While golf's money machine churns at breakneck speed, the R&A just hit the brakes. Hard.

For the first time since 2012, the Open Championship isn't increasing its purse. The total prize money for 2025 will remain $17 million, the same as last year, with the winner still claiming (just) $3.1 million.

It's a bold, no doubt, especially in an era where the PGA Championship and Masters saw a $500K and $1 million increase, respectively. The U.S. Open’s purse remained the same as in 2024, but that was already at a staggering $21.5 million!

So why did the R&A make this move? Well, let the numbers show you:

In the past 3 decades, inflation has risen by 145% in the UK, so even after deducting that, it’s a whopping 1600% increase. And just look at how much even the last player in the field will make on Sunday—makes it seem like a long overdue move, doesn't it?

CEO Mark Darbon believes the right balance is needed between compensating golf stars and fulfilling the R&A's broader responsibilities, and this is one of the ways of ensuring that.

You see, the R&A doesn’t have time to think about the monetary aspect of golf that has boomed since LIV’s inception and the PGA Tour’s retaliation. The organization tends to far bigger matters (which is where the surplus from The Open is invested). They build and maintain greenkeeping programs across 30 countries, fund sustainability research, and create pathways in the sport right from Argentina to Malaysia through its foundation.

That’s the battle they’re fighting. And the cost is scrutiny.

It’s Major Championship Thursday again. Which calls for some major predictions (again). So let’s jump right into it, with, first, the records that we think CAN be broken! The lowest round shot at The Open (62) was shot by Branden Grace in 2017. A few have come close since. Xander Schauffele, Justin Harding, and a few others shot 65 in 2019. That same year, Shane Lowry shot a 63 to win at Portrush itself in 2019.

The Northern Irishman won by a whopping 6 strokes, but you’ll never believe which shot and hole it was where he finally thought he would win!

But, yes, we believe someone will shoot a 61 over the next four days. And guess what? It has happened before. 20 years ago. By someone who is playing this week, too. A 16-year-old teenager shot 61 at the 2005 North of Ireland Championship to set the course record at Royal Portrush.

Three months ago, that same person wore his very first Green Jacket! Yes, Rory. Just watch how he did it below:

Now, that also makes us bullish on another record: the overall score. We believe that Henrik Stenson’s 20-under (2016) will be beaten.

Old Tom Morris’s record, though, is where we draw the line. At 46 years and 99 days, the legend won the Claret Jug in 1957. And sure, there are some talented old men on the field this week. Pádraig Harrington. Phil Mickelson—he holed out from a bunker just hours ago at Portrush! But neither of them, nor any of the veterans beating the likes of McIlroy, Scheffler, Aberg, and Fleetwood? We wouldn’t put our money on that.

Speaking of which, the most important question. Who will take home the Claret Jug? Our pick: Rory. The Northern Irishman’s post-Masters lull is gone. He looks rejuvenated. Hungry. He is familiar with links golf, ranks 5th in SG: Off the Tee, 4th in SG: Putting, and 17th in Scrambling. And well, he’s playing at home! Things don’t align much more than that. He’s definitely not winning by 13 strokes and breaking Old Tom Morris’s record, though.

It’s going to be a fun and edgy few days of links golf. Go n-éirí leat everyone!

Our Open Championship throwback series finale features the shot that made history. 2019. Shane Lowry, stuck in a bunker on Portrush's par-3 13th, had Tommy Fleetwood breathing down his neck. The Irishman had a healthy lead, but a mishit could see that crumble just as quickly. But despite the pressure, and with nerves of steel, he pulled off this beauty. We broke down Lowry's technique there. And here's the secret:

• Master the box drill: Draw a small square around your ball in sand. Enter behind the ball, swing through, and demolish the square. It’s a simple drill that acts like a ‘cheat code’ for bunker shots, per golf expert Matt Fisher—watch it here.

These three tips will help transform your sand game completely. And if you think you’re ready for more, try this:

We sat down with Sahith Theegala at Royal Portrush yesterday. Just hours before teeing off at the Open Championship and almost two months after his last tournament, Theegala looked excited to get back to the greens.

And a tad bit sad…. For the dream, he knows he’s going to miss.

“It’s really frustrating… I’ve been a part of some of the little events that Keegan (Bradley) invited me to, and I was very excited about it. Knowing that I probably won’t be on the team is a bummer,” Theegala told us. 

The hope of Bethpage Black looks bleak; Theegala has to rely on a captain’s pick to get a spot. For that, he has to catch fire in the next few tournaments. Starting this week. How hard is that? Theegala gets candid on how far back and how deep down injury can push a golfer. Read the full exclusive interview here.