"Weekend 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, Elliott looks at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am through two rounds and how things are shaping up in Orlando at the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Round Two Wrap: Straka Sets the Course Alight at Pebble Beach
After two electrifying rounds at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Sepp Straka has securely emerged as the leader, setting the field ablaze with a 65-65 start. His 14-under par 130 total is three clear of Russell Henley and Cam Davis, who both sit at 11-under par 133. Tied for 4th at 10-under par and four behind are some formidable contenders, including Tony Finau, Justin Rose, Tom Kim, Austin Eckroat, and Andrew Novak.
Straka’s Stellar Performance Through 36
The Austrian star kicked off his tournament on Thursday with a standout score of 7-under par 65 on Spyglass. While known for his ball striking, Straka's first round was really a story of short game and putting prowess. He got up and down 4 out of the 5 times he missed the green in regulation. His 80% clip in Scrambling was tied for 21st on the day, with two of those ups and downs coming from the bunker, where he was tied for first among the field. On the holes he did hit the green in regulation on Thursday, he tied for 7th in Putts Per GIR, averaging 1.54 putts on those.
Yesterday, in the second round, Straka duplicated his first-round 65, but this time, on the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links. Friday was a better ball-striking day for Straka, hitting 12/14 fairways, ranking third on the day, and 14/18 greens, which locked him in at a tie for eighth for the round in that category.
Combined through the first two days, Sepp Straka showed that he has all the tools to keep things going on his path to another win, which would be his second on the season after winning his last start two weeks ago at The American Express. It has been a strong start to 2025 for the 20th-ranked player in the OWGR, as Straka also sits in the second spot in the FedEx Cup rankings.
The Returning Stars: Scottie Scheffler & Jodan Spieth
The headline coming into the week was the return of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, both returning from injury. Scottie started his tournament with an opening round 5-under par 67 on Spyglass, a promising start for golf's World #1. However, Friday was a little different story with his 2-under par 70 on Pebble. Scheffler climbed to 8-under total on the tournament after his front nine. He ended that opening nine with three straight birdies on 7, 8, and 9. Turning to the back nine, with the wind really starting to blow, Scottie shot a 1-over par 37. Despite the less-than-Scottie day, he sits in a tie for 20th, and with a repeat of last weekend's windy weather at Torrey Pines in the forecast for Pebble, anything can happen.
Jordan Spieth has had a little tougher time in his return. His 2-under par 70 on Thursday at Spyglass was a mixed bag, seeing Jordan making four birdies against two bogies. Yesterday at Pebble, Jordan shot even par four birdies and four bogeys. No doubt, Spieth will be soon back in the mix on the PGA TOUR, but as for this week, he will chalk it up as the first step in his return.
LPGA TOUR Off and Running in What Will Be An Exciting 2025
The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions kicked off the 2025 LPGA season, one that will be a yearlong celebration of 75 years of excellence. Halfway through the tournament, South Korea's A Lim Kim has demonstrated unwavering precision and a calm demeanor, securing a commanding 3-stroke lead at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando.
Poise and Performance: Kim's Unwavering Focus
A Lim Kim showcased impressive poise on the course, navigating through Lake Nona's challenging layout with a level of precision that echoes her status as a world-class competitor. Kim's opening round, 7-under par 65, was impressive indeed, missing only two fairways and two greens and needing only 27 putts on the day. She followed up that brilliant start with a 3-under par 69 yesterday, good enough for a three-shot lead.
A Challenge From The Pack
While Kim holds a three-shot cushion, a talented pool of contenders is in pursuit, eager to close the gap in the final rounds. Swedens Linn Grant sits at 7-under par, and a trio at 6-under, including World #1 Nelly Korda, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, and Japanese star Rio Takeda. Others in the mix include Jin Young Ko at 5-under, defending champ Lydia Ko at 4-under, and the 13th player in the World Rankings, Rose Zhang at 3-under.
Looking Forward: The Weekend Showdown
A Lim Kim holds a solid lead; a victory could mark a significant turning point in her career. But this is golf; anything can happen over the next two days. Winning isn't solely about the shots hit; it’s also about staying mentally tough, bouncing back, and rolling with the punches when things go a little sideways.
Whether Kim keeps up her strong early pace or those chasing start making some noise, one thing's for sure: we are in for a thrilling finish at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
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.
