Golf fans are starting to get a little too comfortable.

That’s the nicest way to put it.

The R&A is rolling out a new fan code of conduct at Royal Birkdale called The Open Commitment, and the message is pretty simple: act like an idiot, and you might get thrown out. Serious or repeated breaches can lead to removal from the grounds without a refund.

Good.

This probably should not need to be a news story. Golf fans should not need a formal reminder to avoid yelling at players, acting like their $12 three-leg parlay makes them part of the broadcast, or trying to turn every tee shot into their personal TikTok audition.

But here we are.

The R&A says fans should remain quiet during shots, avoid inappropriate comments, celebrate in a fair way, keep phones silent, avoid video recording during play, and enjoy alcohol responsibly. Alcohol is also not allowed in grandstands.

Again, none of this is exactly revolutionary.

This is basically: watch golf like a normal person.

But the fact that The Open feels the need to make this formal says a lot about where golf crowds are headed. The sport has spent the last few years trying to get younger, louder, more social, more viral, and more accessible. A lot of that is good. Golf needed some life.

The problem is that “more energy” and “more idiots” often arrive in the same Uber.

The Guardian reported that R&A staff, marshals, and officials will be monitoring the expected 300,000 fans at Royal Birkdale, and Mark Darbon said the R&A will ask people to leave rather than adopt Nick Faldo’s idea of massive fines for abusive spectators.

That feels like the right line.

You don’t need to turn The Open into a courtroom. You just need to make it clear that buying a ticket does not give you the right to be a clown six beers deep because someone missed a putt that ruined your bet.

And that’s really the bigger issue here.

Golf is now fully tied to gambling, social media, and main-character fan behavior. That combination is not going away. If anything, it’s going to get worse unless tournaments are willing to enforce standards.

The Open is doing that.

It does not mean fans can’t have fun. It does not mean everyone needs to sit there in total silence like they’re watching a piano recital. It just means there’s a difference between energy and abuse.

Golf should be loud in the right moments. It should be fun. It should have personality.

But if the choice is between protecting the atmosphere of one of the best championships in sports or letting some guy named Kyle scream at Tommy Fleetwood because his top-20 bet is dying, I think we can all live without Kyle.

Earlier today Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland squared off in a sudden death playoff to see who is the Travelers Champion. With Hovland and Scheffler both looking at makable birdie putts there was air that this could go some distance. Unfortunately, Hovland drained his and Scottie two putted, how dare he? I love a playoff and was hoping it would go on forever. It didn’t so I decided to search the greatest playoffs in the history of golf. Here they are:

1. 1913 U.S. Open (The Country Club, Brookline) Francis Ouimet def. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray

If you love golf movies or golf history you know this story. Widely considered the greatest match ever played. The 20 year old amateur Francis Ouimet took down Two British legends who had both won the U.S. Open in the past. After 72 holes the three were even ,and at the time the Playoff was a full 18 the next day. Through rainy conditions, the heavy underdog and his 10 year-old caddy finished one under with a firm 5 stroke lead. The match was an amazing story that catapulted golfs popularity in America. Amateurs everywhere owe Ouimet a debt of Gratitude.

2. 2000 PGA Championship (Valhalla) Tiger Woods def. Bob May

3. 2008 U.S. Open (Torrey Pines)  Tiger Woods def. Rocco Mediate

Woods played on a torn ACL and stress fractures, forcing an 18-hole playoff with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole, then winning on the first sudden-death hole. It epitomizes resilience and is often called one of the most compelling major finishes ever, blending physical drama with elite competition.

4. 1987 Masters  Larry Mize def. Greg Norman (and Seve Ballesteros)

Final Thoughts:

Now there’s a lot we missed that maybe could of made it. But we chose these five based on the history, who was involved and what the event was. Obviously majors take precedent. We would love to hear what your favorite playoffs are, sound off in the insta comments

A major championship, a historic venue, and perfect weather on deck.

