Friday, May 24, 2024

PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

The golf world has been buzzing with news and drama this week, and it’s been a wild ride from Louisville to Fort Worth and beyond.

First up, the arrest of Scottie Scheffler has taken an unexpected twist. The Louisville police officer who arrested him, Detective Bryan Gillis, has quite a disciplinary record. It turns out Gillis has been suspended multiple times for various incidents, including driving an intoxicated civilian in his police vehicle and pursuing a vehicle without cause. To make matters worse, Gillis didn't activate his body-worn camera during Scheffler's arrest, leaving many questions unanswered. The footage released doesn’t clearly show why Scheffler was handcuffed, sparking outrage and disbelief among fans and fellow golfers alike. This scandal has put a serious spotlight on the Louisville Metro Police Department and raises the question: why is this guy still on the force?

Meanwhile, on social media, reactions to the video footage of the Scheffler incident at the PGA Championship 2024 suggest it's a non-issue for many. The footage contradicts initial reports of the officer being dragged to the ground. With Gillis's questionable history now in the public eye, the incident is being scrutinized even more closely.

Shifting gears to the fairways, the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth is off to an exhilarating start. Charley Hoffman leads after an impressive 5-under 65 in the first round, navigating the course’s challenging conditions with aplomb. Close behind are heavyweights like Tony Finau and Brian Harman, both posting solid performances. However, Scottie Scheffler, dealing with the fallout from his legal troubles, struggled with a 2-over 72, ending his streak of consecutive rounds at par or better. With the course’s tricky renovations and windy conditions, the players are finding it tough to break par, but the competition remains fierce as they head into the second round.

Over in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is underway with Richard Green and Richard Bland sharing the lead after shooting 7-under 64s. This senior major is showcasing some fantastic golf, with notable performances from Mike Weir, Steve Stricker, and K.J. Choi. Bland, making his senior major debut, is taking full advantage of his one-time exemption and aiming for a memorable win.

Across the pond, the Soudal Open in Antwerp, Belgium, saw an extraordinary first round with Sam Jones achieving his first career albatross. This incredible feat propelled the rookie to a two-shot lead with a 9-under 62. The tournament is heating up with strong contenders like Andrew Wilson and Matthew Jordan nipping at his heels. Thomas Pieters, making his return to the DP World Tour after joining LIV Golf, is also drawing attention as he aims to make a strong comeback in front of his home crowd.

On the Korn Ferry Tour, the Visit Knoxville Open kicked off at the historic Holston Hills Country Club. Pontus Nyholm leads after shooting a 7-under 63, though play was suspended due to weather. The competition is tight, and with defending champion Richard Hoey back to defend his title, it promises to be an exciting event.

Lastly, Scottie Scheffler is set to play at the Memorial Tournament despite his upcoming arraignment on June 3. His legal battles haven’t deterred him from competing, showing his determination to stay focused on his game. And in a fun twist at the Charles Schwab Challenge, eight players have turned their rented accommodations into a competitive battleground, with the losing team paying the rent for the winners' house. It’s a light-hearted distraction amid all the serious competition and legal drama.

From thrilling tournaments to unexpected legal sagas, the golf world is certainly not lacking excitement this week. Stay tuned as these stories continue to unfold today!

[ Today’s Top Stories ] 

• Records: LMPD officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler has had multiple suspensions - wlky.com

• Scottie Scheffler Arrest: Misconduct Claims Pile Up Against Arresting Officer as Legal Drama Takes Thrilling Twist - essentiallysports.com

• Scottie Scheffler’s arresting officer has long list of previous misconduct records - sportskeeda.com

Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Charles Schwab Challenge - Fort Worth

The 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, has seen an exciting start with several top players delivering impressive performances. The tournament, which features a par-70 course stretching 7,289 yards, boasts a substantial purse of $9.1 million, with the winner set to take home $1.638 million and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Charley Hoffman leads the Charles Schwab Challenge after Round 1 with a 5-under 65, followed closely by Brian Harman, Davis Riley, S.H Kim, Martin Laird and and Tony Finau. The challenging conditions and renovated Colonial Country Club made scoring difficult, with only 45 players breaking par out of a 132-man field. Scottie Scheffler struggled with a 2-over 72, breaking his streak of consecutive rounds at par or better. The course renovations and windy conditions posed challenges for the players, but Hoffman managed to navigate them well with a strong round.

Following closely behind, Robby Shelton, Hayden Buckley, Callum Tarren, and Pierceson Coody are tied for seventh place, each with a score of 3-under 67. These players are just two strokes off the lead, keeping the competition fierce as the tournament progresses.

