Planet Golf News for Sunday, March 3, 2023

Rory McIlroy's round at the 2024 Cognizant Classic took a turn for the worse when he failed to escape from a pond, resulting in a triple bogey. Despite adding a birdie at the closing hole, McIlroy finished with a one-over 72 and will need a strong performance to contend on Sunday.

Anthony Kim continues to struggle in the 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah tournament, carding a 6-over 76 for the second consecutive day. He is currently in dead last, 12 over par through 36 holes, and 25 shots behind the leader, Joaquin Niemann.

Jon Rahm's foul-mouthed outburst during the 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah tournament led to a commentator apologizing for his tirade. Despite his frustrations, Rahm's team finished as runners-up on the leaderboard. This is not the first time Rahm has been caught swearing during a tournament, as it has become a regular occurrence for him.

Joaquin Niemann takes a two-shot lead in the LIV Golf Jeddah tournament in Saudi Arabia after shooting a 6-under 64. Anthony Kim continues to struggle, shooting another 76 and falling 25 shots behind. Niemann, aiming for his second LIV win this year, is motivated by not being in the majors and is currently at 13-under 127.

Shane Lowry, David Skinns, and Austin Eckroat are tied for the lead at 13 under in the Cognizant Classic. Rory McIlroy had water trouble on the 16th hole, resulting in a triple bogey. Jacob Bridgeman made a strong move up the leaderboard with a 6-under 65.

A family in Palm Beach Gardens has made a tradition of sitting on their back porch with signs offering free beer to golf fans at the Cognizant Classic. The tradition started in honor of their former neighbor, Larry, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. While the signs have become a staple at the tournament, they no longer give out free beer due to competition with sales on the course. The family plans to start a hashtag, #TheBeerTrap, to bring more attention to the ritual and their friend's legacy.

The 2024 Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches concludes with the final round at PGA National Resort in Florida. Shane Lowry, Austin Eckroat, and David Skinns are tied for the lead at 13 under. They will compete for the win, with Lowry and Skinns teeing off in the final pairing at 1:40 p.m. ET. The final round can be watched on ESPN+, Golf Channel, and NBC. The complete Round 4 tee times for the 2024 Cognizant Classic are listed in the document.

Ayaka Furue, the shortest player on the LPGA at 5 feet tall, holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2024 HSBC Women's World Championship. The 23-year-old from Japan has proven herself as a top golfer, and a win in this major event would be a significant achievement early in her career. Furue's performance also has implications for her chances of representing Japan in the upcoming Summer Olympics.

Tiger Woods has been named the recipient of the 2024 USGA Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association. Woods is recognized for his commitment to sportsmanship, respect for golf's traditions, and his impact on the game as a 15-time major champion and nine-time USGA champion. The award ceremony will take place on June 12, 2024, during the week of the U.S. Open Championship.

Tiger Woods will be participating in the Seminole Pro-Am on Monday, marking his return to golf after withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational due to illness. He will join other golfers like Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in the event. Woods' participation in upcoming tournaments is yet to be confirmed.

Some golf pros are questioning the fairness of sponsor exemptions given to certain players for PGA Tour Signature Events. The focus is on Adam Scott and Webb Simpson, who have received multiple exemptions. Dylan Wu, a pro golfer, expressed his concerns on Twitter, suggesting that player directors may have an advantage in receiving these exemptions. This is not the first time that PGA Tour Policy Board members have been granted sponsor exemptions. The article highlights other players who may have been deserving of these exemptions.

Sergio Garcia's return to the Ryder Cup faces multiple hurdles, including paying off fines of £893,000 and reapplying for DP World Tour membership. He missed the first deadline for reapplication and may not be eligible for the next one. Even if he meets these requirements, he would still have to serve a nine-week ban before participating in any events.

Max Homa hilariously trolled LPGA host Hope Barnett when she asked for his opinion on her golf swing. Fans had hilarious reactions to Homa's trolling. In other news, Homa is not competing in the ongoing Cognizant Classic but will be participating in the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2024.

Golf legend Bernhard Langer will miss The Masters in April due to a torn Achilles tendon, but plans to make his final appearance in 2025. Langer, a two-time Masters champion, underwent surgery in February and is expected to recover in 4-6 months. He remains eligible to compete in the tournament as a result of his previous victories.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, will host back-to-back U.S. Open championships for men and women in 2036. This will be the second venue to do so after Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014. Shinnecock Hills has a rich history, hosting multiple USGA championships and being ranked highly on Golfweek's Best list. The decision to host both championships at Shinnecock Hills reflects its historic importance and provides an opportunity for fans to witness the best golfers compete for national championships in consecutive weeks.

