Ryan Gerard’s rapid ascent in professional golf underscores a remarkable turnaround over the past year, highlighted by a memorable trip to Paris and several strong performances on the PGA Tour. Seven months ago, Gerard was ranked No. 57 globally and barely secured his spot in major tournaments. Now, he stands at No. 16 in the FedEx Cup standings and is contending for a place in the Tour Championship.

In December, following his season, Gerard traveled to Mauritius aiming to break into the top 50 of the world rankings to qualify for the Masters. While he fell short in a playoff, he elevated his standing to No. 46. A layover on his return flight gave him a brief glimpse of Paris, where he visited iconic landmarks including Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower.

Gerard began 2026 on a strong note with consecutive second-place finishes and qualified for both the U.S. Open and British Open. He narrowly missed winning the Memorial Tournament in a playoff and most recently tied for ninth at Royal Birkdale, where his mother was present. The pair then extended their visit in Paris, where Gerard, known for his lighthearted approach away from golf, amusingly searched for the city’s "worst statue," settling on “Boy with a Goose” by Greek sculptor Boethus, known for its unusual depiction of a child straddling a bird.

On the organizational front, the PGA Tour continues to outline its two-tier schedule for 2028, with several high-profile tournaments confirmed for the upper-tier Championship Series. The Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral, a new stadium event held in May 2026 and won by Cameron Young, will become the season opener of the Florida swing in March 2027. The Travelers Championship, the Sentry at Torrey Pines (soon to be sponsored by Sompo), and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill have all been designated as top-tier events. The full 2028 schedule, which will include 14 or 15 tournaments outside of majors and postseason, is expected to be finalized by early next year.

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, Bernhard Langer returned to Portugal last week, reflecting on his early professional days. Langer first competed on the European Tour in 1976, starting the season at the Portuguese Open with limited resources, traveling by car and carrying his own clubs. Despite early challenges and missed cuts, he found success shortly thereafter, later amassing 40 European Tour titles and two Masters championships. At age 68, Langer continues to add to his PGA Tour Champions record with 47 victories.

In women’s golf, Nelly Korda secured the Annika Award for top performance in the majors this year, after winning the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open. Haeran Ryu, also a two-time major winner in 2026, missed out on the final major’s top spots after finishing tied for sixth at the Women’s British Open. Korda’s consistent play, including a tie for eighth at the Women’s PGA Championship and a missed cut at the Evian Championship, solidified her points lead. The Annika Award, which began in 2014, has only been won twice by two players, with Korda joining Minjee Lee in that exclusive group.

Additional noteworthy news includes early qualification updates for the 2027 Solheim Cup, with players like Korda, Angel Yin, and Jennifer Kupcho securing spots on the U.S. team. European team selection was completed recently. The 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland has seen overwhelming demand, with general admission tickets sold out following a ballot process that attracted interest from 80 countries. Organizers noted a strong local appetite, with Irish fans accounting for over one-third of tickets sold.

The PGA Tour of Australasia announced a five-year extension with Challenger as its title partner, releasing a 19-tournament calendar starting in late August 2026.

In recent statistics, Japan stands out as the only nation with LPGA major winners in each of the last three years, highlighting its continued prominence in women’s golf.

Finally, Shiho Kuwaki, fresh off her Women’s British Open victory, summed up celebrations simply: “I really love to drink alcohol and just drink and have fun, so I intend to drink a lot tonight.”