Tag: Stricker

Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland sit one-shot behind Kurt Kitayama heading into the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with the defending champion Scheffler looking to claim the No 1 spot in the world rankings with a win.

Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy are in contention at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Kurt Kitayama shot an even-par 72 to take a one-shot lead into Sunday.

Hatton, who was victorious at the event in 2020, sits two shots behind Kitayama in fourth after shooting a bogey-free six-under 66 on Saturday.

McIlroy, too, escaped bogey-less as he finished four-under on the round to tie for fifth alongside Harris English, leaving him three shots back.

“I think any time you can go bogey-free on the weekend at Bay Hill you’re doing something right,” McIlroy said. “I got myself right into the tournament, into the thick of things for tomorrow.”

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Kurt Kitayama reflected on being top of the leaderboard at the end of day three at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he looks to get into the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Kitayama steadied himself down the stretch as he closed with two birdies over the last three holes to leave with an even-par 72 and a one-shot advantage, the 30-year-old keeping himself pursuing a first PGA Tour victory.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler meanwhile had five birdies over his last seven holes to finish with a 68 and one shot behind along with Viktor Hovland of Norway (66), the latter of whom was runner-up last year.

McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Max Homa all were within range of Kitayama if he were to lose ground or if Bay Hill was baked and brittle as it typically is for the final round.

For now, Kitayama held his own.

“Just proud of the way I fought,” he said.

His two-shot lead was gone when he sent his drive well to the right and out-of-bounds on the par-5 fourth hole, and he went out in 39 as Hovland planted himself at the top and McIlroy made his move with a remarkable bogey-free round of 68.

But breathing down his neck is Scheffler, who has already successfully defended one title this year at the WM Phoenix Open.

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A look at Tyrell Hatton’s best shots on day three of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He took care of both par 5s on the back nine, hit a lob wedge at a scary pin on the 13th for birdie, and saved his best for the par-3 17th. Even with the wind at his back, his only hope was to hit something that stayed on the brick-hard green. The first thought was a soft 9-iron. He felt the wind switch and decided to hammer 9-iron, and it settled 4 feet for birdie.

Scheffler capped off his birdie-birdie-birdie finish with an approach to six feet on the 18th.

Now the Masters champion is in range of another title that could be enough to take him back to No. 1 in the world.

“Should be another fun one,” he said. “That’s what’s exciting about our new schedule. I think we’re going to have a lot more of this stuff. I’m sure Viktor’s looking to beat me this year and I’m looking to do the same. There’s a lot of talented guys on the leaderboard, though. I’m not going to be too focused on anybody else other than myself going into tomorrow.”

Jon Rahm finds himself in danger of losing top spot in the rankings, opening with a 65 before following with two straight 76s after making five straight bogeys around the turn in the third round.

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Lilia Vu shot an immaculate round of eight-under 64 to recover from six strokes back and overhaul local favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap; Vongtaveelap’s hope for forcing a play-off was dashed on the final hole

American Lilia Vu rode a hot putter to claim her maiden LPGA crown with a one-shot victory over home favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap at the LPGA Thailand on Sunday.

Trailing the local rookie by six strokes at the start of the day, 25-year-old Vu unleashed eight impressive birdies, including five straight from the eighth hole to end her campaign with an immaculate round of eight-under 64 for a 22-under 266 total at Siam Country Club Old Course.

“Yesterday my dad told me that just one good round and I could win. That’s all I kept thinking about,” said Vu, whose maiden tour victory came after three third-place finishes in 2022.

“Basically today I just blacked out and tried to birdie every single hole I could,”

Vu was trailing by six strokes at the start of the day

The UCLA alumni came up short again at the Ladies European Tour in Saudi Arabia last week where she settled for another third place.

“I knew I was going to win, it was just when… and I finally did,” she added.

Vu became the third American to triumph in the event after Lexi Thompson in 2016 and Jessica Korda in 2018.

Playing her first LPGA tournament, Vongtaveelap’s lack of experience took a toll with the 20-year-old golfer enduring a mixed final round featuring seven birdies offset by a double bogey and four bogeys to sign off with a one-under 71 and 267 overall.

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap missed her chance to force a play-off on the final hole

Her hope for forcing a play-off was dashed after her birdie attempt at the last landed a foot away from the pin.

Thailand will have to wait for a second local winner after former No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn prevailed in the 2021 edition.

Another Thai golfer, Atthaya Thitikul, was third after a final-round 68 got her to 268.

Maja Stark of Sweden and French Celine Boutier settled at joint-fourth on 271, one ahead of top-ranked Lydia Ko, who finished joint-sixth on 272.

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Jon Rahm replaced Scottie Scheffler as world No 1 after finishing two shots ahead of Max Homa at the Genesis Invitational, where Tiger Woods also made a comeback; Download and subscribe to the latest Sky Sports Golf podcast

Jon Rahm’s dominance, an eventful comeback for Tiger Woods and more players switching to LIV Golf feature in the latest edition of the Sky Sports Golf podcast.

Henni Koyack and National Club Golfer editor Alex Perry join regular host Josh Antmann to reflect on another busy week in the sport, where Rahm secured a fifth worldwide win in nine starts and moved back to world No 1 with Genesis Invitational victory.

