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Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.

The PGA Tour’s favorite golf ball got an upgrade and reviews are starting to come in.

Following the company’s two-year product refresh cadence like clockwork, Titleist officially introduced its new 2027 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls on the PGA Tour this week at the Baycurrent Classic.

Titleist isn’t sharing any details on changes or differences between the new balls and the previous generation, yet some players have offered hints.

The balls hit the USGA conforming list three weeks ago at the PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship in North Carolina, where four golfers, including T3 finisher and 54-hole leader Neal Shipley, put them in use.

This week in Japan, 12 golfers were playing the new Pro V1 with on-site reps showing some the ball for the first time. The 2027 balls alone had more usage than any other brand in the 72-player field. Among the notable players was Jordan Spieth, who confirmed early in the week that he was switching to the 2027 Pro V1.

Spieth makes for an interesting case study for what the new golf balls might offer. The three-time major winner has played the higher compression and higher-spinning Pro V1x throughout the entirety of his career until he made a rare mid-season change in late April to the new Pro V1x Left Dash. That change was laregly driven by his increasing spin rates in his irons.

“I’ve always played the highest-spinning ball because I thought I needed it in the long irons,” Spieth said back at the Cadillac Championship. “Now with this, whatever my makeup is, and then just kind of added speed; my spin rates have been fine, if not too high. So it’s actually kind of nice to be able to drop it down a little bit.”

That experiment lasted until the U.S. Open when Spieth made another change to the Pro V1 golf ball. The 2025 Pro V1, as is typical with the Titleist lineup, is softer than the X or Left Dash, but offers spin rates somewhere between the two.

Balls

Titleist begins 2027 Pro V1 tour seeding at Baycurrent Classic

By: Jack Hirsh

Spieth isn’t the only player using the new 2027 Pro V1 who was dealing with overspinning. Shipley was previously playing the low-spinning Pro V1x Double Dot and, since switching to the ’27 V has posted back-to-back top-10s.

With Titleist staying mum on the details, I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. Shipley isn’t playing this week while Spieth sits in the middle of the pack after backing up an opening 72 with a five-under 66 on Friday.

Sahith Theegala actually gave us some of the more detailed feedback on the new golf ball through a video posted to Titleist’s social media channels on Thursday.

“I think the thing that I’ve found different is with some of the short-game shots — maybe like 20, 30, 40 yards, not even like a basic chip, but like an intermediate pitch shot — I feel like it comes out a touch lower and with a touch more spin,” he later explained to Titleist reps. “I feel like I can lean on my short game. So when it feels like I’m able to squeeze even a little bit more out of something that I feel really good about, it’s a great feeling. Especially when it’s just equipment-based, when you don’t have to personally change anything.” 

Doug Ghim, who is playing the Pro V1x after making the switch in Utah a week ago and earning his best finish of the season with a runner-up showing, mentioned how much more consistent spin was in his testing.

“I think the windows were tighter,” he told reps. “I think between the spinniest ball and lowest [spinning] ball in the groupings that we hit with each club, they tended to be tighter. And I think visually we saw that it was curving less. And fortunately that day we also had a bit of a crosswind, so it’s a good time to test all that stuff. So yeah, I think overall just watching it tail less in the wind was a big factor.”

Also gaming the 2027 models this week were Brian Harman (X), Zach Bouchou (V), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (X), Tom Hoge (V), Maverick McNealy (V), Denny McCarthy (V), John Parry (X), Yusaku Hosono (X) and Ren Yonezawa (X).

Titleist posted videos of both Max Homa and Ryan Gerard testing the balls on-site this week at Yokohama Country Club, so it’s likely more pros are on the verge of a switch as well, adding to the storylines for the rest of the PGA Tour fall season.

Check this out

This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. This week, check out Keith Mitchell’s clean set of Mizuno Pro S-1 irons as he chases his first Tour victory since 2019.

Odds and Ends

Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.

Min Woo Lee subbed his Apex UW for an Apex UT 3-iron.

3 things you should read/watch

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.

Austin Smotherman notches first win for L.A.B. Golf’s newest mallet – Austin Smotherman broke through for his first PGA Tour win using L.A.B. Golf’s VZN.1i mallet.

