Golf 2026

[tower912]

Agreed.

Maybe LIV can host tournaments there.



Seriously, an opportunity for the LPGA.

[Uncle Rico]

Agreed.

Maybe LIV can host tournaments there.



Seriously, an opportunity for the LPGA.

They'll add a geriatric event for back-to-back weeks

[wadesworld]

It kinda sucks that the PGA is abandoning Hawaii. Used to love seeing the Plantation Course views. That's a bucket list course for me.

McDermott's favorite course, too.

[MU82]

Interesting side-by-side photos on Yahoo Sports. The first is "patrons" watching Scheffler at the Masters, where no cellphones are allowed. The second is fans watching Scheffler at the Heritage, where everyone has a freakin' cellphone ...



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[wadesworld]

Interesting side-by-side photos on Yahoo Sports. The first is "patrons" watching Scheffler at the Masters, where no cellphones are allowed. The second is fans watching Scheffler at the Heritage, where everyone has a freakin' cellphone ...



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Looks like Rory in the first photo.  Nobody wants to get a picture of him anyway.

[MU82]

Looks like Rory in the first photo.  Nobody wants to get a picture of him anyway.

Might be. Point still stands.

It's obviously not just golf, either. I know I'm 106 years old, but I don't get the thrill of watching a sporting event through one's phone when the competitors are literally right in front of you.

[CreightonWarrior]

Looks like Rory in the first photo.  Nobody wants to get a picture of him anyway.

Rory teed off right after Sergio. No one even had any phones because they were all smashed to pieces by his driver.

[Uncle Rico]

If you weren't watching live, find a replay of Matt Fitzpatrick's bunker shot on 18.  Secured his brothers PGA Tour card.  What a shot, what a moment.

[MU82]

Whoa, Nelly!

[MuggsyB]

Whoa, Nelly!

I feel like she should dominate more to be honest. As good a swing as you'll ever see.   Maybe she'll focus and win another 12-15 Majors. 

[Uncle Rico]

Whoa, Nelly!

Nice win but that event has been destroyed in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. 

[MuggsyB]

Nice win but that event has been destroyed in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. 

It seems like they should do a better job of marketing the LPGA. 

[Uncle Rico]

It seems like they should do a better job of marketing the LPGA. 

They were for a bit a few years back but they've gone backwards the last few years.  They don't know how to market the game without legitimate American stars.

It's pretty grim right now.  There is no next Nelly coming up in the American system.  They're hoping Kiara Romero can be a star but I don't see it.  Maybe Asterisk Talley but if she goes to college, she's years away.

Megha Ganne has some game but she's probably well behind the new wave of Koreans.  Rachel Heck deciding not to turn pro hurts, too.

Be nice if Rose Zhang lived up to the hype but she's been pretty meh the last 18 months.

I'll be curious how long Nelly plays as she just got engaged and her sisters game has plummeted since getting married.  The tour will never lean into the foreign players but they're dominating the game.  That's why they take the Chevron money and play this event in Houston.  Need the cash flow.

[MuggsyB]

They were for a bit a few years back but they've gone backwards the last few years.  They don't know how to market the game without legitimate American stars.

It's pretty grim right now.  There is no next Nelly coming up in the American system.  They're hoping Kiara Romero can be a star but I don't see it.  Maybe Asterisk Talley but if she goes to college, she's years away.

Megha Ganne has some game but she's probably well behind the new wave of Koreans.  Rachel Heck deciding not to turn pro hurts, too.

Be nice if Rose Zhang lived up to the hype but she's been pretty meh the last 18 months.

I'll be curious how long Nelly plays as she just got engaged and her sisters game has plummeted since getting married.  The tour will never lean into the foreign players but they're dominating the game.  That's why they take the Chevron money and play this event in Houston.  Need the cash flow.

Yes.  I thought Rose would be the next superstar.  I'm not sure if she's had injuries but she's definitely struggled.  I understand the Asian players have dominated to a degree, but Furue should be respected.  I don't understand why she was listed at 4'11 and is now 5'0.   I stood next to her, she's 4'10 at best btw. 

[MU82]

Nice win but that event has been destroyed in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. 

What else is new?

I feel like she should dominate more to be honest. As good a swing as you'll ever see.   Maybe she'll focus and win another 12-15 Majors. 

I don't watch a ton of LPGA (just as I don't watch a ton of PGA, other than the majors), but based on what I witnessed this weekend and a few weeks ago when I watched Nelly play, she was superb tee to green but she putted quite poorly.

