Golf

The NFL will honor Queen Elizabeth II before the 2022-23 season kicks off ... with the league holding a moment of silence, TMZ Sports has learned.

Tributes throughout the sports world have been pouring in on Thursday ... with many athletes, organizations and events sharing condolences over the passing of Her Majesty.

In addition to the NFL's tribute, the BMW PGA Championship has suspended play until further notice ... with organizers saying golf would be paused for the time being in the wake of the Queen's death.

"Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday, and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast,” a statement from the Tour reads, according to GOLF.com.

"Furthermore, no play will take place at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday, and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed."

Thursday was the first day of the BMW PGA Championship tournament -- which is held in Europe -- and one of golf's biggest names, Rory McIlroy, was competing in it.

As we reported, the Queen's family rushed to be by her side once the palace announced she was under medical supervision at her estate in Scotland.

The Royal Family announced the 96-year-old Queen -- the longest reigning monarch --  "died peacefully" hours later.

Another tribute took place at a match between FC Zurich and Arsenal ... with a moment of silence after halftime.

Players from both clubs stood with their arms behind their backs ... while fans in attendance followed suit by paying homage to the Queen.

An image of the Queen was also shown on a big screen ... saying, "In memorial Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

The Queen's impact was certainly felt ... evidenced by the reaction her passing is receiving from notable athletes like F1 star Lewis Hamilton, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and pro boxers Tyson Fury and Jake Paul.

Hamilton expressed concern about Queen Elizabeth's well-being in the waning moments of her life ... saying he was hoping for better news and calling her a "real fighter."

"Dignity defined. An inspirational leader for many generations. Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II," Paul tweeted.

He plays golf really well, belly flops perfectly ... AND he throws heat on the mound???

John Daly proved he can truly do it all on Wednesday night ... tossing a pristine fastball during the ceremonial first pitch before the Cardinals vs. Nationals game in St. Louis.

The legendary golfer toed the rubber dripping with swag too -- he rocked sandals and what appeared to be some Cardinals-themed board shorts.

Then, the guy fired off a laser ... wowing the crowd and the game's announcers.

If you're not impressed -- ya should be ... because many have tried to do what Daly did on the MLB bump before and have failed miserably (looking at you, Conor McGregor, 50 Cent and Dr. Fauci).

The golfer seemed to be good luck for the home team as well ... because after Daly's throw, the Cards went on to win a thriller, 6-5.

The book on Serena Williams' career ain't closed yet ... the tennis legend moved on in the U.S. Open on Wednesday night with a huge win -- and Tiger Woods was there to cheer it all on!!

Williams upset No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2, in New York -- dominating the third set.

The 40-year-old looked to be in vintage form, despite only playing a handful of times prior to the major tournament this year.

The crowd was packed with celebs for the evening -- which many believed was going to be Serena's final match of her career -- with Woods, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Spike Lee, Zendaya, Jared Leto and more going crazy after every point she won.

Even LeBron James cheered on from his couch -- calling her a "G.O.A.T." after she secured the victory.

Following the W, Serena lingered on the court for several minutes -- soaking it all in.

"It's no rush here," she said in a post-match interview. "I'm loving this crowd. Oh my goodness. It's really fantastic. So there's a little left in me."

Williams, who beat Danka Kovinic earlier in the week to advance to Wednesday's match, said in early August she would retire after the U.S. Open -- which has created a huge demand for celebs and normies to catch her final moments on the court.

For Monday's match, Bill Clinton, Hugh Jackman and Mike Tyson all made it out to support tennis' greatest of all time.

Steph Curry is known for having a wicked shot on the court, but the Warriors star can apparently rap too -- 'cause he freestyled during a charity golf tourney this week ... and name-dropped Rory McIlroy in the rhymes!!

Curry was celebrating the 3rd annual Workday Charity Golf Classic with his wife, Ayesha, in Northern California -- when he got hold of a mic on one of the tee boxes and showed the crowd that he can get busy on a beat.

Steph dropped a 40-plus-second freestyle while musician Kelley James was teeing off ... and judging from the looks and sounds of it, Curry appeared to be a natural.

"I don't know why I have the mic," Curry rapped. "All I want to do is see Kelley's ball take flight."

"Is he really good at golf? Nobody knows," Curry continued flowing. "I don't know how this is gonna go?"

The best part of Steph's freestyle was the bars ... the Golden State point guard made sure to rap about what James was doing on the hole -- and he managed to stay on the beat!!

He also gave Kelley high praise ... saying in the rap that Rory, who just won the 2022 FedEx Cup, would approve of James' stroke.

Benefits from the golf tourney went to Steph and Ayesha's Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation -- and after the event, Curry reflected on how much fun he had there.

