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Why this college golf team just played the national championship alone

admin — Fri, 29 May 2026 23:03:08 +0000

Generally speaking, if you’re a high-level golfer playing your final stroke-play round of the week on Thursday morning, something has gone very wrong.

As anyone who’s teed it up in competition knows, if your final round in a competition arrives on a Thursday morning, that very likely means you’re headed for a WD, or worse, a DQ.

Unless, of course, you’re playing in this year’s college golf national championships. And unless your team has a religious exemption precluding you from competing in Sunday’s final round.

That turns out to be the scene at this year’s NCAA golf national championship, where the BYU Cougars played their Sunday stroke play round on Thursday morning, hours before any other team had teed off to begin their national championship.

The story here begins with the schedule for this year’s national championship, which is being contested over six days at the Omni La Costa resort in Carlsbad, Calif. The way the competition works is fairly simple: individual competitors on the top 30 teams (plus six individual qualifiers) play in a 72-hole stroke play competition. The low scorer at the end of that competition is the NCAA individual champion, while the low eight teams advance into a bracket-style match play competition to determine the team champion.

The nature of this competition (and the complexity of the schedule) means the rounds will take place from Friday, May 29 through Wednesday, June 3. Assuming all goes according to plan, teams will play a competition round every single day.

That’s no issue for 29 of the teams in this year’s national championship field, but it is a big issue for one of them: BYU. The Cougs are from an overwhelmingly Mormon university (more than 98 percent of the student body), and Sunday is a sacred day of the week in the Mormon faith, a day in which practitioners are expected to worship and rest.

As such, BYU has made it so that its athletics programs only play in competitions on six days of the week, from Monday to Saturday, navigating schedules to ensure that all events occur on days other than the Sabbath.

For the golf team, that put this year’s national championship schedule in a bit of a pickle. Either the team would have to withdraw from the competition, refusing to play on the day of rest, or they would have to violate their religious obligations in order to compete in the national championship.

Instead, the team appealed to the NCAA for an exemption, seeking to play the additional stroke play round at another time and allowing the team to compete in the tournament. The NCAA complied, and so the Cougars went off early on Thursday morning to play their Sunday round at the national championship, alone, while the remainder of the field got ready for round 1.

By all accounts, things went pretty well on Thursday for BYU, which was ranked 22nd heading into the championship. The Cougars shot a team score of one under, which will be officially posted when the rest of the teams play their Sunday rounds. On Friday, playing with the rest of the field, BYU posted a team score of eight over par.

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GB & Ireland Curtis Cup team announced – Golf News

admin — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:42:08 +0000

Eight golfers have been selected for the Great Britain and Ireland team to compete against the United States of America in the 44th Curtis Cup match at Bel-Air Country Club in California.

The biennial encounter is taking place at the renowned Los Angeles venue from June 12-14, with GB&I bidding to retain the famous trophy after a memorable 10½-9½ victory at Sunningdale in 2024.

The top five players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and three selections make up the GB&I side.

Beth Coulter and Patience Rhodes return to the team after playing key roles at Sunningdale, while Matthew’s side also includes Sophia Fullbrook, who has enjoyed three wins on the US college circuit with Florida State University this year, and teenager Nellie Ong, who has qualified for next month’s US Women’s Open at nearby Riviera on the eve of the Curtis Cup.

Catriona Matthew, who returns as captain with GB&I aiming for a first win on American soil since 1986, said: “I’m really looking forward to the match at Bel-Air. We have selected eight players who we believe will provide us with the best opportunity of retaining the Curtis Cup against the United States of America.

“With a number of players turning professional since the last match, we have a new, exciting team. In terms of the amateur rankings, we will be the underdogs but we also were at Sunningdale. It’s going to be a challenge, but in match play anyone can beat anyone and it’s just trying to instil that belief in my players.

“I’ve enjoyed my role as captain. It’s great fun to see the next generation come through, getting to know them and trying to help them. We are all preparing to give our best at Bel-Air next month.”

The GB&I team:

Beth Coulter, Ireland, Kirkistown Castle, 22
Sophia Fullbrook, England, The Melbourne Club, 20
Lily Hirst, England, Huddersfield, 23
Isla McDonald-O’Brien, England, Shrewsbury, 19
Charlotte Naughton, England, Longhirst Hall, 18
Nellie Ong, England, Eaton, 19
Patience Rhodes, England, Burnham & Berrow, 22
Davina Xanh, England, Burnham & Berrow, 22

Reserves
1. Annabel Peaford, England, Walton Heath, 17
2. Emma Fleming, Ireland, Elm Park, 21

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Jim Furyk to captain 2027 US Ryder Cup team – Golf News

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:41:44 +0000

As the US Team looks to bounce back after back-to-back defeats in Rome and New York, the PGA of America have turned to Furyk, who has plenty of experience both playing and serving as a captain at this tournament.

Furyk, who will be 57 by the time the matches come around next year, has been involved in every US Ryder Cup team for the past 30 years, and captained the team at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, where his side were beaten 17.5-10.5.

“The opportunity to captain the US Ryder Cup team for a second time is a tremendous honour,” Furyk said. “I am deeply grateful to the PGA of America Ryder Cup committee for entrusting me to lead our team into the 46th Ryder Cup.

He added: “My passion for the Ryder Cup and dedication to the US team have never been stronger. Having previously captained the team, I understand the responsibilities and immense pride that come with this role. I look forward to drawing on that experience while incorporating some new ideas as we prepare for 2027. I am committed to putting our players in the best position to succeed as we work to reclaim the Cup on European soil.”

Furyk’s opposite number, Luke Donald, will be bidding to become the first captain from either side to win three Ryder Cup matches in row, having led Europe to victory in 2023 and 2025.

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