DP World Tour : South Africans lead SDC Championship.. full scoreboard /TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : SDC Championship Leaderboard   Tee Times

Home favourite Pieter Moolman combined a lightning-fast start with a big finish to share the lead alongside fellow South African Shaun Norris after the first round of the 2024 SDC Championship.

Morning starter Moolman flew out of the blocks on Thursday, covering his first three holes in four under par before ending his round with back-to-back birdies to sign for a stunning -7 65.

Norris then overcame windy afternoon conditions at St. Francis Links to join Moolman at the summit, as he also finished with two successive birdies to reach seven under par.

Daniel Brown was the pair's nearest challenger on six under, despite the Englishman only arriving at the host venue on Wednesday after missing a flight from Frankfurt on Monday.

Moolman said: "It's a dream start. I just hit a really good second shot on the first hole. But where the flag is, you can't really see much so I figured it was close but when I got up there it was actually in the hole. So yeah, I'm very happy with the start.

"It was a bit tricky because we're not used to this wind really. It makes a lot of holes easy and some of the easier holes tougher.

"But you just have to give yourself opportunities, the course is wide, it's playing a bit softer, so I think there's a lot of opportunities out there.

Norris also made a bright start, reeling off a hat-trick of birdies from the first before picking up further shots at the sixth and ninth to climb the leaderboard.

He said: "I’m pretty happy with everything. I’m hitting the ball nicely. The conditions weren’t easy but I handled it well. 

"I just hit the ball well, gave myself great opportunities and took advantage of those. 

"But I always love coastal conditions. It just sort of balances out the field because it’s about who controls the ball the best. So I’m happy with where I’m standing."

South Africans Wilco Nienaber and Malcolm Mitchell shared fourth place with German Nick Bachem and Scot Connor Syme on five under.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Five Canucks will play Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches Tee Times

For those of you asking me Cognizant is a Singapore based company that engineers modern businesses. One of the world's largest professional services companies that help clients modernize technology, so they can stay ahead in our fast changing world.

As I posted yesterday it's the old Honda Classic. Honda dropped their sponsorship last year.

Schedule

This is the start of the very lucrative Florida swing leading up to the Masters with lots of OWGR points available. The top 50 in owgr are invited to Augusta.

Next week it's the Arnold Palmer Invitational signature event $20m with 700 points (Kurt Kitayama) with the alternative Puerto Rico Open $4m 300 points (Rico Echavarria)

Next it's the Players Championship $25m 750 points (Scottie Scheffler), then the Valspar Championship $8.4m 500 points (Taylor Moore) before they move to Texas for a fortnight, then the Masters.

Tee Times

718  10th    Corey Conners, Matt Wallace, Billy Horschel

846  10th    Michael Gligic, Alexander Bjork, Parker Coody

1229 10th  Adam Svensson, Lucas Glover, Gary Woodland

113  1st     Taylor Pendrith, Joseph Bramlett, Ben Taylor

146  1st     Ben Silverman, Nicholas Lindheim, Brandan Shattuck

Rory McIlroy is the headliner off at 748 10th.

I count amongst a whack of European players, 7 of the 10 DP World Tour players who have been given PGA Tour status including the early season sensation Mattieu Pavon.

Bryan Angus

Asian Tour increasing in popularity as LIV stars go after OWGR points.

In a new book out The Secret Tour Caddy the story of the 2023 season is revealed through the eyes of a veteran Tour caddy.

I have read some of it recently and it's well worth it, with unique insight when the cameras are off, of the relationship between caddy and player and their travails as they travel through 27 countries, and as importantly the caddy's perspective on the mess the financial state of the game is currently in.

Ranking/ owgr points

Along those lines TSTC states they considered the PGA Tour, then the European Tour (DP World) have been their priority ranking with the Japan Tour and the Asian Tour somewhere down the list.

With the arrival of LIV their ranking is now PGA Tour, LIV series, DP World Tour then the Asian Tour.

All that is in flux right now, it's not my intent here to get into all the negotiations, wrongs and rights of the past 2 years. 

However I will say with the Masters two months away and the other majors to follow with a variety of ways to enter, top 50 owgr is what drives this post today.

