The Stroke Index ⛳ Thursday May 15 2025
North Carolina welcomes major hopefuls / Chipping in from all angles / Discussions continue over golf ball rollback / Victor Dubuisson is loving life / Tiger and Nelly talk short game technique
Good morning, and welcome to the latest edition of The Stroke Index. All eyes are focused on Quail Hollow and the US PGA Championship today. The week got off to a soggy start in Charlotte and the weather could play a pivotal role over the coming days as a stacked field contests this year's second men’s major. It may seem like there is only one story in town at the moment, but beyond events in North Carolina, I hope you continue to enjoy this digest of some of the best golf news from around the world. Feel free to share your thoughts.
View From the Tee - USPGA Championship
⛳ skysports.com has provided a handy list of UK tee times for day one (Thursday) in North Carolina, with most eyes on the trio of Schauffele, Scheffler, and McIlroy.
⛳ Seeking a comprehensive rundown on all things US PGA at Quail Hollow? Then Ross Kilvington at golftoday.co.uk provides all the information you need.
⛳ Mark Schlabach and Paolo Uggetti at espn.co.uk discuss six storylines driving the agenda ahead of day one at the year’s second major.
⛳ Alex Perry at todays-golfer.com explains how Jordan Spieth was inspired by Rory McIlroy’s win at Augusta and is happy people are again talking about the possibility of his own Career Grand Slam.
⛳ Still at Quail Hollow, but with attention diverted elsewhere, Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has said Europe’s LIV players will have to earn the right to make his team, according to Sam Smith in The Express.
FAIRWAY FACT
Ten years after first picking up a golf club, Swiss 15-year-old Kai Notteboom teed off in last weekend’s Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour, missing the cut after respectable rounds of 77 and 74.
Results Round-up
⛳ Sean Martin at pgatour.com describes how Sepp Straka secured his second PGA Tour triumph of the year by edging out Shane Lowry and Justin Thomas to win the Truist Championship.
⛳ Many were charmed by Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course last weekend, including Lucas Glover, who reckons more tournaments on well designed shorter courses could be the way forward, writes golf.com’s Michael Bamberger.
⛳ New Zealand’s Ryan Fox earned a ticket to the US PGA Championship after claiming his first PGA Tour title when he chipped in from just off the green at the first play-off hole (below) to win the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.
⛳ The Associated Press reports on lpga.com how Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul played faultless golf to win her fifth LPGA title at the Mizuho Americas Open.
⛳ 22-year-old Frenchman Martin Couvra stormed to a two-shot victory to claim his maiden DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open, writes europeantour.com.
⛳ ladieseuropeantour.com details how South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim delighted the home fans by retaining her Aramco Korea Championship title.
⛳ You might have thought Ryan Fox's chip in at Myrtle Beach was the shot of the week, but take a look at this trending effort by Laura Wearn at the Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic.
Around the Greens
🕳 Mike Hall at golfmonthly.com reports on PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague’s discomfort with the USGA and R&A’S golf ball rollback plan, and how talks are ongoing to find a solution everyone is happy with.
“I talk really almost monthly now with the governing bodies, and we're working to really take a deep dive on the rollback and make sure it's the right thing.” - Derek Sprague
🕳 An emotional Chris Wood came through last week’s Turkish Airlines Open and revealed how he has been trying to cope with chronic anxiety over the last few years, explains Daniel Orme in the Mirror.
🕳 Dozens of golfers with disabilities will be competing this week at Woburn in The G4D Open staged in partnership by the R&A and DP World Tour, and supported by EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), writes europeantour.com.
🕳 golfnews.co.uk reports from the recently-renovated Buckinghamshire where Hannah Screen claimed a £10,000 prize by winning the Rose Ladies Series.
🕳 golfbusinessnews.com celebrates the game’s future leaders at a graduation ceremony in Birmingham for more than 100 PGA members.
🕳 Ben Parsons at Bunkered.co.uk speaks to former European Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson, who explains how he is loving life since quitting the Tour grind aged just 33.
Clubhouse Chat
☕ Matt Cooper explains at golf365.com how you can look good on the fairways and support the England Golf Trust by sporting this spring/summer collection created by Footjoy in partnership with England Golf.
☕ golfmonthly.com's Jeremy Ellwood catches up with Sam Cooper, who has played every links course in Great Britain and is now using his knowledge as a golf course architect.
☕ If you are looking for more control with your pitch shots, then the Callaway Opus Platinum Wedge could be the right club for you, writes Max Mcvittie at nationalclubgolfer.com.
☕ And on the subject of improving your short game, which I know is an area I need to focus on, this TaylorMade masterclass from Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda provides practical insights from the best in the game.
Thanks for reading edition number 5 of The Stroke Index. It will return next week with more of the best golf content all in one place to keep you in the swing. I’ll endeavour to keep covering a broad range of golf news, but if you think I have missed a story, please let me know. This newsletter remains independent, ad-free and free to subscribers.