Today in Golf

On June 26th, 2026, we break down the opening rounds of the Travelers and KPMG Women's PGA, alongside shocking off-course allegations against Phil Mickelson and Nelly Korda's historic Hall of Fame chase.PGA TOUR / TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIPEric Cole fired a brilliant first-round 7-under 63 at TPC River Highlands, an incredible feat considering he was battling a life-threatening adrenal crisis caused by Addison's disease just one year ago."I am not sure if it is redemption but I am happy to be here," Cole remarked after his stellar round.World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a chaotic morning, forgetting his belt and hijacking Sam Burns' car for a "pit stop," yelling "no no to the house" instead of heading to the range.OFF COURSE / PHIL MICKELSONPhil Mickelson has been stripped of his membership at The Farms Golf Club following allegations of inappropriate contact, prompting an "independent investigation" by the club and a fierce defense from his legal team.Attorney Tom Clare cited "objective video evidence" in Phil's defense, while Alan Shipnuck warned Mickelson could become a "man without a country" facing mega fines if LIV Golf loses funding.The dramatic fallout adds another layer of controversy to Mickelson's late-career saga, potentially leaving him with dwindling safe havens in the golf world.LPGA TOUR / KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIPAt Hazeltine, all eyes are on Nelly Korda as she chases a victory that would secure her 27th LPGA Hall of Fame point and tie Inbee Park's 2013 record of three consecutive major titles.Commissioner Craig Kessler praised the tour's mathematical meritocracy where "facts speak for themselves," while Korda prefers to stay "oblivious" because "golf is already hard enough."Korda's strategy of blocking out the historic weight of her Hall of Fame chase proves that sometimes ignorance truly is bliss when navigating major championship pressure.PGA TOUR / TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPThe PGA Tour landscape is shifting as the Tour Championship is officially set to leave its historic home at East Lake Golf Club following the 2028 season, ending a massive chapter in golf.Local resident Gail Harding summed up the community's bittersweet sentiment regarding the departure, noting they were "lucky to have it here."The move marks the end of an era for Atlanta golf fans who have watched the FedEx Cup crowned at East Lake for decades.Quick HitsWyndham Clark's US Open win recap • Tiger Woods' return & Shane Lowry's caddie updates • DP World Tour fines handed down

On June 25th, 2026, we close the book on Wyndham Clark's U.S. Open victory and dive into Tiger Woods' uncomfortable public return, Scottie Scheffler's mental health limits, and LIV stars paying DP World Tour fines.TIGER WOODS' TENSE RETURNTiger Woods made an uncomfortable public return at TPC River Highlands to endorse incoming Commissioner Brian Rolapp, following a tumultuous spring involving a rollover crash, DUI, Swiss rehab, and girlfriend Vanessa Trump's cancer diagnosis."This work was never about any one player or person," Woods stated to the crowd, before brushing off The Athletic with a curt, "Not right now."Despite the heavy personal toll of the last few months, Woods stepped up to help shape the Tour as Chairman of the Future Competition Committee.SCHEFFLER'S BOUNDARIES & LOWRY'S SHAKEUPWorld No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is setting strict mental health boundaries to combat psychological exhaustion, while Shane Lowry abruptly fired his caddie Darren Reynolds after a grueling missed cut at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.Scheffler, the +440 Travelers favorite, noted "playing more than three weeks in a row is extraordinarily difficult," while Lowry admitted, "Golf is just not agreeing with me at the moment... No idea really."Scheffler brought his two-year-old son Bennett to the driving range to protect his peace, while Lowry is temporarily reuniting with his old looper Dermot Byrne.FERRELL'S HIJINKS & LIV FINESWill Ferrell hijacked the Travelers Pro-Am as fictional 58-year-old golfer "Lonnie The Hawk Hawkins," while LIV's Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton paid DP World Tour fines for Genesis Scottish Open reps before Royal Birkdale.Hatton admitted his swing "felt pretty awful" despite a LIV Valderrama win, while Ferrell screamed, "Mama! Me likey! Hot sauce! Fire in the hole!" at Rickie Fowler and Ben Griffin.A canceled LIV New Orleans event created a massive seven-week gap, forcing Legion XIII teammates Rahm and Hatton to open their wallets to stay sharp for The Open.Quick HitsWyndham Clark's gritty U.S. Open victory at Shinnecock Hills • The 2028 PGA Tour restructuring takes shape • Will Ferrell's Pro-Am stunt was filmed for an upcoming Netflix show

