Trending
It was just a couple of years ago that the upstart LIV Golf League posed a major threat to the PGA Tour's dominance as the world's leading golf tour.
Back then, LIV Golf seemed determined to spend any amount needed to entice PGA stars like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau to join their upstart league.
When John Rahm eventually signed with LIV in December of 2023, the outlook at PGA Tour headquarters was especially gloomy. At the time, it looked like the LIV league might actually have a chance at becoming the world's best golf tour.
All that changed earlier this year when Saudi investors surprisingly pulled all their funding for LIV.
In the months since, the remaining LIV Golf leadership has been scrambling to find new investors, and even if new backing is secured it seems that LIV Golf's chances of survival are slim.
Koepka has already opted out, and stars like Rahm and DeChambeau seem to be positioning behind the scenes for their own return to the PGA Tour.
Rumors are rampant that upcoming LIV events may be postponed or even canceled outright. What seemed like a legitimate threat to the PGA Tour just a few years ago is now just slowly fading away.
Like many golf fans across the country, I can't say I'm unhappy.
Big hitter
I was one of many who played in the Summit Invitational two-man event last weekend.
Head pro Randy Repko always does a great job running the tournament, and despite a very rainy Sunday the entire golf course was in fantastic shape.
I'm sure most golfers shared the same sentiments, but there was something else happening at the Cresson-area course that had nearly every participant talking.
Sinking Valley's young Nick Helsley, who teamed with Artie Fink Jr. to capture the tournament's championship trophy, had everyone abuzz with comments on the prodigious distances his golf shots were traveling.
Throughout the weekend, golfers were retelling stories -- Helsley had just knocked it on Summit's long, par-5 first hole with a driver and a nine-iron. That was followed by a smooth tee shot on the second hole that flew over the par-4's green!
Our area has seen its share of long hitters over the years. Fink himself has been extraordinarily long over his career, and more recently golfers like Anthony DeGol, Sean Brannan and Quintin Dziabo fall into that same category.
Helsley is definitely the latest and greatest.
Fink had the best view this weekend as the two teamed up to capture the Summit title.
"Nick can really generate a lot of power," Fink said. "But more than that, he has a good overall game and is a really great kid. He's going to be a force to be reckoned with in our area."
55 years ago
During the first week of August in 1971, Wes Lingenfelter captured the Iron Master's club championship after carding rounds of 71 and 69.
Lingenfelter was a standout athlete at nearby Juniata College who lettered in baseball, football and basketball. He would go on to win seven club championships at Iron Masters, a club record to this day.
Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net