Planet Golf News for Saturday, September 28, 2024

Golf-Internationals flip script to draw level with US at Presidents Cup | Jasmine Suwannapura (65) leads in NW Arkansas

Saturday, September 28, 2024

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A Trio of Latina Caddies Looping at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

This week in the world of golf has been packed with drama, excitement, and a few unexpected twists. One of the most significant stories was the impact of Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc across multiple states, including Augusta. Although the extent of the damage to Augusta National Golf Club remains unclear, there are already images circulating online showing fallen trees and flooding near Rae’s Creek. The storm has tragically claimed over 20 lives and left almost a million people without power, leaving many to wonder what this means for one of golf’s most iconic locations.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Presidents Cup has delivered all the excitement and tension fans could hope for. After Team USA stormed to a 5-0 lead on Day 1, the International team fought back with an incredible clean sweep in Friday’s foursomes matches. This dramatic comeback, led by star performances from Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, and Adam Scott, left the tournament tied at 5-5. Matsuyama and Im's dominant 7&6 win over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele set the tone for the day, while Scott’s win, which marked his 22nd career Presidents Cup point, made him the top scorer in International team history. The energy from the crowd and players alike transformed the competition into a thrilling battle heading into the weekend.

Amidst this excitement, the U.S. team, led by captain Jim Furyk, faced mounting criticism. Furyk’s leadership came under fire, particularly after his 0-9 record in Friday foursomes over two Presidents Cups. Fans didn’t hold back, some suggesting that assistant captain Kevin Kisner might be better suited to take the reins. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay, fresh off an "embarrassing" performance alongside Schauffele, felt the heat after their crushing defeat.

Adding to the weekend’s buzz was Sahith Theegala, whose amusing press conference slip-up involving the term “Mongolians” gave everyone a reason to smile, even as he clarified he was referencing a golf term, not a cultural group. The lighthearted moment provided some comic relief amid the intensity of the Presidents Cup.

In other corners of the golf world, the LPGA’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship saw Jasmine Suwannapura take the lead with an 8-under 63, while former University of Arkansas star Maria Fassi, just one shot behind, put in a stellar performance in front of her hometown crowd. On the DP World Tour, Angel Hidalgo continued to shine at the Acciona Open de España, holding onto his lead with a 4-under 67, four shots ahead of the field. Jon Rahm, however, voiced his frustration, as he struggled to find comfort on the course despite sitting just five shots back.

This week's action has set the stage for an exciting weekend, with golf fans on the edge of their seats. Whether it's the tight race at the Presidents Cup or the thrilling showdowns in Arkansas and Madrid, there's no shortage of golf to enjoy. Keep an eye out for more dramatic comebacks, record-breaking performances, and maybe even a few more surprises.

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Presidents Cup - PGA Tour - The Royal Montreal Golf Club - Montreal, PQ

On Friday at the 2024 Presidents Cup held at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, the International team staged a remarkable comeback, sweeping all five foursomes matches to tie the overall score at 5-5. This dramatic turnaround came after the United States had dominated Thursday's four-ball session with a 5-0 lead.

The day began with Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im setting the tone for the International team by defeating Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 7 and 6, tying the largest margin of victory in Presidents Cup history. Adam Scott and Canadian Taylor Pendrith followed suit, routing Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala 5 and 4.

The momentum continued as Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jason Day secured a narrow 1-up victory over Max Homa and Brian Harman. The Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes then delivered another resounding win, defeating Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau 6 and 5.

In the final match of the day, South Koreans Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An edged out world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 1-up, with Kim sinking a clutch 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole to secure the victory.

This sweep represented the first back-to-back sweeps in Presidents Cup history, as it followed the U.S. team's 5-0 victory on Thursday. The International team's comeback was particularly impressive given that they entered the competition as heavy underdogs.

With the tournament now tied at 5-5, both teams are positioned equally heading into the weekend's matches. The first team to reach 15.5 points will win the Presidents Cup, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to this biennial event.

Presidents Cup Videos

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Pres. by P&G - LPGA - Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, AR

On Friday at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand took the lead with an impressive 8-under 63 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. Suwannapura finished strong, birdieing the final two holes to secure her position atop the leaderboard. Her exceptional performance included navigating the back nine with a 5-under 30 in breezy conditions.

Close behind Suwannapura, just one stroke off the lead at 7-under, are several players including former University of Arkansas standout Maria Fassi, Carlota Ciganda, and Ashleigh Buhai. Fassi, who won the NCAA individual championship in 2019, expressed her excitement about playing alongside current Arkansas Razorbacks.

The leaderboard is notably crowded with Arkansas Razorbacks, both former and current. Maria Marin, a current Arkansas player from Colombia, also made her presence felt with a score of 65. Another former Arkansas standout, Gaby Lopez from Mexico, posted a solid 66.

Other notable performances include 18-year-old Zeng from China, who achieved five consecutive birdies from holes 14 to 18 during her first nine. Stacy Lewis, the victorious Solheim Cup captain and former Arkansas player, finished with a 69, while defending champion Haeran Ryu also posted a 69.

The tournament has created a special atmosphere with many players representing the "Razorback Nation," as mentioned by Gaby Lopez. The event continues to showcase strong competition and local talent, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of golf at Pinnacle Country Club.

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Videos

acciona Open de Espana pres. by Madrid - DP World Tour - Club de Campo Villa de Madrid - Madrid, Spain

On Friday at the 2024 Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, Angel Hidalgo extended his lead to four shots after shooting a 4-under 67 in the second round at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. The Spanish golfer finished the day at 10-under par, maintaining his position atop the leaderboard from round one.

Hidalgo's round included five birdies and one bogey, with a particularly strong stretch of three birdies in four holes (8, 10, and 11). He emphasized the importance of accurate tee shots, noting the varying rough conditions on the course.

Joe Dean of England sits in second place at 6-under par after carding an impressive 65, which featured two eagles, five birdies, and three bogeys. His round was highlighted by a birdie-eagle-birdie sequence on holes 13 through 15.

A group of five players are tied for third at 5-under par, including notable names Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed. Rahm, a three-time winner of this tournament, expressed frustration with his performance despite shooting a 69, citing missed opportunities and a lack of comfort on the course. Reed, on the other hand, moved up the leaderboard with a solid 66.

The other players tied for third are Alfredo Garcia-Heredia of Spain, Sam Bairstow of England, and Julien Guerrier of France. Tommy Fleetwood, Jimmy Walker, David Puig, and Adri Arnaus round out the top 10, all tied at 4-under par.

The day also saw some remarkable individual performances, including Rikuya Hoshino of Japan, who recorded ten birdies in his round, with six consecutive birdies from the 14th hole. Additionally, Jens Fahrbring from Sweden made a hole-in-one on the 208-yard 11th hole.

As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on Hidalgo to see if he can maintain his lead over a strong field of competitors.

acciona Open Videos

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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