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Planet Golf News for Saturday, March 1, 2025
DP World Tour pro makes TWO holes-in-one during all-time wild round of golf | Knapp goes from a 59 to a 70 but still has the lead in the Cognizant Classic | A Lim Kim Holds Lead After 36 Holes While Lydia Ko Sits One Back in Singapore | TGL signs rising PGA Tour star Nick Dunlap to a one-match deal
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Saturday, March 1, 2025
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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Ah, golf—the only sport where you can go from shooting a historic 59 to a pedestrian 70 and still lead the tournament. Jake Knapp experienced the full spectrum of emotions at the Cognizant Classic, proving that golf is, in fact, a cruel mistress. Knapp’s follow-up round lacked fireworks, but he did just enough to cling to the top spot heading into the weekend. Matthieu Pavon is breathing down his neck after a stellar round, while Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Daniel Berger continue their dance with PGA National’s infamous Bear Trap, hoping to stay relevant in the chase.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Lydia Ko is reminding everyone why she’s in the LPGA Hall of Fame. A bogey-free 67 has her just one shot behind leader A Lim Kim at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Ko is playing with the freedom of someone who has nothing left to prove—except maybe to herself. The field remains stacked, with Charley Hull and Hyo Joo Kim also in the mix, ensuring a dramatic finish in the Lion City.
On the DP World Tour, Dale Whitnell did something so absurd that it belongs in a Hollywood script—two holes-in-one in the same round. Not one, but two aces, making him the fourth player in history to pull off such a ridiculous feat. His 9-under 63 vaulted him up the leaderboard at the Investec South African Open, and while the odds of this happening again are roughly the same as winning the lottery twice, Whitnell will be feeling pretty invincible heading into the weekend.
Elsewhere, the TGL—Tiger and Rory’s virtual golf league—continues to throw out surprises, signing amateur sensation Nick Dunlap for a one-match deal. Because why not? The kid just turned pro and now he’s teeing it up against Tiger Woods in a made-for-TV golf experiment. What could go wrong?
In other news, Luke Clanton, a Florida State standout, officially punched his PGA Tour ticket by making the cut at the Cognizant Classic. The 2025 rookie class just got a little more interesting, and Clanton’s rapid ascent suggests he might be more than just a footnote.
On the flip side, Kevin Kisner, who recently landed an NBC analyst gig, won’t be sticking around for the weekend after missing the Cognizant cut. Maybe he’ll use his unexpected free time to sharpen those commentary skills.
Meanwhile, back in the gear world, the Florida Swing has players swapping out their clubs like they’re trading stocks. Wedge bounces, Bermuda grass adaptations, and brand-new Ecco golf shoes inspired by the Scottish Highlands (because nothing screams Florida like a Scottish moor) are all the rage as players fine-tune their setups.
And because no golf news cycle is complete without a bit of drama, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler found out they won’t be getting sponsor exemptions for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Turns out, past popularity isn’t a free pass anymore. Tough break, fellas.
As for AimPoint putting, it’s officially entered golf’s culture war. Lucas Glover wants it banned for slowing down play, while AimPoint’s creator, Mark Sweeney, isn’t having any of it. A battle for the ages: data-driven putting technique vs. crusty traditionalists who just want to hit and hope.
Finally, Tiger Woods took a rare week off from golf but showed up to support his daughter Sam as she advanced to the Florida soccer state championship. Safe to say, the Woods household remains highly competitive.
All in all, the golf world remains as entertaining, unpredictable, and occasionally ridiculous as ever. Buckle up for the weekend, because things are just getting started.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches - PGA Tour - PGA National Resort & Spa - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
The second round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, saw a tightening of the leaderboard and some unexpected challenges for the players. Jake Knapp, who had stunned the golf world with a remarkable 59 in the opening round, faced a more difficult day on Friday. Despite shooting 11 strokes higher with a 1-under 70, Knapp managed to maintain his lead, albeit by a slim margin. He struggled through 10 holes without a birdie and even suffered a double bogey when his tee shot found the water.
Matthieu Pavon made a significant move up the leaderboard, shooting a 64 to position himself just one shot behind Knapp. The wind conditions at PGA National were more challenging during the second round, affecting players' performances and making putts more difficult to sink.
