The PGA Tour will return to an iconic venue this coming week, with the Cadillac Championship being held on the Blue Monster course at Doral after a decade away.
The Cadillac Championship is the next signature event on the PGA Tour schedule. And it will be played on a course that certainly tests the world’s best players.
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Interestingly, the Blue Monster has recently hosted a handful of LIV Golf events since the last time it appeared on the PGA Tour calendar.
What Bryson DeChambeau said about the Blue Monster at Doral last year
During the 2025 season, it was selected as the course to host the final LIV event before The Masters. On that occasion, Marc Leishman emerged victorious.
Bryson DeChambeau was actually two shots clear going into the final round in Miami.
Ahead of the tournament starting, DeChambeau explained what players have to do well if they want to contend at Doral.
“The Blue Monster, you’ve just got to have pretty much every part of your game working well. It’s not only just driving, you’ve got to iron play it well. It can get windy out here. There’s water all around the greens, on the par threes, so you’ve got to be a good ball striker around here to play well. It’s a good test going into the Masters,” he said.
Photo by Lauren Sopourn/Getty Images
“There’s a few holes out there that are difficult, but like I said earlier, it’s just about learning a little bit more each time you hit certain shots and experience a different wind off a different lie. It’s tricky out there. You’ve got to really focus on where you’re placing that ball strategically out there on the golf course. It’s a brilliant design that plays differently almost every single time you go out there.”
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DeChambeau went on to begin his tournament with a three under par round of 69 on Friday to make an early statement.
Nevertheless, he admitted that he did not quite enjoy any of his day.
“I believe it’s one of the most challenging golf courses in professional golf, so the cream usually rises to the top. The person that’s in control of their golf ball is going to be rewarded. The person that’s not, that barely misses it and gets away with it and gets it on the green and makes birdie, that’s not really going to happen out here, so you have to be playing your absolute best, and you can’t miss a shot. That’s why the best come out,” he said.
“I don’t like any of it, but it’s a great challenge for next week. It’s good prep work. It’s great to see the wind up and me being able to control my golf ball and my starting lines in the wind.”
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The mistake LIV Golf made ahead of the 2025 Masters was not the decision to play at Doral
DeChambeau was involved in a marquee group with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed on Sunday. Unfortunately, it proved to be an anticlimax for their group, with DeChambeau posting a three over par round to finish in fifth place.
It did appear to be a fantastic test ahead of The Masters. With that, it is surprising that LIV have not looked to put themselves on much harder golf courses ahead of this year’s majors.
The mistake LIV surely made was playing Doral the week before The Masters. It would have been a lot more beneficial had they stopped in Miami two weeks in advance, to give their players a better chance to rest up before they headed to Augusta National.
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Rory McIlroy is among the players skipping the Cadillac Championship this week. It would be no surprise if the strain of taking on Doral played a part in his decision ahead of the Truist Championship and the PGA Championship next month.
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