Mine was Mother’s Day. A Sunday with absolutely stunning weather, a light breeze, and 2.5 hours at the Winter Park 9 golf course all to myself with Ken (my husband.)

This was maybe the 4th or 5th time I had ever played on a golf course and I was at the stage where I was always frustrated with myself and beating myself up on every hole that I just couldn’t master.

But on hole 7, a par 3, I whacked the ever loving shit out of that ball and absolutely NAILED the sweet spot.

So much so that it landed on the green ultimately giving me my first par.

I FINALLY felt that feeling of hitting a “pure” shot that everyone talks about.

That sound and that feeling that travels up the shaft and through your whole body (yes, I’m still talking about golf…stay with me) will keep me coming back for as long as I can squeeze into a golf skirt and continue to ask, “Where’s the cart girl?”

That moment, my friends, is when I knew that I was hooked on this game and I was gonna chase that feeling until you pry my overused 7-iron from my cold dead hands. (Feel free to leave that glove on though.)

So, if you’re still in the thick of learning this beautiful game and you have yet to hit that one shot that keeps you coming back, just know that the second it does, it’s going to ruin you in the best way possible.

Now, if you’re a newbie reading this story, you might still be at the point where other people watching you matters. Your limiting beliefs hold you back because the majority of every shot you take isn’t “the one” or you feel like you just can’t get it right.

But here’s where I need to have a massive reality check with you.

Even when you do finally hit that one amazing shot, your next one, and the one after that might be shit.

I know, I know, so positive of me to say, right?

Well. Golf is hard. But it’s worth it.

When you finally let go of the “omg this is so hard” and “I’ll never get it” thoughts, not only will you have more fun, I’m telling you right now, your golf game will improve.

I don’t know the science behind it, but it just will.

The bad rounds don’t mean you’re bad. And the good rounds don’t mean you’re on your way to the pros. Golf just does what it wants and your only job is to keep showing up until the good ones start outnumbering the chaos. Which they will. Eventually. Probably. 🤷

But none of that matters as much as the first time. Because once you know what it feels like to hit it right…like, really right, you’ll never “unknow” that feeling.

It lives in your hands. And every time you step up to the ball there’s some part of you that knows it’s possible because you’ve felt it before.

So if you haven’t had your first yet…it’s coming. And when it does, you’re going to want to tell someone immediately.

That’s literally what this newsletter is for.

— Delaina

Founder of 1930Fore & The Golf Tea

This week’s newsletter is brought to you by Bluv Media

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There’s just something so absolutely soothing about a 7am tee time that levels my head in a way that nothing else does. And I mean nothing.

Not a massage. Not a facial. Not a sound bath (that was not a good experience for me). Not Pilates. Not a pedicure…None of it. Not even close.

Now before you at me…hold up…those things are fine. Great, even.

But after a recent convo with friends about what they find relaxing…things got deep and there were a lot of “ah-ha” moments.

There’s maintenance. And then there’s restoration. And they are not the same thing.

For me a facial is maintenance. A massage is maintenance - which candidly, I absolutely hate. A pedicure is maintenance…it’s upkeep, if you will.

They don’t fill my cup. My brain continues to run through the chaos of the day while I’m laying on the table with the esthetician ensuring that my perimenopause dry skin gets tamed. And a pedicure? Forget it. My brain will not shut off.

Pilates? Omg. My brain goes bananas and I jones for my phone because I have an idea I want to write down. I only do it so that I lessen my chances of osteoporosis.

So, really, those things just keep my machine running.

But golf restores something in me.

It gives me back what the busy week took away.

It’s hard to explain but I’m gonna try.

When I step up to the tee box whether it’s a 7am tee time and I smell that wet dew or it’s 2pm and that warm breeze hits my skin, it makes things go quiet.

A quiet in the way that my house is never quiet. My email is never quiet. And how my brain is never quiet.

The surroundings settle and something in my chest goes, “oh ok. Here we go.”

The most important piece of this is that you have to focus.

