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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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Hello friends, and welcome to this edition of the Rogers Report! From attending the pro-am pairings party to getting a custom-made hat to celebrate the LPGA’s 75th anniversary to following hometown favorite Megan Khang at TPC Boston, I’ve had an incredible week covering the FM Championship.

This tournament is truly one of a kind, and it was the perfect way to mark the (unofficial) end of summer here in New England. To the surprise of absolutely no one, there were a handful of superb press-conference moments throughout the week, which ended with Miranda Wang winning her first LPGA title.

News

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul continues to show her hilarious personality, and a handful of other players weighed in on important topics. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Megha Ganne on women’s golf

U.S Women’s Amateur champion and FM Championship sponsor’s exemption Megha Ganne was asked what it means to her to know that so many young girls are taking up golf nowadays, and her answer hit the nail on the head.

“I think golf has been so underrated for so long, especially women’s golf, and girls playing in middle school, high school, it opens a lot of doors for you later on no matter the level that you pursue it at. So to see it become more of an avenue for those young girls to let this game take them wherever it takes them is really cool.”

Here’s what Ganne had to say when asked what advice she’d give to young girls just getting started in the game:

“Make golf whatever you want it to be. If you want to play at high level, go pursue that. If you don’t, if you want it to be a way for you to put yourself out there socially to meet different people that you wouldn’t have known otherwise, do that. If you want to go play different courses and travel to different spots, do that. Golf is so cool because you can use it to do whatever you want. There are so many career paths that I’ve seen college golfers go to even after they’re done playing, whether it’s playing or broadcasting or working in media.”

Very few of us will ever be professional golfers, but playing and knowing golf can take women very far. I met a junior golfer who was working as a junior golf reporter at the FM Championship this week, and she said her goal is to either play professional golf or cover professional golf for a living. As Ganne said, you truly can use golf to “do whatever you want.”

Megan Khang on FM

Massachusetts native and FM ambassador Megan Khang was asked about the player experience at the FM Championship earlier this week. Here’s what she had to say:

“You know, back when FM was in the works of making this event happen, they kind of asked me a few questions of what makes a tournament stand out to the players. I gave them a pretty short list. I thought that — I said it was be great if they could maybe check a couple of these boxes off whether it’s accommodation, a discount on accommodation, car rentals, help transportation-wise, flights.

“They went above and beyond. They took everything I gave them and said, Done; we’ll do it all. I was pretty thrown off by that because they wanted — again, they want this tournament to be a fixture in the schedule where the girls don’t want to miss it, and I think they’re doing a fantastic job.

“They’ve added on a welcome dinner at the hotel for the girls for those playing late tee times Thursday or Friday. Last year was one dinner, and this year it’s two nights of dinner. I went to the dinner last year and they shelled out quite a menu. I think mini lobster rolls, some steaks, an awesome dessert. So it goes from them not only giving a discount to hotels, but they’re absolutely giving complimentary hotel rooms. I was told they’re giving a $250 credit for laundry as well. The top 30 girls get to ride in some pretty nice BMWs this week.

“Everything they’re doing from just the quote/unquote little things to making the purse as big as it is in the second year. They raised the purse the first year without even seeing us play. It’s a true honor to be an FM ambassador, and makes me so happy to be a part of their team.”

LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler and other players in the field echoed Khang’s statements throughout the week. The FM Championship goes above and beyond for its players, which doesn’t go unnoticed. Each and every thing they do makes a big difference for the women in the field and leaves them wanting to return year after year.

Jeeno Thitikul on thinking she’s not that good at golf

There’s no golfer whose press conferences I enjoy sitting in on more than World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul’s. The 22-year-old doesn’t take herself too seriously (outside the ropes, anyway) and always offers a fun perspective on her game when she comes in to chat with the media. This week at the FM Championship was no exception.

Here’s what Thitikul had to say about being World No. 1, and if she feels any different with that title.

“I think I’m the same person. It just number-wise, the golf, the ranking, the stats, they just build it up, but I think I just said to the media guy that walk up with me today, like I don’t think I’m good. I don’t think I’m that good. He’s just like, what are you just saying? … I’m just surprised by everything, surviving here on LPGA. I’m just like, it’s so many players that are talented and then I just, I swear that when I was young I just thought about winning a tournament, just one tournament on the LPGA would be enough for me. But to hear where I am now, I don’t know how I did it.”

