He's baaaaack
+ Anthony Kim joins Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods in comeback company; Davis Love III listened to what Pete Dye had to say; PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp is playing chess in his new role.
THE STARTER
🏌️ Anthony Kim pulled off the unthinkable, winning LIV Adelaide with a final-round 63 while paired with 54-hole leaders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Where does this career comeback rank all-time?
🏌️ Collin Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his first victory in 28 months. Is he finally out of the wilderness?
🏌️ Tiger Woods has been asked to captain the U.S. team at the 2027 Ryder Cup. He says he’s been too busy as chairman of the PGA Tour’s Future Competitions Committee. Why has he been dodging the captaincy? Does he still think he can play in the Ryder Cup?
🏌️ Tiger was asked if he has ruled out playing in the Masters in April. “No,” he said firmly. Questions?
🏌️ In Scottie Scheffler’s last eight starts, he has four victories and four other top-four finishes. Any other questions?
🏌️ J.J. Spaun wouldn’t part with his L.A.B. putter that holed the winning putt at last year’s U.S. Open for the USGA museum. He donated his driver, instead. Will the putter have to be pried out of his hands?
🏌️ Lucas Glover, an outspoken critic of the PGA Tour and its policies of late, was named chairman of Tour’s Players Advisory Council. From critic to insider — does he really think he can stop (or even slow down) the high-balling train that is Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp?
🏌️ Don Rea Jr. has apparently been removed from the board of directors for both PGA Tour Inc. and PGA Tour Enterprises for his actions (and inactions) at the Ryder Cup, including refusing to apologize for some fans’ abusive profane behavior toward the Europeans at Bethpage Black. How long ago did this happen?
🏌️ The great Judy Rankin turned 81 last week. Has there ever been a better female golf announcer?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Lessons well learned
Early on in Davis Love III’s course architecture career he once learned a valuable lesson from fabled designer Pete Dye. Then Love was tasked to restore one of the late Dye’s most iconic layouts — Harbour Town Golf Links.
:: David Droschak | Read
Brian Rolapp’s major move
How a simple slogan for this year’s Players Championship reignited the debate over whether the PGA Tour’s signature event should be elevated to golf’s fifth major.
:: Gary Van Sickle | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are sometimes about golf, but not always.
📖 When does golf influencer become a full-time job?
To make a living as a golf influencer involves a little bit of art and science. Here's how some have figured out a path to success.
:: Paul Sullivan | Golf Digest | 02.10.2026 | Read
📖 What technology takes from us – and how to take it back
Decisions outsourced, chatbots for friends, the natural world an afterthought: Silicon Valley is giving us life void of connection. There is a way out – but it’s going to take collective effort.
:: Rebecca Solnit | The Guardian | 01.25.2026 | Read
📖 The 10 greatest Robert Duvall movies
With films like To Kill a Mockingbird, Network, and The Godfather in his lengthy canon, the actor will never be forgotten.
:: Eric Francisco | Esquire | 02.17.2026 | Read
BUSINESS
THE FIRST CALL
Week in Review: The industry’s names, news and notables making headlines. | Read
This week’s editions: Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
Industry press releases | Industry press release videos | TFC / PR Newswire feed
Golf Industry Job / Internship Board
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
Don’t spend a lot of time pondering your purchase of these Payntr Reserve Classic RS golf shoes. They sell out very fast — for good reason. Available starting 2.27.26.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
19TH HOLE
“Course of Life” podcast co-host Alex Lauzon closes each episode with the guest sharing a favorite 19th hole food and beverage experience.
Kevin Eman, music producer and DJ: “Before a set I always like boneless BBQ wings. After a set I love a good [K-Shack] BBQ Burger from Shake Shack since they’re open late.”
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
HOME FRONT
Tributary | Teton Valley, Idaho
Listing: Stonefly Cabin.
Stats: 1,460 square feet | 2 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms.
Price: $1,995,000.
About: Just outside Jackson Hole is Tributary, a private, four-season club community in Driggs, Idaho, where nature, design and lifestyle converge. Inspired by the surrounding farmstead landscape, the residence blends exposed natural wood and warm textures with clean, modern finishes. Designed by Northworks with interiors by Studio K, the cabin features an open, light-filled layout. Sliding doors throughout connect the great room, kitchen, dining area and both bedrooms to a private outdoor deck, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living. Nestled near the Clubhouse, the social heart of the community, the Stonefly Cabin offers a rare balance of convenience and quiet retreat. Each residence includes dedicated parking, locked owner storage and a golf cart, along with access to all the amenities Tributary offers, including the 18-hole David McLay Kidd-designed golf course.
Home Front Archives | Read
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
David McLay Kidd rolls out plans for River Ranch
River Ranch Golf Resort, a new destination set atop the bluffs of the Snake River near Pasco, Washington, announced plans in late January for its first golf course, to be designed by native Scot and Pacific Northwest resident David McLay Kidd.
River Ranch Golf Resort brings together golf, land and hospitality in a setting shaped by ancient floods, a historic river corridor, and decades of careful stewardship. The course draws directly from the dramatic Snake River landscape, prevailing winds, and natural topography to create a strategic and compelling golf experience that feels inseparable from the land itself.
“I’ve been so fortunate to get to create courses on spectacular land throughout my career … from Bandon Dunes to the latest addition at Streamsong,” said McLay Kidd. “The older I get, the choosier I become. With probably more courses behind me than ahead, I look even harder for those unique sites and opportunities. When I first set foot on the site for River Ranch, I knew I’d found another unicorn — a one-of-a-kind. Set high on a bluff overlooking the last reaches of the Snake River before it joins the Columbia, this site has breathtaking views, great contour, as well as sand on which to plant my favorite grass, fescue. That fescue will give the firm, fast bounce and roll that makes golf the game we Scots intended.”
River Ranch Golf Resort is the vision of a locally rooted ownership group — individuals who grew up on the Snake River boating, exploring, and developing a deep connection to the land. Through a shared passion for golf, architecture, and place, their paths converged to bring River Ranch Golf Resort to life.
The resort will welcome traveling golfers and overnight guests, featuring guest cottages, an integrated real estate offering and a clubhouse overlooking the Snake River. The course is expected to open to the public in August 2027, with members receiving preview access prior to the public opening.
Design Notes Archive | Read
The Players Championship can’t be a major if it doesn’t have all the best players in the world. Banning LIV players excludes 3-4 of the best players in the world. Repeating is hard, and was a criteria for major status according to Chamblee (a PGA Tour shill if there ever was one) but they prevented Cam Smith from defending HIS win. Not very major-like.
The PGA Championship should go world wide. PGA is Professional Golf Association. To move that MAJOR to different PGA worldwide venues would forever cement its tenuous hold on to Major designation. Moving it back to August first is a step in the right direction. (But with people like Rea running the PGA of America there’s little chance they’ll be able to get out of their own way).
“To proclaim yourself great is vanity; to be proclaimed great by others is achievement.”
Substitute GREAT with MAJOR and it’s the same thing for golf.
No matter what Chamblee bleats.
Your statement about Don Rea is wrong. He did not get removed as president of the PGA. He got removed from the PGA Tour Board.
Please Print the facts. Don't be another clickbait media source.