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- Planet Golf News for Monday, February 3, 2025
Planet Golf News for Monday, February 3, 2025
Rory McIlroy wins when golf needed a Rory win | Nelly Korda makes late run, but A Lim Kim wins LPGA's 2025 season opener | Laurie Canter lands second DP World Tour title with playoff victory in Bahrain
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Monday, February 3, 2025
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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Rory McIlroy must be getting tired of all this winning. The Northern Irishman casually strolled his way to his 27th career PGA Tour title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, fending off a respectable but ultimately futile challenge from Shane Lowry. McIlroy’s six-under 66 in the final round brought him to a cool 21-under for the week, and despite a few competitors making brief appearances near the top, he never really seemed in danger of losing. A birdie here, an eagle there, and boom—another trophy for the collection. The guy even switched golf balls midweek, seemingly on a whim, and somehow played even better. At this point, the rest of the field should probably just start asking him for advice instead of trying to beat him.
Meanwhile, A Lim Kim wasn’t about to let Nelly Korda steal her spotlight at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Kim led from wire to wire, and even though Korda made a late charge with a 65, Kim answered with a clutch 67 to seal a two-shot win. Korda, for her part, seemed relatively content with her runner-up finish, because, well, she’s probably just used to it by now. With five top-fives in seven starts at this event, it’s becoming her annual tradition to play well and not win.
On the DP World Tour, Laurie Canter decided one win wasn’t enough and grabbed his second career title at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. The win came after a three-way playoff featuring Pablo Larrazábal and Dan Brown, with Larrazábal self-destructing on the final hole to hand Canter the chance to clean up the mess. And clean up he did, rolling in a playoff birdie while Larrazábal found the water. A tough break, but hey, that’s golf.
Speaking of winning, there was 45-year-old Josh Teater, who decided that winning for the first time since 2009 was a good idea. After 402 starts without a victory, he finally broke through at the same event, securing a long-overdue Korn Ferry Tour title. Patience, apparently, is a virtue.
Looking ahead, the always-rowdy WM Phoenix Open is set to host its last-ever Monday qualifier, because apparently, we can’t have nice things. The tournament, famous for its stadium-like 16th hole and beer-slinging fans, is expected to feature 15 of the world’s top 30 players. No word yet on whether the crowd will behave, but considering it’s Scottsdale, we already know the answer.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy took a break from winning to voice his displeasure with certain PGA Tour venues, suggesting that the schedule could use a little more excitement. Given that he just bagged a win at Pebble Beach, he might be onto something. At least one golfer didn’t have to worry about dress codes—Jason Day showed up in a full sweatsuit at Pebble Beach, embracing peak athleisure. At this rate, we’re just a few months away from someone teeing off in pajama pants.
As for LIV Golf, Bryson DeChambeau finished four shots behind Ollie Schniederjans at the International Series India, which just proves that even a seven-under final round isn’t enough to erase a slow start. Meanwhile, Lottie Woad had the unfortunate experience of watching her college teammate Mirabel Ting collect yet another win, proving that dominance isn’t exclusive to the pro tours.
All in all, it was another busy weekend in golf, filled with wire-to-wire winners, blown leads, and McIlroy being, well, McIlroy. Up next: the Phoenix Open, where the beer flows like water, and someone will inevitably lose their mind on the 16th hole. Golf season is well and truly underway.
Today’s Top Golf News
Major Golf Tournaments from this past weekend
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - PGA Tour - Spyglass Hill GC & Pebble Beach Golf Links - Pebble Beach, CA
Rory McIlroy emerged victorious at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, securing his 27th PGA Tour title with an impressive final round performance. The Northern Irishman carded a six-under 66 on Sunday to finish at 21-under par for the tournament, two shots clear of his nearest competitor, Shane Lowry.
McIlroy, who began the day one shot behind leader Sepp Straka, made his move on the back nine with a stunning stretch of golf. He played a six-hole stretch in five under par, including an eagle on the par-five 14th hole that gave him a commanding four-shot lead. This burst of scoring proved decisive as McIlroy comfortably closed out the victory.
Shane Lowry put up a valiant effort with a strong finish, recording five birdies in his last eight holes to claim solo second place. Justin Rose and Lucas Glover tied for third at 18-under par, with Rose making a final-hole eagle to boost his position on the leaderboard.
The tournament, which featured a star-studded field and a $20 million purse, saw several other notable performances. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, finished tied for ninth in his first start of 2025 following minor hand surgery. Tom Kim and Sepp Straka, who held the 54-hole lead, couldn't maintain their challenge and slipped down the leaderboard on Sunday.
McIlroy's victory marks a strong start to his 2025 PGA Tour campaign and continues his excellent form from the previous year. The win at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links adds another prestigious title to his already impressive resume and sets a positive tone for the rest of his season.
The tournament was completed without any weather-related disruptions, unlike the previous year when the final round had to be postponed due to severe conditions. The successful conclusion of the event showcased the beauty and challenge of Pebble Beach, cementing its status as one of the premier stops on the PGA Tour calendar.