The panel discuss whether Rahm can continue his hot streak during the Florida Swing and beyond, plus give their take on Max Homa’s runner-up finish and an encouraging return to PGA Tour action from Woods.

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Koyack – a good friend of Woods – gives her view on the scrutiny surrounding the 15-time major champion giving Justin Thomas a tampon for outdriving him during the opening round at Riviera, plus describes how he performed in his first non-major PGA Tour start since October 2020.

There’s chat around Thorbjorn Olesen’s impressive DP World Tour victory and whether he could be a dark horse to feature at the Ryder Cup this autumn, plus about the news surrounding Team Europe hopeful Thomas Pieters being among the LIV signings for the new season.

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Highlights from day four of the Thailand Classic at the Amata Spring Country Club

Lydia Ko’s Saudi Ladies International victory also gets a mention, along with the launch and success of the ‘Full Swing’ series on Netflix – accessible by Sky customers via Sky Q and Sky Glass.

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Watch the DP World Tour and PGA Tour action again this week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage from the Hero Indian Open begins on Thursday from 7.30am on Sky Sports Golf, with Featured Group coverage from the Honda Classic then beginning at 12.30pm on the same channel ahead of full coverage from 7pm.

Tiger Woods carded a final-round 73 to finish tied-45th in PGA Tour comeback; 15-time major champion was making his first official appearance since The Open in July; Woods expected to feature at The Masters from April 6-9

Tiger Woods admits he is unsure whether he will play competitively again before The Masters after making an encouraging return to PGA Tour action at the Genesis Invitational.

Woods marked his first competitive start since The Open last July – and first PGA Tour appearance outside of a major since the Zozo Championship in October 2020 – with a final-round 73 at Riviera Country Club.

The 15-time major champion has regularly stated he would be unable to commit to a full playing schedule, following career-threatening injuries sustained in a car crash in February 2021, although Woods remains hopeful of competing in all four majors

Tiger Woods has never won at Riviera Country Club

“Well, I am sure you will see me in some place,” Woods told CBS. “Competitively, I don’t know.

“My goal each and every year from here going forward is to play in all the majors – I am not going to play too much more than that. My body and my leg and my back just won’t allow me to play much more than that anymore.

“So that was my goal last year and I was able to play three of the four and this year, I can hopefully play all four. That is going to be my schedule going forward because of all of the limitations I have.”

Woods birdied his opening hole but made three bogeys in a five-hole stretch from the sixth, then mixed two birdies with as many bogeys on the back nine to end under par for the tournament.

“My game is fine,” Woods said after his final round. “Yeah, it is rusty. I made some silly mistakes here and there and I didn’t quite pick up the speed of the greens each and every day fast enough, like I normally would if I was playing.

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Tiger Woods carded an impressive four-under 67 on day three of the the Genesis Invitational as he continued his return from injury.

“But overall, I feel like I hit the ball like I have been hitting it at home. I just had to bring it out here where I had to walk from point A to point B and that was always the difficulty of it.

“I am just so thankful for all my team for getting me ready each and every night, morning, to at least give myself a chance to go out there and play. I was able to do it.”

Tiger Woods played alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Kramer Hickok on the final day in California

The story of Tiger’s Sunday

Woods recovered from missing the opening fairway to roll in a 15-foot birdie at the par-five first and holed from 12 feet at the third to save par, having found the greenside bunker with his approach.

The former world No 1 got up and down from the back off the fourth green to continue his bogey-free start but missed from four feet to save par at the next, with Woods then failing to convert an eight-foot birdie chance after a brilliant tee shot at the par-three sixth.

Woods found fairway bunkers off the tee at both the eighth and ninth, leaving him unable to get up and down on both occasions and seeing him close a front-nine 37 with successive bogeys, then failed to take advantage of the par-five 11th after two-putting from eight feet.

The 47-year-old responded to a poor pitch from the rough and dropped shot at the 12th by holing a long-range birdie at the par-four next to get back under par for the tournament, only to card a three-putt bogey at the 15th to slip back level-par for the tournament.

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Tiger Woods produced a moment of magic by holing a long-range birdie from off the 13th green during the final round

A brilliant tee shot at the par-three 16th set up a third birdie of the day for Woods, who failed to add to his tally at the par-five next and then signed off an encouraging week with a two-putt par at the last.

When could Woods return?

Woods could consider the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 2-5 his next competitive start, an event he has won a record eight times at Bay Hill, although that would leave limited recovery time from this week’s appearance in California.

Will Tiger Woods compete in all four majors for the first time since 2020?

The Players at TPC Sawgrass would be another option a week later, with this year’s event marking the 10th anniversary of Woods’ second victory at the PGA Tour’s flagship event.

Should Woods decide against competing in either of the two Florida-based events, then it would be unlikely we would see him back in action before the opening men’s major of the year at Augusta National.

Woods finished 47th at The Masters last year and will be hoping to improve on that performance from April 6-9, live on Sky Sports, four years on from winning the Green Jacket for a fifth time.

Rafa Cabrera Bello bounces back from a double bogey at the iconic 17th hole at Amata Spring Country Club to take a two-shot lead; watch the second round live on Saturday from 5.30am on Sky Sports Golf

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello overcame a setback at the iconic 17th hole at Amata Spring Country Club to claim the halfway lead in the Thailand Classic.

