Mar. 20—AUGUSTA — An opening ceremony with golfers hitting tee shots is a tradition for a certain big event each April.

But three weeks before the 90th Masters gets underway, another special event was held March 19 to celebrate the reopening of The Patch and usher in a new era of public golf for the Augusta area.

Instead of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, it was Clois Herndon, Ike Choice, James Dent, Joshua Dent and Jim Douglas doing the honors.

Herndon, who was among a group of Black golfers who integrated the Patch in May 1964, didn't hit a shot but was recognized at the ceremony. The other golfers who helped integrate the course were John Elam, Maurice Thompson and Raymond Jenkins, all deceased.

The Augusta Municipal Golf Course, established in 1928 and better known as The Patch, will open fully for public play on Wednesday, April 15. That's three days after the 2026 Masters Tournament is scheduled to finish.

But Thursday, special guests were on hand to play the course after it was fully renovated in a 16-month span.

Golfers entered the renovated property, complete with a new clubhouse and a short course designed by Tiger Woods, on Jim Dent Way. The main entrance is a nod to Augusta's most successful Black golfer and is now on Damascus Road closer to Wrightsboro Road. Dent died in May 2025 and didn't get to see the renovated Patch.

"It's bittersweet but I know he would enjoy being here and everybody here showing up for him," his son, James, said. "That was awesome."

The younger Dent said the Patch was more than a golf course and he looks forward to how future generations will enjoy it.

"It's everything to this community. It's where everyone was allowed to play, come out and have fun," he said. "People would sit around here when the course was closed and talk and have a good time."

Douglas, son of The Patch's longtime professional Red Douglas, said it was "an incredible honor" to participate in the ceremony.

"My father, being here for 43 years, to come back here and see what they've done with it is very cool," Douglas said. "It's incredible, really."

Architects Tom Fazio and Beau Welling led the renovation of the 18-hole golf course. Five-time Masters winner Woods and his firm TGR Design did the work on the newly designed, nine-hole short course, The Loop at The Patch. Both courses present opportunities for all levels of golfers to learn and develop a lifelong relationship with the game.

Douglas was amazed at the transformation.

"It's really kind of amazing to be honest with you," he said. "What Augusta National and Tiger Woods and all the crews that have come out here, it's fantastic.

"It's going to be a great thing for the community of Augusta going forward. It's going to provide a lot of opportunities for a lot of people to play golf."

Leaders wanted to keep public golf both accessible and affordable for the Augusta community. The 18-hole walking rate for local residents, as outlined on GolfThePatch.com, will be $25 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday, while The Loop at The Patch will cost $15 for local residents.

The Patch practice facilities encompass 17 acres and feature Trackman Range, including an area with 20 covered bays. Additionally, the putting course is available complimentary to the general public and includes a 12-hole routing, offering a fun way for players of all skill levels to experience the game.

The full pricing structure for The Patch, The Loop at The Patch and the practice facilities is available on GolfThePatch.com and includes rates for active-duty military, seniors, juniors and local and non-local residents, as well as cart fees.

Tee times for The Patch can be booked online two weeks in advance, beginning April 1 for the April 15 general public reopening. To reserve tee times once the window is open on April 1, please visit GolfThePatch.com.

Originally announced in 2023 by Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National and the Masters, The Patch Project, LLC is a partnership between Augusta Technical College, The First Tee of Augusta and Masters Tournament Charities and will foster opportunities to play and work in the sport.

"Words really don't describe it. I have not seen entire golf course, but land and everything is first class," Douglas said. "The game of golf is powerful, teaching a lot of lessons, and it's going to open the doors for a lot of people to have that opportunity."

This week’s Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida, is sandwiched between two huge events on the golf calendar, The Players Championship and the Masters.

So organizers like to have a little fun to set their event apart. Plus, the title sponsor is a paint company, so adding color is a must.

For the sixth year in a row. the Vaspar allowed participating PGA Tour golfers to customize the bibs caddies wear to identify them on the course.

MORE: PGA Tour pro knocks in eagle shots on consecutive holes at Valspar

Alejandro Tosti, a 29-year-old pro from Argentina, took the opportunity to send a message about his unwanted status as a single man.

So his caddie sported the message “NEED A WIFE” during the first round. Furthermore, the PGA Tour’s X account shared Tosti’s reaction.

Tosti said the idea came from tournament volunteers. Consequently, the message caused a stir on the Innisbrook Resort and Golf’s Copperhead Course.

