Sunday, December 15, 2024

PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

Good Morning,

The golf world is buzzing this weekend with exciting developments, from Tiger Woods’ high-tech practice sessions to wildlife sightings at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Let’s dive into the stories making headlines.

Tiger Woods is back in the swing of things—literally—preparing for his first competitive appearance since July. Woods was spotted testing the TGL simulator, a cutting-edge system for the new tech-heavy golf league he’s launching alongside Rory McIlroy. The TGL, set to kick off on January 7 at Florida’s SoFi Center, blends simulator technology with short-game challenges. It promises an exciting start to 2024, and seeing Woods take on this innovation has fans hyped.

Meanwhile, Hollywood is once again heading to the fairway. Adam Sandler dropped a bombshell for Happy Gilmore fans, revealing that Jack Nicklaus will make an appearance in the highly anticipated sequel. Sandler, an avid golf fan himself, expressed deep respect for Nicklaus as filming wraps up. The movie, slated for a summer 2025 release, will also feature cameos by John Daly and Eminem. Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club has provided a stunning backdrop for the production—golf and comedy fans are in for a treat.

LIV Golf made history this week by welcoming its first Taiwanese player for the 2025 season. Chieh-po Lee earned his spot after dominating the LIV Golf Promotions event with a stellar 10-under performance. Not only does this achievement put Lee in the spotlight, but it also represents a global expansion for LIV Golf, which has been reshaping the professional golf scene.

On the tournament front, the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, Florida, is proving to be a thrilling blend of PGA and LPGA talent. Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp are leading the mixed-team event, showcasing incredible synergy on the course. The tournament’s unique format—scramble, alternate shot, and modified four-ball—has kept players on their toes and fans glued to the action. Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia are close behind, while defending champions Lydia Ko and Jason Day remain in the hunt. This co-sanctioned event is a testament to growing collaboration between the tours, with equal prize money highlighting progress in the sport.

Across the globe at Leopard Creek in South Africa, Marcus Kinhult is leading the Alfred Dunhill Championship heading into the final round. The picturesque course has seen some wildlife excitement, with a leopard making a surprise appearance during the second round. Kinhult’s steady play has put him ahead of challengers like Dean Burmester and Dale Whitnell, setting up a nail-biting finish. Adding to the allure, the tournament’s blend of natural beauty and fierce competition has made it a standout on the DP World Tour.

Over at TPC Sawgrass, the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry is nearing its dramatic conclusion. With PGA TOUR cards on the line for the top five finishers, the tension is palpable. Alistair Docherty and Matthew Riedel share the lead, while a pack of determined players lurk just a few strokes behind. Rising stars like Christo Lamprecht are fighting for their professional futures, making the final round a must-watch event.

Finally, a nostalgic Ryder Cup tidbit reminds us how much the sport has evolved. A 1979 ticket order form recently surfaced, showing daily passes priced at just $10—a stark contrast to the nearly $750 fans will pay for the 2025 event. While the rising costs reflect golf’s growing popularity, concerns remain about accessibility for everyday fans.

Whether you’re marveling at Tiger Woods’ high-tech training, laughing at Sandler’s antics, or following the leaderboard drama, this weekend is a testament to golf’s rich blend of tradition, innovation, and global appeal. Grab your clubs—or your popcorn—and enjoy the ride!

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Grant Thornton Invitational - Tiburon Golf Club - Naples, FL

The Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed team event featuring PGA and LPGA Tour stars, is currently underway at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. After the second round, which employed a foursomes (alternate shot) format, Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp continue to lead the tournament. They had an impressive start in the first round, birdieing their first nine holes and posting a 14-under-par 58 in the scramble format.

Close behind the leaders are Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia, along with the Canadian duo of Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners, who are tied for second place. Defending champions Lydia Ko and Jason Day are also in contention, having opened with a strong 10-under 62 in the first round.

The tournament features a unique format, with three different styles of play over three rounds. The final round will use a modified four-ball format, where both players tee off and then switch balls for their second shots before playing that same ball until it is holed.

This event, now in its second year, is a co-sanctioned tournament between the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour, offering equal prize money and visibility for the 32-player field. It marks a significant collaboration between the two tours, reviving a tradition that had been dormant since the JCPenney Classic in 1999.

