Tour News
Drama will unfold at the Frys.com Open
By Joe Romaine
GolfWRX Contributor
A season that began with such promise for so many on the PGA Tour is slowly winding down. In 2012, golf fans saw the likes of Jason Dufner and Rickie Fowler break through for their first wins and the unquestionable resurgence of Tiger Woods is finally growing old. Time is running short for aspiring Tour players yet to secure their cards for the 2013 season.
The 2012 PGA tour leader boards were dominated by household names such as Tiger, Rory, Ernie,and Bubba. Very little room at the head table was saved for the young players on Tour hungry for success. But while the biggest names in the game are collecting a hefty purse and appearance fees in Turkey and elsewhere, some very talented players will be battling it out in California to earn a little security and a future home on the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods made waves in 2011 by adding the Frys.com open to his fall schedule. Whether it was a PR move or an earnest attempt to ingrain his in-progress swing change to muscle memory, it proved successful. All the drama and stories that Tiger’s presence produces always adds excitement to any event. The Tiger versus Rory conversation has slowly supplanted the Tiger versus Phil banter. However, the 2012 version of the Frys.com open possesses no such drama in which the fans and media can engage. In fact, at last count, this tournament will only field one of the current top 40 on the PGA tour money list. But what the tournament will be lacking in media frenzy, it will have in grit and determination. The field this week only consists of two winners from the 2012 season. Although 16 major champion titles will be represented, only three of those have occurred within the last five seasons. With such a large percentage of the field yearning for success, all the drama this week will be right where it belongs — inside the ropes and on the course.
In its short five year history, the Frys.com open has provided some wonderful, close finishes. Three of the five editions of this tournament have been decided by a playoff. That translates to this event averaging extra holes every other year. Even in 2010, an ever-so-rare non-playoff year at the Frys, the tournament wasn’t without final-round entertainment. Rocco Mediate holed a 116-yard shot for eagle on the 17th hole Sunday to secure a victory — and his Tour card — by one shot. It was his fourth hole out (one was an ace) of the tournament. With so many participants looking to secure a Tour card, for a first win of the year, or even a first career win, the intensity, drama and pressure will be immense.
Although 2012 victors will be scarce among the field this week, there will be some familiar names and faces stalking the fairways at CordeValle Golf Club. Ernie Els is a four-time major winner, including this year’s Open Championship, and tied for fourth at last year’s Frys. If the Big Easy has even a decent week with his putter, the familiar sight of the big South African’s name will be high on the leader board come Sunday. Another name, albeit not nearly as familiar as Els, is Bud Cauley. Bud Cauley joined an illustrious list of names last year by playing his way onto the PGA Tour without going through the Q-School or the Web.com tour. Cauley finished solo third last year and should have plenty of confidence returning this week.
A few other names that stand out are Nicolas Colsaerts, Gary Woodland, Aaron Baddeley and Luke Guthrie. Colsaerts is looking to secure a 2013 PGA tour card this week. He has expressed his affinity for the American Tour and if he shows just a glimpse of what he did during his first appearance at the Ryder Cup, there is no reason to doubt his imposing presence next year in the states. The uber-athletic Woodland will look to take advantage of his gargantuan tee shots and recent work with Butch Harmon to light up CordeValle. Much like Els, if Woodland has a good week on the greens, look for him to be a threat for his second career tour win.
One player that rarely, if ever, has issues with the putter is Aaron Baddeley. Badds needs to reverse his trend of fading down the stretch in order to pick up his first tour win since 2011. Finally, Luke Guthrie is no stranger to winning. He has two Big Ten tournament titles to his name and also won two Web.com events in September alone. With his 2013 PGA tour card all but secured, look for Guthrie to play fearless golf and continue his momentum and be near the leaders on Sunday.
This week, the absence of the spotlight and glamour that comes with the biggest names in golf will be apparent. The roars of the galleries echoing through the grounds will be replaced with more subtle claps and muted cheers. But while the stage this week at the Frys.com open has changed, the drama sure to unfold will remain the same. A large majority of the players in this week’s field will be playing their hearts out and laying it all on the line in an attempt to secure not only a Tour card, but also a role on the main stage among golf’s elite.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
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
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
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
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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