The post What players *really* think of Oakmont | Seen and Heard at the 2025 U.S. Open appeared first on Golf.

The post What players *really* think of Oakmont | Seen and Heard at the 2025 U.S. Open appeared first on Golf.

The U.S. Open is supposed to be hard. But we’re witnessing a special kind of carnage at Oakmont this year, where many of the world’s best players are struggling.

In the latest episode of Seen and Heard from Oakmont, GOLF senior writers Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier broke down what to make of this year’s test.

Zak described the vibe as players exited the course after the first round: “A lot of frowns, a lot of sweaty brows, a lot of, like, how the hell did I just triple bogey 18?”

“It’s hard to remove the emotion from their reactions and figure out, OK, what do these guys actually think of the golf course?” Dethier added. “Because they’re used to 68 being a good score. Suddenly today, 72, two over par is a good score.”

Whenever top players struggle, the topic of fairness always seems to come up. Here are Oakmont, Zak didn’t think the players were ready to make that claim yet, except in the case of No. 12, which Scottie Scheffler cited as a nearly impossible fairway to hit.

Read more on Oakmont’s difficulty

“I’d love to see the percentage of guys actually able to keep it in that fairway in the afternoon, just because it’s so firm and there’s so much pitch in the fairway,” Scheffler said Thursday. “So there’s little stuff like that, it makes it so challenging. I mean, you can hit a great shot on that hole off the tee and no matter what, it’s probably gonna end up down there in the first cut or the rough.”

Other players conceded that at the U.S. Open, sometimes you have to be satisfied with a higher score than usual.

“I’m extremely happy,” Jon Rahm said of his opening round of 69. “I mean, I played some incredible golf to shoot 1 under, which we don’t usually say, right?”

Ultimately, Zak said he loved the challenge Oakmont is presenting.

“This is a proper setup. This rough is properly a test,” he said.

Scheffler said his approach to taking on Oakmont is simple.

“There’s not a ton of strategy,” he said. “It’s just, you step up there on the tee box and be like, what club can I get into this fairway? And then you try and hit that club into this fairway, and if you don’t, it’s like, all right, how am I gonna get out of this rough and get the ball back into the fairway so I can have a shot at the green?”

Will it get firmer, faster and crazier as the week goes on? Dethier’s not opposed.

“I liked what Xander said. He said, I’m a sicko like everybody else. I just want it to keep getting harder,” Dethier said. “I’m with him. So let’s have a weekend.”

For more from Dethier and Zak — as well as additional player commentary on Oakmont — check out the full episode of Seen and Heard below.

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The post Inside Rory McIlroy’s incredible Masters triumph | Seen and Heard appeared first on Golf.

The post Inside Rory McIlroy’s incredible Masters triumph | Seen and Heard appeared first on Golf.

Bryson DeChambeau knew what was at stake heading into Masters Sunday.

After dropping a bomb of a putt for birdie on 18 on Saturday evening, DeChambeau electrified the crowd, climbing to within two shots of Rory McIlroy’s lead.

“It’ll be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau said.

So were legions of golf fans.

“If you take out Tiger, which is a big, big if, this feels like the biggest day of professional golf that I’ve ever been around,” GOLF senior writer Dylan Dethier said ahead of the final pairing. “Rory versus Bryson, two biggest stars in the game. I mean, the biggest ‘what if’ in professional golf right now is, can Rory McIlroy win a Masters?

“Now he’s up by 2, going to Sunday, and arguably the most electric player in the game is the guy in his group who, by the way, beat him in heartbreaking fashion less than a year ago.”

Masters Sunday was truly an afternoon unlike any other: excruciating, exhilarating, incredible. McIlroy won a green jacket in a playoff. His emotional outpouring on the green will be replayed for the rest of his career.

GOLF’s on-site crew got a front-row seat to all the Sunday action. How can you describe what transpired?

“The word is magic,” said GOLF news and features editor James Colgan. “This is why we love sports. Moments like this are why we do this job, it’s why we show up to these tournaments.”

