Claire Rogers
Relive golf’s most viral social media moments of the year.
Getty Images
Hello friends, and welcome to the final Rogers Report of 2024. A lot happened this year, and lucky for all of us, all of it was captured on social media. I’m not here to bring you a recap of the best rounds of golf this year or talk about the equipment that changed the game. Instead, I’m going to do what I do best: Present to you all a timeline of the 2024 golf season in viral social media moments.
Let’s get to it.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
For amateurs like you and me, the beginning of the golf season is about shaking off the rust. It’s part of the process, and most of us have the privilege of doing so in the privacy of our own home course with very few people around. Tom Brady wasn’t so lucky in 2024. He teed it up in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and his game was very much on display for the world to see.
The good thing about being the GOAT in football is that you’re allowed to have some ugly golf moments without anyone judging you for it. Thanks for reminding us that you’re human, Brady.
WM Phoenix Open
Ah, the WM Phoenix Open. The Bachelor party of professional golf tournaments. It’s safe to say things got a little too out of hand on moving day at TPC Scottsdale, so the gates were closed and alcohol sales were shut down in the middle of the day on Saturday.
The WM Phoenix Open has since revealed a number of changes to the event, but the chaotic WM Phoenix Open of 2024 will never be forgotten.
Genesis Invitational
The Genesis Invitational is a highly-anticipated event every year because it marks the first time we see Tiger Woods. The tournament host made his first start of 2024 there this year, but it was his exit from the tournament that made headlines. Woods was escorted off the course during the middle of his round on Friday, and soon an ambulance was on site at Riviera.
Highlight of AmbulanceGate 2024: A fan sipping a beer walked up to the scrum of journos waiting for Tiger and hung out there aimlessly for a few mins before someone kicked him out pic.twitter.com/V8MpUx7b5y
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) February 16, 2024
I remember sitting in the media center at Riviera for what felt like hours as we waited to hear an update from Team Tiger. Turned out he had the flu, but this was definitely one of the more stressful viral moments of 2024. Unless you’re Scottie Scheffler, of course.
I would like to confirm that I had to withdraw from @thegenesisinv due to illness, which we now know is influenza. I am resting and feeling better. Good luck to the players this weekend. I’m disappointed to not be there and want to thank @GenesisUSA and all the fans for the…
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 17, 2024
Players Championship
The Players Championship was a memorable week for a few reasons, but it sticks out to me as Johnson Wagner’s debut as an on-course reenactment actor. A star was born at the Players Championship, and we’ll take a look at Wagner’s very best moment of the year later on. For now, take a look back at his golf ball-throwing skills.
We also cannot forget Scottie Scheffler’s mid-round neck treatment at the Players. He went on to win the event (in classic Scheffler fashion), but not before the world saw this unusual video.
The Masters
Jason Day turned heads for his Malbon outfits all year long, but his biggest fashion moment came when he wore a “Malbon Golf Championship” vest at Augusta National, although the moment didn’t last too long, because he was asked to take it off.
The vest may not have gotten its full day at the Masters, but it was auctioned off for charity, which is a massive win.
The next viral moment at Augusta National came from the content king himself. Bryson DeChambeau carried a Masters direction sign out of his way on the 13th hole, and it was probably the most biblical golf moment of the year.
After hitting into the trees, Bryson DeChambeau pulled a Masters direction sign out of the ground and moved it, so his second would not hit it along the 13th fairway. Rules officials said no and it was replaced. DeChambeau made birdie on 13th to go -8 pic.twitter.com/qOkaq49bMz
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) April 12, 2024
I can’t help but feel a sense of pride every time a golf moment makes it onto the “Art But Make it Sports” account, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, the comparison here was perfect.
And finally, we had Tiger Woods shaking hands with Verne Lundquist, who happened to be standing behind a tree, to round out our 2024 viral Masters moments.
This marks the second consecutive year that Tiger greeting someone has turned into a viral moment.
Here’s to whatever viral “hello” Tiger has in the works in 2025.
