Planet Golf News for Sunday, March 10 2024

Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry are tied for the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with both players finishing the third round at nine-under 207. They were able to catch up to the leader, Will Zalatoris, who had a five-shot lead but made two double bogeys in the final five holes. Rory McIlroy also had a strong round, driving the par-four 10th hole and finishing four shots back.

Rory McIlroy's aggressive tee shot on the 10th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational ignited a red-hot back nine for him. Despite a struggle on the front nine, McIlroy's remarkable shot led to a birdie and sparked a series of birdies on the following holes. He finished with a 4-under 68, moving up the leaderboard and putting himself in contention for the tournament.

Wyndham Clark's actions on the 18th hole at Bay Hill Club and Lodge during the Arnold Palmer Invitational have sparked a debate among rules officials and analysts. While some believe Clark did not violate any rules and that the ball did not move, others, like Brandel Chamblee, argue that the ball did move and Clark should have been penalized. Ultimately, no penalty was given, and Clark finished the round with a bogey.

Abraham Ancer takes a commanding 5-stroke lead after two rounds of the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, shooting an 8-under 62. Ancer, with a two-round total of 15-under 125, is followed by Harold Varner III and Eugenio Chacarra tied for second. Joaquin Niemann, the winner of the previous LIV tournament, is 10 strokes behind Ancer. In team play, Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC leads with a 3-shot advantage. The Hong Kong tournament is part of the Asian swing of the LIV Golf series.

Abraham Ancer takes the lead at LIV Golf Hong Kong with an impressive 8-under 62, while Eugenio Chacarra credits a life lesson for his improved performance. Jon Rahm battles back after a triple bogey, and Harold Varner III shows resilience. Anthony Kim performs well with his best score since his return, and notable stats leaders include Danny Lee for driving accuracy and Abraham Ancer for greens in regulation.

During the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, golfer Adrian Meronk made a birdie shot on the 10th hole and threw the ball to the crowd as a souvenir. However, a fan trying to catch the ball fell off their chair. Meronk finished the tournament in a tie for seventh place. Abraham Ancer is currently leading the leaderboard.

Ben Kohles leads in the Puerto Rico Open as he shoots a nine-under 63, putting him in contention for his first PGA Tour title. Kohles had a strong finish with four birdies in his last five holes, securing a two-shot lead. The winner of the tournament will earn a spot in The Players Championship and the PGA Championship.

The Puerto Rico Open, held alongside the Arnold Palmer Invitational, offers valuable FedExCup points. Ben Kohles leads by two after Round 3 with a score of 18-under.

Lydia Ko and Bailey Tardy finished with 6-under-par 66s to join Sarah Schmelzel atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Blue Bay LPGA in China. They hold a two-shot lead over Ruixin Liu. Ko, a 20-time tour winner, is looking to add another victory to her record.

In just her second LPGA event as a pro, Canadian golfer Savannah Grewal fired a course-record 64 at the Blue Bay LPGA event in Hainan Island, China. Despite a double-bogey on the 12th hole, Grewal's impressive round put her in a tie for fifth place, just three shots behind the co-leaders. Grewal earned her tour card by finishing in the top 10 in the LPGA Q-Series and gave up her final year of eligibility at Clemson University to join the LPGA Tour.

After two days of play at the Florida's Natural Charity Classic, Ana Belac, Valery Plata, and Kiira Riihijarvi are tied for the lead with 18 holes remaining. All three players have experience on the LPGA Tour, with Riihijarvi and Plata having previously won on the Epson Tour. Riihijarvi had a strong round, making one bogey, five birdies, and an eagle, while Plata had a colorful scorecard with two bogeys, six birdies, and an eagle. Belac played in difficult conditions but managed to stay at the top with a 4-under 68.

Charley Hull fires a bogey-free 68 in the second round of the Aramco Team Series event in Tampa, taking the lead with a score of 8-under after 36 holes. She is aiming for her second victory in the tournament, facing competition from Carlota Ciganda and Alexandra Forsterling. The team event concluded with Pauline Roussin-Bouchard's side winning by one stroke on 28-under.

Over the past 50 years, the biggest change in professional golf has been the optimization of launch conditions, resulting in elite players hitting tee shots nearly 60 yards longer. Technological advancements in drivers and balls, along with the use of launch monitors, have allowed players to increase launch angle, reduce spin, and increase speed, leading to significant gains in driving distance. This optimization has transformed the game, with courses like TPC Sawgrass witnessing changes in hole strategies and average driving distances on the PGA Tour increasing by nearly 300 yards since 1980.

​Former PGA Tour winner Smylie Kaufman has transitioned from player to on-course analyst for NBC/Golf Channel. Injuries and poor performances led to his departure from the PGA Tour in 2021. Kaufman now finds joy in well-hit shots and serves as an on-course analyst, bringing a player's perspective to viewers.

