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Horschel, Gooch Lead at Bay Hill

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ORLANDO – The 2014 FedEx Cup Champion Billy Horschel and 2021 RSM Classic champion Talor Gooch share the third-round lead after posting 71, 72, respectively. When they hold the 54-hole lead/co-lead, Horschel is 2-for-3 in converting, while Gooch is 1-for-1.

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For the second consecutive week on Tour, the third-round scoring average was more than two strokes over par.

Second-round leader Viktor Hovland is in 3rd place (-6) and fell one stroke behind the co-leaders following his 3-over 75. Hovland, at 24 years, 5 months, 16 days today, can become the fifth-youngest winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Gary Woodland is in 5th place (-4) and is searching for his fifth PGA Tour victory and first since the 2019 U.S. Open.

Max Homa recorded his first ace on Tour draining the ball with a pitching wedge from 163 yards at the par-3 14th hole.

Rory Sabbatini withdrew during round three with a leg injury.

Leaderboard After 54 Holes at API:

Billy Horschel 67-71-71—209 (-7)

Talor Gooch 69-68-72—209 (-7)

Viktor Hovland 69-66-75—210 (-6)

Scottie Scheffler 70-73-68—211 (-5)

Gary Woodland 70-72-70—212 (-4)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Hovland Leads at Bay Hill

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ORLANDO – Viktor Hovland holds a two-stroke lead, his third career 36-hole lead/co-lead in an individual stroke-play event on the PGA Tour. He is 1-for-2 to date converting the 36-hole lead to a win.

First-round leader Rory McIlroy fell to T-2 following even-par (72) effort in R-2.

Three of the four past Arnold Palmer Invitational champions in the field are T-6 or better, including Tyrrell Hatton (T-2/2020), Rory McIlroy (T-2/2018), Martin Laird (T-6/2011), and Marc Leishman (T-20/2017)

World No. 1 Jinx? Jon Rahm (T-13/-2) trails by seven at midway point. The last World No. 1 to win the event was Tiger Woods (2009) and the last World No. 1 to win on the PGA Tour was Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters Tournament).

Yesterday’s 3-over cutline marks the highest 36-hole cut this season.

Leaderboard After 36 Holes at API:

Viktor Hovland 69-66—135 (-9)

Tyrrell Hatton 69-68—137 (-7)

Talor Gooch 69-68—137 (-7)

Rory McIlroy 65-72—137 (-7)

Billy Horschel 67-71—138 (-6)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Tour Tees-Off at Bay Hill and Puerto Rico

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ORLANDO – The Arnold Palmer Invitational, presented by Mastercard, is one of three PGA Tour events with elevated status, along with The Genesis Invitational and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. Those three events offer a larger purse ($12 million; up from $9.3 million in 2021), an increased allotment of FedEx Cup points (550 to the winner) and a three-year PGA Tour exemption for the winner.

The 2022 field features 10 of the Top 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by World No. 1 Jon Rahm who will make his Arnold Palmer debut. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau withdrew Monday from the tournament due to injury.

Jason Day also withdrew.

In 2021 the collective Palmer field hit only 56.84% of greens in regulation at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, making it the fifth-toughest to play as measured by Green in Regulation percentage overall on TOUR last season. It was second toughest among non-majors.

RIO GRANDE – While the “A” team is playing Bay Hill, the Puerto Rico Open will be taking place in the Islands. Since the tournament’s 2008 inception, the Puerto Rico Open has helped elevate the careers of future PGA Tour stars, including Daniel Berger (T-2/2019) and past sponsor exemptions Jordan Spieth (T-2/2013) and Brooks Koepka (T-19/2014). Bryson DeChambeau lost in a playoff at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open but went on to win his first PGA Tour title later that season, while Tony Finau (2016) and Viktor Hovland (2020) each won their first Tour titles at the Puerto Rico Open. Branden Grace, who won the 2021 Puerto Rico Open, is in the field at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

The tournament is held at the Rio Grande Grand Reserve Country Club, almost a full hour away from San Juan.

Berger Leads the Pack at Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Daniel Berger tied largest 54-hole lead in Honda Classic tournament history and holds largest 54-hole lead on Tour since Jon Rahm at the 2021 Memorial Tournament. Berger is seeking his fifth career PGA Tour win and his third consecutive season with a win on Tour.

