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1. Now that we’ve had a week to fully digest the 2025 Masters and Rory McIlroy’s first green jacket (and career Grand Slam), where would you rank it among some of the best Masters of all time?

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I can reliably rank Masters only in my lifetime (since 1994), and in that time frame, I’d rank it top three, with 1997 and 2019 being the others. The excitement of Sunday, mixed with the historical implications, made it one of the best watches I’ve ever had. What a tournament.

Josh Schrock, assistant news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): To me, it’s probably the best in my lifetime. Tiger’s win in 2019 was amazing just for the incredible feat of him becoming the Tiger Woods of old one last time at Augusta National, but the final round itself wasn’t as thrilling as what we witnessed last week. That’s because Tiger hit just fairways and the middle of greens while Rory oscillated between full flight and complete meltdown. The yo-yo nature of the final round, coupled with the grand slam and what would have been the worst devastation of Rory’s career, made it No. 1 on my list. I’ll go 2025, 2019 and 1997, with an honorable mention to 2004.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Whew, I’ve been thinking about this all week. Jack in ’86. Mize’s chip-in. Tiger’s first and last wins. There’ve been some outstanding ones. But what didn’t this Masters have? Tight leaderboard. Good leaderboard. Dramatic finish. Ecstatic and popular winner. Hard to beat, for sure. 

2. With his Masters title in his back pocket, a major drought snapped and that weight finally off his shoulders, what do you expect to see from McIlroy in the remaining three majors? Are you picking him as the early favorite to win any of the remaining three?

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Melton: When you’re hot, you’re hot. Golfers tend to win in bunches, and when that window is open, it’s critical to take advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rory in the hunt many more times this season, especially in the majors.

Schrock: With the career grand slam done and dusted, why not win all four? Next up is the PGA at Quail Hollow, a course McIlroy has dominated in his career. The Open is at Royal Portrush, where he owns the course record, and he has been one of the best U.S. Open players over the past four years — he just doesn’t have a win to show for it. I think he wins at least one more this year, especially with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele still searching post injury. 

Piastowski: Yes. I’m in. I’ve fallen victim to recency bias after like every major, but picking him to be the favorite for the next three doesn’t seem too outlandish. Schrock explains why above. But yeah, golf. Being the favorite is one thing. Winning is another. Shoot, folks were thinking the same of Scottie Scheffler as late as last December. 

3. Last week, Rory ended his major drought, and on Sunday at the RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas ended his winless slump, beating Andrew Novak in a playoff at Harbour Town to pick up his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas reminded us of his firepower with his 61 Thursday; what had been holding him back during this winless stretch?

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Melton: Golf is hard, and even the best in the world go through slumps. Watching superstars go through struggles reminds us how hard this game is, and gives us an even greater appreciation for those who win year in and year out. 

Schrock: I think Zephyr nailed it. Thomas won and won a lot from 2015 to 2022. Even the best modern pro golfers go in slumps, unless your name is Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Rory McIlroy. Thomas was inaccurate with the driver as he tooled his swing and then his normally reliable putter went away. It all seems to be back now, which is good news for the PGA Tour. The more stars at the peak of their powers, the better. Next up: Jordan Spieth?

Piastowski: Swing stuff. Expectation stuff. Other pros being better stuff. It happens. But then it snowballs, and that’s hard to shovel out of. But man, full-power JT is fun to watch. And yeah, his first PGA Championship win came at Quail Hollow. 

4. Wesley Bryan was suspended indefinitely by the PGA Tour for competing in LIV Golf’s “The Duels: Miami” event last month, Bryan confirmed to Ryan French of Monday Q Info. We also recently learned that YouTube creator Grant Horvat, who competed in the same event, received a sponsor’s invitation to the Barracuda Championship later this year. Any issues with the handling of either of these?

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Melton: The optics of suspending Wes right after offering Grant Horvat an exemption are … not good. But as a Tour member, Bryan should be held to a different standard than a content creator. If I’m being honest, I simply do not care about Youtube golfers and I’m a bit tired of talking about them. 

Schrock: I don’t understand why a conditional PGA Tour member like Wes Bryan is in these creator events to begin with. Why is a guy who was close to retaining his card last year battling Fat Perez and Rick Shiels? YouTube golf isn’t my thing. Bryan should probably be held to a different standard than Horvat. But it’s not a great look. I also don’t care. 

Piastowski: Man, I actually like YouTube golf. It’s fast, it’s digestible, it’s personable. OK, the question. Yeah, the optics are weird. Seeing the news of a suspension and an invitation almost at the same time isn’t great. For what it’s worth, I also think an exemption could have been made for Bryan — it wasn’t an actual LIV event and it was competing against nothing — but he also seemingly knew what he was getting into.  

5. The LPGA kicks off its major season with the Chevron Championship in the Woodlands, Texas, with Nelly Korda defending her title. What’s the main storyline we need to monitor?

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Melton: Can Jeeno Thitikul take the next step? She’s been among the most consistent golfers in the world over the past several years, but she’s yet to get it done in a major. I’d like to see her in the hunt come Sunday evening. 

Schrock: I was going to go with Rose Zhang but her recent WD due to a neck injury casts doubt on whether or not she’ll be able to tee it up. I’m going to go with Charley Hull. Hull is a star and is great for the women’s game, but it’s time for her to finally knock off a major championship. 

Piastowski: Can Nelly defend? She’s been mildly slow to start this year — no wins, but no missed cuts. A strong performance, of course, erases that. 

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Rory McIlroy beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the 2025 Masters, claiming his first major since 2014 and, more importantly, his first career green jacket, making him the sixth player ever to secure the career grand slam. How would you start to unpack that crazy finish?