Does it get any better?

Nope.

Especially if Aronimink puts up a good fight, and we can avoid a birdie-fest.

Will Aronimink put up a good fight, though?

According to Scottie Scheffler, that will largely depend on whether the course is firm and fast, or softened by rain.

We’ve had a lack of humidity up here, and the temperatures over the weekend will reach the mid-80s, so we are hoping for firm and fast.

For the record, Ben Griffin said he expects things to get quick, and predicted a winning score of 12-under, which would be wonderful.

“Bomb and gouge works best”

“The reward for hitting the fairway is not that great”.

Scottie’s thoughts on the PGA setup are honest but not exciting to hear.

Deep rough lined fairways promote distance, not accuracy. This is counter intuitive to most.
pic.twitter.com/DhCQNV02xh

— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) May 13, 2026

Just hearing the World No. 1 say the words “bomb and gouge” makes me shudder, but what can you do?

These guys hit it a mile.

Speaking of Scottie Scheffler, he headlines the field and, as per usual, is the shortest price on the odds board, just ahead of Rory McIlroy, who, by the way, has been dealing with a sore toe and cut his practice round short yesterday.

Meanwhile, everyone else gets to play the game of “Who can beat Scottie and Rory this week?”

On at least six occasions this year, the answer to that question has been: Chris Gotterup, Cameron Young, or Matt Fitzpatrick.

They are all also in the field this week, and you could bet any one of them to win and not feel bad about it.

The field is loaded with every big-name player you can think of, along with PGA Professionals like Michael Block, and past champions like Padraig Harrington, Jimmy Walker, and Shawn Micheel.

Thankfully, there is a cut line this week. They still keep those for the majors.

The Details

Previous Winners

How To Watch

Weekly Bets: 2026 PGA Championship

We’ve partnered with Keith Stewart at Read The Line to share his weekly golf betting picks with the Caddyshanks crew. If you’re the type who enjoys breaking down matchups, spotting trends, and hunting for value, you’ll feel right at home in the RTL community.

Keith Stewart’s Picks

Cameron Young (+1650 DraftKings)

In his last seven starts, Cameron Young has two wins — The PLAYERS and Cadillac — and four additional top 10s.

Young’s flatstick consistency is the engine behind his current success. Pair that with his ball-striking, and you have a championship-caliber player.

Need a good comp? How about a T3 at the 2022 PGA at Southern Hills. Gil Hanse did both restorations, and the skill set needed to score on both is eerily similar.

Sam Burns (+7000 bet365)

Sam Burns has finished top 13 or better in three of the last four major-like events, including 13th at The PLAYERS, 7th at The Masters, and 7th at the 2025 U.S. Open.

Aronimink gives you an edge if you can bomb it off the tee, wedge it close, and convert on the green.

That’s Burns’ bread and butter.

If Sam survives the par 3s this week, the rest of the scorecard is one big birdie chance.

Caddyshanks Picks

Scottie Scheffler (+385 DraftKings)

Scottie Scheffler struggled with his iron play to start the season, but he’s quietly returned to form in that regard, and that could spell bad news for everyone.

Last year, he won this major by five strokes.

Tommy Fleetwood (+2800 DraftKings)

A European has not won the PGA Championship in its last 10 iterations.

That’s a trend we are fading this week.

Tommy Fleetwood has the accuracy required to win if things get crispy in Philly this week.

Justin Rose (+4600 DraftKings)

It’s been 13 years since Justin Rose won a major championship.

He’s played a lot of great golf the last few years, and he’s had plenty of close calls at majors.

Now, he’s back in Philadelphia, and no one is giving him a shot because he switched to McLaren irons — and because he’s older.

But I love to bet a good storyline.

