News

PGA Championship Round 3 Recap

Published

19 years ago

Aug 12, 2007

The only difference for Tiger Woods between Saturday and Sunday in Tulsa will be his playing partner. Scott Verplank has been replaced by Steven Ames. Mr Woods is still atop the leaderboard, his lead three shots.

For his pursuers there is this grim reality, Mr. Woods has never lost a major when leading after 36 holes. He has never lost anywhere in the world when holding more than a one shot lead entering the final round. Gulp.

"I’ve always enjoyed being out in front," said Woods, who was at 7-under 203. "And hopefully, tomorrow I can go ahead and play the way I’ve been playing the last few days." It will be the third time he’s played in the final group at a major this year, but the only time when leading.

For the man who judges the quality of his season by the number of majors he wins this is his final chance to make 2007 meaningful. "I’ve always said in order to have a great year you have to win a major championship," he said. "You can win every tournament, but the majors are where it’s at. And this year, I’ve had some opportunities to deal with this. I haven’t done it. I’m in good shape going into tomorrow and hopefully, I can get it done."

Mr. Woods began his round having to save par on two of the first three holes. On the fourth Scott Verplank, who started two shots behind, pulled within a single shot after trickling in a birdie from 8 feet. Mr. Woods dropped his six foot birdie putt right on top of him. Walking to the fifth tee, Verplank smirked and said, "That guy makes everything." The lead was as many as five shots until the 14th, where Mr. Woods suffered his first bogey in 24 holes.

The only low rounds Saturday were in the morning. Boo Weekley had an opportunity to match Mr. Woods 63 when he teed off on the 18th hole, but three putted from 45 feet for a 65. Mr. Weekley was Sergio Garcia who signed an incorrect scorecard, perhaps out of frustration, and was disqualified.

At the end of the day only five players were still under par. Besides Mr. Woods and Mr. Ames, Woody Austin is at 3 under par and lost his chance to play in the final group when he bogeyed 18 for a 69. Another shot back is John Senden, who also had a 69. "You recognize him as the world’s No. 1, and him having the lead … it’s a tough ask to go out there and compete with him because you respect how good he is," Senden said. "I have to continue on what I have to do best, and if that’s good enough to beat Tiger Woods, well, fantastic." The final player under par is Ernie Els. "The statistics will tell you, yes, it is over," Els said after a 69 left him six shots behind. "But as a competitor, I can’t sit there and tell you it’s over. I can’t ever do that."

Hardly confident statements. The best quote of the day came from Aaron Oberholser, "He knows he’s going to win. I think the scary thing is that maybe he knows that you know he’s going to win."

As for Mr. Ames, there will be the inevitable reminders of the 2006 Match Play where Mr. Woods came out and dusted him with six straight birdies. Big deal. Mr. Ames knows he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. "For me, it’s a great opportunity of being in the situation," he said. "Tiger’s going for his 13th. I’m looking for my first."

As for me, I’m thinking along the lines of Mr Els, who, when asked if he were watching from his house and not as a competitor: "If I was not a golfer — a fan on the couch — I’d be putting my house on him, yeah," . I haven’t checked the book, but I’m thinking if Ernie bet the house he might win enough to add a garage. Once again, Sunday afternoon will be fun to watch.

News

5 Things we Learned: Thursday at the U.S.. Women’s Open

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Gone are the days when the U.S. Women’s Open was held at Scenic Hills or Churchill Valley. Fine courses that they are (or were, as Churchill Valley went bankrupt a decade ago) there is something to be said for the venue. Not all Women’s Open playings need to take place on Men’s Open venues, but some should. This week in Los Angeles, the Women’s Open visits Riviera Country Club for the first time. Down the road, we will visit Inverness, Oakmont, Interlachen, Oak Hill, Chicago Golf, and Merion. That is quite the murderer’s row (1927 Yankees reference) of golf clubs.

What can we expect from the 2026 tournament? Greatness and uncertainty. Unlike the PGA Tour, which visits Riviera each February, the LPGA does not, so the women will not have nearly the body of work over the George C. Thomas layout. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe they’ll play #10 smarter than the men do. Maybe they’ll figure some things out that their male counterparts can not. For today, we’ll try to find five things to learn, and share them with you.

