Planet Golf News for Friday, March 29, 2024

Scottie Scheffler shoots a 5-under 65, one shot behind Taylor Moore and Wilson Furr in the Texas Children's Houston Open. Scheffler extends his streak of consecutive rounds under par to 28 and aims for a third straight PGA TOUR victory. Moore leads with a 64, while Furr matches him with an eagle and birdies to finish at 6-under. The tournament sees the first pairing of twin pros, Parker and Pierceson Coody.

Scottie Scheffler sets a new PGA Tour record for most consecutive rounds under par with 28, surpassing Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Despite a minor neck injury, Scheffler continues to dominate golf courses, posting an opening round 5-under 65 at the Texas Children's Houston Open. He remains a strong contender for the tournament, displaying a Tiger-esque performance.

Wyndham Clark suffered a back injury during the Houston Open, which affected his performance on the back nine. Despite a strong start, Clark struggled in the later holes, making three bogeys and finishing with an even par 70. He expressed feeling the impact of his back throughout the round but remained hopeful for improvement in the next round.

Twin PGA TOUR pros, Pierceson and Parker Coody, were grouped together for the first two rounds of the Texas Children's Houston Open, becoming the first twin professionals to compete in the same group on the PGA TOUR. Pierceson Coody shot a 1-under 69, outscoring his twin brother by one stroke. The Coody twins earned their PGA TOUR cards through the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List and are aiming to secure their place at the highest level of the game.

The 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open continues with the second round at Memorial Park in Houston. Scottie Scheffler, aiming for his third straight win, will tee off at 1:53 p.m. ET alongside Peter Malnati and Will Zalatoris.

Tyler Duncan has withdrawn from the Texas Children's Houston Open due to a back injury. He will be replaced by Cody Gribble. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win the tournament, with other strong contenders including Tony Finau, Wyndham Clark, and Will Zalatoris.

Gabi Ruffels, after missing a playoff by a stroke, posted her career-low round of 8-under 64 at the inaugural Ford Championship on the LPGA. Ruffels had a bogey-free round with nine birdies, tying for the lead in the first round. She rebounded nicely from her lone bogey and maintained momentum throughout the round.

Nelly Korda is three shots back in the Ford Championship, aiming to win her third straight start and become the first LPGA Tour player to do so in eight years. Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the first round, while Pajaree Anannarukan leads with a bogey-free, 9-under 63. Korda, the world's No. 1 player, opened with four birdies and is in contention to continue her winning streak.

The 2024 Masters field includes top players like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Tiger Woods. The tournament will feature a prize pool of $18 million and players will compete for the iconic green jacket. Rahm will defend his title, while Scheffler aims to continue his successful streak. Woods, who has been playing sporadically due to a leg injury, is expected to participate. The tournament starts on April 11 at Augusta National Golf Club.

Matteo Manassero, Joost Luiten, and Keita Nakajima are tied for the lead after day one of the Hero Indian Open. Manassero, coming off a recent victory, shot a bogey-free 65 to join Luiten and Nakajima at the top of the leaderboard. Sam Bairstow, Jordan Smith, and Romain Langasque are one shot behind the leaders. Luiten, a specialist at DLF G&CC, set the morning target with a strong round, while Nakajima made a strong comeback after a shaky start.

The 8th hole at the Hero Indian Open during the DP World Tour was extremely challenging, resulting in 14 double bogeys or worse. Players struggled with the hole, with some hitting multiple shots into the water and others recording high scores. The hole proved to be one of the toughest in DP World Tour history.

Sergio Garcia, despite defecting to LIV Golf, still hopes to play in the Ryder Cup and is looking for a deal between PGAT and PIF to allow LIV members to participate. Garcia has a strong record in the Ryder Cup and is hopeful for a resolution that would give them the possibility to be part of it again. Luke Donald will retain his captaincy at Bethpage for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Chandler Parsons tries to psych out Travis Kelce on the golf course by playing Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood," but it backfires as Kelce makes a good shot and celebrates with a shoulder bump and guitar playing.

Dustin Johnson discusses his upcoming tournaments, including LIV Golf Miami and the Masters. He talks about his form, playing on challenging courses, his brother as his caddie, and his thoughts on other players and events. Johnson is excited for the upcoming tournaments and is looking forward to competing.

Dustin Johnson is excited about this year's Masters Champions Dinner menu curated by Jon Rahm. While some items may be unfamiliar, Johnson is open to trying new things and is confident that the meal will be fantastic, particularly the ham which he enjoyed in Spain.

Dustin Johnson reflects on his injury that kept him out of the 2017 Masters and expresses his desire to win more Green Jackets. He discusses his performance in majors in 2023 and his efforts to improve his game. Johnson also mentions his previous victory at Augusta National and his expectations for the upcoming Masters tournament.

Paige Spiranac criticizes Chris DiMarco for complaining about PGA Tour prize money, highlighting the stark difference in payouts between the Champions Tour and LIV Golf events. DiMarco's comments sparked a response from Spiranac, who called out professional golfers for complaining about money. The impending merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is seen as a significant development in professional golf.

Paige Spiranac reflects on her golf career, admitting to making mistakes and not being mentally tough enough to handle the pressure of professional golf. She emphasizes the importance of discussing the challenges and lifestyle of a tour when encouraging junior players to pursue golf professionally.

The Big Max Traveler is a lightweight and well-proportioned travel cover that offers ample protection for golf clubs. It has spacious pockets, a unique padding system at the top, and integrated straps for securing the bag. However, the quality of materials may be a concern for frequent travelers. Overall, it is an excellent value option for those who travel with their clubs once or twice a year.

Chris DiMarco's comments about the amount of money players make on the PGA Tour Champions have sparked backlash from golf fans. DiMarco called the purses on the senior circuit a "joke" and expressed a desire for LIV to buy the Champions Tour. Fans criticized DiMarco's stance, pointing out the lower viewership and ad revenue for the Champions Tour. Golf influencer Paige Spiranac also criticized DiMarco, highlighting the growing issue of golfers and money.

PGA Tour pro Omar Uresti, with nearly 400 starts and 14 top-10 finishes, had a cancerous lump removed but is back swinging. After noticing a bump hindering his swing, Uresti went to the dermatologist and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. He had the lump removed and is now back playing, hoping to improve his game and add to his career earnings.

In this podcast, Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton discusses his victory at the Valspar Collegiate and his experience flying on Brooks Koepka's private jet. The podcast also covers the wild finish at the Floridian and other golf results from the week.

Scottie Scheffler's college teammate, Beau Hossler, recalls a near-fight incident during their time at Texas. The incident occurred when they played a tournament in Lubbock and Hossler hit the wrong ball, causing Scheffler to lose the hole. Tempers flared, but they eventually reconciled and remain good friends. The story highlights their competitive nature and the pressure of collegiate golf.

Fairgame Golf is launching its new tournament management platform, Fairgame Pro, designed to simplify and enhance the administrative side of golf events. The platform offers features such as automatic player registration and an intuitive user interface, aiming to provide a streamlined experience for golfers. The company aims to redefine the integration of golf and technology, offering design excellence, user experience, and cutting-edge technology.

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.