If the World No. 1 thinks she’s not that good at golf, there’s very little hope for the rest of us. And if you somehow haven’t seen some of Thitikul’s other hilarious press-conference moments from the past year, check out this clip.

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Hello friends and welcome to this edition of the Rogers Report! I’ve been on site at the FM Championship all week, and it’s unlike any professional golf tournament I’ve ever covered. Sure, the event gets a few extra points in my book because it’s a home game, but there are so many things going on all week that make the FM Championship one of a kind.

FM Championship Tuesday

On Tuesday, I headed to the Titleist Performance Center to attend an afternoon at the LPGA Leadership Academy, where 40 girls from around the country traveled to Titleist’s Manchester Lane facility to work on their golf skills and personal development over the course of three days.

The women leading the Academy were so, so passionate about helping the attendees build confidence and a stronger sense of self, and it worked. Teenagers who started the program as strangers cheered each other on as they navigated through three clinic stations outside. After lunch, Megan Khang joined a panel to discuss her leadership style, life on the LPGA Tour and more.

After a lovely afternoon at the Leadership Academy, I headed to Gillette Stadium for the Pro-Am Pairings Party. The pros arrived and took photos by the field before meeting their partners for the Pro-Am. Then we all went upstairs to mingle and hear LPGA Commissioner Kraig Kessler, FM CEO Malcolm Roberts and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey speak.

This was my first week back on site at a tournament since the Open Championship last month, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to get back into the swing of things. The LPGA Leadership Academy reminded me that golf is about a lot more than just a score, and being at Gillette Stadium with the best golfers in the world was a dream come true for this New Englander.

A chat with LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler

On Thursday, I moderated a panel with LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler. He explained that even though this is just the second year of the FM Championship, players circled it on their calendar as a “can’t-miss” event. He highlighted the fact that this tournament has one of the most competitive purses on tour, a missed cut stipend, hotel and airfare credits for players, a recovery room at the player hotel, elevated onsite food and beverage, as well as player-focused dinners on Thursday and Friday evening. For the pros, all of these things make a huge difference, and you can tell just how happy everyone is to be there.

Not only are the players excited to be at TPC Boston, but the locals are eager to embrace this tour stop with open arms. Hundreds of FM colleagues volunteer throughout the week, and fans of all ages have been out at the course every day to watch the world’s best players tee it up.

The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Clinic

One of the most unique things about the FM Championship is the range. It has two levels. On the upper level, you’ll see the pros warming up. On the lower level, you’ll see dozens of kids playing games, making friends and receiving hands-on instruction from LPGA teaching professionals.

It’s not every day kids just taking up the game have the opportunity to share a range with the pros, so this was very wholesome to see. The clinic was a total hit, and getting some pointers on your own game before heading out to watch your favorite players tee it up sounds like the perfect day.

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Hello friends and welcome to this week’s edition of the Rogers Report, where we are very happy for Tommy Fleetwood and the fact that he secured his first PGA Tour win, but also very stressed for Keegan Bradley and all the big Ryder Cup decisions he has to make this week.

I would not want to be the one making those phone calls. Good luck, captain Bradley!

And now for a quick housekeeping note before we get into the good stuff. We launched GOLF 101 last week, a video series for anyone who is new to the golf space and wants to learn about it. We’re starting off with lessons on the Ryder Cup and will expand to etiquette, instruction, tournaments and more.

My favorite golf friendship

There are a dozen or so golf friendships that I absolutely adore. I love what Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa had at previous Ryder Cups. I love the way Shane Lowry embraced Rory McIlroy after his win at the Masters earlier this year. I enjoy the fact that Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns share a rental house on the road most weeks and I love seeing Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas interact on the golf course. However, my current favorite friendship in men’s professional golf is that of Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.

The most wholesome moments at PGA Tour events often come just before and after the final putt drops, when the broadcast pans over to the pros who have stuck around to watch their pal win. On Sunday at East Lake, the Roses and Lowrys stood alongside Fleetwood’s stepson, Oscar, and cheered as their friend and Ryder Cup teammate secured his first PGA Tour victory. Not only did it secure the Fleetwood and Rose friendship as my current favorite, it quickly became one of my favorite golf moments of the year.

