TFC Week In Review 08-08-2025

THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do you think of an idea where the PGA Tour does not end the FedEx Cup Playoffs with the Tour Championship, but a revamped Players Championship? And either eliminating the Tour Championship or changing its format and dates?

Send replies on this question or other topics and questions you would like to have asked to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For a response to be published, you must include your first and last name, along with the city and state of residence.

> Last week's question: Do you believe Scottie Scheffler's greatness more resembles Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus? Or is it too early or fair to even make a comparison? | Read

The Starter: Ryder Cup ruminations abound

Decision time nears for U.S. captain Keegan Bradley; Play well, score well and all is well, right?; Will CBS fill its open seat?

BUSINESS

8am Golf: Launches premium travel service

8am Travel is designed to create golf experiences that cater to discerning travelers with crafted itineraries

Gila River Resorts & Casinos: Expands partnership with Grass League

Destination becomes the presenting sponsor of the Grass League Championship, Dec. 5-6, and the season-long points race

PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe: Partner with Enterprise Mobility

The global provider of mobility solutions is named a worldwide supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

Troon: Announces management agreement with Chasing Aces

Troon and its RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design division began working with Chasing Aces, a new golf, food and entertainment destination in Bossier City, Louisiana, in January 2025

CLUBS / COURSES

Horseshoe Bay Resort: New Summit Rock clubhouse opens

Dallas, Texas-based Three Architecture designed the 22,000-square-foot clubhouse that draws on the German heritage of the Texas Hill Country

JM Eagle LA Championship: Returns to El Caballero CC in 2026

Suburban Los Angeles, California, club will host the tournament for a second consecutive year

The Golf Club at Lansdowne: Receives Audubon International recognition

Leesburg, Virginia, course earned three new certifications from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses

TPC Jasna Polana: Releases video featuring Gary Player

World Golf HOF member and course designer tells the story of how of TPC Jasna Polana was designed and the history of the iconic club

COMPETITION

AJGA: To host 1st tournament in Hawaii

Inaugural Imperial Junior Classic at Pearl at Kalauao, Oct. 10-13, will will support Hawaii junior golfers

APGA Tour: John-Baptiste Hakizimana wins Jefferson Health APGA Classic

Hakizimana wins Advocates Professional Golf Association tournament by four strokes at The 1912 Club

APGA Tour: Luis Gagne, Willie Mack partner to win APGA Two-Man Classic

Gagne and Mack III carded a final-round 3-under-par 69 to shoot an 11-under 133 at TPC Louisiana

LPGA: U.S., Japan secure top seeds for Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown

Top 16 players in Rolex Rankings, all five 2025 major champions headline field

DESTINATIONS

Marriott Golf: JW Marriott Turnberry’s Unlimited Golf package nears end

The Aventura, Florida, destination's summer value vacation package runs through Sept. 30

Marriott Golf: Showcases Grand Strand destination

Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes in South Carolina offers a golf concierge to help serve special rates to the region's courses

Marriott Golf: Unlimited golf offer in Spain

Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel features golf at Son Vida

EVENTS

Full Swing: Hosts the Ultimate Launch Monitor Challenge

Event kicked off the company's new brand campaign for KIT Launch Monitors

GCSAA: Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day set for Sept. 9

Golfers can show support on social media using #ThankASupe

NGCOA: Adds 3 categories to its annual awards lineup

New awards will recognize excellence in public, municipal and resort golf facilities

Upper Deck Golf: Releases fall schedule

Events scheduled include stops at Wrigley Field, Citi Field and Dodger Stadium

GEAR

Abacus Sportswear: Launches range of weather-beating hoodies

Introduces two outerwear pieces tailored specifically for golfers facing windy conditions — the Lanark Stretch Wind Hoodie and the Kingsbarns Hybrid Hoodie

Dunlop Sports America: Miyu Yamashita wins 1st title at Women’s British Open

Yamashita's bag featured Srixon driver, woods and irons and Cleveland Golf wedges

SuperStroke: Cameron Young earns 1st career win at Wyndham Championship 

The 28-year-old pro cruised to a six-stroke win with a Zenergy Pistol 1.0 putter grip 

MEDIA

NBC Sports: FedEx St. Jude Classic leads busy coverage week

"Happy Hour with Smylie" returns on Golf Channel for FedEx Cup Playoffs; Golf Channel to air 15 hours of U.S. Women’s Amateur coverage from Bandon Dunes

PEOPLE

Epson Tour: Trio secures LPGA Tour status through Race for the Card

Melanie Green, Gina Kim and Briana Chacon are mathematically locked inside the top 15 of the Race for the Card standings to secure 2026 LPGA Tour playing cards

First Tee, PGA Tour Superstore: Invite 40 teens to leadership summit

The First Tee Leadership Summit is supported by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Loraloma Private Club and Estates: Adds to leadership team

Ryan Dawson joins as director of club operations; Spencer Scheeler named director of golf

LPGA: Minjee Lee wins 2025 Rolex Annika Major Award

Lee becomes the first multiple-time winner in history of award

Panther National: Ambassador Cameron Young wins 1st PGA Tour title

Young joined the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, club in 2023 and his maiden victory made him the 1,000th unique winner in Tour history

PGA of America: Miles Russell, Asterisk Talley lead U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team

Twelve U.S. junior golfers will compete against the European Junior Ryder Cup Team Sept. 23-25 at Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black

Poston Butte GC: Hires new general manager

Paul Besecker to oversee all elements of the 18-hole daily-fee facility in Florence, Arizona

PHILANTHROPY

Arcis Golf: Donates $200,000 to Els for Autism Foundation

Annual round-up campaign has raised nearly $1 million in six years

Principal Charity Classic: Raises record $10.6 million for Iowa youth

The PGA Tour Champions event has raised more than $73 million raised since 2007

INDUSTRY NOTES

COMPETITION

LIV Golf: Confirms that LIV Golf Riyadh and LIV Golf Virginia will return to the schedule in 2026. LIV Golf Riyadh will open the 2026 season, Feb. 5-7 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, while LIV Golf Virginia will be hosted at Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C., May 8-10.

GAMING

2K: Season 3 of PGA Tour 2K25 debuts with a focus on the FedEx Cup Playoffs, including the season-ending Tour Championship. PGA Tour 2K25 Deluxe Edition is currently on sale for 33% off on PS5 through Aug. 13 and will be on sale for 33% off on Steam Aug. 21-25, and 40% off on Xbox Series X|S Aug. 19-Sept. 9. PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition will be on sale for 33% off on Xbox Series X|S and Steam Aug. 11-25, while PGA Tour 2K25 Legend Edition will be on sale for 33% off on Steam Aug. 11-25.

GEAR

Johnnie-O: Becomes an official licensee of the National Football League. The apparel brand will produce a curated collection for all 32 NFL teams. The NFL line will feature 29 different styles, available for both men and women, and debut ahead of the 2025 season. It will be available on Johnnie-o.com, NFL teams shops and online stores, NFLShop.com and other select retailers nationwide.

PEOPLE

Sotogrande: Ladies European Tour player Mimi Rhodes will represent the destination as its official touring professional ambassador.  Rhodes will base her ongoing training and preparation at The Alto Club Sotogrande and the new Alto Academy, located at the SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort. She will feature The Alto Club branding on her apparel and golf bag throughout the remainder of the season and beyond.  