Travis Kelce is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, he’s been a Super Bowl hero, and it’s just a matter of time before he’s inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the biggest ovation of his sports career may have come on Wednesday on a golf course.

The Kansas City Chiefs star played in the WM Phoenix Open pro-am alongside Scottie Scheffler (front nine) and Brooks Koepka (back nine), and wound up stealing the show at TPC Scottsdale’s famed 16th hole.

Kelce hit a smooth tee shot on the iconic par 3 and watched as it landed about three feet from the pin. It sent the huge crowd on the stadium hole into an absolute frenzy, and the three-time Super Bowl champ was even awarded a gold chain for his effort. Have a look:

TRAVIS KELCE WITH AN ABSOLUTE DART ON THE 16TH.

The 3x Super Bowl champ sticks it to within a few feet and wins the gold WM chain! pic.twitter.com/H3YubtWgo2

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 4, 2026

What a shot. This dude might be a problem on the celebrity golf circuit when he retires.

It’s unclear if Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift, is in attendance. But considering the cameras didn’t pan to her after that shot, we’re assuming not.

Regardless, Kelce wasn’t part of this year’s NFL Pro Bowl festivities on Tuesday. But it certainly looks like playing in this pro-am was a lot more fun.

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By now, golf fans are well aware of the verbal abuse showered on Rory McIlroy during the Ryder Cup. And even some hops that got showered near the five-time major champ and his wife. Disgusting stuff.

But Rory wasn’t the only member of Team Europe being heckled at Bethpage Black. And now one of those players has clapped back in a creative way.

That would be Robert MacIntyre, who posted a video montage on Instagram containing clips of his highlights from the week with some of the most vile comments spewn at him. Have a look:

 

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A post shared by Robert MacIntyre (@robertmacintyre)

“Keep them coming”, the Scottish star captioned with a kiss emoji. And in case you’re wondering about the music, that’s Gala’s “Freed From Desire,” which Team Europe has transformed into its catchy “Europe’s on Fire!” chant.

Anyway, well played, Bob. Both on and off the course.

READ MORE: The subtle way Europe has cracked the code to motivating its players

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By now you’ve heard the news. If not on the television or the Internet, then at least on the Richter Scale. Team Europe has won the 2025 Ryder Cup 15-13, staving off a late Sunday charge from the U.S. to claim their third away Ryder Cup win this century. As soon as the final putt was conceded, the celebrations were underway as the Europeans sang, drank and laughed their way deep into the night. Amid the coronation, the Euros even sent a quick message to President Donald Trump, who made an appearance at Bethpage Black on Friday in an ultimately futile attempt to rally the troops. Sound up.

Team Europe with a message to Donald Trump after their Ryder Cup win. pic.twitter.com/hPkFoRaQoB

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) September 30, 2025

RELATED: Watch Rory McIlroy stoke the flames in Bryson DeChambeau rivalry during Bethpage celebration

It takes pretty big stones to call out President Trump, but we already know Team Europe has those in spades. Some American fans cried foul after the video surfaced, but the fact is, President Trump inserted himself into the Ryder Cup conversation by appearing at Bethpage Black during a military flyover on Friday. More importantly, the President, who has been known to take the bait on occasion, didn’t seem upset by the video, resharing the clip on Truth Social late Sunday to congratulate the away team for their remarkable performance.

Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 09:41 PM EST 09/28/25

Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/rpnyBiW2ma

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 29, 2025

RELATED: Former athlete speaks out on behaviour toward Rory McIlroy: ‘No way I’d expose my wife to that’

All’s well that ends well, and hopefully, the President can now turn his attention back to the actual issues facing America. As for the Euros, this is a “you don’t have to like it, but you do have to respect it” situation. They took their share of abuse throughout the weekend and hardly blinked. We suppose it’s only fair to give Americans—president or not—a wee taste of their own medicine.

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Rory McIlroy had plenty to celebrate following Europe’s 15-13 win in the Ryder Cup on Sunday. But while his team partied, the five-time major champ also found a way to stoke the flames with rival Bryson DeChambeau.

