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Pga tour events & stops in florida.

TPC Course at Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Ponte Vedra Beach

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club - Palm Harbor

Innisbrook has an incredible five golf courses available to their guests

The famed 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach

By VISIT FLORIDA staff It's time for the Florida Swing of the PGA TOUR. Check out all the golf action right here in Florida at these 2015 PGA TOUR events in Florida.

The Sunshine State is not only a great place to play golf , it's also a great place to watch the greatest players in the world as they compete in PGA TOUR events in Florida.

THE PLAYERS Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World Golf Championship - CA Championship are only a few of the many taking place all across the state.

Come and enjoy the drama and theater of each round live as current legends of the game tee it up and execute their game at these PGA TOUR stops in Florida.

The Honda Classic, Palm Beach Gardens

PGA National Golf Club, Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens www.hondaclassic.com or www.pgaresort.com

Valspar Championship, Palm Harbor

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Copperhead Course, Palm Harbor www.valsparchampionship.com or www.innisbrookgolfresort.com

Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard, Orlando

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or www.bayhill.com

THE PLAYERS Championship, Ponte Vedra Beach

TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach www.tpc.com/sawgrass

PGA TOUR Stops in Florida Facts

• PGA National Resort & Spa, home to The Honda Classic, is one of only three golf facilities to have hosted a Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship. The others to make that claim are Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa., and Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
• The Blue Monster Course at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, site of the World Golf Championships from March 5-8, has hosted one of the PGA TOUR events in Florida each year since 1962. Multiple winners over that time at Doral have included Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, Greg Norman and Billy Casper.

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Can this florida pga tour staple again become a marquee event new director believes so, share this article.

Todd Fleming believes the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches has all the ingredients to become a premier stop on the PGA Tour.

Why else would the 45-year-old leave a job as vice president for global sales at Legends, a company that specializes in solutions for sports organizations and venues?

Fleming, who spent two years as the manager of ticket sales for the Miami Heat in the 2000s, is Cognizant’s new executive director. He will take over running the event after this year’s tournament concludes.

Cognizant will be held Feb. 29-March 3 at PGA National.

“I know we will build a championship this community can take immense pride in, as well as our players,” said Fleming, who worked 14 years at Legends. “This has tremendous potential to be a marquee event on the Tour each and every year.”

Cognizant replaced Honda as the title sponsor of the event that has been held in Palm Beach Gardens the last two decades and at PGA National since 2007. Joie Chitwood, hired by the PGA Tour in May to run the 2026 Presidents Cup, was asked to step in this year on an interim basis to help the event through the transition.

The Tour’s Championship Management division will take over operations of the event.

“The PGA Tour doesn’t do the acquisitions in taking over rights and control of an event if they don’t believe in the marketplace and believe there is a real opportunity for growth,” Fleming said.

Matt Rapp, senior vice-president of the PGA Tour’s Championship Management Division, spoke about the Tour’s desire to continue the event’s growth outside the ropes started by former executive directors Ken Kennerly and Andrew George. They also want a return to the world-class fields regularly seen until about five years ago.

Todd Fleming has been named executive director of the Cognizant Classic.

With Rory McIlory and Rickie Fowler heading the early entries – and the Tour adjusting the schedule in Cognizant’s favor – this year’s tournament is off to a good start.

“The work that’s been done with this event to this point has been incredible,” Fleming said. “You got to build on that.”

While attendance, charitable contributions and the build-out continue to grow, Fleming said the goal also is to stage an event golfers are “juiced up” to play.

“When you’re on the golf course, you’re talking to guys next to you,” Fleming said about the pros. “If we get the right mixture of atmosphere, amenities, the right product and spectator enhancements these guys are going to talk to each other.”

Once that happens, then it’s up to Fleming and his team to “be revolutionary” in how they can think outside the ropes.

“Then we nailed it,” he said. “Then it’s blue sky after that. If we can get this thing going, there is no question in my mind people want to be in this marketplace.”

Eric Cole tees off at the 17th hole during the third round of the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)

Fly on the wall for ’24 Cognizant

Fleming will be on site for this year’s tournament.

“I’ll be a fly on the wall and get as much knowledge as I can,” he said. “Shadowing and listening as much as possible. There’s still some things we have to evolve, make sure we’re putting on an event the community and Palm Beach County is proud of.”

A graduate of the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, where he was a point guard on the basketball team, Fleming has a reputation as a leader, communicator and motivator.

In 2018, he was named one of Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40.” Prior to joining Legends, he worked in business operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Cowboys, New Jersey Nets, Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. His two-year stint in Miami started in 2004.

While at Legends, Fleming helped complete the Yankees’ $40 million renovation to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, assisted the Chargers in their move to Los Angeles and helped a company win the right to sell premium seats for the Raiders’ new stadium in Las Vegas.

“Todd’s track record at Legends speaks for itself,” Rapp said. “His vast experience in establishing new partnerships across the sports landscape is perfect for our long-term goals in South Florida as we look to create a best-in-class tournament atmosphere catered for our top PGA Tour players, partners and fans.”

Fleming and his family will move from their current home in Austin, Texas, to Palm Beach County following the 2023-24 school year.

“We are in the perfect epicenter,” Fleming said about growing Cognizant before adding that Palm Beach County needs to be a destination for people who want to see “great golf and have an experience.

“We have an opportunity to do that. We’re going to go all in.”

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The Best PGA TOUR™️ Stops in Florida

Sunny skies, beautiful beaches, and great golf? Sounds like Florida! And with more than 1,000 world-class golf courses scattered throughout the state, it can be difficult to pick what courses to play. But, if you want to play like the best, you have to play the best courses! And we’ve gathered the top PGA TOUR™️ stops in Florida so you can do just that.

4 Top TOUR™️ Stops in Florida

1. the stadium course at tpc sawgrass, ponte vedra beach, florida.

Host of the annual THE PLAYERS Championship , golf’s unofficial 5th major, TPC Sawgrass is arguably one of the most iconic PGA TOUR™️ stops in Florida. And because the design, complete with short holes, long holes, and right/left doglegs, doesn’t lend itself to one type of player, it’s remained a challenging test for TOUR™️ players year after year.

But the most difficult shot on the course comes at the shortest hole: the infamous 17th. At just 137 yards, it may come as a shock to find that more than 100,000 golf balls are lost to the water surrounding the 17th green. The make-or-break-your-round hole saw its most unlucky contender in Bob Tway during the 2005 edition of THE PLAYERS when he carded a record-setting 12 (or nonuple bogey).

2. Innisbrook Resort

Tampa, florida.

