Planet Golf News for Sunday, April 7, 2024

Akshay Bhatia is leading the Valero Texas Open by four shots and is aiming to secure an invitation to the Masters. Despite winning on the PGA Tour since the 2023 Masters, Bhatia has not yet qualified for the upcoming major. His main focus is to play in majors and winning this tournament would bring him closer to that goal.

The 2024 Valero Texas Open saw notable golfers like Rickie Fowler, Tom Kim, Harris English, Billy Horschel, and Eric Cole miss the cut. Despite their absence, the tournament continues with Akshay Bhatia leading the leaderboard.

During the Valero Texas Open, Jordan Spieth intentionally played a shot onto the TPC San Antonio clubhouse during the 18th hole. Despite receiving a free drop, he ended up with a double bogey and finished the day 12 shots off the lead.

During the Valero Texas Open, golfer Ludvig Aberg's driver head snapped off during a swing on the 17th hole. Despite this, he managed to hit a 301-yard drive onto the green and finished the round with a 5-under 67. Aberg expressed shock at the incident but was glad the ball stayed in bounds. He is in good form as he prepares for his first-ever major, the Masters.

The 2024 Valero Texas Open concludes with the final round on Sunday. Akshay Bhatia holds a four-shot lead and has the opportunity to secure a spot in the Masters with a win. Other contenders include Denny McCarthy, Brendon Todd, Hideki Matsuyama, and Russell Henley. The final round tee times are listed in the article.

Nelly Korda aims for her fourth consecutive LPGA win as she faces Leona Maguire in the final of the T-Mobile Match Play. Maguire has been in top form, leading the field after stroke play and winning her matches. Korda, on the other hand, has had a strong performance and looks to continue her winning streak.

Nelly Korda advances in the LPGA Match Play tournament, aiming for her 4th consecutive win, while Rose Zhang falters. Korda faced a tough match against Angel Yin but emerged victorious with a 3 & 2 score. Leona Maguire also secured a win and will face Sei Young Kim in the semifinals. The winners will compete in the finals on Sunday.

Watch highlights from Leona Maguire’s quarterfinals and semifinals at T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards.

Leona Maguire talks with media following her rounds on Saturday at T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards.

Sergio Garcia leads the LIV Golf Miami tournament with a two-stroke lead going into the final round. Legion XIII is at the top of the team leaderboard, seeking their second win of the season. The final round is set for a shotgun start at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Cameron Smith had to withdraw from the LIV Golf Miami event due to food poisoning, affecting his preparations for the Masters. Despite the setback, he is expected to recover in time to play in the Masters at Augusta.

Brooks Koepka's poor round at the LIV Miami event has diminished his chances of winning the Masters. After a frustrating five-over par round, he is now eleven shots behind the leader, Sergio Garcia. Despite Koepka's past successes and love for the big stage, his recent performances have not been promising. Unless he can find some form in the next five days, he is unlikely to be a contender at the Masters.

In the LIV Golf Miami tournament, the RangeGoats GC led by Bubba Watson will need to catch up to Legion XIII. Kieran Vincent is performing well for Legion, while Adrian Meronk has the opportunity to claim the first title for Cleeks GC. Talor Gooch is confident in high-pressure situations, and Cameron Smith had to withdraw due to food poisoning.

Lottie Woad has won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur by finishing with birdies on the 15th, 17th, and 18th holes. She finished at 8-under, one stroke ahead of Bailey Shoemaker. Woad's final round was a 3-under 69, and her birdie putt on the 18th hole sealed her victory.

Bailey Shoemaker's impressive performance at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur ended in heartbreak as she was overtaken by Lottie Woad in the final round. Shoemaker's fast-paced play and bogey-free 66 put her in the lead, but Woad's late surge secured her a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Despite the disappointment, Shoemaker remained positive and expressed her desire to return for another chance at winning the prestigious event.

Lottie Woad, the winner of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, has earned exemptions into four LPGA Tour major championships, including The Chevron Championship, the U.S. Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship, and the AIG Women's Open. This is a significant achievement for Woad, who is looking forward to competing alongside the best players in the world on the biggest stage in women's golf. She will have until Tuesday to decide if she will enter The Chevron Championship.

Jasmine Koo, a USC golf signee, tied a record in the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur by scoring two eagles. Despite a rocky start, Koo finished the event in fourth place with a score of 3-under par. Her performance earned her two pairs of crystal highball glasses.

Lottie Woad won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur with a birdie-birdie finish, while Bailey Shoemaker, an alum of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, finished runner-up with a bogey-free, 6-under 66. Other Girls Golf alumni who made the cut had varying finishes in the tournament.

Taya Buxton, a college golfer from Augusta's Paine College, had the opportunity to be a marker in the Augusta National Women's Amateur final round for the second year in a row. She performed well, shooting in the mid- to high 70s and even paring the difficult 12th hole. As a marker, she didn't post a score and picked up on a few holes. Buxton's experience from last year helped calm her nerves, and she enjoyed playing alongside Texas freshman Lauren Kim. Her family also made the trip to support her.

The Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) has had a significant impact on women's amateur golf, capturing the attention of aspiring players and golf fans alike. The event, established by Augusta National Golf Club, has inspired young women to take up the sport and has provided a platform for women's golf to gain more recognition. The tournament has showcased talented players and has helped elevate the women's game to be discussed in the same conversation as men's professional golf. The success of the ANWA has also translated into success for players like Rose Zhang, who went on to win in her professional debut on the LPGA Tour. Overall, the ANWA has played a crucial role in changing the landscape of women's amateur golf in just five years.

Tiger Woods will be accompanied by his veteran caddie, Bennett, at the Masters tournament. Bennett has previously worked with Matt Kuchar, Sungjae Im, and Davis Riley, among others. Woods and Bennett have a good relationship and have worked together before. Woods' previous caddie, Joe LaCava, left to work with Patrick Cantlay. Woods has had a limited playing schedule recently due to illness and injury but is looking forward to the challenge at the Masters.

The record for the worst single-round score ever seen at The Masters belongs to Charles Kunkle, who shot a total of 95 in 1956. Despite facing challenging weather conditions and limited practice, Kunkle's score remains the highest in tournament history. However, Billy Casper could have surpassed this record with a score of 106 in 2005, but he chose not to submit his scorecard, keeping Kunkle's record intact.

Butch Harmon has advised Rory McIlroy to relax and enjoy himself at The Masters as he aims to complete his career Grand Slam. Harmon, a renowned swing coach, worked with McIlroy on his short-iron play and mindset ahead of the tournament. Harmon emphasized the importance of McIlroy being himself and not putting excessive pressure on himself. McIlroy, who has not won a Major in nearly 10 years, is hoping to secure his first Green Jacket at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy is making desperate moves to finally win a Green Jacket at the Masters. Despite his history of runner-up finishes, McIlroy has not been able to secure a win at the Masters. This time, he is avoiding the famous Par-3 contest and changing his schedule by playing multiple events before the Masters. He has also resigned from his position as Player Director of the PGA Tour to focus more on his game. It remains to be seen if these changes will help him complete his Career Grand Slam.

Keegan Bradley credits Phil Mickelson's Augusta National scrapbook for providing valuable insights and guidance for the upcoming Masters tournament. Mickelson's notes on certain putts and tricks have been helpful to Bradley and other golfers like Matt Kuchar. Mickelson's extensive knowledge of Augusta National is documented in his notebook, which has proven valuable for players preparing for the tournament.

Ludvig Aberg remains confident and focused despite the challenge of his Masters debut. The Swedish golfer is excited about playing in his first major and hopes to continue his good form. Aberg acknowledges the significance of Augusta but remains focused on the ongoing tournament at TPC San Antonio. He has shown impressive performances recently, with multiple top 10 finishes, showcasing his skills and confidence in his abilities.

Former Masters champion Danny Willett is uncertain about his participation in the 2024 tournament due to a shoulder injury. Willett, who won the Masters in 2016, underwent surgery last year and is still in the process of recovering. Despite his desire to compete and regain the title, he remains unsure if he will be fit in time for the tournament.

Kevin Roy and Philip Knowles share the third-round lead at the Club Car Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. Knowles leads the field with 18 birdies, while Roy secures his second 54-hole lead of the season. Georgia Southern alum Steven Fisk is one shot behind the co-leaders. Final-round pairings will run from 7:55 a.m. through 1:25 p.m. ET off the first tee.

Butch Harmon believes LIV Golf players will be competitive at The Masters, stating that they are well-prepared and talented. He suggests that the relaxed atmosphere and lack of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points can be addressed by expanding tournament fields and playing 72 holes. Harmon expects players like Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann to be strong contenders at Augusta.

Tyrrell Hatton has deleted his social media accounts due to the negativity he encountered after joining the Saudi-backed league. He expressed that negative comments hurt more than positive ones and called for a softer tone in the golf community. Hatton's decision to delete his accounts was tough but he wanted to avoid judgment and negativity. He urged fans to be more respectful online. Despite the criticism, Hatton has performed well in the LIV Golf league, consistently finishing in the top-25.

LIV Golf's Mito Pereira responds to Justin Thomas' remark about his upset at the 2022 PGA Championship, expressing his disappointment and desire for revenge. The exchange between PGA Tour pros and LIV Golf players continues, with the question of whether Pereira will defeat Thomas in a major.

Jon Rahm and other LIV Golfers are confident about their chances at the Masters. Despite the tough competition, Rahm believes that one of the LIV Golfers can win the tournament. Bubba Watson and Brooks Koepka share a similar opinion, hoping for success from their LIV colleagues. The Masters will showcase the skills of LIV Golfers like Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, and others, making it an exciting event to watch.

Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy have developed a friendship over the years, despite being rivals on the PGA Tour. Koepka looked up to McIlroy in his early career and admired his approach to the game. They now practice and live near each other in south Florida, which has strengthened their bond. They have good talks and enjoy playing together, finding humor in the golf world's happenings. Despite the scrutiny of their practice round at the Masters, they have no ill will towards each other and value honesty in their relationship.

The split between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league continues to impact the world of golf, even during the Masters at Augusta National. The PGA Tour has responded by increasing prize money and making changes to their tournament structure. However, the constant focus on money and politics has led to a decline in TV ratings and fan fatigue. While the Masters may still draw viewers, the presence of LIV players and the ongoing "golf wars" will be a storyline. Despite a ceasefire and talks of a merger, the tension between the two camps remains.

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.