The PGA Tour has seven, DP has five events to acquire owgr points before Augusta, and the LIV has three events with no owgr points allowed, that's where the Asian Tour enters the picture. 

This week I covered the Magical Kenya Open with its worthy Dutch winner Darius van Driel and his journey to his first DP World Tour event.

At the same time over on the Asian Tour, the International Series  (10 events funded by LIV Golf) was staged in Oman where 21 of the 54 LIV series golfers were in the field. 

The winner Mexican Carlos Ortiz is one of them, Why were he and his colleagues in Oman?

Others like Louis Oosthuizen, Joaquin Niemann, Mito Pereira, Peter Uihlein, Lucas Herbert, Branden Grace, Dean Burmester, Sebastien Munoz and Matt Jones amongst others were also in. 

We know that many of the above were banned from the DP World Tour, in hindsight a bad decision, imagine if they were all in Kenya.

The reason they were in Oman is not the money, the LIV's out of whack purses has already taken care of that, it is because they are going "owgr points hunting", something they are denied currently on LIV.

This puts the status of 3rd place for the current DP World Tour in a perilous position with the Asian Tour suddenly finding certain fields loaded with quality they never had before.

TSTC chronicles the folly of the DP WORLD Tour allowing their 10 best players full PGA Tour status, with stars like Matthieu Pavon, Sami Valimaki, Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Detry and Eric van Rooyen now flourishing in the States, rather than in Kenya.

Hopefully some form of the new order of the game will be announced after current negotiations involving all well documented parties are concluded, Masters week hopefully will have given them enough time.

Right now the Asian Tour is enjoying their strongest days under their LIV masters.

Bryan Angus

Inside the SDC Championship on DP World Tour

 DP World Tour : SDC Championship

The DP World Tour returns to South Africa this week for the SDC Championship, the first of two back-to-back co-sanctioned events with the Sunshine Tour on the International Swing.

Among a host of excellent storylines on the DP World Tour last season was Matthew Baldwin’s maiden DP World Tour victory at the inaugural SDC Championship.

At the age of 37, and in his 200th start on Tour, the Englishman claimed a seven-shot victory at St Francis Links in a week when high winds provided for a stern challenge.

Baldwin has experienced a host of ups and downs on his journey to the winner’s circle.

Having graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2011, he enjoyed an impressive first three seasons on the DP World Tour before losing his card a year later after injury and illness.

However, he was back for the 2018 season after coming through the Qualifying School, before securing his seventh full season last year on the DP World Tour via the 2022 Challenge Tour Road to Mallorca Rankings.

He now returns to the Eastern Cape for the defence of his title in search of his first top 10 of the season.

The second staging of the SDC Championship marks the seventh and penultimate leg of the International Swing.

After last week’s Magical Kenya Open, it is the second of three events held in the continent of Africa with the Jonsson Workwear Open to follow as the final stop.

Among a host of enhancements to ensure every week counts on the DP World Tour this season, the leading member (not otherwise exempt) from the International Swing will qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open.

Ugo Coussaud is one of four players in the top 10 on the International Swing standings - alongside Rikuya Hoshino, Dylan Frittelli and Zander Lombard ­­- teeing it up on South African soil this week.

Hoshino and Frittelli have both already won during the ongoing swing, while Coussaud and Lombard have both enjoyed runner-up finishes.

Lombard has been a picture of consistency, registering no worse than a tie for 16th in his last six starts worldwide as he has climbed to a career-high 96th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The $1.5-million tournament has drawn a strong South African challenge, with Thriston Lawrence, Ockie Strydom, Darren Fichardt, Jayden Schaper and Casey Jarvis among those also hoping for a home win.

After finishing runner-up to Baldwin last year, Adri Arnaus hopes to go one better this week, with the Spaniard joined by a host of fellow DP World Tour winners like Tom McKibbin, Ewen Ferguson, Nick Bachem and Jeff Winther.

St Francis Links lies a little inland from the coast, but still holds traits of a links layout with its undulating terrain ensuring that shot making is a pre-requisite to perform well.

