With the U.S. Open, the season`s third major championship, now less than a week away, many of the sport`s leading figures from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are focused on refining their form.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is set to compete in the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour, while Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, will tee off in the LIV Golf League tournament taking place in Gainesville, Virginia.
DeChambeau commented on his ambitions for consecutive wins, stating, “We`re all trying to accomplish feats that haven`t been done in a long time, and going back-to-back would be great. Three in a row would be an even better accomplishment, so it is in the back of my head.”
PGA Tour Highlights
The RBC Canadian Open is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ontario. Robert MacIntyre is the defending champion for this event, which features a total purse of $9.8 million.
Rory McIlroy Returns
After taking a break and skipping last week`s Memorial Tournament, Rory McIlroy is back in action north of the border. Having previously won the Canadian Open in 2019 and 2022, McIlroy aims to become one of only four players to win the tournament three times.
McIlroy expressed his approval of the PGA Tour`s decision to move the Canadian Open to the week preceding the U.S. Open. He noted that since he began playing the Canadian Open the week before, he has recorded six consecutive top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open, suggesting a positive correlation.
Following his career Grand Slam achievement at the Masters, McIlroy admitted that the daily grind of practice felt slightly more challenging than in the past. He described the previous two weeks off as beneficial for a “reset” to evaluate his current position and “reset some goals.”
Scottie Scheffler Secures Ryder Cup Spot
Though the Ryder Cup is still over three months away, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has become the first player to guarantee his spot on the U.S. team for the match against Europe at Bethpage Black in September. The PGA of America announced that Scheffler accumulated a dominant lead in Ryder Cup points.
U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley lauded Scheffler`s consistent excellence and described him as the “ultimate team player” who will be ready and motivated for the event. The top six players in the points standings after the BMW Championship in August will automatically qualify, with Bradley selecting six additional captain`s picks.
This will mark Scheffler`s third appearance in the Ryder Cup. He participated in the U.S. victory in 2021 and the loss in 2023. Scheffler commented that representing the United States is one of the greatest honors of his career and he is eager to help the team reclaim the Cup, especially playing in front of the passionate New York crowd.
Pro Debuts at the Canadian Open
The RBC Canadian Open field includes three golfers making their professional debuts: Luke Clanton, Gordon Sargent, and David Ford. Luke Clanton, a former standout at Florida State and previously the No. 1 amateur in the world, enters with significant expectations. He achieved two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour as an amateur last year and was the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 to record three or more top-10s in a season.
Clanton described the transition to professional status as “incredible” but “a little bit weird at first,” having always been an amateur. He emphasized that his focus is not on money or fame, but simply on “competing with these guys on tour,” something he has “chased for [his] whole, entire life.” The recipient of the Ben Hogan Award, Clanton thanked his parents for their dedication and sacrifices that supported his golf career. He cited his driving distance and a “strong mentality” as key strengths. When asked about joining LIV Golf, Clanton stated his preference was straightforward: “I want to play the PGA Tour, pretty simple. I want to play against the best, I want to compete in majors, and that`s it.”
Gordon Sargent, the 2022 NCAA individual champion and low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open, earned a PGA Tour card via PGA Tour University but opted to return to Vanderbilt before turning pro now. David Ford, who finished No. 1 in the PGA Tour University Rankings after a successful season at North Carolina, also earned his tour card. All three players are guaranteed PGA Tour status through the 2026 season.
LIV Golf League News
The LIV Golf Virginia event takes place Friday through Sunday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Harold Varner III is the defending champion, and the tournament boasts a $25 million purse.
Bryson DeChambeau`s Busy Month
Beyond his strong tie for second at the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau has been highly active off the course. The player often referred to as golf`s “content king,” known for his popular YouTube channel, recently filmed hitting golf balls at various unique locations, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and the White House.
DeChambeau explained that managing his busy schedule is possible through “a lot of planning.” He described hitting shots on the White House lawn at the urging of President Trump as “quite the experience.” Despite his significant content creation efforts, DeChambeau maintains that his primary goal is competitive success, stating, “Do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100 percent.” He views his YouTube presence as a way to be influential and believes there`s “a lot more to come.”
Joaquín Niemann Turning the Corner
Torque GC captain Joaquín Niemann feels he is finding his form after achieving his first top-10 finish in a major at the PGA Championship, where he tied for eighth. Niemann felt he didn`t play his best golf but saw the result as a positive step forward, being his inaugural top-10 in a major championship.
Niemann has had considerable success in the LIV Golf League, securing multiple victories this season. His performance led fellow LIV player Phil Mickelson to controversially call Niemann the “best golfer in the world.” Mickelson defended his comment by pointing to the consistent strength of the LIV field, where Niemann competes weekly against major champions and top players, which he believes is not fully appreciated due to the league`s relative newness.
Preparing for Oakmont
Several LIV Golf players, including Mickelson and Niemann, view the course setup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Virginia as excellent preparation for the demanding U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club next week. Mickelson highlighted similarities in green speed, contours, rough, and the crucial role of the short game.
Oakmont is renowned for its difficulty. In the 2016 U.S. Open held there, Dustin Johnson`s winning score was 4-under par, with only four players finishing under par. Niemann anticipates a challenging test with extremely fast greens, suggesting that success will likely hinge more on minimizing mistakes and making fewer bogeys than on carding numerous birdies.
