Rory Spears, a fixture in Chicago sports radio with deep roots in the local golf scene, died this week at his home in Arlington Heights. He was 65. Rory had a love for radio and was one of the initial members for WSCR all-sports radio show. After five seasons there he moved on to ESPN…
Daily Herald Columns
Former John Deere Classic star earns his way back to the Masters
Michael Kim’s road back to the Masters has been a long one. In 2018 Kim notched his only win on the PGA Tour. It came at the John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour stop, in 2018. The JDC is famous for its extraordinary number of first-time PGA Tour winners. Kim was…
Streelman faces surgery as the Masters approaches
The weather may not be ideal for Chicago area golfers yet, but – with the Masters just two weeks away – the local start can’t far off. As for the Masters, which tees off April 10 at Georgia’s Augusta National, the season’s first major championship twill have at least a small Illinois presence. Two University…
Hovland overhauls Thomas in a duel of Masters contenders
PALM HARBOUR, FL. — The PGA Tour’s four-tournament Florida Swing concluded Sunday with Norway’s Viktor Hovland capturing the Valspar Championship on Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in a duel with Justin Thomas. Ten players were within a shot of the lead entering the last nine holes, but only Hovland and Thomas – two of the PGA…
Another Illini alum wins on the PGA Tour
The University of Illinois has been a men’s golf powerhouse under coach Mike Small, who is now in his 25th season. His teams have won 13 of the last 15 Big Ten titles including eight straight from 2015-2023. This season’s Illini have won only one tournament, and that was back in October, but Small still…
Chicago Golf Show is ready for its 40th anniversary
The Chicago Golf Show, the unofficial start to the Chicago golf season, kicks off its 40th anniversary season on Friday (FEB 28) at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Hank Haney, long-time swing coach for Tiger Woods, will appear on the Daily Herald Main Stage on the last two days (MARCH 1-2) of the show. …
LIV changes set the stage for an eventful PGA Merchandise Show
ORLANDO, FL. – The PGA Merchandise Show , which takes over the Orange County Convention Center this week, is the annual kickoff to the golf season. All phases of the industry are represented at this mass gathering that spotlights all that’s new in the sport. The industry-only show, awaiting its 72nd staging, draws nearly 40,000…
Illinois PGA shortens its section championship tourney
Golf schedules at the local level aren’t usually announced until late winter or early spring but the Illinois PGA revealed two major developments in its 2025 schedule. The Illinois PGA Championship – officially the Illinois Professional Championship now – will be reduced from 54 to 36 holes next year. The tournament, scheduled for Aug….
LIV Tour will return to Bolingbrook in 2025
The PGA Tour made its last Chicago area visit in 2019 and the other national golf organizing groups have been absent longer than that. Not the upstart LIV Golf League, though. LIV, the Saudi-backed circuit that is waging a well-publicized battle with the PGA Tour, announced Tuesday that it will be playing for a fourth…
Ghim is getting close to his first PGA Tour win
This PGA Tour season wasn’t the best for Chicago regulars Kevin Streelman, Nick Hardy and Doug Ghim. None qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which concluded the 2023-24 season in September. The fall events, though, have been most encouraging for all three. Streelman, who Wheaton, had a tie for third and Hardy, from Northbrook, notched…