"Friday Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, Pendrith Shines at Shriners; Julien Guerrier Impresses in Spain; Three Share Lead at BMW Ladies Championship
Taylor Pendrith Shines in First Round of PGA TOUR's Shriners Children's Open
The first round of the PGA TOUR's Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas saw Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith steal the show with an impressive score of 10-under 61. His day saw a blend of superb shot-making and great composure, both critical components in stringing together a great round on the PGA TOUR. Taylor's bogey-free and ten-birdie day put him three up on a whopping ten players, including names such as Bud Cauley and J.T. Poston. Fan favorite Rickie Fowler had a clean card, posting five birdies against no bogeys for a 5-under par 66 on the par 71 TPC Summerlin layout. Pre-tournament favorite Tom Kim, looking to make history this week with a threepeat, finished the day at 2-under par 69.
An unexpected and unfortunate incident involving Joel Dahmen added a touch of drama to the first round.
Dahmen incurred a four-stroke penalty for carrying an extra club in his bag, totaling 15 instead of the permissible 14. While this rules snafu doesn't happen often, it can indeed sneak up on players, especially in a day and age when tinkering with different clubs prior to a round is a common occurrence. This oversight reminds all golfers of the meticulous nature of the rules of the game and the impact such errors can have.
The first round has set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling and captivating next three days. With both rising stars and seasoned vets vying for the title and an all-important spot inside the top 125 come season end, which guarantees a place on the PGA TOUR in 2025, it will be worth tuning in this weekend.
Frenchman Julien Guerrier Impresses in Spain Shooting a 10 Under 62 on Day One
In the first round of the 2024 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters Julien Guerrier delivered a remarkable performance by shooting an impressive 62, grabbing the lead after day one. His front nine was 7-under par 29, which included five straight birdies on holes two through six.
Guerrier carried his front nine brilliance onto the back, with birdies on holes 10 and 11 and later on 15, ultimately finishing the round at ten under par. This feat marked his lowest round in relation to par on the DP World Tour, leaving him one stroke ahead of Dan Brown.
Dan Brown, the early clubhouse leader, also put in a stellar effort, carding two eagles and five birdies for a 63. The Spanish fans were surely rooting for one of their countrymen to be in early contention, and most were looking to former world number one Jon Rahm to be that person. Rahm, however, had to settle for a 2-under par 70, putting him in a tie for 39th and eight shots back. Despite Rahm's relatively slow start, local fans have Spaniard Jorge Campillo to root for going into the second round after his bogey-free 64 leaves him just two back of Guerrier.
Three Share Lead in South Korea With Matching 64s
The first round of the LPGA Tour's BMW Ladies Championship, hosted at the Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju, South Korea, is off and running, with three tied at the top of the leaderboard.
South African Ashleigh Buhai, Australia's Hannah Green, and home favorite Jenny Shin surged to the top, posting impressive 8-under-par 64s.
Buhai, Green, and Shin each posted eight birdies against no bogeys. Only one green in regulation was missed cumulatively between the three leaders, with Shin hitting 17/18. Shin was perfect, however, in fairways hit in regulation and only needed 27 putts on the day, one better than Green and three better than Buhai.
Fan favorite, and my pick for the week, Lydia Ko, was three back after the first round with a 5-under par 67. Other notable names near the top after day one include Minjee Lee and Rose Zhang, who each posted a 67.
This tight leaderboard promises to see a lot of movement over the next three days as the course at Seowon Hills, known for its strategic layout, will present numerous challenges and ample opportunities. Throw in a forecast that calls for upwards of 3" of rain on Friday, followed by a chilly start on Sunday morning, with temps in the low 40s, and anything could happen.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
