Tommy Fleetwood produced another strong round on Friday to head into the weekend at the Abu Dhabi Championship tied for the lead with fellow Englishman Aaron Rai.

Fleetwood started his second round with three birdies in a row and carded seven in total, shooting a six-under 66 to climb to 14-under for the tournament.

The two-time former winner and reigning FedEx Cup champion began the day in a five-way share of the lead but soon hit the front after catching up with early starter Nacho Elvira.

Fleetwood's lone bogey came at the 15th but he gained that stroke back on the next hole with a putt from 12 feet.

"Really good day. I got off to the perfect start. Birdie, birdie, birdie," said Fleetwood.

"That was good, especially when you've had a good round the day before. They always say it's hard to follow up a good round with another good one, or a low one with another one."

Fleetwood is level with Rai, who delivered the highlight of the day with an albatross at the par-five second hole.

"I actually caught it a little bit clean off the face, the line was great. I think it probably pitched around the front edge and chased its way down there," said Rai, who holed out from around 220 yards.

"We couldn't see it from back on the fairway, so it was a nice surprise."

Rai carried that momentum through his round and added five birdies to sign for an eight-under 64.

"It was really good. Struck it really well tee-to-green. Had a lot of chances. Just felt very stress-free overall," he said.

Richard Sterne, Andy Sullivan and Nicolai Hojgaard are two shots behind at the head of the chasing pack.

Shane Lowry, who matched Ryder Cup team-mate Fleetwood on Thursday, dropped off the pace with back-to-back bogeys to close out round two as he recorded a three-under 69.

Rory McIlroy is six shots off the top as the Northern Irishman carded another four-under 68. Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert McIntyre are a further shot behind.

Nick Dunlap and Finland's Sami Valimaki find themselves tied for the lead at the World Wide Technology Championship after shooting bogey-free, 11-under-par 61s on Thursday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Lowest PGA TOUR round as a pro!

Nick Dunlap hit every fairway Thursday @WWTChampionship and shares the early lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9dpwNW8hop

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 6, 2025

Six players had not yet finished their rounds when play was suspended due to darkness at 5:41pm local time. They will wrap up Friday morning before the second round begins as scheduled.

Dunlap went 6 under through his final six holes by making four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 18th at El Cardonal Golf Course. Valimaki spread 11 birdies across his card.

The duo led by three strokes over a group tied at 8-under 64: Vince Whaley, Chad Ramey, Andrew Putnam, Norway's Kris Ventura and Germany's Matti Schmid.

US Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin was another shot back at 7-under 65, as were veterans Matt Kuchar and Francesco Molinari of Italy.

Dunlap, 21, is best known for winning The American Express in 2024 as an amateur, earning a PGA Tour card through 2026. He added a second win that year at the Barracuda Championship, but struggled mightily in 2025 and ranked No 145 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings entering the week.

"Golf's been very hard recently and today was the opposite of that," Dunlap said. "... It's a hard game. Kind of seems like if something can go wrong, it has recently. Just try not to make it personal in a way and just kind of come out here and try to have as much fun as I can. We're in a pretty cool spot."

Dunlap hit all 14 fairways in regulation and notched his second round of 61, matching one of his rounds when he won The American Express. He's the youngest player with multiple PGA Tour rounds of 61 or better since 1983, per the tour.

Valimaki, 27, has yet to win on tour after having some success in Europe. He stood No 103 in the FedEx Cup Fall race entering the week and would gain a lot from a victory. Players inside the top 100 at the end of the fall season are eligible to retain their tour cards.

"It's not the best pressure but it's how it is," Valimaki said. "At least I made my card back in Europe so at least I have something over there, so I feel like that gives you a little extra freedom. Of course you want to play here, but just have to play good these last three (events)."

Defending champion Austin Eckroat is likely to miss the cut Friday after opening with a 2-over 74.

Lee Westwood offered a parting shot in Rory McIlroy's direction after the latter labeled LIV Golf's recent rule change as "peculiar."

Speaking on talkSport's Breakfast Show on Thursday, Westwood addressed the upstart circuit's decision to move to a 72-hole format. The 52-year-old Englishman then responded to McIlroy's comment, noting that the Northern Irishman isn't above flip-flopping on topics.

"I don't know. I don't pay too much attention to what Rory says," Westwood said. "He'll change his mind for next week."

