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- Planet Golf News for Monday, January 20, 2025
Planet Golf News for Monday, January 20, 2025
Sepp Straka outlasts field, slow pace to collect third tour victory at the American Express | Tyrrell Hatton wins 2025 Dubai Desert Classic for record-tying fifth Rolex Series title on DP World Tour | Luke Guthrie holds two-stroke lead after Round 1 of suspended The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club
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Monday, January 20, 2025
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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Ah, golf—where the stakes are high, the greens are pristine, and the drama occasionally rivals a daytime soap opera. This past week in the golf world, we had everything: a steady Austrian conqueror, a British champion who’s as fiery as his game is precise, and the inevitable chaos caused by Tiger Woods’ ambitious new golf league. Buckle up, folks; it’s been a ride.
First, let’s talk Sepp Straka, who cruised to his third PGA Tour victory at The American Express. While the rest of us were trying to keep warm in January, Straka was busy keeping his cool in the California desert. Armed with a four-stroke lead and nerves of steel, he played steady enough to clinch the win with a 25-under total. Sure, his final round wasn’t flashy—just a 2-under 70 with a bogey tossed in for fun—but hey, it got the job done. Justin Thomas tried to make it interesting with a blazing 6-under 66 on Sunday, but Straka wasn’t about to let anyone rain on his desert parade. He walked away with a cool $1.58 million and a renewed spotlight on his Ryder Cup prospects. Not bad for a guy who had to spend most of his round waiting for the group ahead to finish their philosophical debates over putts.
Across the globe in Dubai, Tyrrell Hatton reminded us that golf isn’t just about composure—it’s also about grit, talent, and keeping your tantrums in check (well, mostly). Hatton outlasted a charging Daniel Hillier to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic by a single stroke. It wasn’t smooth sailing—he bogeyed the first hole—but the man recovered faster than you after realizing you left your wallet at home. He sealed the deal with a clutch par putt on 18, earning his fifth Rolex Series title and an upgrade in the Ryder Cup conversation. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, made a valiant late charge with a six-under 66 but fell short, proving once again that sometimes even the GOATs have to settle for grazing in fourth place.
And then, there’s Tiger Woods’ TGL league—a concept that’s either revolutionizing the sport or slowly breaking it, depending on who you ask. Collin Morikawa and several other big names have started bailing on traditional tournaments, citing fatigue and schedules that make the NBA look laid-back. Fans are not amused, with social media erupting into a frenzy of finger-pointing. Whether TGL will find its footing or implode under its own weight remains to be seen, but for now, it’s safe to say that tradition and innovation are locked in an awkward dance, and nobody knows who’s leading.
On the Korn Ferry Tour, Luke Guthrie emerged from obscurity to lead the suspended Bahamas Great Abaco Classic after a sparkling 7-under opening round. Meanwhile, in gossip news, Brooks Koepka parted ways with his coach again (second time’s the charm?) and Justin Thomas padded his wallet to surpass $60 million in career earnings, proving that life at the top of the leaderboard pays off in more ways than one.
Finally, if you’ve got a spare $250,000 lying around, why not blow it on a luxury package for the Phoenix Open? It includes a private jet, champagne, caviar, and VIP access to everything short of your own golf cart. Honestly, at that price, they should at least let you caddie for the winner.
So there you have it: another wild week of birdies, bogeys, and baffling decisions. As always in golf, the more things change, the more they stay the same—someone’s winning, someone’s whining, and someone’s dreaming of that elusive green jacket. Until next week, keep it in the fairway, or at least make it look like you meant to hit it there.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments that happened this past weekend
The American Express - PGA Tour - La Quinta Country Club - La Quinta, CA
The 2025 American Express golf tournament concluded yesterday afternoon at the PGA West Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California. Sepp Straka emerged victorious, securing his third career PGA Tour win with an impressive performance throughout the tournament.
Straka maintained his lead from the penultimate round, finishing with a total score of 25-under par over the four rounds. His final round score of 2-under 70 was enough to clinch the victory by a two-stroke margin. Straka's consistent play, including three consecutive bogey-free rounds leading up to the final day, set him apart from the competition.
Justin Thomas put up a strong challenge, finishing in solo second place at 23-under par. His final round of 6-under 66 propelled him up the leaderboard, but it wasn't enough to overtake Straka. Justin Lower and Jason Day tied for third place at 22-under par, both carding final rounds of 3-under 69.
The tournament, played across three courses - PGA West Stadium Course, PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club - saw impressive performances from several players. Patrick Cantlay and Charley Hoffman tied for fifth place at 20-under par.
Straka's victory earned him a substantial prize of $1,584,000 from the total purse of $8,800,000. The win also secured him 500 FedEx Cup points and 50.7 Official World Golf Ranking points, boosting his standing in the world rankings.
The tournament showcased the competitive nature of the PGA Tour, with players like Camilo Villegas, Taylor Moore, Ben Griffin, and Max Greyserman all tying for seventh place at 19-under par.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap, who made history last year as the first amateur to win on the tour in 33 years, finished tied for 34th place this time around.
The American Express continues to be a significant early-season event on the PGA Tour calendar, attracting top talent and providing exciting golf action in the California desert.
American Express Stories
American Express Videos
Hatton clinches Dubai Desert Classic victory as McIlroy’s late surge falls short
Hero Dubai Desert Classic - DP World Tour - Emirates Golf Club - Dubai, UAE
Tyrrell Hatton emerged victorious in the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, securing his fifth Rolex Series title and equaling Jon Rahm's record. The Englishman carded a final round of 69 to finish at 15 under par, edging out New Zealand's Daniel Hillier by one stroke. Hatton's win marks his eighth DP World Tour title and came on his 200th start on the tour.
The final round was a tense affair, with Hatton starting one shot behind overnight leader Hillier. Despite an early bogey on the first hole, Hatton quickly recovered and took the lead on the fifth hole. He maintained his composure throughout the back nine, fending off Hillier's challenge.
Laurie Canter finished in third place at 13 under par, while Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, made a strong charge on the final day with a six-under 66. However, his earlier struggles in the tournament left him too much ground to make up, and he finished in a tie for fourth place at 12 under par, alongside Niklas Norgaard.
Hatton's victory propels him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings and strengthens his position in the Ryder Cup standings. The win also sees him potentially moving into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings, a significant boost from his previous 17th position.
The tournament, held at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, once again proved to be a prestigious event on the DP World Tour calendar, attracting a strong field and providing an exciting finale to kick off the 2025 golf season.
Hero Dubai Desert Classic Videos
Luke Guthrie holds two-stroke lead after Round 1 of suspended The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club
The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club - Korn Ferry - The Abnaco Club on Winding Bay - Great Abaco, Bahamas
Luke Guthrie is leading the first round of the suspended Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club with a score of 7-under par. The round was paused due to darkness, with 38 players still needing to finish. Guthrie, who is making his fourth appearance at this event, is poised to secure his third first-round lead in his Korn Ferry Tour career. Other notable players include Austin Smotherman in second place at 5-under par and Tanner Gore, Samuel Anderson, Hank Lebioda, and several others tied at 4-under par. The tournament will resume at 7 a.m. on Monday, with the second round scheduled to begin shortly after.
Upcoming: TGL for Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS
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