The most popular golf topics in the search engine for 2023 were split into categories of golfers (overall), golfers (monthly) and golf-related terms (overall). To get a ranking for each, Google listed searches according to its trends data within the search engine. It analyzed “search interest” for subjects using a sample of all searches and then indexing the topics in relation to the top item on each list. So the top player in each category tops the list at 100 percent, and the percentages decrease from there. Google did not provide raw numbers for the 2023 search volume.

Let’s start with Woods. He also topped the Google list last year, and likely every year since it was created, despite the fact the 15-time major winner played just two official PGA Tour events in 2023.

At the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles that he hosts each February, Woods made the cut in his 2023 debut before shooting a thrilling 67 in the third round at Riviera. At Augusta National two months later, the 47-year-old matched a tournament record already held by Gary Player and Fred Couples with 23 successive Masters cuts made. But in cold temperatures and constant rain, Woods succumbed to his ongoing plantar fasciitis and withdrew before the delayed third round resumed. He didn’t play again until December’s Hero World Challenge, though Woods was in the news for ramping up with the TGL simulator league that ultimately had to be postponed, and for joining the PGA Tour Policy Board following the June framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy was second in Google searches, generating 88.7 per cent of the search interest of Woods. McIlroy caused a stream of headlines, including several wins and close calls. He won the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour in January, and at the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, a late bogey thwarted his hopes of ending a nine-year majors victory drought. In July, McIlroy won the Genesis Scottish Open the week before the Open Championship. At the end of September, the Northern Irishman had a blow-up outside the clubhouse of the Ryder Cup following a verbal altercation with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava on the 18th green during a Day 2 match. In December, McIlroy stepped down from the tour’s Policy Board, citing inability to commit to its time requirements.

Coming in third was LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka (70.8 per cent of the search interest), who caused many Google queries when he was shown in a vulnerable, injured light during a dedicated episode of Netflix’s “Full Swing” docuseries. He finished second to Masters winner Jon Rahm and a month later, at the PGA Championship, Koepka became the first LIV golfer to win a major, capturing a fifth career title and third PGA. He also featured on the losing US Ryder Cup team in September.

Predictably, the top five most-searched golfers by month highlighted the gap between what the Internet finds interesting and what the biggest golf-centric storylines were.

For example, you might think the biggest golf story in January was Rahm winning twice on the PGA Tour, at the Sentry on Maui and the American Express in the California desert. The internet would disagree. Sam Ryder wearing maroon jogger pants at Torrey Pines—and getting criticized on social media for doing so by John Daly and Phil Mickelson—catapulted him to the most Googled golfer in January. In February, Woods making the cut at Riviera gave him the No. 1 spot, while in March, Scottie Scheffler took the mantle on the strength of him winning the elite Players Championship.

In April, Rahm winning the Masters for his second career major was not enough for the Spaniard to be the most Googled golfer that month. Instead, it was a fellow Masters competitor and amateur, Sam Bennett, with Rahm at No. 2. Bennett, the US Amateur champion and Texas A&M star, contended deep into the weekend at Augusta National and had a moving backstory that compelled sports fans to root for him: He lost his father, Mark, to early onset Alzheimer’s disease in June 2021. Bennett got a tattoo on his arm to honour his dad.

In May, Michael Block and his story—a club pro who scored an ace during the final round at the PGA Championship while playing with McIlroy en route to a T-15 finish—made him the most Googled golfer. In June, McIlroy held the top spot courtesy of finishing second at the US Open and being the focal point of the framework agreement news. July was a layup on Google for celebrity golfer Steph Curry, with the Golden State Warriors icon making a hole-in-one and winning the American Century Championship with a final-hole eagle. Unlucky was the second-most searched golfer in July, Brian Harman. All he did was win the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Shooters Shoot!!! Hole In One vibes out here in Lake Tahoe. That’s?@acchampionship @callawaygolf pic.twitter.com/8Nzlznf9EL

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) July 16, 2023

In August, we’re unsure if Lucas Glover winning back-to-back weeks—or his incredible sweat patches during those victories—caused him to be the most searched golfer, but he was. Viktor Hovland’s $18 million FedEx Cup win had him No. 2 on Google for the month. In September, Woods returned to his Google throne but was then No. 2 in October behind Andy Bean, the 11-time PGA Tour winner who died aged 70 after undergoing a double-lung transplant. Woods then returned to No. 1 for November, while in December the announcement of Rahm signing with LIV Golf allowed him to topple Woods.

