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| Friday Apr 04, 2025 |
In opening the Valero Texas Open with a 9-under 63 on Thursday, Sam Ryder had himself quite the efficient day. He birdied six of his final seven holes (Nos. 12-14 and 16-18) and totaled 15 one putts for his round, a new career best on the PGA Tour. The round was his lowest of the season and all but assured that he would make his 10th straight cut to open 2025. It also positions him well for a fifth top-25 finish — his best being a T14 at The Players Championship.
IN THIS ISSUE
> Curating the curious career of Rory McIlroy | Read
> Design Notes: Andrew Green plots renovation of AAC’s Highlands Course | Read
> 'Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry': Joe Assell, co-founder and CEO, Golftec | Listen
POLL
> Who will win the 2025 Masters? | Vote
> Previous: Would you play hickory-shafted clubs? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Masters? Who do you expect to win and what do you believe will the biggest storylines?
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.
> Regarding professional golfers and the media, should players be obligated to speak to reporters during a tournament week? Or does a player's communication via social media suffice? | Read
RangeGoats Golf Club: LIV Golf team announces a partnership deal with Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers through the remainder of the 2025 season. The partnership focuses on cross-promotion amongst the two brands. ... Cleeks Golf Club: European LIV Golf team announces a partnership with renowned mixed-media artist Jacob Fellander. Debuting at an exclusive exhibition at Superblue Miami, the collaboration launches a cultural initiative that reimagines golf through the lens of contemporary art and immersive experiences.
RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed
> Ben Crenshaw, golf’s gentleman, feels the game’s history like no other champion
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]
> Bernhard Langer’s epic run at the Masters has been awe-inspiring
[Josh Sens | Golf.com | Read]
> A supercomputer simulated the 2025 Masters 1,000 times and the winner is …
[Coleman Bentley | Golf Digest | Read]
> CBS won’t highlight hurricane damage to Augusta National during Masters
[Drew Lerner | Awful Announcing | Read]
"The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations."
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The First Call contributor Bradley Klein reviews an upcoming biography, 'Rory Land: The Up-and-Down World of Golf's Global Icon,' that picks at perceptions of the four-time major champion.
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Boca Woods celebrates the Rees Jones redesign of its Woods course; Chris Wilczynski to master plan Oakland University's Katke-Cousins course.
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NEW
DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Golftec celebrates 30 years, 20 million golf lessons
Guest: Joe Assell, co-founder and CEO, Golftec
Listen | Archive
PODCASTS
GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How the Valspar Championship flies under the radar
Guest: Bobby Barnes, resort manager / interim general manager, Innisbrook Golf Resort
Listen | Archives
VIDEOS
THE COACH MO GOLF SHOW
How Rapsodo Golf is changing golf technology
Guest: Justin Bryant, Community Manager / Golf, Rapsodo
Watch | Archives
THE MODGOLF PODCAST
Fun is the leading message for golf
Guest: Jay Karen, CEO, NGCOA
Watch | Archives
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As winter begins to fade, the stage may begin to set for an active hurricane season based on seven historical parallels.
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April 22-27, 2025 | Louisville / Lexington, Kentucky
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PGA Tour: Texas Valero Open
Site: San Antonio, Texas.
Course: TPC San Antonio (Oaks).
Television [ET]: Today, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
LPGA Tour: T-Mobile Match Play
Site: North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Course: Shadow Creek Golf Club.
Television [ET]: Today, 6-7 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 6-9 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-3:30 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 6-6:30 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 6:30-9 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
LIV Golf League: LIV Golf Doral
Site: Doral, Florida.
Course: Trump National Doral.
Television [ET]: Today, 1-6 p.m. (Fox); Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (FS1); Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. (Fox).
PGA Tour Champions: James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational
Site: Boca Raton, Florida.
Course: The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. Yardage: 7,008. Par: 72.
Television [ET]: Today, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 3:30-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
Korn Ferry Tour: Club Car Championship
Site: Savannah, Georgia.
Course: The Landings Golf and Athletic Club (Deer Creek).
Television [ET]: Today, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 4-6 p.m. (NBC Sports app), 10 p.m. to midnight (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Sunday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
Augusta National: Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Site: Augusta, Georgia.
Course: Champions Retreat (Today) and Augusta National Golf Club (Saturday).
Television [ET]: Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. (NBC).
Ladies European Tour: Joburg Ladies Open
Site: Johannesburg, South Africa.
Course: Modderfontein Golf Club.
PGA Tour Americas: Brazil Open
Site: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Course: Rio Olympic Golf Club.
Japan LPGA: Yamaha Ladies Open
Site: Shizuoka, Japan.
Course: Katsuragi Golf Club (Yamana).
Korea LPGA: Doosan E&C We’ve Championship
Site: Busan, South Korea.
Course: Dongrae Benest Golf Club.
APRIL
4: Asia Golf Tourism Convention, Danang, Vietnam | Info
MAY
19-21: IAGTO European Convention, Gran Canaria, Spain | Info
JUNE
17-19: North America Golf Tourism Convention, Birmingham, Alabama | Info
24-25: NGCOA Multi-Course & Resort Operators Retreat, Monterey, California | Info
JULY
29-30: PGA Buying Summit, Frisco, Texas | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
