The golf air that Nelly Korda resides these days is quite rare. On Sunday, the 25-year-old won the Chevron Championship, the year's first women's major. In doing so, Korda won the fourth straight tournament on the LPGA schedule and her fifth consecutive start. The two-time major winner joins Kathy Whitworth (1969), Mickey Wright (1962, 1963), Annika Sorenstam (2001) and Lorena Ochoa (2008) as the only players to win four consecutive tournaments. And she joins only Sorenstam (2004-2005) and Nancy Lopez (1978) as having won five consecutive starts.

IN THIS ISSUE

> TFC Inbox: Who is to blame for LIV, PGA Tour divide? | Read
> Design Notes: Tom Doak's No. 10, Pinehurst Sandmines, opens | Read
> Who is golf's next needle-mover? | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Is newly minted Masters champion Scottie Scheffler on a hot streak of late or is he establishing himself as the game's most dominant player in the mold of the game's greatest players?

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.
> Read responses to last week's question.

Witkoff Group, Access Industries, PPG Development: Announce that the newly rebranded Dutchman’s Pipe, after a multimillion-dollar renovation and complete overhaul of a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, will open in West Palm Beach, Florida, this fall. The course will be accompanied by elevated practice facilities, including a driving range exceeding 300 yards and two acres of dedicated short game area.

Duca del Cosma: Italian fashion brand renews and elevates its commitment to the Association of Golf Merchandisers. Prior to the 2024 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, Duca del Cosma was the presenting sponsor of the AGM Retail Conference opening. The company will share new footwear and glove launches, customized AGM buying promotions, and will participate in both regional and national AGM conferences. 

LPGA, Chevron: Announce that Chevron will extend its place as title sponsor of The Chevron Championship through 2029 and is increasing the purse of this year's first major to $7.9 million. The increase is $4.8 million over the last three years with Chevron’s title sponsorship. Also, players who miss the cut this week will receive $10,000, up from $5,000 in 2023, which is currently the highest missed-cut stipend on Tour.

LPGA Tour: Introduces the "Inside the LPGA Podcast," which is hosted by the LPGA’s Hope Barnett and golf journalist Adam Stanley, alongside weekly guest hosts. Each episode will feature informative discussions about golf enhanced by KPMG Performance Insights and interviews with top LPGA Tour athletes. The podcast is available on YouTube, LPGA.com, Spotify, Amazon, Apple and all other major podcast platforms.

LIV Golf: David Phillipps is been named chief financial officer; Ross Hallett has been named EVP, head of events; Katie O’Reilly has been named EVP, head of team business operations; Tim Taylor has been appointed to a new EVP role and will also lead LIV Golf’s London office; and Pam Sacree has been named Head of Human Resources. All of these new executive positions will be based in either LIV Golf’s New York or London offices and will start working over the coming weeks.

United States Golf Association: Reigning champion Wyndham Clark and all the Official World Golf Ranking top 50 are among the 10,052 entries that have been accepted for the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina. The U.S. Open will be held at the venue for the fourth time, June 13-16. This is the third time in championship history that the number of entries has exceeded 10,000. The record was established last year when 10,187 entries were accepted. In 2014, 10,127 entered to play.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa: Announces that following a comprehensive renovation of its Champions Course by Hanse Golf Course Design, the layout will revert to its original name, the North Course, and will open for resort guest and member play beginning June 1. Originally designed by Dick Wilson and debuting in 1965, Omni La Costa’s North Course previously served as a home to notable PGA Tour events. For thirty years, the resort hosted the Mercedes Championships (originally called the Tournament of Champions) from 1969-1998, and has hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play and the LPGA's Kia Classic. Also, the Legends Course at Omni La Costa is also going back to its original name, the South Course.

> Nelly Korda ties LPGA Tour record with 5th straight victory, wins Chevron Championship for 2nd major
[Kristie Rieken | Associated Press | Read]

> Scottie Scheffler builds 5-shot lead at Hilton Head. Rain forces a Monday finish
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> Billy Horschel goes to Dominican Republic. He returns a PGA Tour winner again
[Associated Press | Read]

> Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50
[Beth Ann Nichols | Golfweek | Read]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
Turning a homemade golf game into a global business
Tyler Simmons, CEO and founder of BucketGolf, joins host Colin Weston to share the story of his creation
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Golf’s new take on the customer service imperative
Golf Industry Guru co-founder and president James Cronk joins co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein to discuss how golf facilities are balancing labor challenges with evolving guest needs
[Listen | More 'Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How Anthony Netto is changing adaptive golf
Paraplegic and master golf instructor joins host Ann Liguori to discuss the benefits of the VertaCat, an all-terrain mobility rider
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

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> Golf Course Superintendent
Pinon Hills Golf Course
Farmington, New Mexico | Info

> Golf Shop Assistant/Outside Service Supervisor
The Briarwood
Billings, Montana | Info

> Director of Golf
Ansley Golf Club
Atlanta, Georgia | Info

> View a complete listing of Make Golf Your Career jobs
> View a complete listing of Florida State Golf Association jobs

Make Golf Your Career is a golf industry DE&I initiative launched by Make Golf Your Thing that allows job seekers to search, find and apply for opportunities throughout the industry in one place.

MAY
8-9: National Golf Day, Washington, D.C. | Info
13-15: IAGTO European Convention, Andalucia, Spain | Info

JUNE
17-19: IAGTO North America Golf Tourism Convention,
Boyne Falls, Michigan | Info

JULY
29-31: PGA Buying Summit, Frisco, Texas | Info
30-31: Multi-Course and Resort Operators Retreat, Monterey, California | Info

SEPTEMBER
30-October 2: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Hilton Head Island, S.C. | Info

> View complete calendar

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