Planet Golf News for Friday, March 22, 2024

Kevin Streelman leads at the Valspar Championship with a 7-under 64, thanks to a new ball marker that helped with alignment. He had 10 consecutive one-putt greens and birdied all four par 5s. Other notable performances include Kevin Roy with a round of 65 and Carl Yuan with a 66. The forecast for the next day includes rain and strong gusts.

Patrick Cantlay has withdrawn from the Valspar Championship amid talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF. Cantlay, one of the Player Directors, expressed his interest in meeting with the PIF to discuss the deal. The negotiations have involved the Player Directors, who now have voting rights on the decision. Cantlay emphasized the importance of representing the entire membership and listening to both sides. The outcome of the talks will determine the future of professional golf.

J.B. Holmes has withdrawn from the Valspar Championship just minutes before his tee time. This news was announced by the PGA Tour Communications account. Holmes' withdrawal reduces the field to 152 players, and he was scheduled to play alongside Adam Hadwin and Zach Johnson. The Valspar Championship is Holmes' sixth opener of the season, and he is currently playing under a Major Medical Extension on the PGA Tour.

Robert MacIntyre's caddie bib at the Valspar Championship serves as a reminder of the European Ryder Cup victory in Rome, where MacIntyre played a key role. The bib displays the final score of the Ryder Cup, showcasing MacIntyre's pride in the win.

Maude-Aimee LeBlanc surged to the lead in the LPGA Seri Pak Championship with a bogey-free 64, finishing with three consecutive birdies. She holds a one-stroke lead over American rookie Malia Nam, who shot a 65. LeBlanc praised her ball-striking and putting, while Nam credited her familiarity with the course. Yuka Saso, Madelene Sagstrom, Alison Lee, and Lauren Hartlage are tied for third place.

Alison Lee, coming off an injury and a frustrating start to the season, found inspiration and confidence from golf legend Fred Couples. Lee's positive mindset, along with practice and encouragement, helped her shoot a 5-under 66 in the opening round of the Palos Verdes Golf Club tournament.

Danielle Kang achieved her 17th hole-in-one during the opening round of the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. Kang hit a 5-iron exactly as planned on the par-3 11th hole, landing the ball short and letting it run up to the hole. Kang considers 17 to be her lucky number, with several significant events in her career associated with that number.

New moms Sophia Popov and Caroline Masson are making their return to the LPGA at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. Both players took time off to have children and are excited to be back on tour. They express admiration for other moms in sports and acknowledge the physical challenges of returning to golf after giving birth. Despite the challenges, they are grateful for the opportunity to compete and appreciate the new perspective that motherhood brings.

Yuka Saso talks with media following her opening round at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship.

Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang talk with the media following their opening rounds at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship.

This article provides a ranking of the 13 best bets to win at Augusta National in the 2024 Masters tournament. The top picks include Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Jason Day, Will Zalatoris, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, and Wyndham Clark.

Several top golfers will not be participating in this year's Masters Tournament at Augusta National, including Bernhard Langer, Louis Oosthuizen, Talor Gooch, Francesco Molinari, Kevin Kisner, Robert MacIntyre, Billy Horschel, and Abraham Ancer. The absence of these players creates an opportunity for others to shine at the prestigious event.

Tiger Woods, a five-time Masters champion, is included in the official tournament field list, indicating his potential participation in the upcoming Masters at Augusta National. Despite limited appearances due to his car accident in 2021, Woods has a strong history at the Masters, winning the tournament five times. This year's Masters is scheduled to take place from April 11-14.www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2024/03/21/2024-masters-tiger-woods-official-tournament-field-list/73056196007

So Yeon Ryu, a two-time major champion in professional golf, has announced her retirement at the age of 33. Ryu expressed gratitude for her career and the support she received, and her final event will be the Chevron Championship next month. She had a successful career, winning six times on the LPGA and 10 times on the Korean LPGA, and was ranked No. 1 in the world for 19 weeks in 2017.

After the first round of the Atlantic Beach Classic, Lauren Stephenson and Sarah White lead the field with impressive scores of 8-under 63. Despite challenging weather conditions predicted for the next round, both players delivered exceptional performances. White's round was particularly noteworthy as she overcame a slow start and made five birdies in her last nine holes. Stephenson, a veteran of the LPGA Tour, displayed consistency throughout her round, making six birdies and an eagle. The tournament will be streamed live for the next two days.

Tiger Woods was seen watching his son Charlie as he made his debut in the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournament in North Carolina. Charlie, who recently turned 15, received a sponsor's invite to compete in the Will Lowery Junior Championship. Tiger has been supportive of his son's golf career, even carrying his bag in previous tournaments. Charlie has been competing in junior events and is currently ranked 957th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking.

Tiger Woods has been included in the official Masters entry list at Augusta, marking his return to the 2024 golf season. After his previous withdrawal and injury, Woods' inclusion has excited fans who are eager to see him play again. The Masters will take place from April 11 to 14 at Augusta National Golf Course.

Justin Thomas explains that his putting stats have been bad this season due to certain events not being considered in the statistics, leading to a skewed representation. He acknowledges the importance of statistics but highlights their limitations, especially early in the season. Thomas remains focused on improving his putting and aims to end his winless drought on the PGA Tour.

Parker McLachlin, a former pro-turned-teacher known as the "Short Game Chef," claims to have helped over 100 people overcome the chipping yips through his online course and yips program. While he acknowledges that the yips can be a combination of technical and mental issues, he has seen significant improvement in golfers with technique and philosophy changes. McLachlin finds fixing the yips rewarding and has successfully helped golfers regain confidence in their short game.

NBC's new Friday afternoon golf TV show, Happy Hour, starring Smylie Kaufman and a rotating cast of PGA Tour stars, has garnered attention for its entertaining and unbuttoned approach. The show aims to make NBC's golf broadcast sound more casual and engaging, with Kaufman providing a mix of humor and insight from the ground of each week's PGA Tour event. This innovative format represents a shift in golf TV and could play a significant role in shaping the future of the sport on television.

Caddies on the PGA Tour are subject to a strict set of regulations outlined in the 2024 PGA Tour player handbook. These regulations cover various aspects, including fines for certain actions, dress code requirements, restrictions on behavior, and limitations on access to certain areas. Caddies play a crucial role in the game and are required to adhere to these regulations to maintain their privilege to caddie on the PGA Tour.

Golf Pride has introduced Reverse Taper putter grips that are wider at the bottom to reduce lower-hand tension and improve the putting stroke. The grips come in three shapes and sizes and are made with polyurethane for softness and texture. They aim to optimize each hand in the stroke and work together for better putting performance.

Jordan Weber, the winner of an indoor simulator league, has earned a spot in the DP World Tour. Through the partnership between Trackman and the European Tour, Weber will participate in three Challenge Tour events and one DP World Tour event after finishing first in the league's Order of Merit. Weber's victory in the Tour's final event secured his place, marking his second win of the season and earning him over $90,000 in earnings.

Paige Spiranac, the golf's glamour girl, gets in the March Madness spirit by posing in a racy basketball outfit. She swapped her golf clubs for a basketball to show support for the NCAA basketball tournaments. Spiranac's post on social media garnered attention from fans as the college basketball competitions kicked off with some dramatic games.

If you can't attend the 2024 Masters at Augusta National but still want Masters merch, participate in the Masters Fantasy game to have a chance to win prizes including golf balls, headwear, umbrellas, tournament chairs, pin flags, and more. The game allows users to create pools and compete for daily prizes and overall grand prizes. International participants from India and Mexico are also eligible to compete.

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.