Tour News
Tour Rundown: Jess Korda gets back in the winner’s circle in record-setting fashion
#AllTheFeels no doubt qualifies as this week’s Tour Rundown hashtag. First, you’ve got Jess Korda returning from the PUP list to win the LPGA Thailand in record-setting fashion. Next comes Eddie Pepperell, whose cheeks and chin smile grander than his mouth, no matter the moment. He snagged his first European Tour title in Qatar. You want more? How about Ben Campbell, sidelined for over a year with a chest illness, rebounding from a playoff loss in the same event last year to win the New Zealand PGA?
PGA Tour Honda Classic
All right, there was one winner from the Usual Suspects category. Hopes were high for a Luke List Breakout or an English Tommy Fleetwood Conquering of the Colonies triumph. In the gloaming, it was that young, familiar face of Justin Thomas, hoisting his eighth tour trophy.
How he won
Thomas seems to be that old soul who modifies his tactics according to the venue. We’ve seen him go low when conditions afford the opportunity, and we’ve seen him manage a calm day with aplomb. On Sunday, Thomas and company dealt with the wind, whose only demand was to avoid mistakes. Other than a 9th-hole bogey, Thomas did just that. He positioned himself with a Saturday 65, then followed it up with a firm 68 on Sunday. In the playoff, Thomas’ busted a drive up the fairway’s right side, then reached the putting surface with his second shot. Two putts later, his birdie clinched the trophy.
Click here to see the clubs JT used to win the 2018 Honda Classic.
How the others did mighty battle
Luke List was the fellow most might have pulled for, had they not been in the Thomas camp. Come to think of it, perhaps that was Fleetwood. Both are engaging fellows with enviable stories of diligent work. List had a chance to enter the pagoda of victory after spending time in golf’s minor leagues, but a wayward drive on the playoff hole made birdie a bit more elusive. His par was ultimately shy of Thomas’ birdie effort. Fleetwood had victory in sights when consecutive bogeys at 14 and 15 dropped him out of the lead. He rebounded with birdie at 16, but would have needed two more to join the playoff. In the end, it was Sweden’s Alex Noren in third at 7-under, followed by Fleetwood at 6-under for the fourth spot.
CLUTCH CITY! ????@JustinThomas34 stiffs it at the 72nd hole!#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/06ynrxqhvG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2018
Pepperell dumps the bagel with first Euro Tour triumph at Qatar Masters
There are few as gregarious and witty in professional golf as Eddie Pepperell. Between his blog and his twitter account, his opinions are well-known and well-versed. Pepperell’s previous top finish was a playoff loss at the Irish Open. His T16 at the U.S. Open last year gave a hint that his game was rounding into proper form. His work this week was stellar, from start to finish, and his trophy, well-earned.
How he won
Pepperell fended off challenges from Oliver Fisher on the final two days. He birdied the 18th on Saturday to tie Fisher atop the standings, then held steady on the outward nine, as Fisher struggled. Sunday was the only day that the winner failed to birdie the closing hole, but a short putt for par was worth 100 times its weight in gold.
How he lost
Fisher got off track with consecutive bogeys at the 4th through 6th holes. With the outcome all but settled, Fisher unsettled matters with five birdies on the inward half, to reach 17-under par. Like Pepperell, Fisher failed to birdie the finisher, after three consecutive days of birdies. That and the lone hiccough on the inward side, a bogey at the 13th, prevented Fisher from mounting a massive comeback and earning his second tour triumph.
That spin ????
Pepperell is two clear, with two to play. pic.twitter.com/j8iHxF6ktS
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 25, 2018
Korda back on top with win at LPGA Tour Thailand Classic
Jessica Korda had two eagles in Thursday’s first round in Chonburi. A good thing it was, as she also had two bogeys and a double. With the balance sheet even, she added six birdies and joined three golfers atop the leader board. On Friday, Korda closed her round with yet another eagle, but it came on the heels of eight birdies, giving her 62 on the day and a lead she would never relinquish.
How she won
What? That intro didn’t tell you enough? OK, Korda followed up her 66-62 start with a 68-67 conclusion. She pencilled 25 birdies and three eagles on her four scorecards, and won by four over the tandem of Moriya Jutanugarn and Lexi Thompson. Korda alternated pars and bogeys over her final nine holes, a unique achievement that established her margin of victory.
How Moriya and Lexi ended up second
Moriya started the day four strokes back of the leader, and would have needed 63, 1 lower than the day’s best, to climb into a tie with Korda. Achievable, perhaps, but a slow start (six consecutive pars) doomed Jutanugarn’s chances. As for Thompson, she made the most of what there was. Playing Happy, like the inscription on her putter face, Lexi etched eight birdies onto the relief of her round, jumping from fifth to second at day’s end. Her 64 was tied with Jin Young Ko and Pornanong Phatlum for round four low score.
.@Thejessicakorda makes breaking records look easy ????@hondalpgath pic.twitter.com/VXDRtU7LYZ
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 25, 2018
Campbell defends home country with New Zealand PGA Championship title
Ben Campbell must have searched in vain for countrymen alongside on the 1st page of the leaderboard. No matter, he said, I’ll simply make a few birdies and survive my late bogey, and hold the lot of them off. At least, that’s the internal conversation we imagined!
How Campbell came back
The Kiwi was tied with Aussie Deyen Lawson on 16-under at day’s start. While Lawson experienced the unfortunate birdie-bogey kind of day, Campbell was able to post three birds against one boge, and held off Ashley Hall for the victory. Lucky charm for Campbell? His mother caddied for him this week! Want more good fortune? Campbell played the Manawatu golf club over and over while honing his game. Sometimes, the stars align.
How he lost
Hall played the round of the day, a 65, to gain four strokes on the leaders. His work moved him into a tie for second with Lawson, two behind the first place mark. It would be ludicrous to suggest that an 8th-hole bogey, his only one on the final day, kept Hall from victory. Hall put himself in position to win, but Campbell refused to release his hold on the top spot.
After a frustrating day on the greens @BenCampbell09 was hard at work on the practice green so tomorrow he can see more ________???????? #NZPGA pic.twitter.com/os5xwNe6Wj
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 24, 2018
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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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Greg Elder
Feb 27, 2018 at 11:59 am
She was threatened that her sister was getting more attention than her. They fixed her pig nose and droopy face and now she is better looking than Nelly. Its obvious.
Shawn Gillen
Feb 27, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Totally agree with you Greg. I smell serious you know what on this story.
Mower
Feb 26, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Awesome play by Jess! Hope this year’s good for her.