Planet Golf News for Friday, April 5, 2024

Akshay Bhatia leads the Valero Texas Open by three shots after opening with a 63. Rory McIlroy is six shots behind. Bhatia's strong performance puts him in contention for a potential trip to the Masters.

Rory McIlroy shoots a steady 3-under 69 in the opening round of the Valero Texas Open, showcasing some theatrical moments around the cup. Despite narrowly missing some birdie putts and chips, McIlroy is satisfied with his performance and sits within the top 10 on the leaderboard. He looks forward to the Masters Tournament next week and aims to secure his 25th PGA TOUR title at TPC San Antonio.

Akshay Bhatia takes the lead with an impressive 63 in the first round of the Valero Texas Open. Corey Conners aims to join Arnold Palmer and Justin Leonard as the only players to win the tournament three times. Max Homa finishes strong with a birdie on the last four holes, while Justin Lower holds on for an impressive 66. The Valero Texas Open attracts top players as a preparation event for the Masters.

During the opening round of the Valero Texas Open, Jordan Spieth had an eventful round that included a double bogey, a hole-in-one, and several birdies and bogeys. Despite feeling that he is playing better than his scores reflect, Spieth finished the round at 2 over par and expressed frustration with his results.

Max Homa played well at the Valero Texas Open, shooting a 4-under 68. He revealed that playing in this tournament is part of his preparation for the Masters, as he has decided to play all the weeks before the majors. Homa hopes that this change in his preparation will lead to better results at Augusta National.

Patrick Rodgers has withdrawn from the Valero Texas Open after completing his first round due to personal reasons. He cited "personal reasons" for his withdrawal, although no further details were provided. Rodgers played the first round with a score of 6-over 78. The tournament is being led by Justin Lower, who shot a score of 6 under 66 on his 35th birthday.

Rory McIlroy responds to allegations of cheating in the Texas Open, confirming that the wind caused a delay in his ball dropping within the 10-second rule. McIlroy's birdie-four on the 8th hole was deemed to have been played within the rules. Akshay Bhatia takes the lead with a flawless 9-under 63 in the first round.

Golf Central sifts through Jordan Spieth's "roller-coaster" day at Round 1 of the 2024 Valero Texas Open, where he captured a hole-in-one amid an uneven day at TPC San Antonio.

Round 2 of the Valero Texas Open features top golfers like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Askhay Bhatia leads the field with a 9-under 63, followed by Brendon Todd and Justin Lower.

Rose Zhang's two-stroke lead turned into a four-way tie for first place due to strong winds at the LPGA Tour's T-Mobile Match Play. Zhang, along with Sei Young Kim, Carlota Ciganda, and Angel Yin, finished the second round at 4-under 140. The afternoon players struggled with the wind, resulting in no one breaking par. The projected cut line rose to 9 over, the highest on the LPGA Tour since the 2020 Women's British Open.

Angel Yin is showing little rust in her return to the LPGA Tour at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards. After an even-par 72 in the first round, Yin carded a 4-under 68 in the second round, giving her a chance to qualify for the match-play portion of the tournament. Despite an ankle injury last year, Yin feels like she is hitting the ball better than before and is determined to secure a spot in the top eight to advance to single-elimination match play.

Lottie Woad, a 20-year-old golfer from England, leads the Augusta National Women's Amateur after shooting a one-under 71 in the second round. Despite a rocky start, Woad made four birdies in the last 10 holes to secure a two-shot lead. Ingrid Lindblad, the top-ranked amateur, is four shots behind. The cut was made by 35 players, including some well-known names in women's amateur golf. Anna Davis and Rachel Heck, both previous participants in the event, missed the cut by one shot.

Anna Davis was penalized for slow play during the second round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, resulting in a missed cut by one shot. This is not the first time Davis has been involved in a rules controversy at Champions Retreat. Lottie Woad leads the tournament after 36 holes.

