Late-August golf delivered a first LPGA title for Miranda Wang and a playoff crown for Legion XIII at LIV’s Team Championship, alongside a raft of notable sponsorship and broadcast moves. Player transfers, injuries, and the OWGR debate continued to shape the competitive landscape, while eyes turn to Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Professional Tours
- LPGA Tour — FM Championship (TPC Boston): China’s 20-year-old Miranda Wang broke through for her maiden LPGA win at −11, one clear of world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul. An expected duel with Nelly Korda never materialized as Korda struggled early.
- LIV Golf — Team Championship (Plymouth, Michigan): Staged at The Cardinal at St. John’s (not a Trump venue). Legion XIII, led by Jon Rahm, defeated the Crushers GC in a playoff. The site drew scrutiny for being a charitable “Humanitarian Hotel,” though organizers said proceeds support local causes. LIV resubmitted its OWGR application in July; review is ongoing. A new multi-year U.S. TV deal with FOX/FS1 began in February, carrying all 14 events live.
- DP World Tour — Omega European Masters: Thriston Lawrence captured a second title at Crans-sur-Sierre.
- PGA Tour: Off-week post-Tour Championship. The Tour opened a 165,000-sq-ft PGA Tour Studios in Ponte Vedra Beach to power a customizable global World Feed from 2025. Debate continued over a ninth Signature Event (2026 Miami at Trump National Doral) and the fairness of sponsor exemptions.
- Other Circuits: PGA Tour Americas, Asian, Japan, Sunshine, and Australasian Tours held smaller qualifiers. LET was idle; Mimi Rhodes remains atop the Order of Merit.
Player Careers
- Transfers: Yubin Jang to Iron Heads GC; Frederik Kjettrup to Cleeks GC; Ben Campbell to RangeGoats GC.
- Post-LIV milestone: James Piot received a sponsor’s invite to the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the first ex-LIV player to tee it up in a non-major PGA Tour event.
- Injuries/withdrawals: Tiger Woods (torn left Achilles in March) missed the Masters after surgery. Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim, and Viktor Hovland were among recent WD headlines.
- Discipline: Hudson Swafford says he faces a five-year PGA Tour suspension (eligible 2027).
- OWGR impact: Despite five 2025 LIV wins, Joaquin Niemann sits 103rd without LIV points and has called for reform.
Sponsorships & Media
- Irish PGA Championship: Brown & Brown (Ireland) named 2025 title sponsor (Aug 4–7, Monkstown GC).
- Collin Morikawa: Equipment deal with Stanley 1913 (PGA Tour’s official thermos partner).
- LPGA Founders Cup: Fortinet extends title; U.S. Virgin Islands as presenting sponsor.
- USGA Rights: NBCUniversal extended through 2032 with expanded coverage; Sky Sports (UK) through 2030.
Ryder Cup — What’s Next?
The next Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black, New York, September 26–28, 2025.