“A lot of people were asking if it was my caddie that was needing a wife,” Tosti said. “But, no, it’s actually me. … A lot of people were taking pictures, making fun of him, asking, ‘Hey, what’s going on.?’ Yeah, it was fun.”

Tosti, who played for the Florida Gators, is still seeking his first PGA Tour win. He has $2.3 million in career earnings.

On March 19, he had a so-so day while seeking his mate. Tosti shot an even-par 72 and finished in a tie for 48th.

After the round, he was asked what he offers a prospective wife.

“I offer a lot of good stuff,” Tosti said. “I love cooking. I can fly airplanes. I can play golf and have fun.”

Furthermore, Golf Week compiled a list of the best caddie bib messages at the Valspar:

• Isaiah Salinda: “#LaRhonda” (name of his putter)
• Neal Shipley: “OSU 27-Mich 9” (score of “The Game”)
• Justin Thomas: “Molly’s Dad”
• Danny Willett: “RedBud Sixteen” (horse that he owns)
• Max McGreevy: “Last @fntsy fb”
• Frankie Capan III: “BEEF” (childhood nickname)
• Zach Bauchou: “@Mike-Creed-1” (Caddie’s Venmo tag)
• Tony Finau: “Finau Fresh 8”

Overall, the Valspar Championship features a $9.1 million purse and top players Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick. The Golf Channel will provide coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on March 20. NBC and Peacock offer coverage of the third and final rounds from 3-6 p.m. ET on March 21 and 22. The entire tournament streams on the ESPN app.

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PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Wyndham Clark and caddie John Ellis have split.

After eight years, they have gone their separate ways in what they are both describing as a mutual decision. Clark has Dave Pelekoudas, otherwise known as “Big Wave Dave,” on the bag this week at the Valspar Championship, where Clark opened with 1-under 70 on Thursday.

“We had a good run,” Clark told Golfweek after his first round at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. “We both just felt like it was time to move on and we wanted to choose our friendship over the job. It’s been kind of a tough last year of golf and we both mutually were like, alright, let’s just take a little break and reassess maybe later.”

Asked if he thought they might get back together, he said, “I don’t know, but you never know.”

More: Valspar Championship leaderboard updates for Friday's second round

Theirs is a working relationship forged at the University of Oregon in 2016 after Clark transferred there from Oklahoma State for his senior year. At the same time, Ellis’s pro career was fizzling out and he returned to his alma mater as an assistant to Casey Martin.

Ellis did such a good job grooming Clark, who was Golfweek’s Collegiate Player of the Year in 2017, that when he struggled on the Korn Ferry Tour after turning pro, Clark texted Ellis an image of a sinking ship and asked him to caddie for him temporarily. Ellis immediately helped Clark stay afloat and earn his PGA Tour card and went to work for Clark full-time.

During their eight-year run, Clark won the Wells Fargo Championship and U.S. Open in 2023 and the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which included a course-record 60 at Pebble. Clark later gave Ellis a custom-made Oregon Ducks green Rolex watch to commemorate their slice of history. Clark also played on the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team and 2024 Presidents Cup, and reached as high as No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Clark has slipped to No. 67 and failed to make the top 50 on last year’s FedEx Cup list and isn’t in all of the signature events this season. He also had two very public incidents at majors where his temper got the better of him.

"When things aren’t going great and I care more about, you know, Wyndham and I’s friendship, you know, we’re friends before business, and things just weren't right,” Ellis explained on Sirius XM’s Gravy & The Sleeze Show. “Something had to give and it felt like it was just time, maybe, you know, a different voice for both of us would help.”

Ellis was awarded the inaugural U.S. Open Caddie Award in 2023, and is credited for his part in an intervention of sorts that resulted in Clark working with noted mental coach Julie Elion, who has helped him work through some of his underlying issues related to the death of his mother. 

“As of right now, I’m taking one week at a time, giving Big Wave a two-week trial. He’s a good friend and I know he’s a good caddie. I said I’ll give him two weeks for sure and then reassess after that,” Clark said.

He added that he and Ellis had discussed breaking up even before The Players, but the two decided it was time to go their separate ways after Sunday’s final round. “We both agreed that a little change up could be the difference for me to get back to playing some good golf,” Clark said. 

