Today in Golf

We break down Mito Pereira’s stunning exit from professional golf, the chaotic race for the final Masters invites, and the big money moves shaking up the LIV offseason.MITO HANGS IT UPMito Pereira shocks the golf world by announcing his retirement at age 30 following his relegation from LIV Golf, citing severe burnout and a desire to return to life in Chile.The decision comes after a lingering collarbone injury and admits the shadow of his heartbreaking collapse at the 2022 PGA Championship never fully faded.A somber reminder of the mental toll of the tour, as Pereira chooses peace at home over the grind of Q-School.LIV’S HOT STOVEAfter failing to land Si Woo Kim for the new South Korean "Becko East" franchise, LIV Golf makes an aggressive pivot in the transfer market.The league has reportedly extended an eight-figure offer to World No. 32 Max Greyserman to replace Ben Campbell on the RangeGoats.Si Woo Kim remains on the PGA Tour, explicitly citing his desire to chase Presidents Cup legacy over the guaranteed payday.THE MASTERS CUTOFFThe final OWGR push for Augusta delivers drama as Ryan Gerard clutches a runner-up finish in Mauritius to secure spot #46, while Sam Stevens squeezes in at #50.Heartbreak for Taylor Pendrith, who finishes the year at #51, missing the automatic invite by a fraction of a point.Michael Brennan continues his meteoric rise from the Americas tour to book his ticket to the 2026 Masters.TGL SEASON 2Tiger Woods transitions to a non-playing captain role following disc replacement surgery, with Tom Kim noting the immense pressure Tiger is placing on the team to win.The SoFi Center reveals significant venue tweaks, including flattened bunkers, larger greens, and new audio feeds for the broadcast.Quick HitsJT misses Rahm at Riv • Paige Spiranac steps back from socials • Rory’s 18 club memberships

We break down Team Kuchar’s record-setting, emotional victory at the PNC Championship and analyze the final OWGR shuffle that secured Ryan Gerard a spot at Augusta.FOR POPSMatt and Cameron Kuchar fired a tournament-record final round 54 to reach 36-under, securing a victory heavy with emotion following the recent passing of Matt’s father, Peter."You know Dad was with you every step of the way." — Meg Kuchar on the 18th green.Matt fought back tears post-round, noting he felt "Pops giving big fist pumps" throughout the day.THE ROAD TO AUGUSTARyan Gerard produced a clutch 63 at the Mauritius Open to force a playoff; despite losing to Jayden Schaper, the performance vaulted him into the OWGR Top 50 and into the Masters.Sam Stevens survives the bubble at #50, while Taylor Pendrith is the odd man out at #51.New qualification criteria are favoring National Open winners, opening doors for players like LIV’s Tom McKibbin via Hong Kong.FORMAT CHANGES & SURGERIESTrevor Immelman dropped a bombshell that LIV Golf is considering a shift to 72 holes to finally secure OWGR accreditation.Tiger Woods is officially listed for the 2026 Masters following his recent back surgery.TGL Season 2 takes a hit as Justin Thomas is ruled out due to injury.Quick HitsPatrick Mahomes gifts Full Swing simulators • Rory sweeps BBC & RTE awards • Alena Sharp plays through torn meniscus

On this December 21st, 2025 episode, we break down Team Kuchar's dominance at the PNC, major updates on LIV's OWGR accreditation, and historic milestones for Jeeno Thitikul and Scottie Scheffler.PNC CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND 1Team Kuchar takes command in Orlando, posting a blistering 15-under to seize the Round 1 lead. Cameron Kuchar is overpowering the course—driving the 13th green—while Matt admits his son has improved "leaps and bounds" and they are hungry for the belts."He's the horse and the saddle... my distance is gone bub." — John Daly on relying entirely on Little John for Team Daly’s second-place run.With Davis Love III filling in for an injured Tiger Woods, the family vibes continued as Izzi Stricker flushed a standout 6-iron on the 15th to keep Team Stricker in the mix.NEWS: RANKINGS & RECORDSOWGR Chairman Trevor Immelman signals a potential accreditation decision for LIV Golf could arrive before February 2026, citing the league's shift to 72 holes and larger fields as a necessary fix for the "broken" ranking system.Jeeno Thitikul officially breaks Annika Sorenstam’s Vare Trophy scoring record with a historic 68.68 season average.Thitikul revealed she took a photo of herself crying after her loss at the Kroger Queen City Championship to document the lowest moment before her historic rise.Quick HitsKai Trump calls LPGA debut nerves "RNC times thirty" • Scottie Scheffler matches Tiger’s 2000 scoring stat • Ryan Gerard pushes for the Masters at Mauritius • Gary Woodland picks beef jerky over hot dogs

