Planet Golf News for Saturday, March 16, 2024

Wyndham Clark has separated himself from the field at the 2024 Players Championship with unprecedented back-to-back rounds of hitting at least 15 greens and gaining at least three strokes on the greens. Only one other golfer, Sergio Garcia, has achieved this feat in his entire career.

Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are among the stars who missed the cut at the Players Championship. Thomas, the 2021 Players champ, finished one over par, two shots off the cut. Spieth shot two over overall. The tournament has a $25 million purse, with $4.5 million going to the winner.

In the 2024 edition of The Players Championship, PGA Tour winner Tom Kim withdrew due to illness, while Garrick Higgo withdrew because of a wrist injury during his second round. Higgo, who previously withdrew from an event due to a wrist injury, had a setback on the 13th hole and subsequently withdrew. This is a blow to Higgo, who reached a career high ranking but has since slipped in the rankings.

Eight underrated shots at TPC Sawgrass, including the drive at the par-4 first, the approach at the par-4 fourth, the drive on the par-4 fifth, the second shot at the par-5 ninth, the second shot at the par-5 11th, the par-3 13th, the drive on the par-4 14th, and the second shot on the par-4 15th. These shots require precision and strategic decision-making, and they play a crucial role in the overall challenge of the course.

Scottie Scheffler is playing in the Players Championship despite a neck injury. Despite the pain, Scheffler managed to shoot a 69 and keep his hopes of defending his title alive. His ball-striking suffered, but he remains in contention with a T-3 position.

Australian golfer Min Woo Lee sinks an incredible putt for a birdie on the 17th hole, while Wyndham Clark takes a four-stroke lead at The Players Championship. Clark shoots a second-straight round of 65, putting him in a commanding position on the leaderboard. Xander Schauffele and Nick Taylor trail behind Clark by four strokes. World number two Rory McIlroy falls back after shooting a one-over 73. Scottie Scheffler stays in contention despite a neck injury. Clark's impressive performance over the past two days positions him well to win the $4.5 million prize.

During the Players Championship, Rory McIlroy encountered a frog on the TPC Sawgrass course, resulting in a bogey. Despite the delay caused by the amphibian, McIlroy managed to recover and avoid disaster.

Sahith Theegala's performance at The Players Championship draws comparisons to Jordan Spieth, with his ability to navigate challenging shots and produce unpredictable yet impressive results. Theegala embraces the comparison and defends Spieth's skill, while also aiming to tighten his own game and play "boring golf" for more consistent success.

Matti Schmid surprises with a strong performance at the Players Championship, shooting consecutive 68s and climbing the leaderboard. Despite being relatively unknown and having limited success in his career, Schmid held a share of the lead and showed promising play, including an eagle-birdie stretch. Although he stumbled on the 18th hole, he remains a contender for the tournament's 50th edition.

Matt Fitzpatrick has rediscovered his form and fixed a driver error that had held him back for a year. He is currently fourth after two rounds at The Players Championship, five strokes behind the leader. Fitzpatrick had unknowingly left a four-gram weight on his driver handle, which he only discovered when his grips were changed last month. Since removing the weight, his play from the tee has significantly improved.

Keith Mitchell revisits his hilarious water ball incident from the 2023 Players Championship in a segment with Smylie Kaufman and Kevin Kisner. The sequence, including Mitchell's club slam and the weather horn blowing, is recaptured in a funny and entertaining way.

Xander Schauffele is finding joy in his golf game at the Players Championship after a couple of challenging years. Despite being labeled a malcontent and facing controversies, Schauffele is focused on playing his best golf and enjoying his job. He has been performing well in recent tournaments and is currently in contention for a big win at the Players Championship.

Collin Morikawa, a former Cal golfer, had a strong second-round performance at the 50th Players Championship, moving up to a share of 27th place. He shot a 3-under 69, improving from his tie for 53rd after the first round. However, three other Cal players had a tough day, with only Max Homa making the cut. Morikawa is currently 10 strokes behind the leader, Wyndham Clark, who sits atop the leaderboard at minus-14.

Anthony Kim misses the cut at the Asian Tour event in China, marking his first missed cut in over 12 years. Despite a strong final round in a previous tournament, Kim's comeback in professional golf will take more time. Other LIV Golf players, including Harold Varner III and Graeme McDowell, also missed the cut. David Puig leads the tournament at 11 under.

Five LIV Golf stars, including Harold Varner III, Graeme McDowell, Anthony Kim, Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, and Danny Lee, missed the cut at the Asian Tour's International Series event in Macau. Despite the opportunity to earn world ranking points, all five players failed to make it to the weekend rounds.

The Asian Tour Live Blog discusses whether Mito Pereira will retain the lead in round 2 at the International Series Macau 2024. Sebastian Munoz is currently leading the second round of the tournament, which is part of the Asian Tour season 2024. The article provides information about the tournament, the leaderboard, and the Asian Tour as a platform for professional golfers in Asia.

Cydney Clanton leads after the first day of play at the IOA Golf Classic, shooting a 6-under 66. Lindsey McCurdy and Dewi Weber are one shot behind. The course offers risk-reward shots, resulting in eagles, birdies, bogeys, and double bogeys. Clanton feels confident in her game and hopes to continue her success from the previous season.

Amelia Garvey, a golfer on the Epson Tour, made her second hole-in-one in three weeks during the IOA Golf Classic. Despite the impressive ace, Garvey finished the round 4-over and looks to improve her performance on Moving Day.

PGA Tour player directors are being strongly encouraged to meet with the governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in an attempt to move forward with negotiations. The meeting is seen as a potential "ice-breaker" and part of the ongoing discussions between the Tour and the PIF. The negotiations are aimed at unifying the game and taking advantage of the current opportunity.

