Teeing Up This Week’s Breaking News - February 24

Reporting live from the first hole, where we are ready to tee off and hammer away with this week’s breaking news in the vast green landscape of golf. My name is Tessa Lapradez, and I am here to give you an update about the sport and all things golf on and off the court. With the 2024 end-of-the-year TV deal secured between LIV and FOX Sports and the debut of TGL, this is the year of innovation for golf. Off into the course we go! 

More than the Game:

Tiger Woods returned to TGL for the first time following the death of his mother, Kultida, on Feb. 18 at SoFi Center. The last time his mom watched him play was in the very same stadium on Jan. 27. 

Competing with the Jupiter Links Golf Club, Woods reflected on the impact of his mother’s support throughout his career. “She was very direct about her feelings, her emotions – she’d let you know either way,” said Woods.

Kultida frequently watched Tiger Woods compete on various occasions and felt pride when watching his 16-year-old son, Charlie, rise as an amateur golfer. “I had a really hard time getting here and then reliving all the moments that we’ve had, my mom, how excited she was to have Charlie drive her here,” said Woods.

It’s amazing to see those who love the game come together and rally around the legendary icon during such a difficult time.

Laughing over LIV:

Aussie golfer and 14 PGA Tour winner Adam Scott is joining in on the commentary around LIV and the golfers who “betrayed” the PGA Tour. “I wouldn’t hold it against anybody if there were negative emotions attached to it, the thought of players coming back,” said Scott.

Scott is among the athletes at the helm of the PGA-LIV discussions as a member of the PGA Tour board. He even went to the White House with Commissioner Monahan to speak with Trump about mending the two golf worlds.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund closely tied to LIV, was also in D.C. in an attempt to reunify both parties. 

The athletes seem to feel the same way as golf fans around the world, who want to wrap the conflict up and move forward.

Community Champions:

8-time PGA Tour winner Billy Horschel is being awarded the 2025 Charlie Barnett Award in recognition of using his platform for “unselfish contributions for the betterment of society”. 

The honor is largely thanks to the Horschel Family Foundation, which he founded with his wife to support veterans, amplify mental health and addiction resources, and encourage diversity in the game of golf. “One thing my wife, Brittany, and I have talked about from the very beginning was making sure we give back and help out people who aren’t nearly as fortunate,” said Horschel.

Horschel joins an esteemed list of former recipients such as Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer.