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- Planet Golf News for Saturday, March 8, 2025
Planet Golf News for Saturday, March 8, 2025
Tiger Woods not in the field for The Players Championship in his final year of an exemption | Lowry sitting at Bay Hill summit after superb 67 | DP World Tour rookie leads Puerto Rico Open in his first-ever PGA Tour start | Hataoka tops leaderboard after round two in China LPGA
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Saturday, March 8, 2025
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[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Tiger Woods has officially opted out of the 2025 Players Championship, closing the door on his automatic eligibility from his 2019 Masters win. As the final commitment list was confirmed, Woods’ name was nowhere to be found—no shocker, considering his limited competitive schedule and his increasing focus on golf’s broader landscape rather than his own scorecard. He did commit (briefly) to the Genesis Invitational before withdrawing, and his simulator golf league, TGL, seems to be getting more of his attention these days. With the loss of his mother weighing on him, Woods isn’t rushing back to the grind of tour life. Who needs TPC Sawgrass when you can shake up the entire sport from the comfort of a boardroom, right?
Meanwhile, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Shane Lowry is stealing the spotlight with an eight-under-par performance, putting him two shots ahead of Wyndham Clark. Lowry, known more for his major-winning grit than lighting up Bay Hill, seemed to have figured something out, rolling in putts and playing surgical golf on the shorter holes. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, provided the lowlight of the day with a tee shot so ugly it was dubbed his “worst shot ever.” Hey, even legends have their moments. Jason Day also turned heads, but for the right reasons, dropping an eight-under 64, the lowest score at Bay Hill since 2021. Not a bad way to put yourself back in the mix.
In Puerto Rico, DP World Tour rookie Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen is making his PGA Tour debut look easy, leading after rounds of 64 and 65. The kid has yet to card a bogey, which feels unfair to the rest of us mere mortals who can barely make it through nine holes without needing therapy. If he wins, he’ll secure a Tour card through 2027—talk about making an entrance.
Over in Hong Kong, LIV Golf is back in front of packed galleries, and Paul Casey is leading the way for Crushers GC. LIV’s return to Asia is proving that, love it or hate it, this breakaway tour has staying power. And, of course, Phil Mickelson is making headlines—this time for embracing a putting technique some argue should be banned. Classic Phil.
The LPGA’s Blue Bay tournament is shaping up to be a battle, with Nasa Hataoka and rookie Cassie Porter sharing the lead. Gaby Lopez, a past champion, is lurking in fourth, looking to break a three-year winless streak. Meanwhile, Esther Henseleit and a handful of others are already packing their bags after missing the cut.
On the Champions Tour, Greg Chalmers is surprising everyone by leading the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, while Stewart Cink is honoring late golf journalist Steve DiMeglio by playing in his memory. The event also launched a “Birdies for Survivors” campaign, proving that even in the cutthroat world of pro golf, there’s room for a little heart.
The Joburg Open is dealing with some unfortunate drama—Shaun Norris leads despite battling an ear infection, and poor Tapio Pulkkanen had a hole-in-one snatched from him in heartbreaking fashion when his ball clanked off the flagstick and cruelly stayed out. Sometimes, golf is just mean.
And because the sport never stops tinkering, the PGA Tour is quietly testing a golf ball rollback that many players (shocker) aren’t thrilled about. Bryson DeChambeau, ever the equipment tinkerer, is searching for a new golf ball altogether, while Shane Lowry is out here playing the “mystery driver” game, switching between about 15 different models mid-tournament. Maybe one of them will work.
As the golf world barrels toward The Players, The Masters, and the Ryder Cup, things are only getting crazier. Stay tuned—because whether it’s Tiger making waves from behind the scenes, McIlroy chunking drives, or LIV continuing its push for legitimacy, golf never fails to entertain.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend
Arnold Palmer Invitational - PGA Tour - Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge - Orlando, FL
The second round of the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, has concluded with Shane Lowry taking the lead. The Irish golfer carded an impressive 5-under-par 67 on Friday, bringing his total to 8-under for the tournament. Lowry's strong performance, which included six birdies and only one bogey, propelled him to a two-shot lead over first-round leader Wyndham Clark.
Clark, who had a challenging day, especially on the back nine, posted a 1-under 71 to finish at 6-under overall, securing solo second place. Tied for third at 5-under are Corey Conners and Collin Morikawa, who shot rounds of 70 and 69, respectively.
The day's most impressive performance came from Jason Day, who fired an 8-under 64, the lowest score at Bay Hill since 2021. This remarkable round catapulted Day 40 spots up the leaderboard, tying him for fifth place at 4-under with Rory McIlroy and Russell Henley.