LIV Golf announced its news on Tuesday, with McIlroy chiming in the following day while speaking to reporters ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

"I think it's a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds," McIlroy said. "I don't think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back.

"It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we've all done. It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort of falling more in line with what everyone else does. But if that's what they felt they needed to do to get the ranking points, I guess that's what they had to do."

'GOOD FOR THE FANS'

As for LIV Golf's move itself, Westwood said the following:

"I think it was good for the players, good for the sponsors. And good for the fans more than anything. They get to see another day's golf.

"I think (Official World Golf Ranking points) is one of the angles behind it. I think there were a few different things. Some of the guys focused their whole season around the major championships and playing 54 holes was putting them at a bit of a disadvantage.

"I think they wanted to play 72 holes – that represented more the major championship format. But world rankings is one of the things on LIV's mind. I don't know whether it's in the criteria or not because there's 54-hole tournaments that got world ranking points before.

"But I think the boxes that you need to tick with the world rankings, 72 holes probably helps that."

The LPGA Tour has granted an age waiver allowing 17-year-old Gianna Clemente to compete for early membership next month.

League rules require members to be 18 or over, but the high school senior from Estero, Florida, won't celebrate that birthday until 28 March.

Clemente is competing for a tour card at next month's LPGA Q Series and the waiver will allow her to play on tour if she is successful.

LPGA Tour officials said they granted the waiver because of her success as an amateur at LPGA events.

"With 10 starts on the LPGA Tour over the past three years, Gianna is a great example of a young player who continues to push herself to compete at the highest level, and we're excited to see what she accomplishes as she works to earn her spot on the LPGA Tour," LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler said in a statement. "We congratulate Gianna on her tremendous success as an amateur and wish her all the best in Final Qualifying as she pursues her dreams in professional golf."

In 2025, Clemente finished T30 in Thailand in February and T71 at The Chevron Championship in April and missed the cuts at two other tournaments.

Clemente has been a rising star on the amateur scene since 2022, when she qualified for three consecutive LPGA tournaments at the age of 14.

Clemente visited collegiate programs at Oregon, Arizona State and Auburn before forgoing that route to pursue a professional career.

"Obviously, I took my time making this decision," she told Golf Channel on Wednesday. "I took a couple college visits, but I've wanted to play professional golf my whole life. I'm thrilled to be able to go compete at Q-School for my LPGA Tour card."

The final stage for LPGA qualifying is a 90-hole tournament from December 4-8 at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. Those finishing in the top 25 (and ties) earn full LPGA Tour status for 2026.

The LPGA Tour previously granted similar age waivers in 2023 to Germany's Chiara Noja and China's Liqi Zeng.

Gary Player clarified his comments about the future of the Ryder Cup in a lengthy post on social media.

Player, 90, initially was critical of the biennial tournament to the Palm Beach Post, labeling it the "worst event in the world." He then told Golf Digest that he "would like to see them abolish it," particularly due to the conduct and behavior of the fans at Bethpage Black in September.

On Wednesday, the legendary South African golfer did his best to clarify his comments.

"My comments about the Ryder Cup were intended to be a warning that this great tournament is at risk of coming to an end if the recent behavior in New York is allowed to continue, or even worse, escalate further at future events," he wrote.

"... It has been brought to my attention that recent media reports have stated that I wish to see an end to the Ryder Cup competition – nothing could be further from the truth! I hold its organisers, the PGA of America and the Ryder Cup Europe, in the highest regard.

"I love the Ryder Cup format as do many millions of fans all over the globe. I want to see this great team competition continue to grow in a manner that allows it to meet the changing commercial needs of its sponsors and partners. But, I desperately want this growth not be at the expense of the dignity and respect which golfers and golf supporters have historically shown to one another. That is what I spoke about and what I am warning about now. I want nothing more than that the Ryder Cup continues in perpetuity."

Team Europe survived a near-unprecedented rally by the United States team to prevail 15-13 and hoist the 45th Ryder Cup on September 28. It marked Team Europe's 11th win in the last 15 Ryder Cups and its second in a row under captain Luke Donald of England.

The LPGA and Ladies European Tour will co-sanction a new event in partnership with Golf Saudi to be staged next year in Las Vegas, the LPGA announced on Wednesday.

The $4 million Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek Golf Club will be contested April 2-5 with a 120-player field featuring top talent from both tours.

