Golf

JJ Spaun Wins BMW PGA Championship Debut

JJ Spaun won the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a 17-under 271 to edge a crowded leaderboard, as Manuel Elvira and Filippo Celli led the field in the third round and Rory McIlroy stayed within two of the lead heading into the final day. The event opened with Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren atop the standings, while big-name players such as Koepka, Rahm, and Fleetwood missed the cut amid a challenging setup and deep field.

Rahm Finishes Last at BMW PGA Championship

Jon Rahm shot 78-77 to finish last among 140 at the BMW PGA Championship, 11 over par—the worst finish of his professional career.

Trump’s Proposed DC Golf Course Could Cost $49 Million

NPS documents put Trump’s East Potomac championship golf course plan at $20M–$49M. Interior awarded nearly $400K for e-design and calls cost speculation premature.

Zach Johnson Wins Fifth PGA Tour Champions Title in 14 Starts

Zach Johnson birdied the final two holes to edge Ben Crane by one stroke for his fifth PGA Tour Champions title in 14 starts.

Justin Thomas Withdraws From FedExCup Fall Opener

The PGA Tour’s FedExCup Fall kicks off with the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, drawing several Presidents Cup contenders as a prelude to the team event. Justin Thomas withdrew from the field and was replaced by Cameron Champ, as Thomas prepares for his fourth Presidents Cup after injuries and a late-season return.

PGA Tour Rules Out Further LIV Player Returns

The PGA Tour has reiterated that it is not considering a returning-member programme for LIV Golf players, even as Brooks Koepka previously returned under a limited-time path; Commissioner Brian Rolapp stressed accountability and a focus on the Tour's future as it rolls out a two-tier system in 2028. LIV Golf’s bankruptcy filing has left several top players as unsecured creditors, with the Public Investment Fund owning LIV's equity and signaling a potential reorganization toward early 2027.

Trump Showcases Relationships With Golf’s Top Pros

President Donald Trump spends weekends at his Doonbeg resort in Ireland watching the Irish Open and pursuing his well-known golf passion—playing, designing courses, and building—while highlighting his friendships with top pro golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, and Scottie Scheffler. He frequently praises these players, shares photos with them on social media, and has invited some to the White House as part of his ongoing golf network.

PGA Tour Details Two-Tier System for 2028

The PGA Tour announced a two-tier 2028 competition structure with Championship Series and Challenger Series, featuring annual movement between tiers and a new 300-point winner’s system, plus a “last chance” series and revised eligibility paths based on 2026–27 performance. The transition will begin with the 2027 season as it finalizes criteria and pathways leading into 2028, aiming to preserve meritocracy and clarity for players and fans alike.

Shane Lowry Wins Irish Open by 11 Shots

Shane Lowry romped to victory at the 2026 Irish Open in Doonbeg, delivering a record-breaking performance with a commanding margin and sealing his second Irish Open title. The event drew attention off the course as U.S. President Donald Trump attended and applauded Lowry, who also posted standout rounds including a course-record effort on the weekend.

Trump Arrives in Ireland Amid Tight Security

Gardaí have imposed extensive security operations across Dublin and County Clare ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, including temporary drone and maritime restrictions in Clare and heavy traffic controls around Doonbeg for the Amgen Irish Open. Additional measures cover rolling road closures and security checks near Dublin Airport, with protests anticipated and heightened safety at Shannon Airport while public access and parking are restricted on key routes and perimeter roads.

U.S. Overhauls 2027 Ryder Cup Qualifying

The United States will overhaul its 2027 Ryder Cup qualifying, using a year-long, 31-event points system starting at The American Express and ending after the BMW Championship, with the top six on the points list earning automatic spots and six captain’s picks to follow. Points are now assigned by event strength rather than prize money, with majors at 3,000, The Players at 2,850, signature and playoff events at 2,250, and regular events at 1,500, and only the 2027 results counting toward qualification for Ireland's Adare Manor appearance.

Trump Arrives in Ireland for Meetings and Irish Open

Local Gaelic football takes center stage as Kilcavan and Mountmellick face off in the Laois IFC semi-final for a spot in the intermediate final, while Galway dominates the 2026 TG4 All-Star nominations following their All-Ireland win; separately, a deep dive into Trump International Doonbeg looks at the luxury resort behind the gates ahead of the Irish Open, and a Indo Daily special revisits the Lance Armstrong–Floyd Landis doping saga and its fallout.

LIV Golf Files Bankruptcy, Plans 2027 Relaunch

LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrawing support and a restructuring plan to make players the majority owners, aided by BC Partners. The move reflects a bid to preserve the league amid heavy financial strain and could reshape contracts, star players, and the broader golf landscape as the sport copes with investor-backed ventures.

