“I don’t quite know why he has done that.”
Rory McIlroy never really recovered from his opening round of 74 at the Genesis Invitational to be in contention for the top prize. He did finish with three rounds under par to win just shy of $165,000 after a tie for 24th place.
McIlroy shared some interesting thoughts on a top-tier competition in professional golf that he described as being akin to the Champions League. Right now, in golf, we have a mixed bag that has been further jumbled by LIV Golf, meaning most top stars only really play the four major events, each year.
During the closing stretch of his final round, an unsighted McIlroy did not wait to get the all clear before uncorking a drive on the 15th hole. His drive rattled past former US Open champion Lucas Glover, who was still sizing up an iron approach on the fairway. On Sky Sports, former women’s major legend Laura Davies remarked:
“He has just pumped it past the playing group, up ahead. They’re none too pleased, and I don’t blame them. I don’t quite know why he has done that. Maybe they are playing slowly, and that is a little hurry-up for them.”
Although it was a breach of golfing etiquette, McIlroy did look surprised to learn there were still players out on the fairway, ahead, and the Sky crew gave him as pass.
"Are they still there?!"
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot past the group ahead at the Genesis Invitational without realising they were still there 😅 pic.twitter.com/VrXS4XZUjf
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) February 18, 2024
Rory McIlroy and Seamus Power finish middle of the pack
Rory McIlroy and Seamus Power played in the third PGA Tour Signature Event of 2024 at Riviera Country Club. Tournament host Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw on Friday due to flu symptoms.
McIlroy shot an opening round of +3 (74) which included a triple bogey. This was the first Signature Event that had a halfway cut with top 50 players on leaderboard making it to Saturday and Sunday. McIlroy shot a second round of -5 and started day three 11 behind leader Patrick Cantlay. Power also managed to make the cut due to a second round of -3.
On day three. McIlroy’s third round included five birdies and three bogeys to shoot 69. Power had an impressive third round of four under which included an eagle at hole 10. Cantlay took a two-shot lead on -14 into the final round. Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris were Cantlay’s nearest challengers on 12 under.
McIlroy and Power went into day four both on -4. The four-time major winner got off to a perfect start on day four with birdies at hole one and two. He was not able to take advantage of a good start as he dropped two shots at four and five, but picked up par five birdies on 11 and 17 to card a 70. Throughout the four rounds McIlroy made 18 birdies, eight bogeys, one double and a triple bogey.
Power started day four well, holing his third shot from off the green for eagle at the first. He made two birdies and three bogeys to shoot a back nine of 37, finishing in a tie for 31st and earning $123,000.
After nine holes of day four Luke List was leading on -16. At one stage, on the back nine, Cantlay, Schauffele, Zalatoris, List, and Hideki Matsuyama were all joint leaders on -14. Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, hit incredible shots at 15 and 16 to reach -16. He also birdied 17 and dropped a short-range par putt on 18 to shoot a back nine of 30 in a stunning round of 62.
Padraig Harrington participated in Champions Tour Chubb Classic. The Black Course at Tiburon Golf Club hosted 2024 Chubb Classic. Harrington’s opening round of 69 included five birdies and a double bogey. Harrington made seven birdies and two double bogeys to shoot a second round of 70.
The final round of Chubb Classic was cancelled due to bad weather, which meant 36 hole leader Stephen Ames was declared the winner. Harrington finished in a tie for 15th on -5, earning $28,000.
Riyadh Golf Club was the venue for Ladies European Tour Aramco Saudi International. Leona Maguire shot three rounds of 76,64 and 74. The Cavan native started day four on -2, nine shots behind leader Paphangkorn Tavatanakit.
Maguire reached -3 after a birdie at hole three but gave that shot back on the sixth, and another on the eighth. She finished the front nine with another bogey to shoot 38. Coming home, she birdied two holes in quick succession but faltered over the closing stretch, carded a closing 74, and finished level par and tied for 29th.
Tavatanakit shot a final round of seven under and won 2024 LET Saudi International with an impressive score of -18.
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