The 72-hole tournament will mark the first co-sanctioned event by the LPGA and LET as part of the European circuit's Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund-backed Global Series.

LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler said the new event "reflects exactly where we're headed in building the global schedule for our tour," citing the course and prize money.

"We also recognise that partnerships like this – built on the LET's longstanding collaboration with Golf Saudi and PIF – can help strengthen the women's game on a global scale and elevate opportunities for our athletes."

The LPGA Match Play tournament has been contested annually at Shadow Creek since 2021.

Rory McIlroy said PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague sent him a personal apology for the abuse the Northern Irishman and his wife suffered during Europe's Ryder Cup victory.

Europe held off a stirring final day fightback from the United States to win 15-13 in New York in September.

McIlroy was the centre of attention for a hostile home crowd with incessant abuse with a beer even thrown at his wife Erica McIlroy, which hit her on the hat.

"I got a lovely e-mail from Derek Sprague apologising," McIlroy told the BBC ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

"Erica worked with Derek at the PGA of America back in the day, so we know Derek and his wife pretty well.

"He couldn't have been more gracious or apologetic and he wrote us a lovely letter, which we really appreciated."

McIlroy at times hit back at the crowd but said the abuse backfired as it "galvanised" the European players to become the first side to win the Ryder Cup on foreign soil for 13 years.

"I take it as a compliment that they targeted me, but then at the same time, it was a tough week," added the world No 2.

"That made us better as a team. It galvanised us and it really put our arms around each other."

McIlroy can cap a dream year with a fourth DP World Tour Championship in Dubai later this month.

He ended an 11-year wait to win a major by claiming his first Masters in dramatic fashion in April and also won the Irish Open, Players' Championship and Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

"I knew a year like this was possible, but it has just been an amazing 10 months," said the five-time major champion.

LIV Golf's move to 72-hole events beginning in 2026 has been widely speculated as an attempt to gain Official World Golf Ranking points, but Rory McIlroy isn't convinced that it will have the desired effect if that's the case.

"I think it's a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking points with three rounds. I don't think three rounds versus four rounds is what was holding them back," McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

"It certainly puts them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we've all done. It brings them back into not really being a destructor and sort is of falling more in line with what everyone else does. But if that's what they felt they needed to do to get the ranking points, I guess that's what they had to do."

The top-ranked LIV player is currently Tyrrell Hatton, who is at No 21 following his recent runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a T5 at the BMW PGA Championship.

Bryson DeChambeau is No 23 on the strength of three top-10 finishes in the four 2025 majors.

 However, that still is a far cry from his career-best ranking of No 4 in the world.

Former world No 1 Jon Rahm has plummeted to No 71 in the two years since he signed a massive contract with the Saudi-backed league.

He was joined at the time by Hatton, who is part of Rahm's Legion XIII team.

Hatton said that in a questionnaire sent to the players following his first season, only about three were in favour of a move from 54 to 72 holes.

"I guess that's changed quite a bit in the last year, and certainly from my standpoint, I'm quite happy that we've moved to 72 holes," he said on Wednesday.

However, McIlroy sees an uphill battle for LIV players to improve their ranking significantly even if approved by the OWGR.

"Say potentially they get world rankings (points), but because their strength of fields are going to be so weak because a lot of the guys have fallen already in the rankings because they have not had ranking points for so long, I don't know if the ranking points are really going to benefit them," McIlroy said.

"It will be interesting to see how it plays out."

The LPGA on Wednesday announced a new co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour in partnership with Golf Saudi, marking the first tournament on a US tour with backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The Aramco Championship, a PIF Global Series event, will be held April 2-5, 2026, at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas and feature a $4 million purse that is among the highest outside of the five women's majors played each year.

Craig Kessler, who took over as LPGA Commissioner in July, said in a press release the Aramco Championship is "exactly where we're headed in building the global schedule for our tour.

"We often talk about routing, courses and purses — and this event checks every box: a spectacular West Coast setting, an iconic course and a purse that continues our momentum in raising the bar for our athletes.

"We also recognise that partnerships like this — built on the LET's longstanding collaboration with Golf Saudi and PIF — can help strengthen the women's game on a global scale and elevate opportunities for our athletes."

The Aramco Championship is part of the LET's 2026 PIF Global Series that will also feature tournaments in Riyadh, Korea, Britain and China.

