BUBBA WATSON

Sixteen golfers from the LIV Golf circuit, including two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, will be at Augusta National in April for the first major tournament of the year.

As the Saudi-backed LIV continues to attract golfers from the PGA's ranks, products with PGA licenses face some uncertainty.

The Masters Club is the formal name of the annual dinner Tuesday night at Augusta National during the Masters in April, and the guest list is restricted to Masters champions and Chairman Fred Ridley. They will be in the room with Masters champions who have not looked upon kindly at the rebel league run by Greg Norman. “They've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods said in July. He chose not to go, just as he chose not to attend a champions dinner at the British Open at the suggestion of the R&A. “It's probably only funny to me, but I think the Masters Champions Dinner is going to be a little tense compared to how it's been in the past,” Rahm said.

The Masters Club is the formal name of the annual dinner Tuesday night at Augusta National during the Masters in April, and the guest list is restricted to Masters champions and Chairman Fred Ridley. Scottie Scheffler is in charge of the menu as the reigning champion, and one moment last year illustrates how this might be a dinner unlike any other. Scheffler and his wife took a short vacation to Tennessee, walked into a restaurant and were surprised to see Bubba Watson and his wife sitting at one of the tables.

The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year.

Fifty LIV Golf players sent a letter to the chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking to request to be included in its rankings, dating to when the circuit first applied July 6.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — LIV Golf is turning up the heat on the Official World Golf Ranking, asking in a letter to Chairman Peter Dawson that its results be included retroactively in the world ranking. LIV Golf, which has 48-man fields that play 54 holes with a shotgun start each day, applied to be included in the world ranking on July 6. He has finished in the top 10 at all five LIV Golf events (including a win and a runner-up finish in the last two). LIV Golf has 13 of the top 50 players in the world ranking, led by Cameron Smith at No. LIV Golf would be quick to seize on the fact that world ranking points are offered to a 20-man field.

LIV Golf is turning up the heat on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Rory Sabbatini thought he had lost his full PGA Tour card for next season.

Luke Donald is Europe's new captain for the Ryder Cup in Italy next year.

LIV Golf Henrik Stenson watches play on the 18th hole during the first round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., Friday, July 29, 2022. He now is seen as the chief recruiter for Greg Norman and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series. Stenson was among four new players added to the 48-man field for the third LIV Golf event. "It’s the best I’ve played all year, and I’ll take a lot of credit from that.“Reed also had a 64 in his second LIV Golf event. Charles Howell III (68) and Jason Kokrak (69) also made LIV Golf debuts, while the fourth addition, Paul Casey, had a 73.

Henrik Stenson turned his focus to golf and it was good.

PGA Championship - Final Round TULSA, OKLAHOMA - MAY 22: Bubba Watson of The United States plays his second shot on the second hole during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 22, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)Bubba Watson is reportedly set to join the LIV Golf Invitational Series later this fall. An official announcement is expected this weekend during the LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. Watson has 12 wins on the PGA Tour, including twice at the Masters in 2012 and 2014, and reached as high as No. Watson is the latest to make the jump from the Tour to LIV Golf in recent weeks.

Shaun Norris is headed home to South Africa to see his young children and decide on his future.

Justin Thomas has won his second PGA Championship.

Everyone went into a tailspin on a tough day of wind and cold at the PGA Championship.

First-round leader Rory McIlroy, whose stellar start turned into a stunning slide down the leaderboard Saturday, offset four birdies with three bogeys, a double and a triple during his wild ride around Southern Hills. Jack Burke Jr. rallied from eight down to Ken Venturi in the final round of the 1956 Masters to win. "Everybody’s got to go out and earn it.”The long, vexing Southern Hills is certainly capable of producing some crazy scores in both directions. He was still in contention after a second-round 71, but things began to unravel on the sixth hole Saturday. His approach wound up left of the green, his pitch shot came up short again, another chip finally got him onto the putting surface and a three-putt left him with a triple bogey.

First-round leader Rory McIlroy's stellar start turned into a stunning slide down the leaderboard.

___3:20 p.m.Chile's Mito Pereira is opening a lead with a big start in the third round of the PGA Championship. ___3 p.m.Stewart Cink must be taking some inspiration from 50-year-old Phil Mickelson's triumph at last year's PGA Championship. Zalatoris, who has never won on the PGA Tour, shot rounds of 66-65 to take a one-shot lead over Chile's Mito Pereira into Saturday. ___12:45 p.m.Kramer Hickock made perhaps the most incredible bogey of the PGA Championship during his third round Saturday. ___8 a.m.Out with the wind, in with the rain at the PGA Championship on Saturday.

