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Holly Sonders’ move to Fox is the right next step

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10 years ago

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It’s again onward and upward for Holly Sonders: The Golf Channel host is leaving the NBC-owned network to join Fox Sports.

Reports indicate Sonders will do sideline reporting at NFL games in addition to, presumably, anchoring the network’s coverage of the 2015 U.S. Open and other USGA events.

For Sonders, whose popularity in the golf world has continued to grow, it’s another step forward.

Born Holly Niederkohr in Marysville, Ohio, Sonders was a top-tier junior golfer. She won the 2001 AJGA in Kingswood, Texas and the UCT National at Disney World before attending Michigan State University. She played golf all four years as a Spartan and maintained a 78.47 scoring average for the top-20-ranked team.

Sonders had knee surgery after her junior season and it seems she had difficulty regaining her previous form. Although a 2008 piece in the Marysville News suggested she might try her luck on the Futures Tour, it doesn’t seem she ever did that.

Sonders graduated from Michigan State in 2009 with a degree in journalism

After leaving East Lansing, Sonders worked as a sideline reporter on the Big Ten Network and as a news reporter for KATV-TV in Little Rock, Ark.

Golf Channel brought her on board as a member of the newly minted “Morning Drive” in 2011 in a minor role giving 90-second news updates.

Her ascendency at the network was significant: At the time of her departure, she co-hosted “Morning Drive,” “School of Golf,” and “Playing Lessons.” The latter two shows were extended from 30 to 60 minutes during her tenure.

Sonders, just 26, is leaving the NBC-owned Golf Channel for Fox Sports after contract talks stalled. Her bio page has been taken down and she hasn’t tweeted since July ninth. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors,” was the only word from a Golf Channel spokesperson.

As Sonders star continued to shine ever brighter, the Golf Channel created roles to suit her. However, making the move to Fox allows her to take a few significant steps forward.

  1. Contributing to major championship coverage: She was never likely to depose the likes of Terry Gannon at Golf Channel, and she could play the Kelly Tilghman role at some the Women’s Open. Additionally, she could contribute to the 2015 U.S. Open (albeit not as a host, since that’s Joe Buck’s job for the foreseeable future), which will be significantly more widely viewed than any of the Golf Channel’s tournament telecasts
  2. Breaking into football: Obviously, the opportunity to cover the most popular sport in America is something that wasn’t going to happen in her role at Golf Channel (although one could argue she’d have been able to do that thanks to parent NBC). Also, Pam Oliver, Fox’s current sideline reporter, is 53.
  3. More money: It’s difficult to imagine Fox isn’t paying Sonders more, considering her expected dual role coupled with the fact that the network is wooing her away from her current employer.

It would be a strange amalgamation if she played the roles of both, say, a Jim Nantz and a Craig Sager. You have to imagine she’ll eventually be primarily an anchor or primarily a sideline reporter.

Regardless of the specifics, the “Sonders to Fox” story is the logical next step forward for the Ohio native and deprives Golf Channel of its one of its best and most popular on-air personalities.

See Photo Gallery of Holly Sonders

 

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88 Comments

88 Comments

  1. Concettina Gildersleaves

    Mar 4, 2023 at 5:25 am

    Inside of Mouth Peeling: Causes, Treatments

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  4. Mr. James B

    Dec 29, 2014 at 8:18 pm

    “…coupled with the fact that the [Fox] network is wooing her away from her current employer.”

    Somehow I doubt that. Too many people I have talked to , including red blooded men, where getting more than a little bored with the growing domination of Holly Sonders parading around in skin tight cocktail dresses and 9 inch heels when we tune in to see serious talk of golf.

    Her ‘home wrecker’ persona is better suited for the football sidelines that the golf course (IMO).

    Reply Report comment

    • Timothy Parker Moore

      Dec 31, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Wow,,, you probably have no idea, just how much you told everyone about yourself. Sad

      Reply Report comment

    • JMC

      Mar 6, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      I bet you listen to Coldplay on repeat, huh James?

      Reply Report comment

  5. Paul P

    Nov 17, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    I am a retired expat living in Thailand.
    I miss Holly and even took the time to Google “Where is Holly Sanders”.
    I was directed to this article and now I know where she is.
    I will enjoy seeing Holly on Fox and will not be watching much Morning Drive any more (It is boring now. Too many guys trying to be funny…Geez, give me a break!
    Just curious though, Why is the Golf Channel still using her name in their ads for Morning Drive, and Playing Lessons????

