The post Tears, magic and a returned check: Masters patrons share favorite memories appeared first on Golf.

The post Tears, magic and a returned check: Masters patrons share favorite memories appeared first on Golf.

Two years ago, my dad brought my younger sister, Ellen, to the third round of the Masters. I’ve been attending the tournament since 2023 for work, so the three of us were able to spend a day walking the course, trying various sandwiches, purchasing merchandise and soaking it all in at Amen Corner.

The responses I got to the article I wrote that day were overwhelming. I got emails, texts, replies on social media and messages from people who have attended and those who wish to attend the Masters with a loved one.

It got me thinking about families, friendships and the Masters. Everyone who goes has a story, and exchanging anecdotes from Augusta National has become one of my favorite parts of golf. The undertones are the same: I got to spend an unforgettable day at a stunning golf course that’s rich in history with someone I love. I wanted to help share those stories, and the idea for this project was born.

I’ve received almost 100 Masters stories over the last few weeks and have had so much fun reading them all. I’ll be publishing new ones every day this week. Thank you to everyone who reached out and shared their favorite memory. I teared up more times than I’d like to admit when putting this together. There really is nothing like the Masters.

Taking dad to the Masters

I never thought I would be able to go to the Masters, and I certainly never anticipated the circumstances. In the years leading up to all of this, my dad’s health had been failing. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease six years earlier, and as the years went on, his motor and cognitive functions started deteriorating. He was still fully functional and aware, but you could tell he had lost a step. In 2017, my older brother started making a few phone calls to people with connections to Augusta National to see if he could find a way to get my dad to the Masters. My dad was a huge golf fan. He taught both of us how to play and made lifelong fans out of both of us. My dad had always assumed that the Masters was out of reach — a bucket list item that he could only dream about. On Christmas day in 2017, my brother surprised my dad and me with passes to the upcoming Masters. My dad, normally a very stoic and composed guy, broke down in tears (regulating emotions became much harder with the Parkinson’s).

Anyone who has the privilege of attending the Masters makes incredible memories, and we were no different. But we also spent that week taking care of my dad, making sure he was hydrating and starting that unenviable task of playing caretaker for a parent. We were there for the Par 3 Contest and Round 1, and we just watched my dad take it all in. We did everything. Pimento cheese sandwiches, merch, followed Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, marveled at every blade of grass and the amazing customer service. They were long days for my dad, but he was in heaven. We set him up with a chair just left of the water on No. 16 — that was his only request of the whole trip —  and pretended we were Ken Venturi calling every shot that came in. 

My dad passed away in April 2022, five days after the Masters. During those final few years, his health had worsened to a point where he needed around the clock care. My brother and I often talk about how that week in Augusta was the last time Dad was really “still there.” Sure, he needed tons of naps and caretaking, but he was fully lucid, attentive, and grateful those few days. It’s how we both choose to remember him. That place is absolute magic. — Marc Sawyer, San Diego, California

A solo stroll at Augusta National

I was lucky enough to attend the Wednesday practice round in 2025. What’s really funny about this is that I was inspired to apply for only 1 ticket in the lottery based on your tweet about your dad (see below). I told myself I’d do this for the next go around thinking I didn’t have anything to lose, since I probably wouldn’t get selected anyway. Turns out, that may be the secret. When I got the email that my application had been selected, I had to read it three times and logged into my Masters account just to make sure it was real. I really did end up going alone and had such a great time!

I flew into Atlanta from Tulsa, picked up a rental car and stayed in Aiken, S.C. Aiken has a really great Masters week setup in their downtown area and the energy during that time is really special. I would definitely stay in Aiken if I ever get the chance to attend the Masters again.

One of the coolest moments was watching Tom Hoge make a hole-in-one during the Par 3 contest (with his newborn crying in his backswing!), but my absolute favorite memory from the trip was later during the Par 3 Contest. After walking those 9 holes, I found a spot under the big tree overlooking the green on No. 9 and took a seat underneath it. It was so peaceful sitting under that tree in the shade, with a slight breeze, and finally taking a seat after walking the main course, with a Crow’s Nest in hand.

From that spot, I got to watch Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, and Rory McIlroy’s group finish up their round.

I watched Poppy McIlroy made her famous long putt during the Par 3 Contest. Because I was there for a practice round, I didn’t think I’d get to experience the roars of a tournament day, but the entire place just exploded. Legitimately one of the coolest moments of my life. I still get chills thinking about it.

