As winter winds down and spring begins, golf season is just around the corner. Coming into this season, the PGA (Professional Golf Association) and the Saudi-funded tour named LIV are finally going to merge after a year of controversy. Last golf season had some of the most drama out of a season of any sport ever. For many golf fans, this is the year where we finally find out if Tiger Woods can still compete with the up-and-comers like Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Speith, and Wyndham Clark.
According to the site Theathletic.com, Tiger Woods hopes to play in one tournament per month. It may be hard to believe, but Woods is still trying to recover from his car accident back on February 23, 2021. Although Woods’ right ankle and leg injuries have been very apparent lately, these are not his only health issues. Ever since 2010, Tiger has been experiencing back pain and soreness. Not until 2014, however, had the pain been at its worst. When his back became so excruciating it became immensely painful to even swing a club, he knew it was time to undergo back surgery. Come to find out, Woods was suffering from a “pinched nerve” in his upper back. Hopefully, this can be Tiger’s come-back year when he can finally be back to playing some of the best golf in the world.
For those who do not know, on June 6, 2023, both the PGA and LIV golf leagues merged. While this may be good for the Leagues and their individual revenue, all of the players of the PGA were kept in the dark about the decision. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were two of the players who had things to say about being kept in the dark. The PGA said they decided to do this because we need to “unify golf” once again as it once was. Tiger and Rory have been loyal since the very beginning of players leaving the PGA to go to the Saudi-funded golf league. LIV reportedly offered Tiger Woods to be the “face of the league” for $700 to $800 million, which he rejected. Rory McIlroy has been one of the most vocal people when it comes to speaking for the players of the PGA. There are rumors floating around that McIlroy was offered $500 million to play for them but Rory has said he “has never been offered any money,” according to People.com.
The first event of the year every year is the Sentry Tournament of Champions which is played in Maui, Hawaii. The beginning of the year presents a fair and even platform for all players. This tournament is the clean slate that some players need to help revive their game if they did not end last season as they had hoped. It is played through January 4-5. The previous winner was Cameron Smith. Through four rounds Smith shot 34 under par and -8 on the final round to solidify $1.476 million. Coming in second and third were Jon Rahm (-33), and Matt Jones (-32).
The first major is the Masters. It is held at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters has been going on for 89 years making it one of the oldest tournaments in golf. The first-ever winner of this renowned event was Horton Smith in 1934. This year was a historic year for golf. The 1934 Masters marked the first time golf was broadcast on the radio nationwide. Today all of us golf fans know that the pro-tournaments are all 72 holes that span over four days, but 1934 set another record in being the very first 72-hole tourney. Last year’s victor was Scottie Scheffler. Overall, he shot -10, but on “Championship Sunday,” he shot -1 to seal the deal. Scheffler was awarded $2.7 million for his first-place finish. Coming in a close second was Rory McIlory who is another one of those guys who people are starting to question if he is on the downward slide of his career. Rory earned $1.6 million for his second-place finish.
In conclusion, this year will be the make-or-break moment for many people on both tours who are nearing the end of their careers. Is this the year Tiger finally breaks out just like the old times? Will Rory finally get that major he has been longing for? Or will Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm continue to dominate the game of golf? We will just have to wait and see.
