Woods withdraws with ‘flu-like’ illness at Riviera, Cantlay leads

Patrick Cantlay of the US tees off the fourth hole during the second round of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. (AFP)
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Updated 17 February 2024
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Woods withdraws with ‘flu-like’ illness at Riviera, Cantlay leads

  • Woods’s premature exit of his first official PGA Tour event in more than 10 months overshadowed another outstanding day for American Patrick Cantlay
  • Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and American Luke List matched the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history

LOS ANGELES: Ailing superstar Tiger Woods withdrew in the second round of the Genesis Invitational on Friday in the latest setback for the 15-time major champion.

Woods’s longtime business partner Rob McNamara said Woods had felt “flu-like symptoms” on Thursday night and his condition worsened until he called it quits after hitting his tee shot at the seventh hole.

“He had a little bit of a fever and that, and was better during the warm-up, but then when he got out there and was walking and playing, he started feeling dizzy,” McNamara said.

The arrival of an ambulance at Riviera’s clubhouse sparked further concern.

However, McNamara said Woods had responded to on-site treatment for dehydration and Woods left the grounds in a courtesy car.

“Ultimately the doctors are saying he’s got potentially some type of flu and that he was dehydrated,” McNamara said. “He’s been treated with an IV bag and he’s doing much, much better.”

Woods’s premature exit of his first official PGA Tour event in more than 10 months overshadowed another outstanding day for American Patrick Cantlay, who had an eagle and four birdies in a six-under par 65 and a 13-under total of 129.

Cantlay’s five-shot lead over Australian Jason Day, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and American Luke List matched the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history.

But all eyes were on Woods, who buried his face in his hands as he was ferried from the course in a golf cart in an abrupt end to his first tour event since he withdrew from the rain-delayed third round of the Masters last April.

Two weeks later Woods had right ankle surgery to address lingering pain from injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash.

Woods has played only nine official events in the last four seasons. He has missed the cut twice and withdrawn three times.

Woods, who had spinal fusion surgery in 2017, said Thursday that back spasms contributed to a surprising shank at the 18th hole of his one-over par first round.

But McNamara said none of Woods’s ongoing injury troubles contributed to his withdrawal.

“Not physical at all, his back’s fine,” McNamara said. “It was all medical illness, dehydration ... now the symptoms are reversing themselves now that he’s had an IV.”

Even if the illness is fleeting it has cost Woods valuable, and increasingly rare, tournament play.

The 48-year-old has said he hoped his various physical problems would allow him to play up to one tournament a month this year but on Thursday he admitted it remained to be seen if that would pan out.

“I’m hoping that’s the case, hoping that I play that much,” Woods said.

Playing partner Gary Woodland, himself returning after surgery to remove a brain tumor last September, said Woods “just didn’t look right” throughout the round.

“It sucks,” Woodland said. “Obviously everything’s better with him there and for him (to play) his first tournament back and he couldn’t come out and finish the way he wanted to, that sucks for all of us.”

Woods would have been battling to make the cut in the elite event. He opened Friday with a birdie at the par-five first but bogeyed the fourth and fifth and was two-over for the tournament.

That would have seen him miss the weekend, when Cantlay will be aiming for a wire-to-wire win.

The seventh-ranked American started the day with a one-shot lead and eagled the par-five first. He added birdies at eight, 11, 15 and 17, landing a four-iron from the rough at 15 three feet from the pin.

“Putting great and leaving the golf ball in the right spot, which is really key around here,” Cantlay said of the key to his success so far. “It’s a golf course I’m really comfortable on and it’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen it.”

Day secured his share of second with a rollercoaster 69 that featured an eagle, four bogeys and four birdies. List also carded a 69 while Hughes posted a six-under 65 for 134

Canada’s Corey Conners was alone in fifth place on 135 and Will Zalatoris aced the par-three 14th in his one-under 70 that left him tied for sixth on 136 with Xander Schauffele and Tom Hoge.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth had a tough end to his round with a double-bogey at 18, but his day got worse when he was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. He signed for a three at the par-three fourth, which he had actually bogeyed.


