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Tour Rundown: It’s all in the nickname
It’s a funny time of year for professional golf. The LPGA and US PGA tours will finish official 2024 play this week, while the DP World Tour gets a jump-start on 2025. Four events feature in Europe-plus’s month, with two in Australia, one in South Africa, and a final week on the island of Mauritius. The LPGA will return at the end of January, while the PGA and DP World Tours will begin new-year’s play during the first three weeks of the extended-weekend month. The week prior to US Thanksgiving gave us three final events to enjoy, before heading off to the holidays in North America. Saddle up your horse with us, as we dive into one final, Tour Rundown, for 2024.
LPGA: Race to the CME Globe: It’s all in the nickname
On the 71st tee, third-round leader Jeeno Thitikul was scratching her head. She sat four-under on the day, but was two shots behind Angel Yin. It was a day for low scores, led by newly-minted hall of famer Lydia Ko and her nine-under 63. That number had elevated Ko from 12th to third. Yin had started the day in a tie with Thitikul, but seemed poised to add a second Tour title to her wiki page.
Thitikul went to work. Split the 71st fairway and approached to eighteen feet. Her putt for eagle had sauce on it, and dove into cup’s bottom, tying her with Yin for first. Split the 72nd fairway, and ziplined an approach five feet below the flagstick’s shadow. With poise beyond her years, the putt was center cut, and Jeeno (aka Atthaya) had claimed the fourth title of her LPGA career, and the one with the biggest paycheck.
Eagle
BirdieIn the most dramatic fashion ?
Watch every shot from @Jeeno_atthaya‘s final two holes en route to her victory! pic.twitter.com/IaGIeHBhAA
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 24, 2024
PGA Tour: RSM Classic affirms that the son of Sun is a tour winner
Maverick McNealy possesses a layered, golf story. He had the benefit of funding from his father, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems. He competed and studied at Stanford, represented the USA in two Walker Cup ties, and won a half-dozen collegiate events. McNealy had zero major amateur victories, zero Korn Ferry wins, and nearly a decade of grinding on the PGA Tour for a resume. This week in Georgia, McNealy outlasted amateur Luke Clanton, a resurgent Daniel Berger, and two-time PGA Tour winner Nico Echavarria, to win an initial tour title.
McNealy and Vince Whaley began day four in a tie atop the standings. Whaley made birdie at the third, but stumbled with bogey and double over his next six holes. He turned in +2, finished at +1 on the day, and descended the ladder, finishing T8 at -13. Luke Clanton has done it all at Florida State. He has achieved everything on the PGA Tour but win, all while competing for the Seminoles and retaining his amateur status. Clanton closed with 68, but made a crushing bogey at the 72nd hole, to finish one back of McNealy. Echavarria also made five at the last, to miss a playoff by a shot. Berger played a solid, unspectacular final round, compiling three birdies and 15 pars on the day.
As for McNealy, it was the stuff of dreams. When he reached the final tee, he sat in a four-way tie atop the dune. His drive found fairway center, and his approach split the uprights, finishing inside six feet from glory. With nothing to gain but glory, McNealy drained his putt and joined the heralded list of tour champions.
A birdie to win on the 72nd hole!
Maverick McNealy is a first-time PGA TOUR winner ? pic.twitter.com/z4eh8utuIR
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 24, 2024
DP World Tour: Australian PGA Championship says, Elvis has entered the building
Elvis Smylie is a 22-year old Aussie pro from Queensland. In October, he won the Western Australia Open, for his first victory on his home tour. That recent triumph will circle back in a few sentences. Smylie opened with 65 at Royal Queensland, in Brisbane, but three rounds remained in the dual, Australian PGA and DP World Tour event. Smylie and the field endured a lost day of golf on Friday, as angry Mother Nature rained down upon the golf course and surrounds.
After Saturday, Smylie sat in a tie with a former Open champion, and another former PGA Tour great was also giving chase. Could Smylie withstand the pressure from Cam Smith and Marc Leishman? Sunday would tell the tale. On day four, Smylie’s recent success buoyed his effort. The lad made four birdies in his first seven holes, to completely gobsmack his seasoned challengers. Smith and Leishman accounted for a total of five bogies and nine birdies on the event’s final day. Each posted 69, and earned silver and bronze status for the week.
Smylie didn’t make another birdie after the seventh green. He didn’t smell bogey all day. His fourteen pars were sufficient to carry him to a two-shot win over Smith, with Leishman a shot farther back. Smylie’s 736th ranking in the world will certainly climb, and a slew of invitations and exemptions will come his way. As the tour moves on to Kingston Heath and Australia’s national open this week, Elvis has entered the building.
The moment Elvis Smylie won his first DP World Tour title! ?#AusPGA pic.twitter.com/5JZNiadar4
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 24, 2024
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...
