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Tour Rundown: Lilia Vu’s major win | Hardy & Riley

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3 years ago

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The third weekend in April brough the year’s first LPGA women’s major championship. Much was done to replicate the experience at Mission Hills, and other new elements were brought to the fore. That event was supplemented by the team event on the PGA Tour, a first-time DP World Tour competition in Japan, and tournaments on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour Champions circuits. It was a full slate of challenges for the golf fan, and it merits a slow and deep Tour Rundown. Let’s dive right in.

If we have one word on the evening of Sunday, April 23rd, it’s playoff. Only the two-man event on the PGA Tour was decided in regulation play. The excitement meter in professional golf just melted the needle. It’s time to find out who took care of business in overtime.

LPGA-Chevron Championship: Lilia Vu wins inaugural playing in Texas

Lilia Vu was a highly-decorated golfer in the amateur ranks. The professional learning curve is finally rounding into shape for the California resident. Vu posted a final-round 68 at Carlton Woods in Texas, highlighted by birdies on her final two holes. That performance moved her to 10-under par, into what would be a tie with Angel Yin.

Yin began round four in a tie with Allisen Corpuz. Neither golfer could find the magic dust that brought them to double-figures under par through 54 holes. Corpuz tripped over five bogeys on day four, posted plus-two for the round, and dropped to a tie for 4th spot. Yin had the lead to herself at eleven under, as she addressed her tee shot on the 16th hole. Two bogies later, she was in need of a birdie at the last to force a playoff. Yin made birdie and she and Vu went back to the final tee for extra play.

The playoff was over soon after it began.  Yin had five feet left for par when Vu addressed her fifteen-feet birdie putt. Although it broke quite a bit at the start, it straightened out at the end, dropping in the left side of the hole for birdie and victory. Nelly Korda placed solo third at minus-nine, but it took a final-hole eagle to get her there.

PGA Tour-Zurich Classic: Two-man event features first-time winners in Hardy & Riley

If Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler had been able to play foursomes on Sunday as they did on Friday, this segment would be about them. Instead, the duo played the final three holes in two over par, and posted a feeble, one-under par on day four. Their struggles opened the tee deck for a surgent team, and two stepped up.

Canadians Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor electrified the galleries with seven consecutive birdies, on their way to a nine-under par 63. The duo was unable to post any birdies over their final five holes, and they came home in 28-under par. Behind them, Davis Riley and Nick Hardy built a tidy round of their own. Seven birdies against zero bogies totalled 65 on their card, and they reached a magic number: thirty under par. Their tournament record was enough to hold off the Maple Leaf and every other duo in the field. With the victory, both players moved inside the top forty in the FedEx Cup race.

DP World Tour-Handa Japan: Herbert wins playoff in Omitama

No one would recommend the Lucas Herbert plan for travel to Japan from Orlando. The Aussie was delayed by storms in Florida, missed his connecting flight in New York, and ultimately arrived in time to play round one at the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan, the first-ever for the European circuit. With no prior knowledge of the course, Herbert ran off rounds of 67-63-68-67, to earn a spot in a playoff with Canada’s Aaron Cockerill.

Cockerill had acquitted himself well over the four days. He signed for two rounds of 64, and buttressed those with 68 and 69, to join the weary traveler at 15-under par. Just missing out on extra time was Scotland’s Calum Hill, who needed one final birdie over the closing four holes. He had played that stretch under par each previous day, but could not find the magical stroke on Sunday.

Both playoff disputants had runs at birdie and victory on playoff hole #1, and both missed by an eyelash. On the second extra hole, Herbert was wide-left with his tee shot, but found a safe patch, He negotiated an iron to within fifteen feet, then drained the putt for victory. If you missed his final two shots, enjoy them below. The win was Herbert’s third on the DP World Tour.

Korn Ferry Tour-LECOM Suncoast: Gutschewski outlasts McAllister in playoff

It isn’t often that a score of 59 doesn’t figure in the top 15 golfers, let alone win the tournament. Mac Meissner posted the magic number on Friday, but the other three rounds were less than stellar, and he ultimately tied for 16th position. Who was the story? For a time, it was Kevin Dougherty. For all time, it was Scott Gutschewski. A player hampered by injuries and inconsistent play, finally earned a third KFT title, fifteen years after his last one.

At an age (46) when journeymen golfers consider alternate career paths or begin preparation for the senior circuit, Gutschewski found himself in a battel with a much more youthful Logan McAllister. After Kevin Dougherty, the third-round leader, gave up the ghost with a final-round 71, it was left to Gutschewski (68 for 263) and McAllister (66 for 263) to settle matters in extra time. Just missing out on the playoff at 264 were Chase Seiffert (69) and Ben Silverman (68.)

The leading duo returned to the 480-yard closing hole at Lakewood National. McAllister found the green, while Gutschewski was off the front edge of the green. With the stealth of a burglar, the journeyman pro rolled his fifty-feet birdie effort into the jaws of the hole. McAllister could not match, and Scottie G. had earned a bit of comfort as the KFT heads through spring, toward summer.

PGA Tour Champions-Invited: Hensby moves to full status with first win

It took 58 holes of golf, including four extra as the sun dipped low, but Mark Hensby withstood everything that Charlie Wi could throw his way. Hensby even dunked his second shot in the water on the first playoff hole, but survived to continue the fight. When Wi flinched on the fourth playing of the 18th hole (one in regulation and three in extra time) and made double-bogey seven, Hensby’s mundane par five was enough to secure a title and playing privileges for the remainder of 2023.

Wi’s lie off the tee on hole 58 was so nasty, he had to take an unplayable lie. It did not get better for him, as he chopped his way to an eventual two-putt for seven. Hensby also drove in the rough on the final hole, but was able to extricate himself to the fairway, and reach the putting green in regulation figures.

Alex Cejka seemed invincible after rounds of 66 and 64 staked him to a lead on Saturday night. A different Cejka awakened on Sunday, played his first six holes in plus-three figures, and recovered agonizingly close to the top two. Cejka made birdie at the par-three 13th, and needed one more to return to -12. He played the final five holes in par figures, and finished one shot shy of the playoff.

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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.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

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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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