At Shadow Creek, a 120-player field featuring top players from both tours will compete in a 72-hole stroke-play format.

"We're proud to partner with the LPGA and LET to host this world-class event at Shadow Creek," said Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza.

"The Aramco Championship reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing women's golf globally and creating opportunities that inspire future generations of players."

The Gary Player Country Club golf course will feature several changes to this iconic layout when it welcomes this year’s field of professionals for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.

As part of the ongoing drive to enhance the player and spectator experience at “Africa’s Major”, Gary Player has personally overseen key strategic and aesthetic changes for the 4-7 December showpiece.

“When it comes to the Nedbank Golf Challenge we’re synonymous with providing both a great spectacle and challenge for the players. Mr Player has been instrumental in making these changes. These players are the best in the world and we want to keep challenging them while also keeping the balance that it remains exciting for the fans to watch,” said Ken Payet, the Tournament Director for the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Bush has been cleared from the right side of the par-three fourth hole, showcasing more of the green and water hazard from the tee.

“From the tee it really opens up the hole and makes it even more visually appealing,” said Payet.

The par-three seventh has a new tee complex, with the professional tee pushed back 25 metres.

“We’re very excited about this change because it offers some great tee options in relation to flag position,” said Payet.

Bush has also been cleared on the left of the hole, and a bunker at the front left of the green has been removed.

The right fairway bunker on the par-five ninth has been removed to entice the players to be more aggressive on this feature hole.

“Mr Player removed the fairway bunker on the right to encourage the professionals to hit driver down that right-hand side, and then entice them to go for the green in two and chase the birdies and eagles the fans wants to see,” said Payet.

The par-five 14th has also had bush cleared down the right-hand side in preparation of a new tee here in the future.

“We’ve cleared a lot of bushes down the right-hand side to open up the fairway a bit. In the player’s mind he thinks he can take off a bit more on the corner, but he can still get himself into trouble. There is also a plan to extend the distance of this hole by at least 40 metres next year, and this helps with that,” said Payet.

Behind the 14th green there is a new player pathway through the bush leading to a new back tee on the 15th.

“It’s a nice experience we’ve created for the players to walk through the bush a bit and maybe have a bit of quiet time with themselves and their caddies.

"Then regarding the new back tee on 15, Mr Player has taken it back almost 45 metres to create a strong par four. It puts a driver into the player’s hands. To carry the left-hand fairway bunker is now 305 metres, so even for the likes of big-hitters like Aldrich Potgieter, it will get their attention.

"This hole generally plays downwind with the wind from the north, but if we get a wind from the south it will be a really tough hole. This was a key change from Mr Player to make the golf course more challenging for the players.”

With the golf course now closed to the public, Payet said he is really pleased with how their course preparation is going in the final build-up to Nedbank Golf Challenge.

“From today when we close the golf course to the public, right up to the tournament, we focus on every bit of detail regarding the conditioning of the course. It’s all about making sure we’re as close to perfection as possible by the time tournament week arrives.

“We’re in a good space in terms of our preparation. We’ve had some good rain. We’ve fertilised the rough so that’s definitely going to kick in. We’re very pleased with the players we’ve announced, including a lot of South Africans who are playing great golf this year. So the stars just need to align in order to bring it all together in tournament week.”

The enhancements to the golf course are matched by several enhancements to the fan hospitality experience this year.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge – an enhanced VIP hospitality option for the public – is offering a first-of-its-kind in the history of “Africa’s Major”, with fans gaining exclusive 18th grandstand access as well as player autograph opportunities, a photo opportunity with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy at the Hospitali-TEE Lounge facility, a voucher to the value of R500 per Hospitali-TEE Lounge ticket purchased for official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise at The Pro Shop at Sun City, and a range of other enhancements to this popular concept.

And the Sunbet Signs on 18th viewing seating area will make its debut this year, offering a prime viewing experience in comfortable director’s chairs right alongside the 18th fairway and close to where most of the professionals will land their tee shots.

The LPGA Tour announced that the International Crown will be played at the Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco for the sixth edition of the team event in 2027.

The only team event in women's golf that is contested by global teams, the 2025 International Crown included seven national teams and one World Team. It was won by Australia at the New Korea Country Club outside of Seoul.

The International Crown was first contested in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland. It was played at the Merit Club in Illinois in 2016 and at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in South Korea in 2018. After being canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Crown was held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco in 2023.

