LIV liquidates. Rory gets dinged with a two-stroke penalty for a rules gaffe. Colonial sounds like it’s out as a PGA Tour venue. Lost then among the headlines is the fact the PGA of America held elections for its new officers at its annual meeting in Las Vegas. While it might not feel all that important, don’t forget the last election elevated Don Rea Jr. to the office of president, and, well, that didn’t exactly turn out for the better.

Suffice to say, PGA of America officials are far more optimistic about Nathan Charnes being officially selected the association’s 45th president. The general manager at WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon, Mo., had been serving as acting president since May, when Rea was suspended in the wake of his comments/handling of the rowdy crowds at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Charnes now will serve a two-term term, representing the 30,000 PGA of America members.

The next people in line for the presidency were also elected, with Eric Eshleman, director of golf at C.C. of Birmingham (Ala.) picked as vice president and Jared Barnes, head professional at Cedar Ridge Golf Course in Cedar City, Utah., as secretary. Traditionally, those two posts move up the leadership chain. The PGA of America also filled out vacancies on its Board of Directors.

As Golf Digest's own Shane Ryan already wrote, McIlroy could not have handled the post-infraction messaging any better than he did, which should come as a surprise to no one. You don't have to like getting a two-stroke penalty, but accepting it and moving on is the easiest route to universal praise. 

Even McIlroy's peers are already rushing to his defense. PGA Tour winner Michael Kim, who loves dropping pearls of wisdom from his X account, tweeted "There are certain players I won't question their golf integrity. Rory is one of those." Then he added a quick story on one of the ultimate standup moves he witnessed from the two-time Masters champ:

When you've got peers immediately running to social media to talk about how much integrity you have, you're doing something right. 

Apparently the showmanship gene runs in the family and it isn't regressive. This week, Block's son Dylan tee'd it up in the first stage of PGA Tour Q-School at Soboba Springs G.C. in Southern California. The 21-year-old began his week with a nice three-under 69, but conjured some of his old man's magic for his scintillating second round, firing a remarkable 10-under 62 to lead the field at 13-under through 36 holes.

Block's second round included seven birdies, one eagle and no bogeys. Should he hold on through the weekend, Block would earn PGA Tour Americas status in 2027. Needless to say, there might just be a new kid on the, ahem, block ...

casual golf fans might not recognize many of the 25 boys and girls the U.S. National Development Program named to its national junior team roster for 2027. But that’s kind of the point. Support from the USGA through the  USNDP is intended to provide new opportunities for these teenagers to advance themselves on and off the course. To earn their selection—Talley now for the fourth time—each has demonstrated the talent to be considered among the country’s junior elite. With access to world-class coaching and analysis, sports psychology services, sports performance training and nutritional guidance, the hope is that they take the next steps for success; last year’s team members made 41 collective appearances in USGA championships. Eleven of the 25 carry over from 2026, and six of the 14 newcomers were elevated form the USNDP’s State Junior team pathway, a program Golf Digest wrote extensively about in August.

and relax the rule that prohibits them from one day being European Ryder Cup captains, this story from Rory McIlroy probably killed their chances. Speaking before this week’s DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy told the media about a conversation he had with then tour CEO Keith Pelley in which he said he was thinking of giving up his DP World Tour membership in 2019 to focus on playing the PGA Tour. He could do what he pleased, Pelley said, before reminding Rory of the tour regulation passed in 2017 that permanently bans players who resigns or declines tour membership from serving as a Ryder Cup captain or vice captain. “So,” McIlroy noted, “I nearly made that choice and having that chat with Keith Pelley and knowing the rules, I was like, well, of course I want to be a Ryder Cup captain one day. There was no decision to be made.” Given the sacrifice McIlroy made, and the loyalty he showed to the tour, it’s hard to think tour officials will ever alter the rule for the four LIV defectors. Here's what else McIlroy had to say about the DP World Tour and its handling of the LIV Golf situation.

That's because the second season of Apple TV's "Stick" returns Wednesday, and this time, Wilson's Pryce Cahill character is attempting a playing comeback. And he's doing it with the help of new cast member, Rhea Seehorn, who steps into the role of a golf coach fresh off her Emmy Award win for "Pluribus." We had the pleasure of talking to both stars on a recent episode of The Loop podcast. Check it out here, and please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: