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☆ The Masters: Bruising winds blow a flurry of big names out of ‘borderline unplayable’ Augusta National
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Believe it or not, these are both sound bites from a golf tournament. A storm-delayed first round meant some players had to finish their first 18 holes Friday morning, exacerbating a grueling day. “Even the golf course was saying, ‘Get the hell out of here,’” Homa, chasing his first major, said. South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel clinched a two-shot victory at Augusta National in 2011, but crashed out after shooting 74 and 81. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” Woods replied when asked by reporters what the milestone means to him.

Persons: Mike Tyson, whisking, toiled, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson –, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, ” Rahm, “, Sand, Ashley Landis, Max Homa, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Homa, ‘, ”, DeChambeau, LIV, –, I’ve, Scheffler, Jason, Scheffler’s, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark –, Justin Thomas, Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Charl Schwartzel, ” Schwartzel, ” Spieth, Warren Little, Shane Lowry, Akshay Bhatia, “ It’s, ” Ireland’s Lowry, Akshay, ” Bhatia, It’s, Garcia, Tyson, African Erik van Rooyen, Woods, Gary Player, Fred Couples, ” Woods Organizations: CNN, National, Sky Sports, Augusta National Locations: American, Augusta, “, British, African

☆ The Masters: Bubba Watson’s nine-year-old daughter Dakota steals the show at Par 3 contest
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Plenty of young golfers have sent crowds into a frenzy at Augusta National across the 88 years of The Masters, but perhaps none quite as young as Dakota Watson. Bubba Watson’s nine-year-old daughter delivered a putting masterclass during the par three contest on the eve of the major on Wednesday, showcasing the sort of golden touch around the greens that helped her father clinch two green jackets. You’ve never seen Dakota until today,” broadcaster Sean McDonough asked co-commentator Curtis Strange on ESPN’s live coverage of the contest. Now that they’re getting older, they can hit shots, we can have fun with it,” 45-year-old Watson, making his 16th Masters start, told reporters. That’s what this is all about.”After a two-and-a-half hour delay due to bad weather, the first round of The Masters got underway on Thursday.

Persons: Dakota Watson, Bubba Watson’s, –, Rickie Fowler, Allison Stokke, Maya, Watson, Charlie Riedel, Ben Crenshaw, “, you’ve, You’ve, Sean McDonough, Curtis Strange, Ben ”, ’, ” Walter Harman, Brian Harman, Mike Blake, Fowler, Sam Snead, Patrick Reed, ” Fowler, we’ll, Adam Cairns, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Luke List, Lucas Glover, Gary Woodland, Jax lasered, Jax Woodland, Warren Little, Woodland Organizations: CNN, Augusta National, USA, Sports, Reuters Locations: “

☆ The Masters: The eclipse is all anyone can talk about at Augusta National
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The total solar eclipse plunged Augusta National Golf Club into darkness shortly after 3 p.m. local time in Georgia, bringing the major’s first practice round to a standstill as players, caddies and patrons turned their gazes skyward. 1 Scottie Scheffler – though only after being provided with a pair of viewing glasses by one helpful young fan. Caddies also donned solar glasses. “This is timed up pretty good; get to watch the end of the world at Augusta National,” the American said, laughing. An eclipse hasn't coincided with Masters week since 1940.

Persons: “, Will Zalatoris, ”, Bubba Watson, Matt Slocum, Stewart Hagestad, Scottie Scheffler –, Hagestad, Scottie, Jimmy Demaret, Caddies, Warren Little, Peter Malnati, Brian Harman, Adam Cairns, Corey Conners, Conners Organizations: CNN, Golf, PGA, Augusta National, Reuters Locations: Georgia, USA

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau each shot 8-under 62 on Friday to share the lead at LIV Golf Las Vegas, with fellow major champion Jon Rahm two strokes back with a day left in his second event on the Saudi-funded tour. In the shadow of the Super Bowl, Johnson and DeChambeau reached 11-under 129 at Las Vegas Country Club on another chilly day with the temperature barely in the 50s. Rahm had a 63 to join Peter Uihlein (65) and Matthew Wolff (66) at 9 under. In the team competition, Johnson's 4Aces were tied for the lead at 26 under with a RangeGoats team featuring Uihlein, Wolff and Watson. Last year, Johnson won LIV Golf Tulsa and DeChambeau topped fields at Greenbrier and Chicago.

