Golf’s Wild Ride: Koivun’s Breakthrough, Major Surprises, and LIV’s Messy Future

Man, golf. It’s never boring, is it? You think you know what’s coming, and then BAM. Some kid you barely know goes out and wins. Then the majors happen, and it’s not always the usual suspects. And don’t even get me started on LIV. It’s a damn mess. Let’s just cut the crap and talk about what’s actually going on.

This past week, we saw Jackson Koivun pull off a massive win at the 3M Open. Thirteen starts. Third as a pro. Kid’s already got a PGA Tour title. And he held off none other than World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. What a story. What did you make of it? Were you surprised he shut down Scheffler?

Koivun’s Poise: More Than Just a Win

Look, winning is winning. But the way Koivun did it? That was something else. He wasn’t exactly shaking in his boots. Yeah, he had a bit of a clunky par down the stretch. We’ve all been there, right? But he made the big putts. He didn’t show much until it was over. That’s cool. You expect a young guy, especially with Scheffler breathing down his neck, to maybe crumble a bit. But he didn’t. Fairways, greens, good lag putts. He played like he knew exactly how to close. That’s not luck. That’s a damn winner.

The poise was the thing. Even with a lead, you figure he’ll show his age. Scheffler’s coming. But nope. He never faltered. Never gave anyone an opening. Just cruised. First of many wins? Probably. Surprised he held off Scheffler? Nah, not with the cushion he had. But surprised it was never really in doubt on Sunday? Yeah, a little. He just kept hitting good shots.

What struck me was how unflinching he was. This wasn’t some kid just trying to hang on. Birdie right out of the gate. No let-up. We see tons of talented young guys. But not all of them have that veteran composure. It’s the real deal.

The Scheffler Effect and the Tour’s New Game

Having Scheffler show up at the 3M Open? Total game-changer. Ticket sales went through the roof. It was the biggest draw that tournament has seen. And it should be. People want to see the best. But here’s the kicker: this might be a thing of the past. The Tour’s rolling out this new two-track system in 2028. Players on the Championship Series won’t be able to just drop down and play Challenger Series events. So, that star power showing up at places like the 3M Open? It might be over.

Is that a disservice to the tournaments and the communities that host them? Or is it just the price of doing business with the Tour’s new structure? It’s a bit of both, honestly.

As someone who covers this tournament every year, I’ve never seen crowds like it. Usually, attendance is decent. But one guy, Scottie, drew the entire course from Thursday to Sunday. It was fun. But the Tour schedule needed a shake-up. I get why they’re doing this. Letting guys play one-off events here and there? It sounds messy. Too complicated.

We’ve heard this talk before, like at the John Deere. Former champs not being able to play. Winners of Track 2 events not defending. It sucks for great golf towns like Minnesota or the Quad Cities. They won’t get to see stars like Scottie or Spieth. But the Tour couldn’t keep going the way it was. It needed a facelift. Make the schedule and the stakes easier to understand. So everything leads somewhere. Not just 40 random events and a confusing postseason.

No doubt, the schedule had to change. The question is, do these changes actually fix the core problem? Which is, let’s be real, there are only so many golfers people actually want to watch. Without the big names, the eyeballs they draw… how long can these smaller events survive? Are we just delaying the inevitable? When the schedule eventually has to be trimmed down even further?

The Major Season: A Year of Surprises

Alright, let’s talk majors. The 2026 men’s major season. You’ve had a few days to digest it. What’s your biggest takeaway? For me? It was… weird. Absolutely weird.

For the last few years, you had the big boys winning. Rory, Scottie, Bryson, Xander, Brooks. The same names kept popping up. But this year? Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai. They kind of snuck in. And then there’s Wyndham Clark. Yeah, he’d won a major before. But seriously, how crazy is it that the guy who was busting up lockers at a U.S. Open wins that same tournament a year later? And as an American, he gets heckled by American fans the whole final round? What the hell is that? Another thought: Rory. Two Masters wins already. Playing with house money. He could be a threat at Augusta for another decade. And Scottie? He’s finished outside the top 10 at a major just twice in the last three years. Winning these things is damn hard. I’d love to say he’ll get one next year, but he played damn good major golf in 2026 and didn’t add to his tally.