But not in a stressful way - it’s the exact opposite.

Golf requires your full attention on one thing at a time.

Just this shot. Just this hole. Just this moment.

Your brain can’t be running through your to-do list while you’re trying to figure out how to get out of a bunker. It just can’t.

The course will evict every other thought and force you to be present whether you want to or not.

That’s not relaxation. That’s better than relaxation. That’s your mind actually getting a break from itself.

“But wait…Delaina. Golf is hard and frustrating, how in the world is that relaxing?”

Fair.

Some holes and some rounds are absolutely maddening. But even when something doesn’t go right with my golf game, I still drive home with my head much quieter than it was when I drove there. I wish I could explain the science behind all of it.

So, if any of this sounds like you…even just a little bit, sit with that for a second.

Because maybe the reason traditional self care has never fully landed for you is because your version of restoration just might involve a 7-iron and some morning dew. Just sayin’.

Book the tee time. Tell everyone it’s self care. I’ll back you up.

Hell, I’ll even meet you there.

Delaina

Okay. Imma need you to be SAT for this one.

I honestly went back and forth on writing about the Masters because I felt like everyone was doing it.

But as you’re probably noticing, the entire golf world is collectively losing its mind over this tournament so, I’m going to do some top-level coverage here on why everyone is acting like this is a religious experience.

Because honestly. It is.

Let me explain....

First. How did we get here?

So, it’s 1930 and a dude named Bobby Jones, who at the time was the most famous amateur golfer who ever lived (Dramatic? Yes. True? Also yes.) decides at the ripe old age of 28 that he’s gonna retire.

Alright, my guy. Must be nice.

Bobby Jones

(picture from Golf.com)

But instead of taking up, oh, I don’t know, something like fishing, he looks around and goes, “You know what would be insane? If I bought a former plant nursery in random Augusta, Georgia, and built the most intimidating and wild golf course in human history on it.”

And his business partner, Clifford Roberts, said, “Bet.”

And that’s what they did.

They found a 365-acre former nursery called Fruitland Nurseries, and Bobby was all, “PERF!”

He had a vision, I tell ya.

An unhinged one, but a vision nonetheless.

The first tournament was in 1934, and at the time was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament (seems really long for merch, but I digress...) because Bobby thought calling it “The Masters” was a bit too arrogant. (insert side eyes here.)

Now, Cliff (can we call him Cliff?) wanted to name it The Masters from day one because it was for the “masters of golf,” but Bobby was like, “Bro...I don’t know...seems too flashy.”

But our guy Cliff won.

Noted.

Now let’s talk about the course itself because IT IS NOT NORMAL.

I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a professional golfer who won’t agree that Augusta is the most beautiful golf course they’ve ever played. For some reason, the sun seems brighter, and the sky seems bluer. They honestly describe it as feeling like heaven. And it might be. Maybe I’ll find out one day. *sigh*

(Picture from Golf Digest)

Paying mad respect to the property’s original life as a nursery, each hole at Augusta is named after a flowering plant. Magnolia...Camellia, Flowering Peach... pretty cool, if you ask me. Definitely loving it.

But wait...there’s more.

Holes 11, 12, and 13 have been coined, Amen Corner. Which came from a 1958 Sports Illustrated article where the writer heard a jazz record called “Shouting in That Amen Corner” and really needed something catchy to add to this golf course article so, that was it. That’s the story.

Our dude heard a great jazz record, named the golf course corner, and now it’s the most famous three holes in sports.

Absolutely iconic.

Okay now THE JACKET. We need to talk about the jacket.

Let me just say that with my golf league, 1930Fore, all members in our Clubhouse should get jackets. Not green ones, but like, something...right?! Reply if you’re into it.

Anyhoo...in 1937, all the members of Augusta National started wearing green sport coats, aka casual blazers, so that fans patrons could holler at them if they had any questions during the tournament.

(I say “holler” because it’s Georgia, but this is a respectable place, and I imagine they most likely asked like, “Excuse me, distinguished gentleman...” but I digress.)

