WGT Golf News

Mark Wilson held off the winds, the darkness, and three other PGA players to win the Humana Challenge. Some golf fans may be surprised that this is already Wilson's fifth career victory, including winning two of first five events last season, so he's off to another great start.

Wilson finished at 24 under, two strokes ahead of Robert Garrigus, John Mallinger and last week's Sony Open champion Johnson Wagner. And Jeff Maggert shot a 64 in the fourth round to finish in third place.

In his return to the 2012 PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson rebounded from a slow start to make the cut and finish at 10 under in a tie for 49th place.

Final PGA Tour Leaderboard from Humana Challenge

The PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines golf course outside of San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open, where the defending champion is Bubba Watson.

With Ben Crane on the PGA leaderboard, you just have to watch last year's classic "Golf Boys - Oh Oh Oh" video, featuring Crane, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan. It's one of most watched (and funniest) golf videos on YouTube. While there, check-out all the WGT tutorial and highlight videos, and subscribe to get new WGT golf videos when they're posted.

Back to the PGA leaderboard...

Crane is tied for first place at 16 under with David Toms and Mark Wilson, who separated themselves from the rest of the pack at 13 under.

Phil Mickelson bounced back from a 69 to move to 3 under, with defending champ Jhonattan Vegas at 2 under. Dustin Johnson withdrew from his round, citing back pain, as he's recovering from knee surgery.

Note, the cut happens after Saturday's round in this tournament, and just the Pro's play on Sunday, no amateurs or celebrities.

See full Humana Challenge Leaderboard

And be sure to watch President Bill Clinton who plays in an foursome with Gregg Norman and Scott McCarron on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. Pacific.

More from World Golf Tour

Don't miss the Special Offer on World Golf Tour during the Humana Challenge. Buy $20 or more WGT Credits and get 3 free NIKE virtual golf balls, the top-performing balls in the game. Use your credits to upgrade your virtual golf equipment, enter paid tournaments for prizes, and play against other WGT players online in matchplay, skins or other multiplayer golf games.

President Bill Clinton kicked off the Humana Challenge with a surprise appearance at the driving range, greeting players and fans.

After Round 1, Camilo Villegas and David Toms are tied for the lead at 9 under. Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas is at 2 under. While early favorite Phil Mickelson had a double and triple bogey on the back 9 at La Quinta, and finished a disappointing 2 over.

Congratulations to the amateurs tied for the lead at 60 (scoring with their golf handicaps): Jeff Caldwell, Bill Eckholm and Chad Brownstein. 

However, since players move from course to course during the first few days of this tournament, the Humana Challenge PGA Leaderboard tends to change a lot , so it's more fun to focus on the famous celebrities who are playing..

• Smokey Robinson 64 (15 handicap)
• Julius Erving 64 (15 handicap)
• Billy Crudup 65 (3 handicap)
• Craig T. Nelson 65 (5 handicap)
• Morgan Freeman 69 (18 handicap)
• Alice Cooper 73 (6 handicap)
• Michael Bolton 74 (12 handicap)

See Full Leaderboard for Amateurs and Celebrities in Humana Challenge Round 2

More from World Golf Tour

Don't miss the Special Offer at World Golf Tour during the Humana Challenge. Buy $20 or more WGT Credits and get 3 free NIKE virtual golf balls, the top-performing balls in the game. Use your credits to upgrade your virtual golf equipment, enter paid tournaments for prizes, and play against other WGT players online in matchplay, skins or other multiplayer golf games. Enjoy!

NIKE Special Offer

Starting today through Sunday, January 22, you can get 3 free NIKE virtual golf balls when you buy $20 or more WGT Credits.

Get Free Nike Balls

These new top-performing NIKE virtual golf balls are only available to WGT players at higher levels, but are yours free with this special offer.

The NIKE 20XI golf balls feature a revolutionary RZN core that delivers more distance, as well as spin and control, and a slower swing meter on WGT...making it easier to hit perfect shots on clubs with faster swing meters.

New Putter from NIKE

Also from NIKE, check-out the new NIKE Method 001 Putter, now available in the WGT Pro Shop.

See New NIKE Putter

The Method 001 features new groove technology that provides a better roll for greater accuracy. And the slower WGT swing meter makes it even easier to sink more putts, with meter increments starting at just 10 feet for extra precision. This virtual club unlocks for top WGT golf players at Levels 51 and 77. 

* Unlimited offer available to WGT players who buy $20 or more WGT Credits, to get 3 free NIKE 20XI-X virtual golf balls, now thru 1/22/12.

The PGA heads to the desert this weekend, in La Quinta, Palm Springs, for the PGA Humana Challenge, previously known as the Bob Hope Classic, which has been running for over 50 years.

