Latest news with #BenHoganAward
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doug Ghim Reaps Rewards With a Remarkable Round at John Deere Classic
Doug Ghim Reaps Rewards With a Remarkable Round at John Deere Classic originally appeared on Athlon Sports. You know that feeling you get when you are cheering for the underdog to prevail? That's exactly what I feel when watching golfers like Doug Ghim. For seven years, the 29-year-old from Illinois has been quietly putting in the work on the PGA Tour. He has been building a reputation as one of those guys you can't help but root for. And after Thursday's 62 in the opening round of the John Deere Classic, Ghim finds himself somewhere he's never been before: leading a PGA Tour event. Advertisement From Illinois to Augusta National Talk about a dream come true. Ghim's path to professional golf reads like something out of a sports movie. Growing up in Des Plaines and Arlington Heights, he was just another kid from the Chicago suburbs who fell in love with golf. After graduating from Buffalo Grove High School, he headed down to the University of Texas, where he really started getting noticed. And what a run he had as an amateur. We're talking about a guy who won the Ben Hogan Award as college golf's top player and earned low amateur honors at the Masters Tournament — you know, just casual stuff. That Masters appearance came after a heartbreaking runner-up finish at the 2017 U.S. Amateur, but honestly, what a way to announce yourself to the golf world. Ghim's amateur resume is stacked with victories at prestigious events and representing the U.S. at both the Palmer and Walker Cup matches. Then, of course, there was that week at Augusta National where he made multiple eagles and walked away with crystal goblets, the event reward for making an eagle. Those moments at Augusta were pure magic. Advertisement The Professional Reality Professional golf is tough. Really, really tough. Ghim's amateur success had everyone expecting fireworks once he turned pro, but the reality has been a slow burn thus far. Don't get me wrong, however — his journey has not been unimpressive at all. In 162 starts on tour, Ghim has been building something special. A runner-up finish at the 2024 Shriners Children's Open wasn't just a good week — it was validation that all those years of grinding were paying off. Sure, he's still chasing that first victory, but watching him get so close was genuinely exciting. This season has thrown some curveballs his way, with Ghim entering the John Deere Classic ranked No. 124 in the FedEx Cup standings. His best result came at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, where he tied for 11th. It's been one of those seasons where the breaks haven't always gone his way, but that's what makes Thursday's performance so special. Advertisement A Career-Best Round Sometimes the golf gods smile on you, and Thursday was one of those days for Ghim. His bogey-free 62 wasn't just a career-low round — it was seven years of hard work coming together in 18 beautiful holes. Playing in his sixth John Deere Classic, he finally found that magical something that every golfer spends their career chasing. There's something really special about Ghim taking the lead at the John Deere Classic. Historically, this event has always been marked by breakthrough moments and feel-good stories. With Ghim, you have a guy from Illinois playing in front of essentially his home crowd. Advertisement You can just feel the poetry setting up for something special this week, can't you? This tournament simply loves crowning first-time winners, and Ghim couldn't fit the bill any better. The Grinder's Path Ghim's story is compelling because of his authenticity. In a world where young players sometimes seem to come out of nowhere, claiming multiple victories, Ghim represents something different. He is an example of persistence and steady improvement. He's the guy who shows up every week and just keeps working, regardless of where his game may be at. His background adds another layer to his story that makes you want to cheer even louder. As a Korean American player who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, Ghim represents the changing face of professional golf in the best possible way. His journey from Buffalo Grove High School to the PGA Tour shows what's possible when talent meets determination, and his success would mean so much to communities that don't always see themselves represented at golf's highest level. Advertisement The Moment of Truth With three rounds left at TPC Deere Run, Ghim has the chance to rewrite his story completely. Yes, there will be pressure — that's inevitable. And yes, this season has been challenging, with tour status implications hanging in the balance. But here's what Thursday's 62 tells us: Doug Ghim is ready. Sometimes, the best stories are the ones that unfold a little more slowly. And if Thursday was any indication, Ghim's story might just be getting to the good part. Related: The Soul of American Golf: A Journey Through the Game's Heart and Heritage Related: Justin Thomas Has Big Ideas for What Should Come Next in Golf Related: Keegan Bradley's 2025 Ryder Cup Vice Captains Could Deliver Victory to US This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Luke Clanton named NCAA DI player of the year with Ben Hogan Award
The amazing year of Luke Clanton hit another high note when the Florida State junior was selected for the Ben Hogan Award as the top college player based on performances in college, amateur and professional events. Clanton is the No. 1 player in the amateur ranking and No. 1 in the PGA Tour University, already securing a PGA Tour card after the NCAAs end next week. Clanton already has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic, and he has two other top 10s playing on sponsor exemptions. Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 has an amateur had at least three top 10s on the PGA Tour in the same season. Brentley Romine, He has four wins this year at Florida State, most recently at the NCAA regional. The NCAA Championship starts later this week at La Costa Resort north of San Diego. Clanton is the second Florida State player to win the award, joining John Pak in 2021.
San Francisco Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
TGL indoor golf league to add Detroit team for 2027
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two months after the inaugural TGL season, the indoor golf league has expanded. Motor City Golf Club representing Detroit will be the seventh team in TGL, the league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as part of their TMRW Sports entertainment company. Motor City will not start playing until 2027. It will join teams that represent Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Jupiter, Florida. Atlanta, with Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas, won the inaugural title. The Motor City ownership group is led by Middle West Partners. The principals are Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp and Kevin Kelleher, all with Detroit roots. The Hamp family has been longtime co-owners of the Detroit Lions. 'This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally,' Michael Hamp said. 'My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud.' The ownership group includes Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton and Jordan Rose, president of Arizona-based Rose Law Group. A group representing Dallas was working on a bid last month. With Detroit not starting until 2027, it was unlikely for TGL to start next year with more than its current six teams. Hogan award The amazing year of Luke Clanton hit another high note when the Florida State junior was selected for the Ben Hogan Award as the top college player based on performances in college, amateur and professional events. Clanton is the No. 1 player in the amateur ranking and No. 1 in the PGA Tour University, already securing a PGA Tour card after the NCAAs end next week. Clanton already has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic, and he has two other top 10s playing on sponsor exemptions. Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 has an amateur had at least three top 10s on the PGA Tour in the same season. He has four wins this year at Florida State, most recently at the NCAA regional. The NCAA Championship starts later this week at La Costa Resort north of San Diego. Clanton is the second Florida State player to win the award, joining John Pak in 2021. LIV logo Most of the LIV Golf League players at the PGA Championship had a logo on their sleeve that suggests a new sponsorship for the Saudi-funded league. Sports Business Journal and Athlon Sports are reporting that Salesforce, a Dow 30 company, is signing an umbrella partnership. LIV Golf does not resume until June 6 in Virginia. The reports say Salesforce, which specializes in customer relationship management technology, would be the largest deal for LIV since it began in 2022. Asked about the logo at the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau told Athlon, 'It's the first of many potential sponsors that are looking at LIV, LIV's not going anywhere for a long time. 'And I think that Salesforce sees the potential partnership with LIV and what we can do globally, around the world.' Major streaks Sergio Garcia took bogey on his final hole of U.S. Open qualifying on Monday that cost the Spaniard a spot in what turned out to be a 7-for-1 playoff for the last of seven spots at Bent Tree in Dallas. That ends a streak of 25 consecutive U.S. Open appearances for Garcia that began in 2000 at Pebble Beach. His streak nearly ended last year, but he got into the field at Pinehurst No. 2 as an alternate. He had played in 82 consecutive majors — dating to Carnoustie in 1999 — until he tested positive for the coronavirus and missed the 2020 Masters. He was eligible for 94 straight majors until joining LIV, dropping in the world ranking and missing the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Adam Scott has played 93 straight majors dating to the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, and he is guaranteed to be in the next three majors. Still safe is the streak set by Jack Nicklaus. He played in 146 consecutive majors, and he was eligible for 154 in a row. Global hot streaks A couple of players on different continents are piling up victories. One of them is Mimi Rhodes of England, who helped Wake Forest to the NCAA title in 2023 and played on the winning Curtis Cup team for Great Britain & Ireland last year. She turned pro after the Curtis Cup, earned a Ladies European Tour card and now has won three of her last four starts on the LET. She has moved up nearly 1,000 spots to No. 88 in the women's world ranking. And then there's Luis Carrera of Mexico, who was his country's No. 1 junior before going to Sam Houston State and then finishing at Central Florida. He is listed as a LIV Golf alternate, though he has yet to play. Carrera went down to the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and has won the last two tournaments. Coming to America The U.S. Open again held a qualifying site in Japan. Now the Japan Golf Tour is coming to America. The Japan Golf Tour will hold first and second stages for its 2025 qualifying school in the United States for the first time. The tour anticipates about 100 players going to first stage on June 29 at Oak Valley in Beaumont, California, 72 holes with no cut and roughly 35 players advancing. The second stage, also at Oak Valley, is July 7. Between 15 and 20 players advance out of the second stage. The third stage is Dec. 2-5 at three sites in Japan, with the final stage at Chiba Isumi the following week. 