on GOLF Channel at 3 p.m. ET, immediately following the conclusion of play. --NBC SPORTS--
NBC Sports
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL (SECOND ROUND)
'Are you kidding me? I've got goosebumps, guys! Sorry I wasn't looking, JT – I was trying to be a broadcaster.' – Smylie Kaufman on Justin Thomas' birdie at 17 during Happy Hour, prior to tying the course record with 10-under 62 'I think his whole goal was getting off to a nice start today where he could get the momentum going, and then turn the brain off and ride from there.' – Rickie Fowler during Happy Hour on Thomas' 10-under 62 Live From THE PLAYERS – Saturday at 10 a.m. ET, Leading into Third Round Coverage at 2 p.m. ET Live on NBC and Peacock STAMFORD, Conn. – March 14, 2025 – NBC Sports presented comprehensive coverage of the second round of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on GOLF Channel. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage. Saturday's coverage from TPC Sawgrass begins at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel with Live From THE PLAYERS followed by live third round coverage at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon and Steve Sands handled play-by-play duties, while Brad Faxon, Curt Byrum, Gary Koch, and Notah Begay III served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, John Wood, and Roger Maltbie served as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks handled reports and interviews. Today's championship coverage also featured the latest edition of Happy Hour with Smylie, as 2015 PLAYERS Champion Rickie Fowler joined Smylie Kaufman and Kevin Kisner alongside the 17th hole. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Johnson Wagner, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today's coverage. The PLAYERS Championship – Second Round Leaderboard ON JUSTIN THOMAS (-4. SECOND ROUND 62 TO TIE COURSE RECORD) Rickie Fowler on how to stay present during an exceptional round: 'I think his whole goal was getting off to a nice start today where he could get the momentum going, and then turn the brain off and ride from it's not broken, don't fix it and just go from there.' Kaufman on the energy as Thomas came to the 17th hole at 10-under on his round: 'How about the buzz on this hole right now?' Kisner: 'The whole vibe changed when this group got to the tee. I stood up just because I felt like I had to.' Kaufman on Thomas making birdie at 17 during Happy Hour to go to 11-under on his round: 'Justin Thomas at the 17th to get to 11-under! Are you kidding me? I've got goosebumps, guys! Sorry I wasn't looking, JT – I was trying to be a broadcaster.' Kisner: 'You can't make it more center cut than he gave us a little shoutout there.' Fowler: 'This is a lot easier than hitting shots (laughs).' Koch on Thomas hitting his second shot in the water on 18th hole: 'It has to be a shock to the system. When so many things have gone right and you've done everything you got to regroup. The first real adversity that he has faced all day long. It's very easy to keep it in your mind and second-guess your time and get refocused.' Wood after Thomas' pitch shot on 18th hole to two feet: 'JT marked his ball, came over to the back of the green, looked at me and just gave me a big wink. He is cold.' ON AKSHAY BHATIA (-11, T-1st) Maltbie on Bhatia's decision to lay-up on the 18th hole en route to a birdie: 'I really like the way he thought this one out. He certainly had the distance to be able to reach the green with his second shot, but he really thought it through. You know, today's player's first tendency is to be very aggressive, and I think he made a very wise play in leaving it back there and giving him something he can spin.' Bhatia to Banks post-round on the 18th hole when his third shot clipped a tree: 'I believe this is one of the best par fives in the world. I was telling my caddie that and he said, 'Oh maybe it was just a little good luck there talking good about the hole.' But yeah, very lucky. Kind of when it's your day and you get some of those breaks, it's huge out there and so it's nice to finish with a birdie.' ON MIN WOO LEE (-11, T-1st) Lee to Banks post-round on his use of the 2-iron: 'I love the course, I love how it shapes, and the 2-iron becomes a weapon especially when it gets a little firm, which it has. It's nice to bomb the 2-iron and then have short irons. I love hitting driver of course, but some holes it doesn't let you do it so it's quite nice to hit that 2-iron and get it down there.' Begay III: 'He really seems to have found a nice groove out here in this difficult layout that takes players quite a few years to get to know and to get comfortable on…Just such a tremendous talent.' ON RORY MCILROY (-9, T-4th) Begay III: 'If you got up bright and early to catch the early action, you got to see something special from Rory getting things off to a quick had a little bit more control over the driver more so than he did yesterday.' McIlroy to Banks post-round on his driving today: 'Much better off the tee today. Golf's an amazing game. I obviously didn't shoot quite as good of a score as yesterday, but I felt like I played much better. So, I'm really encouraged with how I hit it off the tee and the work that I did last night. I've got a good feel for it now and hopefully that can continue into the weekend.' ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-5, T-17th) Begay III on Scheffler: 'We're starting to see some definite flashes of some good golf from Scottie, especially in the wedge area. You start to sync up the wedges, you know your sequence is in a good spot.' --NBC SPORTS--
NBC Sports
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL (FIRST ROUND)