Kai Trump Opens Miami Career With 78

Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, makes her collegiate debut for the University of Miami at the Golfweek Fall Challenge after wrist surgery, competing as an individual as she proves her readiness for NCAA competition. She emphasizes prioritizing golf and studies over partying, approaching college with a serious work ethic and early rounds that reflect her blend of athletic pedigree and influencer background.

2026 comparisons pit Palisade, Golf GTI and F-150 Lightning against rivals

Charlie Woods shoots opening 71, sits four back at Junior Players

Charlie Woods fired a 1-under 71 to sit tied for eighth after the first round of the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, continuing the family’s legacy at the venue. While Tiger Woods has faced personal and legal troubles, Charlie’s 2026 season has been marked by missed cuts and a last-place finish at the Junior Masters, underscoring a challenging year amid renewed focus on his game.

Irish Golf Events Draw 50 Professional Teams

In Ireland, Ballyneety and Newcastle West hosted major events, with Dolores Curtin celebrated at Ballyneety and David Higgins winning the 2026 Dussmann-STS Pro-Am at Newcastle West. Golf Care launches Masters Mania offering 30% off first-year golf insurance plus perks, Tour Edge unveils Exotics Milled Wedge Series with TriGrind sole and multiple bounce profiles for September 14, 2026, and NE Florida seniors report results at St. Johns Golf and Country Club alongside a calendar of upcoming events.

Filipiñana Wins Sundance Award, Examines Philippine Inequality

Filipiñana, Rafael Manuel’s satirical feature about a 17-year-old tee girl at an exclusive Manila country club, uses extreme heat and a lush golf-course setting to critique colonialism, inequality, and the slow pace of social change, earning Sundance’s Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. The film foregrounds climate stress and a climate-poverty trap while drawing connections between land privatization, elite privilege, and deeper Filipino societal issues, with festival exposure and distribution plans expanding its international reach.

Mizzou golf finishes eighth as Trent Mierl cracks top 10 in opener

Several college programs posted solid early-season results: Mizzou opened the Visit Knoxville Collegiate with an eighth-place finish led by Trent Mierl’s top-10, while Chattanooga led the same event after Day 1 and Belmont stood third after 36 holes at the Jaguar Invitational; RMU also started with an eighth-place showing at the Virtues Intercollegiate. The performances featured consistent contributions from veterans and newcomers, with Mierl, Hawkins and others delivering noteworthy rounds as teams gauge depth and form early in the season.

Masters Green Jacket Tradition Endures, Symbolizing Golf’s Prestige

At Augusta, the Masters winner will don the famous Pantone 342 Masters Green jacket in a long-running rite that even past champions like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have navigated, with repeats raising questions about who puts it on. In other major 2026 golf storylines, Geoff Ogilvy captains an International Presidents Cup team facing a USA-dominated field amid LIV-era changes, the PLAYERS Championship produced record proximity and driving data for the winner, The Sentry Tournament of Champions traces its illustrious list of champions, and Rory McIlroy's sixth major cements his standing as the greatest European player ever.

LIV Golf reportedly planning bankruptcy filing as early as next week

LIV Golf could file for Chapter 11 protection in New Jersey as soon as the week of September 7, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund poised to provide a debtor-in-possession loan under $100 million while the league brokers a potential pre-packaged deal with BC Partners to fund a lean 2027 season. Current players have been offered settlements worth only a few cents on the dollar as LIV negotiates funding and a possible LIV 2.0 equity-like structure amid pressure from the DP World Tour and ongoing cost-cutting efforts.

Joe Dean Wins British Masters, First European Title

Joe Dean, a 32-year-old former grocery/supermarket delivery driver, won his first DP World Tour title at the British Masters with a bogey-free 9-under 63 to finish 14-under, aided by his wife acting as his caddie. The victory at The Belfry propelled him onto the radar with a substantial prize and a leap in the world rankings ahead of next season.

Scheffler Wins Tour Championship, Sets Earnings Mark

Scottie Scheffler rallied from a three-shot deficit to win the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake, capturing the $10 million prize and his FedEx Cup title for the year. The victory pushed his career earnings to about $130.39 million, surpassing Tiger Woods as the PGA Tour’s all-time money leader.

Block leads Ally Challenge by two

Michael Block surged to a two-shot lead at the Ally Challenge with a bogey-free 65, matching Steven Alker who sits two back after carding a 65 as well, as Block contends for his first PGA Tour Champions title on a sponsor exemption. The crowd-favorite, who has been climbing the senior circuit with consistent results, faces a final round that could cement his rising status amid ongoing scrutiny of his high-profile journey.