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Tour Rundown: Schauffele in full form, Mullinax books a trip to Fife

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The eyes of the golf world were equally focused on Scotland, Kentucky, and Ohio. The prestigious Scottish Open took place at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, while the Barbasol Championship held court at Keene Trace, just south of Lexington. The second of three consecutive, major titles on the Tour Champions settled matters at Firestone Country Club, in Akron. It’s a fine time to be a golf fan, with more links golf on the horizon. Buckle in and enjoy our recap of July Week Two of 2022.

Cue Tour Rundown.

DP World Tour/PGA Tour sees Schauffele return full to form

Even though Xander Schauffele made a lipstick on a pig reference to his final-round performance at the Scottish Open, it was skilled enough to win a second consecutive tour event, and situate him as a threat this week at St. Andrews. Schauffele found himself 11 shots back of the leader after round one but, as golf aficionados know, one round does not a tournament make. As Cameron Tringale left the 60s for good on Friday (following the magic with 72-74-70 for a 6th place tie) the 2020 Olympic gold medalist moved up the leaders board with middle scores of 65 and 66. The question on Sunday’s morn was, could Schauffele preserve his position?

What made it all more demanding was the blow-up of his Sunday partner, Rafael Cabrera Bello. RBC had won the Scottish Open before, but the way he played on day four was nothing like that performance. The Spaniard had two birdies on the day, but those were erased by a double at the 12th, and seven bogeys on the card. The Iberian hopeful tumbled from 2nd to a tie for 36th, and lost a chance at earning a spot this week in the Open Championship.

The primary challenge to Xander’s run came from American expat Kurt Kitayama. Kitayama plays the majority of his schedule overseas, and he solved the East Lothian course as few others did on the final day. A 71st-hole bogey kept Kitayama from reaching seven-under par, which proved to be the winning number. Coupled with Schauffele’s birdie at the 70th hole, Xander had the luxury of playing the last hole in five strokes for the win. Kitayama, Jamie Donaldson, and Brandon Wu all qualifed into the 150th Open Championship with their finishes at Renaissance.

PGA Tour: Barbasol victory earns Mullinax a trip to Fife

Trey Mullinax was a part of the fabled UAlabama teams of the 2010s. He earned a pair of wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, prior to ascending to the big time. On Sunday in Kentucky, Mullinax took a giant career step by holding off Kevin Streelman, to earn an elusive and first PGA Tour title. The win secured playing privileges for two years, and compelled the Birmingham native to rearrange plans for this week. He’ll join former teammate Justin Thomas at St. Andrews for the Open championship. This will be his first appearance in the oldest major, and his third overall.

Mullinax left the mid 60s for a minute on Saturday, posting 67 after opening with twin 65s. On Sunday, he returned to that zip code with 66, including a marvelous birdie at the last, from 15 feet. Runner-up Streelman was equally electric on the inward half, posting four birdies. Unfortunately for the DukeU alum, he had a pair of bogeys coming home, that sealed his second-place status.

PGA Tour Champions: Kelly takes ownership of Senior Players

Jerry Kelly nearly pulled a Young Tom Morris move, and retired the belt, errr, trophy awarded to the Senior Players champion. Kelly won the event in 2020 for his first senior major, then came agonizingly close to defending in 2021. His runner-up finish was followed by a return to the winner’s podium, giving him two wins in three years at the event.

When Kelly is in contention, fellow Wisconsonian Steve Stricker is rarely distant. Such was the case again at Firestone on Sunday. Stricker reached nine-under par at the penultimate hole, and had a run at birdie at the last. The putt did not drop, and that allowed Kelly the luxury of a two-putt for bogey from ten feet. The former hockey goalie just needed one putt, and his 11-under total gave him a two-shot win over his statemate.

Tied for 3rd at eight-deep were Ernie Els and the explosive Steven Alker. Alker looked as good as anyone to make a run at Kelly, but he could never get off the birdie-bogey two-step. A bogey at the last dropped him into a tie with Els, who finished with 68.

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.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Premature

    Jul 11, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    Schauffele Blew his load to early.

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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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