Golf – Winnipeg Free Press

Captain Jon Rahm, of Legion XIII, hits from the 16th tee during the first round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Naucalpan, Mexico. (Scott Taetsch/LIV Golf via AP)

Jon Rahm keeping his focus on golf more than LIV’s future

The Associated Press 3 minute read 7:18 AM CDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jon Rahm says he had no trouble moving forward inside the ropes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of LIV Golf.

“For me, it didn't make sense to think about it or waste time thinking about,” Rahm said Thursday after opening with seven birdies in his round of 6-under 65 at LIV Golf Mexico, leaving him three shots behind Victor Perez of France at Chapultepec Golf Club.

“Since everything happened so suddenly and so quickly, I wasn’t very worried about it because normally, before the rumors start, we already know something — there’s always someone within the league who knows something,” he said. “It happened so fast that I really didn’t worry about it.”

Speculation was running rampant on Wednesday the main source of funding — Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund — was on the verge of drying up. The LIV chief executive, Scott O'Neil, sent a memo to staff the 2026 season would proceed without interruption and at “full throttle.”

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Fast-starting Chizzy Iwai shoots 63, takes two-stroke lead in Los Angeles

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Fast-starting Chizzy Iwai shoots 63, takes two-stroke lead in Los Angeles

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chizzy Iwai played her first seven holes in 7 under, capped by an eagle on the par-5 16th, and shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the JM Eagle L.A. Championship.

The tournament at El Caballero Country Club — the tree-lined layout subbing for Wilshire Country Club for the second straight year because of course renovations — is the final event before the major Chevron Championship next week in Houston.

Former UCLA player Patty Tavatanakit was tied for second at 65 with Sei Young Kim and Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.

Iwai opened her morning round with a par on No. 10, then birdied the next five and eagled the 16th.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

Hannah Green hits from the fourteenth tee during the first round of the LPGA's JM Eagle L.A. Championship golf tournament at El Caballero Country Club Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Bernhard Langer breaks his age again and shares the lead at the Senior PGA Championship

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 7:12 PM CDT

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Bernhard Langer had a double bogey and still broke his age by two shots as the 68-year-old German posted a 6-under 66 on Thursday, giving him a share of the lead after the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship.

Langer, who already holds the record with 12 senior majors, played his final six holes in 5-under par, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 17th hole at Concession Golf Club.

He was tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Brian Gay and Steve Allan of Australia. Langer now has shot his age or better 43 times.

“It's fun to shoot my age,” he said. “So whenever I shoot my age or better, usually I’ve played some good golf. That’s one of the goals these days, especially when you play a difficult golf course, and these greens here are very difficult.”

Ludvig Aberg cleans up his game and leads at Hilton Head with a 63

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Ludvig Aberg cleans up his game and leads at Hilton Head with a 63

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:51 PM CDT

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Ludvig Aberg swapped out some sloppy mistakes at the Masters with pure iron play at Harbour Town in warm, swirling wind that produced an 8-under 63 for a one-shot lead Thursday in the RBC Heritage.

Aberg moved ahead of Harris English and Viktor Hovland with an 8-iron to about 15 feet on the back corner of the green on the par-3 17th and made the birdie. He closed with a par, pleasing because he felt that 8-iron confirmed how well he was swinging the club.

Houston Open champion Gary Woodland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler were in the group of players at 65.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy skipped this $20 million signature event for the second straight year, having said Harbour Town doesn’t suit him.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:51 PM CDT

Ludvig Aberg, of Sweden, hits from the third tee during the first round at the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

LIV Golf leader says the show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

LIV Golf leader says the show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:47 PM CDT

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil sought to quell speculation about the league's financial future Wednesday evening with a memo to his staff that said the 2026 season will continue as planned without interruption and “at full throttle.”

The memo, a copy of which was sent to The Associated Press, followed a long day of reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its financial backing of the upstart league.

The newsletter Money in Sport reported in February that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion and was projected to surpass $6 billion by the end of the year.