On June 23rd, 2026, we unpack the fallout from Wyndham Clark's gritty U.S. Open victory at Shinnecock Hills, the PGA Tour's controversial new two-track system, and the looming collapse of LIV Golf.PGA TOUR / RORY'S REBELLIONTiger Woods and CEO Brian Rolapp have finalized a 2027/2028 two-track system featuring 120-player caps and mandatory cuts, but Rory McIlroy is leading the pushback while scrambling to meet his 15-event minimum."Track two is a glorified Korn Ferry event," McIlroy argued, adding that LIV Golf created a "false economy."To avoid penalties, Rory is now forced to awkwardly add either the 3M Open or the Wyndham Championship to his late-season schedule.LIV GOLF / BRYSON'S YOUTUBE PIVOTWith the PIF officially ceasing LIV funding after 2026, Bryson DeChambeau's missed cut at Shinnecock highlights a bleak future, as a PGA Tour return looks highly unlikely due to burned bridges.Mark Schlabach noted Tour players "have memorized everything negative he has said," prompting Bryson to complain about Tour media rules: "If I were to film a video... that would be in violation."Facing exile from traditional golf broadcasts, the former U.S. Open champion is seriously considering a full-time pivot to being a YouTube creator.WYNDHAM CLARK'S SHINNECOCK SURVIVALWyndham Clark survived the brutal New York crowds and a fading scorecard to capture the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, cementing his status as a modern-day major specialist.Per Justin Ray, Clark is the only player to win two majors with progressively higher sequential rounds (64-69-70-73 at Shinnecock, matching his 2023 LACC trend of 64-67-69-70).Clark credited his new caddie, David "Big Wave Dave" Pelekoudas, for keeping him sane amidst the hostile NY fans: "If we heard someone cheer for me I'd go, 'Oh, there is one person that likes me.'"LPGA TOUR / KPMG WOMEN'S PGAThe KPMG Women's PGA Championship heads to Hazeltine with a historic $13 million purse and cutting-edge AI broadcast tech, setting the stage for Nelly Korda's pursuit of golf history.CEO Tim Walsh didn't hesitate on the massive financial bump: "I replied within five minutes to the purse increase proposal."Nelly Korda is chasing her third straight major championship, looking to match the legendary 2013 run of Inbee Park.Quick HitsSam Burns is skipping Royal Birkdale for baby duty (Mom Beth: "He won't go to Europe... they are going to go home and have a baby") • Robert MacIntyre battles tour fatigue ("It is first world problems isn't it") • Scottie Scheffler shakes off a U.S. Open loss with dad duties ("Alright buddy let's go get dinner. Pizza pizza")

On June 22nd, 2026, we recap a dramatic Sunday at Shinnecock Hills where Wyndham Clark secured a wire-to-wire U.S. Open victory amidst Ryder Cup-like hostility, fending off a surging Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler's Grand Slam pursuit.126TH U.S. OPEN / WYNDHAM CLARK'S TRIUMPHWyndham Clark captured a wire-to-wire victory at Shinnecock Hills, grinding out a Sunday 73 to finish at 4-under. He silenced a hostile New York crowd, sealing the win with a clutch 30-foot birdie on the 16th hole.Apologizing for past regrets, Clark admitted, "I played some ugly golf... but today is my day," while reporter Patrick McDonald noted the crowd atmosphere felt "like a Ryder Cup."In a touching Father's Day moment, Clark shared a deeply emotional embrace with his dad, Randall, just off the 18th green.THE CHASING PACK / BURNS & SCHEFFLERSam Burns fired a brilliant Sunday 67 to claim solo second at 3-under, agonizingly lipping out on 18. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler's Grand Slam dreams ended on his 30th birthday with a T4 finish, shifting focus to Pebble Beach 2027.Scheffler defended the champion against the raucous New York galleries, stating players "cannot control fan behavior."Despite the heartbreaking lip-out on the final hole, Burns had plenty to celebrate off the course, revealing the joyous news of his wife's pregnancy.RORY'S COLLAPSE & HISTORIC FINISHESRory McIlroy suffered a brutal weekend collapse to finish T32, withdrawing from the Travelers. Elsewhere, Tom Kim matched Y.E. Yang with a historic T3 finish, and amateur Jackson Koivun announced he's turning pro after a record-setting 68.A frustrated McIlroy was caught on a hot mic saying "just go home" as "the wheels came off," while Kim relished getting to "taste a major championship" and Koivun declared, "We are on to the next leagues now."17-year-old Miles Russell provided the ultimate Father's Day memory, swapping caddies on the 18th hole to have his dad, Joe, carry the bag ("Daddy as caddy").Quick HitsKeith Mitchell shoots an unprecedented four consecutive rounds of 70 • Peter Uihlein posts a wild 14-stroke weekend turnaround (80-66) • Tyrrell Hatton pitches in for eagle on the 5th, and the Fitzpatrick brothers (Matt and Alex) shoot matching Sunday 73s.

