LEE WESTWOOD

U.S. Open qualifying starts this week and a dozen or so LIV Golf players already have decided they won't be playing the third major of the year.

An independent tribunal has ruled that the European tour was within its rights to sanction members who competed on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf without permission.

For Rory McIlroy, it’s a flat-out “no_” U_S_ Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is open to having LIV Golf players on Europe’s team at next year’s Ryder Cup because he says “I just want to make sure that we win.”.

Don't expect Rory McIlroy to spend much time reminiscing with his former Ryder Cup teammates at Wentworth this week.

Dustin Johnson is finally a winner again for the first time in 19 months.

It sure doesn't sound like Wentworth will be a place for PGA Tour players and LIV Golf players to visit over tea.

Luke Donald is Europe's new captain for the Ryder Cup in Italy next year.

Former President Donald Trump says the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit has created a “gold rush” for players.

Golf’s breakaway bunch have turned into a band of brothers.

None of the golfers who have opted to join the Saudi-funded breakaway series know if they will be allowed to keep playing at the sport’s four biggest events.

Tom Kidd won the first British Open at St. Andrews.

Billy Foster grabbed the flag on the 18th green, pulled it toward his face and gave it a kiss.

Rory McIlroy says he was wrong about his prediction in February that the Saudi-backed rival golf league was “dead in the water.”.

Phil Mickelson has returned to golf after four months out of public view and is facing severe scrutiny because of where he’s playing and who is paying him.

Dustin Johnson is joining the Saudi-funded golf league.

The PGA Tour is denying releases to golfers who want to play in the first Saudi-funded tournament next month in England.

The “ManningCast” so popular on “Monday Night Football” is coming to major championship golf.

Lee Westwood has requested a release to play the first event of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational series in Britain next month.

Sixteen players have made it to the weekend in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

As if the Dell Technologies Match Play isn't fickle enough.

The old boys from Blighty will be battling each other with a chance to win their group in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

The field for the Masters in April is now at 83 and counting.

The chances of an American golfer being crowned as European No. 1 for the first time were already strong heading into the Race to Dubai finale this week.

Marc Leishman, Russell Henley, Talor Gooch and Luke List shared the lead Thursday in the suspended first round of the Houston Open, with List still on the course when darkness stopped play.

A young and hungry U.S. squad didn't just take back the Ryder Cup.

In the post-defeat dissection that’s sure to come for Europe's Ryder Cup team, certainly the disappearing act by Rory McIlroy will be one of the top talking points.

All the drama Saturday at the Ryder Cup was to see if Europe could make a game of it.

Europe closed out two matches in rapid succession, then the U.S. closed out another to give the Americans a 10-5 lead with one match left on the course Saturday.

The first point of the Ryder Cup went to Europe and its new Spanish Armada.

The United States took a 6-2 lead for its largest opening-day advantage at the Ryder Cup since 1975.

No team in sports embraces the underdog label like Europe's Ryder Cup squads.

The Ryder Cup will kick off Friday morning with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas taking on the latest version of the Spanish Armada, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia.

The Americans always seem to bring the better players to the Ryder Cup.

Bryson DeChambeau is determined to be a team player in the Ryder Cup and he is wasting no time proving it.

Civic-minded Wisconsinites wanted to make sure Bryson DeChambeau, who was chomping on a sandwich during a practice round Tuesday, sampled the local fare.

Sergio Garcia is still the youngest Ryder Cup player in history.

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Shane Lowry have been picked by European captain Padraig Harrington to fill out the team for the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Billy Horschel became the second American after Arnold Palmer to win the BMW PGA Championship following a dramatic final round.

The hardest part of Sergio Garcia's day was before he even got to Royal St. George's.

Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth are leading the way at the British Open.

Expect the unexpected will be the motto for the world’s best golfers this week as they get a crack at links golf for the first time in two years in the British Open at Royal St. George's.

The unwanted milestone Lee Westwood has been creeping toward is finally here.

Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia are among Olympic qualifiers who aren't going to Tokyo next month.

Sam Burns is rolling again with the second-round lead at the AT&T Byron Nelson in his first start since getting his first PGA Tour victory.

Justin Rose was down, then up, and finally level at the end of Day 2.

Dustin Johnson is scheduled to be in Butler Cabin on Sunday evening, draping the green jacket over the shoulders of the Masters champion.

Justin Rose picked one of the toughest days at Augusta National for his lowest score in the Masters.

Dustin Johnson didn’t feel like his Masters victory was less significant last fall because no fans were at Augusta National to see his win and celebrate with him.

Robert MacIntyre of Scotland makes his debut in the Masters this week.

Herman Keiser won a green jacket after the Masters went four years without being played because of World War II.

