Planet Golf News for Saturday, June 22, 2024

Tom Kim atop Travelers leaderboard on 22nd birthday, Nelly Korda shoots highest score as a pro, misses third straight cut at KPMG Women's PGA

Saturday, June 22, 2024

PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie

We’re on a mission to create fun and fashionable golf clothing that empowers tween and teen girls to play with confidence.

Birthday boys Scheffler and Tom Kim have cause to party at Travelers

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

The world of golf has been buzzing with a whirlwind of events, from professional milestones to unexpected on-course appearances. Here’s a roundup of the latest happenings from Friday that have kept golf enthusiasts on their toes.

Nelly Korda has hit a rough patch, shooting her highest score as a pro—a 9-over 81—at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. This marks her third consecutive missed cut, a surprising downturn for the world’s number one female golfer who had a blazing start to the season. Korda plans to reset and regroup, aiming to find her stride once again.

Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau is embracing the lively atmosphere at LIV Golf Nashville. The energetic crowd, reminiscent of a basketball game, seems to be a perfect match for DeChambeau’s style. His performance was solid, finishing tied for fourth with a 4-under 67. His enthusiasm for the sport's evolving nature is palpable, as he advocates for golf to adapt and grow with its audience.

At the same event, Abraham Ancer leads with a bogey-free 7-under 64, while Bryson DeChambeau trails by three strokes. The Fireballs GC leads the team competition, showcasing the depth and excitement within the LIV Golf series. The camaraderie and spirited environment are evident, with DeChambeau feeling the crowd’s energy fueling his game.

The Olympic qualification process for golf has come under scrutiny, with Branden Grace of LIV Golf calling for changes. He believes countries should have their own criteria for selection, rather than relying solely on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). This conversation has been sparked by the exclusion of top players like DeChambeau and Cam Smith from the upcoming Games in Paris, questioning the fairness of the current system.

At the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Ally Ewing remains in contention for the Olympics, performing strongly and sitting just four shots behind the leader. Unfortunately, Megan Khang and Alison Lee missed the cut, dashing their Olympic hopes. Ewing’s focus and determination are evident as she eyes a spot in the Olympic field.

In lighter news, a deer made a surprise appearance on the 9th hole during the Travelers Championship’s first round, adding an unexpected twist to the day for golfers Emiliano Grillo and Andrew Putnam. The deer’s swift departure left many amused and curious about its next move.

The Travelers Championship has been a spectacle of low scores and intense competition. Tom Kim leads with a two-shot advantage after shooting a 65 in the second round. Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa are hot on his heels, each demonstrating stellar performances. The tournament saw a weather-related suspension, but players like Scheffler and Morikawa maintained their momentum, making for an exciting weekend ahead.

In the LPGA realm, Friday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, saw Sarah Schmelzel surge to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 5-under 67, the lowest score of the week so far. Schmelzel, winless in her six seasons on the LPGA Tour, finished her round with six birdies and one bogey, securing a two-shot lead at 6-under 138. Her aggressive strategy off the tee and precise play around the greens paid off, particularly with birdies on her final two holes.

Lexi Thompson, who led after the first round, experienced a mixed day. She started strong with three birdies but encountered difficulties with a double-bogey and subsequent bogeys, ultimately finishing with a 72. Despite these setbacks, Thompson remains a strong contender, just two shots behind Schmelzel. Jin Young Ko and Hinako Shibuno also performed well, both finishing two shots behind Schmelzel. Ko had a bogey-free round until the 16th hole, while Shibuno attributed her improved performance to a last-minute equipment adjustment.

In other PGA Tour news, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott will continue through at least 2029, thanks to a new sponsorship deal. This event has been a staple since 2007, with the exception of a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020.

Across the pond, Mikko Korhonen leads the KLM Open on the DP World Tour, with James Morrison close behind. The competition remains fierce, with players eyeing valuable points in the Race to Dubai.

On the Korn Ferry Tour, John Pak leads the Compliance Solutions Championship with a 14-under 130 after two rounds. The young golfer is setting a high bar, and the weekend promises to be filled with thrilling moments.

Lastly, John Daly II made his professional debut at the Compliance Solutions Championship, marking the beginning of what many hope will be a successful career, much like his father’s.

