Mike Dojc

In fashion, every fit and look eventually comes back around. From relegation to the sartorial backwaters of retirement-community putting greens and

A record $13 million purse headlines this week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship, but its leaders say the sport's most meaningful gains are increasingly measured elsewhere.

Mike Dojc, Contributor A record $13 million purse, a new high-water mark in professional women's golf, is up for grabs at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club outside Minneapolis.

Mobility is paramount for golfers, with many professionals and amateurs facing joint issues requiring replacement, as seen with Steve Stricker and Ollie Schniederjans. Medical device company Stryker is launching a new education and awareness campaign, partnering with major champion Shane Lowry. This initiative uniquely highlights the vital, often overlooked, role of caregivers in a patient's joint replacement journey. Lowry's personal connection stems from supporting his father, Brendan, through successful hip and knee surgeries that restored his ability to play golf and attend tournaments. Stryker aims to resonate with families by showcasing how caregiver involvement profoundly improves recovery and allows patients to regain their quality of life, emphasizing the transformative impact of restored mobility.

While tennis and soccer command the weekend spotlight, the Evian Championship, Scottish Open and ISCO Championship offer golf fans compelling storylines to follow.

Escalante Golf has expanded its national portfolio by acquiring Tumble Creek, a premier private golf community near Cle Elum, Washington. This marks their first property in the state, putting them now at 27 clubs across 18 states. The acquisition includes the top-ranked Tom Doak-designed golf course and approximately 330 undeveloped homesites, which Escalante views as a key long-term asset. The company plans to invest millions in Tumble Creek, focusing on golf course enhancements and fitness center updates, aiming to improve the member experience while honoring the club's legacy. Escalante's strategy emphasizes acquiring established, well-run clubs and making thoughtful, long-term investments, driven by a bullish outlook on destination golf and luxury residential markets.

England's Golf Coast is hosting consecutive major championships at neighboring venues, giving the R&A a rare opportunity to extend golf's global spotlight across region over two weeks. CEO Mark Darbon says the governing body views the proximity of The Open at Royal Birkdale and the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes as a way to create greater value for sponsors, broadcasters and fans through expanded storytelling and digital engagement. The strategy includes a focus on the "other 99%" of fans who experience the championships remotely and supports the R&A's long-term ambition to bring 22 million new golfers into the game by 2034.

Mike Dojc, Contributor For the space of a few seconds, Notah Begay III was too stunned to even react.

Good Good, a golf brand born on YouTube, has evolved into a comprehensive business spanning media, apparel, and events, backed by nearly 4 million social followers and a recent $45 million investment. The company is now aggressively expanding its product development, notably by hiring former TaylorMade and Sun Day Red product designer Alex Criscuolo. This strategic move underscores Good Good's ambition to become a premier golf apparel brand, moving beyond creator merchandise. Criscuolo emphasizes leveraging the brand's unique parasocial relationships, where authentic creator connections drive consumer affinity, a departure from traditional pro endorsements. His influence on collections will be evident by 2027, aiming to convert audience engagement into significant enterprise value.

Portugal's Algarve, once one of Europe's premier golf destinations, gradually lost its premium standing as years of underinvestment and a shift toward mass-market tourism repositioned it as a value destination. Now, backed by billions in private investment from Arrow Global, the region is seeking to reclaim its place at the high end of the golf market. The redevelopment of the Ernie Els-designed Els Club Vilamoura exemplifies that strategy, which aims to attract not only golfers but also second-home buyers and year-round residents through a combination of golf, hospitality, real estate and lifestyle amenities. Whether that premium repositioning succeeds remains the defining question.