Jon Rahm out to break 2025 win drought ahead of PGA Championship

Updated 30 April 2025
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Jon Rahm out to break 2025 win drought ahead of PGA Championship

  • Rahm vowed to clean up his game in South Korea with the second major of the year, the PGA Championship, only two weeks away
  • The two-time major winner will tee off in Friday’s first round at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon alongside the in-form Joaquin Niemann of Chile

SEOUL: Former world No. 1 Jon Rahm said Wednesday he had not done himself “any favors” in his winless start to the season ahead of LIV Golf’s South Korea debut.

The Spaniard has endured an indifferent 2025 by his own lofty standards, admitting “small mistakes” had cost him.

He failed to mount a serious challenge at last month’s Masters and he vowed to clean up his game in South Korea with the second major of the year, the PGA Championship, only two weeks away.

“I’m just not doing everything I need to do right,” Rahm said ahead of LIV Golf Korea, which will also feature US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who played alongside eventual winner Rory McIlroy in the final group at Augusta.

“Sometimes you also need a little bit of luck in your favor, not that I haven’t been lucky.

“I just haven’t done myself any favors on the golf course, I would say it like that,” added Rahm.

The two-time major winner will tee off in Friday’s first round at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon alongside the in-form Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who won his third LIV tournament of the season in Mexico last weekend.

The 2023 Augusta champion had a frustrating time at this year’s Masters, starting poorly with a three-over 75 and leaving himself with too much to do heading into the weekend.

He picked up his game but the damage had been done as he finished eight shots behind McIlroy for a share of 14th place.

Rahm was second in the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit’s season-opening event in Riyadh and has finished in the top 10 in all six tournaments, which have a field of 54 players.

“While I like having top 10s and I like being a good player week-in and week-out, winning obviously is what matters more,” he said.

“I would gladly give up some of those top 10s for more wins.

“I keep playing well, I keep putting myself close enough, just every once in a while there’s been enough mistakes where I’m just not quite close enough going into the back nine on Sunday.”

Niemann’s victory in Mexico secured his berth at the US Open at Oakmont in June.

The Chilean added to the titles he won in Singapore and Adelaide this season.

“It’s been an exciting last six events here at LIV, the way I’ve been playing, the way I’ve been feeling on the course,” said the 26-year-old.

“I felt like there’s been a lot of trust and a lot of faith in the work that I’ve been putting in.”


Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf Mexico City with stellar final round

Updated 28 April 2025
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Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf Mexico City with stellar final round

  • Niemann began his day two shots off the lead, but three birdies on his first seven holes put him in an enviable position

Joaquin Niemann was virtually flawless Sunday, firing a 6-under-par 65 at Club de Golf Chapultepec to earn his third championship of the season at LIV Golf Mexico City.
Niemann began his day two shots off the lead, but three birdies on his first seven holes put him in an enviable position. He added birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 16 and 18 to finish three strokes in front of the field at 16 under for the tourney.
The win came in front of family and friends.
“Yeah, it’s special,” Niemann said. “My mom came all the way. I think the first time my mom has seen me win, so that’s pretty cool. So yeah, I had my mom here, Didi, my wife, my friends, my team. It’s been a really good couple months, so yeah, happy.”
The Torque GC captain from Chile had one bogey, on the 14th.
Following his third tournament win, Niemann remains in the lead for the individual season-long championship, a title that narrowly evaded him in 2024 as he finished second to Jon Rahm.
He also locked in a spot at the US Open in June.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Niemann said. “I feel like I wanted to be there (at the US Open), so yeah, it’s great to keep doing what I’m doing, hitting the ball great, making putts, and yeah, hopefully keep it rolling.”
The 26-year-old was barely pressed late, with the best charge coming from the incredible round turned in by Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert, a 10-under 61 beauty that featured an eagle and eight birdies.
Herbert essentially ran out of runway to complete the comeback, coming into the day too far behind the leaders to catch up. However, he did help Cameron Smith’s (72) Ripper squad finish in second in the team standings, behind Jon Rahm’s (68) Legion XIII.
“Just one of those rounds where everything comes together,” Herbert said. “I thought I played pretty decent the last two days, I just didn’t get many breaks, and I just felt like today every time there was a line ball sort of thing I got the right kick and I’d make a putt where I needed to or just anything — just that sort of stuff. It just kept the momentum going through the round.
“Look, I played great, really enjoyed feeling everything I felt the last few holes, but it’s just one of those rounds where it all just clicks for you, and it was a pretty cool feeling to do it at an event like this.”
Bryson DeChambeau, leading the pack coming into the day, was attempting to go wire-to-wire but came up well short with a final-round 71 and had to settle for a tie for second with Herbert at 13 under.
Rahm was fourth among individuals at 12 under, while Smith and Legion’s Tyrrell Hatton (68) finished in a tie for fifth (11 under).
“It’s pretty hard to make it more special than this moment right now,” Niemann said. “I mean, this place is amazing. It was a good battle with Bryson, with Cam, so I’m happy to be in this position right now.”
Torque finished the tournament in third place, while 4Aces was fourth.