The Jack Nicklaus design is widely viewed as among the best in South Africa, having been voted the country’s best new course in 2007.

The 7,192 par-72 venue features a mix of ten par fours, four par threes and four par fives, including the 620-yard 16th. Last year, the 457-yard 11th proved the toughest assignment, playing almost half a shot over its par over the week.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Knapp time in Mexico...final results Mexico Open at Vidanta

 PGA Tour : Mexico Open at Vidanta Leaderboard Results

" It was more windy, the pins were set tough, although my first 3 holes (bogey par bogey) were the worst I played all week, I looked at the scoreboard on the 14th and nobody was making a run. I thought ok this is a 2 horse race".

Jake Knapp, of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Mexico Open golf tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Fernando Llano/AP Photo)

Those words from the Mexico Open winner, Californian Jake Knapp with his first PGA Tour win 67 64 63 71 -19 in just his 5th event in 2024, worth $1,458,000 500 points, 52owgr and 8th on the Fed Ex Cup standings.

He didn't have his A game, but the 4 shot cushion heading into Sunday, proved to be enough.

We all know the LIV gravy train is completely out of whack, and guys like Knapp who at 29 was working security 2 years ago before getting a sponsorship from the owner of the Anaheim Ducks, qualifying through the the top 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour proves there is more than plenty of money on the PGA Tour, to do it the right way.

After T3 at the Farmers Insurance and T28 in Phoenix he has banked over $2,200,000 in three weeks, is now exempt for 2 years, in the Masters and in every signature event this year. .. who needs more ?

Sami Valimaki, a top 10 finisher on the DP World Tour,  gave it his best and was in with a chance until he hit his worst drive of the week on the 72, a duffers slice which lodged under an OB security fence, ended the drama. 64 67 67 69 -17, he sportingly applauded Knapp after he tapped in for the win. Sami got $882,900 for his efforts.

Canada's Ben Silverman was T3 after 70 68 63, and he was -2 through 7 holes, however a double bogey 5 on the par3 9th when his tee shot soared into the water ended his chances. Bogey's at 9, 10 and 16 led to a closing 72, T13 -11 worth $145,000

Stuart MacDonald who spent last year on the Korn Ferry Tour had a top 25 to his credit, 69 71 67 68 -9 T24. worth $61,695

Schedule

This week the Florida swing begins at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. Scratching your head? 

Yes this is the old (1982 - 2023) Honda Classic on what was known as "The Blue Monster" now called PGA National (Champions course) in ritzy Palm Beach Gardens.

There are 4 Canadians in the field, Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Ben Silverman and Adam Svensson. Roger Sloan is 9th alternative.

Rory McIlroy is showing up, Mathieu Pavon returns to action after a month off after his sensational win at Torrey Pines, T3 at Pebble Beach. 

Next week is at Arnie's place, Bay Hill a signature $20,000,000 for a limited field.

Bryan Angus

LPGA: Tavatanakit wins at home Honda LPGA Thailand, Henderson T9.. FINAL RESULTS

 LPGA : Honda LPGA Thailand PAIRINGS

Thai star Patty Tavatanakit shot a closing -5 67 to win at -21 in front of her parents and fans at the Honda LPGA Thailand, after winning the LET event in Saudi Arabia the week before.

Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand tapped in an easy birdie on the final hole to card a final round 67, finishing at 21 under-par at the LPGA Thailand event in Chon Buri on Sunday. (Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images)

The win is worth $255,000. It was her 2nd LPGA win, since the ANA Inspiration in 2021.

She edged Swiss native Albane Valenzuela who had a career best 63 to make it close at -20.

" I am honestly speechless, I was so nervous, I choked a bit, there were so many Thai fans showing up to support me."

Brooke Henderson finished in a group of four,  T9 67 70 68 68 -15  $34,100

Full results click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Magical Kenya Open winner Darius van Driel...Cockerill T42 RESULTS..

DP World Tour : Magical Kenya Open Results

Darius van Driel claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in wire-to-wire fashion with a closing 67 at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

An opening 66 set the tone and the Dutchman made just four bogeys all week in a 14 under total, finishing two ahead of England's Joe Dean and Spaniard Nacho Elvira.

