ReportWire

Tag: golf

  • Australia v England commentary

    [ad_1]

    Ball-by-ball updates: England face Australia in must-win Ashes Test

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Novak teams with Coughlin to win Grant Thornton and pick up another team title

    [ad_1]

    NAPLES, Fla. — Andrew Novak made three straight birdies on the back nine and Lauren Coughlin finished off their 9-under 63 in modified fourballs for a three-shot victory Sunday in the Grant Thornton Invitational, the second team title this year for Novak.

    They were challenged primarily by Chris Gotterup and Jennifer Kupcho until the par-5 17th at Tiburon Golf Club.

    Gotterup and Kupcho both missed the green in tough spots and had to work hard for par. Novak and Coughlin were in the final group behind them, and Novak poured in a 6-foot birdie putt that gave them a a two-shot lead going to the final hole.

    Coughlin’s birdie putt helped them set a tournament record at 28-under 188.

    They finished three ahead of Gotterup and Kupcho (63), Denny McCarthy and Nelly Korda (63), and Michael Brennan and Charley Hull (65).

    Novak also won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Ben Griffin, the only team event on the PGA Tour. He jokingly said it would be the “modern day grand slam” to get the mixed-team title that pairs PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players.

    Novak said he didn’t get a sense of how close it was until seeing a leaderboard on the 13th green, and even then knew he and Coughlin had one advantage.

    “We had more holes than anyone else,” he said, referring to the number of birdie chances down the stretch. Novak holed a 7-foot birdie putt on the 13th, followed by a pair of 10-foot birdie putts on the 14th and 15th and what effectively was the clincher on the 17th.

    In modified fourballs, both players hit tee shots, then play the other’s golf ball the rest of the way with the low score counting on the card.

    Novak and Coughlin each earned $500,000. It was the largest payoff for Coughlin, who won twice on the LPGA last year.

    Korda missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have given her and McCarthy a little hope, and at worse put them alone in second. Korda gets one more chance at winning this year, teaming with her father next week in the PNC Championship.

    ___

    AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Hearts sweep aside Falkirk to move six points clear

    [ad_1]

    Claudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley were on target as resurgent Hearts won 2-0 away to misfiring Falkirk to move six points clear at the top of the William Hill Premiership.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Brown grass cost a famed golf course a big tournament and highlighted Hawaii water problems

    [ad_1]

    HONOLULU (AP) — High up on the slopes of the west Maui mountains, the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort provides golfers with expansive ocean views. The course is so renowned that The Sentry, a $20 million signature event for the PGA Tour, had been held there nearly every year for more than a quarter-century.

    “You have to see it to believe it,” said Ann Miller, a former longtime Honolulu newspaper golf writer. “You’re looking at other islands, you’re looking at whales. … Every view is beautiful.”

    Its world-class status also depends on keeping the course green.

    But with water woes in west Maui — facing drought and still reeling from a deadly 2023 wildfire that ravaged the historic town of Lahaina — keeping the course green enough for The Sentry became difficult.

    Ultimately, as the Plantation’s fairways and greens grew brown, the PGA Tour canceled the season opener, a blow that cost what officials estimate to be $50 million economic impact on the area.

    A two-month closure and some rain helped get the course in suitable condition to reopen 17 holes earlier this month to everyday golfers who pay upwards of $469 to play a round. The 18th hole is set to reopen Monday, but the debate is far from over about the source of the water used to keep the course green and what its future looks like amid climate change.

    Questions about Hawaii’s golf future

    There’s concern that other high-profile tournaments will also bow out, taking with them economic benefits, such as money for charities, Miller said.

    “It could literally change the face of it,” she said, “and it could change the popularity, obviously, too.”

    The company that owns the courses, along with Kapalua homeowners and Hua Momona Farms, filed a lawsuit in August alleging Maui Land & Pineapple, which operates the century-old system of ditches that provides irrigation water to Kapalua and its residents, has not kept up repairs, affecting the amount of water getting down from the mountain.

    MLP has countersued and the two sides have exchanged accusations since then.

    As the water-delivery dispute plays out in court, Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental legal group, is calling attention to a separate issue involving the use of drinking water for golf course irrigation, particularly irksome to residents contending with water restrictions amid drought, including Native Hawaiians who consider water a sacred resource.

    “Potable ground drinking water needs to be used for potable use,” Lauren Palakiko, a west Maui taro farmer, told the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management at a recent meeting. “I can’t stress enough that it should never be pumped, injuring our aquifer for the sake of golf grass or vacant mansion swimming pools.”

    ‘This is water that we can drink’

    Kapalua’s Plantation and Bay courses, owned by TY Management Corp., have historically been irrigated with surface water delivered under an agreement with Maui Land & Pineapple, but since at least the summer have been using millions of gallons of potable groundwater, according to Earthjustice attorneys who point to correspondence from commission Chairperson Dawn Chang to MLP and Hawaii Water Service they say confirms it.

    Chang said her letter didn’t authorize anything, but merely acknowledged an “oral representation” that using groundwater is an an “existing use” at times when there’s not enough surface water. She is asking for supporting documentation from MLP and Hawaii Water Service to confirm that interpretation.

    In emails to The Associated Press, MLP said it did not believe groundwater could be used for golf course irrigation and Hawaii Water Service said it didn’t communicate to the commission that using groundwater to irrigate the courses was an existing use.

    MLP’s two wells that service the course provide potable water.

    “This is water that we can drink. It’s an even more precious resource within the sacred resource of wai,” Dru Hara, an Earthjustice attorney said, using the Hawaiian word for water.

    Recycled water solutions

    TY, owned by Japanese billionaire and apparel brand Uniqlo’s founder Tadashi Yanai, doesn’t have control over what kind of water is in the reservoir they draw upon for irrigation, TY General Manager Kenji Yui said in a statement. They’re also researching ways to bring recycled water to Kapalua for irrigation.

