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Tour Rundown: Greatness rises

Published

3 years ago

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It’s time for golf to rest for a bit. Yes, there still are playoff chases on the LPGA, DP World, Korn Ferry, and PGA Champions tours, but none of them carries the gravitas of the conclusion to the PGA Tour.

The Solheim and Ryder Cups will be contested in back-to-back weeks, in glorious Spain and Italy, but that won’t happen for another month. That might be the coolest idea ever, but that’s a story for another column.

This week, we saw wins on five tours, plus a senior women’s open in the USA. That’s a lot of running, but we have the verbal legs, so let’s dash off with this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour @ Tour Championship: This conversation is all about Viktor

Over the last month, we saw two incredible fortnights of golf on the PGA Tour. First, it was Lucas Glover, winning back-to-back and inserting himself into every conversation on the golf planet. These last 14 days have given us the rise of Hovland, as Viktor Hovland stormed to greatness with wins at Chicago and Atlanta.

Speaking of conversations, it was supposed to be a fight to the finish, between Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. As things turned out, it was Viktor Hovland who moved the party to his place. No doubt, Rahm will win the Player of the Year award, but Hovland certainly inserted himself into that conversation.

For those who crunch numbers, Hovland and Xander Schauffele posted equal totals of 261 strokes over the four days. Thing was, Viktor began the week with that five-shot advantage over the 2021 Olympic champion, that came from the year-long seeding process. For those who love minutiae, there will always be a conversation about who might have won a playoff between the two. Fact is, it’s fiction. Xander gave great chase, and might have closed the gap to two shots if Viktor had not drained the par putt that you see below.

With the win, Hovland earned his third victory of the year, and a FedEx Cup title. Now, it’s on to that first major title, which we believe should come in 2024.

USGA @ Senior Women’s Open: Johnson has just enough petrol for victory

Waverley Country Club closes with two par-5 holes. With those two holes left to play, Trish Johnson had a three-shot advantage over Leta Lindley. Both had been close in this tournament in recent years. Johnson had T3 and T2 finishes since 2019, while Lindley was runner-up last year at NCR Country Club. Lindley made birdie at 18, while Johnson posted bogey at 17. In that flicker, the lead was one shot. Summoning all the strength and vibes of a career in touring professional golf, Johnson found her fifth stroke at the bottom of the 18th cup, just enough fuel to claim a one-shot, outright victory.

In truth, it was much closer than that. Catriona Matthew, Lindley, and Johnson came to the final four holes in a virtual tie. Johnson made birdies at 15 and 16, to stretch a margin. Matthew ultimately placed solo third at two under par. Lindley’s last-hole surge brought her to three-deep, while Johnson managed that 4-under finish by the width of a blade of grass.

DP World Tour @ Czech Masters: It’s Clements’ time!

Todd Clements is 27 years old. He does not have a Wiki page, which tells you much about his career. On Sunday in Prague, Clements played what he called the best round of his life. He made three bunches of consecutive birdies: 1-3, 6-8, and 10-12. Probably around the 13th tee, Clements realized what he was doing. He had caught countryman Matt Wallace, one of the hard-luck kids from England, and had a two-shot advantage. Wallace made a birdie at 14 but could make no more. He finished at 21-under par.

As for Clements, he parlayed his incredible opening 12 holes into a 63. He managed to par the remaining six holes, and when he picked his ball out of the cup on 18, the young man from Colchester had a life-changing scorecard to sign. With the title, exemptions, and invitations await, as 2023 just got a whole lot brighter!

Korn Ferry Tour @ Boise Open: Chan can, for the second consecutive week

This Chan Kim wanted in on the consecutive-weeks club. After Glover and Hovland, the Arizona State alum held off a hard-charging David Kocher to win again on the Korn Ferry Tour. How hard-charging? Well, Kocher posted a 59. Yup, that’s pretty speedy. As for Kim, he opened with 66, then went no higher over the next three rounds. 62 on Friday, followed by twin 64s on the weekend, gave him a two-shot advantage over the latest member of the sub-60 club.

Don’t think that Kim was unaware of Kocher’s magic. Despite the pursuit, the native of Korea was resolute in his mission and was able to claim the first playoff event of the KFT 2023 extra session. The tour moves on to Tennessee and Ohio after a two-week break, then concludes the season in Indiana. For Chan Kim, the future is bright, and it takes place on the PGA Tour.

LPGA @ Canadian Women’s Open: Khang survives day four for title

Meghan Khang opened the door, unsealed the envelope, and let the field back into the chase for the Canadian Women’s Open in Vancouver. Jin Young Ko took advantage and finished tied with the young American at 9 under par. The pair went off to a playoff hole, where Kang was able to make a regulation par. Ko could not match, and the first LPGA victory arrived for Meghan Khang.

How did the pair reach that stage in the tournament? The final round was filled with potholes for Khang. By the time she reached the 11th tee, she had zero birdies and three bogeys on her card. Ko was 2 under on the day and had closed the gap. 11 was massive in the outcome. Khang righted course with a birdie, while Ko gave one back with bogey. Khang played the final six in even par, while Ko grabbed two more birdies to force overtime, but oh, what might have been, had the 11th hole been different!

PGA Tour Champions @ Ally Challenge: Singh’s song is same

Vijay Singh was always the golfer we thought would dominate the senior circuit. The former great on the PGA Tour is 10 years into his second career and has five victories to show. Admit it, weren’t you thinking the same thing? Veej is tall and fit, completely committed to his game, so how does he average a win, every other year? Another story for another column.

This week in Michigan, Singh and company faced the task of catching Paul Goydos, who held a tenuous lead with 18 holes remaining. Goydos had an unfortunate, five-putt on Sunday’s 17th hole, and closed with 71 for a T3 finish. Mounting a charge, in addition to Fiji’s finest, were Jeff Maggert, Tim Petrovic, and Stephen Ames. Ames and Petrovic reached 12-deep to tie Goydos, while Maggert went one better, with 69 for minus 13. Despite bogey at 15, Singh’s total for day three was 68 strokes, precisely what he needed to outdistance the field.

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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

Published

3 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

on

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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