Against the Grain: March 25, 2026
🐅 Tiger’s TGL Finals Performance Was Peak “Dad Playing Xbox”
Tiger Woods returned to TGL for the Finals and Jupiter Links got absolutely DEMOLISHED by LA Golf Club. The 15-time major winner looked rusty as hell on the simulator, which is somehow both surprising and completely expected when you think about it. Everyone tuned in hoping for clues about his Masters chances, but all we learned is that Tiger in a tech-bro golf league hits different (badly). (source)
The real question isn’t whether Tiger can compete at Augusta — it’s whether TGL can survive another season of whatever that finale was supposed to be.
👶 Scottie Scheffler Pulls the Ultimate Dad Move
The world’s NUMBER ONE player just withdrew from Houston because his wife Meredith is about to have their second kid. Honestly?? Respect. (source)
🌻 Iowa Course Declares War on Sunflower Seeds
An executive course in Iowa posted a sign specifically BANNING sunflower seeds because apparently golfers can’t figure out how to dispose of shells properly. We’ve reached peak American golf when courses have to baby-proof their facilities against grown adults spitting seeds everywhere like they’re at a baseball game.
The sign reads like it was written by someone who’s had it UP TO HERE with finding shells in their bunkers. You know it got bad when management felt compelled to single out one specific snack food for elimination. What’s next, banning trail mix?? (source)
This is what happens when you combine American snacking culture with a sport that pretends to have standards. The course probably spent more on that laminated sign than some people spend on their entire golf wardrobe.
But here’s the thing — this actually makes sense if you’ve ever seen the aftermath of a baseball game. Sunflower seed shells are basically biodegradable litter that takes forever to break down and looks terrible scattered across fairways. The groundskeepers probably got tired of their course looking like the floor of a ballpark dugout.
📺 Golf Monthly Really Wants You to Watch Rory’s Masters Defense
Golf Monthly is pushing a VPN deal so hard they’re basically screaming “PLEASE WATCH GOLF ILLEGALLY BUT SAFELY!!” with a 77% discount and a FIFTY DOLLAR Amazon voucher. (source)
⛳ Matt Fitzpatrick’s Cross-Handed Chipping Technique Actually Works
Some brave soul at MyGolfSpy decided to copy Fitzpatrick’s weird cross-handed chipping and it actually improved their game. This is either the best equipment journalism of the year or the golf equivalent of “I tried the weird TikTok hack and you won’t believe what happened.” Either way, respect for the commitment to looking ridiculous in pursuit of better scores. (source)
🏌️ Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons: Still in Tour Bags for a Reason
GolfWRX is calling these “Modern Classics” and honestly they’re not wrong — Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau are still gaming these things years later. (source)
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*Another week of golf’s beautiful chaos in the books. At least Scottie’s got his priorities straight — unlike whatever TGL is trying to be.*