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5 Things we Learned: Day 2 at the Olympics

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2 years ago

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Day two of the Paris Olympic men’s golf competition saw a curious occurrence on repeat at the 18th. With water lurking left, golfers consistently aimed at the quiver of bunkers that protect the right side of the fairway. Trouble was, deep rough lurked farther right, and that’s precisely where many drives found rest. Subsequent results ranged from acceptable to catastrophic. Come Sunday, with everything perhaps on the line, the 18th at Le Golf National should offer a dramatic denouement to the third playing of golf in the post-modern Olympic games.

After 36 holes, three golfers sit even at 11-under par 131. Another nine are within five strokes of that lead. Names like Scheffler, Kim, Niemann, and yes, C.T. Pan, are lurking. Scores of 63 and 64 were posted for the second 18, and the card might go even lower on the weekend. There’s so much to tell, but I’ll keep it to a handful of items. Let’s get on with the five things that we learned on day two of the 2024 Olympic men’s golf tournament.

1. Tapioca Pudding? Nope, Tapio Pulkkanen

The first part of the sub-heading is the answer to the question “What is low-hanging fruit?” The second is the proper and only response to “Who lucked into the Olympic games?” If you followed the run-up to Paris 2024, you know that A) Joost Luiten qualified for the Holland Olympic team; B) Holland decided to not send him and two other golfers, even though they volunteered to pay their way; C) Luiten won a court case forcing Holland to send him; D) The IGF had already awarded Luiten’s spot to Pulkkkanen, when Holland abandoned it; E) Tappio is in Paris, or at least, close by.

Tapio Pulkkanen’s second round called to mind the old ABC Wide World of Sports tease The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. For much of the day, Finland’s favorite was inside the top ten, thanks to a series of birdies over the first 15 holes. At 16, his tee shot tugged left into sand, and he was unable to get up and down for par. No worries. Still four-under on the day, still inside the top fifteen, with 38 holes to play. Par at 17, nice work. Then came 18.

How to describe it? Better not to, but I must. Drive in the deep rough, second into the shallow rough, third into the water, fifth into the water, seventh on the green, two putts. To paraphrase the immortal Severiano Ballesteros, I miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, I make. Golf and the Olympics are a fine pairing. They share both glory and despair equally, without prejudice.

2. Barrika harro dago 

There’s a bearded, thickly-built golfer from a cove tucked along Spain’s northern coast. Officially, he is a Basque, from the town of Barrika. In Euskera, the Basque language, barrikada means exactly what it looks like in English: barricade. Given his muscular girth, it’s no stretch to call Jon Rahm, from Barrika, a barrikada at the Paris Olympics.

Rahm has had a challenging 2024 campaign. Adjustment to a new schedule, less competition against traditional opponents, and a bit of injury have kept him from approaching the number-one ranking that he once held. This week, he is on his game. Six birdies overcame a solitary bogey, and moved the 2023 Masters champion from seventh to fourth position.

Rahm’s Retort: Spanish crowd travels really well, especially being as close as we are to Spain, right. It’s an easy commute to Paris. Easy drive and you can even do train rides or flight, right. So it’s very easy to get here.

And you could tell. There’s a lot of Spanish crowd out there throughout the golf course. Even if you listen to them a couple times, a few holes ahead, cheering on David, as well. It was a lot of fun.

3. “Just being an Olympian is something he always wanted”

For the longest time, the ultimate father-son combo (warts and all) was Earl and Tiger Woods. Stefan Schauffele has taken up the cause of fathers instructing sons, and seems to have figured it all out. With dad’s blessing, Xander has taken Chris Como on as his lead instructor, allowing the old man to rest a bit. His own Olympic pentathlon dream was scuttled by a car accident, Stefan has poured all his knowledge and experience from track and field into developing power and consistency in his son’s game. More than the four majors, it seems that the Olympic movement resonates within the Schauffele family.

Xander made dad proud on Friday. He overcame a pair of bogeys with seven birdies, and reached the clubhouse at 11-deep. When others behind him faltered, he found himself in the final pairing for round three.

Xander’s View: I’m American. I’m U.S.-born but I feel at times very international with my mom and where she grew up and with my dad being half-French, half-German. Make I just make it up in my head but I try to call a lot of places home.

4. Tommy, Tommy Tommy, Tommy Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Fleetwood!

That was part of the European fan chant for MoliWood, the unlikely pairing of Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood at Le Golf National in 2018. The duo won four matches together, sparking their side to victory over Team USA. Molinari is not part of the Italian side at Paris 2024, but Fleetwood certainly is. The long-haired, Fairway Jesus for whom we all have great affection played himself into serious contention on Friday.

Fleetwood played flawless golf on day two near Paris. He blended an eagle at the third with six birdies, to reach 12-under par through the 17th green. On the final hole, Fleetwood was one of those wide-right golfers, and he was forced to pitch out and ascend the green with his third. Two putts led to bogey, and a shot was irretrievably lost.

Tommy’s Tales: Like I say, I haven’t felt particularly comfortable with my swing all week. But I’ve been doing the things that I know are right and I’ve put the ball in play a lot and I’ve been doing the right things, and I think gradually as you keep hitting enough good shots, obviously you confidence build and you keep drawing on those feelings.

5. Hello again, Hideki

Hideki Matsuyama was a three-act play on the second of August, 2024. Over the first nine holes, he was up and down on multiple occasions. Birdies and bogeys exchanged thrusts and parries, and Matsuyama reached the turn at -1 on the day. By the 18th tee, he had added four birdies to his count, and forged a two-shot advantage. That’s when membership in the fore-right brigade came his way, and Matsuyama found trouble.

If there’s such a thing as a remarkable double-bogey, that’s what Hideki had on the day’s final hole. His drive, as mentioned, flared rightward, ending in the gunge. He pitched to the lesser right rough, then chunked his third into the eau. With a sizable number and a drop from grace staring him in the face, the Japanese champion pitched to 13 feet and drained the putt for six.

Matsuyama’s Memory: It was 115 further down the green, front of the green is water hazard. I was kind of aiming — I was aiming left of the pin to play safe but the wind hit ball harder and end up being in the water.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

3 weeks ago

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Jun 1, 2026

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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

Pullout Albums

 

 

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Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jun 1, 2026

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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

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

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Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

4 weeks ago

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May 31, 2026

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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

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