Finally, we get to golf-related topics. For the second straight year, “LIV Golf” was the most Googled subject this year, while “US Open golf” was second. The one phrase including a player’s name among the top 20 might surprise you: “sam bennett golf.”

Most Googled golfers for 2023—top 5 (per month) and top 10 (indexed search interest)

January
1. Sam Ryder
2. Davis Thompson
3. Max Homa
4. Tiger Woods
5. Rory McIlroy

February
1. Tiger Woods
2. Brooks Koepka
3. Joel Dahmen
4. Rory McIlroy
5. Scottie Scheffler

March
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Tiger Woods
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Jordan Spieth
5. Rickie Fowler

April
1. Sam Bennett
2. Jon Rahm
3. Tiger Woods
4. Brooks Koepka
5. Phil Mickelson

Then amateur Sam Bennett gained national attention when he contended at the Masters in April. Ben Walton

May
1. Michael Block
2. Brooks Koepka
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Tiger Woods
5. Harry Hall

June
1. Rory McIlroy
2. Wyndham Clark
3. Rickie Fowler
4. Nick Taylor
5. Sam Bennett

July
1. Steph Curry
2. Brian Harman
3. Rickie Fowler
4. Rory McIlroy
5. Lee Hodges

August
1. Lucas Glover
2. Viktor Hovland
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Tiger Woods
​​5. Bryson Dechambeau

September
1. Tiger Woods
2. Rory McIlroy
3. John Daly
4. Ludvig Aberg
5. Andrea Lee

October
1. Andy Bean
2. Tiger Woods
3. Lexi Thompson
4. Rory McIlroy
5. John Daly

November
1. Tiger Woods
2. Jon Rahm
3. George Bryan
4. Rory McIlroy
5. John Daly

December 1-18
1. Jon Rahm
2. Tiger Woods
3. Rony Finau
4. Rory McIlroy
5. Nelly Korda

2023 (full year to date)
1. Tiger Woods (100 per cent)
2. Rory McIlroy (88.7)
3. Brooks Koepka (70.8)
4. Jon Rahm (62.1)
5. Rickie Fowler (58.5)
6. Scottie Scheffler (51.1)
7. Jordan Spieth (49.9)
8. Phil Mickelson (46.0)
9. Justin Thomas (35.5)
10. Viktor Hovland (34.6)

Top 20 most Googled golf terms (full year)
1. liv golf
2. us open golf
3. golf channel
4. callaway golf
5. golf now
6. golf shoes
7. golf clubs
8. pga tour
9. golf leaderboard
10. used golf clubs
11. nike golf shoes
12. world golf rankings
13. golf scores
14. sam bennett golf
15. pga golf
16. golf simulator
17. liv golf leaderboard
18. global golf
19. jordan golf shoes
20. golf balls

Main image: Tiger Woods laughs during the 2023 PNC Championship. Mike Ehrmann

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A Ryder Cup victory for Europe at Marco Simone in September will be long remembered without prompting for those involved in the triumph. But just in case anyone on the losing side might be starting to get over the disappointment of a 16½-11½ defeat, well Luke Donald was here with a reminder, courtesy of the DP World Tour social media team.

Do you hear what I hear? ?@LukeDonald | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/EeRhvkZtiD

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) December 23, 2023

There’s something exquisite in the simplicity of this wondering message/troll. After polishing replica Ryder Cup trophies, Donald hears the famous cheers that rang throughout Marco Simone, capped by the call for two more years. The Englishman is excited to do that, having already been named a returning captain for the European side that will compete at Bethpage Black in 2025.

Donald wasn’t done with the Ryder Cup look back. On Christmas Day, he had another post to share with followers and make sure everyone once more got to appreciate how meaningful the victory at Marco Simone was for him and his family.

Merry Christmas from the Donalds ?? pic.twitter.com/dheIQV7Ubu

— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) December 25, 2023

Something tells us that there is any article of clothing, desk accessory, etc., that has the Ryder Cup logo or trophy on it, the Donald family owns it. 

Main image: Richard Heathcote

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The rollback would be implemented for golfers of all levels in 2030—different than the bifurcated proposal those governing bodies put forward earlier this year. The USGA and R&A predict a 10-15 yards decrease for golf’s longest hitters, down to 1-5 yards for amateurs.

We have finalized the next step in our years-long effort to address consistent increases in hitting distance and golf’s sustainability.

These changes to the Overall Distance Standard will take effect in January 2028.

