Three Polk County runners won their individual cross country meet on Saturday, and two county quarterbacks excelled in both running and passing to lead their team and are among the top athletes in this week's Tremendous 10 poll. They joined by volleyball players and a boys golfer to fill out the list.
In last week's poll, Lake Gibson running back Raymond Diaz finished with 48 percent of the vote to edge Lake Wales boys cross country Gabriel Harris (41.5 percent).
Nominees for the Tremendous 10 poll can be sent to roy.fuocotheledger.com by 9 a.m. every Monday.
Football: Lakeland Christian still finds challenges in blowout victory
Football: Fort Meade wins defensive showdown over Tenoroc

#lake #boys

At the Solheim Cup, we watched pros do something difficult that a lot of average golfers attempt, too: play team golf. It's different from typical stroke play, or even one-on-one match play events. Pros, like the test of us, usually play their own ball. But in the Netherlands, they had to play with a partner in foursomes and four-ball. It's a serious change from what they're used to.
Making that shift from playing your own ball to playing a team format might be something you struggle with, too. We talked to Megan Johnston, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher at Big Cedar who played on the Northern Ireland junior team with Solheim Cup standout Leona Maguire, about how average players can more seamlessly make the transition into team play.
"The biggest adjustment for the average golfer is realizing that the goal of the format may not be to shoot your lowest individual score," Johnston explains. "In four-ball, foursomes or a scramble, you're making decisions based on what your team needs. That changes everything—from club selection, to risk management, to how aggressive you should be at the right times."
This is how Johnston says you should think about these two different team formats.
Four-ball

#play #average #pros

The Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg has turned into a story of resilience and record-breaking golf. While the first round saw players battling wind and rain that made the course play brutally difficult, the second round brought a dramatic shift in fortune. Shane Lowry, the local favorite, didn't just survive the conditions; he absolutely dominated them. After airing his frustration with the slow pace caused by the weather in the opening round, Lowry produced a stunning performance to take the lead. Golf Monthly reports that Lowry shot a record-breaking 62 under much kinder conditions to take the lead at the midpoint. This score puts him two shots clear of the field and sets the stage for a thrilling weekend.
The contrast between the two rounds couldn't be starker. The first day was defined by struggle, with Golf Monthly noting that the brutal conditions contributed to slow play across the property. Players like Lowry had to wait for groups ahead, testing their patience. Yet, when the wind died down, Lowry found his rhythm. He isn't alone in the hunt, however. The chasing pack is packed with talent, including defending champion Rory McIlroy, two-time Major winner Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka, all of whom Golf Monthly confirmed will join Lowry in the third round. Joaquin Niemann, the first-round leader, also remains in contention to challenge the Irishman.
While Lowry's score grabs the headlines, the most compelling story of the week might be the rise of Niklas Nørgaard. The Danish golfer has moved into a tie for second place alongside Jacob Skov Olesen and Haotong Li after posting matching 64s, according to europeantour.com. This surge came from a fundamental change in how Nørgaard approached the game, not just better ball-striking. The pressure of competition often weighs heavy, but Nørgaard found a way to lighten the load. A shift in mindset this week earned praise for his caddie, as he disclosed that his coach is actually riding in the bag during this event.
Nørgaard explained his strategy directly to the media, and the result was immediate. Europeantour.com notes that Nørgaard received late applause from spectators after draining a vital putt on the 18th and finishing his round with a closing birdie to enter the chase. His back nine was a blur of birdies, specifically a burst from the 14th to 16th holes that propelled him up the leaderboard. You have to wonder if that mental shift is the only thing standing between him and a ***** le run, considering how tight the field really is.
Other players faced different challenges. Thomas Detry made an albatross at the par-5 10th in the opening round, a rare feat that should have boosted his day. However, he finished the first day with a 74 and ultimately missed the cut, according to Golf Monthly. On the other side of the field, David Puig struggled to find consistency. Following a 71 in the opening round that left him one over par, he posted the exact same score during the second rou

HIGH POINT — T. Wingate Andrews High School is set to induct its 12th class into its athletic hall of fame. Six new members — plus the 1976 4A state championship football team — will join the hall Thursday in a ceremony at the High Point Elks Club.
Here's a look at this year's inductees:
BRYAN COLQUITT ('07)
Competing during a highly successful period for Andrews golf, Colquitt distinguished himself among the top golfers in North Carolina.
Among the highlights of Colquitt's high school career were two all-state selections, including honors in 2004 and 2007, as well as two fourth-place individual finishes at the NCHSAA State Golf Championships.

