Planet Golf News for Sunday, May 5, 2024

Taylor Pendrith, chasing Presidents Cup berth, rides back-to-back eagles to THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson lead

Sunday, May 5, 2024

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Kim mature beyond his years at CJ Cup Byron Nelson

[ THE LEADERBOARD ]

Today’s Top Golf News in Two Minutes

Good Morning,

This weekend in the world of golf, there's plenty going on to keep fans on the edge of their seats or, more realistically, comfortably lounging on their couches.

Over at LIV Golf, CEO Greg Norman is brushing off the doom and gloom around TV ratings and coverage woes with a bit of bravado, thanks to a shiny new partnership with Google and the prospect of tapping into a younger, richer audience. The season's been looking up with more eyes on tournaments spanning from Mexico to Hong Kong. Norman's confident the upswing in viewership isn't just a fluke.

Meanwhile, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson is delivering some serious drama. Taylor Pendrith, despite a nagging shoulder issue, is gunning for his first PGA Tour win and leading the pack after smashing a tournament record. Hot on his heels is young Kris Kim, the 16-year-old English amateur who's been turning heads and nearly aced a hole-in-one, setting records and challenging seasoned pros.

As if that's not enough excitement, the weather gods are rolling in with potential thunderstorms that could shake up the final round at Byron Nelson. Over in Singapore, LIV Golf's own Brooks Koepka is making headlines, holding a three-shot lead and possibly finding his form just in time before the PGA Championship. Amidst this, there's a little locker room drama with Patrick Reed, who’s got fans and foes alike raising eyebrows over a locker room flop shot gone wrong.

Back in the states, the Insperity Invitational is trying to keep up with Mother Nature herself, having just squeezed in 36 holes after severe weather threw the schedule out of whack. Scott Dunlap is currently leading, proving that a little rain can't dampen his spirits.

And speaking of weather disruptions, the Volvo China Open also faced its share of drama with a thunderstorm forcing the event to cut down to a 54-hole affair. Sebastian Söderberg is sitting pretty with a lead, but with final rounds pushed to a quick Sunday finish, it’s anyone's game.

So, whether it’s Norman's confidence in LIV’s future, young guns firing on all cylinders, or the unpredictable weather playing its part, the golf world is anything but boring. Just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a flop shot in a locker room to keep things interesting. Stay tuned, because this game's always got another surprise just around the bend.

[ Today’s Top Stories ] 

Golf Tournaments happening this week

CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Today, Saturday, at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament, Taylor Pendrith took the lead by one stroke after 54 holes, tying the tournament record with his 54-hole score of 194. Kris Kim, a 16-year-old English amateur, made history by becoming the youngest player to make the cut at the Byron Nelson, surpassing records held by Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth. Kim carded a third straight under-par round with a 1-under 70, nearly pushing his name into contention with a series of early birdies, including a near hole-in-one on the par-3 4th hole. Taylor Pendrith, facing the challenge of a persistent shoulder injury, is poised for his first PGA Tour victory, showcasing resilience with a third-round 63 to take a one-stroke lead at 19 under. Despite an injury-plagued start to the spring, Pendrith's talent shone through, with his short game making a significant difference in his performance. Jake Knapp, the overnight leader, had a frustrating middle portion of his round, allowing Pendrith to take the lead.

LIV Golf Singapore

Saturday, at the LIV Golf Singapore tournament, Brooks Koepka took a significant lead. He is ahead by three shots as the tournament enters its final round. This performance marks the third time in the last 18 LIV Golf regular-season tournaments that Koepka has held a three-shot lead going into the final round.

Insperity Invitational

Scott Dunlap is leading the Insperity Invitational. He holds a one-shot lead over Joe Durant and Stuart Appleby after completing 36 holes. The tournament faced a significant disruption due to severe weather, which led to the cancellation of play on Friday, May 3. Consequently, tournament officials revised the schedule to accommodate the completion of the first two rounds on Saturday, May 4.

Volvo China Open

On Saturday at the Volvo China Open golf tournament, the third round was cancelled due to thunder and lightning in Shenzhen. As a result, the tournament was shortened to a 54-hole event. The final round was scheduled to be played today, Sunday, in a two-tee, three-ball format starting at 8:00 am.

Overheard in the Locker Room

UPCOMING TOURS

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