- Planet Golf News
- Posts
- Planet Golf News for Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Planet Golf News for Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Good Good Buys an Ownership Stake in TGL Franchise | TPC Scottsdale: The Course That Hosts Golf's Biggest Party | Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko among the golfers to compete in the Founders Cup at the Bradenton Country Club
| OWGR | FedExCup Points | TUGR | Subscribe |
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie

Marie Birdie is a clothing brand dedicated to providing young women with the sense of empowerment and individuality. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores. NOW OPEN the Marie Birdie Store @ 7170 S Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, FL
[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
If you love golf, chaos, and possibly regrettable decisions, welcome to the busiest week in the sport. The WM Phoenix Open is back at TPC Scottsdale, bringing with it the usual combination of elite golf and a fanbase that behaves more like it’s at a college football tailgate than a professional golf tournament. Scottie Scheffler, fresh off a T9 finish at Pebble Beach and returning from hand surgery, is the favorite to win, because, well, that’s what he does here. He’s already won twice and is looking for a three-peat. Meanwhile, defending champ Nick Taylor and Jordan Spieth are hoping to crash the party. Oh, and if you’re planning on joining the festivities, Scottsdale police are very much ready to keep the shenanigans in check—so maybe call an Uber instead of attempting to navigate your way home after a few too many.
Elsewhere, the world of professional golf remains as dramatic as ever. Phil Mickelson, the man who loves a controversy as much as he loves a wager, is missing the LIV Golf opener in Riyadh due to a minor shoulder injury—because apparently even the gym is dangerous at his age. His replacement? Ollie Schniederjans, who just won on the Asian Tour and now gets to tee it up in LIV Golf’s first-ever night tournament. Yes, you read that correctly. The breakaway league is playing under the lights in Saudi Arabia, because why not? Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka is out there making motivational speeches to his team like he’s coaching the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey squad.
Back on the PGA Tour, Charley Hoffman has had enough of slow play and lack of commitment, so he sent a strongly worded letter to his fellow players—because that always works. His message? Play faster, show up, and stop pretending non-PGA Tour events are the cool kids’ table. Speaking of changes, the Tour has decided that Monday qualifiers are overrated and will be axing them at seven events starting in 2026, leaving aspiring pros with one less shot at the big leagues. Naturally, a bunch of current Tour players who once Monday-qualified their way into stardom aren’t thrilled about it.
On the LPGA side, the Founders Cup is set to kick off at its new home in Florida, with Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and Rose Zhang headlining. Oh, and surprise! Lexi Thompson is back. After announcing her retirement in 2024, she’s making a return, because retirement is apparently more of a suggestion than a rule in professional golf. She’s also engaged now, so congratulations to her.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy is out here playing 4D chess with his golf game, winning at Pebble Beach and reclaiming his spot atop the European Ryder Cup standings. Captain Luke Donald is already making his wish list for Bethpage Black, but Viktor Hovland might not make the cut. Over in Morocco, the PGA Tour Champions are teeing it up at the Trophy Hassan II, while the DP World Tour has taken over Qatar with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters—where, for reasons unknown, not a single top-50 player decided to show up.
In other random yet somehow important golf news, Rickie Fowler is embracing his inner hunter and debuting a camo gear collection with Puma and Realtree at the WM Phoenix Open. Meanwhile, Minjee Lee switched to a long putter and immediately fired a career-best 62, proving once again that putting is witchcraft. And the PGA Merchandise Show showcased a bunch of recovery devices, because apparently, golf is now just as much about post-round ice baths as it is about hitting fairways.
And finally, if you’ve ever wondered how many strokes you should get from a U.S. Open champion, Wyndham Clark suggests four to six for a scratch golfer, because even major winners enjoy a little “jolly golf.” Also, Rory McIlroy says he’s trying to be more disciplined in his game—translation: fewer ridiculous hero shots, more wins. Shane Lowry made a cool $600,000 on a single putt at Pebble Beach, and a Florida golf course that hosts a PGA Tour event just got sold to a private equity firm, because what isn’t getting bought up these days?
So, there you have it—a week so packed with golf drama, tournaments, and absurdity that even the most dedicated fans will struggle to keep up. Buckle up, golf world. This one’s going to be a ride.
Today’s Top Golf News
Today’s Feature Golf Reads
Major Golf Tournaments happening this week
TGL - PGA Tour - SoFi Stadium - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
The TGL golf league, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, continues its inaugural season with a highly anticipated match tonight between Boston Common Golf and Los Angeles Golf Club. Scheduled for 9 PM EST at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the match will feature Boston's Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Adam Scott against Los Angeles' Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Rose. This tech-enhanced league combines simulator-based long shots with real short-game play on an adjustable green, creating a fast-paced and engaging format.
Boston Common Golf enters as one of the league's strongest teams but will face stiff competition from Los Angeles Golf Club, which is among the favorites for the season title. Fans can expect an intense two-hour showdown as both teams aim to secure critical points in this groundbreaking league.
WM Phoenix Open - PGA Tour - TPC Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
The 2025 WM Phoenix Open, one of the most anticipated events on the PGA Tour calendar, kicks off this week at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona from February 6–9. Known as "The Greatest Show on Grass," the tournament is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, particularly at the iconic 16th hole, and coincides with Super Bowl weekend. The field features top players, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is seeking his third title at this event after victories in 2022 and 2023. Scheffler recently returned to competition following hand surgery and finished T9 at Pebble Beach. Defending champion Nick Taylor, who won last year in a playoff, also returns to compete alongside other notable names like Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, and FedExCup leader Sepp Straka.