Qualifying School graduate Dean - who just last week was working as a delivery driver - had 12 feet for eagle on the last to pile the pressure on Van Driel but had to settle for a birdie and a beautiful chip on the last from the leader set up a closing gain and an ultimately comfortable win.

It was a nip-and-tuck afternoon at Muthaiga Golf Club, with a four-way tie for the lead around the turn before Van Driel eagled the tenth to take control.

"It means a lot... it's a dream come true," said an emotional Van Driel.

The 34-year-old's golfing journey has been a remarkable one, with him giving up the game for a number of years after breaking his hand in a banana boat accident, but he decided to turn professional after finishing second at the 2015 Alps Tour Q-School.

He won the Order of Merit in his maiden season and then graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2019, the same season he lost in the final of the Belgian Knockout to Guido Migliozzi on the DP World Tour.

Another runner-up finish came at the 2021 Porsche European Open and while he lost his card last season, he regained it at the Qualifying School and is now a winner in his 112th appearance.

The win - the first in 2,198 days for a Dutch player on the DP World Tour - moves Van Driel up to sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and eighth on the International Swing.

edit *** Canada's Aaron Cockerill saved his best until the last 70 72 71 67 -4 T42 worth $17,600. Now ranked #13 in the Race to Dubai he will play next week at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Canadian Ben Silverman soars with 63 in Mexico...Saturday scoreboard.. Sunday TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Mexico Open at Vidanta .Leaderboard  Tee Times

Canadian Ben Silverman may not win this Mexico Open at Vidanta but his -8 63 after 70, 68 tied the low round of the day which sees him T3 -12  after 54 holes, 6 shots behind American Jake Knapp 67 67 63 -19 who has the event to lose.

Knapp from California is now 29 playing in just his 8th PGA Tournament after graduating top 30 from the Korn Ferry Tour also shot 63 to match the Canadian. 

He will play in the final pairing at 144pm EST with  Finland's Sami Valimaki 64 67 67 -15

Ben Silverman in the penultimate pairing at 130pm EST with the Swede Henrik Norlander.

Stuart MacDonald T27 69 71 67 -6, 1125am is paired with American Maverick McNealy

After Knapp at -19 and Valimaki -15 the rest of the field is tightly bunched from -12 and with another hopelessly sunny, warm, calm Mexican day ahead providing the Vidanta Vallarta course with little protection, you can expect some very low scores from the pack which may involve the winner should the leaders stumble..

For all the tee times and leaderboard click on my links above.

Bryan Angus

Magical Kenya Open : Rugumayo makes history, Leaderboard / TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Magical Kenya Open Tee Times

Aaron Cockerill will have a large rowdy crowd of East African/ Ugandan fans following him on his final round of this Magical Kenya Open 

Out early at 752am local time he has been paired with Ronald Rugumayo who happens to be a big story here this week, 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

On Friday he became the first man from Uganda to make the cut on the DP World Tour much to the wild delight of his fans who have driven / flown from Kampala in Uganda to Nairobi in Kenya and they are continuing to arrive today.

Both players are well out of contention T59 at E par, but with a lot of partying tonight and the early start, how many of them will show up on the first tee is unknown, but it will be way more than usual. 

At the other end of the leaderboard its two guys looking for their first win, Spaniard Manual Elvira 67 -10 and Dutchman Darius van Driel 68 -10

Elvira's older brother Nacho is at -7, for complete scores and tee times click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson T6 in Thailand

 LPGA : Honda LPGA Thailand 

• PAIRINGS

Its' been so long I had to remind myself the LPGA is back in action, now in Thailand for this Honda LPGA event back on the Siam CC, the beginning of their Asian Tour.

Thai native Patty Tavatanakit quietly led many of this weeks players into Saudi Arabia where she won the LET event there by 3 shots. leads by 3 shots again heading into Sunday's final round. 67 67 66 -16

Swedish star Madelene Sagstrom who was paired with Patty in the last round in the Kingdom will be at it with her again tomorrow 67 67 69 -13 in the oppressive heat and humidity of Chonburi.

