Planet Golf News - February 8, 2024

Harold Varner III discusses his embrace of the "one shot at a time" mentality for LIV Golf's 54-hole format. Despite finishing last at LIV Golf Mayakoba, Varner III enjoys the experience and appreciates the three-round system. He acknowledges that while some people may have a different opinion, he personally finds it cool to have all players on the course at the same time. Varner III also reflects on his performance at LIV Golf Mayakoba, where he finished with his worst score and position in his LIV Golf career. [sportskeeda.com]

Jon Rahm, a golfer from LIV Golf, is rooting for fellow Arizonan Brock Purdy in the Super Bowl. Rahm expressed his admiration for Patrick Mahomes but hopes to see Purdy do well as an Arizona native. Rahm and his teammates are focused on the LIV Golf tournament in Las Vegas and have limited knowledge of the Big Game. [si.com]

Jon Rahm reflects on his experience with the LIV Golf series, finding it entertaining and enjoying the different atmosphere and playing style. He also mentions the audience engagement and the upcoming event in Las Vegas. [sportskeeda.com]

LIV Golf players face pressure to perform in order to avoid being booted from the league. With huge upfront guaranteed contracts, there is incentive to excel and maintain their spot in the top 24 players who are guaranteed a new contract. LIV uses a system of relegation, and those below 45th in the standings are relegated from the league and must earn their way back. LIV Golfer Carlos Ortiz expressed the pressure of staying in the league and not having the PGA Tour as a fallback option. [golf.com]

Jon Rahm reflects on his controversial remarks about LIV Golf and money, stating that the $400 million signing bonus did not lead to a drastic change in his lifestyle. He plays golf for the love of the game and could retire comfortably with his earnings. Rahm finished third in the LIV Golf Mayakoba event, and the series will continue with its second event in Las Vegas. [sportskeeda.com]

David Howell, a former Ryder Cup star and Sky Sports presenter, expresses concern that the excessive money in professional golf is close to ruining the sport. The lure of large financial rewards from leagues like LIV Golf has led some players to prioritize money over meaningful titles, diluting the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Howell believes that while players cannot be blamed for accepting such sums, the fractured nature of golf puts the sport at risk of collapse. He emphasizes the importance of sentimental value, trophies, and players caring about the tournaments they play in, rather than just the monetary rewards. Howell questions the idea of a world golf tour and suggests that a critical mass of top players, along with Cinderella stories, is needed to make tournaments truly meaningful. [golfmonthly.com]

The SI Golf staff debates LIV Golf's decision to schedule its second event during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas, with mixed opinions on whether it's a strategic move or poor timing. They also discuss Jordan Spieth's statement that a deal with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is unnecessary due to the PGA Tour's new agreement with the Strategic Sports Group, with the majority disagreeing with Spieth. Lastly, they consider whether rounds of 60 and lower played under lift, clean and place rules should be marked with an asterisk in the PGA Tour's official record book, with opinions divided. [wpri.com]

Despite his impressive career in sports broadcasting, Brent Musburger was not favored by golf fans during his tenure as ABC's play-by-play announcer for golf. In a 1996 Golf Digest survey, Musburger received 43% of the vote for worst host. He was replaced by Mike Tirico in 1997 but continued to work for ABC and ESPN in other sports until 2017. [golfdigest.com]

The idea of a unified global circuit in professional golf is gaining traction, with the advent of LIV Golf and the strategic alliance between the PGA and DP World Tours. The concept of a global tour has garnered support from players like Rory McIlroy, who envisions a world tour that includes venues worthy of the players. This article presents a blueprint for a 22-event global circuit that would work in conjunction with existing professional tours, visiting regions where golf is already popular and has potential for growth. The proposed schedule includes stops in the Middle East, India, South America, California, Texas, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and South Africa. [golfdigest.com]

Gordon Sargent, a promising talent in the world of golf, has earned a PGA Tour card for the 2024/2024 season while still being an amateur. His journey includes notable victories, consistent performances, and recognition in both amateur and collegiate golf. Sargent's achievements include winning the Mark H. McCormack Medal, receiving a special invitation to The Masters, and becoming the first player to earn his PGA TOUR card through the PGA TOUR U Accelerated program. His trajectory showcases his hard work and talent, setting the stage for a successful professional career. [amateurgolf.com]

