Join us every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we discuss Tiger Woods’ first public comments in months, the potential for a new PGA Tour schedule, Rory McIlroy’s career total and more.
Tiger Woods spoke to the media for the first time in several months as he held his annual press conference during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas (won by Hideki Matsuyama). Tiger discussed a variety of topics; which one did you find most interesting?
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I was most intrigued by Woods’ involvement in the future vision for the PGA Tour; I’ve written about that here , but what’s fascinating to me is the combination of Woods – the ultimate insider, and currently one of the longest-tenured figures on the Tour in any position – and Rolapp – the ultimate outsider with admittedly very little golf-specific knowledge – as the shapers of the Tour’s future.
Josh Berhow, Editor-in-Chief (@Josh_Berhow): I don’t think anyone expected this particular press to get so involved in the rumors about the schedule changes, but I thought the fact that Tiger was talking about it added some legitimacy to it. The health update was both unsurprising and disappointing. I don’t think Tiger can come back and compete regularly these days, but it would be nice to see him healthy and play a few times a year. The watch is set for the Masters.
James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I was particularly interested in Tiger’s comment about YouTube. He said he thought the Internet’s endless video library of swings was boosting golf’s youth movement. Every now and then you hear Woods say something that shows that he thinks about golf on a completely different level than most mere mortals. An example was when he started talking about the “cut” and “draw” spin required on chip shots at Augusta National. This was another one.
As chairman of the Future Competitions Committee, Tiger also indicated the Tour is considering creating an abbreviated schedule (and avoiding the NFL) that could start in 2027, though he was short on details. There’s a lot of talk about the possibilities for a new Tour schedule in the future, but what’s the biggest hurdle to making it all happen?
Dethier: Ironically, one of the things the Tour wants to change is the same thing that’s keeping it from making that change. There are so many [buzzword alert] stakeholders, so many separate deals with so many different tournaments that it’s a challenge to get everything just right for everyone without crossing a dozen ‘can’t-cross lines’. Put another way: the Tour is a big boat, and it’s hard to turn a big boat.
Berhow: Wow, I love the boat analogy, Dylan. Good work. But the answer is that there’s a lot standing in the way of something like this happening. I’d love a schedule that puts the top seventy players in the same twenty or so events a year (including majors) and suddenly we have some simplicity, continuity, distinction and budding rivalry. But what about the middle class? How many members are there? How does the Korn Ferry Tour come into play? What about the smaller events? It’s frustrating that we still don’t have a good way to do this, but I’m also glad that I’m not the person in charge of this. Because it can’t be easy.
Six-time major champion Nick Faldo said it will be “tough” for Rory McIlroy to win another major title. He said in part: “It’s like climbing Everest, you don’t turn around and say, ‘Let’s go up again next month.’ There was so much emotion at Augusta, and you can’t reproduce the emotion of winning a major like that again.” Will you buy this? And guess what, how many more majors does Rory win in his career?
Dethier: Faldo is right that you cannot reproduce that emotion. But you can definitely recharge and come back hungry for more. I give Rory two more majors, seven in total, rarefied appearance and one more than Faldo…
Berhow: It seemed like a bit of a cheap shot, since you could technically say this about any recent major champion. But that’s what makes these guys great. They find ways to keep that drive going and keep pushing back the goalposts. Rory wins three more majors. He will get plenty of chances.
Colgan: The core of Sir Nick’s argument is wrong here. The emotion was the greatest for Rory obstacle to break the great drought – not a superpower. A Rory McIlroy who played more freely, aggressively and confidently would have won eight majors in the past decade – and the freedom to live in that version of himself is what will accelerate the final phase of his competitive life.
The PGA Tour announced the finalists for Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Award), with Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Ben Griffin earning nominees. While it seems likely that Scottie will make his fourth straight run this year, let’s look ahead: Which player not on this list will be nominated by this time next year?
Dethier: Cameron Young. The second half of this season, with his victory and the Ryder Cup star display, was a turning point. Cam’s time comes.
Berhow:Tommy Fleetwood. Another guy who got hot late and will continue to build on that. I also think a healthier Xander will bounce back and return to something closer to that 2024 form.
Colgan: Lots of nice answers to this question, partly due to the number of players who seemed to take half a step back in 2025 (due to injury or form or some other reason). I’m going with Ludvig Aberg, who was the trendiest pick in golf to win at Augusta in April. We’ve seen golfers take a step back before in their second pro season, only to bounce back in a serious way in year 3. Aberg still has all the talent, it’s just a matter of time.
The PGA Tour and LPGA merge for the Grant Thornton Invitational this week in Florida. Which duo for two people do you find most intriguing?
Dethier: Bud Cauley and Jessica Korda for one simple reason: we haven’t seen Jess Korda play competitive golf in two years! Meanwhile, her younger sister has had a career full of success, with a few rollercoaster dips thrown in for good measure. Nice week ahead.
Berhow: Jessica Korda’s choice is a good one. I’m going with Luke Clanton and Lottie Woad, a pair of former Florida State standouts who have the potential to become stars on the major tours.
Colgan: I can’t explain why, but it feels like Wyndham Clark and Lexi Thompson have lived similar lives. I’m excited to see them in action.
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