Titleist begins 2027 Pro V1 tour seeding at Baycurrent Classic – Titleist officially began the Tour seeding of the new 2027 Pro V1 and Pro V1x with an announcement on Monday.

Johnny finds out if golf shoes really make a difference using the FootJoy fitting process – Johnny Wunder gets a shoe fitting with FootJoy to see if they can help his game.

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post 2026 Baycurrent Classic Friday TV coverage: How to watch Round 3 appeared first on Golf.

The post 2026 Baycurrent Classic Friday TV coverage: How to watch Round 3 appeared first on Golf.

The third round of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic begins Friday night in Japan. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full Baycurrent Classic TV coverage, streaming details and complete Round 3 tee times.

How to watch Baycurrent Classic on Friday

Heading into the third round of the Baycurrent Classic, Jacob Bridgeman is still on top of the leaderboard. But the two-time PGA Tour winner now has some company up there.

Keith Mitchell went out and shot a 65 in Round 2, launching him into a tie for first at 11 under.

Just behind Mitchell and Bridgeman is a popular and accomplished pro looking to secure a comeback win in Japan: Max Homa. The six-time Tour winner shot a 68 to reach nine under, putting him in a four-way tie for third at the halfway point.

You can watch the third round of the Baycurrent Classic on TV via Golf Channel, with coverage beginning Friday night at 11 p.m. ET. Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel App will carry a simulcast of Golf Channel’s Round 3 TV coverage.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the third round of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic.

How to watch on TV Friday

Golf Channel will provide third-round TV coverage of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. ET on Friday night.

How to stream online Friday

You can stream the third round of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic via Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel App, which will stream a live simulcast of Golf Channel’s Round 3 TV coverage beginning at 11 p.m. ET on Friday.

2026 Baycurrent Classic Round 3 tee times (ET)

Tee No. 1

7:35 p.m. – Xander Schauffele, John Parry, Takumi Kanaya
7:46 p.m. – Tony Finau, Hideki Matsuyama, Andrew Putnam
7:57 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy
8:08 p.m. – Ren Yonezawa, Ryo Hisatsune, David Lipsky
8:19 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Brian Harman, Doug Ghim
8:30 p.m. – Nico Echavarria, Johnny Keefer, Taylor Moore
8:41 p.m. – Kristoffer Ventura, Michael Thorbjornsen, Sungjae Im
8:52 p.m. – Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Adam Scott, Michael Kim
9:03 p.m. – Jordan Smith, Michael Brennan, Ricky Castillo
9:14 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee
9:25 p.m. – Zach Bauchou, Ben Kohles, Mac Meissner
9:36 p.m. – Keith Mitchell, Jacob Bridgeman, Max Homa

Tee No. 10

7:35 p.m. – Kosuke Sunagawa, Hiroshi Iwata, Tomohiro Ishizaka
7:46 p.m. – Lee Hodges, Beau Hossler, Pierceson Coody
7:57 p.m. – Denny McCarthy, Matt McCarty, Collin Morikawa
8:08 p.m. – Yoshinori Fujimoto, Chandler Phillips, Yusaku Hosono
8:19 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Davis Thompson, Keegan Bradley
8:30 p.m. – Max Greyserman, Billy Horschel, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
8:41 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Wyndham Clark, Taylor Pendrith
8:52 p.m. – Matt Wallace, Jinichiro Kozuma, Jackson Suber
9:03 p.m. – Keita Nakajima, Aldrich Potgieter, Aguri Iwasaki
9:14 p.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Alex Smalley, Sahith Theegala
9:25 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Sang-hee Lee, Maverick McNealy
9:36 p.m. – Koshin Nagasaki (a), Steven Fisk, Tom Hoge

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The post 20 players earn Tour cards Sunday. This 1 (finally) doesn’t have to worry appeared first on Golf.

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Twenty PGA Tour cards will be handed out at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in Virginia on Sunday. It will be a tense weekend for many, but (finally) not for Alistair Docherty.

Docherty secured his long-awaited PGA Tour card last month, and he’s one of 13 player competing this week who have already locked up a spot on the big tour next season. Seven cards are still up for grabs.