#thursday

Another week, another star-studded cast of area student-athletes bidding for Florida Power & Light Athlete of the Week.
Following the wins by South Walton's Gabe Parenton and Freeport's Ashlynn Ferguson in our initial polls, which totaled more than 50,000 votes, we're represented by a trio of football playmakers who shined in wins, an outside hitter who helped lead her team to a 2-0 week, a golfer whose been posting red numbers and a cross country stud winning meets every week.
Voting runs through 2 p.m. Friday, with the winner being announced shortly after. So vote now, vote often.
Week 2 HS football roundup: Choctaw gets first win; Niceville falls to Mosley

#power

Kai Trump's tour of her digs at the University of Miami has plenty of lookie-loos ― more than 560,000 so far.
The president's granddaughter, a freshman golfer for the Hurricanes who just started her first semester, gave a walk-through on her YouTube channel that revealed unsurprising luxury. A kitchen with a large island counter, bedroom, office, two bathrooms and a fireplace, "which I think is the coolest part of this."
News: Vanessa Trump Puts Focus On Her Kids Following Tiger Woods DUI Arrest
She pointed out a photo of Aspen gondolas to show off her love of skiing. "I actually hung up that myself," she chirped.
And of course there's a "photo of me and Grandpa."

#university #youtube #puts #focus

Before legendary investor Ray Dalio made billions as the founder of hedge fund giant Bridgewater ****** ociates, he was a 12-year-old caddy at a local golf club in 1960s New York.
While the golfers there had no idea that they had a future financial ****** an carrying their clubs, they were, nevertheless, unknowingly setting Dalio on a course to build his own fortune.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes

#dalio #build #bezos #americans

Charlie Woods enjoyed his best finish of the 2026 season this weekend at the Junior Players Championship.
Woods, a senior at the Benjamin School and son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, shot 71 (1-under) in the final round on Sunday, Sept. 6 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
He finished at 1-under overall and tied for eighth across the three-round event. JP Lynch of Austin, Texas won the event at 8-under.
Woods finished his tournament with the type of round that has been characteristic of his tournament appearance, offsetting five birdies with four bogeys. Overall, he carded 14 birdies and 13 bogeys in the event.
Here are some highlights from his final round:

#Event

Charlie Woods faces a steep climb after Saturday's round at the Junior Players Championship. The 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods shot a 1-over 73 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. He now sits at even par after 36 holes. This score leaves him four strokes behind the leaders. Sam Carraher, Dawson Lew, and Giuseppe Puebla all share the top spot at 4-under. Woods started the day tied for eighth following a 1-under 71 on Friday. His second round saw him mix four birdies with five bogeys. The pressure at Sawgrass is real, even for the son of a legend. He will begin Sunday tied for 14th place. The final round starts at 8:10am. It is a tough test for a senior at The Benjamin School.
According to GolfMagic, Woods' performance on Saturday was a mix of highs and lows. He birdied the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, and 18th holes. However, bogeys on the 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th, and 16th holes cost him ground. The leaderboard shows a tight race at the top. Golfweek reported that this event celebrates its 20th anniversary this Labor Day weekend. The field includes seventy-eight of the globe's finest young golfers. They represent 16 countries and 19 states. Thirteen players from the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup squads are taking part. For many, this is a major step up. Stephen Hamblin, the AJGA's executive director since 1984, has seen countless players make this jump. The organization has grown from a broken-down van and 13 tournaments a year to 145 events nationwide.
Off the course, big news broke. Golf Monthly reported that Woods officially joined the TaylorMade roster with a new name, image, and likeness deal. This was not a surprise to those watching his bag closely. He has used the brand's gear for months. A social media post by TaylorMade featured the caption: "Just getting started" Welcome to the squad, Charlie Woods. #TeamTaylorMade .David Ables, CEO of TaylorMade Golf, stated, "We build our roster of athletes around those who are driven by the game of golf and have an unmatched desire to compete at the highest level" Woods will use a near full set of TaylorMade clubs. This includes the Qi4D driver and fairway woods. His irons are the P7CB and P7TW models. He also uses MG5 wedges and TP5x golf ***** .
Being four shots back at the halfway point is not impossible, but it is difficult. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass punishes mistakes. Woods made five bogeys in his second round. That is a high number for a player of his caliber. GolfMagic noted that he sits at even par. The leaders are at 4-under. To win, he needs to play much better on Sunday. His mother, Elin Nordegren, has been there to cheer him on. She was pictured taking photos during the opening round. The pressure is different here. He is not just playing a junior event. He is playing on the same course where his father won The Players Championship. Tiger Woods has a significant history at TPC Sawgrass. Charlie is trying to carve his own path while wearing the family name. The new TaylorMade deal adds another