Ellis tried to dispel any rumors that the two had a falling out, telling Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, “if I get on Instagram it looks like there’s a lot of hatred, but there’s no hatred for Wyndham and I. We are still friends. We texted yesterday, it’s all good,” Ellis said. “It’s part of the business and I’m going to still root for him and surely he will root for me, whatever I do after this.”

Ellis likely will be in high demand and could lead to several more moves on the caddie carousel.

Clark got off to a solid start with his new bagman in the first round. That included recording the longest drive of the season, a 446-yard wallop at No. 10 and the longest drive at the Valspar Championship since 2003.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Wyndham Clark and caddie John Ellis split

LIV Golf have often been heavily criticized by Brandel Chamblee since their inception in 2022.

The same can be said for Bryson DeChambeau, who has felt the wrath of Chamblee on multiple occasions in the past.

The 32-year-old American swapped the PGA Tour for LIV Golf back in June 2022, and he has since become the leading face of the Saudi-backed golf league.

DeChambeau is undoubtedly one of the most exciting golfers on the planet at the moment, and has been for quite a few years now.

However, his allegiance to LIV Golf rankles Chamblee, who refuses to accept the Saudi-backed outfit as a reputable elite golf tour.

In spite of Chamblee’s hatred for LIV and everything it stands for, he must appreciate the talent that the two-time U.S. Open winner possesses.

DeChambeau’s game is in good shape on LIV Golf right now, and with the Masters just a few weeks away, he will be feeling very confident.

He led after day one at LIV South Africa following his round of eight-under-par 63 on Thursday.

Brandel Chamblee thinks Bryson DeChambeau has been manipulated by LIV Golf

DeChambeau was signing autographs for fans at The Club at Steyn City for 25 minutes after his opening round on Thursday.

The American has a huge following in the golfing sphere and he regularly gives back by giving up his time to sign hats, gloves and balls for his fans.

However, Chamblee shared a completely different view on DeChambeau signing autographs for his fans in South Africa.

The golf analyst believes the 32-year-old American has been manipulated by LIV Golf into believing that he is a hero.

In response to a post on X praising DeChambeau for taking the time to sign autographs for so many of his fans, Chamblee took aim at LIV Golf and its backers.

“Amazing to see how easy it is for someone who is being manipulated to help legitimize an oppressive regime look like a conquering hero,“ Chamblee said.

“The sole purpose of LIV is not to elevate golf or professional golfers, but the quiet replacement of conscience with what looks like competition.“

That’s a fair enough stance from Chamblee.

DeChambeau still deserves credit despite Chamblee’s critique

There is no doubt that the Saudis are using LIV Golf to help legitimize their oppressive regime, just like they do in many other sports.

‘Sportswashing’, as it has become known, is a ploy to use high-profile athletes to improve a tarnished reputation or distract from bad practices in general.

It is impossible to argue against that.

However, DeChambeau is not stupid. He most likely knows all of this himself.

The fact that he signed autographs for fans for 25 minutes after he finished his round in South Africa on Thursday should be applauded.

DeChambeau may be part of a bigger picture which isn’t pretty, but I genuinely believe that he is doing the best he can to grow the sport and give back to the hundreds of thousands of fans who have supported him throughout the years.

Is Tiger Woods returning at the Masters? Injured legend listed as 2026 tournament participant on event website originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Despite numerous injuries and setbacks, Tiger Woods isn't ready to give up competitive golf just yet. Could he make his return at the Masters in April?

Woods has remained unsure, at least publicly, about his chances of playing at the Masters, where he is automatically invited as a former champion. 

Despite Woods' refusal to commit, some fans believe the answer can be found on the tournament's website.

Here's what you need to know about Woods' Masters status and what has fans believing a return is imminent.

MORE:Where Tiger Woods' 1997 Masters win ranks among SN's top 140 moments in sports history

Is Tiger Woods returning at the Masters?

Under the "invitees" section, the official Masters website currently says, "Tiger Woods is making his 27th Masters start in 2026." Fans noticed the line, which seems to indicate Woods is planning to participate despite not making any public decision yet.

Despite that, there is no confirmation that Woods is planning to return at the Masters. He is automatically invited as a former champion, and it’s possible the Masters is simply using its standard language for every invited player.

Woods recently said he still wasn’t sure he would be healthy enough to return for the Masters, which starts on April 9.

“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun ... I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it did when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back,” Woods told reporters. “So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just move around."

Here’s a closer look at what Woods is working to overcome.

Is Tiger Woods injured?

