GOLF’s weekly Tour Confidential roundtable breaks down the game’s biggest headlines. This week, our writers and editors discuss Rory McIlroy’s Race to Dubai victory, the late Dan Hicks’ legacy, Bryson DeChambeau’s new golf course and more.
Rory McIlroy ended his 2026 with a Race to Dubai title, the eighth of his career, to cap off a year that also included his second Masters title, although his one PGA Tour victory was the fewest he’s had in the last five seasons. How would you access McIlroy’s 2026?
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It’s funny, McIlroy has spent the last couple years winning some of the titles he wants the absolute most — and not all that much else. The irony is that he spent the preceding decade winning everything except the titles he wanted most. This version seems more fulfilling, although McIlroy is clearly miffed that he can’t always tap into his full talents on “regular” tournament weeks, but in a year where you win the Masters and a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai, none of the other stuff seems to matter much.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I think Rory was a major winner of 2026, despite just one PGA Tour victory. Sure, he’s had seasons where he’s won more, but at this point of his career he wants major titles. He got one this year, and that makes it a win. Plus, 2026 will be remembered as the year LIV Golf died. And for someone who stood up against the league since its inception, that’s a big win for Rory McIlroy. He landed on the right side of history.
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): Rory is in the legacy-building stage of his career — and nothing bolsters the resume quite like adding to the major count. Any year he can add to that tally should be considered a success, performance in other tournaments be damned.
Ten players earned PGA Tour cards for 2027 via their finish in the DP World Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai on Sunday (Patrick Reed among them). Which of the 10 names is most intriguing to you?
Dethier: Ex-delivery driver Joe Dean has confessed that if he could make more money in a less “stressful” line of work, he would. That’s the type of nihilism I like in my athletes, even if it doesn’t necessarily have me running to the betting window.
Berhow: Apologies for taking the easy answer, and kudos to Dylan for not doing so, but it’s Patrick Reed’s return to the Tour. He’s not quite the villain he was years ago, but he’s still playing good golf and it will be fun to see him back on TV more often and in events that actually matter.
Melton: I’m with Berhow here. Reed (and his villain persona) returning to the Tour will be great for storylines next season.
Dan Hicks, NBC’s lead golf announcer since 2000, died unexpectedly last week following an acute illness, sending shock waves through the golf world. What have you learned about Hicks in the days since his death, and what memories of him stand out most?
Dethier: The tribute that stood out came from Rowdy Gaines — Hicks’ partner in the Olympic swimming booth. As viewers we’re naturally curious about these broadcaster relationships and whether they extend past enthusiastic on-air moment-making. Are these guys actually friends? This, from Gaines, gives a clear answer:
“My heart is broken. Danny wasn’t just my partner in the booth for eight Olympics. He was one of my closest friends, someone I trusted with everything, both in and out of that arena. He was the glue that held us all together at all of those Games.”
Their 2008 winning relay call is an iconic moment of my sports-watching life. It’s both heartbreaking and affirming to hear testimony on who Hicks was away from the mic, too.
Berhow: I never met Hicks but you could tell the impact he had beyond golf due to the reaction of his unexpected passing. I still remember where I was when I watched his Tiger call from the 2008 U.S. Open — “expect anything different?! — and watching it back over the last few days it really makes you realize what makes some of these famous calls so memorable: simplicity, not trying to do too much, and giving the moment time to breathe. He was excellent at it. But most of all, he seemed like a good human. A blow to the sport for sure.
Melton: I didn’t have much interaction with Dan personally, but I have friends who worked with him at NBC and only heard glowing praise. Not only was he a pro at his job, but he also treated people the right way. As for his best call, I’ll go away from the golf course and over to the pool for my favorite of his, from the 2008 Olympics. “Here comes Lezak! Unbelievable at the end! He’s done it!”
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary restraining order Saturday halting President Trump’s renovation project at East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., keeping its historic, beloved municipal golf course open for now and putting his proposed 18-hole championship layout on hold. This story has several layers (you can learn more here) and has remained in the news for months. Why do you think it has resonated so widely, and are you surprised by the attention it’s received?
Dethier: The story has a little something for everyone. Class conflict. Allegations of corruption. Golf course architecture talk. Zoning regulations! I’d still be lying if I said I have my head around every nuance — but I’m skeptical of any plan that turns a beloved public institution into, well, something else.
Berhow: Someone recently told me there was a golf architect who was famous for saying every town should have a golf course. It seems like an endearing idea. And while the new 18-hole course here would still be public, it’s erasing much of the current infrastructure and, overall, seems like less golf than there is now. People are passionate about golf courses (and often, politics). This story has a lot of layers.
Melton: Anything that involves Donald Trump is sure to garner headlines — and this story is no different.
After speed of play flatlined in 2026, the LPGA announced an update to its pace-of-play policy that will go into effect next season. In short, it will be easier to get fined. Do you like the change? And will it be enough to help?
Dethier: On specifics, I prefer stroke penalties to fines. Big picture, I’m concerned the issue is so systemic that it’s tough to tackle one player at a time. But I’m hopeful this will nudge us in the right direction; pacing is a very, very real problem for LPGA viewers.
Berhow: I think it’s going to help. The LPGA saw improvement with its new policy in 2025, so this additional nudge will likely do the same. I give the LPGA credit for being proactive.
Melton: I’m hopeful that this new policy will be effective, but as Dylan noted, the issue may be too deeply systemic to tackle on an individual player basis. Props to the LPGA being the only tour that consistently tries to enforce their policies, though.
Bryson DeChambeau made a big announcement last week — just not the one everyone expected. DeChambeau introduced “The Orchard,” a project he’s building in his hometown of Clovis, Calif., that will feature an 18-hole championship golf course that will be the first of many “DeChambeau Designs.” What are your thoughts on Bryson, the course designer?
Dethier: I’m curious if we’re going to get something distinctly different and outside the box — à la DeChambeau playing single length irons or drinking 12 protein shakes per day — or if this will feel like a more traditional golf-and-real-estate-development play. In other words: how weird will Bryson go?
Berhow: I’m actually bullish that Bryson might have some really good ideas. Or at least, interesting ones. I see him as a guy who is more likely to create a fun golf facility (something like TopGolf, but with more bells and whistles; or a short course with lots of extras) than a traditional golf course. I could also see his designs getting a little too quirky or out of the box at times. But I’m confident he won’t offer anything boring, which is good. So I’m all for seeing what that looks like.
Melton: I’m unenthused. Great golfers are rarely great course architects, and I expect this to be no different. Good on him for bringing more golf to his hometown, but it’s not a course I’ll be going out of my way to check out.
