Tour News
5 Things We Learned on Day 1 of the 2017 U.S. Open
America’s heartland debuted its first U.S. Open course today in Wisconsin. Erin Hills, the course that was built for this moment, was a gracious hostess. To the delight of the fans and golfers, she offered birdies galore.
Many familiar names occupy rungs of the leaderboard. From our seat in the gallery, we saw a lot, but we’ll keep it to the five things we learned on Day 1 of the 2017 U.S. Open.
1. Dick Fowler, P.I., Wants His Major Title Now
Recapping @RickieFowler's first-round 65 in under two minutes. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/jKZRUqfncw
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
Rickie Fowler (aka Dick Fowler, P.I., from the early Farmers Insurance commercials), is so over the other guys (Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson) winning majors before him. He wants his Open, now!
On Thursday, Fowler hit the Erin Hills course in a marquee morning threesome with Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama, and he zipped seven birdies into his suitcase. His 65 held the lead all day, and it gave him a one-shot cushion over Paul Casey heading into Friday’s afternoon round.
2. Xander Schauffele Is This Year’s Andrew Landry
Xander Schauffele joins the party at 5 under with this pure birdie putt on No. 5. https://t.co/xGcDH9jET6
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
Without a doubt, the only German-French-Japanese-Taiwanese golfer in the field at Erin Hills is this year’s outta-nowhere guy. In 2016 at Oakmont, it was Andrew Landry, who led for not just one, not just two, but three rounds before finishing in a tie for 15th place.
Schauffele was a mildly-decorated amateur golfer before his only year on the Web.com Tour in 2016. He earned his promotion in the tour playoffs, but he played Round 1 at Erin Hills like a wiser sage. The Californian stood at 2-under as he turned to his second nine, the front.
He played error-free golf there as well, adding four more birdies to tie Casey, one back of Fowler. Last year I swore up and down that Landry would not win, and he almost proved me wrong. I’ll say the same about Schauffele, and I hope that he sticks around even longer.
3. Birdie Runs Are Out There… Just Ask Adam Hadwin
????????????????????????@ahadwingolf is 4 under after six consecutive birdies on Nos. 18-5. #USOpen https://t.co/Wrrz2yyns6
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
Six loonies in a row for Adam Hadwin, the 2017 Valspar Champion, on Day 1 of the U.S. Open. Hadwin’s second to the par-4 5th hole was two rotations from an eagle. Although his run ended with a bogey at No. 6 (Hadwin began his round on the back nine), he recorded his seventh birdie of the day on No. 8 to return to 4-under.
4. Erin Hills Is No Pushover
Erin Hills, meet 2011 #USOpen champion @McIlroyRory. https://t.co/lvLPCf9AgC
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
Despite the low numbers (more than 40 golfers broke par on Day 1), the course did not play easily for everyone. Waaaaay down the leader board, somewhere between amateurs Scott Harvey (6-over) and Walker Lee (9-over) were (gasp) Rory McIlroy at 6-over and Jason Day at 8-over.
Day’s round was one of unbelievable inconsistency. After opening with birdie at the first, he tripled No. 4 and birdied No. 7. Not terrible, plenty of holes left. Then came three bogeys and another triple over the next four holes.
Like Day, McIlroy started well. He drove the green at the par-4, second hole and drained a long putt for eagle to reach 2-under. Two bogeys on the outward nine, followed by two more on the early holes of the inward half, made his predicament tricky. His unfortunate response was doubles on Nos. 15 and 17 to lose all contact with the leaders. Oh, Billy Horschel joined them at 7-over after opening his round with a quadruple-bogey 9.
5. Sergio Garcia May Finally Have The Patience For Majors
Masters champion @TheSergioGarcia is off to a quite a start at the #USOpen. https://t.co/UVjWpFxb7M
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
Yet another golfer who started strong (an eagle at No. 1), Garcia made three bogeys in the middle of his round. Pre-Masters title, Sergio might have cited the wrath of hobgoblins and leprechauns, but the major-champion Sergio is different. The Spaniard birdied two of his final four holes to finish in red numbers at 2-under.
Golf needs a late-30s Garcia to go on a Mickelson-like, Hoganesque run in the majors. He is the epitome of the late bloomer, despite blooming early at different levels of expertise. And wins at the first two majors of 2017 would certainly make the jobs of golf’s pundits a lot more interesting!
- LIKE99
- LEGIT9
- WOW2
- LOL1
- IDHT1
- FLOP4
- OB1
- SHANK6
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE23
- LEGIT6
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.
The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.
The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.
Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.
We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!
General Albums
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #3
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #4
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Tuesday #1
WITB Albums
- Brandt Snedeker – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Max Greyserman – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Eric Cole – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Carl Yuan – WITb – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Russell Henley – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Justin Suh – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Alex Noren – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Shane Lowry – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Taylor Montgomery – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) – WITB – – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Sam Ryder – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Maverick McNealy – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Tua Tagovailoa mini WITB (NFL QB, Miami Dolphins) – 2024 Cognizant Classic
Pullout Albums
- New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- LA Golf new insert putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Swag covers – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jacob Bridgeman’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Bud Cauley’s custom Cameron putters – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Ryo Hisatsune’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Chris Kirk – new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters
- Alejandro Tosti’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Joohyung Tom Kim’s “new” center-shafted Scotty Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE10
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Tour pro calls Anthony Kim a ‘f*****g idiot’ following Instagram comeback post
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
This Rory McIlroy post-round ‘The Match’ moment is going viral…but all is likely not what it seems
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks ago
Anthony Kim WITB 2024 (February)
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Anthony Kim’s speculated LIV Golf sign-on fee may surprise you
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks ago
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
The total sum that Sergio Garcia needs to pay in fines if he wants to return to DP World Tour revealed
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Joaquin Niemann names 3 PGA Tour events he’d love to play each year ‘in a perfect world’
Shi Suk Dik
Jun 17, 2017 at 2:47 am
You wrong again
Tom54
Jun 16, 2017 at 2:07 pm
I find it hard to believe Rory said his poor driving Thur was cause of a little rust are you kidding me? He said he had played 8-9 rounds lately. Maybe he’s just not the awesome driver that everyone touts him to be. He should never have left Titleist in my opinion. So much for 60yd fairways huh?
Red Scotty
Jun 16, 2017 at 10:03 am
Nice work Ronald. Personally I love having the US open back. Set up went missing for a few years and I think some guys forgot how to take medicine and get back in play. Bring on more today !
Ps. Hadwin may have 3 jiggled to break his birdie streak but you have to love the run he put on the birdie effort from downtown trying to make it 7 in a row – love it
carl spackler
Jun 16, 2017 at 8:28 am
and the pros were all complaining about how tough the course was and the rough was too high. keep it in the wide (by tour standards) fairways as you can easily shoot in the 60’s
Ronald Montesano
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Depends on the weather. If the weather in the afternoon is calm, then I don’t think he goes higher than 70.
If the USGA decides to shave the greens, however, it will put pressure on everyone’s game.
Travis
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:34 pm
#6. Tour Pros are still wildly inaccurate off the tee…
Ronald Montesano
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:29 pm
Ha ha…you’re right, and they don’t care. Get it down there long and spin a short iron.