It was not an easy route to the PGA Tour for Docherty, who’s had several close calls over the years and just now, at age 32, is getting his first shot on the top tour. He joined this week’s Subpar podcast to talk about his journey.

Docherty’s made nearly 100 Korn Ferry Tour starts to his six on the PGA Tour. He just missed qualifying for the PGA Tour two years ago when he finished two places out of a spot at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship (he was 32nd, and 30 received cards then). And two months later he was a stroke shy of qualifying via PGA Tour Q-School.

“It was tough at the time; I kinda wanted to put the blame on other people,” Docherty said on Subpar. “I had [a Tour card] in my fingertips in the final stage of Q-School and I guess I hit a 9-iron with a lot of adrenaline from 165 yards and flew the green. So you learn from it, you try to get better every day, but in the back of my mind I was trying to blame all of these other people for coming up a little short. That put me in a pretty dark spot.”

But Docherty put together a strong 2026. He tied for second in his second event of the season in the Bahamas and won the Argentina Open three starts later (which got him a spot in the Open Championship, where he missed the cut). He later added another second-place finish at the Pinnacle Bank Championship in August when he lost in a playoff.

He found out ahead of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation that he had earned his card for 2026, then promptly missed his next two cuts.

“I kind of backed off a little bit,” he said, laughing. “It was a big sigh of relief, kind of took the foot off the gas pedal and definitely didn’t play all that well the last few weeks, but it’s really nice to have a Tour card and I’m prepping for next year.”

You can listen to the entire interview with Docherty here, or watch on YouTube below.

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The post USGA bolsters future U.S. Open venues with fourth anchor site appeared first on Golf.

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And then there were four.

The United States Golf Association announced its fourth U.S. Open anchor site on Thursday, adding historic Merion Golf Club to an impressive list that already includes Pinehurst, Oakmont and Pebble Beach.

Merion, located in Ardmore, Pa., outside of Philadelphia, has already hosted five U.S. Opens on its East Course, most recently in 2013, when the championship was won by Justin Rose. Like the other anchor sites, it has a rich history — it was the site of Bobby Jones completing the grand slam in 1930, as well as Ben Hogan’s famous 1-iron (a plaque marks the spot) at the 1950 U.S. Open.

It’s also been the home of several U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur events — Jack Whaley won the 2026 U.S. Amateur played there two months ago — as well as two Curtis Cups and a Walker Cup.

“Merion has long been one of the defining venues in championship golf,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer, in a press release. “Its history, architecture and ability to consistently identify the game’s greatest champions make it a place where every player dreams of winning. The anchor site designation is about more than just semantics. It represents a shared commitment between the USGA and Merion to plan further in advance, make strategic investments and continually elevate the championship experience. Merion will continue to play a central role in the future of the U.S. Open, and we are excited to build on its remarkable legacy for generations to come.”

Merion’s next U.S. Open will be 2030, and two more are scheduled for 2040 and 2050. There are also U.S. Women’s Opens coming in 2034 and 2046.

The USGA named Pineshurt as its first U.S. Open anchor site in 2020, a significant step toward creating its version of a national championship “rota” by visiting iconic venues more frequently. Oakmont was named the second anchor site in 2021, and Pebble Beach became the third in 2022. Now Merion makes it four.

The next U.S. Open is in Pebble Beach in 2027, with Winged Foot scheduled for 2028 and Pinehurst in 2029 before Merion’s spot in 2030. The USGA currently has its U.S. Open venues set through 2042, with a handful more scheduled up until 2051.

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The post Jon Rahm’s LIV exit a reminder that greed is, in fact, not good appeared first on Golf.

The post Jon Rahm’s LIV exit a reminder that greed is, in fact, not good appeared first on Golf.

Michael Douglas — actor, golfer, producer, writer — has a new memoir out, called “One Helluva Ride.” In it he reveals that he and his wife, the actor Catherine Zeta-Jones, play golf every afternoon. Douglas is way into it. He’s played a bunch at Pebble Beach and in the AT&T pro-am, and he has surely never stood on 18, considered how much ocean to bite off and uttered the three-word sentence he made famous: “Greed is good.” The immortal line is delivered by Douglas’s character Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street,” with his slicked-back hair, late-Reagan suspenders and superior manner. Nice suits, too — if you like that kind of suit.