Brandt Snedeker Reminds Us Why This Stuff Still Rules

According to Josh Schrock of GOLF.com, Brandt Snedeker’s win at Myrtle Beach was not just another opposite-field PGA TOUR title. It was his first victory in 2,821 days, came after years of injuries, doubt, conditional status, and experimental surgery, and ended with Snedeker breaking down in his caddie’s arms after Mark Hubbard missed a putt that would have forced a playoff. This is the kind of stuff golf still does better than almost any sport: a 45-year-old grinding for one more shot, getting it, and immediately turning into a puddle. Real stakes. Real emotion. Real golf. (Golf)

D.C. Public Golf Is Now a Political Football

In The Hill piece you linked, the Trump administration’s deal on D.C.’s public golf courses sounds like good news on the surface: Langston and Rock Creek are set to stay with National Links Trust under a new long-term lease, while East Potomac remains open on an interim basis. But East Potomac is still the big question mark. The National Park Service is eyeing what it calls a “historic restoration,” and critics are worried that one of the most accessible public golf spots in the capital could become something shinier, more expensive, and a lot less public. Public golf is booming, but this is the reminder that the best munis are always one bad decision away from becoming someone’s vanity project. (Reuters)

Boo Weekley Gets His Moment

According to Christopher Powers of Golf Digest, Boo Weekley finally got his first PGA Tour Champions win at the Insperity Invitational, and yeah, it got emotional. Weekley won in his 64th Champions start, went bogey-free for the week, and picked up his first victory of any kind since 2013. For a guy who has always felt like one of golf’s true characters, this was a pretty perfect Champions Tour moment: a familiar name, a long wait, and a win that clearly meant a hell of a lot more than just another trophy. (GolfDigest.com)

Jeeno Thitikul Is Not Waiting Around

According to the Associated Press via ESPN, Jeeno Thitikul won the Mizuho Americas Open by four shots over Ruoning Yin, giving her a second LPGA title this season. The turning point came late, when Thitikul birdied 16 while Yin made bogey, turning a tight finish into a comfortable one. The bigger takeaway: the LPGA is not short on star power or depth. Nelly Korda still looms over everything, but Thitikul is stacking wins, and the competition at the top of the women’s game keeps getting better. (ESPN)

The PGA Championship Hype Machine Is Officially Running

According to Keith Stewart of Golf Digest, Rory McIlroy sits atop the PGA Championship power rankings heading to Aronimink, ahead of Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick. The setup is pretty perfect: Rory is chasing another major after winning the Masters, Scottie is the defending PGA champ, Bryson and Rahm are still lurking with LIV baggage attached, and Aronimink gives us a proper old-school major venue. After weeks of tour politics, Signature Event grumbling, and LIV chaos, it is nice to get back to the simple stuff: a stacked major field, a classic course, and a leaderboard that should actually matter. (GolfDigest.com)

The Truist Championship was wide open on Sunday.

Plenty of names were within striking distance. Alex Fitzpatrick had the overnight lead. Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, Nicolai Højgaard, Tommy Fleetwood, and a handful of others were all close enough to make things interesting.

But it was Kristoffer Reitan, the 28-year-old from Norway, who stepped up, closed the deal, and walked away with the trophy and the signature-event check.

Not bad for a guy still getting settled on the PGA TOUR.

Reitan’s Breakthrough Came Fast

Reitan’s road here has not exactly been smooth.

He had a brief stop at Texas before choosing the professional route, then went through the grind of trying to establish himself in Europe. He has spoken openly about the ups and downs, but eventually found his footing again.

Last year, he finished inside the top 10 on the Race to Dubai, earned his PGA TOUR card, yet hadn’t finished in the Top 10 in a single event this year.

Then came Quail Hollow.

Reitan began Sunday one shot behind Alex Fitzpatrick, but stayed steady while the leaderboard around him got chaotic. He closed with a 2-under 69, finished at 15-under, and beat Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Højgaard by two shots.

That is a life-changing week – good for him.

Alex Fitzpatrick Was Right There

Alex Fitzpatrick started the day with a one-shot lead and had a real chance to win his first solo PGA TOUR event.

