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Tour Rundown: Si Woo, Hero, FdO too
Tour Rundown returns to #GolfWRX in 2023, and what a week to end the vacay. After the PGA Tour opened last week Kapalua’s Tournament of Champions, the journey continued on a different island at the Sony Open. In Puerto Rico, the best male amateur’s from Latin America chased a Latin America Amateur Championship and the invitations to the Masters and the Open Championship that traditionally accompany it. Most intriguing of all was a new team event, taking place in the Middle East, but featuring teams of golfers from Europe. It’s safe to say that waiting a week was worth the watch. Thanks for joining us for another year of Tour Rundown. Let’s lace up the kicks and run it all down!
?? M E R O N K ?? #HeroCup pic.twitter.com/zn7rFEgDag
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2023
Latin America Amateur Championship: FdO gives Argentina another title
Anyone who knows the southern cone of South America, knows that Chile and Argentina enjoy the greatest of rivalries. From wine to skiing, from fiestas to fútbol, the countries go at it. It must have been nightmarish for the Platenses to see Chile claim three of the first four LACC titles, and the accompanying Masters invitation. In 2020, just before the Pandemic, Argentina earned a title and, in 2023, the Albiceleste tacked a second title on the board, in record fashion.
Mateo Fernández de Oliveira joined compatriot Abel Gallegos as winners from Argentina, and he did so at Puerto Rico’s Grand Reserve Golf Club. FdO outplayed the field, thanks to 135 through 36 holes, followed by a stunning round of 63 on Saturday. His four-shot advantage through 54 holes was not followed by the slightest let-down. don Mateo’s Sunday 67 was second-low round of the day, and secured the same margin of victory over Mexico’s Luís Carrera.
Round one saw a 66 lead the pack, while Carrera jumped to the top after two days, thanks to twin 66s. From that point on, it was all Mateo FdO. The Arkansas Razorback finished as runner-up to Cayman Islands’ Aaron Jarvis in 2022, and knew what it would take to climb the mountain. On a beautiful day, on beautiful island in the Caribbean sea, Argentina’s pride joined the year of Messi and gave the Blue and White another champion. Next Stop: Augusta.
¡Dale campeón! pic.twitter.com/EaRIaOYXra
— Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 15, 2023
Hero Cup: Continental Europe claims first playing of Islands v. Mainland team event
In yet another move to bolster the European side for the biennial Ryder Cup matches, the Hero Cup made its debut in the United Arab Emirates. Ten-player teams from Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe, including playing captains Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari, did battle over three days and three formats, at the eponymous golf club in Abu Dhabi.
What made this event even more unique, was the requirement that all team members compete in every match. Friday four balls (better ball in USA) were followed by two rounds of Saturday foursomes (alternate shot in USA.) Sunday concluded with ten singles matches, for 25 total points. Friday set the week’s tone, as CE took a 3-2 advantage, on the strength of two wins and two ties. The lone GBI win was earned by the duo of Seamus Power and Robert MacIntyre.
On Saturday morning, each side claimed two wins and settled for one tie, keeping the overall tally close. The afternoon saw the Continent claim three matches outright, against two for the GBI squadron. A two-point advantage meant that GBI would need to win six matches and tie a seventh, in order to claim the cup.
The top half of the order did its job for the islanders. Three matches were won by the English trio of Fleetwood, Hatton, and Wallace. From that point on, it was all Terra Firma. Meronk, Perez, Straka, and Migliozzi bested their GBI counterparts, and the Continental Europe group emerged victorious, 14.5 to 10.5.
.@AdrianMeronk with the putt that secured victory ?#HeroCup pic.twitter.com/qqF6GKLvQk
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2023
PGA Tour: Sentry and Sony in back-to-back weeks in the Hawaiian islands
It’s nigh impossible to do a Tour Rundown with one event that’s close to, but not exactly, a major championship. Far better to wait a week and see what else the winds sweep by. After two weeks of trade wins, let’s have a look back at
Last week, Collin Morikawa gave us a display of golf through 54 holes. On the PGA Tour, at least, tournaments run 72 holes, and the California kid faced 18 more holes to earn a year-opening title. What transpired over the final five hours gave new meaning to the phrase this is why we play the game. On paper, it was game over. On Maui’s volcanic fairways, it was anything but.
Over the course of 18 holes, the two-time major champion watched the tournament escape his grasp. Not in one body blow, but in a series of small wounds that throbbed greater and greater. While Morikawa was struggling to a one-under 72, Jon Rahm was reminding the world of his ability to close a suitcase. Rahm peeled off nine birdies and an eagle, after opening the round with a bogey. The ultimate margin of victory was two shots, decided on holes 14 through 16.
Morikawa was on the ropes after three consecutive bogeys, while Rahm made up six shots with birdie-eagle-par. Professional golfers are blessed with short memories, or they don’t last for very long. Morikawa will need a quick neuralyzer blast from Agent J after this one.
Great job, champ!!
— Sentry Tournament of Champions (@Sentry_TOC) January 9, 2023
This week, the traveling band of itinerant golfers moved over to O’ahu, and took aim at the Seth Raynor-designed, Waialae Country Club course. A number of holdovers remained from week one, but the majority of featured talent consisted of golfers looking for a breakthrough. Names like Buckley, Lipsky, Taylor, and Eckroat sat atop the board after three rounds, with the occasional Kirk and Kim giving chase.
On Sunday, Si Woo Kim gave chase to Hayden Buckley, the third-round leader. Buckley had played the back nine on Saturday in the oddest fashion: hole out for eagle on 10, bogey on 11, and ridiculous approach to 18 for near tap-in eagle, his second of the nine. Kim was out on Sunday in 32, on the strength of five birdies against two bogies. Buckley made birdie at the first, then reeled off eight consecutive pars to lose ground to his pursuer.
The back nine was nearly a flip. Kim made three birdies, including a chip-in at 17 and a four at the last. Buckley had three birdies against two bogies through 16 holes. One shot behind Kim, Buckley needed birdie at 17 or 18 to force extra holes. He had a run at the saved stroke on both holes, but a missed spike mark on 18 caused his put for four to bounce left, and that was that. The win was Kim’s fourth in ten years on tour, and his first since The American Express two years ago.
SI WOO HIM ?
An incredible chip-in from Si Woo Kim answering @HBuckley13’s birdie @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/0cgRc3cfKD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 16, 2023
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...
