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Tour Mash: Spieth’s Happy Gilmore and Paige’s pro debut

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Still some tournament golf to be played 

DufnerSnedeker

A little of this, a little of that. Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker eked out a two-stroke victory over Harris English and Matt Kuchar at the Shark Shootout. Sadly for The Shark, his silly season event was lacking in A-List talent. At No. 13 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Zach Johnson was the highest-ranked golfer in the field.

Across the globe on the Asian Tour, the Thailand Golf Championship saw Jamie Donaldson of Wales separate from Lee Westwood (T2) and Sergio Garcia (4th) via an electric Sunday 65 for a three-stroke margin of victory. Finally, the Web.Com Tour qualifying school admitted 13 fully exempt members to its 2016 dance party. Led by medalist Adam Svensson and featuring Denny McCarthy, Ollie Schniederjans and social media trick shot artist Wesley Bryan (of the Bryan Brothers), the cream of the crop will do battle for spots on the big tour for the 2016-2017 season.

See the clubs Svensson used to win by 7 strokes!

Turning the first Paige of pro golf

PaigeGolf

Paige Spiranac, Instagram model and budding golfer-for-a-living, made her professional debut at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters this week. It lasted 36 holes, counted 156 strokes, and was 8 strokes shy of making the cut. Meh. Was she under an instascope, oops, a microscope? You bet. Spiranac wasn’t feeling the pro vibe in the hours leading up to her inaugural, for-cash performance, as she explained after round one:

So last night, I was like in my room, kind of locked the door and I was like, I’m not going to play tomorrow, they can’t make me. I was crying and I didn’t want to go. So I guess today was pretty good compared to how bad I thought it was going to go after last night.

Two events conspired to deflect the spotlight from the Californian and render her yawner of a coming-out a staying-in: Dame Laura Davies, the great English golfer, championed Spiranac pre-tourney, saying that she deserved “a chance” to show her game, then Shanshan Feng ran away with event by 12 strokes. Less Insta and more Practa, Paige.

Some competition for the Bryan Brothers

While the Bryan Brothers (whooops, not those Bryan Brothers, these Bryan Brothers) take the trick-shot world (and now the Web.Com Tour: see above) by storm, another golfing partnership is quietly assembling a collection of YouTube videos and a following. Andy Proudman and Piers Ward, two blokes from England, offer the tantalizing “Challenge Tuesday,” during which they compete to ridiculous extents for your attention. Can’t decide if we prefer Junior Club Battle or Happy Gilmore Every Shot (above). How abou’chu?

Not this time, Jordan… but nice shot

JordanSpieth

Jordan Spieth seemed to be in contention for every golf tournament he entered in 2015, but as far as the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year contest goes, he’s out of the running…as is everyone but a horse. And you can’t fault the voters. After all, it had been nearly 40 years since the last Triple Crown winner in American thoroughbred racing. Spieth may be the heir to a crown, but he ain’t no Pharaoh errr, Pharoah, despite Zach Johnson’s testimonial on his behalf. The horse currently holds 47 percent of the vote, with world series champs Kansas City Royals at 39 percent. Spieth has a respectable 3 percent of the tally.

To celebrate? He went “full Happy Gilmore” in the Grapefruit Pro-Am at Vero Beach Country Club.

Of course, the crowd ate it up, and he was looking at the ball in the air for mighty long as if it flew 400 yards, ala Mr. Gilmore himself. Here’s another look:

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.

17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. other paul

    Dec 17, 2015 at 12:46 am

    Paige didn’t play to bad for a pro debut. Give her a chance. She did a nice vid with Mark Crossfield as well. It was great stuff.

  2. Philip

    Dec 14, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    From her self banter the night before it is almost as if someone twisted her arm a bit and that she really didn’t want to do it … being a golfer you would think she would jump at this, money or no money.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 15, 2015 at 5:13 am

      Thanks, Philip. The entire interview is here: http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=115414

      Her honesty was a story that anyone could have written. She seems to have a very sincere side to her, that is often missed when we project our own ideas onto still photos on social media. I suspect that she will have a “team” around her very soon, that will eliminate some of this sincerity and move her toward standardized answers to questions. This will be sad for golf. It reminds me of the quote from Jon Stewart on “stage-managed, focus group-driven candidates” from Jon Stewart on Bernie Sanders (3 minute mark in this clip: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/jon-stewart-dismantles-the-idea-that-bernie-sanders-is-an-unelectable-kook/) on the loss of authenticity.

      • Philip

        Dec 15, 2015 at 10:35 am

        For sure she accomplished A LOT considering how many of us would crumble under the spotlight. It is always easier to edge oneself into the spotlight as people notice your ability. For Paige it was a double-edge sword in that it wasn’t her golfing accomplishments that earned her a sudden chance and as such I totally understand her doubts the night before. However, she had her chance and a 77-79 (which wasn’t last place) is totally respectable considering the tournament. I find it interesting that I’ve read more comments from ladies on the tour supporting her than from a lot of non-professional golfers.

      • Comp

        Dec 15, 2015 at 12:01 pm

        Nobody really cares that much about exhibitionists who really want the world to see their photos beyond what’s at the surface.

  3. Ronald Montesano

    Dec 14, 2015 at 6:24 pm

    UPDATE: The online poll for SI Sportsperson of the year was an aside. The horse didn’t win; Serena Williams was selected as Sportsperson of the year, FYI.

  4. Sprcoop

    Dec 14, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    I don’t care if it is Jordan Spieth (who I admire greatly) anybody in a 180 degree radius in FRONT of that tee has got a screw loose. Takin’ a chance on getting beaned high velocity.

    • Ronald Montesano

      Dec 14, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Good point. Have you ever heard the Jack Lemon “John, you’ve got the guts of a burglar” story about John Daly? They think they can’t miss.

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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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