During the week, there typically isn’t too much happening on the golf course, but off it, there are always things to talk about. Here are some headlines and planting the seed of the Ryder Cup standings since September will be here before we know it.
USGA Announces U.S. Open Qualifying Sites, Three In Washington
The U.S. Open is often one of the toughest, if not the toughest test in golf. The 125th U.S. Open will go to Oakmont Country Club, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a record 10th time this June. The USGA has accepted over 10,000 entries for the Championship in the last two U.S. Opens.
To be eligible, an amateur must have a handicap index of 0.4 or less, or be a professional.
The local qualifying sites are 18 holes at 110 different sites across 43 states, Canada, and Mexico. That will take place over the course of April 16-May 19. The final stage of qualifying is at England and Japan on May 19, Canada on June 2, and 10 U.S. sites, one on May 19, and nine on June 2. The day of final qualifying is often referred to as “Golf’s Longest Day” due to there being two 18 rounds in succession, all taking place simultaneously, with only a few spots with usually over 50 players per site, trying to make our National Championship.
This year, Washington will host two local qualifying sites. The first is at Druids Glen G.C. in Covington, on Tuesday, April 22. The second will be on Tuesday, May 13 at Palouse Ridge G.C. in Pullman. There will be 93 spots available at each site.
In the final stage of qualifying, Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla will be one of nine sites on Monday, June 2 that will host final qualifying in the U.S. This is the second time Wine Valley Golf Club has hosted a final qualifying site.
Two U.S. Open Champions have gone through both local and final qualifying, Ken Venturi in 1964 and Orville Moody, five years later, in 1969. Lucas Glover in 2009 is the most recent U.S. Open Champion to win after advancing through final qualifying.
Registration opens on Wednesday, February 19 at 6:00 AM, and entries close on April 9 at 2:00 PM. For more information on the qualifying sites, or how to get signed up, click here.
Tiger Woods Withdraws From Genesis Invitational
The Genesis Invitational traditionally plays at Riviera Country Club in Palisades, California. Due to the tragic fires last month, the golf tournament needed to be moved. It was settled that Torrey Pines (South Course), where its host, Tiger Woods, has won there eight times. His most famous triumph came in the 2008 U.S. Open, where Woods and Rocco Mediate dualled for over 90 holes, and Woods outlasted Mediate on the 91st hole of the Championship. The 108th U.S. Open is one of the best major championships since the turn of the century, perhaps one of the most thrilling major championships ever.
After the passing of Kultida Woods last week, Tiger put out a statement announcing that he’s “just not ready” and he’s “still processing her loss.”
With Tiger withdrawing, Jake Knapp will step in place of the 15-time major champion, who said he watched Tiger defeat Steven Ames 9 & 8 at the 2006 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Knapp also added that Tiger’s caddie at the time, Stevie Williams, tossed Knapp a golf ball during Tiger’s woodshedding of Ames.
The Genesis Invitational is a Signature Event on the PGA Tour Schedule, with a smaller field, no cuts, no Monday qualifying, more pay for the players, and every player gets paid for their work for the week. Hideki Matsuyama won last year’s tournament, while Harris English won The Farmers Open a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines and will be in the field this week.
Ratings From The Weekend Of Golf
The PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open drew an average of 2.874 million viewers, according to a post on X from CBS Sports PR. In that post, CBS also said that their season-to-date coverage is up 36% from last year, with an average of 2.107 million viewers. The PGA Tour on CBS is off to a great start to 2025. CBS does a wonderful job covering the sport, and rightfully so, is being rewarded with high ratings.
On the flip side, a post on X from the account YeahClickClack, has frequent reports on golf ratings. The report from the account said on Saturday for the 3rd round of LIV Riyadh, there were 54,000 viewers on FS1 from the 10 AM-Noon EST broadcast. For LIV Golf fans, those are concerning numbers. When LIV Golf was on The CW, the rounds would routinely get over 100,000 viewers. This isn’t full crisis mode for LIV Golf, yet, but they’ve got to be scratching their head.
As we attempt to get closer to a deal of some sort in men’s professional golf, LIV Golf might need a deal with the PGA Tour, more than the PGA Tour needs a deal with LIV Golf.
LIV Adelaide Set To Make More Noise, R&A Also Gives LIV Players Pathway To Open Championship
LIV Golf received more good news before their highlight event of the regular season. This time from the R&A, saying that the leading player not already exempt among the top five of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings after LIV Golf Dallas, which takes place on June 27-29, will have a spot at The Open Championship.
The top five in the Individual Standings are Adrian Meronk in first with his win last week, followed by Jon Rahm, Sebastian Munoz, Lucas Herbert, and Dean Burmester.
LIV returns to Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, at The Grange Golf Club. Here in the States, it’ll air from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM from Thursday to Saturday. It’ll be the second tournament on FOX Sports and another unique viewing time. For us on the west coast, we reap the benefits much more than those on the east coast, as the tournament will conclude around 2 AM early Sunday morning.
LIV Adelaide is expecting over 100,000 fans this year, as their par 3 12th hole, dubbed “The Watering Hole” is reminiscent of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale for the WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour. The crowds show up in full force for this event, as Australia doesn’t often see many professional golf tournaments.
Spokane Golf Show Tees Off Next Weekend
The Spokane Golf Show will take place on Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, at the Spokane Convention Center. Saturday will be from 9 AM to 5 PM while Sunday will be from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets must be purchased, however, they are valid all weekend, and they come with a choice of a free or discounted round for purchase. There will be over 100 exhibitors, areas for kids, an indoor driving range, and more!
Click here for more information on the Spokane Golf Show.
Why Not Check In On Ryder Cup Team Rankings
Ryder Cup years feel different. For the U.S. and European players, it’s hanging over them all year long. There’s added pressure to succeed and compete in one of the most passionate sporting events in the world.
While it’s still early, and there’s a lot to be sorted out over the spring and summer, it’s interesting to see where players stand in the rankings and who’s in and who’s out, at least on February 12th. There are six players for each team who qualify on points and six that are Captain’s picks. The Captain’s picks can be the difference between picking your buddies before proceeding to get your teeth kicked in or picking the right players, and hoisting the Ryder Cup.
For Team Europe, Rory McIlroy has a large advantage over second-place, Tyrrell Hatton. McIlroy will probably have a spot on Team Europe for as long as he wants, while Hatton has elevated his game each year, and it seems like a matter of time before he collects a major. Rasmus Hojgaard is comfortably in the third spot before the logjam at fourth through seventh. Shane Lowry is in fourth, Thomas Detry is fifth, Matt Wallace is sixth, and just out is Rasmus’s twin brother, Niklas, who trails Wallace by only 16 points. Paul Waring is in eighth, Laurie Canter is in ninth, and Julien Guerrier rounds out the top ten. Again, it’s early, the majors need to be played, where tons of Ryder Cup points can be accrued, but it’s still fun to look over the steering wheel to see who is starting to pull away and get closer to clinching a spot on the team.
For Team USA, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau are all but locks, specifically Scheffler and Schauffele. Collin Morikawa is fourth by a wide margin over Billy Horschel and Russell Henley. Just outside the top six, are Harris English, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, and Justin Thomas. That’s a lot of talent that wouldn’t be guaranteed a spot in the Ryder Cup and would have to rely on Keegan Bradley to pick them for the squad. Bradley is 21st in the Ryder Cup standings, and if he so chooses, could be a playing Captain. Bradley won’t have to return the favor for Netflix’s Full Swing and call 2023 Captain, Zach Johnson, to let him know he won’t be selected, as he’s 96th in points.
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