The event is sponsored by Hanwha, a global business conglomerate based in the Republic of Korea whose AI hub is located in San Francisco.

"After such a successful Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown in Korea, we are thrilled to bring the next playing of this exciting team event back to San Francisco and the spectacular Lake Merced Golf Club," said Chris Madsen, managing director of LPGA APAC Region.

"The International Crown is a brilliant demonstration of the global power of women's golf, with athletes playing for both country and personal pride. We look forward to working with our partners at Hanwha in the continued growth of this special event."

The LIV Golf League announced a slight expansion of its qualifying opportunities for prospective members on Monday.

BREAKING: LIV Golf expands pathways to the 2026 League.

Two spots will be awarded through LIV Golf Promotions at Black Diamond Ranch (Jan 8–11, 2026), and two more through The International Series. #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/qWlDrt4NLt

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) November 3, 2025

The top two finishers at a new LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida in January will earn spots in the league for 2026.

At previous years' qualifiers held in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, only the winners earned a tour card.

The expanded four-round event (only 54 holes in previous years) will be held from January 8-11 at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.

In addition, the top two finishers in the 2025 International Series rankings who are not already exempt will also earn places in LIV Golf for 2026, up from just one exemption granted in previous years.

Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent and the Philippines' Miguel Tabuena currently sit in first and second place heading into the final two tournaments on the calendar.

"LIV Golf continues to expand pathways for players around the world to qualify into the first truly global golf league," said LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil.

"As fan interest in LIV Golf continues to increase and the opportunity to compete across the US, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East against some of the biggest names in golf grows, it's only natural that we broaden access for talented, ambitious players to earn their way into the league."

The top 10 finishers, including ties, at the LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida will earn full exemption into the 2026 International Series.

The promotions event also includes a $1.5 million prize purse, with $200 000 to the winner.

It came down to the final hole for Irish musician Brian McFadden to lead his team to a thrilling victory in the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational at the Gary Player Country Club on Sunday.

After two days of golf at the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club against the backdrop of Gary Player’s 90th birthday celebration, it was McFadden and his team of Sunshine Tour professional Luke Brown, and business leaders Darren Roos and Surinder Arora, who walked off with the famed baobab trophy as winners of this tournament.

But first they had to withstand a strong charge from the team of Springbok legend Bryan Habana to claim a narrow one stroke victory on 46 under par.

Habana and his team of Sunshine Tour professional Malcolm Mitchell, and businessmen Wilco van Deijl and Henri van Deijl, came storming through the field with an outstanding haul of 105 points on the final day to finish in the clubhouse on 45 under par.

It was a performance that even prompted Mitchell to declare, “I’ve been playing golf a long time and I’ve never seen something like what we did today”.

But McFadden and his team withstood their challenge and finished strong with a six-pointer on their last hole to take the title.

In the history of this tournament, this particular victory felt even more special for this team.

“It’s incredible, and to be able to achieve this on Mr Player’s 90th birthday makes it even more special,” said a delighted Roos.

It was a sentiment echoed by Arora, who celebrated his first team victory in this tournament.

“I’m lost for words actually. This is a first win here for me, but it was all down to how well we played as a team,” he said.

McFadden, a longtime supporter of this tournament who has tasted victory here before, was thrilled to have pulled off such a close triumph.

“We were a great team for two days and dovetailed so well. I think Luke, our professional, saw some new shots from the rest of us that he probably didn’t even know you could play in this game, such as drivers out of bunkers and so on,” he said.

And Sunshine Tour professional Brown was humbled to claim a victory in a tournament hosted by an icon of South African golf.

“It was such a privilege to be here, and then to play in a team like this for two days. To then go on and win is absolutely amazing,” he said.

Surrounded by family, friends and business leaders from all over the world and a selection of South Africa’s greatest sports stars and young professional golfers, Gary Player felt every bit of the love shown him on his 90th birthday on Saturday.

“The greatest word in any language is love, and there is just so much love among everybody here. I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to have everybody here,” he said.

Player’s birthday is being celebrated against the backdrop of the 36-hole Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational tournament, played on both the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club courses.

Saturday’s first round ended with former Miss World and now entrepreneur Rolene Strauss and her team of Sunshine Tour professional Christiaan Burke and amateur guests Greg Deglise and Francois Verhack leading on 96 points following their round at the Lost City Golf Club.