A breathtaking golfer’s retreat on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Innisbrook features four exceptional golf courses, including the Copperhead Course , home of the PGA TOUR’s™️ annual Valspar Championship .

Named as one of the best golf resorts in Florida by Travel + Leisure and ranked among the country’s Top 50 Resort courses by Golf Digest, Innisbrook is just a short drive from Tampa Bay. The property is set on 900 wooded acres providing plenty of space for family-friendly activities including six swimming pools, bike rentals, and eleven expertly maintained clay tennis courts. 

For a dose of pure relaxation, visit one of the twelve beautifully appointed treatment rooms at the Salamander Spa for restorative treatments and innovative healing techniques. With over 300 recently renovated condo-style guest suites and rooms and numerous culinary options, including the acclaimed Packard’s Steakhouse and vibrant Market Salamander Grill , Innisbrook can accommodate golf groups and family retreats of all sizes.

3. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Orlando, florida.

Play where the pros play across 27 holes of championship golf at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge . Nestled among  270 acres along the shores of the Butler Chain of Lakes, few golf destinations compare to Bay Hill.

Each year, Bay Hill’s incredible Champion/Challenger Course hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Due to the tremendous respect players and golf fans hold for Arnold Palmer, the tournament remains one of the most anticipated events of the season.

On your own visit to Bay Hill, you can also enjoy the 90,000 square feet of practice facilities, an on-site spa , tennis courts, and three dining rooms.

4. PGA National Resort and Spa

Palm beach gardens, florida.

As host of the PGA TOUR’s™️  Honda Classic , PGA National Resort and Spa offers a challenging layout, incredible conditions, and more. And with a visit to PGA National, you can even experience the legendary “Bear Trap” for yourself – one of the toughest stretches of holes in the game.

Located in beautiful Palm Beach Gardens, PGA National is a world-class, year-round destination. Whether it’s playing golf, relaxing a the spa, or dining at Ironwood Steak & Seafood, this PGA TOUR™️ stop offers everything you’d need for a dream getaway.

Travel stress-free to any of these top PGA TOUR™️ stops in Florida with the help of Ship Sticks! Learn more about shipping your golf clubs and luggage ahead or get a free quote today.

Megan Williams

Meet Megan Williams, a wordsmith with a passion for golf, travel, and the epic combination of the two! Originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Golf Capital of the World, Megan has played golf since she was a child, eventually playing competitively in college. She's since swapped her golf clubs for the keyboard and skillfully translates her on-course experiences into captivating narratives and insightful stories. When she's not crafting engaging content, you can catch her enjoying the company of her energetic golden retriever or trying new culinary delights around Tampa, Florida - her current stomping grounds. Join Megan on her literary journey as she explores golf courses and resorts worldwide, shares travel knowledge and shipping tips, covers industry news, and more - all exclusively on the Ship Sticks blog.

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Valspar Championship preview: PGA Tour wraps up Florida swing after epic Players Championship

O n the heels of a thrilling Players Championship , the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing concludes this week with the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler — fresh off victories at TPC Sawgrass and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill — will not be present. However, a handful of major contenders will be on hand in Palm Harbor — for many, the last competitive tune-up before the Masters begins on April 11.

The Valspar is the first of three non-Signature Events before Augusta, followed by the Texas Children’s Houston Open then the Valero Texas Open. The 155-man field will split a $8.4 million total purse, with $1.5 million (and 500 FedExCup points) going to the winner.

Taylor Moore is your defending champion after his final-round 67 held off Adam Schenk in 2023. Moore has made the cut in all seven of his tournaments in 2024.

You can watch or stream the Valspar on PGA Tour Live (via ESPN+), Peacock, and NBC/Golf Channel.

Here’s what else you need to know ahead of the Valspar Championship — the 12th event of the 2024 PGA Tour season.

Course notes

Like all the Florida Swing stops, Innisbrook plays among the more difficult venues on the PGA Tour. The Par-71, 7,340-yard Copperhead course includes five par-3s, and the par-5s are barely reachable in two.

Hitting the narrow fairways off the tee will be paramount, as the tree-lined, windy hole layouts present obstructed, angled second shots — from deep rough — if you’re out of position (the pine trees and elevation are anomalous to Florida.)

Scrambling will be vital, should those second shots lead you slightly astray. You’ll see golfers emphasize accuracy over distance and forego the driver. Top-notch iron wielders like Sam Burns, Jordan Spieth, Adam Hadwin, and Paul Casey have recently triumphed at the Valspar (the former three are in the 2024 field).

The signature characteristic of the course is the Snake Pit — an imposing final stretch that includes two par 4s on No. 16 and No. 18, and a difficult 200-yard par 3 in between.

The favorite: Xander Schauffele (+650, per FanDuel )

Schauffele was a bit too timid down the stretch at the Players, but a T2 is nonetheless impressive. A few more dubs would be fitting, but Schauffele is one of golf’s most consistent contenders. His game, predicated on iron play and nifty up-and-downs, projects well for Copperhead, so it’s somewhat surprising that he hasn’t made an appearance since 2022.

Schauffele, the World No. 5 — the highest ranked played in the Valpsar field — has five top-10 finishes in seven starts in 2024.

Justin Thomas outright (+1400): Thomas is coming off a disappointing missed cut at the Players, though shaky putting was the primary culprit. Thomas’ ball-striking and approach game has been perfectly adequate this season, and he remains elite with irons and around the green. JT has finished T13 or better in his last three starts in Palm Harbor. An opportunity to find a groove heading into the majors.

Keegan Bradley top five (+800): Bradley also had a down week with the putter at TPC Sawgrass, but he’s generally one of the more stable players on in golf. The veteran can easily bounce back with a workmanlike march through Copperhead.

Doug Ghim top 20 (+160): When the Ghim Reaper has been relevant, he’s sniffed the top portion of leaderboards. Ghim has finished top 20 in five straight events, including every one in Florida.

Sam Burns top 40 (-220): Burns — one of the best iron players and scrambled in the world — has feasted at Innisbrook. He won in 2021 and 2022 and finished sixth in 2023. As his fellow Texas Longhorn, Scheffler, has cemented his dominance, Bruns has quietly made 12 straight cuts, including four top-fives this year.

One and Done — Brian Harman (+2200): Harman grinded under pressure to register a T2 at TPC Sawgrass. Harman is a laser-focused competitor — one of the sport’s true bulldogs. He’s also among its best approach players. Look for the 2023 Open champion to shake off his surprisingly subpar course history at Innisbrook — and last week’s disappointment.

