Planet Golf News for Friday, September 20, 2024

Nelly Korda Cards Opening 67 on Day One at TPC River’s Bend | A $50 million purse is up for grabs at this week's 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship | Rory McIlroy overcomes flying clubhead to sit two off lead at BMW PGA Championship

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Friday, September 20, 2024

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Lexi Thompson acknowledges the crowd as she begins her round on the 10th tee during the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

The golf world is buzzing with action this week, and all eyes are on Ashleigh Buhai, who currently leads the Kroger Queen City Championship. Buhai posted an impressive 7-under 65 to top the leaderboard, but she’s got fierce competition right behind her. Nelly Korda, who seems to have shrugged off any Solheim Cup fatigue, delivered a bogey-free 67 to put herself just two shots back. Korda’s steady performance is joined by the likes of Leona Maguire and Lydia Ko, both of whom shot 67 as well. Ko, fresh off a break after her British Open win, looks sharp and ready to contend, while Maguire seems to have found her form again after a challenging few months. The course, a new venue at TPC River’s Bend, has posed challenges with its tricky greens and water hazards, but players are adapting and making moves.

Meanwhile, in the PGA world, there’s been an important update for LIV golfers. The PGA of America has confirmed that players from the LIV circuit are still eligible for major events like the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, although they face uphill battles when it comes to gathering qualifying points due to LIV events not counting. This means players like Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau could still make their way into these prestigious tournaments through captain’s picks or if they rack up points elsewhere.

On the LIV front, Brandel Chamblee didn’t hold back in his latest critique, taking shots at LIV Golf’s low TV ratings. He quipped that the league is like being in the “witness protection program of sports viewership,” highlighting the stark contrast between the high investment in LIV and its struggle to gain traction compared to the established PGA Tour. It’s a tough pill to swallow for LIV, especially with their upcoming $50 million Team Championship event in Dallas, where top teams will battle it out in a mix of singles and foursomes for a huge payday.

Speaking of tournaments, the BMW PGA Championship is well underway across the pond at Wentworth Golf Club, where England’s Matthew Baldwin surprised everyone with a flawless 7-under 65 to take the lead. Rory McIlroy, always a fan favorite, had a wild opening round. Despite losing the head of his 9-iron mid-swing (yes, you read that right!), he still managed to card a birdie on that hole and sits just two shots back of the leader.

Meanwhile, the Korn Ferry Tour is heating up at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, where five players share the lead after shooting 66s. With so much at stake—like securing PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season—the competition is fierce, and these guys are leaving it all out on the course in Columbus, Ohio.

Looking ahead, golf fans are gearing up for the Presidents Cup, set to take place next week in Montreal. U.S. Team Captain Jim Furyk has made it clear that he’s all in, and his passion for winning is palpable. The U.S. team is heavily favored, and with names like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele leading the charge, it’s going to be a thrilling contest.

From high-stakes team competitions to fierce individual battles, this week has it all in the world of golf. Whether you’re keeping tabs on Buhai’s lead in Cincinnati or watching the drama unfold at the BMW Championship, there’s no shortage of excitement. Stay tuned for more leaderboard shifts and thrilling moments as the weekend unfolds!

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this week

Kroger Queen City Championship - LPGA - TPC River’s Bend - Maineville, OH

The Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G kicked off Thursday at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. This LPGA Tour event features a strong field of 144 of the world's best female golfers competing for a $1.75 million purse.

After the first round, Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa took the solo lead with an impressive 7-under 65. Buhai played a nearly flawless round, recovering from her only bogey with a birdie on the 18th hole to secure the top spot on the leaderboard.

Close behind Buhai are Jeeno Thitikul and Yan Liu, who both shot 6-under 66 to tie for second place. Thitikul, a 21-year-old rising star, had a particularly strong back nine, shooting 4-under to climb up the leaderboard.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda also had a solid start, firing a bogey-free 5-under 67 to tie for third place. Korda, making her Cincinnati debut, found all 14 fairways and hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, showcasing her exceptional ball-striking skills.

Other notable performances include Peiyun Chien, who matched Korda's 5-under 67 with a bogey-free round. Charley Hull and Lydia Ko, playing in the same group, both finished at 3-under through 13 holes when play was suspended due to darkness.