Rickie Fowler, the 2017 champion of this event, had an up-and-down round but managed to stay in contention. He experienced both strong moments and a slip-up in the notorious Bear Trap section of the course. Jordan Spieth also had a mixed performance, showcasing impressive skills at times but encountering difficulties in the same challenging stretch.
The cut line for the tournament is projected to be historically low, estimated at 4-under par by mid-afternoon. This is significantly lower than the average cut of 2.3 strokes over par from the past 18 tournaments at PGA National. The low cut line has put pressure on several notable players, including defending champion Gary Woodland, who was at risk of missing the weekend at 2-under par.
As the second round concluded, the stage was set for an exciting weekend of golf, with the leaderboard tightening and players adjusting to the challenging conditions at PGA National. The low scores from the first two rounds suggest that the competition will remain fierce as the tournament heads into its final stages.
HSBC Women’s World Championship - LPGA - Sentosa Golf Club - Singapore, Singapore
The second round of the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore saw Olympic champion Lydia Ko make a significant move up the leaderboard. Ko carded an impressive 5-under-par 67, improving on her first-round score of 71. This bogey-free performance brought her to within one shot of the lead, with a total score of 6-under 138.
Overnight leader A-lim Kim of South Korea maintained her position at the top with a 2-under 69, bringing her total to 7-under for the tournament. Kim's compatriot Hyo Joo Kim and England's Charley Hull are tied for third place at 5-under, two strokes behind the leader.
Ko, who recently became the youngest player to be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame, demonstrated remarkable consistency in her round, hitting 11 out of 14 fairways and 16 of 17 greens in regulation. The New Zealand golfer, known for her impressive career achievements, is hoping to improve on her previous performances at Sentosa, where her best finish was a tie for seventh in 2021.
Defending champion Hannah Green posted a 69 on Friday, bringing her total to an even-par 144. Angel Yin, fresh off her victory at the LPGA Thailand event last week, scored a 68 to join Green at even par.
The tournament features a strong field, including nine of the top ten players in the world rankings and 13 of the top 15. Only world number one Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang are absent from the event. As the second round concludes, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of golf in Singapore, with several top players in contention for the title.
Investec SA Open Championship - DP World Tour - Durban CC - Durban, South Africa
The second round of the Investec SA Open Championship at Durban Country Club in South Africa was marked by an extraordinary performance from England's Dale Whitnell. The 36-year-old golfer, ranked 545th in the world, achieved a rare feat by making two holes-in-one in a single round. Whitnell aced the par-3 second hole with a seven-iron from 179 yards and followed it up with another hole-in-one on the 12th hole. His remarkable round also included an eagle on the third hole and seven birdies, offset by a double bogey on the 16th. Whitnell finished with a score of 63, nine under par for the day, propelling him into contention after starting the round at even par.
Whitnell's achievement is particularly noteworthy as he became only the fourth player in history to make two aces in the same round of a professional tournament. The last time this occurred was in 2015 when Brian Harman accomplished the feat at the Barclays tournament.
While Whitnell's performance was the talk of the day, the tournament leader after the second round was home favorite Dylan Naidoo. Naidoo posted an impressive clubhouse lead of 11-under par, featuring 10 birdies and an eagle in his round.
The tournament, which is part of the DP World Tour and carries a minimum prize purse of $1.5 million, has attracted a strong field of both local and international players. South African golfers are well-represented at the top of the leaderboard, with four of the top six players hailing from the host country. Notable among them is two-time PGA Tour winner Branden Grace, who is tied for third place, just three shots off the lead.
Defending champion Dean Burmester is also in the field, looking to retain the title he won in the previous season. The tournament's shift from its traditional December slot to February has added a new dynamic to the competition, with players adjusting to the change in schedule.
As the tournament heads into the weekend, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion at the iconic Durban Country Club, with Whitnell's extraordinary second round adding a memorable chapter to the 114-year history of the South African Open Championship.
118 Visa Argentina Open pres. by Marco - Korn Ferry Tour - Jockey Club - Buenos Aires, Argentina
The second round of the 118 Visa Argentina Open presented by Marco at the Jockey Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is currently underway but has been suspended due to weather conditions. The tournament, part of the Korn Ferry Tour, has seen tight competition with players vying for positions on the leaderboard.
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