Other plausible contenders: Cameron Young, Tony Finau, Lucas Glover, Nick Taylor, Aaron Rai

The post Valspar Championship preview: PGA Tour wraps up Florida swing after epic Players Championship appeared first on ClutchPoints .

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124th U.S. Open

Pinehurst No. 2

The 7 Florida golf trips we can't stop dreaming about

We're in the middle of a golf boom.

That means in addition to new players filling up tee sheets in our hometowns, they're also making up a whole new group of people interested in taking golf trips. With the PGA Tour nearing the end of its annual Florida swing, it has our mind on booking our next Florida golf trip . We tasked our friends at Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR to help us plan the best places to play and stay throughout the Sunshine State. Golfbreaks says it is seeing a huge influx of Florida travelers, which is both an encouraging sign for the industry, but also reason to book your trip ASAP before tee sheets start filling up.

RELATED: The nine trips we've been dreaming about this winter

Jacksonville

Dom Furore / Golf Digest

The largest and most populous city in Florida is home to some of its most famous and recognizable golf courses, including the No. 2 public course in the state and No. 11 public course in America .

Dick Durrance II

Home of The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass ' Stadium Course ( above ) has one of the most nerve-wracking and recognizable finishing three-hole stretches in golf. But make sure to also play Dye's Valley , located adjacent to the Stadium Course . Dye's Valley ( below ) has hosted many elite professional and amateur tournaments.

Golf Digest archive

Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen teamed with architect Bobby Weed at the World Golf Village to build the Slammer & Squire , a course that rewards shot-makers without disturbing the natural beauty of the surrounding wooded areas and wetlands.

The only course in the world co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the King & Bear combines a links-style front nine with a more traditional Florida style back nine, featuring loblolly pines, old oak trees and lots of water.

Jacksonville Beach Golf Club, a lovable muny just a few blocks from the beach, was redone in 2018 to include more par 4s and fewer water hazards, making it the perfect stop for a casual round, regardless of skill level.

Interested in booking one of these trips? Click here to start pricing out your trip with our friends at Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR, or call them: (+1) 843.779.7134.

LC Lambrecht

Though there are plenty of great options within an hour of Tampa, Streamsong is the only resort in the U.S. that offers three courses ranked in Golf Digest’s Second 100 Greatest , so we advocate building a trip around it if you can.

Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht

Tumbling through rolling terrain, striking landforms, expansive lakes and stretches of open savannah, Streamsong Red , ranked 112th on Golf Digest's Second 100 Greatest courses, requires a sound strategy to conquer one dramatic Coore-Crenshaw-designed hole after the next.

With towering sand dunes, multiple elevation changes, wild grasses and ponds, Tom Doak's Streamsong Blue is expertly fitted to the natural land.

Courtesy of Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort

The newest of the three courses, Gil Hanse's Streamsong Black is a par-73 layout that offers rolls, tumbles and sand ridges reminiscent of the Australian Sand Belt—and some of the biggest greens in North America . Be sure to stop by The Gauntlet, a two-acre putting course, and The Roundabout, a seven-hole short course and practice area, for some fun before or after your round.

Courtesy of the Saddlebrook Resort

The Copperhead course is most famous for hosting the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship every April, but Innisbrook is home to three more championship courses— Island , North and South —with views more like the sand hills of the Carolinas than you might expect in Florida.

Saddlebrook is home to a pair of Arnold Palmer-designed courses, the par-71 Palmer and and par-70 Saddlebrook . Each features rolling fairways turning through beautiful cypress, pine and palm trees.

Courtesy: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge

The Theme Park Capital of the World is also home to some pretty great golf courses. Whether on a family trip or, even better, a golf-only trip, these courses are sure to be one heck of a ride.

Open only to members and guests staying at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge , the world-renowned Champion and Challenger nines make up the 18-hole Bay Hill course played by the game's best at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Charger, a third nine, offers a shorter, more open (but still challenging) experience.

Reunion is the only place in the world featuring three courses designed by three of golf's greatest legends: Tom Watson , Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus .

Recently renovated, Shingle Creek uses knobs, swales and slopes combined with closely mown runoff areas around elevated greens to provide a challenging, par-72, 7,213 yards of engaging golf.

Unusual Central Florida elevation changes upwards of 85 feet and rolling fairways at El Campeón at Mission Inn Resort & Club offer a trip back in time on this design first laid out in 1917.

In contrast to her older brother, Las Colinas is a 1992 Gary Koch-designed inland links course with generous faiways, gentle rolling hills and large greens, giving Mission Inn complementary 18-hole layouts.

Long the host of PGA Tour and Web.com Tour Q school, Orange County National has two courses worth playing. Set among a wide-open savannah, Crooked Cat ( opening photo ) twists and turns in all different directions, challenging players to control their ball in the wind.

Unlike Crooked Cat, Panther Lake winds through pines and wetlands, putting the course's natural beauty front and center in its appeal.

Just a few minutes from from Shingle Creek, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes is a fun test at a higher price point with wide fairways, generous landing areas and sublty tilted greens designed by Greg Norman.

Aside from the well-known grandeur of Doral , Miami is sprinkled with courses perfect for a round before or after a day at the beach or a night out on the town.

The Blue Monster played host to the PGA Tour for over half a century, most recently the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The Dick Wilson design was renovated by Gil Hanse and is one of Florida's most well-known courses.

Golden Palm at Trump National Doral, like the Blue Monster, is a Gil Hanse design that requires length, strength and touch around the greens. With shaved fairway-side entrances and heavy rough on the backsides, the bunkering is reminiscent of those in the Australian countryside.

Doral's Red Tiger and Silver Fox are playable challenges for the weekend golfer.

Having hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events, the Soffer Course at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry offers a risk-reward scenario on almost every hole.

Though shorter than the Soffer Course, the Miller Course still offers trouble off the tee and around the greens. Three-time major champion Julius Boros was the course's first Director of Golf.

Jensen Larson

Just 10 minutes from downtown Miami, Crandon Golf at Key Biscane hosted the PGA Tour Champions for 18 years. Between opening and finishing par-5s, the signature seventh hole doglegs to the right, sending your ball over a shimmering lake (hopefully).

Brian Wacker

This historic Biltmore resort features a par-71 championship course originally designed by Donald Ross in 1925 that underwent an extensive renovation over the past few years.

Miami Beach Golf Club originally opened in 1923 as Bayshore Golf Course. It has undergone several renovations since, including a complete rebuild in 2002 and become highly regarded among South Florida residents.

