Stephan Jaeger jumps into one-shot lead after second round of PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open, having hit eagle on final hole, England’s Aaron Rai drops to seventh.

Germany’s Stephan Jaeger jumped 18 spots to take the lead in San Diego after scoring an eagle on the last hole at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Jaeger hit a 64 on the second round of the PGA tournament, finishing the day 12-under par, one stroke ahead of Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.

The German made a 35-foot eagle on the final hole, saying after the day’s play ending the round like that was “exciting”.

“Finishing like that, yeah, it was exciting. I wanted it to kind of go middle of the green and I went right at it. It ended up landing just short of the pin and scooting kind of back fringe,” Jaeger said.

“Had a little downhill right-to-left about 35 feet and it ended up curling in. It was awesome to see.

“It’s always nice to make eagles and birdies. Nobody can take those away from you. I’m pumped to play the South Course two more days. I love this place. This is probably one of my favorite tournaments every year.”

Jaeger shot one bogey and seven birdies to go with his eagle.

England’s Aaron Rai dropped down three places, shooting a 70 with five birdies and three bogeys.

Belgian Thomas Detry is tied in third place with France’s Matthieu Pavon, two strokes off the lead.

Notable names who missed the cut line of three under par were Sungjae Im (two under), Gary Woodland (two under), Collin Morikawa (two under), Billy Horschel (one over), Michael Block (one over) and Jason Day (one over).

Professionals will lose up to 15 yards from their tee shots but the roll-back will also affect amateur players

Golf’s governing bodies are locked in a row with the PGA Tour and the game’s top equipment makers after announcing their decision to rein back how far the ball can travel.

Minutes after the Royal & Ancient (R&A) and US Golf Association (USGA) announced that new regulations will affect both the professional and amateur game worldwide, the PGA Tour sent a memo to their members stating “we do not support today’s announcement”.

There was no mention of legal recourse from the PGA Tour and especially the DP World Tour, which said “we respect the decision”, but powers-that-be are clearly ready for a fight.

“There’s going to be a lot of ambulance chasers and alarmists to make this seem so much worse than it really is,” said Mike Whan, the USGA chief executive, “I don’t want a few loud voices that are trying to get more clicks and more viewers and more phone calls to drive a frenzy that quite frankly just isn’t based on fact.”

Ensuring that golf balls travel shorter distances is regarded as a radical, but much needed, step to protect classic layouts such as the Old Course. Top pros and weekend hackers will all be affected by the announcement – known as the roll-back. The rules will be introduced in 2028 for the pros and 2030 for the rest.

Golf’s law-makers expect that the new testing speeds on balls will curtail big-hitters by 13 to 15 yards, while they claim there will be “a minimal distance impact, of five yards or less, for most recreational golfers”.

In the same announcement the R&A and USGA also said they have plans to reduce the size of the sweet spot on golf drivers.

With the news leaking last weekend there was no surprise at Wednesday’s announcement but that does not mean that anger was in short supply. But backed by the greatest two male pros perhaps of all time – Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – and by Rory McIlroy, the most recognisable of the current world top 10, the R&A and USGA are determined to hold firm.

They are in charge of the Rules of Golf and if anyone – from professional tours, to elite amateur events, to the tens of thousands of golf clubs across the world who hold weekly medal competitions – wish to adhere then they must ensure that only conforming balls are used in competition.

“We are convinced that this decision is one of the key ways of achieving a sustainable future for golf, protecting the integrity of the game and meeting our environmental responsibilities,” Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, said.

“The measure we are taking has been carefully considered and calibrated while maintaining the ‘one game’ ethos deemed to be so important to the golf industry. Importantly, it also keeps the impact on recreational golfers to an absolute minimum. We are acting now because we want to ensure that future generations can enjoy the unique challenge of golf as much as we do.”

Slumbers referenced the industry’s opposition to the initial plans which would effectively have brought in separate rules for the elite players and recreational golfers. The R&A and USGA have long stated that “doing nothing is not an option”. So everyone gets to play under the same regulations.

Hero World Challenge final round leaderboard
-20 Scheffler (US), -17 Straka (Aut), -16 Thomas (US), -15 Fitzpatrick (Eng), Finau (US); -14 Spieth (US); Morikawa (US)

American Scheffler’s bogey-free four-under round of 68 meant he finished on 20 under and sealed a three-shot win from Austrian Sepp Straka.

Woods, competing for the first time since withdrawing from the Masters in April, ended level after a round of 72.

The 15-time major champion expects to play “once a month” in 2024.

