Barely eight hours. That’s the distance between Dundonald Links and Royal Porthcawl. The first is hosting this week’s Women’s Scottish Open, and the latter will play home to the AIG Women’s Open next week. And just like with the men’s side, now the world's best women now descend on links golf.

Notably, Kyle Phillips designed Dundonald to punish the slightest mistake. The course features Scotland's deepest pot bunkers, burns that appear out of nowhere, and greens that demand surgical precision.

Take the par-3 11th as an example. Only 120 yards. But the cavernous bunkers out there are waiting to swallow anything short or long. And if you think we’re exaggerating the depth and danger of these sand traps… Look here, there is actually a STAIRCASE to get into this one!

Just like those stairs, the stakes are high here, too. It’s a prep for the last women’s major of the season. Also, the top three players not already exempt will punch their ticket to the AIG Women’s Open next week. So you see, every shot at Dundonald carries major championship consequences. The field headliners reflect that too:

Meanwhile, Grace Kim arrives fresh off her Evian triumph. Defending champion Lauren Coughlin is back, too. There’s also Hannah Darling. The 22-year-old is making her professional debut on home soil and is definitely one you should keep an eye out for.

Dundonald's challenges are going to be a good warm-up act for Royal Porthcawl next week. So…

Curtain up!

First, let’s make one thing clear: Tiger Woods owns an untouchable record. Three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles (1991, 1992, 1993), having claimed the first when he was just 15. Nobody has come close since.

That (unfair) legacy now seems to shadow every shot his son takes. It’s not right, but sadly, true.

Two months ago, Charlie Woods fired a closing 66 to claim his first AJGA title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational. The 16-year-old demolished a field packed with four top-ranked juniors. Just listen to his words to understand what that victory meant for him… especially with the pressure being placed upon him!

The win shut the naysayers up for some time. But sadly, that conversation has begun once again this week.

You see, Charlie missed the U.S. Junior Amateur cut for the second consecutive year, finishing T226th among 264 players. The opening round at the Brook Hollow Golf Club shattered all hopes. Despite Tiger being there (dressed from head to toe, like he was ready to play as you’ll see here), the youngster shot a devastating 81 — four doubles, five bogeys, and two birdies.

He could've folded. Could’ve hung his head in shame. But that’s not him.

Charlie fought back with a 74 at Trinity Forest Golf Club, which included an even-par front nine. Yes, there were two doubles, three bogeys, and two birdies on the back nine. But that seven-shot improvement revealed character.

The similarity between father and son runs deeper than golf scores. Tiger had has the same never-give-up attitude too. Then there’s their swing, swagger, and confidence. Just look at this comparison between the 1990s Tiger and today’s Charlie, and you’ll see what we mean.

So, we get it. It’s tempting to think that Charlie’s journey will mirror his dad’s. But his journey isn't about matching Tiger's junior dominance. He's carving his own path. One breakthrough. One setback. One lesson at a time.

That's not failure. That's growth.

A perfect shot. The ball heads straight for the pin. You walk up expecting a celebration… but instead, you find your ball wedged between the flagstick and hole suspended in golf purgatory. It’s exactly what happened to this golfer (can’t you just feel their agony in this picture?) But the big question remains. Is that a hole-in-one? Or not? Let’s see the official stand:

Our Verdict: In the recent case above, it’s clear that it’s not a hole-in-one yet since the ball is stuck on the green surface, not below it. So, if you’re ever in a similar situation, follow steps 2 and 3 to make sure you’re doing everything right. And remember, take your time to assess the situation… otherwise, you may just suffer the same fate as these pros below:

Remember, Tiger Woods hosted a PopStroke Tour Championship in 2022? The mini golf tournament had a $125,000 prize purse! Team winners walked away with $20,000. Golf Channel televised it.

Fad? Not really.

This industry has boomed and generates over $2 billion annually. Moreover, last year, on average, 18 million Americans played mini golf at least four times each.

The intensity of the game has completely transformed, too. Players are now grinding through multiple rounds with serious pressure. Just look here at how competitive these PRO mini golf tournaments get.

Clearly, the golf world is going beyond traditional boundaries. Professional mini golf players now have rankings, sponsorships, and career paths. Who saw this coming?