Seventeen-year-old Eila Galitsky switched to a mallet putter after seeing Scottie Scheffler's success. The new putter has given her confidence on the greens, and combined with her strong driving, she is now a contender at the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

Rachel Heck, a 22-year-old Stanford senior, reflects on her final round at the Augusta National Women's Amateur and her decision to remain an amateur golfer after graduation. Despite missing the cut, Heck expresses gratitude for her journey and the support of her father, who has been her caddie since she was 3 years old. She plans to pursue an internship in private equity and serve as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

The 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur saw several notable players miss the cut, including the defending champion Anna Davis, Latanna Stone, Megan Schofill, Rachel Heck, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Zoe Campos, Andrea Lignell, Helen Briem, Kiara Romero, Yana Wilson, and Yuna Araki. Despite their talent and previous successes, these players fell short in this year's tournament.

The second round of the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur saw higher scores due to windy conditions. Amanda Sambach leads the group of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf alumni, currently in fourth place at 2-under overall. Bailey Shoemaker, Casey Weidenfeld, and Megha Ganne are also performing well, all in the top 15.

Laney Frye narrowly advances to Augusta National after hitting a water ball on the last hole. Despite a mishap with a sprinkler head, Frye managed to secure a spot in the final round, thanks to a 4-footer for bogey. She credits her instructor, Ted Scott, for instilling confidence and adopting a "Why not me?" mentality. Although she is eight shots behind the leader, Frye remains optimistic about her chances.

Megan Schofill, an Auburn graduate student and top amateur golfer, is committing to her boyfriend, C.J. Easley, as her caddie as she prepares to turn pro. Schofill's last appearance in the Augusta National Women's Amateur ended with her missing the cut, but she is looking forward to a career in professional golf. The couple's unique dynamic of being both golf partners and romantic partners has proven successful, and they are ready to take on the challenges of the professional golf world together.

The final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur will take place on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club. Thirty-five players have made the cut and tee times have been announced. The coverage will be aired on NBC, with "Live From" segments on Golf Channel. For more information on tee times and how to watch, visit the provided links.

As the Masters 2024 approaches, this article discusses the players who need a victory at the Valero Texas Open to earn a last-minute invite to Augusta National. The field currently stands at 88 players, and the final remaining major invite will go to the winner of the PGA Tour event at TPC San Antonio. Notable players like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy are mentioned, along with others who are still trying to qualify for the Masters.

Jon Rahm's victory at the Masters relieved him of a long-held worry that he was jinxed. As a Masters champion, Rahm now receives numerous autograph requests and recognizes the significance of the tournament. However, there is a tradition that only champions can sign inside the Augusta National logo, making their autographs more valuable. Rahm mistakenly signed inside the logo before winning, believing he was jinxed until his victory in 2023. Now he can sign flags from his triumph, but he still acknowledges the superstition.

During a press conference, Phil Mickelson shared insider knowledge about how Augusta National plays differently for left-handers. He highlighted subtle nuances and examples, such as the greenside bunker shot on the 10th hole being more penalizing for lefties. On the other hand, lefties have an advantage on the 12th hole. Mickelson's insights provide fascinating insights into Augusta National's design.

Augusta National has made three sneaky changes for the upcoming Masters tournament, including alterations to the second, fourth, and sixth greens. Rory McIlroy shared the details, mentioning new hole locations and adjustments to the greens. Analysts and former players praised the club for maintaining the challenge while keeping it fair. McIlroy also discussed the importance of discipline and patience when playing at Augusta.

Mito Pereira responds to Justin Thomas' comment about his collapse at the 2022 PGA Championship, expressing his motivation to get revenge and beat him in the future. Pereira's bid for his maiden Major title was derailed by a costly double-bogey, while Thomas went on to win the championship. Pereira's response comes ahead of LIV Golf's upcoming event in Miami.

Rory McIlroy acknowledges the decline in PGA Tour viewership and suggests that a solution involving LIV Golf is needed. Several top-tier golfers have left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, causing disruption within the sport. McIlroy expresses concern about the impact on the sport and its viewership, highlighting the need for a correction. The merger between PGA and LIV has been slow, and the future of the sport remains uncertain.s

Golf fans react to Anthony Kim's surprising claims about being unaware of Brooks Koepka's back-to-back Majors and Tiger Woods' Masters win in 2019. Some fans doubted the truth of Kim's statements, while others expressed disapproval. Kim's interview with David Feherty revealed his struggles with bad influences and his return to golf. A documentary about Kim's life and career is also in the works.