Persons: — Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Johnson, DeChambeau, Rahm, Peter Uihlein, Matthew Wolff, Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Paul Casey, Harold Varner III, Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Laurie Canter, Johnson's 4Aces, Uihlein, Wolff, Watson, DeChambeau's Crushers, Nos, Joaquin Niemann, Sergio Garcia, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, LIV Golf, LIV Golf Las Vegas, Saudi, Las Vegas Country Club, LIV Golf Tulsa Locations: LIV Golf Las, Greenbrier, Chicago, Mexico

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Harold Varner III made an impressive turnaround in one week, going from last place in the LIV Golf season opener to a 7-under 63 on Thursday to share the first-round lead with Paul Casey. LIV Golf Las Vegas is being held the same week as the Super Bowl and drew a reasonable turnout at Las Vegas Country Club, despite temperatures that barely cracked 50 degrees when the shotgun start began. Varner opened with two straight birdies and closed with two birdies on his last three holes. He began the season last week at the Mexican resort of Mayakoba and finished last in the 54-man field, 26 shots out of the lead. Varner said he got in some work with Butch Harmon, the esteemed swing coach who lives in Las Vegas and doesn't travel much.

Persons: — Harold Varner III, Paul Casey, LIV, Varner, Butch Harmon, “, ” Casey, ”, Bubba Watson, Matthew Wolff, hasn't, Joaquin Niemann, Sergio Garcia, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Super, Las Vegas Country Club Locations: Las, Mayakoba, Las Vegas

☆ LIV Golf's transfer window sees 10 open roster spots in Phase Two
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Phase Two, or Free Agency, involves those TOP 24 players who opted to become free agents and those who finished 25th to 44th whose contracts have expired. They can be re-signed by their previous team or negotiate with a team with an open roster spot. Cleeks GC have two open roster spots with both Bernd Wiesberger and Graeme McDowell finishing outside the Top 24, and Ripper GC also have two spots with Jediah Morgan relegated, although they have the option to re-sign Matt Jones. Fireballs GC, captained by Sergio Garcia, have one open spot as Carlos Ortiz declined a contract extension and opted for free agency, and Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC have an open spot after James Piot's relegation. Phase Two will finish when four roster spots remain, which are reserved for the winner of the International Series 2023 rankings, Andy Ogletree, and the top three at LIV Golf Promotions in Abu Dhabi in December.

Persons: Crushers, Bryson Dechambeau, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri, Sam Navarro, LIV Golf's, Bubba Watson's RangeGoats, Majesticks, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Cleeks, Bernd Wiesberger, Graeme McDowell, Jediah Morgan, Matt Jones, Sergio Garcia, Carlos Ortiz, Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers, James Piot's, Sihwan Kim, Brooks Koepka's, Chase, Pat Perez, Dustin Johnson, Perez, David Puig, Andy Ogletree, Trevor Stynes, Toby Davis Organizations: Crushers GC, LIV Golf Miami, Trump National Doral, Mandatory, USA, Free Agency, Crushers, Africa's, Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC, 4Aces, LIV, Thomson Locations: Doral , Florida, USA, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi

DORAL, Fla. (AP) — Anirban Lahiri shot a 7-under 65 and Bryson DeChambeau delivered the theatrics on the back nine of the Blue Monster to lead the Crushers to a two-shot victory over the RangeGoats in the LIV Golf team championship Sunday at Trump Doral. DeChambeau made his most remarkable birdie on the reachable 16th, which he hit long and left near the second green. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesLahiri played bogey-free for the low round among the four teams playing for the title. The Crushers won $14 million from the $50 million purse. Of that payoff, 60% goes to the team and the players divide the rest — $1.4 million per player.

Persons: — Anirban Lahiri, Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf's, DeChambeau, Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, Bubba Watson birdied, Talor Gooch, Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner, Gooch, Lahiri, “, ” Lahiri, Dustin Johnson, — Peter Uihlein, Torque, ___ Organizations: LIV Golf, Sunday, Trump Doral, Aces Locations: DORAL, Fla

☆ LIV Golf loses its bid to earn ranking points over questions about a closed shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

LIV Golf is playing only for cash, not world ranking points, after the Official World Golf Ranking board determined it could not fairly measure the 48-man league with the other 24 tours around the world. LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022, and the lack of world ranking points has taken an enormous toll. Among those no longer in the top 100 are Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Talor Gooch, who has three LIV Golf victories this year. LIV Golf can reapply to be part of the OWGR system, though the board made it clear that turnover, objective access to LIV Golf and relegating players who don't perform remain key points in getting ranking points. There's also the matter of the PGA Tour, European tour and Saudi backers of LIV Golf (Public Investment Fund) working out a commercial partnership announced in June.

