Latest news with #QuailHollowClub
Irish Examiner
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Golf's silent treatment issue is now coming to a head
A little cobbled courtyard in front of the scorer's office at the Quail Hollow Club was the setting for some tough scenes last month. Those stones saw more rejected advances than this writer's days on a disco dance floor. BBC Northern Ireland had dispatched a reporter and a cameraman to the site of the PGA Championship in North Carolina for the week, a significant transatlantic outlay in this era of ever-tightening sportsdesk budgets. But Rory McIlroy was coming off his glorious career grand slam moment in Augusta and interest levels justified the expense. On the Saturday afternoon, when McIlroy turned down all dance requests from the media for a third-straight day, the men from the Beeb at least had the consolation of Tom McKibbin coming in soon after. The 22-year-old had made the weekend in his debut at the year's second major. As an apprentice to his fellow Holywood master he could have some insights on many fronts. All was not lost. That was until McKibbin also turned down the media request. Back to dancing on your own, boys. To his credit, McKibbin did speak every other day. McIlroy, of course, left Quail Hollow without having made a single post-round appearance in front of a microphone. On Thursday lunchtime at Oakmont, the world No.2 again said no to media requests after opening his US Open account with a 4-over 74. For those counting, that's now five-straight rounds at major championships where McIlroy has given the press the silent treatment. Before you think this is a naval-gazing, self-important plea for someone, anyone to think of the sports journalists, let's be clear: that's not our aim. Professional golfers play arguably the most mentally oppressive sport there is. Expecting them all to stroll off the 18th and instantly recite poetry about the pain they've just experienced is unrealistic and perhaps even unfair. Whether you're reporting on site from one of these big weeks or the even the less-heralded stops on tour, one common habit is to check how the player you're eager to speak with has finished their round. Birdie on 18? The form should be good. Par? We'll be alright. Bogey? Hmmm, this could be dicey. Double or treble? Maybe we can leave the chat til tomorrow. This approach isn't shared by everyone in the media centre, of course. There has arguably never been as much focus and as many requests from broadcast, written and social media for the game's leading lights and some of the journalistic skills can leave a lot to be desired. On Thursday afternoon, amateur Matthew Vogt came into the Oakmont interview tent after shooting a 12-over 82. The first query from the press pack was as follows: 'Matt, talk about everything?' It was an equally lazy question which lit the fuse for Shane Lowry's angst at Augusta when he rightly bristled at being asked for his take on Rory McIlroy when he was still processing his own Masters outlook. Between Lowry, McIlroy and Collin Morikawa's spirited takes on the topic, this has been a season where it very much feels like an issue coming to a head. Paul McGinley has established himself as one of the more respected pundits on tour in recent times with his Live From appearances alongside Brandel Chamblee making for often essential viewing. After McIlroy had gone mute on Thursday, the former Ryder Cup captain had his take. 'I think the mistake lies not so much with Rory or Morikawa or anyone else who doesn't [talk to the media],' McGinley insisted. 'The mistake lies with golf and why isn't golf mandating these guys to [talk]? They're playing for ridiculously high price points. They've got to give a little bit back. And good, bad or indifferent, it needs to be mandated that they [talk] for the good of the game and the good of the tournament.' When making his reappearance on tour last week in Canada, McIlroy addressed his Quail Hollow media snubs. The chatter around his non-compliant driver hadn't helped. But in response to a query from the Examiner, McIlroy also added that 'some days you don't feel like talking'. As often the case with the 36-year-old, forever one of the game's most available and open speakers, there appears to be something more strategic here too. The fact that the players aren't currently contractually obliged to speak is something he feels should change. 'If we all wanted to, we could bypass you guys and go on social media and do it our own way,' he said. 'We understand that that's not ideal for you guys and there's a bigger dynamic at play here. I talk to you guys a lot. I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street. "But I've been beating this drum for a long time. If they want to make it mandatory, that's fine. But in our rules it says that it's not, and until the day that that's maybe written into the regulations, you're going to have guys skip from time to time.' This, however, remains a delicate time for the sport. It's striking that this week in Pittsburgh the two most engaging press conferences came from LIV golfers, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau's sessions in the tent were great to watch and listen to. After his impressive opening round Brooks Koepka, not particularly one of the game's most eloquent speakers, was nonetheless happy to go deep on a very rough few months for him. As much as DeChambeau has harnessed YouTube to remarkable effect, transforming into the man of at least some the people, there is still a place for all types of media. We're ultimately a communication channel to the rest of the people. Talk about everything? No, that's not the way. But it's surely not too much to talk about something.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scottie Scheffler Makes Strong Statement After Major Career Decision