Golf continues to captivate with its blend of intense competition, unexpected moments, and the ever-evolving narrative of its players. Whether it’s Olympic dreams, record-breaking performances, or delightful interruptions from wildlife, the sport remains as dynamic and engaging as ever.

[ Today’s Top Golf Stories ] 

Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Travelers Championship - PGA - TPC River Highlands - Cromwell, CT

Friday, the second round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, was marked by a weather-related suspension. Play was halted at 4:11 p.m. due to nearby lightning, with seven groups and 14 players still on the course. The round resumed at 7:25 p.m. after a delay of more than three hours. Despite the interruption, Scottie Scheffler, who had birdied three consecutive holes before the suspension, managed to birdie the 18th hole after play resumed, joining a three-way tie for second place at 11-under with Collin Morikawa and Akshay Bhatia. Shane Lowry and Justin Thomas, who had also been performing well, finished their rounds at 9-under, joining Sungjae Im in a tie.

Tom Kim led the tournament, maintaining his position at the top of the leaderboard with a two-shot lead at 13-under after shooting a 65 on Friday. The day saw scorching heat, peaking at 93 degrees around 1 p.m., followed by light rain and thunder in the afternoon. The weather forecast for Saturday includes a high of 89 degrees with a chance of thunderstorms in the early afternoon, while Sunday is expected to be cloudy with a high of 90 degrees and potential precipitation.

The delay did not seem to affect the top players significantly. Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his performance post-delay, and Morikawa matched his personal nine-hole scoring record with a 6-under 29 on the front nine. Bhatia, who was close to the lead, bogeyed the 18th hole, ending the day tied for second. Xander Schauffele also performed well, improving to 10-under after shooting 65 in both rounds. The second round saw the lowest scoring average in the tournament's history, with an average score of 67.96.

Travelers Videos

LIV Golf Nashville - The Grove - College Grove, TN

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship - Sahalee Country Club - Sammamish, WA

On Friday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, Sarah Schmelzel surged to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 5-under 67, marking the lowest score of the week so far. Schmelzel, who has been winless in her six seasons on the LPGA Tour, finished her round with six birdies and one bogey, giving her a two-shot lead at 6-under 138. Her aggressive strategy off the tee and precise play around the greens paid off, particularly with birdies on her final two holes.

Lexi Thompson, who led after the first round, experienced a mixed day. She started strong with three birdies but encountered difficulties with a double-bogey and subsequent bogeys, ultimately finishing with a 72. Despite these setbacks, Thompson remains a strong contender, just two shots behind Schmelzel.

Jin Young Ko and Hinako Shibuno also performed well, both finishing two shots behind Schmelzel. Ko had a bogey-free round until the 16th hole, while Shibuno attributed her improved performance to a last-minute equipment adjustment.

Nelly Korda, the world's number one women's golfer, missed the cut at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship after shooting a 9-over 81 in the second round.

The event will proceed through the weekend, culminating in the crowning of a champion on Sunday.

Dick’s Open - PGA Tour Champions - En-Joie GC - Endicott, NY

KLM Open - DP World Tour - The International - Amsterdam, Netherlands

On Friday at the KLM Open, part of the DP World Tour held at The International in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Mikko Korhonen took an unconventional route to shoot a 68, moving into the solo lead heading into the weekend. The tournament, which is the fourth of six counting events on the European Swing of the 2024 Race to Dubai schedule, saw a competitive field including notable players such as defending champion Pablo Larrazábal, Major champion Danny Willett, and PGA TOUR winner Matt Wallace.

Compliance Solutions Championship - Korn Ferry - Jammie Austin OU Golf Club - Norman, OK

John Daly II made his professional debut at the Compliance Solutions Championship today. He shot a 4-over 76 in the first round of the tournament, which took place at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma. This performance marks the beginning of his professional career on the Korn Ferry Tour, following in the footsteps of his father, John Daly.

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

Marie Birdie is a female-founded and owned golf and active wear brand for tween and teen girls. Our mission is to inspire, delight, and empower girls to enjoy an active lifestyle while playing golf.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up HERE for FREE