Persons: LIV, LIV Golf, OWGR, Peter Dawson, They're, Jay Monahan, Keith Pelley, Keith Waters, Dawson, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, — Andy Ogletree —, Mito Pereira, Thomas Pieters, Cameron Smith, Smith, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, Sergio Garcia, Sebastian Munoz, Koepka, Munoz, There's Organizations: Centurion, The Associated Press, International Federation of PGA, Augusta National, PGA of America, U.S . Golf Association, LIV, League, PGA Tour, British, Investment Fund Locations: St Albans, London, Saudi, U.S, Florida

CNN —Golf’s power structure took a sharp shift to the players Tuesday when Tiger Woods was named as the sixth player director on the powerful PGA Tour policy board. The move gives the players a one-seat advantage on the board after the controversial merger in June between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Five of the policy board members are independent directors, with professional backgrounds in law and business. “I am honored to represent the players of the PGA TOUR. Many elite PGA golfers accepted highly lucrative offers from LIV Golf, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson.

Persons: Tiger Woods, LIV Golf, ” Woods, Jay, Monahan, Woods, Rory McIlroy, Webb Simpson, Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, McIlroy, LIV, “, Golf, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Greg Norman, ” Monahan, Colin Neville, Neville, Ben Morse Organizations: CNN, Tour, PGA Tour, LIV, PGA, Washington Post, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Capitol Hill, Saudi, Premier Golf League Locations: Saudi, Connecticut

☆ PGA Tour commissioner reportedly tells employees the reason for LIV Golf merger: 'We cannot compete with a foreign government with unlimited money'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Kaja Whitehouse | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spoke to employees about the merger with LIV Golf, WSJ reported. He reportedly suggested the cost of battling LIV Golf in court and on the green was unsustainable. "The PGA TOUR has never been a more valuable property," which the merger recognized via an investment, she added. PGA Tour announced the merger after a tough year of battling LIV Golf in court and on the green. PGA Tour players who have joined LIV include Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.

Persons: Jay Monahan, LIV Golf, —, Joe Monahan, Monahan, LIV, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Bertrand Guay, Phil Mickelson, Ben Jared, Bubba Watson Organizations: LIV, Saudi, Service, PGA Tour, Street, Getty, Saudi Public Investment Fund, PGA Locations: Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida, AFP, Saudi

☆ PGA Tour agrees to merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The PGA Tour has agreed to merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf in a deal that would see the competitors squash pending litigation and move forward as a larger golf enterprise. With LIV Golf in the midst of its second, groundbreaking season, the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to best feature and grow team golf going forward. PIF will initially be the exclusive investor in the new entity, alongside the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. Separately, PGA TOUR Inc. will remain in place as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt organization and retains administrative oversight of events for those assets contributed by the PGA TOUR, including the sanctioning of events, the administration of the competition and rules, as well as all other "inside the ropes" responsibilities, with Jay Monahan as Commissioner and Ed Herlihy as PGA TOUR Policy Board Chairman. The DP World Tour and LIV Golf will retain similar administrative oversight of events on their respective Tours.

Persons: LIV, LIV didn't, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Jay Monahan, PIF, CNBC'S David Faber, LIV Golf, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Monahan, Team Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Osama Bin Laden, Donald Trump, nobody's, Trump, CNBC's David Faber, Jessica Golden, Kevin Durant, James Pitaro, LIV –, we've, Jay, Keith, Ed Herlihy, Herlihy, Jimmy Dunne, Keith Pelley Organizations: Nexstar, Nexstar Media Group, CW Network, CW, Wrestling, Endeavor Group, PGA Tour, CNBC, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, PGA, European PGA, U.S, Team, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Saudi, CBS Sports, LIV, ESPN, Public Investment Fund, Al, Rumayyan, Strategic Alliance Locations: U.S, Saudi, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles, RIYADH, PONTE, BEACH , Florida

☆ Gooch holds off Garcia in Singapore playoff for back-to-back LIV tour wins
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 30 (Reuters) - American Talor Gooch beat Sergio Garcia in a playoff to claim victory in a weather-affected LIV Golf Invitational in Singapore on Sunday and secure a second $4 million winner's pay cheque in as many LIV tour appearances. The American, who also won the LIV Golf event in Adelaide last week, went into the final round tied with Garcia, with Brooks Koepka one stroke behind them in solo third. Koepka lost some ground on the back nine and eventually settled for third, but Gooch and Garcia remained neck-and-neck until the end and both birdied on the final hole to send it into the tiebreak. "This is as good as it gets, plain and simple," Gooch said. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Edited by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Gooch overcomes mid-round slump to claim maiden LIV Tour victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Apr 22, 2023; Adelaide,South Australia, AUS; Talor Gooch of Team Rangegoats hits a tee shot during the second round of LIV Golf Adelaide golf tournament at Grange Golf Club. "Winning on any tour is hard, winning on this type of golf course in front of this type of a crowd is not easy," said Gooch, who finished 19-under. "You can't go three days on this type of golf course and not make mistakes so when I made the birdie on 11, that was time to dig deep and go get a victory." Gooch started the day 20-under following back-to-back rounds of 62 and he picked up another shot with a birdie at the par-four fifth. Gooch rallied, however, with birdies at the 11th and 13th, steadying the American as he went on to win his first event on the LIV Tour.