Former world number one Woods, 47, had ankle surgery earlier this year to address post-traumatic arthritis following the 2021 car crash that kept him out of action for nearly 14 months.

“Once a month seems reasonable,” Woods told Golf Channel of his plans for next year.

“It gives me a couple of weeks to recover and a week to tune up. Maybe I can get into the rhythm.”

Woods, who will next play the PNC Championship – formerly the Father/Son Challenge – from 14 December with his son Charlie, said he was “ecstatic” with his return.

“I feel like my game’s not that far off but I need to get in better shape,” Woods said.

“I don’t have the bone pain that I did, but I still have to go through with the same protocols. It takes a long time, that’s the unfortunate thing about ageing.”

Woods recovered from a double bogey on the third with three birdies in the next four holes and also birdied the 14th and 15th after dropping shots on the eighth and 11th.

He finished 20 shots behind compatriot Scheffler, runner-up to Viktor Hovland in each of the past two years.

Straka returned a superb 64 to finish 17 under, with Justin Thomas a shot further back in third. Hovland surged through the field with a 63 to finish 10th.

“I think this is great for momentum,” Scheffler told NBC.

“I talked a little bit about it at the beginning of the week; this was kind of a warm-up for the [next] season.”

Tiger Woods’ first competitive round in more than six months was predictably eventful.

This week’s host at the Hero World Challenge played his first three holes in 1 under par and was outpacing his playing partner Justin Thomas by a shot.

The two went in distinctly different directions for the next 15 holes.

Woods bogeyed Nos. 4 and 6 and made the turn at even par. He made just three more pars the rest of the way.

Woods made a double bogey-7 at the par-5 15th hole after hitting his tee shot into a shrub, bogeyed No. 16 after missing the green from a fairway bunker, and then three-putted from 45 feet at the 17th hole for bogey and a 3-over 75.

He’s eight off the lead, held by Open champion Brian Harman and Tony Finau, who each shot 67.

“I got off to a decent start. I didn’t play the par 5s particularly well all day. I had really a lack of commitment through most of the middle part of my round and finishing,” explained Woods, who was 18th in the field of 20. “I just didn’t quite commit to what I was doing and feeling. You take it for granted, I guess, when you’re playing all the time.”

That lack of commitment defined Woods’ first round since he withdrew from the Masters in April and the surgery on his right ankle that followed to address post-traumatic arthritis that was caused by injuries suffered in a February 2021 car wreck.

But his score was only part of the equation on Thursday. Testing that rebuilt ankle was also part of his plan, and even though he continues to labor with a clear limp, the round served as progress.

Not that he was interested in moral victories.

“I’m sore, there’s no doubt about that,” Woods said. “We’ve got some work to do tonight, tomorrow to get back in the gym and activate and get ready for it. Hopefully hit some better shots. And now I know mentally what I need to do better.

“I think that’s something that physically I knew I was going to be OK. Mentally, I was really rusty and made a lot of errors in the mind that normally I don’t make.”

But those mental errors, which Woods explained were all part of his failure to commit to certain shots, can be corrected. If there’s any optimism to be found in his 75 shots, it was his ability to get from the first tee to the 18th green, which until recently didn’t seem realistic.

Woods said the surgery in April on his ankle has rid him of the pain that prompted him to withdraw from the Masters but the force his swing creates, which produced a 10th-ranked 302-yard driving average on Thursday, has taken a toll on other parts of his body.

“My leg, my back, my neck,” Woods said when asked where he was sore. “Just from playing, hitting shots and trying to hold off shots. It’s just different at game speed, too. Game speed is a lot different than at-home speed.”

This week’s Hero World Challenge will serve as a competitive beta test for Woods as he eyes a return in 2024 when he hopes to play a tournament each month (four to six starts), with a focus more on his body which requires countless hours of preparation and recovery after rounds.

“It takes hours on both ends. It’s been like that for years,” he said. “So ever since my back went, it would take hours to activate, it would take hours to recover, and they become long days to play 18 holes.”

Beginning a tournament with a 3-over effort would normally leave Woods in a dark mood, but given the twist and turns of his most recent path back to competition, an eventful start is probably not the worst thing.

Everything you need to know about the Abu Dhabi Golf Club showpiece from December 8 – 10.

The Asian Tour has welcomed the launch of the LIV Golf Promotions event as another breakthrough moment for golf in the region, with Cho Minn Thant, its Commissioner & CEO, describing it a ‘an incredible, life-changing opportunity.’

The innovative and inclusive new event, which will provide a pathway onto the world’s most exciting new franchise, the LIV Golf League, will be staged at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from December 8 – 10.

