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Woods Wins Bridgestone for 7th Time
Padraig Harrington plays tournament golf slowly. The man who never blinks, at least on camera, when he’s in the thick of competition can play with glacial quickness. Always has, probably always will. That style got he and Tiger Woods put on the clock early in the round and a reminder after the 15th hole Sunday at Firestone Country Club. Mr. Harrington fired a smooth triple bogey 8 on the par 5 eighteenth hole to hand the trophy to Mr. Woods. Coincidence? Don’t know. What I do know is that both players hit lousy tee shots. Mr. Woods played out of turn in chipping his ball onto the fairway for his second shot as Mr. Harrington contemplated his second shot. Neither shot was would be confused with the play of Major Championship winners. Up to this point it appeared Mr. Woods was doing what his Sunday opponents usually do, suffer a gagging fit somewhere on the back nine. Having bogeyed both the thirteenth and fourteenth holes, in the process surrendering the lead to Mr. Harrington, it seemed the sixteenth hole was becoming problamatic as well. Oh ye of little long term memory. I started to think I was seeing something historic! Tiger Woods gaining the lead on Sunday afternoon only to cough it up to the man he is paired with. Doesn’t happen often eh. But then, from 182 yards Mr. Woods launched an 8 iron that David Faherty said was up into the ionosphere. It came to earth and trickled back toward the hole, coming to rest kick in distance from a birdie.
Padraig Harrington plays tournament golf slowly. The man who never blinks, at least on camera, when he’s in the thick of competition can play with glacial quickness. Always has, probably always will. That style got he and Tiger Woods put on the clock early in the round and a reminder after the 15th hole Sunday at Firestone Country Club. Mr. Harrington fired a smooth triple bogey 8 on the par 5 eighteenth hole to hand the trophy to Mr. Woods. Coincidence? Don’t know. What I do know is that both players hit lousy tee shots. Mr. Woods played out of turn in chipping his ball onto the fairway for his second shot as Mr. Harrington contemplated his second shot. Neither shot was would be confused with the play of Major Championship winners. Up to this point it appeared Mr. Woods was doing what his Sunday opponents usually do, suffer a gagging fit somewhere on the back nine. Having bogeyed both the thirteenth and fourteenth holes, in the process surrendering the lead to Mr. Harrington, it seemed the sixteenth hole was becoming problamatic as well. Oh ye of little long term memory. I started to think I was seeing something historic! Tiger Woods gaining the lead on Sunday afternoon only to cough it up to the man he is paired with. Doesn’t happen often eh. But then, from 182 yards Mr. Woods launched an 8 iron that David Faherty said was up into the ionosphere. It came to earth and trickled back toward the hole, coming to rest kick in distance from a birdie.
Mr. Harrington meanwhile took most of the afternoon to complete the hole, in the process deflating all the tension and excitement filling the atmosphere around the final group of the day. Heartbreaking. I felt bad watching the golf gods punch the stuffing out of one of the best players in the world. One could almost see demons enough for a lifetime being stuffed into his head as the wheels came off the trolley. To survive the initial five holes of the day, during which Mr. Woods went 4 under par turning a three shot deficit into a one shot lead. A front nine 30 had Mr. Woods up by two strokes, a position from which he is nearly unbeatable. By the fateful 16th tee, Mr. Harrington led by a shot. The rest as they say, is history. Mr. Woods finished with a 65 to the two over par 72 recorded by Mr. Harrington and his 7th victory in this event. This was also the 70th win of his career, all 248 starts of it, for a winning percentage of 30%. Wow! He’s batting .300 in golf! How crazy is that?
As for the rest of the elite field, well nobody did much of anything. Steve Stricker started fast and had it to eight under at one point, only to fade away on the back nine, undone by his driver (not uncommon) and his putter (rare). Robert Allenby hit what seemed like every fairway and green and had a birdie putt inside 15 feet on every hole, but only made enough putts to shoot a 66 and wind up in second place tied with Mr. Harrington. If Mr. Allenby could make just two more putts a round he’d be a force to reckon with in the world. Alas, he’ll just have to be content with being a money making machine rather than a man who wins multiple times a year. Angel Cabrerra tied for 4th with Hunter Mahan after shooting a 67, continuing his affinity for playing good golf on very tough courses. The Open Champion, Stewart Cink, tied for sixth with Mr. Stricker. There wasn’t much worth watching outside the final pair.
So now we head for Minnesota and the PGA Championship. Mr. Woods has won five events this season, how many folks would like to do that for a career, all of which will mean zip zero zilch if he doesn’t win next week. A year without a major is a year without success in the "Book of Tiger". For Mr. Woods that’s the only book worth reading, even while still in the process being written. The man works harder than anyone. He’s also way better than anyone. Here’s hoping for more high drama next week.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Matt Coddington
Aug 10, 2009 at 5:08 pm
My father is a good man, but I have to shamefully admit that he is racist, no matter how much he denies it. He can’t STAND Tiger Woods, and constantly looks for things to point out about the man, to prove how awful he is. I know in my heart it’s mostly because Tiger is black.
His most current bitch: the fact that Tiger went out of turn on #16. He claims that going out of turn (and subsequently hitting an awesome shot) unfairly put pressure on Paddy, causing the ensuing collapse and triple bogey. I say hogwash. If Paddy can’t play at normal speed, and there’s already been a time warning, then isn’t it HE who is at fault?
But I can’t get THAT through my Dad’s head…
Eagleye
Aug 10, 2009 at 10:57 am
PH got two majors courtsey Mr. Garcia but finally found out Tiger W. is no Sergio G.