But by 1949, this tradition shifted to the tournament winner being presented with a green jacket. Sam Snead was the first to receive one, and then all the other winners before him retroactively got to snag one as well, so nobody got their BVDs in a wad about it. Or maybe they did, and that’s why everyone else got one. That part I’m unclear about.

(Picture from CNN)

And for any design nerds like myself, this green jacket does have its own Pantone shade, btw, it’s 342 appropriately named, Augusta Green. Gotta respect her.

Now, I’ll be honest, there are a lot of rules with this jacket; the one that stands out the most is that the latest winner has to return the jacket to the clubhouse one year after his victory. And going forward, it can only be worn on Augusta National property. So, it’s like you win, and then it’s Rent the Runway...boys are so weird.

The Champions Dinner, which is unhinged in the best way.

Every year on the Tuesday before the tournament, all the past Masters champions get together for a private dinner. The previous year’s winner sets the menu aaaaaaand he also foots the bill, which often runs into five figures.

So, you win the Masters and bam...you get to host the most exclusive bougie dinner in sports AND you get to pay for it. Congrats...here’s your bill. (I wonder if an 18% service charge is added?)

This year, Rory McIlroy is hosting, and below is the most talked-about dinner menu in the world.

I gotta be honest though... not a big fan. Probably because I eat like a seven-year-old, but I will say, there ARE a few things I would dabble with.

Oh, and a lot of people out on the interwebs dug into how much each bottle of wine costs, and it ranges from $500+ to over $1,200...I have no words.

Check this out…

The Par 3 Contest, which is actually the purest thing in sports.

By far one of the cutest things you’ll see at the tournament happens on Wednesday, before all the drama begins. The players participate in a Par 3 Contest where their spouses, kids, or grandkids can caddie for them. Holy cuteness...I’m going to link a video HERE of Tommy Fleetwood’s son last year. It went viral, and you should absolutely watch. (It’s only about 45 seconds long.)

(Picture from Sports Illustrated)

Fun fact: no one has ever won the Par 3 Contest AND the Masters in the same year. It’s become sort of a curse. Winners of the Par 3 are basically cursed for the week. Golf is a sport built on superstition, and we love her for it. I think, lol.

Why does everyone go completely feral over it though?

So, this is my opinion, but I honestly believe it’s something quite beautiful.

Most golf events (and most sporting events in general) rotate venues. The US Open moves around. The PGA Championship moves around. Even the Super Bowl can’t commit to a location.

But the Masters? It’s played at Augusta every single year.

Same course. Same week in April. Same azaleas. Same Amen Corner waiting to absolutely destroy someone’s Sunday.

And I feel that consistency creates something most sports can’t make up or even market...it’s truly traditional. Nothing about it changes. You can count on it. It doesn’t have commitment issues.

So, when you watch the Masters, you’re watching these badasses navigate the exact same holes that Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and many other legends surrounding this game have played.

Ok, let’s get back to biz...

So, noting that players follow in the footsteps of the ones before them, then you layer on all the traditions...the jacket that’s been handed from champion to champion, the Champions dinner, the Par 3 curse, and what you end up with is a tournament that doesn’t just have a history. IT IS HISTORY.

And I believe that’s why people lose their minds. Including me.

It’s not just a tournament. It’s a 90-year-old tradition built on a plant nursery, a borrowed jacket, an accidental jazz reference, and one very competitive retired amateur who just wanted something to do.

Honestly? Relatable.

See you on the leaderboard.

Happy Masters Week.

Delaina

Welcome to The Weekly Pour, where we spill everything happening in the golf world so you don't have to doom scroll social media at midnight to stay in the loop.

You can happily let my perimenopause 3am wake ups do that for you.

You’re welcome.

This week’s round up has a grown man making us all cry - in a good way, while a woman is quietly making record breaking history in the LPGA, and a golf format explainer that’s going to save you from a lot of, “Wait, what is that?” so you can sign up for your next golf event.