Zurich Classic
I’d like to thank Rory McIlroy for giving us our first ever “High School Musical-esque” viral moment ever in the golf world this year. I opened my Twitter app on April 28th expecting to see a post of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry holding the Zurich Classic trophy, and instead was met with Rory McIlroy singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” on stage.
Imagine LeBron doing this after winning a game? Unfathomable! I love it.
Met Gala
Nelly Korda became the first LPGA Tour golfer to attend the Met Gala this year and the first professional golfer to attend since Tiger Woods in 2013. Korda somehow found the time after her five consecutive wins to head into Manhattan and absolutely crush the red carpet.
The World No. 1 also made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut this year, so it’s safe to say Korda has been very busy on and off of the course.
PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler’s Louisville arrest is the viral moment of 2024 that felt the most like a fever dream. Thank you to Jeff Darlington for arriving to Valhalla extremely early in the morning that day, because without him, we might have had no idea that any of this occurred.
I also want to give a shout-out to Meredith Scheffler, because she was at home with a newborn when this happened and I cannot imagine how stressful this day must have been. May 17th will definitely go down as the weirdest golf day of the year.
U.S. Women’s Open
The U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club was one of the most fun events I attended all year. The course was immaculate, the place was packed and the golf was really, really good. But one moment emerged as the most memorable, and our very own Darren Riehl captured it.
For better or for worse, golf fans (and all of sports Twitter) went ballistic over Charley Hull smoking a cigarette on the course. Her fandom multiplied over night, and photos of her smoking while teeing it up make the rounds every time she plays in a tournament now.
RBC Canadian Open
The most wholesome viral moment of the year occurred at the RBC Canadian Open, when Bob MacIntyre earned his first PGA Tour win the same week he welcomed his father as his caddie. Talk about a dream come true.
So happy for Bob MacIntyre.
All year he’d been struggling and desperately missing home, so he brought home to him.
Brought his mom to the PGA for some home cooking. Contended there.
Then had his dad caddie at the Canadian Open — and went ahead and won the whole damn thing.
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) June 2, 2024
This is what the game is all about, folks!
U.S. Open
The first viral screenshot at Pinehurst this year happened when Rory McIlroy was in scoring after his final round of the U.S. Open.
However, I’d like to focus on a happier moment from Pinehurst, so let’s all turn our attention to U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau giving Johnson Wagner a bunker lesson on Sunday night at Pinehurst.
We never know exactly what DeChambeau is going to give us, but we know it’s going to be superb. And this was no exception.
Travelers Championship
I remember flying from Pinehurst to the Travelers Championship this past June and thinking I was in for a low-key week after a very eventful major championship. Boy, was I mistaken. Protestors stormed the 18th green on Sunday at TPC River Highlands, delaying and distracting from the final shots of the tournament.
What a strange ending to a week in Connecticut.
Wyndham Championship
Matt Kuchar’s viral moment was one of the more confusing events of this year. He pushed the Wyndham Championship to a Monday finish, and got in six more minutes of play after returning to the course on Monday morning.
The Wyndham Championship was completed at 8:06 a.m. Matt Kuchar makes par at No. 18 and finishes T12.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 12, 2024
Presidents Cup
Si Woo Kim imitated Steph Curry’s “Night Night” celebration after chipping in at the Presidents Cup, but it was the peculiar timing of the whole thing that made the moment go viral.
Curry even chimed in on the moment on his Instagram story, saying “I appreciate the energy and the love @siwookim_official,” Curry wrote. “Gotta know time and score tho!!! #USA”
Honestly, I was all in on the International Team’s fun at the Presidents Cup. It made the event ten times more fun to watch, so I am in full support of Kim’s celebrations here.
PNC Championship
Our final viral moment of 2024 happened on Sunday at the PNC Championship, when Charlie Woods made his first-ever ace. Talk about perfect timing.
Here’s to many, many more viral golf moments in 2025!
Claire Rogers
Golf.com Editor
