Planet Golf News for Monday, March 18, 2024

Scottie Scheffler becomes the first back-to-back winner at TPC Sawgrass in the 50th edition of the Players Championship. He claimed victory with a one-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Brian Harman. Scheffler's win marks the first successful defense of the Players Championship title and he overcame a five-stroke deficit on Sunday. This victory also makes him the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001 to win The Players Championship a week after winning on the PGA Tour.

Scottie Scheffler becomes the first back-to-back winner of the Players Championship, shooting an 8-under 64 in the final round to finish at 20 under. Scheffler chased down Xander Schauffele, who started the final round with a 5-stroke lead, to secure the victory. Brian Harman, Xander Schauffele, and Wyndham Clark tied for second place at 19 under.

Wyndham Clark's heartbreaking lipout on the 18th hole cost him the win at the Players Championship, as Scottie Scheffler emerged as the victor. Clark's birdie attempt looked promising, but the ball caught the edge of the hole and lipped out, leaving him in disbelief. This marks Clark's second consecutive runner-up finish after coming in second at Bay Hill the previous week.

During the final round of The Players Championship, golfer Austin Eckroat was penalized one stroke for a rule violation when his birdie putt took too long to drop into the hole. The rule states that a ball can only overhang the hole for a certain amount of time. Despite the penalty, Xander Schauffele took a one-shot lead into Sunday's round of the tournament.

Max Homa clarifies that he did not hit a fan in the head during The Players Championship. A video had surfaced on social media, causing speculation, but Homa confirmed that his shot hit a tree instead. Despite struggling in the tournament, Homa maintained his sense of humor.

John Catlin wins the LIV Golf Final Leaderboard at the International Series Macau in a thrilling playoff against David Puig. Catlin, who fired the first 59 in Asian Tour history, birdied the second playoff hole to claim the title. Lucas Herbert finished third, and Patrick Reed finished fourth. Catlin won $360,000 of the $2,000,000 prize purse in the International Series Macau golf tournament. The rest of the top placements also received varying amounts of prize money.

Jessica Peng earns her first professional win at the IOA Golf Classic presented by LPT Realty on the Epson Tour. Peng made a strong final-round performance, finishing one shot ahead of the second-round leader Lindsey McCurdy. This victory marks a significant milestone for Peng, who has been a professional for seven years.

The 2024 Valspar Championship will feature top golfers such as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Luke Donald. Other notable players include Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala, Keegan Bradley, and Tom Kim.

PGA Tour directors, including Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, are set to meet with LIV Golf's backers, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The meeting aims to discuss potential investments and collaborations between the two entities. Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay have confirmed their attendance at the meeting, expressing the importance of establishing a closer relationship between PIF and LIV Golf. Negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF have been accelerating, with hopes of reaching a solution that will benefit both organizations.

The top four finishers at The Players Championship, including Scottie Scheffler, have a strong chance of forming the U.S. men's golf team for the Paris Olympics. The top four Americans in the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking after the U.S. Open in June will qualify. Other players like Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, and Brian Harman also improved their chances with strong performances at The Players.

Duke women's golf team achieved a historic victory at the Florida State Match Up, shooting a remarkable 24-under 264 in the second round, which is the third-lowest 18-hole score in NCAA women's college golf history. Freshman Katie Li also made history by winning her first college tournament and setting a school record with a score of 12 under after 36 holes. Coach Dan Brooks secured his 143rd victory, the most by any women's golf coach in NCAA Division I history.

The Supreme Court ruling on name, image, and likeness (NIL) benefits for college athletes has not only impacted football and basketball but also college golf. College golf has seen major changes with the introduction of NIL, including increased professional opportunities, higher stakes, and increased financial support for coaches and athletes. While the ability to earn money has made recruiting easier, players are advised to consider other factors in their college golf decisions to maximize their chances of success in the professional circuit.

This article highlights 11 drivers that offer maximum forgiveness off the tee. The featured drivers include the Ping G430 Max 10K, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max, TaylorMade Qi10 Max, Cobra Darkspeed Max, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast, Titleist TSR1, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD, Cleveland Launcher XL2, Cobra Aerojet Max, and Cleveland Launcher XL2 Draw.

In this Golf Channel podcast, senior writers Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner discuss Scottie Scheffler's potential to distance himself from the rest of the PGA Tour. They also reflect on Scheffler's back-to-back titles at The Players Championship and discuss Rory McIlroy's comments on the PGA Tour and the Saudis.

Scottie Scheffler, the Texan golfer, is not only known for his impressive wins but also for his charm on and off the course. With multiple victories, including back-to-back wins at the Players Championship, Scheffler's success is accompanied by his laid-back demeanor and unique swing. Despite his achievements, he remains humble and credits his strong support system for keeping him grounded. Scheffler's combination of talent and charm sets him apart in the world of golf.

Several LIV Golf stars, including Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Cam Smith, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, and Greg Norman, have all won the Players Championship but are now banned from competing at TPC Sawgrass due to their involvement in the LIV Golf circuit. This has led to their absence from the current tournament.

Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is struggling with health issues following brain surgery. Woodland has been experiencing setbacks and symptoms such as fogginess, tiredness, and loss of energy. He is visiting a brain clinic to understand the issues and potential treatment. Despite his health challenges, Woodland's coaches believe he is playing better than he has in years, adding to his frustration.

Scottie Scheffler won at TPC Sawgrass using a TaylorMade Qi10 driver, TaylorMade Qi10 3-wood, Srixon ZU85 and TaylorMade P7TW irons, Titleist Vokey SM8 and WedgeWorks prototype wedges, and a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter.

Nate Lashley, a PGA Tour pro, uses a full set of PING clubs including the G430 LST driver and G430 MAX fairway wood. He also uses the i230 iron, S159 wedges, and a prototype putter. Lashley's equipment helps him excel on the greens and hit long putts.

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.