Planet Golf News for Wednesday, March 6, 2024

LIV Golf, the upstart league challenging the golf establishment, has decided to drop its efforts for recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) due to the rankings' perceived inaccuracy. LIV believes that the longer it goes without receiving points, the less the rankings reflect their mission. The league's decision highlights the ongoing tension between LIV and the PGA Tour, as they negotiate a joint venture to resolve their feud. LIV now plans to work with the organizers of the major championships to create a pathway for its players.

International captain Mike Weir has confirmed that LIV Golf League players will not be competing in the 2024 Presidents Cup. This decision, made by the PGA Tour, is consistent with the exclusion of LIV Golf players in the 2022 Presidents Cup. The exclusion means that players like Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Smith, and Brooks Koepka will not be participating in the event.

The 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to begin at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando. The tournament features a limited 69-player field with top players and increased prize money. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, while Rory McIlroy is being faded by experts due to recent form. Viktor Hovland is seen as a strong contender, having had success at Bay Hill in previous years.

Scottie Scheffler has made a significant equipment change at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, switching from a blade putter to a mallet putter. Despite impressive stats in other areas of his game, Scheffler has struggled with his putting, ranking 144th in Strokes-Gained Putting. In an effort to improve, he has opted for a TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter and made adjustments to the length and alignment of the putter.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy lead a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. FanDuel Research's Brandon Gdula and Jim Sannes discuss the favorites, betting value, and top DFS picks for the event in their golf podcast.

The LIV Golf Hong Kong Team Power Rankings provide an overview of each team and their predicted order of finish for the individuals. The current top-ranked team is CRUSHERS GC, followed by TORQUE GC, STINGER GC, SMASH GC, and Legion XIII. The rankings also highlight notable performances and expectations for each team.

Phil Mickelson's future in the LIV Golf circuit is uncertain as his playing contract nears its end. Despite a recent top-10 finish, Mickelson's performance has been inconsistent since joining the league in 2022. There are rumors that his next contract might be a non-playing one. However, Mickelson has shown that he can still compete at the highest level, as demonstrated by his strong performance at the 2023 Masters.

Since joining LIV Golf, players have experienced significant drops in the Official World Golf Ranking. While some players like Jon Rahm have maintained their ranking, others like Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey have fallen by hundreds of spots. Martin Kaymer has experienced the largest drop, falling 3,148 places. Only four players remain in the top 50. LIV Golf's next event will take place in Hong Kong.

A new federal bill aims to put golf courses on “par” with other architectural designs by expanding federal copyright protection to golf courses. Copyright law in the United States, rooted in the U.S. Constitution, ensures protection for “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression” (17 U.S.C. § 102(a)). This broad definition covers everything from literature to music to photographs, and — since a 1990 amendment to the Copyright Act — the design of buildings.

Lauryn Nguyen, a junior at Northwestern University, will be participating in the Augusta National Women's Amateur golf tournament. Born to Vietnamese refugee parents, Nguyen's passion for golf has been a way to connect with her family's story and pursue her dreams. She sees golf as a privilege and has learned valuable life lessons from the sport. Nguyen's participation in the upcoming tournament will test her patience and skills against top amateurs from around the world.

Tiger Woods and Tom Brady participated in the Seminole Pro-Member Golf Tournament, but didn't perform well. Woods and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh finished tied 44th with a gross score of 70, while Brady and Tony Finau tied 30th with a gross score of 69. The best gross score was 64 by Frank Edwards and Mackenzie Hughes, and the top net score was 62 by John Pinkham and Erik van Rooyen. Other notable participants included Rory McIlroy, Shane Battier, Rob Manfred, Justin Thomas, and Ernie Els.

Discover 11 of the best night-golf courses in the United States, including Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Fla., Cloud 9 at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev., Heartwell Golf Course in Long Beach, Calif., and more. These courses offer illuminated play and unique experiences for golfers after dark.

Quiet Golf presents its Spring 24 Collection, featuring an extensive wardrobe with earthy tones and new core golf pieces. Highlights include the QG Tour Polo, QG Cardigan, Players Shorts, and Pennant Chino Shorts. The collection also includes t-shirts, crewneck sweaters, hats, and more.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is accused of disrespecting golf legend Jack Nicklaus by not informing him about the behind-the-scenes discussions and framework agreement with LIV Golf's Saudi backers. This has led to a loss of trust and power for Monahan, with high-profile players like Tiger Woods potentially being seen as a future commissioner. Monahan has admitted to handling the situation poorly and took a medical leave of absence due to the stress of the announcement.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, and Justin Thomas will join Rory McIlroy in the Genesis Scottish Open from July 11-14, 2024. Fitzpatrick returns after winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Rose aims for a second victory, and Thomas looks forward to competing in the country where he made his professional debut.

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.