Planet Golf News for Saturday, June 1, 2024

Lexi Thompson’s U.S. Women’s Open Career Concludes at Lancaster CC, With dad on bag, Robert MacIntyre shines at RBC Canadian Open

Saturday, June 4, 2024

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Nelly Korda misses the cut as brutal US Women's Open takes no prisoners

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

This week has been a whirlwind in the golf world, with emotional exits, impressive performances, and surprising misses marking the tournaments.

First up, Lexi Thompson, a name synonymous with women's golf, faced a bittersweet moment at the U.S. Women's Open. Despite a valiant effort, Thompson missed the cut in what she has hinted could be her final full-time season on the LPGA tour. Reflecting on the week, she expressed deep gratitude for the support she has received over the years. Though this might be the end of an era, Thompson’s focus now shifts to participating in a few more events and potentially making her seventh Solheim Cup appearance.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Women's Open spotlight shone brightly on young sensation Asterisk Talley. The 15-year-old golfer wowed everyone with her poise and skill, balancing the pressures of a major tournament with the typical concerns of a high school freshman. Talley’s performance has not only put her in contention but also made her a player to watch in the future.

On the flip side, World No. 1 Nelly Korda faced an unexpected setback, missing the cut after a disastrous round that included a septuple-bogey. This marked her first missed cut since last year's KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, ending a streak of consistent performances. With Andrea Lee and Wichanee Meechai leading the tournament, the U.S. Women’s Open promises an exciting finish.

In Canada, the RBC Canadian Open is heating up with Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre leading the pack. Fox, with a brilliant round of 64, and MacIntyre, maintaining a bogey-free streak, are tied at the top. Mackenzie Hughes, the hometown favorite, had a spectacular day, rocketing into a share of second place after shooting a 64, and he's determined to make his mark over the weekend. The leaderboard is tightly packed, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend.

Ernie Els stole the show at the Principal Charity Classic, delivering a stunning 10-under 62 to take the lead. Els’ performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he birdied ten holes, setting a personal record on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. With a two-shot lead over a trio of challengers, including defending champion Stephen Ames, Els is in prime position heading into the weekend.

Across the pond, Laurie Canter put on a masterclass at the European Open in Hamburg, shooting a bogey-free 66 to take a commanding lead. The Englishman’s precision and consistency have given him a three-stroke advantage, making him the player to beat as the tournament progresses.

In Raleigh, Nelson Ledesma leads the UNC Health Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour after an impressive second-round 64. With a strong field behind him, Ledesma will need to keep his momentum to secure the title.

As these tournaments unfold, the stories of resilience, youthful exuberance, and veteran prowess remind us why golf captivates fans worldwide. Whether it's the emotional farewell of a legend like Lexi Thompson, the rise of young stars like Asterisk Talley, or the continued excellence of players like Ernie Els, this week in golf has been nothing short of extraordinary.

[ Today’s Top Stories ] 

Golf Tournaments happening this week

RBC Canadian Open - Hamilton, ON

The second round of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario was filled with exciting action and impressive performances. Ryan Fox of New Zealand and Robert MacIntyre of Scotland emerged as co-leaders, both sitting at 10-under 130 after 36 holes.

Fox, the son of former New Zealand rugby star Grant Fox, carded a brilliant 6-under 64 on Friday. He birdied the par-5 fourth and par-4 fifth holes before recovering from a bogey on the par-3 sixth with a clutch birdie on the par-4 ninth. Fox's driving, iron play, and putting were all on point, as he expressed satisfaction with his overall game.

MacIntyre, a 27-year-old Scottish left-hander, continued his bogey-free run with a 4-under 66 in the morning round. His consistent ball-striking and smart course management, coupled with an impressive short game, allowed him to navigate the challenging Hamilton layout with ease. MacIntyre's father, Dougie, served as his emergency caddie, adding a heartwarming father-son dynamic to his performance.

Joel Dahmen positioned himself two strokes behind the leaders after firing a 5-under 65. The American expressed excitement about competing under pressure on the weekend, eager to capitalize on his strong play.