The TV ratings for LIV Golf's 2024 opener show improvement compared to last year, but the comparison is not straightforward. The final round drew 432,000 viewers on the CW, higher than last year's 291,000. However, a more accurate comparison is with Saturday's coverage, where CBS had 1.951 million viewers compared to LIV's 168,000. TV ratings should be taken with caution due to alternative viewing options and streaming services not included in Nielsen numbers. [golfcity.com]

Anthony Kim, a popular golfer who hasn't played in a PGA Tour event since 2012, is considering a comeback, sparking interest and speculation among fans and stakeholders. Questions arise about Kim's marketability after a 12-year absence, and whether he would return to the PGA Tour or its rival, LIV Golf. His potential return has sparked interest from sponsors, despite uncertainty about his current skill level. Kim's story of disappearance and potential return could be a compelling narrative for marketing purposes. [golf.com]

LIV Golf has made a significant change to its team format by counting all four players' final-round scores toward the team total. This adjustment aims to keep every player focused for all 18 holes and eliminate the possibility of hiding an underperforming player. While some captains, like Bryson DeChambeau, appreciate the change and believe it benefits balanced teams, others, like Kevin Na, feel it favors stacked teams. The new format aims to make team golf more relevant and exciting in LIV Golf. [whnt.com]

Tiger Woods' $20 million yacht, Privacy, is a luxurious 155-foot vessel with three stories, five bedrooms, a jacuzzi, a bar, a gym, and cherry wood appointments. It can accommodate 10 guests and has separate cabins for a crew of nine. The yacht also features an elevator, space for water vehicles, and is powered by 1,800-horsepower engines with a fuel capacity of 12,000 gallons. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

Rickie Fowler's Florida house, located in Jupiter, is a sprawling mansion with 11,575 square feet, six bedrooms, and nine bathrooms. The house features an ultra-modern design, a home theater, a large mancave, an outdoor kitchen, a pool, and floor-to-ceiling windows with water views. Fowler also has a pier for his boats and space to practice his golf game. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

Pat Perez is not participating in the Las Vegas Invitational due to his focus on improving his game after a difficult divorce. He wants to avoid the temptations of Las Vegas and stay away until Saturday night. Perez's recent performances have not been strong, and his personal life is also causing challenges. His wife filed for divorce and they are in disagreement over custody of their children. [essentiallysports.com]

JR Galbraith leads the Palmares Open in Portugal after shooting an opening round of 64, finishing at eight-under-par. Daniel Mulligan is in second place at seven-under. John Murphy also had a strong round, finishing at two-under-par. [irishgolfer.ie]

Shane Lowry is set to compete in the Porsche Singapore Classic, marking his return to Singapore after a 12-year absence. The tournament will take place from March 21st to 24th at the Laguna National course. Lowry expressed his excitement about playing in Singapore again and mentioned his exemption into April's Masters. [irishgolfer.ie]

The 2024 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is set to take place at the Doha Golf Club from February 8 to 11. The event features a 132-player field competing for a purse of $2.5 million. Top contenders include Rasmus Hojgaard, Pablo Larrazabal, Yannik Paul, Zander Lombard, and Dylan Frittelli. The event marks the final stop of the Middle East schedule for the DP World Tour. [essentiallysports.com]

Benjamin Weber, the stroke play medalist in the South African Amateur Championship, is among the final eight golfers competing for the championship at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club. Weber will face Dan Copeman in the quarterfinals, aiming to win both medalist honors and the match play portion of the tournament. [amateurgolf.com]

Rhein Gibson, defending his title at the Astara Golf Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, admits that it is not ideal to defend a title on this tour. Despite a fall in rankings, Gibson is happy to be there and hopes for another good week. The Country Club de Bogota in Colombia has been a place of success for Gibson, and he aims to tap into that past success to kick-start his 2024 campaign. [pga.org.au]

National No. 1 golfer Gavin Green (pic) will headline a 30-strong domestic line-up at next week’s US$1mil (RM 4.7mil) Prima Malaysian Open. [thestar.com]

Jack Lundin, a senior at the University of Missouri, has been named the SEC Men's Golfer of the Week for his outstanding performance in the spring opener at the Arizona National Invitational. Lundin placed fifth in the tournament, carding a career-low score of 201 (-15) over 72 holes. He helped the Tigers secure a fifth-place finish overall and currently leads the team with a stroke average of 69.56. Lundin has earned this accolade for the second time this season and will continue competing at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas on February 25. [mutigers.com]

