News

Tiger Woods, at Barack Obama’s urging, to design Chicago course

Published

9 years ago

Dec 17, 2016

Per a report in the Chicago Tribune, Tiger Woods and his TGR Design have been charged with developing a golf course on Chicago’s South Side. The land, which is currently home to Jackson Park and South Shore Golf courses, is expected to be turned into a PGA Tour-quality venue.

“This project can create incredible possibilities for the community on the South Side,” Tiger Woods said in a statement. “We want to design a course that everyone will enjoy.”

And another interesting element of TGR Design’s first foray into the Midwest: President Barack Obama, with his Chicago ties, reportedly made a personal call to Woods prodding him to be a part of the project.

Development is slated to get under way this year and the estimated date of course completion is 2020. Few details on the planned course are available at present, but the expected 7,300-plus yard track could be accompanied by a short par-three course, continuing the “recreational addition” trend in Woods’ recent designs (The Playgrounds at Bluejack National and The Oasis at El Diamante).

According to the Chicago Tribune report, Woods took a tour of the property with Mark Rolfing, who is also involved with the project, in August.

“The course will have tremendous shot values, which is obviously very important to Tiger,” Rolfing said. “This will be his first design that gets tested in competition; what his colleagues and peers think will be important to him.”

In conjunction with the project, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to announce the formation of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance Sunday. The CPGA will be dedicated to improving Chicago Park District courses and golf facilities in addition to raising money for the Jackson Park effort.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

29 Comments

Desmond

Jan 9, 2017 at 2:01 pm

If it works for the community and advances the game, why not?

Reply Report comment
All done. Yuck.

Dec 23, 2016 at 4:29 pm

I hoped these comments would be moved to the forums just like the comments on the trump story, but no, GolfWRX appears to enjoy readers making racist comments. See you boys again, never. I got kids. Like I want to explain to them why some fool calls the president of the United States count Chocula. Shameful. It’s been a week. You guys moved to protect Trumps ego within hours. I guess you know your audience, which no longer includes me.

Reply Report comment
Sableen Maleek

Dec 21, 2016 at 11:05 pm

What is your criteria for deleting readers comments? Facts can be hurtful, I can appreciate that. Let’s put up more cover for Obama, Golfwrx, just as the media does on a daily basis. However, it didnt fool the American people, did it?

Reply Report comment
Christosterone

Dec 21, 2016 at 11:16 am

What’s a race card and where can I get one?

-Christosterone

Reply Report comment
Just sayin

Dec 21, 2016 at 12:41 am

The veiled racism on this comment section… the city has crime, they shouldn’t get golf courses? Bubba, they call it civil rights, we’re all equal up here.

Reply Report comment
- TDBACH
  
  Dec 21, 2016 at 10:07 am
  
  No one crys “race card!” faster and louder than an out-and-out racist. Way to hold up the tradition, Bubba.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeff

Dec 20, 2016 at 10:16 pm

I live in downtown Chicago. MORE GOLF!! This is awesome!###@!@!

Reply Report comment
Jeff

Dec 20, 2016 at 9:39 pm

Wtf happened to Golfwrx doesn’t allow political comments outside the forums.

Reply Report comment
Adam

Dec 20, 2016 at 7:46 pm

Even money says that The Count Chocula of chicago gets the taxpayers to pay for it and he gets tiger double his normal fee??!!

Reply Report comment
Adam

Dec 19, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Golfwrx needs to clean up or delete this comment section today.

Reply Report comment
Barry

Dec 19, 2016 at 1:12 am

President Obama should sign an executive order on his way out the door granting himself a lifetime exemption to The Masters to go along with his Nobel Peace Prize.

Reply Report comment
tom

Dec 18, 2016 at 10:11 pm

Obama hasn’t done much, if anything, to curb the murder epidemic in Chicago, but a golf course will fix things. Way to go, Barry!

Reply Report comment
Bert

Dec 18, 2016 at 5:57 pm

Great replay – keep talking!

Reply Report comment
- Bert
  
  Dec 18, 2016 at 6:00 pm
  
  Great Replay Barry
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Bert
    
    Dec 18, 2016 at 6:17 pm
    
    Dang! Let me see if I can get my Reply correct. This is my third try; not that it matters. I’d like to see Tiger design and build a course in Chicago; especially if will improve the community and provide access for all to a great game.
    
    Reply Report comment
Jubba Bones

Dec 18, 2016 at 3:45 pm

*Polloi

Reply Report comment
James

Dec 18, 2016 at 1:55 pm

Maybe this will make the south side a desirable destination!

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Dec 18, 2016 at 6:50 am

Tiger signature design element. Easy access to parking lot for quick WD’s

Reply Report comment
golfho

Dec 17, 2016 at 8:02 pm

What an upstanding group! Lets add Chicago southside residents Jeff Fort and Larry Hoover to this honorable group. Nice little scenic drive when you exit the Ryan Expressway or Lakeshore Drive…What a typical Chicago operation.

Reply Report comment
Tal

Dec 17, 2016 at 6:02 pm

You’re just jealous. If Jack, Norman, Faldo, Monty, Palmer, Earnie and tons of other golfers can design/help to design a course, why can’t Tiger?