Charlie Woods is now officially affiliated with one of the world's biggest golf brands.
Woods, a senior at the Benjamin School and son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, signed an NIL contract with TaylorMade in a deal announced on Friday, Sept. 4.
A Florida State golf commit, Woods is currently in Ponte Vedra Beach competing in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. He shot 71 (1-under) in the first round to enter the clubhouse in the tournament's top 10.
TaylorMade has become a prominent brand in Woods' junior golf career.
In 2025, Woods won the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May 2025 at the Streamsong Resort's Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida. He prevailed in an elite field of junior golfers, including No. 1-ranked Miles Russell, in the biggest American Junior Golf ******* ociation (AJGA) victory of his young career.

#junior #benjamin

Charlie Woods put himself in the mix after the first round of the Junior Players Championship on Friday.
Woods, a senior at the Benjamin School and son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, shot 71 (1-under) and entered the clubhouse in tied for eighth place on Sept. 4 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Woods was three shots back of leader Esteban Llorente from Colombia at the time he concluded his opening tournament round.
He pulled off a bit of magic on TPC Sawgrass' famous hole No. 17, the "Island Green."
Facing a 134-yard tee shot with no wind and a back-right hole placement, Woods pulled his wedge a bit and for a few seconds, thought he had found the water. Fans standing on a bank behind the hole gave a baseball umpire's "safe" signal, indicating the ball was dry.

#woods

Several of architect David McLay Kidd's most popular courses have focused on extreme and creative playability, with Gamble Sands in Washington and Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley in Wisconsin as prime examples. Even his first-ever design, the original Bandon Dunes layout at the famed resort of the same name in Oregon, put playability at the forefront.
Kidd had a few deviations from the playability theme in his career, but in recent years he has talked at length about designing courses that are approachable for any level of golfer. The trick, he has said, is to challenge the best players while allowing less-skilled golfers to keep swinging.
Consider that challenge accepted at Bone Valley in Florida, his latest completed creation that will open in late September for preview play at the well-regarded Streamsong Resort. Built with an appreciation of the resort's other courses and with those layouts' DNA in mind, Kidd has constructed a new, full-sized 18 that offers ample width and plenty of opportunities to bounce **** into greens – those are keys to playability for less-skilled players.
But just as megalodon shark teeth can be found in the sand piles left over from the site's history as a phosphate mining operation, Bone Valley can offer a bit of a bite. Stray too far from the best scoring lines, and even the best players will struggle with the angles as they attempt to set up birdie putts.
"My team and I felt like we got to build something really, really fun both visually, strategically, creatively," Kidd said. "I think golfers, when they come here, won't be disappointed. I think they'll have a blast trying to figure out how to navigate their way through. I think every hole has a dozen different attacks you could make, a thousand different ways you could recover from error. It's not overly penal, but she is going to put up a fight against scoring. I think I've been able to refine that over the last dozen years or so."

