Monday, July 7th, 2025 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition

The PGA Tour just got a 2-time champ nobody saw coming

– by Dylan Dethier / GOLF

Per Dylan: “He was already among the most shocking winners of the PGA Tour season.

Now he’s definitely the most shocking two-time winner…”

B&B POV: Newport Beach’s Brian Campbell, maker of 17 cuts out of 41 PGA TOUR events entered over his 11-year journeyman career, yesterday won the John Deere Classic, his 2nd victory of the season. No one, not even Brian’s mom or Brian himself, living out his wildest dream, ever saw a two-victory season coming. If you didn’t think golf was already a wacky sport before Brian won yesterday, you should now.

Golf. Embrace the crazy!

Our favorite longshots to win the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush

– by Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys

Per Chris: “Let’s be honest—very few bettors will be heading into Open Championship week with their sights set solely on Daniel Berger, Curtis Luck, or Tom McKibbin as their picks to hoist the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. These players are undeniably talented, but they haven’t been lighting up leaderboards in quite the same way as the Scottie Schefflers, Rory McIlroys, or even the newly resurgent Brian Campbells and Ben Griffins of the world. Still, when it comes to The Open—where weather can humble the best ball-strikers and the draw can change everything—longshots have a real chance to shine…”

What’s in the Bag (WITB): Brian Campbell, 2025 John Deere Classic

– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: We featured Brian Campbell’s gear set-up back in February when he won the Mexican Open. Since that victory, the Ping staffer has modified or changed out 10 of his 14 clubs in his bag. Ask yourself the question: Why would a recent PGA TOUR winner, coming off a career trajectory-changing victory, make such drastic changes to his equipment?

Winners & Losers from the 2025 John Deere Classic

– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: Brian Campbell might not yet be a household name in the world of professional golf, but that narrative is changing — and quickly. So is the size of his bank account, thanks to two victories this season on the PGA TOUR, including one yesterday in the John Deere Classic in a playoff over Emiliano Grillo. Campbell pocketed $1,512,000, and the 1st loser, Grillo, took home $915,600 for his pain and suffering after losing in the playoff. 

Tour Confidential: New FedEx payouts, LIV CEO speaks, dream major tweaks

– by Golf Editors / GOLF

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the revised FedEx payouts, the LIV chief’s remarks about the PGA Tour and how we’d enhance the majors…”

B&B POV:
Are you glad the PGA Tour Championship reverted back to a traditional 72-hole tournament? Yes. The event will now feel less like a LIV production and more like what we want to see. And the $57M purse will make plenty of tour butts pucker and a few players choke.

Both LIV and the PGA TOUR are essentially stating that they don’t need to reintegrate, which would lead to the best players competing against one another more frequently. Is each side posturing, or do they actually feel that way? At this point, as long as LIV is done pillaging, we’re ready to move on. At least four times a year the best of the best tee it up against one another in the majors. 

If you could change one thing about any major championship, which event would you change and how? I would ensure I have an annual invite to the Masters and there would be no cut. And all players receive a lifetime ANGC membership. And I get to stay in Butler cabin, in the big bed.  

Who’s your pick to win the Open Championship at Royal Portrush? Rory in a playoff against a no-name Euro who shoots a final round course record before the winds kick up. Rory holds on to lift the Claret Jug. 

What is the most quintessential American golf experience you’ve partaken in? Maybe, but only a couple of handfuls of times, I’ve packed a few barley pops into the bag on the way to the course. 

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