Other notable players in contention include Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley, both at 3-under. The cut line fell at the top 50 players and ties, as well as anyone within 10 strokes of the leader. Some big names, including Max Homa and Cameron Young, struggled in the challenging conditions, with Young shooting an 82 and Homa carding an 81.
Puerto Rico Open - PGA Tour - Grand Reserve Country Club - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Blue Bay LPGA - Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course - Hainan Island, China
The second round of the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course in Hainan Island, China, has concluded with a tight leaderboard. Nasa Hataoka of Japan and Cassie Porter of Australia are tied for the lead at 7-under-par with scores of 137. Rio Takeda of Japan is in sole possession of third place at 6-under-par with a score of 138. Gaby Lopez of Mexico and Auston Kim of the United States are tied for fourth at 5-under-par with scores of 139. The tournament, which runs from March 6-9, 2025, has a purse of $2.5 million and is being played on a par-72 course measuring 6,712 yards. Notable players in contention include Ayaka Furue and Mao Saigo, both at 4-under-par, and Minjee Lee at 2-under-par. The leaderboard remains tight, with many players within striking distance of the lead heading into the weekend rounds. The tournament has seen some impressive performances, including low rounds of 66 by Nasa Hataoka and 67 by Yuai Ji, demonstrating the competitive nature of the event as it progresses.
Cologuard Classic - PGA Tour Champions - La Paloma Country Club - Tucson, AZ
The first round of the 2025 Cologuard Classic, a PGA TOUR Champions event, concluded at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. Greg Chalmers took the lead with an impressive 7-under-par 64, marking his lowest 18-hole score on the PGA TOUR Champions. This performance put Chalmers in sole possession of first place, showcasing his strong start in the tournament.
Following closely behind Chalmers were Rod Pampling, Stephen Ames, and Ernie Els, all tied for second place after shooting 5-under-par 66. This group of experienced players demonstrated their competitive edge, positioning themselves well for the remainder of the tournament.
The Cologuard Classic, scheduled from March 7-9, 2025, is the fourth event of the PGA TOUR Champions season. With a total purse of $2,200,000 and a winner's share of $330,000, the tournament has attracted a field of 78 players competing over 54 holes. The event is being held at the par-71 La Paloma Country Club, which measures 6,856 yards.
As the tournament progresses, players will be vying to dethrone defending champion Joe Durant. The leaderboard remains tight after the first round, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of golf in Tucson.
LIV Golf Hong Kong - LIV - Hong Kong Golf Club - Fanling, Hong Kong
The first round of the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling saw Paul Casey take the lead with an impressive bogey-free 7-under 63. Casey's stellar performance put him two shots ahead of a group of six players tied for second place at 5-under 65, including Sebastian Munoz, Peter Uihlein, Luis Masaveu, Sergio Garcia, Chieh-Po Lee, and Martin Kaymer.
A pack of six players, including Bryson DeChambeau, finished the day at 4-under 66, three shots off the lead. The leaderboard remained tight, with several notable players within striking distance. Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, and Tyrrell Hatton were among those who carded 3-under 67s.
The tournament, offering a substantial purse of $25 million for individual play and $5 million for the team competition, saw strong performances from both established stars and newcomers. LIV Golf's recent signee, 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, showed promise with a 3-under 67, despite a challenging finish to his round.
In the team competition, Crushers GC and Torque GC shared the lead at 12-under par, showcasing the importance of consistent play across all team members in LIV Golf's new scoring format. The first round set the stage for an exciting tournament, with close competition in both individual and team standings as players vie for the significant prize money on offer.
Joburg Open - DP World Tour - Houghton Golf Club - Johannesburg, South Africa
The second round of the 2025 Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa has concluded with Shaun Norris of South Africa taking the lead. Norris posted a flawless second round, carding a 7-under 63 to reach a total of 11-under par. He now holds a one-stroke advantage over Adrien Saddier of France, who sits at 10-under par.
Tied for third place at 9-under par are Connor Syme of Scotland and Shubhankar Sharma of India, both of whom shot impressive 65s in their second rounds. The leaderboard is tightly packed, with several players within striking distance of the lead.
Norris, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December, is seeking his second DP World Tour victory of the season. Despite dealing with an ear infection that has affected his hearing, Norris managed to card seven birdies in his bogey-free round.
The cut has been made, with 78 players advancing to the weekend. Notable performances include Wenyi Ding of China and Jordan Smith of England, who had shared the first-round lead with rounds of 63 but have since fallen back.
Australian Danny List barely made the cut at 1-under par after struggling in the second round with a 3-over 73, following his opening round of 66.
Astara Chile Classic pres. by Scotiabank - Korn Ferry Tour - Prince of Wales Country Club - Santiago, Chile
Upcoming: The Players Championship (March 13 -16, 2025)
Upcoming: The Masters Tournament (April 7 - 13, 2025)
Upcoming: Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)
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