'This is part of our initiatives to create new playing opportunities and easier access for golfers in the Americas to take the first steps to qualify and compete on the Japan Golf Tour in 2026,' said Yutaka Morohoshi, the tour's chairman. 'The journey for aspiring golfers can now begin in California next month.' Divots Bryson DeChambeau is now on a list with Dustin Johnson, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead for being a runner-up in the PGA Championship in consecutive starts. ... Hideki Matsuyama missed the cut at the PGA Championship to end his streak at 19 consecutive cuts in the majors. The current active streak now belongs to Xander Schauffele at 13 straight. Scottie Scheffler is next at 12 in a row. ... ESPN said its live telecast of the second round at the PGA Championship averaged 1.3 million viewers, with a peak of 1.8 million in the final 15 minutes when Scheffler was capping off his five-hole stretch at 5 under. That was down from an average of 1.6 million viewers for the second round last year, when coverage included Tiger Woods' entire round. It also was the day Scheffler was arrested. ... Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley tied for eighth in the PGA Championship and made $454,781, enough to make him the 21st player to surpass $50 million in career earnings. Stat of the week Dating to 2017, every winner of the PGA Championship is a multiple major champion — Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler. Final word 'I've got to learn how to be a little more precise with the wind, not let the wind affect the ball as much. It's a tough task to do because I hit it so high and the ball just kind of moves in the air. I've got to figure that out.' — Bryson DeChambeau.
Hamilton Spectator
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
TGL indoor golf league to add Detroit team for 2027
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two months after the inaugural TGL season, the indoor golf league has expanded. Motor City Golf Club representing Detroit will be the seventh team in TGL, the league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as part of their TMRW Sports entertainment company. Motor City will not start playing until 2027. It will join teams that represent Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Jupiter, Florida. Atlanta, with Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas, won the inaugural title. The Motor City ownership group is led by Middle West Partners. The principals are Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp and Kevin Kelleher, all with Detroit roots. The Hamp family has been longtime co-owners of the Detroit Lions. 'This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally,' Michael Hamp said. 'My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud.' The ownership group includes Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton and Jordan Rose, president of Arizona-based Rose Law Group. Each team features four players (Woods is with Jupiter, McIlroy with Boston). A group representing Dallas was working on a bid last month. With Detroit not starting until 2027, it was unlikely for TGL to start next year with more than its current six teams. Hogan award The amazing year of Luke Clanton hit another high note when the Florida State junior was selected for the Ben Hogan Award as the top college player based on performances in college, amateur and professional events. Clanton is the No. 1 player in the amateur ranking and No. 1 in the PGA Tour University, already securing a PGA Tour card after the NCAAs end next week. Clanton already has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic, and he has two other top 10s playing on sponsor exemptions. Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 has an amateur had at least three top 10s on the PGA Tour in the same season. He has four wins this year at Florida State, most recently at the NCAA regional. The NCAA Championship starts later this week at La Costa Resort north of San Diego. Clanton is the second Florida State player to win the award, joining John Pak in 2021. LIV logo Most of the LIV Golf League players at the PGA Championship had a logo on their sleeve that suggests a new sponsorship for the Saudi-funded league. Sports Business Journal and Athlon Sports are reporting that Salesforce, a Dow 30 company, is signing an umbrella partnership. LIV Golf does not resume until June 6 in Virginia. The reports say Salesforce, which specializes in customer relationship management technology, would be the largest deal for LIV since it began in 2022. Asked about the logo at the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau told Athlon, 'It's the first of many potential sponsors that are looking at LIV, LIV's not going anywhere for a long time. 