    Reply Report comment

  6. Mike

    Oct 31, 2014 at 3:08 am

    The morning drive is a ghost show now, i used to wakw every morning and put it on immediately, Now i barely watch it such a shame. The entire show feels forced. Good for her to make a move to fox but i havent seen her at all on the sideline as previously reported. The Playing lessons show is terrible now. The Golf channel should either bring back Winn or find someone in her or Hollys league. Talented, personable and easy on the eyes! The channel is failing

    Reply Report comment

    • Mark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      Dude your spot on– morning drive without holly Saunders is like a Sunday of a major without tiger in the mix

      Reply Report comment

      • Fred

        Dec 17, 2014 at 11:30 am

        You’re right, Mark, things have definitely gotten a bit dull since she left. That said, I have yet to see her doing anything else. I know she’s got a new gig, but when’s she going to start. Haven’t seen her anywhere since she left the show.

        Reply Report comment

    • elpatoreal

      Dec 14, 2014 at 12:59 pm

      Did you watch Golf Channel before the rise of Holly?

      Reply Report comment

  7. Desmond

    Oct 28, 2014 at 1:08 am

    Since Holly has left, MD has been in a free fall. No continuity, no eye candy, lack of male-female banter … a lack of chemistry.

    It’s a frankenstein of a show … bits and pieces that don’t fit together.

    Reply Report comment

  8. James Alexander

    Oct 24, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    TWC is more interesting than TGC now.

    Good for her, she was easy on the eyes and charming. TGC is even more of a no talent wasteland now. The only other people that should be on camera are Martin Hall and Michael Breed, the rest should be waiting tables at AppleBee’s.

    Reply Report comment

    • Mike

      Oct 31, 2014 at 3:08 am

      agreed

      Reply Report comment

    • Mark

      Dec 11, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      You did forget one talent fehrety.l he and sonders springboards TGC ratings 2 years ago. Now it’s abyss

      Reply Report comment

  9. EatonHolly

    Oct 23, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    I can’t believe all the haters posting here! Wtf! She made “Playing with Pros” fun to watch! If you think Holly is homely, then you probably go to Star Trek Conventions and/or Comic-con and/or still wear jammys. In other words, you’re a goober! Take a look in the mirror before you judge others!

    Reply Report comment

  10. Pat

    Oct 23, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Holly looked fake and has had too much plastic surgery. Paige was fugly. Winn was the only decent looking chick on GC. Bring her back!!!

    Reply Report comment

    • James Alexander

      Oct 24, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Joke of a contract offer and she wasn’t as comfortable on camera as she needed to be.

      Reply Report comment

    • Mark Lar

      Oct 29, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      Yes!! Thank you. Holly was too fake, and really wasn’t that pleasant to look at.

      Reply Report comment

      • DonW

        Jan 14, 2015 at 6:36 pm

        If you did not think she is pleasant to look at …

        Reply Report comment

    • Bart

      Nov 7, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      I agree .. There was nothing ‘girl next door’ with her look. Excruciatingly disproportionate bolt-on breasts. Her legs were so thin and boney, she still had no calf curve when she wore sky high heels. The make-up was caked on and she had the phony hair color that you typically see on a 45 year old chain smoker at the corner tap room. The only thing hot about her was her game. Give me a curvier, more natural, wholesome look on the GC, sans the obvious plastic.. Now go be a bubble brained side line reporter, Holly, and you can now ask those relevant questions such as ‘So coach, what’s your game plan today?’

      Reply Report comment

  11. dave

    Oct 20, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    hey, why not give Jan Stephenson Holly’s old job, whatever happened to her anyway ? I still have her maxfli golfball tub picture. You young guys remember her ?

    Reply Report comment

    • Larry

      Oct 21, 2014 at 12:58 am

      If we are remembering Jan we also have to think about Laura Baugh when it came to good looking golf pros in the late 70’s and 80’s….