I feel so blessed and fortunate to have been able to attend the Masters. Everything is obviously so well put together, but the people everywhere are really what made it. Some patrons, like me, are there for the first time, others have been going for decades. Regardless, nobody is having a bad day. It really is a tradition unlike any other. — Stephen Shin, Tulsa, Oklahoma

The magic of Berckmans Place

I remember describing my first visit to the Masters in 2011 as a ‘religious experience.’ I did not intend for it to be funny or ironic. It felt like completing a pilgrimage. The patrons were so energetic and well mannered, the staff was calm and accommodating and the colors were so vibrant. It was like stepping into a children’s book. It was as if I were stepping into Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory or something.

I returned to the Masters in 2023 and the experience was very different. We had gotten passes to Berckmans Place for Wednesday’s practice round. Imagine going to the most exclusive, most coveted sporting event in America and then discovering there is an even more exclusive and coveted spot inside that event. It was overwhelming. There is a massive putting green where you can putt to famous hole locations on the course, outdoor dining overlooking the putting green and classic cabins on the perimeter. The cabins are essentially a small boutique shopping mall lined with restaurants and Masters memorabilia. The Italian restaurant offers pizza made by a chef from Italy brought to Augusta just for the week of the tournament. The merchandise shop in Berkmans offers items only available there. The entire experience was beyond belief.

My trips to the Masters made it clear to me it’s the best event in sports. There is no chaotic mob running to a hole, the food lines move fast and the staff always has a smile. People are respectful and pleasant. Strangers stand shoulder to shoulder and make more than small talk about where they are from. You find yourself telling and listening to stories about your trip there, how many times you’ve been, what your favorite memories of the Masters are, where you play golf in your home-town. None of it feels forced. Everyone is happy to be there, there are no intoxicated fans jumping off campers into tables. It’s all so civil without being stuffy. It made me realize I need to get back there again and make sure my family can experience this one day as well. You know it’s a special place when all you can think about is how much your wife and three kids would enjoy it. — Patrick McCarthy

Growing up a Masters patron

I have had the profound fortune of experiencing the Masters with my family throughout my youth and young adulthood. We had the tradition of meeting my father by the practice green near No. 1 after he worked a half day at Casella Eye Center, the optometry clinic he took over when his father retired. We would watch a few groups tee off, then make our way over to the eighth green by means of the third green and  fourth tee. Behind the fourth tee is a great and subtle vantage point. You have shade, a scoreboard, a bathroom and concessions just up the pathway on the 2nd fairway and a view of the 2nd green. No. 8 is a great spot for watching the pairings come through. The top left seats get more shade as the day progresses. 

When the leaders come through No. 8, we’d head to No. 11 to find a spot about halfway down the fairway. Eventually, we’d made our way to the tee on No. 14, which affords a great view of the 13th green, even when it’s crowded. Then, we’d take a few steps backward down the downslope of 15 for yet another stunning view. No. 16 has that great stadium feel, especially from the hill on No. 6. Then it was time to mosey on back up to the clubhouse. We made that perfect trek many times as a family, and I feel so fortunate to have done so. My mother and father both passed away in 2023, and I miss them dearly. My father had a rich history with the Masters, having worked the scoreboards as a high schooler. He was the biggest fan of the Masters and an extremely knowledgeable patron. It was his heaven on earth, and I said that in his eulogy. — Ben Casella, Augusta, Georgia

A memorable call from the pay phones

My Masters experience was a dream come true. I grew up in a family of golfers and watched the Masters every year as a kid in the 1980s. My dad caddied in his youth, and so did my siblings and I. However, I am the only one that got to Augusta. I remember calling my Dad from the phones behind the 3rd green at Augusta. I wanted him to know he was getting a call from Augusta National during Masters week. That was the last time I would pick up a phone specifically to talk to him (outside of a holiday) as he passed away unexpectedly a few months later. It’s a happy memory, as it was a great moment I could share with him.

I also remember saying the same phrase over and over as I walked the course. Most of my sentences began with “I had no idea.” I had no idea how big the hill to the 9th green was. I had no idea how small the 12th and 15th greens were. When were standing on No. 11 just right of the fairway, I had no idea that I’d be able to see all of Amen Corner. To experience it all with my wife made it all the better.

I am a lifelong college basketball fan and a graduate of the University of Kansas, who won the National Championship later that evening. Possibly the best day of my life. — Ray Janowski, Chicago, Illinois

A grandmother’s death and a love realized

I was first introduced to the Masters in April 1997. My grandmother died that week. While our house was full of family grieving, 11-year-old me sat in front of the TV watching Tiger Woods steamroll his way to his first Masters victory. It was strange. I had just a woman who meant so much to me, but when I look back, it’s also when I fell in love with golf and with the Masters.

