Planet Golf News for Saturday, July 13, 2024

Ludvig Åberg (-12) takes 36 hole lead at Genesis Scottish Open, Second-Round Play Suspended at The Amundi Evian Championship

Saturday, July 13, 2024

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1 strange 'law' tells the story of Ludvig Aberg's wild rookie year

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

It's been a thrilling week in the golf world, filled with surprises, record-breaking performances, and a touch of celebrity glamour.

Ludvig Åberg has taken the lead at the Scottish Open after an impressive bogey-free 64. His recent trip to Royal Troon seems to have given him the perfect edge on the links turf and adjusting to the time change. Just one shot behind him is Antoine Rozner, making it a close race. Big names like Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa are also in the mix, setting the stage for a highly competitive weekend. Unfortunately, not everyone had a good time. Notable players like Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, and Rickie Fowler missed the cut, adding a twist to the event.

The Evian Championship in France saw an unexpected pause when play was suspended due to lightning. Angela Stanford, in her final major, was performing admirably before the weather interruption. Ayaka Furue leads the tournament, followed by Stephanie Kyriacou and Haeran Ryu. With the second round set to resume on Saturday, the competition remains fierce, and sunny weather is expected to ensure an exciting finish.

Over in Kentucky, the ISCO Championship made history with the lowest cut in PGA Tour history, requiring players to shoot at least 8-under to continue. Pierceson Coody leads the pack with a stellar 16-under after two rounds. Despite the high standards, the tournament remains wide open with several players close behind, promising a nail-biting conclusion.

The American Century Championship brought some celebrity flair to the green. NFL star Travis Kelce entertained the crowd by dancing to a Taylor Swift song while teeing off and even winning the karaoke competition. Joe Pavelski, the NHL veteran, is among the early leaders, showing his versatility extends beyond the ice rink. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen also put on impressive performances, proving that their skills aren’t limited to the football field.

In Spain, the LIV Golf Andalucía tournament at Valderrama saw Dean Burmester take the early lead with a 5-under 66. The course's challenging conditions didn’t deter him, and he's closely followed by Australian Danny Lee. The event also featured a memorable moment from Bryson DeChambeau, who wore a fan's hat that blew onto the course, endearing himself further to the crowd.

Bryson DeChambeau also made headlines off the course, claiming he was extorted for $2 million following his U.S. Open win. The controversy involves his former golf instructor, adding another layer of drama to an already eventful week.

As we look forward, the excitement continues with the upcoming Paris Olympics and The Open at Royal Troon. The Ryder Cup also made waves with Keegan Bradley being named the U.S. captain, a decision that sparked mixed reactions among fans and players alike.

The golf world is buzzing with action, drama, and unforgettable moments. From record-breaking performances to unexpected twists, each tournament adds a new chapter to this thrilling summer of golf. Stay tuned for more updates as the competitions progress and new champions rise.

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

[ Today’s Feature Golf Reads ] 

Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Genesis Scottish Open - PGA - The Renaissance Club - North Berwick, Scotland

Friday at the Genesis Scottish Open held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Sweden's Ludvig Åberg emerged as the leader after the second round. Åberg delivered an impressive performance with back-to-back rounds of 6-under 64, giving him a one-shot lead over France's Antoine Rozner, who sits at 11 under par. Åberg's total score of 128 for the first 36 holes is the best of his career, setting a new scoring record for the tournament.

The leaderboard remains highly competitive, with notable players such as Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala all tied at 9 under par, just two strokes behind Rozner. Sungjae Im is also in contention, positioned at 10 under par. The tournament has seen some dramatic shifts, including a significant drop in performance by first-round leader Justin Thomas, who shot a 72 in the second round, 10 strokes worse than his opening round.

The weather conditions have been favorable, with pleasant temperatures and minimal wind, allowing for optimal playing conditions.

Genesis Scottish Open Videos

The Amundi Evian Championship - LPGA - Evian Resort Golf Club - Evian-les-Bains, France

Friday at the Amundi Evian Championship in Évian-les-Bains, France, the second round of play was suspended due to adverse weather conditions. Ayaka Furue of Japan is leading the tournament with a score of 12 under par after completing 13 holes. She demonstrated exceptional skill by achieving birdies in the first three holes and maintaining a bogey-free performance. Stephanie Kyriacou from Australia and Haeran Ryu from South Korea are both tied for second place at 9 under par, with Kyriacou having completed 16 holes and Ryu 11 holes before the suspension of play.

The interruption occurred at 4:23 p.m. local time due to unsafe weather, and the second round is scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday. Following the completion of the second round, the cut line will be determined, and the third round is expected to begin around 10:45 a.m. the same day.

Notable performances include Georgia Hall, who is competing despite a shoulder injury, and Nelly Korda, who is striving to make the cut after recent struggles in major tournaments. The competition remains fierce as players aim to secure their positions for the weekend rounds.

The Amundi Evian Championship Videos

Liv Golf Andalucla - Real Club Valderrama - Sotogrande, Spain

Friday at the LIV Golf Andalucía tournament held at the Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, Spain, Dean Burmester emerged as the first-round leader. Burmester shot a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead on a challenging course known for its difficulty and historical significance in the golfing world. The tournament, which spans three days from July 12-14, features a competitive field of 54 players, including notable names such as Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, and Bryson DeChambeau.