First, this ain’t your momma’s U.S. Open course

How do we know? Well, so far, only one previous champion currently sits inside the top thirty. That would be Minjee Lee, the 2022 winner at Southern (NC) Pines. Lee made par on her first nine holes, the inward side at Riviera. She dropped birdie putts on the first and ninth holes (ten and eighteen for her day) and tallied another seven pars, for 69. She sits three shots off Jennifer Kupcho’s opening 66. Don’t worry about Kupcho; we’ll get to her. After Lee, defending champion Maja Stark ranks T30 at even par, joined by three other, former winners.

What Minjee did, is the sort of thing that wins U.S. Open titles. She guided her ship safely past swells, and made a move when the waters calmed. The fewer the bogeys, the more likely Minjee figures in the outcome on Sunday evening in Pacific Palisades. Off the tee, Lee was unmatched. She hit 14 of 14 fairways. Her iron play was a bit loose in comparison. She putted for birdie on 12 of 18 holes, which meant that her recovery short game was on point. Lee was ten yards longer on measured driving holes than the field average, and was below the field average (a good thing) in putting.

Second, the amateurs beat a loud drum

Three of the world’s top amateur golfer posted 70, placing them four off the lead, in a tie for 14th place. Canada’s Aphrodite Deng, Spain’s Paula Francisco Llaño, and Colombia’s Maria José Marin, showed the professional world that their game is strong. Both Deng and Francisco Llaño collected five birdies on the day. Should they match that output on day two, and minimize the foozles, they’ll be the topic of conversation on Saturday morning. Marin, the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and an NCAA team semifinalist last week, played a game similar to Minjee Lee: few mistakes and few taken risks.

The last amateur to post the low medal score for 72 holes was Jenny Chuasiriporn in 1998. She lost a playoff to Se Ri Pak, who matched her plus-six effort at Blackwolf Run. The last amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open was Catherine Lacoste in 1967. The amateurs are stronger than they’ve ever been, but the professionals have not allowed them to close the gap. A victory by one of the college set would be a cannon shot heard round the world. Could it happen? Absolutely. Is it likely? Not at all.

Third, let’s talk Kupcho

Jennifer Kupcho won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She won three times on tour in 2022, including the Chevron, a major title. She won a fourth event in 2025, but has not established the winning credentials projected on her after 2022’s marvelous coming-out.

Kupcho hails from Colorado, and spent four years in the Carolina Piedmont, at Wake Forest Universtiy. Neither of those locales cries out I’ll be at home at Riviera, but here we are, after a seven-birdie performance. Kupcho posted birdie on each of her first three holes, and added four more (against two bogeys) to assume a one-shot advantage over Korea’s Sei Young Kim.

Kupcho drove the ball decently, approached moderately well, but putted lights out on Thursday. Her 26 putts were tied for best in show on day one. There might just be something about the putting surfaces at Riviera that aligns with Kupcho’s vibe. If that is the case, just get the ball on the green, anywhere, and let the flatstick do the lifting.

Fourth, how young is Sei Young?

Sei (pronounced “So”) Young Kim won a dozen times from 2015 to 2020. She took time off from winning until 2025, shen she captured a thirteenth LPGA title. Like Kupcho, Kim has hardware from one major event, the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship. How to explain the five years away from victory? No idea. When Sei Young was in contention during the prime of her career, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

What to expect over the next three days at Riviera? Anyone’s guess. It might be the 2015-2020 Sei Young, or it could be the 2021-2025 version. Kim began her day with birdies at 10 and 11, then settled into a stretch of pars before her solitary bogey at the 4th (her 13th) hole. Kim regained her composure and reeled in three birdies to close the front nine. Her four-under performance trails Kupcho alone, and there is a real chance that Sei Young will produce a second score in the 60s and take a bit of control of the tournament.

Fifth, we’re giddy for Gaby

Although I cannot place my finger on why, it seems that each year, Gaby Lopez pops up on the U.S. Open leaderboard. She hasn’t figure out how to remain in contention, but here we are, in 2026, and Lopez is once again in the mix. The three-time champion on the LPGA circuit had a stunning first nine holes, turning in minus-five. She reached six deep at her tenth hole, but then gave three shots back coming home. Which Gaby will show up on Friday, and for how long? If back-nine Gaby can somehow channel front-nine Gaby, all outcomes are within reach. If the loose play continues, Lopez’ wiki page will add one more T41 to her majors column.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

2 days ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

4 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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

WITB Albums