On July 16th, 2025, the conversation at Royal Portrush turned surprisingly philosophical, with top players questioning the tour's mental toll and the R&A announcing a potential Open in the Republic of Ireland.

• Ahead of The Open, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy revealed the intense mental fatigue of the tour, questioning the fleeting joy of victory and describing the relentless schedule as a "hamster wheel" that prevents true fulfillment.
• Scheffler admitted that from the "deepest places of your heart," professional golf is "not a fulfilling life."
• Rory McIlroy echoed the sentiment, speaking on his own post-Masters fatigue and the inability to truly appreciate wins on the tour.

• The R&A made two major announcements: holding the prize purse at $17M to prioritize prestige, and confirming a "feasibility study" to host The Open at Portmarnock, potentially taking the championship outside of Great Britain.
• CEO Mark Darbon justified the potential move by framing the R&A's historical territory as the "British Isles."
• The decision to keep the prize money static stands in stark contrast to the ever-increasing purses in the world of professional golf.

• The differing mindsets for tackling links golf were on full display, with Bryson DeChambeau wanting to quantify the "heavy" Irish wind while Jon Rahm focused on the pure, traditionalist dream of hoisting the Claret Jug.
• Jon Rahm called the Claret Jug "the most special one," believing a win at St Andrews is the ultimate achievement.
• Bryson fantasized about a "four hundred yard tent" to practice in, perfectly encapsulating his scientific approach to the game.

Padraig Harrington to hit the opening tee shot • He'll be joined by recent LIV signee Tom McKibbin • Rory's return to Portrush overshadowed by philosophical questions

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On July 15th, 2025, we previewed The Open at Royal Portrush, breaking down Rory McIlroy's quest for redemption, Shane Lowry's unique prep, and Xander Schauffele's massive LIV Golf rejection.

• Rory McIlroy returns to the site of his 2019 nightmare, but this time as a Masters champion. He's embracing the pressure, framing The Open as the next "Everest" he must conquer on his quest for the career grand slam.
• "It's better for everyone if I embrace it."
• A stark contrast to his emotional exit in 2019, Rory's new mindset is one of a champion ready for his next great challenge.

• Shane Lowry, the 2019 champion at Portrush, opted for a unique preparation, skipping the Scottish Open to tour Irish links courses. He remains the humble hero, even when faced with a giant mural of himself.
• On seeing his mural: "I'm happy, I don't have to drive past it every day."
• Lowry's low-key, grassroots prep tour is a throwback approach for a defending major champion.

• Xander Schauffele reportedly turned down a staggering LIV Golf offer between £112-£148 million. His camp made it clear their focus is on legacy and major championships, not just a massive payday.
• "They could've doubled the money and we still wouldn't do it," said his father, Stefan Schauffele.
• The decision reinforces Schauffele's commitment to the PGA Tour and his pursuit of a major title.

Field Changes: Els & Waring out, Kim & Riley in • Best player without a major? Hovland & Henley get votes • Tomorrow: We break down the course & pairings.

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On July 14th, 2025, we break down rookie Chris Gotterup's stunning victory over Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open and Talor Gooch's clutch win against Jon Rahm at Liv Golf Andalucía.

• 25-year-old rookie Chris Gotterup stared down fan-favorite Rory McIlroy, embracing the 'villain' role to capture his first PGA Tour title with a clutch final-round 66, securing his future on tour and a spot at The Open.
• "I definitely was the villain out there today." - Chris Gotterup on the crowd dynamic.
• The drama peaked when Gotterup was put on the clock on the 15th hole, leading to a bogey that briefly tightened the race before his decisive birdie on 16.

• At Valderrama, Talor Gooch outdueled hometown hero Jon Rahm, whose flawless, bogey-free 65 was undone by one errant tee shot on the final hole, handing Gooch the one-shot victory in a dramatic Spanish showdown.
• Gooch revealed he received a text from 'Yasir' before the round that simply said, "Don't disappoint me today."
• Despite the heartbreaking individual loss, Rahm still found the winner's circle as his squad, Legion Thirteen, captured the team competition.

Scottie Scheffler's 10th straight top-8 finish • Jake Knapp's nightmare 74 costs him an Open spot • Setting the stage for The Open at Royal Portrush.

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