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Tour Rundown: Kuchar, Westwood snap victory droughts; Langer wins Schwab Cup
Playoffs are winding down on three of the world’s major tours. Both the European and LPGA played their penultimate events for the 2019 playoff runs, while the Champions Tour crowned regular- and playoff-season champions in Arizona. The PGA Tour, meanwhile, kept its wraparound season chugging along, as golfers gathered in Mexico for the 2nd-last individual event before the winter break. Despite the long grind, the only thing rundown about professional golf is this week’s Tour Rundown. Let’s have a look at all the winners and what led to their trophy lifts.
Kuchar wins first since April 20, 2014; So does Westwood
Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood have much in common: both represented their sides in multiple Ryder Cup competitions; neither has won a major title, although such was predicted and nearly accomplished, again on multiple occasions. Now we can add the most unlikely commonality: the ending of 4+ year winless streaks, started and completed on the same days. Let’s begin with Kuchar at Mayakoba.
The Georgia native was left off this year’s USA squad that lost to Europe in France. Kuchar arrived in Mayakoba as one of many, but through 7 of 8 nines this week, he looked unbeatable. Over the final 9 holes, the reality of an 8th tour title set in, and his putting stroke quickened. Despite missing a handful of shortish putts on the way in, Kuchar was able to withstand a Danny-Lee challenge and claim PGA Tour Title the ocho on the Yucatan peninsula. In the land of Maya and cenotes, Kuchar sidestepped the big abyss of pressure and hoisted the unique winner’s shell. As for Lee, a 2nd PGA Tour title will have to wait. His final-round 65 was splendid, marred only by a 15th-hole bogey and a massive misread on his tying birdie putt at the last. For Kuchar, his local caddie El Tucan and the fortuitous bounce at the last, were the stuff that forms unlikely wins.
72nd hole.
Leader by 1.Matt Kuchar gets the kick. ????#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/c0u1MbEcHA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2018
Lee Westwood has had his share of missed opportunities over the years, certainly more than Kuchar. In South Africa this week, the English champion dumped the bagel that had followed him since mid-April, four years ago. Over the course of the final round, Westwood did battle with Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen, golfers with the major-championship cred that has escaped the Englishman his entire career. As Westwood piled on the birdies, Garcia and Oosthuizen played slower and slower, eventually reaching the attention of tour officials. Garcia looks poised to repeat his 20+ regrips of year past, but victory was not to be his this week. Hoping to enchant the home-country crowd, Oosthuizen got wayward, way too often, and finished 3rd alone at -11, one behind Garcia. Westwood’s closing 64 featured an early eagle and 6 birdies, superior stuff to anything his challengers had on offer.
How @WestwoodLee won the #NGC2018 ????#RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/8Zr3exXQlJ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 12, 2018
Gaby Lopez claims 1st LPGA win at Blue Bay
Gaby Lopez, in the midst of her third season on the LPGA Tour, played sublime golf this week on China’s Hainan Island. Staring down a challenge from the great Ariya Jutanugarn, Lopez nearly balanced her bogeys (5) and birdies (4) and escaped with a 1-shot victory, her first on tour. Jutanugarn showed the erratic play that plagues her, making four bogies in five holes to fall well off the pace. Similar dismay befell Sung Hyun Park, ranked 2nd in the world behind Jutanugarn. The Korean had three bogeys and a double in her closing round, falling from contention to also-ran status. As for Lopez, even a missed, four-feet putt at the last could not steal the win away. Finishing at -8, one ahead of Jutanugarn, Lopez moved inside the top 50 in the season-long CME Globe race.
ICYMI – Highlights from the final round of the #BlueBayLPGA where @GabyLopezGOLF took home her first LPGA trophy!
Watch ==> pic.twitter.com/E2FDyewwNl
— #RaceToCMEGlobe (@LPGA) November 10, 2018
Singh, Langer elevate trophies as Champions Tour season concludes
They say that the first human to reach 150 years of age might already live among us. I propose Bernhard Langer as a candidate. The German giant won but twice in 2018, but his consistently-high level of play brought him a 5th, season-long Schwab Cup title. Langer held off Scott McCarron by 250 points. Winning this week was Vijay Singh, whose 10 birdies on Sunday gave him 61 on the day, -22 on the week, and a 4-shot margin over runner-up Tim Petrovic. The aforementioned McCarron, in the catbird’s seat on Sunday morning, failed to come through in the season’s final round. With victory in clear sight after opening rounds of 65-64-66, the California native made two double and two bogies in round four, tumbling to 72, a tie for 3rd, and no Schwab Cup. Singh’s victory moved him to 4th on the season-long list, just ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and behind Langer, McCarron and Scott Parel.
.@VijaySinghGolf is unstoppable right now.
Another birdie on No. 17 gives him a three shot lead at the @SchwabCupFinale. pic.twitter.com/BKBREEWXTL
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 11, 2018
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...
