Planet Golf News for Monday, February 17, 2025

Ludvig Aberg Birdies 72nd Hole To Claim Genesis Invitational Epic | Justin Leonard earns PGA Tour Champions victory for first win in more than 16 years | TGL Today: Triple-header includes potential must-win for Boston Common Golf

Monday, February 17, 2025

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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

Good Morning,

Ludvig Åberg must have found some secret Swedish superpowers because the man stormed back to win the Genesis Invitational with a closing stretch that screamed, “Yeah, I got this.” Four birdies in his last six holes? That’s just rude to the rest of the field. Poor Maverick McNealy had a front-row seat to the Åberg show, finishing just a shot back despite an impressive final round himself. And let’s not forget—this was all happening after the tournament had to be relocated to Torrey Pines thanks to wildfires in L.A. Not exactly your standard week on Tour. Oh, and a casual $4 million payday? Just another Sunday for Åberg, who now sits at No. 4 in the world. Not bad for a guy who turned pro less than two years ago.

Meanwhile, over on the PGA Tour Champions, Justin Leonard remembered what winning felt like after a 16-year drought, taking home the Chubb Classic with a four-shot victory. The man was on fire down the stretch, dropping birdies like he’d been storing them up for over a decade. It’s always nice when a veteran gets back in the winner’s circle—especially after a year where his swing looked more like a work-in-progress than a winning formula.

Speaking of works-in-progress, the PGA Tour is still trying to sort out its future with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Tiger Woods, ever the diplomat, sounds optimistic about a deal getting done. Given that golf’s civil war has dragged on longer than anyone cares to admit, a resolution would be nice. Tiger also reflected on the recent loss of his mother, Kultida, with players wearing red pins in tribute. The golf world, despite its drama, knows how to rally around one of its greats.

On the LIV side of things, Joaquin Niemann pulled off a comeback of his own in Adelaide, shooting a sizzling 65 to grab his third LIV title. While his win is impressive, the real winner here might be Adelaide itself—LIV Golf just locked in a six-year extension for the event, complete with plans for a fancy new course. Not bad for a tour that people were ready to write off last year.

And then there’s the tech-infused madness that is the TGL. Today’s tripleheader promises an explosion of golf, with new rules for the “Hammer” meant to spice things up. Boston Common Golf desperately needs a win, and with all the format changes, anything could happen. Whether this league becomes must-watch entertainment or just a flashy experiment remains to be seen, but at the very least, it’s giving ESPN something unique to air.

Oh, and just in case you thought the Genesis Invitational didn’t have enough drama, Rory McIlroy decided to spice things up by dropping an F-bomb on a fan who heckled him. Because, you know, golf is supposed to be a gentleman’s game—except when it’s not.

All in all, it was a wild week in golf. Ludvig Åberg proved he’s the real deal, Justin Leonard got back to winning, Tiger Woods played statesman, and LIV Golf cemented its presence in Australia. And if the TGL’s latest gimmicks don’t work out? Well, there’s always next week’s drama to look forward to.

Today’s Top Golf News 

Major Golf Tournaments from this weekend and upcoming

TGL Throws Hammer Down With Changes to Format

TGL - PGA Tour - SoFi Stadium - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

This afternoon TGL (Tech-infused Golf League) will host an exciting Presidents' Day tripleheader at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This event marks the beginning of a busy stretch for the inaugural TGL season, with 10 matches scheduled over 16 days.

The tripleheader will feature the following matches:

  1. Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles Golf Club (1 pm ET)

  2. Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay GC (4 pm ET)

  3. The Bay GC vs. Boston Common Golf (7 pm ET)

These matches will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, offering golf fans an action-packed day of tech-infused golf entertainment.

Each match will consist of 15 holes split into two sessions: nine holes of alternate shot (Triples) and six holes of singles play. Points are awarded for each hole won, with ties resulting in zero points. The matches also feature unique elements such as a shot clock, timeouts, and the "hammer" option, which allows teams to double the point value of a hole.

This Presidents' Day event is part of TGL's strategy to complement the PGA TOUR's FedExCup Season and captivate a wide range of sports fans with its fast-paced, team-based format. As the league enters its crucial stretch run, these matches will play a significant role in determining the playoff standings and ultimately the teams that will compete for the SoFi Cup in the final.