___3:20 p.m.Chile's Mito Pereira is opening a lead with a big start in the third round of the PGA Championship. ___3 p.m.Stewart Cink must be taking some inspiration from 50-year-old Phil Mickelson's triumph at last year's PGA Championship. ___12:45 p.m.Kramer Hickock made perhaps the most incredible bogey of the PGA Championship during his third round Saturday. ___9:30 a.m.Tiger Woods has picked up where he left off at the PGA Championship, but only briefly. ___8 a.m.Out with the wind, in with the rain at the PGA Championship on Saturday.

PGA Championship Golf Will Zalatoris waves after making a putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Matt York) (Matt York)TULSA, Okla. — (AP) — The wind finally relented Friday in the PGA Championship. No doubt, Zalatoris and his entire side of the draw was helped when wind that gusted over 30 mph Friday morning laid down over the final two hours. Bubba Watson had a shot at the first 62 in PGA Championship history. We played 11 on without any wind," Zalatoris said. Watson had never scored better than 68 in his previous 49 rounds in the PGA Championship.

In the seven previous majors at Southern Hills, the leader after the second round went on to win. ___5 p.m.Tiger Woods has hit the homestretch at Southern Hills with the weekend on the line at the PGA Championship. He was 13 shots behind Will Zalatoris, who is bogey-free for the second round and at 8-under par. There were two Chilean flags on the first page of the leaderboard at the PGA Championship on Friday. Pereira and Niemann are among a record six Latin American players in the PGA Championship.

Bubba Watson matched the lowest round in PGA Championship history and climbed into contention during the second round at Southern Hills.

The “ManningCast” so popular on “Monday Night Football” is coming to major championship golf.

Masters champions get to go to the Masters Club dinner, and Scottie Scheffler has a permanent seat at that table now.

Scottie Scheffler can play in the Masters forever now.

Ted Scott was retiring last fall.

Scottie Scheffler has never been here before.

Masters Golf Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland chips to the second green during the second round at the Masters golf tournament on Friday, April 8, 2022, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum)AUGUSTA, Ga. — (AP) — Rory McIlroy opened his Masters with a pair of 73s that left him in the mix, if a bit frustrated over missed opportunities on a golf course he has grown to know well. Still, McIlroy wasn't about to be drawn into any talk about having a love-hate relationship with Augusta National. “So it’s like, eh, it’s just sort of go out and play and see what happens.”What happened Friday in the second round wasn't always pretty. McIlroy went bogey-double bogey to start the back side, then rebounded to play 2 under the rest of the way. ___SHOT FROM NOWHERETom Hoge may not win the Masters, but at least he's got a shot he'll long remember.

Rory McIlroy opened his Masters with a pair of 73s that left him in the mix, if a bit frustrated over missed opportunities on a golf course he has grown to know well.

Tiger Woods is wearing Nike apparel this week as always.

As if the Dell Technologies Match Play isn't fickle enough.

Match Play Golf Sergio Garcia points after his tee shot on the sixth hole in the second round of the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — The Latest on the Dell Technologies Match Play (all times local):___3 p.m.Paul Casey's lost week at the Dell Technologies Match Play is officially over. ___2:15 p.m.Lucas Herbert, Takumi Kanaya and Bubba Watson have staged rallies on the back nine to pick up wins in the Dell Technologies Match Play. Finau missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have earned a halve. ___9:45 a.m.Paul Casey's warmup lasted only a few minutes before he realized his back was not good enough to play in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

A chilly, windy day at The Players Championship yielded some frustrating shots and a surprise co-leader.

Tiger Woods still moves the needle in golf even when he barely plays.

Sahith Theegala crashed golf’s biggest party.

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia — (AP) — Overnight leader Harold Varner III eagled the par-5 last by sinking a long putt to overtake clubhouse leader Bubba Watson and win the Saudi International in dramatic fashion on Sunday. Varner watched his winning putt roll in before throwing down his club and pumping his fists. Watson then jogged over from the clubhouse to congratulate the 99th-ranked Varner on his first PGA Tour title to go with his one international victory, the Australian PGA Championship at the end of 2016. Adri Arnaus shot a 1 over 71 to finish three shots off the lead in third ahead of Steve Lewton and Cameron Smith another shot back in joint fourth. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The PGA Tour is set for beautiful weather at Pebble Beach, with one eye on Saudi Arabia.

NAPLES, Fla. — (AP) — Jason Day and Marc Leishman had 12 birdies, two eagles and finished one shot short of the record for the scramble format, posting a 16-under 56 that gave the Australian duo a one-shot lead Friday in the QBE Shootout. Day is making his first start in the unofficial event hosted by Greg Norman since he teamed with Cameron Tringale to win in 2014. They were one shot ahead of Corey Conners and Graeme McDowell and the defending champions, Harris English and Matt Kuchar. The record for a scramble format — players pick the team's best shot and each plays from there, including putts — is 55. The second round will be modified alternate shot — both players tee off and they alternate shots the rest of the way — with fourballs for the final round Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are finally getting their day in the sun.

