26th February Newsletter 2024

Author

TJ Biggs
February 26, 2024

Good Morning⛳ Thanks again to all of you, let’s continue growing this newsletter, every subscriber helps, so please keep on sending this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested. Here is a quick sign-up link you can copy - Subscribe

This last week saw a fairytale story come true for Jake Knapp as he picked up his first PGA tour victory in his rookie season. Charlie Woods pre-qualified for his first PGA Tour event, was it too soon? I guess you will never know until you try.

It has been great to have the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour having their ‘Africa Swing’ over the last few weeks. It is always good to see the top players playing locally. This week sees the DP World Tour head to St Francis Links, one of my personal favourite courses.

A quick note before we jump in, Ronald Rugumayo made a clutch putt on 18 on Friday in the Kenyan Open, it saw him become the first Ugandan to make a cut on the DP World Tour, a huge step for African golf.

Let’s go. 🏌️‍♀️⛳☕

RESULTS
Weekly Results From Around The World

Image: Golfweek

PGA Tour: Mexico Open - Jake Knapp | -19
DP World Tour: Magical Kenya Open - Darius Van Driel | -14
Sunshine Tour/Challenge Tour: NMB Championship - Björn Åkesson  | -15
Asian Tour: International Series Oman - Carlos Ortiz | -19
LPGA Tour: Honda LPGA - Patty Tavatanakit | -21

NEWS
Short News Snippets From Around The World

Image: PGA Tour

Masters Invites. LIV Golf's Joaquin Niemann, along with Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryo Hisatsune, accepts special invitations to compete in the 2024 Masters at Augusta National. Niemann, despite a drop in world rankings, impresses with recent top finishes. The Masters aims to promote global interest in golf. The first Major kicks off on the 11th April.

Fairytale Story. After working as a nightclub bouncer just two years ago, Jake Knapp clinched a two-stroke victory at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, Mexico, marking his first PGA Tour win in his rookie season. Overcoming challenges and personal loss, Knapp's triumph adds a compelling storyline, earning him a spot in prestigious tournaments.

What’s Next For Tiger. Following his Genesis Invitational withdrawal, Tiger Woods prioritizes recovery. Once he's physically ready, he'll resume training for future tournaments. His next target is likely The Players Championship in March, aligning with his aim of playing one event per month. Woods remains dedicated to golf and his off-course endeavours.

Charlie Woods PGA Tour Pre Qualifier. This past week Charlie Woods tried to pre-qualify for his first PGA Tour event. It did not go to plan shooting an 86, with a disastrous 12 on a hole. The crowds came out to watch him, with reports stating that some fans were getting a bit rowdy. Even though Charlie shot an 86 I think this is incredible, he is only 15 years old.

400 Yards Average?! Wilco Nienaber averaged a monstrous 400-yard average off the tee in round one this past week in Kenya. This is partially due to the elevation and hard fairways, but oh my word that is far. As my dad would say ‘I don’t go that far on holiday’.

Kim Returns. After a hiatus since 2012 due to injuries, Anthony Kim, 38, is set to return to professional golf in LIV Golf's event in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. Kim, once a rising star on the PGA Tour, will compete as a wildcard player, marking his long-awaited comeback after years of speculation. My question is, will he be gaming those huge belt buckles?

STATS
Pars Are Your Friend, Not Birdies ⛳

This is for 10-index players:

Average birdies per round:

When they score 79 or better➡️1.7
When they score 89 or worse:➡️0.4

Birdies are NOT the driver of low scores!

TECH
PGA Tour Vision Pro

PGA TOUR Vision, a groundbreaking app for Apple Vision Pro, launched on the 2nd Feb, offering golf fans immersive 3D views of PGA TOUR tournaments. Initially featuring Pebble Beach Golf Links' iconic seventh hole during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, it expands weekly, culminating with all 18 holes at THE PLAYERS Championship. Powered by Virtual Eye and ShotLink data, users can view live trails, leaderboards, and video highlights, creating a unique spatial experience. Developed by Quintar and Work & Co., PGA TOUR Vision marks a significant leap in spatial computing for golf enthusiasts, promising innovative viewing experiences throughout the FedExCup Season.

I haven’t had the chance to test it out, but I am not sure that I would want to get into such detail to watch a round of golf, but maybe a Major could be interesting. Check out the video below to see what it looks like. Towards the end, you can see him watching the golf and using the tech at the same time.

TWITTER
Play It As It Lies ⛳🏌️‍♀️

I’m not sure what is making me more uncomfortable, no shoes, or playing off the drain 😂😂

EVENTS
What Can We Expect From The Upcoming Events

Image: PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Cognizant Classic - Defending Champ | Chris Kirk
DP World Tour/Sunshine Tour: SDC Championship - Defending Champ | Matthew Baldwin
LPGA Tour: HSBC Women's World Championship - Defending Champ | Jin Young Ko
Asian Tour: New Zealand Open - Defending Champ | Brendan Jones
LIV Golf: Jeddah Championship | 1 - 3 March

That’s a wrap for this week. Thank you for taking the time to read the seventeen edition of this newsletter, please feel free to leave me a comment or reply with some feedback. If you are looking to sponsor this newsletter let me know, I would love to have you on board.

If you are not a subscriber please subscribe below, and if you are please share with anyone who you think would enjoy this quick read. Subscribe here

Cheers,

TJ 🏌️‍♂️