On June 21st, 2026, Shinnecock Hills bared its teeth for Moving Day at the 126th U.S. Open, leaving Wyndham Clark with a commanding six-shot lead over a star-studded chasing pack.WYNDHAM'S COMMANDING LEADWyndham Clark navigated a brutal Shinnecock setup, shooting an even-par 70 to reach -7 and build a massive six-shot lead. He relied on a new putter and the unique tactic of hitting irons off the turf on par 3s."I did not feel like I had my best and I still am leading." — Wyndham Clark (who enters Sunday with an 0-for-7 history holding 18-hole leads).Clark switched to a new Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset putter just in time to conquer a course that was playing so tough it caused a 110-minute birdie drought.THE CHASING PACK & GREEN CHAOSScottie Scheffler fired a 69 with late heroics to headline the group at -1 alongside Sahith Theegala and Sam Stevens, while Shinnecock's greens caused absolute madness for stars like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy."This is go time right here." — Broadcast quote on Sahith Theegala's clutch 18th-hole birdie.Scheffler was spotted grinding in the dark with coach Randy Smith, Sam Stevens hit a "perfect thin" from the sand, and Spieth literally had to "sprint up the mountain" to mark a backward-rolling ball on the 11th.AMATEUR HOUR & BROADCAST BACKLASHThe amateurs shined bright, led by 17-year-old Miles Russell's monster drives, while fans and critics roasted NBC's broadcast choices, including a bizarre Carson Daly interview and Brandel Chamblee's fiery rant about player profanity."These are Tiger progeny... Composure is a skill." — Brandel Chamblee blaming Tiger Woods for modern players swearing on the course.Jackson Koivun had a true "Amateur. Amateur." moment when his bag blew over ahead of his pro debut, while Russell smashed a 407-yard drive and reminded everyone to "just keep enjoying it."Quick HitsCaleb Surratt finally breaks the 110-minute tournament birdie drought • Sungjae Im is forced to hit a wedge directly off the 7th green • Rory McIlroy drains a 66-foot putt on the 6th using Brad Faxon's feel-based methods

On Friday, June 20th, 2026, Round 2 of the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills delivered historic highs and catastrophic lows, headlined by Wyndham Clark's record-setting pace and a disastrous cut day for LIV Golf's biggest stars.WYNDHAM CLARK'S REDEMPTION ARCWyndham Clark seized control of Shinnecock Hills, setting a 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record at 7-under par, marking a stunning mental turnaround following his infamous locker-kicking suspension at Oakmont in 2025."Sometimes you go up and sometimes you have to go down to go back up," Clark said regarding his recent work with sports therapist Julie Elion.Clark's newfound zen is a stark contrast to last year's explosive outbursts, proving that prioritizing mental health can directly translate to major championship leaderboards.LIV GOLF'S FRIDAY DISASTERIt was a brutal Friday for the LIV Golf contingent, with heavyweights Jon Rahm (+6) and Bryson DeChambeau (+5) shockingly missing the cut while Dustin Johnson suffered a catastrophic back-nine collapse.DJ went from bombing a 391-yard drive over a spectator crosswalk to carding a brutal quadruple-bogey eight on the 15th hole, plummeting down the leaderboard to +3.Despite the massive drives, the punishing Shinnecock layout proved that raw power is no match for U.S. Open rough, sending two of the game's biggest stars packing early.NIEMANN'S MELTDOWN & HIGGS' MIRACLEJoaquin Niemann made history for the wrong reasons, receiving a two-stroke penalty under the new USGA Rule 1.2b for throwing his club 50 yards after being denied fire ant relief, turning a 9 into an 11.Niemann owned the meltdown, admitting, "that was a misbehave from my part," before incredibly bouncing back to shoot a 65.Meanwhile, Harry Higgs went from nearly quitting golf 12 days ago to making the cut at -1 in borrowed pants, draining a 75-foot putt on the 11th to feel "like a rock star."OFF-COURSE SHOCKER: MICKELSON SCANDALA shocking off-course scandal rocked the golf world as Phil Mickelson was confronted mid-round and forced to resign from The Farms Country Club over allegations of nonconsensual physical contact with a female employee.Mickelson's camp has quickly dismissed the serious allegations as a mere "misunderstanding."The mid-round confrontation adds a dark, unprecedented layer of drama to an already chaotic and historic U.S. Open week.Quick HitsSchauffele, Fitzpatrick (-3), Scheffler, and Morikawa (65) lurk on the leaderboard while McIlroy recovers to even par after thinning a 78-yard wedge • 17-year-old Miles Russell impressively makes the weekend cut • Amateur Giuseppe Puebla makes NIL history by sporting a Chipotle hat on the course

