Tag: Pelican Golf Club

Photos: The Match VII with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth

The GOAT is back.

The GOAT is back.

Tiger Woods returns to the golf course Saturday for the latest edition of The Match series alongside Rory McIlroy. The 15-time major champion and world No. 1 are set to take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, in a 12-hole match under the lights.

Woods is making his first appearance on the national stage since St. Andrews. He was originally in the field for last week’s Hero World Challenge but had to withdraw due to plantar fasciitis.

Check out some of the best photos from The Match VII in the Sunshine State below.

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An undercard? New locations? Phil Mickelson’s involvement? What the future of The Match could look like from the man behind the curtain

“Certainly looking to expand, just don’t know where that’s going to be yet.”

The Match VII is set to be the biggest yet — with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy taking on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. We’re not sure it gets any better than that.

On Saturday, the four superstars will tee it up at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, for a 12-hole exhibition under the lights. Woods, who hasn’t played on the national stage since St. Andrews, withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last week due to plantar fasciitis. During a Zoom call with the media earlier this week, Woods confirmed he’s good to go.

Bryan Zuriff, who has an extensive background in Hollywood which includes executive producing the hit TV show “Ray Donovan” and movies like “War Dogs,” recently sat down with Golfweek to discuss what the future of the event could look like.

The Match: How to watch, format

When this edition was announced, Golf Channel’s Shane Bacon suggested the possibility of an undercard.

It makes sense and would be an incredible way to grow all branches of the sport, but is it doable?

“Everything’s a consideration, but then it comes down to budget and price,” Zuriff said. “Everything sounds good until you put it on paper and look at what you get for that. It’s hard enough to do what we’re doing for the four people that we’re concentrating on, if we start adding other gimmicks that sound good in the press, but they’re not necessarily the easiest to execute on and I just want to execute a great product.

“Certainly looking to expand, just don’t know where that’s going to be yet.”

During the six previous installments, The Match has been held in Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona, and Big Sky, Montana. When asked if there are any other bucket-list locations on tap, Zuriff said it’s tough to beat Vegas.

“I still like the Wynn, I just love the Wynn,” he said with a smile. “I like how easy it is there from a production standpoint. I like the background of the strip with the golfers in the summer. But we’re open. I’d go anywhere. It’s all about producing and cost … are stars going to want to go there?

“It gets complicated when you get into the weeds of the details.”

In an interview with Golf.com, Zuriff spoke on Phil Mickelson’s future with his program (Mickelson participated in the first four installments).

“I love Phil and he’s been an incredible part of this. But he knows, you know,” Zuriff said. “He went where he went, and we’re connected with the PGA Tour. So I mean, this is a PGA Tour event … But that’s a choice that he made. He understands that when you make those choices, certain things get sacrificed. And this is one of the things that got sacrificed.”

Regarding Woods’ involvement this time around, Zuriff thinks the environment will be the perfect place for the 15-time major champion to make his return.

“I think the setting is really good for him — 12 holes, golf cart, he can just make some really cool shots. It’s been a really interesting year in golf so you’re going to get some really cool perspectives between Charley Barkley and him and our other golfers. I think there’s a lot to chew in this match.”

If you’re interested in watching The Match VII, coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET Saturday with “The Conversation,” a 30-minute roundtable discussion with the four participants hosted by Brian Anderson.

TNT officials have said that “no topic will be off-limits.”

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Pelican LPGA delivers another star-studded board as Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda and Maria Fassi chase rookie Allisen Corpuz

In a season that has delivered a record-tying 11 first-time champions, Corpuz could make it a dozen.

BELLEAIR, Fla. — Last year’s Pelican Women’s Championship delivered a showstopping leaderboard, and this year, thankfully, it’s more of the same. Marquee names like defending champion Nelly Korda (8 under) and Lexi Thompson (9 under) are hot on the heels of rookie Allisen Corpuz (10 under), who hasn’t won yet on tour but has played well enough to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship.