The final episodes of Full Swing Season 2 focus on various storylines. Episode 4 follows Joel Dahmen's struggles with fame and parenthood. Episode 5 features Tom Kim's journey as a young golfer. Episode 6 revolves around the captain's picks for the Ryder Cup, with a spotlight on Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley. Episode 7 covers the build-up to the Ryder Cup and the team selections. The series concludes with Episode 8, which showcases the Ryder Cup matches and the emotions surrounding the event.

The Full Swing cast discusses whether PGA Tour players who turned down LIV Golf should be compensated. Rory McIlroy believes they should be, while Dustin Johnson has little sympathy for them. Justin Thomas expresses hesitancy over an easy return to the PGA Tour for these players. The documentary sparks conversations about the future of golf.

Lucas Glover expresses his dislike for the PGA Tour's signature events, calling them selfish and a money grab. He questions the need for drastic changes in the golf industry and suggests raising purses instead. Glover also raises concerns about the reduced field size and cuts in certain tournaments. He poses questions for PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan regarding the discrepancy in player numbers and cuts between signature events and the upcoming major tournament. Glover anticipates a future with fewer events featuring the top players and hopes to see positive changes in the game.

The Arnold Palmer Brand is launching a new line of golf and lifestyle apparel inspired by Arnold Palmer's personal style. The collection features custom fabrics and stylish silhouettes, including shirts, sweaters, and pullovers. It will be available in select golf clubs and retail locations in the US and UK starting in May. The collection is produced in Italy with luxe Italian fabrics and will be sold at a higher price point. The line will be sold through select retailers chosen by the brand.

This article highlights the best golf pants for men, including the top overall pick, the Bonobos Performance Link Pants, which are lightweight, stretchy, and suitable for all weather conditions. Other recommended options include Under Armour's Infrared Tapered Pants, Soothfeel's Slim-Fit Stretch Golf Pant, Peter Millar's Surge Performance Trouser, and more. The article provides details on each pair, including notable features and potential drawbacks, and offers insights from a tester who evaluated their comfort and performance.

Marlene Stewart Streit, Canada's first lady of golf, celebrates her 90th birthday. With a long list of golfing accomplishments, she emphasizes that golf is about the friendships made along the way. Streit won numerous titles, including the Canadian, Australian, British, and U.S. Women's Amateurs, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Despite never turning professional, she has no regrets and cherishes her amateur career representing Canada.

Martina Navratilova applauds NXXT Golf's new stipulation requiring competitors in the Pro Tour to be biological females at birth. She hopes that other sports will follow suit. Navratilova has been vocal about her opposition to transgender female athletes competing in women's sports, believing it puts biological females at a disadvantage.

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson responds emotionally after being banned by the women's professional golf Tour, NXXT Golf, due to a change in their gender policy. The policy now requires all competitors to be female at birth to maintain the integrity of women's professional golf. Davidson labels the ban as a "slap in the face to all female athletes" and highlights the misconception that she wins just by showing up, emphasizing the hard work and skill of female athletes. Other Tours, such as the Cactus Tour, have also reinstated a female-at-birth requirement in their gender policies.

Anthony Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, will be playing in the Asian Tour's International Series Macau next week as part of his return to professional golf with LIV Golf. Kim recently carded his best round with LIV Golf in Hong Kong and will join other notable golfers such as Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia in the tournament.

Rory McIlroy wants to make the PGA Tour more exclusive and cutthroat, despite the current debate over prioritizing stars over rank-and-file members. He supports having fewer players and tour cards, and believes in proving oneself year after year. McIlroy's idea aligns with the Tour's new structure of limited fields for designated events. However, only one of the four Signature events played so far has had a full field, and the PGA Tour is struggling to accommodate all its members in other events. McIlroy also suggests creating a global tour by combining the best events worldwide.

Rory McIlroy defended his opinion that the PGA Tour needed to be "more cut-throat" and expressed support for having fewer Tour cards available. His comments received mixed reactions, with some arguing for investment in developing new stars and more playing opportunities. McIlroy also discussed his desire for a world tour in golf, suggesting the inclusion of historic events to bridge the present with the past.

Lucas Glover criticizes the PGA Tour's Signature Events, calling them selfish and a money grab. He expresses dissatisfaction with the limited fields and elevated purses of these events and questions the need for such changes in the tour structure. Glover predicts a future with fewer events featuring the top players and suggests that the PGA Tour is following the LIV Golf model. He believes that this new direction will result in a Tour of the who's who and expresses concern about the reduced playing opportunities for good players.

Joaquin Niemann agrees with Rory McIlroy on the future of professional golf and the LIV Golf setup, supporting the idea of a global tour. Niemann, who has been in great form, also emphasizes the importance of national championships like the Australian Open in the worldwide schedule. The proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is still pending.

Tyrrell Hatton, a professional golfer, has expressed his dislike for the shotgun start format used in LIV Golf, a breakaway circuit he recently joined. Hatton mentioned that he prefers the idea of all players being on the golf course at the same time and suggested a two-tee start as an alternative. He also mentioned the challenges of the warm-up situation with the shotgun start. Despite his reservations, Hatton acknowledged that it may just be a matter of adapting to the new format.

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.