South Korea’s Ryu and Japan’s Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead

Updated 27 April 2025
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South Korea’s Ryu and Japan’s Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead

  • Ryu fired a 4-under par 68 and Saigo shot 69 to leave each on nine-under 207 after 54 holes at Carlton Woods in the year’s first major women’s tournament
  • Both co-leaders are chasing their first major title

HOUSTON: South Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Japan’s Mao Saigo, both aided by long birdies, shared the lead after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Chevron Championship.

Ryu fired a 4-under par 68 and Saigo shot 69 to leave each on 9-under 207 after 54 holes at Carlton Woods in the year’s first major women’s tournament.

“Another good day,” Ryu said. “I was just trying for the good spots, for the easy putts, and I wanted to try to make some birdies. That was good for me.”

American Lindy Duncan was third on 208 with American Sarah Schmelzel and China’s Liu Yan on 209.

After a bogey at the third hole and a birdie at the par-5 fourth, Ryu reeled off four birdies to close the front nine, the last a spectacular chip-in from well off the front of the green.

“I just think, wow, it’s amazing,” said Ryu, who parred her way through the back nine.

Saigo, however, was not to be outdone. She made a birdie at the par-three third, took a bogey at the fifth, answered with birdies at the sixth and par-five eighth and then holed out from the fringe at the par-five 13th to reach nine-under.

“The course condition was pretty hard. It was pretty difficult to make birdies so I kind of struggled,” Saigo said. “Two of them were chip-in birdies from outside, so I was pretty lucky.”

Both co-leaders are chasing their first major title.

“I think that’s a good pressure for me,” Ryu said. “I don’t have a major trophy in my home, so that’s a goal for my life and in golf.”

Saigo added, “I just need to focus on my golf game (and) try to control my mental control and hopefully I’ll win.”

Ryu led by a stroke entering last year’s final round but shot 74 and finished fifth.

“Last year the final round for me was not good,” Ryu said. “But I learned to be more calm and more comfortable and more slow. This year I wish to be more enjoying the course.”

Liu shared the lead at 9-under until a stumble at the par-three 17th, where she found a bunker, then chipped into sloped rough just above the bunker on the way to a double bogey.

Winds tested players in the late afternoon.

“The front nine was so good for me,” she said. “The back nine was such a challenge for me because the wind started to be stronger and the pins were so tough.”

“Definitely tested my patience out there,” Schmelzel said. “I’m sure there will be more of that tomorrow.”


Yan Liu has an albatross and a late birdie to hang onto the lead in the Chevron Championship

Updated 26 April 2025
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Yan Liu has an albatross and a late birdie to hang onto the lead in the Chevron Championship

  • Liu holed her 175-yard second shot on the 505-yard, downwind par-5 eighth with a 7-iron for the albatross
  • Top-ranked Nelly Korda rallied late in the afternoon to make the cut in her title defense, following an opening 77 with a 68

THE WOODLANDS, Texas: Yan Liu had an albatross to offset three front-nine bogeys and rebounded from a late bogey for an even-par 72 and a one-stroke lead over four players Friday in the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major tournament of the year.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda rallied late in the afternoon to make the cut in her title defense, following an opening 77 with a 68. She won last year at The Club at Carlton Woods for the last of her record-tying five straight victories.