In a season that has delivered a record-tying 11 first-time champions, Corpuz could make it a dozen, as could overnight leader Maria Fassi, who now trails by one.

Maja Stark, the young Swede who won the ISPS Hands World Invitational in Northern Ireland over the summer to earn her LPGA card, is also one back after a sizzling 63.

Corpuz decided about a month ago to withdraw from last week’s event in Japan in order to rest up for these last two events. The USC grad said longtime friend Megan Khang has been a huge help to her this year.

“Definitely before coming on tour I was expecting like to maybe really be working for my card,” said Corpuz, “and I’m really lucky that I’m not having to worry about that at this point.

“I think I know that I’m a really solid player, and it’s just really nice to have seen like the results this early.”

Stark has learned the importance of balance the hard way, getting sick several times after events. She had three weeks off coming into this week and barely touched a club due to inflammation in her shoulder. She then took a week off to help coach the Swedish national team in Spain.

“I’ve always seen a lot of the Swedes when they have come back and given back,” said Stark. “We had Anna Nordqvist at a couple camps, Pernilla Lindberg, Henrik Stenson.

“So after seeing them, and then a lot of times they go out and play really well the next time they’re out playing after meeting up with the girls’ team and stuff, so I think it was just good inspiration for me too, to see what they do and get some perspective and just have fun on a golf course and not feel the stress that I feel now.”

Lexi Thompson lines up a putt during the second round of the Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2022, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Thompson, who recently won a LET event in New York but hasn’t won on the LPGA since 2019, posted a 67, hitting 12 fairways and 16 greens.

“There was a few pins out there that were tucked a little bit more than yesterday’s that I wasn’t as comfortable with,” said Thompson, “but I just kind of hit away from them and had about 20-, 25-footers.

“But gave myself looks, and that’s all I can do.”

Korda’s matching 66s have her in a share of fifth, two back. The former No. 1 won four times on the LPGA last season, including this event. She also won the LET in Spain but has yet to win on the LPGA this year after a blood clot that required surgery sidelined her for months.  Both Thompson and Korda grew up in Florida and feel at home in Belleair.

“It’s been a tough year for sure,” said Korda. “I worked my butt off as well. I definitely put in a lot of hours, so it would just be hard work paying off, which everyone out here works really hard, so everything just has to click for someone to win that week.”

As for Fassi, she came to the LPGA carrying great expectations after a sterling amateur career but has yet to break through on the LPGA. Currently No. 130 in the world, a strong finish this week could vault Fassi into the CME. She’s currently 72nd on the points list. The top 60 qualify for the season-ending event that boasts a purse of $7 million and a winner’s check of $2 million.

Fassi followed her career-best 62 on Day 1 with a 1-under 69.

“I think it’s a lot about just kind of managing expectations and understanding that while a round like that (62) is very attainable,” said Fassi, “it also takes a lot of work, a lot of good shots, a lot of good putts made.

“So it’s not like everything was easy yesterday and it just magically happened. It was a lot of work. Maybe in a different way than today, but I think just really going back to my process on hitting good shots and trying to stay as present as possible. It’s of course easier said than done, but that was kind of my approach into today’s round.”

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Maria Fassi opens Pelican Women’s Championship with a bogey-free 8-under 62

Maria Fassi is looking for her first win on the LPGA.

Maria Fassi is still looking for her first win on the LPGA. She’s in position to get No. 1 thanks to an opening-round bogey-free 8-under 62 at the weather-delayed Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

The 24-year-old used seven birdies (including a stretch of three straight on Nos. 5-7) and an eagle at the par-5 14th to earn a two-shot lead over five players, one of which is Lexi Thompson.

Fassi’s best finishes this season are two solo thirds, one at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in July and the other at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September. Her last start came last week at the Toto Japan Classic where she ended the week in solo 70th.

Thompson’s round wasn’t blemish-free, as she bogeyed the par-4 second, but like Fassi, the 27-year-old had an eagle on the card at the par-5 seventh.

