This week feels like the game shifting beneath the surface. Bryson reshaping his equipment future. PGA National under scrutiny. Anthony Kim turning prize money into equity. The business of golf never stands still.
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🧪💥 Bryson and LA Golf split
Bryson DeChambeau is no longer an ambassador for LA Golf.
After years of collaboration → including two U.S. Open victories with 14 LA Golf shafts in the bag → the partnership has officially ended.
Reports suggest Bryson’s camp pushed for majority ownership of the company. LA Golf declined. The result → a clean break.
His agent confirmed Bryson remains a customer and still plays LA Golf shafts. But the formal relationship is over.
LA Golf is now shifting toward a direct-to-consumer model → focused on scalable premium products rather than building one-off clubs around a single superstar.
Bryson, meanwhile, is reviewing every part of his competitive and business future → including what equipment he will put in play at the 2026 Masters.
He will have 14 clubs in the bag.
The logo on them may look very different.
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🚨 Andrea Pavan seriously injured
DP World Tour pro Andrea Pavan has withdrawn from the Investec South African Open after falling three stories down an open elevator shaft in South Africa.
He suffered serious shoulder injuries and fractures to several vertebrae, and has already undergone major surgery. He is expected to remain in South Africa for several weeks.
Those close to him say he is in good spirits and thankful to be alive.
A GoFundMe has been launched to support Andrea and his family during recovery →
Support here
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📊 Leaderboard update
PGA Tour ➜ Cognizant Classic (USA)
1st at -9: 🇺🇸 Smotherman A. 2nd at -8: 🇨🇴 Echavarria N.
LPGA Tour ➜ HSBC Women’s World Championship (Singapore)
1st at -6: 🇺🇸 Kim A. 2nd at -5: 🇨🇳 Liu Y. |
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🌱 PGA National under fire
PGA Tour players are questioning the setup at PGA National. Winning scores at the Cognizant Classic have climbed sharply in recent years → a shift many attribute to winter overseeding that softens the traditionally penal Bermuda rough. Billy Horschel said the decision sits with the course owners, not the Tour, calling it “out of their hands,” while Shane Lowry admitted the course felt “a little bit too easy” last year and hopes scoring toughens up. The Bear Trap still looks brutal. Whether it plays that way is another question.
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💼 Anthony Kim goes equity with Malbon
Anthony Kim has signed with Malbon Golf → but not in the traditional way. Fresh off his LIV Adelaide win and $4 million payday, Kim chose equity over cash, becoming a partner in the brand rather than taking a standard apparel deal. He will wear Malbon in non-LIV events and practice rounds, while continuing to compete in Under Armour uniforms with Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces during LIV events. Founder Stephen Malbon revealed Kim declined a cash offer and requested all equity instead, saying the partnership “feels right” and aligns with his unconventional image. After a 12-year hiatus and a headline-grabbing return, Kim is now betting on business upside as much as on-course success.
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💰 Koepka’s $5M return donation
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour came with a $5 million charitable commitment → part of the Tour’s “Returning Member Program.” $1 million will go to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, $1.5 million is being split across 10 additional charities tied to Koepka and the Tour, and $2.5 million will be distributed to causes selected by PGA Tour members. Beneficiaries include organizations supporting ALS research, children with developmental disabilities, housing for critically ill families, autism support, and community programs in Palm Beach County. The donation serves as both a goodwill gesture and a key condition of Koepka’s suspension-free path back to the Tour.
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Bryson shaking up equipment deals. PGA National under scrutiny. Anthony Kim betting on equity.
That’s where the game stands this week. Got a take on what matters most? Hit reply and let us know. We read every message.
Team Zire
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