Planet Golf News for Sunday, September 22, 2024

Resurgent Matteo Manassero in prime position at BMW PGA Championship | While Jeeno Thitikul leads the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship, Lydia Ko lurks just two back | LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu

Sunday, September 22, 2024

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Rahm (sick) WDs from LIV Team Championship

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

Golf fans have plenty to look forward to as the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship and the BMW PGA Championship head toward thrilling conclusions. Jeeno Thitikul is holding firm at the top of the leaderboard at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, heading into the final round of the Kroger Queen City Championship. Thitikul shot a solid 4-under 68, taking her total to 16 under par, and is now poised to claim her first LPGA win in two years. But she won’t have an easy ride with Lydia Ko just two shots behind. Ko, who carded a 3-under 69, is within striking distance and will surely bring her A-game in the final round. The leaderboard remains tight with China’s Yan Liu sitting third at 13 under, and Albane Valenzuela and Haeran Ryu tied at 12 under.

Meanwhile, across the pond at the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England, Matteo Manassero is aiming to complete one of the sport’s great comeback stories. The 31-year-old Italian dazzled with a stunning 9-under 63, surging to an 18-under total for the tournament, which puts him three shots ahead of Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel. Both McIlroy and Horschel shot impressive rounds of their own, with McIlroy posting a 6-under 66 and Horschel recording a 7-under 65, including an incredible streak of seven consecutive birdies. Manassero, who last won this tournament 11 years ago, now has a chance to add another chapter to his remarkable story after falling as low as 1,705th in the world rankings.

In the Champions Tour’s PURE Insurance Championship, Paul Broadhurst put on a masterclass at Pebble Beach, shooting a bogey-free 8-under 64 to take a commanding five-shot lead at 14 under. Vijay Singh sits in second place at 9 under, while the tournament also sees 80 First Tee juniors competing, adding a wonderful youth element to the event.

The LIV Golf Team Championship in Dallas is also providing plenty of drama. Danny Lee was the hero for the Iron Heads team, clinching a win over Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC with a dramatic eagle on the 18th hole. With that, Lee propelled the Iron Heads into the stroke-play finals, where they’ll join Legion XIII, Ripper, and 4Aces in the hunt for the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship title. Despite Jon Rahm’s absence due to illness, Legion XIII managed to advance, adding even more intrigue to the final day.

Lastly, on the Korn Ferry Tour, Frankie Capan III is holding the lead at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship after a third-round 5-under 66, bringing him to 12 under for the tournament. Capan recently secured his 2025 PGA Tour card and is now looking to finish strong in Columbus, Ohio, with Kevin Roy just one stroke behind as the players fight for those crucial PGA Tour cards for next season.

With several big events reaching their climax and plenty of talent vying for victory, it’s an exciting weekend of golf that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned for what’s sure to be a thrilling finish in all these competitions!

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Kroger Queen City Championship - LPGA - TPC River’s Bend - Maineville, OH

As of Saturday Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand leads the Kroger Queen City Championship at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. Thitikul is holding a narrow one-shot lead at 15 under par after three rounds, despite challenging weather conditions. She managed to cap her day with a birdie on the 18th, maintaining her position at the top of the leaderboard.

Lydia Ko, the New Zealand golf star, is Thitikul's closest challenger, sitting just one shot back at 14 under par. Ko had a steady round, scoring four birdies, which kept her firmly in the mix for the final day. China's Yan Liu is in third place at 13 under par after a solid round that included an eagle on the 11th, despite a few stumbles earlier in the day.

Other notable contenders include South Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, both tied for fourth at 12 under par. Meanwhile, world number one Nelly Korda finds herself six shots behind the leader. As the tournament enters its final round, the competition remains fierce, with several top golfers still in striking distance.