Europe has retained the Solheim Cup.

Defending champion Europe rode a dominant performance in the alternate-shot format to surge to a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead at the Solheim Cup.

The American Solheim Cup team is using a “pod” system in hopes of bringing the Cup back to the United States.

Expect the unexpected will be the motto for the world’s best golfers this week as they get a crack at links golf for the first time in two years in the British Open at Royal St. George's.

Zach Johnson is the latest player out of the British Open.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Bubba Watson were forced to withdraw from the British Open on Sunday. Matsuyama tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on July 2 and has been self-isolating since. He is currently symptom-free but subsequent tests have continued to show positive results, British Open organizer the R&A said. Hours later, Watson had to pull out after being identified as a close contact of someone testing positive for COVID-19. A total of nine players have now withdrawn from the British Open for various reasons.

Cam Davis won the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title when Troy Merritt missed a 6-foot par putt on the fifth hole of a playoff.

Hickok had missed a 36-foot birdie putt and finished the playoff with eight consecutive pars. English sank a 28-footer on the 72nd hole to emerge from a three-way tie and finish at 13 under. Hickok lipped out on two long birdie putts that would have won it; on the sixth playoff hole, English missed a seven-foot birdie putt to win. English finished the fourth round birdie-bogey-birdie, skipping after the ball and pumping his fist after the final hole of regulation. This year, he shot 64 in the final round and was the leader in the clubhouse for several hours at 12 under but settled for third.

Harris English made birdie on the eighth hole of sudden death to win the Travelers Championship.

18 to finish with a 68 and fall back into a tie. “I’ve been in contention before,” said Hickok, who has won on the Korn Ferry Tour and the Canadian Mackenzie Tour. Watson won the tournament in 2010, ‘15 and ’18. It was his second straight year with an ace at TPC River Highlands. He had a 1 on the 169-yard 16th hole in the first round last year, when he tied for 11th.

Three-time Travelers champion Bubba Watson picked up three strokes on Kramer Hickok over the final two holes, shooting 68 to pull into a tie for the lead at 10-under par with the minor league tour regular.

Watson recovered after snapping his driver to make birdie at No. 2 on his way to a second straight 66, bringing him to 8 under par and the tournament lead midway through the second round. “It was a perfect tee shot right down the middle. Watson, who won the tournament in 2010, ’15 and ’18, started at No. 10 on Friday morning and was 1 under for the day when he arrived at the par-4, 350-yard second hole.

Jason Day shot a bogey-free 8-under 62 to take the lead in the second round of the Travelers Championship.

Louis Oosthuizen has repeatedly put himself in contention at majors with his syrupy swing and easygoing nature.

Richard Bland, a 48-year-old Englishman who won his first tournament just a month ago, is tied atop the leaderboard at 5 under at the midway point of the U.S. Open.

Phil Mickelson doesn’t need to be reminded of his age at the PGA Championship.

Jordan Spieth gets his fifth chance at going for the career Grand Slam.

Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel birdied six of their final eight holes Saturday to shoot a 9-under 63 and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Zurich Classic.

Brooks Koepka’s surgically repaired knee wasn’t the problem in the opening round of the Masters.

The applause started when Lee Elder’s golf cart began moving toward the first tee.

Only a dozen players managed to break par in the opening round of the Masters.

Jon Rahm arrived at the Masters on Wednesday, after not sleeping much or touching a club for the past few days.

Dustin Johnson didn’t feel like his Masters victory was less significant last fall because no fans were at Augusta National to see his win and celebrate with him.

Jordan Spieth suddenly feels a lot younger than 27 going into the Masters.

More than hosting the first major of the year, Augusta National has become a 10-day celebration at the home of the Masters.

Jon Rahm, of Spain, right, congratulates Scottie Scheffler on the 17th green after Scheffler won their round of eight match at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Austin, Texas. I just have memories of me and my dad sitting on the couch and watching this guy make putt after putt. AdHe won the Match Play in 2013 and lost in the championship match last time to Kevin Kisner. He scrambled for par, and Spieth missed a 6-foot birdie putt. Spieth went 30 feet long, Kuchar was 6 feet short, and Kuchar won with a birdie.

It's just sometimes results take a little bit longer.”There are photos to illustrate what Koepka did to his clubs, but those stay among his posse. A lot of players feel that way, but not to the point of naming their son after Riviera (Johnson's youngest is River). “I feel like it’s a tough golf course,” Johnson said. “Generally, the quality of golf course they’re played on is at a very high standard and Riviera fits that category. I feel like if you’ve had a good week here, it’s a good measure certainly generally of where your game is at.”

