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Morning 9: A major win overshadowed by “the Great Wall of Dinah” | Cink | Tiger at Winged Foot | Kisner’s COVID tweet

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6 years ago

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1. Magic at the 72nd, steadiness at the 73rd make Mirim Lee a major champ
“This major was marred, however, by the advertising…that was ridiculously erected around the 18th green…” James Corrigan at the Telegraph accurately writes regarding the final stretch at the ANA Inspiration.
My feeling: The blue barrier benefitted Brooke Henderson (a little) and Mirim Lee (a lot) distracting from a finish that, absent the beneficial breaks, would likely have seen Nelly Korda hopping into Poppy’s Pond.
  • Anyway, the winner… “Ranked 94th, Lee chipped-in twice in the last three holes at Mission Hills, Palm Springs to fight herself into the shootout against Nelly Korda, the world No 3, and Brooke Henderson, the world No 9. And when she birdied the first sudden-death hole the title was hers to enjoy. As was the traditional jump into Poppie’s Pond behind the 18th green.”
  • …”It is fair to say that Korda and Henderson were completely stunned. All day, it had been a head-to-head and yet neither of them prevailed. In the searing heat, the advantage changed hands between the duo, this way and that, and even with a few holes to play it was almost inconceivable that someone else would come through.”
  • “Credit to Lee, 29, who had not won for three years but who showed she had what it takes when finishing second at the 2016 AIG Women’s Open at Woburn, including a record-equalling 62.”
2. Safeway: Cink wins
AP report…”Sparked by a strong short game, Cink won the season-opening Safeway Open at 47 years old Sunday for his seventh PGA Tour victory and first since that win at Turnberry 11 years ago.”
“Making it more special? Cink won with 23-year-old son Reagan alongside as his caddie, with wife Lisa — in her fifth year of cancer remission — watching from beyond the ropes.”

Full piece.

3. A South African wins in Portugal

AP report…”South African George Coetzee shot a 5-under 66 to win the Portugal Masters by two strokes on Sunday.”
  • “Coetzee finished at 16 under par after birdies on two of the last three holes to seal the victory over Englishman Laurie Canter, who also shot a 66.”
  • “Tommy Fleetwood (64) ended another shot back after making a late charge with four birdies in his last seven holes, including the final two. The Englishman was tied for third with Swede Joakim Lagergren (65), who also finished strongly with birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 17.”
4. From done with the game to KFT winner
Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…“Curtis Thompson was done. Now, he’s a Korn Ferry Tour winner.”
  • “The 27-year-old Thompson captured the Evans Scholars Invitational on Sunday, making birdie on the final hole for a closing 2-under 70 at Chicago Highlands Club in Westchester, Illinois, to finish a shot clear of Will Zalatoris (64) and Jimmy Stanger (66).”
  • “It was the first KFT – and world-ranked – victory for Thompson, who two years ago gave up playing professional golf.”
  • “After a disastrous season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018, he lost his card and decided to quit the game. He picked up the bag for his sister, LPGA star Lexi Thompson, and got a job looping at Pinetree Golf Club back home in Boynton Beach, Florida. During his sabbatical, Thompson also finished his degree (he turned pro early out of LSU in 2014) and got married.”
5. Tiger arrives at Winged Foot
Golf Digest’s Daniel Rapaport…“Woods arrived at Winged Foot Golf Club on Sunday afternoon for some light practice and a nine-hole round, playing the back nine a full four days before he’ll tee it up in the year’s second major.”
  • “Wearing shorts, [EDIT: And an untucked shirt, I might add!] Woods returned to the iconic Mamaroneck, N.Y., layout to prepare for his first tournament there since the 2006 U.S. Open, where he did something he’d never done in his pro career to that point: missed the cut in a major. (That was also the first tournament start he had made since the death of his father, Earl.) He’s been back much more recently, though-Woods played a full 18 with Justin Thomas three weeks ago, when both players stopped over en route to The Northern Trust in Boston.”
 
6. ICYMI: Kisner’s COVID tweet
ESPN’s Bob Harig…”Golfer Kevin Kisner issued an apology and the PGA Tour put out a statement in response to the golfer’s tweet on Saturday morning in which he says he made a “reckless comment” about the guidelines that are in place to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.”
  • “Kisner, a two-time PGA Tour winner who is also a member of the tour’s policy board, responded to former NBA player Rex Chapman, who tweeted on Friday that parents of his friends have died from COVID-19 and that one of his own children was diagnosed with the virus.”
  • “Guess they can’t follow the guidelines,” was Kisner’s reply.
7. A most interesting win
AP report…”Miguel Angel Jimenez completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Sanford International, the PGA Tour Champions’ first event with fans since returning from a break for the coronavirus pandemic.”
  • “Jimenez closed with a 5-under 65 at Minehaha Country Club to beat Steve Flesch by a stroke. The 56-year-old Spanish star won for the second time this season and 10th on the 50-and-over tour.”
  • “How am I going to celebrate?” Jimenez said. “We start already. We have some wine here, it’s my favorite drink. Nice cigar, Arturo Fuentes. … The short period you’re going to be here in this world, enjoy yourself.”
8. Phil was hardly alone… 
PGATour.com’s Sean Martin…“Winged Foot may have been his best chance to win his national championship. Playing in the final group, he arrived at 18 needing a par to win. Instead, his drive sailed off a hospitality tent and his recovery shot ricocheted off a tree and nearly bounced back to his feet. He made double-bogey instead. “
  • “I am such an idiot,” Mickelson famously said afterward. “This one hurts more than any tournament because I had it won.”
  • “His 6 at the last hole dropped him to 6 over par for the tournament, one shot behind winner Geoff Ogilvy.”
  • “He wasn’t the only one who lost the 2006 U.S. Open with bogey, or worse, on 18. PGATOUR.COM recently spoke to the others to illuminate all of the craziness that occurred on Winged Foot’s closing hole:”
9. Cink’s winning WITB
Driver: Ping G410 LST (10.5 degrees @11.5, Big +)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD XC 6 TX (45.25 inches)
3-wood: Ping G410 (14.5 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 70 6.5
7-wood: Ping G410 (20.5 degrees @19.75)
Shaft: Accra FX 2.0 360 M5
Irons: Ping i210 (4-UW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (+1/2 inches)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Raw (56-08M, 60-04L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (+1/2 inches, D6 swing weight)
Putter: Ping Vault 2.0 Ketsch
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Moosejaw McWilligher

    Sep 14, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    So, Kisner pushed for fans to come back to golf ASAP for “revenues”… and then he’s going after people for catching the virus. Hypocrite, idiot, both? Yeah, Chapman was right to reject the apology.

    Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

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3 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

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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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