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- Planet Golf News for Thursday, January 23, 2025
Planet Golf News for Thursday, January 23, 2025
Ludvig Aberg vaults into Farmers R1 lead and sets new personal records on PGA Tour | Tiger Woods Needs Paige Spiranac To Save The TGL Mess | Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju earns first Korn Ferry Tour title at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic
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Thursday, January 23, 2025
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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Ludvig Åberg stole the show at Torrey Pines during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open, shooting a 9-under 63 that left everyone, including his caddie, wondering if he’s part machine. The Swede, who clearly enjoys birdies as much as anyone else enjoys a sunny day in La Jolla, is hoping to notch his first win since 2023. The man is so in love with Torrey Pines that you half expect him to buy property there by Saturday. Meanwhile, Will Zalatoris withdrew again (surprise, surprise), citing a reason as mysterious as his back injuries.
Speaking of Torrey Pines, it seems the Farmers Insurance Open has been missing its swagger. Jason Day and Charley Hoffman reminisced about the good ol’ days when Tiger Woods would show up, dominate, and make this event a must-watch. Nowadays, it’s more like a Wednesday matinee with an incomplete cast. Scheduling conflicts with the NFL playoffs don’t help, but hey, at least Ludvig Åberg brought some fireworks.
On the other side of the globe, Padraig Harrington declared his eternal love for golf at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. At 53, Harrington is convinced he can still win, and frankly, we kind of believe him. The guy seems unbothered by time and eager to show the kids how it’s done. Also in the UAE, Tom McKibbin and Conor Purcell are trying to carve their own paths while ducking the shadows of the PGA Tour. With a winning score expected to flirt with 20-under, it’s a party for high-ball hitters.
Meanwhile, over in the Bahamas, Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju threw down a jaw-dropping performance at the Great Abaco Classic, securing his first Korn Ferry Tour title with a tournament record. The man torched the field with a final-round 64, making us all wonder if his clubs are regulation. Oh, and he did this on his dad’s birthday, because apparently, being good at golf wasn’t enough for one day.
Back in the U.S., Tiger Woods’ TGL continues its uphill battle for relevance. Sure, Justin Thomas cashed in on a $100 bet, and Billy Horschel did a dance, but the excitement level was about as electric as a midweek round of mini-golf. Fans seem unimpressed with the league’s hybrid indoor-virtual format, and there are calls for Paige Spiranac to come in and save the day. Honestly, that might not be a bad idea.
On a lighter note, Streamsong Resort is building a fifth course, which means golf nerds now have even more reasons to plan vacations they can’t afford. Designed by David McLay Kidd, it’ll stretch over 7,300 yards of former mining terrain because nothing says “luxury golf” like reclaimed industrial land.
And for those still curious, the Ryder Cup is justifying its $750 ticket price with unlimited food and drinks. Who knew $750 was the magic number for “good deal” status? But hey, the tickets sold out faster than you can say “Bethpage Black,” so maybe they’re onto something.
Lastly, in the heartwarming file, Peter and Chloe Wilson will become the first father-daughter duo to compete in a pro event. Let’s hope Thanksgiving at their house is as wholesome as their tee times.
Today’s Top Golf News
Today’s Feature Golf Reads
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
Farmers Insurance Open - PGA Tour - Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA
The first round of the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego concluded with Ludvig Åberg taking the lead. The 25-year-old Swede shot an impressive 9-under 63 on the North Course, which is considered the easier of the two courses used for the tournament. Åberg's round included eight birdies and an eagle, putting him two shots ahead of Danny Walker and Hayden Springer, who both finished at 7-under.
Walker's performance was particularly noteworthy as he posted the best score on the more challenging South Course. The leaderboard also featured Lanto Griffin, Zac Blair, 48-year-old Zach Johnson, and 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter, all of whom played the North Course and finished one shot behind Walker and Springer.
Hideki Matsuyama, the highest-ranked player in the field, had a solid start with a 68 on the South Course. Defending champion Matthieu Pavon struggled, carding a 73 on the South Course.
The tournament, which began Wednesday and concludes on Saturday to avoid conflicting with the NFL's conference championship games, saw some unexpected developments. Will Zalatoris, who was set to make his return after a back injury, withdrew from the event shortly before his tee time.
Max Homa, the 2023 champion, had a challenging start to his round. He began with a triple-bogey on the first hole of the South Course after finding trouble in the greenside bunkers. Despite this setback, Homa managed to regroup and navigate the rest of his front nine.
The field at this year's Farmers Insurance Open is notably different from previous years, with several top-ranked players absent. However, the event still promises excitement as players compete across both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, with the final two rounds to be played exclusively on the South Course.
Farmers Insurance Open Stories
Farmers Insurance Open Videos
Ras al Khaimah Championship - DP World Tour - Al Hamra GC - Ras al Khaimah, UAE
The Ras al Khaimah Championship, part of the DP World Tour, is set to begin today at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras al Khaimah, UAE. The tournament marks the second event of the International Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai. Defending champion Thorbjørn Olesen headlines the field, joined by fellow Rolex Series winners Ryan Fox and Paul Waring.
Ras al Khaimah Championship Stories
The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club - Korn Ferry - The Abnaco Club on Winding Bay - Great Abaco, Bahamas
Canadian golfer Sudarshan Yellamaraju secured his first professional victory at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, the second event of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour. The 23-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, delivered an outstanding performance in the final round, carding a bogey-free 8-under 64 to win the tournament by a commanding five-stroke margin.
Yellamaraju's exceptional play throughout the tournament culminated in a record-breaking 72-hole total of 25-under 263, shattering the previous tournament record by seven shots. He entered the final round with a one-shot lead and quickly pulled away from the field, recording five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the front nine. He added three more birdies on the back nine to cement his victory.
Russell Knox and Kensei Hirata finished as joint runners-up, unable to match Yellamaraju's blistering pace. Hirata made a strong push in the final round, closing with back-to-back birdies, but it wasn't enough to catch the leader.
This win marks a significant milestone in Yellamaraju's career, as he becomes the third Canadian to win this event, following in the footsteps of Adam Svensson and Ben Silverman. The victory not only secures his first professional title but also positions him well in the race for a PGA Tour card, moving him to second place on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List.
Yellamaraju's journey to this triumph has been unconventional. Born in India, he immigrated to Canada at a young age and developed his golf skills largely through self-teaching and watching videos. His win coincided with his father's birthday, adding a special touch to an already memorable day. With this victory, Yellamaraju has taken a significant step towards realizing his PGA Tour dreams and established himself as a rising star in Canadian golf.
TGL Follow-up
TGL Critics Corner
TGL Follow-up 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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