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O'Neil said. “While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:47 PM CDT

First-place individual champion, captain Bryson DeChambeau, of Crushers GC, poses for a photo with the trophy after the final round of LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Midrand, South Africa. (LIV Golf via AP)

Reigning world champ Furber continues to dominate blind golf

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Reigning world champ Furber continues to dominate blind golf

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

During the 1995 Manitoba Amateur Championship, Darcy Furber came to a stunning realization as he surveyed his options for an 85-yard approach shot into the 12th green at Bel Acres Country Club.

Furber had seen this shot more times than he could count, but not like this. This afternoon, he couldn’t figure out where to aim.

A hereditary eye condition had slowly eaten away at Furber’s vision in the months and years leading up to then. He was already unable to drive at night, and now it was severely affecting an environment in which he had thrived his entire life.

A future in the sport that was once clear had appeared to dim.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Blind golfer Darcy Furber will be honoured as Sport Manitoba’s 2025 Athlete of the Year Thursday night after reinventing himself in the game that was stripped away from him at a critical point in his career.

Hilton Head a time to exhale and move on from the Masters

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Hilton Head a time to exhale and move on from the Masters

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Two golf tournaments separated by one week and 150 miles (240 kilometers) could not be any more different.

The Masters is the first major of the year, a high-stress test at Augusta National that requires full attention on just about every shot because of the razor-thin difference in the outcome. The RBC Heritage provides a tight, tree-lined Harbour Town course that oozes a sense of peace.

The winner gets a green jacket one week, a plaid one the next.

And there was one other element that made Cameron Young look forward to the week after being in contention at Augusta National.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Cameron Young reacts after missing a putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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Jordan Spieth takes important step toward US Open exemption with good finish at the Masters

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Jordan Spieth takes important step toward US Open exemption with good finish at the Masters

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 7 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jordan Spieth didn't exactly light up Augusta National on Sunday. His closing round of 4-under 68 included holing a bunker shot from behind the par-5 13th green for eagle, and making a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

By the end of the round, that led to a tie for 12th. It was his best finish in a major in three years, dating to a tie for fourth in the 2023 Masters. And it came at a good time.

Spieth ended last year at No. 80 in the world and has been hovering outside the the top 60 for the last month. Now he hits an important stretch concluding with the PGA Championship, after which the top 60 are exempt into the U.S. Open.

Spieth's 10-year exemption from winning at Chambers Bay ran out last year. He is not yet exempt into the U.S. Open, and while past champions typically get at least one special exemption, age 32 is awfully young to be asking for one.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sergio Garcia apologizes for his Masters tantrum, saying the way he acted ‘has no place in our game’

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Sergio Garcia apologizes for his Masters tantrum, saying the way he acted ‘has no place in our game’

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Sergio Garcia apologized Tuesday for his tantrum during the final round of the Masters when he tore up the turf after a bad drive on the second hole and then broke his driver against a bench.

Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a code-of-conduct warning to the Garcia on the fourth tee. The conduct policy was new to the Masters this year.

“I want to apologize for my actions Sunday at The Masters tournament,” Garcia said in a social media post. “I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to golf. I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world.”

Garcia, the 2017 champion, began with a bogey and then hit a weak fade on the par-5 second hole that was headed to the bunker. He recoiled his driver onto the tee, and then turned and slammed his club into the turf.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, finshes his first round in the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Rory McIlroy is a repeat Masters champion. The next step might be the toughest of all

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Rory McIlroy is a repeat Masters champion. The next step might be the toughest of all

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The passing comment Fred Couples said to his caddie on the 12th hole of the opening round at the Masters was worth another listen when Rory McIlroy slipped both arms into the green jacket for the second year in a row.

“Rory may never lose this thing again after last year,” Couples said.

Not that McIlroy ever makes it easy, but there is cause to wonder how many times his name will be etched on the Masters trophy, how often he gets to create the menu for the Masters Club dinner. For now, his two green jackets are as many as Scottie Scheffler, who is seven years younger.

The next step is three in a row, which has proven difficult for the three greats before him. None of them so much as finished in the top 10.

