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- Planet Golf News for Sunday, February 16, 2025
Planet Golf News for Sunday, February 16, 2025
Patrick Rodgers takes lead at The Genesis Invitational as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy falter | Tiger Woods to return to action at TGL match next week | Justin Leonard takes 36-hole lead over Ernie Els at Chubb Classic
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Sunday, February 16, 2025
PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie
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Marie Birdie is a clothing brand dedicated to providing young women with the sense of empowerment and individuality. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores. NOW OPEN the Marie Birdie Store @ 7170 S Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, FL
[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Patrick Rodgers is leading a PGA Tour event, and yes, you read that correctly. As Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were busy making Torrey Pines look like an amateur weekend outing, Rodgers calmly shot a 4-under 68 to take the lead at the Genesis Invitational. Sure, he bogeyed the last hole, but when the guys chasing you are playing like they’ve never seen a putter before, that’s hardly a concern. Denny McCarthy is just one shot back, probably wondering if this is finally the week he wins something after 193 career starts. And then there’s Tony Finau, who somehow pulled off three chip-ins in eight holes, a feat so rare even he was impressed—because, you know, making birdies the normal way is too mainstream.
Meanwhile, over at LIV Golf, new CEO Scot O’Neil is trying to get a seat at the LPGA table. There was a time when LIV’s involvement in women’s golf was about as welcome as a double bogey on the 18th, but with leadership changes in both organizations, the door is cracking open. O’Neil insists LIV Golf just wants to “enhance the experience” for female golfers. Translation: they want in, and they’ve got the money to make it happen. Whether the LPGA bites is another story, but the conversation is happening, and in golf, that’s half the battle.
And speaking of things happening, Tiger Woods is set to return next week in a TGL match. He was supposed to play in the Genesis Invitational, but after the passing of his mother, he understandably needed time to grieve. Now, he’s back, and his Jupiter Links team will take on New York Golf Club in the latest edition of the “we-still-don’t-quite-know-how-this-works” golf league.
In other news, Jon Rahm is about to do something he hasn’t done since 2017—fall outside the top 50 in the world rankings. The whole “join LIV Golf and forget about OWGR points” strategy is finally catching up to him. He played in Adelaide instead of Torrey Pines, which is great for his suntan but not so much for his world ranking. Even Bryson DeChambeau, who decided to show off by driving a 409-yard par 4 (and then three-putting for par, naturally), is probably shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Justin Leonard is trying to win his first PGA Tour Champions event at the Chubb Classic. He leads Ernie Els by a single shot, which means he’ll have to hold off a Hall of Famer who’s already got seven of these senior tour wins under his belt. Felipe Aguilar, making his PGA Tour Champions debut, fired a bogey-free 65 and is lurking just a few shots back. Not bad for a guy who was still grinding it out at Q-School a few months ago.
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 LIV Golf Adelaide tournament, Joaquin Niemann clinched victory with a spectacular final-round 65, overcoming a three-shot deficit to win by three strokes. The Chilean’s bogey-free performance, featuring seven birdies, propelled him to a 13-under par total, outpacing Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer, who both shot 71 on the final day. Overnight co-leader Sam Horsfield faltered with a 75, dropping to seventh place. In the team competition, Fireballs GC secured the win, with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII finishing second at 15-under par.
And for those who enjoy a bit of social media humor, Adam Hadwin’s wife took his missed cut at the Genesis Invitational in stride by giving him a Valentine’s Day card featuring his less-than-impressive scorecard. Nothing says romance like reminding your husband he shot himself out of a paycheck.
Finally, LIV Golf’s numbers continue to be about as impressive as a shanked drive. Their season opener drew a whopping 12,000 viewers, which is roughly the attendance of a mid-tier Korn Ferry Tour event. With projections that the Saudi-backed league will burn through $5 billion, you have to wonder if anyone is keeping track of the receipts—or if they’re just lighting them on fire for fun.
With all this happening, the final round of the Genesis Invitational should be a must-watch—if only to see if Patrick Rodgers can actually close the deal, or if this becomes yet another week where someone else sneaks in last minute to steal the trophy. Either way, golf fans are in for a chaotic, dramatic, and potentially hilarious Sunday.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend
The Genesis Invitational - PGA Tour - Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA
The third round of the 2025 Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, California, saw some exciting shifts in the leaderboard. Patrick Rodgers emerged as the new leader after an impressive 4-under-par 68 round on Saturday, bringing his total score to 8-under par. Rodgers' stellar performance included an eagle and several birdies, propelling him to the top spot with odds of +300 to win the tournament.
