Scottie Scheffler to join Jordan Spieth in PGA Tour season debut at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will make his season debut next week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Jan 24.

Also scheduled to play in his first tournament of the season at California’s Pebble Beach is three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth.

Scheffler missed the start of this season because of an injury to his right hand after puncturing himself with broken glass while preparing dinner on Christmas Day.

The two-time Major champion won seven official PGA Tour events and the Olympic gold medal in 2024 in a banner campaign. He won the Masters and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year for a third consecutive time.

The 28-year-old American will not be the only golfer making his season debut at the tournament, which begins on Jan 30.

Spieth is scheduled to return after being sidelined since August following surgery on his left wrist. He is slated to play on a sponsor’s exemption.

The 31-year-old American last won a Major when he lifted the 2017 British Open and has 13 victories on the PGA Tour, but none since the RBC Heritage in April 2022.

He won at Pebble Beach in 2017.

He began 2024 by finishing third at The Sentry and tied for sixth at the Phoenix Open, but he had only one more top-10 result for the rest of the year, while missing seven cuts.

At Torrey Pines, Harris English rattled in a hat-trick of birdies on the closing three holes to grab a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

The 35-year-old from Georgia, chasing his first PGA Tour win since victory at the Travelers Championship in 2021, carded a six-under 66 on Jan 24 to move to nine-under 207 after 54 holes.

He compiled a round that contained seven birdies and only one bogey.

A 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th started his late charge, and he moved into a share of the lead on the 17th when his 170-yard second shot from a fairway bunker left him with a seven-footer for birdie.

English saved his best for the par-five 18th, hitting his third to within three feet before tapping in the birdie to claim sole possession of the lead.

“Had some really good numbers on those last three holes and sometimes you’ve just got to be aggressive when you have really good numbers,” he said.

“It’s nice to finish like that, some good momentum heading into tomorrow.”

Leading the pursuit on Jan 25 will be Andrew Novak, the 29-year-old from North Carolina who has yet to enter the winner’s circle after four years on tour.

He carded a bogey-free 66 comprising six birdies and 12 pars to reach eight under overall.

Aldrich Potgieter is third on seven under after firing a 67.

The 20-year-old South African’s round included a spectacular eagle two on the par-four 12th where he holed out from 173 yards.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour signature event that has a US$20 million (S$27 million) purse and benefits Woods’ TGR Foundation, will be held from Feb 13-16 on the South Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego and include a number of Los Angeles-related relief initiatives.

The wildfires forced the tournament’s relocation and it is expected to return to its typical home of Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades in 2026.

On the women’s circuit, the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship will not be played as scheduled this spring due to a lack of payment, the LPGA announced on Jan 24.

The tournament was scheduled for March 20-23 at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

“Cancelling the event on its current date was unavoidable due to the event underwriter failing to fulfil any portion of its payment obligations to the LPGA Tour for the 2024 and 2025 events,” the tour said.

“The LPGA will work with our committed title partner, Fir Hills, and LPGA legend Seri Pak as well as all other stakeholders to explore available options for rescheduling the event once this matter is resolved with the underwriter.” REUTERS, AFP