"Another amazing day at the 3rd Annual @workday Charity Classic w/ @ayeshacurry… all benefiting @eatlearnplay 🙌🏽⛳️ Special people, unbelievable vibes... for an amazing cause."

An outing on the course quickly turned into a trip to the emergency room for one L.A. golfer this past weekend -- after he was drilled in the forehead by an errant tee shot.

The wild -- and scary! -- scene went down at a Par 3 course in the City of Angels on Saturday ... when Vinny Bonavia was standing on the ninth hole's tee box.

Bonavia says some other golfers were on hole #1 just a few yards away, and suddenly, one of them smashed their tee shot right at him.

"They yelled fore and shot one over us," he said. "Then minutes later -- no fore this time -- this absolute missile clocks me from the SAME DUDE."

Video, taken by Bonavia's playing partner, shows the ball hit him square in the noggin -- causing him to bleed profusely.

The damage was so bad, he actually had to seek medical attention -- eventually needing seven stitches to close the wound.

Bonavia was in good spirits about it all afterward, saying he was fine, and adding that the guy who hit him did apologize.

"I appreciate everyone's concern," he said.

As for the man who needs some serious work on his game -- Bonavia said he's hopeful the dude's playing partners never let him live the shot down.

Hailey Davidson -- the transgender golfer aiming to make the LPGA Tour -- tells TMZ Sports she's very grateful for Caitlyn Jenner's support this week ... but she's striving to have a further chat with the former Olympian with the hopes that it will help "clear up some assumptions" going forward.

Jenner threw her support behind Davidson on Fox News on Wednesday, saying she believed Davidson -- unlike transgender swimmer Lia Thomas -- had no unfair advantage over her female opponents because "golf is a totally different game."

Davidson called Jenner's backing "awesome" ... but tells us she did find at least part of the conversation as a whole "a bit vague."

Specifically, the 29-year-old, who underwent gender reassignment surgery last year, says she wished Jenner had left out the sweeping assumption that she can still crush a golf ball.

"My big thing is just, I appreciate the love and support, but definitely to clear up some assumptions would be awesome," she said.

"Because I definitely don't hit it as far as people say. Like, nowhere close."

Davidson said she's reached out to Jenner in an attempt to have a conversation with her about it all. She's yet, though, to hear back.

But if the conversation does take place, Davidson tells us she's hopeful Jenner would hear her out about her golf game ... and more.

"I would love to talk to her in regards to more about how we are athletes and her experience may not be everyone's experience," she said.

"Everyone's experiences are different and everyone's built different. With what she was training to do, yeah, I'm pretty sure she's pretty big and strong."

Davidson said she, however, is not necessarily like that. In fact, she tells us after undergoing hormone treatment, she's lost a ton of power and clubhead speed.

Ultimately, Davidson said she's just hoping everyone can one day be treated equally.

"I understand [Caitlyn's] point that golf is a little different," she said. "But again, all sports are really the same in the end when it comes to the athlete."

Unlike Lia Thomas in the women's swimming pool, Caitlyn Jenner says she's throwing her support behind a trans golfer in her fight to make the LPGA Tour -- claiming "golf is a totally different game."

Hailey Davidson, a 29-year-old who underwent gender reassignment surgery last year, has been attempting to get her LPGA Tour card this summer. She's so far been unsuccessful, but it's created plenty of backlash nonetheless, with critics -- as they did in Thomas' case earlier this year -- calling it unfair to women in the sport.

But Jenner joined Fox News on Wednesday afternoon and said she's backing Davidson's quest to be the first transgender woman on the Tour -- saying it's simply a different situation than Thomas'.

"Every sport is different," said Jenner, who's previously been very critical of Thomas' journey to compete in the women's pool. "Golf is a totally different game [than swimming]. It is a game of touch and feel."

Jenner argued that brute strength and the potential to hit a ball further makes little-to-no difference in golf ... saying, "It is about your ability around the green."

"I don't think she's in a position where she's going to be dominating on the LPGA Tour," Jenner added.

The LPGA Tour changed its rules more than a decade ago to allow golfers who were not born female to compete. And Jenner said she thinks it should stay that way, noting current pro female golfers whoop her and other men regularly on the course.

"To be honest with you," Jenner said, "those girls are so good. The top girls on Tour can beat probably 99.9 percent of the men out there. They're that good."

Davidson, who reportedly last competed as a male in a 2015 tournament, said in a statement Wednesday that despite not yet earning her Tour card ... she isn't giving up in the fight anytime soon -- no matter what her detractors say.

"All the people who commented about me having an advantage over biologically born women have no idea how great these women are at their craft or it what it takes to be an elite golfer," she said.

Tiger Woods could have been nearly $1 BILLION richer if he had joined LIV Golf this year ... so says Greg Norman, who confirmed the new, Saudi-backed league offered the legend around $700-$800 million to defect from the PGA Tour.