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“The biggest moment to me that stuck out — I was kind of standing by the end of his walk to scoring, and when he came around the corner, he was like crying like I have never seen anyone cry,” Dethier said. “And it was like everyone in the crowd just started bawling. It was a surreal scene, and I think everyone on property had been like, through the emotional wringer all day and it just culminated in this crazy moment.”

Now that McIlroy has completed the career grand slam at last, what’s next? It just so happens that the year’s next major, the PGA Championship, will be played at Quail Hollow — a venue where McIlroy has won four times.

“You guys know what’s next?” asked Dethier. “And not just in the golf season but on Seen & Heard: Rory’s 6th major championship victory at Quail Hollow.

“I mean, this one should be easy.”

To check out the GOLF crew’s final installment of Seen & Heard from the Masters, check out the video below. And make sure to tune in for more Seen & Heard content at next month’s PGA Championship.

“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.

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The post Who’s going to win the 2025 Masters? Our writers make their picks appeared first on Golf.

The post Who’s going to win the 2025 Masters? Our writers make their picks appeared first on Golf.

Check in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with the Masters at Augusta National, we’ll hit one key topic every night.

Rory McIlroy holds the 54-hole lead of the 2025 Masters, and he’ll start Sunday 12 under, two shots clear of Bryson DeChambeau and four ahead of Corey Conners. Others still lurk further back, but McIlroy is in prime condition to (finally) complete the career grand slam. So, does he finally do it Sunday? Who wins the Masters?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): We honestly couldn’t ask for a better Masters Sunday showdown. Rory vs. Bryson, again! Before Bryson drained his monster birdie putt on 18, I felt that this Masters was shaping up to be truly Rory’s. But Bryson’s energy is so infectious. And a two-shot margin is nothing at Augusta. Rory’s task will be to start hot — like today — and stay steady. No disasters allowed. Bryson is sure to be pumped up, so if he gets an early edge on Rory, it might be tough to overcome. I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen. But my heart wants this badly for Rory. This is his chance to banish so many demons for good. The more I think about it, the more certain I am that he won’t let this one slip away. Career grand slam on the line. Avenging the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Couldn’t write a better script.

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Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Exactly. It’s the perfect script. And redemption for Rory is the ending that makes the most sense. I like the way he’s talking this time around. Remember when he was in the final group with Patrick Reed in 2018? McIlroy spoke of that pairing in advance like it was a showdown with Reed. On Saturday evening, he talked instead about staying in “my own little bubble.” That’s the better head space. His long wait for another major (and the career grand slam) ends tomorrow. Either that, or Scottie Scheffler shoots 61 to pass him.

Maddi MacClurg, editor and producer (@maddimacclurg): There’s no doubt it’s shaping up to be an exciting final round. While I’d love to see an underdog take home the green jacket, Rory’s game is undeniable right now — and this time, he has an extra edge: patience. During today’s round, there were moments when a younger version of Rory might’ve lost the mental battle, but now he’s clearly biding his time and striking when it counts. His ball striking has been almost surgical in its precision, and he’s scrambling brilliantly when he does miss a green. As much as I’d hate to bet against Bryson, whose game is nearly as sharp, his inconsistent distance control with his irons could cost him — especially when the wind is swirling on Augusta’s back nine.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I’d like to think that Rory will at last conquer the demons and win at Augusta, but the recipe for heartbreak is right there — and with the same cast of characters from Pinenurst. My heart says Rory finally gets it done, but my mind says Bryson rips his heart out yet again. All I know is it’s going to be one heck of a Sunday.

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): Sunday will be a day that golf deserves given the game’s recent state of turmoil over the past several years. The psychological examination McIlroy will undergo Sunday while paired with DeChambeau will be fascinating. He admitted to getting “out of his bubble” during his Pinehurst collapse. If he stumbles early tomorrow, I worry about the final outcome. But life can only be so cruel. McIlroy has been kicked over and over again and continues to dust himself off and go again. He’s playing the best golf in the world and I think he stuffs DeChambeau in a locker tomorrow.