This coastal town is home to plenty of great golf, but four of the top 75 courses in Florida— as ranked by a 2015 survey by Golf Digest —sit on the property at PGA National.

One of five courses at PGA National , the Champion Course hosts the Honda Classic every year. Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio for tournament play, Jack Nicklaus redesigned the course in 2014, creating the infamous three-hole stretch aptly named "The Bear Trap."

Named for its designer, the Palmer Course boasts playability for the average player and gives the experienced player the chance to post a score with wide fairways, tame rough and large greens.

Originally opened in 1980 and named the Haig Course after Walter Hagen, the Fazio Course similarly offers a nice resort experience that can still challenge single-digit handicappers. The Squire and Estate courses are also playable for a wider audience.

Montana Pritchard/PGA of America

Named for its designer, Pete Dye, the Dye Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie is a links-style course routed through wetlands. Pine straw rough, coquina waste bunkers and grass bunkers capture the Florida setting, while the layouts of the holes draw strongly on British Isles roots.

Courtesy of Palm Beach Golf Course

Redesigned by Raymond Floyd in 2009, the Palm Beach Par-3 Course is widely regarded as one of the most fun short courses anywhere. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, it hosted an LPGA Pro-Am for 18 years.

Though plenty of options are sprinkled across this west-coast Floridian city, on the top of most lists are Greg Norman's Tiburón courses at the Ritz-Carlton .

Michael Reaves

Greg Norman's Tiburón Gold course features stacked sod wall bunkers and no conventional rough and is home to the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship ( above ) and the PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout.

Nestled among the Florida pines, Tiburón Black uses the natural landscape to feature undulating greens and crushed coquina waste areas.

You’ll have to stay the night at the resort of the same name to access this Rees Jones course, but you won’t mind as Naples Grande is the closest you’ll get to a Southwest Florida private-club golf experience.

Tied to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Estero and part of Florida Golf Coast University’s PGA’s golf-management program, the Raymond Floyd-designed Raptor Bay is well groomed and user friendly at 6,461 yards and a slope of 125 from the tips.

Courtesy of Old Corkscrew

Old Corkscrew , designed by Jack Nicklaus, is routed through the natural landscape of Southwest Florida (no homes!) including cypress trees, tall pines, wetlands, etc., and serves as habitat for dozens of exotic animals.

Fort Myers Country Club is a trip back in time—this Donald Ross course opened in 1917. It’s flat and you might consider on-course canals annoying water hazards, but this is an old-school golf experience.

Panama City

You might think of Panama City as a Spring Break destination, but it might be one of Florida's most sneakily budget-friendly golf destinations—including some courses that are truly must-plays.

CATTAROSSI GRACIELA

Two things stick out about this Florida course: no visible homes and few flat lies. A Tom Fazio design, Camp Creek offers a view of the green—often a tiered one—from every tee and a tough par-3-5-4 finish.

The only Jack Nicklaus design in Northwest Florida, Bay Point Golf Club takes you on a trip along St. Andrews Bay and through a marshland wildlife sanctuary.

After routing players through the pine forests and wetlands of the Emerald Coast, Rees Jones wows golfers on the back nine with views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Much like the differing scenery on each nine, players will be required to hit a different type of approach shot into each green at Burnt Pine G.C. at Sandestin .

Home to a championship and a par-3 course, Holiday Golf Club is notable for its forgivingly wide fairways and big greens, making it a great course for a laid-back round on a vacation.

At just under 6,700 yards, this W.C. Sherman and Donald Ross course isn't too long, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in tricky greens and beautiful wildlife. Panama Country Club has hosted the Sherman Invitational Golf Tournament every year since it opened in 1927, making it the oldest continuously held amateur tournament in the Southeast.

Golf Digest's Ron Kaspriske contributed to this piece

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The PGA Tour will make its only stop in Central Florida this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

WESH 2 Sports Director Daren Stoltzfus went to Orlando's signature event.

Watch the video above.

2024 Florida schedule for PGA, LIV golf tournaments now in limbo. What we know and don't know

On May 31, Golfweek published a story with the headline "PGA Tour's 2024 schedule is coming soon — '90-plus percent' done."

Not so fast.

Less than a week after that story was put on the world wide web, the golf universe was turned upside down when the PGA Tour announced on June 6 it would be part of a new golf union with the LIV Tour (backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund) and the DP World Tour.

With some of the initial shock of the news having worn off, the questions about how it is going to work are stacking up. This now again includes the 2024 schedule.

The PGA Tour features a "Florida swing" in late February and March as part of its annual schedule with stops in Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Harbor (near Tampa) and Ponte Vedra Beach outside of Jacksonville, home of the PGA Tour's headquarters.

In its very short existence, LIV has two Florida stops on its schedule: Orlando (March 31-April 2 and Miami later this year (Oct. 20-22). LIV tournaments are three rounds. The PGA Tour players compete over four rounds .

What are the PGA Tour and LIV golf tournaments in Florida?

Here is a look at the PGA and LIV professional golf tournament schedule and results in the Sunshine State in 2023:

The Honda Classic

LEAGUE: PGA Tour

WHERE: PGA National Resort and Spa (The Champion), Palm Beach Gardens

2023 WINNER: Chris Kirk, $1.512 million from a purse of $8.4 million

LIV in the next major: Here is list of LIV golfers who have qualified for next week's U.S. Open

Arnold Palmer Invitational

DATES: Feb. 27-March 5

WHERE: Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando

2023 WINNER: Kurt Kitayama, $3.6 million from a purse of $20 million

The Players Championship

DATES: March 6-12

WHERE: TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach

2023 WINNER:   Scottie Scheffler, $4,500,000 from a purse of $25 million

Valspar Championship

DATES: March 13-19

WHERE: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor

2023 WINNER: Taylor Moore, $1,458,000 from a purse of $8.1 million

Florida's top courses: Top 100 golf courses in America list from Golf Digest includes exclusive Naples layout

LIV Tour-Orlando

WHERE: Orange County National (Crooked Cat)

2023 INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Brooks Koepka, $4 million

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Has a florida golf course ever hosted one of golf's major championships.

Golf has four major championships: The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in Europe.

Florida has only hosted two of golf's major championships:

• The 1971 PGA Championship at PGA National Golf Club (now BallenIsles County Club ) won by Jack Nicklaus.
• The 1987 PGA Championship at PGA National Resort & Spa won by Larry Nelson.

Some golf experts like to call The Players championship the sport's unofficial "fifth major." That tournament is played every year in Florida at the TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) in Ponte Vedra Beach .