Norman, who's LIV Golf's CEO, revealed the details of the staggering offer during an interview with Tucker Carlson that aired on Monday night -- saying the huge proposal came from the league even before he had officially taken the executive role with the org.

"That number was out there before I became CEO," Norman said. "So, that number's been out there, yes. And, look, Tiger's a needle mover, right?"

"So," he added, "yes, that number is somewhere in that neighborhood."

Tiger, of course, did not accept the offer ... and when he spoke about the new golf org. while at The Open in Scotland last month -- he ripped some of golf's biggest stars for taking the money and bolting from the PGA Tour.

"I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position," Woods said of the LIV golfers -- which includes huge names like Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson.

Woods also called out Norman for his role with LIV at the July event -- saying he didn't believe the former golf star was doing things that were "in the best interest of our game."

"What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice?" Woods added. "What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money upfront and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They’re playing blaring music and have all these atmospheres that are different."

Ivana Trump was laid to rest at her ex-husband's golf course this month -- and now, photos of her gravesite have emerged ... which are getting a major side-eye from the Internet.

Here's the deal ... Donald and his kids had their late mother buried at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ about a week and change ago -- which might sound like a strange place to entomb a loved one ... but, hey, to each their own. It's a family decision.

The problem now is that pictures of her actual gravesite have surfaced for the world to see -- this after being snapped and published by the New York Post -- and people are shaking their collective heads at the images ... which many are calling sad, bare and disrespectful.

Indeed, her burial plot does appear a bit ... bland. And not just that, but it's completely isolated -- without any adornment or much of anything else to honor her, save for a small bouquet of white flowers and a marble plaque that seems slapped down at her feet.

As some pointed out, her gravestone inscription has barely any writing on it at all -- just her name and her DOB and DOD ... that's about it. No other words of remembrance for Ivana.

While it might seem like a bizarre sight -- and just a weird and inappropriate place to bury DT's ex-wife -- this is actually something The Donald has reportedly been gunning for for a while ... namely, getting authorization for a decent amount of burial plots on his property.

Charles Barkley just gave LIV Golf the cold shoulder -- the NBA Hall of Famer says he will not be joining the controversial Saudi-backed organization as a commentator after all ... claiming he was never made an official offer.

Chuck previously showed interest in joining LIV over the past week ... saying he'd fulfill their broadcasting duties if they gave him a massive, $60 million contract.

But, Barkley made it clear he wasn't going to keep Turner and his "Inside The NBA" colleagues in limbo ... giving LIV until he stepped off the course at Thursday's pro-am to make him an offer, or he'd walk away for good.

As it turns out, Chuck is a man of his word ... 'cause he's officially ending all talks with the tour.

"I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me," Barkley said to the New York Post on Friday.

"I wish those guys great success and nothing but the best," he added. "But, in my best interest, and being fair to Turner -- because Turner and basketball have given me every single thing in my life -- it is best for me to move on and I'm staying with Turner for the rest of my TV career."

Barkley signing with LIV could have meant bad news for his endorsements -- he said Thursday he heard from several companies regarding his interest in signing with the tour.

Donald Trump just teed off in the LIV Golf pro-am with Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau ... hitting the fairway with his opening drive.

Trump hit the course with the golf superstars -- kicking off the big event, which is going down at his Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Donald didn't seem to be nervous about playin' alongside some of the best in the world -- he piped his drive so well, he didn't even need to see its ball flight, immediately reaching for his tee after giving it a ride.

According to reporters on the scene, Trump's ball landed comfortably in the fairway -- setting the 76-year-old up for an easy second shot.

"Glad that's over with," Trump joked after hitting his ball.

Trump, DeChambeau and Johnson will also be playing alongside Eric Trump for Thursday's round.

The event will also feature a bunch of other celebs and athletes -- most notably Caitlyn Jenner, Charles Barkley, Chris Harrison and Brian Urlacher.

Charles Barkley is naming his price in order to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour ... saying he'd hop on board if they offer him a whopping $60 million!!

The NBA legend addressed the org.'s reported interest in bringing him on as a commentator with the "Dan Patrick Show" on Monday ... saying he's more than happy with his current situation with TNT, but a certain number would get him to sign on the dotted line with LIV.

"Well, consider how much money I make now, it would take a really huge number for me to give up my life right now," Barkley told Patrick.

While Barkley didn't want to go into details about his current income, Patrick threw out a number -- $20 milli total between TNT and endorsements -- and Chuck admitted the guess was pretty spot-on.

Dan asked Chuck how he'd respond if LIV decided to triple his income ... and it's safe to say Barkley wouldn't be able to decline such a lucrative offer.