Jon Rahm, making his first appearance at Valderrama as a LIV Golf player, had a mixed round, finishing with a 73 after a double bogey on the 17th hole. Despite the setback, Rahm expressed his joy at playing in front of a home crowd and remains optimistic about his chances in the coming rounds. Sergio Garcia, another Spanish favorite, had a memorable moment by chipping in from 30 yards for a birdie on the seventh hole.

ISCO Championship - PGA Tour - Keene Trace Golf Club - Nicholasville, KY

On Friday the ISCO Championship, a PGA Tour event, continued at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Pierceson Coody maintained his lead in the tournament, following up his impressive opening round of 11-under 61 with a solid 5-under 67 in the second round. This performance put Coody at 16-under par for the tournament, giving him a two-stroke lead over his closest competitors.

Three players are tied for second place at 14-under par: Belgian Matthis Besard, American veteran Chez Reavie, and Rico Hoey from the Philippines. Besard had a particularly strong day, carding a 9-under 63 that included nine birdies. Reavie also had an excellent round, highlighted by a streak of six birdies in seven holes and an eagle on the 18th hole.

The scoring at the ISCO Championship has been exceptionally low, with the halfway cut line set at a record 8-under par. This is the lowest cut line relative to par in an individual stroke-play event on the PGA Tour since records began in 1970, surpassing the previous record of 7-under at the 2020 Shriners Children's Open.

Several players are within striking distance of the lead, with six golfers tied at 13-under par, just three shots behind Coody. Among them are Alex Smalley, Garrick Higgo, Angel Hidalgo, Johannes Veerman, Hayden Springer, and Andy Sullivan.

Coody, who is seeking his first PGA Tour title after winning three times on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour, acknowledged the importance of maintaining his momentum in the face of such low scoring. He stated, "It's huge knowing that the scores are low, knowing that I needed to go get three, four, five birdies on the back nine to kind of get myself in the position I want to be – out in front in the golf tournament".

Kaulig Companies Championship - PGA Tour Champions - Firestone CC - Akron, OH

The second round of the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event, concluded yesterday at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. New Zealand's Steven Alker surged to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 7-under 65 in the second round, bringing his 36-hole total to 133. This stellar performance propelled Alker into the lead, showcasing his exceptional form on the challenging Firestone course.

Hot on Alker's heels is two-time champion Steve Stricker, who sits just one shot back after carding a solid 68 in the second round. Stricker's experience and previous success at this venue make him a formidable contender heading into the weekend.

The competition remains tight, with Kenny Perry and Robert Karlsson tied for third place at 136, three strokes behind the leader. Both players have positioned themselves well for a potential charge in the later rounds. Meanwhile, a trio of seasoned professionals – K.J. Choi, Angel Cabrera, and Jerry Kelly – share the fifth spot on the leaderboard, all with a total score of 137.

The day's action featured some notable performances, with Alker's 65 standing out as the round of the day. Robert Karlsson and Jerry Kelly also made significant moves, both carding impressive 4-under rounds to climb up the leaderboard.

The Ascendant pres. by Blue - Korn Ferry - TPC Colorado - Berthoud, CO

On Friday the second round of The Ascendant presented by Blue at TPC Colorado in Berthoud, CO, saw golfers battling challenging conditions, including the hottest day of the year and gusty winds. Despite these difficulties, several players managed to stand out and secure their positions as tournament leaders.

Among the notable performances, AJ Ott, a Fort Collins native who earned his spot through a sponsor exemption tournament, continued to impress. Ott, who has extensive experience playing at TPC Colorado, leveraged his familiarity with the course to navigate the tough conditions effectively. Other players to watch included Frankie Capan III, Jackson Suber, and Isaiah Salinda, all of whom have shown strong performances in previous editions of the tournament and are currently high on the Korn Ferry points list.

The tournament, which features a $1 million purse with $180,000 awarded to the winner, will continue through the weekend, with the field being cut to the lowest 65 scores (including ties) for the final two rounds.

American Century Championship - Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course - South Lake Tahoe, NV

The American Century Championship, a popular celebrity golf tournament, kicked off its 2024 edition on Friday at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The event, which runs from July 10-14, features a star-studded lineup of sports and entertainment celebrities competing for a total purse of $750,000, with the winner set to receive $150,000.

As the first round concluded on Friday, Joe Pavelski, the NHL veteran with 18 seasons under his belt, emerged as one of the early leaders. Pavelski secured 21 points, placing him in a tie for third place on the leaderboard. The tournament utilizes the Modified Stableford scoring system, where points are awarded based on performance on each hole rather than total strokes.

While defending champion Stephen Curry is absent due to his commitments with Team USA for the upcoming Paris Olympics, the tournament still boasts an impressive field. Notable participants include NFL stars Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, and Aaron Rodgers, as well as celebrities like Miles Teller and Don Cheadle.

An unexpected incident occurred during the day when Travis Kelce accidentally struck a spectator with his golf ball on the 16th hole. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end quickly approached the fan to check on her well-being and even suggested taking a photo together. The woman received prompt medical attention and was escorted off the course by paramedics.

Upcoming: Paris Olympics

Upcoming: The Open (British)

Upcoming: 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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