Their nearest challengers are the teams of Irish musician Brian McFadden, Sunshine Tour professional Luke Brown, and amateur guests Darren Roos and Surinder Arora; and rugby star Owen Nkumane, Sunshine Tour professional Wynand Dingle, and amateurs David Fraser and Alan Prentice on 95 points. Both teams also played the Lost City Golf Club on Saturday.

The leaderboard remains tight, though, with the team of former Springbok Patrick Lambie, Sunshine Tour professional Pieter Moolman, and amateurs Giuseppe Ciucci and Sean Summer just three points off the lead in fourth place.

But the 90th birthday of a man so admired remains the biggest celebration this weekend.

“Looking at Gary Player and what he’s achieved in all spheres of life – whether it be professional sport, whether it be philanthropy, whether it’s the love he has for South Africa and his iconic sporting royalty status – what’s been the standout for me is his undying desire to want to give back,” said Springbok rugby legend Bryan Habana.

“His philanthropy in every way or form has probably been one of the greatest elements of his legacy that I look up to, and it inspires me the manner in which he’s done it. We are fortunate to celebrate a very special human being this weekend. A human being who turns 90, but a human being who’s impacted the world in such a positive way.”

Fellow Springbok Steven Kitshoff was in agreement. “Hearing a lot about Mr Player when I was a kid and growing up and his famous quote, ‘The harder you practice, the luckier you get’ was something that always stuck with me. So I think what Mr Player has done, not just for South African sport, the difference he’s made globally has been massive. I have a lot of respect for him and his late wife Vivienne, and what they’ve done with this tournament and everything they give back to the community.”

Another rugby great in Jaco Kriel had a similar sentiment. “For me, he’s not just a great golfer, but to leave a legacy like he’s doing at the moment is amazing. I think that’s any sportsman’s dream – to leave a legacy like that and still live his legacy and make such a difference.”

Hye-Jin Choi carded a 6-under-par 66 on Friday to extend her lead to five strokes following the second round of the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Choi bogeyed the first hole before recording seven birdies over the final 17 on Friday to reside at 14-under 130 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.

The 26-year-old South Korean is vying for her first win on the LPGA Tour, although she secured a second-place finish at the 2017 US Women's Open as a 17-year-old amateur.

Hye-Jin Choi is showing no signs of slowing down here at the @maybankchampion 🔥@HopeBarnett_ recaps the second round here on #LPGANow 👉 https://t.co/J9ismRApQ1 pic.twitter.com/P321jHXj1U

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 31, 2025

"So from the start I made a bogey on the first hole, but I tried to keep the faith and play steady," Choi said. "So I made lots of birdies today and my shots and putting was all good."

Defending champion Ruoning Yin of China moved into a tie for second after shooting a 67 on Friday.

Yin, who rolled off four consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 3-6 and added three more against two bogeys, is tied with Australian Hannah Green (69).

"I feel like every part of my game is getting better every day, especially my putting," Yin said.

"I said it in the press conference, I think my putting is the only thing that is not quite at the spot. But I feel really good after two days."

Green, who won the BMW Ladies Championship last year in Paju, South Korea, said she feels comfortable playing in a place closer to home than many LPGA destinations.

"Yeah, I really enjoy coming to Asia," Green said. "The food can be difficult sometimes. I must admit I'm not good with spice so I don't really do much Malaysian food. I just really enjoy when we come here.

"I think having the same time zone makes it helpful to be able to communicate with those back at home. I know these weeks can be some of the longest weeks of the year, so making sure I don't get too ahead of myself and take it easy and rest a little bit more than probably usual."

New Zealand's Lydia Ko (70) is part of an eight-golfer contingent tied for fourth place at 8-under.

World No 1 Jeeno Thitikul (70) finds herself in a tie for 18th place at 6-under.

This is the third edition of this no-cut event, which was first won by Frenchwoman Celine Boutier on the ninth hole of a playoff against Thitikul in 2023.

Yin set the tournament record of 23-under with her one-shot victory last year against Thitikul.

Hye-Jin Choi leads by 5 after Round 2 🫨

LEADERBOARD HERE ➡️ https://t.co/PrWhvn1llF pic.twitter.com/A3EGsn9dOs

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 31, 2025

A selection of Sunshine Tour professionals and an array of South Africa’s most iconic sports stars started arriving at Sun City on Friday, as well as guests from around the world.