The tournament offers a $9.2 million prize pool and serves as the final event of the Aon Swing 5 stretch, with players vying for entry into The Genesis Invitational. Matsuyama, a two-time winner at TPC Scottsdale, enters after a mixed start to the season but remains a fan favorite. Meanwhile, Straka has emerged as a strong contender following his recent victory at The American Express and a T7 finish at Pebble Beach. The course itself, a par-71 layout spanning 7,261 yards, is renowned for its challenging design and festive atmosphere that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators annually.
Founders Cup Pres by U.S. Virgin Islands - LPGA - Bradenton Country Club - Bradenton, FL
The 2025 Founders Cup presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands is set to take place from February 6-9 at the Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Florida. This marks the first full-field event of the LPGA season and coincides with the LPGA's 75th anniversary celebration, honoring its founding members while showcasing current and future stars of women's golf. The tournament will feature a competitive field of 118 players, including World No. 1 Nelly Korda, defending champion Rose Zhang, Lydia Ko, and Brooke Henderson, among others. The Bradenton Country Club, known for its historic Donald Ross-designed course, will host the event for the first time.
Trophy Hassan II - PGA Tour Champions - Royal Golf Dar Es Salam - Rabat, Morocco
The 49th Trophy Hassan II, part of the PGA Tour Champions, is set to take place from February 6-8, 2025, at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco. This prestigious event will feature a 66-player field competing over 54 holes on the Red Course for a total purse of $2.5 million. Notable participants include past champions such as Stephen Ames, Colin Montgomerie, and Brett Quigley. Ames, the defending champion, aims for a rare double-defense after his dominant performance last year.
Simultaneously, the Ladies European Tour's Lalla Meryem Cup will be held on the Blue Course, featuring top female golfers, including five Moroccan players. Both tournaments are held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI and showcase Morocco's commitment to hosting world-class golf events. The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, a renowned venue designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., provides a challenging setting for these competitions.

LIV Golf's six new signings as breakaway league brings in fresh faces for 2025
LIV Golf Riyadh - Riyadh Golf Club - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The LIV Golf season is set to kick off this week with its inaugural event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring a groundbreaking night tournament at the Riyadh Golf Club. The event, scheduled for February 6-8, 2025, will mark the first time a LIV Golf tournament will be played under lights, with tee times set for after sunset. This innovative approach aims to attract a wider audience, particularly in the US market, thanks to the tournament's new television agreement with Fox Sports.
The Riyadh event will showcase 13 teams of four players competing in the 54-hole strokeplay format with no cut. The tournament offers a substantial purse, with $20 million for individual play and an additional $5 million for team competition. Notable favorites include Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, and Bryson DeChambeau.
In recent news, Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the opening event due to a minor shoulder injury sustained during preparation. His spot will be filled by Ollie Schniederjans, who will now face Bryson DeChambeau in the tournament.
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters - DP World Tour - Doha GC - Doha, Qatar
The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a prestigious event on the DP World Tour, is set to tee off this week at the iconic Doha Golf Club in Qatar. The tournament, scheduled from February 6 to 9, 2025, marks the 28th edition of this historic competition and is part of the International Swing, the second of five Global Swings that define the opening phase of the DP World Tour's 2025 season.
This year's event boasts a prize fund of $2.5 million, with the winner set to receive $425,000. The tournament has attracted a strong field of international players, including former champions Eddie Pepperell, Ewen Ferguson, Jorge Campillo, and Antoine Rozner. Recent DP World Tour winners such as Elvis Smylie, Laurie Canter, Dan Bradbury, Daniel Gavins, Marcel Siem, and Angel Hidalgo are also in the lineup, promising an exciting competition.
However, last year's champion, Rikuya Hoshino from Japan, will not be returning to defend his title. Hoshino, who secured his first DP World Tour victory at this event in 2024, has since earned a PGA Tour card and is focusing his efforts on competing in the United States.
The Doha Golf Club, which has hosted the Qatar Masters since 1998, will once again serve as the backdrop for this prestigious event. Designed by Peter Harradine, the par-72 course measures 7,374 yards and was carved out of the desert, presenting a unique challenge to the players.
Astara Golf Championship pres. by Mastercard - Korn Ferry - Country Club de Bogota-Lagos - Bogota, Columbia
The Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard, a Korn Ferry Tour event, is set to take place this week at the Country Club de Bogota-Lagos in Bogota, Colombia. This tournament marks the fourth event of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season and is part of the tour's international swing.
The event holds significant importance as players compete for valuable points on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, with the ultimate goal of securing one of the 30 PGA TOUR cards available for the 2026 season. The tournament has a history of producing exciting moments, including Cristobal Del Solar's record-breaking 57 in the previous year's edition, which stands as the lowest round in PGA TOUR-sanctioned history.
As the players prepare to tee off, the field is expected to feature a mix of rising stars and experienced professionals all vying for a strong finish. The Country Club de Bogota-Lagos course is known for its challenging layout and will test the players' skills across all aspects of their game.
The Astara Golf Championship is one of seven international events on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour schedule, highlighting the tour's global reach and its role in developing talent from around the world.
Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)
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. Now available at select PGA Tour Superstores.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up HERE for FREE