LeBron tees it up, pros take Wimbledon, a major trophy surprise | Rogers Report

Hello, friends, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Rogers Report! I’m soaking up my last few days in the Ocean State (that’s Rhode Island, to the uninitiated) before heading to the Open Championship on Sunday night — and I could not be more excited to complete my majors-covered career grand slam. I traveled overseas for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, but due to family weddings (and a slight passport issue, don’t ask) have never been to an Open. I’m eager to change that next week, and I’m planning to take all of you along with me for the ride via the Rogers Report. But before that can happen, we’d better clear our plate of the good stuff from this past week, so let’s get to it.

Beat (all) the pros (by a lot)

Twenty-one-year-old amateur and noted Scoop guest Lottie Woad won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Golf Championship by six shots (yes, six) over the weekend. She’s the first amateur to win on the Ladies European Tour since 2022.

Woad is teeing it up in the Evian Championship this week, still as an amateur, and I’m very excited to see where her career takes her next. I’m also trying my hardest not to compare my 21-year-old self to her, and I’d encourage you all to do the same.

LeBron James tees it up

I would like to take a moment to both congratulate and offer my deepest condolences to LeBron James, who appears to be taking up golf. I hope he knows what he’s getting into: a lifetime of frustration, elation and pure despair on repeat for many, many years to come.

The internet was very excited to see James out on the course, and I’m hoping that it’s only a matter of time before we see him tee it up in a pro-am or celebrity tournament.

I haven’t seen that much commotion over a swing video since the last time Tiger Woods teased his comeback. Here’s to some great golf in your future, LeBron. I have a feeling you’ll have no trouble fielding some impressive invites.

Golfers and golf discussions at Wimbledon

Wimbledon is one of my favorite sporting events of the year, and not really because of the tennis. I more so love the fact that we get to watch professional golfers watch the tennis. Most of the top players in the world will never know what it’s like to attend the Masters as a patron, but this seems like a pretty similar experience. They get to dress up and watch a lovely sport on beautiful grass while enjoying fancy drinks. Sounds pretty similar to me! Anyway, a handful of PGA Tour pros have been out and about at Wimbledon, so let’s take a look.

Matt and Katherine Fitzpatrick attended Wimbledon with Ludvig Aberg and Olivia Peet on Saturday.

Min Woo Lee and Gracie Drennan also attended over the weekend, and Justin and Kate Rose have already attended Wimbledon twice. Talk about the good life!

Tommy and Clare Fleetwood went to a match last week, and I was very excited to see that they were seated in front of Nick Jonas — though I wish I knew whether they talked, and how either would even start that conversation.

I’m very pleased with what we’ve seen so far from these professional golfers at Wimbledon, but I keep finding myself hoping that Rory McIlroy will attend a match or two in a green jacket before it all ends. Rory, if you’re reading this, I’m worried you’re running out of time.

It turns out that tennis players have golf on their mind at Wimbledon as well. Carlos Alcaraz used a free minute to use his racket as a makeshift golf club and get a few air swings (and putts) in at Wimbledon, and he discussed teeing it up with Tom Holland just a few hours before his quarterfinal match.

I guess it doesn’t matter who or where you are, once golf’s on your mind, it’s tough to get it off.

JJ Spaun’s busy schedule

JJ Spaun has been booked and busy since his U.S. Open win at Oakmont last month. He recently brought the U.S. Open trophy to a bar in Phoenix and let fans drink from it. Talk about a man of the people! Hopefully that brings some good luck to the average golfers who were out and about that night.

Over the weekend, Spaun posted from a Peppa-Pig themed tea bus tour in London.

I can’t imagine that everyone on the tour knew that he was the only player to finish the week under par in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, but maybe there were a few golf fans sprinkled in there. From winning a major championship to enjoying afternoon tea and Peppa Pig cookies, Spaun can really do it all.

Here’s hoping you get some tea of your own. ‘Tis the season, after all.