New Planet Golf News - Tour Edition - February 3, 2024

Scottie Scheffler shoots a bogey-free 64 to tie Ludvig Aberg and Thomas Detry for the 36-hole lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Scheffler, ranked No. 1, collected eight birdies, while Aberg eagled and Detry made three birdies. The tournament is played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. [calgolfnews.com]

Scottie Scheffler is tied for the lead at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am halfway point. The third round begins on Saturday, February 3, with a logjam of heavyweights at the top of the leaderboard. Thomas Detry, Ludvig Aberg, and Scottie Scheffler are tied for the lead, with Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas close behind. The final grouping for Saturday's round includes Detry, Aberg, and Scheffler, with coverage available on Golf Channel, CBS, Peacock, and ESPN+. [golf.com]

Rory McIlroy struggles at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am as Ludvig Åberg and Scottie Scheffler take a share of the lead. McIlroy is 10 shots off the pace after two rounds, while Åberg and Scheffler are tied with Thomas Detry at 11 under. Åberg shot a flawless 65, while Scheffler fired an impressive 64. McIlroy will need a strong weekend to contend. [skysports.com]

Rory McIlroy's caddie bib was misspelled as MCLLROY, raising questions about whether this contributed to McIlroy's two-shot penalty for an incorrect drop. This follows a recent incident where Jon/John Rahm's name was misspelled on a team graphic. The article suggests that the PGA Tour should hire a copy editor to avoid such misprints. [golfdigest.com]

Peter Malnati defends his selection as one of the four sponsor exemptions into the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. While some players criticized the choices as "shady" and "collusion," Malnati explained that he felt worthy of the exemption based on his consistent participation in the event and his commitment to providing a great experience for amateur players. He emphasized that his selection was not solely because he is on the board and expressed his love for the tournament and his ability to perform well in it. [golfweek.usatoday.com]

The 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am offers a $20 million payout, with $3.6 million going to the winner. The amateur portion has been reduced to 36 holes, and the field is limited to 80 players with no cut. The final payouts for the tournament range from $3.6 million for first place to $32,000 for last place. [si.com]

The 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am has attracted talented professional amateurs with its new format and increased prize pool. The top 5 amateurs, ranked by their handicap scores, include David Abeles with a handicap of 3, Richard Petit with a handicap of 2, Geoff Couch with a handicap of 2, Pascal Grizot with a handicap of 1, and Michael McCarthy with a handicap of 0. [essentiallysports.com]

NFL superstars Tom Brady and Josh Allen engage in friendly banter about their golf handicaps at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament. Brady, who is 46 years old, jokes about needing more strokes while Allen teases him about being retired. The tournament concluded with Brady and his partner Keegan Bradley finishing in 18th place and Allen with Keith Mitchell in a tie for 51st place. [sportskeeda.com]

LIV Golf's season-opening event in Mexico was thrown into chaos when multiple players, including Jon Rahm, suffered from food poisoning. Initial reports suggested that play might be postponed, but LIV Golf officials confirmed that the schedule would proceed as planned. The affected players and caddies were feeling ill, but no withdrawals were made. This incident came as a blow to LIV Golf, which has invested heavily in the new season. Rahm, who recently signed a $500m contract, will make his debut in the tournament. [dailymail.co.uk]

In the opening round of the 2024 LIV Golf League season at Mayakoba, Torque GC's Joaquin Niemann made history with a 12-under 59, becoming the second player in LIV Golf's history to card a sub-60 round. Niemann holds a five-shot lead over Patrick Reed going into the weekend. Reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm made his debut as captain for the expansion Legion XIII team, shooting a 66 and tying for fourth place. Torque GC leads the team competition at 13 under. [livgolf.com]

Joaquin Niemann made history by shooting a 59 during the first round of LIV Golf's season opener. He had ten birdies and one eagle, putting him on the doorstep of golf's magic number. With two holes left, he had a chance to achieve a score of 58, which has only been accomplished by two players in professional golf. [golf.com]

Jon Rahm teed off at the LIV Golf event in Mayakoba, marking his first appearance since leaving the PGA Tour for $500 million in December. Despite concerns of a food poisoning incident, the tournament proceeded as scheduled. Rahm had a strong start, finishing his first round five-under. He is part of the Legion XIII team, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt, and Kieran Vincent. Hatton, who recently joined for $64 million, also made his debut in Mexico and had a solid start. [dailymail.co.uk]