Melanie Green, a senior at the University of South Florida, has been named the American Athletic Conference's Women's Golfer of the Week. Green led her team to victory at the FAU Paradise Invitational and recorded her second individual tournament championship. She has consistently performed well throughout the season and holds multiple program records. Green will continue competing in the Westbrook Invitational in Arizona. [gousfbulls.com]

Three Auburn golfers, including freshman Anna Davis and teammate Megan Schofill, have accepted invites to the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Davis, the No. 7 ranked amateur golfer in the world, won the amateur championship in 2022. Schofill, the No. 8 ranked amateur golfer, is the U.S. Amateur champion. Redshirt sophomore Casey Weidenfield will also make her first appearance at the tournament. [al.com]

Two golfers from the University of Oregon, Kiara Romero and Ashleigh Park, along with UO commit Yana Wilson, will participate in the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament. The tournament will take place prior to the 88th Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, with amateurs playing 54 holes of stroke play. Only those who make the cut will compete in the final round on the Augusta National course. [oregonlive.com]

There is no hard-and-fast rule on how much PGA Tour caddies are paid, but the usual model is a weekly floor of $1,000-$2,000, with 5-10% of winnings depending on performance. While caddies do not necessarily receive 10% of the FedEx Cup bonus money, some players have given their caddies a substantial amount, such as $1 million. With more money available on the PGA Tour, players are more likely to pay their caddies a significant portion of their FedEx Cup bonus. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

Professional golfers have different approaches to changing golf balls during a tournament round. Some change every three holes, while others change every six holes or only if there are visible imperfections that could affect performance. Carrying a box or a dozen golf balls is common for professionals, as they don't carry a full 18. Damaged golf balls can significantly impact a player's performance, so it's important to ensure the ball is in optimal condition for each shot. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

The logo on Phil Mickelson's hat at the 2023 Masters is for his LIV Golf team, the Hy Flyers. Mickelson is a partial owner of the team, and the HF logo represents the four-person team he heads up on that tour. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

On average, PGA Tour players hit their driver between 275-350 yards, their 3-wood between 230-310 yards, and their wedges between 80-110 yards. The distances vary depending on the club and the player's swing, but these numbers provide a general idea of the average distances on the PGA Tour. [thegolfnewsnet.com]

For the 2024 WM Phoenix Open PGA DFS picks, top plays include Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, Byeong Hun An, Kevin Yu, and Scott Stallings. Top fades include Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, and Shane Lowry. The best DraftKings golf PGA DFS lineup includes Justin Thomas, Byeong Hun An, Eric Cole, Si Woo Kim, Kevin Yu, and Kurt Kitayama. The strategy emphasizes ball striking and recent form. [fansided.com]

The Byrd Clyp is a multi-tool designed for golfers to hold essential gear such as tees, ball markers, and divot tools. Made of lightweight and rugged aluminum, it can be clipped anywhere and aims to enhance the aesthetics of the golfer while reducing distractions. The goal is to help golfers focus on their game and bring presence to every swing. The design team behind The Byrd Clyp includes Kris Drey and manufacturers Steven and Jacky. [core77.com]

Arizona-based golf apparel company Bad Birdie has partnered with local brewery Four Peaks for the Bad Birdie Juicy Golden Ale and a clothing collection. Both companies aim to make golf fun and inclusive. Four Peaks, known for its Arizona-brewed beer, is also rebranding its products. The collaboration highlights their love for Arizona and golf, coinciding with the WM Phoenix Open. [12news.com]

What golf equipment is used by professional golfer Angel Yin? She prefers a low-lofted driver, Callaway fairway woods and hybrid, Callaway irons, Epon and PXG wedges, and a custom-made putter. [golfdigest.com]

Lilia Vu, a two-time major champion, shares her two swing keys to prevent coming over the top in the downswing. Her first swing thought is to get her lead arm deep on the backswing, allowing for a solid hand and club path. Her second swing thought is to focus on her left shoulder hitting a wall, which helps her stay behind it and maintain the proper path and plane of her swing. [golfdigest.com]

The Bryan Brothers, Wesley and George, are professional golfers and popular YouTubers. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and being true to oneself for aspiring golf YouTubers. Consistency and genuine enjoyment of creating content are also key factors for success. [golf.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.