As per usual, grab a tasty libation, possibly a light provision and dive in…

✨ THIS WEEK’S POUR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOOD GIRL GOLF COLLECTIVE

Can we talk about a brand that just gets it?

Good Girl Golf Collective is a women’s golf lifestyle brand built around one very simple but very powerful idea, that good isn’t just a word, it’s a whole way of showing up.

On the course, off the course, in your outfit, in your mindset, in the way you treat the people around you. Their symbol, a cardinal is a little nod to hope, new beginnings, and the reminder that you are never out there alone. How fitting for the world of golf!

The energy behind this brand is already everything. And founder, Lisa is quite incredible. She’s created a timeless, elevated brand, and made for the woman who brings her whole personality to the tee box and everywhere else.

This is a brand built by a woman who found golf through love, stayed for the community, and decided the game needed something that felt like her. Sound familiar?

Go check them out at goodgirlgolfcollective.com and tell them The Golf Tea sent you. 🐦‍🔴

And Clubhouse members — you already know we take care of our own. Head inside for your exclusive discount code. You’re welcome. 😉

✨ INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE

Okay real talk for a second. You found The Golf Tea because something about golf is calling you, has called, or maybe it sent you a text. So, whether you’re already playing, just getting started, or you’ve been saying “I need to learn golf” for the last two years, either way, you’re here and that means something.

The Clubhouse is where we take it further.

It’s the part where this newsletter becomes a community. Where “I’ve been meaning to try golf” becomes a tee time. Where you stop feeling like an outsider in a sport that was always meant for you anyway.

It’s also full of exclusive discounts on women’s golf gear, connections with women who are building businesses and playing golf and doing both unapologetically, recommendations on where to play, resources on how to play without the intimidation that usually comes with it, and a group of women who showed up for the golf and realized pretty quickly it was never really just about the golf.

We’re building something really good in there. Come be part of it from the beginning.

Join The Clubhouse →

Thanks to all who have subscribed to this growing beast, aka, The Golf Tea.

It’s a passion of mine to bring the world of golf to so many people interested.

Can’t wait for you to see our upcoming Master’s highlights in the coming emails!

Until then, hit ‘em straight!

Delaina

So you got invited to something.

Maybe it’s a charity golf event, maybe a work outing, maybe a friend who plays texted you “come play in this scramble with us!”. But you hesitate because you’re not sure what to do.

Or someone said scramble and someone else said best ball and the two people saying it acted like they were talking about the same thing and you didn’t want to be the one to ask.

You’re new to this. You’re still figuring out the difference between your 7-iron or your 3-wood. Or maybe even just getting to the driving range is new for you.

The last thing you need is to show up to an event or sign up for one not knowing what format you’re even playing, because that can be a whole different level of lost.

So before you RSVP, here’s exactly what both of them mean.

The Scramble

Everyone on your team of four tees off. You look at all four shots, pick the best one, and then everyone picks up their ball and plays from that spot.

You do this for the entire hole, every shot, every putt, until the ball is in the hole. One team, one ball, one score.

The coolest part about a scramble is that you can sort of hide behind your bad shots. Like, it’s really no big deal because two other people in your group didn’t hit as well as the fourth person.

You hit it into the woods? Cool, someone else hit it down the middle and that’s where everyone’s going. You three-putted in your head?

Doesn’t matter, your teammate drained it from six feet and that’s the one that counts.

The whole format is designed to keep the round moving and keep everyone in good spirits, which is why it’s the format of choice for charity events and corporate outings.

Best Ball

Best ball sounds similar because people will market their event as a Best Ball Scramble, but it’s a completely different experience on the course.

In the best ball format, everyone plays their own ball for the entire hole…start to finish. At the end of the hole, the team takes the lowest individual score and that’s what goes on the card.

So if you make a six and your partner makes a four, the team scores a four.

Your six just quietly exits the conversation and you move on to the next hole.

But listen, that doesn’t mean you had a “bad shot”...it just means someone else’s was a little better.

For you personally, that could’ve been the best tee shot you’ve ever had! So, keep that in mind!

