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Five Things We Learned: Tech Thursday at The Masters
Heavy is the unworn crown; lighter is the crown well-earned.
If that quote is unfamiliar to you, it’s only about five minutes old, as I conceived it. Certainly it has its roots in classical theater and philosophy. After one round of the 2026 Masters Tournament, the 90th playing of the Spring Invitational, Sam Burns and Rory McIlroy sit atop the board at five-under par. For McIlroy, the well-earned crown is light. As defending champion, he has nothing left to prove. He has made no overtures about a need to join the Faldos, the Nicklauses in winning consecutive titles. Rors can swing carefree. As for Sam Burns, well, the unworn crown will grow heavier, the better he plays.
Let’s move along with the five things that we learned on Tech Thursday at The Masters. This is our first men’s major championship with the Tech element added in, and we could not be more excited. Leave some feedback for us in the comments section, to let us know how you feel about this evolution.
Part One: Play those par fives well
Sam Burns made one eagle and three birdies on the par fives, while Rory McIlroy settled for four birdies. Burns reached the second and fifteenth in two shots, missed number eight wide left, and laid up on thirteen. He played a long iron into two, where he had about ten feet for eagle. A hybrid got him home on fifteen, where he took two putts from one side of the green to the other. On eight, he recovered nicely from greenside port, and on thirteen, he hit a wonderful pitch inside ten feet. Burns drove into all four fairways to begin the long quadrilateral, and relied on a hot putter to close each hole.
Unlike Burns, McIlroy drove his par-five tee balls in military fashion: wide left, wide right, wide right, wide left. He pitched and punched from the trees on two, thirteen, and fifteen, and played a choked-up driver off the deck on eight, where he reached the green in two. McIlroy also relied on a sizzling stroke with his putter. None of his four birdie drops was more ludicrous than the last one. Far above the hole on fifteen, McIlroy coaxed a sliding, twenty five-feet putt to move hard right and tumble down at the proper moment.
Gear Bags
Burns used a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Max driver to find all those fairways. Callaway’s Apex hybrid and TCB irons were responsible for getting him near the hole, and his Odyssey Ai-One 7S putter rolled the Callaway Chrome Tour X ball into the hole. McIlroy wasn’t nearly as successful with his TaylorMade Qi4D driver (unless you count off the deck) but his TaylorMade MG5 wedges and Spider Tour X3 putter were enough to counterbalance the big stick, and send his TaylorMade TP5 golf ball to its home.
Part Two: Treat yo’putter
In addition to Burnsy and Rors, Kurt Kitayama and Patrick Reed took advantage of froghair love. They find themselves at three deep, two back of the leaders, thanks to putters that averaged 1.5 putts per green or fewer. Reed was a sliver better than Kitayama, and that sliver can be traced to Kitayama’s sole three-putt green, on the 11th. Kitayama also took three putts on five, but his first came from one inch off the green. Watch him on long putts the rest of the week. Reed was spotless on the surfaces. He took 26 putts on the day, yet had bogeys from beyond the green on 10 and 15. Either wind or bad yardages got him on both holes, so keep an eye on his interactions with his caddy.
Gear Bag
Kurt Kitayama put his faith in a Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype, the same one that he used to win in Minnesota last summer. Patrick Reed won the greens today with a Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Proto.
Part Three: Why Rose isn’t four under par
Justin Rose stood in the middle of the 17th fairway at minus-four. Two holes later, he signed for 70. How did he lose two shots over the closing stretch? Poor iron play. Rose came up woefully short of the 17th with his approach, and that’s not a green to miss. On 18, Rose found himself in Sandy’s Sands. Unlike Lyle, he was unable to put his approach shot anywhere near the putting surface. Whether it was a Miura TC 202 (4-6) or a Miura MC-502 (7-PW), the 2025 runner-up picked a wretched time to miss the target. On the day, Rose was 14 for 18 in greens in regulation, so perhaps his finish was the outlier. We’ll know in three-days time.
Gear Bag
Rose stocks his Miura irons with KBS Tour C-Taper 125g S+ shafts. Perhaps a gust of wind shot up just as Rose hit his approach on the penultimate hole. Perhaps he was concerned about catching the fairway-bunker lip on the 18th, leaving his next shot in the sand. Rose will need courage to play similar shots if he is to challenge again this year.
Part Four: Fairway metals provide the mettle
Keegan Bradley stood on the 13th tee at plus-four figures. Four holes later, he was even par, and that’s how he finished. Irons coaxed into 14 and 16 left 12 feet for birdie, and he encourage both putts into the crevasse. It was his approach shots into 13 and 15 that saved the day. After fairway-finder drives at each par five, Bradley faced all-or-nothing shots from well over 200 yards. At 13, he reached front-left and took two putts for a four. At 15, his metal turned left a bit too much, but he remained dry. A pitch and a putt later, he had the third of four consecutive birdies. If Bradely deciphers the front nine on Friday, watch out.
Gear Bag
Bradley games a 16.5 degree strong four/weak three metal, of the TaylorMade Qi10 HL family. That club was responsible for two of his four second-nine birdies. Bradley’s Srixon ZX5 MKII (3-5) and Srixon ZX7 MKII (6-PW) irons brought home the other pair of birdies. Oh, that’s right. He made four putts. Credit that Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Jailbird putter for those saved strokes.
Part Five: The Lurker
Recently, Jason Day has been part of The Lads, a group of Aussie YouTubers. On Thursday, Day slowly worked his way up the leader board. He was the only golfer among the top fifteen to improve from early to late, and that sort of pattern will serve him well over the next three rounds. Day’s lone bogey came at the par-four third hole. After a blasted drive, Day’s wedge betrayed him, failing to spin. The long bound forced a chip back to the surface, from where Day took two putts for a score of five. Birdies at 8, 12, 13, and 16 settled Day in third position with Reed and Kitayama, two back of the lead pair.
Gear Bag
Day did everything well enough on Thursday. He hit 12 of 18 greens in regulation, drove the ball in 10 of 14 fairways, and other than the pitch on three, played reliably from around and on the greens. For a guy who lives near Cleveland, it’s ironic that he games Avoda irons, made in Steel City USA (aka Pittsburgh.) Day is a true free agent, with a Ping driver, TaylorMade fairway metals and a TaylorMade Spider putter. At this stage, he plays what he likes and what works.
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
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
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
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
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...
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:...
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...
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...
