Planet Golf News for Saturday, January 25, 2025

LPGA cancels $2 million California event after underwriter fails to pay | Genesis Invitational relocated to Torrey Pines amid wildfires | Harris English leads the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open with more wind on the horizon

Saturday, January 25, 2025

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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

Good Morning,

Golf fans, buckle up—it’s been another week of drama, wind, canceled events, and spicy partnerships in the ever-entertaining world of golf. Let’s dive into what’s shaping up to be a breezy conclusion, both literally and figuratively.

At the Farmers Insurance Open, Harris English decided to make his long-awaited comeback by clawing his way to a one-shot lead heading into the final round. English turned on the afterburners, with three consecutive birdies to finish his round, putting him at 9-under overall. This guy couldn’t hit a fairway to save his life but somehow still lit up the leaderboard with pinpoint approaches and putts that probably had Andrew Novak grinding his teeth in second place. Oh, and let’s not forget South African youngster Aldrich Potgieter, who’s sitting in third, ready to remind everyone that golf is getting younger and scarier every day. The wind is set to kick up again for the finale, so hold onto your visors—it’s going to be a wild ride.

Meanwhile, the Genesis Invitational made a dramatic relocation to Torrey Pines because wildfires decided to torch its original venue, Riviera Country Club. As if that wasn’t enough excitement, whispers of Tiger Woods potentially making an appearance have turned this into a must-watch event. With a $20 million purse and a field stacked with stars, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Torrey Pines might need a red carpet just for the player introductions.

But not everything is sunshine and birdies. The LPGA got hit with some bad news after its Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship was axed due to a no-show from its underwriter. The tour’s trying to salvage the event for later this year, but for now, players are left with a glaring hole in their schedules. Tough timing, especially in the LPGA’s 75th-anniversary season.

Over in the influencer world, Rick Shiels—YouTube’s golf king—has hopped on the LIV Golf train, becoming the league’s new ambassador. Love it or hate it, LIV’s move to bring in social media stars like Shiels shows they’re committed to taking a swing at the PGA Tour’s dominance, and they’re playing hardball with fan engagement. Expect Shiels’ famous “Break 75” challenges and some big-name player cameos to flood your YouTube feed soon.

As for players on the grind, Marcus Armitage leads the Ras al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour. Despite a few bogeys, Armitage’s consistent play has him at 12 under, fending off a couple of hungry challengers like Dan Brown and Alejandro del Rey. With a $425,000 winner’s check on the line, it’s anyone’s game heading into the weekend.

On the gear front, Ludvig Åberg debuted Adidas’ latest golf shoes, and Scotty Cameron has dropped a new putter collection because, apparently, even your flatstick deserves aerospace-level engineering now. If you’re looking for something to spend your paycheck on, the golf industry has you covered.

Oh, and shoutout to Adam Svensson for experiencing every golfer’s worst nightmare—getting interrupted mid-putt by a horn for darkness and missing the cut by one stroke. It’s a brutal game, folks.

That’s your week in golf, where the only thing more unpredictable than the leaderboard is everything else. Stay tuned for more drama this weekend—this sport never disappoints.

Today’s Top Golf News 

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Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Harris English makes a late charge to the take 3rd-round lead at the Farmers Insurance Open

Farmers Insurance Open - PGA Tour - Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA

The third round of the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines saw a dramatic shift in the leaderboard as Harris English made a late charge to take the lead. English finished with a impressive 6-under 66, including three consecutive birdies on his final three holes, to reach 9-under 207 overall. This strong performance put him one shot ahead of Andrew Novak, who also carded a 66 but in bogey-free fashion.

The improved weather conditions at Torrey Pines' South Course allowed for lower scores compared to the wind-affected earlier rounds. English took full advantage, making three birdies in four holes before the turn and adding four more in his last six holes. His approach shot on the 18th hole landed within 3 feet of the pin, setting up his final birdie to secure the lead.

South African rookie Aldrich Potgieter sits in third place at 7-under 209, while Joel Dahmen, Lanto Griffin, Matti Schmid, and K.H. Lee are tied for fourth, four shots behind English. The tournament, which began on Wednesday to avoid conflicting with Sunday's NFL conference championship games, is known for its exciting final-round comebacks, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling conclusion.

English, a four-time PGA Tour winner, is seeking his first victory since 2021 when he won the Travelers Championship in an eight-hole playoff. He previously competed in a four-way playoff at Torrey Pines in 2015 but lost to Jason Day.

The final round promises to be highly competitive, with several players still in contention. The calmer conditions are expected to continue, potentially leading to more low scores and further changes in the leaderboard as the tournament reaches its climax on Saturday.

Farmers Insurance Open Stories

Farmers Insurance Open Videos

Ras al Khaimah Championship - DP World Tour - Al Hamra GC - Ras al Khaimah, UAE

The second round of the Ras al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates saw English golfer Marcus Armitage maintain his lead, although his advantage was trimmed to two strokes. Armitage shot a 3-under 69, which included birdies on his final two holes, bringing his total to 12-under par for the tournament. This performance keeps him on track for his first win since the European Open in 2021.

Close behind Armitage are fellow Englishman Dan Brown and Spain's Alejandro del Rey, who are tied for second place at 10-under par. Brown made a significant move up the leaderboard with an impressive 64, while del Rey carded a solid 66. American Johannes Veerman sits in fourth place, four strokes behind the leader.

The tournament, part of the DP World Tour's International Swing, carries a total purse of $2.5 million, with the winner set to receive $425,000. As the competition heads into the weekend, Armitage will be looking to maintain his form and fend off the chasing pack on the 7,384-yard par-72 course. The event continues to attract a strong field, including defending champion Thorbjørn Olesen, as players compete for crucial Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup points alongside the substantial prize money.

Ras al Khaimah Championship Stories

Ras al Khaimah Championship Videos

Upcoming: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Jan 30 - Feb 2, 2025)

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