'And I think that Salesforce sees the potential partnership with LIV and what we can do globally, around the world.' Major streaks Sergio Garcia took bogey on his final hole of U.S. Open qualifying on Monday that cost the Spaniard a spot in what turned out to be a 7-for-1 playoff for the last of seven spots at Bent Tree in Dallas. That ends a streak of 25 consecutive U.S. Open appearances for Garcia that began in 2000 at Pebble Beach. His streak nearly ended last year, but he got into the field at Pinehurst No. 2 as an alternate. He had played in 82 consecutive majors — dating to Carnoustie in 1999 — until he tested positive for the coronavirus and missed the 2020 Masters. He was eligible for 94 straight majors until joining LIV, dropping in the world ranking and missing the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Adam Scott has played 93 straight majors dating to the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, and he is guaranteed to be in the next three majors. Still safe is the streak set by Jack Nicklaus. He played in 146 consecutive majors, and he was eligible for 154 in a row. Global hot streaks A couple of players on different continents are piling up victories. One of them is Mimi Rhodes of England, who helped Wake Forest to the NCAA title in 2023 and played on the winning Curtis Cup team for Great Britain & Ireland last year. She turned pro after the Curtis Cup, earned a Ladies European Tour card and now has won three of her last four starts on the LET. She has moved up nearly 1,000 spots to No. 88 in the women's world ranking. And then there's Luis Carrera of Mexico, who was his country's No. 1 junior before going to Sam Houston State and then finishing at Central Florida. He is listed as a LIV Golf alternate, though he has yet to play. Carrera went down to the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and has won the last two tournaments. Coming to America The U.S. Open again held a qualifying site in Japan. Now the Japan Golf Tour is coming to America. The Japan Golf Tour will hold first and second stages for its 2025 qualifying school in the United States for the first time. The tour anticipates about 100 players going to first stage on June 29 at Oak Valley in Beaumont, California, 72 holes with no cut and roughly 35 players advancing. The second stage, also at Oak Valley, is July 7. Between 15 and 20 players advance out of the second stage. The third stage is Dec. 2-5 at three sites in Japan, with the final stage at Chiba Isumi the following week. 'This is part of our initiatives to create new playing opportunities and easier access for golfers in the Americas to take the first steps to qualify and compete on the Japan Golf Tour in 2026,' said Yutaka Morohoshi, the tour's chairman. 'The journey for aspiring golfers can now begin in California next month.' Divots Bryson DeChambeau is now on a list with Dustin Johnson, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead for being a runner-up in the PGA Championship in consecutive starts. ... Hideki Matsuyama missed the cut at the PGA Championship to end his streak at 19 consecutive cuts in the majors. The current active streak now belongs to Xander Schauffele at 13 straight. Scottie Scheffler is next at 12 in a row. ... ESPN said its live telecast of the second round at the PGA Championship averaged 1.3 million viewers, with a peak of 1.8 million in the final 15 minutes when Scheffler was capping off his five-hole stretch at 5 under. That was down from an average of 1.6 million viewers for the second round last year, when coverage included Tiger Woods' entire round. It also was the day Scheffler was arrested. ... Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley tied for eighth in the PGA Championship and made $454,781, enough to make him the 21st player to surpass $50 million in career earnings. Stat of the week Dating to 2017, every winner of the PGA Championship is a multiple major champion — Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler. Final word 'I've got to learn how to be a little more precise with the wind, not let the wind affect the ball as much. It's a tough task to do because I hit it so high and the ball just kind of moves in the air. I've got to figure that out.' — Bryson DeChambeau. ___ AP golf:
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
TGL indoor golf league to add Detroit team for 2027
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two months after the inaugural TGL season, the indoor golf league has expanded. Motor City Golf Club representing Detroit will be the seventh team in TGL, the league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as part of their TMRW Sports entertainment company. Motor City will not start playing until 2027. It will join teams that represent Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Jupiter, Florida. Atlanta, with Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas, won the inaugural title. The Motor City ownership group is led by Middle West Partners. The principals are Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp and Kevin Kelleher, all with Detroit roots. The Hamp family has been longtime co-owners of the Detroit Lions. 'This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally,' Michael Hamp said. 'My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud.' The ownership group includes Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton and Jordan Rose, president of Arizona-based Rose Law Group. Each team features four players (Woods is with Jupiter, McIlroy with Boston). A group representing Dallas was working on a bid last month. With Detroit not starting until 2027, it was unlikely for TGL to start next year with more than its current six teams. Hogan award The amazing year of Luke Clanton hit another high note when the Florida State junior was selected for the Ben Hogan Award as the top college player based on performances in college, amateur and professional events. Clanton is the No. 1 player in the amateur ranking and No. 1 in the PGA Tour University, already securing a PGA Tour card after the NCAAs end next week. Clanton already has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic, and he has two other top 10s playing on sponsor exemptions. Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 has an amateur had at least three top 10s on the PGA Tour in the same season. He has four wins this year at Florida State, most recently at the NCAA regional. The NCAA Championship starts later this week at La Costa Resort north of San Diego. Clanton is the second Florida State player to win the award, joining John Pak in 2021. LIV logo Most of the LIV Golf League players at the PGA Championship had a logo on their sleeve that suggests a new sponsorship for the Saudi-funded league. Sports Business Journal and Athlon Sports are reporting that Salesforce, a Dow 30 company, is signing an umbrella partnership. LIV Golf does not resume until June 6 in Virginia. The reports say Salesforce, which specializes in customer relationship management technology, would be the largest deal for LIV since it began in 2022. Asked about the logo at the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau told Athlon, 'It's the first of many potential sponsors that are looking at LIV, LIV's not going anywhere for a long time. 'And I think that Salesforce sees the potential partnership with LIV and what we can do globally, around the world.' Major streaks Sergio Garcia took bogey on his final hole of U.S. Open qualifying on Monday that cost the Spaniard a spot in what turned out to be a 7-for-1 playoff for the last of seven spots at Bent Tree in Dallas. That ends a streak of 25 consecutive U.S. Open appearances for Garcia that began in 2000 at Pebble Beach. His streak nearly ended last year, but he got into the field at Pinehurst No. 2 as an alternate. He had played in 82 consecutive majors — dating to Carnoustie in 1999 — until he tested positive for the coronavirus and missed the 2020 Masters. He was eligible for 94 straight majors until joining LIV, dropping in the world ranking and missing the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Adam Scott has played 93 straight majors dating to the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, and he is guaranteed to be in the next three majors. Still safe is the streak set by Jack Nicklaus. He played in 146 consecutive majors, and he was eligible for 154 in a row. Global hot streaks A couple of players on different continents are piling up victories. One of them is Mimi Rhodes of England, who helped Wake Forest to the NCAA title in 2023 and played on the winning Curtis Cup team for Great Britain & Ireland last year. She turned pro after the Curtis Cup, earned a Ladies European Tour card and now has won three of her last four starts on the LET. She has moved up nearly 1,000 spots to No. 88 in the women's world ranking. And then there's Luis Carrera of Mexico, who was his country's No. 1 junior before going to Sam Houston State and then finishing at Central Florida. He is listed as a LIV Golf alternate, though he has yet to play. Carrera went down to the Sunshine Tour in South Africa and has won the last two tournaments. Coming to America The U.S. Open again held a qualifying site in Japan. Now the Japan Golf Tour is coming to America. The Japan Golf Tour will hold first and second stages for its 2025 qualifying school in the United States for the first time. The tour anticipates about 100 players going to first stage on June 29 at Oak Valley in Beaumont, California, 72 holes with no cut and roughly 35 players advancing. The second stage, also at Oak Valley, is July 7. Between 15 and 20 players advance out of the second stage. The third stage is Dec. 2-5 at three sites in Japan, with the final stage at Chiba Isumi the following week. 'This is part of our initiatives to create new playing opportunities and easier access for golfers in the Americas to take the first steps to qualify and compete on the Japan Golf Tour in 2026,' said Yutaka Morohoshi, the tour's chairman. 'The journey for aspiring golfers can now begin in California next month.' Divots Bryson DeChambeau is now on a list with Dustin Johnson, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead for being a runner-up in the PGA Championship in consecutive starts. … Hideki Matsuyama missed the cut at the PGA Championship to end his streak at 19 consecutive cuts in the majors. The current active streak now belongs to Xander Schauffele at 13 straight. Scottie Scheffler is next at 12 in a row. … ESPN said its live telecast of the second round at the PGA Championship averaged 1.3 million viewers, with a peak of 1.8 million in the final 15 minutes when Scheffler was capping off his five-hole stretch at 5 under. That was down from an average of 1.6 million viewers for the second round last year, when coverage included Tiger Woods' entire round. It also was the day Scheffler was arrested. … Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley tied for eighth in the PGA Championship and made $454,781, enough to make him the 21st player to surpass $50 million in career earnings. Stat of the week Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Dating to 2017, every winner of the PGA Championship is a multiple major champion — Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler. Final word 'I've got to learn how to be a little more precise with the wind, not let the wind affect the ball as much. It's a tough task to do because I hit it so high and the ball just kind of moves in the air. I've got to figure that out.' — Bryson DeChambeau. ___ AP golf:
