Top 10 Free Agents for the 2025 Season

2025 is officially upon us. With the start of a new calendar year comes a new Grass League season, which means it’s time for the annual roster housecleaning. I’ve been hitting the phones to get the inside track on a number of players, but owners and team personnel are keeping things close to the chest. With increased interest in the league, it’s believed that franchises are taking a much different approach in 2025—and I can’t blame them. The added interest isn’t just from fans and golf enthusiasts. There has been a noticeable uptick in the number of elite golfers putting their names in the Grass League Free Agency Pool… It’s a good year to be an owner..

Top Ten Free Agents (as of 02/27/2025)

#1 Carr Vernon : I know it’s an easy assessment given he’s a +7.2 handicap, but can you fault me? A +7.2 handicap would be a tall task at PopStroke, let alone a USGA-rated golf course—but here we are. Carr is looking for a franchise to call home in hopes of skipping the qualifier and the 2025 GL Draft.

IDEAL FIT: Tampa Bay Swamp Dawgs

#3 Kyle Cox : Big Tex—or, as some have dubbed him, “the best ball striker west of the Mississippi”—remains unsigned heading into 2025. Baffling if you ask me. Cox and his playing partner finished T-5th at -13, just one shot off the lead at the 2024 Grass Clippings Open. Cox is entertaining by default—he’s a 6’6” lefty from Texas with the ability to change the culture within a franchise.I’ll tell you one thing, though—he’s not afraid of the qualifier, and there’s a chance he’d rather earn his spot than simply slip on a jersey..

IDEAL FIT: Michigan Auto Aces

#4 Torey Edwards : Torey may be the most notable yet overlooked free agent on the market… Connect the dots with me. Last I checked, Good Good Golf was an industry titan. Torey Edwards played in the 2024 Grass Clippings Open for Good Good’s Dallas Horsemen, where he and his playing partner, Ryder Epson, finished at -12 in April—just two strokes behind the eventual champions. Well, Ryder Epson went on to become a household name in December, while Edwards was swapped out for the likes of Brad Dalke. I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors, but if I were a Grass League GM, I’d be knocking on his front door..

IDEAL FIT: Hollywood Hitters

#5 Zander Winston : Zander Winston will find his way into the Grass Clippings Open one way or another. He’s a local golfer still chasing the dream, playing Grass Clippings Rolling Hills weekly, and he’d relish the opportunity to represent a franchise. Winston is just a hot putter away from competing at the highest level in golf. Under the lights on NBC Peacock… wouldn’t that be a special way to have your coming-out party? If it were possible (hopefully soon), I’d take a futures bet on Winston not only to participate in the GCO but to win the 2025 Grass Clippings Open..

IDEAL FIT: Scottsdale Strikers

#6 Christopher Petefish : Here’s a player profile I wouldn’t skip over if I were scanning the Grass League website. Petefish played four years of college golf at Georgia Tech and most recently completed the full 2024 season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Unfortunately, he didn’t retain his card, but he’ll be working his way back in 2025. Either a franchise signs him before the deadline, or I can guarantee he’ll find himself on the podium come draft night.

IDEAL FIT: Los Angeles Roses

#7 Johnny Manziel : This right here is what makes the Grass League special. Phoenix United made an unprecedented decision in letting Johnny Football walk after the 2024 GCO—a move that raised some eyebrows at local sportsbooks. I can’t say other franchises would have done the same. The Grass League is quickly shaping up as a golf league that plays no favorites, which is why many believe it has staying power. Johnny has yet to sign up for the qualifier because, in my opinion, he’s waiting for the phone to ring. I think several franchises have or will put in an inquiry, but at the end of the day, it sure would be cool to hear his name called on draft night.

IDEAL FIT: Scottsdale Strikers

#8 Pat Moore : I get it—he doesn’t look like much on the surface. But give it some time, and you’ll realize he’s actually a stick—so much so that he played four years at ASU. For those unfamiliar with Grass League event locations, you can see the inside of Arizona State’s football stadium from the 17th green. In other words, it’s a home game for Pat. The Dobson camp will be bummed if we don’t see Pat Moore playing golf on television in 2025. Without a doubt, he’s got a place in this league. 

IDEAL FIT: New York Blue Birds

#9 Josh Buttsy : Buttsy has been hanging around the rim in Arizona golf for what feels like a decade. Some may not take him seriously because of his colorful clothing designs or his brash—but undeniably entertaining—personality. Regardless, he’s a hell of a golfer and would be a positive presence in any locker room. Full disclosure: I’m a Buttsy fan, and I’m rooting for him to get TV coverage on May 3rd. Guys like Buttsy don’t get a chance all too often, but when they do, they typically make the most of it..

IDEAL FIT: Michigan Auto Aces

#10 Justin Peters : If you were born before Y2K, you’ve probably heard of the show Big Break. It was one of the most impactful golf television shows during its run on the Golf Channel. Well, Justin Peters won the very first Big Break ever recorded and has since been cemented in golf history. At the very least, franchise owners have plenty of game film, and I’d be shocked if one didn’t extend an offer..

IDEAL FIT: Canada Hat Tricks