Tiger Woods will not be participating in the Valspar Championship next week, which was his last realistic chance for a tuneup event before the Masters. This means he will likely enter the Masters having played only one full competitive round in 2024. Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational due to illness and has had limited play due to back spasms and previous surgeries. The article mentions that this year marks the five-year anniversary of Woods' emotional victory at Augusta National.

Jack Nicklaus expresses optimism about the strength of the PGA Tour amid the challenge from the LIV Golf Series. He praises the PGA Tour's schedule and the opportunity it provides for new talent to rise in the rankings. Nicklaus also emphasizes the importance of having the best players in the world play together and hopes to see up-and-coming players participate in more tournaments.

Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch's presence at the Players Championship helped create an enduring and legendary broadcast. Despite their controversial departure from NBC, they brought their expertise and charm to the Golf Channel team for two days, reminding fans of their beloved contributions. The event showcased new innovations, but Maltbie's emotional sign-off stole the show, expressing his love for the game and his longing for his previous role.

Despite historical challenges, women's golf has seen significant growth, with initiatives like the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) and increased investment in amateur and junior girl tournaments. This has led to increased viewership and prize money, with the LPGA featuring ten tournaments with championship purses of over $3 million in 2024. The rise of stars like Rose Zhang also contributes to the sport's popularity. However, the disparity in prize money between the PGA and LPGA remains significant. The addition of a women's golf team to Tech could further contribute to the growth of women's golf, tapping into a thriving junior golf scene and a large international population.

At the Players Championship, a subtle change to the island green on the 17th hole has frustrated fans but relieved players. The addition of a collar of longer grass around the green, known as "The Bumper," has prevented golf balls from landing in the water, leading to fewer dramatic moments. While some fans argue that the change takes away from the challenge and excitement of the hole, players appreciate the added protection, especially when it comes to making the cut. The debate over The Bumper highlights the tension between entertaining fans and challenging players in professional golf.

This article highlights the best golf drivers for 2024. The drivers mentioned include the TaylorMade Qi10 Max, PING G430 Max 10K, Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond, COBRA DarkSpeed X, Titleist TSR3, and Wilson DynaPower Carbon. Each driver is described with key features and pricing information. Golfers can find their next driver based on their preferences and needs.

Titleist offers a range of premium golf balls, including the Pro V1, Pro V1x, and AVX. The Pro V1 provides a softer feel and is ideal for longer distance, while the Pro V1x offers a higher flight trajectory and more stopping power. The AVX combines a soft feel with high spin and is suitable for players with slower club head speeds. Titleist is currently running a loyalty deal where you can buy three dozen balls and get the fourth dozen free.

Wyndham Clark's cockiest move yet is passing on the opportunity to visit Augusta National until he was eligible to play in the Masters. Despite having two chances to see the iconic golf course, Clark made a pact with himself to wait. His self-belief and discipline have paid off, as he now holds a five-shot lead heading into the weekend at the 2024 Players Championship.

During the Players Championship, golfer Byeong Hun An responded to a Twitter troll who insulted his "broomstick" putter. An fired back, calling the troll a "dumb f*ck." Despite the criticism, An performed well in the tournament, finishing with a three-under-par 69 and earning nearly $3 million in prize money.

Golf Digest's search for America's Worst Avid Golfer concluded at TPC Sawgrass, with Angelo Spagnolo emerging as the winner. The competition received significant media coverage, and the final four contestants compiled a set of statistics that are likely to stand for a long time. Angelo's final score equaled the tour-record-low 72-hole score of 257, and he took a 66 on the par-3 17th water hole. Despite the challenges, Angelo remained composed and took the title of America's Worst Avid Golfer with grace.

The WCM Senior Mexico Open, a new event on the Legends Tour, will take place at Punta Mita's Pacifico Golf Course from November 14-17. The tournament will feature notable senior players and 64 amateurs competing in teams of two alongside professionals. Punta Mita is a resort and residential community with two Jack Nicklaus Signature designs and a unique island-green hole. The tournament will be conducted over three days, and the team with the most Stableford points will win a portion of the $450,000 purse.

The article discusses the insights of a golf strategy expert on the worst mistakes made by amateur golfers. The expert provides advice and statistics to help improve their game.

LIV Golf star David Puig is aiming to earn a spot at the PGA Championship and the Olympic Games, despite the breakaway league not receiving Official World Golf Ranking recognition. Puig has been competing in the Asian Tour to gain points and recently won the Malaysian Open, securing a spot at this year's Open Championship. He is currently leading in the International Series event in Macau and hopes to break into the world's top-100 to achieve his goals.

Getting a tee time at public golf courses in Los Angeles is extremely difficult, with golfers reporting limited availability and the use of tee time brokers. The issue has worsened since the pandemic, and some golfers are resorting to apps with yearly fees to secure reservations. The problem will be discussed at the L.A. City Golf Advisory Committee meeting.

Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, designed by Arnold Palmer, is set to go private via Heritage Goplf Group with a comprehensive renovation to enhance the club experience. The move has raised concerns among residents about losing access to a public golf course. This reflects a broader trend of golf courses adapting to meet changing market demands and enhance exclusivity, potentially reshaping community dynamics and access to recreational amenities.

This article explores the golf clubs used by PGA Tour pro Eric Cole in the 2024 season. Cole has switched to a new arsenal, including the PXG 0311 Black Ops driver, PXG 0311 GEN5 fairway woods, PXG 0317 CB and 0317 ST players irons, PXG wedges, and a PXG Bat attack putter. The article highlights the features and benefits of each club and discusses Cole's confidence in his new equipment for the upcoming THE PLAYERS Championship.

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.