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Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I feel absolutely wrecked, and all I did was watch! I cannot recall a Masters, or any tournament, for that matter, with so many twists and turns, ups and downs, and emotional investment. It was a nail-biter from the first hole. Jack Nicklaus said — and I’m paraphrasing— that he’s never seen so many good shots mixed with so many bad shots. He nailed it! It was outrageous, exciting, excruciating, like nothing I’ve ever watched. What Rory achieved was so wonderful. I think everyone watching wanted it for him. And his ultimate moment of catharsis on 18 — down on his knees, sobbing into the green —  brought tears to my eyes too. It was inspiring and awesome, literally everything you ask for in a sports story, or any human story, was on display today. I’m still in a state of recovery.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): By far the craziest tournament I’ve ever watched. It was hard to tell whether the golf gods were in an especially mischievous mood or if McIlroy was just messing with us. I think it’s fair to say by the wild swings in his play–and his intense emotion after–that playing with the weight of history – and with so many painful memories in the majors– isn’t easy. Fans have good reason to feel elated for Rory. And also maybe a little bad for Justin Rose.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): How do I unpack that? I just had my heart ripped out of my chest only to have it sewn back in multiple times over the last several hours. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so strongly about a sports event since Tiger in 2019 and there wasn’t near as much drama as today. First McIlroy was blowing it, then he rallied, then he was dominating. Then he was playing safe, then he blew it. Then he rallied again. Then he blew it and then he finally won it. I’m tired just typing that. I think the important thing is this. Had McIlroy lost today, there was a real argument to be made that he might never have been able to recover from it. Now? He might be set up to win 10 more majors before he’s done (and maybe three more this year)!

McIlroy rebounded from a double bogey on the 1st hole, escaped some tree trouble with some magnificent approaches on the first nine and overcame a late double bogey and short missed putt on the 18th to eventually beat Rose in a playoff. What most impressed you about his victory?

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Marksbury: McIlroy showed some serious fight, but he didn’t appear to get too up or too down during the round. He stayed cool and collected, and that enabled him to continue hitting those miraculous shots. Even though he missed some makeable ones down the stretch, he still hit the shots he needed to give himself the opportunities.

Sens: There were so many moments where he could have just slumped his shoulders and slinked away. What must have been swirling through his head as it all seemed to be slipping away from him again. The fact that he was able to pull out of what looked like a self-inflicted death spiral is pretty remarkable.

Hirsh: My colleagues touched on the mental, but the physical is just as impressive. When we talk about 15 yesterday as well as 5, 7 and 15 today, he hit shots that I firmly believe he is the only human on the planet capable of hitting. Tiger used to do the same thing. No one was even thinking about going through some of the windows he tried on 5 and 7, his caddie even tried to talk him out of it, but he has so much speed and is able to elevate the ball so high, it’s truly remarkable. We’ve compared Scottie Scheffler’s winning ability to Tiger Woods, but we haven’t talked about (at least lately) how Rory is the closest thing physically we’ve seen since Tiger in his prime.

What do you think was the difference between this Rory and the version that’s had so many major close calls over the last couple of years?

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Marksbury: In his past near-misses, McIlroy’s body language was always very indicative of his mood — the lack of bounce in his walk, the pained expressions, the downcast eyes. I didn’t notice that on Sunday, although he had plenty of reason to be negative! But he stayed the course, which enabled him to ultimately capitalize on his final opportunity. He seems like a changed player in that sense, which is an impressive evolution.

Sens: I agree with you there, Jess. After he missed the putt on 18 in regulation, he grinned in a way that seemed pained but also borderline amused by the absurdity of it all. He’d said it all week—that this wasn’t a matter of life and death, that even the most brutal heartache can be overcome, and that he still believed in himself. His comportment all week suggested that those weren’t just empty words. 

Hirsh: To be honest, he finally got lucky. He still hit the bonehead wedge on 13 and missed the putts on 15, 16 and 18 in regulation, but this time there was no Cam Smith to boatrace him or Bryson DeChambeau to outduel him. That’s not a knock on McIlroy because winning major championships is simply hard and you need luck to get there. But when he hit his second at 11 and it stopped just inches before the water, I was convinced it was just his day.

Which non-winner is still leaving Augusta National pleased with their week, and which pro leaves still searching?

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Marksbury: Patrick Reed has to be thrilled with his performance this week — an out-of-nowhere 3rd-place finish, only two shots off the lead? That’s wild! He does have an excellent record at Augusta overall, but since the majors are the only opportunity we have to gauge LIV players against their PGA Tour peers, this has to feel like a big statement for him.

As for a searching pro, my heart aches a bit for Justin Rose. Man, what a performance, and so brutal to come up short yet again. And at 44 years old, he knows he’s on the back-nine of his already Hall-of-Fame worthy career. But I’m sure this one stings.

Sens: Max Homa has to feel pretty good. It’s been a rough season for him so far. Five straight missed cuts heading into Augusta. Nice to have him back.

Hirsh: Yeah, I’m jumping on the Justin Rose bandwagon. He’s now finished runner-up in the last two majors and he had to go through qualifying to get in the Open Championship! He’s clearly still got something left in the tank. It would be awesome to see him win again, especially after showing such class in defeat.

Gotta wonder where Nick Dunlap is at right now. His rally on Friday was inspiring, but 90 is a shocking score for a guy who won twice last year. Hard to remember he is still just 21.

What did you learn at Masters week?

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Marksbury: I had an idea that double-bogeys at Augusta equalled death, and winners need to shoot under par on Sunday. And Rory proved all of that wrong!

Sens: Great way to put it, Jess. I can’t top that. What I learned wasn’t so much a lesson, but a reminder. In golf–and in this golf tournament in particular–expect the unexpected.

Hirsh: That Rory McIlroy can hit a golf ball very, very high.

Come 2026 Masters week, there’s no more storyline focusing on Rory and his quest for the career grand slam. So, what will be the biggest storyline?

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Sens: Can Rory win his fifth straight major?

Marksbury: YES, Josh! Another one: Will Tiger play, and will he make the cut, is always a favorite. Other than that, I think it will be fun to track this growing contingent of players who are playing awesome at Augusta year after year. Scottie was three shots away from winning a third green jacket. Ludvig was in the mix again, and you have to think that Rory will continue to be a factory for years to come. Who will be the Masters king of the next generation?

Hirsh: Yeah, I agree with Sens too, and there’s more to unpack with that. McIlroy is setting himself up to have a Scheffler-like year, but maybe with more majors?! He’s won four times at Quail Hollow, site of the PGA Championship. The U.S. Open is at Oakmont, which should be tailor-made for a bomber like him. And the pièce de résistance? The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in his home country, where he owns the course record. He clearly has his sights set on leaving little doubt that he is Europe’s greatest player.