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2024 travel pro-am - northwest ireland.

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LPGA Tour Makes Second Stop in Florida for the Gainbridge LPGA

Vilaubi and matthews lead after round 2.

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A DJ sat just off the 18th green at Lake Nona Country Club. He was spinning mind-thumping tunes that reverberated throughout the golf course. It’s one of the elements that makes the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions one of the most unique on the LPGA Tour and has rightfully earned the event the moniker of “party on tour.”

Sunday, as leader Danielle Kang made her way up the 18th fairway the bass was pulsating, but she heard nothing. Perhaps that’s a credit to Kang’s ability to focus. Or maybe she was just in her element.

“Didn't bother me one bit. I don't even know what music was on. I heard nothing,” Kang said after her win on Sunday. “I was just more focused on doing what I needed to do.”

It seems only fitting that Kang, who riles up the fans sitting on the first tee at the Solheim Cup to cheer louder as she tees off, would win an event which, at times, feels more like a dance party than a golf tournament. It was an atmosphere befitting the 29-year-old who didn’t flinch as she rolled in four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine on Sunday to win by three strokes for her sixth career win on the LPGA Tour.

If the Tour’s first stop of the year was the prelude, a small winners-only event that marked the official start of the season, then the Tour’s second stop is the overture, a grand homecoming for the best female golfers in the world who are making their return to competition.

The Gainbridge LPGA comes back to Boca Rio Golf Club for the third installment of the event following a one-year stint at Lake Nona Country Club. Boca Rio hosts the first full-field event of the season with 120 of the world’s top players, including seven of the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings.

Thursday, Lexi Thompson makes her season debut in search of her first win on Tour since 2019. And, the Tour will see the return of Karrie Webb, the World Golf Hall of Fame member who hasn’t competed on Tour in two years. Rising stars, who made their presence known in 2021, like Leona Maguire, Jennifer Kupcho and Yealimi Noh will also kick-off their season in Boca Raton.

Kang’s come-from-behind victory at the Tournament of Champions saw her overtake Nelly Korda, the world No. 1. Korda carded a final round 75 in frigid, final round conditions in which temperatures topped out in the mid-40s. Born and raised in Florida, Korda isn't afraid to admit her disdain for the cold which may have played a factor in her struggles on Sunday.

But Korda won’t have much time to shake off her disappointing finish in Orlando as she pivots to the role of defending champion in Boca Raton. Ironically, Korda finds herself in a similar position to just one year ago.

At the season-opener in 2021, Korda played in the final group on Sunday, only to finish outside the playoff that saw her sister, Jessica, hoist the first trophy last season. But Nelly rebounded immediately by winning the next week at the Gainbridge LPGA.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I got to get one now,’” Korda said about her bounceback win.

There won’t be music thumping as players arrive in Boca Rio for the Tour’s second stop of the year, but the Gainbridge LPGA will have its own quiet melody - a soft refrain that simply says, ‘welcome back.’

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Alpine Golf & Sports Club , Bangkok, Thailand – “Johnnie Walker Classic” – won by Tiger Woods

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Palm Beach Polo Club , W. Palm Beach, FL – “PGA Team Championship”

Tiger Point, Pensacola , FL “Pensacola Open”

Sands Hotel Golf & Country Club , Atlantic City, NJ – “ShopRite LPGA Classic”

Fiddlesticks , Fort Myers, FL “FILA Invitational”

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Ron garl facts & links, discover more.

• “Building a development like this one at Indian River Club is not for the faint hearted. The course turned out far better than I ever could have imagined or envisioned. If we were to build another golf course, Ron Garl would be the guy I would call on for the design.” Jeff Reynolds, Owner Indian River Club, Vero Beach, Florida
• “I fell in love with Victoria Hills the first time I played it because of the layout. It will force you to use every club in your bag.” Jerry Porter Executive Director of North Florida PGA
• “The Ron Garl Team were fantastic to deal with in every step of our development. Ron took a scenic piece of land and transformed it into a masterpiece all the while maintaining a strict construction budget. Wooden Sticks has quickly become the favorite of many Ontario golfers and the awards just keep coming”. Greg Seemann Managing Partner, Wooden Sticks

Tiger Woods misses the cut at US Open

All to know about tiger woods' performance at the 2024 u.s. open and the leading players at pinehurst, by julia elbaba • published june 14, 2024 • updated on june 15, 2024 at 1:46 am.

Golf's third major of the year is underway at Pinehurst . Players are battling it out at the prestigious 2024 U.S. Open, which runs June 13 through June 16.

Round 2 of the event saw Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau and Thomas Detry dominate the day. While Tiger Woods had a strong start, his hopes of qualifying came crashing down.

📺 24/7 South Florida news stream: Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

On Saturday, the world’s top players will vie for the championship -- with one person taking home the trophy for the gold major.

As U.S. Open Round 2 concludes, here's everything you need to know about Woods' performance and the players who led the day at Pinehurst:

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Did Tiger Woods make the cut at the U.S. Open? 

Tiger Woods did not make the cut for the U.S. Open after recording a 3-over 73 on Friday, dropping him to 7-over in Pinehurst.

It's a par for Tiger Woods at the last. He will not make his 18th career U.S. Open cut. pic.twitter.com/QYgCD4OBDw — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024

The last time Woods successfully qualified for the U.S. Open was in 2019 -- with that year marking the sole occasion he made the cut for the tournament in the last ten years.

Woods started off strong with a birdie in the initial four holes, but as the round progressed on Friday, he came close to making several impressive birdie shots that could have kept him in the game.

Unfortunately, he missed a birdie putt on the 13th hole and then experienced a disheartening moment when his birdie attempt on the 15th hole lipped out.

After Round 1 on Thursday, Woods was on the cusp of making the cut after shooting a 4-over 74, leaving him outside the top 90 in the field. 

Has Tiger Woods ever won the U.S. Open?

Tiger Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion. He won the event in 2000, 2002 and 2008. 

Woods won each of his U.S. Open titles while he was ranked as the top player in the world.

Which players are atop the leaderboard?

Sweeden's Ludvig Åberg led the field with a score of 5-under.

Three players tied for second place with a score of 4-under: Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau and Thomas Detry

Rory McIlroy showing major form with bogey-free 65 to share US Open lead with Patrick Cantlay

Here's how much money the 2024 US Open champ will make

How do players make the u.s. open cut.

Players must be within the top 60, including ties, after the first two rounds of play to make the U.S. Open cut.

Who is Thomas Detry? 

Thomas Detry is a 31-year-old Belgium professional golfer on the PGA Tour.

