Graeme McDowell is one of those LIV Golf players who are not yet exempt into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush provided with a new pathway into the championship after the R&A announced a new exemption category.
The championship organisers have introduced a category 15 that will give one spot to “the first player, and anyone tying for that place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 5 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Season Standings on completion of LIV Golf Dallas.”
“The Open is a global championship for the best men’s golfers and each year we review our exemptions to ensure that we offer pathways into the Championship based on results achieved on the leading professional tours.
“We acknowledge that players competing in LIV Golf should also have the opportunity to secure places in The Open through its individual season standings as well as existing pathways,” said R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.
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Tom McKibbin, who recently joined LIV’s Legion XIII team fronted by Jon Rahm, is already exempt into The Open – which takes place on July 17th-20th – through finishing in the top-25 on last season’s DP World Tour standings.
G-Mac, however, is not – as of now – qualified for the championship. The Northern Irishman got his LIV season up-and-running in Riyadh last week (where he finished tied-21st, $215,000) and has headed on to this week’s stop, the LIV Golf Adelaide in Australia.
McKibbin, for his part, had a profitable debut since jumping from the European Tour. Aside from the $285,000 prize money for his tied-15th finish, McKibbin’s Legion XIII collected $3 million for winning the team event which gave him a $750,000 quarter-split.
Woods not ready for return
Understandably, Tiger Woods – a rare sight on tour these days – has decided to withdraw from playing in this week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, a tournament which he hosts on the PGA Tour, as he continues to grieve following the death of his mother Kultida last week.
“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods said in a statement. “I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss. Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my Mom’s passing.”
The 15 times Major champion and longtime world number one, nowadays languishing in 1,195th on those official world rankings, hasn’t played competitively since missing the cut at the Open in Royal Troon last July. The last time Woods made a cut was at last year’s Masters.
Woods has endured numerous injuries and surgery in recent years but has played in the TGL simulator matches.
Aside from being the tournament host, Woods had added an incentive to play at Torrey Pines, where he has eight career wins (including the 2008 US Open). The Genesis was originally scheduled for Riviera Country Club but was moved due to the recent wild fires in Los Angeles.
Word of Mouth
“I always knew it would happen and it was a matter of time. I was like, ‘when and why isn’t it coming?’ A lot of my peers and like girls around my age and just coming in at the same time getting their wins, I always was like, ‘I know I can do it, but when is it coming?’ Seeing my competitors and friends win always gave my extra motivation.” Twenty-three-year-old American Yealimi Noh on finally getting her breakthrough win on the LPGA Tour, her victory in the Founders Cup coming in her 111th career appearance. Noh turned pro in 2019.
By the Numbers: 3+1+3+2
A trio of Irish players – Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Séamus Power – will be in action in the Genesis Invitational, one of the $20 million signature events on the PGA Tour; Lauren Walsh is the sole Irish player in the field for the PIF Saudi International, a $5 million tournament on the Ladies European Tour; Dermot McElroy, Max Kennedy and Jonathan Caldwell make up the three players competing in the NTT Data Pro-Am on the Hotelplanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour); Tom McKibbin and Graeme McDowell are playing in the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament.
On this day: February 11th, 1962
The King found a throne pretty much wherever he pitched up in an extraordinary season of success, which saw Arnold Palmer win eight times, including the Masters and The Open.
Palmer arrived into the Phoenix Open at Phoenix Country Club – long before the move to Scottsdale and the arena hole of the Par 3 16th – as the defending champion and also on the back of a win the previous week in the Palm Springs Golf Classic.
In Phoenix, Palmer proved to be in a world of his own. He compiled rounds of 64-68-71-66 for a total of 15-under-par 269, 12 strokes ahead of the quartet of players, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Bob McCallister and Don Fairfield, who shared the runners-up spot.
For his 29th career win on the PGA Tour, Palmer collected a pay cheque for $5,300.
The Social Game
DPWT x4. Still enjoying the moment. To those who’s through hard times, find your own passion, stick to it and be your own goat. When you make the last putt and hear the crowd cheering, all the grinding over the past 900+ days is worth it – Haotong Li proving to be quite the motivator after his Qatar Masters win, his fourth career title success on the DP World Tour.
If ever there was a good sign. Four weeks of tournaments @DPWorldTour @ChampionsTour and when I get home the labels are still on the waterproof pants – Pádraig Harrington posting proof that he’d been chasing the sun on his four-week stint on tour, with the label and €50 price tag still attached to his Dunnes Stores collection waterproofs.
Am I dreaming? – Adrian Meronk after his season-opening win in the LIV Golf Riyadh tournament.
In the Bag
Thomas Detry – WM Phoenix Open
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (16.5 degrees)
Hybrid: Callaway Epic (18 degrees)
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (4), Callaway Apex MB (5-PW)
Wedges: Callaway Opus (49, 53 and 57 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey O-Works #7 Black
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Know the Rules
Q: A player’s ball lies on the fairway in front of a divot, with some of the replaced turf hanging outside the divot. The player goes to address the ball but sees that some of the replaced turf interferes with their swing. Can the player replace the turf so it is fully in the divot before taking their shot?
A: Unfortunately not, and this is a bugbear of many players! As most of the turf is in the divot, it counts as replaced. The player must play the ball as it lies with no relief.
