News
Tour Rundown: And then there were 30
Playoffs are cutthroat. Sahith Theegala made bogey on the 72nd hole this week, after posting birdies on holes 69, 70, and 71. That bogey dropped him from T10 to T15, and cost him a spot in the Tour Championship. One stroke, after all the practice and competition from last October to Sunday. Emiliano Grillo, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, and especially, Sepp Straka, did their best to drop out of the top 30, but somehow, they found a way to secure the 27th to 30th spots, and a berth in the big-money event in Atlanta.
The U.S. Amateur concluded in Colorado, and the simultaneous women/men events in Northern Ireland celebrated two distinct champions. The Korn Ferry and Tour Champions also served up trophies to event winners. Late August is a busy time for golf so, with a tip of the cap to Nick Dunlap, the new U.S. Amateur champion, let’s run down the pros and their results in this week’s Tour Rundown.
PGA Tour @ BMW Championship: Hovland storms back to claim playoff win
Not since Shigeki Maruyama, the smiling assassin, has a golfer grinned in both defeat and victory, as does Viktor Hovland. On Sunday, Hovland came home in 28 strokes, making birdie on all holes but the par threes on the inward half. His 61 jetted him past third-round, co-leaders Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler, and everyone else in the field. After a season of disappointing, final rounds in the PGA Championship and other events, Hovland was able to bury those memories with one stellar scorecard.
Neither Fitzpatrick nor Scheffler played poorly on Sunday, but each had a pair of bogeys that they could ill afford to admit. With Hovland on a tear, it was keep up or settle, and no one could keep up. The tour now moves on to Atlanta, where Hovland will begin the week two shots behind front-runner Scheffler, in the pro-rated Tour Championship.
The moment that sealed the deal.
Viktor Hovland's closing hole @BMWChamps was nothing short of incredible. pic.twitter.com/Jz9cQMpPRZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2023
LPGA/LET @ Handa World Invitational: Did anyone see Pano coming?
Imagine that you’re 18 years old, on the cusp of 19, and you’re playing in the Handa World Invitational. Imagine that you post a final-round 66 that includes nine birdies. Imagine that you tie for the top spot with two other golfers, go into a playoff, and ultimately make birdie on the third extra hole to win your first tour title. Welcome to the world of Alexa Pano. The young Floridian eschewed college golf for the professional ranks and this week’s result makes the decision appear justified. Pano began the week with 76, but improved each day, to 70, then 69, before Sunday’s stellar round. She began the day four shots behind England’s Gabriella Cowley, one of the playoff participants. Cowley closed birdie-eagle after a lackluster day, to find herself in overtime with Pano and Germany’s Esther Henseleit. Both Cowley and Pano made birdie at the first extra hole, then battled twice more before Pano ended things with a two-putt.
We have a new solo leader after this from @alexapanogolf on 17 ?#RaiseOurGame | #WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/hEcfpVijIM
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 20, 2023
Korn Ferry Tour @ Magnit Championship: Chan can and did!
Chan Kim did quite a thing this week in New Jersey. Kim began the week in 54th position, 24 spots away from the PGA tour card awarded to the regular season top 30 on the Korn Ferry tour. On Sunday, he played a back-nine, four-hole stretch in five under par to separate from third-round leader Taylor Dickson and secure a Korn Ferry title. With the win, Kim moved up 42 spots, into the top 15. His future got a little brighter, thanks to his brilliant, closing 64 on Sunday. As for Dickson, fate could not have been much crueler. His runner-up finish was enough to elevate him to 31st on the regular-season money list, exactly one spot and 23 season points away from the same tour card. Dickson will have another opportunity to secure a tour card during the three-week playoff run, but he would certainly love to have less pressure as the tour heads to Idaho and the longest-running event in tour history, the Boise Open.
A birdie putt to remember?
Chan Kim fires a 64 to win @MagnitChamp pic.twitter.com/7n5q6jx1ZP
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 20, 2023
DP World Tour @ Handa World Invitational: Mr. Brown is back in town
Daniel Brown played so magnificently through the opening 54 holes, that he found himself in one of golf’s cursed positions: the six-shot advantage with one round to play. For those who remember the 1996 Masters, those sorts of leads are never safe, and in that event, Nick Faldo was the beneficiary of a historic collapse. Alex Fitzpatrick, in a second-spot tie with Wilco Nienaber with one round to play, cut Brown’s lead to two but could get no closer. The younger Fitzpatrick brother has been on a tear the last month and secured a runner-up spot this week in Northern Ireland. After a bit of a blaise start, Brown righted the ship and cruised to a five-shot win. Eddie Pepperell regained form this week and closed with 68 to secure a full podium for England. The tour moves onto the European mainland next week, for the Czech Open.
Back on track. @danbrown212 recovers from three consecutive bogeys with a birdie at the par three 14th to move three clear ?#WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/jBX2fFDqoR
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 20, 2023
PGA Tour Champions @ Shaw Charity: Duke reigns by narrowest of margins
This week on PGA Tour Champions was one for the numerologists. Runners-up Thongchai Jaidee (66-69-62) and Tim Petrovic (62-66-69) posted identical rounds in differing sequences. Champion Ken Duke, one slim shot ahead, signed for 66-64-66. However, there’s always more to the story than statistics, so let’s dive deeper on Duke. PGA Tour Champions is the fourth tour on which Duke has won, and this victory was his first on the second-chances tour. The 54-year-old didn’t go super low, as did his closest pursuers, but he never left the mid-60s, and that made all the difference. On Sunday, Tim Petrovic failed to make birdie on the par-five closer. Jaidee and Duke made four at the last, and if it weren’t for the bogey at 14, Jaidee would have had 61 and a tie at the top. Duke had a pair of bogeys on the outward half, but more than made up for those stumbles with six birdies on the day. The victory moved him from 40th to 21s in the season-long Schwab Cup race, meaning that he might get to extend the season a bit more, come October, assuming his victory celebration didn’t cause any damage!
KEN DUKE BREAKS THROUGH??@DukePGA birdies 18 to win the @ShawClassic, his first career victory on PGA TOUR Champions. pic.twitter.com/iZwMEBh5Wu
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 20, 2023
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament
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
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
News
Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley
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
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
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
News
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
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