#think #players #dunes

Most college golfers spend four years grinding on the mini-tours, hoping for a single shot at the big leagues. Tyler Jones just got that shot without waiting a single day. The reigning Southern Conference Men's Golfer of the Year has secured a sponsor exemption to the PGA Tour's inaugural Biltmore Championship. This marks a historic moment for Western Carolina University golf, as Jones becomes the first active Catamount to compete in a PGA Tour event, breaking a barrier that has stood for decades.
The details of this opportunity are specific and significant. According to the official release from catamountsports.com, Explore Asheville and Biltmore Estate granted the exemption. Three tournament victories during a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign earned Jones this spot. His standout performance came at the J.T. Poston Invitational, where he claimed an individual ***** le at the Waynesville Inn & Golf Club. Scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course, the event itself is set there. For the first time since 1942, this tournament marks the PGA Tour's return to the mountains of western North Carolina. Coverage will be extensive, featuring Golf Channel, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, SiriusXM, and the PGA TOUR World Feed. Jones will also share the field with Western Carolina alumnus J.T. Poston, a four-time PGA Tour winner. That connection creates a full-circle moment for the program as it rises on the national stage.
The emotional weight of this achievement is clear in the words of the program leadership. Head coach Tim Eckberg, who is also an alumnus, spoke directly to the significance of the moment. "This is a massive day for Tyler and for Catamount golf," Eckberg said. He added that the opportunity fills him with pride, noting that the success stems from what J.T. Poston has accomplished and the hard work the current young men continue to put in. The coach emphasized that the program is finally being recognized for opportunities that were previously out of reach. Eckberg also highlighted the broader impact on the student-athlete. "He represents WCU exceptionally well as a student-athlete," the coach stated. "Tyler is an incredible talent, and he showed that throughout last season," Eckberg noted, adding that "His game is ready for this next challenge." The program also extended gratitude to the sponsors who made this possible. "A huge thank you goes to Biltmore and Explore Asheville for believing in Tyler and our program," the coach said. This support validates the years of development within the Catamount system.
From an insider perspective, this exemption signals a shift in how the Tour integrates local talent with regional events. The Biltmore Championship Asheville is designed to bridge the gap between the collegiate level and the professional tour in a specific geographic market. By bringing in a local star like Jones, the organizers ensure that the narrative of the tournament includes the very commu

A week after a controversial commercial depicting a woman being shoved to the ground by a man after she tried to pull a driver out of a golf bag, the brand quickly removed the ad due to viewer backlash. Following the incident, two individuals responsible for the project have been fired.
On Wednesday, Good Good Golf CEO Matt Kendrick and President Joe Flannery were relieved of their duties, according to an internal email circulated among Good Good Golf employees. The company's Chief Financial Officer, Alex Puchala, stated in the email that co-founder and original investor Nahid Giga will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately.
"This is a difficult day for the entire Good Good family," Puchala wrote in the email. "Matt helped build something extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to bring countless new fans to the sport. What began as a small group of friends playing golf is now a growing global community."
Garrett Clark, a brand co-founder and the actor who shoved former Indiana Hoosiers golfer Alexis Miestowski in the ad, will remain with the company.
"Garrett and the creator team will keep doing what they do best," Puchala continued in the email. "Making great content and engaging our fans who are eager to see and hear from us."

#garrett #brand #founder

Dr. Frank Domino was one of the more than 800 volunteers at the FM Championship, the LPGA Tour stop at TPC Boston last weekend.
He didn't instruct fans where to park or urge them to keep quiet while a golfer was about to take a shot. No, he offered his services to the golfers as a doctor.
Dr. Domino, a Northborough resident, is an attending physician and a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the UMass Chan Medical School.
Last year, he emailed FM Championship tournament director Patrick Healy to ask if the tournament needed volunteers and Healy told him his services as a doctor would come in handy for the players.
So for the past two FM Championships, he has volunteered as the on-site, on-call tournament physician for the players and their families.

#tournament #domino #championship #last

The wait for the new team format is finally over. The WTGL has officially locked in a start date and a major media rights deal that puts the league on national television. This is a concrete plan to get women's golf in front of millions of viewers, not just another press release. Broadcast rights for the competition have been locked in by TMRW Sports via multi-year agreements with ESPN and Scripps Sports/ION, signaling genuine confidence in the product. Although the complete schedule is still confidential, the league is scheduled to debut on Sunday, Nov. 8. This date aligns with the final round of the LPGA's TOTO ****** an Classic, providing the new league with a high-profile opening night.
Matches and shoulder programming will appear on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. On ION, the league joins a strong lineup of women's sports including the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL. This distribution reaches 128 million homes nationally. It's a massive step up from streaming-only launches. The deal mirrors the success of the men's TGL, which ESPN has called home since its inaugural 2024-25 season. The infrastructure is ready. The players are set. Now the cameras just need to roll.
According to reports, the announcement came just two days after WTGL revealed the official rosters for the league's five teams. November will mark the league's start at the SoFi Center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The regular season runs through November and December with a round-robin format. The postseason features single-elimination semifinals and a best-of-three finals. This structure creates a clear path to a champion, forcing teams to think about how they win a series rather than just a single tournament.
The broadcast partners are already on board. "We are genuinely excited to be the home for WTGL as it launches its inaugural season this fall," said Rosalyn Durant, executive vice president, programming and acquisitions, in a release. She added that bringing the league to fans continues a commitment to growing women's sports and supports the belief in the momentum of women's golf. While production details, the on-air talent list, and the full schedule are set for later announcement, the platform is ready.
The roster depth is significant. An inaugural season field of 25 players has been established by the league, comprising individuals with 112 LPGA Tour victories and 15 major championships. However, the real story is the format. Just three players from every five-player roster are eligible to compete in a match. Before the shot clock starts or the Hammer comes into play, a coach must decide who plays and which two sit. This lineup card determines whether team golf gains substance or merely resembles individual golfers wearing matching shirts.