[MuggsyB]

What else is new?

I don't watch a ton of LPGA (just as I don't watch a ton of PGA, other than the majors), but based on what I witnessed this weekend and a few weeks ago when I watched Nelly play, she was superb tee to green but she putted quite poorly.

Ya....that's accurate .  If she can find a way to putt consistently, it's essentially nite-nite. 

[tower912]

Nellie isn't comfortable being thr face of the LPGA.  Her 2025 stats were remarkable similar to, and in some cases better than, her 2024 stats.  The difference is that somebody always played better in 2025.

[MuggsyB]

Nellie isn't comfortable being thr face of the LPGA.  Her 2025 stats were remarkable similar to, and in some cases better than, her 2024 stats.  The difference is that somebody always played better in 2025.

She has the talent to win 15-20 majors.  Get the putter on track.  Are you saying the pressure of "being the face of the LPGA" is preventing her from dismissing her competitors?  There are a lot of great players on the LPGA tour, but Nelly has the game to subjugate/eliminate /eviscerate those in her way imo. 

[Uncle Rico]

She has the talent to win 15-20 majors.  Get the putter on track.  Are you saying the pressure of "being the face of the LPGA" is preventing her from dismissing her competitors?  There are a lot of great players on the LPGA tour, but Nelly has the game to subjugate/eliminate /eviscerate those in her way imo. 

15-20?!?  That's unrealistic in modern golf

[MuggsyB]

15-20?!?  That's unrealistic in modern golf

Okay....10. 

[Uncle Rico]

Okay....10. 

That's more realistic but she won't play competitively long enough to get there.  And, the competition is pretty damn good

[tower912]

Yes, the competition is that good. And she is uncomfortable being the face.   Which is her right. 

[MU82]

I asked Gemini why South Korea is so well represented on the LPGA Tour but not on the PGA Tour. Here's its answer:

Why South Korean Women Dominate the LPGA

The Se Ri Pak Factor: Se Ri Pak's major championship success in 1998 inspired an entire generation, known as the "Pak Se Ri Kids," to pursue golf.

Intense Training and Focus: South Korean junior golfers often follow a "100% golf" focus, sacrificing academic pursuits to train year-round with extreme intensity.

Supportive Parent Culture: Korean parents heavily invest time and finances into their children's training, with parents often acting as coaches and caddies, creating high motivation for success.

Strong KLPGA Developmental Structure: The KLPGA provides a robust developmental system (Jump Tour, Dream Tour), ensuring players are seasoned before arriving on the LPGA Tour.

Precision vs. Power: While the PGA Tour requires immense driving distance, the LPGA course setup rewards driving accuracy and putting precision, where Korean players often excel.

Why Fewer South Koreans are on the PGA Tour

Mandatory Military Service: All able-bodied South Korean males must serve 18-21 months in the military, typically between ages 19-28, creating a significant disruption to career development.

Physique and Distance Disadvantage: The modern PGA Tour heavily favors extreme distance. While many Korean men play socially, they often struggle to compete with taller, stronger Western golfers in driving distance, a disadvantage compared to the women's game where distance is less dominant.

Deeper Competition Pool: The men's game has a significantly deeper pool of international talent, making it more challenging to break through compared to the women's tour.

Less Developmental Support for Men: While the KLPGA provides excellent support, the men's pro system in Korea has fewer events and lower sponsorship levels than the KLPGA.

Fewer Role Models: The success of Korean men on the PGA Tour has been far less widespread compared to the women's side, with trailblazers like K.J. Choi being exceptions rather than the norm.

[MuggsyB]

Yes, the competition is that good. And she is uncomfortable being the face.   Which is her right. 

I don't really get your point.  What does being "the face" have to do with winning Majors?  Pete Sampras wasn't exactly comfortable with the spotlight.  Neither was Navratilova.  Was Sorerentam comfortable with this moniker or was she not "the face" of the LPGA?

[tower912]

Very few professional golfers, male or female, can sustain excellence.  They have hot streaks and ride the wave to fortune and majors.  Then, marriage, kids, the wrong equipment deal, a swing change striving for more that wrecks what worked before that they can never quite find again, external expectations, internal expectations, injuries, happen and the 100 out of a 100 remains forever elusive. 


I love Nellie's swing.  Long, flowing, powerful.  She is certainly capable of winning more majors.   It would be good for the LPGA in America if she did.   I can easily picture the external expectations messing with her happy.