Planet Golf News for Sunday, September 8, 2024

Matt Wallace in the lead at European Masters

Sunday, September 8, 2024

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With son as caddie, Kevin Sutherland remains in contention at Norwood Hills

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

It’s a light Sunday in the golf world, but there’s still plenty of action brewing on both sides of the Atlantic. As the NFL kicks off in full swing, golf fans can enjoy a slightly quieter day on the course with a few key events still delivering excitement.

At the Omega European Masters, players faced some serious challenges during the third round thanks to unforgiving 35mph winds. The high-altitude Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in the Swiss Alps turned into a battleground, with even seasoned pros struggling. Nicolai von Dellingshausen saw his ball blown into a lake, while Eddie Pepperell carded a quadruple-bogey after hitting the water twice. The tough weather conditions sparked discussions about the course setup, especially with players calling out harsh pin positions. Matt Wallace, who began the day with a four-shot lead, fought through the gusts to hold onto his lead despite a 3-over 73. With one round left, Wallace is still ahead by four strokes, but it's been a brutal fight against Mother Nature.

Meanwhile, stateside at the Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis, the final round is shaping up to be a tight one. Stewart Cink and Y.E. Yang are neck and neck at 8-under, both hungry for a win. Cink is chasing his second victory in two weeks, while Yang is aiming for his first PGA TOUR Champions title. Kevin Sutherland, with his son Keaton as his caddie, is just two shots behind, adding a personal touch to his competitive weekend. Bernhard Langer, a familiar name in the mix, posted a bogey-free round of 67, keeping himself within striking distance at 6-under. With a crowded leaderboard, today’s final round promises some serious drama as these legends fight for the trophy.

In a bit of exciting news for the future, Stifel Financial Corp. has been named the title sponsor of the St. Louis PGA TOUR Champions event starting in 2025, ensuring the tournament will continue for at least three more years. The event has already raised over $2.6 million for charity since its inception, and Stifel's involvement signals even greater things ahead for the St. Louis golf scene.

So while the golf schedule may be a bit light this Sunday, there’s no shortage of thrilling moments ahead. Whether you’re tuning in to see who can conquer the high winds in Switzerland or watching some of the PGA TOUR Champions' best battle it out in St. Louis, it's still a great day to be a golf fan – even if the NFL is grabbing most of the attention.

[ Today’s Top Golf News ] 

Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend

Ascension Charity Classic - PGA Tour - Norwood Hills Country Club - St. Louis, MO

Yesterday the second round of the Ascension Charity Classic at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri concluded with Stewart Cink and Y.E. Yang sharing the lead at 8-under par. The tournament, now in its fourth year, has seen scores get lower each year, with last year's winner finishing at 19-under.

Kevin Sutherland, using a left hand-low putting grip, remained in contention at 6-under par, just two strokes behind the leaders. Sutherland, with his son Keaton as his caddie, expressed emotional satisfaction about spending quality time with his son during the tournament.

Bernhard Langer, a consistent contender at Norwood Hills, carded four birdies without a bogey to follow an opening round 69 with a 67, putting him in a tie with Sutherland and Rod Pampling, two shots off the lead.

The tournament field includes six of the top-10 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, 17 PGA TOUR Champions major winners, and five World Golf Hall of Fame members. Notable players include Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal, and Retief Goosen.

It was also announced that the tournament would continue for at least three more years, with Stifel becoming the new title sponsor, replacing Ascension. This decision was reportedly made recently, ensuring the event's future in St. Louis.

The final round on Sunday promises to be competitive, with seven golfers starting within three strokes of the leaders, leaving the door open for players like Bernhard Langer and Justin Leonard to make a move.

Ascension Charity Classic Videos

Omega European Masters - DP World - Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club - Crans Montana, Switzerland

On Saturday Matt Wallace maintained his lead at the Omega European Masters despite challenging weather conditions in the Swiss Alps. After starting the day with a four-shot advantage, Wallace battled through high winds to card a third-round 73, mixing six bogeys with three birdies. He finished the day at 11-under par, still holding a four-shot lead over his nearest competitor.

The difficult conditions affected the entire field, with only three players managing to shoot under-par rounds for the day. Alfredo Garcia-Heredia of Spain sits in second place at seven-under par after an impressive 71 in the tough conditions. England's Andrew Johnston and Sweden's Henrik Norlander are tied for third at six-under par.

Wallace described the day as "brutal" and "really hard," noting that the high winds made play extremely challenging, especially on certain holes like the 17th which he called "potentially impossible." Despite dropping shots, Wallace maintained that his main goal was to keep his lead intact, which he successfully accomplished.

The leaderboard saw significant movement due to the difficult conditions, with many players struggling to maintain their positions. Jonas Blixt of Sweden carded the round of the day with a 68, climbing up to a tie for 9th at four-under par.

With one round remaining, Wallace will look to close out the tournament on Sunday and secure the victory, while also hoping to catch the eye of Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for potential team

Omega European Masters Videos

Solheim Cup (9/13-9/15) - LPGA - Robert Trent Jones Golf Club - Gainesville, VA

Presidents Cup (9/26-9/29)-PGA - The Royal Montreal Golf Club - LLe Bizard, PQ

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

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.

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