Lizette Salas is part of a pack at 5 under, while Jennifer Kupcho opened the Pelican with a 1-under 69.

The event has been shortened to 54 holes due to the impact of Hurricane Nicole.

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As another storm approaches Florida, there’s much on the line for players at Pelican looking to shore up LPGA status for 2023

“For me, I’m on the outside looking in, so it’s kind of like a free week to go out and try to play the best I can.”

Caroline Inglis tries not to look at the Race to CME Globe points list too often. She mostly leaves that to her husband. But earlier this year, when Inglis was No. 148 on the list, she panicked after realizing that she’d missed the deadline to sign up for Stage II of LPGA Q-School.

“I was freaking out,” said Inglis, who feared she wouldn’t have any status for 2023. “It’s just funny to look back on that.”

Now 99th on the CME points list, Inglis doesn’t need to worry about Stage 2, which was postponed due to Hurricane Ian and takes place next week in Venice, Florida. But she would like to stay inside the top 100, which essentially shores up full status for 2023.

While much of the attention will be paid to those trying to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour championship and the season-ending awards – and for good reason – those battling to finish in the top 100 have much to play for at this week’s Pelican Women’s Championship as well.

As if that’s not enough pressure, consider that Tropical Storm Nicole could wreak havoc on the week with heavy rain and strong wind. Tournament officials are prepared to move into Monday if necessary given that daylight is short for the 120-player field.

“It’s a very good test this week,” said Inglis, noting that she’s been learning how to focus on her process rather than what she can’t control – like the weather.

“I do have quite a bit on anxiety in general,” said Inglis. “I’m a very anxious person about certain things.”

She’s found ways to lower her anxiety levels, however, since she began working over the summer with Paul Dewland, a new sports psychologist Emma Talley recommended.

Inglis has posted three top-15 finishes in her last five starts since working with Dewland.

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Dana Finkelstein ranks 120th on the points list. Two weeks ago, she launched a new side business making digital swing silhouettes. While admittedly not an artsy person, the idea came when she and boyfriend Henry Fall bought a new house in Mesa, Arizona. They started looking around Etsy for decoration ideas and didn’t like what they saw.

The new business helps keep Finkelstein’s mind busy on something other than golf, though she’s taking whatever happens this week in stride.

“For me, I’m on the outside looking in, so it’s kind of like a free week to go out and try to play the best I can,” said Finkelstein. “If I don’t, fine, I go to Q-School. If I do, I get a longer offseason.”

Those players who fall between Nos. 101 to 125 don’t lose LPGA status but are in Category 15 on the LPGA Priority List. They can go to Q-Series later this year to improve their status. The top 45 finishers from Q-Series fall in Category 14 and are listed in the order they finish.

The first player listed in Category 15 at the start of the 2022 season was Celine Herbin at No. 182. Consider that full-field events have 144 players or less, depending on daylight.

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It’s official: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy to take on Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas in The Match in December

The next Match will be under the lights at Pelican Golf Club on Dec. 10.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will team up to take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth next month in the latest version of Capital One’s The Match.

First reported by the Fried Egg, the group of major champions were announced on Monday and will play a 12-hole competition Saturday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. ET under the lights at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, host to this week’s LPGA stop, the Pelican Women’s Championship. McIlroy, Spieth and Thomas will make their Match debut, while Woods will make his third appearance.

The previous six versions of The Match have raised nearly $33 million for charity and donated more than 27 million meals through Feeding America. Next month’s Match will benefit Hurricane Ian relief efforts.

The event will be aired live on TNT, with simulcasts on TBS, truTV, HLN and Bleacher Report platforms. Players will be mic’d up for the entire event, with details to follow on the competition’s format and production, including the commentator team.

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Report: Tiger Woods set to return in latest edition of ‘The Match’ with Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth

The golf world hasn’t seen Woods on the course since the second round of the 150th Open.