    Kamanamaikalani Beamer, a former commissioner, said he’s troubled by Earthjustice’s allegations that proper procedures weren’t followed.

    The wrangling over water for golf shows that courses in Hawaii need to change their relationship with water, Beamer said: “I think there needs to be a time very soon that all golf courses are utilizing at a minimum recycled water.”

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Golf star hilariously awarded check for $0 after not cashing in at Skins Game return

    [ad_1]

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    The Skins Game returned Friday for the first time since 2008, and while there were big winners, there was one major loser.

    Last held in 2008, the event featured four players from September’s Ryder Cup: Keegan Bradley and Xander Schauffele from the United States, and Team Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, the latter of whom clinched retention of the cup on the 18th hole at Bethpage Black.

    Bradley was the big winner of the day, taking home $2.1 million, $900,000 of which coming on a birdie on the par-3 12th at Panther National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. That had been the largest prize ever in the Skins Game until Fleetwood racked up $1.25 million three holes later.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

    Xander Schauffele and Keegan Bradley shake hands following The Skins Game at Panther National on Nov. 28, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

    Bradley won 11 skins total, nine of them on two holes, while Fleetwood brought home $1.7 million in all. Lowry’s winnings were significantly lower at $200,000, but Schauffele is going home empty-handed.

    After the match, each of the golfers was awarded big checks for their winnings. Despite not winning a penny, Schauffele was not left out.

    Xander Schauffele with check

    Xander Schauffele of the United States is presented with a check for zero dollars following The Skins Game at Panther National on Nov. 28, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

    TRUMP SAYS BIDEN ‘DOESN’T WANT TO SHOW UP’ TO GOLF MATCH, TAKES JAB AT FORMER PRESIDENT’S GAME

    The two-time major champion’s check read “zero dollars.” But he remained a good sport.

    “This is actually the first check I’ve ever gotten,” Schauffele said. “I’m gonna frame this in the living room.

    “That’s motivation. Probably the last Skins Game I ever play, to be honest.”

    Players started with $1 million. They had money deducted whenever someone else won a skin.

    Xander Schauffele at Skins Games

    Xander Schauffele of the United States is presented with a check for zero dollars following The Skins Game at Panther National on Nov. 28, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    The Skins Game used to be a Thanksgiving weekend staple on television, held from 1983 to 2008 before the recent hiatus. Fred Couples won the event five times in his career.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Fuzzy Zoeller, two-time major champion haunted by racist joke about Tiger Woods, dies at 74

    [ad_1]

    Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time major champion and one of golf’s most gregarious characters whose career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods, has died, according to a longtime colleague. He was 74.

    A cause of death was not immediately available. Brian Naugle, the tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston, said Zoeller’s daughter called him Thursday with the news.

    Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters on his first attempt, a three-man playoff in 1979. He famously waved a white towel at Winged Foot in 1984 when he thought Greg Norman had beat him, only to defeat Norman in an 18-hole playoff the next day.

    But it was the 1997 Masters that changed his popularity.

    Woods was on his way to a watershed moment in golf with the most dominant victory in Augusta National history. Zoeller had finished his round and had a drink in hand under the oak tree by the clubhouse when he was stopped by CNN and asked for his thoughts on the 21-year-old Woods on his way to the most dominant win ever at Augusta National.

    “That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it?,” Zoeller said.

    He smiled and snapped his fingers, and as he was walking away he turned and said, “Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”

    That moment haunted him the rest of his career.

    Zoeller apologized. Woods was traveling and it took two weeks for him to comment as the controversy festered. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years after that moment.

    Writing for Golf Digest in 2008, he said it was “the worst thing I’ve gone through in my entire life.”

    “If people wanted me to feel the same hurt I projected on others, I’m here to tell you they got their way,” Zoeller wrote. “I’ve cried many times. I’ve apologized countless times for words said in jest that just aren’t a reflection of who I am. I have hundreds of friends, including people of color, who will attest to that.

    “Still, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this incident will never, ever go away.”

    It marred a career filled with two famous major titles, eight other PGA Tour titles and a Senior PGA Championship among his two PGA Tour Champions titles.

    More than winning was how he went about it. Zoeller played fast and still had an easygoing nature to the way he approach the game, often whistling between shots.

    He made his Masters debut in 1979 and got into a three-way playoff when Ed Sneed bogeyed the last three holes. Zoeller defeated Sneed and Tom Watson with a birdie on the second playoff hole, flinging his putter high in the air.

    “I’ve never been to heaven, and thinking back on my life, I probably won’t get a chance to go,” Zoeller once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.”

    Zoeller was locked in a duel with Norman at Winged Foot in the 1984, playing in the group behind and watching Norman make putt after putt. So when he saw Norman make a 40-footer on the 18th, he assumed it was for birdie and began waving a white towel in a moment of sportsmanship.

    Only later did he realize it was for par, and Zoeller made par to force a playoff. Zoeller beat him by eight shots in the 18-hole playoff (67-75). Zoeller’s lone regret was giving the towel to a kid after he finished in regulation.

    “If you happen to see a grungy white towel hanging around, get it for me, will you?” he once said.

    He was born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana. Zoeller said his father was known only as “Fuzzy” and he was given the same name. He played at a junior college in Florida before joining the powerful Houston golf team before turning pro.

    His wife, Diane, died in 2021. Zoeller has three children, including daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play in the PNC Championship. Zoeller was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA in 1985, the organization’s highest honor given for distinguished sportsmanship.

    ___

    AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Fuzzy Zoeller, two-time major golf champion, dies at 74

    [ad_1]

    Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time major champion and one of golf’s most gregarious characters has died, the PGA Tour confirmed Thursday. He was 74. 

