Charley Hull’s (forced) cig break, Nelly Korda’s SI Swimsuit nod and Bryson DeChambeau’s big-man-on-campus move

When Charley Hull was forced to take a cigarette break during competition, she was that uncharacteristically put in the spotlight, with some applause and some disapproval but it also made her note how the elite golfers are under pressure to keep their focus, to be watched.

In the meantime, Nelly Korda made headlines on the course with her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, which was an indication of her increasingly influential role outside golf and solidified her position as one of the marketable athletes in the sport.

Bryson DeChambeau also adopted a swaggering humongous on campus image, and he came with a big attitude and presence that made his unusual stance in the game and his capacity to get attention an emphasis.

Collectively, these episodes indicate the changing story of golf, in which personality, marketing, and individuality are becoming increasingly important factors in the popularity of the game, alongside on-course performance and increasing its relevance to audiences around the world in the modern world.