So, with best ball, you’re playing your own game the whole time and your score is visible, even if the team ultimately uses someone else’s.

The Easiest Way to Remember It

Scramble: one ball, the whole team moves together the entire hole.

Best Ball: everyone plays their own ball, lowest score on the hole wins.

Why you should sign up…

Now look… if someone invites you to a best ball tournament, just know it’s a little more “everyone can see you” than a scramble. You’re playing your own ball the whole time so there’s nowhere to hide, but that’s not a bad thing. That’s actually you playing real golf with a safety net. Your team has your back when you need it.

Both formats are genuinely so much fun and neither one of them should be a reason to say no. The only difference is now you actually know what you said yes to and now you can just worry about what outfit you’re gonna wear.

Say “yes” to the invite. You’re ready. ☕⛳

Okay so can we please talk about what Hyo Joo Kim is doing right now because I genuinely need someone to check on Nelly Korda. (Love you, Nelly…but damn…I’m sure she’s fine because she’s Nelly, but still…check this out…)

Two weeks. TWO. Kim won the Fortinet Founders Cup in Menlo Park the week of March 19th coming in 16-under, one shot over Korda and then immediately drove (or flew) to Phoenix and did it AGAIN. 28-under. Won by two. Over Korda. Again.

And it wasn’t just that she won. It’s HOW she won. Kim became the first player in known LPGA history to shoot two rounds of 61 or better in the SAME tournament. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS! She shot 61 in round one. And then came back and shot 61 again in round three. Like it was nothing. Like she was just out here on a walk.

These are her 8th and 9th career LPGA titles. She’s now past $12 million in career earnings. I don’t know what she’s eating for breakfast but I need the brand deal announcement immediately. Is it Wheaties? What’s her protein intake? Does she do pilates? I NEED TO KNOW!

BUT WAIT. Because Kim wasn’t even the only unhinged storyline this week.

Lydia Ko opened the Ford Championship with a 12-under 60…the best round of her entire career and then finished like “yes I did that, moving on.” And Nasa Hataoka made a hole-in-one in round three and drove home in a brand new Ford Bronco. Just a little Tuesday for her, ya’ll. No biggie, right?!

WHAT’S NEXT: Aramco Championship 💰 Shadow Creek, Las Vegas, NV | April 2–5

Vegas, baby. And not just any Vegas week. The inaugural Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek is the richest non-major on the LPGA Tour this season. $4 million purse. 120-player field. Co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour. They are not playing around.

The field is absolutely stacked: Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, and Jeeno Thitikul are all showing up a pep in their step ready to TAKE IT ON!. And somewhere in that field, Hyo Joo Kim is warming up like she didn’t just turn the entire LPGA Tour into her personal highlight reel.

This week is going to be unhinged. I’ll be watching. ☕⛳

THE PGA TOUR ⛳ | Houston Open Recap + What’s Next

Gary Woodland just broke everyone’s heart in the best way possible. We need to talk about it.

Let me start by saying I was not emotionally prepared for what happened at the Houston Open this past Sunday and I’m still not okay.

Gary Woodland, for those who may not know, was the 2019 U.S. Open winner but behind the scenes, the past two years or so, he’s been quietly fighting one of the hardest battles of his life.

In 2023, Woodland had surgery to remove a brain lesion the size of a baseball. Great news, the surgery worked but what came after that was a two -year private war with PTSD that he kept almost entirely to himself. But two weeks ago, he broke his silence in a Golf Channel interview and said something that will literally stick with me forever…”Inside, I feel like I’m dying.”

You can feel this pic, right?

Heartbreaking, yes. For all those who suffer and have suffered with PTSD, I know this is chilling and triggering to hear but let me just say…

This man showed up to Houston, shot 21-under, and won by FIVE SHOTS. FIVE! Like, it wasn’t even close at the end. He made it look so easy when in reality, nothing about his win was or has been easy.

When that final putt dropped Sunday, he spread both arms wide, exhaled, and just... cried.