Greed is not good. That’s the stand we take in this bureau and maybe you do in yours — hard to say. As a matter of golf-course decision-making, greed’s a killer. In matters of personal and public finance, in matters of career and social aspiration, greed will take you out. Maybe I should add the all-you-can-eat Marriott buffet to this list. Too much is too much there, too. Greed really will take you out of the mix, sooner or later. Greed is insatiable.

Jon Rahm, the great and bearded Spanish golfer living a big American life in suburban Phoenix, is finding that out now. My fealty is to the PGA Tour, my fealty is to the PGA Tour, my fealty is to the PGA Tour. That was his lovely catchphrase, until it was not. For some meager and proffered sum from LIV Golf and its Saudi backers — $300 million or $400 million or whatever — he decided that his fealty was not to the PGA Tour.

Among the people I casually polled, there were two broad responses.

1. He had to go LIV, for that kind of money?

You’d then hear somebody prattle on about “generational wealth,” “dynastic wealth,” “real money.”

2. How disgusting.

You’d then hear this trenchant and sensible question: “When is enough enough?” Rahm already had made $50 million just in PGA Tour earnings over the course of seven seasons. As a U.S. Open winner and a Ryder Cup star, his earning capacity was vast. Or is vast kind of judgy?  

There’s something slippery about greed, when trying to figure out what people think about it. There are Wall Street gods who took Gekko’s greed-is-good phrase and turned it into a mantra, even while dissing it in their MSNBC appearances. It’s hard to get to the truth. Like a pollster asking about how you are likely to vote, you might say one thing because it’s convenient with your kids standing right there, and you might do something else behind a voting-booth curtain.

So now there’s confusion about Jon Rahm’s golfing future. He’s likely on the phone every day with lawyers (plural) and agents (ditto). I could not care. I don’t see how LIV Golf did anything to improve professional tournament golf, not at all. And I say that with admiration for Greg Norman. Norman had a dream about creating a world tour that was in the incubator for 30 years. He pursued his dream.

LIV failed as most grand ambitions fail — its problems were in the details, the funding, the format, the inability to work within golf’s ecosystem, the player selection process. (We want you, we don’t want you.) The reason so many of us are drawn to professional golf is because it’s the ultimate meritocracy. Shoot the scores, get the prizes, and nobody cares what prep school your grandfather got thrown out of on his way to Princeton. Scottie Scheffler had it right from the beginning: LIV exists because guys said yes, not because Greg Norman called. You didn’t have to say yes. He didn’t.

News

Jon Rahm is officially leaving LIV Golf. Here's what we know

By: Dylan Dethier

Phil, of course, did. (Phil. One-name fame.) Others followed. They went for the money, the petro dollars. Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, took a leave from work, in the name of mental health, the pressure was so great. Last week, he and his pro partner, Niklas Nørgaard, finished a shot out of first on the pro-am side of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, played on Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course (two rounds). Must be nice.

Golf’s roots are Scottish, Calvinist, modest, flinty — selfless, really. The point of the rulebook is to make sure all players are treated equally under the law. The first and second generation of American golfers got this in spades. I recently read this for the first time, a coda to Jack Grout’s last will and testament. Jack Grout, if you don’t know the name, was Jack Nicklaus’s lifelong golf instructor and, along with Bobby Jones, a sort of mentor. Grout logged many rounds with Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan. These are the final words of his will; the modesty and selflessness of them might bowl you over:

Having heretofore disposed of all my worldly goods, I have just one final bequest I should like to make. If there is any time at all in the life of a man when he should make an extra effort to be truthful, and at the same time sincere, I think it must be while he is preparing his Last Will and Testament. What I have to say in the next few words comes straight from my heart.

Over the course of the past 30 years or so, from time to time I have read in various books and magazines about the contributions I have made to the career of Jack Nicklaus. Since this may be my last opportunity to do so, I thought maybe it would be well to set the record straight.

In all honesty, I don’t think I ever hurt Jack’s golf game in any way. To put it another way, if he had not come under my tutelage in the early 1950s I don’t see how he could have turned out much better than he did. From the outset of our relationship I recognized that the thunder in his stroke and the courage in his heart were gifts that clearly had been bestowed upon him; and that there was very little I could do to take them away from him.

