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5 Things we Learned: Day 3 of Olympic Women’s Golf

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I began to write the introductory paragraph for Friday as the back nine started to unfold. It looked like this: Round three was a tale of two cities: those who pushed farther, and those who did not. The leaders needed to push deeper, into the mid-60s, to preserve their margin of advantage. They failed to do as much. The chasers needed to go lower, to rein in the lead pack and give themselves a shot on Sunday. They did precisely that.

Oh, wait, scratch that. The 18th hole happened for some, and other, inward holes happened for others. That back nine at Le Golf National reveals some new face with each round played. One leader played it with just two pars. Two leaders made eagle three at the last.

Heading into round four, two co-leaders sit on minus-nine, with two more at minus-seven, and one more, another shot back. We learned about twenty things in the last half hour of play, but I’ll distill them down to a handful. Let’s take a look at the five things we learned on day three of the Paris 2024 Olympic Women’s golf competition.

1. Who stumbled?

Ruoning Yin (+3) and Pia Babnik (+2) did themselves no favors on Friday. Yin had six bogies on the day, while Babnik came undone at the 15th with a quadruple bogey. Each of Yin’s lost shots began with a drive lost to the rough. As for Babnik, her drive and first approach each found water on the 15th hole. Unsettled, she took another four shots to find cup bottom. Yin is five back of the leaders, while Babnik is seven behind. Logic suggests that each would need a course record to earn a place on the podium; with nothing to lose, either might go for broke and find riches.

 

2. Who soared?

Lydia Ko and Miya Yamashita each posted 68 on day three. Ko lost two shots to wayward approach shots. At holes seven and twelve, she found the fairway off the tee, then foozled her inward play. She made up for those mistakes in spades with six birdies. Most important: she avoided all of the H2O coming home. Yamashita signed for the day’s most boring scorecard. Four birdies, fourteen pars, no traipses along the cliffs of doom, no swims in the ponds. Precisely the sort of play that might win her a medal on Sunday. Ko moved to a tie for first, while Yamashita holds down a tie for third.

Just behind each is Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand. Thitikul nearly matched those 68s with a 69 of her own. An erratic outward nine of three pars, birdies, and bogies, was followed by a homeward side of three birdies and zero bogies. A missed putt from 12 feet at the last brough Thitikul into solo sixth position, at six under par.

3. Fly like an Eagle, Eagle, Eagle

Second-round leader Morgane Metraux was stitching, leaking oil, building up lactic acid … whatever you wish to call it. Three bogies over holes ten through thirteen had her wondering, do I have what it takes? Birdie at the 14th stanched the wound, and came 18. A mighty eagle at the home hole, thanks to a fairway drive and an approach to twenty feet, brought her up to a tie with Lydia Ko for the pole position.

If Metraux is able to ignore, and even forget, her position on day four, she might steal a medal on Saturday. As with the stumblers, nothing offers more opportunity for success, than a go-for-broke attitude over the final eighteen holes.

4. Topsy-Turvy

Celine Boutier carries more weight of expectation than anyone not named Nelly this week. After opening with 65, the French hope has struggled over two days. She recovered on Friday with one-under 71, but finds herself in a tie for seventh, five back of the leading duo.

Nothing defines Boutier’s current state of affairs like her second nine on day the third. She opened positively, with par and two birdies setting her up for a fine finish. Triple bogey at 13 derailed that engine, and bogey at the 15th threatened to send it back to the yard. Boutier breathed deep and dug deeper, closing with birdies at the final three holes, to head to day the fourth with optimism.

5. Who is dangerous on Saturday?

Boutier could potentially bookedn 65s. If she did so, she could reach the podium. Nelly Korda has not gone below 70 yet, so Sunday portends to either be 62 or 82. If she is oh-so-close and can flip the switch, watch out. If she is oh-so-frustrated and loses composure, duck. Either way, she’ll provide some memorable, day-four moments.

I also conside Thitikul to be dangerous on Saturday, and Janet Lin’s stock is rising. Despite all those fine names, I’m going to predict an Andean triumph at Paris. Mariajo Uribe will ride off into the international sunset with a closing 63, and gold medal draped around her neck, cloaked in a Colombian flag.

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

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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

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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

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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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