Let’s delve into the significant events occurring in the week of February 12th to 18th. Here are the notable happenings that you shouldn’t miss.
PGA Tour – The Genesis Invitational: The renowned Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, once again plays host to The Genesis Invitational, the third major event of the season. Tiger Woods, the tournament’s host, returns to the game for his season debut after revealing his new apparel collection in collaboration with TaylorMade recently. Tiger is making a comeback to the course after participating in December’s Hero World Challenge, where he finished 18th out of twenty players. His last appearance was at the 2023 Masters, where he withdrew due to an ankle problem. On Tuesday morning, he played a practice round of nine holes donning Sun Day Red attire and showed no signs of being bothered by his ankle issue as he made his way through the back nine of Riviera.
At Riviera, Woods will be accompanied by experienced caddie Lance Bennet, who has previously worked with Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, and Matt Kuchar. Woods had a solo practice round on Tuesday to familiarize himself with the course and test a new TaylorMade Qi10 3-wood. After completing the 18th hole, Woods took the opportunity to chat with some members of his team and Justin Thomas. Woods and Thomas will have ample time for conversation on the course as they tee off together for the 1st and 2nd rounds.
Pacific Palisades welcomes a star-studded field for the third major event of the PGA Tour season. Notable players such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Brian Harman, and Ludvig Åberg will all be present at Riviera Country Club. Keep an eye on Charley Hoffman, who finished second last week at the WM Phoenix Open after a playoff with Nick Taylor, who is also competing at Riviera CC. Unfortunately, last year’s winner Jon Rahm will not be participating in the tournament due to his move to LIV Golf. Rahm emerged victorious in the 2023 event, finishing with a score of 17 under par and defeating Max Homa by two shots. The winner of this year’s Genesis Invitational will receive 700 FedEx Cup points and a first prize of $4 million from a total purse of $20 million.
Challenge Tour – Dimension Data Pro-Am: The Road to Mallorca makes its way to George this week with the Dimension Data Pro-Am held at the picturesque Fancourt Golf Estate. Fancourt, nestled at the base of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, stands as one of the world’s premier golf resorts, offering an unforgettable experience for guests. Visitors can opt to stay in one of the 115 luxurious rooms at Hotel Fancourt and partake in various recreational activities.
The Dimension Data Pro-Am, taking place from February 15th to 18th, will be played on Fancourt’s three courses: Montagu, Outeniqua, and The Links. All three courses were designed by Gary Player, a nine-time Major champion, and are ranked among South Africa’s top 20 golf courses. The Links, in particular, holds the number one spot in the country according to Golf Digest South Africa and is the crown jewel of the Fancourt Estate. The Links has hosted prestigious tournaments in the past, including the 2003 Presidents Cup, the 2005 SA Open, and the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions of the DP World Tour.
The male Dimension Data Pro-Am consists of two competitions within the event: the professional leaderboard and the Pro-Am fourballs. Simultaneously, the Dimension Data Ladies’ Pro-Am will also be taking place on the Montagu and Outeniqua courses, following the same format but over 54 holes and counting towards the Sunshine Ladies Tour for professional rankings. In 2023, South African Oliver Bekker became the third player in history to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am twice, joining the ranks of compatriot Darren Fichardt and Zimbabwean Nick Price. Bekker secured his first victory in 2012 before the event became a shared one between the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour. The prestigious tournament boasts an impressive list of winners, including Major champions like Paul Lawrie, Louis Oosthuizen, Trevor Immelman, Retief Goosen, and Darren Clarke. Alongside Pietro Bovari, who delivered an excellent final round last week in Cape Town, Luca Cianchetti returns to the field. Currently, Gregorio De Leo and Aron Zemmer serve as reserves number 3 and 5.
LET – Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF: For the second event of the season, the LET moves from Kenya to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the highly anticipated fifth edition of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF. This thrilling tournament will take place for the first time in the heart of the kingdom’s capital from February 15th to 18th. With a staggering prize fund of $5 million and a reduced field of 70 players, the event represents the largest prize fund in the Ladies European Tour, aligning it with the equivalent male event, the PIF Saudi International. This marks a significant milestone in the world of golf.
The tournament aims to build on the positive momentum generated by the previous successful “Aramco Team Series,” which was the first professional golf tournament held in the capital. In October 2023, nearly 5,000 spectators flocked to the Riyadh Golf Club to witness Alison Lee set a record with a stunning victory, finishing with an impressive score of 61-61-65 (-29). At the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in 2023, Lydia Ko secured her second title at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International with a remarkable final day performance, recording a score of four under par (68) to finish at an impressive -21.
Past winners of the tournament, which is played over 72 holes, include Danish golfer Emily Pedersen, who emerged victorious in the inaugural edition in 2020, and Giorgia Hall, who claimed the title in 2022 after a playoff with Pedersen. This year’s edition boasts a star-studded field, featuring Major champions, Solheim Cup heroines, and emerging golf stars such as Lexi Thompson, Carlota Ciganda, and Trichat Cheenglab, who will undoubtedly steal the spotlight.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org