Things have gotten tense between these two stars over the past couple of years. There was Bryson taking a funny crack at Rory with the cameras rolling regarding the outcome of the 2024 U.S. Open (McIlroy got even by beating Bryson in the final pairing of this year’s Masters). Then, ahead of last week, Rory had some, um, interesting comments regarding Bryson.

RELATED: Rory McIlroy endured torment at Bethpage and came out the other side

“I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people,” McIlroy said in an interview with the Guardian. “That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”

Not what you’d expect from two guys who were both part of Adam Sandler’s team in “Happy Gilmore 2”!

And back to Sunday, when this feud grew—despite the two not facing each other once in five Ryder Cup sessions. McIlroy was celebrating above fans on the walkway that takes the players from the clubhouse at Bethpage Black to and from the first and 18th holes when he noticed he was perched near a big “DECHAMBEAU.” Rory then draped a European flag over the signage, doing his best to cover Bryson’s entire name to the delight of the European fans watching. Have a look:

Rory covered Bryson's name with the European flag. pic.twitter.com/rkGHpvUy43

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 29, 2025

Damn, that’s pretty cold, Rory. Move over Bryson-Brooks, golf has a new great rivalry. It’s just too bad these guys don’t cross paths more often.

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We expected New Yorkers to redefine what next-level obscenities and outrageousness could look like from golf fans at the Ryder Cup. No one could’ve predicted things escalating quite this far.

Video of Rory McIlroy’s wife, Erica, being beaned with a beer can in the aftermath of Day 2 of the Ryder Cup went viral on Sunday. In the wake of one of the most impressive Ryder Cup performances in the history of the competition, the topic de jour for some time will be the abuse endured by McIlroy and the rest of the European team. Rightfully so.

RELATED: Rory McIlroy endured torment at Bethpage and came out the other side

For anybody who pays attention to sports, you know New York sports fans can very easily cross the line to being quite obnoxious—especially when their team is losing. Just ask Chipper Jones, who was Public Enemy No. 1 for quite some time as a star of the Atlanta Braves, which competed against the New York Yankees in the World Series in 1996 and 1999, and against the New York Mets for every season of his career.

Jones, the Hall of Fame third baseman, chimed in on social media in the wake of the outrage over the video of McIlroy’s wife going viral.

Here’s Chipper’s tweet:

Hi….my name is Chipper Jones. I played in NY 12-15 times every yr for 20 yrs and multiple times in the postseason. AT NO TIME in 2 decades was my family EVER allowed to go to a game in NY. What do u expect to happen? Is it right? No! But when u are public enemy #1….expect to be… https://t.co/7JE33ZOIC3

— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) September 28, 2025

Some commenters took issue with Jones’ tweet, pointing out that he seemingly didn’t condemn the behaviour of the fans at Bethpage Black. Jones wrote back to one of these replies, saying he did “call out” the poor behaviour from the fans. But he did double down on the fact that he wouldn’t have allowed his wife or kids to attend the games.

That’s an unfortunate reality, and also something that you wouldn’t expect to be the case in golf. Our game is born out of respect and etiquette, and Ryder Cup players’ wives and girlfriends are a big part of the week—attending the gala in the lead-up to the event. And the WAGs can often be seen following a lot of the matches in the crowds.

RELATED: European fans have flooded Bethpage

Should the WAGs have watched some of the action from the clubhouse at Bethpage Black instead of being out with their husbands on the course? Hindsight is 20-20, but we’re not sure anybody could’ve expected things to escalate to a degree to where family members would be in physical danger for following the matches.

But this week really took things to new levels. If the Ryder Cup ever returns to New York, we might expect the family members of European competitors to tread lightly and perhaps take Jones’ advice to heart.

RELATED: The U.S. team broke itself with the Keegan Bradley debacle, but the fix is easier than it seems

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One of the reasons they are so loved is the team’s “14th man.” No, not the 13th man, that will always remain the loyal yellow and blue army of witty-singing fans from across the pond. It’s this 14th man—or group really—that has become an integral part of making those lads likeable, a behind-the-scenes squad that Donald has come to rely on to help inspire his players amid the tall task of winning a Ryder Cup on the road.

RELATED: How Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton stole the Bryson Show’s thunder

Introducing the content team behind Ryder Cup Europe.