He entered the 2024 U.S. Open ranked No. 55 on the Official World Golf Ranking but his form in majors has been promising. Detry finished fourth at the PGA Championship in May.

Detry attended the University of Illinois before turning pro on the Challenge Tour in 2016.

What TV channel is the 2024 U.S. Open on?

The U.S. Open will air on TV on NBC from 1-7 p.m. ET.

How to stream the 2024 U.S. Open

The action will also be available to stream on  Peacock , NBC.com and NBCSports.com, as well as on the NBC and NBC Sports apps.

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Will the PGA Tour, PIF make a deal? A year later it’s still uncertain

• Follow live coverage of the third-day rounds at the U.S. Open today  

It’s been one year since the shocking announcement of a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and PIF (the owners of LIV Golf), the monumental deal that ended litigation between the competing men’s pro golf tours and proposed a new business entity with the Saudis potentially investing billions into what has become PGA Tour Enterprises.

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It was far from an actual deal, though. It was, in actuality, an agreement to stop the lawsuits and simply negotiate in good faith.

In the past year, deadlines have been extended. The United States government held an inquiry into the potential union. Players have taken on power. Key figures on June 6, 2023 have either stepped down or seen their influence wane. A new investment group, led by American sport owners, emerged. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan went from the man with the most power to players calling for his resignation to firmly back in control. All while players like Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth have taken on powerful roles. Still, few seem to know where any of this is heading.

So where are we a year on from the June 6 bombshell ? Let’s try to cut through the noise and explain where things stand.

The change in power

A “PGA Tour policy board” may mean nothing to you. It shouldn’t. But know the policy board decides almost everything for the PGA Tour. And there’s no better way to begin to detail the chaotic past year than the shuffling of seats on the board.

A year ago, investment banking legend Jimmy Dunne, popular with players for his willingness to connect them with the corporate world, was the key outside force on the board. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was balancing being one of golf’s biggest superstars and the most powerful among the five player-directors on the board. He was the PGA Tour’s most effective communicator, repeatedly denouncing LIV.

Well, when the June 6 announcement happened, it sent the golf world into a tizzy. For starters, it was all done in complete secrecy, so on a tour where the players are also essentially the owners, they had no say. Additionally, players who spent the past year turning down massive sums of money from the Saudis and defending the tour were livid that the tour just legitimized LIV and they still didn’t get the payday . Monahan and Dunne, the former secretly deputizing the latter to initiate talks with PIF, went from the leaders to the bad guys in many players’ eyes.

The players wanted more of a say. They wanted more voting power, insisting on an extra voting seat to be added specifically for Woods. They also campaigned to add former tour player turned investment banker Joe Ogilvie as “liaison director.” Suddenly the players were not just more engaged — they had voting power.

The narrative became that the Cantlay camp fought for more money for the biggest stars, while McIlroy’s side wanted the money spread throughout the tour, among other disagreements like any potential return for LIV players and a more global golf tour. Eventually, McIlroy resigned from the board. Spieth, who reportedly sides with Cantlay and Woods, took McIlroy’s spot.

Since then, McIlroy has dramatically softened his stance on LIV and campaigned for the sport to unify and bring the best players together. He’s even criticized comments from board members like Spieth and Cantlay publicly. So when board member Webb Simpson (aligned with McIlroy) asked to resign in April and have McIlroy take his place, the powers that be rejected that move. Whether it was vendetta or procedure, the impact was the same — McIlroy was instead added to the PGA Tour Enterprises transaction subcommittee that negotiates with LIV.

Within 12 days of McIlroy’s failed return, two more board members in favor of a deal with PIF resigned, Dunne and investment banker Mark Flaherty. Dunne cited players taking control of board voting and “no meaningful progress” toward a deal with PIF.

“I think things are, unfortunately, put in a really bad light right now,” Spieth said last month, “and I think things are actually in a really, really good place, based on what I know, which is quite a lot in this situation.”

LIV did not stop

When the June 6th announcement happened, it was argued the PGA Tour and Monahan had the power. PIF would invest billions into the newly created PGA Tour Enterprises and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan would be chairman and get a seat on the policy board, but Monahan would be CEO of the new venture and have control over LIV’s future. That was met with skepticism, as many argued the man with the money actually controls things, but it was sold as PIF just wanted a seat at the table in professional golf and everyone got what they wanted.

By the fall, there was little actual movement toward a deal and the PGA Tour had made it clear it was actually seeking other investment opportunities — more on that in a second. There was deserved doubt of anything happening by the original Dec. 31 deadline. So in late November, it was major news when rumors circulated about LIV negotiating with the reigning Masters champ, Jon Rahm . He was widely considered the first or second-best player in the world, and many wondered if LIV pursuing Rahm was to put pressure on the PGA Tour. Rahm admitted months later he thought signing, for hundreds of millions of dollars, would expedite negotiations and bring the sport back together.

No such thing has happened yet. No deal was done by Dec. 31, and both sides agreed to extend the deadline. LIV has continued to add executives in recent weeks with new hires from Pepsi and the Philadelphia 76ers while adding office spaces in New York and London.

PGA Tour added new investors

If Rahm was LIV’s key bargaining chip, the PGA Tour’s leverage was to add outside investment. On Jan. 31, the tour officially launched PGA Tour Enterprises backed by a $3 billion commitment from Strategic Sports Group , a consortium of major investors in professional sports like John Henry, Arthur Blank and Steve Cohen, among others. The deal made players actual owners in the sport, with $750 million in equity distributed to contributing players (past and present) based on value added to the tour.

The challenge of this investment was understanding if it signaled a move toward a deal or the tour ensuring it didn’t “need” the Saudis. Some argued it was the tour pushing PIF out. Others argued private equity investment expects a return and those investors would want a deal unifying the sport. SSG investors have not spoken publicly to provide transparency but Ogilvie told Golfweek that he believes SSG “committed with the hope that there would be another investor.”

Spieth was asked his thoughts on needing PIF the week before the announcement and said, “I don’t think it’s needed. The idea is that we have a strategic partner that allows the PGA Tour to go forward the way that it’s operating right now without anything else, with the option of other investors.”

A week later, SSG investors and PGA Tour representatives reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Al-Rumayyan. In March, the parties (including players on the policy board) met again at Woods’ home in the Bahamas. Members involved said it was more of a pleasant, well-intentioned greeting and no major movement happened toward a deal.

What about Jay Monahan?

As recently as December, board members asked Monahan to resign from his place as PGA Tour commissioner. He completely lost the players’ trust after the June 6 announcement, and after Rahm left it appeared he was losing more and more control of the situation.