After starting from the 10th and making birdies on the 11th and 12th, Cabrera Bello ran up a double bogey on the 17th, which has an island green only accessible by boat, but responded with seven birdies in the next nine holes and covered his inward nine in just 30 shots.

The resulting 65 gave the former Ryder Cup player a halfway total of 13 under par and two-shot lead over Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen part of a six-strong group on 10 under.

“The 17th is a tough hole and it was pretty windy,” Cabrera Bello said. “I got a wind gust, I didn’t hit that bad of a shot, but it is what it is.

“I just kept my head down and kept focusing on what I was doing. The birdie on 18 put me right back on track and I played an excellent front nine.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work over the break on my swing and trying to make it better. I feel some weeks it really clicks, other weeks it’s not quite there.

“I’m trending in the right direction and happy the swing is feeling good this week and I’m making good scores.”

Kiradech Aphibarnrat is enjoying the experience of playing on home soil

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat lies four shots off the lead after adding a bogey-free 67 to his opening 68 and is relishing the experience of playing on home soil.

“It’s amazing. It’s one of the best moments I’ve had in the last two years,” Aphibarnrat said.

“Playing in front of my family, my dad, my mum, my wife was walking around yesterday, my manager, my friends. It’s been a lovely week so far.

“I haven’t seen many Thai fans over the first two rounds, but over the weekend there are a bunch of them coming over. It has been a pleasure to play at my home course as well, Amata Spring is such a lovely golf course.”

Watch the Thailand Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 5.30am on Sky Sports Golf.

Scottie Scheffler claimed a fifth PGA Tour victory and a first win since The Masters with a successful title defence at TPC Scottsdale; Rory McIlroy finished tied-32nd and loses world No 1 ranking for the first time since October

Scottie Scheffler ended Rory McIlroy’s stint at the top of the world rankings after completing a successful title defence with a two-stroke victory at the WM Phoenix Open.

Scheffler held off a strong challenge from playing partners Jon Rahm and Nick Taylor during a thrilling final round at TPC Scottsdale, with a bogey-free 65 enough to earn the American a fifth PGA Tour title and a first since April.

The 26-year-old carded an eagle and four birdies to end the week on 19 under and comfortably ahead of closest challenger Taylor, who birdied the last to match Scheffler’s final-round 65, with Rahm five strokes off the pace in third.

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Scottie Scheffler reacts on winning the WM Phoenix Open and returning to world No 1 at TPC Scottsdale

Victory sees Scheffler becomes the seventh player to successfully defend his title in Phoenix and moves him to fifth in the FedExCup standings, with his latest success also meaning he will jump above McIlroy – who ended the week tied-32nd – as world No 1.

How Scheffler returned to world No 1

Rahm and Taylor immediately halved Scheffler’s overnight advantage with birdies at the first, only for the Masters champion to roll in from 10 feet at the par-four next to restore his two-shot cushion.

Scheffler converted from a similar distance at the par-five third to match the birdies of his playing partners, including from 20 feet by Rahm, then holed a crucial par-save at the fifth after a poor first putt ran 10 feet past the hole.

Rahm had made an up and down from the fifth fairway – after pitching out from behind a tree before birdieing the next to move within one of Scheffler, with Taylor rolling in from 35 feet to join the Spaniard in tied-second.

Nick Taylor mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey during the final day

Taylor scrambled par at the seventh and claimed second on his own when Rahm bogeyed the next, with the Canadian joining Scheffler in making a close-range birdie at the ninth to stay one behind at the turn.

Scheffler lost his outright advantage when Taylor flicked a wedge at the tenth to three feet and made a fifth birdie of the round, while Rahm had to make a 20-footer just to save par at the next and remain within three of the lead.

Jon Rahm was chasing a third PGA Tour victory of the year

Taylor took advantage of the par-five 13th but found himself one behind when Scheffler drained a 30-foot eagle to get to 18 under, while Rahm made birdie and then salvaged a par at the 15th after almost holing from the drop zone.

Scheffler received relief from near the grandstand at the par-three 16th and recovered from an average chip to nail a 15-foot putt for par, which was enough to extend his lead when Taylor failed to get up and down from left of the putting surface.

Scottie Scheffler’s victory is his fifth PGA Tour title and first in 10 months

Another birdie at the driveable par-four 17th extended Scheffler’s cushion heading to the final hole, where a par was enough to claim his first win of the season and make him the first player since Hideki Matsuyama to make back-to-back Phoenix Open victories.

Taylor birdied the last to claim solo second and Rahm – one of three players who could end the week as world No 1 – finished third with a three-under 68, while four birdies in the last six holes lifted Justin Thomas to fourth spot.

Jason Day’s back-to-back 68s over the weekend earned the Australian a top-five finish and England’s Tyrrell Hatton was in the group a further shot back, while a hole-in-one at the par-three seventh from Rickie Fowler helped him finish in a share of tenth on 10 under.

Scheffler “proud” to be back No 1

Scheffler’s successful title defence comes at the same venue where he made his breakthrough PGA Tour title win 12 months ago, with the latest victory seeing him returning to the world No 1 ranking he held for 30 weeks from his WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play win last March to McIlroy’s successful CJ Cup title defence in October.