The Humana Challenge is being held in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, benefiting their global health-related charities. President Bill Clinton himself will tee it up in an honary foursome on Saturday at 1:20 pm EST, playing with Greg Norman, Scott McCarron and Humana CEO Mike McCallister.

But on the PGA leaderboard, the big news this weekend is the return of Phil Mickelson, who's playing in his first PGA tournament of the year. Phil has a good history here, with two victories in 2002 and 2004, so all eyes will be on Phil.

The defending champion is Jhonattan Vegas, who had his breakout victory here in 2011. Also making their 2012 debuts are top PGA players Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson, and currently playing well are Johnson Wagner, Charles Howell II (CH3), Harrison Frazar, and Steve Stricker. Anthony Kim will be the local favorite, as he's a 2003 graduate of La Qunita High School.

The Humana Challenge is a unique format, played on three different courses, including PGA West on their Nicklaus and Palmer courses, and then the neighboring La Quinta Country Club, with the final round on Sunday played on the Palmer course at PGA West.

Top celebrities competed in the popular pro-ams held this week, icluding Michael Bolton, Don Cheadle, Julius "Dr J." Erving, Morgan Freeman and local rocker Alice Cooper.

On World Golf Tour this weekend...

Don't miss a special offer this weekend on the new NIKE virtual golf balls available on WGT!

It was a close final round at the Sony Open, with six different players each having a share of the lead during. However, Johnson Wagner held off the field, finishing 13 under for a two-shot victory, for his third PGA victory, earning $990,000.

Sony Open Final Leaderboard

• -13 - Johnson Wagner
• -11 - Carl Pettersson
• -11 - Sean O'Hair
• -11 - Harrison Frazar
• -11 - Charles Howell III
• -10 - Michael Thompson
• -10 - Brian Gay
• -10 - D.A. Points
• -10 - Matt Every

Full PGA Tour Leaderboard

There's one round to go at the Sony Open golf tournament in Hawaii, and Jeff Maggert and Matt Every are tied in first place and playing in the final pairing. Jeff Maggert turned Pro in 1986, when Matt Every was just 3 years-old, and Maggert's last PGA win came in 2006, the same year that Every turned Pro, so a veteran against one of the up-and-coming PGA players.

The rest of the PGA leaderboard at the Sony Open is pretty crowded, with Maggert and Every at 12 under, followed by Johnson Wagner, Charles Howell III (CH3) and Brendon de Jonge at 10 under, then D.A. Points and Duffy Waldorf at 9 under, and there are eleven other golfers are at 8 under, including Steve Sticker, Keegan Bradley and Sean O'Hair. With the Wailae golf course playing well under par so far, and favorable weather and wind conditions, the tournament is still wide open.

Sony Open Round 3 Leaderboard

• -12 - 69-65-64-198 - Jeff Maggert
• -12 - 66-64-68-198 - Matt Every
• -10 - 68-66-66-200 - Johnson Wagner
• -10 - 67-67-66-200 - Charles Howell III
• -10 - 71-62-67-200 - Brendon de Jonge
•  - 9 - 68-69-64-201 - D.A. Points
•  - 9 - 69-66-66-201 - Duffy Waldorf
•  - 8 - 69-68-65-202 - Scott Piercy
•  - 8 - 68-68-66-202 - Ted Potter Jr.
•  - 8 - 68-68-66-202 - Sang-Moon Bae
•  - 8 - 67-68-67-202 - Stephen Ames
•  - 8 - 66-69-67-202 - Steve Stricker
•  - 8 - 67-68-67-202 - Harrison Frazar
•  - 8 - 67-67-68-202 - Keegan Bradley
•  - 8 - 67-67-68-202 - Spencer Levin
•  - 8 - 67-67-68-202 - Sean O'Hair
•  - 8 - 65-67-70-202 - Carl Pettersson
•  - 8 - 66-66-70-202 - David Hearn

Full PGA Tour Leaderboard

More from World Golf Tour

The 10th hole at the Wailae Country Club in the Sony Open was modeled after the famous 17th "Road Hole" at St Andrews. Anyone can play the 17th hole at St Andrews free on World Golf Tour, no signup required. See how you can do and then watch the hole live on TV this weekend!

World Golf Tour is celebrating the Sony Open with free virtual club rentals during the Sony Open. Just visit the WGT Pro Shop thru Sunday 1/15 and rent free virtual equipment from top manufacturer’s like Cleveland, NIKE, PING and TaylorMade. These upgraded virtual clubs give you more distance and control in this free online golf game, helping improve your scores. 

As a reminder, WGT players can enjoy free virtual club rentals during the Sony Open, thru Sunday, Jan 15th. Upgraded virtual golf clubs give you extra distance, spin and control, helping you improve your scores, win more matches, and have more fun.