Woods suffered a torn Achilles in March 2025 and did not participate in a competitive golf event during the year. He underwent back surgery in October 2025, which delayed a potential return.

The 50-year-old is now more than a year removed from Achilles surgery, but his comments indicate working his way back from lumbar disk surgery in October has been more of a challenge. 

Even after the two setbacks, which extend a long list of injuries and surgeries for the golf legend, Woods has remained committed to getting back on the golf course. 

MORE:Where Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters win ranks among SN's top 140 moments in sports history

What has Tiger Woods said about a return to golf?

Woods remains insistent that he is working way to get back on the golf course and isn't interested in retirement, but he said his body feels different day-to-day.

"My body has been through a lot. It’s one of those things, each and every day I keep trying, keep progressing and working on it," Woods told reporters in February. "I’m trying to get this body at a level where I can play at the highest level again."

Asked whether he can hit full shots, Woods confirmed he can "Not well every day, but I can hit them." That's a major step toward returning, but whether Woods can play one or two days at a competitive tournament and still feel good enough to play again is the bigger question.

When did Tiger Woods last play competitive golf?

Woods' last competitive start came at the 2024 Open Championship in July of 2024. If he participates in the Masters, he will end a 21-month drought without playing competitive golf.

Woods has largely struggled in major events since his monumental Masters win in 2019. He has either missed the cut or withdrawn in nine of his last 14 major appearances and hasn't finished top-40 in any major since the 2020 PGA Championship.

For Woods, just getting back onto the course for a competitive event after such a long time away would be a win in itself. Whether that return will be at the Masters is still unclear.

Sungjae Im found his rhythm Thursday at the Valspar Championship, opening with a 7-under-par 64 at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course to grab the first-round lead in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Im opened his round on the 10th hole and was 4 under through his first three holes, including an eagle on the par-5 11th. He started his second nine with another eagle, and added birdies on two of the next four holes, but then bogeyed two of his last four to finish 7 under.

VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES

Brandt Snedeker, the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup, is one back after a bogey-free 65, turning a sponsor exemption into an early statement. The 45-year-old rolled in five of his birdies on the back nine.

Davis Thompson sits in third at 66, while Billy Horschel, Andrew Putnam and Pierceson Coody are tied for fourth with matching 67s.

LIV South Africa

Ordinarily, it's the individual competition that grabs the headlines at a LIV Golf event. But Thursday at LIV Golf South Africa, it was all about the teams in the debut tournament on the continent.

Southern Guards GC, a team of four South Africans, fed off the home crowd to take the first-round lead at The Club at Steyn City near Johannesburg. Branden Grace led the group with a 7-under 64, and Charl Schwartzel carded a 66.

"I think that was one of the best experiences I've ever had on a golf course," Schwartzel said. "I've played Presidents Cups, I've teed off in front of presidents in New York, and that first tee gave me goosebumps. I almost had tears in my eyes. It was a really proud moment."

Grace agreed.

"It's amazing," Grace said about playing a LIV Golf event in his country. "This is what we hoped for. They're coming out in the numbers. They're coming out to support the event. I feel South Africa has been hungry for a big golf event like this and this experience."

The experience also was a good one for Bryson DeChambeau and Charles Howell II, a pair of Americans who each finished the day with 8-under rounds of 63 to top the individual leaderboard. DeChambeau recorded nine birdies and a bogey, while Howell posted a bogey-free round.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Golf roundup: Sungjae Im shoots 64 with two eagles to lead Valspar Championship

Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner menu has already sparked plenty of discussion ahead of Augusta.

The Northern Irishman revealed a carefully curated selection of dishes, combining personal favourites with high-end cuisine.

However, not everyone is convinced by his choices. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has now delivered a blunt verdict on the menu.

Former NFL quarterback rips into Rory McIlroy’s Masters dinner choices

Speaking on ESPN, Orlovsky made it clear that McIlroy’s menu would not be to his taste.

The analyst, who is known for his famously simple eating habits, admitted there was only one item he would consider.

“I would probably eat one thing, the filet mignon,” he said.

Orlovsky took particular issue with some of the more creative options on offer, including McIlroy’s peach and ricotta flatbread.

“Here’s my problem with people in the food world,” he added. “Just make a good cheese pizza flatbread. It doesn’t have to be peaches and ricotta.

“I’ve got a lot of love for Rory. I’m a huge Rory fan. I love Rory. But peach and ricotta?? Just give me a good cheese pizza!”