I caught up with Tom Jackson (center above) this week, Group Director of Content, Ryder Cup Europe, at Bethpage to understand more about the content he and his team produce, how it’s done and why it’s become such a vital part of motivational strategy for the Europeans.

“This week is so important to us,” Jackson said. “Obviously, we only get this chance once every two years, so everything we do builds to this week.”

The team is led by a handful of producers at Ryder Cup Productions but the workforce grows to more than 50 during Ryder Cup week itself. The team will produce content for the players, for Team Europe’s social media channels, documentaries, an official film and branded content for partners and sponsors.

Getting images of European players hanging loose and having fun is a key part of what the Ryder Cup Europe social team is trying to do. Jared C. Tilton

According to Jackson, it all back in 2014 with Paul McGinley captaining the Europeans at Gleneagles. “He asked us to produce some videos to show the players in the team room and it went from there.”

Those videos, a mixture of humor and motivation, landed very well with Captain McGinley and his players. Jackson said they haven’t looked back since.

“Every captain is different and has a slightly different story they want to bring to their captaincy,” Jackson said. “As soon as they are announced as captain, we sit down with them and begin fleshing out what their vision is for the next two years, what themes are important to him and how he feels he can best motivate the players and inspire the fans.

“Each is unique in how they want to lead and inspire the team, as well as the supporters. And that is represented in what we produce.”

RELATED: Scottie Scheffler isn’t playing like himself and it’s killing the U.S.

In 2018 in France, under the captaincy of Thomas Bjorn, the crew produced a motivational video that was shown to the team on Wednesday night of Ryder Cup week. The video featured former European captains Brian Huggett, Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal. Again, it resonated with the team and following their success at Le Golf National, Bjorn agreed that it could be shared with the fans.

“We saw the impact that video had on the team and the fans and knew we were onto to something,” said Jackson as he showed me the video on his phone.

On Tuesday of this week, they released their 2025 version. Under the leadership of Donald, they created a piece titled “Our Time, Our Place” built around the theme of European success on U.S. soil and featuring nearly all of the 37 European players who have successful won an away Ryder Cup.

“It took us about a year to produce, honestly,” Jackson said proudly.

“The idea started with Luke pretty soon after Rome, when he accepted the captaincy again for New York. He didn’t want to do things the same way, he knew captaining an away Ryder Cup would be a completely different monster to a home one. From the first meeting, he wanted the theme of 2025 to be about joining the legends of European golf that have won in the U.S.”

“Thus, “Our Time, Our Place” became the motto and we went to work.”

For Jackson and his team, the goal was to speak to every one of European players who won in the U.S. that they could. Two have passed away (Seve Ballesteros and Gordon Brown) but ultimately over the course of a year, 34 former players spoke to the production team and were included in the video.

Needless to say, the video landed well, both inside the European Team Room, who viewed the video ahead of its public release, and outside with golf fans across the world.

More importantly, the theme and motto became key to everything Donald did behind the scenes to give his team a chance to win at Bethpage. Check out this video about how the motto drove the way Europe set up its back room this week.

Beyond their marquee pieces, such as the Donald video this year or Bjorn’s ex-captain piece, the team is constantly with the players and back-room staff, producing and publishing content in order to give fans a glimpse at what makes Team Europe so special.

Luke Donald started working on this motto for his 2025 team for almost two years, shortly after being picked to captain again.

Just this week, we’ve seen players discussing Viktor Hovland’s obsession with UFOs, McIlroy and Shane Lowry playing darts, Matt Fitzpatrick on his gaming, an inside look at range sessions, team room reactions to pairings and more.

“It’s a huge operation. One of the key reasons it all works so well is the consistency of our team. Our team works on the DP World Tour and see the players week in and week out. There’s a trust there that can’t just be built one week every two years.”

This is a key aspect of the European team. Unlike the American team that is organized and hosted by the PGA of America, the European team represent the DP World Tour and with that comes the familiar faces of Jackson’s team.

Richard Heathcote

Where the U.S. players may only see PGA of America personnel at the PGA Championship or Ryder Cup, the European crew see most of the top name players on their team 10 to 15 times each year.

