As the Tour Championship approaches, golf fans are eagerly watching the latest leaderboard updates. Scottie Scheffler leads the pack, scheduled to tee off at 7:00 PM WAT, alongside Xander Schauffele who shares the same start time. Hideki Matsuyama and Keegan Bradley are not far behind, both set to hit the course at 6:49 PM WAT. Ludvig Åberg is also in contention with a 6:38 PM WAT start. Notable players like Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Collin Morikawa, Will Clark, and Rory McIlroy will begin their rounds between 6:16 PM and 6:38 PM WAT. As the evening progresses, Tony Finau, Adam Scott, Shane Lowry, Sahith Theegala, and Sungjae Im will tee off from 5:38 PM to 6:00 PM WAT. Earlier starters include Robert MacIntyre, Akshay Bhatia, Russell Henley, Viktor Hovland, and Ben An, beginning their rounds from 5:16 PM to 5:38 PM WAT. The day will kick off with Taylor Pendrith, Sepp Straka, Mathieu Pavon, Billy Horschel, and Tommy Fleetwood starting between 4:38 PM and 5:00 PM WAT.
In other news, Lydia Ko, the Olympic gold medalist and recent Women’s Open champion, has reaffirmed her decision to retire from professional golf by the time she turns 30. Despite her recent successes in Paris and St. Andrews, Ko remains steadfast in her plan to leave the sport at her peak. The 27-year-old golfer emphasized that her timeline for retirement remains unchanged, aiming to depart while still at the top of her game. She expressed that golf is an integral part of her life, but not the entirety of it, highlighting her desire to pursue other interests as she transitions away from the sport.
Ko, who made headlines early in her career by becoming the youngest golfer to win a professional tournament at just 14 years old, had a challenging previous year, failing to secure any LPGA victories or major titles. Nevertheless, her triumphs in the Saudi Ladies International and the Grant Thornton Invitational provided a significant boost to her career. Her recent Olympic success, adding a gold medal to her collection of silver and bronze, marked a triumphant end to a period of personal and professional struggle, which she had faced with a quiet resolve.
On the PGA Tour front, Commissioner Jay Monahan has provided an update on the ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Although there is no set deadline for finalizing a deal, Monahan reports that discussions have intensified and become more productive. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour, in conjunction with PIF, had previously signed a framework agreement to potentially secure substantial investment. Despite the expiration of the initial deadline, the parties continue to work on the details of the agreement, focusing on the future of golf and potential financial backing.
The complexities of these negotiations, including the future role of team golf and the status of LIV Golf League competitors, remain points of discussion. The PGA Tour has indicated that players who were never members of the Tour will face a one-year waiting period before being eligible to compete again. As discussions progress, there is a shared optimism about the potential for a unified and prosperous future for the sport, though the resolution of these talks is expected to take time.