News
Tiger Woods, at Barack Obama’s urging, to design Chicago course
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.
With the second major of 2026 now behind us, the PGA Tour arrives in Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and he’s already captured several WITBs and a look at some new colorways of just-spotted L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #3
WITB Albums
- Brennan Little (Gary Woodland’s caddy) – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adam Svensson – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Martin Laird – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Lee Hodges – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Aaron Wise – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Dylan Wu – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- AJ Ewart – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- New Graphite Design Tour AD shafts – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters (new colors) – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Aaron Rai upset the odds to win his first major championship on Sunday at Aronimink, firing a final round of 5-under par to see off his competitors and claim the winner’s check for $3,690,000.
Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley were the best of the chasing pack, with both men sharing runner-up spot which was good enough for each to receive a check for $1,804,000.
With a total prize purse of $20.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 PGA Championship.
Players who missed the PGA Championship cut each received $4,300 each.
1: Aaron Rai, $3,690,000
T2 : Jon Rahm, $1,804,000
T2 : Alex Smalley, $1,804,000
T4: Justin Thomas, $843,866
T4: Ludvig Aberg, $843,866
T4: Matti Schmid, $843,866
T7: Cameron Smith, $637,050
T7: Rory McIlroy, $637,050
T7: Xander Schauffele, $637,050
T10: Kurt Kitayama, $496,707
T10: Chris Gotterup, $496,707
T10: Justin Rose, $496,707
T10: Patrick Reed, $496,707
T14: Matt Fitzpatrick, $364,762
T14: Scottie Scheffler, $364,762
T14: Max Greyserman, $364,762
T14: Ben Griffin, $364,762
T18: Maverick McNealy, $229,128
T18: Jordan Spieth, $229,128
T18: Stephan Jaeger, $229,128
T18: Padraigh Harrington, $229,128
T18: David Puig, $229,128
T18: Harris English, $229,128
T18: Min Woo Lee, $229,128
T18: Joaquin Niemann, $229,128
T26: Nick Taylor, $125,523
T26: Alex Noren, $125,523
T26: Cameron Young, $125,523
T26: Andrew Novak, $125,523
T-26: Daniel Hiller, $125,523
T26: Tom Hoge, $125,523
T26: Sam Burns, $125,523
T26: Hideki Matsuyama, $125,523
T26: Bud Cauley, $125,523
T35: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $78,805
T35: Patrick Cantlay, $78,805
T35: Ryo Hisatsune, $78,805
T35: Daniel Berger, $78,805
T35: Ryan Fox, $78,805
T35: Haotong Li, $78,805
T35: Aldrich Potgieter, $78,805
T35: Si Woo Kim, $78,805
T35: Martin Kaymer, $78,805
T44: Chris Kirk, $53,743
T44: Matt Wallace, $53,743
T44: Shane Lowry, $53,743
T44: Jhonattan Vegas, $53,743
T44: Denny McCarthy, $53,743
T44: Chandler Blachet, $53,743
T44: Taylor Pendrith, $53,743
T44: Dustin Johnson, $53,743
T44: Nicolai Hojgaard, $53,743
T44: Michael Kim, $53,743
T44: Kristoffer Reitan, $53,743
T55: Collin Morikawa, $34,186
T55: Corey Conners, $34,186
T55: Andrew Putnam, $34,186
T55: Brooks Koepka, $34,186
T55: Mikael Lindberg, $34,186
T60: Sami Valimaki, $29,218
T60: Sahith Theegala, $29,218
T60: Rico Hoey, $29,218
T60: Rickie Fowler, $29,218
T60: Brian Harman, $29,218
T65: Casey Jarvis, $26,900
T65: Jason Day, $26,900
T65: Rasmus Hojgaard, $26,900
T65: Keith Mitchell, $26,900
T65: Sam Stevens, $26,900
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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Desmond
Jan 9, 2017 at 2:01 pm
If it works for the community and advances the game, why not?
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.
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?
Christosterone
Dec 21, 2016 at 11:16 am
What’s a race card and where can I get one?
-Christosterone
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.
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.
Jeff
Dec 20, 2016 at 10:16 pm
I live in downtown Chicago. MORE GOLF!! This is awesome!###@!@!
Jeff
Dec 20, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Wtf happened to Golfwrx doesn’t allow political comments outside the forums.
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??!!
Adam
Dec 19, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Golfwrx needs to clean up or delete this comment section today.
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.
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!
Bert
Dec 18, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Great replay – keep talking!
Bert
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Great Replay Barry
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.
Jubba Bones
Dec 18, 2016 at 3:45 pm
*Polloi
James
Dec 18, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Maybe this will make the south side a desirable destination!
ooffa
Dec 18, 2016 at 6:50 am
Tiger signature design element. Easy access to parking lot for quick WD’s
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.
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?
Jubba Bones
Dec 18, 2016 at 3:44 pm
You actually agreed with him in your first sentence you muppet!!
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.
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.
Tal
Dec 18, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Usually some pretty good courses though!
Buck
Dec 19, 2016 at 8:36 am
Yeah, the professionals just love the Oaks course at TPC San Antonio.
Jubba Bones
Dec 19, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Yeah. He might be a one trick pony but it is a pretty good trick.
RollTheRock
Dec 20, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Well said
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.
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.