"If they triple it, and next time I'm on your show, the first question better be, 'Charles, where we celebrating at tonight?'" Barkley said.

"That should be your first question, that should be your first question if they triple what I'm making now. Your first question should be, 'Hey, Charles, where's the party tonight?'"

Barkley also said despite all the backlash surrounding the tour, he has no issue with guys like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka leaving the PGA tour for LIV ... 'cause at the end of the day, money talks.

"150 million dollars to play golf 15 times a year? I have no problem with those guys taking that money."

Donald Trump is calling for all PGA golfers to jump ship and join the Saudi-backed LIV tour ... claiming if they don't take the massive payday now, they'll be left in the dust when there's an "inevitable merger" between the organizations.

#45 made the comments on his Truth Social media platform on Monday -- just days ahead of LIV's tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

"All of those golfers that remain 'loyal' to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes," Trump said. "And you get nothing but a big 'thank you' from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year."

"If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were."

Trump's involvement in LIV has garnered criticism from many -- especially families of 9/11 victims, considering Trump once publicly speculated Saudi Arabia played a role in the World Trade Center attacks.

Members of 9/11 Justice -- which consists of those affected by the 2001 terrorist attacks -- sent a letter to Trump earlier this week ... calling for him to cancel the event.

LIV Golf responded ... saying, "As we have said all along, these families have our deepest sympathy. While some may not agree, we believe golf is a force for good around the world."

Cameron Smith, #2 ranked golfer in the world and winner of The Open, is nearing a deal to join LIV Golf, TMZ Sports has learned … which would make him the latest star to join the Saudi-backed organization.

Of course, big names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have defied the PGA Tour and inked huge money deals to play in the new league. Smith, by far, would represent the highest-ranked player they've been able to lure over.

Our sources tell us they'd be shocked if the deal didn't happen.

In fact, after winning at St. Andrews, Smith was asked by reporters about rumors he was going to LIV. Cam's response? He wasn't thrilled with the question, but didn't say no.

“I just won the British Open, and you’re asking about that? I think that’s pretty not that good,” Cameron said. “I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments.”

As for the money Smith would receive, that's not known ... but obviously it'll be significant.

For reference ... Mickelson was reportedly paid $200 million to sign with LIV. DeChambeau's contract was said to be around $125 million. All the big named players received huge deals.

Of course, the PGA Tour and LIV are in the midst of a full-on war with each other ... as the upstart org. has persuaded some of the game's biggest names with windfalls of cash. The Tour has responded by threatening to ban players who sign.

In fact, there was talk last week that LIV players may not be allowed to compete in the four Majors starting in 2023 ... a move that'd be a huge blow to the golfers.

Not all of the biggest golfers have said "yes" to LIV. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both turned down lucrative offers. Woods's offer was said to be "high nine figures," according to LIV CEO Greg Norman.

Forget birdies and eagles ... a bunch of Canadian golfers had to deal with bears on the course last week -- as one surprised them during their outing, climbing right into their carts!!!

The incident was all captured on video, obtained by TMZ Sports, showing a hungry black bear walking up on four guys who were trying to enjoy their annual golf trip at Nicklaus North Golf Course in Whistler, B.C.

You can see in the footage -- as the foursome was getting set to take swings on the course's sixth hole -- the animal walked right up to them in search of food.

According to David Kelso, the bear was drooling as he got near them ... and, eventually, the beast rummaged through their things!!

Kelso, though, says the bear wasn't aggressive -- and after a few minutes, they were able to scare it off.

And, get this, Kelso tells us he and his playing partner, Kyle McNamara, were able to go on to make birdies on the hole!

Golf fans, try not to get teary-eyed watching this ...

Tiger Woods broke down while out on the golf course Friday morning, appearing to cry on the 18th fairway just before formally missing the cut at The Open -- and video from the scene is very emotional.

Woods -- who made it a goal to return to St. Andrews this year for the British Open after badly injuring his leg in a Feb. 2021 car crash -- struggled throughout the first two days of the tournament, and did not qualify for weekend play.

So, on his last hole of his second round on Friday, he received a massive ovation from the crowd in the stands -- and he couldn't hide his emotions.

Cameras captured Woods wiping away tears for several moments as he walked toward his ball near the green.

Tiger was eventually able to gather himself, and he went on to make a par -- finishing the event with a score of +9.

It could be the last time Woods ever competes in another Open at St. Andrews -- and he said afterward that's why he got so emotional out on the course.

"I don't know if I'll be physically able to play another British Open here at St. Andrews," said the 46-year-old, who's previously won two Opens at the famous course. "I certainly feel like I'll be able to play more British Opens. But, I don't know if I'll be around when it comes back around here."

"So, the warmth and the ovation at 18, it got to me."