Tour News
Amidst distraction, Rory McIlroy two strokes back in South Korea
True, opening with rounds of 70, 69 in a OneAsia Tour event isn’t exactly the same thing as doing so in a PGA Tour tournament. Nevertheless, Rory McIlroy putting himself in contention heading into the weekend in any tournament is noteworthy, given the golfer’s month-long hiatus and multiple sources of distraction at present.
The struggling McIlroy made seven birdies Friday at Woojeon Hills Country Club to move within two strokes of leader Soon-sang Hong.
“I’m driving the ball very well and for the most part my iron play is pretty good,” McIlroy said. “But I definitely missed a few opportunities out there. I definitely could have been a few shots better, but I’m in a good position going into the weekend and that’s all you can ask for.”
McIlroy may be in a “good position” as far as his play on the course is concerned. Off the course, however, rumors continue to swirl about a breakup with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki. Even though both parties have denied they’ve split, tabloid tales and questions persist.
Also, McIlroy is taking legal action against his former agency, Horizon Sports Management, alleging that the company had collected too much in commissions and fees. Also at issue: Whether the golfer was pressured into signing a contract with the company that wasn’t in his best interest.
As was widely reported, McIlroy and Horizon have parted ways, but golfer is seeking to recoup nearly $7 million in fees. Horizon, of course, feels the fees were justified and claims they played a critical role in securing the Ulsterman’s deal with Nike.
Regardless of how this situation plays out (and surely it won’t end quickly or quietly), the news only broke on October 14th, just days before McIlroy teed it up in Korea. And all of this, of course, is merely the icing on the cake of lackluster play, constant second-guessing, and general frustration that was the golfer’s 2013 season.
McIlroy, for his part, has several tournaments left in 2013. On the slate is the $7 million BMW Masters in Shanghai, where he was runner-up at last year, and the WGC-HSBC Champions. Surely, the oft-criticized Nike staffer will be looking to build on the positive momentum he’s established through the opening rounds in Korea.
And with all due respect to Misters Soon-sang Hong, Sung-hoon Kang, Hyung-tae Kim, and In-choon Hwang, whom together the former World No. 1 trails, if McIlory is able to focus, dig deep and play his C+ game, he should win handily this week.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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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
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence 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
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Billy
Oct 20, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Tied for 2nd.
spolle
Oct 20, 2013 at 10:45 am
It´s Not even close to true that Mcilroy would easily win with his c+ game. The differences in skill level between different tours are much smaller than that. If not, why do we see players from the korean tour and the European tour establish themself in America?
Steve
Oct 20, 2013 at 1:56 am
Lol at the European Tour being better than the PGA Tour. No chance at all.
shanked
Oct 19, 2013 at 10:07 am
Shot a 75 and is now 10 back. “A” for effort. Overall grade: C+
William
Oct 19, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Sorry Harvey is wrong. The European tour is not better. We have the progression tours and we move about a bit but PGA have every bit as talented players. The benefit of our tour is the places we visit. Love watching the golf in Africa, Dubai, Australia and my favourite Cran Sur Sierre. A global tour as well as Europe, which helps our players with all sorts of conditions and grass types and to a large degree bonds them together with the traveling and different cultures every week. Maybe life in Europe is tougher!
Andrew Cooper
Oct 19, 2013 at 8:02 am
“…with all due respect to…”?! Or with no respect whatsoever. So 2 back, tied 5th, yet he could win handily with his c+ game over the weekend?!
Yank
Oct 19, 2013 at 7:54 am
Harvey is mistaken. To such a degree that I presume the olposite everything he wrote.
98% of all professionals current and former believe and will state the PGA is the premier tour in terms of competition and skill level.
Harvey
Oct 19, 2013 at 10:20 am
98% – made that one up
Tyler
Oct 21, 2013 at 11:18 am
The European tour is good but the best players in the world play on the PGA tour.
Mike
Oct 22, 2013 at 5:57 am
The PGA Tour has the most money, therefore attracts the best players, period! I’m sure there are quotas for american players and internationals can’t get in, therefore they are forced to play the other tours.
However, the American courses are easy, nice wide open fairways. Par 71, par 70s? come on ladies, where are you hitting from? Everyone knows the toughest courses are from the home of golf. Scotland and there are some damn fine courses in Australia that put the US ones to shame. Unfortunately the population down in Aus doesn’t allow for the sponsorship dollars in golf, so the competitions don’t attract the prize money of the PGA, and therefore the big names.
Harvey
Oct 19, 2013 at 4:24 am
It doesn’t matter what game you bring, anyone on any pro tour can shoot a -10 weekend.. News flash, the Asian tour is strong just like the SA and OZ tours. PGA has money but the standard is not even close to European tour
patrick
Oct 19, 2013 at 7:59 am
I think Harvey had few too many pops when posting that comment. The PGA tour is the standard all other tours aspire to. The european tour isn’t even close when it comes to strength of field. To think otherwise is ridiculous. Check the world rankings and see where those guys play their golf.
Harvey
Oct 19, 2013 at 10:19 am
Very ignorant comment, the PGA tour gets a few of the best from around the world due to money and the rest is made up of Americans who are scared to leave the country in fear of a hard golf course.. Check out the scores from Australia this week, field is made up of invites and guys trying to save their card but the big shots off the PGA tour are nowhere. My point is how can you call it the best tour in the WORLD when you only play in one country
SN
Oct 21, 2013 at 3:21 am
Well,,, it’s the tradition… and mentality, maybe.
Like MLB calls its final “World Series”
and when minorities or Asian start dominating the tournaments like in LPGA,
the true color would start to reveal…
“we are not happy about ‘those’ players, they are not contributing… etc.”
Get used to it…
ams165
Oct 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Harv.
You’re a little low on oxygen.
The PGA is the best tour in the world.
That would be like saying the NHL is not the best hockey league in the world…..
pinhigh27
Oct 19, 2013 at 2:41 am
C+ game? I dont think you understand how close the fields are, even on lesser fields.. Tiger can’t win on the PGA tour with his C+ game…. Maybe B+