We break down Rory McIlroy’s historic night at the BBC Awards, Scottie Scheffler’s potential TGL debut, and the finalized Fireballs GC roster on this Saturday, December 20th edition.RORY’S BBC TRIUMPHMcIlroy becomes the first golfer since Nick Faldo in 1989 to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, capping a massive 2025 season defined by his Career Grand Slam completion and Ryder Cup heroics.Luke Donald praised Rory’s leadership, noting his evolution on and off the course.In an emotional acceptance speech, Rory dedicated the award to his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.SCHEFFLER & THE TGLWhile Scottie secured his fourth consecutive Jack Nicklaus Award, the real headline is reports of him testing simulators at the SoFi Center, signaling a likely entry for TGL Season Two.This marks a major shift for the World No. 1, who had previously sat out the tech-league’s inaugural run.FIREBALLS & ROSTER MOVESSergio Garcia finalizes an all-Spanish Fireballs GC roster, signing Luis Masaveu to replace Abraham Ancer, while also inking his own contract extension.Garcia cited the move as crucial for the team’s specific "identity and competitive edge."NEWS ROUNDUPJustin Thomas provides a "slowly but surely" update on his microdiscectomy recovery and makes a $1 million donation to Alabama.Johnson Wagner officially moves to CBS Sports, confirming that his popular on-course reenactments are coming with him.A look ahead at the PNC Championship, where the Langers are chasing a three-peat and Nelly Korda looks to make "core memories" with her father, Petr.Quick HitsImmelman’s OWGR "point guard" analogy • Wagner’s CBS reenactments confirmed • Langers vs. Kordas at PNC

Rory McIlroy ends a 36-year drought for golf at the BBC awards, Team Scheffler edges Team Rory in a chaotic made-for-TV showdown, and CBS unveils a major broadcast overhaul.RORY’S BIG NIGHT & THE OPTUM GAMESRory McIlroy becomes the first golfer since Nick Faldo (1989) to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year before heading to Jupiter for the inaugural Optum Games, where Team Scheffler edged Team Rory in a playoff by mere inches.Quote: McIlroy called 2025 the "year dreams are made of" in an emotional tribute to his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.Fun Fact: Amateur Luke Clanton stole the show during the chaotic format, clocking a staggering 191 mph ball speed while Lowry and Morikawa made a birdie in just 28 seconds.BROADCAST SHAKEUPS & PNC EMOTIONSMajor changes hit the booth as Johnson Wagner leaves Golf Channel to replace Colt Knost as CBS’s on-course analyst, while Knost gets promoted to sit alongside Nantz and Immelman following Ian Baker-Finch's retirement.The Angle: Gary Woodland tees it up this week with his father, Dan, who recently "rang the bell" to signal he is officially cancer-free.Fun Fact: The rivalry between Annika Sorenstam and son Will McGee has escalated—they are now betting for cash instead of household chores.Quick HitsLIV Golf 2026 Team Championship heads to The Cardinal in Michigan • Robot tests reveal "Year 2000 Tiger" would average 330.8 yards with modern gear • Cara Banks moves to NBC Sports full-time