Scottie Scheffler Makes Strong Statement After Major Career Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Thursday, Ryder Cup USA reposted a message on X from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler that read, "I will do whatever it takes to help our team reclaim the Cup." Advertisement This announcement comes on the heels of Scheffler's official selection to the 2025 United States Ryder Cup team, confirming his place among the six automatic qualifiers and joining the roster headed by captain Keegan Bradley. Scheffler went on to say, "Representing the United States at the Ryder Cup has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I look forward to doing so for a third time this September... I cannot wait to play in front of the passionate New York spectators at Bethpage Black." Since turning pro in 2018, Scheffler has rapidly ascended to become one of golf's most decorated competitors. Advertisement In his rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2019, he earned both Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Since then, Scheffler has amassed 21 professional victories, 16 of which came on the PGA Tour and four European Tour wins. Scheffler has won three major championships: the Masters Tournament in 2022 and 2024 and the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. He also boasts back-to-back The Players Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, making him the first player in history to achieve consecutive victories at that event. PGA Tour golfer Scottie Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Looking ahead, the 2025 Ryder Cup stands as a marquee team event that will pit the United States against Europe over four days (September 25-28) at the storied Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. Advertisement This will mark Scheffler's third Ryder Cup appearance with the U.S. team, having previously played in 2021 and 2023. Related: Phil Mickelson Makes Big Career Announcement on Wednesday Related: Scottie Scheffler's Actions in New Video Spark Strong Reaction From PGA Tour This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Powys County Times
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau will defend his title when the 125th US Open takes place at Oakmont from June 12-15. DeChambeau is bidding to win his third US Open following victories at Winged Foot in 2020 and Pinehurst last year, where he edged out Rory McIlroy in a thrilling finish. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main contenders for the year's third major championship. Scottie Scheffler Scheffler recovered from a relatively slow start to the season to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by eight shots in his adopted home state of Texas and followed up with a five-shot victory in the US PGA Championship for his third major title. The world number one was a 19-year-old amateur when he held the clubhouse lead after bad weather brought the first day's play to an early end the last time Oakmont hosted the US Open in 2016 and it would be no surprise to see his name on top of the leaderboard again nine years on. Rory McIlroy A U.S. Open champion at 22. The career grand slam now. Congrats, Rory. 👏 — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) April 13, 2025 McIlroy could only follow his Masters triumph with a share of 47th in the US PGA at Quail Hollow, a venue where he had won four times before, and declined to speak to the media after every round. The world number two's driver was deemed non-confirming earlier in the week and he struggled off the tee, but McIlroy – who missed the cut at Oakmont in 2016 and in each of the next two US Opens – has come to relish the tough test it provides and his form figures since 2019 read 9-8-7-5-2-2. Bryson DeChambeau Bryson's clutch bunker shot forever immortalized at Pinehurst No. 2. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) April 14, 2025 DeChambeau has become a fixture on major championship leaderboards since his move to LIV Golf, his US Open win last year one of five top-six finishes in his last six starts. DeChambeau led after two holes of the final round of the Masters before fading to a closing 75 and also failed to convert a promising position in the US PGA before finishing in a tie for second, but his 2020 victory at Winged Foot proved he can overpower a traditional US Open-style venue, with Oakmont very much in that category. Shane Lowry Lowry held a four-shot lead after 54 holes at Oakmont in 2016, but struggled to a closing 76 to finish three shots behind Dustin Johnson. Three years later he converted the same advantage into his first major title in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush and although he has not won as often as a player of his ability should, five of his six DP World Tour victories have come in prestigious events. Jon Rahm Tough finish for me on Sunday but hats off to Scottie on an amazing win – always love the battle! Thanks to the PGA of America, all of the volunteers, fans, and everyone at Quail Hollow Club for putting on a great event. Taking lots of positives with me for the rest of the year,… — Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) May 21, 2025 Rahm made a welcome return to contention in the majors with his performance in the US PGA Championship, where he wiped out a five-shot deficit to claim a share of the lead after 11 holes of the final round, only to drop five shots on the closing three holes after Scheffler had responded with two crucial birdies. He won his first major in the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines and added the Masters title in 2023 but had struggled to produce his best form following his shock move to LIV Golf at the end of 2023.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 U.S. Open: Sergio Garcia fails to qualify for Oakmont, likely ending streak dating back to 1999