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Rory McIlroy holds the 54-hole lead of the 2025 Masters, and he’ll start Sunday 12 under, two shots clear of Bryson DeChambeau and four ahead of Corey Conners. Others still lurk further back, but McIlroy is in prime condition to (finally) complete the career grand slam. So, does he finally do it Sunday? Who wins the Masters?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): We honestly couldn’t ask for a better Masters Sunday showdown. Rory vs. Bryson, again! Before Bryson drained his monster birdie putt on 18, I felt that this Masters was shaping up to be truly Rory’s. But Bryson’s energy is so infectious. And a two-shot margin is nothing at Augusta. Rory’s task will be to start hot — like today — and stay steady. No disasters allowed. Bryson is sure to be pumped up, so if he gets an early edge on Rory, it might be tough to overcome. I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen. But my heart wants this badly for Rory. This is his chance to banish so many demons for good. The more I think about it, the more certain I am that he won’t let this one slip away. Career grand slam on the line. Avenging the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Couldn’t write a better script.

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Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Exactly. It’s the perfect script. And redemption for Rory is the ending that makes the most sense. I like the way he’s talking this time around. Remember when he was in the final group with Patrick Reed in 2018? McIlroy spoke of that pairing in advance like it was a showdown with Reed. On Saturday evening, he talked instead about staying in “my own little bubble.” That’s the better head space. His long wait for another major (and the career grand slam) ends tomorrow. Either that, or Scottie Scheffler shoots 61 to pass him.

Maddi MacClurg, editor and producer (@maddimacclurg): There’s no doubt it’s shaping up to be an exciting final round. While I’d love to see an underdog take home the green jacket, Rory’s game is undeniable right now — and this time, he has an extra edge: patience. During today’s round, there were moments when a younger version of Rory might’ve lost the mental battle, but now he’s clearly biding his time and striking when it counts. His ball striking has been almost surgical in its precision, and he’s scrambling brilliantly when he does miss a green. As much as I’d hate to bet against Bryson, whose game is nearly as sharp, his inconsistent distance control with his irons could cost him — especially when the wind is swirling on Augusta’s back nine.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I’d like to think that Rory will at last conquer the demons and win at Augusta, but the recipe for heartbreak is right there — and with the same cast of characters from Pinenurst. My heart says Rory finally gets it done, but my mind says Bryson rips his heart out yet again. All I know is it’s going to be one heck of a Sunday.

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): Sunday will be a day that golf deserves given the game’s recent state of turmoil over the past several years. The psychological examination McIlroy will undergo Sunday while paired with DeChambeau will be fascinating. He admitted to getting “out of his bubble” during his Pinehurst collapse. If he stumbles early tomorrow, I worry about the final outcome. But life can only be so cruel. McIlroy has been kicked over and over again and continues to dust himself off and go again. He’s playing the best golf in the world and I think he stuffs DeChambeau in a locker tomorrow.

“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.

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We are officially at the halfway point of the 2025 Masters. Justin Rose leads at eight under, while Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners and a host of others are hot in pursuit. With 36 holes down, and 36 more to go, what has been the biggest surprise thus far at Augusta National?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): It’s Rory for me! What a performance today. After yesterday’s late hiccups, I figured he would need a Rose-like round today to get back in the mix, but did I actually expect him to pull it off? I admit I did not — and am very pleasantly surprised! Having him in the mix is the juice the weekend of play needs. 

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): How about the Masters rookie Matt McCarty? In just his second major start — and first Masters appearance — he’s posted rounds of 71 and 68 to find himself T5 at the halfway point. I’m not sure I could pick the guy out of a lineup (and I don’t think I’m alone) yet he’s duking it out with the big boys on the weekend at Augusta. Impressive stuff from him thus far.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): It’s Rory — and it’s not Rory. I thought he was done after the double-double special on Thursday. But he told us he was different. And on Friday, he was. Was that maybe his most surprising round … ever? Maybe. 

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): I didn’t see a 90 coming, certainly not from a guy who won twice last year. But that’s the shocking number for which Nick Dunlap signed on Thursday. The second-biggest surprise? Dunlap bouncing back on Friday with a one-under 71. What resolve. Good on him!  

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The huge number of stars who could win this thing. Usually, there are a few big names at the top about now, but this leaderboard is packed. Bryson, Rory, Scottie, Hovland, Collin. Saturday is going to be a ton of fun to see where everyone ends up.

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Justin Rose (seven under) leads the Masters, but several of the game’s biggest names will need to put together strong rounds on Friday to keep up. Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa headline the group at even par and Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele are all one over. Which marquee player charges up the leaderboard on Friday?

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I’ll go with Xander Schauffele. He was three over thru 11 but battled back to post one-over 73. Those sorts of gritty rounds are what separates the best from the rest. I’d expect him to come back and post something in the 60s on Friday to get himself in the hunt.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): Ludvig Aberg firing a 32 on the back nine to shoot 68 is going to be a problem. We forget the last guy who finished second in his Masters debut won in his second try (Spieth). I say he’s in the lead going to the weekend with Scheffler close behind.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Collin Morikawa played a quiet round today that ended with a bogey. But he still finished at even par, a reminder of how high a bar he has been setting this year. He came close last year. No reason to think he won’t be in the thick of things as we move to the weekend. 

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): I want to say Rory, but the final four holes on Thursday were so dispiriting that I can’t do it. The wind is completely out of my sails on that front. I’m going to go with Justin Thomas. JT did a really nice job to shoot 73 on a day where he was scraping it all over Augusta National. We know he can get nuclear hot, and I think the closing birdie on Thursday will propel him toward a Friday surge. Don’t be surprised if Viktor Hovland, who is at one under, makes a move and is in one of the final pairings on Saturday. 

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I’m feeling inspired by Bryson DeChambeau! It’s always hard to gauge how the LIV players will fare at the year’s first major but Bryson appears to be picking up right where he left off last year.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Patrick Reed shot one under despite wanting to throw his misbehaving putter into Rae’s Creek. If he can get his flatstick sorted, watch out!

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Welcome to Masters week, where there’s no shortage of storylines: Rory McIlroy will (yet again) try to finish off the career grand slam; stars like JT and Xander will try to win their first green jacket; Scottie Scheffler will try to win his third; and two-time champ Bernhard Langer will say goodbye. Although until Rory wins this tournament, will his quest for the slam always be the main storyline? Does he need a Masters win the most?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Until Scottie or some future star is looking to win something like a third straight — or until a Tiger Woods Masters sendoff — Rory going for the grand slam is always going to be the obvious main storyline at Augusta. But that’s just because of the layers to it — the haunting way he lost the 2011 Masters and the major drought that’s now reached a decade. He has several good years left though and he’s going to win one. He’s too good not to.