— USGA (@USGA) December 6, 2023

Naturally, the rule change caused an eruption from golfers on all sides. Let’s break down some of the most noteworthy reactions.

Bridgestone Golf

Golf ball maker Bridgestone Golf issued a statement effectively saying they don’t like it, but they accept it and are moving on.

Bridgestone Golf statement regarding USGA/R&A distance roll back announcement: pic.twitter.com/L290S6nJtX

— Bridgestone Golf (@bridgestonegolf) December 6, 2023

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has been outspoken in support of his rollback. After a tweet over the weekend, McIlroy joined Sky Sports on Wednesday morning to support the official proposal, saying that it’ll lead to a more “skilled” game.

"I think this change will make the game more skilful again" ?

World number two golfer Rory McIlroy has backed the new changes to rules regarding golf ball specifications which will see a reduce in distance they travel ?️? pic.twitter.com/XamHvgVhBA

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 6, 2023

TaylorMade Golf

McIlroy’s sponsor, TaylorMade Golf, released a statement on the rollback, expressing opposition but acceptance. On Golf Channel, the company’s CEO David Abeles said: “This decision has been made, and we will move forward.”

PGA Tour

The PGA Tour, with a vast majority of players being against the decision, released a statement questioning the specifics of the new testing protocols, saying they aren’t representative of on-course speeds.

Callaway Golf

Callaway Golf carved out a unique position, expressing disappointment that the USGA moved away from a bifurcated proposal.

PGA of America

The PGA of America released a statement praising the delayed timeline of implementing the new rule, but expressing concerns over a “greater reduction of distance than we would advise” for recreational players.

We appreciate that the USGA and R&A ran a collaborative and patient process over the past several years. We are particularly gratified that they heard our concerns regarding the significant operational challenges bifurcation would have presented and are no longer considering a local rule regarding the ball for elite players. We are also pleased that the proposed change to the ball has been delayed until 2028 for elite players and 2030 for recreational golfers. Given the important role our nearly 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals play in the recreational game, having more time to adjust to the new rule is helpful. We remain opposed to any change that may potentially lessen the enjoyment of the game for recreational golfers or diminish the unprecedented momentum the game is enjoying. It appears recreational golfers will see a greater reduction in distance than we would advise. While this decrease has been lessened, we continue to recommend being more moderate on the swing speed change for the golf ball conformance test. At this time, we continue to have concerns and look forward to continuing this important conversation and finding resolution with all of our golf industry partners.

USGA and R&A CEOs Mike Whan and Martin Slumbers

Defending their own proposal on Golf Channel, Slumbers said that the move was designed to “protect the long-term health and sustainability of the game…with the environmental concerns,” while Whan punched back against some of the proposal’s critics:

“There’s gonna be a lot of ambulance chasers and alarmists that are gonna make this thing seem so much worse than it really is. … I don’t want a few loud voices that are trying to get more clicks and more viewers and more phone calls to drive a frenzy that quite frankly isn’t based in fact.”

.@RandA and @USGA CEOs Martin Slumbers and Mike Whan detail what the universal golf ball rollback announcement means for players of all levels.

?: @GolfCentral breaking news coverage live now on Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/remf2OX3Q2

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 6, 2023

Main image: Mike Ehrmann

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Yes, you read that correctly. The Florida High School State Championship. Man, it felt like yesterday that he was just a little like who we only saw when he was watching tennis or celebrating another Masters victory with his dad. The kids are growing up faster and faster these days, don’t they?

Anyway, here’s young Chuck chipping one in and delivering the tried and true “C’MON … LET’S GO!” celebration, complete with a pair of fiery fist pumps:

?? Charlie Woods with a massive fist pump after chipping in during the Florida High School State Championship. @TWlegion

(?: mr_3putt/IG | @ziregolf) pic.twitter.com/mrHbbnSyZZ

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 15, 2023

Check out that shaft lean! He’s certainly learned from the best. 

Now, the haters will likely go in a number of different directions with this one – it’s an easy chip, it would have gone 10 feet past if it didn’t hit the stick, no one would care about (or film) a straightforward chip-in in the Florida High School State Championship, etc., etc. All of those things might be true, but the fact remains that Charlie is Tiger Woods’ son and when Tiger Woods’ son does anything relatively cool on the golf course, it’s going to be a big deal. So save your breath and save your Twitter/X fingers. Just enjoy the cool clip of a chip-in from Charlie. Life ain’t that serious, folks. 