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Stories
Rory McIlroy wins 27th PGA Tour victory at 'one of the cathedrals of golf' at Pebble Beach
Rory McIlroy claims 27th PGA Tour victory at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Points and payouts: Rory McIlroy takes home $3.6M, 700 FedExCup points at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy in Rare Air Winning AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am For 27th PGA Tour Win
Rory McIlroy in Rare Air Winning AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am For 27th PGA Tour WinRory McIlroy holds off Shane Lowry to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy wins at Pebble Beach as bold PGA Tour plan delivers immediate results
After victory at Pebble Beach, Rory McIlroy said winning at iconic venues is awesome
Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament at Champions - LPGA - Lake Nona Golf & Country Club - Orlando, FL
A Lim Kim of South Korea secured a wire-to-wire victory at the LPGA Tour's season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. Kim finished with a final round of 5-under 67, reaching a total of 20-under 268 for the tournament. She held off a late charge from Nelly Korda, who finished second, two strokes behind.
Kim's victory was sealed with an impressive finish, as she made three birdies in her last four holes. This included a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to emphatically close out the tournament. The win marks Kim's third LPGA title and her second wire-to-wire victory, following her triumph at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii last year.
Korda, who had a stellar 2024 season with seven wins, made a strong push on Sunday with a 7-under 65. She briefly tied Kim for the lead after a birdie on the 15th hole, but Kim quickly responded to regain control. Korda expressed satisfaction with her runner-up finish to start the 2025 season.
Sweden's Linn Grant secured third place, finishing five strokes behind Kim. Minjee Lee of Australia had a remarkable final round, shooting a tournament-low 10-under 62 to tie for fourth place alongside Jin Young Ko.
Defending champion Lydia Ko, who began the final round four shots off the lead, struggled early with three bogeys in her first six holes. She ultimately finished in sixth place with a final round of 70.
In the celebrity category of the tournament, former NHL player Joe Pavelski emerged victorious, scoring 36 points using Stableford scoring to win by five points over Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets.
The tournament, which features only winners from the past two seasons, saw Kim as the sole player to card all four rounds in the 60s. Her victory sets a strong tone for her 2025 campaign and establishes her as a player to watch in the coming season.
Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship - DP World Tour - Royal GC - Al Mazrowiah, Bahrain
Laurie Canter emerged victorious in a thrilling finale at the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, securing his second DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion. The Englishman triumphed in a three-way playoff against Pablo Larrazábal and Dan Brown after all three players finished regulation play tied at 14-under par.
The final round saw a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly for Larrazábal, who appeared to be on the verge of claiming his 10th tour win. However, a costly three-putt bogey on the 18th hole dropped him into the playoff, squandering his one-shot lead.
In the playoff, Canter showcased his skill and composure. After Larrazábal found water with his tee shot, Canter seized the opportunity with a superb approach shot that left him with a short birdie putt. He confidently sank the putt to clinch the title, while Larrazábal's hopes faded with a missed par attempt.
The tournament provided plenty of excitement throughout the day. Canter's final round of 69 included an eagle on the par-four sixth hole, while Brown matched his score with a solid 70. David Puig made a strong charge with the day's best round of 64, finishing in a tie for fourth place at 13-under par alongside Richie Ramsay, Ivan Cantero, and Martin Couvra.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Canter, coming just a year after his maiden DP World Tour win at the European Open. The win at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain not only cements his status on the tour but also provides a substantial boost to his career, with the champion's share of the $2.5 million purse and valuable Race to Dubai points.
The Bahrain Championship, part of the DP World Tour's 'International Swing', once again proved to be a compelling event, showcasing the depth of talent on the tour and providing golf fans with an enthralling conclusion to the tournament.
The Panama Championship - Korn Ferry - Club de Golf de Panama - Panama City, Panama
Josh Teater emerged as the winner of the 2025 Panama Championship, securing his second Korn Ferry Tour title. Teater clinched a come-from-behind victory on the final day of the tournament at Club de Golf de Panama in Panama City, Panama. He shot an impressive 5-under 65 in the final round to win the tournament by two shots, finishing with a total score of 9-under 271.
Teater's victory earned him the top prize of $180,000 from the total purse of $1,000,000. In addition to the monetary reward, he also gained 500 Korn Ferry Tour points, which are crucial in the race for PGA Tour cards. The win also boosted his world ranking, as he earned approximately 14.85 Official World Golf Ranking points.
The tournament saw a tight competition for the runner-up positions, with Dylan Wu, Johnny Keefer, and Nick Gabrelcik all tying for second place at 7-under par. Hank Lebioda, the current Tour leader, finished in solo fifth place at 6-under par, maintaining his solid form in the Korn Ferry Tour.
This victory at the Panama Championship, which is a significant event on the Korn Ferry Tour calendar, marks an important milestone in Teater's career and positions him well for the rest of the 2025 season.
Upcoming: WM Phoenix Open
Today’s Best Golf Videos
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS

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