Josh Schrock, associate editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): Agree with Berhow. Rory will be the lead storyline of the Masters until he either wins one or there’s a golf eclipse-type storyline for everyone else to focus on. Augusta National is tailor-made for Rory’s game and the different ways he has come up short — from the blowup in 2011 to not pushing Patrick Reed in the final group in 2018 to a blistering backdoor runner-up in 2022 — make him storyline 1A and 1B unless Tiger is in the field.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I have nothing to argue with those two answers. Add to it the fact that Rory has perhaps the best lead-in to the Masters of his entire career, and there’s going to be immense pressure on this week. I subscribe to the rumor mill on social media that he mentioned his elbow was bothering him last week so some of the expectations could be lifted, but I think most have forgotten about that.

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Why will Rory win this week? And why won’t he?

Berhow: Why will he? Because he’s playing some of the best golf of his career. He’s won twice this year and already came out of a high-stress situation (the Players Championship playoff) on top. No, he hasn’t won the Masters, but he has finished top 10 seven times. He’s likely to be in contention at some point, and if you get enough at-bats one of them is bound to work out in your favor, especially for one of the top-five most-talented players in the game. The golf gods work in mysterious ways. It’s time for some of that heartbreak (like his Pinehurst loss) to even out. Why won’t he win? Because golf (and life) is not fair and nothing is promised on Sunday at Augusta.

Schrock: He claims he’s the most complete golfer he has ever been and the stats back it up this season. The work done in the offseason to rework his takeaway, coupled with a focus on course management and a new golf ball, has him firing on almost all cylinders. Rory has suffered so many scars in recent years as he tried to break this drought. He arrives at Augusta not searching or hoping but playing the best golf of anyone in the world. If not now, when?

Hirsh: It’s easy to see how he wins. The driver gets cooking and we see him hit from spots we haven’t seen players play from since they Tiger-proofed the course (and then they build a bunch of new tees and make the course 8,000 yards next year). How he loses is he starts playing well and then gets to No. 10 and starts feeling the demons of 2011 come back. He just might be broken at Augusta.

What’s a storyline no one is talking about that deserves more attention?

Berhow: I have no under-the-radar storyline to offer but have one random thought to type out: it’s crazy we have reached the 10-year anniversary of Jordan Spieth’s Masters win (which was immediately followed by his Chambers Bay U.S. Open victory). He’s won just one major since those two in 2015 — the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale — and he continues to become a difficult player to predict. His last four Masters starts — MC, T4, MC, T3. The sport is a lot more fun when he’s in contention. I hope he’s in the mix this week.

Schrock: I would have gone with Spieth and I expect Augusta National to stir the Spieth of old next week. I’m going to go with Jon Rahm. His first major season as a member of LIV Golf was a dud outside of a T7 at The Open. His Masters defense fell flat last year and he followed that with a missed cut at the PGA Championship. He remains one of the most talented golfers on the planet but will that show on the biggest stages this year?

Hirsh: I’ll follow Schrock’s lead and go with another LIV golfer in Joaquin Niemann. I will say the people calling him the best player on the planet right now is overblown, but he should have as much expectations on him this week as anyone not named Scottie or Rory. He’s still never finished better than T16 in a major championship and if that continues, that’s not going to be a good look for the competitive balance on LIV Golf.

Most likely to win a green jacket first: Morikawa, Xander or JT?

Berhow: Xander and Collin have both played very well here but I’ll give the slight nod to Morikawa, who has the perfect game for this golf course. He’s also had an awesome season so far — two runner-up finishes, a T10 and pair of T17s. Oh, and his last three starts at Augusta? All top 10s. His ball-striking is back to being among the game’s best (currently 1st in Strokes Gained: Approach), he’s confident and he’s got a little chip on his shoulder looking for that next win. Heck, maybe he wins this thing this year?

Schrock: I think the likely answer is Xander but I’ll make the case for JT. In the age of Trackman and dome golfers, JT is a true artist. When he’s playing at his best, his game and imagination should fit Augusta perfectly. He is finally out of the wilderness and has been playing like a top-10 player for six months. Don’t be surprised if he’s slipping on the green jacket Sunday.

Hirsh: It’s Morikawa. He’s just due. He’d probably be my pick if it wasn’t for McIlroy. While he doesn’t have the prodigious length, his elite ball-striking is tailor-made for Augusta, which is one of the few courses the Tour plays where angles still matter. I like him a lot this week.

While several PGA Tour headliners took last week off, a dozen Augusta-bound players competed at LIV Golf Miami. Rank your top-five Masters contenders from the group that just played a tune-up in Florida.

Berhow: My subjective ranking goes 1) Bryson, 2) Rahm, 3) Brooks Koepka, 4) Phil Mickelson, and 5) Cameron Smith. Joaquin Niemann seems like a guy ready to break out at a major at some point, but we haven’t seen it yet. Smith is the curious one — five top 10s in his last seven trips here, but he didn’t do much (T63, T32, MC) in his three other major starts last season. Is this the week he jumps back on everyone’s radar?

Schrock: Man, this is tough. I’ll go 1) Bryson, 2) Rahm, 3) Brooks, 4) Sergio Garcia, 5) Tyrrell Hatton. I think the top three are pretty clear. Sergio Garcia has been playing really good golf for the better part of a year now and has good history at Augusta National. It feels like a week where he could contend. I know Joaquin Niemann has been lighting up LIV, but until he cards a top-15 in a major, I can’t look at him as a legitimate threat to make noise at Augusta. Hatton got kicked in the teeth by Doral, but he has been playing well over the last six months. He finished T9 at Augusta last year, and I think he’ll be lingering to start the weekend. Phil could very well turn back the clock one more time, but he’s a pass for me.

Hirsh: 1) Rahm, 2) Niemann 3) Sergio 4) Brooks Koepka 5) Bryson. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Bryson doesn’t make the cut. He didn’t make the cut in 2022 or 2023. The concept that he figured something out last year seems foolish. Nobody really figures out Augusta National except Tiger. Rahm is the clear top dawg here as he needs to show he can compete in the majors still after a lackluster showing last year. As I mentioned above, Niemann wants to shake the doubters of his major prospects. Sergio Garcia’s play of late really makes me think he could do something special in his 40s.

Spain’s Carla Bernat Escuder held off Lottie Woad and Asterisk Talley to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday. What most impressed you about Bernat Escuder’s play, and what did you learn in the latest edition of the ANWA?