His comments come despite the effort that went into the menu, with Augusta National’s culinary team even travelling to New York to perfect one of the dishes.

But Orlovsky’s reaction highlights the contrast between McIlroy’s thoughtful selections and others’ simpler tastes.

Rory McIlroy taking unusual route in Masters preparation

Away from the dinner, McIlroy’s preparation for The Masters has also taken an unusual turn.

The 36-year-old is not scheduled to play again before arriving at Augusta, which is rare for him ahead of a major.

McIlroy typically competes two weeks before a big event, but this year he will head into The Masters after a three-week break. That change comes after he has been dealing with a back issue in recent weeks.

He was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and arrived late at The Players Championship.

McIlroy did not practice ahead of that event and was unsure whether he would even compete until the day it began.

The extended break may help his recovery, but it also represents a departure from his usual routine as he looks to finally claim the Green Jacket.

Read more:

Kevin Kisner has lauded Akshay Bhatia and praised a decision that he has made in recent months that could be huge for his career.

Bhatia is one of a number of younger players to have already made a big statement this season. The 24-year-old threatened to win at Pebble Beach in February, before getting across the line at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

His victory at Bay Hill came after a playoff with Daniel Berger. With that, Bhatia has now claimed all three of his PGA Tour wins in overtime.

Kevin Kisner praises one decision Akshay Bhatia has made

The youngster has not finished outside the top 16 in any of his last five starts. Bhatia is currently sat third in the FedEx Cup standings.

He is showing that he has enormous potential. The next step now is to surely start making an impact in the major championships, with Bhatia boasting just one top 20 finish in the four biggest events of the year.

It seems that Bhatia has made a move which will boost those hopes. Speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, Kevin Kisner outlined how impressed he has been by his Jupiter Links teammate.

He also suggested that Bhatia has made an inspired decision bringing Joe Greiner in as his caddie.

“Professionally, I think Akshay is mature beyond his years. The first time I hung out with him, playing golf probably was at TGL. I’ve known the kid just from watching his name on leaderboards. But his brain is more mature than 24, about how he handles his business and goes about himself professionally. I don’t really see him as a little kid over there. He kind of just fits in now. He laughs at how stupid we are, and old, but he’s a baller. He’s got big balls, he’s ready to be put in the pressure cooker. He likes being in the heat and we love that s— on our team. Last night, he makes that putt with the hammer thrown at him, which probably is the pivotal moment in the match. That’s what he thrives on. I think that’s why he’s so good in playoffs,” he said.

“I love his caddie that he hired. I think that’s huge. I love Joe Greiner, and I just love the way he talks to you out there. I was watching some of that Chasing Sunday from The Players and I was like damn, I need to get Greiner to caddie for me one week whenever Akshay’s not playing. I need some of that in my life. I think that’s going to be a huge help to his career, having Joe out there that’s an older, veteran guy. Been there but can still relate to Akshay’s age, so I think that’s going to be a great team. I’m just super impressed with the way he handles his business, his life, his golf.”

Akshay Bhatia explains how his partnership with Joe Greiner came about

Bhatia is under no illusions when it comes to what a coup it is to have Greiner take over his bag.

Speaking on the same podcast, Bhatia explained how their partnership came about back in December – after one or two bumps in the road.

“It’s been very exciting to start working with him. I really wanted to work with him when him and Max [Homa] split last year. He was the first guy I was like, man, everything seems to align,” he said.

“We’re from the same town in California, grew up playing the same municipal, so me, Max and Joe, but they were obviously older. And then him being left-handed. There were so many things where I was like this is aligning for me. So when I first talked to him, he obviously went in the other direction with Collin, which I totally understood. It’s like the girl that you really, really want but she’s out of your league, and you’re just hoping for that one chance.”

While it is difficult for most of us to have a good idea of just how influential each caddie is, it felt significant when Greiner helped Justin Thomas end his lengthy wait for a PGA Tour win at last year’s RBC Heritage.

The stint with Collin Morikawa did not work out. However, the early signs suggest that Bhatia and Greiner could be a perfect match.

When you've become a veteran golfer like Zach Johnson, it's fair to say you've seen it all. Even a snow-delayed tournament.

It was some 15 years ago that Johnson was in Marana, just north of Tucson, Arizona, for the PGA Tour's WGC Match Play when play was suspended by snow. The tournament was held in February at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, which sits at elevation, but seeing the golf course draped in a layer of snow was a shock to most, who generally think of Arizona as one big desert.