“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.

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The post Hovland’s new driver, favorite Masters Par 3 Contest moments | Seen and Heard appeared first on Golf.

The post Hovland’s new driver, favorite Masters Par 3 Contest moments | Seen and Heard appeared first on Golf.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Before the Masters officially started on Thursday, everyone put in their last-minute preparations. That meant players and local restaurants.

On Wednesday in Augusta, GOLF’s Seen & Heard crew checked in on final tweaks on and off the golf course.

First, GOLF’s director of gear Johnny Wunder visited the Ping tour truck and chatted with fitter Kenton Oates on Viktor Hovland’s driver switch and how it might benefit him.

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Meanwhile, GOLF senior writer Michael Bamberger visited Tbonz Steakhouse — one of the busiest, most popular restaurants in town — to chat with general manager Chris Wilson and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the operation.

A Masters staple for years, TBonz is located on Washington Road, just a mile away from Augusta National Golf Club. Wilson says they’ll stock 47 cases of tenderloins, 35 cases of ribeye and 12 cases of New York strips for the week. In total, he said they’ll sell about 4,000 pounds of meat during Masters week.

“That’s the amazing part, the amount of volume that comes out of this kitchen in this small of a setup,” said Wilson, speaking from the kitchen during a busy dinner rush. “This is awesome.”

Don’t worry, they have vegetarian options as well.

“We have veggies in there, asparagus and broccoli — eat your heart out,” Wilson joked. “We have salads too.”

Also in the Wednesday episode, GOLF’s Claire Rogers took us through her favorite moments from the Masters Par-3 Contest. You can watch the entire video on this page or view in YouTube below.

“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.

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The post What to expect at Augusta? An emotional Rory McIlroy | Seen and Heard appeared first on Golf.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — In the lead-up to every Masters, there is the day of arrivals — that’s Monday — the day of the Par-3 Contest — that’s Wednesday — and the day of press conferences. That’s Tuesday, chock full of learnings trickling out the media center. 

And what did we learn, straight off the bat?

That it will be an emotional week for Rory McIlroy, win or lose. The Seen and Heard crew learned this as quickly as you can with McIlroy leading off the day full of pressers, and him diving straight into ideas of heartbreak, falling in love, his passion for this golf course and the narratives surrounding his career-long pursuit of a green jacket. 

“At a certain point in someone’s life, someone doesn’t want to fall in love because they don’t want to get heartbroken,” McIlroy said. “I think instinctually, as human beings, we hold back sometimes because of the fear of getting hurt. Whether that’s a conscious decision or a subconscious decision. I think I was doing that on the golf course a little bit for a few years. I think once you go through that and once you go through those heartbreaks, as I call them, or disappointments, you get to a place where you remember how it feels and life goes on.”

The good thing about Tuesday’s press conference parade? McIlroy was just the start. He was followed by the Hojgaard twins, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and even Viktor Hovland talking about aliens. Check out the video below to see the best bits from Tuesday at the Masters.

“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.

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The post An inside look at golf’s new and exciting products: Seen & Heard at the PGA Show appeared first on Golf.

The post An inside look at golf’s new and exciting products: Seen & Heard at the PGA Show appeared first on Golf.

The 2025 PGA Show was the golf industry’s biggest in 15 years, and GOLF’s staffers were onsite to experience all the latest and greatest products in the game.

At Demo Day, Maddi MacClurg and Jack Hirsh braved the soggy weather to check out Cobra’s new gear — and get some face time with longtime Cobra partners Lexi Thompson and long-drive star Kyle Berkshire. Berkshire shared some swing tips with MacClurg while Thompson explained the nuance of her equipment setup to Hirsh.

Next up: some fun product testing, like Bucket Golf and U.S. Kids’ ultra-long driver.

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The week continued on the PGA Show floor in the Orange County Convention Center, where more than 1,100 vendors displayed their products, and PGA of America programming was ongoing on the main stage. During one presentation, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jason Baile was awarded PGA of America Teacher and Coach of the Year.

