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The Starter: Just what is success, gamesmanship?

Kai Trump's LPGA debut and Tommy Fleetwood's bathroom break are scrutinized. Is Ben Griffin in the Player of the Year discussion? Why wearing two golf gloves may be better than one.

🏌️ Kai Trump, granddaughter of the President and a recent University of Miami commit, received a sponsor exemption to play in the Annika on the LPGA Tour. She shot 83 in the first round and a publication called it a "resounding success." By what metrics?

🏌️ Tommy Fleetwood was accused of gamesmanship by Sky Sports’ Andrew Coltart for arriving late to the tee for his playoff with Aaron Rai at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The reason? He needed to go to the toilet. Should Coltart eat his words?

🏌️ Rory McIlroy is getting an award named for him — for the DP World Tour player who gets the most Race to Dubai points in major championships. Is that a sign McIlroy is becoming one of the game’s elder statesman?

🏌️ Is this week’s DP World Tour Championship simply a coronation of McIlroy for Race to Dubai champion?

U.S. Pga Championship 2025
Ben Griffin during the second round of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Griffin, along with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, won three times on the PGA Tour in 2025.

🏌️ Ben Griffin won the World Wide Technology Championship at Los Cabos for his third victory of the year. If it wasn’t for Scottie Scheffler, would Griffin get some player of the year love?

🏌️ Have you heard of the Golf Channel Games, starring Scheffler and McIlroy? Does it put the silly in silly season?

🏌️ Will Tiger Woods play the PGA Tour Champions in 2026? More importantly, will he play in the PNC Championship with Charlie next month?

🏌️ Tommy Gainey won on the PGA Tour Champions a few weeks ago, securing his card for 2026. And Rai won at Abu Dhabi. Are they making a case for two gloves?

🏌️ Stewart Cink leads the Charles Schwab Cup points race on the Champions Tour. Would he trade the Cup title for a Ryder Cup captaincy?


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