I do not mean to suggest that I made no contribution whatsoever to his game. For one thing, I worked him hard (and he seemed to enjoy every minute of it). I made him stand away from the ball with his arms fully extended, and I insisted that he swing hard. Within a few months you could hear the swish of his clubhead all over the practice range when he took one of his legendary cuts at the ball. I made sure that his posture was correct; I fitted him correctly with equipment; from time to time I would check his grip, or maybe the rhythm of his swing. I always tried to encourage him; and in the early days of his development I made a special effort to explain to him and interpret for him how extraordinary I thought his talents were, and for that matter still are.

If I made any other worthwhile contributions, which I can’t think of now, or if I made any of which I may be unaware, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that Jack Nicklaus is the finest golfer ever to swing a club in the entire history of the game. It has been a distinct honor and great pleasure for me to have played some part in his career. And that brings me to my final bequest.

To you, Jack Nicklaus, I give my thanks.

If you really have the gratitude gene, then you know: Greed’s no good.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com.

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The post ‘Definitely’: Sergio Garcia envisions possible PGA Tour return after LIV termination appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘Definitely’: Sergio Garcia envisions possible PGA Tour return after LIV termination appeared first on Golf.

Last week, Sergio Garcia’s lawyers spoke on behalf of the former major champion. In LIV bankruptcy court, they asked permission for Garcia to terminate his contract.

Then on Wednesday, Garcia spoke for himself.

Ahead of the 2026 Open de Espana on the DP World Tour, Garcia sat down for a press conference and spoke openly to reporters about potential plans for his future playing career, saying, “I think everything is an option.”

One of those options is a return to LIV, which the 2017 Masters champ didn’t rule out.

Another option Garcia addressed on Wednesday? An unlikely return to the PGA Tour.

Sergio shares post-LIV plans for 2027, eyes Ryder Cup spot

In the court filing Garcia’s lawyers made last week, they requested clarification on Sergio’s original LIV contract considering the league’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They were seeking to know if the contract had been terminated because of the bankruptcy and, if not, to be granted the right to terminate the contract themselves.

Without the contract termination, Garcia’s lawyers argued that Sergio’s attempt at joining other golf tours might be hampered.

“So long as the Agreement remains of record, tournament organizers, sponsors, and other counterparties may hesitate before dealing with Garcia, who may be unable to represent that they are free of competing contractual commitments. That uncertainty is particularly acute for a professional athlete, whose tournament schedule, sponsorship arrangements, and participation in other events must be planned well in advance, and whose competitive career is necessarily finite,” Garcia’s lawyers stated in the court filing.

News

Sergio Garcia seeks LIV exit in court, eyes other Tour

By: Kevin Cunningham

The court’s ruling on Tuesday officially ended Garcia’s contract, so he is no longer a LIV Golf player. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t rejoin LIV in the future.

Garcia’s lawyers explicitly stated as much in the filing.

In his Open de Espana press conference, Sergio reiterated that idea.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t go or that I’ll definitely stay with LIV,” Garcia said. “But settling the LIV 1.0 matter now avoids potential repercussions related to that contract.”

One of Garcia’s most obvious avenues for next year is playing on the DP World Tour, an option fellow Spanish LIV Golf pro David Puig announced he was taking on Thursday. But Garcia’s top priority for 2027 is the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

“Everyone knows how much I love the Ryder Cup and the possibility of playing in another one, or if not, finding some way to help in another way, as vice-captain or something like that could be something very interesting,” Garcia said. “I told [European captain Luke Donald] that I’m going to do everything possible to see if I can get into that team and I also told him that if I don’t get into that team, I’ll help in any way I can.”

While Garcia is leaving the door to LIV 2.0 slightly open, if playing on LIV in 2027 impacted his DP World Tour status and, therefore, his Ryder Cup eligibility, it’s unlikely he’d return.

“I don’t really know how things will end up with the DP World Tour regarding LIV 2.0, we’ll have to see. I want to try and give myself the best chance of making that team,” Garcia said, referring to the 2027 Ryder Cup team.