    “The PGA TOUR is saddened by the passing of Fuzzy Zoeller. Fuzzy was a true original whose talent and charisma left an indelible mark on the game of golf,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement Thursday. “Fuzzy combined competitive excellence with a sense of humor that endeared him to fans and fellow players alike. We celebrate his remarkable legacy and extend our deepest condolences to his family.”

    A cause of death was not immediately available. Brian Naugle, the tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston, told The Associated Press that Zoeller’s daughter called him Thursday with the news.

    FILE – Fuzzy Zoeller talks with patrons on the 15th tee during practice at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 5, 2005.

    CHRIS O’MEARA / AP


    President Trump wrote about Zoeller’s death on social media, saying he was “very sad” to hear about the golfer’s passing. 

    “In 1979, Fuzzy won the Masters Tournament (Only 1 of 3 to win in his first appearance!) and, in 1984, he won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, and famously waved the white towel on the 18th Hole as he went on to beat Greg Norman in an 18 Hole playoff. A truly remarkable person and player, he will be missed!” Trump wrote.

    Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters on his first attempt, a three-man playoff in 1979. He famously waved a white towel at Winged Foot in 1984 when he thought Greg Norman had beat him, only to defeat Norman in an 18-hole playoff the next day.

    But it was the 1997 Masters that impacted his popularity, when he made a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. 

    Zoeller had finished his round and had a drink in hand under the oak tree by the clubhouse when he was stopped by CNN and asked for his thoughts on the 21-year-old Woods on his way to the most dominant win ever at Augusta National.

    “That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it?,” Zoeller said.

    He smiled and snapped his fingers, and as he was walking away he turned and said, “Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”

    That moment haunted him the rest of his career.

    Zoeller apologized. Woods was traveling and it took two weeks for him to comment as the controversy festered. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years after that moment.

    Writing for Golf Digest in 2008, he said it was “the worst thing I’ve gone through in my entire life.”

    “If people wanted me to feel the same hurt I projected on others, I’m here to tell you they got their way,” Zoeller wrote. “I’ve cried many times. I’ve apologized countless times for words said in jest that just aren’t a reflection of who I am. I have hundreds of friends, including people of color, who will attest to that.”

    “Still, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this incident will never, ever go away,” he wrote.

    It marred a career filled with two famous major titles, eight other PGA Tour titles and a Senior PGA Championship among his two PGA Tour Champions titles.

    More than winning was how he went about it. Zoeller played fast and still had an easygoing nature to the way he approached the game, often whistling between shots.

    He made his Masters debut in 1979 and got into a three-way playoff when Ed Sneed bogeyed the last three holes. Zoeller defeated Sneed and Tom Watson with a birdie on the second playoff hole, flinging his putter high in the air.

    “I’ve never been to heaven, and thinking back on my life, I probably won’t get a chance to go,” Zoeller once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.”

    He was born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana. Zoeller said his father was known only as “Fuzzy,” and he was given the same name. He played at a junior college in Florida before joining the powerful Houston golf team before turning pro.

    His wife, Diane, died in 2021. Zoeller has three children, including daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play in the PNC Championship. Zoeller was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA in 1985, the organization’s highest honor given for distinguished sportsmanship.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Bryson DeChambeau talks Ryder Cup, squashing rivalries with PGA players and lack of resolution with LIV

    [ad_1]

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Not only did Bryson DeChambeau risk a hit to his reputation by moving to LIV Golf in 2022, but he severely depleted his chances of representing the United States in the Ryder Cup.

    Team USA’s automatic qualifiers make the team through FedEx Cup points, which are earned in golf’s four majors and other PGA Tour events. Thus, LIV Golfers are only able to earn qualifying points in majors, meaning DeChambeau had just eight chances (four in 2024 and four this year) to qualify for Bethpage Black this past September after not playing in 2023.

    “Yeah, it sucked. I wanted to be there. Didn’t play well enough in the majors,” DeChambeau told reporters on Ryder Cup eve. “Knew what I was up against when I went to LIV. That’s a whole other conversation. But still wanted to make the team and wasn’t able to.”

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

    Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot from the first tee of the Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on Sept. 28, 2025, in Farmingdale, New York. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

    On his redemption tour, though, he won the 2024 U.S. Open, finished second in both PGA Championships and had three other top-10 finishes. That was enough not only to get him on the team but to miraculously automatically qualify. He and Justin Thomas then draped an American flag over their backs while walking to the first tee as the sun was rising on Long Island.

    That would have been a wild sight three years ago, but it’s no secret that the PGA and its golfers have softened their stance on the Saudi-backed league and those involved in it (DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood, along with Justin Rose, did get testy at Bethpage). 

    In July 2023, the tours announced they were in discussions to come to some sort of head. Rory McIlroy even admitted he “changed my tune” on those who defected.

    “I think there is a mutual respect of our craft… You know, it’s just a matter of putting that golf ball in the hole, you know? And I think there’s a mutual respect among all of us,” DeChambeau told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “So that’s where I feel like, you know, we all have gone to a place where we’re like, ‘OK, you know what? Let’s just keep moving on. We’ll let the businessmen figure out the business details and we just keep playing golf.’”

    Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy

    Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy shake hands at Augusta National. Augusta, Georgia. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

    MIAMI GOLF COACH PRAISES KAI TRUMP’S POISE, POTENTIAL AS SHE MAKES LPGA DEBUT

    DeChambeau and Team USA came up just short of the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history. The two-time U.S. Open champion even fought back from five down after seven holes to halve his match with Matt Fitzpatrick. Despite the loss, DeChambeau made sure not to take the experience for granted.

