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- Planet Golf News for Friday, February 21, 2025
Planet Golf News for Friday, February 21, 2025
Germany's Paul and Norway's Ventura part of international leaderboard in Mexico Open | 22-Yo Akie Iwai sets tournament record at 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand opening round | John Parry and Benjamin Hebert tied at the top after first round of the Magical Kenya Open
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Friday, February 21, 2025
PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie
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Marie Birdie is a clothing brand dedicated to providing young women with the sense of empowerment and individuality. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores. NOW OPEN the Marie Birdie Store @ 7170 S Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, FL
[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Well, golf fans, yesterday was a day of eagles, record-breaking rounds, and enough drama to fill a Netflix series—though Apple TV+ is actually handling the golf comedy department with Owen Wilson (more on that later). Let’s dive into the chaos.
Jeremy Paul, ranked a modest No. 344 in the world, decided to crash the leaderboard at the Mexico Open with two eagles and a 7-under 64. He’s now sharing the spotlight with Kris Ventura and Harry Hall, proving that windy conditions in Mexico are just a suggestion, not a hindrance. Not to be outdone, Ryan Fox drained a 92-foot putt, because apparently, “go big or go home” is the theme this week. Meanwhile, the international takeover of the PGA Tour rolls on, with six of the last seven events won by non-American players. Sorry, Uncle Sam.
Down in Thailand, 22-year-old Akie Iwai, playing on a sponsor’s invite (read: “Hey, let’s give the rookie a shot!”), casually dropped a 10-under 62 at the Honda LPGA Thailand, tying the tournament record. Her twin sister Chisato didn’t have quite the same day, finishing even par, proving that sibling rivalry sometimes takes a backseat to outright dominance. Meanwhile, Moriya Jutanugarn delighted local fans with a solid 66, and Jeeno Thitikul celebrated her birthday with a cake and a respectable 68. Leona Maguire’s putter, however, seems to have taken the day off—33 putts later, she’s 12 shots back. Yikes.
Over in Kenya, John Parry and Benjamin Hebert are in a tug-of-war at the Magical Kenya Open, each carding flawless 63s. Eddie Pepperell, never one to shy away from the spotlight, added some spice with a hole-in-one, while Conor Purcell and Dermot McElroy struggled to find the magic. Guess the “Magical” part of the title isn’t for everyone.
In news that could be a golf soap opera plotline, the PGA Tour, President Trump, and Yasir Al-Rumayyan had what they’re calling “constructive” talks about reuniting golf after LIV’s disruption. Tiger Woods even swung by another White House meeting—because when you need unity, you call Tiger.
On the business side, world No.1 amateur Luke Clanton inked a deal with Nike Golf, officially leveling up from college star to “I have a major sponsor now” status. Speaking of stars, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are set to defend their Zurich Classic title, while Lucas Glover took a playful jab at Ludvig Aberg, saying he has “nothing going for him” besides his golf skills—tough crowd.
Anthony Kim opened up about his past struggles with addiction and his journey to sobriety, offering an inspiring contrast to the often glamorous portrayal of life on tour. Meanwhile, Albane Valenzuela and other LPGA advocates are pushing for a global women’s tour, aiming for unity that’s not just for the men.
Oh, and that indoor golf dome near a major city? Still happening. No more rain checks, folks. And in a “why not” moment, Jim Nantz proved his golf crystal ball works just fine, nailing predictions about the West Coast swing.
Finally, mark your calendars: Owen Wilson’s new golf comedy series Stick drops June 4 on Apple TV+, where washed-up golfers get redemption arcs—and probably more laughs than your weekend scramble.
