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FILE - Brooks Koepka, of the United States, acknowledges the crowd on the 5th green during the first round of the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

Brooks Koepka is out of LIV Golf. Now he has applied for PGA Tour membership again

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read 5:19 PM CST

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, just over two weeks after defecting from Saudi-funded LIV Golf, has applied to have his PGA Tour membership reinstated.

The next step belongs to the tour, which has suspended players for joining the rival league, even if they never had PGA Tour membership.

Two people with knowledge of Koepka's application confirmed Friday he has started the process to rejoin the tour. They spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public. Koepka's manager at Hambric Sports, Blake Smith, said he would not have a comment at this time.

ESPN first reported Koepka's application. With one year left on his LIV contract, the Saudi-backed league announced Dec. 23 that he would no longer be part of the LIV Golf League and his captaincy of Smash had been turned over to Talor Gooch.

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PGA Tour drops Napa and Mississippi from schedule. Texas and North Carolina added to FedEx Cup Fall

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

PGA Tour drops Napa and Mississippi from schedule. Texas and North Carolina added to FedEx Cup Fall

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read 2:00 PM CST

The PGA Tour released its FedEx Cup Fall schedule of eight tournaments — one that moves from the Spring — but loses two events, including one in Mississippi that began the year before the modern tour began.

The fall will include new tournaments in Asheville, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas.

They replace the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi that had been played every year since 1968, and the Procore Championship in Napa, California, a tournament that dates to the start of the FedEx Cup era in 2007.

The title sponsorship in Mississippi was not renewed, and Sanderson Farms extended its support an additional year for 2025. The tournament began in 1968 as the Magnolia Classic and had gone through five title sponsorships over the years.

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2:00 PM CST

FILE - PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp speaks before a practice round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Aug. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
FILE - PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp speaks before a practice round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Aug. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

PGA Tour to expand equity program to include current FedEx Cup performance

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

PGA Tour to expand equity program to include current FedEx Cup performance

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:02 PM CST

The PGA Tour is expanding its Player Equity Program to reward current performance, adding the top 50 in the FedEx Cup this year to those receiving recurring grants from a first-of-its-kind program that has topped $1 billion in equity for more than 200 players.

Brian Rolapp, the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, laid out the expansion in a memo to players Thursday afternoon, a week before the late start to the 2026 season. The Associated Press has viewed the memo, which included updates on the progress of a new schedule model by a committee chaired by Tiger Woods.

The expansion to the top 50 in the FedEx Cup was a result of a player meeting at the Rocket Classic, one week after Rolapp took over as CEO of the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises. It also was discussed at the November board meeting before being approved.

This will roughly double the number of players who will be receiving recurring grants this year.

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Yesterday at 2:02 PM CST

FILE - PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp speaks before a practice round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Aug. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
FILE - PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp speaks before a practice round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Aug. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Derek Sprague steps down as CEO of PGA of America to care for his family in New York

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Derek Sprague steps down as CEO of PGA of America to care for his family in New York

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

Derek Sprague is leaving after one year as CEO at the PGA of America, wishing to return to upstate New York to help support his mother and mother-in-law, who are requiring more care.

Sprague took over in January 2025, the first club professional in 20 years to be CEO and the first former PGA president appointed to the role. The PGA of America has some 30,000 professionals, and it runs the Ryder Cup in America and the PGA Championship for men, women and seniors.

He said he would stay on in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition when the PGA of America finds his successor. Sprague had informed the PGA of America board in early December of his need to get home to Malone, New York.

The PGA of America said it expects to announce a new CEO in the coming weeks.

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Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

FILE -Derek Sprague, CEO of the PGA of America, speaks during a news conference at the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club,, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE -Derek Sprague, CEO of the PGA of America, speaks during a news conference at the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club,, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Chevon Championship moving LPGA’s first major to home of PGA Tour’s Houston Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Chevon Championship moving LPGA’s first major to home of PGA Tour’s Houston Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

HOUSTON (AP) — The Chevron Championship is moving the LPGA's first major of the year to Memorial Park, just four weeks after Houston's public course hosts the Houston Open on the PGA Tour.

