🏆 Results Recap

PGAT: Mules on Parade

PGAT Player Director, Peter Malnati, affectionately known as “Peppy Peter”, secured his first win in more than 9 years at the 2024 Valspar Championship, held at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. The bubbly character in the bucket hat has been cast as the “mules’ representative” on the PGAT Board, standing up for the rump of tour players who grind week in week out trying to make cuts and keep their tour cards. As a Player Director, it’s certainly been a tense time for Peppy Pete as the PGAT looks to fend off the threat from LIV and secure a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. So, the Valspar win was a welcome break for Malnati from those machinations, and a continuation of the “Mules on Parade” winners seen this year on tour - including the likes of Chris Kirk, Grayson Murray, Ausin Eckroat and Jake Knapp.

It was another disappointing leaderboard for the PGAT with Jordan Speith, Min Woo Lee and Sam Burns missing the cut, and Justin Thomas bombing badly with a 79 (+8) in the 3rd round when right in contention. The final stretch of the Copperhead course, known as the Snake Pit, was the highlight for the week producing plenty of drama including a brilliant string of play from Keith Mitchell who played the Snake Pit in -4 on Saturday to take the 54-hole lead.

But Mitchell’s lead was to be short lived with a disastrous final round where he was +8 through his first 13 holes putting an end to his chances. It then came down to a tussle between Malnati and Cam Young, who unbelievably is still chasing his first win on Tour. Both golfers were tied at -11 as they entered the Snake Pit (16, 17 and 18). Young, who was a few holes ahead of Peppy Peter, went Par-Par on 16 and 17, but yanked his tee shot on 18 hard left. Despite the errant drive, he was able to weave a wedge through the trees and land his approach on the green leaving a lengthy birdie putt. Meanwhile, Malnati made a very lucky par on 16 (with the help of a questionably generous ruling and free drop) and backed that up with a great tee shot on 17 to give himself a 6-footer for birdie, which he made to take the outright lead by 1.

Young then handed a 2-shot lead to Malnati by making a 3-putt bogey ahead on 18, meaning par would be good enough for Peter to win. He hit the 18th green in regulation from the fairway bunker and almost made his birdie putt, leaving a kick-in putt to win. The regulation par saw Malnati card a final round 67 (-4), and take out the win, starting Sunday from 2 shots back of Mitchell. The win for Malnati adds to his 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship win. Beyond the $1,5m prize money, the victory carries an invitation to The Masters, which Malnati has never played in (having only played in 3 other Majors his entire career). Additionally, he secures a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

DPWT: The Barn Rat misses out

Fan favourite Kiradech Aphibarnrat, or the Barn Rat as we like to call him, narrowly missed out on winning the 2024 Porsche Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Club. Instead, it was Swedish golfer Jesper Svensson who emerged as the champion, securing his first-ever victory on the DP World Tour. Sevensson set the Laguna National course on fire with a scintillating final round of 9-under 63, including a remarkable six-under through eight holes.

Sunday saw a crowded leaderboard featuring many big names including LIV golfer Paul Casey, Open Champion Shane Lowry, recent PGAT winner Mathiew Pavon and 2023 Australasian Tour Order of Merit Winner David Micheluzzi. In fact, Micheluzzi had the 54-hole lead for the first time in his pro career and was still in front late on Sunday until a gutting 2-hole stretch on 11 and 12 saw him card back-to-back doubles, effectively ending his chances.

The Barn Rat, who has returned to the DPWT after a lonely and disappointing stint on the PGAT, started the tournament in brilliant fashion, firing an eight-under-par round of 64, which he repeated again on Sunday to force a playoff with Svensson. However, Svensson was too good clinching the title on the third playoff hole. Despite the loss, Aphibarnrat was delighted with his performance, and in his post round interview said he feels he has found the form that has deserted over the last 3 or 4 years and is confident he can take that forward.

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For the rookie Svensson, he claimed the winner’s cheque of €392,403.78 and scored an invite to The Masters in April. He will be pinching himself and has shown that he could well be one to watch on the DPWT for the rest of the year.

🍴Quick Bites

Here are some golf quick bites for you to snack on:

• Tiger and Player Directors meet with Yasir - there was plenty of chatter on social media about the meeting between the PGAT Player Directors and the PIF Chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Apparently, Tiger played golf with Yasir and hosted him for lunch. Golf Today provided some coverage that didn’t really say much more than we already know (which is that a deal is still a long way away it seems).

• TGL to launch…again - Tiger and Rory’s simulated golf league, the TGL, is apparently on track to begin play next January at the custom-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Shankers will recall the TGL’s false start earlier this year when the custom stadium collapsed in some sort of construction disaster. Let’s see if it gets up and running on the revised timeframe.

• Do LIV Golfers still try? - The LIV haters out there will tell you that LIV players don’t care and don’t try because they have got their guaranteed money and therefore have lost their desire and competitive edge. Well, that theory was put to the test by a Performance Consultant and the findings published by Forbes indicate that LIV golfers actually have higher intrinsic motivation, task enjoyment, greater perseverance, and higher performance levels because of the Team Play element which is unique to LIV.

• Paige Spiranac in Happy Gilmore 2 - Speculation on the cast for Happy Gilmore 2 has reached parody levels on X. No doubt you all recall the Tour’s PR lady that went on to be Happy’s girlfriend in the original film. Well Paige Spiranac has leant into social media buzz that she should be cast for the role of PR Lady in the sequel. Paige’s casting submission is below 😲.

📅 Schedule for the Week

Your golfing schedule for the week, and how to watch is below:

• PGAT: Houston Open - Memorial Park Golf Course (Texas), $9.1m purse, Friday 29/3 to Monday 1/4 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, Main Coverage starts 6am AEST Friday.

• LIV Golf: no event

• DPWT: Hero India Open - DLF Golf & Country Club (New Delhi), $2.25m purse, Thursday 28/3 to Sunday 31/3 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 5.30pm AEST Thursday.

• LPGA: Ford Championship - Seville Golf and Country Club (Arizona), $2.25m purse, Friday 29/3 to Monday 1/4 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 8am AEST Friday.