“It makes such a difference. It allows us to get closer to the players and their teams. Honestly, we view ourselves as part of Team Europe and not just a content team covering them.”

And the content shows. It’s impossible to quantify what impact it has on the golf course during each Ryder Cup, but ask the fans or any of the players in the European team room, and you’ll find there’s many that believe it gives them an edge.

Main Image: Supplied

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We lead with Joaquin Niemann, LIV Golf’s “Man of Steel,” who reveals the secrets behind his iron dominance—and how you can sharpen your own approach game.

As the Arab Golf Series gathers momentum, Egypt hosts the Pan Arab Ladies and Junior Championship in Cairo, showcasing the region’s rising stars. The Aramco Korea Championship returns stronger than ever, promising world-class competition and a celebration of global women’s golf. We sit down with Khaled Attieh, one of Saudi Arabia’s brightest talents, as he shares his personal journey from amateur hopeful to professional golfer.

AGUILA GOLF is redefining fairway fashion—discover the brand shaping the new face of modern golf wear. From the fairways to the frontline of change, Al Zorah Golf and Yacht Club introduces a game-changing female caddie program that’s reshaping tradition. Meanwhile, in a bold defence of their sport, LIV Golf’s Captains go head-to-head with critics to champion the future of team-based pro golf.

The Hot List is back again! This month, we break down everything you need to know about all the wedges and putters available on the market from eGolf Megastore. Then you can sharpen your short game with Amy Condon of Yas Links Abu Dhabi, who delivers tips on mastering pressure putting like a pro.

Finally, we set the stage for one of the year’s marquee events with an exclusive preview of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

All this and plenty more in the May 2025 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get your FREE 2025 May edition of Golf Digest Middle East here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Fleetwood, currently ranked World No. 11, hosted the exclusive TAG Heuer media event as part of his ongoing partnership with the Swiss watchmaker, which began in 2021. Now in its fourth year, the collaboration continues to grow alongside Fleetwood’s global profile, both on and off the course.

Greeting guests, the DP World Global Ambassador kicked off the day with a relaxed golf clinic, offering swing tips and sharing stories from life on tour. The clinic also gave attendees a hands-on look at the 42mm TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition — a smartwatch built for performance, with golf-specific features that help players track every shot, hole and round with precision.

 

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With a packed global tournament schedule across the PGA and DP World Tours, the two-time Ryder Cup winner remains remarkably generous with his time — despite not having much of it!

“You just take it day by day,” Fleetwood said when asked how he balances such a demanding calendar of events. “I’m lucky — I’ve got a great team that keeps things organised, and that really helps.

“I enjoy being busy, and I love being part of everything I do.”

Fleetwood also reflected on his four-year journey with TAG Heuer, describing the brand as both “historic” and “cool” — a rare combination he feels fortunate to be aligned with.

“When the opportunity came up, I was like, wow — I remember watching Tiger Woods with TAG Heuer when I was younger. It felt really special to be part of that legacy.”

Fleetwood also spoke about his passion for giving back through initiatives like his Tommy Fleetwood Academy. As a proud member of Jumeirah Golf Estates, the 34-year-old is firmly rooted in the local golf scene here in the UAE — and clearly, he’s making every second count…

Main Image: TAG Heuer

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Adam Hadwin is not the funny one in the family. We all know that. He’s the pro golfer, works hard at his job and is the frequent target of droll jokes by his wife, Jessica, on her X account. Very little that Adam Hadwin does is going to go viral, unless it’s Jessica commenting on it. But the 37-year-old golfer pulled off something on his own Friday that is so hilarious that it’s going to stick with him for decades, and we can’t wait to hear what his wife has to say about it.

Received this via DM: Adam Hadwin learning the consequences of his actions on Friday at the Valspar Championship. pic.twitter.com/ZiitjOdao3

— Alex Gelman (@agsnetworks) March 22, 2025

In the second round of the Valspar Championship, with Hadwin on his way to missing the cut at five over following a Friday 76, he was caught not on the broadcast, but by a fan, producing a very angry two-handed wedge slam into the ground. No big deal, since we’ve seen a putter punt and whipped club throw this week at Innisbrook.

