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Tour Mash: Rickie holds on, Fichardt surprises

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It was a light week for professional golf around the world. Tours were in transition across the globe, leaving just three events up for grabs in South Africa, Thailand and Florida. Each event offered its own brand of drama, along with an uber heart-warming story. Try not to tear up over this week’s mash; if you do, we understand.

PGA Tour: Fowler holds on for title at Honda Classic

Fowler…Fowler? It was getting to that Ferris Bueller point, wondering if Rickie Fowler was absent or present when it came to individual crunch time. The Oklahoma State product was 10-over when leading a tournament after three rounds throughout his professional career, and has been known more as an opening act than a closer.

The 28-year-old, U.S.-Ryder Cupper closed the door on Sunday with a four-stroke victory over college teammate Morgan Hoffmann and Gary Woodland. It wasn’t a pretty finish, as Fowler found water and sand on the final two holes. Fortunately, Woodland played worse over the closing stretch and the winner’s earlier work was enough to seal the deal.

Related: Fowler’s Winning WITB

Fowler entered Sunday with a four-stroke lead over Tyrell Hatton of England, then played a head-scratcher of a front nine (two birdies, two bogeys, one double) to open the door to challengers. Just as quickly, Fowler posted three birdies on the first seven inward holes, establishing a gap that he would preserve until the end. Hatton struggled early, but recovered enough to join a seven-player tie for fourth.

European Tour: Joburg Open for Fichardt in 54 holes

If you’re a betting golf fan, start picking the cold cuts each week on the European Tour. For the second time in three weeks, a golfer on the furthest thing from a hot streak came out on top. Darren Fichardt, playing a home-country event in Johannesburg, South Africa, committed to a “play through it” strategy, and it paid off sooner than he anticipated.

Fichardt had a tie for the 36-hole lead when all weather broke loose. Lightning was joined by rain, which led to flooding and an abandonment of Saturday’s play. When Sunday was delayed by two hours, the elimination of 18 holes was authorized.

In Round 3, Fichardt had four birdies and began to distance himself from the pursuit. His co-leader at day’s start, Paul Waring, and Stuart Manley reeled him in, both finishing at 14-under par. When Fichardt bogeyed the 17th hole, a playoff seemed imminent.

Just as quickly as the previous day’s lightning strikes, the 41-year-old Fichardt stuffed his approach in tight at the last, then dropped the birdie putt to claim his fifth European Tour title. All three combatants qualified for the 2017 Open Championship with their finishes.

LPGA: Honda LPGA Thailand to Yang for second time

Amy Yang finished one agonizing stroke off the medal platform in Rio last summer. Part of the South Korean juggernaut that challenges week in and out for LPGA supremacy, Yang got back on the winners train in Thailand, posting four rounds in the 60s for a five-stroke win over compatriot So Yeon Ryu.

On Day 4 of the event that Yang had first won in 2015, only Lexi Thompson was able to go lower than the 68 that Yang and Ryu posted. Thompson and Danielle Kang ended up as low Americans, tied for fourth at 13-under. Sei Young Kim finished solo third at 15-under, while Ryu signed for 17-under. Yang’s 22-under total established a new tournament record.

LPGA Sisterhood Support for @tiffjoh

Tiffany Joh, by all accounts, is awesome. Plays piano, surfs, raps, smiles a lot, engages with fans. She also received the inimitable news that her battle with melanoma was successful, and she is cancer-free. A bunch of her closest mates on tour got together to celebrate the news.

Caution: some of the lyrics in the chosen song are Not Safe For Work (or children) #NSFW.

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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 2024 RBC Heritage

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GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.

We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.

We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.

Check out links to all our photos, below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open

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GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.

The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.

GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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