For the first time this century, the U.S. Open will almost certainly take place without Sergio Garcia. Garcia failed to earn a spot in the major championship on Monday at a qualifier in Dallas. That means that, barring some sort of late special exemption, Garcia will now miss out on the U.S. Open for the first time since 1999. Garcia bogeyed his final hole in a 36-hole qualifier in Dallas on Monday afternoon, which ended up costing him a spot in a 7-for-1 playoff. Garcia three-putted on the last green, too. He ended up shooting a 71 in his second round, which brought him to 6-under on the day. 'You have to play good in the afternoon just like in the morning, and I didn't do that,' Garcia said on his way to the parking lot, via James Hahn, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Adam Schenk also earned spots out of the qualifier, along with LIV Golf's Carlos Ortiz, Johnny Keefer and amateurs Lance Simpson and Cameron Tankersley. Other notable names who missed the mark in Dallas include Cameron Champ, Charley Hoffman, Joel Dahmen, Austin Eckroat, Abraham Ancer and Talor Gooch. Several more U.S. qualifying tournaments are set to take place on June 2. The U.S. Open is set to start on June 12 at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh. Garcia is undoubtedly one of the better Spanish golfers in history. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour, including both at The Players Championship and the Masters — which marked his first and only major championship title — and he's won 16 times on the DP World Tour. He's climbed as high as No. 2 in the Official World Golf Rankings, though that's plummeted to 396th since he joined LIV Golf. Garcia missed the cut at the Masters last month, which marked his sixth cut in his last seven starts at Augusta National. He finished T67 at the PGA Championship last week in North Carolina, too. Garcia has been striving to earn a spot on the European Ryder Cup team for this fall, which is something he's been a mainstay on since he turned pro in 1999. Garcia has played on 10 different European Ryder Cup teams and he's earned more points than any other European player in the event's history. But, with his current play and limited opportunities to earn points on LIV Golf, Garcia will only make the team if captain Luke Donald selects him. But, after how he played at Quail Hollow Club last week, Garcia isn't interested. 'Obviously the way I'm playing, even if Luke offered me a pick right now, I would tell him no,' Garcia said Sunday, via The Associated Press. 'So obviously I need to get better. I need to get more where I was just before the Masters. You know, just show myself and show everyone that my game is solid, and it can help team Europe. It's as simple as that.' Garcia backed that up on Monday night, too. 'I just got to play better,' he said. 'I'm not doing it.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 U.S. Open: Sergio Garcia fails to qualify for Oakmont, likely ending streak dating back to 1999
For the first time this century, the U.S. Open will almost certainly take place without Sergio Garcia. Garcia failed to earn a spot in the major championship on Monday at a local qualifier in Dallas. That means that, barring some sort of late special exemption, Garcia will now miss out on the U.S. Open for the first time since 1999. Garcia bogeyed his final hole in a 36-hole qualifier in Dallas on Monday afternoon, which ended up costing him a spot in a 7-for-1 playoff. Garcia three putted on the last green, too. He ended up shooting a 71 in his second round, which brought him to 6-under on the day. 'You have to play good in the afternoon just like in the morning, and I didn't do that,' Garcia said on his way to the parking lot, via James Hahn, Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson and Adam Schenk also earned spots out of the qualifier, along with a pair of amateurs, LIV Golf's Carlos Ortiz and Johnny Keefer. Other notable names who missed the mark in Dallas include Cameron Champ, Charlie Hoffman, Joel Dahmen, Austin Eckroat, Abraham Ancer and Talor Gooch. The U.S. Open is set to start on June 12 at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh. Garcia is undoubtedly one of the better Spanish golfers in history. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour, including both at The Players Championship and the Masters — which marked his first and only major championship title — and he's won 16 times on the DP World Tour. He's climbed as high as No. 2 in the Official World Golf Rankings, though that's plummeted since he joined LIV Golf. Garcia missed the cut at the Masters last month, which marked his sixth cut in his last seven starts at Augusta National. He finished T67 at the PGA Championship last week in North Carolina, too. Garcia has been striving to earn a spot on the European Ryder Cup team for this fall, which is something he's been a mainstay on since he turned pro in 1999. Garcia has played on 10 different European Ryder Cup teams and he's earned more points than any other European player in the event's history. But, with his current play and limited opportunities to earn points on LIV Golf, Garcia will only make the team if captain Luke Donald selects him. But, after how he played at Quail Hollow Club last week, Garcia isn't interested. 'Obviously the way I'm playing, even if Luke offered me a pick right now, I would tell him no,' Garcia said Sunday, via The Associated Press. 'So obviously I need to get better. I need to get more where I was just before the Masters. You know, just show myself and show everyone that my game is solid, and it can help team Europe. It's as simple as that.' Garcia backed that up on Monday night, too. 'I just got to play better,' he said. 'I'm not doing it.'