Instead, Sunday got away from him.

He shot 2-over on the day and finished solo fourth, which is still a great result, but it will probably sting considering where he stood entering the final round.

Still, Fitzpatrick has been playing well since getting his PGA TOUR card, and this feels more like a sign of things to come than a collapse to worry about.

Meanwhile, his brother Matt cooled off with a T52 finish after his own ridiculous run of three wins in three starts.

Rickie And Nicolai Made Their Sunday Push

Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Højgaard both finished T2, two shots behind Reitan.

For Fowler, it was another reminder that he still has plenty left when the putter cooperates and the ball-striking shows up.

For Højgaard, it was another strong week from a player who keeps looking more and more comfortable on big stages.

Neither one got the trophy, but both made Reitan earn it.

Cam Young Gave Us All A Putting Reminder

Cameron Young has been one of the hottest players on the planet lately.

And yet, on Sunday, he missed multiple putts inside four feet.

You know, just in case you think you should make every four-footer.

Young still finished T10, but the round was a good reminder that even the best players in the world can look human at times.

Other Notable Finishes

• Tommy Fleetwood: T5
• Ludvig Åberg: T8
• Cameron Young: T10
• Rory McIlroy: T19
• Matt Fitzpatrick: T52

What’s Next?

The PGA Championship at Aronimink.

Odds For The 2026 PGA Championship

Odds are subject to change and may vary by sportsbook.

We’ll see you Wednesday with our PGA Championship picks.

A mix of dominance, innovation, controversy, and what’s coming next. One player is back on top of the world, another story dives into how far equipment testing can go, one decision splits fans, one lays out the future of a major, and another follows a player looking for redemption on one of golf’s toughest stages.

→ Nelly Korda Wins Chevron Championship to Reclaim World No. 1
Nelly Korda is back where she belongs – and she didn’t sneak up on anyone getting there. This win wasn’t just another trophy, it was a statement that the consistency, the adjustments, and the dominance we’ve been watching are very real. Reaching No. 1 again feels less like a comeback and more like a correction.

→ Can a Golf Ball ‘Private Club’ Work? Inside the Underground
Golf Magazine’s Johnny Wunder caught up with the minds behind the movement: Hollywood icon and certified stick Mark Wahlberg, industry veteran Garry Singer and retail titan/philanthropist Doug Meijer. They aren’t just trying to sell you a golf ball; they’re trying to change the way you think about what’s in your bag…and how you get it.

→ ‘Bad sport’: Rory McIlroy’s Decision to Skip Cadillac Championship Leads to Mixed Reactions
Rory McIlroy made a call, and not everyone is happy about it. Skipping events always comes with opinions, but this one hit a nerve. Some see it as a smart scheduling move, others as a lack of commitment. Either way, it shows how nothing can happen in professional golf without it turning into a debate.

→ PGA Championship Future Sites: List of Venues and Courses for Men’s Second Major
The roadmap for one of golf’s biggest events is starting to take shape. Future venues give a glimpse into how the PGA Championship wants to position itself – a mix of classic tests and modern setups that can challenge the best players in the world. It’s not just about where they’re playing, but what kind of golf they want to showcase.

→ Sam Burns Is Ready for Redemption at the U.S. Open
Sam Burns knows how quickly things can turn at a major. This is about getting another shot, learning from what didn’t go right, and stepping back into the spotlight with something to prove. The U.S. Open doesn’t hand anything out, which makes a redemption story like this one worth watching.

