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Five Things We Learned: Friday at the Masters

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3 years ago

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Nothing marks an athlete’s career like a return to form from injury. In men’s golf, we speak in hushed tones of the Hogan comeback, as well as the Woods one. Thanks to opening rounds of 65-67, our second-round Masters leader of 2023 has given us reason to consider a third, monumental return from physical damage. Added to this story line is one about a golfer who doesn’t play for prize money quite yet, although his NIL stock will rise after what he did through 36 holes. The next big event will be determined by the only woman in the field: Mother Nature. What she has in store for the Augusta region is anyone’s guess. If we are to believe the weather folk, it’s ominous. We learned just shy of six pm, local time, that round two would resume on Saturday morning. On that wet note, let’s learn of five things that we gathered from Friday at the Masters.

1. Brooks reminds us that he owns four major titles

There is a fair amount to like and dislike about the current tournament leader. He can come across as supremely arrogant, and he can also make our collective hearts flutter with his golfing brilliance. Brooks Koepka was out early on Friday, and he made the most of his thirty-minutes-earlier start. The lad from Florida posted three birdies and an eagle on day two, bringing his two-day total to 12 strokes below old man par. Koepka was away at 8:18, and finished by lunch time.

You’ll easily find tales online and in print, of the excruciating rehabilitative process that Koepka underwent. His left knee was already damaged from a 2019 injury when he … well, you can dig up the details. Suffice it to say that it reads like a minor combat injury, and that’s saying a lot. Fast forward to 2023, and Koepka appears to be all the way back. If any golf course will lay bare your physical stamina, it’s the hills of Augusta National. Koepka will find himself in the final group on in round three, and we will learn if his mental game is on par with his physical one.

2. An amateur did what?

A long time ago, nearly 70 years back, Ken Venturi was the third great amateur challenger for the green jacket. He followed in the footsteps of E. Harvie Ward and Charlie Coe, non-professionals at the time who gave the professionals in the field a run for their money. Sam Bennett is a long way off from joining their ilk, but his performance over the first 36 holes marks a clear reminder that amateurs at the Masters are not a ceremonial note. Each year, an amateur or two make the cut, but they don’t challenge for the title. They are an homage to the great amateur himself, Augusta National founder Bobby Jones.

Sam Bennett appears to have a bit of the original master in his blood and his game. He is the reigning US Amateur champion, an event that Jones won five tines in his career. He is a student at Texas A & M University, and began round two at four-under par, a feat in itself. Bennett dropped a birdie putt at the first to reach minus-five, but dropped back to his original number with a bogey at the fourth. At this point, most amateurs go away. Not Bennett. Birdies at eight and nine were followed by another pair at 13 and 14. Pars filled his card on the remaining holes, and the Madisonville Marauder found himself at minus-eight, in second place, four behind the leader. Somewhere on course eternal, Bobby Jones and Mark Bennett (Sam’s dad) have stopped paying attention to their game, to look earthward.

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, it was before he passed, I got tattooed on my left arm. So I see it every time I’m gripping the club, it’s right there, “Don’t wait to do something.”
You know, I thrive on it. I use it for some motivation. I know how happy he would be seeing me out here at Augusta National doing what I’m doing. You know, this week, I’ve used it to just stay focused and really be locked in to that one shot.
I haven’t played great this college season, which is kind of expected after being U.S. Am Champion, if you look back at the records. But this week, I felt like I was really locked in on what I was able to accomplish.

3. Patience in Euskera is spelled R-A-H-M

The Euskera language is older than pretty much everything. That’s what Fontañeda, my co-worker, tells me. It’s the language of the Basque people of north-central Spain and south-west France. It’s the language of Jon Rahm, and patient is what Rahm has been, through his first nine holes. He drew an afternoon start time on this Good Friday, the seventh of April. Arratsaldean, or la tarde en castellano, or afternoon in English, is when the rains came. To that point, the 2021 US Open champion had made seven boring pars to start his day. He knew that Koepka had gone off, and he also knew that the morning had been kinder to the field.

So, Rahm guarded his pazientzia and found birdies at eight and nine, to reach nine-under par. Comparatively, he is one shot back of Koepka, who stood minus-ten at the end of the first nine.

4. If a tree falls in the rough …

Three trees (or one, or two) fell adjacent to the 17th hole. No one was injured. Nothing to see hear. Move along.

5. Who’s left and who’s going home?

Well, we know that these golfers are going to be around for the weekend, and will certainly make things interesting: Morikawa, Day, Spieth, Mickelson, Rose, Fitzpatrick, Scheffler, Johnson.

We also know that these golfers are down the road, but at least they had Thursday-Friday: DeChambeau, McIlroy, Willett, Conners, Watson, Oosthuizen, Kokrak.

The jury is certainly out on these golfers, so good vibes to them as they try to survive the cut: Power, Mitchell, Cantlay, Pieters, and some guy with 15 major titles.

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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.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. BK IS KING

    Apr 8, 2023 at 2:35 am

    1. Brooks. 2. Brooks. 3. Brooks. 4. Brooks. 5. Brooks.

    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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