Shane Lowry posted low round of the day, at 3-under (67) and is five strokes off the lead.

There are two non-PGA Tour members in the top 20 on the leaderboard, with Monday Open Qualifier Martin Contini (T-7) and sponsor exemption Andrew Kozan (T-19). A Top-10 finish by a non-member can earn a berth into next week’s Puerto Rico Open.

With a cumulative average of +1.666 through three rounds, PGA National is playing as the hardest non-major course on Tour since the 2020 BMW Championship (Olympia Fields Country Club/North).

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Daniel Berger 65-65-69—199 (-11)

Shane Lowry 70-67-67—204 (-6)

Sepp Straka 71-64-69—204 (-6)

Kurt Kitayama 64-69-71—204 (-6)

Chris Kirk 65-68-71—204 (-6)

Berger Leads at Hometown Honda

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The Honda Classic | Third Round Preview

PALM BEACH GARDENS – Jupiter, Florida resident Daniel Berger opened a PGA Tour event with consecutive scores of (65) or better for just the second time (2015 BMW Championship/2nd) in his career.

Chris Kirk extended his streak of sub-par scores on Tour this season to eight in bid for fifth career Tour title and first since 2015.

As the last player to get into the field, Chase Seiffert now sits inside the top five on the leaderboard at 5-under (135).

En route to a 5-under (65), Adam Svensson became just the second player to hit all 18 greens in regulation in a round at The Honda Classic since the event moved to PGA National in 2007 (Cody Gribble/R1/2017).

First-year Tour member Kurt Kitayama (T2/-7) followed a career-low 6-under 64 in round one with a 69 in Friday’s second round; in only previous Honda Classic start, finished T47 as a sponsor exemption in 2020; best TOUR finish in 25 starts is T17/2017 Puerto Rico Open.

Following his win at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Joaquin Niemannmissed the cut with scores of 70-73—(143/+3) while defending champion Matt Jones missed the cut (73-74—(147/+7).

The 2-over (142) cut marks the just the second over-par cut of the season (Houston Open).

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Daniel Berger 65-65—130 (-10)

Chris Kirk 65-68—133 (-7)

Kurt Kitayama 64-69—133 (-7)

Mark Hubbard 70-64—134 (-6)

Adam Svensson 69-65—134 (-6)

Kitayama Surprise Leader at Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – First-year PGA Tour member Kurt Kitayama carded a career-low (64) and holds his first lead/co-lead after any round on Tour. He leads by one stroke as Rory Sabbatini, Daniel Berger and Chris Kirk each shot (65) in the first-round of The Honda Classic.

Kitayama opened with three consecutive birdies (Nos. 10-12) and made a career-high four in a row, playing (Nos. 3-6). His previous career-best Tour result was a T-17 at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open. Kitayama competed at the 2020 Honda Classic on a sponsor exemption and finished T-47.

Berger played his third bogey-free round at the event, tied for second-most since it moved to PGA National in 2007. The most? Luke Donald with four.

Chris Kirk is T-2 at (-5), leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (3.620) but entered the week T-100th on Tour in that category (0.030 per round) while 2011 Honda Classic winner Rory Sabbatini is T-2 (-5). He opened with a bogey-free (65), his first bogey-free score in 37 rounds at PGA National.

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After Round 1 (partial)

Kirt Kitayama 64 (-6)

Rory Sabbatini 65 (-5)

Daniel Berger 65 (-5)

Chris Kirk 65 (-5)

PGA Tour Swings to Florida

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Beginning with today’s Honda Classic, the PGA Tour will stage the next four tournaments in Florida: 1). The Honda Classic; 2). Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (same week as the Puerto Rico Open); 3). THE PLAYERS Championship and 4). Valspar Championship.

Louis Oosthuizen – No. 122 FedEx Cup Standings and No. 13 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Oosthuizen is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He’s recorded 13 under-par scores in his 13 rounds on Tour this season but his last Top-10 was the 2021 3M Open (T-2).

With a T-2 at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Tour rookie Cameron Youngmoved from No. 113 to No. 53 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Matt Jones is the tournament’s defending champion. Last year he shot 61 70 69 68 (268) (-12) to win by five strokes over Brandon Hagy.

Last week’s Genesis Invitational winner Joaquin Niemann met with media at The Honda Classic. The native of Chile, who lives in the Palm Beach area, was asked how long it takes him to get home from PGA National;

“Depends on the car,” he quipped.