“I’m just proud with how I fought today,” Scheffler said. “I didn’t have my best stuff, but I grinded it out. I wasn’t hitting it good off tee, my irons didn’t feel as sharp, but I played a great round of golf today.

“I started to build some momentum early today and saw some putts go in, so I’m really grateful with the result. It [returning to world No 1] feels pretty good!”

What’s next?

The PGA Tour heads to California next for the Genesis Invitational, where 23 of the world’s top 25 and all the leading players in the FedExCup standings are due to feature at Riviera Country Club.

Tournament host Tiger Woods will headline the field as he makes his first official start since missing the cut at The Open in July, with the event his first appearance in a non-major PGA Tour event since the Zozo Championship in October 2020.

Watch the Genesis Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 2.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 7pm.

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‘Full Swing’ is a new Netflix documentary series following the biggest names in golf across the PGA Tour, majors and more; eight-part series launches from February 15 on Netflix, which can be accessed by Sky customers via Sky Q and Sky Glass

Former world No 1 Jordan Spieth hopes the PGA Tour can follow in Formula 1’s footsteps and bring a new audience to golf with the launch of a new behind-the-scenes Netflix series.

Full Swing is a new immersive series following some of the biggest names in golf throughout the PGA Tour season, both of and off the course, with cameras also covering all four of the men’s majors and the storyline of the power struggle involving the Saudi-backed LIV golf circuit.

All eight episodes are available from Wednesday February 15 on Netflix – which can be accessed by Sky customers via Sky Q and Sky Glass – with Spieth joining players including Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick in a stellar line-up.

Matt Fitzpatrick is among the players to feature in Full Swing. Credit: Netflix © 2023

Formula 1: Drive to Survive has received rave reviews since its debut in 2019, with its never-before-seen footage and interviews, and Spieth is eager to see if a golfing equivalent can bring the same increase in interest.

“Well, I’m an F1 fan because of Drive to Survive,” Spieth said. “I’m one of however many million Americans that it reached and went outside of your typical F1 fanbase, which was already massive and global.

“For golf to see the Drive to Survive success and then have the opportunity to be a part of trying to get out of the typical golf fanbase, kind of what [F1] did, get global with it. 250m members (approximate Netflix total) is larger than your typical who tunes in to see a round of PGA Tour golf!”

What can we expect?

The opening episode – titled “Frenemies” – focuses heavily on childhood friends Spieth and Justin Thomas, tracking the pair in all areas of their life and sharing unseen footage from last May’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

“I had a blast,” Spieth added. “I gave access in places I don’t normally and shared a lot of it with Justin [Thomas].

“We really, really enjoyed that process of kind of giving a glimpse into what our day-to-day is, given how close we are.

“Then the [other] names that showed up in order to do it, especially this last year with how wild professional golf was. I mean, what a year to start filming! So you get that kind of access, too.

“It should have a pretty profound impact on growing the game of golf and hopefully brings more fans to the PGA Tour specifically, but it was really cool to see the majors step in as well and offer that kind of access that they don’t normally give.”

Jordan Spieth is among the players set to feature in the new Netflix series

Gabe Spitzer, documentary series director at Netflix, said it was a “no brainer” to jump into the project once it had the support from golf’s biggest tours, while Chad Mumm, chief creative officer with Vox Media Studios, is excited to see sports fans enjoy the finished product.

“We were really lucky to have amazing access, not just from the governing bodies of the sports, the PGA Tour and all the majors, but from players like Jordan and his peers who let us into their lives in a way that I don’t think anyone’s ever seen before,” Mumm said.

“This will be pro golf like you’ve never seen. We’ve had cameras in places where cameras are never allowed before. We spent a ton of time with players off the course and really get a chance to get inside the world of professional golf. Get ready for a deep, new look.”

Watch “Full Swing” from Wednesday February 15 on Netflix, which can be accessed by Sky customers via Sky Q and Sky Glass. Non-subscribers can get Sky Sports here.

Keep up to date with all the latest golf news, reviews of the week’s tournaments and a look ahead to forthcoming events with our podcast; if you would like to contact the podcast then you can tweet Josh using @JoshAntmann or email at golf@skysports.com

On this week’s Golf Podcast, host Josh Antmann is joined by Rob Lee and journalist Ewan Murray, with Jon Rahm’s stunning start to the season high on the agenda.

In the first episode of the year, they look back at Rahm’s second PGA Tour of the title at The American Express in California, and Victor Perez’s triumph at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

There’s also a review of the inaugural Hero Cup, which saw Continental Europe beat Great Britain and Ireland as Luke Donald got a chance to assess hopefuls for his Ryder Cup side later this year.

The trio discuss the latest development’s with LIV Golf, including a new television deal in the US.

Finally, there’s a look ahead to this week’s tournaments, with the Farmers Insurance Open taking place at Torrey Pines, and the Dubai Desert Classic featuring Rory McIlroy.

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Collin Morikawa cards seven-under 66 on Friday to take two-shot lead in Hawaii; JJ Spaun and Scottie Scheffler his closest rivals, as Jon Rahm drops back to sixth alongside Matt Fitzpatrick; Watch third round on Saturday on Sky Sports Golf from 5.45pm

Collin Morikawa took the lead on the second day at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, pulling ahead of JJ Spaun and Scottie Scheffler.

