Today in Golf

On April 13th, 2026, we break down an unforgettable Masters Sunday where Rory McIlroy survived a rollercoaster final round to capture back-to-back Green Jackets and his sixth career major.THE MASTERS / RORY'S HISTORIC REPEATRory McIlroy secured his sixth major and a record $4.5M payout, overcoming an early double bogey with a clutch 9-iron on the 12th and surviving a terrifying drive on 18 to win at 12-under."I cannot believe I waited seventeen years to get one green jacket and then I get two in a row."An emotional Rory paid tribute to his parents, hoping to be "half the parent to Poppy," while Trevor Immelman shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes anecdote about the Champions Dinner seating arrangements.THE CHASERS / SCHEFFLER'S CHARGE & AMEN CORNER HEARTBREAKScottie Scheffler claimed solo second after a historic bogey-free weekend, firing a 65-68, but ultimately couldn't overcome his Friday 74. Meanwhile, 45-year-old Justin Rose saw his front-nine 32 completely derailed by the brutal Amen Corner.Scheffler pulled off the "most improbable birdie" on 15, noting he "ultimately came up a couple shots short."Cameron Young shot a Sunday 73 but kept things in perspective, sharing that his son helps him "forget about golf a little bit."THE FIELD / MORIKAWA'S MIND & HATTON'S EAGLECollin Morikawa battled through a back injury using a "Band Aid motion" to rattle off five straight birdies for a solo seventh finish, while Tyrrell Hatton defended LIV Golf with a stellar 66 and a hole-out eagle on 7.Morikawa proved "how strong the mind is," while Hatton reminded critics that "you are always giving it your best."Jon Rahm struggled with Augusta's firm conditions, but fans were treated to a surprise brief caddie cameo from Sergio Garcia.Quick HitsRafael Nadal spotted crying tears of joy over Rory's win • Shane Lowry shoots a Sunday 80 but stays to give Rory a massive hug • Broadcast panic over Rory's 18th hole drive: "Oh this is trouble and could be extremely dangerous"

On April 12th, 2026, Moving Day at the 90th Masters delivered massive leaderboard swings as Rory McIlroy's six-shot lead vanished, Cameron Young fired a 65 to tie at the top, and a firming Augusta National set the stage for an epic Sunday showdown.THE 90TH MASTERS: CO-LEADERSRory McIlroy watched a historic six-shot lead evaporate after a 1-over 73 plagued by a left miss, while Cameron Young erased an eight-shot deficit with a 65—brilliantly utilizing the bank on 14—to tie at 11-under.Analyst Trevor Immelman noted Rory "opened the door" and must "drive the ball straighter," while Young declared he finally has a "real chance to win" a major.Rory's caddie Harry Diamond had to step in for a crucial perspective check, prompting Rory to head straight to the range to "hit a few balls" and find his rhythm.SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER'S SURGEScottie Scheffler fired a career-low 65 to reach 7-under par, highlighted by a brutal lip-out on hole 9, though his unprecedented over-par struggles on the back-nine par 5s kept him from climbing even higher.Speaking with Amanda Balionis, a frustrated Scheffler blamed a "mud ball" and "brutal luck" for his back-nine hiccups.Analysts Matt Every and Patrick McDonald were left stunned by Scheffler's bizarre inability to capitalize on Augusta's famously scoreable par 5s.SHANE LOWRY'S HISTORIC ACEShane Lowry electrified the patrons with a perfect 7-iron hole-in-one on the 6th hole, propelling him to 9-under par and firmly into the green jacket mix heading into Sunday's final round."Maybe I am just good," Lowry quipped after becoming the only player in history with multiple career Masters aces.The shot was so spectacular that playing partner Harris English literally bowed to Lowry on the 16th green.Quick HitsPatrick Reed warns of "crusty and bouncy" greens as the course firms up • Wyndham Clark hits a 330-yard drive for a rare eagle on the par-4 3rd • Sunday's chase pack features Sam Burns (-10), Jason Day (-8), Justin Rose (-8), and Haotong Li (-7)