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The 15-time major champ fell to No. 1,307 in Monday’s latest edition of the OWGR. That marks the lowest spot he’s ever been in his professional career, a fact pointed out by Twitter OWGR guru Nosferatu.

?NEWSFLASH

Tiger Woods drops to the lowest world ranking of his career at #1307.

His previous low rank was #1294 which he reached in Feb 2023. #OWGR

— Nosferatu (@VC606) November 12, 2023

As noted, Woods’ previous low mark came in February of this year. Woods then finished T-45 at the Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour event he hosts, to move back into the top 1,000. That would be the last full event he would play in the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season.

Woods made the cut at the Masters in April, but withdrew during the third round at Augusta National after reaggravating his plantar fasciitis. He had ankle surgery later that month and has yet to return to competition. In total, Woods has only played in five counting events during the ranking’s two-year window.

Recent videos of Woods caddying for his son, Charlie, have given golf fans hope that he’ll return to action soon—either at the Hero World Challenge, which Woods hosts in the Bahamas, or the PNC Championship, where he’s partnered with Charlie the past three years. Both tournaments are in December.

 

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Woods recently did an interview with the Associated Press in which the 47-year-old gave an update on his health.

“My ankle is fine. Where they fused my ankle, I have absolutely zero issue whatsoever,” Woods said. “That pain is completely gone.

“… But all the surrounding areas is where I had all my problems and I still do,” he said. “So, you fix one, others have to become more hypermobile to get around it, and it can lead to some issues.”

Woods holds the record for most total weeks spent at No. 1 in the OWGR at 683. He also spent a record 281 consecutive weeks in the top spot from June 2005 to October 2010.

Main image: Patrick Smith

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New Zealand’s Ben Campbell birdied the last two holes Sunday to defeat Cameron Smith by a shot, but in the meantime, both players were dragged into a bizarre rules controversy with the third player in their group that took over 15 minutes.

Smith, ranked 19th in the world, was trailing Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai by one shot standing on the 16th tee at Hong Kong Golf Club when Khongwatmai blocked his tee shot right into thick trees and took several minutes to assess his swing path for the second shot.

Khongwatmai, ranked No. 261, wasn’t able to advance his second shot from the bush and, after calling a rules official, spent 15 minutes discussing his options while Smith and Campbell frustratingly looked on.

“He’s moving stuff all around it,” Campbell said. “How is this green? This is obviously living.”

Campbell called for another rules official and could be heard on the broadcast saying, “He’s broken these branches here … Wow.”

During the incident, Khongwatmai looked at Campbell and Smith and said, “you guys happy? If you’re not happy I’m not going to do it.”

The frustration for Campbell and Smith stems from Rule 8 in the Rules of Golf, “Course Played as it is Found.” Under it, Rule 8.1, which specifically mentions actions that are not allowed, reads, “A player must not take any of these actions if they improve the conditions affecting the stroke: (1) Move, bend or break any: Growing or attached natural object, Immovable obstruction, integral object or boundary object or tee-marker for the teeing area when playing a ball from that teeing area.”

Cameras showed Smith giving up on the situation and walking back to his own shot. TV commentators said, “I’ve never seen this before. You get the impression his playing partners are not happy.”

Khongwatmai deliberated further over his third shot before heaving it out of the bushes and into the rough. He was not penalized and made double-bogey 6 while Smith made par to create a two-shot swing and take the lead heading into the 17th hole.

More drama followed when Campbell and Khongwatmai birdied the 17th to ensure a three-way tie for the lead going into the 72nd hole. On 18, Smith pushed his drive into the trees and after a chip out, almost holed his third shot from 110 yards. He tapped in for par and an 18-under-par total, while Campbell played his approach to 15 feet and made the birdie putt for the win (19 under). Khongwatmai three-putted for bogey to drop into a share of third at 17 under.

“Today my putting was not so good like the last three days, but I played well since the beginning until the 16th hole,” Khongwatmai said. “I was in a very difficult situation at that moment that I couldn’t do anything. Also, there were broken trees which was an obstacle so I couldn’t step backwards to drop the ball. I had to keep trying to hit it. However, I’m satisfied with my overall performance that I can make under par for today.

Smith was disappointed not to secure his first victory in Asia.

“Pretty poor over the weekend I guess but I hung in there so lots of positives,” he said. “Definitely wasn’t the nicest golf to be played over the last couple of days, still lots to work on.”

Smith will have a week to tighten up his game before his title defence at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in Brisbane before the Australian Open in Sydney a week later.