Lewis Joly (AP)

Canada's Brooke Henderson is in good form in a big group T6 67 70 68 -11 finishing strong with 4 birdies in 6 holes. She was bogey free in round 1 with 28 putts and just used 25 in todays 68. 

Bryan Angus

Fourway tie in Mexico, 2 Canadians make the cut, Full leaderboard, TEE TIMES.

 PGA Tour : Mexican Open at Vidanta Leaderboard Tee Times

With the weekend upon us, the leaderboard at this very International version of the Mexican Open is jammed like a City Park in August.

Four players are at -11 England's Matt Wallace, Finland's Sami Valimaki, Spaniard Alvaro Ortiz, American Jake Knapp, with South African Erik van Rooyen next at -10.

Two of the five Canadians will play on, Ben Silverman T31 70 68 -4 and Stuart MacDonald T50 69 71 -2.

Taylor Pendrith 72 73, Mac Hughes 77 73 and Roger Sloan 71 73 all missed the cut and are heading for the beach or home or to Florida for the start the Tour's swing there next week. 

Bryan Angus

Finns leading in Mexico and Kenya... full scoreboard rd2 TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Mexico Open at Vidanta Leaderboard  Tee Times

Recently I've been blowing my bugle for the state of Canadian men's pro golf with 8 on The PGA Tour and others like Jared du Toit doing well in Asia and all over the world

Then led by the Hojgaard twins Nicolai and Rasmus along with Masters bound Thorbjorn Olesen more than half a dozen Danes are making selection of their Olympic team difficult for captain Thomas Bjorn.

Sami Valimaki, of Finland, tees off on the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course Friday, May 21, 2021, in Kiawah Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt York)(APMedia)

This week so far its the Finns who are shining with Sami Valimaki -10 currently leading the Mexico Open and his countryman Tapio Pulkkanen T1 in Kenya at the Magical Kenya Open. 

Others like Mikko Ilonen, Kalle Samooja, Matilda Kastren, Sanna Nuutinen amongst others have represented their country at the Olympics.

Such is the state of International golf, a long way from Gary Player being described as the first foreigner to win the Masters in 1961, the first of his three at Augusta.  

Canadian 1st rounds

Ben Silverman -1 70

Stuart MacDonald -2 69

Roger Sloan E 71

Taylor Pendrith +2 73

Mac Hughes +6 77

Bryan Angus

Cockerill makes cut on the number, Magical Kenya Open.. scoreboard / tee times

 DP World Tour : Magical Kenya Open Leaderboard Tee Times

Tapio Pulkkanen, Connor Syme and Darius van Driel were at the head of a congested leaderboard heading into the weekend at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

Dutchman Van Driel came into day two leading and followed up his opening 66 with a 69 to set the target at seven under.

He was joined at the summit by Pulkkanen after a birdie-birdie finish saw the Finn sign for a 68 and Scot Syme carded a 68 of his own, eagling the last to make it a three-way tie.

Pulkkanen had this to say "It was really important, especially from the first bogey I made on three, to get the round going and make two birdies after that," he said.

"I played a lot of irons off the tee, same as yesterday. I think the course played similar to the first day: same wind direction, firm greens. I played well.

All three of the leaders made their way to the DP World Tour initially through the European Challenge Tour, with Pulkkanen topping the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2017 and Syme and Van Driel both graduating two years later.

Spaniard Manuel Elvira, Scot Ewen Ferguson, Englishman Sam Hutsby and Italian Lorenzo Scalise were at six under, with 21 players within three shots of the lead.

edit *** Canada's Aaron Cockerill just made the cut on the number 70 72 E and now starts the weekend 7 shots off the lead without his A game so far yet this week on a course where he has had success, T2 2022.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Cockerill in the mix after Day 1 Magical Kenya Open.. full RESUTS / TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Magical Kenya Open. .Leaderboard  Tee Times

Darius van Driel continued his fine start to the 2024 Race to Dubai with an opening -5 66 to take the first-round lead at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

The Dutchman has two top tens so far this campaign and while he missed his first cut of the season last time out, a return to Muthaiga Golf Club - where he has two previous top-12 finishes, including last year - saw him regain his recent form.

