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Tour Rundown: Week before Masters filled with excitement

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In last week’s Tour Rundown, only the PGA Tour Champions avoided a playoff. Well, they made up for it big-time, with an extra half-round needed before a winner was decided in the season’s final event. The PGA Tour played municipal golf on a spectacular rehaul in Houston, while the European Tour did something new on something kinda old. Confused? Intrigued? Good! Have a read of this week’s Tour Rundown, where nothing was as it seemed.

PGA Tour Champions goes NINE extra holes at CS Cup

Kevin Sutherland looked for all the world like a winner on Saturday evening. He reached 13-undre par, with a five-shot advantage, after 36 holes. His 69 on Sunday appeared to further his advantage, until Paul Broadhurst came out from beyond nowhere with a heroic 63. courtesy of eight birdies on Sunday. Broadhurst failed to record birdie on the closing par five, something that Sutherland was able to do, to force a playoff. The pair returned to the 17th hole for overtime, where pars sent them on to 18. Kinda smart, huh? Problem was, they both made par there, so back to 17 … and then 18 … and then 17 … and then 18 one last time, before night fell, with no winner. On Monday morning, Broadhurst and Sutherland returned to the course, this time reversing the order. Didn’t help. Pars at 17 and 18 meant the pair had played seven bonus holes over two days, and were no closer to a winner. Finally, at the 8th extra hole, we had a birdie from Sutherland, from long distance.

Then, we had two, as Broadhurst converted a short one, to remain alive. Back to the 17th hole they went. And on the 9th extra hole, Sutherland converted a four-feet putt for a second consecutive birdie, and a title that appeared destined for him, some 36 hours prior. The victory moved the Californian to third spot in the season’s money race. Bernhard Langer entered the final week with a 30K advantage over Ernie Els. Langer and Els tied for 5th in Phoenix, and the season’s money title came to the German great for an 11th time.

Cyprus Showdown left town with the new Lefty

Robert MacIntyre burst onto the European Tour scene in 2o19, suggesting that the southpaw might break through in 2020 for a victory. Throughout the majority of the campaign, MacIntyre had played well, but never worked himself into contention until Sunday. At the Cyprus Showdown, played for a second consecutive week on the island of Cyprus, MacIntyre found himself tied with, well, everyone else as Sunday dawned. That was the plan, thanks to a curious and ingenious new format. The CS, played at Aphrodite Hills, made a cut after 36 holes to the low 30 golfers and ties. Those players teed off on day three at even par, and from there, the low sixteen and ties would advance to Sunday’s final round. Did you guess that they would once again zero the balance sheet? If so, you were correct.

The one fellow who might have felt a bit odd about the whole notion was the USA’s Johannes Veerman. The Texas A&M product played the best golf of everyone, finishing at 18-under on the week. Since he spent his 64s on Friday and Saturday, his 67 on day four was only worth a tie for 4th position. Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura looked a fit for the crown, closing with birdie for 65. Then came MacIntyre, who finished birdie-birdie for 64, and an inaugural European Tour win. The tour takes a break from old-world competition for Masters week, but returns to play on November 19th at the Joburg Open.

Houston Open to Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz in thriller

So many names were introduced to golf fans at Houston last week. Tom Doak and Mike Nuzzo, the two architects who rebuilt the Memorial Park muni to make it Tour-worthy; Brooks Koepka the consulting player; Jim Crane, the man whose vision came to fruition; and Carlos Ortiz. The golfer from Guadalajara began day four a shot back of leader Sam Burns. The overnight leader went the wrong way on Sunday, opening the door for Dustin Johnson (65) and Hideki Matsuyama (63) to reach 11-under par. The stage was set for the two titans to do battle for the championship, but no one warned Ortiz. The three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner (all in 2014!) signed for a 65 of his own on day four, including birdies on 16 and 18. and claimed an inaugural tour title. With the victory, Ortiz became the first golfer from Mexico since Victor Regalado in 1978, to claim victory on the PGA Tour.

Ortiz played his college golf at the University of North Texas, turning professional in 2013. His three victories on the Triple-A tour earned him an instant promotion to the PGA Tour the following season. Since then, Ortiz worked his way into contention on multiple occasions, including a previous-high of 3rd place at the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship. As Masters week dawns, one man is smiling brighter and wider than the rest, with a sincere right to do so.

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.

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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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