Main image: Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai weighs his options after hitting his tee shot here on the 16th hole Sunday during the final round of the Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club. Jason Butler

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Leaderboard

Lilia Vu, -19 (final-round 66)

Alison Lee, -16 (67)

Azahara Munoz, -16 (67)

Amy Yang, -15 (66)

Quotable

“I didn’t really expect this to happen,” Vu said. “I think I just wanted to have a good week going into CME next week and just try to be in contention, and then turned out the way it did.”

What It Means

Vu is now the second LPGA player, along with Celine Boutier, to win four times in 2023. Her previous victories, however, include two majors, the Chevron Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. That explains why the 26-year-old Californian was able to jump past Boutier in the Roles Player of the Year rankings, taking a commanding 196-169 point lead. (If she can keep it through the Tour Championship, she’ll be the first American POY since Stacy Lewis in 2014 and just the second since 1994.) Vu also is projected to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s Ranking on Monday.

With a first-place prize money payout of $475,000, Vu also passed $3 million in earnings in 2023, and $4 million for her career. It’s an incredible comeback for a player lost her LPGA card early in her pro career and considered quitting golf to go to law school.

How It Happened

Emily Kristine Pedersen led by three over Amy Yang and Vu when the final round started. But both Yang and Pedersen had their worst rounds of the week on Sunday, with Yang shooting even-par 70 and Pedersen struggling to a 74. (It proved particularly costly for Pedersen; had she parred the final hole for a 72, she would have moved into the top 60 on the CME points list, thereby earning a start in the Tour Championship. She made double, and her season ended.)

Vu, however, did not struggle on Sunday. She missed only two greens en route to shooting a four-under 66.

Best Of The Rest

A few players made crucial moves up the CME points list. Patty Tavatanakit, who started the week sitting right on the bubble in the 60th spot, had a T-15 finish to keep her inside the top 60 and get a chance to win the $2 million first prize at the CME Group Tour Championship. Similarly, Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou’s T-5 at The Annika got her into the top 60.

Azahara Munoz started the week No. 100 on the CME points list. It was a precarious spot: Good play by just one player ranked below her could push her outside that number and cost her full status in 2024. Though, she had a few more starts to improve her position due to her recent return to the tour from maternity leave, she won’t need them: This T-2 finish locks up her card for next season.

Wei-Ling Hsu’s T-12 boosted her into the top 100, earning her 2024 LPGA Tour card. And Lydia Ko went from No. 101 on the CME points list to No. 100, though she her status in 2024 was already secure thanks to her wins in 2022.

Main image: Mike Ehrmann

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Vu started the day three shots back of Emily Kristine Pedersen, then posted a four-under 66. With Kristine Pedersen struggling to a 74, Vu quickly climbed the leaderboard, eventually posting a 19-under 261 total. She is now the second player with four wins on the season, joining Celine Boutier. But Vu jumped past Boutier in the Rolex Player of the Year points standings with her victory on Sunday, taking a commanding 196-169 lead with just next week’s LPGA finale, the CME Group Tour Championship, to play.

With the win, Vu earned a first-place prize money payout of $487,500 from an overall purse of $3.25 million. Vu has made $3,252,303 this season, her fourth on tour, which is 77.8 per cent of her career earnings ($4.175 million)

Here are the prize money payouts for everybody that made the cut at The Annika.