I traveled from Cohasset, Mass., to attend the Tuesday practice round in 2024 with some friends. My favorite memory is simply walking around the course and taking everything in. We were near the front of the line to get in early that morning and watched Tiger, Justin Thomas, and Fred Couples play the front nine. And we stayed until they basically kicked us out that evening — most everyone had left the course, but Bryson DeChambeau was doing Bryson DeChambeau things on the driving range, so we stayed until the staff politely told us it was time to go. — Stephen McDonald, Cohasset, Massachusetts

Experiencing the Masters with my best friends

My mom and dad are my best friends. I say that only partially in jest. I’m blessed to have many incredible people in my life, but I’m the second of four children in my family and the only one without a spouse and kids of my own. As a result, I’ve been able to travel with my mom and dad more than my siblings, and it’s become a running joke for me to quip ‘just me and my best friends!’ when we’re driving around a foreign country, boarding a plane or turning out the lights in our tiny hotel room at the end of the day. So while it’s hard to choose a favorite moment from the Masters (from lightning delays to the kindness of strangers to spotting Scott Van Pelt in the wild), my favorite memory is who I got to do it with.

My mom is the one who loves golf the most in our family. The joke is that we grew up in a household where my mom was shouting at the TV watching golf while no one else really cared. It wasn’t until adulthood that I became interested in the sport after my mom converted me during a Ryder Cup. I now know all of the players and consider golf one of my favorite sports to watch. Our trip to the Masters in 2024 was so special because my dad gifted it to my mom, who deserves it more than anyone I know, and because I was invited along. — Emily Kinard, Washington, D.C.

A father-daughter day at Augusta National

I attended the 2023 Masters with my dad, Bill. After hitting the merchandise shop and shipping our purchases home, we walked across the first fairway. I’ll never forget the way my dad’s eyes welled up with tears as he took in the fact we were at Augusta National. We walked the whole course trying to beat the potentially impending rain and tried every food item along the way. We both must’ve said “this is unbelievable” a thousand times. 

I was so thrilled to share the moment with my dad who had never even dreamt of stepping foot on Augusta. So seldom do children get to make their parent’s dreams come true and I was so lucky to do so. Now every spring, we share a flurry of texts about the beauty of Augusta National, the meal we shared the night before we attended, the sneaky view of No. 16 that felt like secret to everyone but us and how lucky we were to get to do it together. 

Augusta has a way of making everyone feel as if the course was made, staffed, and opened just for you. It’s different from any other experience I’ve had. Getting to experience it with the person who did the very same for me growing up was a dream come true. — Cate Remphrey

A returned check from Augusta National

I attended the Wednesday practice round in 2006 with my older brother and a bunch of our friends. We drove an RV down from the Philadelphia area that Monday, picked one guy up near DC & went all the way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where we stayed overnight and played 36 holes of golf on Tuesday. We stayed over again and left at 5 the next morning to drive from Myrtle Beach to Augusta. We parked in an independent dirt lot off Washington Road and walked over to the course. This was when the practice range was still small and adjacent to the clubhouse. Our first stop was the merchandise tent.

When checking his receipt when he got home, my brother realized that they didn’t charge him for a sweater he bought. So he wrote a letter to Augusta National and enclosed a check for the correct amount. Seven weeks later, he got a letter back from the club, thanking him for his honesty and telling him that’s exactly what makes the Masters so special. They returned the check too. He’s had that letter framed in his office ever since. — Pete Thompson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The post Funny Tour rookies, free agents and ‘anonymous’ Adam Scott? | Rogers Report appeared first on Golf.

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Hello friends and welcome to this edition of the Rogers Report! I’m covering my first PGA Tour event of the year at the Players Championship, and it’s always one of my favorite events. I’ve been coming here since 2022 and I always think of the event as a golf homecoming, because just about all of my media pals cover this tournament every year. It’s the first time we’re all truly in one spot and it feels like the big season kickoff before major season begins. When people are heading out on Sunday night, they always greet you with a fun goodbye: “See you at Augusta!”

It’s already been a busy week here on site, so let’s get right into it.

First timers

The PGA Tour hosts a “Players Championship rookie” media day every year at the Players, and this year did not disappoint. My coworker and pal Emma Devine and I went over with mics and asked the rookies some rapid-fire questions. There are 14 newcomers in the field this year, and while all of the guys we spoke to were great, Michael Thorbjornsen and Zach Bauchou stood out to me as two guys with big personalities.

Bauchou was college teammates (and roommates!) with Viktor Hovland, so it’s no wonder he had some fun with his ‘hot take’ question during our chat. You may recognize Bauchou as the player Hovland caddied for in a U.S. Open qualifier less than 24 hours after winning the 2023 Memorial Tournament.

