News
SMU banned from NCAA postseason, DeChambeau can’t defend title
On Tuesday, the Southern Methodist University men’s golf team was deemed ineligible from NCAA postseason play in 2015-2016 due to recruiting violations and unethical conduct, according to a report from the Golf Channel.
Josh Gregory, who served four years as the SMU Mustangs head golf coach, was found to have:
- Committed multiple recruiting infractions with 64 impermissible contacts with 10 prospects and seven parents of prospects over a 10-month period.
- Offered players merchandise and golf equipment at a “significantly reduced price.”
- Was aware of a university booster contacting nine recruits and “facilitated contact” between Gregory and players’ families
Due to the infractions, the Mustangs golf team, who are now coached by Jason Enloe, are banned from NCAA postseason play in 2015-2016 and will lose 25 percent of its recruiting scholarships for the next three years — the team receives 4.5 scholarships before reductions.
The postseason punishments will keep senior Bryson DeChambeau, who became only the fifth player ever to win the NCAA Men’s Individual Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship in the same year last month, from defending his NCAA title.
Related: Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2015
Gregory, the former SMU golf coach, who also coached the 2012 U.S. Palmer Cup team, did not deny the allegations, but disagreed with the punishment.
“I’ve admitted my mistake since Day One, but I’ve never hidden from it,” GREGORY TOLD GOLFCHANNEL.COM. “I know I made a mistake, but I don’t understand [the punishment]. It doesn’t fit the crime.”
According to the NCAA, the SMU Mustangs Men’s basketball coach Larry Brown also committed multiple infractions including academic fraud and unethical conduct, and will be suspended for 30 percent of the team’s games.
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...
mb
Oct 5, 2015 at 12:00 am
not in the field for SMU this week….most likely turning pro id guess
Keith
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Given SMU’s track record and the huberous of the typical SMU booster…this does not surprise me.
This is the social elite of Dallas/Texas that think they are above the rules. It’s unfortunate for the athletes and sets a terrible precedent for their future and the perspective they will have when faced with similar challenges/opportunities in their life.
E
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Al Texans believe they are above it. Look at the Bush family. They got away with everything
MW
Oct 14, 2015 at 9:25 pm
You’re an idiot.
RG
Oct 25, 2015 at 5:20 am
And your really bright…or not.
Ron
Sep 30, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Once again the athletes are the ones penalized! That’s just wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brian d
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Its sad, because its never really the people involved who get punished, its the kids who play there and those who had nothing to do with the situation
Jim H
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Looks like Obama’s tyrannical ideology is trickling down to the ncaa.
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Seriously?
The NCAA has tyrannized for longer than Obama has lived. Let’s leave politics out of this.
RJ
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:51 pm
WOW…. Can we stop wasting my eye usage with FOOLISH writings! Leave politics to F*X News
DolphLundgrenade
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Everyone who knows about the NCAA knows they are an awful organization for the way they earn huge dollars off of students (if you don’t know, read more), but then they back it up with ridiculous penalties like this…. As if Dechambeau is a professional athlete on a professional sports team.
I don’t know anything about SMU or its problems beyond this (and I can’t say this surprises me, as there are a lot of colleges doing exactly this as we speak; ever wonder why ANYONE would rather live in Alabama to play golf than on a beach in California? No 18 year old recruit would make that pick unless X number of other things are promised) but I do know that this school should continue to face its penalties, but its students should be considered in all of this- Let players that are there play. If they are cheaters or ethically challenged, they will get their comeuppance soon enough- or work on Wall Street or politics and be rich. Life is fun huh!
TE
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:53 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/appeals-panel-upholds-ncaa-anti-trust-ruling–disagrees-with-deferred-payments-153721335.html
Deacon Blues
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:37 am
It’s the same story over and over again. . .
It seems like all of the collegiate coaches have no problem providing their athletes the newest and finest equipment, but for some baffling reason they always seem to have to compromise when it comes to exposing their prized athletes to old, washed-out athletic supporters!
It’s just nuts!