#sports #golf #inaugural #players

Golf legend Tiger Woods has pleaded guilty to reckless driving following his March rollover crash and received a five-year driving suspension. He was also fined between $1,000 and $1,500.
According to Yahoo News, Woods initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving under the influence. The incident made headlines, given Woods' history of vehicle-related accidents. He was arrested immediately after the rollover crash in Jupiter Island, the Florida town where the golfer lives.
Motorbiscuit reported in March that Woods faced multiple non-felony charges, including driving under the influence, property damage, and refusing to submit to a lawful test. The incident occurred after 2:00 p.m. when Woods was traveling at a "high speed" in a designated 30-mph zone while attempting to overtake a truck hauling a pressure-washing trailer.
The truck driver reportedly saw Woods' Land Rover closing in quickly and tried to move toward the edge of the road to give the SUV more room. However, the maneuver was not enough to prevent a collision, with Woods' vehicle striking the trailer before rolling onto its driver's side and sliding along the pavement for a considerable distance.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC warms up before match against Los Angeles Golf Club during the TGL finals at SoFi Center on March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

#woods #march #jupiter #pleaded

On September 2, 2026, Tiger Woods arrived at his court date with girlfriend Vanessa Trump accompanying him, according to People. As part of a deal with the state, he pleaded no contest in response to a reckless driving charge from a March 27 incident.
The golfer had originally pleaded not guilty to charges of careless driving and DUI damage. Then the judge, Darren Steele, noted that the state amended the charges, according to Fox News, to two lesser charges that each carry a five-year license suspension with the two suspensions running concurrently.
Golf Channel provided a copy of the statement originally released by the Martin County Sheriff's Department from March 27. The report noted how the driver of a black Land Rover named Eldrick T. Woods struck a white Ford F-150, flipping the black vehicle over on its side. The driver told Deputy G. Brenovil that he was looking down at a cell phone when the other vehicle slowed down, leading to the collision.
The truck struck in the accident sustained $5,000 in damage. Neither driver received injuries.
When the golfer came out of his vehicle from the passenger door after the March crash, officers noted that he appeared alert. However, his eyes were glassy, he was profusely sweating, and he moved slowly.

#state #driving

Professional golfer Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reduced charges of reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in a plea deal in his DUI case in Martin County Circuit Court in Florida.
Woods' driver's license was suspended for five years as part of the agreement, and he agreed to pay $1,500 in fines.
Woods' SUV collided with a trailer being hauled by a truck on a busy Florida roadway on March 27, causing his vehicle to roll onto its side.
Woods told police responding at the scene that he had looked down at his phone and adjusted his radio, failing to see the vehicle in front of him slowing down.
But officers at the scene said Woods was "sweating profusely," according to an arrest affidavit.

#Florida #sept

Tiger Woods has agreed not to contest a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, reducing the original charge of driving under the influence from a rollover crash in Florida.
The golfer accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in Martin County, Florida.
Woods was arrested after the March crash, and had passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other drugs.
He pleaded not guilty the same month to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusal to submit to testing. Woods, 50, said he was seeking treatment after the incident.
[Getty Images]

#driving #crash

There is a rising star to watch out for at the upcoming Presidents Cup.
Jackson Koivun will be a part of the United States team for the tournament, which runs Sept. 22-27 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago. The 21-year-old is one of three rookies, and captain Brandt Snedeker's last of his six picks, of the 12-man team that was revealed on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Koivun, who only has five PGA Tour starts, broke records in his time at college and got his first professional win this summer.
According to the ****** ociated Press, Koivun is making history as the first golfer to start a year without a PGA Tour card and play in the Presidents Cup since Jordan Spieth did so in 2013.
"I'm just happy he took a chance on me," Koivun said, per the news outlet. "I'm going to give it my all."
"You have to have a feeling. For some reason, I just had a gut feeling," Snedeker commented. "We'll see how that turns out. But I have full confidence he's ready for the challenge."