An eagle, five birdies and two bogeys moved him to -5 66, a shot clear of countryman Daan Huizing, Frenchman Frederic Lacroix, Finn Tapio Pulkkanen, German Yannick Schuetz, Scot Connor Syme and South African Ryan van Velzen all with -4 67

Van Driel's golfing journey has been a remarkable one, with him giving up the game for a number of years after breaking his hand in a banana boat accident, but he decided to turn professional after finishing second at the 2015 Alps Tour Q-School.

He won the Order of Merit in his maiden season and then graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2019, the same season he lost in the final of the Belgian Knockout to Guido Migliozzi on the DP World Tour.

"You just have to be patient. You can hit a good drive and still end up in the rough and have no shot, like Marcus (Kinhult) had on ten, or you can hit it left side of the fairway and it kicks back. You’ve got to be very patient, especially with the wind, you just grind it out."

Huizing then made it a leading trio from the morning starters, turning in 31 with birdies on the tenth, 13th, 14th and 18th and making two bogeys and two gains on the front nine.

In the afternoon, Schuetz had shared the lead, eagling the tenth and picking up shots on the 13th, third and fourth but he bogeyed the eighth to drop back.

Van Velzen had a birdie-birdie finish and dropped just one shot in his 67, while Pulkkanen also made five birdies and a single bogey.

Englishman Joe Dean got to -5 66 in his round but bogeys on the seventh and eighth slipped him back to -3 69 alongside Dane Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen, Scottish pair Craig Howie and Daniel Young, Kiwi Sam 

Canada's Aaron Cockerill remains in contention, T38 out in 33 / 35 -2 back with all pars, single bogey for -1

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Mexico Open at Vidante....5 Canadians.. TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Mexico Open at Vidanta Tee Times

After all the big play at Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach and Riviera it's a week off for most of the big boys down at the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta, which is a bombers course, keep that in mind.

Tony Finau defends his title, other guys getting lots of love from those of you who like a flutter, Taylor Pendrith who was T5 after 54 holes in his last outing at Torrey Pines, Thomas Detry, Keith Mitchell, Stephan Jaeger, Ben Silverman, Jhonattan Vegas and Brandon Wu, and I'm adding Danish star, Nicolai Hojgaard.

Canadians (all times 

830 1st    Taylor Pendrith, Robby Shelton, Justin Lower 

903 10th  Mac Hughes, Tony Finau, Nicolai Hojgaard

1009 1st  Stuart MacDonald, Paul Barjon, Norman Xiong

210 10th  Roger Sloan, Thomas Detry, Ryan Palmer

254 10th  Ben Silverman, Rico Hoey, Adrien Dumont de Chassart 

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour : Aaron Cockerill at Magical Kenya Open TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Magical Kenya Open : Tee Times

After a week off at the end of the Middle East swing the DP World Tour is in Africa now for 3 weeks beginning in Kenya.

All the usual stalwarts are in attendance, purse just $2,500,000.

Aaron Cockerill is back where he T2 in 2022 in Nairobi on the Muthaiga GC.

750am 10th  Aaron Cockerill, Eddie Pepperell, Indiza Anyonyi Dismas

Bryan Angus

Matsuyama's brilliant 62 wins Genesis Invitational, Hadwin T4... FULL Results

 PGA Tour : Genesis Invitational Results

Hideki Matsuyama had been struggling with neck and back injuries' since 2022, but on Sunday at Riviera the man who is a super star in Japan was at his best, rallying from 6 shots back, setting the Riviera record with a nine birdie, no bogey 32, 30 -9 62 three shots better than his nearest rivals Will Zalatoris 69 -14 and Luke List 68 -14 who both won $1,800,000.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama poses with the Genesis Invitational trophy on Sunday at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. (Ryan Kang/The Associated Press)

Matsuyama with his 9th PGA Tour victory, wins a whopping $4,000,000 and 700 points along with all the other trappings and becomes the Asian born player with most wins, a record he shared with KJ Choi. He has 18 wins worldwide.