1: Lilia Vu, -19, $487,500

T-2: Alison Lee, -16, $262,260

T-2: Azahara Munoz, -16, $262,260

4: Amy Yang, -15, $170,594

T-5: Stephanie Kyriacou, -14, $124,827

T-5: Emily Kristine Pedersen, -14, $124,827

T-7: Ariya Jutanugarn, -13, $76,061

T-7: Lexi Thompson, -13, $76,061

T-7: Ruoning Yin, -13, $76,061

T-7: Megan Khang, -13, $76,061

T-7: Minami Katsu, -13, $76,061

T-12: Hae Ran Ryu, -12, $54,700

T-12: Wei-Ling Hsu, -12, $54,700

T-12: Gaby Lopez, -12, $54,700

T-15: Linn Grant, -11, $45,714

T-15: Rachel Kuehn (a), -11, Amateur

T-15: Amanda Doherty, -11, $45,714

T-15: Patty Tavatanakit, -11, $45,714

T-19: In Gee Chun, -10, $39,029

T-19: Bianca Pagdanganan, -10, $39,029

T-19: Brooke M. Henderson, -10, $39,029

T-19: Wichanee Meechai, -10, $39,029

T-23: Grace Kim, -9, $34,952

T-23: Sarah Schmelzel, -9, $34,952

T-25: Charley Hull, -8, $30,042

T-25: Allisen Corpuz, -8, $30,042

T-25: Cydney Clanton, -8, $30,042

T-25: Jasmine Suwannapura, -8, $30,042

T-25: Chanettee Wannasaen, -8, $30,042

T-25: Nelly Korda, -8, $30,042

T-31: Atthaya Thitikul, -7, $23,205

T-31: Jeongeun Lee5, -7, $23,205

T-31: Pornanong Phatlum, -7, $23,205

T-31: Jin Young Ko, -7, $23,205

T-31: Ally Ewing, -7, $23,205

T-31: Lydia Ko, -7, $23,205

T-31: Lindy Duncan, -7, $23,205

T-38: Leona Maguire, -6, $17,726

T-38: Gabriela Ruffels, -6, $17,726

T-38: Jodi Ewart Shadoff, -6, $17,726

T-38: Dewi Weber, -6, $17,726

T-38: Matilda Castren, -6, $17,726

T-38: Gina Kim, -6, $17,726

T-44: Maria Fassi, -5, $14,979

T-44: Soo Bin Joo, -5, $14,979

T-46: Nicole Broch Estrup, -4, $13,398

T-46: Caroline Inglis, -4, $13,398

T-46: Georgia Hall, -4, $13,398

T-46: Louise Rydqvist (a), -4, Amateur

T-46: Jaravee Boonchant, -4, $13,398

T-51: Pernilla Lindberg, -3, $11,179

T-51: Hye-Jin Choi, -3, $11,179

T-51: Yuna Nishimura, -3, $11,179

T-51: Carlota Ciganda, -3, $11,179

T-51: Jeongeun Lee6, -3, $11,179

T-51: Muni He, -3, $11,179

T-57: Sarah Kemp, -2, $9,653

T-57: Ruixin Liu, -2, $9,653

T-57: Perrine Delacour, -2, $9,653

60: Elizabeth Szokol, -1, $8,987

T-61: Polly Mack, E, $8,100

T-61: Ashleigh Buhai, E, $8,100

T-61: Olivia Cowan, E, $8,100

T-61: Eun-Hee Ji, E, $8,100

T-61: Hinako Shibuno, E, $8,100

T-61: Aline Krauter, E, $8,100

T-67: Gemma Dryburgh, +1, $7,406

T-67: Anna Nordqvist, +1, $7,406

69: Frida Kinhult,+ 5, $7,158

70: Min Lee, +6, $6,989

Main image: Mike Ehrmann

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There were flashes it was working, although that is a verdict aided by the benefit of hindsight, for in the moment those flashes can also be false hopes. Until a week ago those sparks were mostly done in the deep recesses of the sport and thus went mostly unseen. But what we saw in Bermuda showed what we saw in Cabo was no aberration: Villegas has made his way out of the darkness. With a final-round 65, the 41-year-old captured the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, his first win in over nine years to complete a return that underlined the will of the human spirit.

“Tough to put in words, what a ride man,” Villegas said after a two-shot victory. “I love this game, it’s given me so many great things. But in the process it kicks your butt.”

Adversity is a word overused in sports and especially in golf. It’s employed for things as frivolous as a bad shot or self-imposed controversy, and occasionally as a nod to poor play and injury. Villegas is the exception that no one wants. In 2020, the Columbian revealed through tears at a Korn Ferry Tour event that his 22-month-old daughter Mia was battling tumours on her brain and spine. “We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen,” an emotional Villegas said that June. “She started her second round of chemo; the doctor doesn’t want to do a very detailed scan until after a third round. It’s some anxious times.” A month later, the PGA Tour announced that Mia had passed.

Villegas returned to play not long after Mia’s death at the urging of his wife, believing the best way forward was to reconnect with a game he had begun to separate from. He had once been the next big thing on tour, his aggressive play paired with good looks and bold fashion and childlike flamboyance standing out from the sport’s sea of vanilla. He won two playoff events in 2008, including the Tour Championship, and snagged his third victory 18 months later at the Honda Classic. His bark lived up to the bite.