Tiger Woods is back.

Woods, world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are set to face off in the latest edition of “The Match” on Dec. 10 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, first reported by The Fried Egg.

This will be the third time Woods will appear in the made-for-TV match series, while McIlroy, Thomas and Spieth will be making their debuts.

According to Golf Digest, the exhibition will tee off around 7 p.m., will be played under the lights and will be 12 holes.

The golf world hasn’t seen Woods on the golf course since the second round of the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews.

Despite this being their “Match” debut, McIlroy and Thomas played alongside Woods and Justin Rose in September 2020 at Payne Valley Golf Club, a TV match that raised money for the Payne Family Foundation.

Woods and McIlroy’s TMRW Sports revealed a superstar lineup of investors Wednesday. Some of the names include Steph Curry, Lewis Hamilton and Josh Allen.

The last “Match” saw Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers take down Allen and Patrick Mahomes in Las Vegas.

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Nelly Korda fights back with clutch putts to win again on LPGA, while Lexi Thompson crashes

It was set up to a be a dramatic Sunday and the stars delivered.

BELLEAIR, Florida – It was set up to a be a dramatic Sunday at the Pelican Women’s Championship, and the stars delivered. Though it was as shockingly good as it was bad.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda collected her fourth LPGA title of the season, making her the most decorated American player since Stacy Lewis in 2012. Lexi Thompson, on the other hand, reminded us that no amount of living room sessions on the Perfect Practice Putting Mat can simulate the pressure of needing to make a putt with everything on the line. For all the talk of Thompson’s improved putting this week, it’s three short misses down the stretch that will likely haunt her for some time.

After a back-and-forth battle that saw Korda, 23, and Lexi Thompson, 26, tied for the lead at 19 under with two holes to play, a session of ugly golf broke out on the short par-4 17th, with Korda making a triple from the fairway and Thompson missing a 4-footer for par.

“Honestly, I lost hope,” said Korda, who said curse words were flying as she walked down the 18th fairway.

Caddie Jason McDede told Korda to give herself a one-minute reset and think nothing but positive thoughts. Korda took the time to think about all the putts she’d made.

Being fired up though, has always been a benefit to her game.

“When I used to play against my dad when I was younger,” said Korda, “he would always try to piss me off because he always says that I step it up a notch when I’m pissed.”

Thompson held a one-stroke lead heading into the 72nd hole but, after Korda knocked in a birdie, missed yet another 4-foot putt for par, sending the foursome of Sei Young Kim, Lydia Ko, Korda and Thompson back to the 18th tee for a sudden-death playoff. Kim, the 2020 Pelican champion, had drained a 25-foot putt for birdie in regulation play to join them at 17 under.

In the playoff, Kim found the left fairway bunker off the tee and went long with her approach, as did Ko from the fairway. Korda, meanwhile, put herself on a similar line from before: This time 18 feet below the hole. Thompson, who was last to hit, left herself in a similar spot to what she faced in regulation as well, this time 6 feet left of the hole.

When Kim and Ko could do no better than par, Korda showed her moxie with a second straight birdie on the 18th hole pour the pressure back on Thompson.

As Korda stood off the side of the green with her hands behind her back, Thompson approached yet another short putt to decide her fate. Once again, the ball slid to the right, leaving an uncomfortable-looking Thompson heartbroken and Korda triumphant.

As Jessica rushed over to hug her little sister, an emotional Thompson stood off to the side with her caddie. This was supposed to be a redemptive moment for Thompson, with her mom watching in person for the time in nearly two years. The sting of the meltdown at The Olympic Club certainly still fresh in the minds of many watching from outside the ropes.

Thompson took one question after the round from an LPGA media official, who asked her to assess the week.

“Played a lot of good golf, made a lot of good putts, and just wasn’t meant for me in the end,” she said.

While Thompson hasn’t won on the LPGA since June of 2019, Korda has won five tournaments in that time. She now has a total of seven career victories.

