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- Planet Golf News for Saturday, February 15, 2025
Planet Golf News for Saturday, February 15, 2025
Golf will stay on CBS, after YouTube TV, Paramount reach short-term extension | Davis Thompson leads Scottie Scheffler by a hair at Genesis | TGL Announces Mid-Season Rules Update After Early Feedback
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Saturday, February 15, 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,
Davis Thompson finds himself in an unfamiliar position at the top of the Genesis Invitational leaderboard, one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler and three clear of a lurking Rory McIlroy. While Thompson may be enjoying his moment in the sun, there’s something about having the world’s No. 1 golfer breathing down your neck that makes “relaxed” a bit of a stretch. Meanwhile, Scheffler is proving once again that elite golfers don’t need to hit fairways—just ask the cart path he bounced off en route to a very convenient ruling.
If you were worried about missing the action because of the ongoing YouTube TV and CBS dispute, fear not. The two sides have reached a “short-term extension,” which is corporate-speak for “we’ll fight about this later.” For now, you can continue watching golf (and March Madness) without needing to dust off that old antenna your grandpa swears is still “just as good as cable.”
Speaking of rule changes, TGL—golf’s attempt at making things more “exciting” for the younger crowd—has decided that its “Hammer” rule wasn’t quite hammering home the entertainment factor. Now, both teams will start with three Hammers each, with the goal of keeping matches competitive rather than allowing the leading team to hoard them like a kid with all the good Halloween candy. Whether this actually works or just confuses everyone further remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Jay Monahan is still talking like the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will soon be one big happy family, despite the fact that no one seems ready to put aside their differences. LIV just signed a new TV deal, their players aren’t exactly clamoring to return, and the PGA Tour isn’t likely to welcome back defectors with open arms. But sure, let’s keep pretending a merger is right around the corner.
In the “hard to believe but true” category, Jordan Spieth and Max Homa have both packed their bags early at the Genesis Invitational after missing the cut, proving that even fan favorites can have off weeks. Meanwhile, Paul Stankowski and Mario Tiziani are atop the leaderboard at the Chubb Classic, both looking for their first win on the PGA Tour Champions at an age when most people are considering retirement.
LIV Golf Adelaide finished off the second round with Sam Horsfield in a three-way tie for the lead. While Bryson DeChambeau had to get creative after a poor shot which saw him climb onto a fan’s balcony to get a yardage reading. Meanwhile, Lucas Herbert is poised to lead Ripper GC into the final round of LIV Golf Adelaide.
Elsewhere in the golf world, Fred Couples is pondering whether the 2025 Masters will be his last, Ryder Cup rookies are fighting for a spot at Bethpage Black, and Scottie Scheffler has decided a 7-wood is the secret weapon he needs to dominate Torrey Pines. Oh, and in case you thought pro golf was just about trophies, Scottie made over $100 million in 2024—but he still wasn’t the highest earner. That honor went to Jon Rahm, proving once again that loyalty may be priceless, but LIV Golf definitely isn’t.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
The Genesis Invitational - PGA Tour - Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA
The second round of The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, California, saw a significant improvement in playing conditions compared to the challenging first day. With beautiful weather replacing the previous day's rain, players took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions, resulting in lower scores across the board.
Davis Thompson emerged as the leader after the second round, carding a impressive 6-under 66 to reach 8-under par overall. His strong performance, which included a birdie on the final hole, put him one shot ahead of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler continued his excellent form, shooting a bogey-free 5-under 67 to climb to 7-under par for the tournament. Despite feeling he wasn't at his best off the tee, Scheffler managed to score well, showcasing his ability to scramble and make the most of his opportunities.
Not far behind the leaders, Rory McIlroy made a significant move up the leaderboard with a 5-under 67, placing him in contention heading into the weekend. Ludvig Åberg also impressed with a 6-under 66, joining McIlroy on the first page of the leaderboard.
The improved conditions led to a substantial drop in the scoring average, decreasing by three strokes compared to the first round's 74.28. This allowed many players to make up ground and set the stage for an exciting weekend of golf at Torrey Pines.
As the tournament reaches its halfway point, the leaderboard is tightly packed with world-class talent, promising an intense battle for the title in the coming days. With Scheffler, McIlroy, and other top players in the mix, the Genesis Invitational is shaping up to be a thrilling showcase of golf at one of the PGA Tour's most challenging venues.
Chubb Classic - PGA Tour Champions - Tiburon Golf Club - Naples, FL
Paul Stankowski and Mario Tiziani each shot a 7-under-par 65 to lead the first round of the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, as they pursue their first victory on the PGA Tour Champions. Stankowski showcased a strong back nine performance, making five birdies, while Tiziani had a hot start with five birdies and an eagle early in his round. Both players are ahead of Freddie Jacobson by one shot, with several others, including Tom Lehman and Joe Durant, close behind at 5-under. The tournament is marked by Stankowski's return to form after a long offseason and Tiziani's reflections on his journey back to competitive golf.
LIV Golf Adelaide - LIV Golf - The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, Australia
The second round of LIV Golf Adelaide 2025 has concluded, bringing an exciting twist to the leaderboard. Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz have joined first-round leader Sam Horsfield in a three-way tie at the top. All three players are now sharing the lead at 9-under par after 36 holes.
Horsfield, who had posted a flawless 6-under 66 on Friday to take the first-round lead, managed to maintain his strong position. Ortiz, representing Torque GC, and Ancer, from Fireballs GC, made significant moves to catch up with Horsfield of Majesticks GC.
The trio holds a three-stroke advantage over Joaquin Niemann, who sits alone in fourth place at 6-under. Jon Rahm, representing Legion XIII, rounds out the top five at 5-under par.
Notable performances in the second round include:
•Bryson DeChambeau, who had an eventful day including an unusual moment when he climbed onto a fan’s balcony to get a yardage reading. Despite this, he struggled in the latter part of his round, finishing with a 1-over 73 and tied for ninth at 3-under overall.
•Brooks Koepka and Henrik Stenson, both at 4-under, are tied for sixth place.
The final round promises to be highly competitive, with the leaders looking to maintain their advantage and those chasing aiming to make a Sunday charge. The tournament continues to offer a substantial purse of $20 million for individual play and $5 million for the team competition.
Bryson DeChambeau just used the balcony of a neighbouring house to get a yardage after a bad drive. It’s never boring! 😂
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf)
4:27 AM • Feb 15, 2025
Upcoming: The Masters Tournament (April 7 - 13, 2025)
Upcoming: Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)
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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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