The American ended the day with a seven-under 66, for a total of 16-under 130.

It gave him a two-shot lead in front of Masters champion Scheffler and 86th-ranked Spaun.

Jordan Spieth, like Morikawa, fired a second-round 66 to grab fourth place at 13 under and South Korea’s Tom Kim is in fifth at 12 under following a 69.

Jon Rahm dropped down the leaderboard to a share of sixth alongside England’s Matt Fitzpatrick on 11 under.

Collin Morikawa holds a two-shot lead after two rounds in Hawaii

The Tournament of Champions, which includes 39 players, is the first of 17 designated PGA Tour events with elevated purses this year. In the past, this event was limited to players who won a tournament the previous year, but the 2023 field was expanded to feature players who did not win in 2022, but did reach the Tour Championship.

Morikawa, who finished last year winless, got off to a sizzling start on Friday, birdieing four of the first five holes. He added three more birdies on the back nine before concluding with three consecutive pars.

Scheffler charged into contention by rolling in birdies on each of the final four holes, making putts of less than eight feet each time. His round included nine birdies and two bogeys.

“Just similar to yesterday, pretty solid, made some good putts,” Morikawa said. “Obviously it played a lot harder with kind of the wind, and just the fairways rolling pretty fast.

Scottie Scheffler is in contention, joint second with JJ Spaun

“You’ve just got to play shots and kind of hit ’em to good spots, and thankfully we were able to take advantage of enough holes today to kind of keep those birdies going.”

Spaun bogeyed the par-four fourth hole but didn’t give away another shot. He finished with six birdies.

“I drove it well again,” Spaun said. “I don’t think I hit a really bad tee shot. It’s kind of hard to miss fairways out here, other than hitting it too far. But, yeah, I kind of tried to stay mistake-free. I had one three-putt, and that was kind of the only blunder of the day.”

Spieth’s round was highlighted by eagles on two par-five holes, the fifth and 15th. He also had four birdies and a bogey. Xander Schauffele withdrew in the middle of the second round due to an ongoing back ailment.

“This is not getting any better,” he said. “It actually feels worse when I swing.”

Watch the featured groups on day three of the Sentry Tournament of Champions from 5.45pm Saturday on Sky Sports Golf with full live coverage of the third round from 9pm.

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Whitworth’s 88 LPGA wins are the most on any professional tour, exceeding the men’s PGA Tour record of 82 shared by Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.

Record-breaking former LPGA Tour player Kathy Whitworth has died at the age of 83.

Whitworth’s 88 LPGA wins are the most on any professional tour, exceeding the men’s PGA Tour record of 82 shared by Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.

She won six major titles – the Titleholders Championship in 1965 and 1966, the 1967 Western Open and the Women’s PGA Championship in 1967, 1971 and 1975, the latter year also marking her induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Remembered for her rivalry with 13-time major winner Mickey Wright, Whitworth later became the United States’ first Solheim Cup captain in 1990.

LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement on the organisation’s website: “The golf world and the world in general lost one of its most incredible women with the passing of Kathy Whitworth.

“Kathy was a champion in the truest sense of the word, both on the golf course and off.”

Whitworth’s partner Bettye Odle added: “It is with a heart full of love that we let everyone know of the passing of the winningest golf professional ever, Kathy Whitworth. Kathy passed suddenly Saturday night celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends.

“Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories.”

Ockie Strydom and Scott Jamieson share lead on 15 under after three rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek; South African Strydom equals Jamieson’s course record of 63; watch the final round live from 9am on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf

Ockie Strydom matched Scott Jamieson’s course-record 63 to join the Scot at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Jamieson followed Friday’s record-breaking effort at Leopard Creek with a two-under 70 to sit on 15 under alongside Strydom, who raised South African supporters’ hopes of another home champion with a surge up the standings.

The 37-year-old is yet to win on the DP World Tour but gave himself every chance as he eagled the second to set the tone for a third round featuring eight birdies between the fourth and 15th.

But for a bogey at the short 16th, Jamieson’s record would have stood for just 24 hours but as it was, Strydom had to settle for equalling it as he finished with two pars.

Jamieson, the overnight leader, steadied himself after an up-and-down front nine featuring three bogeys and two birdies, coming home in 34 for a share of the lead, with the pair’s nearest challengers two shots back on 13 under.

That three-strong group is made up of South African pair Oliver Bekker and Dean Burmester, both of whom carded four-under 68s, and England’s Dale Whitnell, whose 66 featured two eagles – one of them holed from a greenside bunker at the driveable par-four eighth.

The tournament has had a home winner in seven of the past nine editions, and the list of candidates to make it eight in 10 also includes Branden Grace and Dylan Frittelli, who are three back on 12 under along with Adrian Otaegui of Spain, whose round of 65 was bettered only by Strydom on the day.

English pair Nathan Kimsey and Eddie Pepperell began the day tied for second on 10 under but shot 74 and 73 respectively to drop off the pace.

Watch the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship live on Sky Sports Golf from 9am on Sunday.

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Victor Hovland three shots clear heading into final day after third-round 64, with Scottie Scheffler his closest challenger; continue to watch the Hero World Challenge golf throughout the week, live on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday from 4pm.