How to Rent a Club on WGT 

You can rent any club in the WGT Pro Shop, as long as it is unlocked for your level or tier...

1. Find a club in the WGT Pro Shop
2. Click the RENT ME button, and the club will be added to your account for 24 hours for free
3. Equip the club in your bag and head to the tee

Note, if a club isn't unlocked yet, you can use WGT Credits to buy XP Boosts or new Level-Up Boosts to get to the level you need to unlock that club.

This is a great time to try out that new club you've been considering. Check-out the new NIKE Method 001 Putter or the top-selling clubs from Cleveland, PING and TaylorMade. Some player favorites include the Cleveland Black Pearl Wedges, the PING Raptures, and the TaylorMade R11 all-white woods, irons and Ghost Spider putter.

Have a fun golf weekend!

Big changes on the Round 2 leaderboard at the Sony Open. Matt Every shot 66 and 64 for 10 under to take a 2 shot lead into the weekend.

Every is followed by David Hearn and Carl Pettersson, and then Brendon de Jonge who shot the low-round 62 for a share of third place. And watch out for Charles Howell III (CH3), Sean O'Hair and Keegan Bradley, each only 4 shots back.

Round 1 leader, Graham DeLaet, had a rough start with double-bogeys on the opening two holes, but settled down and made the cut, which was at 1 under. Other notable PGA players not making the cut include: David Toms, Mark Wilson, Justin Leonard, Ryo Ishikawa.

Sony Open Round 2 Results

1. 66-64-130 - Matt Every
2. 66-66-132 - David Hearn
3. 65-67-132 - Carl Pettersson
4. 66-67-133 - Pat Perez
5. 71-62-133 - Brendon de Jonge
6. 66-67-133 - Doug LaBelle II
7. 66-68-134 - Kyle Stanley
8. 66-68-134 - Bud Cauley
9. 67-67-134 - Charles Howell III
10. 67-67-134 - Sean O'Hair
11. 67-67-134 - William McGirt
12. 69-65-134 - Jeff Maggert
13. 67-67-134 - Spencer Levin
14. 68-66-134 - Johnson Wagner
15. 67-67-134 - Keegan Bradley
16. 68-66-134 - Kris Blanks

See Full PGA Leaderboard from Sony Open

More from World Golf Tour

The 10th hole at the Wailae Country Club in the Sony Open was modeled after the famous 17th "Road Hole" at St Andrews. Anyone can play the 17th hole at St Andrews free on World Golf Tour, no signup required. See how you can do and then watch it on TV this weekend!

World Golf Tour is celebrating the Sony Open with free virtual club rentals during the Sony Open. Just visit the WGT Pro Shop and rent free virtual equipment from top manufacturer’s like Cleveland, NIKE, PING and TaylorMade. These upgraded virtual clubs give you more distance and control in this free online golf game, helping improve your scores. 

Graham DeLaet from Canada is the surprising first round leader at the Sony Open in Hawaii, shooting 7 under par for a 63 with 6 birdies and 1 eagle. DeLaet has never won on the PGA Tour and sat out most of the 2011 season with a back injury. Carl Pettersson, KJ Choi and Kyle Reifers are 2 shots back at 5 under, followed by a large group at 4 under including Steve Stricker, last week's winner. Defending Sony Open champion Mark Wilson finished 3 over par and is in danger of missing the cut after Friday.

Sony Open Round 1 Results

1. 63 - Graham DeLaet
2. 65 - Carl Pettersson
3. 65 - KJ Choi                                                           
4. 65 - Kyle Reifers
5. 66 - Webb Simpson
6. 66 - Ken Duke
7. 66 - Colt Knost
8. 66 - Doug LaBelle II
9. 66 - David Hearn
10. 66 - Pat Perez 
11. 66 - Bud Cauley
12. 66 - Kyle Stanley
13. 66 - Steve Stricker
14. 66 - Will Claxton
15. 66 - Seung-yul Noh
16. 66 - Matt Every 

See WGT Golf Preview of Sony Open

See Full PGA Leaderboard

More from World Golf Tour

World Golf Tour is celebrating the Sony Open with free virtual club rentals during the Sony Open. Join WGT and play free online golf on famous golf courses from your computer. During the Sony Open, visit the WGT Pro Shop and rent free virtual equipment from top manufacturer’s like Cleveland, NIKE, PING and TaylorMade. These upgraded virtual clubs give you more distance and control in this free online golf game, helping improve your scores. Play on your own, join a foursome, or compete in matchplay, alternate shot, skins or free online golf tournaments for prizes. Visit World Golf Tour at http://www.wgt.com