Reply Report comment
- Jubba Bones
  
  Dec 18, 2016 at 3:44 pm
  
  You actually agreed with him in your first sentence you muppet!!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Tal
  
  Dec 18, 2016 at 5:48 pm
  
  You mean all of the logistical stuff that no one other than a specialist would be qualified enough to do? Duh! Do you really think everyone believes that a pro golfer’s involvement in course design stretches as far as maintenance issues? They probably get in there, they tell someone what they want the course to look, feel and play like, they add 25 bunkers per hole if their name is Greg Norman and they oversee/approve designs. The rest is left to the experts. Then the pro gets their name on the course, people want to play on it and Beau Welling walks away with a ton of money and, as agreed upfront, none of the credit. I don’t think he needs you to defend his honour and you’re not shattering any great illusion here.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jubba Bones
    
    Dec 18, 2016 at 6:46 pm
    
    Norman: I think we need more bunkers.
    
    Real course designer: But Greg, we already added in 100 from when you last visited.
    
    Norman: Just make it happen. You remember what happened to the last chatty course designer don’t you?
    
    Real course designer: Yes, sir.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Tal
      
      Dec 18, 2016 at 9:51 pm
      
      Usually some pretty good courses though!
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Buck
        
        Dec 19, 2016 at 8:36 am
        
        Yeah, the professionals just love the Oaks course at TPC San Antonio.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Jubba Bones
        
        Dec 19, 2016 at 6:41 pm
        
        Yeah. He might be a one trick pony but it is a pretty good trick.
        
        Reply Report comment
  - RollTheRock
    
    Dec 20, 2016 at 1:46 pm
    
    Well said
    
    Reply Report comment
Jeb Springfield

Dec 17, 2016 at 5:57 pm

The city of Chicago, Obama, and Rahm involved…can only imagine how over budget, and late this project will be.

Reply Report comment
dWakawaka

Dec 17, 2016 at 11:49 am

Adding a short par-3 track – and I would hope a good practice area – makes the course as a whole sound like a more inviting and fun place for kids and people new to the game to develop some skills. If I were designing a course, I would put a lot of thought into those areas where people could learn the game and practice effectively, esp. the short game, and maybe even have fun at the same time.

Reply Report comment

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Pro Shop

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News

2026 PGA Championship betting odds

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Scottie Scheffler leads the betting ahead of the second major championship of the year, with the World Number One a +345 favorite to get his hands on a second PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy who won the Masters back in April is a +800 shot to complete half of the calendar slam at Aronimink Golf Club this week, while Jordan Spieth can be backed at +5900 to become a career grand slam winner.

Here is the full betting board for the 2026 PGA Championship courtesy of DraftKings.

Scottie Scheffler +345 – (Check 0ut his WITB here)

Rory McIlroy +800 – (Check out his WITB here)

Jon Rahm +1300
Cameron Young +1500
Bryson DeChambeau +1700
Xander Schauffele +1850
Matt Fitzpatrick +1950
Ludvig Aberg +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +2600
Collin Morikawa +3500
Brooks Koepka +3900
Justin Rose +4300
Russell Henley +4600
Si Woo Kim +4700
Justin Thomas +4800
Robert MacIntyre +5300
Patrick Cantlay +5300
Viktor Hovland +5400
Tyrrell Hatton +5500
Jordan Spieth +5900
Sam Burns +6000
Hideki Matsuyama +6200
Adam Scott +6400
Rickie Fowler +7000
Chris Gotterup +7400
Patrick Reed +7400
Min Woo Lee +7800
Ben Griffin +8000
Sepp Straka +8400
Shane Lowry +9000
Akshay Bhatia +9200
Maverick McNealy +9200
Joaquin Niemann +9200
Jake Knapp +9200
Jason Day +9600
Kurt Kitayama +10000
J.J. Spaun +10000
Harris English +10500
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Gary Woodland +11000
David Puig +11000
Michael Thorbjornsen +12000
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Pierceson Coody +23000
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Jordan Smith +24000
Angel Ayora +24000
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Brian Harman +27000
Taylor Pendrith +27000
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J.T. Poston +27000
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Ryo Hisatsune +29000
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Max Homa +29000
Denny McCarthy +29000
Tom McKibbin +30000
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Matt Wallace +32500
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Michael Brennan +34000
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Lucas Glover +62500
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Elvis Smylie +110000
Stewart Cink +130000
Kota Kaneko +130000
David Lipsky +150000
Chandler Blanchet +150000
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Joe Highsmith +180000
Adam Schenk +200000
Travis Smyth +200000
Davis Riley +225000
Martin Kaymer +400000
Brian Campbell +400000
Padraig Harrington +450000
Kazuki Higa +450000
Jordan Gumberg +450000
Ryan Vermeer +500000
Austin Hurt +500000
Tyler Collet +500000
Timothy Wiseman +500000
Shaun Micheel +500000
Y.E. Yang +500000
Michael Block+500000
Mark Geddes+500000
Luke Donald+500000
Bryce Fisher+500000
Jimmy Walker +500000
Jason Dufner +500000
Jesse Droemer +500000
Jared Jones +500000
Garrett Sapp +500000
Francisco Bide +500000
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Paul McClure+500000
Derek Berg +500000
Chris Gabriele +500000
Braden Shattuck +500000
Ben Polland +500000
Ben Kern +50000

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.