But what about a return to the PGA Tour for the 11-time Tour winner? Garcia spoke to that in his press conference, too.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” Garcia said of a potential PGA Tour return.

News

'Don't see myself playing': LIV exodus continues with young phenom's decision

By: Kevin Cunningham

The more likely place Garcia would eventually make his reintegration into the PGA Tour world would be on the senior tour. Garcia will be eligible to play the PGA Tour Champions in three years when he turns 50, at least based on the age restrictions.

“I turn 47 in January, and the Champions Tour is a possibility. Besides, I’d like the chance to play some of those tournaments, especially the big ones on the Champions Tour. These are things that I’m starting to consider at my age,” Garcia said.

A PGA Tour comeback would be more difficult. Garcia is officially suspended from the PGA Tour for one year dating back to the last LIV Golf event he played. So he won’t be allowed to compete in PGA Tour-sanctioned events until at least August.

But he could follow the plan of other former LIV pros, such as Patrick Reed and now Jon Rahm, and attempt to earn his 2027 PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 10 in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai next year.

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The post ‘Bit of disbelief’: Pro’s ‘toed’ tee shot results in perfection — and $160,000 bonus appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘Bit of disbelief’: Pro’s ‘toed’ tee shot results in perfection — and $160,000 bonus appeared first on Golf.

Daniel Hillier, a 28-year-old pro from New Zealand, has made some memorable swings in his career. In 2023, he made two eagles in his last four holes at the British Masters to secure his first DP World Tour win; he has played in three of the four majors (still working on the Masters); and earlier this year, in the wake of his New Zealand Open win, he broke into the top 100 in the world ranking. 

On Thursday, Hillier added another swing memory to the scrapbook — an improbable one — with his tee shot on the par-3 17th hole in the first round of the Spanish Open.  

Hillier didn’t love the strike. Not by any stretch.

“I toed it quite a bit,” he later confessed. 

Yet the ball kept its line — directly at the front-left pin position. 

“I was telling it to go the whole way, but it kind of hung in the air for a little bit longer than I thought,” he said. “And then, yeah, heard some cheers.”

Hole-in-one cheers. 

News

This 5-handicap made a hole-in-one. Then came 2 more odds-defying swings

By: Jessica Marksbury

That meant not only a rare “1” on Hillier’s scorecard at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid but, thanks to a sponsor promotion, also a new car for his garage.

A BMW iX5 SUV, valued at 140,338 euros, or nearly $160,000. 

“I didn’t realize a car was on offer,” Hillier said. “I’ve locked it up pretty early, but absolutely stoked and very grateful. It’s going to be a long drive though (to New Zealand), I know that much.”

The ace helped Hillier to an opening four-under 67. In the early-going of his second round on Friday, Hillier had added another birdie to climb to five under for the week, putting him four back of leader-in-the-clubhouse Scotsman Grant Forrest.  

Hillier said he didn’t see the ball drop for what his fifth-ever ace, but the crowd’s reaction told him everything he needed to know.   

“You can’t see the bottom of the hole from the tee, so yeah, saw everyone jump up at the back of the grandstand there,” he said. “A little bit of disbelief for a while, but it’s nice to see it go in.”

Yep, especially after catching it off the toe. 

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The post At Omni Barton Creek, it’s a 4-course feast for the ultimate buddies’ trip appeared first on Golf.

The post At Omni Barton Creek, it’s a 4-course feast for the ultimate buddies’ trip appeared first on Golf.

The recipe isn’t complicated. A few good friends. Some fine food and drink. An awesome resort in a spectacular setting. And to ice the cake? Multiple great courses — four would be fantastic! — to truly take your buddies’ golf trip over the top. Welcome to Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

Located just 10 miles west of downtown Austin in a stunning swath of Texas Hill Country, Omni Barton Creek boasts four fabulous courses designed by renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Fazio (two courses), making the “foursome” on offer at Barton Creek a memorable one.

The PGA Tour must think so too. Next month, the Fazio Canyons Course will be the host venue for the 2026 Austin Championship on Nov. 12-15, which means the best golfers in the world get to take on 18 stunning holes featuring a lovely limestone-framed creek that meanders throughout the layout. It’s often considered the property’s showstopper — and ranked 20th on GOLF’s list of the best courses in Texas — and now you’ll get a chance to see it through your TV (at least until you play it yourself).