Life moves slower on the island, and this is your perfect time to get down there and reset. Kiawah Island is a world-class golf paradise off South Carolina’s coast, a private barrier island with 10 miles of pristine beaches, maritime forests, marshes, and five championship resort courses at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Designed by legends like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Clyde Johnston. It’s bucket-list territory: oceanfront drama, wind-swept links-style play, wildlife (alligators included\!), and that perfect Lowcountry mix of challenge and beauty. Home to the 1991 Ryder Cup (“War by the Shore”) and multiple PGA Championships. It’s a place of Legends

Quick Facts

• Five championship courses, all public/resort-accessible, recently renovated with Paspalum greens for superior play
• Coastal challenge: Wind, water, bunkers, and ocean views on many holes; elevation subtle but strategic
• Year-round play: Mild winters (great escape), best shoulder seasons (spring/fall) for calmer winds and temps (60s-80s°F); summer mornings beat the heat
• Luxury access: Stay-and-play packages at The Sanctuary Hotel or villas/cottages; priority tees, caddies available
• Top-ranked: Ocean Course consistently \#1 in SC (Golf Digest/Golfweek); others in top resort/public list

This is a good time to remind everyone that Alligators are dinosaurs. Dinosaurs that live among us. Apex predators in our backyard\! Terrifying and beautiful. Don’t get too close.

Perfect For…

• Guys’ Trips: Epic multi-course days (Ocean for bragging rights, others for variety), post-round cocktails at the clubhouse or Sanctuary, beach bonfires, and Charleston nightlife nearby
• Families: Resort beaches, pools, spa, kids’ programs; more playable courses like Cougar/Osprey; non-golfers enjoy biking, kayaking, or wildlife tours

Top Standout Courses

The Ocean Course (Pete Dye)

The undisputed legend, host of Ryder Cup 1991, PGA Championships 2012 & 2021. Seaside links masterpiece with 10 holes along the Atlantic (most in Northern Hemisphere), massive waste areas, wind as a major factor, and diabolical greens. Often called one of America’s toughest and most beautiful.

Turtle Point (Jack Nicklaus)

Nicklaus redesign (2016) with narrow corridors, strategic water, and a thrilling three-hole ocean stretch (14-16) through dunes along the Atlantic. Challenging accuracy test with hidden hazards; beautiful finishing holes and ocean breezes make it memorable.

Osprey Point (Tom Fazio)

A Fazio masterpiece, blending natural lakes, marshes, and maritime forest, playable variety with stunning landscapes, large greens, and wildlife sightings (ospreys, alligators). Ranked highly for women and groups; serene yet engaging.

Cougar Point (Gary Player, renovated)

Dramatic marshland layout along the Kiawah River, generous fairways, risk-reward par-5s, vast greens, and water everywhere. Playable for all levels with gator sightings and scenic river views; great for confidence-building rounds.

Oak Point (Clyde Johnston)

Lowcountry gem meandering through ancient oaks, undulating fairways, and river/creek views, strategic and scenic, demanding thoughtful play over power. Underrated beauty with 4.5-star acclaim.

Great Stay-and-Play Resorts & Spots

• The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Forbes Five-Star luxury oceanfront hotel with spa, pools, dining
• Villas & Cottages: Spacious private options (including Ocean Course Cottages); ideal for groups
• Packages bundle lodging, rounds (Ocean upgrades), breakfast, carts. Book direct for best access

All Key Kiawah Island Golf Highlights at a Glance

• The Ocean Course (Pete Dye, iconic seaside beast)
• Turtle Point (Jack Nicklaus, ocean stretch drama)
• Osprey Point (Tom Fazio, marsh & forest beauty)
• Cougar Point (Gary Player, river marsh playability)
• Oak Point (Clyde Johnston, Lowcountry classic)

Pro Tips

• Book stay-and-play packages early via kiawahresort.com, or specialists (Premier Golf, etc.) Ocean Course tee times competitive, especially peak seasons
• Fly into Charleston (CHS), 45-minute drive; easy access
• Pair golf with Lowcountry classics: fresh seafood, Charleston historic tours, beaches, or wildlife spotting
• Respect the wind (play mornings); use caddies for local tips; forward tees make Ocean manageable for mortals

Get yourself a slice of that Southern charm on Kiawah Island,