Waistcoats, arrests and protests: Golf’s biggest moments of 2024
Claire Rogers
Relive golf’s hottest social media moments of the year.
Getty Images
Hello friends, and welcome to the 2024 Rogers Final Report. a lot of Lucky for all of us what happened this year, it was all captured on social media. I’m not here to give you a review of the best golf games of the year or talk about game-changing equipment. Instead, I’m going to do what I do best: present the 2024 golf season schedule to everyone in a viral social media moment.
Let’s get started.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
For amateurs like you and me, the start of the golf season is all about shaking off the rust. It’s part of the process and most of us are lucky enough to do it in the privacy of our own home courts with very few people around. Tom Brady won’t be so lucky in 2024.
The good thing about being the GOAT of football is that you can experience some ugly golf moments without anyone judging you. Thank you for reminding us that you are human, Brady.
WM Phoenix Open
Ah, the WM Phoenix Open. Bachelor party at a professional golf tournament. It’s safe to say things got a little out of hand on Moving Day at TPC Scottsdale, so the doors closed at noon on Saturday and alcohol sales stopped.
The WM Phoenix Open has since revealed some changes to the event, but the chaotic 2024 WM Phoenix Open will never be forgotten.
Genesis Invitational
The Genesis Invitational is a highly anticipated event every year as it marks the first time we see Tiger Woods. The tournament host was competing here for the first time in 2024 this year, but it was his withdrawal that made the headlines. Woods was escorted off the course midway through Friday’s game, and an ambulance arrived at Riviera a short time later.
AmbulanceGate 2024 highlight: A beer-drinking fan walked up to the crowd of reporters waiting for Tiger and wandered aimlessly for a few minutes before someone kicked him out pic.twitter.com/V8MpUx7b5y
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) February 16, 2024
I remember we sat in the media center at Riviera for hours waiting for the latest news from the Tigers. Turns out he had the flu, but it was definitely one of the most stressful virus moments of 2024.
I want to confirm that I have to exit @thegenesisinv Due to the disease we now know as influenza. I’m resting and feeling better. Good luck to the players this weekend. I regret not being able to attend and would like to thank @GenesisUSA And to all the fans…
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 17, 2024
Players Championship
The Players Championship was a memorable week for many reasons, but for me it was Johnson Wagner’s debut as a course reenactor. A star was born at The Players Championship, and we’ll look at Wagner’s best moments of the year later. Now, a look back at his golf throwing skills.
We also can’t forget Scottie Scheffler’s scoop neck treatment at The Players Club. He eventually won the race (in classic Scheffler fashion), but not before the world got to see the unusual footage.
Masters
Jason Day turns heads for his Malbon attire all year round, but his biggest fashion moment was wearing a “Malbon Golf Championships” tank top at Augusta National Park appeared, although the moment didn’t last long as he was asked to take it off.
The vest may not have been used to its full potential at the Masters, but it was auctioned off for charity, which is a huge win.
Augusta National’s next viral moment came from the king of content himself. Bryson DeChambeau held up the Masters directional sign on the 13th hole in perhaps the most biblical golf moment of the year.
After hitting his shot into the trees, Bryson DeChambeau pulled a Masters directional sign from the ground and moved it so his second ball wouldn’t hit down the 13th fairway. The rules official said no, it was replaced. DeChambeau birdied the 13th hole for a score of -8 pic.twitter.com/qOkaq49bMz
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) April 12, 2024
I can’t help but feel a sense of pride whenever a golf moment pops up on the Art But Make It Sport account, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, the comparison here is perfect.
Finally, we have Tiger Woods shaking hands with Verne Lundqvist, who happens to be standing behind a tree, to cap off a hot moment for our 2024 Masters.
This marks the second year in a row that the way a tiger greets someone has become a viral moment.
Here’s a viral “hello” for everything Tiger does in 2025.