On April 11th, 2026, Round 2 of the Masters delivered historic highs and shocking lows as Rory McIlroy established a record-breaking 36-hole lead while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler collapsed.THE MASTERS: RORY'S RECORD & SCHEFFLER'S SLIDERory McIlroy fired a flawless, bogey-free 65 to reach 12-under, securing the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot a shocking 74, falling 12 shots back and ending his under-par streak."Rory McIlroy remarkable! The putter is just continuing to dominate," praised the CBS broadcast, while analyst Matt Every noted of Scheffler: "I think the attitude has been poor this year."McIlroy looks incredibly relaxed with a six-stroke cushion over Sam Burns and Patrick Reed, a stark contrast to Scheffler's visible frustration on the course.THE MASTERS: LIV NARRATIVES & CRUSTY CONDITIONSTyrrell Hatton surged with a 66, Jon Rahm sweated out the +4 cut line, and Bryson DeChambeau packed his bags early. Augusta is playing incredibly firm and fast, setting up a brutal weekend test.Hatton rejected the idea of a calm demeanor ("I definitely do not stay calmer"), while Shane Lowry warned the weekend greens will get "very very crusty."DeChambeau bizarrely blamed his missed cut on a brand-new 3D-printed 5-iron, while Rahm brushed off LIV preparation concerns with a simple, "None. Golf is golf."THE MASTERS: MACINTYRE'S MELTDOWN & ROOKIE DREAMSRobert MacIntyre sparked a disciplinary controversy after flipping the bird, swearing on a hot mic, and slamming clubs. On the flip side, 28-year-old Norwegian rookie Kristoffer Reitan impressed with a stellar 68.An unapologetic MacIntyre stated, "I am going to react the way I want to react," while rookie Reitan humbly noted he just wants to "find my feet."Akshay Bhatia provided the emotional highlight of the day with a spectacular bunker hole-out on 17, even though he ultimately missed the cut.Quick HitsRafael Nadal made a celebrity appearance, praising Augusta's "brilliant idea" of a no-cell-phone policy • Nadal joked his self-taught golf swing is to "play like a backhand of tennis" • The +4 cut line sweat sent several big names packing early as the course firmed up

n April 10th, 2026, brutal conditions at the 90th Masters led to historic highs and lows, ending with Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns sharing the Round 1 lead at five under par.THE 90TH MASTERS / ROUND 1 LEADERSDefending champion Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns conquered a firm, fast Augusta National to share the Round 1 lead at 67 (-5), highlighted by Rory's back-nine birdie streak and a delicate putt on 13.Jack Nicklaus told Rory he had "no pressure," but McIlroy rebutted that he was still "nervous" and it was "business again."The course was an absolute beast—yielding a +2.53 stroke average (the hardest since 2017) with only holes 2, 8, and 13 playing under par.CHASERS & COURSE CARNAGEWhile Patrick Reed made history with two front-nine eagles, writer Shane Ryan's warning of "potential carnage" rang true as brutal conditions swallowed up big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.Broadcasters noted Scottie Scheffler's "putting has become a weapon" after an eagle on the 2nd, while Patrick Reed simply stated, "It is freezing."Xander Schauffele provided the wildest human-element moment of the day when his errant shot landed directly inside a patron's merchandise bag.OFF-COURSE DRAMA & CEREMONIAL TEEThe ceremonial first tee brought fireworks as Tom Watson ruthlessly blasted LIV Golf defectors, while Mark Calcavecchia found himself ejected from the grounds over a strict cell phone violation.Watson didn't hold back, stating LIV players should be "banned for life" or forced to play the Korn Ferry Tour.Calcavecchia refused to speak negatively about his ejection, saying he should "literally hang up right now," while Nicklaus admitted he was terrified of hitting patrons following his recent carpal tunnel surgery.Quick HitsShane Lowry's spectacular hole-out eagle on 13 • Haotong Li's miraculous water save on 13 • Bryson DeChambeau's triple bogey on 11 and Jon Rahm's shocking 78