      Reply Report comment

    • Ruben Acosta

      Oct 22, 2014 at 8:55 pm

      I was never more depressed about The Golf Channel than when Holly mysteriously quit appearing. They did the same thing with Win McMurray. All of sudden she was gone and her and Holly’s contributions were considerable. Both of these women embodied what best about great journalism, they had great rapport with most of their guests and that always demonstrated a great interview, playing lesson. Does anybody remember when they hired Matt Ginella and they put him with Holly on the picks of winners for the next tournament. I mean what the hell was that all about, she was leading team in points for picks (Win also was good at this)and then Holly ended up with this lame. WHy did he have to be teamed with anybody? I think that The Golf Channel has a problem with power women. I also heard that it had something to do with her husband trying to bring both of their contracts together, but even if he is overstepping his worth what does that have to do with Holly. I watch Golf Channel much less now. They talk all about growing the game then why don’t they televise more LPGA than they are. I mean they rebroadcast the men’s tournaments two or three times. I thought Holly was a great journalist and was a great player of the game. With much more talent than most of people she worked with. Shame on GC for not only renewing her contract but for denying her from her fans on the rest of her contract.

      Reply Report comment

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  14. James B

    Jul 30, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Whoever is responsible for letting Holly Sonders to from Golf Channel should be fired. Whatever your opinion about her, she was a rising star on Golf Channel. She drew viewers and attention the The Channel.

    Reply Report comment

    • Jim

      Jul 30, 2014 at 7:26 pm

      Well watch the playing lessons with jimmy walker and look at her wrinkly face , the bags under her eyes even the lazy eye, and you can see why they let her go with out a fight . Shes is not that great other than she can play golf. Think of the hours of make up that some lucky person no longer has to do and the few dozen horses that get to keep there manes and tales now because she is no longer wearing them .

      Reply Report comment

      • Frank Brandon

        Aug 5, 2014 at 3:55 pm

        Jim, Don’t trip over your seeing eye dog. I love golf but outside of their Major’s coverage, there is no reason that I tune into the Golf Channel without the hopes of seeing Holly.

        Reply Report comment

        • SBoss

          Oct 27, 2014 at 7:46 am

          Frank, I think you’re the one that needs a seeing eye dog. Holly “Sonders” is a fake from her name through her chest. She looks like a man with heavy makeup.
          If somebody tuned into Morning Drive or TGC just to see Holly, they’re missing the boat. The fact that she married a 45 year old cheating D-Bag is proof that she’ll likely implode at some point because she’s lacking good sense. The fact that the cheating D-Bag was cheating with HER is proof that she’s sleazy.
          Holly probably wakes up every day and asks “how can I fool them again today”? I don’t blame TGC for not paying her. By 35, she’ll look like an old hag. There’s natural beauty and then there’s Holly.

          Reply Report comment

          • Joe

            Nov 1, 2014 at 4:12 pm

            Wow! You sound like a jilted stalker. Did she slap a restraining order on you? I can’t imagine why else you would have so much venom for a person you don’t know. Get over her and find another stalking victim.

            Reply Report comment

    • Doug

      Sep 5, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      Yes,
      I think you are right on this one. Holly did not need to be a former tour player to be successful as she could do sexy, smart and stylish. Paige Mac appears to be in line as the replacement, but she is more comfortable changing the role to match her skills.
      Holly will be able to pull off NFL and other needs and will make it at Fox. It would have been fun to see how far she would have made it at the Golf Channel; they are an odd group anyway as every time they create a personality ( Winn McMurray is a good example), they go in a different direction. It is just a game and too much techy swing talk is boring… something that you could never say about Holly….

      Reply Report comment

    • Joe

      Nov 1, 2014 at 5:59 pm

      They should be fired, but they’ll be out of a job soon enough anyways. I don’t see how how the golf channel can survive so many poor decisions in a row. Loosing Holly was just plain stupid. She was eye candy with a legit golf resume who could outplay 95% of viewers! Male or female. I think that’s why most of these haters hate her, they know she would smoke them like their cheap cigars.

      Reply Report comment

  15. steve williams

    Jul 23, 2014 at 11:53 am

    I always said to myself. “It’s amazing what a pound of makeup and fake hair can do”

    Reply Report comment

    • steve williams

      Jul 23, 2014 at 11:54 am

      Maybe she was trying to hide her big nose

      Reply Report comment

      • Larry

        Oct 16, 2014 at 4:40 pm

        We had her out here in Palm Springs playing in the Humana Golf Tournament last January….She was amazingly nice and without all the camara makeup she is still very nice looking..and in very excellent shape…..

        Reply Report comment

    • JillC

      May 5, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Just like you should use, fat boy!!

      Reply Report comment

  16. don davis

    Jul 16, 2014 at 1:43 am

    Got to admit I didn’t like her at first but she can hold her own on tv. Compared to some of the other talent on golf channel Holly is one of the better ones. I still get funny looks from my wife when she sees Holly Sonders on tv. “They put a cart girl on TV!”