While golf is certainly the main entree on any buddies’ golf trip, the finishing touches are also a key factor. And at Omni Barton Creek, guests can expect exceptional add-ons at every turn. Spacious pools and patios overlooking the rolling hills, multiple gourmet dining options, a world-class spa, an award-winning golf academy and luxurious accommodations will ensure every “buddy” on your trip is, well, as happy as a clam.

There is also another exciting new accommodation option at Omni Barton Creek that your group may want to consider. Ideal for larger groups and families, Resort Homes at Barton Creek is the ultimate option if your group prefers a completely private setting — with all the bells and whistles — in a luxurious estate home. The homes that are part of this customizable program vary in size, amenities and location, but wherever you hang your hat at Barton Creek, exceptional service and top-tier touches are always included.

Another unique element of Omni Barton Creek is the fact that, as good as this resort is for elite and fully-customized buddies’ trips, multi-generational family golf getaways are equally as appealing. In other words, thanks to an exhaustive list of family programs, adventures and opportunities, Omni Barton Creek is a kid-friendly oasis where every generation can find their sweet spot. A few highlights include a great mini golf course, complimentary s’mores nightly, three family pools and splash park, free arcade and a bounce house.

From the breathtaking White Mountains in New Hampshire to the white-sand beaches of Amelia Island — and, of course, the white limestone creeks and canyons of Texas Hill Country — Omni resorts are situated in some of the best golf terrain in America. Those superior settings, upscale service levels and awesome amenities are a trademark of every Omni property.

But don’t take our word for it. Go find out for yourself.

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The post ‘Don’t see myself playing’: LIV exodus continues with young phenom’s decision appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘Don’t see myself playing’: LIV exodus continues with young phenom’s decision appeared first on Golf.

If LIV 2.0 — the newly envisioned, post-bankruptcy league CEO Scott O’Neil hopes to debut in 2027 — is to get off the ground, it needs top players to sign on. Without them, new investment and interest in the league are threatened.

But this week has seen a rash of departures from LIV Golf, with multiple players declaring they would not play on LIV 2.0 in 2027.

On Thursday, LIV took another blow in the player commitment department, with young phenom David Puig announcing he would not sign on to play for LIV next year.

Here’s what you need to know.

David Puig to leave LIV for DP World Tour: ‘It’s a decision I’ve made’

Puig is a 24-year-old Spanish standout, and unlike most LIV stars, he’s spent his entire career with the league.

After playing college golf at Arizona State, Puig played in two LIV events as an amateur, including the inaugural event in England back in 2022. In September of that year he turned pro and officially signed on with LIV.

Puig’s best finishes in LIV’s season-long individual standings came in the last two years, when he finished 10th in 2025 and ninth in 2026.

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'No intention of extending': Another LIV star eyes exit following Jon Rahm's departure

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And though he never won a LIV tournament, Puig has been doing some winning elsewhere over the past few years.

He captured his first pro victory at the 2023 International Series Singapore event on the Asian Tour, and he followed it up with another Asian Tour win in 2024 at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open.

Then last year, Puig earned his biggest triumph yet, winning the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship for his first DP World Tour victory.

It was at another DP World Tour event on Thursday that Puig revealed his decision to depart LIV and instead play a full season in Europe in 2027.

At the Open de Espana, Puig told reporters, “I don’t see myself playing in the LIV 2.0. It’s a decision I’ve made. I hope to play the European Tour next year, which I really enjoy, with a fuller schedule.”

Puig joins other Spanish stars in leaving LIV Golf

Puig is not the only Spanish pro who announced his intentions to leave LIV Golf this week.

On Wednesday, news broke that two-time major champion Jon Rahm would not play on LIV in 2027, via a lawyer’s statement in LIV bankruptcy court. The same court allowed Sergio Garcia to officially terminate his contract with LIV Golf, a request Garcia’s lawyers had made last week.

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Sergio Garcia seeks LIV exit in court, eyes other Tour

By: Kevin Cunningham

In his own Open de Espana press conference this week, Garcia said “I think everything is an option” when it comes to his future playing career.

