👀 AK rumors

Hey! With the NFL playoffs today, the Farmer’s Insurance Open ended on Saturday. So, I thought I’d send the newsletter now.

It’s a shorter format — a style I’ve been thinking about for awhile. Let me know what you think below👇 .

For now, onto the news…

Top stories:

1. Pavon wins at Torrey

2. Dunlap turns pro

3. Anthony Kim rumors are swirling

1. Pavon takes top honors at Torrey Pines

• Matthieu Pavon — in just his third start since joining the PGA Tour — won on Saturday in dramatic fashion.

• Pavon’s 8-foot, winning birdie putt on 18 came after a miraculous, 150 yard approach shot from think rough over water (which could have easily ended in disaster).

• Pavon became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour, and earned his way into next week’s limited field event at Pebble Beach.

2. American Express champ Nick Dunlap turns pro

• Also heading to the Monterey Peninsula this week is Nick Dunlap, who announced on Thursday he’s turning pro after winning recently in La Quinta.

• Dunlap — the first amateur to win on the PGA in 33 years — is exempt on Tour through 2026 and has a place in at least three of the four majors this year (the Masters, US Open, and PGA Championship).

3. Rumors of an Anthony Kim return are swirling

• Anthony Kim is once again the talk of the golf world after a recent report said the 3-time PGA Tour winner and 2008 Ryder Cup star is planning his return to the game.

• Sidelined by injury in 2012, Kim hasn’t played a professional event (or surfaced much publicly) in over a decade. Still, “his cult hero status has continued to grow,” GOLF reporter Dylan Dethier writes.

• It’s unclear whether Kim would join the PGA Tour or LIV. Though, his $10 million insurance policy (that would be torn up if he competed again) will likely play into his decision.

• Here’s video of a recent “AK” practice session that has the internet buzzing:

4. More whispers and murmurs

• The PGA Tour could receive billions of dollars of outside-investment as early as next week, Sportico reported.

  • That deal would be separate from the PGA’s talk with the Saudis.

• Adrian Meronk, the 39th ranked player in the world and reigning DP World Tour Player of Year, is reportedly set to join LIV.

5. Good posts ⌨️

6. Good podcasts 🎧

• Fully Equipped: “In depth Scotty Cameron interview with never before heard Tiger Woods stories”

• No Laying Up: “The Tall Tales of Gary Player”

7. Team USA Olympic uniforms revealed

• Scandinavian brand J. Lindeberg unveiled its Team USA golf uniforms for the 2024 Olympics this summer in Paris.

  • Here’s a full-look at the men’s and women’s attire.

8. More headlines

• Golf lifestyle brand Bad Birdie will now outfit Si Woo Kim — adding to the list of intriguing apparel deals thus far in 2024.

• The next edition of “The Match” will take place February 26 and will feature Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Rose Zhang, and Lexi Thompson.

• Bubba Watson, Brendon Todd, and Chris Kirk are among a group of University of Georgia alum opening an exclusive, 200-300 member club just outside of Athens.

9. PGA Tour heads to Pebble, LIV kicks off 2024

The PGA Tour’s first full Signature Event of the season is this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am.

• With only 80 players in the field (compared to 156 last year), the amateur/celebrity lineup has been cut down as well. (Star athletes like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will still play, while other tournament staples like Bill Murray and Ray Romano will not.)

• Amateurs will also only compete on Thursday and Friday instead of all four days.

Meanwhile, LIV’s first event of the year — and Jon Rahm’s debut on the rival circuit — is this weekend in Cancún.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and before you go, let me know what you thought of today’s newsletter. I’d love to her your feedback.

Talk soon! - Nick B.