• Grant Thornton Invitational, Round 3: How to watch, live scores, tee times, TV times

• 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational Sunday tee times: Round 3 groupings

Grant Thorton Invitational Stories

• Patty Tavatanakit, Jake Knapp Not Slowing Down at Grant Thornton Invitational - lpga.com

• Tom Kim says his partner, Jeeno Thitikul, played like Tiger Woods at the Grant Thornton - golfweek.usatoday.com

• Patty Tavatanakit, Jake Knapp shoot 66 in foursomes to increase lead at Grant Thornton Invitational - sports.yahoo.com

• ‘Tiger’ Thitukul’s play with Tom Kim has them contending for Grant Thornton title - golfdigest.com

• UCLA pair Knapp and Tavatanakit widen lead to 2 shots in Grant Thornton Invitational - apnews.com

Grant Thorton Invitational Videos

PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry - TPC Sawgrass - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

After the third round of the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry at TPC Sawgrass, Alistair Docherty and Matthew Riedel have emerged as co-leaders, both sitting at 6-under 204. Docherty, who narrowly missed earning his TOUR card last season, shot a 3-under 67 at Sawgrass Country Club. Riedel, a recent Vanderbilt graduate and No. 4 in this year's PGA TOUR University Ranking, is demonstrating his readiness for the PGA TOUR.

Just three shots behind the leaders, a group of players are tied for fourth place at 3-under 207. This group includes Grant Hirschman, who made a significant move with a 4-under 66 at Sawgrass Country Club; John Greco, who finished strong with three birdies in his final four holes; Hayden Buckley, a former Korn Ferry Tour winner and two-time FedExCup Playoffs qualifier; and Corey Shaun, who despite opening with a course-record 61 at Dye's Valley, fell back after a double bogey on the 18th hole at Sawgrass Country Club.

Notable performances came from Robby Shelton and Pierceson Coody, who both carded the low round of the day at Dye's Valley with matching 6-under 64s, putting themselves in contention. Alejandro Tosti also made waves with the low round of the week at Sawgrass Country Club, shooting a 5-under 65.

Among the rising stars, Christo Lamprecht, a Georgia Tech alum who finished No. 2 in the 2024 PGA TOUR University Ranking, carded a 1-under 69 at Sawgrass Country Club and is now within four strokes of the current cutoff for PGA TOUR membership.

With only the top five finishers and ties earning PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season, the final round is set to be intensely competitive as these players fight for their professional futures on the PGA TOUR.

PGA Tour Q-School  Stories

• Carnage strikes at Q-School: Wild weather sets up wild weekend - golf.com

• 'What if game' is route to madness at PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry - pgatour.com

• PGA Tour Q School: Third-round takeaways and the stakes for status in Sunday’s final round - jacksonville.com

• "The whole back into my car was gone": PGA Tour Q-School debutant talks about his new life perspective - sportskeeda.com

• On eve of PGA Tour Q-School finale, John Greco an unlikely – and unique – contender - nbcsports.com

PGA Tour Q-School  Videos

Alfred Dunhill Championship - Leopard Creek CC - Malelane, South Africa

The 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, South Africa, has been an exciting tournament so far. After three rounds of play, the leaderboard has seen some changes. Marcus Kinhult of Sweden has taken the lead, shooting a 4-under 68 in the second round to move to the top of the leaderboard with a three-shot advantage.

Following closely behind Kinhult are Dean Burmester, Dale Whitnell, and Andrea Pavan, who are all vying for the championship title. The tournament has also seen some impressive performances from other players. In the first round, Andy Sullivan of England shot a remarkable 8-under 64 to take an early lead, while Alex Fitzpatrick, Casey Jarvis, and Marcus Kinhult were tied for second at 7-under.

Tom McKibbin from Northern Ireland has also been in contention, though he lost some ground after the opening round where he carded a three-under 69. The tournament has featured a strong field, with players from various countries competing for the title.

An interesting side note is that a leopard was spotted during the second round of the tournament, adding an extra element of excitement to the event. The Alfred Dunhill Championship is part of the DP World Tour and follows last week's Nedbank Golf Challenge, making it the second consecutive tournament in South Africa on the European tour.

As the final round approaches, golf fans are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of this thrilling competition at the picturesque Leopard Creek Country Club.

• 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship money: Purse, winner's share, DP World Tour prize money payout

Alfred Dunhill Championship Stories

• Kinhult leads by 2 shots heading into final round of Alfred Dunhill Championship - apnews.com

• Alfred Dunhill Championship (S.A.): Marcus Kinhult Will Take 2-Shot Lead Into Sunday’s Finale - progolfweekly.com

• Kinhult leads Dunhill heading into final round - espn.com

• Kinhult holds two shot lead as McKibbin rallies - rte.ie

• Kinhult two clear at Alfred Dunhill as McKibbin gets moving in right direction - irishexaminer.com

• Kinhult stalking glory at Leopard Creek - compleatgolfer.com

Alfred Dunhill Championship Videos

Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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