Thursday Aug 27, 2026
FIRST THOUGHT

FM CHAMPIONSHIP TALKING POINTS

➡️ Nelly Korda enters the FM Championship needing a third-place finish or better to surpass Annika Sorenstam as the LPGA Tour's all-time career money leader, a record Sorenstam has held for more than 25 years. Korda recently passed Lydia Ko for third all-time in career weeks at world No. 1 (126 weeks) and remains two points away from the 20 points required for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
➡️ World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and world No. 3 Haeran Ryu head into TPC Boston among the tournament's top contenders. Thitikul makes her first start since winning The Standard Portland Classic, her third victory of 2026. Ryu, the inaugural 2024 FM Championship winner, has recorded two major championship victories this season and leads the tour in greens in regulation at 79.14%.
➡️ Kiara Romero is competing in the FM Championship after placing tied for 23rd at the CPKC Women’s Open in her professional debut. Romero accepted LPGA Tour membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway after winning her second Mark H. McCormack Medal. The third edition of the event features 2024 champion Haeran Ryu, though 2025 winner Miranda Wang withdrew prior to the start of the tournament.
➡️ Nelly Korda leads the LPGA Tour in official money ($6,204,807), scoring average (69.14) and Strokes Gained: Total (3.44) entering this week's action. Haeran Ryu holds the tour's top mark in greens in regulation (79.14%), while Miyu Yamashita leads in scrambling percentage (68.86%) and Riley Smyth paces the field in average driving distance at 290.62 yards.

POLL OF THE WEEK

ON THE MOVE
Should the PGA Tour's Tour Championship be played at a different venue each year?
>> Vote

Last week: Does the PGA Tour need a postseason playoff? | Results

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

A CHANGE OF SCENERY
What venues would you like to see host the Tour Championship?
>> Respond

Last week: What criteria would you use to determine the PGA Tour's Player of the Year? | Read

GOLF INDUSTRY NEWS
Inaugural Futu Ladies World Championship will feature a record $3.4 million LPGA purse in Asia
Read More
Four turnkey residences debut in Crosswater Village, highlighting company’s continued investment in Lecanto, Florida, community
Read More
Exclusive agreement taps noted course architect Tom Fazio to design the courses, combining simulator play with physical green complexes
Read More

   

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

➡️ Golf Galaxy, Dick’s pull Good Good merchandise amid ad controversy
Ellyn Briggs | Front Office Sports | Read

➡️ Truist Championship joins new PGA Tour Championship Series in 2028
Adan Schupak | Golfweek | Read

➡️ LPGA legend issues emotional goodbye to competitive golf
Sean Zak | Golf.com | Read

➡️ LIV Golf lays off majority of employees amid questions about future
Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read

TFC GOLF JOB BOARD

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

▪️Golf Coach
Five Iron Golf
Detroit, Michigan | Info

▪️Director of Golf
Troon / Fairmont Grand Del Mar
San Diego, California | Info

▪️Studio Golf Fitting Specialist / Instructor
PGA TOUR Superstore
Cherry Hill, New Jersey | Info

▪️ The First Call Job Board
▪️ Buffalo Groupe Job Openings

TFC PODCAST / VIDEO NETWORK

RECENT DROPS

🎧 | ▶️ CONTENT CLUBHOUSE
Hally Leadbetter | Andrew Wantuck: (Un)Serious business
Guests: Hally Leadbetter and Andrew Wantuck, co-founders of Better Co. and consultants on Netflix's "The Hawk."
Listen | Watch | Archives

ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

GOLF IN MOTION MONTHLY

Buffalo Research's new Golf in Motion Monthly tracks year-over-year visitation trends across traditional golf facilities, off-course retail, golf entertainment venues and sporting goods retailers using anonymized movement data from approximately 30 million mobile devices.

Each monthly report is designed to provide the golf industry with a consistent, data-driven benchmark to help operators, brands, investors and industry leaders identify trends, and make more informed business decisions.

The report is free. Upon signing up, you will receive the updated monthly reports straight to your inbox.
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CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

29-30: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Hilton Head, South Carolina | Info

OCTOBER

1: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Hilton Head, South Carolina | Info

NOVEMBER

8-11: International Association of Golf Administrators Annual Conference | Info

9-11: Golf Business Network Leadership Summit, Pinehurst, North Carolina | Info

COMPLETE CALENDAR >

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