    Reply Report comment

  17. Tom

    Jul 15, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    Wonder if she will wear the stripper pumps on the sideline in New England in December when it’s 10 degrees.

    Reply Report comment

  18. Darin Fowler

    Jul 15, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Good for Holly, can’t hate on her for moving up in her profession of choice. I still think Fox’s golf will be terrible though. As for her looks, she’s still pretty but looking very fake as time goes on. Back in the day when I would see her on her home course (Flagstone) in Marysville she was a natural beauty.

    Reply Report comment

  19. darren

    Jul 15, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    maybe there is a god…and if he’s listening, there’s a few more i’d like gone

    Reply Report comment

  20. Tony

    Jul 15, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Glad to see the plastic Barbie move on. Hard to take her seriously when she always wore stripper pumps.

    Reply Report comment

  21. benseattle

    Jul 15, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    Ben Alberstadt is a completely uninformed amateur. This:

    <>

    ANCHORING??? You CANNOT BE SERIOUS. Anchoring a golf telecast is not a role a teleprompter-loving studio host can jump into. And apparently “Ben” hasn’t heard that Fox has already announced that Joe Buck will be anchoring the network’s USGA telecasts, helped by Greg Norman as analyst. For Alberstadt to simply ASSUME that Sonders will “presumably” anchor the network’s U.S. Open broadcast is not merely shoddy journalism; it’s a joke.

    You watch: she’ll be doing pre-round interviews on the practice range. No booth, no “foot soldier” work such as Feherty or Maltbie.

    Sonders’ paycheck just doubled while her total exposure will be reduced by HALF.

    Reply Report comment

    • Joe

      Nov 1, 2014 at 4:24 pm

      It much more than doubled my friend, much more. Her air time may have been halved, but her exposure will quadruple at minimum. More people will see her in five minutes at Fox than saw her in a month on Golf Channel, and the exposure is going to increase exponentially as opposed to declining exponentially at golf channel. The golf channel is becoming the one thing it has fought so hard against. It is becoming a seasonal tv channel. And Holly was smart enough to make sure she is a girl for all seasons. Alas, poor golf channel, I knew it well.

      Reply Report comment

  22. RAT

    Jul 14, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    Agree with Jeff.
    Also bring back Winn!

    Reply Report comment

  23. Derrick

    Jul 14, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    Notice how GC has gone down hill since NBC bought it? It used to be a show worth watching but now it’s just loaded with a bunch of am’s who want to hit balls on the simulator and give advice to others…like Damon Hack knows what he’s talking about, right? He’s hasn’t broken 80!!!!

    Matt Ginella travels around the world playing courses and staying at resorts that 99.9% of their view audience will never visit nor can afford. So, why even waste our time talking about it, along with other courses that Gary Williams and Charlie Rymer play.

    Reply Report comment

    • Tom

      Jul 15, 2014 at 11:46 pm

      Totally agree on Ginnella. Seems like a nice guy but I don’t care where he travels to. Chances are I won’t ever go there, and even if I do, it won’t be anytime soon.

      Reply Report comment

  24. david

    Jul 14, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    Maybe she just wanted a job where she could wear a few more clothes.

    Reply Report comment

  25. KK

    Jul 14, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    I don’t understand all the judging. The American dream is about using your physical attributes, talents and hard work to achieve success and happiness. Shouldn’t we applaud this woman?

    Reply Report comment

  26. golfa8

    Jul 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    How about Jenny Dell?

    Reply Report comment

  27. blott0

    Jul 14, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    That’s too bad, she had a great personality and even better body.

    Reply Report comment

  28. Big Wally

    Jul 14, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Most overexposed woman, literally and figuratively, in sports television.

    Reply Report comment

  29. JEFF

    Jul 14, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Golf channel needs to get rid of Chamblee and tilman and it might be tolerable!

    Reply Report comment

    • Jake

      Jul 14, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      I couldn’t agree with you more!

      Reply Report comment

    • pb

      Jul 14, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Agreed.