Viktor Hovland carded six birdies on the back nine and fired a blistering eight-under-par round 64 to extend his lead to three strokes at the Hero World Challenge on Saturday in Albany, Bahamas.

Hovland sits on 13 under after 54 holes as he vies to repeat as champion of the event, with Scottie Scheffler within striking range at 10 under after his six-under 66.

Cameron Young (third-round 68) and Justin Thomas (66) are five shots back at eight under.

Hovland has led or tied for the lead in all three rounds, and made 10 birdies on Saturday, one more than his career-high in official PGA Tour events, recording the low round of the day. His round included two bogeys, including the par-four 18th.

“I missed probably like a 10-footer on the first hole and lipped out and I kind of thought, Here we go again,’ but after that it was a lot of putts that went in,” Hovland said.

“You need that on a day like today when the winds are down and you can be a little bit more aggressive. That’s the only way you can make that many birdies, so that was a lot of fun.”

Hovland would be just the second player to successfully defend a title at the event, joining event host Tiger Woods in 2007.

Scottie Scheffer is in the mix, three shots back from Viktor Hovland

Scheffler did his best to stay close, posting five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th. There are two eagles so far from the 20-player field and Scheffler has both of them.

“I played really solid, kept the ball in front of me, hit a lot of fairways,” Scheffler said. “Felt like I did a good job just keeping the course in front of me and giving myself some changes.”

Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa shot matching 69s to sit six shots back at seven under in a tie for fifth. Jon Rahm (68) sits solo seventh at four under, nine shots back.

Continue to watch the Hero World Challenge golf throughout the week, live on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday from 4pm.

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Adam Svensson became a first-time winner on Tour on Sunday and was victorious at the RSM Classic in his 70th career start; Svensson is the second Canadian to win on Tour this season, joining Mackenzie Hughes

Adam Svensson closed out with a six-under 64 to win the RSM Classic on Sunday at Sea Island for his first PGA Tour victory.

Svensson, a 28-year-old Canadian, was locked in a four-way tie for the lead on the closing stretch of the Seaside course when he produced an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, and then hit a tee shot to 10 feet on the par-three 17th for a birdie to give himself a cushion.

Brian Harman (65) and Sahith Theegala (66) were in the group ahead of him and missed birdie chances on the closing hole.

Callum Tarren (64) was the first to post at 17-under par and was hopeful of a play-off. Svensson capped off his bogey-free final round with a par for a two-shot win.

Svensson is starting his third full year on the PGA Tour and gets a two-year exemption, along with a trip to the Masters and the PGA Championship. He has never played a major.

“To be honest, it’s not even real right now,” Svensson said.

“I’m so happy. I put so much work in. To win on the PGA Tour means everything to be me. I just kept believing in myself, and here I am.”

Svensson is the second Canadian to win on Tour this season, joining Mackenzie Hughes, who won in Mississippi.

Theegala recovered from a double bogey on the par-five seventh hole when he was in trouble left off the tee and then hit a chip that came back to him from behind the green. He made five birdies over the last 11 holes.

Harman got in the game late, hitting a fairway metal on the par-5 15th hole that was inches away from rolling in, setting up a short eagle. He birdied the 16th to share the lead, but had to settle for pars on the final two holes.

Patrick Rodgers and Ben Martin, who shared the 54-hole lead, couldn’t keep up. Rodgers didn’t make his first birdie until the 13th hole and closed with a 70 to tie for 10th, while Martin shot a 72.

Cole Hammer, who graduated from Texas in May and was playing on a sponsor exemption, shot a 65 to tie for fifth, which gets him into the Sony Open.

The PGA Tour now takes a six-week break in the final wraparound season before resuming with the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua the first week of January.

By winning, Svensson was the last man to qualify for that field, the first elevated event that will have a $15 million purse.
Svensson won $1,458,000, more than he won in either of his two previous seasons on the PGA Tour.

Maguire had four-straight birdies around the turn and added another pair late on to join Lydia Ko on 15-under in pursuit of $2 million prize pot; Watch the final round live on Sunday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf and – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel

Leona Maguire of Ireland carded a nine-under 63, allowing her to catch Lydia Ko for a share of the lead after three rounds of the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida and set up a thrilling final-day duel for the richest prize in women’s golf.

Maguire, one of 11 first-time winners on the LPGA Tour this year, had four-straight birdies around the turn and added another pair late on in her stunning round that has catapulted her into contention for the $2 million prize pot at Tiburon Golf Club.

Her main contender for the cash, Ko, had a five-shot lead to start the third round – seven shots ahead of Maguire – but a mixture of birdies and bogeys stalled her round. She fell one shot behind Maguire at one stage until chipping to tap-in range on the par-five 17th on her way to a round of 70.

The forecast for Sunday’s final round is for rain and 20 mph gusts of wind. “Nothing I’m not used to from Ireland,” Maguire said when she finished her round.

“Ultimately just got to go out and play as well as I possibly can, and especially if there’s bad weather, that’s all you can control. Looking forward to one last walk of the season tomorrow.”

Maguire and Ko have a five-shot advantage over former US Women’s Open champion, Korea’s Jeon-Geun Lee, and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.

