News

Last Second Christmas Gifts

Published

18 years ago

Dec 24, 2007

R Hetzel

Are you a last minute shopper? Always wondering what you should get that special person on your gift list? Many of us here at Golfwrx suffer from the same problems while holiday shopping. Here are a few ideas for every budget to get you jump started and spending in the right direction.

For under $10, a sweet Tiger Woods magnetic hat clip with ball marker. As everyone knows, Tiger Woods is a great putter, arguably the best. Start using this hat clip and ball marker and you can pretend you are a great putter (all the time) as well.

Want to spend a little more? Do you have a friend who just can’t putt and always frets over his lack of putting skills? If he has a sense of humor, you can buy him this country-blues mix CD, The Three Putt Blues by Brian Hall ($20, if you get lucky they might pay you to get it). Never heard of him or his music? Neither have I. Don’t want to take a chance on this CD? Then go with the TW ball marker or go bigger.

Have a little more cash burning a hole in that pocket of yours? Worried your gift won’t be a hit? Have no fear. Try a dozen of the new and improved Bridgestone e5+ or E6+ golf balls ($26+). Golf balls are always a hit for that golfer on your list. If they haven’t ventured into the Bridgestone realm before, they ‘ll love these over their usual top rock variety of golf ball that they typically receive as gifts during the holiday season.

What? You have nothing to chip or lob those shiny new seamless Bridgestones with? I’ve got you covered pal. How about a pair of new wedges? I’ve had my eye on these Cleveland DSG (Dynamic Sole Grind) 588 wedges (I am partial to the oil cans myself) for quite some time now. Both of these short game tools will surely enhance your wizardry in the sand, around the greens and they’ll look great in the bag to boot! Go ahead pull the trigger and buy them ($220+)!

Your friend has been talking about the boutique/custom putter rage that’s the talk of all the internet putter message forums right now. Namely speaking, Byron Putters ($300+) and C&L Putters ($300+), but he can’t make up his fickle mind on what to get. You can order a fully customized, tour quality putter the exact way you like it for about the same cost a top of the line putter off the rack at your local golf shop or big box golf store. Trust me, order the custom jobby instead, you’ll be glad that you did. In fact, I won’t even tell on you when the putter never actually makes it into your friend’s bag, but stays in yours instead. If that happens, get him the ball marker, balls and that 3 Putt Blues CD as a back up.

Ahhhh…these are all very nice, but you want to go a little larger this holiday season? OK, I hear ya now. How about a far East golf excursion? Don’t like flying? That’s OK, I was speaking more along the lines of a set of hands down, top quality forgings from Miura. Anyone who is a true golf connoisseur surely knows that these are arguably the best iron forgings that one can buy.

Sure a set of Miura forgings will set you back a pretty penny ($1500+), but you’ll be playing the best set of forged cavity backs at the club each and every Saturday morning with your regular foursome. At least until they place their order shortly thereafter.

You already have a nice selection of Slighters, C&L, Mills and Byron putters and you still have that achy breaky heart for the holy grail of anser style putters? That’s right, the venerable and tour stalwart Cameron 009. Get hold of a Titleist rep and order this now. I am sure it will bring much yuletide cheer, just make sure your Visa has an extra $5-7K available on it. Of course your wife’s diamond tennis bracelet will have to wait until next year, or longer.

What’s that you say? You like some real bling while rolling? Your H2, Escalade and or your SL 500 AMG is always sporting the latest dubs or chrome bling? Why not drop some real cash and start sporting a dubbed out, custom golf cart while at the club? This bad boy ($10-15K +) even has the low profile Falken race series rubber. Hopefully the cart paths are paved at your course. This is how I’d wanna roll.

The best and most expensive item on this year’s shopping list has to be a new putter. Sure, there is a putter more expensive that that Cameron 009 we previously looked at. That’s right and more specifically, a Tiger Woods GSS Newport 2 Cameron replica putter. While we all know you can’t get Tiger to sell you his current gamer at any price, you can, if you search long enough, purchase a back up or exact replica for around $25 large. Will it make you putt any better?

Probably not, but it will make a great conversation piece that hangs on the basement or office wall as it begs to be gamed. It would probably be a really good idea NOT to tell your better half what you spent or that you took out a smallish second mortgage in order to get this.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

16 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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

2026 The Memorial – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

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