I love watching celebrities and professional athletes record things on their own phone when it’s abundantly clear that there will be better footage of the moment they’re capturing on social media, television and Getty Images. But Rose doesn’t care. He did what the rest of us would do for a pal on the brink of their dream coming true: capturing it for his own memories. The best!

Not only did Rose stick around to watch Fleetwood win, he FaceTimed Fleetwood’s family back at home so they could celebrate as well. This is a bromance I am all in on.

The pros react to Fleetwood’s win

Rose wasn’t the only pro who shared how excited he was about Fleetwood’s win. You can tell when a player is adored by their peers when everybody jumps in to congratulate them, and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday night. He even got a congratulatory tweet from Tiger Woods, which is almost as impressive as the win itself.

Fleetwood’s Instagram post from East Lake is flooded with comments from fellow pros as well.

Golfers weren’t the only athletes tuned in to Fleetwood’s win on Sunday evening. LeBron James live-tweeted a good chunk of the final round (please don’t come for my job, LeBron), and stars from other sports chimed in as well.

It’s no surprise everyone is happy for Fleetwood when you remember just how positive he is about golf and life.

Social media reacts to Tommy Fleetwood’s win

And finally (and as always), there was a bunch of superb golf Twitter content from Fleetwood’s win at East Lake that I’d be wrong to overlook.

Alright folks, that’s all from me. Until next time!

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Hello friends, and happy championship Sunday from Royal Portrush! My first Open Championship was an unforgettable one, and I’m so happy I got to spend the week in Portrush. The Monday after the final men’s major of the year is always tough, but we’re not there quite yet. There’s still a lot to celebrate from Scottie Scheffler’s fourth major victory, so let’s take a look at the very best moments from his win.

Haotong Li’s sweet reaction to Scheffler’s win

The World No. 111 was paired up with the World No. 1 in the final group on Sunday at the Open, and he definitely made the most of it. Li shot a final-round 70 and secured a T-4 finish as well as a new friend.

I’m already looking forward to any Li-Scheffler content we may be blessed with in the future. I also couldn’t help but smile at this photo of Li watching his new friend win the Open Championship.

Competitors and supporters of each other. That’s what it’s all about!

The Scheffler family

At just 14 months old, Bennett Scheffler is very used to being in the winner’s circle. In fact, his resume contends with some other big names in golf.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Bennett Scheffler’s appearance on the 72nd hole was one of my favorite parts of his dad’s win. He even has a golf club in his hands these days!

Scheffler confirmed that his son is getting into the game in his winning press conference.

“I have a nephew that’s kind of obsessed with golf like I was at a young age,” Scheffler said after his win at Portrush. “I think we were in the backyard at Colonial, maybe earlier than that, it was at my sister’s bachelorette party, so my brother-in-law came and stayed with me with his two kids. Hayes was back there hitting golf ball after golf ball. Bennett loves older kids, so he looked at him and he was like, hey, I want to try that. He started swinging a club back and forth. I put a golf ball down, and he hit it. To be able to occupy a one-year-old with anything is probably a pretty good thing for them to be able to focus on.

“He likes it. He doesn’t know what a golf ball is, but he’s either eating his golf club, or he’s hitting something with it, whether it be a piece of furniture or sometimes other kids. We’re working on it … I hope Bennett’s able to get into golf one day. The game of golf has taught me a tremendous amount. I feel like every day you go out and play golf you’re looking in the mirror, and I’ve met some of my best friends through the game of golf. It’s a very special game. You call penalties on yourself, and it’s just, you learn a lot of good life lessons by playing golf. I hope he can play one day, and I hope he enjoys it as much as I do.”

I will never get tired of the family photos that follow a tournament victory, especially when kids are involved. Congratulations to golf’s first family on yet another win!

Scottie Scheffler checks his notes

As Scottie Scheffler gave his winning speech on Sunday afternoon on the 18th green, he paused to check his notes to make sure he thanked all of the people he intended to.