I actually knew Michael Thorbjornsen before he arrived at rookie day. I’ve interviewed him and his Boston Common teammates a few times at TGL this winter, but his personality really came out on Wednesday morning. I was very pleasantly surprised by how silly he was willing to be when answering our questions, and he was a breath of fresh air on an early morning.

The best merch on the PGA Tour

I know, I know. The Masters is second to none when it comes to merchandise, but the Players deserves some respect of its own. The best part at Sawgrass each year? The women’s section is just as big as the men’s. Check out my tour of the place from earlier this week.

I’m currently sporting my new Players pullover as I type, and I’m very happy with the little sweater I got for a baby in the family. My merchandise shopping game is in solid form and I’m looking forward to it peaking at the Masters next month.

Golf’s free agents

I’ve spent far too much time over the last few years thinking about who I’d want my clothing sponsor to be if I were a professional golfer. Nelly Korda always looks spectacular in Nike. Billy Horschel‘s RLX lineup is second to none every year at the Masters. Adam Scott’s Uniqlo outfits are always nice, and I’m a big fan of their everyday clothing. In all the time I’ve spent considering this hypothetical situation, it never occurred to me that the biggest sponsor flex might be having none at all. Right now, that’s the case for two of the top 15 players in the world — who told me they’re in no rush to sign with a new clothing sponsor.

I’m sure both Fleetwood and Thomas will partner up with new companies eventually, but it’s been fun to see all their looks lately. Especially because Fleetwood has been rocking hats from some of his favorite Tour stops since parting with Nike.

Adam Scott who?

Long before Adam Scott was a Masters champion and a face of longevity on the PGA Tour, he was …. a ‘no-name’? At least that’s what he said earlier this week, when the 14-time PGA Tour winner revealed a story from his time as a wee lad at the 2004 Players Championship.

The good news is Adam Scott went on to win that week, and many more times after that. Twenty-two years later, he’s still contending on Tour so it’s safe to say he got the last laugh here.

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The post Charley Hull ends 2-year winless streak at Ladies European Tour event appeared first on Golf.

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Although Charley Hull’s popularity has grown over the past few years thanks to some viral moments on social media, many of her newer fans had yet to see her do something she did this weekend — win a golf tournament.

But the 28-year-old got a huge monkey off her back by shooting a 6-under 66 to end a two-year winless streak, holding off Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup by three strokes at the Aramco Team Series in Saudi Arabia.

The victory at the Ladies European Tour (LET) event seemed to be a huge relief for Hull — who had two runner-up finishes in majors during the 2023 season, as well as four other T5 finishes over the two-year stretch since her last win at Volunteers of America Classic in 2022.

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Despite being winless for the past 25 months, Hull said afterwards that she had remained confident, and felt encouraged about some of her previous showings — even if they didn’t end in victory.

“I’ve been knocking on the door the last couple of years, and this week it all came together,” Hull said afterwards. “It’s been a long wait and I feel good.”

After injuring her shoulder in July, Hull had put together some impressive showings as of late, finishing T20 or better in her last four starts on the LPGA. But this victory seemed extra sweet, as she finally tasted victory again — prompting her to quip about it on Instagram afterwards.

Hull continuously said she felt good during the final round, which led to a score of 18-under for the three-day event.

“I felt really sharp, I played very solidly today,” she added. “I was actually in the gym this morning, and didn’t start my warm-up until 45 minutes before because I needed to get a 5K-run in. I felt really strong out there.”

Hull now owns four LET titles, and said she’s looking forward to returning to the States for the final two LPGA events prior to unwinding for the holidays.

“I’m going home for a week before I head back to America for the last two events on the LPGA Tour, which is The Annika event, and then the CME Group Tour Championship,” she said. “I like the Tour Championship golf course. I won there in 2016, so I’m looking forward to them, too, and then home for Christmas — I can’t wait.”

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The post Padraig Harrington jokes about false confidence from success on senior tour appeared first on Golf.

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As Padraig Harrington gets closer to completing his third season on the PGA Tour Champions — preparing for next week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship at the Phoenix Country Club from Nov. 7-10 — he seems to recognize the stark contrasts between the senior tour and the PGA Tour.

At 53 years old, Harrington is still spry enough to bomb it off the tee — a major advantage over his senior tour counterparts — yet not quite able to keep up with the young guns on the PGA Tour week in and week out.

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That’s not to say he can’t compete on the PGA Tour anymore, as the three-time major champ proved he could do so with an impressive T22 finish at this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. Still, in seven starts on the PGA Tour in 2024, he missed the cut five times.

