Planet Golf News for Friday, March 7, 2024

Wyndham Clark sets the bar with 67 on 'tricky' day at Arnold Palmer Invitational | Viktor Hovland has Arnold Palmer Invitational nightmare as changes backfire | Florida's Auston Kim shares first-round lead at Blue Bay LPGA

Friday, March 7, 2025

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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

Good Morning,

Bay Hill took no prisoners in the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where most of the field got chewed up and spit out by the wind and rough. But not Wyndham Clark. The 2023 U.S. Open champ, walked into the carnage, shot a 5-under 67, and left everyone wondering if he was playing a different course. With only 14 players breaking par, and the field averaging 74.5 strokes, Clark’s round was a masterpiece in patience and shot-making. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler—aka the guy who wins every tough golf tournament—posted a 71, which is basically the equivalent of shooting 62 in normal conditions. And then there’s Cameron Young, who turned in an ugly 82. Golf Twitter had a field day after realizing he piped his opening drive out of bounds while wearing an AirPod. Tough look.

Kevin Roy, on the other hand, was having the time of his life in Puerto Rico. After an hour-long rain delay, he came out firing, rolling in 11 birdies—including a bunker hole-out—to shoot a 10-under 62. That’s how you bounce back after losing your PGA Tour card. Chris Gotterup was hot on his heels, finishing one shot behind at 9-under, but he had to be kicking himself after a bogey at the last cost him a share of the lead. Not a bad start for a guy who wasn’t even sure he was going to play this week.

Over in China, Auston Kim put together a bogey-free 68 to grab a share of the lead at the Blue Bay LPGA. The Epson Tour grad has been grinding her way up the ranks, and now she’s got a legit shot at her first LPGA title. It helps when you only need 26 putts in a round—those kinds of numbers make life a lot easier. But she’s got some company, including Jeeno Thitikul, who is lurking just one shot back and has been on an absolute heater lately.

And because no day in golf is complete without some off-course drama, the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s PIF negotiations are officially stuck in the mud. Both sides are treating it like a game of high-stakes chicken, and right now, no one’s blinking. The PGA Tour doesn’t seem to know what it wants, Trump’s involvement has only added to the confusion, and LIV Golf is just sitting back enjoying the chaos. The unification of professional golf? Not looking great.

Speaking of LIV, Tom McKibbin is loving life after jumping ship. The 22-year-old has been hanging out with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, cashing fat checks, and enjoying a new competitive environment. Meanwhile, Branden Grace and Stinger GC are gearing up for LIV Golf Hong Kong, where—surprise, surprise—there’s another $25 million on the table.

At the Joburg Open, Wenyi Ding and Jordan Smith got off to flying starts, each shooting a bogey-free 63 to share the lead. The field is stacked, and with the defending champ off playing in LIV, the title is there for the taking. And in case anyone forgot, the Masters is coming, and Rory McIlroy is still figuring out his prep schedule. He’s tried everything—playing a lot, playing a little, changing equipment—but the green jacket continues to elude him. Maybe this is the year. Maybe.

Oh, and let’s not forget Happy Gilmore 2 is officially happening, with Adam Sandler back in action alongside a bunch of actual PGA Tour players. Honestly, that might be the most exciting thing in golf right now.

Today’s Top Golf News 

Today’s Feature Golf Reads

Major Golf Tournaments happening this week

Scottie Scheffler rides Bay Hill wind again, shoots under par in tough opening round

Arnold Palmer Invitational - PGA Tour - Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge - Orlando, FL

The first round of the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, concluded with Wyndham Clark taking the early lead. Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, carded an impressive 5-under par 67 in challenging conditions, securing a two-shot advantage over his nearest competitors.

Tied for second place at 3-under par 69 are Keegan Bradley, Corey Conners, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Shane Lowry. A group of players, including Rory McIlroy and Cam Davis, are tied for sixth place at 2-under par 70.

The tournament's defending champion and world number one, Scottie Scheffler, posted a 1-under par 71, placing him in a tie for 11th with Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Patrick Cantlay.

Gusty winds up to 30 miles per hour made for difficult playing conditions, particularly in the morning. The challenging weather resulted in the fewest number of subpar rounds on the first day at Bay Hill in 36 years, with the scoring average for the round hovering around 74.50.

Clark's strong finish, including two birdies in his final three holes, helped him separate from the pack. He credited his improved course management and comfort level at Bay Hill for his success, noting that he's learned to navigate the course's numerous water hazards and trouble spots more effectively.

