Around the Links: Feb. 14

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has reached its 2024 conclusion.

Nick Taylor defeated Charley Hoffman in two extra holes at TPC Scottsdale to claim his first victory since the RBC Canadian Open last June, which he also won in a playoff.

Both players had strong final rounds, with Taylor recording a 65 and Hoffman a 64, to enter the playoff at 21-under-par.

Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler, with final rounds of 64 and 66 respectively, finished in a tie for third at 18-under-par. Sahith Theegala finished fifth.

The win allowed Taylor to move from No. 55 to No. 28 in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career best.

Hoffman, who was searching for his first victory since 2016, reached a ranking of No. 108 after entering the week No. 300.

With the Phoenix Open completed, the Tour now moves on to The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, for the Genesis Invitational.

The event features Tiger Woods, who is making his first tournament start since the Hero World Challenge last fall, where he finished 18th.

This week, Woods will debut the new Sun Day Red clothing brand, after 27 years of wearing Nike apparel. The new brand is part of TaylorMade.

The Genesis was one of three tournaments Woods played in 2023. Wearing his new clothing, Woods will look to improve on his 2023 finish, which was a tie for 45th.

Jon Rahm, who now plays LIV Golf, won the 2023 Genesis Invitational. Finishing second was Max Homa, who won the 2021 edition of the event.

Following that win three years ago, Homa has won four more times on the PGA Tour, most recently in January 2023. Still searching for his first win of this season, Homa's past success could position him well this week.

Jason Day could also be a contender. He finished in a tie for ninth in last year’s tournament and has two top-10 finishes in his last four starts.

Having ended a five-year winless streak last May, Day will look for more at Riviera this week.

Cameron Young is another player whose results seem to indicate a strong week ahead. Ranked No. 23 in the world, Young finished in a tie for eighth in Phoenix. He also finished third in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.

Still searching for his first PGA Tour win after six runner-up finishes, Young will hope this will be the week he finally scores that first triumph.

On the DP World Tour, Rikuya Hoshino won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters this past week, one shot ahead of Ugo Coussaud.

The win was Hoshino’s first on the Tour. He had recorded other strong results recently, including runner-up finishes at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and ISPS Handa Australian Open.

The DP World Tour now has a week off, prior to the Magical Kenya Open beginning on Feb. 22.

The LPGA Tour will return to competition in Thailand that same day for the Honda LPGA Thailand, where Lilia Vu will look to record her second consecutive win of that tournament.

Nelly Korda won most recently, taking victory in the Drive On Championship on Jan. 28, her ninth LPGA Tour win.

Logan Groeneveld-Meijer is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lsg5237@psu.edu.