Connect with us

News

Tour Rundown: The Sentry opens 2024 PGA Tour play at Kapalua

Published

2 years ago

on

The news cycle demands that humanity process massive quantities of information throughout each day, week, and month. Items that held our attention one day, retreat into the background as new data on society, politics, athletics, and other fields seize our interest. It might be easy to forget that five months ago, we all watched and read in desperation, as the island of Maui suffered the wrath of nature’s forest fires. Helpless, we hoped and prayed for the best, yet understood the size and depth of the tragedy.

Maui is the island where the PGA Tour begins each season, and although Kapalua’s Plantation course emerged unscathed physically from the fires, a toll was taken on its employees, its neighboring properties, and its psyche. To have the world’s best golfers return with enthusiasm, would mean that Maui would take another step toward healing. This week, golf did not provide an escape from reality. Instead, The Sentry championship stood shoulder to shoulder with all those who work to salve the wounds of this part of paradise.

Round One

The marvelous Plantation layout from Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw serves the purpose of exciting golf fans around the world with the potential for baskets of birdies and eagles. Golf balls soar against azure backdrops, and run for miles along firm fairways. 400-yard drives are not uncommon, and for just a week, we feel that the world’s best have summited Olympus and descended as gods. Day one of The Sentry saw the par-73 course offer opportunities galore for saved strokes, and no one took advantage like Sahith Theegala. The California native parlayed 10 birdies into an opening 64. Six of the birdies came on holes 10 through 15. We kept looking for his scramble partner, only to realize that the Pepperdine alumnus was doing the lifting himself. A bogey at 16 showed his humanity, but a closing birdie at 18 gave him the one-shot advantage.

On Theegala’s trail was the international quartet of Jason Day (Australia) Camila Villegas (Colombia) Viktor Hovland (Denmark) and Collin Morikawa (USA.) Each managed an eight-under 65 on day one, and none has greater interest in a win than Morikawa. The two-time major champion from Cal-Berkely held a firm grip on this title last year, only to surrender strokes over the final nine holes, and cede top spot to Jon Rahm. At Kapalua, one simply must follow a strong round with another one; pars rarely get the job done.


Round Two

Tyrrell Hatton’s final eleven holes on Friday could easily be mistaken for a scramble team that stopped for a drink on hole 14. The English man recorded a score of birdie on eight of those holes, an eagle at the last, a par at the 11th, and an inconceivable bogey at the driveable, par-four 14th. Hatton’s score lowered the weekly best by two shots, and moved him within one shot of the lead.

A familiar name sat ahead of the competition after 36 holes. Scottie Scheffler, current world number one and six-time Tour winner, posted a smart 64 of his own, to move from seventh to first. Scheffler’s round began with a hiccough-bogey at the second, but turned toward the sun with three birdies and an eagle over the next seven holes. The inward side saw the 2022 Masters champion celebrate five birdies, including one at the dramatic finisher. Scheffler’s lead amounts to little, at one shot. Matching Hatton at 15-under, one shot behind the front-runner, are Brendan Todd and Sungjae Im. On their heels are four more golfers, including 2023 Sentry runner-up Collin Morikawa. Saturday promises to be the moving day of all moving days, as one of the leaders hopes to go super-low and take a healthy advantage into Sunday’s closing 18.


Round Three

The official tag line of the PGA Tour was changed to These guys are rusty on Saturday at Kapalua. Not all of them. There are guys at 19, 20, and even 21 under par at The Sentry, but it’s the ones we expected to hold form, that didn’t. On Saturday, it was Scottie Scheffler’s turn. Scheffler made three birdies on the day, countered almost perfectly by two bogies. He posted a 72 on a day when mid-60s numbers were everywhere. In a fit of irony, he was paired with Sahith Theegala on Sunday. Theegala (two paragraphs up) is the fellow who frittered away a lead on day two.

Tyrrell Hatton looked nothing like the fellow who posted 62 on day two, and moved within a shot of Scheffler’s lead. Hatton had a triple and an eagle on the front nine, then a bogey and three late birdies on the back nine. In his defense, he told us that the round-two 62 sort of stunned him; he should have been much more comfortable going ten shots higher on day three.

For much of the day, the 54-hole leader looked to be Akshay Bhatia, who posted 66 after rounds of 69-64 for openers. Then came Chris Kirk, who closed with eight birdies after a third-hole bogey. He signed for his own 66, and eclipsed Bhatia by one. Tied for third at -19 were Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, and Byeong Hun “Ben” An. Confidence was high that the winner would come from that quintet, but after what we’d seen over the first three days, any scenario could unfold.


Day Four

Things returned to normal at Kapalua Plantation on Sunday. The low 60s (scores, not temperatures) that we expect from the Coore/Crenshaw routing appeared in bunches. First-round leader Sahith Theegala sailed through the course with 10 birdies against eight bogies, improving by one over his Thursday tally. In the end, Theegala needed one last birdie, and the hole that tended to be the easiest to notch, stood firm against him. Theegala was not able to reach 18 in two, then left his approach pitch 10 feet from the hole. He was unable to convert the up-and-down, and signed for 28-under par over four rounds.

Also chasing the lead was Jordan Spieth. The multiple-major winner had eight birdies through the 15th green, but missed right on 16 with his tee ball. A wretched lie in the fairway bunker forced a sideways pitch-out. Despite a solid wedge from just under 80 yards, Spieth missed a putt from a dozen feet for par, dropping a critical stroke. He secured the birdie at 18 for which Theegala longed, and claimed solo-third position at 27-under par.

Earning his sixth career win, and second in 11 months, was Nashville native Chris Kirk. The UGA Bulldog was the model of consistency this week, never above 67 and never below 65. The later came at an opportune time, on day four. Kirk posted 30 birdies and one bogey (third hole Saturday) for the week. He had zero flashy eagles, but did make the most of his opportunties. No better example of that than his approach to Sunday’s 16th, which settled to 24 inches for a tap-in birdie to reclaim the top spot.

Related Topics:

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.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Jun 1, 2026

By

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

 

 

Continue Reading

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jun 1, 2026

By

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

Continue Reading

News

Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

4 weeks ago

on

May 31, 2026

By

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

Continue Reading

Announcement

Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use have been updated as of January 29th, 2026. Please review the updated policies here Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. By continuing to use our site after January 29th, 2026, you agree to the changes.

WITB

Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)

Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Whats in the Bag1 month ago

Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)

Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Whats in the Bag1 month ago

Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...

Facebook

Trending