The Cognizant Classic at PGA National has been visited by Egyptian geese, which are known to occasionally attack alligators. Despite their cute appearance, these birds can be aggressive.

Shinnecock Hills will host the first U.S. Women's Open in 2036, along with the 136th U.S. Open, becoming the first club to host back-to-back national championships. Shinnecock Hills, one of the USGA's founding clubs, has a rich history in golf and will provide an ideal stage for both men's and women's premier championships. The club has previously hosted six U.S. Opens, with the last one won by Brooks Koepka in 2018.

Anthony Kim's return to golf on the LIV tour in Saudi Arabia is seen as a ridiculous spectacle that highlights the focus on spectacle over substance in LIV Golf. Kim's performance in the event, including a memorable shank, is not surprising considering he last played tournament golf in 2012. His return is seen as motivated by money and vanity rather than a genuine desire to compete. The entire LIV tour is criticized as a soulless endeavor driven by greed and celebrity. While the gimmick may initially attract attention, it is ultimately seen as a cheap and empty product that lacks longevity.

The Seminole Pro Member event, dubbed "the first major of the year," will feature top golf professionals like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Nelly Korda. Held annually after the PGA Tour Florida Swing, this exclusive event attracts a competitive field of Tour pros, power brokers, celebrities, and CEOs. Woods will be playing for the first time, paired with the CEO of the PGA of America. The event precedes the Cognizant Classic and promises an exciting showcase of talent.

Under the current Rules of Golf in 2024, golfers are allowed to repair any damaged club during a round, regardless of the cause. However, lost golf clubs cannot be replaced during a round. This rule was changed to remove arbitrary and specific conditions for repairing or replacing damaged clubs. The previous rule had different provisions based on how the damage occurred, including options for repairing or continuing to use a club damaged in the normal course of play, restrictions on replacing a club damaged outside of normal play, and allowances for replacing a club damaged by outside influences or natural forces.

Golf fans criticize Anthony Kim for a bizarre rules mishap during the LIV Golf Jeddah tournament. Kim's ball went missing for seven minutes, exceeding the usual three-minute search time. The incident sparked confusion and reactions from the golf world, questioning LIV Golf's rule error and suggesting possible penalties for Kim. The ball's placement remains a mystery.

Paige Spiranac playfully asks Bryson DeChambeau for his Crushers GC winning ring after defeating him in a 3-hole game. DeChambeau praises Spiranac's game and jokingly refuses her request. In another news, DeChambeau impresses with a score of 63 in the first round of the LIV Golf Jeddah event.

An 'undercover pro' criticizes Jon Rahm's move to LIV Golf, suggesting it may prolong golf's civil war. Despite Rahm's desire to play PGA Tour events again, his switch to LIV Golf has not been well-received by his peers. The anonymous pro believes that Rahm's departure may further divide the golf community and blames him for breaking an unwritten code. The pro expresses a desire for the drama to end and fears that it may continue into the summer, with Rahm potentially receiving blame.

PGA Tour faced significant changes in the past two years, including the merger with LIV Golf and a $3 billion deal with Strategic Sports Groups. However, some players, like 4-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Berger, have expressed frustration over the changes in format and events, which have affected their participation and ability to defend titles. Berger sympathizes with the exhaustion faced by the tour leadership and appreciates the efforts of the player directors in managing the chaos in the golf world.

Andrea Lee, currently in 3rd place at the HSBC Women's World Championship, carries a Callaway bag with a Paradym Triple Diamond Driver, Rogue ST Max Fairway Woods, Apex 19 irons, and Callaway Chrome Soft X Golf Balls. She also uses a Callaway Mavrik Pro club, Callaway MD5 Jaws wedges, and an Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie DB Putter.

Thomas Detry faced a putting disaster at the Cognizant Classic, but his choice of putter, the Odyssey O-Works 7 DBL Bend putter, has been consistent and reliable. Detry's bag includes a Callaway driver, fairway wood, hybrids, and irons, all tailored to his playing style. His wedges are the Callaway Jaws Raw Face Chrome, and he uses Callaway's Chrome Tour X ball. Despite the incident, Detry's equipment choices remain crucial to his success on the PGA Tour.

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.