News
Tiger Woods, at Barack Obama’s urging, to design Chicago course
Per a report in the Chicago Tribune, Tiger Woods and his TGR Design have been charged with developing a golf course on Chicago’s South Side. The land, which is currently home to Jackson Park and South Shore Golf courses, is expected to be turned into a PGA Tour-quality venue.
“This project can create incredible possibilities for the community on the South Side,” Tiger Woods said in a statement. “We want to design a course that everyone will enjoy.”
And another interesting element of TGR Design’s first foray into the Midwest: President Barack Obama, with his Chicago ties, reportedly made a personal call to Woods prodding him to be a part of the project.
Development is slated to get under way this year and the estimated date of course completion is 2020. Few details on the planned course are available at present, but the expected 7,300-plus yard track could be accompanied by a short par-three course, continuing the “recreational addition” trend in Woods’ recent designs (The Playgrounds at Bluejack National and The Oasis at El Diamante).
According to the Chicago Tribune report, Woods took a tour of the property with Mark Rolfing, who is also involved with the project, in August.
“The course will have tremendous shot values, which is obviously very important to Tiger,” Rolfing said. “This will be his first design that gets tested in competition; what his colleagues and peers think will be important to him.”
In conjunction with the project, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to announce the formation of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance Sunday. The CPGA will be dedicated to improving Chicago Park District courses and golf facilities in addition to raising money for the Jackson Park effort.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
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
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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Desmond
Jan 9, 2017 at 2:01 pm
If it works for the community and advances the game, why not?
All done. Yuck.
Dec 23, 2016 at 4:29 pm
I hoped these comments would be moved to the forums just like the comments on the trump story, but no, GolfWRX appears to enjoy readers making racist comments. See you boys again, never. I got kids. Like I want to explain to them why some fool calls the president of the United States count Chocula. Shameful. It’s been a week. You guys moved to protect Trumps ego within hours. I guess you know your audience, which no longer includes me.
Sableen Maleek
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:05 pm
What is your criteria for deleting readers comments? Facts can be hurtful, I can appreciate that. Let’s put up more cover for Obama, Golfwrx, just as the media does on a daily basis. However, it didnt fool the American people, did it?
Christosterone
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:16 am
What’s a race card and where can I get one?
-Christosterone
Just sayin
Dec 21, 2016 at 12:41 am
The veiled racism on this comment section… the city has crime, they shouldn’t get golf courses? Bubba, they call it civil rights, we’re all equal up here.
TDBACH
Dec 21, 2016 at 10:07 am
No one crys “race card!” faster and louder than an out-and-out racist. Way to hold up the tradition, Bubba.
Jeff
Dec 20, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I live in downtown Chicago. MORE GOLF!! This is awesome!###@!@!
Jeff
Dec 20, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Wtf happened to Golfwrx doesn’t allow political comments outside the forums.
Adam
Dec 20, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Even money says that The Count Chocula of chicago gets the taxpayers to pay for it and he gets tiger double his normal fee??!!
Adam
Dec 19, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Golfwrx needs to clean up or delete this comment section today.
Barry
Dec 19, 2016 at 1:12 am
President Obama should sign an executive order on his way out the door granting himself a lifetime exemption to The Masters to go along with his Nobel Peace Prize.
tom
Dec 18, 2016 at 10:11 pm
Obama hasn’t done much, if anything, to curb the murder epidemic in Chicago, but a golf course will fix things. Way to go, Barry!
Bert
Dec 18, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Great replay – keep talking!
Bert
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Great Replay Barry
Bert
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Dang! Let me see if I can get my Reply correct. This is my third try; not that it matters. I’d like to see Tiger design and build a course in Chicago; especially if will improve the community and provide access for all to a great game.
Jubba Bones
Dec 18, 2016 at 3:45 pm
*Polloi
James
Dec 18, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Maybe this will make the south side a desirable destination!
ooffa
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:50 am
Tiger signature design element. Easy access to parking lot for quick WD’s
golfho
Dec 17, 2016 at 8:02 pm
What an upstanding group! Lets add Chicago southside residents Jeff Fort and Larry Hoover to this honorable group. Nice little scenic drive when you exit the Ryan Expressway or Lakeshore Drive…What a typical Chicago operation.
Tal
Dec 17, 2016 at 6:02 pm
You’re just jealous. If Jack, Norman, Faldo, Monty, Palmer, Earnie and tons of other golfers can design/help to design a course, why can’t Tiger?
Jubba Bones
Dec 18, 2016 at 3:44 pm
You actually agreed with him in your first sentence you muppet!!
Tal
Dec 18, 2016 at 5:48 pm
You mean all of the logistical stuff that no one other than a specialist would be qualified enough to do? Duh! Do you really think everyone believes that a pro golfer’s involvement in course design stretches as far as maintenance issues? They probably get in there, they tell someone what they want the course to look, feel and play like, they add 25 bunkers per hole if their name is Greg Norman and they oversee/approve designs. The rest is left to the experts. Then the pro gets their name on the course, people want to play on it and Beau Welling walks away with a ton of money and, as agreed upfront, none of the credit. I don’t think he needs you to defend his honour and you’re not shattering any great illusion here.
Jubba Bones
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Norman: I think we need more bunkers.
Real course designer: But Greg, we already added in 100 from when you last visited.
Norman: Just make it happen. You remember what happened to the last chatty course designer don’t you?
Real course designer: Yes, sir.
Tal
Dec 18, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Usually some pretty good courses though!
Buck
Dec 19, 2016 at 8:36 am
Yeah, the professionals just love the Oaks course at TPC San Antonio.
Jubba Bones
Dec 19, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Yeah. He might be a one trick pony but it is a pretty good trick.
RollTheRock
Dec 20, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Well said
Jeb Springfield
Dec 17, 2016 at 5:57 pm
The city of Chicago, Obama, and Rahm involved…can only imagine how over budget, and late this project will be.
dWakawaka
Dec 17, 2016 at 11:49 am
Adding a short par-3 track – and I would hope a good practice area – makes the course as a whole sound like a more inviting and fun place for kids and people new to the game to develop some skills. If I were designing a course, I would put a lot of thought into those areas where people could learn the game and practice effectively, esp. the short game, and maybe even have fun at the same time.