The top-three finishers will secure passage through to next season’s multi-million-dollar circuit with a decidedly strong contingent from the Asian Tour set to compete in Abu Dhabi via the Tour’s International Series.

The leading 25 available players from the top-40 on this year’s final International Series Order of Merit (OOM), will be eligible to enter round one, as well as tournament winners from this season’s Asian Tour. In addition, players ranked two to eight on the final International Series OOM earn a pass into round two.

“It’s a pathway to golf’s most lucrative series, and an incredible chance for Asian Tour members, offering a lifechanging opportunity,” said Cho. “With so much at stake, I’m sure this event will capture the attention of all eligible players as well as golf fans around the region and beyond.”

American Andy Ogletree has won The International Series OOM, helped by two International Series victories in England and Qatar this year, to secure the automatic berth onto the 2024 LIV Golf League.

“Christmas will come early to the three successful graduates,” added Cho. “Judging by the performances of our members this year we know they will have an excellent chance to earn one of those ‘gold tickets’ and join The International Series Order of Merit winner on next year’s LIV Golf League, along with Scott Vincent – who did so well to this year to keep his playing privileges.’

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who first made his name on the Asian Tour and claimed last year’s inaugural International Series OOM, finished this season 22nd in the LIV Golf League Individual Rankings to lock in a spot for 2024.

The LIV Golf Promotions event tournament will see four rounds of golf played over three days, with 36-holes on the final day, and offer an overall prizemoney of $1.5 million.

Dubai Golden Visa Awardee Gaganjeet Bhullar is confirmed to play and following his fourth place finish in the Asian Tour’s 2023 Order of Merit is exempt from Day 1 in Abu Dhabi.

Highlighting the global aspect of the LIV Golf League, leading players from all over the world will be eligible to participate. Through its broad entry criteria, recent winners of Majors plus PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour events will be welcome to compete alongside Ryder Cup stars, and players from the top of The Universal Golf Rankings.

The field will also include the leading golfers from the rankings on the Japan Golf Tour, Korean PGA Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia alongside extensive categories for the game’s elite amateurs.

Players in the Drop Zone from the recently completed 2023 LIV Golf League Individual Standings will also have another chance to return to the circuit.

Starting Friday, December 8, those who finish in the top-20 and ties from round one will advance to Saturday’s round two, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition. The top-20 players and ties following round two will advance to the final day of competition, where scores will reset once more for an intense full-day, 36-hole shootout.

At Sunday’s conclusion, the top three finishers will receive highly coveted and lucrative spots on the LIV Golf League for 2024. The top three finishers will also earn prize money of $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Players finishing fourth to 10th will receive full exemption for all 2024 events on The International Series.

The year of the underdog continues with Nick Taylor scoring 68-65 across a wild weekend at the WM Phoenix Open to take home a playoff victory over Charley Hoffman. It may. not sound like much on paper considering a 120-1 longshot beat a 300-1 longshot, but the ending to this tournament was as good as PGA Tour golf gets.

For a while, it looked as if Hoffman, who has not won a PGA Tour event since 2016 and has just one top 10 since the beginning of 2021, would take home the trophy with a 64-64 closing kick. However, Taylor birdied three of his last four holes to match Hoffman at 21 under and take the tournament back to the 18th tee box for extra holes.

Taylor, who matched a course record scoring 60 on Thursday, birdied the 18th on a second straight try, and he aggressively walked that one in.

Incredibly, Hoffman covered him up with a 3 of his own to send it back to the 18th tee box for a second playoff hole. After a Hoffman miss from 28 feet, Taylor — you’re not going to believe this — again made birdie, this time for $1.5 million and his fourth career PGA Tour victory.

At 120-1, you would not expect Taylor to be one of the shorter odds winners so far this year, but the only player shorter was actually Wyndham Clark, who won the Pebble Beach Pro Am last week. It has been a crazy run of triple-digit odds champions on the PGA Tour to start 2024.

Taylor nearly won this tournament a year ago, redeeming that loss by defeating Scottie Scheffler (who beat him last year) along with Hoffman and a host of other top players in the world. While his 120-1 odds were fairly long (not for this season, apparently), it became clear at some point down the stretch that Taylor is not somebody one should bet against. If they had played the 18th another 15 times, he would have birdied it as many times as it took to win. Another longshot victory, but undoubtedly a performance to remember.

