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Tour Mash: Rahm wins the Irish Open by six

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9 years ago

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Although not exactly a light week on the tours, the major-championship Spotlight switched off for a few days. Great golf was played from Ireland to Wisconsin, with comebacks taken and ground held. Let’s have a look at this week’s tour purée across four major global tours.

Xander puts Open experience to good use at Greenbrier

Xander Schauffele made his presence known in last month’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills. Although victory eluded him, the 23-year old from La Jolla, California, put the experience to us at the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. Needing birdie at the last to separate from Robert Streb, Schauffele placed his tee shot on the par-three closer within a yard of the hole and made birdie for a one-shot victory. Like Tommy Fleetwood on the European Tour last week, Schauffele used Erin Hills as a springboard to triumph.

The story that wasn’t belonged to Sebastian Muñoz. Attempting to emulate countryman Camilo Villegas and give Colombia another tour winner, Muñoz began the week with a run at 59. His 10-birdie effort gave him the lead with 61, and he would not relinquish that advantage until Sunday afternoon. Over his first three rounds, Muñoz made a total of five bogeys. He matched that number on Sunday, secured there birdies on the day, and signed for a two-over 72. He and Jamie Lovemark would tie for third at 12-under par, one behind Streb and two back of the winner.

The third story of the week was the return of this tournament from oblivion. In June and July of 2016, West Virginia was hit was flooding of historic proportion. Many fairways were underwater, then covered with a layer of silt when the waters receded. The 2016 playing was cancelled, as attention turned to the region’s people who most needed aid. The return to the tour in 2017 was a tribute to those efforts, and the resolve and fortitude of the people of the Mountaineer state.

European Tour sees Rahm in top form at Irish Open

Jon Rahm simply needed a bit of European soil to shake the weight of the greatness that was thrust upon him. After exploding out of the 2017 PGA Tour gate with a win and runner-up finish, Rahm cooled off through the year’s first two majors, asking many to improperly wonder if something was up. It’s called acclimation, and the young Basque golfer showed that this week at Portstewart golf club. Rahm finished at 24-under, six strokes free of Richie Ramsat and Matthew Southgate.

On the week, Rahm holed 23 birdies and 4 eagles, including two of the latter on Sunday. For just one week, a bit of the great Basque fleet had returned to the open seas.

LPGA Tour welcomes Kirk back to winner’ podium

Like Sebastian Muñoz above, Australia’s Katherine Kirk had built a sizeable lead through 3 rounds at the Thornberry Creek Classic in Wisconsin. Like Muñoz, Kirk was challenged by her own nerves and her competitors. Writing a different script, the Aussie held firm to secure her third tour triumph, and first since 2010, by one shot over South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai.

Buhai turned in a flawless sheet on Sunday, including five birdies in her 67. Kirk was more erratic, with four bogeys on the day. She was able to counter those miscues with six birdies for 70, just enough to avoid a playoff. Also closing fast were Sei Young Kim (63) for third place, and Pornanong Phatlum (62) in fourth spot. kirk’s clutch birdie-3 at the last finished her week’s work and ended a seven-year dry spell.

Hadley holds on for LECOM win on Web.Com Tour

Chesson Hadley had to wonder what would be necessary to shake Beau Hossler. The Carolinian had improved each round (69-67-64) but each time he looked in the mirror, there was Hossler. The former University of Texas golfer had six birdies for a back-nine 30 on Sunday, giving Hadley every opportunity to fold. The lanky, finger-snapping golfer wasn’t interested.

Despite Hossler’s fireworks, Hadley had some heroics of his own. After a bogey at the innocuous, par-four second hole, Hadley unearthed six birdies and an eagle from the western New York soil. He sealed the win with a birdie at the uphill 17th, then played safely home down the treacherous 18th hole corridor for his Third Web.Com tour title. Both Hossler and Hadley find themselves firmly inside The 25, chasing a 2017-18 PGA Tour card.

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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.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. UnclePhil

    Jul 11, 2017 at 5:50 am

    And he’s definitely a rule bender too!

    Reply Report comment

    • Jon

      Jul 11, 2017 at 8:55 am

      That’s no joke. It was a helluva lot more egregious than how Lexi marked and replaced her ball. At least Lexi didn’t move her ball CLOSER to the hole. And why didn’t his playing partner have the balls to call him out?

      Reply Report comment

  2. TCJ

    Jul 10, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Does know won prouf reed these articles?

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Jul 10, 2017 at 5:56 pm

      Typing with an IPad vs. my usual laptop definitely proved a challenge. Will be back to usual, born-again grammarian status next week!

      Reply Report comment

  3. ibo

    Jul 10, 2017 at 11:10 am

    Rahm is definitely Major winner material. The kid can putt.

    Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jun 1, 2026

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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

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jun 1, 2026

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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

Published

4 weeks ago

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May 31, 2026

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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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