PGA National's Obvious Problem

 👋 Hey Golf Fans,

PGA National has a problem, one the pros regularly complain about but that gets routinely ignored. Billy Horschel had some tough words for the owners. Today, we dissect the issue. Meanwhile, John Daly’s son gears up for his PGA Tour debut; the pro who survived a near-tragic incident provided an update; a nifty golf ball retriever checks in; and more.

Let’s get started…

It happens like clockwork: every year, PGA National, the host of the Cognizant Classic, is called into question. Sure, the infamous Bear Trap claims its victims. Sure, almost every year, at least one golfer has to go shirtless to hit a shot—this pro did it on Friday.

But outside of those one-off disasters, PGA National isn’t so daunting. Not anymore. Thanks to overseeding. As warm-season grasses like Bermuda go dormant in cooler months, greenkeepers plant cool-season rye grass. Essentially, it maintains the health of the soil and makes the course look aesthetically pleasing, but—the key point of contention at PGA National—it also makes it easier to go low.

Want proof?

From 2007–2020, only three editions dished out a winning score in double digits under par. And the past three years? Chris Kirk won at 14-under in 2023. Austin Eckroat 17-under in 2024. Joe Highsmith made a ridiculous 19-under in 2025. Last year also saw Jake Knapp shoot a 59.

Meanwhile, in 2025, the course ranked a middling 35th on the PGA Tour, a sharp drop from 20th in 2024 and a jaw-dropping plunge from the beastly 7th in 2021-22 season. Exactly what Billy Horschel and Shane Lowry complained about.

Granted, PGA National is a public course, and the PGA Tour stop is not its only source of revenue, but birdie fests have limited charm. They make for about as much TV excitement as watching paint dry. Given the current circumstances the Cognizant Classic finds itself in, that will not do it any favors.

This season's field is the weakest since the event moved to PGA National. The Official World Golf Ranking offered a paltry 213.1 field rating, the lowest for any PGA Tour event so far this season. With the Cognizant Classic already crammed into a brutal schedule—sandwiched between four flagship events—the future at PGA National looks grim at best, downright worrying at worst.

On top of that, pros complaining about the course just hand the ringleaders at Ponte Vedra an easy excuse to axe this Palm Beach Gardens stop next year.

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Springtide: It’s happening, folks. John Daly’s son is going to make his PGA Tour debut next week. Not at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but at the opposite-field Puerto Rico Open. It has started quite a debate, and if you’re wondering why, the answer lies in how he got into the field. Nevertheless, the field brims with fresh faces like Carson Bertagnole (19), Blades Brown (18), Miles Russell (17), Yanhan Zhou (17), and Evan Pena (17), along with John Daly II (22). So, how good is Daly’s son? Watch this clip of the youngster trying to replicate his dad’s amazing feat to find out.

Deescalation: LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil once pegged profitability at a foggy 10-15 years out, but yesterday he shared a rundown of the progress already made. Among the talking points:

• LIV nearly doubled its sponsors, from 11 in 2024 to 20 in 2025.

• Brand partnerships with individual teams exploded from 9 to 50.

• Sponsorship revenue exceeded $500 million.

Conspicuously absent was any comparison or criticism of the PGA Tour. As O’Neil puts it, “This is an age of deescalation.” LIV signed an agreement with the USGA and the R&A for course standards, and Citigroup has been roped in to help make the franchises profitable. O’Neil calls this an “age of partnership.” Next stop: Ponte Vedra?

Hope: Two-time DP World Tour champ Andrea Pavan suffered a nightmare accident ahead of the Investec South Africa Open. Here’s our coverage on that. Yesterday, Pavan’s compatriot, Francesco Laporta, said he was recovering fine and was able to walk and talk. Pavan himself gave an update from the hospital thanking everyone. Here is what more he said.

Thursday’s Results: 52.24% of you said ex-LIV pros should be made to earn PGA Tour cards via developmental tours.

We all lose balls more often than we'd like to admit. Sometimes they end up in quicksand. Or worse, they end up underwater, and while trying to fish them out, we drag up a lot of sludge. But what if there’s an easier way? Thirty-three years ago, a Florida man developed a ball retriever that eliminated all the problems. Then it vanished from the market after he passed away, and that is when Larry Walshaw stepped in.

Vowing to not let the vision go to waste, Walshaw bought the intellectual property rights. The old model worked well, but it needed refinement to fit modern needs. Walshaw made those changes, and lo and behold, we’ve a ball retriever that can pick FOUR golf balls at a time. Sounds complicated? Check out the video below to see how easy it is to carry and pick up golf balls.

“Grab Balls Easier and Faster.” Don’t get us wrong—that’s the brand’s tagline.

Five Biggest Names Who Missed the Cut at Cognizant Classic →

Justin Thomas Offers Exclusive Chance to Play With Him →

Scottie Scheffler’s Prank Leaves Rising Star “Terrified” →

Pros like Scottie Scheffler have a rhythmic transfer of weight that feels as natural as putting one foot in front of the other. That is because they shift their weight at the right time. Here’s where you’re going wrong and how to fix that with a simple drill from Class A-certified coach Jonathan Kim-Moss.

• Grab a tilting feedback board like this one. Cross your arms over the shoulders. Tilt the board left and right without moving your whole body.

• Now shift pressure to the trail side first to tilt the board to the right. Then, turn your torso. This breaks the bad habit of turning your body before shifting weight or doing it simultaneously during backswing.

• Now, shift pressure to your lead side. Then turn your body. The key sequence is shift-turn-shift-turn. To learn how much you need to turn, watch this video from Jonathan Kim-Moss.

Once you’re comfortable with this, either clasp your hands together or grab an actual club for a more natural feel. Here are a few more drills to get your body moving in the right direction and at the right time.

Drills to Shift Your Weight Easily at Downswing

Here are five golf movies from the last decade that go beyond birdies and bogeys, each with a story worth the screen time.

1. Seve: The Movie (2014): An emotional ride through the genius of Seve Ballesteros. Watch for passion, flair, and fearless shot-making.

2. Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk (2019): A documentary celebrating the untold stories of caddies. Take the long walk alongside the game’s quiet heroes.

3. The Founders (2016): The powerful story of the 13 trailblazing women who built the LPGA Tour. Stream it for a masterclass in courage and conviction.

4. From the Rough (2011): A determined coach builds a championship men’s team against all odds. Watch for a solid comeback story.

5. Round of Your Life (2019): A young prodigy learns that golf is about more than just winning trophies. Cue it up for a lesson in perspective.

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