There must be some plan of action these geniuses at all of these fine institutions of higher education could come up with to prevent exposure to these unfortunate side-effects of collegiate sports.
Maybe building a special clubhouse to keep them all in – or something like that. . .
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:15 am
It is more severe than needed.
The former coach, whom SMU had resign under pressure, a year ago, can’t coach at an NCAA School for 4 years.
The booster is disenfranchised from the program.
The guilty individuals were punished severely.
Why punish the kids and essentially kill the program of another coach?
Yes, SMU had institutional issues … over 30 years ago! And most of those involved are dead or not on the board. Punishing SMU because it is SMU is ludicrous with a 30 year span for severe violations.
I do not like the NCAA .. they make millions off the blood and shortened careers of athletes to whom they give nothing. Someone should investigate the NCAA and cut out their institutional heart, and replace it.
Robert
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:19 am
Completely agree. The NCAA has such incredibly hypocritical and unrealistic standards.
alexdub
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:26 am
Well said. I think we will see some institutional reforms with the NCAA in the coming years. Certainly, the NCAA fulfills a needed role, but they have now become the embodiment of institutional cronyism the organization originally sought to suppress.
TE
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:53 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bad-horseplay–smu-s-time-as-part-of-ncaa-should-be-over-195905029.html
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Shock Jock Comments…
Doesn’t pertain to the golf team;
As to Larry Brown and Roundball, Larry leaves a trail of penalties. He is 75 yr old — did you expect him to follow every rule and play .500 basketball?
I think not — SMU hoped with age that Brown could play legal – and he lied – and then “clarified” his answers to NCAA. You’ve got to ask if the juice is worth the squeeze – for BBall, yes.
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:21 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I love it. Cheaters
jakeanderson
Sep 30, 2015 at 2:54 am
this is well deserved. some people would say that god’s will was at work, and I, am one of them. i have never heard of a catholic college committing such fallacies.
Mike
Sep 30, 2015 at 8:14 am
no the priests do “other” things considered a little worse in the catholic church schools
shimmy
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:58 am
They committed a fallacy? What?
What evidence do you have that this supposed god of yours favors catholics and hates methodists?
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Let’s leave God out of this one… it appears the NCAA god is money.
BB
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Yeah let them bugger little boys instead like you know you enjoy doing, with God on your side watching over you while you do it
shimmy
Sep 29, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Good. They deserved it.
Jay
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Seems to me the coach who committed the actions is the one who deserved it??
Christestrogen
Sep 29, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Jeffrey….it was/is called the “death penalty”…
I’m a Texan and remember it well….mainly it was a witch hunt by liberal talking heads to tie then governor bill Clements to impropriety….dale Hansen in particular wanted to catch Clements…
It was ridiculous….and I’m an austinite and have zero affinity for smu
Brodie Hock
Sep 29, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Merchandise at a “significantly discounted price”….if that’s against the rules than I would say a ton of colleges are guilty!
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 7:07 pm
There were more NCAA rules infraction than just equipment. The coach and recruiting staff are at fault, I hope some people were fired.
Keith
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:49 pm
The real fault lies on the boosters…they are the root of a lot of these infractions
Joel
Sep 29, 2015 at 3:45 pm
He’s right! The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Its the players who are paying the price.
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:21 am
Duh
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:26 am
Of course it fits the crime.
If this is not the correct sentence, then they should strip the college and its players of all the awards from the years that these infractions had taken place, and the kids should not be allowed to graduate and should have to go back, if they have already graduated. The sponsor moneys and items should all have to be returned, and no further free goods should be given to this college.
Would you be willing to give out that sort of proper punishment? I would. But the sporting world is very forgiving in the USA because there’s too much money involved.
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:17 am
It’s Donald Trump!
help us all.
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 3:44 pm
He admitted that he made a mistake! You have to be kidding, it was willful disregard of NCAA rules. Too bad that it has effected DeChambeau from defending his title.
This may hasten DeChambeau to turn pro.
Gary
Sep 29, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Will he be able to compete in the three majors he qualified for with the win at the US AM then?
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 7:05 pm
It should not effect his eligibility for the Majors.