    “Oh, man, it’s a special feeling. I’ve always loved representing Team USA. It’s been fantastic to do that, and we’ve lost and won on numerous occasions. It’s definitely an emotional roller coaster, but one that I love experiencing every time I get the chance to, and I’ll continue to fight to be on those teams as far as I can,” DeChambeau said. 

    “You never know when it could be your last one, right? So you got to appreciate and respect it. And I think albeit, you know, us losing and it being at Bethpage, it was a really tough one to lose, I still have great respect for being a part of the competition, and I think that’s what I’ll remember most is that I was a part of the competition.”

    “I’m going to throw LIV a bone here, it’s great to get prepared to be on a team. Every tournament I play, I’m gunning for my team to do the best they possibly can,” he added. “That’s what made me feel like I’m prepared for this environment and give it my all for others, not just myself.”

    “Keegan [Bradley] did a great job as the captain, in my opinion,” DeChambeau continued. “You always look back and say, ‘Oh, you could have done this, could have done that,’ but, dude, this guy gave his heart and soul, and that’s what I respect so much about what he did. Because again, it’s not him that ultimately wins or loses the Ryder Cup, it’s us players. He gets the brunt of it, fairly or unfairly so, it’s part of how it lays out. But I had a great time.”

    Bryson DeChambeau and Keegan Bradley

    Bryson DeChambeau and Keegan Bradley at the 18th hole green during the Ryder Cup on Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, New York. (Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty Images)

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    It has been nearly two and a half years since the PGA and LIV announced plans for an alliance. It has yet to occur, and DeChambeau is not holding out much hope.

    “Man, I wish something major would happen, but I don’t think it’s going to in the immediate future. I think there are too many wants on both sides and not enough gives on the other,” DeChambeau said. “We’re just too far apart on a lot of things. It’s going to take some time, but ultimately, I do think the game of golf will grow internationally. Scarcity will become more prevalent, which I think is good for players’ health and longevity. Honestly, for the professional sport, scarcity is very important. 

    “I think the R&A recognizes that, and I do think the PGA Tour recognizes that. It’s moving more toward that model. I won’t speak for anybody, but I think there will be improvements for the game as time goes on. It’s positive disruption, and it’ll take time to let the water settle and make a perfect scenario where we all come back together. Ultimately, I think it’ll be good for the game over time.”

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Legacy in Every Bottle: How 5 generations of the Wente family shaped California wine

    [ad_1]

    LIVERMORE, Calif. — For more than 140 years, Wente Family Vineyards has blended tradition, innovation and family passion in every bottle.

    Fifth-generation sisters Aly and Niki Wente are carrying on their great-great-grandfathers legacy, leading with sustainability, shaping the story “from grape to glass” and inviting guests to experience a little piece of the family every time they visit.

    “When you visit Wente Family Vineyards, I want guests to feel that they are coming to be a part of our family,” said Niki Wente, director of Vineyard Operations. “You’re tasting all of our hard work. All of the generations are in every bottle of wine.”

    Founded in 1883, Wente Family Vineyards holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously family-owned and operated winery in the United States. The legacy began with Carl Wente in the Livermore Valley and continues today under the leadership of the fifth generation.

    “(Carl) learned how to make wine in the Napa Valley under Charles Krug,” said Aly Wente, senior vice president of Hospitality, Business and Marketing, and Carl Wente’s great-great-granddaughter. “He came to Livermore because Livermore was a really similar wine growing region to Napa.”

    Aly and Niki’s great-grandfather, Ernest, began planting Chardonnay in the Livermore Valley in 1908, importing cuttings from Burgundy.

    “He curated this really flavorful fruit-forward style of Chardonnay and people started to hear about it. Today, we believe that around 75% of all California Chardonnay has genetic roots back to our familys property,” Aly said.

    “We come from a line of strong men who helped shape us,” Aly continued. “But now we have this incredible force of women leading winemaking, leading viticulture. So, we like to say ‘from grape to glass.’ Women are really kind of shaping the story at Wente right now.”

    For Niki, that story begins in the vineyard.

    “I run our entire agricultural division and so every day I’m really focused on sustainable quality of wine grapes and how to continue to produce the most beautiful wines possible from dirt to bottle,” she said.

    At the tasting lounge, Aly said, “You can park your car, taste wine, play an 18-hole championship Greg Norman-designed golf course, then come back and potentially see a concert or attend a food and wine experience. You’ll never have to move your car and you get to have this wonderful day enjoying wine and being with people.”

    Reflecting on the legacy, Niki said, “My great-great-grandfather Carl Wente would be stunned silent at the success of all the generations over the years. We have so much passion for growing grapes and making wines and working as a family and it’s just so important to us.”

    More info can be found at wentevineyards.com.

    [ad_2]

    CCG

    Source link

  • Sami Valimaki Holds on for 1st PGA Tour Title on Final Day of Close Calls for Keeping Cards

    [ad_1]

    ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Sami Valimaki became Finland’s first PGA Tour winner on Sunday when he closed with a 4-under 66 for a one-shot victory in the RSM Classic, the final event of the year, which saw hopes rise and fall over the final hour at Sea Island.

    Valimaki, who had two runner-up finishes over the past two seasons, used putter from below the green on the 16th and then holed an 18-foot putt putt. He was steady over the closing holes even as the wind abruptly changed direction with a little more force late in the day.

    Far more dramatic was everything going on in front of him.

    The top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings — down from 125 players in previous years — have full PGA Tour cards for a 2026 season when the fields will be smaller.

    Ricky Castillo shot 28 on the front nine and closed with a 62, and when he finished, it looked like that would be enough for him to move from No. 135 inside the top 100. But then Max McGreevy holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 63, moving him into second place alone.

    That bumped Castillo down to No. 102 by fewer than 10 points.

    Right after McGreevy holed his putt, Lee Hodges had a 10-foot birdie attempt that narrowly missed and cost him a chance to move into the top 100. The par for a 66 left him at No. 101 in the FedEx Cup standings by about two points.

    When the RSM Classic ended, the players at Nos. 95 to 100 going into the final event were unchanged.

    And there was Valimaki, a two-time winner on the European tour who was runner-up two weeks ago in Mexico. Now he has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and is assured of playing the first two $20 million signature events of 2026 by finishing at No. 51 in the FedEx Cup.

    “It has been a long road, of course,” Valimaki said. “I feel like it’s a really tough year even when I kind of played decent golf, and then to keep pushing and find some good grooves in the last few tournaments, it feels amazing.”

    McGreevy, who already had his card locked up, moved up to No. 60 to also qualify for a pair of signature events to start next year. His finish bumped Jordan Spieth, who did not play this fall, from the 60th spot, meaning Spieth will need sponsor exemptions for Pebble Beach and Riviera.

    McGreevyplayed with freedom knowing he didn’t have to worry about playing for his card.

    “I never felt that nervous,” he said. “I felt like I was playing to win. Luckily, my best golf came out at the end of the year.”

    Nico Echavarria shot 65 to tie for fourth and moved into that No. 51-60 slot for signature events on the West Coast.

    Sam Stevens made a hole-in-one on the third hole with a 9-iron over a bunker to a front pin and wound up with a 63 to join an 11-way tie for seventh place. He already was set for all the signature events. On his mind at No. 48 in the world ranking was staying in the top 50 at year’s end to earn a spot in the Masters.

    It’s too close to call, as it is for Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year who came into the week at No. 50. Both were in that big tie for seventh and figure to move up a few spots, with tournaments still to be held in Australia and South Africa the rest of the year.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Nov. 2025

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Trump teaming up with Jack Nicklaus to revamp ‘president’s golf course’ at Joint Base Andrews

    [ad_1]

    President Donald Trump says he’s enlisting the help of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to spruce up the courses at Joint Base Andrews — adding a site long known as the “president’s golf course” to his long list of construction projects.The president took an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews aboard Marine One on Saturday, and promised, “We’re going to do some work” there, as well as to other parts of the base.“We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before boarding Marine One to head to Andrews. “He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.”Located in Maryland, about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) from the White House, Andrews houses Air Force One. Gerald R. Ford was the first president to golf there in 1974, but the facility was most recently a favorite of Barack Obama.An 11th Force Support Squadron asset, the facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas and a driving range, according to the Andrews website. Trump said at least two of the courses could get facelifts.Trump has infrequently golfed at Andrews, but prefers to spend most weekends playing at or near one of his own properties. Those are Bedminster in New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. On those weekends he remains at the White House, Trump often golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.Nicklaus won 18 professional majors and 73 times on the PGA Tour. The Nicklaus Design firm features a team that has completed more than 425 courses in 40 states and more than 45 countries.Trump said Saturday that the base at Andrews “was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance.”“So we’ll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he’ll design it,” the president said.He also referenced, “Two existing courses that are in very bad shape” saying, “we can — for very little money — fix it up.””And we’re looking at other things over at Andrews,’ Trump added.Trump’s comments immediately raised questions about who is paying Nicklaus, and how much such design services might cost. Also, given that Andrews is military property, who pays for improvements to its golf courses or other parts of its grounds was also unclear. Andrews deferred queries on the matter to the White House, which didn’t respond to a request for more details.The potential Andrews redesign follows construction crews already having demolished the East Wing of the White House to make room for a $300 million ballroom that Trump commissioned. He’s promised that it is being paid for by himself and private donors — including 37 individuals, firms and charitable organizations that have publicly disclosed contributing to the project.Work on the ballroom follows Trump having replaced the lawn in the Rose Garden with a patio area reminiscent of Mar-a-Lago, and redecorated the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room in the White House’s interior. The president also installed a Walk of Fame featuring portraits of past presidents along the Colonnade, massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns and substantially overhauled the Oval Office through the addition of golden flourishes, cherubs and other, flashy items.The work at Andrews may eventually join another off-White House site project Trump has announced publicly: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial.Trump ceded control of his family business to his children when he returned to the White House, but it has had ties to other courses designed by Nicklaus — including the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the New York City borough of the Bronx and Trump National Jupiter in Florida. The Trump Organization sold its right to operate the Bronx course in 2023 to Bally’s Corporation.

    President Donald Trump says he’s enlisting the help of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to spruce up the courses at Joint Base Andrews — adding a site long known as the “president’s golf course” to his long list of construction projects.

    The president took an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews aboard Marine One on Saturday, and promised, “We’re going to do some work” there, as well as to other parts of the base.

    “We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before boarding Marine One to head to Andrews. “He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.”

    Located in Maryland, about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) from the White House, Andrews houses Air Force One. Gerald R. Ford was the first president to golf there in 1974, but the facility was most recently a favorite of Barack Obama.

    An 11th Force Support Squadron asset, the facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas and a driving range, according to the Andrews website. Trump said at least two of the courses could get facelifts.

    Trump has infrequently golfed at Andrews, but prefers to spend most weekends playing at or near one of his own properties. Those are Bedminster in New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. On those weekends he remains at the White House, Trump often golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.

    Nicklaus won 18 professional majors and 73 times on the PGA Tour. The Nicklaus Design firm features a team that has completed more than 425 courses in 40 states and more than 45 countries.

    Trump said Saturday that the base at Andrews “was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance.”

    “So we’ll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he’ll design it,” the president said.

    He also referenced, “Two existing courses that are in very bad shape” saying, “we can — for very little money — fix it up.”

    “And we’re looking at other things over at Andrews,’ Trump added.