He even left the door open for a PGA Tour return, saying, “It’s definitely a possibility.”

But he also noted that a PGA Tour Champions career would be more likely.

“I turn 47 in January, and the Champions Tour is a possibility,” Garcia said on Wednesday. “Besides, I’d like the chance to play some of those tournaments, especially the big ones on the Champions Tour. These are things that I’m starting to consider at my age.”

Hours after Rahm’s LIV departure came to light, another report said that LIV pro Adrian Meronk, who just won the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last week, had “no intention of extending his contract” with LIV.

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The post 2026 Baycurrent Classic Friday tee times: Round 3 groupings appeared first on Golf.

The post 2026 Baycurrent Classic Friday tee times: Round 3 groupings appeared first on Golf.

The 2026 Baycurrent Classic continues on Friday night with the third round at Yokohama C.C. in Japan. You can find full Baycurrent Classic tee times for Friday’s third round at the bottom of this post.

Baycurrent Classic Round 3 tee times: What to know

Max Homa has not put together the comeback season he’d hoped for in 2026, but he’s shown some very positive signs. Homa has captured two top-10 finishes and six top 25s so far this season.

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'No intention of extending': Another LIV star eyes exit following Jon Rahm's departure

By: Kevin Cunningham

He even earned a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic in July. Eventually he ended up 53rd in the regular season FedEx Cup standings, narrowly missing the top-50 cutoff.

But Homa can change that in a big way this week at the Baycurrent Classic, especially after his hot start. Homa followed up an opening-round 65 with a 68 in Round 2, pushing him to 9 under at the halfway point.

It also means that he’s only two shots behind co-leaders Jacob Bridgeman and Keith Mitchell heading into the third round, which begins Friday night for viewers in the U.S.

Homa tees off for Round 3 at 9:36 p.m. ET on Friday night alongside Bridgeman and Mitchell.

You can watch the third round of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic on Golf Channel from Friday night at 11 p.m. ET to 3 a.m. ET Saturday morning. Live simulcasts can be viewed on Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel app.

Check out the complete Round 3 tee times and groupings for the Baycurrent Classic below.

2026 Baycurrent Classic tee times for Friday: Round 3 (ET)

Tee No. 1

7:35 p.m. – Xander Schauffele, John Parry, Takumi Kanaya
7:46 p.m. – Tony Finau, Hideki Matsuyama, Andrew Putnam
7:57 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy
8:08 p.m. – Ren Yonezawa, Ryo Hisatsune, David Lipsky
8:19 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Brian Harman, Doug Ghim
8:30 p.m. – Nico Echavarria, Johnny Keefer, Taylor Moore
8:41 p.m. – Kristoffer Ventura, Michael Thorbjornsen, Sungjae Im
8:52 p.m. – Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Adam Scott, Michael Kim
9:03 p.m. – Jordan Smith, Michael Brennan, Ricky Castillo
9:14 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee
9:25 p.m. – Zach Bauchou, Ben Kohles, Mac Meissner
9:36 p.m. – Keith Mitchell, Jacob Bridgeman, Max Homa

Tee No. 10

7:35 p.m. – Kosuke Sunagawa, Hiroshi Iwata, Tomohiro Ishizaka
7:46 p.m. – Lee Hodges, Beau Hossler, Pierceson Coody
7:57 p.m. – Denny McCarthy, Matt McCarty, Collin Morikawa
8:08 p.m. – Yoshinori Fujimoto, Chandler Phillips, Yusaku Hosono
8:19 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Davis Thompson, Keegan Bradley
8:30 p.m. – Max Greyserman, Billy Horschel, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
8:41 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Wyndham Clark, Taylor Pendrith
8:52 p.m. – Matt Wallace, Jinichiro Kozuma, Jackson Suber
9:03 p.m. – Keita Nakajima, Aldrich Potgieter, Aguri Iwasaki
9:14 p.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Alex Smalley, Sahith Theegala
9:25 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Sang-hee Lee, Maverick McNealy
9:36 p.m. – Koshin Nagasaki (a), Steven Fisk, Tom Hoge

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