And honestly, I think the whole world cried with him.

Standing there in front of everybody. He said: “We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today. Anyone struggling with something — I hope they see me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting.”

I’m not crying, you’re crying. (I’m crying.)

Oh, and the $1.78M check and 500 FedExCup points? Cool. But honestly the thing that matters most here is that he just earned an invite to the Masters in two weeks. Gary Woodland, after everything, is going to Augusta. I need a minute.

WHAT’S NEXT: Valero Texas Open 🤠

TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) | April 2–5

Okay, let’s dust off our eyes now and pivot to San Antonio because the Valero Texas Open is happening and it is NOT a low-stakes week.

This is the LAST stop before the Masters, which means every player on the bubble is basically playing for their Augusta invitation right now. The energy is chaotic and I am here for it. LFG!

Brian Harman, Mr. Waggle himself is back defending his title. The names to watch heading in: Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, and Collin Morikawa, all of whom absolutely do not need to prove anything and will absolutely be trying to prove everything anyway.

How to watch:

• Thurs–Fri: Golf Channel, 4–7 PM ET

• Sat: NBC/Peacock, 3:30–6 PM ET

• Sun: NBC/Peacock, 2:30–6 PM ET

One week until Augusta. The drama is only going up from here. ☕⛳

STAY TUNED BECAUSE THE MASTERS INFO IS COMING UP!

I can’t tell you how many times I hear this and that I’ve said myself while on the golf course.

If you’re playing a fun game with your friends, it’s cool to ask this - no harm no foul, but in a tournament setting, you actually can’t ask that question. But I digress…

I’ll be blunt with you. The reason you don’t know what club to use is because you’re not going to the driving range enough.

That’s where you learn how you play with each club.

And that’s where you’ll see improvements on your game because it’s measurable.

Now, as I’ve said 836 times, I’m no golf pro, so I can’t be honest with you about club distances, but I CAN tell you that getting to the driving range and actually pulling out the clubs you’re NOT comfortable with will infinitely increase your chances of lowering your score.

I know it’s intimidating. There’s people around you, potentially watching you, and if you use a club you ain’t so good at, you’ll feel like a jackass… I get it. Because I’ve been there.

But you have to hurdle over that limiting belief and pull out that freaking 3-wood and practice with it. Even if you look like a handicapped giraffe trying to swing that damn club.

So, get to the driving range. End of story.

Until next time…

Hit ‘em straight… or if you’re just beginning… just hit ‘em.

⛳ Delaina

No need for 18, I guarantee you’ll have what you need by hole six…hear me out…

Golf has a weird way of pulling back the curtain on people faster than any LinkedIn profile, any pitch meeting, any reference check ever could. You’ll learn so very much about a person’s character in about two hours on a golf course.

How do they handle a bad shot? Do they own it or does the club suddenly have a problem? Do they cheat when they think nobody’s watching (and think you didn’t notice?) Are they the kind of person who celebrates your good shot or goes quiet and you think they’re judging you?

These aren’t small things, ya’ll! These are the exact things that matter in a business relationship.

The peeps who stay composed, laugh it off, and keep it moving even after they whiffed the ball? Those are your people. Add them to the contacts. Follow up on Monday. Hell…offer to grab drinks after the round…go all in, sis!

But the ones who blame the course, oh so conveniently miscalculate their score, or make the whole round about their mood? That’s information. Free, real-time, nobody-had-to-write-a-reference information.

Nine holes of golf doesn’t let you perform for very long. And honestly? That’s the whole gift each hole gives you!

So next time you’re deciding whether to move forward with someone, a partner, a client, a collaborator, offer up nine holes first. The course will tell you everything the conference room or a sales call never would.

What you need to know when you show up to play your first round ⛳

Ok. You did it. You signed up! You said yes to playing 9 or 18 holes.

Maybe someone invited you, maybe you finally just decided to go for it, whatever the reason, you’re doing it, and I’m super proud of you.