On April 9th, 2026, we break down the dawn of Round 1 at the 90th Masters, featuring firm course conditions, shocking career pivots, and a wild Wednesday Par 3 Contest.COURSE CONDITIONS & RANGE INSIGHTSAugusta is playing incredibly firm, prompting drastic last-minute equipment changes, including Jake Knapp swapping drivers to gain 12-15 extra yards just to clear the daunting fairway bunkers on holes 5 and 8.Dustin Johnson predicts his 2020 scoring record is safe, calling the newly lengthened 7th hole an "absolute rear end of a hole."Rookie Chris Gotterup spent his practice rounds thoroughly confused as to why the 4th hole is named "Flowering Crabapple" when it clearly features a prominent palm tree.THE FAVORITES & RIVALRIESBryson DeChambeau dropped a massive bombshell by teasing a departure from LIV Golf for YouTube, while also leaning heavily into his fierce, ongoing rivalry with defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy."Do I want to beat him every time... absolutely," Bryson said of Rory, while calling a YouTube career an "incredibly viable option."Despite ranking a shocking 80th in SG: Approach, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains grounded: "If I let my bad golf define me I would be a pretty miserable person."PAR 3 CONTEST & SWING SCIENCEWednesday’s Par 3 Contest delivered its usual magic, with Aaron Rai shooting a 21 to win the event and officially inherit the dreaded Par 3 Curse ahead of Thursday's opening round.Defending champion Rory McIlroy is relying on indoor swing science, utilizing a 65-to-63 percent weight shift to create his signature "V for Victory" divots.Comedian Kevin Hart hilariously dumped Bryson's ball in the water, Wyndham Clark aced the 7th, and Frankie Fleetwood gave a joyful quote about hitting his own shot into the drink.Quick HitsRyan Gerard traveled 10,000 miles to Mauritius, noting he "would go across the world" for a Masters invite • Tyrrell Hatton would spend a hypothetical $15 concession budget entirely on "Three beers" • Dr. Corey Walker says the modern high-torque swing destroyed Tiger Woods' lumbar spine, making a comeback nearly impossible after his recent DUI and move to a Swiss rehab facility

On Wednesday, April 8th, 2026, we dive into the off-course economics and player mindsets on the eve of the 90th Masters, highlighted by Rory McIlroy's pressure-free title defense and Scottie Scheffler chasing history.THE 90TH MASTERS PREVIEWDefending champion Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta with a Grand Slam under his belt and zero pressure, while Scottie Scheffler dials in his reminder grip to tie Tiger Woods’ historic record of five consecutive Masters as World No. 1."I would not care if the tournament never started," McIlroy joked about his relaxed mindset, while Scheffler is busy hitting a staggering 128-foot apex.Jon Rahm is genuinely shocked to find himself under par at Amen Corner, sticking to a simple strategy at the 12th: "hit the middle of the green, two putt, move on."AUGUSTA'S ECONOMICS & OWGR HISTORYAugusta National continues to leverage its unique $0 domestic TV rights strategy to fund massive upgrades like the flawless new Player Services Building, all while generating a staggering $70 million in merchandise revenue during tournament week.The merchandise tent pulls in $277 a second, funding luxury player buys like Adam Scott's $1,800 ottoman and Adam Hadwin's $1,500 putter, while Cameron Smith says the new facilities have "no flaws."Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the OWGR, Bernhard Langer joked about Deane Beman's old 15-event minimum and 1980s travel: "We did not go on boats, but we did not go on private jets."WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSNineteen-year-old Maria Jose Marin captured a stunning four-shot victory at the Augusta National Women's Amateur with a final-round 68, while Lauren Coughlin secured a wire-to-wire, five-stroke redemption win at the Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek.Coughlin banished her Shadow Creek demons, noting last year's event "left a sour taste in my mouth," to completely dominate the field.Marin’s ANWA victory was aided by her caddie, Darren Woo, a local firefighter who incredibly worked a grueling 14-hour shift right before carrying her bag to the winner's circle.Quick HitsPatrick Reed returns to the DP World Tour • Reed critiques LIV's shotgun start • Reed missed the "adrenaline" of a traditional leaderboard

