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There’s a growing sense of uneasiness among LIV Golf players – and it’s not about their swings.

According to this report by Ben Parsons at Today’s Golfer, several LIV players are starting to realize that the long-term picture might not be as clear (or guaranteed) as it once seemed. Early deals came with massive upfront money, but as contracts begin to approach their expiration dates, questions are starting to surface.

The big one: what happens next?

Some players reportedly assumed renewals or ongoing opportunities would be automatic. Now, there’s growing awareness that future deals could be more performance-based – or not come at all. That’s a pretty stark shift from the “guaranteed money forever” narrative that helped launch the league.

There’s also the broader issue of LIV’s place in the golf ecosystem. With ongoing negotiations involving the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi backers, the future structure of pro golf is still very much in flux. Until that gets sorted, LIV players are stuck in a bit of a holding pattern.

For now, the money’s still good. But for the first time, it sounds like some LIV guys are starting to think about what happens when it isn’t.

Justin Rose has a new bag, and it’s not just a logo swap.

The 45-year-old Englishman has officially signed with McLaren Golf, becoming the brand’s first-ever ambassador after quietly working with them behind the scenes for the past two years.

This isn’t your typical “here’s a check, throw the hat on” deal. Rose has been involved in the development process – testing, tweaking, and helping shape what McLaren believes is a performance-driven entry into the golf equipment space. Now, it’s go time.

He’ll put the new sticks in play starting this week in Miami.

And look, anytime a brand with McLaren’s DNA – speed, precision, engineering – steps into golf, it’s at least worth paying attention. Whether that translates to actual gains on the course is a different story, but if anyone’s going to stress-test new gear under real pressure, it’s a guy like Rose, who’s somehow still striping it at 45.

Remember last week when we said Matt Fitzpatrick has serious stones?

Yeah – he doubled down.

This time, with his brother’s PGA Tour future hanging in the balance.

What Happened?

The Fitzpatricks blew a four-shot lead on the back nine. It looked like the tournament was slipping. Then, like we’ve seen before, Matt stepped up when it mattered most.

Final hole. Same script.

Last week it was a four-iron. This week, a wedge – and somehow, it might’ve been even better.

A 35-yard bunker shot, under max pressure, that he clipped clean and spun to tap-in range.

His brother Alex got to be the one to do the tapping – knocking it in to seal the victory.

They finished at a tournament-record 31-under.

And for Alex, it’s career-changing stuff – a two-year exemption on Tour, plus tee times locked in at the 2027 PGA Championship, The 2027 Players Championship, and the remaining signature events this season, including the Cadillac Championship and Truist Championship.

What About Everybody Else?

Behind them, the teams of Alex Smalley / Hayden Springer and Kristoffer Reitan / Kris Ventura finished one back (-30) in a tie for second.

But this one wasn’t about the leaderboard.

It was about two brothers helping each other turn a dream into reality.

What’s Next?

This week, the PGA TOUR heads to Miami for the Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral.

I’m pretty sure I’ve said this the last two years, but the RBC Heritage really is a great comedown from The Masters.

Especially since the PGA TOUR awarded it Signature Event status, which means it draws a strong field.

This year, that field includes all qualified players with the exception of Rory McIlroy, who’s probably still celebrating his second green jacket, and Hideki Matsuyama.

Beyond the field, the course at Harbour Town Golf Links is narrow, with some of the smallest greens on TOUR.

This is not a bombers course, but one that demands accuracy off the tee and on approach. It’s a different setup than a lot of the courses we see on TOUR these days.

And hey, if you didn’t win the green jacket last week…

There’s always the plaid one.

Field Notes

Tighter scoring = fewer blowups, more clustering
Last year, the field stayed bunched – it was harder for longshots to separate, easier for steady players to hang around. Lean toward consistent ball-strikers over volatile scorers.
Approach play decided everything
SG: APP drove the largest share of scoring variance (~38%). That’s your edge – prioritize elite iron players over hot putters or OTT merchants this week.
Accuracy > distance (by a lot)
Harbour Town strongly favored accurate drivers, and 2025 leaned even more that way. Downgrade bombers, upgrade fairway finders who keep it in play and give themselves clean looks into greens.

The Details

Previous Winners

How To Watch

Featured Groups:

ESPN+ has announced featured groups for Thursday & Friday.

See them all here.

Weekly Bets: The RBC Heritage

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. Join Here.

Keith Stewart’s Picks

Cameron Young (+1800 DraftKings)

In his last three starts, Cameron Young has finished seventh, third, won THE PLAYERS, and third at The Masters. The first time Young saw Harbour Town, Cameron finished third in 2022. Young is top 10 in the field for approach, par 4 scoring, and BoB%. His driver is an absolute weapon on this golf course. The disappointment from Sunday at The Masters fuels his second win in a month.

Sahith Theegala (+8800 DraftKings)

I love Sahith Theegala on Pete Dye designs. The talented Theegala has proven he understands Pete’s tricks. Eighth at The American Express (Dye) in January and tenth in his last start at Houston, Sahith has two top 5s in four starts at Harbour Town. The trending Theegala has a ton of value at nearly 90-1!

Caddyshanks Picks

Tommy Fleetwood (+1800 Draftkings)

I wish the number was a little bit longer for Tommy Lad here, but his game fits the course well, and I think his 2nd PGA TOUR win will come a lot sooner than the first.

Jason Day (+4800 Draftkings)

Small greens usually mean missed greens. Jason Day has gained strokes around the green in his last five events. Betting guys with good short game is the play this week.

Scottie Scheffler (+380 Draftkings)

The iron play showed some signs of life at Augusta, if that was more than just an illusion, Scottie could start heating up at just the right time – I still think he completes the career Grand Slam this year.

Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world, but Augusta has a way of making even the best look human. Sports Illustrated captured the moment that may define his 2026 Masters — a devastating lip-out on the 17th hole that had the crowd gasping and Scheffler staring into the cup in disbelief.

The miss came at a critical moment when Scheffler was still in contention, and it effectively ended any realistic path to the green jacket. It’s the kind of putt that a player of his caliber makes nine times out of ten — which is exactly what makes it sting so much.

Scheffler has been the dominant force in golf for the better part of two years. He’ll be back at Augusta with something to prove, and you can bet that putt on 17 will be playing on a loop in his head between now and next April.

Read the full story here

The New York Post didn’t mince words after the 2026 Masters: LIV Golf has softened its players. The argument isn’t new, but Augusta provided the latest — and perhaps most compelling — evidence yet.

Several of the biggest LIV names arrived at Augusta with fanfare and left quietly, unable to contend on a course that demands the kind of sharpness that only comes from consistently competing against the world’s best. The limited schedule, the team format, the lack of cuts in many events — it all adds up, and Augusta exposed it.

The piece stops short of calling LIV a career killer, but the implication is clear: the competitive edge that made these players household names is eroding. Whether that’s reversible — and whether anyone in the LIV ecosystem is willing to admit it — remains to be seen.

Read the full story here

Preview & Picks: Valero Texas Open

One last Texas stop before The Masters, and it ain’t an easy one.

TPC San Antonio, home of the Valero Texas Open, consistently ranks as one of the toughest stops on TOUR.

It’s long, the greens are fast, and if it gets windy, it won’t yield a ton of birdies. Last year, Brian Harman won at -9 while shooting a 75 on Sunday. The wind turned the tournament into a war of attrition.

The field is pretty strong this year, even with Collin Morikawa dropping out and Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy staying home.

Tommy Fleetwood is at the top of the odds board, followed by Russel Henley, Bobby Mac, Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim, and Hideki Matsuyama.