But Harrington has been nothing short of dominant when it comes to his performances in PGA Tour Champions events.

In 14 starts in 2024 on the senior tour, Harrington hasn’t missed a single cut, has won three tournaments, finished T10 seven times, and has earned over $1.6 million. Those aren’t quite Scottie Scheffler-like numbers, but they’re all impressive nonetheless.

Given his success on the PGA Tour Champions, Harrington joked about getting a sense of false confidence when the game’s so sharp versus the older guys, making him think he can translate it versus the young guys on the PGA Tour.

“When I’m out here on the Champions tour, and you play well, you think ‘this is brilliant,’” Harrington said on a Zoom call ahead of next week’s senior tour event. “But the better you play on the Champions tour, the more you think you can beat the young guys. So it’s kind of a Catch 22 in that sense that if you start winning on the Champions tour you think, ‘Oh maybe I can do it on the regular tour.’”

Putting

While Harrington has competed on both the senior tour and the PGA Tour over the past few years, he hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since the 2015 Honda Classic, with his last T10 occurring at the 2023 Valero Texas Open — so he understands how difficult it is to translate sharp play from one tour to the other.

He admitted that he felt a little overmatched during this year’s Scottish Open, when he missed the cut after finishing at 1-over.

“At the Scottish Open this year [on the regular tour], I was definitely leaning towards playing more on the Champions tour. I felt a little bit out of my depth,” he quipped.

Despite the differences between competition on both tours, Harrington has previously said that the senior tour is “the hardest tour to keep your card,” so he’s certainly not letting any success go to his head.

“This is really cut-throat,” Harrington previously said. “Thirty-six to keep your card is very, very tight. It doesn’t take much for you to drop out of that 36. So that’s why you see the guys out here practicing. And if you’re not one of the guys practicing, somebody else will do it for you. And that means you’ll slip out of your position.

“Guys practice just like they practiced on tour. They actually maybe even work a little bit harder out here.”

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The post Billy Horschel beats Rory McIlroy in playoff, wins BMW PGA Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post Billy Horschel beats Rory McIlroy in playoff, wins BMW PGA Championship appeared first on Golf.

There may not have been a PGA Tour event this weekend, but that cleared the stage for the DP World Tour’s flagship event and the final round of the 2024 BMW PGA Championship delivered a finish that was worthy of the moniker.

By the end of 72 holes, it came down to just Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel and Thriston Lawrence.

The excitement heated up on No. 17, when Rory McIlroy drained a 47-foot eagle to tie the lead of Lawrence at 20 under. The four-time major winner, who brutally finished runner-up last week at the Irish Open, another in a string of disappointing finishes this year, then misplayed his second shot on the par-5 18th short of the water and couldn’t get up and down to win outright.

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Not to be outdone, Horschel (McIroy’s playing partner), showed his flare for the dramatic, nearly spinning his approach shot in for eagle, settling for a birdie to join the sudden death playoff alongside McIlroy and Lawrence.

Each player found themselves in difficult situations on the first playoff hole, but it was McIlroy and Horschel who got up-and-down to both birdie 18, with Lawrence carding a bogey after his third shot found the penalty area.

The playoff was narrowed from three to two — and the tension was high.

After each bombed their drive into the middle of the fairway, McIlroy flushed his approach right to the middle of the green. Horschel didn’t flinch, and matched him with an equally-impressive iron shot — leaving both players with eagle opportunities.

After McIlroy missed his eagle try, just barely catching the high edge, Horschel canned a 20-footer for the victory — his second in this event, as he won back in 2021 at Wentworth as well, becoming the first American to win the title twice.

“I’m thrilled and excited for the way I played — I just battled out there today,” Horschel said.

The winning eagle putt ended an impressive final round for Horschel, who finished birdie-birdie just to make the playoff, then went birdie-eagle to win the tournament.

“Look, I had to have a little luck,” Horschel said. “After the bogey on No. 15, I knew I was just a little bit behind the 8-ball.”

But Horschel stayed the course and trusted his game to play outstanding golf down the stretch.

“I was thinking about going for it from the bunker in regulation, but my caddie Mike said, ‘I just don’t know, man, there’s a little bit of sand,’ so I laid up and trusted [his advice],” he said. “There was a lot of luck on my side to get this victory today.”

The victory didn’t come easy for Horschel, who said he had to really grind on his swing throughout the week.

