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Back to back: Tech Sunday at the Masters
So if it keeps on rainin’, levee’s gonna break
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s gonna break
When the levee breaks, have no place to stay
Led Zeppelin’s levee broke last year for Rory McIlroy. If he hadn’t won the Masters in 2025, he probably would not have won in 2026. McIlroy always knew how to win the green jacket, but knowing and doing are different altogether. As Bobby Jones is attributed to have said, there is golf and there is tournament golf, and the two bear little resemblance. With his one-shot triumph over Scottie Scheffler, Rory is now halfway (or three-quarters way) to a second career grand slam.
McIlroy began the day in a dead heat with Cameron Young, recent winner of The Players Championship. Young struggled to find his authentic game on Sunday, posting two birdies and three bogeys for 73 and a tie for third, two back of the champion. Charging hard on Sunday was Scheffler, who made up four shots in a bogey-free 68, and finished solo second at -11. Tied with Young for third were Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton, and two-time runner-up Justin Rose.
Rose will sleep worst tonight. The Englishman reached 12-under par by the ninth green, but bogeys at eleven and twelve dropped him back to minus-ten. Like Young, Rose could not buy a birdie on the second nine and was once again gutted by the course and tournament that he dearly loves.
How did Rory McIlroy survive a gut-check, first nine, then calmly build his lead on the second nine? Let’s take a look at five shots that ironed the wrinkles from his game and brought him once more to victory. Unlike Jack Nicklaus, who had to slip the jacket on his own shoulders, Rory benefitted from the same treatment as Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, the last two winners in consecutive years. This time around, chairman Fred Ridley did the honors.
Thanks to Todays Golfer and Inside Tour Golf for original equipment reporting, and to the Augusta National Golf Club/Masters Tournament for video links.
Shot #1: Second shot at the fourth hole
McIlroy addressed the ball on the tee of the par-three fourth, fresh off his first birdie of the day, and promptly decelerated on a long iron. The ball sailed left, shortsiding the defending champion, and leaving a deep bunker between his ball and the hole. McIlroy stepped up and zip-flopped his wedge to five feet. Never mind that he took three putts to get the ball in the hole. McIlroy could easily have dumped the wedge in the bunker, or thinned it across the green, but he did neither. Regardless of the double-bogey outcome, McIlroy had to take heart from his recovery pitch.
Critical Club: 60-degree TaylorMade MG5
Shot #2: Tee shot at the seventh hole
Rory McIlroy absolutely crushed … hold on, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Rory McIlroy made bogey at the sixth hole, the second par-three on the first nine. His heroic tee ball landed pin high right and bounded over the green. He failed to get up and down, and dropped back to minus-nine. The wheels were spinning and the train was wobbling. Then, Rory McIlroy absolutely crushed his drive on the par-four seventh, leaving 100 yards to the hole. His wedge approach landed long, then eased down the slope to six feet, where he converted for his first birdie since hole three. McIlroy would follow up with another birdie at eight and return to even par for the day. Without that confident swing off the tee, who knows where the round might have routed.
Critical Club: TaylorMade Qi4D driver, fitted with a Fujikura Ventus Black 60g X-Stiff shaft.
Shot #3: First shot at the twelfth hole
Remember for a moment, if you will, that Rory McIlroy had made a mess of the first two, short holes on Sunday. Forget that four and six demand long irons, while number twelve asks but a mere pitch to its putting surface. The Eddy Effect, the swirls of winds down in the hollow of Raes Creek, has rerouted many a mere pitch into the watery depths that front the green. McIlroy stepped to the tee and carved a nine-iron tee shot over the creek, just past the front bunker, seven feet from the hole. His putt for two was center cut, and he was back in the lead.
Critical Club: TaylorMade Rors Proto 9-iron (similar to the P7MB model) carrying a True Temper Project X Rifle 7.0 shaft.
Shot #4: Third shot at the thirteenth hole
After smoking a driver to a right-side, hanging, fairway lie, McIlroy went for the green in two on the first par-five hole of the second nine. His club slump told the story: this one was headed left. McIlroy’s third was from a declivity, long and left. Eschewing a pitch shot, McIlroy putted up the slope and across the green. His speed was perfect, and the ball broke slightly right, leaving him four or five feet for birdie. He converted, the putter was officially back in his good graces, and McIlroy reached two-under on the day.
Critical Club: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3 putter
Shot #5: Pick one
McIlroy’s drives at fifteen and eighteen barely stayed on the planet, but his recovery shots found daylight. His wedge third at fifteen barely cleared the water, but clear the water it did. His tee shot on sixteen ended in a familiar (cough, Tiger, cough) spot long and left. Given the historic knowledge and a better lie than the originator had, McIlroy putted to the fall line, and watched his ball slide to within inches of the hole for par. At this juncture, he was full-on palimpsest, re-creating the canvas that had depicted doom and frustration on previous major and Masters occasions. On seventeen, from the middle of the fairway, his approach drifted right, yet he nearly pitched in for the second time this week. McIlroy did very little well over the closing four holes, but his Houdini act lasted long enough for him to claim victory. As will always be said, it’s never the how, but rather, the how many.
Critical Club: The six inches between his ears.
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...