While injured he had only 2 top 10s and dropped out of the world's top 50 but now returns at #20. 

Canadians

Adam Hadwin had a great weekend 67 65 T4 -13 and was the top Canadian worth $866,666

Adam Svensson also cracked the top10,  67 72 67 70 -8 $455,000

Corey Conners T24  70 65 70 74 -5   $164,857

Mac Hughes T31  69 65 72 74  $123,000  Mac was right in contention Friday night T2.

Nick Taylor T39  70 6 70 74 -1 $82,000

*** Next week this tour moves to the Mexico Open at Vidanta before beginning the Florida swing.

Bryan Angus

edit ****** Stephen Ames wins 36 hole CHUBB Classic ... full leaderboard

 PGA Tour Champions : CHUBB Classic Leaderboard  Tee Times

EDIT *** After I posted this the PGA Tour officials cancelled the 3rd round at 9pm Saturday night after consulting with all concerned weather authorities and police they decided it would be unsafe and unplayable.

With all of Florida under a severe weather warning with heavy rain and strong winds lashing the state and moving up the east coast, PGA Tour officials have taken the unusual step of reducing play on Sunday to just 9 holes (1-4, 14-18) on the Tiburon GC in Naples.

Looking at the radar map, it will be no surprise if they don't play at all which is really immaterial when you see the damage this system is causing.

They are sending everyone out in groups of three starting at 715am off the 1st tee to try and get it done. All none playing holes will be scored as pars.

As it stands Stephen Ames is in the lead 67 64 -13 three ahead of Rocco Mediate 63 71 -10 then 4 players at -9 including Ernie Els.

The other Canadian Mike Weir T41 71 72 -1.

Bryan Angus

Canadians look for a strong finish at Genesis Invitational....Sunday leaderboard TEE TIMES

PGA Tour : Genesis Invitational  Leaderboard  Tee Times

Patrick Cantlay 64 65 70 -14 still leads, but now just by two shots from his friend and Ryder Cup partner Xander Schauffele 70 66 65 -12 and stringbean Will Zalatoris 66 70 65 -12 as they head into Sunday at this version of the $20,000,000 Genesis Invitational with and LIV like $4,000,000 to the winner.

Cantlay grew up in the area, went to school at UCLA so this is his home course and it's his to win as he starts 2 shots clear of his nearest rivals.

On a cool, cloudy California Saturday where it seemed more people were talking about Tiger having influenza than golf the Canadian contingent who still have four in the T10 but not contending will look for a strong Sunday finish to improve their life savings.

Canadians

Corey Conners T7 70 65 70 -8

Adam Svensson T10  67 72 67 -7

Adam Hadwin T10  69 70 67 -7

Mac Hughes  T10  69 65 72 -7

Nick Taylor  T28  70 69 70 -4

As Riviera dried out and firmed up, she maintained her reputation as a premier test of golf, there were only 3 scores of 65 Schauffele, Zalatoris and Harris English who are in the top 5, with the average score under par at 69.5.

With a sunny cool 60*f calm 7mph breeze ideal Sunday for scoring ahead, and three days of rain heading for southern California, somebody is going to shoot 63, the question is will it be one of the leaders or who?

The biggest names Scheffler -5, Rory -4, Hovland -4, Fleetwood -4 are all out of it.

Two years ago when LIV forced the PGA Tour to put up these $20m dollar events we all gasped, now its not even in the conversation anymore, except for the 70 guys playing on Sunday...and their wives..

Bryan Angus

Mac Hughes leads Canadian charge into weekend Genesis Invitational... full scoreboard TEE TMES

 PGA Tour : Genesis Invitational : Leaderboard  Tee Times

Those of us who have been covering Canadian golf for most of our adult lives and watched the professional game grow can fully appreciate the Genesis Invitational leaderboard heading into this weekend at Riviera.

Nick Taylor after making history winning our National championship went on to have his best year in 2023 and with his runner up position last year at WM Waste Management he explained how going head to head with Scottie Scheffler in the final round buoyed his confidence, confirming in his mind he could play with and beat the best, and he did by winning it last week

There are 8 Canadian men playing this year, the most ever, anyone of them capable of winning when they are on their game.