On April 7th, 2026, we pivot from J.J. Spaun's dramatic Valero Texas Open victory to a bombshell week of 90th Masters off-course news, including Tiger Woods' rehab, Phil Mickelson's withdrawal, and Rory McIlroy's Champions Dinner.VALERO TEXAS OPENJ.J. Spaun secures a dramatic one-stroke victory at the Valero Texas Open, holding off a fierce chase from Matt Wallace after Robert MacIntyre suffered a devastating collapse on the 18th hole.The weekend leaderboard was heavily shaped by preferred lies and Michael Kim putting on an absolute ball-striking clinic.David Ford's meticulous AimPoint reads and Kevin Yu's memorable putt added a final spark to an already wild tournament finish.90TH MASTERS: OFF-COURSE BOMBSHELLSThe golf world is reeling as Tiger Woods enters rehab following a Florida DUI rollover involving hydrocodone and an ultimatum from Vanessa Trump, while Phil Mickelson also withdraws.Tiger stated, "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health," while Phil cited a need to "navigate a personal health matter."Defending 2025 champion Rory McIlroy made sure to honor both absent legends at his Champions Dinner, noting, "I want to make sure that they are acknowledged as well."CHAMPIONS DINNER & TOURNAMENT FAVORITESRory McIlroy served up a feast of elk sliders, Wagyu, and his mom's bacon-wrapped dates, while tournament favorites Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau arrived at Augusta with entirely different new additions.+1000 favorite Bryson DeChambeau is putting lead tape on his driver's crown—prompting Michael Breed to call it "something I have never seen before."+500 favorite Scottie Scheffler arrived with his 10-day-old son, Remy, with Amanda Balionis noting the new dad is "a little extra amped up."ROSTER SHAKE-UPS & AMATEUR DREAMSPatrick Reed is leaving LIV Golf for the DP World Tour amid a PGA Tour suspension, while 39-year-old real estate agent Brandon Holtz prepares for a magical amateur debut.Reed explained his tour move is to be a present father and "watch them grow up."Holtz has his dad, Jeff, caddying, who advised his son to "keep it light look around enjoy this and now focus" as they finally see "what is behind that rope."Quick HitsMichael Kim's elite ball striking • David Ford's AimPoint tactics • Kevin Yu's clutch putt

On April 6th, 2026, we break down the weekend action at the Valero Texas Open where J.J. Spaun conquered his mental demons and a waterlogged TPC San Antonio to capture a thrilling one-stroke victory.VALERO TEXAS OPEN CHAMPIONJ.J. Spaun captured a one-stroke victory at 17-under, shedding the heavy expectations of his 2025 US Open title. Armed with custom Srixon irons and a LAB Golf DF3 putter, he executed a brilliant mental reset."My strategy was to not spiral believe it or not... I felt like I needed to be this perfect golfer," Spaun admitted, adding of his putter, "LAB is that advantage."Immediately after securing the hard-fought victory, Spaun turned to his caddie on the green and simply said, "Happy birthday bro."THE CHASE PACK & HEARTBREAKA crowded tie for second at 16-under featured Michael Kim's blistering back-nine 32 and Matt Wallace's desperate Masters push. Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre saw his title hopes vanish with a devastating snap hook off the 18th tee.MacIntyre lamented his 18th hole disaster, saying "it is just carnage" and "I just overcompensated," while NBC called Wallace's lucky chip-in on 15 "Hello indeed... almost a little embarrassed."Wallace made sure to heap praise on his caddie, Jamie, during his frantic push for an Augusta invite, while Kim put on a ball-striking clinic highlighted by a massive 341-yard drive in round three.ABERG, WEATHER & CONTROVERSYLudvig Aberg settled for T-5 after a late-round collapse, battling severe weather that forced preferred lies. The soggy conditions were matched in drama only by the fierce social media backlash over David Ford's agonizingly slow putting routine.Referee Ken Tackett noted "Mother Nature is undefeated" regarding the drainage issues, while a fan called Ford's viral 51-second AimPoint routine "an abomination against humanity."Despite Aberg's closing struggles, his physical dominance was on full display with a monstrous drive on 17 that prompted NBC to declare, "Ludvig is on a different planet."Quick HitsKevin Yu drains a clutch 48-foot putt to secure Aon Swing Five points for the RBC Heritage • Fans compare the preferred lies ruling to LIV Golf ("Literally the worst to ever do it") • MacIntyre debuts a new Titleist driver amidst the Texas winds