Jon Rahm's debut in LIV Golf didn't go as expected, with fans left unimpressed by his performance. Despite a strong start, Rahm fell off in the last two holes, finishing tied with Richard Bland and Laurie Canter. Rahm's frustration was evident when he dropped a profanity after a tee shot on the 18th hole. While some fans found it amusing, others criticized the broadcast and expressed disappointment. Overall, Rahm's debut in LIV Golf didn't meet fans' expectations. [essentiallysports.com]

Phil Mickelson speaks highly of young college golfer Caleb Surratt, who has joined LIV Golf and will be part of Jon Rahm's team. Mickelson praises Surratt as an "incredible talent" and predicts that he will grow to play alongside Rahm. Surratt explains his decision to join LIV Golf, stating that it offers a big opportunity for his career and that he is excited to compete with the best players in the world. With his talent and the mentorship of Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, Surratt is expected to have a successful professional career. [thesportsrush.com]

The 2024 LIV Golf League Mayakoba tournament introduces changes including the addition of European Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. The prize money payout structure has also been altered, with the winner receiving $4 million and the remaining three finishers earning $50,000 each. The low three scores for each team will count in the first and second rounds, while all four team members will count in the third and final round. [golfdigest.com]

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from 2024 LIV Golf Mayakoba. [golfweek.usatoday.com]

Bernhard Langer, two-time Masters champion, will miss the Masters tournament after tearing his Achilles tendon and needing surgery. Langer, who had planned to make his final appearance at Augusta National this year, will be out of golf indefinitely as he recovers. It is uncertain how long he will be out of action. [si.com]

Patrick Cantlay, player director on the PGA Tour's Policy Board, hopes that the new $3 billion Strategic Sports Group investment will strengthen the PGA Tour and benefit golf fans. He believes that the investors' expertise will help grow the sport and improve the product for fans. Cantlay also mentioned the importance of top players playing together more often and expressed his desire for the deal to bring positive change for long-suffering golf fans. There is also discussion about the return of LIV Golf players and the divided opinions among PGA Tour players on the matter. [golfmonthly.com]

Padraig Harrington suggests that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf should adopt a transfer system similar to football, allowing players to move freely between leagues. He believes that this approach would benefit both tours and create more excitement. Harrington also proposes that players from LIV Golf should receive invites to PGA Tour events, and vice versa. He emphasizes the need for the PGA Tour to ensure that the price for buying players remains high to maintain negotiating power. While a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's chief investor was announced, a solid compromise has yet to be reached. In the meantime, the PGA Tour has signed a $3 billion deal with Strategic Sports Group. Harrington also suggests that all the best players should compete together only during the majors, rather than all the time. [nationalclubgolfer.com]

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of LIV Golf and governor of Saudi PIF, has stated that they will continue to discuss the possibility of investing in the new PGA Tour Enterprises company. While the recent $3 billion deal with SSG has been made, Al-Rumayyan's letter to LIV Golf staff reaffirms their long-term support for Greg Norman's team golf tour. The focus remains on backing LIV Golf, but the door is still open for potential investment in PGA Tour Enterprises. [golfmonthly.com]

Rickie Fowler disagrees with Rory McIlroy's stance on allowing LIV Golf players back on the PGA Tour, suggesting that there should be some form of punishment for them. Fowler believes that the goal is to have the best players compete against each other more often, but feels that LIV players should not be welcomed back without consequences. He emphasizes the efforts made by PGA Tour players to improve the Tour and wants to see it continue to be the best place to play. [golfmonthly.com]

Rickie Fowler expresses his disagreement with allowing LIV Golf defectors to have a direct path back to the PGA Tour. Fans have mixed reactions to Fowler's opinion, with some suggesting he regrets not taking the money offered by LIV Golf. Fowler is currently competing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. [sportskeeda.com]

Justin Rose has revealed that he was approached by LIV Golf but ultimately decided to remain with the PGA Tour due to his commitment to pursuing his childhood dreams of winning majors. The lack of long-term exemptions and the absence of OWGR points for LIV events have made it challenging for players who joined LIV Golf to compete in major tournaments. [sbnation.com]

English golfer Tyrrell Hatton has joined LIV Golf in a deal worth up to $63 million, surprising many as he recently appeared committed to the PGA Tour. His decision has sparked conversations, including with Rory McIlroy, who seems open to the idea of LIV players returning to traditional tours. Hatton will make his debut on the LIV Golf circuit in Mexico, joining forces with his Ryder Cup partner Jon Rahm. LIV Golf continues to make big signings, reshaping the professional golf landscape. [yardbarker.com]