First off, a very classy move. You can tell this is a guy who knows how to give a winning speech. Second off, I have a few questions. Did he make this list himself, or did an agent help put it together? When did he make this list? Sunday morning? Way earlier in the week? I am desperate to know.

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Hello, friends, and happy Saturday from Royal Portrush! It’s been an eventful few days here in Northern Ireland and I am so excited to see how moving day unfolds.

The real grinders at the Open Championship

As someone who grew up with two brothers in a golf-loving family, I learned very early on that boys will practice their golf swings just about anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s while waiting in line at the airport, in the office or simply when walking by a full-length mirror, just about anywhere is fair game when it comes to getting some reps in. This week, I’ve discovered that an Open Championship is truly the perfect place for guys to work on their move because everyone carries an umbrella around with them. Nothing works as a makeshift club for air swings quite like an umbrella.

It seemed like everywhere I turned today, people were working on their golf swings. It didn’t matter what age — I saw young kids and their grandfathers getting dialed. As the week has gone on here at the Open, I’ve gotten used to the sight of people working on their takeaway, but I have to say I was taken aback when I saw a kid working on his armlock putting form.

What’s next, umbrella AimPoint practice? Just kidding. I love to see regular golfers getting inspired by their favorite players and working on their own games at Royal Portrush.

Matthew Fitzpatrick’s good luck charm

Matthew Fitzpatrick is in contention at Royal Portrush and he has his wife to thank for it (sort of). Katherine Fitzpatrick posted a video on TikTok explaining that she marks her husband’s golf balls every week, and she decided to have a little fun with it here at the Open. Check it out.

“Let’s mark my husband’s golf balls for the Open. I always mark my husbands golf balls for every tournament he plays. It’s just like, a special way for me to get involved. Most of the time I do hearts and stars. Sometimes if it’s a more of a serious tournament, I’ll do fish … I’m still going to give you a pack of special balls, Matt. You don’t have to use them, but they’re packed and filled with love.”

After a quick search on Getty Images, it doesn’t look like Matt Fitzpatrick has these golf balls in play at Royal Portrush. Maybe they’re in his locker or somewhere in his bag, but either way, what a sweet gesture from his better half!

A GOLF team outing in Portrush

My favorite outing of the week so far happed on Wednesday night, when my coworkers and I headed down the road to Ballyreagh Golf Course for an evening nine.

The par-3 course is a perfect place for kids and families, so I definitely recommend it if you’re ever in the area. Plus, you never know who you’ll run into.

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Hello friends and happy Thursday from Royal Portrush! To the surprise of absolutely no one, I had yet another lovely day at the Open Championship. Because this is my first time at the Open, I’ve kept a mental running list of all the things I enjoy about this event so far, and I finally decided to put that list down on paper.

So without further ado, here are all the things I love about the Open Championship!

5. The weather

I must say I have never experienced weather quite like this before. One minute, it’s brilliantly sunny. Five minutes later, it’s downpouring. I’m a fan of the weather here in northern Ireland (at least as a short-term visitor) because you don’t have to commit to a full day of the same thing. There’s no need to feel bad about spending time inside when it’s about to start raining anyway, and I’ve definitely made the most of the sunny moments here. I’ve been booking it back from the media center to the course once the sun comes out in a way I definitely don’t at other events. Oh, and it’s also nice to see players have to take on the course in all sorts of elements throughout the span of a single round.

4. Seeing players out and about!

I love how small and walkable Portrush is. We’ve run into at least two players every night as well as other media friends, caddies, agents and family members of the pros. Whether it’s on the walk to the course, at a restaurant or even out at another local course, we are just constantly running into familiar faces in a way I haven’t experienced since I lived on a college campus.

3. How many young people are at the tournament

I remember going to my first-ever golf tournament as a young kid and noticing that I stood out as an elementary schooler among lots of people in their 60s and 70s. I had a blast and didn’t think much about it, but I couldn’t help but notice how different the experience is for kids at the Open Championship this week. From toddlers to teenagers and everything in between, Royal Portrush is the place to be if you’re a kid in northern Ireland this week. There are massive bean bags and picnic tables for families if anyone needs a breather, but I’ve also seen kids out on the furthest points of the course having the time of their life. And the autograph zone is totally packed as players come through.