But before you even get dressed or put your clubs in the car, you might be feeling nervous or anxious, and absolutely regretting your whole life right at that moment, but hang tight. I’m gonna tell you what nobody told me.

First things first...ask your friend before you even leave the house what to expect when you pull up.

Every golf course does things a little differently. Some have caddies. Some have cart girls. Some want you to check in at the pro shop first, and some want you to go straight to the bag drop.

Your friend has (hopefully) played there before, text them the night before and ask, “Okay, what actually happens when I get here?” It will save you approximately 15 minutes of wandering around looking confident while being completely lost. We’ve all done it.

What to pack, because 18 holes is not a quick errand.

A full round of golf is about 4 hours of actual playing time, and you need to get there 30 to 45 minutes early to warm up and get sorted before your tee time.

So you’re looking at a solid chunk of your day, which means you need to treat this like the event it is.

Sunscreen. A hat. A water bottle (non-negotiable). And snacks...real snacks, not just a granola bar. We’re talking something that’s going to carry you through the back nine when you’re on hole 14, and your blood sugar decides to crap out.

I bring those meat sticks, Chomps, my trusty Reeses Cups (if you’ve played with me, it’s a thing), trail mix, a sandwich sometimes, whatever keeps me human. Some courses have a snack cart that comes around, which is genuinely one of golf’s best features, but don’t count on it. Come prepared.

The nerves are real and you are not alone.

Honestly, even people who have been playing for years get first-tee nerves. Especially teeing off in front of people they don’t know. Your girl is like that usually for the first three holes.

Not sure why, but there’s just something about standing on that tee box for the first time with people around that makes your brain completely forget how to do anything. You’re going to feel it. That’s normal.

Some golfers have full pre-shot routines just to calm themselves down...a deep breath, a little waggle of the club, a specific phrase they repeat to themselves. Me personally? It’s more like, “I swear to gawd if I top this ball…” so, I don’t think I’m really helpful here but if you’ve got a mantra that can help, now’s the time to use it.

I will say, honestly, if you do actually top the ball and it rolls twelve feet, just laugh. Seriously...laughing is the fastest way to reset, and it also makes everyone around you more comfortable.

Messing up is not just allowed on a golf course; it’s basically the whole experience.

You’ll learn that the more you play that most people who golf aren’t that great. It oddly helps you build confidence.

You’re also most likely going to lose a ball (or four). You’re going to take more shots than expected on a hole, and that’s completely fine. You might not know whose turn it is so, just ask. Golf people LOVE to explain golf, so use that energy to your advantage.

But the BEST PART???? You’re also going to have a moment somewhere on that course where a shot comes off exactly right, and you look at your friend like, “Hold up...did you SEE that??” And THAT my friend, is what will keep you coming back.

Remember the good shots. Learn from the ones that aren’t, and you’ll finish your round, walk off that last green, and feel like you did something real.

Because you did. Showing up was the whole battle. The rest is just golf. ⛳

Typically, I cover upcoming tournaments for both the PGA and the LPGA, but after polling my audience on the socials, a lot of heads are spinning when it comes to what the hype about the tournaments is and how it’s all calculated and organized.

When I first started getting into golf, not just playing, I was so confused about the different tournaments and the lore around their importance, so I thought I’d break all that down for you on my first edition of the substack version of this newsletter.

Let’s dive in...

First up — the PGA Tour. The men. The drama. And what does FedEx have to do with it all?

Now, before you come for me, YES, we’ll talk about the LPGA too, because those ladies are wildly talented as well, but in the meantime, you can check out a video I did HERE that breaks it down in less than two minutes.

So, how does the PGA Tour actually work? And why is everyone so hyped about it all?

A PGA Tour tournament is basically a four-day golf competition that goes Thursday through Sunday, and it’s where the players play the same course, play 18 holes each day (which sounds incredibly exhausting), and whoever has the lowest total score after all four rounds wins.

That’s it.

That’s the whole thing.

Now, there’s usually somewhere between 120 and 156 players who start the week, but after the first two rounds (Thursday and Friday), there’s a cut (think of it like elimination day on a reality show. IYKYK).

