Latest news with #USPGA
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Handicap system for Tour Championship is revoked
The PGA Tour has scrapped the controversial handicap system used for the season-ending Tour Championship. Under the much-criticised format first adopted in 2019, the player with the most FedEx Cup points from the regular season started the Tour Championship on 10 under par, with the second-ranked player on eight under and so-on, on a sliding scale. Last year that meant Scottie Scheffler teeing off at East Lake on 10 under and US PGA and Open Championship winner Xander Schauffele eight under, a format Scheffler called "silly". Shane Lowry, who began his Tour Championship debut on three under, also joked: "I give shots to my friends every day at home, but my friends are not Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele." The tournament will revert to a standard 72-hole strokeplay event and the field size will remain at 30, but the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council will continue to study the qualification system. "We want the Tour Championship to be the hardest tournament to qualify for and the FedEx Cup trophy the most difficult to win," reigning FedEx Cup champion Scheffler said in a statement released by the Tour. "Shifting the Tour Championship to a more straight-up format with a tougher course set-up makes it easier for fans to follow and provides a more challenging test for players, which brings out the best competition."
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Seamus Power just outside top 50 ahead of final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge
Seamus Power is tied for 51st ahead of the final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas after carding a 69 on Saturday. The Waterford native made a slow start to his third round at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, after bogeys on four and six. But he rallied with a run of four birdies in five holes from eight to 11. However, a bogey on 14 dropped him back to one under overall and just outside the top 50. Power is 12 shots adrift of Ben Griffin and Matti Schmid who remain locked together at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round. Both men shot third-round 68s to share first place on 13 under with Rickie Fowler providing the closest challenge four shots back. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre edged himself into contention on eight under after a round of 64 which included seven birdies, and his feat was matched by US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler, who is tied for seventh a shot behind after plundering seven birdies and an eagle. England's Tommy Fleetwood is tied for 10th place on six under after carding a level par round of 70. American Griffin and Germany's Schmid both endured eventful rounds, picking up shots at each of the first three holes before Griffin surrendered two at the fifth and a third at the sixth, while Schmid dropped shots at the 11th and 17th.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jon Rahm and wife's moment immediately after he lost £1.1m caught on camera
Jon Rahm's bid to win the US PGA Championship came crashing down on Sunday as he squandered £1.1million in prize money in the final three holes to finish in a tie for eighth place Jon Rahm's wife, Kelley Cahill, showed her unwavering support by sharing a touching moment with the LIV Golf star immediately after he missed out on a £1.1million prize at the US PGA Championship. The Spaniard was closely pursuing Scottie Scheffler for most of the final day but suffered a crushing end to the final round of the US PGA. Rahm had made three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn to briefly pull level with the eventual winner. However, the 30-year-old on Sunday dropped five shots over the infamous 'Green Mile' closing three-hole stretch. He bogeyed 16 before double-bogeying 17 and 18 to fall out of contention and hand the advantage back to Scheffler. World No. 1 Scheffler ultimately won the Wanamaker Trophy by five strokes, while Rahm had to settle for a nine-way tie for eighth in the second major of the year. His meltdown at the end didn't just land a blow to his professional pride, but also prevented him from becoming the third Spaniard to win three majors while taking a hefty chunk of around £1.1m ($1.5m) out of his potential earnings. He would have pocketed a staggering £1.49m ($2m) if he had managed to hold onto solo second place but ultimately had to settle for T8 and £309,503 ($415,262) in prize money. And he shared a heart-warming moment with his wife following the devastating conclusion at Quail Hollow, which showcased the strength of their relationship. In footage shared on CBS' social media channels, Rahm – who hasn't clinched a major title since his move to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series at the end of 2023 – can be seen walking up to Kelley, who opened her arms to embrace him as he rested his head on her shoulder after carding a fourth-round 2-over 73 to finish with a 4-under total. Kelley has been at his side through the ups and the downs over the last few years, having shared a tearful embrace following his Masters triumph in April 2023. The romance between them began in their college days at Arizona State University where they crossed paths at a Halloween party and have remained together ever since, marrying in 2019. Their family includes two boys, Kepa and Eneko, along with their daughter Alaia. She supported Rahm through his highly controversial decision to join LIV in 2013, which caused a huge stir in the golfing community after he had vowed to stay with the PGA Tour. The switch reportedly came with a staggering offer of around £240m for Rahm to join the breakaway league, which will go some way towards softening the blow of his recent disappointment, at least in financial terms. Yet, Rahm expressed his agony after Sunday's disappointment, admitting: "The last three holes... it's a tough pill to swallow right now." "A lot of positives to take from this week, but pretty fresh wound right now. But there's been a lot of good happening this week and a lot of positive feelings to take for the rest of the year.' Before his move to LIV, Rahm had secured a place in the top 10 in 12 out of his previous 22 major appearances (approximately 55%). However, since the switch, he has only managed the feat once in four major tournaments, and his streak of 18 consecutive major cuts has ended. Apart from a T7 at last year's Open, the Ryder Cup star, who won the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters, had a disappointing 2024 in the majors. And only a Sunday surge at the Masters saw him finish T14 at Augusta last month.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
LIV Golf star shows why he ignored Rory McIlroy's plea at PGA Championship