    Trump’s comments immediately raised questions about who is paying Nicklaus, and how much such design services might cost. Also, given that Andrews is military property, who pays for improvements to its golf courses or other parts of its grounds was also unclear. Andrews deferred queries on the matter to the White House, which didn’t respond to a request for more details.

    The potential Andrews redesign follows construction crews already having demolished the East Wing of the White House to make room for a $300 million ballroom that Trump commissioned. He’s promised that it is being paid for by himself and private donors — including 37 individuals, firms and charitable organizations that have publicly disclosed contributing to the project.

    Work on the ballroom follows Trump having replaced the lawn in the Rose Garden with a patio area reminiscent of Mar-a-Lago, and redecorated the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room in the White House’s interior. The president also installed a Walk of Fame featuring portraits of past presidents along the Colonnade, massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns and substantially overhauled the Oval Office through the addition of golden flourishes, cherubs and other, flashy items.

    The work at Andrews may eventually join another off-White House site project Trump has announced publicly: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial.

    Trump ceded control of his family business to his children when he returned to the White House, but it has had ties to other courses designed by Nicklaus — including the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the New York City borough of the Bronx and Trump National Jupiter in Florida. The Trump Organization sold its right to operate the Bronx course in 2023 to Bally’s Corporation.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Trump enlists help from Jack Nicklaus to revamp the “president’s golf course” at Andrews

    [ad_1]

    President Trump says he’s enlisting the help of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to spruce up the courses at Joint Base Andrews — adding a site long known as the “president’s golf course” to his long and still-growing list of construction projects.

    The president took an aerial tour of the Courses at Andrews aboard Marine One on Saturday and promised, “We’re going to do some work” there, as well as to other parts of the base.

    “We’re doing some fix-up of the base, which it needs. We’re gonna try and reinstitute the golf courses. I’m meeting with the greatest Jack Nicklaus,” Mr. Trump told reporters outside the White House before boarding Marine One to head to Andrews. “He’s involved in trying to bring their recreational facility back.”

    Located in Maryland, about 15 miles from the White House, Andrews houses Air Force One. Gerald R. Ford was the first president to golf there in 1974, but the facility was most recently a favorite of Barack Obama.

    An 11th Force Support Squadron asset, the facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, three practice putting greens, two private practice areas and a driving range, according to the Andrews website. Trump said at least two of the courses could get facelifts.

    Mr. Trump has infrequently golfed at Andrews, but prefers to spend most weekends playing at or near one of his own properties. Those are Bedminster in New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. On those weekends he remains at the White House, Trump often golfs at his course in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.

    Nicklaus won 18 professional majors and 73 times on the PGA Tour. The Nicklaus Design firm features a team that has completed more than 425 courses in 40 states and more than 45 countries.

    Mr. Trump said Saturday that the base at Andrews “was a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance.”

    “So we’ll fix that up, and Jack will be the architect and he’ll design it,” the president said.

    He also referenced, “Two existing courses that are in very bad shape,” saying, “we can — for very little money — fix it up.”

    “And we’re looking at other things over at Andrews,’ Trump added.

    Mr. Trump’s comments immediately raised questions about who is paying Nicklaus and how much such design services might cost. Also, given that Andrews is military property, who pays for improvements to its golf courses or other parts of its grounds was also unclear. The White House and the public affairs team at Andrews did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on Saturday.

    The potential Andrews redesign follows construction crews already having demolished the East Wing of the White House to make room for a $300 million ballroom that Trump commissioned. He’s promised that it is being paid for by himself and private donors — including 37 individuals, firms and charitable organizations that have publicly disclosed contributing to the project.

    Work on the ballroom follows Mr. Trump having replaced the lawn in the Rose Garden with a patio area reminiscent of Mar-a-Lago, and redecorated the Lincoln Bathroom and Palm Room in the White House’s interior. The president also installed a Walk of Fame featuring portraits of past presidents along the Colonnade, massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns and substantially overhauled the Oval Office through the addition of golden flourishes, cherubs and other flashy items.

    The work at Andrews may eventually join another off-White House site projects Trump has announced publicly: his plan to erect a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Trump Says Nicklaus Will Lead Golf Course Revamp at Joint Base Andrews

    [ad_1]

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said golf legend Jack Nicklaus will lead some work to restore two golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, a military base near Washington, D.C., just outside the capital.

    Trump met Nicklaus, whose Nicklaus Design is one of the world’s largest golf course design and construction companies, at the military base for an aerial tour, the White House said.

    Before leaving the White House for Andrews, Trump told reporters that Nicklaus would be involved in rebuilding the base’s two golf courses and other recreational facilities, which he said were “in very bad shape.”

    Trump, an avid golfer, owns 18 golf courses, including a dozen in the United States, one in Ireland, two in Scotland and one in the United Arab Emirates.

    He did not provide further details about the work planned for Joint Base Andrews or how it would be funded, although he said it could be done for “very little money.”  

    The White House, Defense Department and Nicklaus Design did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has undertaken various construction projects at the White House, including renovating the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom, paving over the Rose Garden and decorating the Oval Office in gold.

    In his most ambitious renovation project, Trump in October ordered the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom, a project that drew sharp criticism for not going through a proper review.

    Trump has said the $300 million construction of the new ballroom will be funded by private donations from companies and wealthy individuals.    

    (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Sergio Non and Chris Reese)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    [ad_2]

    Reuters

    Source link

  • Australia v England scorecard

    [ad_1]

    Scorecard: Australia vs England, first Ashes Test

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Callaway Sells Off Topgolf for a Huge Loss

    [ad_1]

    Callaway Golf is selling 60 percent of its stake in Topgolf for $1.1 billion. The company will also change its name from Topgolf Callaway Brands Corporation back to Callaway Golf Company. 