Elsewhere, Brooke Henderson kept her slim hopes alive for player of the year. The Canadian, who had to withdraw last week with a back injury, had two eagles in her round of 65 and was at nine-under, six behind the leaders.

Henderson will have to win the CME Group Tour Championship and have Ko finish third or worse to win player of the year.

Watch the final round of the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday from 7pm, live on Sky Sports Golf and – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.

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World’s best female golfers to compete for more than $100 million in official prize money in 2023, the highest total in LPGA Tour history; Global schedule kicks off on January 19 and runs until late November

LPGA Tour players will compete for over $100 million for the first time as part of a record-breaking 2023 schedule.

The LPGA Tour announced that their global calendar will comprise of 33 events across 12 countries, with a total prize fund of $101.4m (£85m) up for grabs.

Combined purses are more than double what was paid out on the tour just a decade ago, with the five women’s golf majors accounting for $37.9m of the total prize money, while every tournament carries a purse of at least $1.5m.

World No 1 Nelly Korda will feature heavily on the LPGA Tour’s 2023 schedule

“Because of our athletes, partners, volunteers and incredible fans, 2023 will be a banner year for the LPGA Tour,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “The schedule features new events, elevated purses, unique formats and world-class golf courses.

“Our athletes are playing for more total prize money than any time in history, and we have over 500 hours of broadcast television. All those things combine to make the LPGA the leading women’s professional sports property in the world.

England’s Charley Hull was among the winners on the LPGA Tour in 2022

“The LPGA Tour has never had better or more committed partners who see the commercial value in investing in women’s sports and who understand how their partnerships elevate women and girls on and off the golf course.”

The 2023 schedule includes the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown, a team match-play competition that showcases golfers from the top eight countries in the globe, while Team Europe will chase a third consecutive victory over Team USA in the Solheim Cup next September.

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With a year to go until the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin, Spain – Trish Johnson and Henni Koyack predict who may feature for Team Europe next September.

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions kicks off the season from January 19-22, with the season running until the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida from November 16-19.

When are the women’s majors in 2023?

April 20-23 – The Chevron Championship – The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas

June 22-25 – KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course), Springfield, New Jersey

July 6-9 – US Women’s Open presented by ProMedica – Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California

July 27-30 – Amundi Evian Championship – Evian Resort G.C., Evian-les-Bains, France

August 10-13 – AIG Women’s Open – Walton Heath (Old Course), Surrey, England

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Highlights from day four of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.

Other key dates on 2023 schedule

May 4-7 – Hanwha LifePlus International Crown – TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, California

August 3-6 – Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open – Dundonald Links, Ayrshire, Scotland

September 22-24 – Solheim Cup – Finca Cortesin, Andalucia, Spain

November 16-19 – CME Group Tour Championship – Tiburon G.C., Naples, Florida

“If I’m holding the trophy, holding all the trophies or no trophy…I just want to have a good week. These opportunities don’t come along very often. I want to try to grab it when it’s there” – Lydia Ko, who leads the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship by a shot

Lydia Ko began her quest for the largest prize in women’s golf history by hitting a tree and making bogey on a par-five, but the rest of Thursday in the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship could not have gone better.

New Zealander Ko responded with eight birdies, including four in a row late in the round at Tiburon Golf Club, that sent her to a seven-under 65 and a one-shot lead in the LPGA Tour season finale.

So much is at stake this week, even beyond the $2m prize to the winner.

Ko has a one-point lead in the race for LPGA Tour player of the year, while she looks set to win the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. Both are worth a point in her bid to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

“If I’m holding the trophy, holding all the trophies or no trophy…I just want to have a good week,” Ko said. “These opportunities don’t come along very often. I want to try to grab it when it’s there.”

It is all right in front of Ko, who has two wins in what she considers her most consistent year on the LPGA Tour. And right behind are plenty of challengers.

Danielle Kang and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand are just behind Ko after carding 66s, Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea fired 67s and Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson were in the group with 68s.

Korda missed four months earlier this year because of surgery for a blood clot in her left arm. She finally is back to full strength, and her victory last week up the coast at Pelican Golf Club allowed her to return to No 1 in the women’s world ranking.

Henderson had to withdraw last week with back pain, and the Canadian was not even sure she would be able to play. But she made an adjustment in her swing, and it allowed her to get around Tiburon with a respectable 68.

Henderson has an outside shot at player of the year, though she would have to win and have Ko and Minjee Lee finish third or worse.

Lee, who has already set an LPGA Tour record with $3.7m in earnings this season, opened with a 71. Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, the 19-year-old who reached No 1 in the world until Korda took it back, had a 73.

Ko could only laugh at her start of the tournament by hitting a tree.

“It’s almost like I had two tee shots,” she said. “Even though I bogeyed a par-five, I knew plenty of holes were going to play downwind. I tried not to get too frustrated. The first four holes into the wind are a beast. I knew if I could hang on and be patient, there would be a lot of opportunities.

“I was able to grab a lot of them on the back nine.”

And that started with a par. She was quick on a chip from just off the 13th green and watched it run some 12 feet by the hole. Ko made the par putt, and she was off and running, making four straight birdies. It helped that two were par-fives.