#year

Sep. 1—ABERDEEN — In a deep field of individual standouts and top teams, the Mitchell High School boys golf team finished tied for 12th on Tuesday at the Hub City Invitational at Lee Park Golf Course.
Mitchell shot 317 as a team, which was the Kernels' second-best team score of the season so far, but it still landed Mitchell well off the pace of the top teams.
Sioux Falls Lincoln and O'Gorman tied with 294 team strokes at the top, as Lincoln won the second tiebreaker because the Patriots' sixth golfer scored better than O'Gorman's. Both teams' fifth golfer shot 74, moving the tiebreaker down to the No. 6 slot on each varsity team.
The individual medalist honors went to Aberdeen Roncalli's Harper Schnabel, who shot 3-under-68 to win the tournament by two strokes. Schnabel had five birdies in the round, including shooting 2-under-par on the course's back nine. Sioux Falls Jefferson's Trevor Rick, Rapid City Stevens' Cole Jansen and Watertown's Max Stemwedel each shot 1-under-70 and Roncalli's Lucas Daggett shot even-par-71 to round out the top-five places.
Mitchell was led by senior Asher Dannenbring, who shot a 4-over-75 on the day, finishing in 25th place in a field of 98 golfers. Kernel freshman Eli Konrad shot a season-best round of 79, and checked in at 48th place. Ian Weber also lowered his season-best score and shot a round of 80, which landed him in 55th place.

#mitchell #aberdeen

The 2026 PGA Tour season concluded last weekend at the Tour Championship, with Scottie Scheffler winning by three strokes.
With a three-week hiatus until the Biltmore Championship Asheville, this is the perfect time to reflect on the past season.
We have looked at the leaders of each statistical category on the PGA Tour, and the longest driver was particularly interesting.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
21-year-old South African golfer Aldrich Potgieter was the PGA Tour's biggest hitter in 2026, ahead of Rory McIlroy.

#championship #biltmore

One of the hardest things to do for players on the PGA Tour is work to improve their game while trying to win every week against the best players in the world. But now, with the 2026 PGA Tour season concluded, Golfweek is taking a statistical look to see which players improved the most in key areas of the game, year over year. The first part of the series (PGA Tour most improved in 2026: Driving distance, strokes gained off tee) can be found here.
In his 2014 book "Every Shot Counts: Using the Revolutionary Strokes Gained Approach to Improve Your Golf Performance and Strategy," Columbia professor Dr. Mark Brodie dispelled the longstanding myth that pros "Drive for show and putt for dough."
What Brodie's research found was that the golfers who are consistently contending for wins on the PGA Tour and who earn the most money tend to be players who are elite **** trikers because they avoid making big numbers and get more chances to score birdies.
Making more putts combines improving in three skills: reading greens, judging the ideal speed and making a repeatable, high-quality putting stroke. As any golfer at any level will tell you, getting better at putting is hard, but the players in the table below did it better than anyone on the PGA Tour last season.
While there are several other putting stats that are tracked by the PGA Tour, Strokes Gained: Putting is the most accurate **** sment of a golfer's putting performance because it isolates putting. Counting stats, like three-putt avoidance as an example, inherently include other aspects of a player's game.

#tour #players #gained #performance

No one in the history of the PGA Tour has made more money than Scottie Scheffler did in 2026.
The world's No. 1 player, who captured the Tour Championship on Sunday at East Lake in Atlanta for his 22nd victory on Tour, moved past $30 million in season earnings with the $10 million prize. He's the first player to pass $30 million in earnings in a single season and also passed Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour's career money list.
Scheffler earned more than double Cameron Young's prize money, and Young finished second on the season-long money list. Nine golfers earned more than $10 million while 33 took home more than $5 million.
Who made the most money during the PGA Tour's 2026 season? Take a look:
Position

