Rory McIlroy with his father, Gerry McIlroy
Luke Walker, Getty Images
Rory McIlroy with his father, Gerry McIlroy
Luke Walker, Getty Images
Rory McIlroy teamed with his father, Gerry, to win the Seminole Pro-Member last Monday in Juno Beach, Florida.
Team McIlroy posted a 9-under-par 63 to win the gross division of the best-ball event at the exclusive Seminole Golf Club. They finished two strokes ahead of Rickie Fowler and Buddy Marucci. Collin Morikawa and David Novak captured the net title with a 62.
“We shot a back-nine 29,” Gerry McIlroy told Golfweek. “I think I helped on one hole.”
The annual affair pairs tour pros with Seminole members. READ MORE
Jacky Cupit, a four-time PGA Tour winner who lost in a three-way playoff to Julius Boros at the 1963 U.S. Open, died last Wednesday. He was 88.
A native of Longview, Texas, Cupit grew up caddying with his five siblings and was one of five brothers who eventually turned professional. After playing at the University of Houston, where he was part of three straight national championship teams (1958-60), he joined the PGA Tour in 1961, winning that year’s Canadian Open en route to being named the tour’s rookie of the year.
Two years later, he narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. In the ensuing 18-hole playoff with Boros and Arnold Palmer, Cupit shot 73 and finished three strokes behind Boros, while Palmer shot 76. READ MORE
Kiara Romero, the world’s No. 1 female amateur, was one of 10 competitors named to the 2026 Elite Amateur Program, a pillar of the U.S. National Development Program established in 2023 to nurture the potential of America’s top players.
The program’s 2026 roster also includes Kihei Akina, Anna Davis, Max Herendeen, Jasmine Koo, Chloe Kovelesky, Farah O’Keefe, Catherine Park, Michael Riebe and Scarlett Schremmer. READ MORE
Tap-Ins
The PGA of America extended its media rights agreement with NBC Sports and USA Sports – the division of Versant that includes USA Network and Golf Channel – to air the Ryder Cup, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship and PGA Professional Championship through 2033, it announced last Monday. The two-year extension adds the 2033 Ryder Cup at the Olympic Club to the NBC/USA Sports stable. READ MORE
A family office tied to Jack Nicklaus’ son, Gary, has won an auction for the brand and business assets of bankrupt golf services business Nicklaus Cos. with a $35.7 million offer, Bloomberg Law reported, citing a bankruptcy court notice. The sale, if approved by the court, could end fights between Jack Nicklaus and businessman Howard P. Milstein over control of the company, the report said. READ MORE
“Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait,” a Prime Video documentary chronicling Rory McIlroy’s winding road to winning the 2025 Masters and completing the career Grand Slam, will premiere on March 30. READ MORE
Two-time major champion John Daly was named the recipient of the 2026 Ambassador of Golf Award, it was announced last Wednesday. Daly will be honored July 9 during the PGA Tour Champions’ Kaulig Companies Championship in Akron, Ohio. READ MORE
The St Rule Trophy for leading women amateurs has expanded its field from 60 to 72 players for the 2026 tournament. The 54-hole event is slated for May 30-31 over the Old and New courses at St Andrews.
Old Barnwell in Aiken, S.C., will host the 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, the USGA announced. READ MORE
Lou Holtz, the longtime college football coach who was a golf enthusiast and member at Augusta National, died last Wednesday. He was 89. READ MORE
Compiled by Mike Cullity