      Reply Report comment

    • steve

      Jul 14, 2014 at 2:28 pm

      Agreed, when Tilghman is hosting MD I can’t watch. It is just as hard to watch Brandel “I know everything” Chamblee

      Reply Report comment

    • Fred

      Jul 15, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      it’s hard to listen to guys on that show, especially Chamblee, who, if they ever played on tour, never amounted to very much. Yet they sit there and have the gall to tell us what’s wrong with Tiger’s game, or Phil’s game, what they can do to fix it. These guys aren’t even qualified to shine Phil’s shoes, much less criticize his game, or any one else on tour, for that matter. FOX Sports has a huge audience, and as much as I like Holly, it will interesting to see if its viewers take this Golf Channel alumn seriously when she talks football.

      Reply Report comment

    • Donnie

      Oct 24, 2014 at 11:17 am

      +1 agreed. NBC has practically killed it. I hope for their sake their content contracts are secure, I think there might be room for competition.

      Reply Report comment

  30. JEFF

    Jul 14, 2014 at 11:37 am

    Plastic woman will always have a job!

    Reply Report comment

  31. John K

    Jul 14, 2014 at 11:37 am

    Bring back Winn….way better….the GC make up team will get a rest based on this move!

    Reply Report comment

  32. adam

    Jul 14, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Jay and Dan and now Holly. Damn you Fox.

    Reply Report comment

  33. Mr. McMurry

    Jul 14, 2014 at 9:29 am

    Too much icing on this cupcake, maybe Winn will return now!

    Reply Report comment

  34. steve

    Jul 14, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Her anchoring the U.S Open? They really do have a death sentence for golf. It might make it unwatchable

    Reply Report comment

  35. Pingback: Holly Sonders’ move to Fox is the right next step | Spacetimeandi.com

  36. N

    Jul 14, 2014 at 2:45 am

    Niederkohr….. lulz

    Reply Report comment

  37. ILOVEHER

    Jul 14, 2014 at 2:19 am

    It’s all about the sex.

    Reply Report comment

  38. MHendon

    Jul 13, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    Hey Golf Channel I have a suggestion for her replacement. Cheyenne Woods, she’s pretty hot, has a hell of a golf swing, and can get you on the inside track for those Tiger Woods interviews.

    Reply Report comment

  39. marty

    Jul 13, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    Mid range hooker? Thats harsh. Haters in the house.

    Reply Report comment

  40. Boner

    Jul 13, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    Hasn’t she been 26 for the past 3 years? How come everybody else grows older but she doesn’t. BTW she looks like she is 36.

    Reply Report comment

    • Joe

      Jul 14, 2014 at 1:22 pm

      Couldn’t agree more… I was actually shocked to hear she is in her mid-20s. Too much makeup has done a number on her skin. I’d rather see Paige Mackenzie or Win McMurray any day.

      Reply Report comment

  41. snowman

    Jul 13, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Bring Back Win McMurray! Holly was way over-hyped at GC. I never thought she was that hot and agree with others that she looked like a “mid-range’ hooker most of the time. I am not looking forward to seeing her on FOX; seems to me she is living the peter-principle; rising to the level of her incompetence. As far as I know she has nothing different or special to offer on NFL broadcasts, so she’ll just be the token sideline chick on the broadcast. As far as anchoring Fox golf broadcast, she is not even close to being in the same class as Terry Gannon, Nantz (et. al)… Could be an epic fail……

    Reply Report comment

    • Desmond

      Jul 14, 2014 at 11:42 am

      Apparently, most of you haven’t seen many hookers.

      Reply Report comment

      • Frank

        Jul 14, 2014 at 1:48 pm

        I think she’s “that hot” !!! Who cares , way too much seriousness here. It’s just golf

        Frank

        Reply Report comment

      • marty

        Jul 14, 2014 at 2:20 pm

        Lololololol

        Reply Report comment

      • Fred

        Jul 16, 2014 at 1:26 pm

        Desmond: Or maybe they have seen a lot of them. They seem to know what they look like.

        Reply Report comment

  42. Ty

    Jul 13, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I won’t miss her nasally drone but I guess FOX will make me listen to it more.

    Reply Report comment

  43. Bill

    Jul 13, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Enough of Holly and her fake smile and chest. Sex sells but this was getting ridiculous. TGC had to put her on any and every program it could wearing as short a skirt as she could fit in. Bring back Win and let Fox deal with Holly and her ego.

    Reply Report comment

  44. ih8

    Jul 13, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    This is a tough loss for golf channel. She’s one of the few personalities there that actually knows anything about golf.