And the man they have all come to celebrate with on his 90th birthday – Gary Player – was out doing what he does best. He was on the golf course.

South Africa’s greatest ever sportsman was quietly driving around his beloved Gary Player Country Club golf course casting an eye over the layout he designed and constructed, and which itself has become an icon in the game.

It’s a golf course he has seen go through many evolutions as the game has changed over the decades. And similarly, Player will walk its fairways this weekend in his 90th year as a man who has also evolved, from one of the game’s most iconic golfers to a leading golf course designer and then to a philanthropist.

This November, I celebrate 90 years — not just with family and friends, but through the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational. We’ll celebrate with purpose: to give back.#gvpi #gvpf #giveback #90acts pic.twitter.com/bpqBtsyqeS

— GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer) October 2, 2025

This weekend, the Gary Player Country Club and Player’s other masterpiece here at Sun City, the Lost City Golf Club, will host the 36-hole Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational tournament in partnership with the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation and its support of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.

And the Sunshine Tour is paying its own tribute to a man who has been its greatest ambassador for decades, with 43 Sunshine Tour professionals – from stars such as David Frost to current champions such as Luis Carrera, Pieter Moolman and Warwick Purchase – competing this weekend alongside the sports stars, celebrities and business leaders who will all challenge for the famed baobab trophy.

Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt said it was a privilege for their professionals to pay tribute to Gary Player this weekend.

“Gary Player has always been one of the Sunshine Tour’s greatest ambassadors. We are truly blessed by his ongoing support of our Tour and the inspiration he is to our professionals. It is an honour for our professionals to be here, and to wish him a very happy 90th birthday on behalf of the Sunshine Tour,” said Abt.

More importantly, they will join the other luminaries in the spirit of golf and giving that this event represents and which, through partners such as Sun International, BMW, Citadel, Tabono, The Pro Shop, Rolex and Cell C, continues to support the valuable endowment fund created to help ensure the sustainability of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.

Hye-Jin Choi carded an 8-under 64 to seize a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The South Korean recorded an eagle at the par-5 third hole and her sixth birdie on the par-5 18th at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (West Course).

"If you don't miss your tee shot you don't make bogeys, you can make a lot of birdies," Choi said after her bogey-free round. "I had a lot of situations which I could make bogeys because of rough and hazard, but I made a lot of good pars."

Hye-Jin Choi grabbed ahold of the lead on Thursday at the Maybank Championship 👊

WATCH NOW ⬇️ https://t.co/XtcDXMJzqY pic.twitter.com/nzZ4zbBjG8

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 30, 2025

Choi holds a one-shot lead over both Scottish player Gemma Dryburgh and Italy's Benedetta Moresco.

"It was a very stress-free round," said Dryburgh, who capped her bogey-free round by collecting her seventh birdie on the 18th hole.

Dryburgh, who hails from Scotland but now lives in New Orleans, said living in Louisiana allowed her to quickly adjust to the hot conditions in Malaysia.

"Yeah, thankful the experience in New Orleans helps me," she said. "Obviously in the summer it's kind of like this. So, experience from that, kind of using that this week. Obviously very different to Scotland. Yeah, just using all that experience from New Orleans and Tulane University."

Moresco kept pace by firing nine birdies against two bogeys.

"Yeah, just tell myself to trust my feelings," she said. "I've been working hard last week and golf didn't go well my way the last two weeks on Tour, so I just try to stay calm and collected out there and today paid off for sure."

New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Australia's Hannah Green are part of a seven-golfer contingent tied at 6-under.

World No 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand shot 4-under over her last 11 holes to finish with a 68, tying her with defending champion Ruoning Yin of China in 21st place.

"I'll take it every single day," Thitikul said of her score. "But ... even you shoot how low you shoot, but you still have something that's a mistake and then you want to work it on anyway.

"But, overall, I think it's really good start for the week.""

This is the third edition of this no-cut event, which was first won by Frenchwoman Celine Boutier on the ninth hole of a playoff against Thitikul in 2023.

Yin set the tournament record of 23-under with her one-shot victory last year against Thitikul.

Jordan Spieth, Akshay Bhatia and Billy Horschel were announced Wednesday as the three players who will fill out the 20-player field at this year's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

As expected, tournament host Tiger Woods will not play after undergoing back surgery on 10 October that will prevent him from playing in the event at the Albany Golf Course in Nassau from 4-7 December.

