On August 13th, 2025, we break down Rory McIlroy's controversial decision to skip the first playoff event, major changes to the TOUR Championship, and the bizarre two-man race for the LIV Golf individual title.

PGA TOUR PLAYOFFS

• Rory McIlroy, second in the FedEx Cup standings, is skipping the first playoff event in Memphis. His decision sparks a debate about player autonomy versus the tour's desire for a compelling postseason, echoing old frustrations about the playoff structure.
• Supporting quote: McIlroy defended his choice, stating he has "earned the right to do whatever he wants."
• We also cover the TOUR Championship's major format change, with Patrick Cantlay calling the old "starting strokes" system "goofy" and the new winner-take-all finale a "definite improvement."

LIV GOLF FINALE

• The individual title race in Indianapolis is a fascinating duel between Joaquin Niemann, who has five wins but has been inconsistent, and Jon Rahm, who has zero wins but has consistently finished near the top of leaderboards.
• Supporting quote: As Pat Perez put it, "I just can't believe we could even talk about a guy that's won five times that doesn't have it sewn up yet."
• This sets up a dramatic finale where dominance clashes with consistency for the season-long championship.

Quick Hits

Scottie Scheffler's temporary caddie swap • John Daly hitting drivers over a highway • The boom in high-tech indoor golf lounges

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