It was a similar scene on Tuesday evening when my coworkers and I went to sneak in a quick nine at Ballyreagh Golf Course. The place was packed, and most groups were made up of teenagers or a parent and their young children. Ballyreagh is the perfect place for kids to enjoy the game — it’s a par-3 course with some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen. The future of the game here in northern Ireland is in good hands!

2. The late sunsets

There is nothing better than leaving the golf course after a day of fun only to have a few more hours of sunlight ahead of you! I’ve gotten used to this during the summer months in New England, but even that is nothing like the daylight hours in Portrush. The sun sets at 9:54 p.m. tonight, and last night I walked home from dinner at 10:45 p.m. and it wasn’t fully dark for another half hour or so. My coworkers and I are planning on a post-dinner round of golf later this week and the fact that the pros can play so late into the day is a dream. Bad news for the “it’s too dark to play” crowd, but incredible news for the rest of us.

1. The fans’ love for Rory McIlroy

I went over to the first tee to watch the 3:10 tee time of Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas tee off, and I am so, so glad I did because it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed. I cannot emphasize enough how big McIlroy’s celebrity (maybe even legend) is over here. There are roars for everybody here, but the roars for McIlroy are at another level. People go nuts when he arrives on the scene.

The energy everyone on the first hole had as we waited for McIlroy to come out on to the first tee felt very similar to waiting for Taylor Swift to take the stage at the Eras Tour. It was somewhat quiet and everyone was looking around trying to get a clear line of sight to where their hometown hero would appear. And when he finally did, the place exploded.

It must be so cool for McIlroy to come back to northern Ireland and get this kind of reception. I don’t care if he’s used to getting attention at tournaments in the United States, this is on a completely different level. And the fact that this is home for the McIlroys makes it so, so much better.

What I’m looking forward to

The tournament has just begun, so there’s still a lot to look forward to as the week goes on. I’ve got some family friends coming to the tournament this weekend, which I’m very excited about. I’m excited to try more restaurants, go to the ice cream place McIlroy recommended, walk around town with my coworkers, continue chipping away at liking beer and most importantly, see some major championship golf.

There’s a lot more to come from Portrush, and I can’t wait to show you all!

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Hello, friends, and happy Wednesday from Royal Portrush! It is a stunning day here in Northern Ireland and I could not possibly be enjoying this trip more.

Rahm’s photobomb

My Tuesday evening in Portrush is going to be hard to beat. Then again, it’s Open week, so I wouldn’t be totally shocked if we had another surprise or two before Sunday evening.

My coworkers and I went to the Harbour Bar for dinner and drinks last night, and we hung out outside and chatted while waiting to be seated. I ordered Harp Lager and sipped on it while taking it all in, and let me just say that the people watching was second-to-none. There were caddies, agents, other media members, locals and golf fans in town for the Open, along with a few players. Including Jon Rahm.

My coworker Emma Devine was taking a few photos of James Colgan, Dylan Dethier and I when we noticed that someone had hopped in our photo. By the time it registered to the three of us that it was Jon Rahm, he was getting into his car and being driven away.

This was one of the most unexpected encounters I’ve had while on site for a golf tournament. I’m a fan of the fact that Rahm: 1) was hanging out at a bar during the Open week alongside us regular people; and 2) was willing to have some fun with a photobomb (or as some people on X are calling it, a “photoRahm”) on his way out.

Rorymania!

I arrived to the course this morning and went to the range for a bit before heading back into the media center to eat breakfast and then attend the R&A press conference. After that, I had some lunch and headed out to follow Rory McIlroy’s practice round. It was like 60 degrees out with a slight breeze, and the crowds following the hometown favorite were massive.

I’ve noticed that there are a lot more kids at the Open than at other golf tournaments I’ve attended. And I don’t just mean teenagers. There are 4- to 12 year-olds everywhere. Every last one of them seems to be having the time of their life, and they all want to see Rory McIlroy.

Padraig Harrington’s unique Open research

Padraig Harrington is obviously known for his golf talent and more recently, his ability to help average players improve their game thanks to his YouTube channel. But the two-time Open champion and noted “Scoop” alum has a secret third and equally important talent: a deep, deep knowledge of ice cream.

