Planet Golf News for Tuesday, February 18, 2025

The Bay Golf Club stays undefeated, beats Boston Common Golf in TGL tripleheader finale | Tommy Fleetwood hit the wildest (unofficial) shot in TGL history

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

Good Morning,

Another day, another wild ride in the world of golf, where dramatic comebacks, heartbreaking near-misses, and multi-million-dollar purses keep things entertaining. The highlight of the week? Atlanta Drive Golf Club pulling off an absurd comeback against Los Angeles Golf Club, proving once again that golf can, in fact, be exciting. Down 5-2 with three holes left, Atlanta clawed its way back thanks to Justin Thomas, who decided to put on a short-game clinic, and Patrick Cantlay, who sealed the win in overtime with a clutch chip shot. Despite the loss, L.A. still sits atop the SoFi Cup standings, but Atlanta has firmly planted itself in the second spot, proving that comebacks aren’t just for movies.

But wait, Atlanta’s heroics didn’t last long. In their next match, they ran into The Bay Golf Club, a team that apparently doesn’t lose. Led by Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg, and Min Woo Lee (making his debut), The Bay took an early lead, weathered Atlanta’s best punches, and shut the door with another clutch moment from Clark on the 13th hole. Then, to round out their perfect day, The Bay edged out Boston Common Golf in a tight 5-4 win, with Clark draining a 10-foot eagle putt to end things in style. At 3-0, The Bay is now officially that team, sitting comfortably at the top of the standings while Rory McIlroy and his Boston squad continue to struggle, still winless and sitting at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, real-life, non-virtual golf is gearing up for some big tournaments. The Mexico Open at VidantaWorld is coming up, featuring a $7 million purse and defending champion Jake Knapp looking to go back-to-back. Notable names like Akshay Bhatia, Emiliano Grillo, and the Højgaard twins will also be in the field. Over on the LPGA side, the Honda LPGA Thailand is set to kick off, boasting a field of 72 players, including defending champ Patty Tavatanakit and other top contenders like Jeeno Thitikul and Lilia Vu. With no cut, it’s an all-out battle for the $1.7 million purse. And across the globe, the DP World Tour heads to Nairobi for the Magical Kenya Open, where defending champ Darius van Driel will try to hold off a hungry field on the tricky Muthaiga Golf Club course.

In other golf chaos, former LIV Golf player Eugenio Chacarra is making his DP World Tour return at the Kenya Open, seemingly not thrilled about how things panned out with LIV, particularly in the world ranking points department. Speaking of LIV, the 2025 money list is out, and—surprise!—Adrian Meronk is leading after a big win in Saudi Arabia, with Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm also making bank. Oh, and LIV CEO Scott O’Neil is still out here trying to convince everyone that LIV Golf has the best players in the world, a claim that continues to receive skeptical side-eyes from the golf world.

On the equipment front, Ludvig Åberg made an eleventh-hour driver swap before winning the Genesis Invitational, proving once again that pros can tinker with their gear mid-tournament and still win, while the rest of us struggle with a three-foot putt despite playing the same ball for five years. And if you’re looking for future golf stars, keep an eye on Charlie Woods and Kai Trump, who are set to play in the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley next month. Tiger’s son and Donald Trump’s granddaughter in the same event? Golf Twitter is going to have a field day.

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler isn’t feeling great about his game, expressing frustration about his recent performances. Given that this is a guy who’s still one of the best players in the world, we can all collectively roll our eyes and remind him that most of us are just trying to break 90.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more golf drama, more clutch putts, and probably another round of LIV vs. PGA Tour debates.

Today’s Top Golf News 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this week

TGL results, takeaways: Bay Golf Club remains undefeated, Rory McIlroy falls short again, in-person review

TGL - PGA Tour - SoFi Stadium - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

TGL tripleheader was held on Presidents Day (yesterday) at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, here are the results for all three matches:

Match 1: Atlanta Drive GC vs Los Angeles Golf Club

Winner: Atlanta Drive GC (6-5 in overtime)

Atlanta Drive GC staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 5-2 deficit with three holes left. Justin Thomas chipped in on the final hole to force overtime, where Patrick Cantlay secured the victory by landing his shot within five feet of the pin in a closest-to-the-pin challenge.

Match 2: Atlanta Drive GC vs The Bay Golf Club

Winner: The Bay Golf Club (6-5)

The Bay Golf Club, featuring Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg, and debutant Min Woo Lee, took an early 3-0 lead. Despite a strong comeback from Atlanta, Clark clinched the victory on the 13th hole, giving The Bay their second win of the season.

Match 3: The Bay Golf Club vs Boston Common Golf

Winner: The Bay Golf Club (5-4)

In the final match of the day, The Bay Golf Club continued their winning streak. With the match tied on the 15th and final hole, Wyndham Clark sank a 10-foot eagle putt to secure a 5-4 victory over Boston Common Golf, featuring Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Hideki Matsuyama.

This tripleheader solidified The Bay Golf Club's position as the only undefeated team in the league, improving their record to 3-0 and moving them to the top of the SoFi Cup Standings with six points.

2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld preview: Betting odds and stats

Mexico Open at VidantaWorld - PGA Tour - Vidanta Vallerta - Nuevo Vallerta, Mexico

The Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, a PGA Tour event, is set to take place from February 20-23, 2025, at the Vidanta Vallarta golf course in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. This marks the fourth consecutive year the tournament has been part of the PGA Tour's FedExCup regular season. The event will feature a field of 132 professional golfers competing for a purse of $7 million, with $1.26 million awarded to the winner.

Defending champion Jake Knapp will return to attempt a back-to-back victory, while other notable players in the field include Akshay Bhatia, Emiliano Grillo, and the Højgaard twins, Rasmus and Nicolai.

The tournament will be played on the Greg Norman-designed Vidanta Vallarta course, which measures 7,287 yards and features 18 holes with a par of 73. The Mexico Open at VidantaWorld has become an important platform for Latin American golfers, with 16 Mexican players having participated since its inception.

Field Breakdown: 2025 Honda LPGA Thailand

Honda LPGA Thailand - LPGA - Slam Country Club - Chon Buri, Thailand

The Honda LPGA Thailand, a prestigious event on the LPGA Tour, is set to take place from February 20-23, 2025, at the Siam Country Club's Old Course in Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand. This 18th edition of the tournament will feature a field of 72 top female golfers competing for a prize purse of $1.7 million, with no cut. The event has become a cornerstone of women's golf in Asia since its inception in 2006, attracting global stars and providing opportunities for local talent to shine.

The tournament will be played on the challenging Old Course, known for its undulating fairways, complex greens, and strategic bunkering. As defending champion, Patty Tavatanakit will return to defend her title, joined by other notable players such as Jeeno Thitikul, Lilia Vu, and several major champions.

Magical Kenya Open - DP World Tour - Muthaiga GC - Nairobi, Kenya

The Magical Kenya Open, part of the DP World Tour, is set to take place from February 20-23, 2025, at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, Kenya. This event marks the 10th tournament of the season and offers a prize purse of $2.5 million. Defending champion Darius van Driel from the Netherlands will be looking to retain his title on the challenging 7,228-yard, par-71 course.

Muthaiga GC, which has hosted the Kenya Open 43 times since 1967, features fast greens and numerous water hazards, demanding accurate iron play and good course management from competitors. The tournament has a rich history, with past winners including major champions like Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and Trevor Immelman. As part of the DP World Tour's global schedule, the Magical Kenya Open continues to showcase the tour's international reach and provides an opportunity for players to earn valuable points in the Race to Dubai standings.

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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