"The one I remember, and this is no embellishment, no exaggeration, there was one year we were here, we're at like 2,700 feet, I think it's even a little higher up there, like 3,000 feet maybe, maybe a little more than that even. I'm in my first match and it was single elimination, it wasn't pod based, and I'm playing Jason Day, who I adore. We get to 11, it's a par 5 and I'm pretty confident saying I was 5 down through 10. Maybe 6., I think it was 5. It's blowing, it's freezing, we've got four layers on, and all of a sudden this purple-bluish haze comes over us and then it starts to snow. We had about a 36-hour delay of snow. It was two or three inches, and then that evening it was three more inches," Johnson said.

"That was not the fondest of memories. I mean, I got waxed so maybe it's supposed to be like that. When it rains, it snows, I don't know. But yeah, great memories other than that. I love the topography, the undulations, the trajectory control. Elevation's difficult because you've got to control your yardages, but I love that challenge."

Fast forward to this week and the weather is quite the opposite, as a West Coast heat wave has brought triple digits to the state. Accuweather projects a high of 101 on Friday and 100 on Saturday before "cooling off" to 98 on Sunday at the Cologuard Classic at La Paloma Country Club.

"It's hot," he said. "I was talking to some guys who played here last year in particular. It was freezing, I guess. But I get it. Again, we're at elevation. I think it was a little earlier in the calendar if I'm not mistaken. You know, it is what it is. But it's nice. I mean, it's dry heat, you know. We'll be fine."

Johnson comes into the week with a perfect record on the PGA Tour Champions. He's only played once on the circuit since turning 50, but he became the 22nd golfer to win his Champions debut two weeks ago.

"I didn't have any expectations on that," he said. "I just wanted to go out, get comfortable and compete. I mean, I guess the short answer would be no, but I really didn't put anything on myself from an outcome standpoint. It was more let's get acclimated, let's get our feet underneath us and try to find some sort of rhythm to the week."

Getting to Tucson also proved to be a bit of a challenge for the St. Simons Island, Georgia, resident.

"I don't want to bore, you know what, it's first-world problems. I'm so fortunate obviously to be here, let alone the trials in trying to get here. There was a storm out east and it wreaked havoc, as they typically do, and it was pretty significant. It's the domino effect, whether you're talking actual weather, TSA issues, et cetera. There's all that." he said. "But I say all that, you know, fortunately I didn't lose a second of sleep, I was not too stressed about it. Again, this is first-world issues."

With the travel woes behind him and a 0 percent chance of snow in the Arizona heat, now it's time for Johnson to focus on golf at the Cologuard, where he'll be a favorite in a field of many of his PGA Tour buddies, including Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul Stankowski. As Johnson says, he could go on and on.

"Names this week, faces this week that I haven't seen in a while. Just saw Freddie [Couples]. He was the vice captain with me and I was a player under him a couple times," Johnson said. "Those are the guys I've looked up to, those are the guys that have paved my way certainly and I'm grateful to have them as both mentors and peers."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Zach Johnson eyes second PGA Tour Champions win at Cologuard Classic

Matt Fitzpatrick has embarked on a swing change with his coach Mark Blackburn over the past 12 months.

Fitzpatrick linked up with Blackburn immediately after The Masters last year after a really poor run of form.

And Blackburn obviously worked wonders with the Englishman, who finished the season off in fine form and made his way onto the European Ryder Cup team as a result.

Fitzpatrick has begun the 2026 PGA Tour season in fine form, with a runner-up finish, one top-10 and two top-25s in six events so far.

It’s fair to say that Fitzpatrick could have won The Players, if he had just a little bit more luck down the stretch on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass.

He has already proven that he can win the very biggest tournaments, after he reigned supreme at the U.S. Open in 2022.

However, he will now be hoping to jump up to the next level, and the hope is that with his ability to cut his irons now rather than draw them, he’ll be able to do exactly that.

What Matt Fitzpatrick tipped to get even better after swing change

Fitzpatrick was very keen to find a way of controlling his iron shots better, and Blackburn has helped him do that by transforming the shot-shape that he hits.

Blackburn spoke to Dan Rapaport on The Dan on Golf Show, and responded when asked about the changes Fitzpatrick has made to his swing.

“He spent a lot of time developing a lot of speed, and speed is definitely a huge byproduct of moving kind of laterally in the golf swing, and very much vertically,“ Blackburn explained.