This week all 5 are in the top 20 heading into the weekend with $20,000,000 up for grabs.

Mac Hughes T2 69 65 -8

Corey Conners 5th  70 65 -7

Adam Svensson T20 67 72 -3

Nick Taylor T20 70 69 -3

Adam Hadwin T20 69 70 -3

Mac Hughes is in the penultimate pairing at 229 with Jason Day,

Corey Conners in the 3rd last pairing with Will Zalatoris at 218

Full tee times are available above,

The run away leader Patrick Cantlay 64 65 -13 looks unbeatable after two near flawless rounds, five shots clear, however we've seen this before, with 36 holes still to play. 

The cut fell at +1 with the top 50 and ties making the weekend.

Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas +3, Tiger Woods W/D with flu like symptoms' on the 7th hole (dehydration),  Jordan Spieth DQ when he signed an incorrect scorecard. On the par 3 4th he made bogey 4 but signed for a 3.

WEATHER

It looks like the storm that will hit Los Angeles and the west coast will not arrive until Monday. leaving Riviera free and clear for the weekend. 

Bryan Angus

Cantlay leads, Canucks all under par, Genesis Invitational Friday leaderboard/ TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Genesis Invitational Leaderboard  Tee Times

The 70 man field in this $20,000,000 signature event, is split by those under par and those at E or worse.

Rory McIlroy finished double, triple, birdie, bogey T64 +3 74, while Nick Hardy is in last place T69 +5 76.

Everyone under par is bunched T28 or better led by Southern Californian Patrick Cantlay who made Riviera look easy -7 64 with birdies and a lone bogey at the par 3 16th after hitting a tree with his tee shot. 

Two Aussie's Jason Day and Cam Davis along with American Luke List are all T2 -6 65.

Canadians

Adam Svensson T8 -4 67

Adam Hadwin T15 -2 69

Mac Hughes T15 -2 69

Corey Conners T28 -1 70

Nick Taylor T28 -1 70

So all Canadians under par, with 3 rounds to play.

WEATHER

Riviera was soaked by the same weather system that reduced Pebble Beach to 54 holes last week, leaving the fairways soft, greens are reported as firm.

While the chance of showers for the next 3 days is listed as 57%, 9% and 41% with a lot of sunshine, very light winds (8mph) and cool by California standards low 60's F, there is a big rainy weather system lurking for Monday into next week. 

For all you Tiger fans, he is well down the field as expected, T49 +1 72, not bad considering he doesn't play much anymore. Worse news was him complaining about back spasms which may have contributed to a flat out shank on the 18th. 

Other Notables

Jordan Spieth -5 66, Ludvig Aberg -3 68, Scottie Scheffler -3 68, Nicolai Hojgaard -1 70, Viktor Hovland -1 70, Rickie Fowler -1 70, Tommy Fleetwood -1 70, Max Homa +2 73

Bryan Angus

TEE TIMES Genesis Invitational including 5 Canadians...Pavon withdraws

 PGA Tour: Genesis Invitational Tee Times

This week another "signature" $20,000,000 restricted (71) field event, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in Los Angeles

French star Matthieu Pavon was in the field but has withdrawn " to rest and reset" after winning at Torrey Pines and placing 3rd at 54 hole AT&T Pebble Beach

Fresh off his win last week at the WM Phoenix Open Nick Taylor leads the Canadian contingent at a course he says he loves. 

All tee times EST and off the 1st tee

1120  Corey Conners, Chris Kirk, JP Poston

1132  Adam Svensson, Dennis McCarthy, Seamus Power 

1144  Adam Hadwin, Cam Davis, Cameron Young

1201  Nick Taylor, Viktor Hovland, Sam Burns

1206  Mac Hughes, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Rodgers

Notables

1213 Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Patrick Cantlay

1225  Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland

230   Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Xander Schauffele

242  Scottie Scheffler, Alex Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa

254   Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa

Tiger who also hosts this event is playing with his close pals Thomas and Woodland for the  first 2 rounds having last played at his invitational in the Bahamas before Christmas.

Bryan Angus