    Private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners is set to acquire the golf entertainment brand at 45 percent less than the $2 billion Callaway paid in 2020.

    Over the last five years, Callaway’s stock price has fallen 73 percent, from $37 a share in 2021 to $10 per share today.

    Elsewhere in the golf industry, competitor Acushnet Holdings Corp, which owns Titleist, FootJoy, and Vokey Design, has experienced a rise in stock price of over 100 percent in the last five years. 

    Topgolf rose in popularity in the early 2000s when it combined golf with a social, bar-like atmosphere. Its facilities offer a temperature-regulated environment and a one to two hour commitment as opposed to a typical day-long golf excursion. 

    Now, the novelty seems to be losing speed. 

    In his LinkedIn post four months ago, Michael Girdley, founder and CEO of holding company Girdley, analyzed the fall of Topgolf. He cited inflation, higher interest rates, and a shift in customer behavior. 

    One comment on the post read, “Went to Topgolf for the first time two weeks ago here in Nashville. Way overpriced. Food was mediocre. Facility looked tired. Very much felt like they’re just riding the ship down.”

    Another said, “Topgolf nailed the experience game, but scaling something that heavy comes with a price. Great reminder that hype doesn’t always equal sustainability.”

    Callaway CEO and president Chip Brewer said the company received interest from “a number of parties” when it began planning its next move. 

    “After a robust process and a thorough evaluation of a range of alternatives, we believe this sale is the best outcome for our shareholders, as well as our employees and other stakeholders,” Brewer said in a statement. “This transaction is highly attractive in that it provides the company with both significant proceeds and substantial upside in the continued growth of Topgolf.”

    This isn’t Callaway’s first portfolio change of the year. In April, the company announced it was selling Jack Wolfskin, an outdoor apparel brand, to Chinese sportswear company Anta Sports for $290 million. Callaway had acquired the brand in 2019 for $476 million. 

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

    [ad_2]

    Ava Levinson

    Source link

  • Kai Trump shoots 13-over 83 in LPGA Tour debut, leaving her last in 108-player field

    [ad_1]

    BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Kai Trump shot a 13-over 83 on Thursday in her LPGA Tour debut in The Annika, leaving President Donald Trump’s granddaughter last in the 108-player field.

    In breezy afternoon conditions at Pelican Golf Club, the high school senior bogeyed the first four holes and finished the birdie-less round with nine bogeys and two double bogeys.

    “I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she said. “I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots.”

    The University of Miami recruit is playing on a sponsor exemption.

    “It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even outdriving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” said Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. “Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school.”

    Haeran Ryu led the tournament at 6-under 64, also playing in the afternoon.

    ___

    AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Kai Trump explains last-place finish in LPGA tour debut: ‘I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots’

    [ad_1]

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, made her LPGA tour debut on Thursday at The Annika in Belleair, Florida. 

    The 18-year-old shot a 13-over 83, finishing in last in the 108-player field. She bogeyed the first four holes and then finished the birdie-less round with nine bogeys and two double bogeys.

    “I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she said. “I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots.”

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

    Amateur Kai Trump of the United States lines up her putt on the 15th green during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2025 at Pelican Golf Club on November 13, 2025 in Belleair, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

    Despite the last place finish, the teen still called the experience “pretty cool.” 

    “It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even outdriving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” she said. “Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school.”

    Tiger Woods, who is currently dating Kai Trump’s mother, Vanessa, gave the teen advice ahead of the tournament in the days leading up to it, she told reporters Wednesday. 

    WNBA STAR CAITLIN CLARK RETURNS TO GOLF SPOTLIGHT WITH APPEARANCE AT LPGA’S THE ANNIKA PRO-AM

    Amateur Kai Trump

    Amateur Kai Trump of the United States plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2025 at Pelican Golf Club on November 13, 2025 in Belleair, Florida.  (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

    “I mean, he is the best golfer in the entire world. I would say that. And even better person,” she said. “He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”

    Trump has gained a following on social media, mostly through YouTube, and recently posted a video of herself playing with her grandfather at Trump National Golf Club, Washington, D.C., and the two of them attending the Ryder Cup.

    “I just don’t view it as him being the president. I view it as, he’s my grandpa. We’re gonna go out there and play golf,” Kai said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “We play golf all the time. It’s nothing new.”

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

    Amateur Kai Trump

    Amateur Kai Trump of the United States walks from the 16th tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2025 at Pelican Golf Club on November 13, 2025 in Belleair, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

    She also insists her goal is to go pro as a golfer.

    “I’ll try to do that and give it my best shot.”

    Fox News Digital’s Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Hojgaard leads World Tour Championship with McIlroy among Ryder Cup stars in pursuit

    [ad_1]

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nicolai Hojgaard moved into position to win the season-ending World Tour Championship for a second time by taking a three-stroke lead on Friday, though a slew of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars were well placed to pounce.

    The chasing pack included Rory McIlroy, whose brilliant short game salvaged a 69 in the second round that kept him on track to capture a fourth straight year-long Race to Dubai title for being Europe’s No. 1 player.

    McIlroy was tied for second place in a five-man group that included Justin Rose (67) and Shane Lowry (67). Fellow Ryder Cuppers Robert MacIntrye (67) and Tommy Fleetwood (71) were a further stroke back and Tyrrell Hatton (67) one more shot adrift.

    They were all looking up at the 70th-ranked Hojgaard, who didn’t make the Ryder Cup team this time — that honor fell to his twin brother, Rasmus — but is showing a reminder of his ability at the Earth Course this week.

    The 24-year-old Dane shot 65, the low round of the day, to back up his opening 67 and was 12 under for the week. Hojgaard won the tournament in 2023, didn’t qualify for it last year, but is dominating a star-studded field on his return.