Tiger Woods' longtime friend, Notah Begay III, has provided a concerning update on Woods' physical condition ahead of the 2024 Masters. Woods is facing mobility issues in his left ankle and low-back challenges, which may affect his performance in the tournament. Despite trying to recover and formulate a strategy, it remains uncertain if Woods will be able to walk all 72 holes and successfully recover between rounds.

Jon Rahm and Bubba Watson express confidence in LIV Golf players winning the 2024 Masters. They mention the presence of major champions in the league and believe that one of them can win the tournament. The 2024 Masters will feature players from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf competing for the green jacket.

Brandel Chamblee shares a hilarious story from his youth as a high school golfer, where he got hustled by an elderly man in a high-stakes match. Despite Chamblee's impressive skills, the man used only three clubs and still managed to beat him, teaching him a valuable lesson about always being prepared and not underestimating opponents.

Anthony Kim, a former professional golfer, made a comeback after a 12-year retirement and spoke openly about his past struggles and his newfound perspective as a father. He emphasized that his self-worth is no longer tied to his performance on the golf course and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support his daughter. Kim hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges with his upcoming documentary and aims to improve his performance on the leaderboard to amplify his voice.

Tommy Fleetwood's presence at a LIV Golf tournament has sparked speculation about his future. While Fleetwood clarified that his goal was only to observe the event and catch up with friends, fans had mixed reactions. Some criticized the relaxed atmosphere of LIV Golf, while others questioned Fleetwood's intentions. The controversy surrounding Fleetwood's visit has left fans wondering if he will accept an offer from LIV.

At the Masters Tournament, professionals who miss the 36-hole cut are paid $10,000, while amateurs are not eligible for payment. Similarly, players who miss the cut at the PGA Championship receive $4,000 each, those at the US Open earn $10,000, and those at the British Open Championship are paid on a sliding scale. However, most PGA Tour events do not pay players who miss the cut, except for the majors.

Puma Golf and Quiet Golf have collaborated to introduce a contemporary apparel collection for men and women, inspired by the colors of golf courses. The collection includes a range of clothing items and accessories, featuring earthy tones and the Puma Golf x Quiet Golf logo.

The G/FORE Gallivan2r Golf Shoes are a modern take on classic golf shoes, offering outstanding comfort and performance. The waterproof synthetic upper, 3D molded external heel cup, and Eva midsole with auxetic sidewall provide protection, support, and long-lasting comfort. The removable textured insole adds a massage-like feel, while the amplified sole with rubber spikes delivers stability and traction. Despite the slightly enlarged outsole, these shoes are highly recommended for their overall looks, comfort, and performance.

Discover the best golf gear and gadgets in 2024 to level up your game. From golf bags like the Stitch SL2 Colorblock Golf Bag and Ghost Golf Anyday Ronin Golf Bag, to golf gloves like the Asher Golf 'Classic' Glove and G/Fore Golf Glove, and golf balls like the Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls and TaylorMade Distance+ Golf Balls, this article provides recommendations for upgrading your golf equipment. Additionally, it highlights golf gadgets such as the TOHIFER Golf Practice Net, SKLZ Accelerator Pro putting mat, Garmin Approach S62 GPS Smartwatch, Bushnell Golf Launch Pro Simulator, and Callaway 300 Pro Slope Laser Rangefinder to enhance your game further.

The Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals will take place at Augusta National Golf Club, featuring a field of 80 competitors in four age groups. The finalists will be scored based on a 30-point system, and the event will be televised live on Golf Channel.

The U.S. Am Tour provides a competitive outlet for everyday golfers, including retired professional athletes like Miguel Cotto and Kyle Lohse. With 47 local tours, 700 tournaments, and over 9,000 members, the tour offers different flights based on handicaps and allows players to compete at top golf venues. The tour also serves as a stepping stone for young players aspiring to turn professional.

A golfer in Savannah granted a mulligan to an opponent who then made a hole-in-one on the second shot. The golfer celebrated as if it were a legitimate hole-in-one, and the pro shop even recognized it as such, offering free drinks to everyone at the club. The friend of the golfer now wonders if he should have said something at the time, and if it's too late to rectify the situation. The Etiquetteist suggests that the friend still has a chance to make things right by informing the pro shop of the truth.

Click to see the entire PGA Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.

Click to see the entire LIV Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.

Click to see the entire LPGA Tour Schedule for 2024 including the Previous winners and Purse.