"Friday Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, McIlroy and Hatton take charge in Dubai; Blustery Bermuda; an ace of a start for Jiwon Jeon
McIlroy and Hatton Take Charge on Day One of DP World Tour Championship
Day one of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is in the books, and Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton have emerged as the first-round leaders after shooting matching 5-under par 67. McIlroy's performance on Thursday only solidified his position at the top in the Race to Dubai Season-Long Rankings. With 2,000 points at stake for the winner, McIlroy needs just a top-ten finish to claim his sixth Race to Dubai crown.
Key Plays of the Day
Rory McIlroy proved once again why he is the player everyone is trying to catch, not only this week but throughout the 2024 season. His impressive 48-foot birdie putt on the 200-yard par-three 17th hole highlighted his day. The Northern Irishman successfully balanced aggressiveness when needed with a remarkable touch on and around the green throughout the day. Meanwhile, co-leader Tyrrell Hatton expressed surprise at his performance, admitting he felt "slightly off" with most of his tee shots. Despite this, his ability to secure seven birdies during the round helped him stay tied at the top alongside McIlroy.
Waring and the Challengers
Paul Waring, competing at his home base of Dubai, proved to be a horse in the race with his 4-under par 68, putting him one back of Rory and Tyrrell. Other notable first-round sPaul Waring, competing in his home city of Dubai, proved to be a strong contender with his 4-under-par score of 68, placing him just one stroke behind Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton. Other notable first-round performances came from Billy Horschel, Matt Wallace, and Adam Scott, each finishing the day at 3-under-par 69.
Thriston Lawrence's Challenge
Thriston Lawrence, aiming to upset McIlroy, had his challenges on Thursday, finishing the day with a one-over 73. For Lawrence, who sits in the second spot in the Race to Dubai standings, winning the championship outright is crucial to challenging McIlroy's lead. A win and a significant Rory slip would be the only scenario where Lawrence could secure the Race to Dubai title.
PGA TOUR: Blustery Bermuda- First-Round Leaders Impress
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship kicked off with stunning performances on the first day. Justin Lower set the pace early, finishing his round at 6-under par 65 and a place at the top of the leaderboard. Not to be outdone, Hayden Springer would match Lower at the top spot with his own 6-under par 65. Springer birdied three of his last four holes coming in to get to his score of 65, while Lower, who started on the back nine, had a three-hole birdie streak on holes 18, 1, and 2, which propelled his round.
Springer, the ultimate bubble boy, sits at the 125 spot in the FedEx Fall rankings, but smartly, he is trying to focus on having a strong showing this week, as he shared with the press after his round:
"It's nice to get off to a good start. I mean, that's where you want to be; you want to play well every day. I think I need it as much as anybody, so it's definitely nice to do that and hopefully it will continue all week."
The Challenge: The Course and Wind
On Thursday, Port Royal Golf Course presented a test for all the players with a north/northwest wind blowing sustained at 20-25 mph and gusting as high as 35 mph. The course, known for its scenic yet challenging setup, doesn't need winds to make it difficult, but when they blow, it adds another level to the tournament. As the week progresses, the wind strength won't let up much, but adding to the challenge will be the varying direction in which it blows across the course.
Unexpected Performances
The first round saw some unexpected performances that are worth noting. Several players who all but need a win to have any chance in the final FedEx Fall rankings set themselves up well on day one. This includes Kevin Dougherty, ranked 191 coming into the week, who finds himself one shot behind the leaders heading into Friday. Four-time winner Kevin Kisner, who sits in the 202nd spot in the rankings, fired a 4-under par 67 and is in a nine-way tie just two shots back.
Round One Suspended
Chasing daylight happens often on the PGA TOUR, and Thursday was one of those days. Twenty-one players will still have holes to play in their first round after play was suspended due to darkness. Of those players, a fan favorite and FedEx Fall points bubble boy Wesley Bryan sits at 4-under par with two holes left to play early on Friday to wrap up his first round. He ended his Thursday the right way with an eagle three on the par 5 seventh, his 16th hole of his round.
LPGA Round-Up: Jiwon Jeon and Charley Hull Share Early Lead, Nelly Two Back
On the opening day of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge, Jiwon Jeon and Charley Hull posted matching 6-under-par 64s to share the early lead. Gemma Dryburgh and Mi Hyang Lee trail Jeon and Hull by a shot after their opening 65s. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has been on hiatus for the past several weeks, shot a 4-under par 66 and sits just two back. Defending champion Lilia Vu finds herself five shots back after her 1-under par 69.
Shot of the Day Is Historic
Stepping up to the tee on the par 3 third hole, her twelfth hole of the day, first-round co-leader Jiwon Jeon stood at 3-under par. With her 5-hybrid in hand, Jeon went through her regular preshot routine, then fired. As the ball traveled the 177 yards from the tee to the hole, Jeon looked on with interest as it approached the green. She knew it would be good, but how good it wound up being was a somewhat historic moment on the LPGA Tour. With her ball finding the bottom of the cup for her third career ace on the LPGA Tour THIS YEAR, Jeon became just the fourth player since 1991 to record three hole-in-ones in a single season. Her feat marked her as the first player since Danielle Kang in 2014 to do so.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
