This week's episode dives into Rory McIlroy's global golf ambitions, Scottie Scheffler's relentless pursuit of victory at Colonial, and a fiery debate on LIV Golf's true impact on major championship pressure.

• Rory McIlroy champions a worldwide golf circuit, committing to the inaugural DP World India Championship in 2025 and voicing his "dream scenario is a world tour," while opting out of this week's Charles Schwab Challenge.
• "I am excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I've always wanted to explore."
• McIlroy's next expected start is the RBC Canadian Open, underscoring his selective scheduling focused on big events and global appearances.

• Scottie Scheffler arrives at the Charles Schwab Challenge aiming for a third consecutive PGA Tour win and the historic Byron Nelson/Colonial double, undeterred and focused on competition.
• "I'm here for a reason, and that's not to just play a couple of ceremonious rounds..."
• Scheffler candidly shared his thoughts on LIV defectors ("That was their choice; not mine") and admitted to missing his on-course rivalry with Jon Rahm.

• A central debate explores whether LIV Golf adequately prepares stars like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau for major intensity, with contrasting expert opinions fueling the discussion.
• Brandel Chamblee: "When it mattered the most...Scottie had it, Bryson didn't, Rahm didn't." Brendon de Jonge: Rahm's LIV play "has absolutely nothing to do with that finish."
• Rahm himself lamented his PGA Championship finish: "The last three holes it's a tough pill to swallow right now."

• Billy Horschel undergoes preventative hip surgery, eyes late summer/early fall return • Defending champ Davis Riley arrives at Colonial in his '75 Schwab Stingray prize • Rasmus Hojgaard withdraws from Charles Schwab Challenge • Action underway at Soudal Open & Visit Knoxville Open.

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This May 21, 2025, "Today in Golf" unpacks Jon Rahm's candid PGA reflections, Luke Clanton's historic Ben Hogan Award, LIV Golf's major Salesforce deal, and U.S. Open qualifying shake-ups.

• Jon Rahm shares introspective thoughts on his PGA Championship T8, highlighting newfound fun on course contrasted with embarrassment over his finish, and his first major contention slip-up.
• Supporting quote: "God, it's been a while since I had that much fun on a golf course, fifteen holes," Rahm said, later admitting, "I think this is the first time I've been in position to win a major, that close, and haven't done it."
• Human angle or fun fact: Despite the late stumbles, a SportsLine computer model predicts a top-ten U.S. Open finish for Rahm.

• Florida State junior Luke Clanton wins the 2025 Ben Hogan Award, recognized for his #1 World Amateur and PGA Tour University rankings, securing his PGA Tour card.
• Supporting stat: His PGA Tour sponsor exemption performance (10 of 13 cuts, 2 runner-ups, 2 other top-tens) is a feat unmatched since Jack Nicklaus in 1961.
• Human angle or fun fact: Clanton, after four collegiate wins this season including the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, is set for his pro debut at the RBC Canadian Open.

• Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf celebrate a significant new sponsorship from Salesforce, reportedly LIV's largest commercial deal since 2022, bolstering the league's future prospects.
• Supporting quote: "It's the first of many potential sponsors...Liv's not going anywhere for a long time," stated DeChambeau.
• Human angle or fun fact: This landmark deal could signal increased corporate interest and investment in LIV Golf.

A • TGL expands to Detroit: Motor City Golf Club announced as 7th team, joining in 2027. • U.S. Open Qualifying: Sergio Garcia fails to qualify for the first time since 1999; Talor Gooch withdraws mid-round. • Scheffler on Testing: Scottie Scheffler advocates for public transparency of all players' equipment testing results.

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On May 20th, 2025, we unpacked the PGA Championship aftermath, delving into candid player reactions, equipment controversies like non-conforming drivers, and off-course insights from golf's biggest stars.

• Marquee storyline: Scottie Scheffler revealed his driver failed a pre-PGA conformance test, igniting calls for "even more robust" testing, a sentiment echoed by Xander Schauffele, amidst news of Rory McIlroy also having a non-conforming club.
• Supporting stat or quote: Scheffler: "Yeah, my driver did fail."
• Human angle or fun fact: The PGA of America's Kerry Haigh noted such non-conforming driver instances are "not an unusual occurrence."

• Marquee storyline: Jon Rahm dismissed LIV Golf's influence on his major showing, attributing his performance to swing flaws and a "tough pill to swallow" finish, while firmly stating, "I'd choose family every time."
• Supporting stat or quote: "My swing was simply not at the level it had to be."
• Human angle or fun fact: Rahm's candid reflection on his brutal bogey-double bogey-double bogey finish.

• Marquee storyline: Despite a T2 finish, Bryson DeChambeau pinpointed his iron play as a key shortcoming and voiced frustration with modern golf ball technology, arguing balls fly "too straight" at high speeds.
• Supporting stat or quote: DeChambeau: "If I just had somewhat of good iron play... it would have been a lot different."
• Human angle or fun fact: His unique perspective that golf balls are *too* perfect for high-speed players.

A • Rory McIlroy's media silence continues post-T47; commits to Australian Open • Harris English (T2) on condensed major schedule & early flight • Xander Schauffele emphasizes privacy in driver testing discussions.

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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.

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