On December 18th, 2025, we break down a seismic shift in the Data Golf rankings, analyze the "adults" of Q School, and check in on Tiger’s status ahead of the TGL launch.THE DATA GOLF SHAKEUPThe global hierarchy has flipped. Tommy Fleetwood is now the undisputed world number two behind Scheffler, while Ben Griffin has officially killed the "Loan Officer" bit by cracking the top five—proving his floor is higher than most major champions' ceilings. * Stat: Ben Griffin is now statistically ranked higher than Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Cantlay. * The Take: Griffin isn't a cute story anymore; he is an elite ball-striking machine.Q SCHOOL & LPGA DOMINANCEAdam Svensson played the "adult in the room" at Dye’s Valley to secure his card, while Alejandro Tosti proved he’s more than just a villain—he’s a legitimate threat akin to early Patrick Reed. Meanwhile, Jeeno Thitikul ends the year as the undisputed LPGA queen. * Stat: Thitikul finishes the year with nearly double the points of world number two Nelly Korda. * The Vibe: Tosti brings the heat, but Svensson brought the briefcase.Quick HitsMunoz matches Rahm on LIV • Tiger still in "chip and putt" mode • Lauren Coughlin finishes year at #20 • TGL Season 2 launches in 10 days

We break down Ben Griffin’s statistical surge into the world’s elite and analyze the heartbreak and villainy emerging from the Q School "kill zone."THE NEW TOP 10The "loan officer" underdog story is officially dead as Ben Griffin cracks the Top 10, proving the "wedding bump" is a statistical reality. Sitting at #5 in Data Golf and #9 in the OWGR, Griffin has vaulted past superstars like Fitzpatrick, Hovland, and Justin Thomas to become a legitimate major contender.Stat: Griffin is now ranked higher than three former major champions.The Angle: From mortgage desk to World No. 9.Q SCHOOL CHAOSWhile AJ Ewart took the win at -14, the real story was the "math of misery" at the -11 cutline where the strict "no ties" rule ended seasons for Dylan Wu and Ben Silverman. We look at Alejandro Tosti securing his card at -12 and why his presence provides the perfect "antagonist" foil to the Tour's nice guys.The Heartbreak: Camilo Villegas missing full status by a single stroke (-10).Fun Fact: Marcelo Rozo "manifested" his card by writing his goals on a mirror.TIGER & THE QUIET PERIODWe are in the "eye of the storm" before the season restarts. Despite the silence on Bryson DeChambeau contract rumors, we have a clear update on Tiger Woods: he is strictly in "chip and putt mode" with zero signs of full torque range sessions.Timeline: TGL Season Two launches December 28th.Quick HitsChan Kim’s fatigue factor • Adam Svensson swallows his pride • Tosti vs. Scheffler narrative setup

We break down the brutal "no ties" finish at Dye’s Valley, the return of the Tour's biggest agitator, and Ben Griffin’s statistical leap into the world's elite.Q SCHOOL CHAOSWe dissect the "math of misery" at Dye’s Valley, where the strict no-ties rule created a zero-sum game at the 11-under cut line, forcing a high-stakes head-to-head between Ben Silverman and Dylan Wu for the final card.While AJ Ewart cruised to victory at -14, veteran Camilo Villegas missed his livelihood by a single shot at -10.The "Villain" returns: Alejandro Tosti (-12) earns his card, guaranteeing friction for the 2026 season—we discuss why his disciplinary record makes Tyrrell Hatton look like a choir boy.THE GRIFFIN ASCENSIONIt is time to retire the "former loan officer" narrative; following his wedding to Doug Sieg, Ben Griffin has statistically arrived as a world-beater.Griffin has skyrocketed to #5 in Data Golf and #9 in the OWGR, cementing himself as a legitimate top-10 talent.We analyze the swing changes and mental freedom that have turned a feel-good story into a dominant force.ROSTER WATCH & TIGERThe "silly season" panic subsides as Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im stay put, effectively killing rumors of an International team exodus to LIV.Tiger Woods Update: He is currently only chipping and putting following lumbar disc replacement; we explain why fans should temper expectations for a Genesis Invitational appearance.Quick HitsChan Kim’s heartbreak • Bryson’s contract status • The Vanessa Trump rumor