☆ McIlroy's career Grand Slam bid officially ends with missed cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

One of the pre-tournament favourites, McIlroy's disappointment dragged on into Saturday as 39 players returned to complete their weather hit rounds where the cut line was set at three over. Major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson along with Jason Kokrak all missed the cut. Tiger Woods made the cut but by the skin of his teeth when good friend Justin Thomas bogeyed the 17th moving the cut line to three over. "I've always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event," said Woods at the end of his round before the cut line had been set. Couples also became the oldest player in Masters history to make the cut when the 63-year-old returned a second round two-over 74 for a one-over total.

Public Investment Fund LIV Golf Trump World Performance54 LIV Golfers PLUS 45 OTHERS CONSULTANTS LAWYERS McKinsey & Company PwC Public Investment Fund Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan White & Case M. Klein & Company Teneo Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Majed al-Sorour Newcastle United Aramco Golf Saudi Benjamin Quayle Yasir al-Rumayyan Ari Fleischer Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LIV Golf Performance54 Trump World Greg Norman Donald J. Trump Gary Davidson Jed Moore Eric Trump Jared Kushner LIV Golfers Cameron Smith Phil Mickelson Dustin Johnson PLUS 45 OTHERSLIV Golf has cleaved men’s professional golf like no other force since the 1960s. Some of the world’s top players, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, have become the faces of LIV Golf. The Public Investment FundDiagram of the major figures in LIV Golf that are connected to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Public Investment Fund Jared Kushner’s firm accepted a $2 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund. LIV Golf Trump World Eric Trump Jared Kushner Donald J. Trump Public Investment Fund Jared Kushner’s firm accepted a $2 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund.

☆ Five storylines to follow at this week's Masters
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/8] Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 3, 2023 Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. in action on the 12th hole during a practice round REUTERS/Brian SnyderAUGUSTA, Georgia, April 3 (Reuters) - Five storylines to follow as the best players in the world descend upon Augusta National Golf Club this week for the April 6-9 Masters. SCHEFFLER SEEKS RARE REPEATWorld number one Scottie Scheffler, who arrived at Augusta National last year as the hottest player on the planet, returns in top form and looking to become only the fourth player to successfully defend a Masters title. No player has won the Masters in consecutive years since Tiger Woods accomplished the feat in 2001-02 and prior to that only Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-66) have pulled off the Augusta double. Among those competing will be a prominent group of LIV Golf players that, in addition to British Open winner Cameron Smith, include former Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel. The hole has played to an historical scoring average of 4.77 that makes it the easiest hole at Augusta National.

☆ LIV Golf finalizes all 12 team rosters for second season
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

February 21 - LIV Golf announced its 12 rosters of four-players teams for the upstart league's second season Monday night, making official the reported signings of Thomas Pieters, Danny Lee, Dean Burmester and Brendan Steele. 35 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of this week, joined Bubba Watson's team, RangeGoats. Players who finished in the top 24 of the 2022 Invitational Series were guaranteed spots for the 2023 LIV Golf League, according to a press release. "In less than a year, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport's future. In 2023, the LIV Golf League comes to life," LIV CEO and commissioner Greg Norman said in a statement.

☆ LIV Golf reaches broadcast rights deal with CW Network
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Signage on a golf ball at the LIV golf tournament on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. LIV Golf reached a multi-year deal to make CW Network the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner of the Saudi-funded professional golf tour that launched last year with dozens of golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. CW Network President Dennis Miller in a press release said the partnership "marks a significant milestone in our goal to re-engineer the network." As its name suggests, LIV Golf tournaments feature 54 holes instead of the more common 72. The PGA Tour previously suspended 17 players for playing in the inaugural LIV Golf tournament in June, which LIV called an "effort to stifle competition."

☆ LIV captains play for laughs ahead of finale
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Oct 26, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Brooks Koepka and Ian Poulter share a laugh during a press conference before the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. LIV Golf has challenged the traditions of the sport, opting for a rock-and-roll party vibe that offers a departure from classic golf etiquette and promising, 'Good vibes, great eats and live music". "You probably don't know this because you've never been number one in the world," said four-time major winner Koepka to Mickelson. Trying to replicate the excitement generated by hugely popular team competitions such as the Ryder and Presidents Cups, LIV Golf incorporated a team component into all eight events. Mickelson, once an anchor of U.S. Ryder Cup squads, candidly described the LIV team event as a fun competition.

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