On July 17th, 2025, we break down the bombshell report of Wyndham Clark's ban from Oakmont, Rory McIlroy's determined reaction to his T-2 Open finish, and Phil Mickelson's bold proposal for Liv Golf's future.

• The lead story is the bombshell report of Wyndham Clark being banned from Oakmont Country Club after allegedly damaging two lockers following his missed U.S. Open cut. The club has laid out strict conditions for his potential return.
• His simple apology: "I'm very sorry for what happened."
• The ban reportedly requires him to pay for damages, make a charitable donation, and undergo counseling, highlighting the severity of the incident at the prestigious club.

• Despite a heartbreaking T-2 finish at The Open, Rory McIlroy's reaction was one of mature determination, framing his performance not as a failure but as another step in his ongoing journey to capture a sixth major title.
• "I don't want that to be my last great moment in the game... I feel like I'm a better player now than I ever have been."
• This isn't a story of defeat, but of a veteran superstar's resilience and unwavering belief in his ability to win again on the biggest stage.

• Phil Mickelson stirred the pot with a "hypothetical" social media post outlining a massive 35-event, 120-player future for Liv Golf, directly challenging the PGA Tour's current structure and reigniting the debate over professional golf's future.
• Scottie Scheffler weighed in on the larger issue, stressing the need to "get the best players in the world together more often."
• Phil's post is a strategic chess move, using social media to publicly pressure the establishment and shape the narrative around the ongoing tour negotiations.

Chris Gotterup is your Champion Golfer of the Year! • Grab the official 'Players' Edition' Strokesaver from Royal Portrush • A 30th anniversary salute to John Daly's '95 Open win at St. Andrews.

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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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On Saturday, July 12th, Rory McIlroy surged into a co-lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, while Dustin Johnson fired a historic 64 to jump into solo second at LIV Golf Andalucía.

• Rory McIlroy fired a brilliant 66 to grab a share of the lead with Chris Gotterup at The Renaissance Club. While Rory found his ball-striking form, Gotterup battled through tough conditions to post a gritty 70.
• Supporting Quote: McIlroy on his recent form: "It's been a bit of a lull since the Masters... it's nice to see some better golf."
• Human Angle: Rory joked his new, shorter haircut is making him "look more gray," while chaser Jake Knapp is playing for what he calls a "dream" spot in The Open.

• While Talor Gooch built a commanding four-shot lead at Valderrama, the day belonged to Dustin Johnson. DJ's flawless, bogey-free 64 vaulted him an incredible 39 spots up the leaderboard into solo second place.
• Supporting Quote: DJ on his recent play: "The game's been feeling good... I just haven't really seen the results."
• Human Angle: A visibly emotional Jon Rahm opened up about the immense pressure of playing at home, while Patrick Reed pulled off a "David Copperfield" recovery shot on 17.

Wyndham Clark's putting fix • Justin Thomas nearly aces the 17th • 4Aces GC take the team lead

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On July 12th, 2025, Chris Gotterup fired a course-record-tying 61 to take a two-shot lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, as incredible cutline drama unfolded and LIV Golf formally reapplied for world ranking points.

Chris Gotterup blitzed The Renaissance Club with a bogey-free, nine-under 61, tying the course record to grab a two-shot lead. While the day-one leaders fell back, a chasing pack featuring Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, and Rory McIlroy emerged.

• Supporting Quote: Rory McIlroy, just four shots back, on his chances: "I'm feeling pretty good."
• Human Angle: Xander Schauffele quietly extended his historic made-cut streak to 68 consecutive events, the sixth-longest in PGA Tour history.

The one-under cutline produced incredible drama. Local hero Robert MacIntyre survived with a near ace on 17, while Jordan Smith holed out for a "miracle" eagle on 16 to make the weekend on the number.

• Supporting Quote: Announcer on Smith's eagle: "How on earth has that stayed in the cup?"
• Human Angle: The heartbreak of Calum Hill, who followed an opening 65 with a 77 to miss the cut, contrasted with the grit of veterans Justin Thomas and Pádraig Harrington who battled to play the weekend.

In a major off-course development, LIV Golf has officially reapplied for Official World Golf Ranking points, a move that could reshape the landscape of professional golf and player eligibility for majors.

• Supporting Quote: OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman confirmed the board is "committed to a thorough evaluation process."
• Human Angle: The potential impact is huge for players like Brooks Koepka, who has fallen to 276th in the world despite his major championship pedigree.

Harry Hall sits solo second • Collin Morikawa misses the cut • Amateur Luke Clanton makes the weekend

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On July 11th, 2025, Round 1 of the Genesis Scottish Open concluded with a four-way tie for the lead, while local heroes Calum Hill and Robert MacIntyre positioned themselves firmly in the hunt.

• A quartet of leaders sits atop the leaderboard at six-under, highlighted by Victor Perez's blistering finish where he birdied four of his last five holes and Jake Knapp's links practice at North Berwick paying immediate dividends.
• Stat: Perez closed with birdies on four of his final five holes to grab a share of the lead.
• Fun Fact: American Jake Knapp credited his sharp play to getting extra links reps in at nearby North Berwick before the tournament began.

• The home crowd has plenty to cheer for as Calum Hill fired a bogey-free 65 to sit one shot back, while defending champion Robert MacIntyre posted a solid two-under, embracing the immense pressure and support.
• Quote: Calum Hill on his wife's advice: "She just said 'this is just another event'... just go and enjoy it more."
• Human Angle: The support for MacIntyre was so strong that World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler admitted he was the clear "crowd favourite" in their group.

• The game's biggest names are in striking distance. Rory McIlroy salvaged his round with three straight birdies to finish, while Scottie Scheffler sits at three-under and Viktor Hovland is just two shots back after a brilliant 66.
• Quote: Scottie Scheffler on playing with MacIntyre: "I feel like I learned some stuff from him out there today."
• Human Angle: Viktor Hovland's round was defined by a massive 50-foot birdie putt that left even him shaking his head in disbelief.

Marcel Siem's new diet • Harris English's caddie visa trouble • Rikuya Hoshino's mid-round WD

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On July 10th, 2025, Jon Rahm publicly campaigned for a Ryder Cup spot, Rory McIlroy returned with a renewed hunger, and Scottie Scheffler detailed his links golf strategy ahead of the majors.

• From a LIV press conference, Jon Rahm made a direct and passionate plea for a spot on the 2025 European Ryder Cup team, outlining his potential paths via automatic qualification or a captain's pick from Luke Donald.
• "I'd like to think that I've played good enough to, if possible, be a pick."
• Rahm called the possibility of playing "Both" a dream and a reality, showcasing his deep desire to represent Europe despite his move to LIV.

• Back in the UK for the Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy debuted a new haircut and a fresh perspective, admitting he needed to "hide in a way" from the PGA Tour grind after his emotional Masters victory.
• "I don't want that to be my last great moment in the game."
• His candid comments and new look signal a mental and physical reset as he prepares for the final major of the season.

• World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler provided a fascinating breakdown of links golf, contrasting its creative demands and multiple shot options with the "singular challenge" presented by the short game at a U.S. Open.
• He noted the variety of links golf, where around the green he might use anything from a wedge down to an eight iron.
• Scheffler's analytical approach reveals the deep thought process of the world's best player as he adapts his game for The Open Championship.

Robert MacIntyre on "through the roof" expectations • Maverick McNealy praises the move to 100 Tour cards • Junior golfer Kai Trump tees it up

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