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Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, celebrates after winning the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Rory McIlroy a Masters champion again and the chase is on for more majors

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Rory McIlroy a Masters champion again and the chase is on for more majors

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy went from becoming the sixth player with the career Grand Slam to only the fourth player to win the Masters two years in a row. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only other players to occupy both clubs.

Elite company, indeed.

If joining the first group wasn't difficult enough for McIlroy — 11 years of trying to get the final leg of the Grand Slam — then winning his second Masters green jacket was a clear reminder of how hard it was to get there.

“I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam,” McIlroy said. “And then this year I realized it’s just really difficult to win the Masters.”

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Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, holds the trophy after winning the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sudarshan Yellamaraju used to swing a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome — now he's a big deal on the PGA Tour

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Sudarshan Yellamaraju used to swing a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome — now he's a big deal on the PGA Tour

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

Sudarshan Yellamaraju has gone from the little kid swinging a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome to a big deal on the PGA Tour.

In the process, he’s become an inspiration to supporters young and old thanks to a unique personal journey to the highest level of his sport, while giving golf fans around here their first true local product to cheer for since Selkirk’s Glen Hnatiuk was a regular more than a quarter-century ago.

“I feel like I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I maybe don’t realize the impact,” the 24-year-old told the Free Press in a telephone interview.

“But I’ve got a lot of messages from people and kids and it kind of brought a different perspective of what I do. The idea that you could be inspiring others, it gives a different perspective for sure. It’s very cool.”

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during first round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament, in Caledon, Ont., on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Tyrell Hatton excited to see daughter in coveralls after qualifying for next year’s Masters

Steve Reed And Noah Trister, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Tyrell Hatton excited to see daughter in coveralls after qualifying for next year’s Masters

Steve Reed And Noah Trister, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tyrell Hatton can’t wait to see his soon-to-be born daughter in white Masters coveralls next year at Augusta National.

That possibility became a reality on Sunday after Hatton was one of several players to receive an automatic invitation to next year’s Masters for finishing in the top 12 (including ties).

“My wife is due in six weeks and I was thinking about how it would be cool to come back next year and our little girl will be pretty much 11 months,” said Hatton, who closed with a 66 — the same score he shot Friday — to finish tied for third at 10-under 278.

Players often dress their children in traditional caddie outfits for the Par-3 Contest on the eve of the tournament.

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

Tyrrell Hatton, of England, watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Scottie Scheffler falls a stroke short of a record Masters comeback after a flawless weekend

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Scottie Scheffler falls a stroke short of a record Masters comeback after a flawless weekend

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler conjured a moment of brilliance on the 15th hole and nearly re-created a classic Masters moment on No. 17. He played the final two rounds without a single bogey.

It wasn't quite enough.

Scheffler shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday at Augusta National and finished one stroke behind winner Rory McIlroy. Now McIlroy and Scheffler are even with two Masters titles each. Scheffler was trying to pull off what would have been an unprecedented comeback from 12 strokes down after 36 holes.

“I always felt like I was a couple shots out of it, but I was ahead of those guys (on the course), so I felt like if I could make a few birdies and post a score I’d be in a good spot,” Scheffler said. “Just wasn’t able to make enough birdies on the back.”

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

Scottie Scheffler finishes his final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Justin Rose rues his miscues through Amen Corner and another lost chance at winning the Masters

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Justin Rose rues his miscues through Amen Corner and another lost chance at winning the Masters

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Perhaps the only solace Justin Rose can take from another Sunday heartbreak at the Masters is that he didn’t finish second again.

He finished in a four-way tie for third.

The popular 45-year-old Englishman, who lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy last year, ended up two shots behind him on Sunday. For a brief moment, it was Rose with a two-shot lead in the final round at Augusta National, until a series of mistakes through Amen Corner and a couple of birdies by the defending champ through the same stretch of holes dealt Rose another dose of disappointment.

Two-time champion Scottie Scheffler made a late charge to finish second at 11 under, and Rose was another shot back, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley and Cameron Young, who played in the final group with McIlroy but never got anything going.

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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026