Nelly Korda's Dominance: Is the Summer of Nelly Here? Plus, Ryder Cup Lessons & Sky-High Tickets
Alright, let’s cut the crap. We’ve got a lot to unpack this week. Nelly Korda just absolutely crushed the Chevron Championship. Like, blew the doors off the place. And then there’s this Ryder Cup stuff. Furyk’s back as captain. And the ticket prices? Don’t even get me started. We’re talking about the game we love, but sometimes it feels like it’s getting a bit… much. Let’s dive in.
The Nelly Korda Show: What Changed?
Look, winning one tournament is hard. Winning seven in a year, like Nelly did a couple of years back? That’s rare air. Then she had a year off, basically. No wins in 2025. Now? Boom. Two wins already this year. Is this the start of a “Summer of Nelly”? What the hell is going on?
James Colgan, the news guy, he nailed it. Winning is tough. But when you’re playing like Nelly did, it’s even harder to *lose*. She had a five-shot lead on Sunday at the Chevron. Five shots! And she shoots seven pars and two birdies on the front nine. That’s not just playing well; that’s maturity. That’s knowing how to close. That’s what you saw in Houston.
Sean Zak, the senior writer, he thinks Nelly’s found her groove. Remember when she was supposed to carry the whole women’s game? All that pressure, trying to be the next big thing, compared to… who was it? Caitlin Clark? Yeah, I bet that wasn’t fun. Zak thinks she’s settled in, found what she *wants* to be. And honestly, I hope he’s right. A “Summer of Nelly” sounds epic. She’s one of the best we’ve ever seen. Let’s see what she can do at her absolute peak. And hey, if Jeeno Thitikul can give her a run for her money? Even better. That’s what we want to see.
Josh Schrock, the associate editor, he was there in Houston. Said it was obvious Nelly is at peace. And that peace? It’s coming from happiness off the course, and a decision she and her caddie, Jason McDede, made after 2025. They decided to do things differently. Play smarter. Less risk. Don’t let the crap, inside or out, get to her. McDede even said that loss last year at Erin Hills? That was the kick in the pants she needed. And you can bet on it, she’s going to win more this year. Everything’s clicking. Even her putting, which used to be the weak spot, is fixed thanks to some no-nonsense coach. The hype train for Riviera? It’s going to be out of control.
The Winner's Leap: Tradition or Gimmick?
Okay, so the Chevron Championship is in a new spot. Memorial Park. They built a little pool for Nelly to jump into. But should the winner’s leap even *continue*? It used to be at Carlton Woods. Is it a dumb tradition? Or something we gotta keep?
Colgan, he’s over it. He thinks golf people get way too worked up about stupid stuff. He says sports are fun *because* we cling to these ridiculous traditions. We get emotionally invested in someone hitting a ball into a hole. That’s nuts. If the winner wants to jump in a kiddie pool or wrestle a bear, who the hell cares? We should be numb to it.
Zak, though? He says if they fight an orangutan, *then* he’ll be moved. Ha! But he actually likes the tradition. Why? Because… who cares? Bring your hate somewhere else. There are way more gimmicky, stupid things to get mad about. And Nelly’s team seemed to enjoy the splash.
Schrock agrees. What’s the big deal? The players want it. The LPGA made it happen. Too much hand-wringing over nothing. Nelly wanted it. She jumped. We move on. It’s sports. If you’re that pissed off, go take a lap. Maybe in a pool.
Jim Furyk's Second Shot at Ryder Cup Glory
So, Jim Furyk is the Ryder Cup captain again for 2027. Fourth repeat captain ever. He lost in Paris back in 2018, but he’s been around since then, assistant captain, Presidents Cup captain. What’s the biggest lesson he learned from that Paris loss that’s gonna help him next year?
Colgan’s take: Don’t start the damn Cup by getting punched in the face. A fast start is everything for a road team. Especially at the Ryder Cup. You gotta come out swinging.
Zak’s thinking: Pairings. This needs to be the big lesson. Pairings decided weeks in advance. Maybe months. The Euros do it. They have pairs they know are playing together way back in June. It’s a strategy that works. Why aren’t we doing it?
Schrock is on the same page. There has to be a better way than letting guys play with whoever they feel like and just winging it. The U.S. has the talent, no doubt. But in every other area? They’re falling short. It’s not just about who hits it the furthest.
Ryder Cup Tickets: Outrageous or Just Demand?
Speaking of the Ryder Cup, the tickets for 2027 in Ireland are $585. That’s more than double the last European Ryder Cup in Rome. And that was after $750 tickets last year in Bethpage caused a riot. The PGA of America says it’s a “Tier 1” event. So, is this good for golf? Prices and demand are soaring. Or is it just a slap in the face, pricing out normal fans?
Colgan says it’s pathetic. Completely the opposite of what an exhibition meant to celebrate golf should be. If the Europeans don’t charge to play after this, they’re being naive.
Zak’s asking: Is this $585 price still “Tier 1”? Or is it “Tier 1, but in Ireland”? He feels bad for the locals who had this circled for years. Now? It’s an impossibly rich event at an expensive resort. Yeah, there are benefits to the Ryder Cup, but it all starts with fans shelling out a ton of cash. It feels different. Changed.
Schrock calls it “completely outrageous.” Ticket prices for everything are through the roof. But for an exhibition match? In a sport that’s supposed to be for everyone? This is brutal. Absolutely brutal.
Aloha, Hawaii? PGA Tour Schedule Shake-Up
And now for the kicker. For the first time in almost sixty years, the PGA Tour won’t be stopping in Hawaii in 2027. Schedule change domino effect. Are we gonna miss it? What was your favorite moment from the Tour’s time in The Aloha State?
Colgan will miss it. The course was cool, unique. The vibe? Aspiratiional. It felt like a defining moment for the Tour, a shift towards commerce in the mid-2020s. Not necessarily bad, but worth noting.
Zak says it’s okay to miss Hawaii as a season-starter, but also know it wasn’t economically viable. We’re in an era where they’ll squeeze out the things we like and replace them with things we still like, but that are better funded. It is what it is. It’s a commercial move. In five years, we’ll probably be totally fine with it. But man, that Tiger-Ernie battle in 2000? One of the best mano-a-mano golf moments ever.
Schrock will definitely miss Hawaii. Kapalua was a great course. It was the escape for everyone stuck in the snow up north. But he gets the financial side. This decision feels like a big deal in the PGA Tour’s journey towards being a for-profit machine. You can find more about the PGA Tour’s schedule changes and their impact on events like this on PGATour.com.