Professional Bull Riders Series Expands With New Teams

• PBR adds new teams like Oklahoma Wildcatters owned by Talor Gooch.

• Luke Donald transitions to lead analyst role at NBC for golf events.

• Jake Knapp recalls receiving a golf ball from Tiger Woods as a child.

Jake Knapp, of the United States, poses with his trophy during the award ceremony after winning the Mexico Open golf tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Ll

AP

Professional Bull Riders series, which broke away from the established Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 30 years ago, has introduced new teams to its league, including the Oklahoma Wildcatters owned by Talor Gooch. Gooch, a successful LIV Golf competitor, expressed his excitement about bringing a bull riding team back to Oklahoma and creating a championship-caliber squad in his home state.

The PBR Teams, featuring 5-on-5 bull riding games, will kick off a 12-event series in July, with Gooch's team set to have a homestand at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Despite his ownership, Gooch will miss the homestand due to LIV Golf commitments in Spain.

In the golf world, Luke Donald, a former Ryder Cup captain, is stepping into the role of lead analyst for NBC at upcoming events. Donald's impressive golf career, including five PGA Tour wins and a stint as the world's top-ranked player, has prepared him well for this new broadcasting role.

Meanwhile, Jake Knapp, a PGA Tour titleholder, reminisced about receiving a golf ball from Tiger Woods at the Accenture Match Play as a child, a cherished sports memorabilia piece for him. On the philanthropic front, Jim Furyk is set to receive the Charlie Bartlett Award for his contributions to society through the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, which supports various charitable causes.

Patrick Reed, known for his consistent top-100 world ranking, recently dropped out of the top 100 after joining LIV Golf. Reed's career trajectory, including a World Golf Championship win and aspirations to be a top 5 player, has seen fluctuations over the years.

Lastly, Ronald Rugumayo made history as the first Ugandan player to make the cut on the European tour at the Magical Kenya Open. Dustin Johnson's victory in Las Vegas marked his third win across three seasons of LIV Golf, a feat that others like Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith aim to achieve. Ryan Palmer is celebrating his 500th career start on the PGA Tour at the Cognizant Classic this week.

Notable statistics include only two American players from Anthony Kim's 2008 Ryder Cup team maintaining PGA Tour status, and Talor Gooch's comments on the Masters potentially excluding LIV Golf players from its field.