Width & Angles: June 28th, 2026
TBD @ TPC River Highlands, PGA Tour Updates, Phil stinks
The Travelers Championship (To be continued)
I will be the first one to say that the Travelers Championship shouldn’t be and feel as important as it is. I don’t know if they’ve just gotten lucky with the winners they’ve had over the years (Spieth, Scheffler, etc.). Somehow they’ve positioned themselves as the premier northeast PGA Tour tournament, despite playing one of the least prestigious courses on tour all year. Credit to Travelers as they’ve put their money where their mouth is and put up the cash to lure in the best players each year, right after the U.S. Open. From my sources on the ground, they also treat the caddies and families better than any other tournament out there. My bet is they land one of the premier events on this new “Championship” Series.
Hovland and Scheffler coming down the stretch today has been must-watch TV, as we finally found someone in form enough to go down the stretch with Scheffler at a regular tour stop. As of Sunday night, they’re tied at -21 and will continue the playoff Monday morning. My guess is Scheffler comes out swinging and buries Hovland on the first playoff hole.
A feeling I get a lot watching golf is confidence in American golfers at regular PGA Tour events, but in a situation like a Ryder Cup, I’d have more confidence in the European side. At every tour stop, it seems to be getting increasingly contentious - USA chants, and only faint cheering when a European player hits a good shot. I have a funny feeling the Euros are quietly banking this as ammo for the Ryder Cup, and we’re going to get dog-walked in 2027.
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
This week the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship took place at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota. This tournament was the original catalyst for the major increase in LPGA purses, so I will support this tournament in whatever form it takes. Ryu Hae-ran took down a stacked field, which included ending Nelly’s chance at three majors in a row. There were a few great stories, such as Dewi Weber, who made nearly 10x her entire career earnings this week.
One thing that many people miss about Women’s PGA Championship venues is that in the agreement made between the PGA of America and courses for Ryder Cups, it requires them to agree to host other tournaments such as the Women’s PGA Championship. This is a positive for the women’s game because it brings the championship to great venues, but it’s another shady backroom deal the PGA of America makes for the Ryder Cup.
PGA Tour Schedule Updates
Last week the PGA Tour announced that the future of there tour will be split into two distinct tracks, the Championship Series and the Challenger Series. Read between the lines and this is basically an admission. The no-cut signature events were never really about competitive integrity, they were a guise to funnel money to the top guys and keep them off LIV. Now that threat has cooled, and the Tour has maneuvered back toward something closer to the old PGA Tour model, where anyone* can win a big event. *Caveat being: “anyone” now means the top 120 guys. Yes, they still don’t want the likes of Chez Reavie to win a big tour event.
I’m largely on board with the majority of the changes. The end of sponsor exemptions is a rule Is fantastic, you’re either in or you’re out (looking at you, Jordan). Overall, these feel like positive changes, and I’m genuinely curious which events end up landing one of the 24 coveted Championship Series spots. There is also the move to match play for the Tour Championship finale. This is a huge win as it turns a tournament that’s been forgettable for half a decade into appointment viewing.
Just as the PGA Tour was winning with most of the announcements, the PGA Tour does PGA Tour things and leaks that clubs like Pine Valley, Seminole, and Cypress Point were in the mix as potential host sites for the Tour finale. Tour staff and advisory board members like Maverick McNealy have since denied it as conversations haven’t started yet. These clubs despise being dragged into press releases, especially ones they never approved. I won’t believe anything until I see Pine Valley on an actual printed schedule.
My Top (Realistic) Tour Championship Venues
Chambers Bay
Kapalua
Riviera
Bandon Dunes
Gamble Sands
Championship Series (top tier)
23 or 24 events including The Players Championship, four majors, and a revamped postseason featuring match play
72-hole stroke play with cuts, purses of at least $20 million, fields averaging around 120 players, no sponsor exemptions.
Roughly 130 fully exempt members — minimum 90 retain status from the prior year, minimum 20 promoted from the Challenger Series.
TOUR Championship moves to a rotation of venues, some never having hosted a Tour event, with a new match-play format replacing the East Lake setup.
Championship Series players are locked out of Challenger Series events
Challenger Series (feeder/second tier)
At least 20 events, 144-player fields, purses of at least $4 million.
72 holes, 36-hole cut to top 65 and ties; roughly 7 events scheduled opposite Championship Series off-weeks for extra exposure.
Separate, non-transferable points list from the Championship Series
Promotion / Relegation
Players move up after their first two Challenger Series wins in a season, or by finishing top 20 on the season points list.
Winning a major championship also earns a Challenger player immediate promotion, even if they qualified for that major outside the Championship Series.
Players outside the top 90 on the Championship Series points list face relegation, with a “last chance” series of four to six fall events as a path back.
Phil Mickelson
Well, unfortunately, what many people have rumored for a few years now has finally come to light, and it’s far worse than many could imagine. I won’t go through the details here, but if you’re inclined, you should read the entire article by Alan Shipnuck. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Phil is remembered in this game after all of this.
When Tiger had his fallout in the late 2000s, he had many years of competitiveness left to win back the golfing public and media which he’s mostly been successful at. In Phil’s case, he really doesn’t have any competitive golf left in him outside of the LIV events, and they might drop him as well. Phil might become the forgotten man in golf, where his off-the-course career continues to get brought up as the years go on, while his on-course accomplishments continue to be forgotten. Personally, I think this is a side effect of a person who spent too much time in exclusive country club locker rooms, where men start believing they’re invincible. IFYKYK.
More often I find myself thinking about this quote for the best athletes: "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then" - Bob Seger
Quick Thoughts
Jordan Spieth flirting with a LAB is the true sign of rock bottom. This might be the end. This is the best tweet I have seen in a long time.
Rojo McDumpsack@sackchillerGiving Spieth a Mallet
SpiethCamp @Spieth_CampSpieth played his pro-am with the LAB putter! I want to see him put it in the bag this week.6:03 PM · Jun 25, 2026 · 844K Views13 Replies · 245 Reposts · 9.67K LikesDustin Johnson will not try to qualify for The Open. At least his problem was drugs (allegedly) and not women.
The new Srixon woods look legit
Tron Carter of NLU went on Foreplay podcast and completely succumbed to the pressure
My change to the ProV1x Left Dash has been a game changer for distance and accuracy
Rankings are back!
(draw.io doesn’t work overseas)