“I haven’t felt great with my swing all week, but yesterday felt pretty solid and this morning was a good warm up,” he said. “Today it didn’t feel right, but, look, I grind my butt off and always will — I did that today. I hit some really good shots out there, I made some really good putts, and that’s what you have to do when you’re not firing on all cylinders

Of course, the elephant in the room is the heartbreaking finish for McIlroy, whose season has been plagued by “almosts”. This 2nd place finish follows his runner-up at last week’s Amgen Irish Open. While neither stings as badly as the one from Pinehurst at the U.S. Open, it still gives extra fodder for the critics to work with.

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“I had my chance in regulation, and had a real awkward yardage for my second [shot],” McIlroy said. “I tried to turn over a 4-iron and was lucky it didn’t go into the water.

“But two weeks in a row, I’ve played well, just not quite well enough.”

Horschel even spoke about the disappointment that comes with beating a friend.

“Rory’s a really good friend of mine, and I think the world of him,” Horschel added. “He’s a generational talent and I know how close he’s been this year, so I can feel for him. But at the same time, I’m pretty excited just to be able to get it done today.”

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The post ‘I’m still teary eyed’: Two-time major winner retires in epic setting appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘I’m still teary eyed’: Two-time major winner retires in epic setting appeared first on Golf.

Mark O’Meara took his final walk up No. 18 at the PURE Insurance Championship, closing out a 44-year pro career that included two major victories and 16 PGA Tour wins.

There couldn’t have been a more epic setting, as the 67-year-old capped his illustrious career from Pebble Beach, a place where he was victorious fives times on the PGA Tour and once as an amateur.

As one might expect, O’Meara couldn’t hold back his emotions. Not from this moment, nor from this place that means so much to him.

Following his final pro putt, O’Meara gracefully walked off the green waving his hat towards the applauding crowd, soaking in every ounce of energy and love from fans young and old.

Asked about what he felt during this final round, O’Meara referenced a laundry list of memories from Pebble Beach, and thanked the prestigious course for all it gave him throughout the years.

“It means everything. I mean, everything that’s transpired in my life here is, Pebble Beach has been the dream,” he said. “With that, coming here in ’78, playing the state amateur in ’79, winning the state amateur at Pebble Beach. My great lucky fortunes over the years to play well around this iconic place, the wins that I’ve had here, the memories of winning the last Crosby to playing with my father in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am and winning the championship alongside my dad.

“I mean, I owe everything to Pebble Beach, it’s just a blessing to be able to finish my career here.”

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As he made the slow walk around the final few holes, O’Meara said reality began to set in as he saw family and friends showing their support.

“The last couple holes, when I see my friends and family out here, they’re supporting me,” O’Meara added. “My daughter, Michelle, guys that have worked for me, my caddies of past years and my wife, other friends that have flown in to celebrate this occasion with me, I mean, how can you not be emotional? I’m emotional still right now.”

Once O’Meara made his way to No. 18, his emotions got the best of him, with tears beginning to swell in his eyes as his mind began embracing all the memories from over the years.

“Look, I’m still teary eyed, I’m still kind of somewhat crying. And do I think I’m an emotional guy? I am a little bit, but it’s a little overwhelming coming down the last hole, even on the 17th hole seeing a friend of mine who’s caddying for another player out here who caddied for me for a number of years, another — you know, Mitch Windsor who 3 caddies for Steve Flesch, and then Shane Joel who caddies for Doug Ghim on the regular tour who caddied for me for 10 years, to see that he would take the time to come up here and watch me go around.”

While there’s a bit of an unknown for O’Meara now that he’s done with competitive golf, he’s embracing the changes, and says “it’s OK to slow down a little bit” now that he’s in his late-60s. It’s now time for him to tap into some of his hobbies — while still keeping the game of golf within arm’s reach.

“I mean, I’ll still stay active in the game,” O’Meara proclaimed. “I won’t compete at this high level, but I feel a calling that I want to stay involved in the game.

Putters

“And I have a lot of hobbies that I like outside the game — whether it’s in a river fly fishing somewhere or riding snowmobiles up in the backcountry — those are things that I love to do. Spend more time with my family and not feel like I’ve got to get on a plane and travel so much and sit in hotel rooms by myself.”

As O’Meara wrapped up, he couldn’t hold back his thanks for Pebble Beach — a place that saw some of his greatest successes as a player.

“I’m thankful for every moment that I have walking around this place,” he added. “It’s not like I’ll never come back to Pebble Beach again, but the fact to be able to end a competitive 44-year career at Pebble Beach, yeah, I couldn’t have picked a more special day and a more special place.”

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The post How much does golf cost in each U.S. state? Here’s the average price appeared first on Golf.