Canadian Mackenzie Hughes had an eventful day, carding a 6-under 64 that included two eagles and two closing bogeys. Despite the disappointing finish, Hughes remained optimistic about his overall performance and his chances heading into the weekend at a course he knows well.

First-round leader David Skinns and Andrew Novak joined Hughes at 7-under, while Trace Crowe, Sean O'Hair, and Sam Burns were a further stroke back at 6-under.

Rory McIlroy, a two-time Canadian Open champion, struggled to a 2-over 72 but remained in contention at 2-under for the tournament. Defending champion Nick Taylor, however, missed the cut after rounds of 72 and 71.

With the leaderboard tightly packed and a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars in contention, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of golf at the RBC Canadian Open.

U.S. Women's Open pres. by Ally - Lancaster, PA

The second round of the 79th U.S. Women's Open took place at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While big names like Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson struggled, missing the cut in disappointing fashion, the leaderboard saw some fresh faces rise to the top.

Thai golfer Wichanee Meechai stole the spotlight, firing an impressive 5-under 65 to take the 36-hole lead at 7-under par. Meechai's brilliant putting and consistent ball-striking allowed her to card seven birdies against just two bogeys on the challenging Lancaster CC layout.

Six past U.S. Women's Open competitors were in the field, including major champions like Michelle Wie West and Inbee Park. While they couldn't quite keep pace with Meechai, their experience shone through as they made the cut to play the weekend rounds.

As the halfway point passed, a crowded leaderboard emerged with several players within striking distance of Meechai's lead. The third round will likely see an intense battle as the world's best jockey for position to claim the coveted U.S. Women's Open title on Sunday in Lancaster.

Principal Charity Classic - Des Moines, IA

Ernie Els delivered an exceptional performance today at the Principal Charity Classic, shooting a 10-under-par 62 to take the first-round lead at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. Known as "The Big Easy," Els birdied 10 holes, marking his career-low score on the PGA Tour Champions circuit and tying the tournament record. Reflecting on his round, Els expressed his satisfaction, noting that everything seemed to go his way as he hit the ball well and made numerous putts.

Els holds a two-shot lead heading into the weekend, with defending champion Stephen Ames of Canada, Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, and Vijay Singh of Fiji all shooting 8-under 64 to open the tournament. Els' round included a 6-under 30 on the front nine, highlighted by birdies on five of his last six holes, and he added four more birdies on the back nine. He narrowly missed breaking the tournament record with a par on the 18th hole.

Els' recent form has been promising, with a tie for third at the Regions Tradition and a tie for sixth at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, both major tournaments. He acknowledged that his game has been trending in the right direction, with improved ball striking in recent weeks.

Ames, Gonzalez, and Singh also posted bogey-free rounds, with Gonzalez making a notable eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Tied for fifth at 7-under 65 were Rod Pampling of Australia, Billy Mayfair, Heath Slocum, and Rob Labritz.

European Open - Hamburg, Germany

On Friday, May 31, 2024, the European Open in Hamburg, Germany, saw an impressive performance from English golfer Laurie Canter, who shot a bogey-free, 7-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead into the weekend. Canter's exceptional round placed him at the top of the leaderboard with a total score of -12. His performance was marked by precision and consistency, allowing him to maintain a clear advantage over his competitors.

Niklas Norgaard Møller from Denmark secured the second position with a total score of -9, while Jannik De Bruyn from Germany followed closely in third place with a score of -8. The competition was fierce, with several players tied for fourth place at -6, including Guido Migliozzi from Italy, Jayden Trey Schaper from South Africa, Tom McKibbin from Northern Ireland, Pablo Larrazabal from Spain, Yuto Katsuragawa from Japan, and Garrick Porteous from England.

The day's highlights included standout performances from Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, who achieved a daily score of -6, and both Niklas Norgaard Møller and Jordan Smith from England, who each scored -4 for the day. The challenging conditions of the Green Eagle Golf Courses, known for its length and difficult greens, tested the skills of all participants.

As the event progresses into the weekend, all eyes will be on Laurie Canter to see if he can maintain his lead and secure victory.

UNC Health Championship pres. by STITCH - Korn Ferry - Raleigh, NC

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