Then, with allies like Dunne and Flaherty leaving and the possibility of another board member Ed Herlihy departing when his term is up this fall, it was reasonable to wonder if Monahan was on his way out. McIlroy and Justin Thomas defended Monahan, while others like Xander Schauffele admitted Monahan has “a long way to go.” The tricky thing with Monahan is people have always said he’s great one-on-one and great with sponsors and investors. It’s just on the big stages and podiums that he appears so unconvincing.

So where does this leave a deal?

It’s never felt more unclear. The answer might really be that both sides are preparing for the possibility of no deal while simultaneously hoping to get one done.

From the outside looking in, it appears there’s been very little movement and many of the key figures in favor of a deal have been marginalized. Others argue that there’s far more happening than people know and it’s just going to take time to figure out what this future looks like.

There are hang-ups, like the possibility of a “global tour” and the future of LIV. Different possibilities from “AFC-NFC” style crossover tournaments to an elevated Champions League -like tour across the world have been suggested. Taking the sport to a more global place has been a key focus for LIV, and McIlroy is a fan of that path. Many on the PGA Tour side are reluctant to commit to that sort of schedule, preferring the United States-centric series. Also, there’s the conversation of whether or not to invite LIV defectors back to PGA Tour events, and some factions on tour are adamantly against it.

Any deal would also require government oversight. Sports Business Journal reported earlier this year that Department of Justice approval could take more than a year, making any sort of unification years away.

There’s far more that we don’t know than we do, with most key figures sticking to generalities and vague sentiments about hoping a deal gets done. We do not truly know what might happen with the DOJ. We don’t really know who wants a deal and who doesn’t. It’s all a game of sorting through clues and attempting to create meaning.

(Top photo of Jon Rahm, left, and Jay Monahan: Mark Brake, Sam Hodde / Getty Images)

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Brody Miller covers golf and the LSU Tigers for The Athletic. He came to The Athletic from the New Orleans Times-Picayune. A South Jersey native, Miller graduated from Indiana University before going on to stops at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Indianapolis Star, the Clarion Ledger and NOLA.com. Follow Brody on Twitter @ BrodyAMiller

Florida swing brings shift in mentality

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Golf is hard | 'Bear Trap' edition

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – If you were combing through weekly scores looking to find Shane Lowry’s name during the PGA TOUR’s seven-event West Coast Swing, it wasn’t that somebody had forgotten to type it. He wasn’t injured, either. Lowry, the 2019 Open champion from Ireland, simply was waiting for the TOUR to swing east. Welcome to the 2022 Florida Swing, home of tropical breezes, swaying palms, fruity umbrella drinks ... and, if tradition holds up, much more difficult scoring. Yes, tougher. Grittier. Just the way Lowry prefers it. “I’m happy we’re in Florida,” Lowry said on Tuesday at PGA National, home of the Honda Classic. “It’s harder here, and that’s why I like it. That’s why I wasn’t on the West Coast. I don’t particularly like fast Poa annua greens, and now that I live here (as a U.S. base), I’m used to the grass. “It seems like a bit of a trend the way that golf is going at the minute where you have to be 20 under to win ... I’ve won tournaments where I’ve been well under par, but my better finishes seem to be on the tougher golf courses.” When the wind is blowing hard – and it is forecast to blow in double-digits (mph) during competition days at the Honda – the Jack Nicklaus-designed Champion Course at PGA National can be an absolute bear. On the heels of a West Coast Swing in which there was little wind and some incredible scoring – the average winning total was better than 21 under par – the change in mentality can be abrupt. The tone for going low was established at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, where three players fired 32 under or better, with Australia’s Cameron Smith winning at 34 under, a tournament record. Florida proved to have some of the tougher PGA TOUR tests of the 2020-21 season. PGA National (Honda) ranked sixth most difficult, at 1.102 shots per round over par; Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational) was ninth, at +1,015; TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course (THE PLAYERS) ranked 16th (+ .421); and Innisbrook’s Copperhead (- .036), home to the Valspar, was 20th. Bob Rotella, renowned sports psychologist, said Tuesday that after friendly scoring conditions on the West Coast, the Florida Swing “is like a different ballgame.” At PGA National’s Champion, there is plenty of trouble for players to find. Rotalla said players start thinking about the more difficult and demanding test days before the event even begins. “I think the first thing that you start thinking now is more patience, a lot more course management and strategy,” Rotella said, standing behind the practice tee. “It starts to get in your head already, out here, that hey, I don’t have to birdie every hole.” Rotella said competing on a more stringent test can pose an interesting road to choose for a player on a hot run. Does one really go after the golf course and try going crazy low, as champion Matt Jones did a year ago in his opening-round 61? Or does a player stick to a conservative game plan? “I tell guys, you want to be conservative and patient ... but sometimes magic happens,” he said, “and when it’s there, you’ve got to take it. That’s the challenge. You’ve got to get your mind ready to shoot low, even here.” The Champion plays to a par of 70, and a year ago, Jones finished at 12-under 268, winning by five shots. Only one other time since Rory McIlroy won at 12 under in 2012 has a winner reached double-digits under par at Honda (Rickie Fowler, 12 under, 2017). “I always say, if I shoot 69 and I come in and I’m happy, then I like that golf course,” Lowry said. “I like the way that golf course sets up. I don’t like shooting 68 or 69 and feeling frustrated.” Jones said to reach his winning score a year ago, pretty much everything in his game was working. This season, he has struggled with the putter, and has missed five cuts in 11 starts. He knows he needs to putt better, for sure, but a player need not necessarily putt great to win at PGA National. “It’s definitely a ball-striking golf course this week, and that’s what I did great last year when I was here,” Jones said. “I hit my irons great, I drove it phenomenal, and everything was working for me. I’m chipping great. If I do miss a green, my short game is really good right now.” At Honda, the greens are firm and there’s more rough than players have seen in a while, so distance control can be a challenge. Adding to the difficulty is the presence of so many penalty areas for offline shots, even before a player gets to the 15th tee and the daunting three-hole Bear Trap. “You know that (shooting) 1 under or 2 under means something around here,” said Hudson Swafford, who captured The American Express in Palm Springs last month. “I get a smile on my face, because this is the grass (Bermuda) that I grew up on. When par means something, it makes for a good week.” Jones’ key thought when he goes to tee it up on Thursday: Don’t be overly aggressive. Exercise patience, because even in the windiest conditions, there will be birdie opportunities. “Don’t turn a bogey into a double out here,” Jones said. “It’s so easy to have a big number on this golf course ... It’s a very stressful course from the get-go.”