Tiger Woods wearing Nike work boots after parting ways with the brand sparks playful banter among fans, with comparisons to Brett Favre and suggestions for his next sponsorship. [essentiallygolf.com]

Anthony Kim, known for his charismatic and dominating gameplay, was revealed to be a controversy lover who thrived on it. Despite being anti-social and facing talks and criticism, Kim would dominate the field. Rumors suggest that Kim may make a comeback in the Saudi-backed league, LIV Golf, which has generated excitement among fans. [essentiallysports.com]

Greg Norman advised Tiger Woods to invest in private jet travel to improve his work-life balance and spend more time with his family. This advice, learned from golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus, would allow Woods to have a night at home and be beneficial for his mindset as a golfer. Private jet travel facilitates faster commuting and enables golfers to meet their families even when playing overseas. [essentiallysports.com]

Tiger Woods is excited about the PGA Tour's deal with SSG, which allows players to take part ownership of PGA Tour Enterprises. The $3 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group consortium will increase the valuation of the for-profit entity to around $12 billion. This historic deal marks the first time that players will own a piece of their sport. Equity will be shared based on factors such as career accomplishments and recent achievements. The deal is seen as a positive step for both elite players like Woods and average PGA Tour players, bringing optimism and unity to the organization. [golfmonthly.com]

Bryson DeChambeau appreciates Rory McIlroy's change in stance on allowing LIV Golfers to return to the PGA Tour without consequences. DeChambeau praises McIlroy for taking a more neutral position and acknowledges the positive impact of his statements. Jon Rahm also supports McIlroy's change in opinion, stating that the landscape of golf is changing and it's important to have the support of a player like McIlroy. However, not all PGA Tour players share McIlroy's view, with Rickie Fowler opposing the idea of allowing defected players back without punishment. [sportskeeda.com]

Jesper Svensson shoots a seven-under-par 65 in the second round of the Bahrain Championship, surging up the leaderboard to share the overall lead with Joel Girrbach and Dylan Frittelli. Despite strong winds, Svensson's conservative play paid off with a strong putting performance. The third round can be watched live on Sky Sports Golf. [skysports.com]

Golf equipment company TaylorMade has filed a lawsuit against wholesale giant Costco, alleging infringement on five patents related to TaylorMade's P790 irons. TaylorMade claims that Costco's Kirkland Signature irons copy features and technologies from their own product, and accuses Costco of misleading buyers. The lawsuit also alleges that the design company behind the Kirkland Signature irons employed a former TaylorMade engineer who was involved in the production of the P790. The outcome of the lawsuit is yet to be determined. [essentiallysports.com]

The USGA has partnered with Ally Financial to increase the purse size of the U.S. Women's Open to $12 million, a $1 million increase from last year. This historic move also includes a partnership in the US National Development Program and a commitment to visit renowned golf courses in the coming years. The increase in purse size has a positive impact on the LPGA Tour's purse size as well, with the Group Tour Championship matching the U.S. Women's Open's purse size at $11 million. LPGA Pros are hopeful for further increases in the future. [essentiallysports.com]

TaylorMade Golf is suing Costco, alleging that the Kirkland Signature irons infringe on its patents for the P790 irons. TaylorMade claims that five patents have been infringed and also accuses Costco of false advertising. The Kirkland Signature range has gained popularity in the golf world, with the irons priced at $499 and selling out quickly. TaylorMade's P790 irons are known for their technology and performance, and the company is taking legal action to protect its intellectual property and golfers who may be misled by cheaper imitations. [golfmonthly.com]

LIV Golf has signed a multi-year deal with tech giant Google Cloud and PMY, allowing viewers to watch any player at any time in a tournament through the "Any Shot, Any Time" feature on the LIV Golf Plus app. Fans reacted positively to the partnership, criticizing the PGA Tour for being behind in technological advancements and praising LIV Golf's innovation. This collaboration marks a significant win for LIV Golf and highlights the potential growth of the game of golf. [thesportsrush.com]

The article discusses the lack of diversity in LIV Golf's leaderboard compared to the PGA Tour, with only a handful of players dominating the top spots. It also highlights the success rate of rookies on the PGA Tour and the emergence of new winners in the early events of the tour. The article raises questions about whether LIV Golf needs new faces on the leaderboard. [essentiallysports.com]

Click to see the entire PGA Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.

Click to see the entire LIV Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.

Click to see the entire LPGA Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.