Planet Golf News for Thursday, January 30, 2025

A big weekend in golf on tap: Four Tournaments Start Today | Tom McKibbin Foregoes Rory McIlroy Advice To Join LIV Golf | PGA Tour contemplates announcing fines as part of study into slow play

Thursday, January 30, 2025

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Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes

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Tom McKibbin has decided to ignore Rory McIlroy’s wise elder statesman advice and take the Saudi-backed LIV Golf money, joining Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII squad. McIlroy, who has spent the last few years politely (and sometimes not-so-politely) telling young players that LIV Golf might not be the golden ticket they think it is, probably let out a sigh of disappointment. But McKibbin has made his call, presumably confident that the loss of certain PGA Tour perks—like a Ryder Cup slot—won’t outweigh the giant check he’ll be cashing.

Meanwhile, over on the PGA Tour, officials are apparently listening to the legions of fans who have been screaming at their TVs about slow play. They’re considering slapping players with fines if they dawdle too long over a putt or take five minutes to decide between a 9-iron and a wedge. And just to keep things interesting, they’re also mulling over the use of rangefinders, a technological advancement that could either speed things up or lead to even more confusion. The Tour is determined to be more “Fan Forward” these days, which is code for “we really hope you keep watching instead of defecting to LIV.”

Speaking of the PGA Tour, some of its biggest names are finally emerging from hibernation for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth are all making their season debuts, ensuring that golf fans will be paying at least as much attention to the actual competition as they are to the inevitable rain delays. Scheffler is coming back from a cooking accident—because apparently, even world-class athletes aren’t safe from kitchen hazards—while Spieth is testing out his surgically repaired wrist. With a $20 million purse and a loaded field, Pebble Beach should deliver some drama, assuming the weather cooperates.

Over on the LPGA Tour, the 75th anniversary season kicks off at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, where Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko will be among the headliners. The event also features a celebrity field, because nothing says serious competition like playing alongside Don Cheadle and Blake Griffin. Korda, fresh off an absurdly dominant 2024 season, is looking to continue her run of form, while Ko is hoping to remind everyone why she’s been one of the game’s most consistent stars.

And in case you were wondering, the DP World Tour is also in action, with the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship teeing off. Defending champion Dylan Frittelli is looking to keep his winning streak alive, while Alejandro del Rey is coming in hot after a breakthrough victory. Meanwhile, Mike Lorenzo-Vera is feeling “extra pressure” to perform, which is golf-speak for “I really don’t want to miss the cut.”

Elsewhere, the Korn Ferry Tour is kicking off its Latin America swing in Panama, Bryson DeChambeau is once again fiddling with his clubs in his never-ending quest for the perfect set of irons, and Jim Furyk has been named a U.S. Ryder Cup vice captain. Furyk, whose previous experience leading the Ryder Cup team in 2018 ended with the Americans getting steamrolled, will now get another shot at helping the U.S. reclaim the Cup.

Oh, and in case anyone was worried, Tony Finau and his wife Layla have officially evened the score with the birth of their sixth child—a girl—bringing their household to a perfect three-boys, three-girls ratio. Because even in family life, Finau somehow manages to stay balanced.

Today’s Top Golf News 

Today’s Feature Golf Reads

Major Golf Tournaments happening this week

At Pebble Beach, everybody's hoping for one simple thing

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - PGA Tour - Spyglass Hill GC & Pebble Beach Golf Links - Pebble Beach, CA

The 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is set to tee off today at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California. This year's tournament marks the second Signature Event of the PGA Tour season, featuring a star-studded field of 80 top golfers competing for a substantial $20 million purse, with $3.6 million going to the winner.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is making his highly anticipated 2025 PGA Tour debut after recovering from a hand injury. He'll be joined by other notable players including Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and defending champion Wyndham Clark. The event will showcase 17 of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Rankings, promising an exciting competition.

The tournament format includes two rounds with amateur partners before the pros play solo for the final two rounds at Pebble Beach. Golf fans can catch the action on Golf Channel for the first two rounds, with CBS joining the coverage for the weekend rounds. With its picturesque setting and elite field, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is shaping up to be a must-watch event for golf enthusiasts.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Stories

Brooke Henderson ditches the glasses for 2025, looks to end LPGA victory drought at TOC

Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament at Champions - LPGA - Lake Nona Golf & Country Club - Orlando, FL

The 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the season opener for the LPGA Tour's 75th anniversary year, is set to begin today at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. This prestigious event brings together LPGA Tour winners from the previous two seasons to compete for a significantly increased prize purse of $2 million, up from $1.5 million in previous years. The winner will take home $300,000 and 500 Race to CME Globe points.

The tournament features a unique format, combining top LPGA players with celebrities competing in a separate competition. Defending champion Lydia Ko will return to defend her title against a strong field including Olympic gold medalist Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson, and 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year Haeran Ryu. The celebrity lineup includes notable names such as actor Don Cheadle, NBA All-Star Blake Griffin, and soccer player Brandi Chastain.

The LPGA Tour and Hilton Grand Vacations have extended their partnership for five years, with plans to increase the tournament's purse to $2.5 million by 2029. This commitment underscores the growing prominence of women's golf and the Tournament of Champions as a showcase for the sport's top talent.

2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship: Top ranked players in the field, venue, purse and other details explored

Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship - DP World Tour - Royal GC - Al Mazrowiah, Bahrain

The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, part of the DP World Tour's International Swing, is set to begin today at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. This marks the second edition of the tournament, which features a prize purse of $2.5 million. Defending champion Dylan Frittelli returns to defend his title against a field that includes notable players such as Thorbjorn Olesen, Patrick Reed, and David Puig.

The event has attracted several top-ranked golfers, with Olesen being the highest-ranked player in the field at world No. 70. The tournament is part of a four-week stretch in the Middle East and follows the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

The Royal Golf Club course has undergone some alterations for this year's event, including new back tees on the 10th and 18th holes. A spectacular opening ceremony was held yesterday, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament. The event not only offers a significant prize fund but also valuable Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup points, making it a crucial stop for players looking to make their mark early in the 2025 season.

The Panama Championship - Korn Ferry - Club de Golf de Panama - Panama City, Panama

The Panama Championship, a Korn Ferry Tour event, is set to begin today at the historic Club de Golf de Panama in Panama City. This tournament marks the start of the Latin America swing for the Korn Ferry Tour and features a purse of $1 million.

The field is headlined by current Tour leader Hank Lebioda, along with other top-ranked players such as Kensei Hirata, S.H. Kim, Davis Shore, and Austin Smotherman. Smotherman enters the tournament with momentum, having achieved a streak of eight consecutive rounds at or below par to start the 2025 season.

The event is particularly significant as it's the third tournament for Dubai's Rayhan Thomas as an official Korn Ferry cardholder. Thomas is currently tied for 13th on the season-long Order of Merit, with the top 20 at the end of 2025 earning promotion to the PGA Tour.

The Panama Championship, now in its 21st year, continues to be an important stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, offering players a chance to earn valuable points towards their PGA Tour aspirations.

Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)

Today’s Best Golf Videos

What’s in the Bag (WITB)

Overheard in the Club House

UPCOMING TOURS

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