News
5 Things we Learned: Day 1 of Women’s Olympic Golf
We first learned how cool it would be to have women and men professional golfers play the same course in 2014. That was the year that the Women’s and Men’s US Open tournaments were held over consecutive weeks, on the Pinehurst #2 course. We again saw it in 2016 at the Rio Olympics, and again in 2021, at the 2020 Japan Olympics. We are back for round three (intentional pun) at Paris, but there’s a twist.
The Le Golf National course is a known commodity for the dude pros. They’ve played it annually on the DP World Tour for some time, and featured a Ryder Cup there in 2018. For the women, it is an unopened gift…at least, it was until today. The 18th hole plays to a different par (5 vs. 4) for the women, but that’s the only difference beyond yardage adjustments. With that knowledge in hand, let’s proceed to the five things that we learned today at round one of the the Women’s Paris 2024 Olympic golf competition.
Nelly Korda hits an excellent approach to set up birdie on 13. ???
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/TqCSq7QSUt
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
1. Stayin’ Alive
We’re going to go with a Bee Gees theme today, for absolutely no reason. Some golfers showed up with the jitters and the nervies, and didn’t feature their best golf. The least fortunate was Charley Hull, who opened with a double bogey at the first, lost her focus, and finished on 81. That placed her 16 strokes behind the day-one leader.
If you look at par figures, those who posted 72 include Rose Zhang and Nelly Korda from the USA, Lydia Ko from New Zealand, and Aditi Ashok from India. Four of the world’s top players didn’t have their “A” games on Wednesday, but they ground out a number that doesn’t disqualify them from future consideration. They’ll need a pair of mid-60s rounds over the next three days to reach the podium, and all are capable of such excellence.
Rose Zhang birdies the 9th to get back to even par. ?
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/Gk6EkhymcF
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
2. Immortality
A lesser-known tune from the Australian disco trio, immortality beckons for the lesser-known golfers in the field. There are plenty of known names in the top dozen through 18 holes, but it’s the quiet names that gather our attention. The Mariajo Uribes, the Morgane Metraux, and the Celine Borges. Can they keep the momentum alive through another three rounds? Can they use nationalistic pride as a vibe, and not as a detriment? We shall see, as the coming 54 holes play out. If you ask me to pick one unknown name in the top twenty, that catches my eye, I’ll nominate Diksha Dagar of India. Come along!
Peiyun Chien holes out for EAGLE from 125 yards! ??
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/D8UQ7KF4o5
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
3. You should be dancing
Lilia Vu did some very odd things on Wednesday. She made bogey at the 9th and the 18th, both of which are easy gets for birdie. She also had a third bogey at the 16th hole, where she raced a fring putt six feet past, then failed to convert for par. Beyond those three oopsies, Vu was rock solid. She posted five birdies on the day, and twice reached four-deep. Unfortunately, each time she arrived at minus-four station, she made an immediate bogey. Something to watch on Thursday, for sure.
Lilia Vu rolls in her third straight birdie to take the solo lead. ???
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/BhYUafHsaF
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
4. Tragedy
I have a sneaking suspicion that the 18th hole will provide more tragedy than triumph. I hope that I’m proven incorrect. The fairway cants toward the eau on the left, and the right side is protected by sand and quite-tall grass. The big fear with the recovery chop-out is sending it too far, into the water. On Wednesday, Dagar and Vu made bogey at the watery closer, while a number of the contenders made birdie. Le Golf National is EuroWood perfect for a dramatic ending, so pop some corn and tuck in to your sofa. It’s go-time!
Brooke Henderson for EAGLE to cap off her Olympic first round! ???
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/8R5zcnburO
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
5. How deep is your love
… for your home country? For Celine Boutier, it runs as deep as spiritually possible. No other way to define an opening-day 65, a seven-under par masterpiece that probably belongs in the Louvre. Boutier made birdie from all over the place, and overcame a solitary bogey at the 12th with eight of the flighted creatures. Boutier is a top-five golfer worldwide, and she won’t go away. It will be the task of the chasers to track her down.
Celine Boutier CHIPS IN for birdie and a three-shot lead! ???
? Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/h56lUSalPC
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 7, 2024
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament
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
News
Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley
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
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