Korda gave up an easy birdie chance on the par-five 17th when she drove it so long she had only 159 yards left. But she came up well short and failed to get up-and-down. That was a product of what she referred to as getting fooled too often by the end.

Korda had a chance at all the awards last year until Jin Young Ko beat her, making it the third straight year the South Korean star had won at Tiburon.

Making it four in a row will be difficult. Jin Young Ko opened with a 72 as she continues to deal with an ailing left wrist.

Watch the CME Group Tour Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Friday from 7pm live on Sky Sports Golf and – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.

Tommy Fleetwood posted a final-round 67 to finish a shot clear of Ryan Fox, with Shubhankar Sharma two strokes back in third ahead of Richie Ramsay; Fleetwood’s victory is his sixth DP World Tour title and second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge

Tommy Fleetwood has ended a three-year winless run on the DP World Tour by completing a dramatic title defence at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Fleetwood overturned a three-stroke deficit during a marathon Sunday at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, where the final round was halted for over three hours due to thunderstorms, mixing an eagle and four birdies with a lone bogey to card a five-under 66.

The Englishman ended the week on 11 under and a shot clear of playing partner Ryan Fox, who bogeyed the final hole to miss out on the chance to leapfrog Rory McIlroy at the top of the season-long DP World Tour rankings.

Fleetwood’s victory is his sixth DP World Tour title and first since winning the same event in 2019, with the past two editions cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while his success lifting him to fourth in the DP World Tour standings heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

More to follow…

Russell Henley matches the World Wide Technology Championship record of 23-under to win his first PGA tournament since 2017; the 33-year-old said: “I just tried to learn from my past and my screw-ups”

Russell Henley survived an early scare to win the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico as Scottie Scheffler narrowly failed to return to the top of the world rankings.

Henley’s six-shot overnight lead was down to four when Scheffler birdied the 18th to complete a flawless closing 62 and the gap was three when Henley dropped his first shot of the week on the fifth.

However, the 33-year-old American promptly birdied the next three holes and cruised to a fourth PGA Tour title, his first since the 2017 Houston Open.

Henley, who had failed to convert any of his last five 54-hole leads into a victory, told Golf Channel: “I just tried to learn from my past and my screw-ups.

“All of those events I didn’t close, they hurt and you don’t know if you’ll ever get to win another one, it’s so hard out here.

“To come down 18 with a four-shot lead it was really cool.”

A closing 70 saw Henley equal the tournament record with a total of 23 under par, four shots clear of fellow American Brian Harman.

Scheffler, who needed to win or finish solo second to reclaim top spot in the world rankings from Rory McIlroy, finished in a tie for third on 18 under with Ireland’s Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen, Troy Merritt and Will Gordon.

Norway’s Viktor Hovland, who was bidding to win the tournament for the third straight year, carded a final round of 68 to finish in a tie for 10th.

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Seventeen-year-old Ting-Hsuan Huang earns entry into AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship in 2023 after two-stroke victory at Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Thailand; Chinese Taipei player finishes two strokes clear of home favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap

Ting-Hsuan Huang won the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Thailand to secure entry into two major championships in 2023.

Huang, 17, will now tee it up at the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship next year after a two-stroke win over home favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap at Siam Country Club.

Huang, from Chinese Taipei, birdied six of her last 11 holes for a three-under final round of 69 and to finish on 11 under for the tournament.

Vongtaveelap was one under for her final round and nine under for the event, with her hopes dashed by bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes.

Huang says ‘it is a dream come true’ to be able to play in majors

Huang had bogeyed her first and fourth holes after starting the day in a share of the lead at eight under but recovered brilliantly to secure a win that has also earned her a spot in the Hana Financial Group Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Huang said: “To be able to play in majors is really a dream come true for me. I did not have any expectations coming into this week.

“I just wanted to play good golf and enjoy myself on the golf course. To be able to do this is amazing.”

It has also been announced that Singapore’s Island Country Club will host the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in March.

Russell Henley shoots a 65 to open up six-shot lead over Will Gordon and Patton Kizzire at Mayakoba heading into the final round at the World Wide Technology Championship

Russell Henley stands on the brink of a first PGA Tour win in five years after he opened up a six-shot lead after the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba on Saturday.

The American – whose previous Tour win came at the Houston Open in 2017 – shot a third-round 65 to finish on 22 under par, six ahead of compatriots Will Gordon and Patton Kizzire.

Russell Henley is on course for his first victory since the 2017 Houston Open

Henley, who is closing in on his fourth career victory in total, has yet to drop a shot at El Camaleon.

“I mean, I’m just going to try to get my mind off of golf a little right now and get some dinner and watch a little football, maybe watch the World Series and just kind of go into tomorrow, new day and just do the best I can,” he said.

“Out here you’ve got to keep attacking. Everybody’s so good and everybody can go low, so it’s a tough game out here.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a lead like this. It’s definitely tough to finish golf tournaments, so I’m just really trying not to think about the score and just think about each shot.”

Ireland’s Seamus Power, coming off a win in Bermuda, fired a 63 to lie fourth – and his round included a hole-in-one at the eighth hole.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler shot 68 to remain in the middle of the pack, 13 shots behind and without much hope of regaining the No 1 ranking.

There was another ace on Saturday, as Greyson Sigg holed his tee shot at the 10th.

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