The new venue at TPC River's Bend, an Arnold Palmer-designed course, presented some challenges to the players with its undulating greens and numerous water hazards. The course's layout favored longer hitters, but accuracy and precise yardages were crucial for success.

Kroger Queen City Championship Videos

PURE Insurance Championship - Champions Tour - Spyglass Hill GC - Pebble Beach, CA

The tournament is scheduled to take place from September 20-22, 2024 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California.

LIV Dallas - Match Play and LIV Golf Dallas Stroke Play - Maridoe Golf Club - Carrollton, TX

The 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship begins today at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas, featuring quarterfinal matchups: Smash GC vs. Iron Heads GC, Torque GC vs. HyFlyers GC, Fireballs GC vs. Majesticks GC, Stinger GC vs. Cleeks GC, and RangeGoats GC vs. 4Aces GC. Each matchup consists of two singles and one foursomes match, with teams ranked 1-3 advancing directly to the semifinals.

BMW PGA Championship - DP World Tour - Wentworth Golf Club - Surrey, England

The BMW PGA Championship kicked off Thursday at the prestigious Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England. The tournament, part of the DP World Tour, saw an exciting first round with some unexpected turns and impressive performances.

England's Matthew Baldwin emerged as the surprise leader after the opening round, carding a flawless 7-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead. Baldwin's bogey-free performance put him ahead of a star-studded field, setting the pace for the tournament.

Close behind Baldwin, tied for second place at 6-under, are Denmark's Niklas Norgaard and Belgium's Thomas Detry. Norgaard, who recently claimed his first DP World Tour title at the British Masters, continued his good form with a strong opening round.

A group of players, including Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, and Ireland's Shane Lowry, are tied for fourth at 5-under par. McIlroy's round was particularly eventful, featuring a bizarre incident on the 12th hole where the head of his 9-iron detached from the shaft mid-swing. Despite this setback, McIlroy managed to card seven birdies in his round of 67.

The defending champion, Ryan Fox, had a steady start with a 1-under-par 71, while other notable players like Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood finished at 3-under par.

The tournament, which runs through Sunday, September 22, has attracted a strong field of international golfers competing for the prestigious title and significant prize money. With three rounds remaining, the competition is set to intensify as players vie for position on the leaderboard at one of the DP World Tour's flagship events.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship - Korn Ferry Tour - OSU Golf Club - Columbus, OH

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship, a crucial Korn Ferry Tour event, kicked off Thursday at the Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. This tournament marks the third of four Finals events on the Korn Ferry Tour, playing a pivotal role in determining PGA TOUR membership for the upcoming 2025 season.

After the first round, five players are tied for the lead, each shooting an impressive 66. The co-leaders are Noah Goodwin, Thomas Rosenmueller, Tano Goya, Dalton Ward, and Matt McCarty. These players hold a one-stroke advantage over Hank Lebioda and Kris Ventura, who are tied for second place.

It's worth noting that the leaderboard features some of the Korn Ferry Tour's top performers this year. Matt McCarty is currently the highest-ranked player on the tour, while Thomas Rosenmueller is ranked fifth. Noah Goodwin, Dalton Ward, and Tano Goya are also within the top 20, ranked eighth, eleventh, and twentieth, respectively.

The tournament carries significant weight for the players, as it will help determine who advances to next week's Korn Ferry Tour Championship in French Lick, Indiana. Only the top 75 players after this event will qualify for the championship, where the top 30 on the season-ending points list will secure PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season.

With a purse of $1.5 million and $270,000 going to the winner, along with 600 points towards the season total, the competition is fierce. The field will be cut to the top 65 players and ties after 36 holes, adding to the pressure on the golfers to perform well in the early rounds.

Upcoming next week: The Presidents Cup - PGA Tour - The Royal Montreal Golf Club - Montreal, PQ

The 2024 Presidents Cup is set to take place from September 24-29 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec. Both the International and U.S. teams have finalized their 12-man rosters, with captains Mike Weir and Jim Furyk announcing their six wildcard picks each to complement the six automatic qualifiers.

Next Year: The Ryder Cup

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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