Berhow: Her fearless play. Holding that lead on the back nine is not easy to do and she did it while hitting some big-time shots, like that fairway wood from an awkward lie to the 13th green that set up a two-putt birdie (and three-shot lead). This tournament has quickly become one of the handful you circle on the calendar in amateur and pro golf. It’s fun to see how the top female ams play it and introduce themselves to the golfing world. It’s the perfect Masters appetizer. Although I still want more of it on TV.

Schrock: She was so steady in the cauldron. As the pressure ratcheted up on the back nine, she never flinched. She had that massive par save on No. 10 and the second shot on 13 to set up a key birdie. I do want to give a shoutout to Asterisk Talley, who had arguably the two most impressive feats of the day with the hole-out eagle on No. 1 and that ridiculous birdie on No. 17. She’s so damn impressive.

Hirsh: I love how she references the “Masters begins on the back nine Sunday” tagline during her press conference. I think her being herself at her press conference instead of getting stiff and awkward with the lights (and green jackets) turned on was really impressive. We also learned this week that Asterisk Talley didn’t have just a hot season last year — she’s going to be a contender for years to come no matter what level she plays at. As for the ANWA, why aren’t we playing more of it at Augusta National? It’s called the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, but only 33 percent of it is played at Augusta National. Also agree we need more TV coverage of it.

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Viktor Hovland beat Justin Thomas by one to win the Valspar Championship on Sunday, his first victory since he won the BMW Championship and Tour Championship back to back in August 2023. It had been a struggle for him since then, and he missed his last three cuts entering this week. What was the difference at the Valspar? And are you a believer that he’s back? Or do you need to see more?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): It’s hard to believe he’s really back when Hovland himself doesn’t seem to think he is. By his own admission, he is still hitting a lot of what he calls “disgusting” shots. But this week, he managed his game beautifully, especially down the stretch, leaning on his iron game and coming up clutch with the putter. I don’t mean to minimize the win. Winning any tournament is no small feat. But golf is just too fickle–and Hovland himself seems so committed to constant tinkering–to use this week as a predictor of what’s coming next.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Echoing what Sens said above. Hovland won’t be fully “back” until he feels like he has full control of his swing. Sure he won this week, but it doesn’t sound like he’s content with where his game is at. This week is a great step in the right direction, but Hovland’s swing is far from a finished product.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): He hit some really key irons late — which is exactly where he’s supposed to excel — to set up his last two birdies, but difficult to say this will turn the tide given how transparent he was afterward. His confidence doesn’t seem high — he did just shoot 80 last week — and he seemed surprised to win this thing. But a win like this might do wonders, so perhaps this is just the start of a string of strong finishes and a little more belief.

Thomas held a two-stroke lead late but missed fairways and bogeyed 16 and 18. As someone who hasn’t won since May 2022, is he the headlining pro who needs one most? Or does that honor belong to someone else — Homa? Spieth? etc. — on the PGA Tour?

Sens: Thomas may be in a victory drought, but he’s also won more times (15) than any player other except Rory since 2016. Getting this close has got to feel promising for him on some level. I’d give the “honor” to Spieth, who has been winless for even longer than Thomas, and has arguably fallen farther from his peak than his good friend.

Melton: JT may be in a winless drought, but his game is in a far better spot than Homa and, to a lesser extent, Spieth. I’m sure he’d much rather be holding a trophy tonight rather than stewing on the “what-ifs,” but he’s not nearly as lost as those other two. The next JT win feels close.

Berhow: I’d argue Homa needs it most right now, since he is currently in a very similar spot to Viktor (before he won Sunday). Thomas and Spieth have winless streaks extending a little longer than Homa, although Thomas seems close. Few guys have the firepower he does when he’s on. He barely made the cut at the Valspar and fought to the top of the leaderboard. I think good things are coming for him.

Who had the best — or most cringeworthy — anger-management moment at the Valspar? Patton Kizzire’s putter punt or Adam Hadwin’s sprinkler mishap?

Sens; Kizzire’s putter punt was a novel move. At least, I’d never seen one like it before. But for keystone cop comedy and comeuppance, I give the nod to Hadwin triggering the sprinkler’s wrath.

Melton: The putter punt was great theater, but certainly some embarrassing behavior coming from a seasoned Tour pro. Hadwin’s sprinkler mishap seemed more like bad luck than anything else. I’ll give an honorable mention to Spieth for unleashing an aggressive f-bomb on Saturday. He got his money’s worth with that one.

Berhow: The PPP — Patton Putter Punt — had impressive hang time. He’s gonna shank that thing more times than not. If you are going to punt a putter, you better make good contact. He did. Hadwin’s was definitely more embarrassing.

The Florida swing is officially over. What did you learn?

Sens: That Rory McIlroy is going to win the Masters. (or not). 

Melton: Rory is still a dog and Russell Henley is going to be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Plus, I learned who Joe Highsmith was!

Berhow: Scottie Scheffler is not yet 100 percent following the hand injury. When will he be, and how much can he win when he’s not 100 percent? These are questions we don’t have answers to yet. 

We’ll get into Masters storylines and picks more in the coming weeks, but with a hat tip to March Madness tipping off, who is your early Cinderella pick for Augusta National?

Sens: I wouldn’t exactly call it a Cinderella pick, but Joaquin Niemann, LIV’s hottest player this season, would count as something of an upstart win.

Melton: I need to see a top 20 in a major from Niemann (he still doesn’t have one!) before I start picking him. I’ll keep showing love to Russell Henley. Two major top 10s to cap last season and an API win already this year. As they say, he’s trending.

Berhow: I love Niemann at Augusta, but since he’s already taken, how about Keegan Bradley as a long shot? Hasn’t missed a cut in seven starts this season. Five times, he’s been 20th or better. Not a ton of success at Augusta, but he’s finished T22 and T23 in his last two starts. There’s lots to like for someone you can find at +18000 to win. Plus, Bradley contending would make for juicy Ryder Cup captaincy storylines.

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Rory McIlroy took down J.J. Spaun in a Monday playoff to win the Players Championship for the second time in his career and claim his second win in three starts this season (the first time he’s had two wins before April). What’d you think of McIlroy’s week? And with the Masters looming, has he shown you anything to think this year at Augusta could be different?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): Yes. He’s talked about swing tweaks, and he’s been working hard on his wedge game. I can’t say I understand what he has changed in his mechanics, but he’s been playing a more controlled game so far this season. Augusta, of course, is a different animal for McIlroy. The Masters has been in his head. But a month ago or so in this space, I chose him to win the green jacket this year. I like that pick.