The competition remains open, with many top players still in contention as they head into the second round.

• Charles Schwab Challenge 2024 Friday second round tee times, how to watch

• Charles Schwab Challenge Betting Promos & Bonuses | Grab $6150 from Top Golf Betting Sites

• What is the projected cut line at 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge?

• 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge Friday tee times: Round 2 groupings

• Scottie Scheffler slumps to slow start at Charles Schwab Challenge - golfmagic.com

• Scottie Scheffler In Danger Of Missing The Cut After Poor First Round At Charles Schwab Challenge - thespun.com

• Scottie Scheffler Shoots Second Over-Par Round of Year at Charles Schwab Challenge - si.com

• Scottie Scheffler shoots uncharacteristically poor first round at Colonial - dallasnews.com

• Scottie Scheffler makes first triple bogey in 9 months, shoots another round over par - golfdigest.com

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, Benton Harbor, MI

Thursday at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, held at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the competition saw a mix of strong performances and notable moments. The tournament, which is the second senior major championship of the 2024 season, features a field of 156 players, with the top 70 scores and ties making the cut for the 72-hole event.

The first round saw impressive performances, with Richard Green and Richard Bland both shooting a 7-under 64 to share the lead. They were followed closely by a group of players tied at 5-under, including Mike Weir, Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi, Jeff Schmid, and Scott Dunlap, all of whom shot 66. Other notable scores included Brian Gay and Darren Clarke, who both finished at 4-under 67.

The leaderboard also featured some struggles, with players like Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, and José María Olazábal finishing at 3-over 74. The tournament's purse is $3,500,000, with the winner set to take home $630,000. The lowest 18-hole score recorded at the tournament is 62, a record that has been achieved twice, most recently by Rocco Mediate in 2016.

Soudal Open, Antwerp Belgium - DP World Tour

Thursday at the Soudal Open in Antwerp, Belgium, the DP World Tour witnessed an eventful day of golf at the Rinkven International Golf Club. The tournament, which marks the beginning of the European Swing on the Race to Dubai, saw some remarkable performances and significant moments.

One of the standout highlights was Sam Jones, a newcomer on the DP World Tour, who achieved the first albatross of his career on the par-five 17th hole. This extraordinary feat helped him secure a two-stroke lead with a stunning nine-under 62. Jones, who had missed the cut in four out of his last five tournaments, began his round with three birdies and a bogey on the front nine and continued his impressive play on the back nine, adding four more birdies before the albatross. His performance placed him ahead of a group of five players, including English duo Andrew Wilson and Matthew Jordan, who were tied for second at two-under, along with Nacho Elvira, Romain Langasque, and Niklas Norgaard.

The leaderboard saw significant movement with various players making notable strides. For instance, Sam Bairstow from England was among the top performers, finishing his round at five-under. Other notable players included David Micheluzzi from Australia and Shubhankar Sharma from India, who were also in contention with strong performances.

The tournament also featured a large Belgian contingent, with former Ryder Cup winner Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters leading the charge. Pieters, who had dropped to 468 in the Official World Golf Rankings due to his defection to the LIV Golf Tour, made his first appearance on the DP World Tour since the 2023 Open Championship.

• Albatross sends Sam Jones flying to summit in Belgium - europeantour.com

• Kiwi golfer records albatross to take stunning first round lead - nzherald.com

Visit Knoxville Open - Korn Ferry Tour

Thursday at the Visit Knoxville Open, part of the Korn Ferry Tour, the tournament commenced at the historic Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. The event is a significant stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, offering a total prize money of $1,000,000. The course, known for its challenging Par 70 layout, has a rich history and is consistently ranked among the top 100 classical golf courses in the United States.

The first round of the tournament saw competitive play as golfers vied for top positions on the leaderboard. The weather was favorable, with temperatures around 69°F, providing ideal conditions for the players. The defending champion, Richard Hoey, returned to defend his title, adding to the excitement of the event.

Among the notable performances, Duke men's golfer Jimmy Zheng, who qualified for the tournament by shooting a 5-under 65 in the open qualifying at Willow Creek, began his play early in the morning. Zheng's performance in the qualifier was impressive, featuring a bogey-free back-nine and a total of six under-par holes. He was joined by other qualifiers such as Caleb Hicks, who led the qualifying round with a score of 64, and Scott Stevens, who also shot 65.

The leaderboard saw a mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talents, all aiming to secure their PGA TOUR cards through strong performances in this and other Korn Ferry Tour events.

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