Zurich Classic
I want to thank Rory McIlroy for giving us golf’s first-ever “High School Musical” viral moment this year. On April 28, I opened the Twitter app expecting to see a post about Rory McIlroy and Sean Lowry lifting the Zurich Classic trophy, but instead I saw Rory McIlroy on stage Singing “Don’t Stop Believin'”.
Imagine LeBron doing this after winning a game? Unfathomable! I like it.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Charity Gala
Nelly Korda became the first LPGA Tour golfer to attend the Met Gala this year and the first professional golfer to attend the Met Gala since Tiger Woods in 2013. Korda somehow found time to head to Manhattan after a five-game winning streak and absolutely crushed the red carpet.
The world No. 1 also made his Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show debut this year, so it’s safe to say Korda is keeping busy on and off the court.
PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler’s arrest in Louisville was the hottest moment of 2024 and felt like a fever dream. Thanks to Jeff Darlington for arriving at Valhalla early that morning, because without him we might not have known any of this was happening.
I also want to say thank you to Meredith Scheffler because she was at home with a newborn when this happened and I can’t imagine how stressful this day was. May 17th is sure to go down as the strangest golf day of the year.
U.S. Women’s Open
The U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club is one of the most fun events I attend all year. The course was immaculate, the grounds were packed and the golf was really, really good. But there’s one moment that stands out as the most memorable, and it was captured by our very own Darren Riehl.
For better or worse, golf fans (and all of sports Twitter) are outraged that Charlie Hull smoked on the course. Her fans grew exponentially overnight, and now every time she plays a tournament, pictures of her smoking on the tee circulate.
RBC Canadian Open
The healthiest virus moment of the year occurred at the RBC Canadian Open, where Bob MacIntyre won his first PGA Tour title the same week he welcomed his father as a caddy. Talk about a dream come true.
So happy for Bob McIntyre.
He had struggled all year and was desperately homesick, so he brought home to him.
Taking his mom to the PGA to cook some home cooking. Argue there.
And then his dad caddied at the Canadian Open and he went on and won the whole damn tournament.
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) June 2, 2024
That’s what the game is all about, folks!
US Open
The first viral screenshot of Pinehurst this year occurred when Rory McIlroy scored after the final round of the U.S. Open.
However, I want to focus on one of the happier moments at Pinehurst, so let’s turn our attention to U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau giving Johnson a shot at Pinehurst on Sunday night ·Wagner takes a sandpit lesson.
We never know what DeChambeau has in store for us, but we know it’s going to be awesome. This is no exception.
Travelers Championship
I remember flying from Pinehurst to the Travelers Championship this past June, thinking I was going to have a low-key week after a very important major. Boy, was I wrong. Protesters stormed the 18th green at TPC River Highlands on Sunday, delaying and distracting from the final shot of the tournament.
What a strange end to a week in Connecticut.
Wyndham Championship
Matt Kuchar’s breakout moment was one of the most baffling events of the year. He pushed for the Wyndham Championship to end on Monday and played six more minutes after returning to the court Monday morning.
The Wyndham Championship ended at 8:06 a.m. with Matt Kuchar shooting par for 18th to tie for 12th.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 12, 2024
Presidents Cup
Si-woo Kim imitated Stephen Curry’s “Night Night” celebration after speaking at the Presidents Cup, but it was the odd timing of the whole thing that made the moment go viral.
Curry even echoed the moment on his Instagram Story, saying, “I appreciate the energy and love from @siwookim_official,” Curry wrote. “Be sure to know the time and score!!! #USA”
To be honest, I was totally immersed in the fun the International Team was having at the Presidents Cup. It makes the event ten times more fun to watch, so I’m all for Kim’s celebration here.
PNC Championship
The last viral moment of 2024 happened at the PNC Championship on Sunday, when Charlie Woods played his first ace. Talk about perfect timing.
Here’s to many, many more viral golf moments in 2025!
Claire Rogers
Golf Network Editor