PGA Tour Player’s Equestrian Estate Enters Market For $3.5 Million

A stunning equestrian property with a rich golf history has entered the market for $3,490,000. Located at 6720 Daniels Road in the esteemed Livingston Woods Estates subdivision, it is being sold by PGA tour alumnus, Bobby Clampett and is marketed exclusively by Sue Black and Kathryn Tout of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Village office. The listing details may be viewed here .

Owned by Bobby Clampett, a distinguished former PGA Tour professional and his wife, Marianna.  Clampett is known for his achievements, including being the low amateur at both the 1978 U.S. Open and 1979 Masters. Clampett’s legacy in the golfing world adds a unique allure to this already remarkable estate.

The residence was completely remastered to perfection in 2021. Among the interior upgrades are quartzite kitchen countertops, Dacor cooktop with pot filler, Thermador double oven, custom cabinetry, temperature-controlled 600-bottle wine wall and solid 8-foot doors throughout.

The three-car garage includes a mini-split AC, motorized, retractable staircase and lift leading to a floored, attic space for additional storage. The golf simulator-ready space in the third bay of the garage is finished with a desk, cabinets and fireplace.  An electric vehicle charger is included.

The exterior features a full equestrian setup complete with a 220’ x 92’ riding arena, three-stall barn, fly spray system, AC tack room and multiple turn-out areas.  The entire property is fenced and gated.

Further enhancing the outdoor experience is a professionally installed bunker and putting green with highly sought-after Tift Eagle Bermuda grass, a new entry gate and driveway, extensive patios with lighting and private outdoor shower.

Lush landscaping is complete with fruit-bearing mango, orange, lemon, and lime trees.

“We are privileged to represent this exceptional property. Bobby Clampett’s estate transcends ordinary expectations, blending prestigious PGA history with the tranquility of equestrian living. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a comprehensive luxury Gulf Coast lifestyle.”  

—  Sue Black and Kathryn Tout , Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

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Analysis: A year after PGA Tour’s surprise deal with Saudis, still no clarity on where golf is going

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan pauses while speaking about the death of PGA player Grayson Murray during the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — PGA champion Xander Schauffele was on the 10th tee at Muirfield Village for a late Monday afternoon practice round to start the week of the Memorial. Just the sight of him was enough to bring back memories of golf then and now.

So much has changed. So little is known. And there’s still no clarity where golf is headed and how to repair such a splintered sport created by Saudi money and a secret deal .

It was a year ago at the Memorial that Schauffele was playing nine holes of the Wednesday pro-am, starting on the 10th tee. Two of his amateur partners that day were PGA Tour board members — Ed Herlihy, the board chairman, and Jimmy Dunne.

Unbeknownst to Schauffele — unbeknownst to every PGA Tour player — was that Dunne and Herlihy, along with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, had been secretly meeting with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia , the financial backers of the rival LIV Golf circuit that already had lured away some of golf’s biggest names with guaranteed riches.

The pro-am was on May 31. The famous “framework agreement” for a commercial deal among the PGA Tour, PIF and the European tour had been signed on May 30.

Most curious was when Herlihy saw a familiar face and suggested a phone call in the near future because “we have a lot of good things coming.”

It wasn’t until six days later that Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, appeared on CNBC to announce that former enemies were now in business together . It remains one of the most stunning developments in golf — not just making the deal with the Saudis, but keeping the entire membership (and the majority of the PGA Tour board) in the dark.

That was June 6, 2023. It’s rare in golf for anything to be identified by a date.

Monahan flew from New York to the Canadian Open for a player meeting later that day and was blistered by players who wanted answers.

A year later, does anyone have them?

For all the moving parts — and there have been plenty — what often gets overlooked is one important aspect to the framework agreement. While it was never finalized by the end of 2023, the stated deadline, it did away with the antitrust lawsuit by PIF-funded LIV and the countersuit by the PGA Tour. The tour already was said to have spent close to $50 million in legal fees.

The rest of the road forward has trudged uphill (still no commercial deal with PIF).

And it has moved quickly and quirkily.

Tiger Woods was appointed to the board with no term limits. Rory McIlroy resigned from the board and then was put back into play as a non-voting member of a negotiating committee , but only after a failed attempt for him to replace Webb Simpson .

From the business side, Randall Stephenson of AT&T resigned from the board abruptly last summer over the proposed deal with the Saudis. In the last month alone, Dunne and board member Mark Flaherty resigned.

It’s a lot easier to keep track of birdies and bogeys.

There were two Senate hearings. The agreement got the attention of the Justice Department, which led to both sides in July doing away with an anti-poaching clause in the agreement. Four months later, Jon Rahm was on his way to LIV .

The new for-profit company known as PGA Tour Enterprises received interest from private equity, and the tour narrowed its list of suitors to Strategic Sports Group by the end of the year. SSG, a group of North American pro sports owners led by Fenway Sports Group, announced a $1.5 billion investment that could be twice that much.

The tour is still negotiating for PIF to become a minority investor, but it took until March before players on the PGA Tour Enterprises board even met with Al-Rumayyan .

Jordan Spieth is on the board. He replaced McIlroy, who resigned in November. Spieth said two weeks ago that any suggestions that negotiations are “in a bad place and are moving slowly” are not true.

“I think ultimately we’ll end up in a place where professional golf is maybe the best that it’s ever been. I think both sides believe that,” he said at Colonial.

Still no details. No clear road map.

It was Spieth who said in late January that with SSG as an investor, he didn’t think a deal was needed with PIF except for unification in the sport. That put him at odds with McIlroy, who wants desperately for golf’s best players to be brought back together more than four times a year at the majors.

There even is friction inside the PGA Tour — lingering bad feelings toward Monahan for going behind the players’ backs, and even which players were worth how much under a first-of-its-kind program that distributed $930 million in equity shares .

Perhaps the biggest change from a year ago is players now have a majority voice on the board. The argument has always been that while it’s their tour, the players are more skilled with a 4-iron than running a business valued to be worth upward of $10 billion.

But the bigger question is what exactly do they want? Where is golf headed, and how does it get put back together?

Schauffele made the biggest putt of his life to win the PGA Championship by one shot over Bryson DeChambeau, who reminded golf fans what they’ve been missing. He’s an entertainer. Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship last year and was put on the Ryder Cup team with 11 players who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.

Koepka, DeChambeau, Rahm, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are still only available to watch on CW, the app or the network.

They are in Houston this week if anyone was wondering.

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