Sia Nejad reveals his WM Phoenix Open 2024 picks, props and sleepers for the tournament nicknamed The People’s Open

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler will go for a rare three-peat when he tees off at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open beginning on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. Ranked No. 1 in the world, Scheffler can become the first player to win the same PGA Tour event three years in a row since Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic from 2009-11. Scheffler also is looking to become just the fifth player to have won the WM Phoenix Open three times in the tournament’s 90-plus-year history.

Scheffler is the 9-2 favorite according to the latest 2024 WM Phoenix Open odds. Justin Thomas (+1000), Max Homa (+1400), Jordan Spieth (+1800), and Sam Burns (+2000) round out the top five choices in the WM Phoenix Open field. Before locking in any 2024 WM Phoenix Open picks, make sure you see the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from golf betting and fantasy expert Sia Nejad.

Nejad specializes in betting and DFS in golf, among other sports. He’s had incredible success in the outright and first-round leader markets and in betting head-to-head matchups. He also has been on fire with his head-to-head matchups since last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge, going 29-16-1 and returning 10.25 units over that span. That’s a $1,025 profit for $100 bettors since May 2023.

Nejad also nailed 75-1 longshot Wyndham Clark as the outright winner at the Wells Fargo Championship. In 2023, SportsLine debuted “The Early Wedge,” and in the first three months of the show, he hit two first-round leaders and three outright winners.

Now, Nejad has focused his attention on the 2024 WM Phoenix Open field and has locked in his best bets, top sleepers and favorites to avoid. See who they are at SportsLine.

Top 2024 WM Phoenix Open expert picks
One surprise: Nejad is completely fading Scheffler, even though he is the two-time defending champion. Scheffler is coming off a historic season in the strokes gained metrics. He led the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total, off-the-tee, approach, and around-the-green.

However, Scheffler famously struggled with the putter last season, ranking 162nd on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting. So far this season, he hasn’t shown much improvement and he enters this week’s event ranked 117th in that category. “He’s absolutely fantastic and the clear No. 1 player in this field, but this number [+450] is too short,” Nejad told SportsLine.

However, Nejad is bullish on Sahith Theegala, who is listed at 35-1. Theegala has been on a roll since August. In his last 10 PGA Tour events, he has seven top-20 finishes and four top 10s. That includes a victory at the Fortinet Championship in September.

Nejad also likes that Theegala has been performing well in the strokes gained metrics. Theegala ranks 32nd on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total (1.079) and 37th in strokes gained: putting (0.621) this season. “His recent history and metrics are solid, and while he can be a little too inaccurate with the driver, his ball-striking and greens in regulation stats have been very good,” Nejad said. See whom else to back at SportsLine.

How to make 2024 WM Phoenix Open picks
Nejad has locked in his best bets for the 2024 WM Phoenix Open and is backing several longshots, including one that is priced at more than 70-1. This player is “trending well with the putter” and is a longshot who could surprise. You can see Nejad’s PGA Tour picks only at SportsLine.

So which players should you target or avoid for the 2024 WM Phoenix Open, and which player in the WM Phoenix Open 2024 field could bring a huge payday at more than 70-1? Check out the odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Sia Nejad’s top picks for the 2024 WM Phoenix Open, all from the expert who is 29-16-1 on his last 46 head-to-head picks.

