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Tour Rundown: A cup of Joe got the job done
If you didn’t love golf this week, you’ll never love golf. Jake Knapp fired up the engine with a 12-under par 59 on Thursday, at the US PGA Tour. Dale Whitnell had a pair of aces in round two of the rain-shortened South African Open, and he wasn’t even low man on the day. Justin Suh ripped a 60 in round three of the Argentina Open on the Korn Ferry Tour. Of the three, only Suh was able to hold on for a victory, which meant that someones were playing interstellar golf. It’s beginning to feel like golf season now, at least in the professional ranks. Around the globe, the northern hemisphere salivates at the approaching warm weather. All those signs mean that it’s time for another Tour Rundown, so why keep you waiting?
PGA Tour @ Cognizant Classic: A cup of Joe got the job done in the Palm Beaches
While the world drooled at Jake Knapp’s moustache, languid swing, and massive distance, a guy named Joe snuck over the cut line, then into contention, then onto the top of the podium. Jake Knapp got our attention with a day-one 59 last week, and he held the lead with 18 holes to play. Sunday wasn’t as kind as he had hoped, and Knapp slipped away to a tie for sixth spot, four shots from victory.
Knapp’s struggles made room for a series of men with J as the first letter of the names. JJ Spaun took a run at the top, closing 67-66 on the weekend to tie for runner-up. With whom? Well, Jacob Bridgeman finished even better, with 67-64 over the final 36, for a best-ever finish on the big tour. They and the rest of the field could only marvel at the work of Joe Highsmith. Highsmith made a five-foot, sliding putt on his 36th green, to make the cut on the number. The Pepperdine alum turned a page and 13 birdies and an eagle on the weekend, against just one bogey. His 64-64 finish rocketed the former Wave golfer to his first tour title amid the most unlikely circumstances.
LPGA @ HSBC Women’s World: Yo, It’s Ko!
Dame Lydia Ko…that sounds regal. Damed by New Zealand this year, she is the youngest to receive the honor in history. We’ve known for over a decade how great she is, and 2024 put the final brush strokes on the masterpiece. Gold medal at the Olympics, Hall of Fame admission on the LPGA, and now, Lydia is simply coasting. This week, she held off generation next and claimed tour title number thirty-one in Singapore.
Ko held a one-shot advantage over Charley Hull through 54 holes, with Jeeno Thitikul next in line. On Sunday, Ko the Kiwi etched five birdies onto a minus-three scorecard. The day’s low was minus five, and it didn’t come from Hull. Elementary math tells us that Ko held on for victory. Closing well was Ayaka Furue, who posted 68 to tie Thitikul for second position. Both finished four shots behind the winner, at nine under par. 2025 looks to be a season in which the front-runner’s last name begins with the letter K and O. Lydia hopes that the conversation centers around her.
DP World Tour @ South African Open: Homebred Naidoo wins in playoff
Much like penalty kicks in soccer, the notion of a weather-shortened event is the bane for many in golf. This week in Durban, Nature spoke loudly on Sunday, and officials were forced to revert to Saturday’s standings for a resolution. South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo and the “It” guy from England, Laurie Canter, sat atop the leader’s board at 14-under par. One shot behind them was Marco Penge. The latter would look back at a missed birdie on the short 18th, but certainly could not be disappointed with solo third.
Away went Naidoo and Canter to that same golf hole, to settle matters, just past 3 p.m local time. Canter hoped to secure win number two on the year, while Naidoo sought a breakthrough victory. Resolution didn’t take long. Canter found the green, 15 feet from the hole, but could not convert for three. Naidoo massaged his approach to inside five feet, and calmly made birdie to win a first Tour title and one for the home fans.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Argentina Open: S’up, Suh?
Justin Suh, of the San Jose Suhs, claimed his second career Korn Ferry Tour title in Argentina. He did so in electrifying fashion, posting 60-65 on the weekend, to win by five over a trio of chasers. Suh stumbled three times this week, for bogey. He made a pair of eagles, and 22 birdies, reach 23 under par. He briefly lost the lead on Friday evening, as eventual co runner-up Cole Sherwood followed his 67 with 64 to gain a one-shot advantage. Also in the mix were S.H. Kim and Ryan Blaum, one behind Suh.
Saturday’s fireworks included eight birdies and an eagle from the California kid, as he surged past Sherwood, to the top. Sherwood must have felt pretty good about his day-three 64, until he saw Suh’s 60 scorecard. Sunday heard a bit of noise, as a few golfers reached three- and four-under par on the front nine, but no one made a move on the leader. After turning in minus-one, Suh chased down four more birdies coming home, to seal the deal and lift the trophy.
TGL @ Week Eight: Bay says Bye to Jupiter
We’ve learned that hometown advantage means nothing in indoor golf. Jupiter Links is on the outside of the playoff window, looking in. Tiger Woods and Kevin Kisner might have been strong additions a decade ago, but this season, they’ve struggled to find their form. In contrast, the two teams from California and the squad from Atlanta have taken to indoor golf like ducks do with H2O. Both the Bay and LA Golf Club, along with Atlanta, have qualified for the extended season. That means that NY, Boston, or Jupiter will be the fourth seed and, honestly, it’s hard to predict which will move on.
Last week, we watched in hilarity and astonishment as Tiger Woods hit a 199-yard shot…99 yards. And he hit it perfectly! Hearing incorrectly his caddie’s call, Woods grabbed a wedge when he needed more and came up a few clubs short. That miscue summed up the way the season has gone for some teams. The Bay preserved its undefeated record, moving to four and oh with a 6 to 3 triumph. The match was tight until the final team hole, when The Bay accepted the hammer and took three points to move ahead, by 5 to 1. Links won the first singles hole, but needed a miracle. With a lead, you don’t accept the hammer. Links closed to 3-5 on the penultimate hole, but Wyndham Clark brought home another point for Bay, giving the final tally.
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...