So, whether you’re watching for record rounds, drama, or just to see if someone can top a 92-foot putt, golf this week has delivered. Stay tuned; it’s only getting better.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld - PGA Tour - Vidanta Vallerta - Nuevo Vallerta, Mexico
The first round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld on the PGA Tour concluded yesterday at Vidanta Vallarta in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, with an international leaderboard emerging. Germany's Jeremy Paul, Norway's Kris Ventura, and England's Harry Hall all share the top spot after carding impressive 7-under 64s. Hall, who teed off early, navigated the windy conditions skillfully, chipping in for an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole and nearly achieving another on the short par-4 seventh. Ventura and Paul benefited from slightly calmer afternoon conditions but still had to contend with challenging winds.
The defending champion, Jake Knapp, started strong with a 4-under 67, placing him in a good position to defend his title. England's Aaron Rai, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 29, also posted a solid 67. The leaderboard remains tight, with 70 out of 132 participants managing to shoot under 70, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
The international flavor of the leaderboard continues a trend seen in the PGA Tour this year, with six out of seven events so far being won by non-American players. As the tournament progresses, players will need to maintain their form and potentially go low to stay in contention, given the bunched nature of the scores after the first round.
Honda LPGA Thailand - LPGA - Slam Country Club - Chon Buri, Thailand
The first round of the 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand concluded yesterday at the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, with Japanese rookie Akie Iwai taking a commanding lead. Iwai, playing on a sponsor's invite, shot a blistering 10-under-par 62, setting a new tournament record for the lowest opening round. Her exceptional performance included seven birdies on the front nine and three more on the back nine, resulting in a bogey-free round.
Iwai's 62 not only gave her a three-stroke lead but also tied the 18-hole tournament scoring record. She is one of seven players to complete a bogey-free opening round, and this score marks her personal best on the LPGA Tour.
Following Iwai in second place is Sweden's Maja Stark, who carded an impressive 7-under-par round featuring six birdies and an eagle. Thailand's own Moriya Jutanugarn sits in third place at 6-under-par, delighting the home crowd with a strong start.
Tied for fourth place at 5-under-par are Jin Young Ko, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, and Angel Yin. A group of players, including Allisen Corpuz, Jin Hee Im, and Gabriela Ruffels, share the seventh position at 4-under-par.
Notable performances include Founders Cup winner Yealimi Noh, who shot 2-under-par to tie for 23rd place. Interestingly, Akie Iwai's twin sister Chisato had a challenging day, finishing at even par and tied for 40th place.
The tournament, which marks the beginning of the LPGA Tour's Asian swing, continues to showcase top talent from around the world. Players are competing in steamy conditions at the Siam Country Club, with the event set to conclude on Sunday, February 23rd.
Magical Kenya Open - DP World Tour - Muthaiga GC - Nairobi, Kenya
The first round of the Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, Kenya, concluded yesterday with John Parry of England and Benjamin Hebert of France sharing the lead. Both players carded impressive rounds of 8-under-par 63, showcasing flawless golf with no bogeys on their scorecards.
Parry, who has been in excellent form in Africa recently, started strong with back-to-back birdies and maintained his momentum throughout the round. He took advantage of all four par-5s on the course and narrowly missed a chance to take the outright lead on his final hole. Hebert's round was equally impressive, beginning with an eagle on the par-5 tenth hole and including six birdies.
South African Jayden Schaper sits alone in third place after shooting a bogey-free 7-under-par 64. The leaderboard is tightly packed, with several players in contention after the opening day.
One of the highlights of the round came from England's Eddie Pepperell, who made a spectacular hole-in-one on the challenging par-3 11th hole, using a seven iron from 218 yards.
The tournament, which is part of the DP World Tour, has attracted a strong field of international players. With three rounds remaining, the competition is set to intensify as players vie for the title and the €2,500,000 purse. The defending champion, Darius van Driel, will need to make up ground in the coming days to retain his title.
Upcoming: The Masters Tournament (April 7 - 13, 2025)
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS
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Marie Birdie is a female-founded and owned golf and active wear brand for tween and teen girls. Our mission is to inspire, delight, and empower girls to enjoy an active lifestyle while playing golf. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores.
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