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): If he’s walking up the 18th fairway at Augusta National with a two-shot lead, I’ll safely believe this year could be different. Until then, I think the burden falls on Rory to show us he is different.

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): The easy answer is yes but I think it’s unknowable. I think McIlroy’s decision to try to emulate Scottie Scheffler’s course management style and limit mistakes has clearly paid off so far. He’s hitting a variety of different golf shots, especially with his wedges and short irons. It’s all good. But with McIlroy, everything changes once he steps foot on Augusta National. As we saw this week with one chirp from Luke Potter, McIlroy’s failure at the Masters still cuts deep. Whether or not he can heal that mental wound once inside the ropes at Augusta is something that no one, not even McIlroy, knows.

McIlroy also made headlines earlier in the week, when he had a couple of fans kicked out and took one of their phones (which was later returned) after one of them heckled McIlroy for hitting a ball into the water during a practice round. Did McIlroy cross the line? Or did he have the right to do what he did?

Sens: I can understand the impulse in the heat of the moment. But he crossed the line. He’s a professional. He knows that dealing with yahoo behavior is part of his job. That involves rising above — or blocking out — the occasional idiocy around him.

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Colgan: Definitely crossed a line, but I’m also not bothered by it. If anything, I found it funny that the thing he desperately wants us NOT to talk about (Masters 2011/U.S. Open 2024) became the story of tournament week because of Rory’s own actions. In that same breath, kudos to him for vanquishing some demons with his performance on Sunday and Monday.

Schrock: I don’t think he crossed the line. To be honest, I don’t think we need to let hecklers off the hook for being cruel. It’s really easy to say that McIlroy should have just blocked it out but I think there’s something more endearing about athletes who aren’t robotic. From Potter’s perspective, I couldn’t imagine chirping someone who I hope to be peers with one day. That would be like me going to the Super Bowl and yelling at Dan Wetzel over the column he wishes he had back. What are we doing?

TPC Sawgrass proved to be a challenging yet entertaining test, the addition of a pesky tree made one front-nine hole much more compelling, and Justin Thomas nearly set the course record a day after he shot one of the worst rounds of the week. What did you learn this week?

Sens: This isn’t a new lesson but an old one reinforced. Venues matter. Architecture buffs can debate the merits of TPC Sawgrass until they are blue in the face. But there’s no doubt it’s a great tournament stage.

Colgan: I learned that this is still a really fun golf tournament, even when it’s missing some of LIV’s big stars. I really hope we find a way to get some of those players in the field in years to come, because, while this tournament is not a major, it does have some space between the next nearest golf tournament.

Schrock: The Players is a great tournament because of the combination of the course, the conditions and the spot on the calendar it holds. I think that having it be the first major-type test of the year really sets the stage for what’s to come and guys are really on edge because of that. But I guess the field was missing Joaquin Niemann. The absence of Phil Mickelson’s World No. 1 was felt for sure. This tournament will feel even bigger when/if the game gets reunified, but it’s an awesome test and has a diet major feel.

Who won the Players without winning the Players?

Sens: Danny Walker is an obvious choice, as he came in as a last-minute fill in and wound up T6. But I’ll go with Spaun. As painful as that playoff had to be for him, he can take it as a confidence boost that he got to extra holes, and also as an agonizing lesson learned. Both valuable, assuming he can look at it through those eyes.

Colgan: Bud Cauley and Danny Walker went from last-second additions to near-million-dollar paydays. That’s pretty good!

Schrock: Not Scottie Scheffler. The game’s best player didn’t have his best stuff and his attitude soured as his three-peat quest ran aground on Saturday. He is clearly not happy with where his game is after the layoff due to Ravioli-gate and has work to do to defend at Augusta. But in all seriousness, it’s Bud Cauley, Danny Walker and Spaun.

In honor of the Players’ three-hole aggregate playoff, which playoff format is best?

Sens: Three holes seems about right to me. Long enough to eliminate flukes, but not drawn out enough to become a death march. I wouldn’t have wanted to see this morning’s playoff go on a second longer.

Colgan: Depends on the venue. Some places should be the same hole over and over again. Some should be a full, 18-hole aggregate. TPC Sawgrass is dead perfect as a three-hole aggregate.

Schrock: If it’s a big event, it should be a full 18-hole aggregate. If it’s a non-major, non-Players Signature Event, it should be a three-hole aggregate. Everything else should be sudden death.

Joaquin Niemann won LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, giving the 26-year-old pro two wins in four LIV starts this season. With the Masters a month away, is he the most dangerous LIV golfer playing Augusta?

Sens: I dunno. I wouldn’t look past a certain Masters winner named Jon Rahm.

Colgan: Well, Phil Mickelson called him the best golfer in the world, so I think that stands for something!

Schrock: Niemann needs to show a pulse in a major before we’re calling him a threat of any sort. It’s Bryson, Rahm, Hatton and Brooks. Then, maybe, Niemann. Maybe.

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1. It’s officially Players Championship week, with Scottie Scheffler headlining the field at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course. He’s won the last two years, how bullish are you on a Scottie three-peat?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Bullish!!! The game hasn’t quite been there for Scottie thus far in ‘25, but it looked closer at Bay Hill than at any point since Pebble Beach. The ball-striking is still there, the relentlessness is still there. Now he’s had a month to shake off the rust of the famed Christmas Day Ravioli injury. Call him Spaghetti Scottie in Ponte Vedra — I think he’s hitting it long and straight enough to lock up three-in-a-row.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Few people you can say this about but he’s kinda due, isn’t he? (He last won in December.) He’s been solid this year just hasn’t quite had everything clicking at once. I hope he contends because it’s a great storyline to see unfold next week.

Josh Sens (@joshsens) He’ll rightfully be the favorite – and I expect him to be in the mix–but three in a row is too outlandish to bet on, even for Scheffler, especially on a course that has historically allowed for so many different styles of play.

What’s one storyline you are monitoring at the Players?

Colgan: We have a LIV Golf return!!! Laurie Canter played his way back into major professional golf after leaving for LIV, and played well enough to earn a late invite into the field. As far as I can tell, this is the first time a current or former LIV player will have returned to the fold at a PGA Tour event. I’m intrigued by his performance.