Charlie's mother, Elin Nordegren, walked the final round at The Ritz-Carlton Club at Grande Lakes, her first time at a golf tournament since the 2009 Presidents Cup at Harding Park. Charlie Woods delivered a great show, unfazed by the 250 spectators (mostly sponsor guests) or the national TV spotlight. But one day he might.”The PNC Championship has the strongest waiting list in golf, and it's always been that way. His son played from tee markers more than 100 yards ahead in some cases, and Woods often waited for Charlie to hit his drive. Woods played only nine times because of the COVID-19 pandemic and only once finished in the top 10.

Tiger Woods helps Masters' champion Dustin Johnson with his green jacket after his victory at the Masters golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AUGUSTA, Ga. – Nothing ever comes easily for Dustin Johnson in the majors, except for when he slipped his arms through that Masters green jacket Sunday. Johnson overcame a jittery start that conjured memories of past majors he failed to finish off. His five-shot victory was the largest at the Masters since Woods won by 12 in 1997. “As a kid, you're dreaming about winning the Masters, having Tiger put the green jacket on you. No one had a better finish than defending champion Tiger Woods, but only after the five-time Masters champion posted the highest score of his career — three balls in Rae's Creek for a 10 on the par-3 12th hole.

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley announced Wednesday a $10 million donation to help with the redevelopment of what he said were once-thriving communities that have gone through decades of poverty, crime and unemployment. Bernhard Langer received that assurance at the Masters Club dinner Tuesday night with Chairman Fred Ridley. “But the issue is a lot larger than Augusta National and the Masters.”He was only certain that it would not change for the next Masters. And it wasn't in 1976, when Masters Chairman Fred Ridley stayed there for the first time. In fact, Masters Chairman Fred Ridley said it was decided before the pandemic forced the Masters to be postponed in April.

2020 has been an unusual year and nobody knows that as well as two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson. The Masters Tournament, usually played in April, will tee off on Thursday due to a delay caused by the pandemic. To cope, Watson said he's turned to cbdMD products (a company he's now sponsored by) to help with anxiety and sleeping and he's also turned to playing video games to zone out and relieve stress. Watson said he frequently plays the golf video game with Tour players when they aren't on the course. Now, from his trailer in Augusta, Watson said he's feeling good and ready to go for his third green jacket.

Instead of Augusta National members and their guests, the course was filled Monday with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth, all of them playing a practice round on a course that only looked the same. The COVID-19 pandemic that shut down golf for three months forced a reconfigured major championship schedule unlike any other, particularly at the Masters. "The things that will be the same is it still means the same to us all, and maybe even more so because we return to Augusta National every year. This is the Augusta National hardly anyone gets to see. When it means going to Augusta National to get ready for the Masters — April, November, doesn't matter — it takes the sting off.

Thomas got one good break, made two good birdie putts and wound up with a 5-under 67 that gave him a one-shot lead over Jon Rahm going into the final round. Lanto Griffin, who had the lead until bogeys on two of his last four holes, was another shot behind. Got a really, really good round going early on.”Thomas was at 19-under 197. Griffin opened with four straight birdies to take the lead, and he stayed there until the end of the round. Thomas was playing well enough, even if he had little to show for it after opening with two birdies.

El Chapo, The Resurrection of St. Benedict's, Bubba Bill Whitaker gives the inside story of the hunt for and recapture of "El Chapo"; then, Scott Pelley reports on a unique school in Newark; and, Sharyn Alfonsi shows how Bubba Watson wants to improve himself, not his golf

Sharyn Alfonsi profiles the compelling and controversial golfer Bubba Watson -- who says he wants to improve himself, not his golf. Alfonsi reports on Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Golfer Bubba Watson tells Sharyn Alfonsi he has a fear of spectators: "In between holes is really scary to me because there's so many people that close to you"

Caddie Ted Scott says that creativity--and a desire to constantly entertain himself-- are at the heart of Bubba's golf game.

Catch up on first round action at Augusta as Tiger Woods returned to major competition and defending champ Bubba Watson posted a -1

Masters champion Bubba Watson in the Toyota Green Room In this week’s edition of “Sounds of the Toyota Green Room,” Masters champion Bubba Watson and Drive, Chip & Putt Championship winner Kelly Xu chat with "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell.

Bubba Watson talks about winning his second green jacket at Masters In the 78-year history of the Masters Tournament, only 17 golfers have won the green jacket more than once. Bubba Watson is the newest member of that elite club and talks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about his recent victory and what it means to him.