With the Honda Classic sandwiched between four of the PGA Tour’s biggest events, it’s no wonder its leaderboard was lacking in star power this past weekend.
Many of the tour’s most recognizable names played in back-to-back events at the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Invitational, and they’ll do the same at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players in the next two weeks.
Even without Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and other stars in the field, the Honda Classic provided golf fans with some drama, as Chris Kirk defeated Eric Cole in a playoff to win for the first time in nearly eight years.
The LIV Golf League’s season opener in Mexico also had an unexpectedly nondescript leaderboard. Charles Howell III, who made a lot of money while rarely winning on the PGA Tour, ran away with a 4-shot victory to pick up his first LIV Golf victory. Peter Uihlein was second and Branden Grace was third.
While reigning Open Championship winner Cameron Smith finished sixth, many of LIV Golf’s biggest stars such as Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson all finished outside the top 25 in the 48-player field.
The LPGA Tour was also back on the course this past weekend, a month after its season…