“And that produces massive speed, a bit more of a draw, but can be very challenging for producing really crisp, controlled, cut iron shots, the shot that he wanted.

“He was almost trying to use a technique for a high long iron, or a massive smash driver.

“It’s not gonna be so conducive for a cut, you know, nine or eight-iron.

“And so we kind of added in a little less of him moving down the target line, a little bit more rotational, which he did probably inherently as a kid, and then when he chased speed, his swing kind of changed a little bit.

“So all we’ve done is trying to take the pieces he used for distance, but then marry them up, harmonise a little bit more with his lower body, creating a bit more rotation.

“Some people might call that torque, so it’s easier to get the club travelling outside to in and across the ball, much easier for him to get his body open through the hip, which now opens the club face to the path, and he produces a very controlled cut.“

What Matt Fitzpatrick does at majors is ‘unusual’ according to his coach

“He’s very straight. He hits it a long way, he’s got precision, and he’s just learning to use all of those things.

“So, to me, I think that his ceiling, he’s levelling up, so to speak, and I think he’s gonna continue to get better and better, and he doesn’t get stage fright.

“He’s very stoic. Like, he is very calm. The Matt I deal with on the Monday is the same Matt I’m dealing with on a Sunday in a warm-up at a major.

“That’s kind of unusual with players.

“We’re still talking about Sheffield United or the Premier League, or how bad Liverpool are. We have a good joke. The team’s very sarcastic.

“So, he’s got a really great head on his shoulders. Yeah, I think that he’s got a lot of intangibles that make for elite golf.“

A fade always lands softer than a draw so players are able to control their distances better by shaping their irons left to right, or right to left if they are left-handed.

Given the firmness of the greens at the vast majority of the biggest tournaments on the PGA Tour, the change was one that Fitzpatrick clearly felt was a crucial one to make.

Akshay Bhatia has been slowly proving that he is one of the very best golfers in the world over the past couple of years.

Bhatia’s victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago rubber-stamped his place on the PGA Tour’s top table.

The 24-year-old left-hander is a huge talent, and his win at Bay Hill made a lot of people sit up and realize just how good he is.

Bhatia is very highly-rated by his fellow PGA Tour players and for very good reason.

The Californian has seemingly reached another level this season, with a win, two top-5s and three top-10 finishes to his name.

The next step for Bhatia will be to consistently challenge in the major championships.

He’s a hugely popular figure and a lot of people would love to see him win one of the big events.

However, in spite of his popularity, Bhatia has received plenty of criticism as well.

Akshay Bhatia responds to cheating allegations

Bhatia is one of the players in the professional game who uses a long putter.

However, many golf fans have accused the 24-year-old of anchoring the butt of his grip to his chest when he is putting.

When speaking on the Foreplay Podcast Plus Podcast, Bhatia responded to a question regarding the cheating allegations which are constantly made against him.

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t care,“ Bhatia exclaimed.

“I know people do it for views.

I spoke to Rapaport last week. I was like, ‘I’d honestly just take my shirt off and show everyone, this is where I’m at’.

“Because it’s three to four inches from my chest. Like, I’m not built like Adam Scott. I’m not built like Lucas Glover.

“And so, yeah, it looks like it touches my shirt.

“But I had a great conversation with the rules committee last week, and my integrity, like, there’s obviously a lot of integrity on this sport.

“Um, and so, yeah, people can say what they want to say. If I wasn’t playing well, no one would say anything.

“So, again, it’s just people wanting to create noise, and if they want me to go shorter, then I’ll just bend down more.

“So it doesn’t matter to me, you know?

Akshay Bhatia defends those who use long putters

“It’s like if people started saying, like, the claw grip is cheating, you know what I’m saying?

“It’s like just a different version, and I think Jordan (Spieth) talked about it last week. Like, it’s still a skill that you have to learn with the broom.

“And you still have to be a great green reader. Your speed and green reading has to be good.

“Like, I could anchor it and pull every putt and miss everything, but it’s like, I’m still a great green reader, and I’m, you know, I have to have some idea of speed.

“It’s funny to me, man. Like, people on the Internet, I just don’t get it.

“It doesn’t make me upset, but it’s definitely, like, don’t you have other people to pick on? Like, this is just dumb.“

Bhatia is spot on here. If it was that easy to use a broomstick, everybody would surely do it?

Also, in the heat of battle, does anyone really think Bhatia would risk cheating in front of the millions of people watching worldwide?

