Against the Grain: May 01, 2026

💸 LIV Golf Is Officially Broke

The Saudi PIF is PULLING FUNDING from LIV Golf after the 2026 season, leaving 57 golfers scrambling to figure out what comes next. Some are already “exploring potential” PGA Tour returns, which is corporate speak for “frantically texting their old agents.” (source)

Here’s the thing everyone’s missing: this isn’t about LIV “evolving strategically” or whatever buzzword they’re using this week. The Saudis got exactly what they wanted — they sportswashed their reputation, forced the PGA Tour into embarrassing negotiations, and showed they could disrupt American golf whenever they felt like it. Mission accomplished. Now they’re moving on to the next shiny object while leaving everyone else to clean up the mess. The players who jumped ship for guaranteed money?? They’re about to learn that guaranteed money has an expiration date, just like when LIV finally got world ranking points but only for the top 10 players. (source)

The most brutal part is watching guys who burned bridges with the PGA Tour now trying to rebuild them. Good luck explaining to Brian Rolapp why you deserve a warm welcome back after calling his tour “legacy media” for two years.

🏎️ McLaren Golf Clubs Cost $375 Per Iron

McLaren — yes, the car company — just launched golf clubs with their Series 1 and Series 3 irons at $375 PER CLUB. That’s $2,625 for a 7-iron set, because apparently regular expensive golf equipment wasn’t expensive enough. (source)

They claim they’re not trying to be “those guys” while literally being exactly those guys. At least when Porsche did this with their golf clubs, they had decades of precision engineering credibility. McLaren’s golf credibility is… making fast cars?? That’s like Rolex launching a line of hamburgers because they’re good with precision. Also, is it just me or are their designs giving off serious PowerBilt vibes?

🤝 Brooks Koepka Is a Free Agent Again

Brooks and Srixon/Cleveland “mutually agreed” to end their partnership, which in golf speak means someone wasn’t happy with the money. Five majors apparently don’t buy you job security in the equipment world. This comes after Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return made headlines earlier this year. (source)

🌲 Pebble Beach Planted a $50,000 Tree

Pebble Beach replanted a cypress tree on the 18th fairway to replace one lost in a 2014 storm, because nothing says “iconic golf course” like a strategically placed piece of landscaping that costs more than most people’s cars. The tree is probably insured for more than my house. (source)

🏌️ Jake Knapp Withdrew Minutes Before His Tee Time

Jake Knapp had to withdraw from the $20M Cadillac Championship literally MINUTES before his scheduled first-round tee time at Trump Doral. No details on why, but that timing is absolutely brutal — imagine getting dressed, warming up, then having to pack your bags while everyone else is already on the first tee. (source)

🛒 Golf Monthly Wants to Criminally Prosecute Slow Players

Someone at Golf Monthly wrote an entire article about “heinous golfing crimes” and suggested punishments, which honestly sounds like the kind of content you write when you’re three drinks deep at the 19th hole. But you know what?? I’m here for it. (source)

💰 Save $100 on Recovery Products You’ll Never Use

Golf.com is pushing Hyperice recovery products with a $100 discount, because apparently we all need professional-grade muscle recovery tools to deal with the devastating physical toll of riding in a cart for four hours. (source)

🏆 Cameron Young Shot 64 Without a Bogey

Cameron Young fired an 8-under 64 to take the early lead at the Cadillac Championship, going bogey-free in the process. Actual good golf happening at Trump Doral feels weird to report on, but here we are. Kid’s been knocking on the door of superstardom for a while now — maybe this is his week, especially after Cameron Young won THE PLAYERS Championship earlier this year. (source)

Another week, another reminder that golf’s business side is infinitely more chaotic than anything happening between the ropes. At least the trees at Pebble are thriving.