This Week in Golf — Feb. 12-15
Walker carded a final-round, 2-over 74 at this event last year, but he was able to hang on and win by one shot at 11-under-par 276.
Dustin Johnson and Jim Renner both surged on the final day, but they came up just a bit short in the end. Johnson fired a 6-under 66, while Renner shot a 5-under 67 and the duo finished runner-up at 10-under.
Along with a host of celebrities, players will play their first three rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, with each group alternating courses over the first 54 holes. Following the cut after three rounds, the final round will be played at Pebble Beach.
Walker is back as he looks to successfully defend another title. Johnson, a two-time champ, will be making his second start since returning from a six- month personal leave. He missed the cut at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. Johnson will be teamed up with future father-in-law Wayne Gretzky.
Jim Furyk is set to make his season debut this week, with his last appearance coming at the Ryder Cup.
Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds of this event and will hand things off to CBS in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday.
The PGA Tour remains in California next week as well for the Northern Trust Open, where Bubba Watson defeated Johnson by two strokes a year ago. The win was Watson’s last until taking home his second Masters title two months later.
EUROPEAN TOUR
TRUE THAILAND CLASSIC, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand – The European Tour remains in southeast Asia for a second straight week for the inaugural True Thailand Classic.
Last week, Anirban Lahiri outlasted Bernd Wiesberger to win the Maybank Malaysian Open, and now the tour heads north to Thailand.
Lahiri will be back in action this week after securing his first career victory on the European Tour. Lahiri was impressive during his final two rounds in Malaysia, as he shot 14-under on Saturday and Sunday.
Joining Lahiri will be Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez, among others. Of the six winners in seven events this season, with Branden Grace winning two, Lahiri is the only one who will be playing this week.
Golf Channel will have morning, tape-delayed coverage of all four rounds of this event.
The European Tour is in India next week for another inaugural event, the Hero Indian Open.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
ACE GROUP CLASSIC, The TwinEagles Club (Talon Course), Naples, Florida – The Champions Tour is back in Florida for the second straight week as Kirk Triplett returns as the defending champion of the ACE Group Classic, the third event of the 2015 season.
Triplett fired a final-round, 6-under 66 at this event last year as he was able to hang on and win by one stroke at 16-under 200 over defending champion Bernhard Langer, Olin Browne and Duffy Waldorf.
Browne and Waldorf both closed with 66s as well, while Langer, who held the outright, first-round lead and a share of the second-round lead, shot a 5- under 67 on the final day. The trio finished one stroke back at 15-under 201.
Triplett is back in action again this week, as are Langer, Browne and Waldorf. Langer, a five-time winner on tour last season, also won this event back in 2011.
Paul Goydos outlasted Gene Sauers by one stroke at last week’s Allianz Championship for his second win on the Champions Tour. Goydos will also be playing at The TwinEagles Club.
After this week, the Champions Tour is off until the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, a new event, on March 20-22.
Categorized in: PGA