At least it did for a five-year span. In 2012 his game started to go south. His win at the 2014 Wyndham Championship was one of just two top-three finishes over a 10-year stretch. Villegas lost his short game, followed soon by his confidence. A shoulder injury added to his woes. He missed the playoffs in six of seven seasons, and just months ago it seemed retirement might be on the horizon when Villegas served as a color analyst for Golf Channel’s broadcast of the Wyndham Championship. “The reality is that I am getting older,” he explained in August. “I’m 41, you don’t see too many 40-somethings winning on the PGA Tour. I have been struggling first with an injury and then trying to get back into top form. And your reaction is—because you know, they are seeing your career wind down a little bit—but your heart doesn’t want it that way; you want to keep competing.”

Turns out Villegas could not silence the calls from within. He had been working with a new instructor, Jose Campra, and while the results were not there Villegas felt they would come. Just as importantly, the game had given him a renewed purpose, believing he was playing for more than himself. “Golf,” his wife Maria Ochoa told Camilo, “is what you’ve done over all these years and golf has given you so many great things,’ and little Mia has been inspiring these last few months to keep doing what we’re doing.”

It appeared Villegas was on the precipice of putting a capstone on a feelgood comeback last week at the World Wide Technology Championship, around the lead for the entire tournament only to ultimately come in second after Erik van Rooyen’s 72nd hole eagle. Given Villegas’ track record, it was a wonderful story, but one that felt confined to the week. But Villegas proved his play was no fluke with a 67-63 start in Bermuda and backed it up with a Saturday 65 to enter the final round at Port Royal G.C. one behind Alex Noren. Still, whatever conviction Villegas’ play conveyed was not what he felt inside.

“Let me be honest, let’s tell the viewer out there, people think that we just kind of chill out here and we’re very comfortable doing what we’re doing,” Villegas said Friday evening. “There’s a lot of demons out here and when you’ve been doing it for a long time, golf is hard.”

Only Villegas continued to make this ridiculously hard game look easy on Sunday morning, birdieing four of his first seven holes to grab the lead from Noren at the turn. The wind decided to show up for the finishing stretch and Noren and others had to ditch their ambitions of aggressive play for a defensive mindset and Villegas followed suit, playing to the fat part of the greens and taking the big number out of play. It wasn’t the most exciting finish, but it’s what the moment called for, and Villegas delivered. But this is Villegas we’re talking about, who even in his 40s still pops his collar. He showed he still has a penchant for the dramatic, sticking his approach at the 235-yard par-3 16th to 15 feet, and a mean up-and-down from the greenside bunker at the par-5 17th—while Noren failed to do the same—bestowed a two-shot lead going into the final hole. A birdie lag putt sealed the comeback of the year.

“Life is interesting, it goes up and down both on the personal side and on the professional side,” Villegas said. “Just got to keep a path and you’ve got to keep your mind where it needs to be. Like I said, I’m a hard worker, I love working, I love having a purpose every morning and that’s kind of what I did.”

The win gives Villegas all the usual goodies. A spot in the Masters field, a two-year exemption on tour, a chance to put that broadcasting career on the backburner for some time. That is all well and good. But to understand what Villegas did is to understand where he came from and what he endured, and that is something that’s hard to encapsulate in dollar signs and trophies.

“I just want to thank everyone who supported me on this journey,” Villegas said on the 18th green. “The support has been unbelievable. It kept building up. Everyone on the island was great.

“I got my little one watching, smiling. She’s where she needs to be.”

In one sense, what we saw in Bermuda was nothing more than a game, a performance, a distraction from the pangs of life. Villegas knows this more than most of us ever will. Yet after he tapped in on the 18th Sunday, Villegas looked upward, fighting like hell to keep back the tears he knew were coming. To see what Camilo Villegas did, through the hurt and the doubt, showed a game can still mean a hell of a lot.

Main image: Gregory Shamus

The post Camilo Villegas completes return from tragedy and golf’s abyss to win Bermuda Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

This Sunday at Butterfield Bermuda Championship, it was Camilo Villegas, a 41-year-old from Colombia with limited status on the PGA Tour, earning his fifth career tour win, but first since the 2014 Wyndham Championship. It was also the first win since his 22-month-old daughter, Mia, tragically died in 2020 from brain cancer.

“I’ve got my little one up there watching it, smiling,” Villegas said. “She’s where she needs to be after a long fight.”

Prior to the WWT Championship, Villegas was 223rd on the FedEx Cup points list, but a T-2 finish (after a Sunday 66) jumped him to 147th. Needing to get inside the top 125 for full playing privileges in 2024—he has been playing on past champion’s status the last few years—Villegas was desperate for another good finish in Bermuda.