#scheffler

Justin Rose turned a difficult stretch into a highlight reel moment during the final round of the Tour Championship. At East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, the veteran golfer conquered the par-3 ninth hole. He launched a tee shot from 208 yards that found the cup for an ace. This was the fourth hole-in-one of his Tour career. The shot happened on Sunday, August 30, 2026, during the final round. It was a massive relief for Rose, who had started the day with two early bogeys. The ace brought him back to even par for the round. According to ESPN Golf, the hole has been the second-most difficult one played at East Lake this week. The feat was so rare that it hadn't been seen on this specific hole since Xander Schauffele did it in 2019.
The statistics surrounding the ninth hole show just how hard it is to score well there. Per ESPN Golf reporting, the hole produced a scoring average of 0.077 above par for the week. That figure trailed only the opening hole in terms of difficulty. Before Rose's moment, there were only three birdies recorded on the hole all week. The rest of the field managed 88 pars, 11 bogeys, and one double-bogey. Rose, who is 46 years old, celebrated the shot by throwing both arms in the air and mimicking a basketball slam dunk. He then high-fived his playing partner, Si Woo Kim, and Kim's caddie, Manny Villegas. This shot was crucial for his standing. An intimidating uphill tee shot over a lake characterizes the hole, accounting for the severe struggles players face.
The difficulty of East Lake creates a unique challenge for the leaders and chasers alike. While Rose found a miracle, Scottie Scheffler has expressed concerns about how the course setup affects the leaderboard. The Rome News-Tribune reported that Scheffler noted the congestion on the board due to the course design. This tight grouping makes it hard to separate the field. Scheffler mentioned that the old course used to spread the field out more before it was redone.

#hole #shot #golf #week

The polls are open!
It's time to vote for the Halifax Health Volusia-Flagler Boys Athlete of the Week for the week of Aug. 24-29.
Last week, Spruce Creek golfer Peyten Patel captured the honors, claiming 60% of the votes. The junior tied teammate Carson Perry for first in the Hawks' nine-hole victory over Father Lopez. Patel fired a one-under-par 35 with two birdies.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal gathers nominees for upcoming polls from across the area via email at cvinelusatodayco.com. Please send a player's name, school and notable statistics for a given week. Submissions are due no later than 8 a.m. every Monday.
To round out the ballot, our staff also picks athletes from scores and stats posted online or submitted by local coaches. Athletes for all in-season sports, except football, are eligible. The News-Journal recognizes the local gridiron stars with our weekly game ******* story.

#local

High school sports are moving full speed ahead in Escambia and Santa Rosa County.
Gulf Breeze volleyball continues to impress in its 8-1 start, topping one of Alabama's best teams in Gulf Shores on Aug. 26 and one of the panhandle's best in South Walton on Aug. 27.
Tate and Pensacola Catholic volleyball are also off to undefeated starts, and the Aggies will host Gulf Breeze on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
High school girls golfers hit the links for the first time this week too, with Jay finishing second in a tri-match against Baker and Central.
Local cross country runners competed at the Pine Forest Eagle Invitational, with Navarre leading area teams with a third place finish.

#volleyball #teams #santa

Marc Ehudin had to wait more than seven hours on Sunday to see if he had reached the match play portion of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Baltimore Country Club in Lutherville.
The wait is over — temporarily.
Ehudin, a Pikesville native and Gilman graduate who now lives in Potomac, learned he will take part in a playoff to determine whether he will be among the top 64 golfers in the match play round. He and 12 others will compete for three spots on Monday at 7:30 a.m. beginning at Hole No. 9 on the East Course.
"To not know where I stood the entire day and then find out, 'OK, I've got to kick it back into gear tomorrow and focus and get ready to play again,' I've got some mental adjusting to do tonight, but I will be very excited tomorrow," said Ehudin, who turned 63 last Monday. "This is a really new experience for me. Didn't get this far two years ago. So a mixture of wishing I had done better yesterday and excitement for what could be tomorrow. We'll see."
Ehudin carded a 5-over 75 on Sunday after opening with a 6-over 76 on Saturday for a two-day total of 11-over 151. That put him on the bubble until about 7 p.m. when he learned he was tied for 62nd.

#tomorrow #wait

The 2026 PGA Tour season all comes down to one last round.
Viktor Hovland sizzled down the strech on Saturday, recording birdies on four of his last six holes, to take a one-stroke lead into the final 18 holes of the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Hovland begins the final round on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 15 under par, and will be paired with Ryan Gerard (-14) in the last group. Leading a quartet of golfers three strokes back at 12 under is the ever-present Scottie Scheffler. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy vaulted into contention with Saturday's best round − a 7-under 63 − to move to minus 10 and a tie for seventh.
It should make for a dramatic finish.

#tour #hovland #down