The Chevron had been played at The Club at Carlton Woods, a Jack Nicklaus suburban club about 40 miles north of Houston, since relocating in 2023. The move to Memorial Park was to bring the tournament closer to Chevron's headquarters and to downtown Houston.

“For more than a century, Houston has been central to Chevron's story,” said Laura Lane, the chief corporate affairs officer for Chevron. “Collaborating with Memorial Park allows us to honor that legacy while advancing our commitment to women's golf and giving back to the community.”

Tom Doak redesigned Memorial Park, and it returned to hosting the Houston Open in 2020, first in the fall portion of the PGA Tour and then moving to the spring in 2024.

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Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

FILE -Mao Saigo, of Japan, in yellow, jumps into the water after winning the Chevron Championship LPGA golf tournament April 27, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
FILE -Mao Saigo, of Japan, in yellow, jumps into the water after winning the Chevron Championship LPGA golf tournament April 27, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

LPGA Tour gets its turn at tech-infused indoor golf with WTGL to start next season

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

LPGA Tour gets its turn at tech-infused indoor golf with WTGL to start next season

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 8 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

TMRW Sports’ indoor golf league is going to feature teams from the LPGA Tour starting next season.

The entertainment group and the LPGA announced the addition Tuesday of the WTGL, which will be run separately from the TGL while looking every bit like the tech-infused indoor league. Matches will be played at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Key details still to be worked out include how many four-player teams will be part of the inaugural WTGL season.

TGL has six teams, with a seventh team (Detroit) to be added for its third season in 2026-27. The WTGL also is still forming ownership groups, making it too soon to announce the size of the inaugural season or which cities they will represent.

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Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

FILE - The SoFi Center is seen ahead of the inaugural match of the TMRW Golf League, between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
FILE - The SoFi Center is seen ahead of the inaugural match of the TMRW Golf League, between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Scheffler’s bid for career slam and Koepka’s search for new home among golf topics for 2026

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Scheffler’s bid for career slam and Koepka’s search for new home among golf topics for 2026

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

This was always going to be a different year in golf with the PGA Tour trying to blow up a model that has been around longer than the sand wedge. So it only seems fitting that 2026 starts with a soggy piece of coincidence.

The Sentry, the season opener on the PGA Tour since 1999, was canceled because of water issues that include a dispute over how water is delivered to Kapalua. On what should have been the first official day of tournament week, Maui was under a flood watch Monday.

Go figure.

The PGA Tour season starts next week on a different island and a weaker field amid concern about the future of the Sony Open, in the final year of its title sponsorship and waiting to see whether The Sentry returns to Kapalua.

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Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

FILE - Tiger Woods bites down on his club after missing a putt for par on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament, March 25, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - Tiger Woods bites down on his club after missing a putt for par on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament, March 25, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Golf is a family affair for Steve Stricker’s family and that includes wife Nicki

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Golf is a family affair for Steve Stricker’s family and that includes wife Nicki

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

Steve Stricker is a 12-time PGA Tour winner and captain of a Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team that won by a combined score of 38-20. His oldest daughter, Bobbi Maria, has had limited Epson Tour status. His youngest, Izzi, is the Wisconsin State Golf Association amateur of the year.

Just don't forget about mom.

Nicki Stricker played at Wisconsin, was an assistant for her father, Dennis Tiziani, for a year at Wisconsin and then got married and raised two daughters.

With a little more time, a little more practice, she qualified for the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur two years ago, her first USGA competition since the 1992 U.S. Women's Amateur. She looked at the the golf schedule this summer and noticed the Wisconsin State Women's Four-ball Championship.