    I can see why she’s leaving though; she’s as technically knowledgeable as anyone on GC yet has go through hours of hair and makeup (which, I agree, is monstrously overdone and makes her look awful….she might actually be pretty underneath it all, who knows?) and dress in spike heels and tight/short dresses (i.e. like a mid-range prostitute). If I were her, I would be demanding 15-25% more pay than anyone on GC.

    At least Fox sports is a potential step towards legitimacy. And like Ben said, it’s covering not golf, i.e. she’ll be covering real and not niche sports.

    Reply Report comment

  45. Randall

    Jul 13, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    That’s what the nfl needs, another girl on the sidelines with no knowledge asking easy “how do you feel” questions. I hope they have better makeup artists at fox, she’s getting rough

    Reply Report comment

    • Enrique

      Jul 13, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Good, Im not the only person who thinks she cakes on the makeup – she ain’t all that. eek!

      One more reason NOT to watch Fox.

      Reply Report comment

  46. John C

    Jul 13, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    The right next step is to dump ESPN-tainted Erik Kuselias… she’s at rival Fox Sports now after all.

    Reply Report comment

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Morning 9: Tiger 2025 Ryder Cup talks continue | Rory: Tour in a worse place with Dunne’s resignation

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Sean Leahy for Yahoo Sports…”A former employee of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters memorabilia and historic items, including a green jacket belonging to Arnold Palmer.”

  • “According to federal prosecutors, 39-year-old Richard Globensky made around $5 million over the course of a decade from selling items stolen from the Augusta National warehouse, which were then transported to another party in Florida.”
  • “Globensky pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen goods across state lines. As part of his plea, he must hand the government a $1.5 million check this week.”
Full piece.

6. Chamblee on why Rory hasn’t won a major

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee gave his opinion as to why McIlroy has come up empty.”

  • “I just think he can’t find a place mentally where he plays his best golf.”
  • “If you go back and look at what he did from 2011-2014, in that stretch, he led roughly 20% of the rounds he played in major championships. His game has not fallen off, not one bit.
  • “He’s, on paper, pretty much the same player he was. He’s not quite the ball striker he was 2011-2014, not quite, but he’s made up for it with his short game around the greens and on the greens. He’s almost the same player.”
  • “Yet, he’s led just two rounds beginning with the 2015 Masters to the 2024 Masters. I just think that tells you he can’t find the proper way to prepare, the proper way to ease into a round. When he’s needed to play his best, he’s played his worst. When he’s played his worst, he’s then followed it up with his best golf. That’ll tell you that he’s just not in the right place mentally.”
Full piece.

7. Why Scottie’s caddie will have a fill-in Saturday

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler will have a fill-in caddie on the bag for Saturday’s third round of the PGA Championship.”

  • “Ted Scott, Scheffler’s full-time caddie, will miss Saturday’s round at Valhalla Golf Club to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. Scott will leave Friday night after caddying the first two rounds and return late Saturday to loop the final round.”
  • “That’s something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first,” Scheffler said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “It’s the same thing for me as it is for my caddie. It was a pretty easy decision. He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date.”
Full piece.

8. Chamblee: LIV format makes it impossible to judge player talent

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee explained why he believes the LIV format makes it impossible to determine if a LIV player is playing well.”

  • “Describing the format as “stupid”, Chamblee stated
  • “The format for LIV is just stupid. There’s no other word for it. 54 holes, 54 players start. Willy nilly here and there.
  • “Nobody winning a golf tournament should finish on the third hole on some par three while his closest competitors finish on the 17th hole or the 18th hole.”
  • “When we asked Brandel if LIV players should be in majors, Chamblee indicated that it would be tough to do with no way to truly measure their performance.
  • “It’s just a laughable concept. There’s no way to judge the talents of these players out there. You look at their data, and again, their data is laughable. It’s very hard to hit 75% of your greens and it looks like everybody on their tour is hitting 75% of greens. Who’s keeping their stats? Who’s doing their data? They haven’t gotten their act together.”
Full piece.

9. Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship

  • Check out all of our galleries from the year’s second major!
Full piece.
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

on

May 14, 2024

By

GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.

While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.

Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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News

Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue

Published

2 days ago

on

May 14, 2024

By
By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the PGA Championship from iconic Valhalla.

1. Is now the time Rory finally ends major drought?

BBC’s Iain Carter…”But given the imperious form he showed in Charlotte last week, perhaps this is the PGA Championship to rekindle the ruthless streak of old. And not just because he is back at Valhalla (the Nordic word for the hall of the fallen).”

