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- Planet Golf News for Thursday, February 6, 2025
Planet Golf News for Thursday, February 6, 2025
U.S. Open adds LIV Golf exemption. Will the other majors follow suit? | TGL Follow-up | WM Phoenix Open begins today as does the LPGA Founders Cup
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Thursday, February 6, 2025
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[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Golf fans, brace yourselves—chaos and controversy continue to reign supreme. The U.S. Open has finally thrown a bone to LIV Golf players, granting an exemption to the top three in their standings and allowing a handful of others to bypass local qualifying. A bold move, indeed, but will the other majors follow suit? The folks at Augusta National, the PGA of America, and the R&A are still giving LIV the side-eye, reluctant to roll out the red carpet just yet. Meanwhile, LIV itself has decided to shake things up by making all four player scores count toward team totals—because nothing says “innovation” like ensuring everyone’s bad day actually matters.
Over on the PGA Tour, the WM Phoenix Open is trying to regain control of its legendary party status without devolving into last year’s version of “Golf Gone Wild.” Organizers have added security, axed same-day tickets, and generally tried to prevent the tournament from looking like a frat party in a bunker. Big names like Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Xander Schauffele are skipping the event, but hey, at least Aaron Rodgers showed up to the pro-am, dodging Jets questions like they were errant tee shots.
Speaking of absentees, the LPGA has finally had enough of slow play, introducing actual penalties instead of just offering stern looks and wrist slaps. Nelly Korda and Minjee Lee approve, as rounds have been dragging on longer than the wait at the DMV. Charley Hull and Korda both pushed for the crackdown, and the new rules take effect in March—so get ready for some “I didn’t know I was on the clock” drama.
Elsewhere in the golf world, the Trophy Hassan II kicks off in Morocco, bringing some PGA Tour Champions action to a stunning venue, while the Founders Cup makes its debut in Florida with a stacked LPGA field (minus defending champ Rose Zhang, who is busy being a student). The Korn Ferry Tour is in Colombia, where they might as well set up a scoreboard for sub-60 rounds, given the high-altitude, short-course setup that practically begs for record-breaking scores.
LIV Golf, never one to shy away from theatrics, has decided to host its first-ever night tournament in Riyadh. Jon Rahm is excited, comparing it to Formula 1’s night races—because who doesn’t love a good light show? Meanwhile, Joaquin Niemann continues his tour of “Yes, LIV Players Can Still Make Majors,” earning a Masters invite despite his world ranking sitting in no man’s land.
On the nostalgia front, Arnold Palmer’s former California home is on the market for a cool $5 million, a steal if you’re in the mood to live where the King once did. Rory McIlroy, fresh off his Pebble Beach win (which generated some of the highest TV ratings in recent memory), celebrated with a fine dining experience—by which we mean In-N-Out burgers and wine. Because why not?
And finally, golf and Hollywood continue to collide. The latest teaser for Happy Gilmore 2 features PGA and LIV stars, and Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin himself) even popped up at the WM Phoenix Open to stir the pot. Somewhere, Adam Sandler is surely grinning.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
WM Phoenix Open - PGA Tour - TPC Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
The 2025 WM Phoenix Open tees off today at TPC Scottsdale with a revamped experience aimed at better crowd control after last year’s chaos. Organizers have added a second entrance, switched to digital-only ticketing, and eliminated “good any day” and third-party resale tickets.
Defending champion Nick Taylor, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and past winner Hideki Matsuyama headline the 132-player field, competing for a $9.2 million purse. The Annexus Pro-Am, featuring stars like Aaron Rodgers and Michael Phelps, takes place Wednesday.
With its electric 16th hole and efforts to refine—not expand—the fan experience, the tournament remains a marquee PGA Tour event.
How Long Does It Take To Build TPC Scottsdale’s 16th Hole Stadium At The WM Phoenix Open?
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All the holes-in-one at the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open

