Monday, June 15, 2026 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
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Bud Cauley’s PGA Tour breakthrough was about more than winning
Per James Colgan / GOLF: “In sports, numbers can be deceiving. They can flatten the truth — altering our perception of reality into binary narratives of “good” and “bad.” They can leave out the nuance, the subtlety, that makes an athlete great or contributes to his demise. They can tell us convenient lies. But sometimes numbers can reveal the entirety of a complicated truth. Like, for example, in the case of Bud Cauley, where one stat tells the whole truth and nothing but it…”
B&B POV: Cauley had never won on the PGA TOUR before yesterday, despite playing in 239 events. Perseverance and patience paid off for the Alabama man. When it was finally his time to lift a trophy on the 18th green on a Sunday, he had earned every bit of that feat. Well done.
Photo: Balls & Bogeys
Golf Course Hydration Guide: What Your Beverage Says About Your Score
Per Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys: Golf is one of the few sports where your beverage selection is almost as important as your club selection. In fact, by the back nine, your drink choice may explain far more about your score than your swing.
Here is a completely unscientific analysis of some of our favorite golf-course beverages and their impact on performance…
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Winners, Losers, and Payouts: 2026 RBC Canadian Open
Per Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys: The final event before the U.S. Open delivered exactly what golf fans love: Sunday drama, major implications, and one of the most emotional victories of the PGA Tour season.
Bud Cauley entered the week at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley still searching for the first PGA Tour victory of his career. After 239 starts and years of near misses, the 36-year-old finally broke through, capturing the 2026 RBC Canadian Open and $1,764,000, completing one of the sport’s great comeback stories…
2026 RBC Canadian Open prize money payouts:
- Bud Cauley, -17, $1,764,000
- Matt Fitzpatrick, -15, $1,068,200
- Viktor Hovland, -14, $676,200
Click the button to view the full payouts:
Photo: Getty Images
What’s in the Bag: Bud Cauley’s Winning Setup at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open
Per Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys: After 239 PGA Tour starts and years of perseverance, Titleist staffer Bud Cauley finally broke through for his first PGA Tour victory at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open. The win was especially meaningful given Cauley’s remarkable comeback from the serious car accident he suffered in 2018. At TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Cauley leaned on precise ball striking, elite iron play, and a familiar Titleist-heavy setup to capture the title.
Here’s a closer look at the clubs that helped Cauley secure his long-awaited first PGA Tour win.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8°) – Shop Now
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 6 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron GOLO 7 S1 Tour
Click to View Bud’s Winning Bag >
Photo: Getty Images
U.S. Open 2026: Ranking the entire field at Shinnecock, from No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to No. 156
Per Brentley Romine / Golf Channel: “The U.S. Open is golf’s toughest and truest test. There’s a reason why the champion each year is usually ranked inside the top 25 in the world rankings.
Last year’s winner, J.J. Spaun, was No. 25 per Data Golf entering the week, while Martin Kaymer was the last player ranked outside the top 25 to win when he captured the 2014 U.S. Open as the world No. 32. This national championship demands precision from all 14 clubs, though usually – I say this with 2020 and Winged Foot in mind – length is mitigated relative to other big tournaments due to the importance of playing second shots from the fairway…”
B&B POV: Spaun at #4 is way too high. Fleetwood behind Reitan, Rose, and Reed is laughable. Alex Fitzpatrick ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick is curious to say the least. Look out for Rai at Shinnecock (#6) – the course fits his game as long as his black gloves still have some PGA Championship magic left in them. We feel strongly that two things are certain after reading this ranking: #1 – AI didn’t write it; #2 – Shinnecock is going to make for fun watching Father’s Day weekend.
FEATURED LESSON
Show off and sink a chip shot or two: A great tip from Jackie Riegle, PGA – Monarch Beach Golf Links
Jackie shares a great tip to better manage how far your chip shots roll out.
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Featured Golf Gear – Honey Stinger
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