After checking out TopTracer — the largest booth in PGA Show history — MacClurg tried on the new Nike x Hyperice recovery boots. Meanwhile, gear gurus Hirsh and Kris McCormack heard about new technology from Mizuno.

Jessica Marksbury was impressed by a golf club backpack from Lowercase — an innovative club-carrying solution for players who live in urban settings or find themselves using public transportation to get to the course or range.

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McCormack learned about a new collab between Stix Golf and Nicklaus while MacClurg checked out the Practice Glove — a training tool that enables you to place your hands on the club in perfect position.

It was an illuminating three days for the GOLF staff, with McCormack offering a perfect summary of the Show experience.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re curious about, interested in, working on, or your playing style — there’s literally something for everybody,” he said.

Marksbury concurred.

“We all get a lot of press releases, and it’s one thing to see products described in an email format,” she said. “But when you’re actually there with founders, people who have come up with this stuff and are passionate about it, it’s fun.”

For more from GOLF’s Seen & Heard crew, check out a full video of their time in Orlando below.

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The post Inside Xander Schauffele’s triumph | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post Inside Xander Schauffele’s triumph | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

ICYMI: Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship Day 1
ICYMI: Scheffler’s rust, MacIntyre’s wild celebration | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship Day 2
ICYMI: Tiger’s major letdown, Lowry battles | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship

The 54-hole mark of the 2024 Open Championship presented numerous what-ifs. Billy Horschel led the charge by a single shot, but there were a dozen players who you could argue had a legitimate chance of claiming the title.

After a brutal day of weather on Saturday, Sunday was dry, with whipping wind. Eighteen holes remained to crown the champion.

GOLF’s Sean Zak was bullish on Xander Schauffele’s chances from the beginning.

“You play links golf, it’s all about controlling a golf ball. It’s an underrated skill,” he said. “I think Xander’s gonna pip ’em today.”

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Zak’s prediction played out, and Xander Schauffele was crowned Champion Golfer of the year by two shots — earning his second major championship title and leaving his chasers, like Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, disappointed but proud of their efforts.

As for Schauffele, he was content to bask in the afterglow of the win.

“It really is one of the coolest feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “I got chills walking down [18].

“I’m just curious to see what my dad’s gonna pick as a first drink to drink out of this.”

GOLFs’ James Colgan caught up with Schauffele’s father, Stefan, after the round, and he issued a stunning prediction.

“He said, of all the golfers alive right now, Xander is the closest to completing the career grand slam,” Colgan said. “And then he looked at me after he said that, with a smile, and said, ‘How about that?'”

How about that, indeed.

Schauffele and his peers have a long wait for the next major test at the Masters in 2025. Before that, we have the Olympics, the FedEx Cup and the Presidents Cup to enjoy. But for those of us intrigued by Stefan Schauffele’s prediction, the countdown to Augusta starts … now.

To watch a video of the GOLF’s team full Sunday experience at the Open, check out the video above. You can also view the “Seen & Heard” series in its entirety on YouTube here.

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The post Tiger’s major letdown, Lowry battles | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

ICYMI: Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship Day 1
ICYMI: Scheffler’s rust, MacIntyre’s wild celebration | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship Day 2

If you’ve watched any coverage of the Open Championship this week, you’ve most certainly seen the Scotrail line that runs along the 11th hole at Royal Troon. That railway is exactly how our GOLF team of Sean Zak and James Colgan arrive to the Open each day.

“This is how you need to arrive at a major championship,” Zak said. “Among the people.”

Friday at the Open means cut day, and once again, Tiger Woods is heading home early at a major, his third straight missed cut. Colgan noted that Woods doesn’t look like he’s anywhere near contending again, but he doesn’t want to stop either.

“I loved it. I’ve always loved playing major championships,” Woods said. “I just wish I was more physically sharp coming into the majors. Obviously it tests you mentally, physically, and emotionally. And I just wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be and I was hoping I would find it somehow, I just never did. Consequently, my results and scores were really high.”

Woods did commit to playing next year’s Open at Royal Portrush.

