Rory McIlroy, despite having finished T7 and second in his last two majors, is one a nice run. He has finished in the top-10 in each of his last four starts, his longest such streak since he had seven straight in his last seven starts before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19. During that span, McIlroy won the FedEx Cup and reached the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking.

IN THIS ISSUE

> 'The Competitive Edge' podcast: Luke Davis, founder of Lie + Loft | Listen
> PGA Professional Spotlight: Paul Milholland | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What were your takeaways from the U.S. Open, won by Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club?

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 city and state of residence. Read responses to last week's question.

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Lie + Loft combining golf, art and the outdoors
Founder Luke Davis joins host Kelly Okun to talk about where he gets his inspiration and accomplishments along his golf journey
[Listen | More 'The Competitive Edge' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Breaking down the PGA Tour-PIF merger
SI.com's Bob Harig joins host Ann Liguori to examine the various questions that arose from the surprising announcement
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Michelle Wie West on role of host for LPGA's Mizuho Americas Open
Former U.S. Women's Open champion joins host Ann Liguori to talk about serving as host for the new Mizuho Americas Open, life after her playing career and the need for more progress on Tour
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

PAUL MILHOLLAND
General Manager / Director of Golf, Currie Golf Courses

The First Call: What advice do you have for someone considering a career in golf?
Paul Milholland: Love the game, listen to and be willing to communicate and talk with guests. Understand the golf business. Understand customer service. Learn agronomy. Play and teach the game. I guess I could go on and on ...

TFC: What is one challenge you currently see in the industry? Thoughts on how to address it?
PM: Staffing, inflation. Just try to find people who fit the image and passion that can help you and your club / course achieve the goals. Look for ways to minimize without customers noticing.

READ MORE >

> PGA Professional Spotlight archive

USGA: Selects Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Californina, to host the 131st U.S. Open, which will take place June 12-15, 2031. The 2031 U.S. Open will be the fifth USGA championship held at the club. Riviera previously hosted the 1948 U.S. Open won by Ben Hogan, the 1998 U.S. Senior Open won by Hale Irwin and the 2017 U.S. Amateur won by Doc Redman. The course will also welcome its first U.S. Women’s Open in 2026.

OKX: The crypto exchange and Web3 technology company becomes the first global sponsor of Majesticks Golf Club, one of the 12 teams competing in the LIV Golf League. Team members Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter, temporary injury replacement for Horsfield, will sport the OKX logo on their team kits. Through the partnership, the team and OKX will collaborate to offer innovative Web3 engagement opportunities and fan experiences to a global audience at the league's tournaments.

Aspen Glen Club: Completes renovations to the fitness center and aquatics facilities at its membership golf, fitness and lifestyle club in Carbondale, Colorado. The renovations are part of a three-phase capital improvement plan designed to elevate clubhouse amenities and the golf course experience as part of the overall portfolio of Invited Clubs. The fitness center has been fully outfitted with Technogym equipment and now includes a dedicated group exercise studio for classes, a private personal training studio and an expanded, open workout space. 

NBC Sports: Network's coverage of the U.S. Open was the most-watched edition of the event since 2019, delivering viewership and consumption milestones across NBCU broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Sunday’s final round on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital averaged 8.8 million viewers in primetime and peaked at 10.2 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET. Full final-round coverage on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital (1-10:09 p.m. ET) delivered an average of 6.2 million viewers, and ranked as the most-watched U.S. Open final round since 2019 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Led by Peacock, a record average minute audience (AMA) of 304,000 viewers streamed Sunday’s final round — marking the third time in four days of Peacock coverage that NBC Sports set a record for most-streamed golf round. Across 47 hours of live championship coverage on NBC, Peacock and USA Network, the 2023 U.S. Open averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 3.4 million viewers — the best mark since 2019, and up 27% from last year (2.7 million) and a 9% increase from the last west coast U.S. Open (3.2 million at Torrey Pines in 2021). 

> Donor bought pricey golf simulator for Ron DeSantis, raising ethics questions
[Aram Roston / Joseph Tanfani | Reuters | Read]

> National Golf Foundation promotes Greg Nathan to President / COO
[SGB Media | Read]

> PGA Tour, LIV Golf and Public Investment Fund leaders invited to U.S. Senate hearing in July
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

> Nelly Korda set to return from month-long injury-related break: 'I wouldn't be playing if I didn't feel 100 percent'
[Christopher Powers | Golf Digest | Read]

> What makes playing majors at Baltusrol and Pebble Beach so meaningful according to an LPGA major winner
[Ryan Herrington | Golf Digest | Read]

PGA Tour: Travelers Championship
Site: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Site: Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower), Springfield, New Jersey.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 5-7 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Peacock), 2-6 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: BMW International Open
Site: Golfclub Muchen Eichenried, Munich, Germany.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 6:30-10 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard |

PGA Tour Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open
Site: En-Joie Golf Club, New York.
Television [ET]: Friday, 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

> Golf Course Maintenance / Groundskeeper
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Orlando, Florida | Info

> Assistant Coach, Women's Golf (Temporary)
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey | Info

> Clubhouse Manager
Androscoggin Valley Country Club
Gorham, New Hampshire | Info

> View a complete listing of 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.

JULY
25-27: GCBAA Summer Meeting, Lake Geneva, Wisc. | Info

AUGUST
19-22: African American Golf Expo and Forum, Louisville, Ky. | Info

> View complete calendar

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.