Berhow: Jay Monahan’s annual state of the union presser. Part of me thinks there won’t be much of an update on the state of pro golf’s merger, but another part of me thinks the people deserve some candid answers. This has dragged on long enough. Oh, and the par-5 16th is a hole I like a lot, but it gets overlooked because it precedes the par-3 17th. So I guess I’m excited to watch that and the golf.

Sens: Xander Schauffele does not have a great track record at the Players–not by his standards anyway. He’s just coming off an injury and working on the longest-running cuts-made streak on Tour. I’m curious to see if he keeps that streak alive, and what kind of shape his game is in as we work toward the Masters and the meat of the season.

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2. Russell Henley chipped in for eagle on the 16th hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, beating playing partner Collin Morikawa by one. Did Henley win it, or did Morikawa lose it?

Colgan: Henley won it, but man, Morikawa’s gonna be replaying some of those putts down the stretch in his mind on the trip to Jacksonville. I feel for Collin — he’s been one of the three best golfers alive over the last 16 months, and he’s got no wins to show for it.

Berhow: It might be a little bit of both. Morikawa was one over on the back nine and that’s not how you close golf tournaments, especially when you lead by three at the turn. You could argue Henley got lucky with his eagle chip in on 16 (which would have cruised well past the hole if it didn’t hit the flag) but he also had to be aggressive. Plus, after a bogey on 10, he had birdies on 12 and 14 before that eagle. Three under on the back which included two textbook, smart two-putt pars on 17 and 18? Hat tip to Henley.

Sens: Henley won it with some help from the golf gods. No doubt Morikawa could play the woulda-coulda-shoulda game, but I don’t think he’ll dwell for long on that and he’ll go right back to striping it at Sawgrass.  Talk about a good candidate to spoil Scheffler’s attempt at a three-peat.

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Also at Bay Hill, Keegan Bradley has his best finish of the season with a tie for fifth. While he’s not yet near Ryder Cup auto-qualifier status, he has said before that as captain, he would give up that gig if he qualified for the team. We still have lots of time left to sort this all out, but if Bradley keeps it up, who would you pick to replace him?

Colgan: Will clear out the obvious selection first: Rick Pitino. In all seriousness, seems clear that Furyk would get first crack at it given his leadership experience, but I sorta love the idea of calling Tiger off the bench to rile up the boys. If not, I’m sure Phil is available.

Berhow: Furyk is already one of the vice captains and seems like the obvious answer due to his experience, especially since whomever might replace Keegan will have less time at the helm. James is right, Tiger would be an awesome fill-in, but he declined this originally because he couldn’t commit as much time as he wanted. So unlikely he’d take on the gig with even less time to plan. Bummer. 

Sens: Do the rules allow Bradley to make himself a captain’s pick? That would be entertaining. Furyk would be the natural substitute, and they could make it official at a press conference where Bradley, doing his best Bugs Bunny, tells Furyk, “I’m captain, and I say YOU’RE captain.”

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Phil Mickelson finished third at LIV Hong Kong to record his best LIV finish of his career. Earlier in the week he talked about a new, more conservative strategy, and on Sunday he added: “I really had a great offseason, and I figured some things out. I’m playing a different style of golf.” Could a 54-year-old Mickelson still contend at the Masters?

Colgan: Sure! If anybody over the age of 50 can contend anywhere in the golf world, it’s at Augusta, where golf IQ ranks much higher than ballspeed on the list of necessary traits. But Mickelson’s admission on Saturday that he can no longer “overpower” a golf course was revealing of his psyche into another 50-plus major triumph.

Berhow: Mickelson said he was no longer worried about hitting bombs and was instead focusing on limiting mistakes. I remember him saying years ago he plays Augusta National well because he knows where to miss. That hasn’t changed. He tied for second just two years ago!

Sens: No doubt he could contend. More than anything, though, his comments are a reminder of what makes golf such a mind-bender of a game. Mickelson has been playing golf since he could toddle. He’s won six majors. And he’s still trying to figure things out.

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Grab your checkbooks: a $9 million home right on the Old Course just went up for sale in St. Andrews. If you could buy any sort of golf-course-adjacent property in the world, where are you going?

Colgan: Probably that one overlooking Swilcan Bridge. But if not that one, probably one of the homes overlooking the West Course at Royal Melbourne. Be warned, though, if I ever find the money to buy a home like that, you’ll never hear from me again.

Berhow: There’s a course called Anstruther Golf Club 10 miles south of St. Andrews, and its ninth hole is lined by about a dozen houses with their backyards facing the fairway and looking out toward the sea. I played there during The Open in 2022 and remember thinking that, right there, is where I want to live someday. Maybe there’s still a chance.

Sens: There’s a beautiful house on the bluffs just north of Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes that has unspoiled views up and down the Oregon coast. I’d take that one. But if the tales I’ve heard are true, the owner there already refused to sell to the resort, so I don’t expect it to go on the market anytime soon.

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After Jake Knapp shot 59 in unusually tame conditions on PGA National’s Champion Course, some pros were wondering what happened to the beastly Bear Trap. Is that unfair to the 15th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history? Or do 59s no longer carry the same historic weight as they used to?

Zak: They just don’t mean the same they used to. And that’s okay! We’ve been traveling down this road for quite a while. The course had been overseeded, received some rain, had zero wind and one of the best drivers on Tour drove it extremely well. Someone was bound to go low. It just becomes a bit inevitable. 

Hirsh: No, Sean, 59 is still 59. PGA National is easier than it used to be, but it’s still a rating over 75 from the back tees. That’s a hard golf course. Is it as hard as it used to be? No, and that’s unfortunate after the recent renovation. But just because a 59 comes on an easier setup, that doesn’t make it less impressive. I don’t think I’d be able to swing a club if I was 11 under with one hole to play. 

Dethier: We’re asking these tournaments to walk a very, very fine line. Too hard? They get ripped for sloppiness and slow play. Too easy? Your 59 means nothing! But yeah, it means less. Yeah, it’s still cool. Yeah, it’s fun to watch when this tournament is a suffer-fest. But it’s tough to do it all.

Scottie Scheffler defends his title at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he’s won two of the last three tournaments there. What makes Scheffler so good at Bay Hill, and are you taking Scheffler or the field this week?

Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Scottie wins this tournament because he makes a bunch of hard-working pars on the weekend. Orlando has promised chilly weather and firm conditions over the years, and with lengthy rough it puts such an onus on ball striking. Both with driver and otherwise. And no one has peppered greens and fairways like Scheffler. Do it enough and some birdie putts will fall. It feels inevitable. So YES, Scottie does it again. 

Jack Hirsh, Associate Equipment Editor (@JR_HIRSHey): What makes Scottie Scheffler so good at Bay Hill? The same thing that makes him so good everywhere else: He’s the best ball striker on the planet. Sure there are horses for courses, but I think Scottie Scheffler is the favorite on just about every hard golf course. Sawgrass, Bay Hill, Murfiled Village, Harbour Town. Those are the kind of courses with the cream always rises to the top and Scheffler is simply the best player on the planet. Tiger used to win in bunches at some of these places too. I’m with Zak, Scheffler gets his first win of the season this week. If you recall, he didn’t get his first win of last season until this week too.

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): Last year Scottie made birdies at the highest rate on Tour and bogeys at the second-lowest rate. That’s kinda why he won everything. But yeah — these guys covered it. He hits it the best, he plays smart, he’s got plenty of dog in him and Bay Hill is a demanding test. I’m excited for this week’s test.

First reported by Golfweek, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will not receive sponsor’s exemptions into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a Signature Event with a 72-man field. While it’s easy to agree with Fowler’s “at the end of the day, play better” comment, is it more complicated than that? Regardless of current form, Spieth and Fowler are two huge draws. With the pro ranks still split and the best players not on the same tour, is there an argument to load tournaments with star power?

Zak: It’s extremely complicated! Webb Simpson took a bunch of these invites last year and got criticized by his fellow pros for it. Adam Scott took a bunch of those invites, too, and played well enough to finish within the heralded FedEx Cup Top 50. You want to invite players fans will cheer for, pros who will deliver some pep for sponsors, and you also want to appear dutiful in assessing all your options. It’s lazy to just choose the biggest names. It’s commendable to take Rafa Campos’ letter to heart and hand him a ticket to the biggest event of his season. 

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Hirsh: I’m with Zak here, too. If you’re going to argue that LIV has a diluted product because it hands out spots to guys who were supposed to be relegated (looking at you, Bubba) just to maintain a draw, then you shouldn’t argue the same for Spieth and Fowler. It is interesting because Spieth seems to be finding his game again and Fowler had a good week at the Cognizant, but obviously these decisions get made before that. I also love that a heartfelt letter still has some weight and I’ll be pulling for Rafa Campos, whom I interviewed back in college about being the lone PGA Tour player from Puerto Rico.

Dethier: There’s definitely an argument to load tournaments with star power! And there’s also an argument that the PGA Tour should lean in on meritocracy and ditch these sponsor invites altogether. If you’re gonna have ‘em and keep anybody from getting mad, well, that’s impossible. But this may be the most thoughtful way to do it, even if you’re leaving some big names out. 

Florida State junior Luke Clanton made the cut at the Cognizant Classic — his ninth made cut in 12 career PGA Tour starts — to earn his 20th point in the PGA Tour University Accelerated program, securing his PGA Tour card at the conclusion of this college season. As the top-ranked amateur in the game and a future Tour player, what should the average fan know about one of the game’s most promising young talents?

Zak: He isn’t just making a bunch of cuts to earn his way into this Tour card. The kid has contended! Multiple times. He already fits in among the well-known names on Tour, stats-wise. Entering the tournament, DataGolf gave Clanton the same expectation of making the cut, finishing top 10, and winning as Cameron Young. You know, the guy everyone thinks would be a good Ryder Cup asset. That’s who Clanton is, too.

Hirsh: People need to realize how quickly his rise to stardom was. He didn’t earn his first point in the PGA Tour U Accelerated program until the U.S. Open last year when he made the cut and battled Neal Shipley down the stretch for low amateur (Shipley beat him out on the last hole after Clanton missed a tying birdie putt). But by the end of November, he had 17 points, the quickest accumulation of points in the three-year history of the program. When the Tour announced PGA Tour U Accelerated, it said since 2010, only three golfers would have earned their Tour card through it. Clanton is now the second after Gordon Sargent earned 20 points and deferred to this season. It’s just another example of how much better players are, younger.

Dethier: What should people know about Clanton? In high school he won the Florida state title three times…and finished second the other year. He also might make the Ryder Cup team. 

Lydia Ko won the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Sunday in Singapore to capture her 23rd career LPGA victory. Nelly Korda didn’t play, but she has two top 10s in two starts already this season. Who wins more in 2025: Korda or Ko?

Zak: Ko does. She’s already one up! Having spent some time with Lydia recently, she seems so incredibly centered. She speaks a lot like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler these days, which is great company, mindset-wise. We were treated to a Korda-Ko battle early in 2024, and even at the Open in St. Andrews. Frankly, it’s becoming time for Korda to punch back. 

Hirsh: Ko had one more on Korda early on last season, too. It’s kind of amazing to me that Ko is actually third behind Jeeno Thitikul in the Rolex Ranking. That said, I think Korda has a bit more to prove after last season, which sounds strange after she won seven times. She’ll want to capture more majors this season after watching Ko win the Open last season.

Dethier: Korda wins more. But it’s a great sign that we’re asking the question. This era of Ko has been a welcome addition to the golf landscape — and the fairytale continues.

The third season of Netflix’s “Full Swing” debuted last week. What’s been your favorite moment from what you’ve watched so far?

Zak: Haven’t watched much, but I’ll say this — it’s absolutely worth watching, for no other reason than the story of the PGA Tour in 2024 that we think we know, well, there are other camera angles you’ve never seen yet. That’s the treasure of these docu-follows for big sports fans. Just because you know what’s coming doesn’t mean you know it as well as you could know it. May not be the answer you’re looking for, but there are all kinds of new angles we haven’t seen before. 

Hirsh: I just started watching too, but seeing Sean hiding behind a tree while Bryson hit his approach on the 72nd at Pinehurst was cool. The episode on McIlroy and Lowry’s win at the Zurich was kind of fun. Nice to see their friendship really shown in the spotlight. But I kind of fear, to a new fan, they’re going to come away from that episode thinking the Zurich is the fifth major.

Dethier: I wrote more about all things Full Swing here but make sure you stick around for episode 6, where Gary Woodland’s journey back from a terrifying battle with a brain tumor is the show at its best: real-life, meaningful access, moving connections between life and golf, and a hearty dose of just-keep-going inspiration. 

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