Nelly Takes Back What Was Once Hers

👋 Hey, Golf fans,

Nelly Korda was 15 when she walked onto the range of the U.S. Women's Open. That was when she realized she needed to do this. To play against the best and beat them. Thirteen years down the line, she is exactly where she’s supposed to be: grinning with her third major trophy. On the other hand, the Fitzpatrick brothers pulled off something outrageous at the Zurich Classic. We’ll cover both stories along with more updates today.

Oh, stick with us till the end. We have a surprise lined up for you.

Onward…

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

LPGA pro, who was suspended for cheating, finally tells her side of the story. It’s a lesson for all weekend warriors.

A long-time PGA Tour sponsor is close to making a surprise return after the cancellation of a signature event.

“Huge challenge but…” Jim Furyk talks about his Ryder Cup captaincy and the tall task awaiting next year.

Chevron Championship: The people in suits and ties were worried Nelly Korda (-18/1st) was losing her spark. At the Chevron Championship, we imagine Korda’s response was practically Pavlovian: “What do you mean by that?”

The third major victory came with her fulfilling one little promise. Before the tournament started, Korda vowed that if she won, she wouldn’t hesitate to jump into the makeshift pool constructed near the 18th green. She stuck to her word. Watch Korda’s cannonball into the pool with her sister Jessica and two-year-old nephew, Greyson.

Korda has also reclaimed her World No. 1 spot, which she lost to Jeeno Thitikul last August. Her previous stint at World No. 1 was for over a year, and by the looks of it, she is ready for another dominant stretch of golf.

In Houston, Korda was sharp as a tack with two early birdies on the final round, plus a pair on the back nine to seal the deal. Her unmatched dominance (65-65-70-70) obviated any drama, but the records? There was no dearth of it:

• First American female golfer to win three majors in 26 years.

• Only the third player since 1980 to win by two or more shots after leading by multiple strokes.

• First LPGA pro to win three majors with scores of 18-under or better.

Honestly, what a way to return to the top.

Zurich Classic: Matt Fitzpatrick has learned a magic spell or two. There’s no other way to explain it. Matt, teamed with brother Alex, became the first pro in two years to snag back-to-back PGA Tour titles. Meanwhile, Alex, who didn’t have a PGA Tour card, has now locked in a two-year exemption. The Fitzpatricks mark the 13th sibling duo with individual PGA Tour wins, and the first in 20 years.

The brothers stumbled, however, with Alex’s recovery shot on the 12th, smacking a tree en route to a double bogey. Their 30-under team score wasn’t secure anymore, and it all came down to the 18th green.

Or bunker, when Matt Fitzpatrick pulled off a majestic shot that spun to within a foot of the pin. Alex stepped up next to finish the job, nicely tucking in the short birdie putt to secure the victory. And kneeled, overwhelmed with the weight of emotion. Watch the deep embrace between two brothers—it’s pure joy.

Congrats, Matt and Alex.

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Daring: You might think Michael Brennan (-8/MC) going shirtless was the most daring shot of the week. But no, that honor goes to Joel Dahmen (-5/MC), who was this close to a beady-eyed alligator salivating at the sight of its lunch on the 17th and still chipped onto the green. Would you dare to get this close to an alligator to rescue a shot?

Smart: On the fifth hole at the Volvo China Open, Bowen Chai (-4/T38) offered a masterclass in using the slope. He unleashed a cracker of a chip that hopped onto the right side of the green, way off the pin, but guess where it ended up? Feast your eyes on this mind-boggling shot.

Hobby: Boo Weekley (+16/T33) was… fishing in the lake by the 18th fairway at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. No kidding, check it out here. If you are like Boo, maybe you’d be interested in this fishing golf club—it does exactly what the name suggests.

Confused: Freddie Jacobson (+22/21st) rolled a birdie putt on the 17th at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Nothing unusual, except no one thought that it was going in. Even Jacobson, who gave us this gem of a reaction after the ball dropped.