LPGA informs players of tougher restrictions on slow play for 2025, including more chances for penalty strokes
Founders Cup Pres by U.S. Virgin Islands - LPGA - Bradenton Country Club - Bradenton, FL
The 2025 Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands begins today at Bradenton Country Club, marking its debut at this new Florida venue. The LPGA Tour event features a 118-player field competing for a $2 million purse, with hometown favorite Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, Jin Young Ko, and Brooke Henderson among the top contenders.
Defending champion Rose Zhang is absent as she returns to Stanford, while Jin Young Ko remains the only two-time winner in tournament history. The event honors the LPGA’s 13 founders and will be broadcast on Golf Channel and NBC Digital.
Trophy Hassan II - PGA Tour Champions - Royal Golf Dar Es Salam - Rabat, Morocco
The 49th Trophy Hassan II begins today at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco, featuring a 66-player PGA Tour Champions field competing for a $2.5 million purse. Defending champion Stephen Ames looks to secure a rare title defense alongside past winners Colin Montgomerie and Brett Quigley.
Held alongside the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup on the Blue Course, both events showcase Morocco’s dedication to world-class golf under the patronage of King Mohammed VI.
LIV Golf Riyadh - Riyadh Golf Club - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
LIV Golf’s 2025 season begins today with its first-ever night tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Played under lights at Riyadh Golf Club, the event runs from February 6-8, featuring 13 four-player teams in a 54-hole, no-cut format.
With a $20 million individual purse and $5 million for teams, top contenders include Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, and Bryson DeChambeau. Phil Mickelson has withdrawn due to a shoulder injury, with Ollie Schniederjans replacing him. The event will be broadcast in the U.S. via LIV’s new Fox Sports deal.
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters - DP World Tour - Doha GC - Doha, Qatar
The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters begins today at Doha Golf Club, marking its 28th edition on the DP World Tour. Part of the International Swing, the event features a $2.5 million purse, with past champions Eddie Pepperell, Ewen Ferguson, Jorge Campillo, and Antoine Rozner among the contenders.
Defending champion Rikuya Hoshino is absent as he focuses on the PGA Tour. The par-72, 7,374-yard course, a longtime tournament host, promises a challenging test for the field.
Astara Golf Championship pres. by Mastercard - Korn Ferry - Country Club de Bogota-Lagos - Bogota, Columbia
The Astara Golf Championship begins today at Country Club de Bogota-Lagos in Colombia, marking the fourth event of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season. Players will compete for crucial points toward one of 30 PGA TOUR cards for 2026.
Known for historic moments like Cristobal Del Solar’s record-breaking 57 in 2024, the tournament features rising stars and seasoned pros on a challenging layout. As one of seven international events on the Korn Ferry Tour, it highlights the tour’s global impact in developing future PGA TOUR talent.

TGL Follow-Up
Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC) claimed a 6-2 victory over Boston Common Golf in the fifth match of the TGL season at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Tuesday night. The winning trio of Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Rose delivered a strong performance, while Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Adam Scott represented Boston Common Golf. Sahith Theegala (LAGC) and Hideki Matsuyama (Boston) were benched. LAGC dominated the triples format, winning the first three holes and adding two more points on the fifth and ninth holes, taking a 5-0 lead. In singles play, Fleetwood added another point for LAGC, while Bradley salvaged two points for Boston. However, LAGC’s commanding start secured them a comfortable 6-2 win, making them 2-0 in the season.
Tommy Fleetwood made his TGL debut after missing LAGC’s first match and quickly embraced the format, calling it a “challenging game in a really cool environment.” However, his debut was marked by technical malfunctions, as the simulator failed to register a key shot during the match. Fleetwood received the first-ever mulligan in TGL history, raising concerns about the league’s technology. Collin Morikawa also experienced a similar issue when his ball inexplicably stopped rolling. Despite the glitches, Fleetwood was enthusiastic about the experience, saying, “How good is it? It’s epic, isn’t it?”
As co-owners of Los Angeles Golf Club, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian celebrated the team’s win, with Ohanian posting, “The boys are gonna be a problem this season. 2-0. LFG.” The couple has been vocal about their investment in the tech-driven golf league, viewing it as a groundbreaking way to engage fans.
Before the match, players observed a moment of silence in honor of Tiger Woods’ mother, Kultida Woods, who had recently passed away. The solemn tribute reflected the deep respect Woods’ peers have for his family’s influence on the sport.
With the victory, Los Angeles Golf Club remains undefeated in the inaugural TGL season. The league will return on February 17, when LAGC takes on Atlanta Drive GC in their next match.
Today’s Best Golf Videos
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS

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