News
Arkansas student impaled by golf club
Whatever snooty image the outside world conjures up for the game of golf, the sport tends to be pretty laid back. Self-deprecation, laughter and a slew of adult beverages are all usually a vital part of the experience.
But as has been recently noted, the amount of alcohol imbibed on the course can be dangerous, for physical and legal reasons.
And never forget that your equipment can serve as a weapon.
That is the case in Jonesboro, Ark., where an 18-year-old college student was impaled in the neck with a broken golf shaft last Tuesday.
Natalie Eaton, a freshman at Arkansas State University, was hanging out at a fraternity cookout when a most unlikely and unfortunate event occurred. One male student tossed a football to another male student, who decided to swing his golf club at the object like it was a baseball. On impact the shaft broke in two, and the lower part flew 30 feet into Eaton’s neck.
The 18-year-old was initially sent to a local hospital before being flown, via helicopter, to a hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was listed in critical condition as late as Thursday with fears that she was facing paralysis.
Thankfully, matters turned for the better the next day. On Friday, Arkansasmatters.com posted that Eaton was awake and responsive and could feel both sides of her body. She was, however, extremely confused and did not remember the incident.
Eaton’s friend, Makaleigh Riddle, called the recovery a miracle, considering the doctors’ previous bleak prognostications on the paralysis front.
For now, it seems like a disaster has been avoided. The odds that a broken club could fly into a target of possibly paralysis or death (the spinal cord) are astronomical. A second student at the event, after all, was hit, but not seriously injured like Eaton.
Still, it pays to be careful. Golf clubs used improperly, broken or intact, can prove quite hazardous. Even a simple practice swing can lead to massive damage if you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings. The golf ball is no less a scourge either.
It’s all good to have fun, but remember the agony Eaton’s family must have felt while their faced immobilization or death before you do something blatantly irresponsible with golf equipment or on the golf course.
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...
jedidiah
Aug 29, 2014 at 9:14 am
i would
Tin Whistle
Aug 27, 2014 at 11:10 pm
What kind of club?
Is it on 2nd Swing yet?
Dave C.
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:46 pm
I used to play golf 30 years ago with a real jerk who would curse and throw clubs all the time. One day, he showed up with a cheap, new driver he had bought for $7. He hit a horrible tee shot, and immediately threw the club. The shaft shattered like it had been made of glass. No one was hurt, but I NEVER played golf with him again.
He had the cheek to send his wife back to the store for a refund, due to the club being “defective”. She got his money back.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Knew a guy that did that. Didn’t matter, unless it was a perfect shot (which, for being a 100+ shooter, rarer than rare), the guy got pi$$ed and threw whatever was in hand. It got old, fast…
Desmond
Aug 27, 2014 at 1:36 am
Don’t do stupid things … think of the consequences beforehand
MattSihv
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:20 am
My wife went to A-State and this is her friend’s sister-in-law. She was just a kid at a college party. The story doesn’t mention that the kid who swung the club also saved her life. He thought quickly and was able to keep pressure on the wound..
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Still, it shouldn’t have gotten to that point.
bradford
Aug 26, 2014 at 1:44 pm
This article should be in the WITB section.
dot dot
Aug 26, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Now the guy has to complete the party with only 13 clubs. Tough break.
Gary Lewis
Aug 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Good to know. I think this kind of incident with golf clubs has resulted in at least a fatal incident or more. I heard a story of one golfer throwing a club after a bad shot, club hit a ball washer, broke and part of the shaft came back and hit the guy in the neck and killed him. I am not totally positive it is a true story but could happen. Safety always needs to be a priority everywhere and golf clubs are no exception.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:00 pm
A cousin of my wife was killed by a golf club. He was swinging it, decided to hit a clothesline. The head and some of the shaft snapped off… the force of the swing and the way it broke caused the broken end to “wrap around” the post, leading to the kid to be impaled in the throat. You just never know, and responsibility isn’t always on the front of everyone’s mind…
Taylor Zalewski
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:58 am
What in the world does this article have to do with golf. I was in a fraternity and a lot of stupid stuff went down on a regular basis.
Trevor
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:56 am
Absolutely stupid article
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:01 pm
I’m sorry you’re not intelligent enough to realize the point.
Mike Honcho
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:44 am
Happened in Arkansas, ’nuff said.
rkristopher
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:57 am
Dumb comment.
Idiots are everywhere.
Joe Golfer
Aug 28, 2014 at 1:41 am
Totally agree with you, rkristopher.
It is amazing how many callous remarks about this tragedy have shown up in this forum post.
One person comments that the guy who swung the club will have to finish with 13 clubs now.
Another asks if the club is on 2nd Swing yet.
It’s sad that adults write such things.
I could understand if this was some YouTube music video site, as those are loaded with immature comments from youthful schoolkid commenters who are just acerbic or mean-spirited.
It’s nice to see someone call out those who post those extremely childish remarks.
There is NOTHING funny about a young girl almost being paralyzed in a tragic accident.
Joe Golfnerd
Aug 28, 2014 at 8:13 pm
well thank you mr. white knight; snore.
Xreb
Aug 31, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Compassion is what is lacking in people these days as all the callous posts above aptly demonstrate. Would any of any say these things if it were your wife or sister ?
MattSihv
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:26 am
Mikey, I find it pathetic that you would use an article about a tragedy to announce your idiocy to the internet. I live in Ar-Kansas now, and I’d be happy to compare my life to yours, ’nuff said.
leftright
Aug 29, 2014 at 8:18 am
I wish the country understood the Clinton’s are from Arkansas and then, maybe, Hillary would not be in the POTUS game. Half the people in America couldn’t tell where Arkansas is on a map. Progressives are destroying the country, the world and are responsible for much of golf’s demise over the past few years. I hope that young lady recovers and get’s back to normal.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:05 pm
GTFOH with that BS. Really? This article is about a girl who was nearly paralyzed- or worse- and you bring this $hit here? Are you that stupid and uncaring?