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As the 15-time major winner exited stage left, the winds began picking up at Troon, proving that those who played in the late-early wave for the opening rounds got the better side of the draw.

Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open champ, was among that group in the late-early wave — and he took advantage with an opening 36 holes of seven under to take the lead at the midway point. Two shots back is his Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, who had to qualify for this Open.

Zak wondered which of the two players is having a more unsustainable week: Can Lowry keep up his insane putting? Or can Rose keep up his consistency?

“I put myself there in a few big tournaments, and I’ve managed to knock them off,” Lowry said when asked if he was a good front-runner. “So I’ve done it a few times. I don’t know. It’s hard to win tournaments. We’ll see. I’ll tell you Sunday evening.”

You can check out the GOLF’s team full Friday experience at the Open in the video above, or check it out on YouTube here.

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The post Scheffler’s rust, MacIntyre’s wild celebration | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post Scheffler’s rust, MacIntyre’s wild celebration | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

ICYMI: Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship Day 1

The first round of the Open Championship is finally upon us. For us golf fans, that’s cause for celebration. For one competitor this week at Royal Troon, though, the celebration has been ongoing since Sunday afternoon.

“When you get moments like that, that’s a childhood dream and a lifetime goal, and you’ve got family and friends that have backed you since you were a young kid, I think it was quite right to go absolutely wild,” Robert MacIntrye said of his celebration in the aftermath of his Scottish Open win over the weekend. “I think we’ve done a good job of that.”

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Will the hangover last into this week? That remains to be seen. But after a win like the one MacIntyre produced, there’s nothing wrong with a little over-the-top celebration.

For others in the field this week, they’re hoping to replicate the MacIntyre’s celebration at the conclusion of this week. Among those hopefuls is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who’s looking to become the first player since Brooks Koepka in 2018 to claim multiple majors in a single season. If Scheffler is going to lift the Claret Jug by week’s end, he’ll have to find his form while shaking off a little rust.

“It’s the age old question in pro golf: rest vs. rust,” said GOLF.com editor James Colgan. “Scheffler has been playing on both ends of that this year. He famously showed up at the U.S. Open and had his worst start in 600 days, and afterwards said a big part of that was feeling a bit of fatigue from his starts earlier in the season.

“Now he’s here at the Open Championship having not really played in any tournaments over the past few weeks. He skipped the Scottish Open last week and now he’s facing a very different style of golf. A very unique style of golf. Particularly a very unique style of putting than he’s used to. It’s going to be an intersting thing to watch this week.”

You can check out the GOLF’s team full Wednesday experience at the Open in the video above, or check it out on YouTube here.

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The post Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

The post Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The final major championship is finally upon us. This week, the best golfers in the world will take on Royal Troon for their last chance at glory as they vie for the Open Championship title.

As always, Tiger Woods is a huge story heading into this major week. Golf fans have not seen the Big Cat since he missed the cut at the U.S. Open last month, but he’s kept himself plenty busy in the interim — and that busy schedule played a role in him turning down the 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy.

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“The decision was very difficult for me to make,” Woods told the media during his pre-championship presser. “My time has been so loaded with the Tour and everything we’re trying to accomplish. I’m on so many different sub-committees that it just takes so much time in the day. I’m always on calls and I told Seth [Waugh] I didn’t feel like I could do the job properly.”

Among the other highly anticipated arrivals for the final major of the season was Rory McIlroy. Just a few weeks ago at Pinehurst, he let yet another major title slip through his fingers — and did so in dramatic fashion.

In the aftermath of the loss, McIlroy received plenty of condolence messages. So many, in fact, that the four-time major champ changed his number, leading to him accidentally ghosting a text from Woods.

“I didn’t get [the text] until he told me about it today,” McIlroy said. “So I blanked Tiger Woods, which was probably not a great thing.”

You can check out the GOLF’s team full early-week experience at the Open in the video above, or check it out on YouTube here.

The post Tiger talks, Rory’s confession | Seen & Heard at the Open Championship appeared first on Golf.