News

5 things we learned Friday at the Masters

Published

6 years ago

Nov 13, 2020

Greater than all other lessons on this November Friday at Augusta was this: there are bogeys at Berckmans. No one gets out without losing a stroke somewhere; it’s the golfers that minimize there impact, that post a number. Consider Cameron Smith, who had four bogeys on the second day but closed with four birdies and an eagle over his final six holes, to reach minus-four on the day, minus-nine through two rounds. Consider also, Bryson DeChambeau, who posted a triple and four single bogies over his first 12 holes on Friday. No amount of birdies will offset wayward action of that level. No, it’s not rocket science, but it is easily forgotten. It will prove itself over the weekend, when a Masters champion will don a green jacket, appropriate for this particular season.

Let’s uncover five things that we learned on Friday at the Masters.

1. Without patrons, competitors go about their business

Even at serene Augusta National, it’s impossible to go about a round of golf and unhear what the assemblage of patrons opines. A gallery of attendees is vocal, whether attempting to assist or derail a player. In each case, the suggestions and admonitions reach a golfer’s ears, and they doubtless impact the execution of subsequent shots. Without this interference, it’s the golfer and his ball. Some suggest that this Masters, like the 2020 Open and PGA before it, is somehow less of a major competition for this reason. In my opinion, these events represent pure golf competition more than other years, without the impact of the witnesses. Don’t get me started on the views, which are vast and to die for.

2. May the odds be in your favor

There are two gunslingers currently in the top ten. Their names are Im and Cantlay. Neither betrays any sort of emotion, each goes about his business with the cold precision of a western outlaw or lawman (there wasn’t much separation between the two, doncha know?) Im is competing in his first Masters, but is an incredibly-complete 22 year old, and might win this week. Cantlay led the event through 69 holes last year, but faltered down the stretch. It is an odd fact that only one, first-time attendee (after the inaugural playing, of course) emerged victorious, and that was in 1979, when Ed Sneed wretchedly handed the event to Fuzzy Zoeller. From what I’ve seen thus far, Im can win. Cantlay can win. A gunslinger might win.

3. Is it Hideki’s time?

Here he comes, edging his way into the top five. Hideki Matsuyama has four birdies on the day with zero bogeys and will complete his round on Saturday with holes 16 through 18. The 7-iron he will hit on Redbud, to begin his third day of competition, will probably be easier than driver on 15 or 17. I like his chances of reaching nine-under, right off the bat. Matsuyama lives and dies by the flat stick. Through 33 holes, he averages 1.5 putts per green, with only one three-putt. Those are spectacular numbers for Augusta. Should they continue, watch out.

4. What about Rahm?

The Masters always has a marvelous leaderboard for one simple reason: only the best compete. Five amateurs and a handful of former champions are all that resists a perfect field. It’s easy to lose track of a guy like Jon Rahm. Along with Bryson, Rahm is one of the best interviews in the game. Neither one is capable of playing the cards close to the vest; they WANT you to know what they are feeling. Neither should go contrary to this natural impulse. In Rahm’s case, it walks, hand in hand, with powerful, emotional golf. Rahm was in the mix on Sunday last year, and has matured in every way, with each passing year. He begins Saturday with a five-feet putt for birdie at the 13th. When that putt drops, Rahm will reach 9-under, the current, clubhouse lead. From there, who knows?

5. The cut

The current cut line sits at even par. The biggest (in so many ways) name outside the line is DeChambeau. He needs to play his remaining six holes in 1 under par to slide back to even and play the remainder of the weekend. Matthew Wolff (77) had a forgettable Friday, as did Tyrrell Hatton (74). Both players will miss the final 36 holes, despite riding waves of positivity all the way up Washington Road. Sitting inside the current cut line are two amateurs. John Augenstein reached 6 under par at one point, before easing back to minus-three. He will certainly play the final two rounds and receive an amateur medal. Andy Ogletree, who defeated Augenstein in the 2019 U.S. Amateur final, has eight holes left in his day, and balances precariously on the even-par tightrope. Augusta, you’ve won our hearts again.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

3 weeks ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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

2026 The Memorial – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

4 weeks ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

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

News

Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

4 weeks ago

May 31, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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

GolfWRX

5 things we learned Friday at the Masters

News

5 things we learned Friday at the Masters