Planet Golf News for Friday, October 11, 2024

Adam Svensson posts 60, leads inaugural Black Desert Championship | Sei Young Kim Leads Packed Leaderboard After Day One at Buick LPGA Shanghai

Friday, October 11, 2024

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What are PGA Tour players saying about the stunning Black Desert Resort this week?

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Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

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Sei Young Kim made quite the statement at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, setting the course alight with a jaw-dropping 10-under 62, which included an eye-popping 28 on the back nine. Her sizzling performance gave her a two-shot lead, leaving fans and fellow competitors alike in awe. Kim’s round was highlighted by five consecutive birdies and an eagle, underscoring her dominance. French sensation Celine Boutier isn’t far behind, keeping it bogey-free with a stellar 64, while Lucy Li sits comfortably in third after a solid 65. With big names like Leona Maguire and Peiyun Chien tied for fourth, this tournament is shaping up to be a nail-biter, and Kim will need to keep her foot on the gas to fend off the chasers.

Meanwhile, over in France, a former delivery driver is making headlines. Joe Dean, who once balanced life on the road with golf aspirations, is now tied for the lead at the FedEx Open de France. His 6-under 65 has him level with Jesper Svensson and Thorbjorn Olesen, in what has already been an eventful tournament at Le Golf National. Ukrainian teenager Lev Grinberg is another standout, tying for fourth with a fantastic 66. This tournament has its fair share of drama, with Frenchman Adrien Saddier narrowly missing out on a four-way tie for the lead, and Justin Rose just a few shots back, keeping himself well within striking distance.

Over in Utah, the PGA Tour returned with a bang for the Black Desert Championship. Adam Svensson fired a remarkable 11-under 60 to seize the early lead, setting a new course record. His blistering round included five consecutive birdies and an eagle that electrified the crowd. Close behind are Henrik Norlander and Matt McCarty, both posting strong 62s. The event has brought golf back to Utah for the first time in over six decades, with a local legend, Mike Weir, showing he’s still got game despite finishing a bit off the pace at 3-under. With robot mowers quietly maintaining the course and a 65-year-old Jay Don Blake teeing it up for his 500th Tour start, the inaugural Black Desert Championship is proving to be more than just a return to a state with rich golf history—it’s a showcase of records, milestones, and memorable moments.

From Shanghai to Utah, and Paris in between, golf fans are spoiled for choice with a packed leaderboard in every tournament. Each event promises to deliver thrilling golf as top players battle it out for glory this weekend. Stay tuned!

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[ Today’s Feature Golf Reads ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this week

Black Desert Championship - PGA Tour - Black Desert Resort Golf Course - Ivins, UT

The PGA Tour made a triumphant return to Utah after a 61-year hiatus with the inaugural Black Desert Championship at the Black Desert Resort Golf Course in Ivins. Canadian golfer Adam Svensson stole the show with a career-best 11-under 60, setting a new course record and taking a two-shot lead. Svensson's remarkable round included seven birdies through the first 10 holes, followed by a strong finish featuring a 35-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh hole and a birdie from the bunker on the final hole.

Two shots behind Svensson are Henrik Norlander and Matt McCarty, both carding impressive 62s. Norlander, currently ranked 131st in the FedEx Cup standings, had a flawless round, hitting all 14 fairways and 18 greens in regulation. McCarty, a recent Korn Ferry Tour graduate, continued his strong form with an eagle on the reachable par-4 fifth hole.

The tournament saw several notable performances from players with Utah ties. Mike Weir, former Masters champion and BYU star, started strong with a 6-under on his first nine but finished with a 3-under 68. St. George native Jay Don Blake, playing in his 500th career PGA Tour event at age 65, described the day as an "emotional experience" as he competed on a course near his childhood home.

The Black Desert Championship marks an important milestone for Utah golf, being the first PGA Tour event in the state since 1963. With a purse of $7.5 million and 500 FedEx Cup points on offer for the winner, the tournament has attracted a field of hungry players looking to secure their Tour status for the upcoming season.

Black Desert Championship Videos

Buick LPGA Shanghai - LPGA - Qizhong Gardent Golf Club - Shanghai, China

The opening round of the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, China, saw an exceptional performance from South Korean golfer Sei Young Kim. Kim stormed into the lead with a remarkable 10-under 62, setting a new course record and an 18-hole event record.

Kim's round was nothing short of spectacular, featuring an eagle, nine birdies, and just one bogey. She started with a blistering pace, birdieing her first five holes and finishing the front nine at 8-under. After a brief stumble with a bogey on the 15th hole, Kim closed strong with three consecutive birdies to secure her two-shot lead.

Trailing Kim is French player Celine Boutier, who continued her recent good form with a bogey-free 8-under 64. Boutier, fresh off a victory at the Aramco Team Series Shenzhen last week, maintained her momentum with eight birdies.

American Lucy Li sits in third place after carding a 7-under 65, while a quartet of players, including Ireland's Leona Maguire, Taiwan's Peiyun Chien, China's Muni He, and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen, are tied for fourth at 6-under par.

The leaderboard is tightly packed, with seven players just five shots off the lead at 5-under par. This group includes notable names such as Minjee Lee, Moriya Jutanugarn, and Xiyu Lin.

Kim, seeking her 13th LPGA Tour victory and first since 2020, has positioned herself well for a strong tournament. However, with three rounds remaining and a field of talented players in close pursuit, the Buick LPGA Shanghai promises to deliver an exciting competition over the coming days.

Notably absent from this week's event are LPGA stars Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, who are expected to return to action next week at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.

Buick LPGA Shanghai Videos

SAS Championship - PGA Tour Champions - Prestonwood CC, Cary, NC

The SAS Championship is an important stop on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule, featuring some of the best golfers over 50 years old. It typically attracts a strong field of competitors vying for one of the larger purses on the Champions Tour. The SAS Championship begins today.

FedEx Open de France - DP World Tour - Le Golf National - Paris, France

The FedEx Open de France got underway Thursday at Le Golf National in Paris, with several players making strong starts despite challenging conditions. After heavy rainfall in the lead-up to the tournament, the course held up remarkably well, drawing praise from competitors for its excellent playing surface.

Three players share the lead after the first round, each carding impressive 6-under par 65s. England's Joe Dean, Sweden's Jesper Svensson, and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen sit atop the leaderboard, with Dean's performance particularly noteworthy. The former Morrisons delivery driver described his round as "stress-free," emphasizing the importance of fairway play given the thick rough.

Just one stroke behind the leaders is a group of five players at 5-under par, including Ukrainian teenager Lev Grinberg. The 16-year-old, who is based at the French Golf Federation's Performance Centre, expressed surprise at the course's playability given the recent weather conditions.

Former world number one Justin Rose also had a strong start, finishing at 4-under par with a round of 67. His experience and skill on this challenging course could make him a factor as the tournament progresses.

Notable performances came from some home favorites as well. Adrien Saddier narrowly missed joining the leaders, lipping out a short birdie putt on the 18th hole in fading light. His strong showing, along with other French players in contention, adds local interest to the event.

The tournament, now sponsored by FedEx, holds a significant place in the DP World Tour's new "Back 9" series of events. Players are competing not only for the prestigious title but also for crucial points to qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs.

FedEx Open de France Videos

The Ryder Cup (Sept 22-28, 2025)

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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