Letter from the Desk of Dave Daubert
You can often find Dave playing at his favorite course Hammock Beach’s Ocean Course
News, Notes, and Ramblings from Dave Daubert
March 25, 2023
In Arizona, New Zealander Danny Lee fought through a four-man three-hole playoff to capture the LIV GOLF Tucsan and a $4.5 million payoff after a year drought.
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewardening and maddening– and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented”– Arnold Palmer.
The LIV Golf League opened its season in Mexico with 43-year-old Charles Howell III winning the Mayakoba at the El Camaleon golf course in the Riviera Maya with a $4 million check for his first win since 2018. Charles had just 22 putts on the final day to win by four strokes for the first win for L.A.B Golf Link 1 Custom putter.
At the King’s Bay Hill Golf Club in Orlando, 30-year-old Kurt Kitayama captured his first PGA TOUR title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for a $3.6mm payout. During the API week, the TOUR announced in 2024 they would hold reduced field tournaments with no cuts, a direct response to the LIV Golf League format. At the Omni Tuscon, David Toms won the Colorgard Classic with a putt for bogey for his first win in two years and his third on the PGA Tour Champions. In Singapore at the Serena Golf Club, 27-year-old Jin Young Ko from South Korea successfully defended her 2022 win with another. Columbian Nico Echevarria took the title at the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open at the Grand Reserve Golf Club, earning a spot in the Masters.
At the Rees Jones/Bill Bergin redone Country Club of Winter Haven, 23-year-old Agatha Laisne’ from France captured the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to open the season-long “Road to the LPGA” on the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour.
In Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 26-year-old Scottie Scheffler pulverized the Players winning by 5 strokes at TPC Sawgrass. The 2022 Masters Champion carded 5 birdies on holes 8-12 to seal the deal and regain the #1 ranking.
At the “Most Colorful PGA Golf Tournament,” the Valspar Championship, at the beautiful Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, 29-year-old Taylor Moore came away with the title for his first PGA TOUR win, defeating Jordan Spieth and Adam Schenk, who fell victims to the ‘Snake Pit’ on the Copperhead course. In Newport Beach, California, Ernie Els regained his winning form to win the Hoag Classic on the PGA Tour Champions.
Get out and Play!
Dave Daubert, GWAA, GTWA
Editor
Dave Daubert
Editor
Dave, a member of Golf Writers of America and International Golf Travel Writers Associations, has been writing about all things golf since the turn of the century. He was Managing Editor at a regional golf magazine for 11 years before joining eSouthernGOLF in 2013 as Editor. Dave has been published at TriStateGolfer, FairwaysGolfCanada, GeorgiaGolf&Travel, TexasGolfInsider, GolfTrips, NewEngland.Golf, ProGolfWeekly, and numerous regional and state publications.