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Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

Steve Stricker, left, and his daughter Izzi Strickler, second from right, wait to hit from the third fairway as his daughter Bobbi Strickler, second from left, and his wife Nicki Strickler work as their caddies during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Steve Stricker, left, and his daughter Izzi Strickler, second from right, wait to hit from the third fairway as his daughter Bobbi Strickler, second from left, and his wife Nicki Strickler work as their caddies during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Tales from the tour: Scheffler shows no mercy, even in a friendly match with his caddie

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Tales from the tour: Scheffler shows no mercy, even in a friendly match with his caddie

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

Rory McIlroy has such a good relationship with Scottie Scheffler that he couldn't resist the dig.

“Get a chef,” McIlroy said at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

That's where Scheffler made his season debut, a month late due to his decision to try to cut ravioli with a wine glass while making Christmas dinner and slicing open his right hand. It took nearly three months for Scheffler to hit his stride, and then he was practically unstoppable.

That led to another observation from McIlroy. At the British Open, where Scheffler dominated another field for his second major of the year, McIlroy was reminded of his great start to the year when he won at Pebble Beach, The Players Championship and, most joyously, the Masters.

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Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

FILE - Scottie Scheffler of the United States holds the Claret Jug trophy as he poses for photographers after winning the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)
FILE - Scottie Scheffler of the United States holds the Claret Jug trophy as he poses for photographers after winning the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

LIV Golf still waiting on approval from world ranking. OWGR reduces point for 54-hole events

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

LIV Golf still waiting on approval from world ranking. OWGR reduces point for 54-hole events

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

LIV Golf will end the year with no decision whether the Official World Golf Ranking will approve the 54-man league to receive ranking points like golf's other tours around the world.

The OWGR also said tournaments that are played over 54 holes or even 36 holes will have a reduction in points compared with standard 72-hole events.

OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman had said two weeks ago one hurdle was the vast majority of LIV players were invited to join instead of earning their way, as is the case with the other 24 tours that are part of the OWGR system.

An update sent Tuesday said only that the board continues to evaluate LIV's application the Saudi-funded league submitted in late June.

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Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

FILE - International team captain Trevor Immelman waves toward the gallery before a foursomes match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Sept. 22, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - International team captain Trevor Immelman waves toward the gallery before a foursomes match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Sept. 22, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Tiger Woods at 50: Players recall one shot they can’t forget

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Tiger Woods at 50: Players recall one shot they can’t forget

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

Memories from players who competed against Tiger Woods and the shots that stand out in honor of Woods turning 50 on Dec. 30:

Nick Price, 2005 Match Play Championship, La Costa Resort

“He's in grass I promise you is this deep,” Price said, holding his hands about 6 inches apart. “It was 230 yards to the flag. I was in the fairway and I hit a hybrid just on the front edge of the green. He hit 5-iron out of there and pitched it on the green, and I have no idea ... in a million years, I couldn't hit that shot. The ball came out like it was in the fairway and pitched in the green about 12 feet. The guy was never in trouble.”

Stewart Cink, 1998 BellSouth Classic, TPC Sugarloaf

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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

FILE - Tiger Woods watches his approach shot to the 18th green during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Saturday, June 19, 2010, at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
FILE - Tiger Woods watches his approach shot to the 18th green during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Saturday, June 19, 2010, at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

Tiger Woods turns 50 and still holds these PGA Tour records

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Tiger Woods turns 50 and still holds these PGA Tour records

The Associated Press 1 minute read Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

The PGA Tour records Tiger Woods still holds or shares as he turns 50 on Tuesday, Dec. 30:

Career victories

82 (tied with Sam Snead)

Career earnings

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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

FILE - Tiger Woods, left, and Arnold Palmer share a laugh during the trophy presentation after Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament, in Orlando, Fla., Monday, March 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
FILE - Tiger Woods, left, and Arnold Palmer share a laugh during the trophy presentation after Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament, in Orlando, Fla., Monday, March 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Tiger Woods’ father said Woods will hit shots people talk about for 30 years. Earl was right

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

Tiger Woods’ father said Woods will hit shots people talk about for 30 years. Earl was right

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 8 minute read Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

Tiger Woods had just won the Canadian Open in 2000 with a shot no one can forget, a 6-iron out of a fairway bunker on the par-5 18th at Glen Abbey that went over the water, right at the flag and settled on the fringe 20 feet away to secure victory.

