Rare Field of Golf’s Best Faces Brutal Test

👋 Hey Golf Fans,

Top LPGA and LET pros are in Las Vegas this week for their first co-sanctioned event on U.S. soil. And it is going to be every bit as exciting as you can expect. Meanwhile, a LIV golfer eyes a Ryder Cup return, Tiger bows out of captaincy talk, plus a Justin Rose drill to sharpen your game, and beyond.

Also, each day until Saturday, we will hide an “Easter Egg” within the edition – a link hidden in clear sight but in an unusual place. The reader who finds the most will receive a $25 Amazon gift card from us.

Let’s get started…

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

Amateur golfer’s over-a-minute-long pre-shot routine at Augusta National Women’s Amateur enrages fans.

Bernhard Langer skips the Masters 2026. He also confesses the bitter reason behind this shock decision.

Augusta National chairman receives backlash over statement on Tiger Woods’s absence following DUI arrest.

Our limited Masters-inspired collection is designed for golfers who carry the feeling of Augusta beyond the course. From a beautifully crafted towel and refined tee to collectible pins, a sleek on-course fanny bag, and a rocks glass made for post-round reflections, every piece is built to feel timeless, elevated, and unmistakably golf.

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Bring a touch of Augusta, wherever you play.

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open winner, is eyeing a return to the DP World Tour. But unlike his LIV mate Jon Rahm, he's not turning the matter into more-complicated-than-it-has-to-be.

McDowell has settled all his due fines, but would essentially have to start from scratch if reapplying for membership. The next opportunity comes in May. Last month, eight LIV golfers accepted the Tour's latest terms, and McDowell is open to considering them.

But that brings us, naturally, to a teensy elephant in the room. McDowell is eyeing a Ryder Cup return in some capacity. After all, he has been a staple there. Remember his clutch putt in 2010 that ended the American Dream? Relive the decisive moment below.

He has been part of the winning European team thrice and vice-captained twice. But here's another Ryder Cup update from another official body, this time from the American camp. The PGA of America says Tiger Woods has passed on captaining the U.S. team at Adare Manor. It's a bit of a letdown for some, but others are… quite elated. You hardly need to think twice before understanding why.

Meanwhile, this (surprise, but hardly) update follows Tiger’s announcement of a golf hiatus to prioritize his health after the car crash. He is heading abroad for an unspecified stretch, as you can find out here.

Whatever the case may be, Tiger’s decision is a bit diplomatic. But it also leaves one question unanswered: who will captain America next? And how much will this delay hurt the team?

Saturday’s Result: 75.67% of you picked Jack Nicklaus as your dream twosome partner, and 19.59% of you chose Tiger Woods.

Driving the ball with power demands a big body rotation, but tons of golfers miss the turn because their shoulders stay stuck. If that's your source of trouble, here's a Justin Rose-inspired drill using just a ball on a lanyard.

• Setup: Attach a small pressure ball to a lanyard, hang it around your neck, and position it between your elbows to create constant pressure. It helps prevent elbow splaying and arm-lifting.

• Start small: Begin with half-swings using a short iron. Progress to full swings once comfortable. The ball stays in place if done right. Watch how Rose maintains his posture throughout.

• Why it helps: Maintains elbow connection through impact for better club lag. That helps avoid early release or "dumping" that causes slices. Results in passive ball flight, controlled trajectory, and aggressive body rotation post-impact.

Practice this the next time you hit the range and tell us if it worked for you. Then, try the other drills we have listed below.

Three Drills to Master the Body Turn

When did you last hear a tale of unbreakable spirit on the course? 91-year-old David Blyth has one to share. Blind since the age of 14, Blyth did not pick up golf until well past 56. But he hasn’t put the clubs down ever since—just watch him play golf and even you’d be pretty damn inspired as well.

The result of this obsession is Blyth’s win at the Blind Golf Victoria Masters, his first victory since 2012. Surprise, yes. But not much of a surprise for a founding father of blind golf, though. Blyth helmed Blind Golf Victoria (BGV) as president and now boasts lifetime membership in both the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) and BGV. But there's more to this legend than meets the eye, as you'll discover here.

Essentially Golf brings you handpicked, well-thought-out, and not-to-be-missed recommendations to make your weekend more fun.

🎥 Watch — Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie, answers all your questions.

🛍 Buy — Golf Ball Display Case gives you a chance to showcase your collection.

👕 Gear Up — Sunday Round Polo will end your hunt for comfort on and off the course.

🍸 Unwind — Last Word is the best mystery drink you need to serve your friends.

🧩 Solve — ESGolf wordle. (Hint: one over par disaster you’d rather avoid.)

As part of our Masters week countdown, we are looking at all 18 holes of Augusta National. With seven days to go before the first major, today our focus is on the fourth hole, Flowering Crab Apple.

The Flowering Crab Apple is not only quite fragrant but also produces apples, as its name suggests, just not during the Masters. Don't judge it by its name, though. With an all-time average of 3.28 strokes, this par-3 ranks as the third-toughest hole at Augusta. It's never played under par, with Henrik Stenson's quadruple bogey in 2011 as the highest score and Jeff Sluman's hole-in-one in 1992 as the lowest.

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