Harrington is a certified ball-knower when it comes to ice cream, specifically 99s. If you’re like me and had never heard of those before spending time in Europe, allow me to introduce them to you. 99s are soft-serve ice cream with a flake chocolate bar served in a cone. It turns out Harrington hasn’t just been teeing it up in Open Championships over the years, he’s been conducting research.

Harrington says Royal Portrush has the best 99s of any Open venue, and we can take his word for it, because a quick Getty Image search proves that he’s enjoyed 99s in many Open Championships past.

As an ice cream connoisseur myself, I had no choice but to try a Royal Portrush 99 of my own, and it did not disappoint.

I’ll make sure to enjoy a few more of them this week just to make sure Harrington’s claim is correct.

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Hello friends and happy Tuesday from Royal Portrush! After a long travel day Monday, I have officially made it to my first Open Championship. I flew into Dublin and drove to Portrush with my coworkers, but not before stopping in Holywood, Rory McIlroy’s hometown, for a coffee, a croissant and a walk. We could not have arrived on a more perfect day weather-wise, so we made sure to soak in every last minute before the sun set.

The neighborhood

After walking around town on Monday evening, we went out to dinner at the Port Hotel, where I began my week-long journey of weaning myself on to beer.

As you can see, that endeavor isn’t going particularly well. After dinner, we went on a sunset walk and scouted out some spots to grab ice cream later in the week.

I know it’s early on, but my favorite thing so far is how the town makes me feel like I’m back on a college campus. The golf world is very small, so we keep bumping into friends wherever we go. Our 20-minute walk to the course each morning feels like walking to class. Our group of five are all carrying backpacks as we pick up some friends along the way. I’ve seen agents, players, caddies and other media members on the sidewalk making the same trek as us, and it’s as if we’ve transplanted our small golf community to Northern Ireland for the week.

Odes to players throughout Portrush

There’s art, murals and various nods to professional golfers all over Portrush. Lots of stores have images of Rory McIlroy in their windows, and there’s the famous mural of Shane Lowry right by the entrance to town.

One coffee and ice cream shop even went so far as to change its name for the week, and they got creative with their menu as well.

I won’t lie: it took me a minute to figure out that the MatchaKawa was named after Collin Morikawa.

A walk with Northern Irishmen

After picking up my credential, getting settled in at the media center and having a quick breakfast, I headed out with my coworker and pal, Dylan Dethier, to follow the group of Northern Irishmen who teed off early this morning. Rory McIlroy, Darren Clark and Tom McKibbin had massive crowds following along early in the day.

Something I will say I noticed very quickly is how polite the young fans are. I’ve gotten used to hearing kids scream requests at players at other events, demanding autographs, golf balls and sometimes even clothing. Here, they politely (and actually pretty quietly) say things like, “excuse me Mr. McIlroy! Would you please sign this?” Manners — it’s refreshing!

Scottie Scheffler’s presser

After our morning stroll around the back nine, I headed back toward the media center for Scottie Scheffler’s press conference, and I’m so glad I did. I went into the presser thinking about golf and I left thinking about life.

Scheffler talked about how fleeting the high moments of golf are, and how he often finds himself searching for the why behind it all. Here were two of my favorite lines from the whole thing:

“You win it, you celebrate, get to hug my family, my sister’s there, it’s such an amazing moment. Then it’s like, okay, what are we going to eat for dinner? Life goes on.”

“We work so hard for such little moments. I’m kind of sicko; I love putting in the work. I love getting to practice. I love getting to live out my dreams. But at the end of the day, sometimes I just don’t understand the point … It’s just one of those deals. I love the challenge. I love being able to play this game for a living. It’s one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.”

I think this mindset can apply to any work or aspect of life, not just professional sports. If golf doesn’t work out for the World No. 1, I could definitely see him becoming a philosopher.

The post Scheffler the philosopher, McIlroy the local hero, Portrush’s prep | Rogers Report appeared first on Golf.

The post LeBron tees it up, pros take Wimbledon, a major trophy surprise | Rogers Report appeared first on Golf.

The post LeBron tees it up, pros take Wimbledon, a major trophy surprise | Rogers Report appeared first on Golf.

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.

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