It’s utter nonsense. While Bhatia’s shirt may touch the butt of his putter grip at times, his chest is nowhere near it.

The 24-year-old PGA Tour star obviously does not anchor his putter to his body.

The problem lies with the PGA Tour, who made the rule so open to interpretation in the first place.

If they really want to banish long putters, they should bring in a maximum length rule.

We are now just three weeks out from the first round of the 2026 Masters. It'll be the 90^th edition at Augusta National Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy will return to Augusta, Georgia, as the defending champion for the first time. That means he'll also be host of the Masters Champions Dinner on the Tuesday of tournament week.

There are 88 players on the invite list with just three PGA Tour stops left before it's time to drive down Magnolia Lane. Here's some things you should know with a less than a month left before the first men's major of the year.

When is the 2026 Masters

• Dates: April 9-12
• Where: Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia

Where to watch, stream the 2026 Masters

TV: CBS/Paramount/ESPN/Prime Video. The Masters will stream live on Prime Video from 1-3 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, for the first time, followed by ESPN's on those first two days from 3-7:30 p.m. ET.

CBS will air the Masters live from 2-7 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, with Paramount streaming live both days from 12-2 p.m. ET. This will be the 71st year for CBS at the Masters.

Served in honor of Mr. Rory McIlroy. #themasterspic.twitter.com/hUp3uaQeNl

— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 18, 2026

Scottie Scheffler tops 2026 Masters odds

Courtesy of BetMGM.

• Scottie Scheffler (+400)
• Rory McIlroy (+900)
• Bryson DeChambeau (+1200)
• Jon Rahm (+1400)
• Ludvig Aberg (+1400)
• Xander Schauffele (+1600)
• Tommy Fleetwood (+2000)
• Collin Morikawa (+2200)
• Cameron Young (+2500)
• Justin Rose (+2800)

Notables

• Tiger Woods (+17500)
• Bubba Watson (+25000)
• Jose Maria Olazabal (+250000)

Is Tiger Woods playing the 2026 Masters?

Tiger Woods, who’s recovering from a back surgery in October, has said playing in The Masters is not “off the table.’’

Woods skipped the tournament last year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. He last played in The Masters in 2024, when he made the cut and broke the tournament record for consecutive cuts made with 24.

Woods has won the tournament five times, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ six victories. He also still holds the record for biggest margin of victory – 12 strokes in 1997 – when he won his first green jacket. Woods' last victory on the hallowed golf course came in 2019. That was also the last of his 15 major victories.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The Masters is 3 weeks out. What you need to know for Augusta

Fifth Top 5 finish for the Dacia Bigster in Austria.

21,288 new cars hit Austrian roads in February, another solid 8.5% year-on-year improvement. After a double-digit gain in January, the year-to-date volume is up 10.4% to 44.217. Volkswagen (+1.7%) remains in the brands lead even though it can’t quite capitalise on the market growth. In contrast Skoda (+16.9%) and Audi (+10.4%) pushed ahead and complete the podium as it was also the case in January. BMW (-21%) is in a rut at #4 while Dacia (+13%) is up four spots on last month to round out the Top 5. Peugeot (+44.3%), Cupra (+21.7%) and Toyota (+15%) also make themselves noticed in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, BYD (+62.8%) at #12, Fiat (+89.4%), MG (+136.1%) and Leapmotor (+463.6%) are among carmakers standing out.

Model-wise, the VW Golf (-13.9%) repeats at #1 for what is only its third win in the past 12 months, it is followed by the Skoda Octavia (-27.5%) in even worse shape. The Toyota Yaris/Cross (+102.7%) doubles its sales year-on-year and surges 15 spots on January to #3. The Dacia Bigster (+40000%) celebrates one year in market with a splendid 4th position, already its 5th Top 5 finish in Austria. The VW Pplo (+23.5%) is down 5 ranks on last month but soars YoY, as do the Audi Q3 (+214.8%), Skoda Elroq (+623.5%), Enyaq (+82.4%), VW Bus (+72.5%), Seat Leon (+71%) and Audi A1 (+169.5%).

Previous month: Austria January 2026: VW Golf at highest in 1.5 years, sales up 12.1%

One year ago: Austria February 2025: Audi Q8 inside Top 5, Renault 5 in Top 20

Full February 2026 Top 54 All brands and Top 20 models below.

Austria February 2026 – brands:

Austria February 2026 – models:

Source: Statistik Austria