'He has been a magician today. When you've got that kind of talent, you can salvage it, even around Pete Dye's place.' – Dan Hicks on Rory McIlroy's 5-under 67 despite hitting just four of 14 fairways Live From THE PLAYERS – Friday at 9 a.m. ET, Leading into Second Round Coverage at 1 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel Rickie Fowler to Join Friday Afternoon's Happy Hour with Smylie Kaufman Alongside 17th Hole STAMFORD, Conn. – March 13, 2025 – NBC Sports presented comprehensive coverage of the first round of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on GOLF Channel. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage. Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon and Steve Sands handled play-by-play duties, while Brad Faxon, Curt Byrum, Gary Koch, and Notah Begay III served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, John Wood, and Roger Maltbie served as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks handled reports and interviews. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today's coverage. Johnson Wagner did an on-course segment from left of the bunker on the 10th hole where Scottie Scheffler hit his drive in the first round. Friday's coverage from TPC Sawgrass begins at 9 a.m. ET with Live From THE PLAYERS followed by live second round coverage at 1 p.m. ET. Rickie Fowler is scheduled to join Smylie Kaufman on tomorrow's edition of Happy Hour with Smylie from alongside the 17th hole. The PLAYERS Championship – First Round Leaderboard ON TPC SAWGRASS STADIUM COURSE AND CONDITIONS Begay III on Pete Dye's design of the Stadium Course: 'He wanted to test players in all facets of the game. You've got to create angles, you must hit fairways, and you have to be on point from tee-to-green. If you are a little bit errant with a couple of shots, you've got to figure it out around these greens. There is trouble around every corner.' Byrum on the island green 17th hole: 'It doesn't matter who it is, it's a nerve-racking tee shot.' Begay III on players navigating the overhanging tree at the 6th tee: 'It's more so in your mind. When you have to come in here and you talk to a bunch of players throughout the week, everybody is understanding that they have to flatten out that tee shot just a touch.' ON THE PASSING OF GOLF JOURNALIST JOHN FEINSTEIN Dan Hicks on the passing of golf journalist John Feinstein: 'We've lost far too many media members in our golf business lately, so it is very sad to report the passing of noted golf writer John Feinstein this morning. Just one of the most notable sports writers of his time, author of 48 books. What golf fan did not read A Good Walk Spoiled? He was such a talented guy, in fact he spent time on our Live From set right here on this property as a broadcast colleague of ours. He will be missed.' ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-3, T-16th) Byrum on Scheffler: 'He's the best ball-striker in the game and it'll bail him out on this course when he does miss greens. The key for him is going to be putting. He did not putt well last week at Bay Hill and he's going to need to turn that around if he wants to contend this week.' Mackay on Scheffler: 'I didn't think – having watched Tiger Woods play in his prime – that I'd see a guy play as close to Tiger as this guy is. Certainly, he's not Tiger Woods, but he is an amazing player, and I think has a chance to get to double digit major wins.' Mackay on Scheffler's mental strength: 'He just never lets anything bother him; he stays in the same headspace the entire time, no matter what's going on…The guy is a machine. He is amazing to watch play golf and go about his business.' ON RORY MCILROY (-5, T-4th) Hicks on McIlroy's round despite hitting just four of 14 fairways: 'He has been a magician today... when you've got that kind of talent, you can salvage it, even around Pete Dye's place.' McGinley on Live From: 'He has got to fix his driving. He was 140th of the 144 players today in driving accuracy. He got lucky today. Every time he whiffed it into the teams, he seemed to have an angle to the greens.' Chamblee on Live From on McIlroy's driving: 'He is not going to be anywhere near the top of this leaderboard of he continues to drive the ball the way he drove it today.' Faxon on McIlroy's putting: 'I think that's one of the reasons why he's become a better putter. When you can accept the fact that you've done everything you thought you needed to do, even if the putt misses, you can walk away and say, 'I hit a good putt.' … Understanding that is important. A lot of players will start going searching after if they don't do it, and you've got to understand if you've done that, it's all you can control.' ON LUCAS GLOVER (-6, T-1st) Chamblee on the resurrection of Glover's career and his L.A.B. putter on Live From: 'He has been on the PGA TOUR for 22 years. He has fought the demons and the gremlins. Only five of 22 years has he even been in the top 100 in strokes gained I look back at the career of Lucas Glover, I want to talk about his spirit and how he has fought through has come back and played some phenomenal you think of what he has gone through and how poorly he had putted, this is not the elephant in the room, this is the anaconda in the chandelier for crying out loud.' ON MIN WOO LEE (-5, T-4th) Lee to Cara Banks in walk-and-talk up the 12th fairway on playing in the final pairing alongside Scottie Scheffler at the 2023 PLAYERS Championship: 'I learned a lot. I think it was my first time that I was in the final group in America. There was a lot of people, obviously the nerves were there. I learned a lot playing alongside Scottie. He had an amazing run then. He played like a robot, and he continues to do that. So learned to just kind of try to be a robot.' Koch on Lee's wayward tee shot on 18: 'I'm not sure I've ever seen one quite that far to the right on 18…It is one of the scariest tee shots on the golf course, there's no question, and you do guard against going left, but this is unbelievable.' Hicks on Lee converting a par on 18: 'There is a tracer you don't want to see anywhere, and that was bizarre... Min Woo Lee with a spectacular four at the last…One of the craziest scores you'll ever see at 18 after what Min Woo Lee did off the tee. Second shot wasn't great, third shot got in position for that (putt). I don't know how this happened.' Koch: 'I don't know either, because the ball falls in uphill (laughs).' --NBC SPORTS--