She used a different putter Friday.

“I putted for an hour and a half after the round yesterday, so just needed something different,” Korda said. “Sometimes that’s all you need.”

Fog delayed the start of play, with nine players unable to finish the round because of darkness.

Liu, the 27-year-old Chinese player who shared the first-round lead with Haeran Ryu after a 65, admitted she would feel some pressure Saturday.

“I think, definitely, I will feel a little bit, because, well, this is major,” Liu said. “I know the course is going to be harder, harder, so I think I just stay patient, calm because I’m very emotional person.”

Hyo Joo Kim (71) was a stroke back with Lindy Duncan (66), Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Mao Saigo (68). Kim won the Ford Championship a month ago in Arizona for her seventh LPGA Tour title, while the other four players at the top of the leaderboard are winless.

Liu holed her 175-yard second shot on the 505-yard, downwind par-5 eighth with a 7-iron for the albatross.

“I saw the ball how to go in, so that’s really cool thing,” Liu said. “But I think they don’t have video for that hole. Little sad.”

Liu then bogeyed No. 9 and opened the back nine with seven pars. She dropped into a six-way tied for the lead with a bogey on the par-3 17th. Her tee shot hopped left into fluffy Bermuda rough, she chunked her second to the fringe and missed a 15-foot par try.

She got the stroke back with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th, finishing about an hour before sunset.

“Last hole, is my first birdie today,” Liu said. “I’m glad I made it.

Ryu had a 74 to fall two strokes back in a group with Angel Yin (70) , Manon De Roey (71) and Hye-Jin Choi (71). Weiwei Zhang also was 5 under with three holes left when play was suspended.

Lexi Thompson was 4 under, following an opening 73 with a 67. The 30-year-old Florida player retired from full-time play at the end of last season.

“I’m still practicing and training,” Thompson said. “I love working out. I’m still striving to be better for when I do tee it up because every time I tee it up I still want to win. It’s not like I’m just going out here to show face. I’m still very competitive, but just trying to enjoy the few times I will play.”

She won the 2014 event — then the Kraft Nabisco Championship — at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.

 

 


Bryson DeChambeau bombs his way to lead at LIV Golf Mexico City

Updated 26 April 2025
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Bryson DeChambeau bombs his way to lead at LIV Golf Mexico City

  • In the thin air of Mexico City, DeChambeau averaged 370 yards per drive with three 400-yard drives
  • His team Crushers GC posted a collective score of 15 under to tie for first with Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC

Bryson DeChambeau opened with an 8-under-par 63 to take a one-shot lead over fellow major champions Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm at LIV Golf Mexico City on Friday.
DeChambeau eagled his first hole of the day, the short par-4 second at Club De Golf Chapultepec, and was 4 under through three. He carded just one bogey before finishing birdie-birdie-par-birdie.
In the thin air of Mexico City, DeChambeau averaged 370 yards per drive with three 400-yard drives, per a reporter.
“Yeah, 370 is about right,” DeChambeau said. “I was flying it that far on the driving range. I’m like, ‘OK, I think that’s going to be my average,’ and if the fairways get firm, it could be more. It could be a lot more.”
The team DeChambeau captains, Crushers GC, posted a collective score of 15 under to tie for first with Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC.
Smith paired nine birdies with two bogeys.
“Just kind of getting out of my own way today was really important and just trusting it,” Smith said. “It’s a tough golf course, especially to get it in the fairway, which is something that I’ve been struggling with. I decided to just kind of let it go and get out of my own way.”
As for Rahm, the Spaniard is third in the points standings so far this season but is still searching for his first win since September at LIV Golf Chicago.
He had the same total as Smith — nine birdies, two bogeys — which included a near-ace at his finishing hole, the par-3 18th. His ball skirted right past the cup and he made a short birdie putt.
Rahm was also pleased with his start of three birdies in a row.
“What better way to start it than with three birdies in a row,” Rahm said. “That just set the tone, and felt really comfortable on the greens all day. Couldn’t really have asked for a much better score.”
Bubba Watson is alone in fourth at 5-under 66. England’s Tyrrell Hatton is fifth at 4-under 67.