On the phone that evening was his father, Earl Woods, who had watched from home and felt like he had seen so much of it before.

“In every tournament,” Earl said, “he'll hit shots that people will be talking about for 30 years.”

Woods turns 50 on Tuesday, a milestone in life and just a number in a sport that can be played for a lifetime. It makes him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions if he cares. That's to be determined. But his father was right. Woods was 20 when he turned pro and hit shots that are still talked about to this day.

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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

FILE - Tiger Woods celebrates with his caddie Steve Williams, right, after his chip-in birdie on 16th hole during the 2005 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 10, 2005. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
FILE - Tiger Woods celebrates with his caddie Steve Williams, right, after his chip-in birdie on 16th hole during the 2005 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 10, 2005. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Tiger Woods timeline: From the Mike Douglas show at age 2 to turning 50

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Tiger Woods timeline: From the Mike Douglas show at age 2 to turning 50

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

Oct. 6, 1978 — At age 2, makes an appearance on “The Mike Douglas Show” on daytime television and hits a driver with Bob Hope watching.

July 28, 1991 — Wins the first of three straight U.S. Junior Amateur titles by beating Brad Zwetschke in 19 holes at Bay Hill.

Aug. 28, 1994 — Wins the first of three straight U.S. Amateurs by making a key putt on the 17th hole of the TPC Sawgrass in a 2-up victory over Trip Kuehne.

Nov. 30, 1994 — As a freshman at Stanford, Woods gets mugged in the parking lot behind his dormitory on his way home from dinner. He is robbed of a gold watch and bracelet and struck in the jaw.

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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

FILE - Tiger Woods answers questions at a news conference following play in the pro-am at the Greater Milwaukee Open Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1996, at the Brown Deer Golf Course, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Peter Zuzga, File)
FILE - Tiger Woods answers questions at a news conference following play in the pro-am at the Greater Milwaukee Open Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1996, at the Brown Deer Golf Course, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Peter Zuzga, File)

Tiger Woods turns 50. It’s the one time golf’s greats can relate to him

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Monday, Dec. 29, 2025

Talk to any golfer who played against Tiger Woods and there is sure to be at least one story about one shot so sublime they were certain it could not be hit by them or anyone else.

He was just different. Better.

The 2-iron Woods hit into the par-5 10th hole at the TPC Sugarloaf led Stewart Cink to say, “This is a skill set I don't have.” Padraig Harrington once saw Woods hit an 8-iron so majestic at Firestone that it got in his head and led to the Irishman making triple bogey.

Nick Price played the opening two rounds with Woods at St. Andrews in the 2000 British Open and felt the tournament already was over. Mark O'Meara played a practice round with him at Pebble Beach before the 2000 U.S. Open and told his wife before the championship started, “Tiger is going to win. And not only is he going to win, he's going to blow away the field.” Woods won by 15.

Jumbo Ozaki dies of cancer at age 78. He had the most wins of any Japanese golfer

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Jumbo Ozaki dies of cancer at age 78. He had the most wins of any Japanese golfer

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025

Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, whose 113 worldwide victories were the most of any player from Japan, died Wednesday in his home country after a battle with colon cancer, the Japan Golf Tour said. He was 78.

Ozaki was revered in Japan, a big hitter with a sense of style who won 94 times over 29 years on the Japan Golf Tour, the last one coming at the 2002 ANA Open when he was 55.

He rose to No. 5 in the world ranking in 1996 at age 49. Ozaki often got overlooked for never winning outside Japan except for the New Zealand PGA Championship. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

“He is an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure in discussing men’s golf, both now and in the future,” the tour said in a social media post.

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Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025

FILE - Japan's Jumbo Ozaki watches his tee shot on the third hole during his opening round of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 10, 1997. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)
FILE - Japan's Jumbo Ozaki watches his tee shot on the third hole during his opening round of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 10, 1997. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)

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