On June 19th, 2026, brutal 35 mph winds and baked greens at Shinnecock Hills wreaked havoc on the U.S. Open field, but Wyndham Clark defied the conditions to take a solo Round 1 lead at four-under.THE LEADER & THE CARNAGEWyndham Clark took the solo lead at four-under, making a brutal Shinnecock Hills look simple despite 35 mph winds that forced the USGA to delay tee times to syringe the wilting poa annua greens.Defending champion J.J. Spaun blew up with a seven-over, while Patrick Reed shot a 72 after a viral fescue-to-fescue shank on the 14th hole.NY native James Nicholas hit the 6:35 AM opening tee shot, muscled a 7-iron from just 109 yards in the wind, and received an emotional call from Joe Namath saying, "your father is smiling in heaven."THE STARS AT ONE-UNDERBryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm all battled to impressive 69s, surviving bizarre fan interference and utilizing massive drives and highlight-reel short game magic to stay in the mix.Bryson unleashed a 427-yard drive off a maintenance road, prompting the broadcast to declare, "he is literally going to have a flip into this green."Rory McIlroy noted it was "a day to stay patient" after a 396-yard drive, while Rahm electrified the crowd with a spinner chip on 13 and a 60-foot birdie bomb on the 17th.SCOTTIE'S BIRTHDAY STRUGGLESScottie Scheffler celebrated his 30th birthday by shooting a frustrating 72, continuing a troubling trend of slow starts in majors that forces him to play catch-up heading into the weekend.Scheffler’s first-round scoring average sits at 69.92 compared to 67.50 in final rounds, leading Trey Wingo to note, "He would shoot himself out on Thursdays."Justin Leonard pointed out that Scottie consistently "handicaps himself" early, drawing comparisons to Rory McIlroy's infamous post-2014 major drought.Quick Hits17-year-old amateur Miles Russell calls pro strategy "boring" and "ho hum" • Amateur Ryder Cowan briefly holds the lead at three-under • Jason Day suffers a heartbreaking WD with a severe back injury after a front-nine 42

On June 18th, 2026, we preview Round 1 of the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, breaking down the USGA's massive financial flex, LIV Golf's uncertain future, and the brutal conditions awaiting the field.THE USGA'S FLEX & LIV'S FUTUREThe USGA is flexing its financial muscle with a record-breaking $22.5 million purse at Shinnecock Hills, contrasting sharply with LIV Golf’s impending 2026 funding collapse that has stars like Jon Rahm feeling trapped in their contracts.USGA CEO Mike Whan asserted dominance, stating, "We believe we are the best championship... We are not chasing," while Rahm admitted, "I do not see many ways out."Bryson DeChambeau is already hedging his bets against LIV's uncertain future by leaning heavily into his massive 2.7 million-subscriber YouTube channel.SHINNECOCK HILLS COURSE CONDITIONSWith 36 mph winds forecasted to batter the course, the USGA is taking preventative measures to keep Shinnecock playable, slowing the greens down to a 10.5 on the Stimpmeter and utilizing a unique syringing strategy.Chief Competitions Officer John Bodenhamer compared the watering tactic to a grocery store produce mist, noting, "We could brutalize this place... That is not what we are about."James Nicholas endured a grueling travel nightmare from Texas to New York just to tee it up, keeping perspective by saying, "I get to do this rather than I have to do this."PLAYER STORYLINES & GRAND SLAM CHASESScottie Scheffler is chasing the Career Grand Slam on his 30th birthday, but he arrives battling uncharacteristic iron play regression and the fallout from a recent caddie blowup.Acknowledging his recent struggles, Scheffler candidly admitted, "I feel like maybe I have just been a touch dull."Gary Woodland makes an incredibly emotional return to major championship golf following brain surgery and a battle with PTSD, teeing off alongside Dustin Johnson and Wyndham Clark.Quick HitsJason Day's controversial Malbon patchwork t-shirt gets roasted by fans • Smylie Kaufman hilariously ignored by Justin Thomas after yelling "Ope Sir" • Round 1 officially tees off tomorrow at Shinnecock