Gilmore, who? The Happy Gilmore gag never wears thin, especially with former PGA Tour pro John Peterson. Look at him unleashing that wild drive at the Grass Clippings Open, a tournament in the innovative Grass League. Here is what you need to know about the fledgling Grass League. Relax, they are not the PGA Tour’s competitor.

Saturday’s Poll Result: 52.5% of you would like to see Fred Couples captain Team USA in the near future. 16.1% of you said Phil Mickelson, 15.6% mentioned Justin Leonard, and 10.5% want Tiger Woods to take up the captaincy.

Volvo China Open: Shanghai's Anting Golf Club looked like a tall order for former LIV Golf pro Bernd Wiesberger to conquer. But the Austrian shot a bogey-free 67 on Sunday to outclass Adrian Otaegui (-16/2nd), snapping a 1,792-day winless streak. He got some help from the golf gods—have you ever been this lucky that a divot saved you from a waterball?

Singapore Open: Jeongwoo Ham was World No. 735. He had played only 24 Asian Tour events, without a win. Yet the South Korean smirked his way to a wire-to-wire victory, firing a 64-68-68-68 to win by two strokes over Cameron John (-14/2nd). It also earned him a spot at The Open 2026. Champagne showers? Yes, cue them up, please.

Mitsubishi Electric Classic: Retief Goosen won his fifth Senior Tour victory at TPC Sugarloaf, the very same place where he nabbed his first PGA Tour title 24 years ago. He carded +39, edging Stephen Ames (+37/2nd) in a Modified Stableford format. First reaction from Goosen? A classic Bernhard Langer joke.

94 Abierto del Centro Zurich: Patrick Flavin unleashed a birdie streak from 14—16 to win by two strokes over Patrick Sheehan (-15/2nd), clinching his second PGA Tour-sanctioned win. Flavin doesn’t just cook on the course—watch him compete in Tour’s own MasterChef.

Investec SA Women’s Open: Esme Hamilton snagged her maiden LET title, outdueling compatriot Cara Gainer (-13/2nd) and Pia Babnik (-12/3rd) at Royal Cape. On a roller-coaster final round, the 26-year-old British pro played steady and smart golf to secure the title.

Went to play your local club championship and lost all your balls before reaching the 18th tee? Don’t be embarrassed. Last week, this tour pro got DQ’d after losing SIX balls on one hole—find out more here. So before you sign up for the next local tournament, familiarize yourself with the rules:

1. Under Rule 4.2, you can borrow a conforming ball from anyone, including your opponents. But if the One Ball Rule is applied, it must match the model you started with. Play the wrong one, and you’ll pay the price like Russell Henley did with an eight-shot penalty and a missed cut.

2. You can substitute your ball if it’s damaged. No penalty applies. But only a select few things are considered “damage.” USGA-certified rules expert, Jay Roberts, explains it here.

3. No, there is no limit on the number of golf balls you can carry. PGA Tour pros generally keep anywhere between six and 12 balls, depending on the setup.

So, now that you are familiar with the rules, don’t hesitate to ask your playing partner for some ammo. Just don’t forget to offer a drink in the clubhouse afterward.

Yes, we are opening the floor to you. Starting today, you will see your stories highlighted in our newsletter. Today’s story comes from our reader and former sports journalist, Andrew Fisher, who shared a lasting image from the 1975 Masters.

“The 1975 Masters was one of the greatest ever, and it produced an image that for me is the essence of golf. That image is one of Jack Nicklaus, but not, as you might expect, from the 40-foot birdie putt into the 16th hole that almost everyone remembers. No, this is from a hole earlier, the 15th, and the birdie putt without which the effects of the 40-footer would have been quite different. The TV camera captured a full-face Nicklaus crouched like a cat, with a background half green (the lower half) and half blue. I have never seen intensity on a human face like that one. Golf sometimes demands that intensity, and it is a large part of Jack Nicklaus' greatness.”

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