It is unknown what the potential timeline for a return to competition is for Woods, who will turn 50 on 30 December.

The most recent tournament for the 15-time major champion was the Open Championship in July 2024, where he missed the cut.

Woods also had surgery in March to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Meanwhile, two-time defending champion and World No 1 Scottie Scheffler highlights this year's Hero World Challenge field.

The field is set 👏
Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel, and Akshay Bhatia join the field for the 2025 Hero World Challenge, December 4–7 at Albany.

Learn more: https://t.co/K4yrgRjBbw pic.twitter.com/pV3Pyug0mf

— TGR Live (@TGRLiveEvents) October 29, 2025

2026 HERO WORLD CHALLENGE FIELD

Scottie Scheffler

Justin Thomas

J.J. Spaun

Robert MacIntyre

Harris English

Keegan Bradley

Justin Rose

Sepp Straka

Hideki Matsuyama

Cameron Young

Sam Burns

Corey Conners

Chris Gotterup

Wyndham Clark

Brian Harman

Andrew Novak

Alex Noren

Akshay Bhatia

Billy Horschel

Jordan Spieth

Tiger Woods turns 50 on 30 December and therefore would be eligible to compete for the PGA Tour Champions in 2026.

Now, Woods hasn't revealed his hand in that regard. And, to be fair, it's not his hand that is the issue. It's his back, as in the recent back surgery that throws into question any kind of competitive golf for the 15-time major winner.

With that said, PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady told Golf Channel that the tour is ready should Woods try his luck on the senior circuit.

"The answer is yes, we're ready. We're well prepared," Brady said. "We've done some white boarding over the past year in preparation for Tiger turning 50, and if and when he plays, our tournaments will be prepared."

So what type of preparations are being considered?

"It is going to be more. And you mentioned it – security, buses, portalettes, concession stands – all of that is taken into account when we prepare for (Woods playing)," he said.

Brady, however, opted to keep it simple given Woods's recent surgery.

"To be honest with you," Brady said, "given the last surgery, I just hope that Tiger gets back on his feet and is able to play golf again."

Woods has been absent from PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments since the Open Championship in July 2024.

He has been plagued by health issues since a 2021 car accident. He had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March.

The Sunshine Tour’s next wave of players looking to make their way onto the DP World Tour will be confirmed this week as four South Africans tee it up in the HotelPlanner Tour’s Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A in Spain.

JC Ritchie, Daniel van Tonder, Jovan Rebula and Wilco Nienaber are all at the Club de Golf Alcanada in Mallorca chasing their DP World Tour dreams.

The top 20 players on the Road to Mallorca Ranking at the end of the Grand Final will secure DP World Tour cards for the next season.

Ritchie, the top-ranked player on the ranking, has already secured himself a DP World Tour card following his sensational three victories on the HotelPlanner Tour this season which earns him automatic qualification.

Daniel van Tonder is also virtually assured a DP World Tour card thanks to his 11th place on the ranking after his victories in the first two events of the season in the co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa – the SDC Open and the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood Estate.

“I’ve been very consistent this season, and that has been the most satisfying for me,” said Van Tonder, who has had experience of the DP World Tour before. “I think the biggest thing I’ll take with me onto the DP World Tour this time is to just trust myself,” he said.

Both Rebula and Nienaber are currently just outside the top 20 so this week is a key opportunity for them. Rebula is in 22nd place and Nienaber in 29th.

“Starting the year out with no status, it’s a good thing for me to be here now and have a chance to get my hands on a DP World Tour card because that was the goal from the beginning,” said Rebula.

“These are always high-stake weeks and it’s a privilege to feel a little bit different at an event like this because there’s a lot on the line. It’s a good golf course and it suits me pretty well. It’s also lekker to have four South Africans in the field. Hopefully we can get four more South Africans on the DP World Tour.”

Nienaber is equally excited about the possibilities of this week.

“I’m feeling confident in the work I’ve done and am swinging it as good as ever. I know this course and that helps. But this week I can finish in the top 10 and it can be good enough, or I can finish in the top five it can’t be good enough depending on what the others guys do. I’ve made a few changes this year and I’m at peace with those. I haven’t had the results, but it will change at some point, so why not this week?”