The Honda Classic

COURSE: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (Champion Course)

ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio

YARDS/PAR: 7,125 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,000,000/$1.440,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Matt Jones

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheHondaClassic

TV COVERAGE: First two rounds (today and Feb 25) are scheduled for coverage from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Then, Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 6:45am to 6:00pm (ET). Weekend times TBA, depending on tee times.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Honda Classic with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.

Niemann Goes Wire-to-Wire at Riviera

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The Genesis Invitational | Recap

PACIFIC PALISADES – Joaquin Niemann won The Genesis Invitational by two strokes to earn his second PGA Tour victory and first since 2019. Niemann is the fourth wire-to-wire victor in tournament history and was the first since Charlie Sifford in 1969.

The 23-year-old became the second-youngest winner of The Genesis Invitational standing beside Harry Cooper who won in 1926.

California native Collin Morikawa and promising PGA Tour rookie Cameron Young finished T-2 while Adam Scottfinished T-4 at (-14). Scott won the 2020 Genesis Invitational, and had a chance this week as he shot a final-round 5-under (66), highlighted by eagles on No. 1 and No. 17 and birdies on three of the four par-3s (4, 6, 14), but Niemann’s effort was just too much.

Making his second tournament start, Viktor Hovland (T-4) at (-14) posted his second straight Top-five finish at the event (T-5 in 2021) and second Top-five on Tour this season (Won/World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba).

Justin Thomas finished solo sixth (-13), earning his fourth Top-10 in his sixth start of the season; ranks T2 in Driving Accuracy (37-of-56) for the week while defending champion Max Homa finished T-10, his third consecutive Top-10 at The Genesis Invitational.

 

The Genesis Invitational | Final Leaderboard

Joaquin Niemann 63-63-68-71—265 (-19)

Collin Morikawa 67-67-68-65—267 (-17)

Cameron Young 66-62-69-70—267 (-17)

Adam Scott 68-65-71-66—270 (-14)

Viktor Hovland 71-64-65-70—270 (-14)

Niemann Chases Riviera Record

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The Genesis Invitational | Preview | Final Round

PACIFIC PALISADES – Joaquin Niemann’s three-day score of (194) total set a new 54-hole tournament record at the Riviera Country Club. Niemann aims to become first wire-to-wire winner since Charlie Sifford (1969).

The previous 54-hole record at The Genesis Invitational was (196), shared by Mike Weir (2004), Dustin Johnson (2017), and Justin Thomas (2019).

PGA Tour rookie Cameron Young is seeking first Tour title in 12th career start and trails the red-hot Niemann by only three strokes.

Viktor Hovland hit 16 of 18 greens in search of his second title of the season while Justin Thomas birdied his final two holes but sits seven strokes off the lead going into today’s final round.

The 69.28 scoring average in Saturday’s round three marked the lowest in a round at The Genesis Invitational since 1984.

The Genesis Invitational | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Joaquin Niemann 63-63-68—194 (-19)

Cameron Young 66-62-69—197 (-16)

Viktor Hovland 71-64-65—200 (-13)

Justin Thomas 67-64-70—201 (-12)

Collin Morikawa 67-67-68—202 (-11)

Niemann Sets 36-Hole Record at Riviera

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PACIFIC PALISADES – Joaquin Niemann’s career low (126) total set the 36-hole tournament record at The Genesis Invitational while 24-year old Cameron Young’s (62) marked his career-low round on Tour.

Prior to Niemann (126) and Young (128), four players had shot (130) or better for 36 holes at this event since 1992.

Justin Thomas is seeking his 15th PGA Tour title and first since THE PLAYERS Championship in 2021 while 2020 Genesis Invitational champion Adam Scott seeks his second official win at this event (2005 victory is unofficial).

Collin Morikawa can move to World No. 1 with a win if Jon Rahm (T-60/E) finishes outside solo-fourth

Notables to miss the cut include major champions Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed.

The Genesis Invitational | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Joaquin Niemann 63-63—126 (-16)

Cameron Young 66-62—128 (-14)

Justin Thomas 67-64—131 (-11)

Adam Scott 68-65—133 (-9)

Jordan Spieth 66-67—133 (-9)

Collin Morikawa 67-67—134 (-8)