Ludvig Aberg rallies down the stretch at Torrey Pines to win the Genesis Invitational

The Genesis Invitational - PGA Tour - Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA

Ludvig Åberg emerged victorious at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, held at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, California. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer showcased his skills with a brilliant final round performance, shooting a 6-under 66 to claim his second PGA Tour title and his first signature event win.

Åberg's victory was sealed with a spectacular finish, as he birdied four of the last six holes, including a clutch 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th. This late surge propelled him to a tournament total of 12-under par, edging out Maverick McNealy by a single stroke.

McNealy put up a valiant effort, carding an impressive final round 64. He started the day five shots off the lead but charged up the leaderboard with nine birdies in his first 13 holes. However, a bogey on the 14th and a string of pars to finish left him just short of forcing a playoff.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and overnight leader Patrick Rodgers finished in a tie for third place at 9-under par. Scheffler made a strong push with a final round 66, which included two chip-ins, but it wasn't enough to catch the surging Åberg.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Åberg's young career, coming less than two years after he turned professional in the summer of 2023. The win not only secures him a substantial $4 million prize but also moves him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.

This triumph at Torrey Pines was particularly sweet for Åberg, who had struggled with illness at the same venue just three weeks prior during the Farmers Insurance Open. His resilience and return to form culminated in this impressive victory against a strong field in one of the PGA Tour's signature events.

Justin Leonard wins Chubb Classic for first PGA TOUR Champions victory

Chubb Classic - PGA Tour Champions - Tiburon Golf Club - Naples, FL

Justin Leonard secured his first PGA TOUR Champions victory at the Chubb Classic held at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The 52-year-old Texan overcame a slow start on Sunday with an impressive back-nine performance, birdieing five of the last seven holes to card a 4-under 68 for the final round. This stellar finish gave Leonard a four-stroke victory over Billy Andrade, with a total score of 15-under 201 for the tournament.

Leonard's win came in his 45th start on the 50-and-over tour and marked his first victory since the 2008 St. Jude Championship on the PGA TOUR. The triumph was especially emotional for Leonard, who fought back tears on the 18th green as he reflected on the long journey to this moment. He credited the challenging previous year for motivating him to make changes to his golf swing, which ultimately paid off in this tournament.

Billy Andrade finished in second place, also shooting a 68 in the final round. Darren Clarke secured third place at 10-under par, completing his tournament with a 68 as well. The leaderboard saw some movement throughout the day, with Leonard's strong finish separating him from the pack.

The victory at the Chubb Classic, the third event of the 2025 PGA TOUR Champions season, not only gave Leonard his first win on the senior circuit but also a winner's share of $270,000 from the $1,800,000 purse.

LIV Golf Adelaide - LIV Golf - The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, Australia

Joaquin Niemann of Chile produced a remarkable final round performance to win the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament at The Grange Golf Club in Australia. Starting the day three strokes behind the leaders, Niemann carded a flawless 7-under 65, the lowest score of the day, to finish at 13-under par. His bogey-free round included seven birdies, allowing him to overtake Abraham Ancer, who had led for most of the day but faltered with three bogeys in his final five holes.

Niemann's victory was secured by a three-shot margin over Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, both from Mexico, who tied for second place at 10-under par. This marks Niemann's third LIV Golf title and his second win in Australia, following his 2023 Australian Open triumph. The win solidifies Niemann's strong start to the season, mirroring his early success from the previous year.

In the team competition, Fireballs GC, captained by Sergio Garcia, claimed the title with a score of 21-under par, finishing six strokes ahead of Jon Rahm's Legion XIII. The Fireballs' victory was their fifth in club history and maintained their record as the only team to win at least one title in all four LIV Golf seasons.

The tournament drew significant crowds, with over 100,000 spectators attending over the three days. The event's success has led to Adelaide securing host-city rights for a LIV Golf tournament until 2031, with plans to move to a redesigned city course after 2028.

Upcoming: The U.S. Open Golf Championship (June 12 -15, 2025)

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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