Tom McKibbin's professional career has gone from strength to strength since he burst onto the scene in 2021, and his earnings from LIV have dwarfed the sum he won at the US PGA Tom McKibbin earned a modest £30,000 from his debut at the PGA Championship, a stark contrast to the millions he's made with LIV Golf. McKibbin burst onto the professional scene in 2021, and after only a few years on the DP World Tour, he secured his Tour Card and was offered the chance to shine on the PGA circuit for 2025. However, an offer from rival LIV lured him away, despite the appeals of legendary compatriot Rory McIlroy. Both were present at Quail Hollow, but neither could match the eventual winner Scottie Scheffler. While the American pocketed £2.6 million for his victory, both Northern Irishmen left approximately £30k richer, with McKibbin trailing McIlroy by one shot in a tie for 50th place. This prize money pales in comparison to the sums McKibbin has been earning on the breakaway LIV, suggesting that his decision to ignore McIlroy's advice and choose the Saudi-backed circuit may have been the right move. Since making his LIV debut in Riyadh, McKibbin, as part of the Legion XIII team, has participated in seven events, with his best finish coming in Hong Kong - where his -11 final score saw him tied for sixth place, reports Belfast Live. Over these appearances, both individual and team prizes have seen him walk away with a staggering £3.2m, which significantly overshadows the money he took home at the USPGA and other major tournaments. McKibbin's first two major appearances tell a similar story to the one at Quail Hollow last weekend, tying for 41st at the 2024 US Open, and 66th at his first Open Championship, earning small rewards for both outings. The young golfer from Holywood, who recently sidestepped McIlroy's advice at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, is keen on the LIV Golf League's appeal to youthful drive and ambition. McIlroy, who developed his craft at the same club as McKibbin, had previously said: "No one knows exactly how much he's going to get. What I would say is, there is still a ton of money to be made on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. "There is so much money in the game, and some would argue too much money in the game for the eyeballs that we attract. I think that for whatever the benefit may be, I don't think it's worth the sacrifice to what he's potentially going to give up." Yet, McKibbin who trailed just behind McIlroy in North Carolina, shared his reasoning for the switch, saying: "It was definitely in my mind, but to me I wasn't in any [majors or Ryder Cup ] anyway. The opportunity to play with these guys out here more often and more consistently was definitely a huge factor. "I'm not in those majors anyway at the moment so that really didn't bother me too much. Being young and 22 I've watched this last couple years since [LIV] started. "It's something I really like to watch. Something very different. It appeals to more people my age. "The opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very nicely to me. I liked the whole concept of everything."
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Amanda Balionis takes subtle dig at Rory McIlroy in interviews with DeChambeau and Rahm
GOLF presenter Amanda Balionis appeared to take a subtle dig at Rory McIlroy after his Quail Hollow no-show. The five-time major winner refused to speak to the media on all four days in North Carolina. 3 Amanda Balionis appeared to send a dig towards Rory McIlroy after the USPGA Championship Credit: Getty 3 The Northern Irishman refused to talk to the media over the four days in Charlotte Credit: Getty 3 Balionis shared a cryptic post after interviewing two of Rory's rivals Credit: Instagram McIlroy shot over par in both weekend rounds to finish outside the top 40. It culminated in his second-worst major finish since 2023. The Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam last month at Augusta in The Masters. He admitted prior to the USPGA that he'd been unable to put in his usual amount of practice. READ MORE ON GOLF BRYSON FURY Bryson DeChambeau PUNCHES himself in the face repeatedly live on Sky Sports And he had his favourite driver snatched away from him last week after a random test showed it broke PGA rules. McIlroy spoke to the media for around 20 minutes ahead of Thursday's first round in Charlotte. But he didn't appear in front of the TV cameras again for the remainder of the tournament. CBS reporter Balionis welcomed Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm for interviews after round four on Sunday. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And viewers were convinced she aimed a subtle jibe in Rory's direction at the conclusion. Balionis signed off to Bryson: "We appreciate the time. Footage of emotional Rory McIlroy become's internet's biggest meme "You don't have to take the time so we really appreciate it." Balionis later appeared to double down on Instagram, posting snaps of her interview with both players. She wrote: "Appreciate these two for taking the time to talk after a gutting loss. "Simply a reminder that no one is obligated to talk, it's a choice. "And to bring us in after coming so close to a career accomplishment is awesome for the viewer." One fan wrote on X in response: "Amanda with the subtle dig at Rory." Inside Rory McIlroy's whirlwind love life RORY MCILROY enjoyed a high-profile romance with former tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki before their split in 2014. The following year, the golf ace began dating Erica Stoll, who he had first met on the PGA Tour in 2011. Erica often interacted with players through her role as the PGA's manager of championship volunteer operations. She even prevented McIlroy from missing his tee time at the 2012 Ryder Cup after some confusion over the time zone. The incident began a firm friendship between the pair, four years before their relationship turned romantic. McIlroy and Erica were spotted on a string of dates in Rochester, New York, in the early days of their relationship. Just eight months later, the couple got engaged in Paris and walked down the aisle at Ashford Castle in Ireland in 2017. The pair then welcomed daughter Poppy into the world three years later. Throughout their time together, McIlroy and Erica have kept their relationship to themselves, with the golfer keen to protect his family from the cameras during filming of Netflix's Full Swing documentary series. However, after seven years of marriage, McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica. The reasons for the divorce were not disclosed, but the Northern Irishman submitted documents to a court in Florida. However, a few weeks later, performed a U-turn on their decision to divorce. McIlroy told the outlet: "Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.' Another said: "I usually defend Rory from all the nonsense takes on Twitter, but yeah this isn't a hill I'll die on. Skipping all four days for any golfer on Tour, especially one of the 'faces' of the sport, isn't right" While a third added: "The point is the tour should obligate players to do a quick chat, the players have to much control." But a fourth countered: "Who cares. He had a bad tournament. Maybe it's better to not say anything then to regret what you want to say." Scottie Scheffler proved too strong for the field as the American won his third major. The 28-year-old dominated on Day 4, eventually winning by five shots.