Kroger Queen City Championship Videos

PURE Insurance Championship - Champions Tour - Spyglass Hill GC - Pebble Beach, CA

Paul Broadhurst leads the PURE Insurance Championship with a bogey-free 8-under 64, holding a 5-shot lead at 14-under 130. Vijay Singh is in second place at 9-under, while Mark O'Meara concludes his career with a 1-over 73. The tournament features 80 First Tee juniors, with top performers advancing to the final round at Pebble Beach.

LIV Dallas - Match Play and LIV Golf Dallas Stroke Play - Maridoe Golf Club - Carrollton, TX

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the LIV Golf Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, saw some exciting match play action. Danny Lee delivered a standout performance, defeating Bryson DeChambeau with a dramatic eagle on the 18th hole, propelling his team, Iron Heads, to the finals. This victory prevented DeChambeau’s Crushers from securing back-to-back team titles. Alongside Iron Heads, Legion XIII, Ripper, and 4Aces advanced to the stroke-play finals.

Notably, Tyrrell Hatton helped Legion XIII progress, despite the absence of their captain, Jon Rahm, due to illness. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson led 4Aces to victory over Stinger, with the all-Australian team Ripper, captained by Cameron Smith, also advancing after defeating Fireball.

The finals will combine the scores from all four players on each team to determine the overall winner of the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship.

BMW PGA Championship - DP World Tour - Wentworth Golf Club - Surrey, England

The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England saw a dramatic third round on Saturday. Italian golfer Matteo Manassero surged into the lead with an impressive 9-under 63, giving him a three-shot advantage heading into the final round. Manassero, who won this prestigious tournament back in 2013 as a 20-year-old prodigy, now stands at 18-under par for the tournament.

Tied for second place at 15-under are Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and American Billy Horschel. McIlroy, the world number 3, carded a solid 6-under 66, while Horschel matched him with a 65 that included a remarkable streak of seven consecutive birdies. The trio of Manassero, McIlroy, and Horschel played together in the third round, producing a masterclass of low scoring that thrilled spectators.

England's Matthew Baldwin, who had been the overnight leader, slipped to fourth place after shooting a 71. He now sits four shots behind Manassero. The leaderboard is tightly packed, with several players still in contention for the title.

The final round on Sunday promises to be exciting, with the leaders teeing off at 12:05 pm BST (7:05 am ET). However, weather could play a factor, as rain and potential thunderstorms are forecast for the area.

This tournament marks a potential career resurgence for Manassero, who had fallen to a world ranking of 1,705 before returning to form this season. A victory at Wentworth would be a remarkable comeback story for the 31-year-old Italian, who is looking to claim his second BMW PGA Championship title, 11 years after his first.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship - Korn Ferry Tour - OSU Golf Club - Columbus, OH

On Saturday Frankie Capan III took the lead in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship, the third event of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, being held at The Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. Capan shot an impressive 5-under 66 in the third round, bringing his total to 12-under par for the tournament.

Capan, who recently secured his 2025 PGA Tour card, now holds a one-stroke advantage over Kevin Roy, who sits in second place. Thomas Rosenmueller and Pontus Nyholm are tied for third, two strokes behind the leader.

This tournament is crucial in determining the final PGA Tour cards for the 2025 season. After this event, only the top 75 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List will advance to the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in French Lick, Indiana. At the conclusion of that tournament, the top 30 players on the Points List will earn their PGA Tour cards for the upcoming season.

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship carries significant weight, with a purse of $1.5 million and 600 points awarded to the winner. The tournament not only impacts PGA Tour qualification but also determines Korn Ferry Tour status for the following season.

Upcoming next week: The Presidents Cup - PGA Tour - The Royal Montreal Golf Club - Montreal, PQ

The 2024 Presidents Cup is set to take place from September 24-29 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec. Both the International and U.S. teams have finalized their 12-man rosters, with captains Mike Weir and Jim Furyk announcing their six wildcard picks each to complement the six automatic qualifiers.

Next Year: The Ryder Cup

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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