BREAKING NEWS: Rain delays Cognizant Classic, prompting a Monday end to the tournament. Niemann emerges victorious once more in LIV Golf.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Austin Eckroat had a one-shot lead in the rain-soaked Cognizant Classic through seven holes when it was too dark to continue, forcing a Monday finish at PGA National for the first time since 2015.
Thunderstorms brought nearly 2 inches of rain in a hurry Sunday afternoon and forced everyone off the course for 3 1/2 hours.
Erik van Rooyen started with six straight birdies and shot 8-under 63. He finished at 14-under 270 and will have to wait to see if it’s enough.
Jake Knapp, the newcomer from UCLA who recently clinched his maiden victory at the Mexico Open, was 5 under after completing 15 holes, trailing Eckroat by two shots.
At the beginning of the day, Shane Lowry and David Skinns were level with Eckroat. Lowry was 1 over after five holes, trailing by three shots, while Skinns struggled with two bogeys in his opening three holes, putting him 2 over after five
In KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia, Joaquin Niemann secured his second LIV Golf title in three outings by carding a 4-under 66 at LIV Golf Jeddah. This performance led to a four-shot triumph over Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
Niemann’s recent victory marks his third win within the past three months, which began with his triumph at the Australian Open in December. This win enabled him to rejoin the European tour and subsequently paved the way for an invitation to the prestigious Masters tournament.
Throughout the final round at Royal Greens, no competitor managed to narrow the gap beyond two shots of Niemann. Oosthuizen posed the last challenge until a bogey on the 16th hole, finishing with a 67, while Schwartzel concluded with a 68.
In his LIV debut, Anthony Kim, returning after a 12-year hiatus from competitive golf, struggled with a 74 and ended the tournament in last place, trailing by 33 shots from the leader.
The team competition victory went to the Crushers
On the LPGA TOUR in SINGAPORE, Hannah Green closed out her round with three consecutive birdies, with the final one being a remarkable 30-foot putt, securing a 5-under 67. This stellar performance led to a one-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
Green ended the tournament at 13-under 275, claiming her fourth LPGA Tour title.
Despite Boutier’s strong effort with a 67, where she previously mentioned attending Taylor Swift’s concert in Singapore the day before the final round, she found herself in a promising position with a two-stroke lead in the late stages of the competition. However, Green’s exceptional play towards the end allowed her to clinch the win.
Yuna Nishimura shot a 66, matching the best round of the day, and tied for third place with Brooke Henderson (68), Mi Hyang Lee (67), and Nasa Hataoka (69).
The overnight leader, Ayaka Furue of Japan, struggled with a final round of 75, ending the tournament six shots behind the winner
In the EASTERN CAPE of South Africa, Jordan Gumberg finished with a 4-under 68 and clinched his first European Tour victory by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole against Robin Williams in the SDC Championship.
Gumberg, who competed in college golf at Arizona and was ranked 669th in the world before the tournament, secured his spot in the playoff when Williams struggled with a double bogey on the 17th hole at St. Francis Links. Williams concluded with a round of 69.
Having split his time between the European Tour and Challenge Tour in recent years, Gumberg’s hard work paid off with this milestone win.
In BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Mason Anderson went on a birdie streak with five consecutive birdies on the back nine, ultimately closing with a sixth birdie for a 7-under 63. He then secured the Argentina Open title by making a birdie on the second playoff hole against Kris Ventura from Norway
Anderson, a former Arizona State player, captured his maiden professional win. The triumph elevated him to the top of the Korn Ferry Tour standings and secured him a place in this summer’s British Open at Royal Troon.
Ventura finished with a 68 and had to settle for par on the par-5 final hole three times – once in normal play and twice during the playoff.
Both golfers concluded the tournament at 17-under 263.
Dalton Ward shot a 68 and Brian Campbell carded a 67, finishing just one stroke shy of entering the playoff.
On other tours, Takahiro Hataji clinched his inaugural professional victory, becoming the first Japanese golfer to win the New Zealand Golf Open by finishing with a 4-under 67 and securing a one-shot win over Australia’s Scott Hend. Chisato Iwai wrapped up the Daikin Orchid Ladies with a 5-under 67, claiming a two-shot victory over Mao Saigo in the season-opening event on the Japan LPGA