Denny McCarthy, who had been leading after the first round, now holds the solo second position. McCarthy carded a 1-under-par 71 in the third round, putting him at 7-under par overall. He remains a strong contender with +350 odds to clinch the victory.
Ludvig Aberg made significant progress, climbing two spots on the leaderboard to secure third place. The Ryder Cup star shot a 2-under-par 70, bringing his total to 6-under par through 54 holes.
One of the day's most impressive performances came from Tony Finau, who wowed spectators with a remarkable 5-under-par 67 round. This outstanding play catapulted Finau up 20 spots on the leaderboard, landing him in a tie for fourth place at 5-under par overall. Sharing this position with Finau are Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood, and Davis Thompson.
The challenging conditions at Torrey Pines continued to test the world's best golfers, with the course proving difficult for many in the field. As the tournament heads into its final round on Sunday, players will be vying for a share of the substantial $20 million purse and 700 FedEx Cup points.
With just 18 holes remaining, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the 2025 Genesis Invitational. Golf fans can expect an intense battle among the top contenders as they compete for victory on the iconic Torrey Pines South Course.
Chubb Classic - PGA Tour Champions - Tiburon Golf Club - Naples, FL
Justin Leonard has taken the lead after the second round of the Chubb Classic at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Leonard fired a 7-under 65, matching the low round of the day, to reach 11-under par for the tournament. His impressive performance has given him a one-stroke advantage over World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els heading into the final round.
Leonard's round was highlighted by consistent play, as he seeks his first win on the PGA TOUR Champions in his 45th start. The 52-year-old's best finish on the tour to date was a second-place showing at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship.
Ernie Els, who won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai earlier this year, is in close pursuit at 10-under par. The 55-year-old is looking for his eighth PGA TOUR Champions victory and his second win of the 2025 season.
Paul Stankowski, who shared the first-round lead, posted a 1-under 71 and now sits in third place at 8-under par. The 55-year-old is also in search of his first PGA TOUR Champions win.
Notably, Felipe Aguilar, making his PGA TOUR Champions debut at age 50, matched the low round of the day with a bogey-free 65. This impressive performance moved him into a tie for fourth place at 7-under par. Aguilar earned his 2025 PGA TOUR Champions card by finishing fourth at Q-School in December 2024.
Joining Aguilar at 7-under are Joe Durant (2018 Chubb Classic champion), Freddie Jacobson, Heath Slocum, Tim Petrovic, and Billy Andrade.
Five-time Chubb Classic champion Bernhard Langer showed his enduring class with a bogey-free 68, moving him to 4-under par and into a tie for 18th place.
As the tournament heads into the final round, the stage is set for an exciting finish with a mix of experienced champions and newcomers vying for the title at the Chubb Classic.
LIV Golf Adelaide - LIV Golf - The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, Australia
Joaquin Niemann emerged victorious at the 2025 LIV Golf Adelaide tournament, staging an impressive comeback in the final round. The Chilean golfer fired a bogey-free 65 to secure a three-shot victory over Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer. Niemann began the day three shots off the lead but surged ahead with seven birdies, finishing with an aggregate score of 13-under par.
The 36-hole leaders, Ortiz and Ancer, along with Sam Horsfield, couldn’t maintain their advantage. Both Ortiz and Ancer carded 1-under 71s in the final round, with Ancer’s chances slipping away after consecutive bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes. Horsfield, who had shared the lead after the second round, struggled with a 3-over 75, dropping to a tie for seventh place.
In the team competition, Fireballs GC claimed victory, bolstered by the performances of Sergio Garcia, David Puig, and Abraham Ancer. Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII finished second at 15-under par. The tournament, held at the Grange Golf Club, showcased challenging conditions that tested the players’ skills and strategy throughout the three days of competition.
Upcoming: TGL this Monay
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS
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Marie Birdie is a female-founded and owned golf and active wear brand for tween and teen girls. Our mission is to inspire, delight, and empower girls to enjoy an active lifestyle while playing golf. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores.
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