The post How much does golf cost in each U.S. state? Here’s the average price appeared first on Golf.

Sure, we’d all love to tee it up every single day and play golf as often as possible, but there’s often a big problem with that: Golf can be expensive!

While I don’t even want to crunch the numbers to see how much I spend on this funny game each year, I’d guess that it’s quite a bit. Would I change a thing? Heck no. Do I have to budget for certain rounds at certain courses? Of course!

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But have you ever wondered how much golf costs around the country, and which state’s courses (on average) charge the most? Thanks to new data from Supreme Golf — which analyzed over 5.4 million rounds played in 2023 — we now have an idea.

So before planning your next golf trip with some buddies, consider the below data, which shows the average tee time price in each state and provides a clear picture of where golfers get the most (and the least) amount of value.

How much does golf cost (on average) in each state?

We all love to play golf in perfect weather where there’s an abundance of sunshine, so the results below highlight that trend.

Unsurprisingly, on average, golf costs a little bit more in warmer weather states. But tee times are also a little higher in states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, which may not boast hot weather year-round, but often offer stunning views from most courses.

Regardless of where you’re itching to tee it up, the below provides some guidance on what you might expect to pay per round — with the rates listed below from lowest to highest.

Alaska – $14

District of Columbia – $28

Maine – $28

Oklahoma – $31

Ohio – $35

Indiana – $36

Iowa – $36

Kansas – $36

Kentucky – $36

Minnesota – $39

Arkansas – $40

Pennsylvania – $40

Connecticut – $41

Illinois – $41

West Virginia – $41

Wyoming – $41

New Hampshire – $42

Missouri – $44

Tennessee – $44

North Dakota – $45

Massachusetts – $46

New Mexico – $46

Alabama – $47

New York – $47

Rhode Island – $47

Wisconsin – $47

Michigan – $49

Nebraska – $49

South Dakota – $50

Georgia – $52

Oregon – $52

Washington – $52

Idaho – $53

Texas – $53

Vermont – $53

Maryland – $54

Virginia – $54

Montana – $55

Louisiana – $61

New Jersey – $62

Florida – $64

Mississippi – $64

North Carolina – $64

Utah – $66

Delaware – $67

South Carolina – $68

Arizona – $70

California – $70

Colorado – $80

Hawaii – $108

Nevada – $143

Looking for the best golf courses near you? Take a look at GOLF’s Course Finder, powered by Open Links.

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The post ‘You don’t want to swing at that guy’: 3M Open winner details wild tee shot appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘You don’t want to swing at that guy’: 3M Open winner details wild tee shot appeared first on Golf.

Sunday at TPC Twin Cities ended up being a memorable one for Jhonattan Vegas. Not only did he pick up his fourth career PGA Tour victory by finishing 17 under to win the 3M Open, but he also experienced a once-in-a-lifetime tee shot that ended up in the arms of a police officer.

Yeah, not your typical tee shot, right?

Standing on the par-5 12th hole, Vegas sprayed his tee shot way left of the fairway. Rather than roll deep into the thick rough, the ball wound up striking a cop — with the ball bouncing and eventually resting between the officer’s arms.

The video below shows the strange event, courtesy of Golf on CBS’ Twitter account.

Luckily, a rules official awarded him a free drop — which led to a par save on his way to the eventual victory.

“That was wild, right? Out of all the places that the ball can go to, to find a policeman,” Vegas said afterward. “Luckily, he was standing in the right place, I was able to get a good drop and have somewhat of a clear shot to the green. It’s just kind of one of those crazy stuff that happens in golf.”

So, was he relieved not to be forced to play the ball as it lies?

“He has a gun,” Vegas joked, “so you don’t want to swing at that guy.”

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The post Here’s how much money every player made at the 2024 3M Open appeared first on Golf.

The post Here’s how much money every player made at the 2024 3M Open appeared first on Golf.

The leaderboard at the 2024 3M Open was crowded when Sunday’s final round started, but in the end it was Jhonattan Vegas finishing at 17 under to capture the victory, earning his 4th career PGA Tour victory.

While winning on Tour is an accomplishment in its own right — with Vegas overcoming a crowded field to claim the top spot — the payday might be even sweeter.

The total purse for the 2024 3M Open was set at $8.1 million, $300,000 more than last year’s event, with Vegas being awarded a hefty payout of $1,458,000 for his efforts at TPC Twin Cities.

So how much did all of the players in the field come away with at this year’s 3M Open? You can find a complete list of the final payouts for each player below.

