Golf season begins not with a roar, but rather, a whisper. Led by the US PGA Tour, the world’s barnstorming circuits ramp up their presence each January, until five-plus events take place each weekend. In 2025, professional golf on a virtual stage was added to the fixture, offering yet another viewing alternative to the dedicated fan. This past week, events took place in Hawaii, the Middle East, and Florida, while a fourth began play on Sunday. Week two of the 2025 season offers a brief but enticing Tour Rundown, with much more to anticipate in the coming weeks.

TGL @ Day One: The Bay takes down New York Golf Club

No one knew what to expect from the first-ever, Tomorrow Golf League (TGL for short) golf match. We didn’t expect Rickie Fowler in glasses (a good look) and we didn’t expect the NYGC to go down five holes after the first four holes. Say what? Not a typo. The Bay played great team golf and benefitted from an ill-fated toss of The Hammer (a double-or-nothing proposition). Needing to mount a comeback, NYGC managed to three-jack the fifth green and go down six points to nil. At the final green of triples (the first format of the evening) NYGC salvaged some pride with a win, to reduce the deficit to five.

In addition to the team’s fine play, The Bay won the sartorial struggle with its mint tops. Most golfers already have the navy blue of the NYGC, but mint green is not a standard look in the golfer’s wardrobe. Doubtless the PGA Tour Superstore website was humming with TBGC swag purchases.

The technology of the event was easily the brightest star. The diverse playing surfaces impacted play as they were intended to do. The massive simulator screen gave the live and streaming audiences profound access to the virtual course and the shots. The touch screen that enabled golfers to select alignment and distance was a chef’s kiss. Critical to the experience was the alien nature of the course layout. None of the holes exists in nature as we know it, so there was no potential for comparison of the virtual with the real.

The match itself was over early, with TBGC past dormie. There was much to play for, despite the outcome. The tie-break for the playoffs is total holes won over the course of the season, and The Bay kept the gas pedal pushed hard. The final score was 9-2, in favor ot The Bay.

Strategizing over the @BestBuy Digital Caddie. pic.twitter.com/2b42slTDht

— TGL (@TGL) January 8, 2025

PGA Tour @ SONY Open in Hawaii: Tale of two Nicks decides second stop in Hawaii

Nick Taylor does not shy away from decisive, dramatic moments. Canadian fans will forever remember his two-province putt for eagle at the 2023 Canadian Open, to defeat Tommy Fleetwood in extra time and end the decades-long dearth of homegrown winners. This week in Hawaii, Taylor once again summoned greatness to gain access to a playoff at the SONY Open in Hawaii. To the best of our knowledge, Adam Hadwin exhibited great caution in staying away from the final green, in order to preserve his health.

Taylor and Nico Echavarria were paired in the third-from-last threesome, and signed for matching 65s, tied for the day’s low number. After Echavarria played a distant bunker shot from greenside front left to within two feet, Taylor took advantage of grandstand relief and chipped in for eagle. Behind them, both JJ Spaun and Stephen Jaeger were unable to make up ground at the last, and match the two Nicks at 16-under par. Echavarria and Taylor returned to the 18th tee to decide matters in extra holes. The first go-round decided nothing, as each made birdie four. The second trip along Waialae’s final fairway was a bit more adventurous. Taylor found fairway bunker off the tee, then left himself in a challenging spot in fairway right, with a valley of sin looming between him and the hole. His pitch was crisp, his ball setled within four feet of the hole, and he made another birdie to finally relegate his opponent to runner-up status.

A chip-in eagle to tie the lead!@NTaylorGolf59 comes up clutch at the last @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/tNeTa9xQKM

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2025

DP World Tour: GB&I side claims victory in Team Cup

It’s rare that a team competition takes place early in any season. Players may not be at their best, and some might still be on vacation. It’s a gamble, for certain, but one worth taking. The team cup in Abu-Dhabi featured four sessions this weekend. Play began Friday with a round of four-ball (also known as team better ball) and was followed by two Saturday segments of foursomes (aka alternate shot) format. Sunday presented all twenty players in ten singles matches, to decide the winning side.

These matches featured a team of Great Britain & Ireland golfers, pitted against a squad from continental Europe. From the outset, the Islanders took command of the lead and never seemed remotely interested in letting Europe back in. Friday saw a 3.5-1.5 advantage, thanks to initial wins from top point-getters Laurie Canter and Tommy Fleetwood. Each would amass four points on the week, totalling eight for the European side. Each partnered well with other golfers, and team Europe simply had no answer.

Europe’s captain, Francesco Molinari, had a rough weekend on course and in the strategy room. Molinari earned one-half point in four matches, and exhibited some interesting pairing decisions. He opted to pair experience with inexperience, rather than matching two strong to ensure a true run at a match point. Rather than pair brothers Niklas and Rasmus Hojgaard, the siblings were split during all four, partner matches, and none won a point. The bright side for Europe was the French alliance of Roman Langasque and Matthieu Pavon. The duo won all three of its matches, accounting for the only outright wins for the side in partner matches.

The final tally was a decisive 17-8 victory for GB&I. At the very least, Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has a sense of who might feature on his side at Bethpage Black in the fall. Certainly, Langasque and Pavon deserve a look as captain’s picks, if they don’t make the team outright.

The approach and putt from @TommyFleetwood1‘s incredible eagle! ?#TeamCup pic.twitter.com/efSDVzt3kF

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 12, 2025

Korn Ferry Tour Teaser: How does 60 for openers sound?

I love the Bahamma breeze that opens each Korn Ferry tour season. Two events that run from Sunday to Wednesday, are just the sort of disruption that holds my attention. Just as other events are finishing up, the Bahammas events start their engines. Is it a sustainable way for professional golf? Not when you want fans to turn out on days off from work, on Saturday and Sunday. For early and late-season events, however, it’s a nice twist.

Speaking of twists, consider the Sunday that John VanDerLaan had. The former, Florida Southern student-athlete turned for home in minus-two, thanks to three birdies against one bogey. After par at the tenth, he followed with eagle at eleven, then six consecutive birdies. His par at the last gave him 28 on the inward half, for a round of 60 and a two-shot lead over Rick Lamb and Pierceson Coody

54 holes remain, so stay tuned!