ORLANDO, FL. – Akshay Bhatia, a bespectacled 24-year old left-handed golfer who uses an unusual split grip for putting, won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, but this one was more about how Daniel Berger lost it. Berger led virtually all the way in this lucrative PGA Tour signature event that leads into two of…
Author: lenz
Back injury forces McIlroy to WD from Palmer tourney
ORLANDO, FL. – Rory McIlroy was feeling good about his golf game going into this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club, but now the world’s No. 2-ranked golfer has to wonder. Not only was McIlroy a surprise withdrawal from the API – one of the PGA Tour’s lucrative signature events – on…
BEST OF MY RECENT BOOKS: Heartland, For the Glory
It’s been too long since I’ve added to my book review contributions, but it’s not because I haven’t been enjoying a steady diet of reading material that’s come on the market, and it certainly hasn’t been limited to golf. To get back in the review routine, though, I’m trying something new. Instead of focusing…
Illini alum Detry makes the most of his LIV debut
Thomas Detry was a stalwart on some of coach Mike Small’s powerhouse teams at the University of Illinois, but he was in a more interesting position as a touring pro over the weekend. Detry figured to be defending championship in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, one of the most popular PGA Tour events, until he…
LIV Tour won’t have a Chicago tournament in 2026
The LIV Golf Tour kicks off its fifth season this week in Saudi Arabia minus four of its mainstay players and one notable change in its 14-tournament schedule. Chicago was the site of tournaments in the lucrative Saudi-backed circuit’s first four years, but not this time. “No Chicago event this year,’’ a LIV spokesperson confirmed…
GTWA changing of the guard
The ’75 U.S. Open at Medinah was something special
THIS COLUMN WAS NAMED THE WINNER OF THE 2025 INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF GOLF MEDIA AWARDS IN THE FEATURE WRITING CATEGORY. IT APPEARED IN THE JUNE ISSUE OF THE CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER IN 2025. This month marks the 50th anniversary of Medinah Country Club’s second U.S. Open. The first was in 1949 when Cary…
Anthony Kim earns his way back to the LIV tour
LECANTO, FL. – Anthony Kim is back on the LIV Tour in 2026, and he earned it with his clubs this time. Kim, who had a 12-year hiatus from golf after a promising start to his professional career, finished third in LIV’s Promotion tournament at Black Diamond Ranch. That was good enough to regain his…
Kim survives, Chase Koepka out in LIV Promotion event
LECANTO, FL. – Three players will earn spots on the lucrative LIV Golf tour this weekend, and they know it won’t be easy. Promotion to the Saudi-backed circuit is demanding. The qualifier started with 60 players from 24 countries on Thursday. The low 20 and ties – it turned out to be 29 players –…
Polar Bear Open starts St. Andrews centennial celebration
The weather may suggest otherwise, but the Chicago golf season is ready to tee off. January rounds in snow and frigid weather aren’t unusual in the Chicago area but the Polar Bear Open on Sunday (JAN 4) is different. It not only brings golf diehards together at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West…