How much money every player made at the 2024 3M Open

1. Jhonattan Vegas, $1,458,000

2. Max Greyserman, $882,900

T3. Maverick McNealy, $477,900
T3. Matt Kuchar, $477,900

5. Taylor Pendrith, $332,100

T6. Kurt Kitayama, $273,375
T6. Patrick Fishburn, $273,375
T6. Sahith Theegala, $273,375

T9. K.H. Lee, $220,725
T9. J.J. Spaun, $220,725
T9. Matt NeSmith, $220,725

T12. Cameron Champ, $151,296.42
T12. Henrik Norlander, $151,296.42
T12. Tony Finau, $151,296.42
T12. Taylor Moore, $151,296.42
T12. Matti Schmid, $151,296.42
T12. Sam Burns, $151,296.42
T12. Alex Smalley, $151,296.42

T19. Andrew Putnam, $99,549
T19. Mackenzie Hughes, $99,549
T19. Justin Suh, $99,549
T19. Jacob Bridgeman, $99,549
T19. Cam Davis, $99,549

T24. David Skinns,$61,695
T24. Trace Crowe, $61,695
T24. Harry Hall, $61,695
T24. Doug Ghim, $61,695
T24. Emiliano Grillo, $61,695
T24. Andrew Novak, $61,695
T24. Ben Kohles, $61,695
T24. Chad Ramey, $61,695
T24. Matt Wallace, $61,695

T33. Kevin Kisner, $45,157.50
T33. Justin Lower, $45,157.50
T33. Brice Garnett, $45,157.50
T33. Kelly Kraft, $45,157.50

T37. Joseph Bramlett, $35,235
T37. Scott Piercy, $35,235
T37. Gary Woodland, $35,235
T37. Neal Shipley, $35,235
T37. Patrick Rodgers, $35,235
T37. Seamus Power, $35,235
T37. Adam Svensson, $35,235

T44. Joe Highsmith, $27,945
T44. Lanto Griffin, $27,945

T46. Davis Riley, $22,066.71
T46. Keith Mitchell, $22,066.71
T46. MJ Daffue, $22,066.71
T46. Nick Hardy, $22,066.71
T46. Keegan Bradley, $22,066.71
T46. Robert Streb, $22,066.71
T46. Stewart Cink, $22,066.71

T53. Dylan Wu, $18,981
T53. Austin Smotherman, $18,981
T53. Zach Johnson, $18,981
T53. Tyler Duncan, $18,981
T53. Ben Silverman, $18,981
T53. Aaron Baddeley, $18,981

T59. Charley Hoffman, $18,063
T59. Hayden Springer, $18,063
T59. Adam Schenk, $18,063
T59. Chris Gotterup, $18,063
T59. Marc Meissner, $18,063

T64. Sam Stevens, $17,415
T64. Kevin Streelman, $17,415
T64. Akshay Bhatia, $17,415

T67. Wesley Bryan, $16,848
T67. Robby Shelton, $16,848
T67. Rico Hoey, $16,848
T67. Kevin Chappell, $16,848

71. Carson Young, $16,443

72. Pierceson Coody, $16,281

T73. Kevin Yu, $16,038
T73. Cody Gribble, $16,038

The post Here’s how much money every player made at the 2024 3M Open appeared first on Golf.

The post Jon Rahm’s caddie fires back at rowdy crowd during LIV Golf event appeared first on Golf.

The post Jon Rahm’s caddie fires back at rowdy crowd during LIV Golf event appeared first on Golf.

Jon Rahm validated his decision to join LIV Golf with his first-ever win as a member of the league on Sunday at JCB Golf & Country Club, but Rahm and his caddie, Adam Hayes, were also in the news a day earlier as they tried to tame a few rowdy fans on Saturday.

During the second round of the LIV Golf event in the UK, Rahm found himself in some thick cabbage on No. 16 and prepared for a pitch shot. As he assessed his lie and stood over his ball, a fan couldn’t hold back his excitement, er, chatter, and belted out the following, “You’re in the cabbage, Raaaahmbo!”

The interruption was enough to draw the ire of Rahm, causing him to back away, stare down the fan, and reset himself.

But just because Rahm was able to move on doesn’t mean his caddie, Hayes, was ready to let the rowdy fan off that easy. In the video below, shared by NUCLR GOLF’s Twitter, Hayes can be heard shouting some derogatory words at the spectator.

(Editor’s note: The video includes language that’s NSFW).

For those who missed Hayes’ response: “Yeah it’s gobbled up,” he said. “Yell louder when we’re in our f—— backswing, you d——-!”

Rahm bogeyed the hole, but it wasn’t anything that sent him into a downward spiral. He was able to collect himself enough to move up the leaderboard for the victory on Sunday.

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