  • “It also became clear last week that McIlroy is somewhat persona non grata to the PGA Tour’s Policy Board. His views on a global future for this damagingly split sport do not seem to chime with the American dominated body.”
  • “His offer to return to the board from which he resigned earlier this year was rejected and he has been left as a mere non-voting member of the “transaction committee” dealing with a potential deal with Saudi Arabia.”
  • “McIlroy insists there are “no hard feelings” but there should be.”
  • “No player has worked harder for their sport during this period of unprecedented tumult and the board has rejected someone many people regard as the game’s most articulate and enlightened international voice.”
  • “Now is, surely, the time for McIlroy to feel slighted and respond with his clubs. Play as though he has a chip on his shoulder, but in the knowledge that he is generationally the most consistent golfing force out there.”
Full piece.

2. Scheffler in for PGA Champ after birth of child

Jaclyn Hendricks for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler and wife Meredith’s bundle of joy has arrived.”

  • “The couple welcomed their first child, just weeks after Scheffler claimed his second Masters victory in three years.”
  • “Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig tweeted Saturday that the baby was born and Scheffler will play in this week’s PGA Championship — the second major of the season.”
  • “There’s been nothing official from Scottie Scheffler, his team or the Tour… But word is he will be at Valhalla for the PGA next week after winning four of his last five tournaments, including the Masters. He is currently on the Tuesday interview schedule for 3:30 p.m. #babyborn,” Harig wrote over the weekend.”
Full piece.

3. “Erik van Rooyen, friends and family live in honor of ‘Trazzy’”

  • That’s the headline of Ryan Lavner’s superb piece on Erik van Rooyen and his departed best friend Jon Trasmar. An excerpt would be an injustice. Go read it!
Full piece.

4. Stricker out of PGA citing fatigue

AP report…”Steve Stricker decided Sunday to withdraw from the PGA Championship at Valhalla, citing the difficulty of playing four times in a span of five weeks.”

  • “Stricker, 57, was eligible by winning the Senior PGA Championship last year. He, John Daly and Phil Mickelson are the only players to have competed at Valhalla each of the previous three times the PGA Championship was held there.”
Full piece.

5. Why Valhalla is a great venue for major championships

Garrett Morrison for The Fried Egg…”But before we start slinging mud (of which there will be plenty in Kentucky this week), let’s pause to think about why Valhalla tends to generate close final-round battles featuring elite players. It’s not magic: the course has long par 3s and 4s, narrow fairways, and smallish greens surrounded by rough and bunkers. This style of design and setup, which practically defines the PGA Championship’s modern brand, gives an outsize advantage to a skill that many star players share: power. Length off the tee and the ability to muscle the ball out of rough to a well-protected green will be near-prerequisites for contending at this week’s PGA Championship. If Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau show up with any kind of short-game and putting form, they will be in the mix on Sunday. And the presence of such A-listers on the leaderboard will further burnish Valhalla’s reputation as a serious venue.“

  • “It does not follow, however, that Valhalla is a great golf course. In fact, I find it a fairly mediocre and bland one. Very few holes offer multiple options of the tee (the exceptions being the short par-4 fourth and the double-fairway par-5 seventh), most of the greens lack memorable contouring, and the recovery shots from around the fairways and greens are one-dimensional and repetitive. So even if Sunday turns out to be a barn-burner, the first three rounds, when the focus will be on the course and the shots demanded, will probably be sleepier, aside from the inevitable Blockie walk-and-talk.”
Full piece.

6. Dunne resigns from policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Jimmy Dunne, who last year helped negotiate the PGA Tour’s controversial framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, resigned from the tour’s policy board on Monday.”

  • “In Dunne’s resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, Dunne wrote that “no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with PIF” and that “my vote and my role is utterly superfluous” now that player directors outnumber independent directors on the policy board. Dunne’s resignation was effective immediately.”
  • “It is crucial for the Board to avoid letting yesterday’s differences interfere with today’s decisions, especially when they influence future opportunities for the tour,” Dunne wrote. “Unifying professional golf is paramount to restoring fan interest and repairing wounds left from a fractured game. I have tried my best to move all minds in that direction.”
  • “Along with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Dunne and policy board chairman Ed Herlihy secretly negotiated the framework agreement with the PIF, which is financing the rival LIV Golf League. Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced the deal on June 6. Most PGA Tour players — including some player directors — were unaware of the deal until it was announced on TV.”
Full piece.
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