The Golf Channel for Golf Lessons
Czech golfer Nelly Korda posted a bogey-free 66 on Saturday to reduce Atthaya Thitikul’s halfway lead to four shots in the BMW Ladies Championship. Korda carded six birdies at the Oak Valley Country Club in South Korea to move to 14 under par, putting her in contention for her second LPGA Tour title of the season. Thitikul, who set a new course record on Friday with a 64, could only manage a 71 on Saturday, dropping to 18 under par.
Catch Round 2 of the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship on Golf Channel Friday from 3-6 p.m. ET. The second day of the tournament at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland, will feature the remaining 132 players competing for a spot in the weekend rounds. Friday’s coverage will include live look-ins on featured groups and hole-by-hole coverage of key moments.
Sam Burns shot a 6-under 64 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Maverick McNealy into the weekend at the Barbasol Championship. Burns, who won the Valspar Championship in May, had seven birdies and one bogey in his round at Keene Trace Golf Club. McNealy, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory, shot a 65. He had eight birdies and three bogeys. Wyndham Clark, J.T. Poston and Harry Higgs are tied for third at 8 under. Defending champion Jim Herman is tied for 14th at 5 under.
Rory McIlroy is joining a newly formed PGA Tour player advisory council that will discuss matters including potential Saudi-backed golf events.
McIlroy had been outspoken in his stance against the rival series operated by Greg Norman, but it appears his stance may have softened with the emergence of this committee to facilitate discussions and protect the PGA Tour. It will comprise 16 members, half of whom are not currently player directors on the tour’s policy board.
Xander Schauffele seized a slim one-stroke lead after the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday, with Rory McIlroy lurking two shots adrift. Schauffele carded a three-under-par 68 to move to nine under for the tournament, one ahead of American Max Homa (69). World number one Scottie Scheffler (70) is tied for third on seven under alongside South Korean Im Sung-jae (68). McIlroy, chasing his first PGA Tour win since October 2021, produced a rollercoaster 69 featuring six birdies and three bogeys. The four-time major champion sits in a tie for fifth on seven under.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, along with the PGA Tour board, have reportedly been involved in secret meetings about a potential rival golf league. Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, has been vocal about his opposition to the league, but McIlroy and Woods believe it could benefit the sport. The league, reportedly funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, has divided opinion within the golf community, with some players expressing concerns about its impact on the PGA Tour and its alignment with Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
World No. 14 Hideki Matsuyama has ended his PGA Tour season early after withdrawing from the Wells Fargo Championship prior to the second round due to a back issue. The 29-year-old Japanese star aggravated the injury during his opening round, where he shot a 73. Matsuyama’s decision to withdraw comes as a blow to his preparations for the upcoming US Open, which starts on June 16 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. It is still unclear if Matsuyama will be able to recover in time to participate in the year’s third major.
**Golf enthusiasts eager to watch this year’s PGA Wells Fargo Championship will be able to tune in to ESPN+ for exclusive live coverage.**
The tournament will be held at Quail Hollow Club from May 2nd to 5th, and will feature a field of top players like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and defending champion Max Homa.
ESPN+ will provide live coverage of all four rounds of the tournament, with tee times and streaming information available on the ESPN+ app.
Fans can also follow the tournament on ESPN’s linear channels, with coverage of the first and second rounds airing on ESPN2 and the third and fourth rounds airing on ESPN.
Seven LIV golfers, including Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford, have received special invites to the 2023 PGA Championship. The PGA of America extended the exemptions based on the players’ rankings and performance, despite their affiliation with the controversial LIV Golf series. The decision has sparked controversy, as the PGA Tour has suspended LIV members. However, the PGA of America maintains that its choice is based on merit rather than affiliation. The invited LIV golfers will avoid qualifying through the Open Championship for a spot in the U.S. Open.
Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina prepares to host this year’s 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, exclusively covered on ESPN+. Golf fans will be able to witness high-energy clashes between the world’s top players starting from Thursday, May 2nd. Rory McIlroy leads the field of pairings alongside Scottie Scheffler, while Jon Rahm pairs with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth joins forces with Justin Rose. Amid these golf giants, an unexpected long-shot pick emerges, boasting pre-tournament odds in their favor. Can they defy expectations and claim victory, or will the heavyweights of the sport reign supreme? The excitement builds as these underdogs prepare to challenge the elite at Quail Hollow Club.