McIlroy, despite a see-saw round that included six birdies and four bogeys, produced some spectacular shots, including a remarkable 269-yard approach over water on the par-5 sixth hole.

Kevin Roy shoots 62, leads Puerto Rico Open by one

Puerto Rico Open - PGA Tour - Grand Reserve Country Club - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

The first round of the 2025 Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, saw some impressive performances and low scores. Kevin Roy took the lead with a remarkable 10-under 62, which included 11 birdies. One of the highlights of his round was holing a bunker shot for his 10th birdie after returning from an hour-long rain delay. This round marked Roy's lowest score on the PGA Tour.

Chris Gotterup, who joined the tournament at the last minute, finished one shot behind Roy with a 9-under 63. Gotterup was 10-under for the round until a bogey on the final hole. R. Neergaard-Petersen and another player named Davis both carded rounds of 64, putting them in contention.

The first round was interrupted by a rain delay, which lasted about an hour. As a result, 18 players were unable to complete their rounds before darkness fell, with four of them at 6-under with several holes still to play.

The tournament, which runs concurrently with the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is being played on a course that measures 7,506 yards and has a par of 72. The scoring conditions appeared favorable, with players taking advantage of the course setup to post low numbers. The event continues through March 9, with a purse of $4 million at stake.

Florida's Auston Kim shares first-round lead at Blue Bay LPGA

Blue Bay LPGA - Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course - Hainan Island, China

The first round of the 2025 Blue Bay LPGA tournament at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course in Hainan Island, China, has concluded with a three-way tie for the lead. Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim, and Auston Kim all shot impressive rounds of 4-under 68 to share the top spot on the leaderboard.

Following closely behind the leaders, eight players are tied for fourth place at 3-under par. This group includes Jeeno Thitikul, Cassie Porter, Shuying Li, Mi Hyang Lee, Ina Yoon, Rio Takeda, Gaby Lopez, and Kristen Gillman, all of whom carded rounds of 69.

The competition remains tight, with a large group of players tied for 12th place at 2-under par. Notable names in this group include Minjee Lee, Caroline Masson, and amateur Kaili Xiao. The tournament, which carries a purse of $2.5 million, is being played on the par-72, 6,712-yard course.

Cologuard Classic - PGA Tour Champions - La Paloma Country Club - Tucson, AZ

The 2025 Cologuard Classic, part of the PGA TOUR Champions, begins today at the La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. This prestigious event features a 78-player field competing over three days (March 7–9) in a no-cut format for a $2.2 million purse, with $330,000 and 330,000 Charles Schwab Cup points awarded to the winner.

Branden Grace and Stinger GC ready to take on LIV Golf Hong Kong

LIV Golf Hong Kong - LIV - Hong Kong Golf Club - Fanling, Hong Kong

The LIV Golf Hong Kong 2025 tournament is set to take place beginning today at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. This marks the second consecutive year the event will be hosted at this venue, following its successful debut in 2024. The competition features a 54-hole individual stroke play format, with 54 players divided into 13 teams of four, along with two wildcard entries. The total prize pool is $25 million, with $20 million allocated for individual competitors and $5 million for team performances.

Joburg Open - DP World Tour - Houghton Golf Club - Johannesburg, South Africa

The first round of the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, saw China's Wenyi Ding and England's Jordan Smith take the early lead. Both players carded impressive seven-under-par 63s on the par-70 course, taking advantage of the receptive conditions following overnight rain. Their bogey-free rounds put them one stroke ahead of a group of players at six-under-par, including South Africans Malcolm Mitchell and Jayden Schaper, Englishmen Marco Penge and Callum Tarren, and Germany's Nicolai von Dellingshausen.

Ding, a rookie on the DP World Tour, expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly his short iron play and putting. Smith, who hadn't played at Houghton Golf Club since the tournament moved to this venue, was equally pleased with his start.

The leaderboard reflects a strong international presence, with players from various countries vying for top positions. South African players are well-represented, continuing the country's tradition of success in this event. The course, despite recent heavy rainfall, was in good condition, allowing for low scoring in the opening round of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event.

As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see if Ding and Smith can maintain their lead or if challengers from the chasing pack will emerge. The absence of defending champion Dean Burmester, who is competing in a LIV Golf event in Hong Kong, opens up opportunities for other players to claim the title this year.

Astara Chile Classic pres. by Scotiabank - Korn Ferry Tour - Prince of Wales Country Club - Santiago, Chile

Upcoming: The Masters Tournament (April 7 - 13, 2025)

Upcoming: Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

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