Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko is just two shots off the pace at the latest event on the LPGA Tour.

Danny Lee has brushed off a frustrating couple of weeks on the PGA Tour to sit one shot behind the lead at the Valspar Championship in Florida.

Kiwi caddy Sam Pinfold will make an estimated $500,000 from Cameron Smith's Players Championship victory yesterday.

Lydia Ko will be unable to defend her Saudi Ladies International title on the greens in Jeddah next week, being forced to withdraw from the event due to Covid-19.

Local knowledge and the presence of family he hadn't seen in more than two years proved to be worth close to $5 million for Cameron Smith, who cemented himself among golf's elite with a stirring victory at The Players Championship.

Tiger Woods still moves the needle in golf even when he barely plays.

The PGA Tour informed players on Wednesday that Woods was the winner of the new US$40 million "Player Impact Program" that rewards those who generate the most positive interest in golf measured by five metrics.

Woods won the US$8 million ($NZ11.81m) prize over Phil Mickelson, who claimed on Twitter in December that he was the winner.

Even the water couldn't cool a red-hot Lydia Ko at her latest tournament in Singapore.

Ko pulled off an incredible par save during her first round of the HSBC Women's World Championship today, going on to record a three-under 69 to sit in a share of fifth.

Phil Mickelson is taking a self-enforced break from professional golf after the Saudi Super Golf League furore - but has declined from saying sorry to the PGA Tour.