With her victory in Belleair, Korda joins Jin Young Ko as the only players on tour with four victories this season. She also jumps 10 points ahead of Ko in the LPGA Player of the Year race with 191. A victory at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship is worth 30 points and second place is worth 12. Ko won last year’s edition.

“It doesn’t even feel like a season,” said Korda. “If feels like it’s two seasons. I feel like Lake Nona was a couple years ago.”

When asked to rank her accomplishments so far, Korda put the major on top of the heap, saying it was the hardest to win because it came on the heels of another title and it’s what she had dreamed about as a kid. Lewis, Korda’s pod leader during the Solheim Cup, sent a “great fighting” text to Korda when it was done. Korda loves the way Lewis never backs down.

“Even though I say I think I lost hope,” said Korda, “I will never give up. I’ll go down fighting every single time.”

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Su Oh becomes third player to win two-year lease on a Lamborghini at LPGA’s Pelican Women’s Championship

You get a Lambo! You get a Lambo! You get a Lambo!

BELLEAIR, Florida – Su Oh doesn’t have a car in the U.S. or back home in Australia. She shares an Audi Q5 rental with Hannah Green when she’s in America and borrows her parents’ Volkswagen CC when she’s in Melbourne.

On Sunday at the Pelican Women’s Championship, Oh was the first player of the day to take a swing at the par-3 12th hole, and she recorded her second ace of the season. Oh hit a smooth 7-iron from 157 yards, becoming the third player this week to win a two-year lease on a Lamborghini.

“I would actually love it if I could take it to Australia,” she said, “but I don’t think that’s going to work.”

Austin Ernst was the first player to ace No. 12 during Monday’s pro-am. She took a test drive around the parking lot on Friday but, as of Sunday, said she hadn’t yet talked to the dealership about the details of insurance or a cash-out option.

Pavarisa Yoktuan was the second player to ace the 12th, and her fantastic reaction was caught on camera as this week marks the first time the LPGA has had a “Feature Hole” live stream on Peacock. Every players’ shot into the 12th is being streamed live.

Thailand’s Yoktuan took a test drive herself on Sunday, but said given how much she travels, it didn’t make sense to pay the insurance on it. She didn’t get an official quote, but heard at least $30,000 for two years.

“But I don’t think it’s that cheap,” she said. “I think it’s probably more.”

Coming into this week, Yoktuan had made $23,991 for the entire 2021 season.

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LPGA Pelican Women’s Championship extends partnership through 2025, with purse increase to $2 million

The Pelican is here to stay for a few more years.

BELLEAIR, Florida – The Pelican Women’s Championship – and its sensational leaderboard – is here to stay through 2025, the tournament has announced. Next year’s event will be held Nov. 10-13 and the purse will increase to $2 million.

After making its debut in 2020 where Sei Young Kim walked away victorious, the event returned this week with spectators. Fans on Sunday are being treated to a star-studded top 10 led by Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda that includes Jennifer Kupcho, Lydia Ko, Patty Tavatanakit, Christina Kim, Sei Young Kim, Leona Maguire and Jin Young Ko.

This week’s field of 108 players are competing for a $1.75 million purse at the newly renovated Pelican Golf Club.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with the LPGA Tour in bringing the world’s best female professional golfers to Tampa Bay for the Pelican Women’s Championship,” said Dan Doyle Jr., who co-founded the club with his father.

“We are committed to providing a best-in-class experience for the players and fans alike, and we are thankful for the tremendous support from the Belleair community in helping to build this new championship as a premier event on the LPGA Tour.”

This week the tour also debuted Feature Hole coverage for the first time tour history. Fans can watch live streaming on Peacock of the par-3 12th hole, where both Austin Ernst and Pavarisa Yoktuan have made aces to win two-year leases on a flashy Lamborghini.

Final-round coverage of the tournament takes place from 1-4 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com. The event will be tape-delayed on Golf Channel from 7:30-10:30 p.m. ET.

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