Already the most fickle event in golf, the Dell Technologies Match Play on Friday was an endless frenzy. “You just never know what can happen out there," Billy Horschel said after beating Max Homa on the third playoff hole. 64 seed in Match Play history to make it to the weekend. 60 seed, while Erik van Rooyen (62) advanced by beating Daniel Berger with a par on the second playoff hole. The eight playoffs to decide group winners broke the previous mark of five in 2017 since group play began six yeas ago.

17 green during a third round match at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament Friday, March 26, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AUSTIN, Texas – The Latest on the Dell Technologies Match Play (all times local):4:55 p.m. The Dell Technologies Match Play already has a No. ___4:30 p.m.Kevin Na lectured Dustin Johnson and then sent him home from the Dell Technologies Match Play. 64 seed to advance since the Match Play switched to group play in 2015.

Wise shot his second straight 6-under 64 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead into the weekend at the Honda Classic. The 128 total is the lowest 36-hole score at PGA National since the tournament moved there 15 years ago — and marks the first 36-hole lead of Wise’s PGA Tour career. Wise birdied the last to finish off the 64, the eighth round of 64 or lower surrendered by PGA National this week. He opened with a 69, then shot 62 — the fourth score that low in Honda history at PGA National — Friday. Jones (61), Wise (64) and Russell Henley (64) had the 64s or better Thursday; Hagy, Ryder, Wise, Brice Garnett (64) and Stewart Cink (64) had them Friday.

Matt Jones of Australia hits from the 18th tee during the first round of the Honda Classic golf tournament, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Jones tied the course record at PGA National with a 9-under 61. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Matt Jones’ opening round at the Honda Classic was remarkable. Jones tied the course record Thursday on a typically windy day at PGA National with a bogey-free 9-under 61 giving him a three-shot lead. “I was just managing the golf course and hitting good shots,” Jones said. And Hunter Mahan had a six-hole stretch in which he made, in order, eagle, bogey, bogey, triple bogey, bogey, birdie.

Then, Brian Harman shot 69 to tie for third at The Players Championship and went from No. Most curious is the case of Gary Woodland, the former U.S. Open champion and a Match Play finalist in 2015. Under the PGA Tour guidelines, he has to self-isolate for 10 days. THE BOUNCEIt didn’t take Collin Morikawa long to learn how to win on the PGA Tour. A year later, he won a playoff over Justin Thomas at Muirfield Village and a major at the PGA Championship.

Thomas took on every shot in The Players Championship, right down to the 5-wood that rode the edge of the lake down the left side of the 18th fairway, and closed with a 4-under 68 for a one-shot victory over Lee Westwood. He won for the seventh straight year, his 14th career title, and became only the fourth player to win a major, The Players Championship, the FedEx Cup and a World Golf Championship. “This week was huge to win a big championship like this in front of fans again, which is incredible. Thomas was four shots behind when he walked off the green on the par-3 eighth with a three-putt bogey. He was outside the cut line after nine holes Friday, made it with two shots to spare and then tied The Players Championship record with a 12-under 132 weekend.

It also gave him a two-shot lead over DeChambeau and set up a rematch from last week in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Stadium Course at Sawgrass is more about position that power, though DeChambeau appears capable of winning on just about any course at the moment. He shot 64 and was three shots behind, along with Doug Ghim, who is making his debut in The Players. Also four shots behind was Brian Harman, who began his day by holing a wedge for eagle and shot 69. For DeChambeau, it's a chance to stamp himself as the favorite as the Masters nears, if he's not already.

A solid start turned into a brilliant one for Garcia, who finished birdie-birdie-eagle for a 7-under 65, staking the Spaniard to a three-shot lead among the early starters. Garcia was among only five players from the morning draw who broke 70 in what appeared to be ideal conditions, with only a mild breeze and a course in immaculate condition. Ad“For some reason, it just kind of fits my eye," said Garcia, who has a pair of runner-up finishes to go with his victory. He played alongside Rory McIlroy, who began his round with a double bogey from the woods on No. 10 and finish a nine-hole score of 43 by hitting two tee shots into the water on the 18th for a quadruple-bogey 8.

DeChambeau holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the front nine and a 50-foot par putt early on the back nine. He closed it out with a nervy 5-foot par putt for a 1-under 71 and a one-shot victory over the 47-year-old Westwood. For the second straight day, DeChambeau revved up thousands of fans on the par-5 sixth hole by smashing driver over the lake and leaving himself 88 yards away on the 565-yard sixth hole. Westwood tied him with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-5 12th, only to give it back with a three-putt on the 14th. DeChambeau's birdie putt slid by some 5 feet and he shook his arms in celebration when the par putt dropped.

