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Tour Rundown: A little more SAS
Tour professional golf in September is a funny thing. Last week, this writer decided that two events were not enough for a Tour Walkabout, much less a Tour Rundown. A week later, we are blessed with six events, and this writer has burned the candle at both ends.
It was an exciting week across the world’s circuits. The top male player made another statement, an up-and-coming pro earned a battlefield promotion, and the most resolute and delightful woman professional gathered her skills for a run at a title. There was golf in England, California, Alberta, Ohio, Tennessee, and South Dakota. It was a geography lesson of a week, and we are delighted to run it down for you in this week’s Tour Rundown.
PGA Tour @ Procore Championship: A little more SAS for 2025
Scottie Alexander Scheffler is the de facto leader of the USA Ryder Cup side. He is not a public cheerleader, but he is the fellow who shows the other guys how to get it done. This week in Napa, California, Scheffler added a sixth tour title to his wiki page, winning on the western USA coast for the first time.
Scheffler eased his way into the weekend, opening 70-68, before lighting the lamp with 64-67 over the closing rounds. Ryder Cup teammate Ben Griffin garnered early attention, thanks to a 64-66 start. Across the final two days, Griffin was very good, but Scheffler was better. Griffin’s closing 70s on Saturday and Sunday were laudable, but they weren’t enough to keep pace with the world number one.
At the close of play, Scheffler had a one-shot margin of victory over Griffin, with another Griffin (Lanto) another shot back in third. The PGA Tour takes a Ryder Cup break until early October, when it returns in Mississippi for the Sanderson Farms Classic.
LPGA @ KQC Championship: Hello, Charley!
Charley Hull ranks as the most transparent golfer on the professional circuits. Her sincerity and honesty make her a favorite of both fans and media. This week in northwest Ohio, Hull gave plenty to cheer and write on, as she outlasted Jeeno Thitikul, earning a third career LPGA title.
Rookie sensation Lottie Woad, already a winner in Europe, finished third on 18-under par. For a time, she looked to figure in the outcome. Both Hull and Thitikul had other thoughts, and they danced around the 19- and 20-under figures over the close of the inward half. Thitikul stood 20-under on the final tee, but bogey at the par-five finishing hole dropped her back to 19-deep. Hull’s conclusion was even more dramatic. Birdie at 16, followed by bogey at 17, stood her at 19-under coming home. With birdie at the last, the two-stroke swing reversed their positions, and Hull held another trophy in her hands.
DP World Tour @ BMW PGA: A Noreneaster blew into town today
Alex Noren has done just about everything that a professional golfer could hope to do. He has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup and has won a dozen times on the DP World Tour. After three years at Oklahoma State University, Noren announced his professional status. Since then, he has proven himself among the most fit and traveled golfers on the circuits. This week in England, Noren completed that dozen of victories with a second triumph at Wentworth.
There was never evidence of a front-runner this week at the storied London club. Ten golfers finished within four shots of the lead, and Noren and Adrien Saddier proved to be the most fit of the field. They tied at 19-under par, three shots clear of two third-place finishers. The pair returned to the watery 18th, where Noren made quick work of the overtime session. His playoff birdie was better than Saddier’s par, and Noren hoisted the PGA trophy for the second time in his career.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Simmons Bank Open: Zoinks! It’s Zack
Zack Bauchou had his eye on an upward movement over the closing four events of the Korn Ferry Tour season. He sat in 30th position on the points list and knew the top 20 finishers would earn the coveted golden ticket to the PGA Tour in 2026. That number is down 10 from last year. After this week in Tennessee, Bauchou might be singing Rocky Top after securing his first professional win at the Brandt Snedeker Foundation event on the KFT.
A lot of low numbers were required at the Vanderbilt Legends Club, and Bauchou brought one each day. He didn’t go as low as Austin Hitt’s, day-two 61, but he summoned three 64s and a 65 to finish on 23-under par. Hitt proved to be his closest pursuer, posting 65 in the final round to reach minus-21. Come to think of it, instead of signing, Bauchou might just yell Anchor Down and be done with it. That first professional win moved Bauchou inside the top ten of the points list and secured his PGA Tour card for 2026.
Leader goes DOD ?
Zach Bauchou hangs onto a two-shot lead @SimmonsBankOpen with four holes to play.
? Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/zAF8IEnUVF
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 14, 2025
PGA Tour Americas @ ATB Classic: Third time continues the charm for Brennan
It may be time to simultaneously say goodbye and hello to Michael Brennan. The Wake Forest alumnus and Virginia native won his third event of the season on the two-continent tour. He held off Derek Hitchner by one slim stroke to secure victory in Alberta. With the third victory, Brennan earns a battlefield promotion from PGA Tour Americas to the Korn Ferry Tour. He may opt to remain for the final two events ot the PGAA season, or he could decide to play the remaining three events of the KFT playoff run.
Not much separated the winner from the runner-up this week. Brennan bolted to a four-shot advantage through 36 holes, but returned all with a third-round 74. On Sunday, Brennan opened with three consecutive birdies, while Hitchner could manage just two over the opening thruple of holes. That first-hole stroke proved to be the clincher for Brennan. Third place belonged to Riley Lewis and Davis Lamb, who reached 17-under par with stellar, final-round performances. They were one shot back of Hitchner, who finished play one more back of the winner.
The leaders are off @ATBClassicGolf ?
Michael Brennan is 1-under thru 1. pic.twitter.com/ckSUvJUfGV
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) September 14, 2025
PGA Tour Champions @ Sanford International: What a Retief it is!
South Africa’s Retief Goosen knew that if he played his steady game, he would have an opportunity to eclipse the work of his taller countryman, Ernie Els. Goosen opened the week with twin 65s, yet found himself a shot back of the Big Easy. On Sunday, Els went every which way but up. He began the round with three straight bogeys, added a fourth at the final hole, and made one solitary birdie on the day. His distress paved a path for someone to jump up and claim victory. Bo Van Pelt had eyes on the prize, but Goosen found a way to outlast everyone.
While Els rode the struggle bus, Goosen hit paydirt with four birdies and one bogey. His 67 brought him to 13-deep. Van Pelt also had four birdies and a bogey through 16 holes, but a birdie by Goosen at 16, followed by a crushing bogey for Bo at the 17th, ended his run at the winner. Darren Clarke and Els finished a distant third, three shots back of the runner-up, at eight under par.
A perfect approach from Goosen leads to a clutch birdie and back on top @SanfordIntl ? pic.twitter.com/Id3kkdhLSR
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 14, 2025
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...