The players outside the top 65 or so - it can vary depending on the tournament - pack their bags, don’t earn much money, and go home. Ooof.

The rest play the weekend and compete for the trophy, the prize money and FedEx Cup points (we’ll get to that in a second).

Regular tournaments pay out around $8-9 million total, with the winner taking home roughly 15% of that. You might hear it be called a “purse” which is ironic considering it’s a men’s tournament, but I digress. The further down on the list the player is in order of where he placed, the payout gets smaller. But still not a bad Sunday for these dudes.

These tournaments happen basically every single week from January through August, all over the country and sometimes internationally. Different courses, different cities, different vibes but roughly the same format every time. Four rounds, lowest score wins, everybody stresses the whole time. Very fun to watch.

🏆 Okay but what’s a major and why does everyone lose their minds?

So, within the regular tournament schedule, there are four tournaments that are just... different. They’re called the majors, and they are the ones that define careers, end debates on who really is the best player, and make grown men cry on national television. No joke. It’s emotional and sweet to watch. Not to say that I like watching grown men cry, but when they win, their little families come running out for hugs and kisses and omg...it’s too cute.

Ok, back to the majors...those four are The Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship (which everyone calls the British Open even though technically you’re not supposed to) and the PGA Championship.

What makes them different isn’t just the prestige, although there is a LOT of prestige, ya’ll. The courses are harder. The fields are more competitive. The history is much heavier. Winning a regular tournament is a massive deal. Winning a major is a whole other category of achievement.

It’s the kind of thing that gets mentioned in the first sentence of your career obituary. And it’s typically the first thing that’s announced when these players step up to the first tee box.

Something else you might hear about the majors is what’s called a Grand Slam. It’s when a player wins all the majors over their lifetime as a PGA pro. Rory McIlroy JUST completed his grand slam when he won the Masters last year in 2025.

And for a little golf trivia for you, only six PGA pros have accomplished this achievement. Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods (cuz duh), and Rory McIlroy.

So, yeah. The majors are a big deal.

☕ So where does the FedEx Cup fit into all of this and why are these points so important?

Okay so now that you know what tournaments are and what makes majors special, here’s the bigger picture.

Every single tournament a player competes in all season long, he earns FedEx Cup points based on how he finishes.

Win the tournament? Big points.

Finish top ten? Still solid points.

Miss the cut and go home Thursday night? Zero points and a very quiet drive to the airport.

Regular tournaments give the winner 500 points. Majors and The Players Championship, which is basically the unofficial fifth major and pays like one, honestly, give the winner 750 points.

The bigger the tournament, the more points on the line. So players aren’t just chasing trophies every week, they’re stacking points toward the bigger season-long picture.

Why do the points matter so much?

Because at the end of the regular season, only the top 70 players on the FedEx Cup points list make the playoffs. And if you don’t make the playoffs, you potentially lose your spot on Tour entirely, like what? That means they might not even get to play in these tournaments next year.

So that guy you see grinding on a Sunday afternoon at a random tournament in the middle of February? He’s not just playing for the trophy. He’s playing for his job. His ranking. His whole season. Every shot counts, and the FedEx Cup is why.

The playoffs themselves are a three-tournament knockout. 70 players in, then 50, then the final 30 make it to the Tour Championship in Atlanta, which is the season finale.

Winner of the Tour Championship wins the whole FedEx Cup and takes home ten million dollars. The whole season...every tournament, every major, every made cut, every Sunday grind...all of it was building to that moment.

Now you know. And watching will never be the same. ⛳ You’ll also have quite a bit of trivia you can unpack anytime a golf convo comes up.

So, that my friends is the low-down on the PGA tournaments.

I’ll be honest, there are a bit more ins and outs to these tournaments and especially the lore and the history, but I’ll break those down individually so it’s not like you’re sitting here reading War & Peace. Or, maybe it’d be called “Putts and Prosecco,” who knows...

Until next week...

Delaina