How Calvin Peete, Tiger Woods, and rising international stars transformed the history of The Players Championship. Since its inaugural tournament in 1974, The Players Championship has been considered one of the most prestigious events in professional golf. Often called the “fifth major,” it annually attracts one of the strongest fields on the PGA Tour. While many champions come from traditional golfing backgrounds, several players of color—particularly African American and Asian golfers—have made history with landmark victories. Their wins signify milestones in the diversification of professional golf and the sport’s expanding global reach. Early Breakthrough: Calvin Peete (1985) The first major… Read More »

Article and photo of Kevin Hammer provided by USGA. ed   Dedicated golf leader, son of a PGA professional elected as the 68th president of the United States Golf Association LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – Mar. 1, 2026 – The United States Golf Association announced it has elected Kevin Hammer, of Boynton Beach, Fla., as its 68th president at the Association’s Annual Meeting in New York, N.Y. Hammer will serve a two-year term spearheading the USGA Executive Committee, the volunteer-led policy-making board that provides essential oversight and organization to the USGA’s full-time staff. Hammer brings a lifetime of golf experience to… Read More »

Article provided by National Golf Foundation.ed “Over the past two years, the total number of open and operating golf courses in the U.S. is virtually unchanged.” “The number of annual course closures has decreased for five straight years, with the 2024 number of shuttered courses dipping to its lowest levels since 2004. Meanwhile, new course openings and development are both up.” Even with the game’s post-pandemic trajectory and notable participation and play gains in recent years, it is a departure from the supply correction that the U.S. golf market has experienced for much of the past two decades. Since 2022… Read More »