2024 WM Phoenix Open odds, field
See Nejad’s picks, best bets and predictions here.

Scottie Scheffler +450
Justin Thomas +1000
Max Homa +1600
Sam Burns +1800
Jordan Spieth +1800
Min Woo Lee +2500
Byeong Hun An +2500
Matt Fitzpatrick +2800
J.T. Poston +2800
Wyndham Clark +3000
Sungjae Im +3000
Tom Kim +3500
Sahith Theegala +3500
Cameron Young +3500
Eric Cole +4000
Adam Hadwin +4000
Si Woo Kim +4500
Hideki Matsuyama +4500
Corey Conners +4500
Beau Hossler +4500
Adam Scott +4500
Rickie Fowler +5000
Brian Harman +5500
Thomas Detry +6000
Alex Noren +6000
Akshay Bhatia +6000
Emiliano Grillo +6500
Kurt Kitayama +7000
Kevin Yu +7000
Shane Lowry +7500
Keith Mitchell +7500
Denny McCarthy +7500
Mark Hubbard +8000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +8000
Andrew Putnam +8000
Tom Hoge +9000
Erik Van Rooyen +9000
Adam Schenk +9000
Luke List +10000
Harris English +10000
Taylor Montgomery +11000
Michael Kim +11000
Lucas Glover +11000
Brendon Todd +11000
Billy Horschel +11000
Adam Svensson +11000
Aaron Rai +11000
Ryan Fox +13000
Matt Kuchar +13000
Daniel Berger +13000
Austin Eckroat +13000
Victor Perez +13000
Taylor Moore +15000
Nick Taylor +15000
Nate Lashley +15000
K.H. Lee +15000
Jake Knapp +15000
J.J. Spaun +15000
Gary Woodland +15000
Doug Ghim +15000
Davis Thompson +15000
Chesson Hadley +15000
Patton Kizzire +15000
Vincent Norrman +18000
Sam Ryder +18000
Matt Wallace +18000
Ben Griffin +18000
Scott Stallings +20000
Nick Hardy +20000
Justin Suh +20000
Brandon Wu +20000
Vince Whaley +25000
Tyler Duncan +25000
Seamus Power +25000
Sam Stevens +25000
S.H. Kim +25000
Maverick McNealy +25000
Matti Schmid +25000
Lee Hodges +25000
Joseph Bramlett +25000
Grayson Murray +25000
Chris Gotterup +25000
Cameron Champ +25000
Ben Kohles +25000
Alexander Bjork +25000
Will Gordon +30000
Robby Shelton +30000
Matt NeSmith +30000
Justin Lower +30000
Jhonattan Vegas +30000
Greyson Sigg +30000
Garrick Higgo +30000
Dylan Wu +30000
Charley Hoffman +30000
Carson Young +30000
Carl Yuan +30000
Camilo Villegas +30000
Ben Martin +30000
Sami Valimaki +30000
Troy Merritt +35000
Stewart Cink +35000
Ryan Moore +35000
Lanto Griffin +35000
Joel Dahmen +35000
Callum Tarren +35000
C.T. Pan +35000
Adrien Dumont De Chassart +35000
Aaron Baddeley +35000
Zach Johnson +40000
Zac Blair +40000
Kevin Streelman +40000
Harry Hall +40000
David Lipsky +40000
Chez Reavie +40000
Chad Ramey +40000
Bud Cauley +40000
Peter Malnati +50000
Nico Echavarria +50000
Martin Laird +50000
Jim Knous +50000
Hayden Buckley +60000
Andrew Novak +60000
Kevin Chappell +60000
Luke Donald +80000
Brandt Snedeker +100000
Nicolo Galletti +100000
Tyson Alexander +150000
Ben Taylor +150000
Ryan Brehm +200000
J.B. Holmes +250000
Kevin Stadler +500000
Jesse Mueller +500000

Kevin Yu is leading the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open after the first round on Wednesday, January 24. The PGA Tour event got underway on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California. Following the opening round, Yu registered a one-stroke lead over Patrick Cantlay and Ryo Hisatsune.

The Taiwanese golfer shot a bogey-free round with eight birdies to score 64. He teed off on the tenth hole with two back-to-back birdies, followed by a par on the 12th. Yu added another birdie on the 13th, two more front nines, and three on the back to score 8-under-64.

Kevin Yu was at 5-under when he teed off on the front nine and with a birdie on the par-4 fourth hole, he took the lead and went on to add two more birdies on the seventh and ninth holes.

Patrick Cantlay and Ryo Hisatsune both shot 7-under 65 and tied for second place. Hideki Matsuyama finished Day 1 in a five-way tie for fourth place with Shane Lowry, Thomas Detry, Aaron Rai, and Alejandro Tosti.

Defending champion Max Homa struggled with his game in the opening round and finished in T48 after playing a round of 70. He shot five birdies and three bogeys to score 2-under.

The Karama Golf Tournament is one of the most eagerly awaited sporting events for golf enthusiasts in the municipality of Casares and the whole region, offering the opportunity to play the exceptional Finca Cortesín course at an affordable price.

Finca Cortesin is globally renowned for providing one of Europe’s most unforgettable golf experiences. Rated among Spain’s best golf courses, including by the prestigious Golf Digest magazine, the relationship between the natural Mediterranean landscape and environment on the resort’s world-class 18-hole championship course make it a course everyone wants to play.

The charity event is organised by the Casarean association of friendship with the Sahrawi people to raise funds for the refugees in the Tindouf camps. The Malaga Association of Friends of the Sahrawi People allocates the funds raised in this tournament to various cooperation campaigns in the refugee camps in Tindouf, such as sending humanitarian aid with food, school supplies and medical supplies, or the Holidays in Peace programme.

The traditional championship will take place on Sunday February 10 at the Finca Cortesin facilities. There will be two categories with simultaneous tee-off for all participants at 9.30 am. Places are limited, the registration fee of €125 per participant includes green fee and buggy.

Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers in each category, for the longest drive and the shortest flag.