Planet Golf News - February 18, 2024

Due to expected inclement weather, the final round of the Chubb Classic golf tournament has been shortened to nine holes. The round will be played on holes 1-4 and 14-18 at Tiburón Golf Club. Tee times will run from approximately 7:15-11:15 a.m. ET, and the final round will be televised live on Peacock from 11:15 a.m.-1:45 p.m. ET and on tape delay on Golf Channel from 3-5:30 p.m. ET. [pgatour.com]

Rory McIlroy envisions a global tour for the top 80 players in the world, similar to soccer's Champions League. The tour would include events in different regions, with approximately 24 tournaments and at least half of them in the United States. McIlroy believes there is growing interest among players, but aligning everyone's interests and convincing them of the benefits will be a challenge. [nbcsports.com]

Ryan Lavner joins Golf Central to break down Rory McIlroy's comments regarding his vision for a global tour, the challenges that may arise in uniting all parties and what the model may look like. [nbcsports.com]

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the Genesis Invitational due to illness, not injury. Despite this, there are concerns about his frequent withdrawals since his car crash in 2021. While Woods has expressed confidence in his ability to compete, there are reports suggesting he secretly desires to retire from professional golf. [gbnews.com]

LIV Golf stars Sam Horsfield and David Puig are competing in the Malaysian Open to secure a spot at this year's Open at Royal Troon. While ranking points are not available at LIV events, those who have won a major in the last five years are guaranteed a spot at all four major events. Rory McIlroy aims to end his 10-year wait for a major title, while Dustin Johnson and other LIV Golf members will still feature at the majors. Horsfield and Puig must find another way to qualify for the Open, and they are currently competing in the Malaysian Open to secure a spot. [mirror.co.uk]

Rory McIlroy straddles the fence on Jordan Spieth's disqualification at the Genesis Invitational, expressing understanding for both sides of the argument regarding the rule on incorrectly signing a scorecard. McIlroy, who has never had a similar incident, believes in maintaining the traditional rules of the game but acknowledges the need for scrutiny given the technology available. While he sympathizes with Spieth, McIlroy refrains from taking a definitive stance on amending the ruling. [sbnation.com]

Lê Chúc An, a 16-year-old golfer, has made a strong impression in the golf world with her remarkable performance in various tournaments. She has won multiple titles and awards, including being voted the Female Golfer of the Year. An's dedication and progress have helped her become Vietnam's No. 1 female golfer, and she is expected to continue narrowing the gap with the rest of the golf world. [vietnamnews.vn]

Chase Johnson, a mini-tour pro and avid Tiger Woods fan, finally had the opportunity to meet his idol at the Genesis Invitational. Although he didn't get Woods' autograph, Johnson cherished the conversation they had and introduced Woods to his father. Unfortunately, Woods had to withdraw from the tournament due to the flu, but Johnson continues his journey in golf and hopes for more success in the future. [golfdigest.com]

The 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta is the eighth event of the year on the PGA Tour. Defending champion Tony Finau, along with a few other notable players, will be competing in the tournament. The field lacks star power, but it presents an opportunity for someone to make a breakthrough in their career. [golfweek.usatoday.com]

Patty Tavatanakit maintains her lead at the 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International, shooting a 3-under 69 in the third round. She holds a three-shot advantage heading into the final round, sitting at 11 under. Esther Henseleit is in second at 8 under, while Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen are tied for third at 7 under. If Tavatanakit wins, it will be her first title in over three years. [golfweek.usatoday.com]

Charley Hull is four shots off the lead heading into the final round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International. She is chasing her first title since October 2022. Patty Tavatanakit is currently leading the tournament at 11 under. Hull's previous win was over a year ago at the LPGA Tour's Volunteers of America Classic. [skysports.com]

Despite a hotel room flood that kept her up for half the night, Charley Hull remains in contention at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF. She is currently tied for third, four shots behind leader Patty Tavatanakit. Hull's strong performance comes after enduring a tough Thursday round and dealing with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Tavatanakit, aiming for her first title since the 2021 ANA Inspiration, remains in the lead and is ready to face the pressure on Sunday. [golfmonthly.com]

The USGA has announced the 26 qualifying sites for the 2024 U.S. Women's Open. The championship will be held at Lancaster Country Club, and qualifiers will take place at various locations across the United States, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Unlike the men's championship, women compete over 36 holes at the qualifying sites to earn direct entry into the championship. Amateur women with a USGA handicap index of 2.4 or better are eligible to enter. The demand for the U.S. Women's Open has been increasing, with record-breaking entries in recent years. [golf.com]

The AmateurGolf.com 2024 Pacific Grove City Championship is a closely contested tournament, with five golfers tied for the lead in the Championship Division and 15 golfers within two shots of the lead. In the Senior Championship Division, Andrew Gabelman and Daniel O'Connor are tied for first place, while Jimmy Jea leads in the Mid-Amateur Division. The tournament is being held at Pacific Grove Golf Links, known for its stunning views and a course designed by Chandler Egan and Jack Neville. [amateurgolf.com]

After the first round of the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, Logan Reilly, Smith Summerlin, Matthew Diehl, and Boston Bracken are tied for the lead at 2-under-par 70. Despite challenging conditions, nine players shot under par. The tournament has a rich history with past champions including Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler, and Jordan Spieth. [amateurgolf.com]

The Florida men's golf team secured their fifth consecutive victory in the Florida Gators Invitational, shooting 26-under to win by three shots. North Florida finished in second place, 13 shots behind. Nick Gabrelcik of North Florida won the individual competition with a 6-under 64 final round, finishing 13-under. This victory marks the fourth of the season for Florida and the 25th team title under head coach J.C. Deacon. Gabrelcik's impressive performance adds to his successful 2023 campaign, including winning the Southern Amateur and playing on the winning U.S. Walker Cup team. [amateurgolf.com]

Surratt, who joined Jon Rahm's team on the Saudi-backed circuit after the Spaniard's $500million defection from the PGA, teed it up with the former President at Trump National Palm Beach. [dailymail.co.uk]

Tiger Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational due to an illness, specifically flu-like symptoms including a fever and dizziness. This raises questions about his future availability and ability to compete in upcoming events, especially the year's majors. Woods had an encouraging start to the year despite battling leg and ankle troubles from a previous car crash. [sportingnews.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.