If it's May, then it's the PGA
+ A trilogy of sorts is completed in Florida; don't forget Mother's Day; a few good weekend reads and listens; and The Barstool ponders the PGA.
The Barstool: 2025 PGA Championship
The year's second major is upon us and will unfold over the coming week at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. While the PGA may not have the same major grip on golf fans as the Masters or Opens, it nonetheless is a stout test. This week, join the debate as we question the strength of field and the championship's place on the calendar and anything else that's on your mind.
THE STARTER
🏌️ Scottie Scheffler won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by eight shots at 31-under par. Any questions?
🏌️ Phil Mickelson said he didn’t think Scheffler would win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup. Can Mickelson ever resist the opportunity to look foolish?
🏌️ Just as talk was getting louder about Bryson DeChambeau’s final-round woes, he closed out victory at LIV Golf Korea for his first league win since 2023. Statement victory?
🏌️ This week’s PGA Championship: Scheffler? Rory McIlroy? DeChambeau? Justin Thomas? Or someone else?
🏌️ At the PGA champions’ dinner, defending champ Xander Schauffele will give each former winner a humidor and cigars. “If they don’t like it, they can re-gift it pretty easily,” he said. Would you re-gift it?
🏌️ The PGA Tour’s four-week rangefinder experiment ends at the Truist Championship, although the PGA Championship will also use distance measuring devices next week. Do they improve pace of play?
🏌️ Davis Riley was assessed a two-stroke penalty at the Byron Nelson for having slope measuring switched on in his rangefinder. But the Tour gave each player a rangefinder without slope measuring. So, was the penalty too harsh or did Riley get what he deserved?
🏌️ Average pace of play at the RBC Heritage was 3 hours, 50 minutes — in twosomes at Harbour Town, the easiest-to-walk course on the PGA Tour. Is that something to brag about?
🏌️ Can you name the one major champion in the field at the Tour’s OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Sam's Club puts sticker shock in reverse
Membership-only retail store enters the golf ball market with the Members Mark Pro Series 2 balls that are ideal for the everyday golfer. Better yet, they cost just $27.98 for two dozen — yes, two.
:: Gary Van Sickle | Read
Wordle takes to the L-I-N-K-S
Did you know that the popular New York Times word game can be played as a version of golf?
:: Gary Van Sickle | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads — and listens — that are sometimes about golf, but not always.
📖 Does anyone still hitchhike?
Traveling by thumb isn’t popular anymore. Some say it should be.
:: Andrew Fedorov | The Atlantic | 04.27.25 | Read
📖 Why Is Everyone Getting Their Tattoos Removed?
For decades, Americans were covering their bodies with more and more tattoos. Now, they’re getting them removed as fast as they can. We speak with the patients going under the laser, the tattoo-removal technicians whose business is booming, and the tattoo artists whose work is being erased to understand how something so permanent became so ephemeral.
:: Carrie Battan | GQ | 04.24.25 | Read
📖 Course Preview: Quail Hollow
Next week's PGA Championship host has been through many changes but appears ready to put on a great show. Whether you can remember all the holes or enjoy playing it daily? That's another story.
:: Geoff Shackelford | The Quadrilateral | 05.08.25 | Read
THE LIBRARY
Recent drops to The First Call’s video and podcast section.
🎧 Gary Player talks Rory McIlroy, career Grand Slam
The nine-time major champion and member of the career Grand Slam club, discusses the 2025 Masters and what impact winning it will have on McIlroy's career..
:: Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori | 05.08.25 | Listen
🎧 Revealing the design process, inspiration behind TGL golf holes
Noted golf course architect Agustin Piza joins host Colin Weston to talk about his relationship with the first-year indoor professional simulator league.
:: The ModGolf Podcast | 05.08.25 | Listen
ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos
BUSINESS
THE FIRST CALL
Week in Review: The industry’s names, news and notables making headlines. | Read
This week’s editions: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
Industry press releases | Industry press release videos | TFC / PR Newswire feed
Golf Industry Job / Internship Board
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
Happy Mother’s Day to all the No. 1 women who make life better.
:: 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.
Alex Lauzon, “Course of Life” podcast host, at PGA Golf Club’s 1916 Bar and Grille: “I had the Pub burger and sweet tea, which hit the spot overlooking the 18th green on the patio. And I subbed the cole slaw in for fries to go a little bit lighter on a hot day.”
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
HOME FRONT
La Gran Reserva | Sotogrande, Spain
Listing: Villa Vida.
Stats: 24,762 square feet | 7 bedrooms | 7.5 bathrooms.
Price: $14,015,731.
About: Sotogrande and ARK Architects have introduced Villa Vida, an innovative new residence situated within The 15, the most private and elevated enclave of La Gran Reserva in Sotogrande, Spain. This project represents a new chapter in contemporary residential design, offering a thoughtful balance between architectural excellence and environmental integration. Every element of Villa Vida — from concept to landscaping and construction — has been approached holistically to create a residence that is coherent, environmentally responsible and emotionally engaging. Villa Vida features seven suites — including a principal suite, guest suite and staff accommodation — nine bathrooms, two swimming pools (an outdoor infinity pool and an indoor spa pool), a gym, wine cellar, study and an underground garage with space for four vehicles. Spanning nearly 30 acres with restricted access and perimeter security, the enclave offers commanding views of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and renowned golf courses such as La Reserva Club, Real Club Valderrama and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Its proximity to high-quality amenities — The Beach at La Reserva Club Sotogrande, Sotogrande International School, La Reserva Club and SO/ Sotogrande Spa And Golf Resort — positions Villa Vida as an ideal residence for those seeking both serenity and sophistication.
Home Front Archive | Read
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
The Third opens for play at Watersound Club
The St. Joe Company has opened The Third, the newest Watersound Club golf course in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Designed by Love Golf Design’s Davis Love III, Mark Love and lead architect Scot Sherman, The Third pays homage to both Davis Love and the course’s position in the club’s collection of courses. The 18-hole course is located just north of Watersound’s Shark’s Tooth and east of the Watersound Origins community, home to a Love-designed 10-hole short course. Tom Fazio’s Camp Creek was the first championship course in the Watersound Club stable.
“The opening of new amenities has been a welcomed and regular occurrence at Watersound Club properties over the past several years,” said Patrick Murphy, senior vice president of hospitality at the St. Joe Company. “The opening of The Third, however, represents a monumental milestone in the ongoing Watersound Club evolution and an intentional response to growing demand from our membership.”
The Third offers six teeing grounds, and can play as long as 7,600 yards — or as short as 4,900 yards. It was specifically designed to provide a contrast to the club’s existing championship layouts.
“Players should be able to find a set of tees that matches their game,” said Mark Love, Love Golf Design founder and president. “The greens are large and have a good deal of movement in them. We can set up the course to challenge highly skilled players in a major event, but on a daily basis, it provides a nice mix of easy, medium and difficult pins to help keep things interesting, yet not too difficult for the average golfer.”
The Third is a private course for Watersound Club members, but is open to guests of St. Joe Company’s Camp Creek Inn.
Design Notes Archive | Read