He got it. Starting the final round at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton one-shot back of Alex Noren, Villegas made four birdies in his first seven holes to wrestle away the lead. He then held off Noren with two more birdies on the final four holes to finish with a Sunday 65 and a 24-under 260 total.

With the win comes full status on tour through 2025. It also comes a $1.17 million first-place prize money payout from a $6.5 million overall purse.

Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer who made the cut.

Win: Camilo Villegas, 260/-24, $1,170,000

2: Alex Noren, 262/-22, $708,500

3: Matti Schmid, 263/-21, $448,500

4: Carl Yuan, 264/-20, $318,500

T-5: Ryan Moore, 265/-19, $251,062.50

T-5: Adam Scott, 265/-19, $251,062.50

7: Stewart Cink, 266/-18, $219,375

T-8: Tyson Alexander, 267/-17, $177,125

T-8: Ryan Palmer, 267/-17, $177,125

T-8: Taylor Pendrith, 267/-17, $177,125

T-8: Kevin Roy, 267/-17, $177,125

T-8: Vince Whaley, 267/-17, $177,125

T-13: Fred Biondi, 268/-16, $113,053.58

T-13: Austin Cook, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: Kramer Hickok, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: Satoshi Kodaira, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: David Lipsky, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: Adam Long, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: Doc Redman, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-13: Doc Redman, 268/-16, $113,053.57

T-20: Luke List, 269/-15, $68,482.15

T-20: Brendon Todd, 269/-15, $68,482.15

T-20: Akshay Bhatia, 269/-15, $68,482.14

T-20: Ryan Brehm, 269/-15, $68,482.14

T-20: Mark Hubbard, 269/-15, $68,482.14

T-20: Justin Lower, 269/-15, $68,482.14

T-20: D.A. Points, 269/-15, $68,482.14

T-27: Robert Garrigus, 270/-14, $48,425

T-27: Ben Martin, 270/-14, $48,425

T-27: Scott Piercy, 270/-14, $48,425

T-30: Kyle Stanley, 271/-13, $38,953.58

T-30: Brice Garnett, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-30: Lucas Herbert, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-30: Alex Smalley, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-30: Brandon Wu, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-30: Dylan Wu, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-30: Kevin Yu, 271/-13, $38,953.57

T-37: Wesley Bryan, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Brian Gay, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Ben Griffin, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Patton Kizzire, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Peter Malnati, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Sean O’Hair, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Brian Stuard, 272/-12, $27,625

T-37: Kyle Westmoreland, 272/-12, $27,625

T-45: Kevin Chappell, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Lucas Glover, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Cody Gribble, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Nick Hardy, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Charley Hoffman, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Andrew Landry, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Andrew Novak, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-45: Davis Riley, 273/-11, $18,216.25

T-53: Ryan Armour, 274/-10, $15,231.67

T-53: Kelly Kraft, 274/-10, $15,231.67

T-53: Max McGreevy, 274/-10, $15,231.67

T-53: Matthias Schwab, 274/-10, $15,231.67

T-53: Lanto Griffin, 274/-10, $15,231.66

T-53: Peter Kuest, 274/-10, $15,231.66

T-59: Martin Laird, 275/-9, $14,560

T-59: William McGirt, 275/-9, $14,560

T-59: Austin Smotherman, 275/-9, $14,560

T-59: D.J. Trahan, 275/-9, $14,560

T-63: Greg Koch, 276/-8, $14,170

T-63: Augusto Núñez, 276/-8, $14,170

T-65: Martin Contini, 277/-7, $13,780

T-65: Zecheng Dou, 277/-7, $13,780

T-65: Ted Potter, Jr., 277/-7, $13,780

T-65: Robert Streb, 277/-7, $13,780

T-69: George Bryan, IV, 278/-6, $13,325

T-69: Ryan Gerard, 278/-6, $13,325

T-69: Richy Werenski, 278/-6, $13,325

T-72: Jim Herman, 279/-5, $12,870

T-72: Troy Merritt, 279/-5, $12,870

T-72: S.Y. Noh, 279/-5, $12,870

T-72: Cameron Percy, 279/-5, $12,870

T-76: Nico Echavarria, 280/-4, $12,350

T-76: Russell Knox, 280/-4, $12,350

T-76: David Lingmerth, 280/-4, $12,350

T-76: Kevin Stadler, 280/-4, $12,350

80: Nick Watney, 282/-2, $12,025

81: Martin Trainer, 283/-1, $11,895

Main image: Gregory Shamus

The post Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.