He might not be able to contemplate driving a par 5 — that sideshow Saturday at Bay Hill belonged to Bryson DeChambeau. You've got to be top 50 in the world,” Westwood said. He grabbed the lead by holing a 30-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole (DeChambeau made birdie) and a 30-foot birdie putt on the closing hole (DeChambeau made par) to reach 11-under 205. Conners, who started the third round with a one-shot lead, could only manage a 71 on a cool, breezy day at Bay Hill with only a few drops of rain. Sunday was shaping up as another thriller at Bay Hill.

White’s father was a stickler for the rules, and White thought he knew them well when he decided to join the PGA Tour. His most memorable ruling was among the more famous on the PGA Tour. Also, Mike Peterson, Pete Lis and Jordan Harris are moving from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour as rules officials. The tour said that became the top-performing tweet for the PGA Tour, also surpassing the Masters graphic. Im then finished out his year by flying to Dubai for the DP World Tour Championship on the European Tour.

Collin Morikawa hasn’t hit a golf shot in Europe this year. On Sunday, the American could be crowned as European No. “There’s a lot in between now and Sunday that has to happen,” Morikawa said Wednesday, “but winning the Race to Dubai would mean a lot because I want my game to travel. Such are the many strands and quirks to a European Tour season that has become very global in recent years. Reed leads the Race to Dubai standings with 2,427.7 points heading into the 38th and final event of a European Tour season like no other.

Paul Casey matched his lowest score at the Masters with a 7-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead among half the field fortunate to play in perfect scoring conditions. It was the fifth hole, which he bogeyed all four rounds last year when he won the Masters. He was joined by Xander Schauffele, a runner-up to Woods last year, who had seven birdies in his round of 67. The delay was the last thing the Masters needed with limited daylight hours leading to the two-tee start. The loudest cheer — applause, certainly not a roar — came for Nicklaus and Player hitting tee shots so early that they couldn't see where they landed.

Instead of Augusta National members and their guests, the course was filled Monday with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth, all of them playing a practice round on a course that only looked the same. The COVID-19 pandemic that shut down golf for three months forced a reconfigured major championship schedule unlike any other, particularly at the Masters. "The things that will be the same is it still means the same to us all, and maybe even more so because we return to Augusta National every year. This is the Augusta National hardly anyone gets to see. When it means going to Augusta National to get ready for the Masters — April, November, doesn't matter — it takes the sting off.

Tiger Woods walks on the 16th hold during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at TPC Harding Park Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)SAN FRANCISCO Harding Park is a public golf course with a history of elite champions. The San Francisco Open finally came to Harding Park in 1944. The rough is thick, even more because of the dampness from a marine layer expected to shroud Harding Park all week. All of them would fit the profile of great champions at Harding Park.

Tiger Woods toss a ball down on the 17th hold during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at TPC Harding Park Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)SAN FRANCISCO Tiger Woods appears to have something new in store for this PGA Championship: his putter. THE FIELDThis PGA Championship might have set a record for most players who decided not to play. He is the 11th player to withdraw from the PGA Championship since the field was first released six days ago. PACKING FOR A SUMMER MAJOR IN AMERICAThe PGA Championship in August for years meant heat and plenty of sweating.

England's Lee Westwood tees off the 5th during day one of the British Masters at Close House Golf Club, near Newcastle, England, Wednesday July 22, 2020. The European Tour resumes in earnest after its pandemic-induced shutdown with the British Masters starting Wednesday. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE NEWCASTLE-UPON-David Law of Scotland shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Oliver Fisher, Garrick Porteous and Renato Paratore in the opening round of the British Masters at Close House Golf Course near Newcastle on Wednesday. I did not really know what to expect and its probably (about having) a mindset of acceptance, Law said. The New Zealander had not made a cut on the European Tour since 2013 as he struggled with a foot injury and loss of form.

After back-to-back, low-key events in Austria where testing procedures got their dress rehearsal, the European Tour resumes in earnest after its pandemic-induced shutdown with the British Masters starting Wednesday. Swing, a series of six events played in England and Wales over the next six weeks devised primarily for ease of travel for players amid the coronavirus pandemic. Starting this week at Close House Golf Course near Newcastle, the venues are all within a three-hour drive of one another, scrapping the need for air travel to which players have become accustomed on the increasingly global European Tour. Some of the players will be used to this new norm from having competed at the Austrian Open and the Euram Bank Open events counting toward the European Tour and the Challenge Tour over the last two weeks. Swing kicking off the full return of the European Tour, only one player in the worlds top 50 Lee Westwood, at No.

Swing" are new tournaments the European Tour will pay for out of its tournament development fund. If the quarantine is not lifted, top European Tour players would have to choose between a major and four European Tour events with minimal prize money. Hotels need to be in operation and the quarantine needs to be lifted to continue with these events, Pelley said. We wouldn't be announcing these events without having had significant dialogue with the UK government, Pelley said. The European Tour said no one will lose status for 2021 and there will not be a Q-school at the end of the year.