But Hadwin has the misfortune of hitting down on a sprinkler head, and water immediately comes shooting up in two directions. Some guys might have kept walking, but Hadwin turns—and this is where it gets out-loud laughable, as the audio proves—he tries to step on the sprinkler head to make it stop. That doesn’t help, and for a few seconds Hadwin stands there, amid the spray, embarrassed and knowing that he’s experiencing golf karma at is funniest and cruelest.

We think we hear him mutter, “sorry,” and unfortunately, the 37-second video ends on a cliffhanger, Hadwin still kneeling by the sprinkler, and us not knowing how or if he solved the water works before moving on.

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The Dubai resident has navigated his way through the choppy waters of the professional world over the past 10 years.

In 2015, aged just 17, he burst onto the scene by becoming the youngest winner on the then Challenge Tour, thanks to an invite into the event. Despite the fast start to his career, the youngster never kicked on fully to the DP World Tour. But still, German-born Foos describes his current golfing situation as “a lot”—but in the best possible way.

“I’ve been working really hard lately. I always have, but it’s been a lot of work,” shares Foos on the driving range at The Els Club Dubai, his home course. The now 27 year old had just returned from a ten-day trip to the US to see his coach, but despite his busy schedule, remains upbeat in what lays ahead. “I love working hard, so I’m having a lot of fun.”

Having called Dubai and The Els Club his home for over 10 years, even in the past decade, the city was a very different place from how Dominic remembers. “None of the houses were built then,” he recalls. “This really feels like home. I’m very grateful to them (The Els Club Dubai) for helping me and supporting me over the years, as well as for giving me an amazing course to play and practice on.”

Like many professional athletes, Foos has faced challenges over the last few years, especially with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic serving as a stumbling block for his career development. “Everyone I talk to says the Covid years just flew by. It’s definitely been challenging.

“I certainly haven’t played as well as I wanted to, but I feel like I’m on a really good track now and working on the right things.

“I’ve just got my Asian Tour card, which is great. I’ve only played one event so far, but there are some good ones coming up, so I’m really looking forward to getting started there and posting some good results.”

Foos’ mindset shift is also reflected in his approach to fitness—not just for golf, but for his life in general. “I think it plays a very big and important role, for sure. It’s kind of evolved for me a little bit as well.

“You’ve got to be very mobile, and you’ve got to have the speed, strength, and endurance, especially with all the travelling we do.”

So much so, Foos has undergone a new fitness and lifestyle regimen including the 75-Day Hard Challenge, in a bid to open up his mind to a different approach to golf fitness. “It was super spontaneous,” Foos admits. “I didn’t plan on doing it at all. It includes two workouts a day, a strict diet—no sugar, no alcohol—and a commitment to reading ten pages of a nonfiction book every day.

“This is day 31 today, and I’m kind of over the sugar part, so it’s all good there. But forcing myself to read every day, especially after a long practice, when I’m not really in the mood to read, I’m still forcing myself to do it. But I’m really loving it now.”

“For me, it’s like 90% mental,” he says. “When I work out, I automatically want to eat better, I sleep better, and I just feel more structured in everything I do, including my golf.” His emphasis on mental health is clear, and he’s continually seeing the difference fitness can make on his overall well-being.

“If I’m structured in my workouts, I’m much more structured in my golf game and practice,” he explains, stressing the link between physical and mental health.

“Tiger started it with the whole fitness thing, and if you look at the guys on tour, they’re all fit-looking guys. The same with the ladies—they’re all super athletic. You can really see a big shift towards fitness now, even on the DP World Tour. They do a great job of giving players the logistics and infrastructure to have a gym there every single week, and players use it, so it’s super important.”

As his season progresses, Dominic is not just playing golf—he’s redefining his approach to his career, fitness, and mindset. Whether it’s on tour, in the gym, or competing in the Lion’s Den at The Els Club Dubai, Foos is determined to keep evolving.

As he himself puts it, “Golf doesn’t change, right? The ball is the same. The clubs are the same. But I just feel like I’m in a really good place now.” And with the way he’s preparing for 2025, he’s set to do just that.

This article was featured in the March 2025 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine

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