    His only other 36-hole lead on the European tour was at the World Tour Championship two years ago. That remains his last win, too.

    “It’s one of my favorite tournaments to play,” Hojgaard said. “It’s great to be back in a bit of form.

    “It suits my eye. It plays into my strengths, which is mid-irons. It’s just a really good fit for me.”

    McIlroy mixed six birdies with three bogeys on a day when he was poor by his standards off the tee but his wedge play was magical.

    “I felt like I showed my scoring skills today, and battled well and stayed patient, and got the ball up and down when I needed to,” McIlroy said. “And overall, to shoot 69, I’m pretty pleased considering some of the spots that I found myself.”

    Alongside McIlroy, Lowry and Rose in a tie for second was Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (67) and Daniel Hillier (68).

    Only Marco Penge and Hatton — second and third in the Race to Dubai standings, respectively — can overhaul McIlroy this week. Penge (70) appears out of it in 44th place, 12 shots off the lead, so only Hatton can realistically stop the Northern Irishman.

    Hatton, who is five behind Hojgaard, needs to win and for McIlroy to finish worse than tied for eighth with one other.

    “You start every tournament week trying to win the tournament,” said Hatton, who plays on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. “It’s kind of no different. I know I need results to go my way if that was to happen. I’m not really thinking about it too much. Just trying to play better.”

    Fleetwood started the second round in second place, one stroke behind Michael Kim, and had a frustrating day with the putter. He made one eagle — at the par-5 No. 2 — along with 16 pars and one bogey.

    That dropped shot ended a remarkable run of 69 holes without a bogey, stretching back to the 15th hole of the second round in Abu Dhabi last week when he lost in a playoff to Aaron Rai.

    Kim shot 76, having opened with a 64.

    ___

    AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Kai Trump Shoots 13-Over 83 in LPGA Tour Debut, Leaving Her Last in 108-Player Field

    [ad_1]

    BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Kai Trump shot a 13-over 83 on Thursday in her LPGA Tour debut in The Annika, leaving President Donald Trump’s granddaughter last in the 108-player field.

    In breezy afternoon conditions at Pelican Golf Club, the high school senior bogeyed the first four holes and finished the birdie-less round with nine bogeys and two double bogeys.

    “I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she said. “I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots.”

    “It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even outdriving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” said Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. “Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school.”

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • President Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, has brought buzz to an LPGA tournament

    [ad_1]

    BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Kai Trump is ready to live out her childhood dream in the spotlight.

    The granddaughter of President Donald Trump will be making her LPGA debut this week in The Annika at Pelican Golf Club.

    The 18-year-old high school senior already sounds like a pro. She handled a 12-minute news conference Tuesday with poise and maturity.

    “I think I’m going to learn a lot no matter what happens,” Kai Trump said. “I’m just going to go out there and have fun and see which way it goes. I’m going to take a lot away from it. Obviously, competing with the best players is going to be cool. To be inside the ropes with them, playing with them, learning what kind of shots they hit, what do they do on the course. So, yeah, just looking forward to it and playing with the best.”

    Trump began playing golf at age 2 and has committed to going to the University of Miami. She received one of the three sponsor exemptions for the tournament that are usually given to players who can help promote women’s golf. Trump has more than 9 million followers on social media. WNBA star Caitlin Clark is also playing in the tournament in the pro-am.

    “So the idea of the exemption, when you go into the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event,” said Dan Doyle Jr., owner of Pelican Golf Club. “She’s lovely to speak to and she brought a lot of viewers through Instagram and things like that that normally don’t watch women’s golf was the hopes, and we’re seeing it now on Instagram and social media. So it’s created a buzz on top of the other great players that we have here.”

    Trump played half the course with legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam, the tournament host, on Monday. Sorenstam mentioned how she received a controversial invitation to play on the PGA Tour in 2003 and that turned casual spectators into experts with strong opinions.

    “Kai brings a lot of different people to the sport and we want people to hear about our tournament and be part of it,” Sorenstam said. “The word is spreading and I think that’s a good thing. Keep in mind, The ANNIKA Foundation is a beneficiary here, and we’re all about providing and empowering our women. It really fits in our mission as well. We’re really looking forward to the week.”

    Trump asked Sorenstam for a few tips while they were on the course together.

    “It was amazing,” Trump said. “I asked her a few questions about her swing and what I should maybe do differently. I just asked her questions around the greens, too, because around these greens it’s tough and you can hit different shots into them and what her opinion would be on some of those shots. It was really cool meeting her. She’s a legend, so nice to play nine holes with her.”

    No, Kai’s grandpa isn’t coming to watch her play this weekend.

    “He’s running the world right now, so a little busy,” Trump said. “To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. Always has been.”

    Yes, she’s plays with President Trump but wouldn’t reveal who wins.

    “He’s pretty good. We have some tight matches. Yeah, can’t say much,” she said. “We play a lot. We have a great time out there. We’re always on the same team as well.”

    Grandpa’s advice?

    “Go out there and have fun. Just don’t get nervous,” she said.

    Tiger Woods also gave Trump advice.

    “I mean, he is the best golfer in the entire world. I would say that. And even better person,” she said. “He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”

    Trump’s best finish was runner-up on a Hurricane Junior Tour event. She finished last (by 22 shots) at 52-over par at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. Currently. Trump is ranked No. 461 by the American Junior Golf Association.

    “I think what I love most about golf is that it’s challenging. You’re never going to be 100% and there is always something to work on,” Trump said. “I think that’s kind of keeps on bringing me back to play golf and practice golf.”

    Kai Trump rose to prominence with her speech during last year’s Republican National Convention where she talked about having a “normal grandpa” who would give her soda and candy when her parents weren’t watching.

    She’s the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr.

    ___

    AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson contributed to this report.

    ___

    AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

    [ad_2]

    Source link