What’s wild is that after years of big names dominating, we got three straight surprises after Rory repeated at Augusta. Heading into the PGA, eight of the last nine majors were won by Rory, Scottie, Bryson, or Xander. The only real outliers since 2021 were J.J. Spaun and Brian Harman. Then boom. Three straight outliers: Aaron Rai, Ryan Fox, and Wyndham Clark. Clark, winning his second U.S. Open after being lost in the wilderness. What I’ll be thinking about going forward, beyond how fast we went from “Can Rory win at Augusta?” to “How many green jackets will he win?” is: Which of the big names finally gets off the schneid in 2027? Collin Morikawa, stuck on two majors for five years. Jon Rahm, three years. Justin Thomas, four. Xander and Bryson, two years without majors, still at two. Jordan Spieth, nine years on three. Who in that non-Rory/Scottie star division adds to their resume next year? If anyone.

A lot of the drama, honestly, came from stuff off the course. Rory chasing a repeat. Fan abuse of Clark. Bryson’s penalty histrionics. When it came down to the actual golf, only the Open Championship had a truly dramatic final hole. Everything else felt… anticlimactic in a way.

The Most Memorable Major Moment?

So, what was the most memorable moment? It’s tough. Garrick Higgo’s late arrival, penalty, and explanation at the PGA Championship was up there. How the fans treated Clark at Shinnecock Hills was pretty bad. But beyond Rory’s second green jacket, what will we remember in 10 years? Probably Bryson’s bizarre Friday night at Royal Birkdale.

Bryson’s penalty and the whole scene that unfolded. Him taking officials back out there. Threatening to withdraw. Reportedly asking to call Trump to get the penalty removed. It was insane. That’s what the 2026 Open will be remembered for. Honorable mentions: Scottie finishing second at Augusta and then basically detonating the course because of unequal conditions in the first two rounds. And Haotong Li’s final-round 80 where he spent 30 minutes in the bushes at No. 13.

For me, it’s Bryson’s penalty saga, hands down. My barometer for big golf moments? When friends who don’t follow the game start texting me. The hubbub around that ruling was the one moment this year that nearly blew up my phone.

Buying Major Stock for 2027

Who are you buying stock in for 2027? Sam Burns was one shot off the 54-hole lead at the Masters. Finished a shot behind Clark at the U.S. Open. Was the 54-hole leader at the Open Championship. He’s close. But more than anything, I like how he’s handled himself. Sometimes you need a few close calls before you can really cash in.

Cam Young. He held the lead on Sunday at the Masters. Then put together a blistering Sunday to almost steal the Open at Royal Birkdale. He’s taken a leap in the last year. Won at Wyndham. Nabbed a Players. Rolled over the field at Doral. The majors are coming for him.

Good calls above, but I’m sticking with Scheffler. Not that I was ever down on his stock. But there’s more reason than ever to buy now. Hard to imagine him getting blanked again next year. He’s too good.

LIV Golf: Leaking Oil and Bad News

Now, LIV. What’s the most troubling news this week? The Asian Tour’s exit as a feeder program? Or the reported skepticism that the league’s season-ending team event in Michigan will even happen? Thoughts on the latest LIV developments? Does it change your outlook on LIV’s future?

It’s damn hard to keep track of all the reports, stories, and rumors about LIV’s tournaments, its future, who’s suing whom. Add it all up, and it doesn’t look good. The Michigan stuff? Not great, but it’s not official yet. Losing the Asian Tour as a pathway for its players? That really hurts. Did you see how quickly Rory McIlroy endorsed that move? Not by accident. Funding drying up this year doesn’t mean some investors won’t swoop in to save future years. But right now? The whole thing is starting to leak a little oil.

Can I take both? If the Michigan event gets canceled, that feels like curtains for a league that’s been trying to keep the fat lady from heading on stage for months. However, the Asian Tour hooking up with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour might be bigger. It was rumored that LIV’s pitch to investors involved 10 Asian Tour events and 10 LIV events. That’s no longer an option. And without the Asian Tour as a feeder tour, the OWGR points that LIV fought so hard to get might be in danger, even if LIV survives. Things aren’t good at LIV HQ. Feels like we’re preparing to give the league its last rites after the Indianapolis event.

Both. Put a fork in it. The league is pretty much in zombie mode right now. Dead in most meaningful ways. It’s hard to see a path forward for them. Maybe some exhibition stuff, but a full-blown tour? It’s looking increasingly unlikely. For anyone still invested, it’s a tough pill to swallow. For the game as a whole, it’s just… messy. We’ll see what happens, but the outlook isn’t exactly sunny. You can follow ongoing developments on the PGA Tour’s official site for updates on the professional golf landscape. PGA Tour .