News

Stricker Tops Leaderboard at Barclay’s

Steve Stricker used seven birdies to vault past K.J. Choi and into the 54 hole lead at The Barclays on Saturday. Mr. Choi’s mundane 70 allowed ten players to creep within five shots of the lead. Hunter Mahan tied his second tournament record in five weeks with nine birdies, all from 12 feet or less, in a round of 62 to put himself into a tie with Rich Beem for third. Another shot back are Geoff Ogilvy, Rory Sabbatini, and Woody Austin, whose name has become a fixture on leaderboards of late. Steve Flesch, Kenny Perry, and Ernie Els stand another shot back heading into today’s final round.

Published

19 years ago

Aug 26, 2007

Eric Schuster

Steve Stricker used seven birdies on his way to the 54 hole lead at The Barclays, the first time he’s been in this position since the last century. His 65 sent him past second round leader K.J. Choi and into first alone. In his last four events, two of them majors, Mr. Stricker has shared the lead or been a shot behind only to come undone. His last event, the PGA Championship, his putter, of all things let him down.
"One of these times, it’s going to come out in my favor," said Stricker, whose 14-under 199 tied the 54-hole tournament record.

Mr. Choi allowed all kinds of folks back into the tournament when his driver let him down on the back nine. A birdie birdie finish salvaged a 70 and share of second place. The round of the week belonged once again to Hunter Mahan, who tied a tournament record for the second time in five weeks with a stellar 62 that left him tied for third with Rich Beem.

Mr.Beem is perhaps the most desparate of the contenders, he has to finish in the top 10 in order to advance in these playoffs. The first eight holes it appeared Mr. Beem was in the process of packing his bags, however an eagle at the ninth righted his game and he finished with 69. "It’s going to be fun for me," Beem said. His round might have been even better had he not left his last two wedge shots outside 30 feet. "But I can’t complain about anything," Beem said. "I played some pretty good golf today."

Geoff Ogilvy had a 69, four shots behind Mr. Stricker along with Woody Austin , whose name keeps popping up on leaderboards, and first and second round leader Rory Sabbatini. Steve Flesch, Kenny Perry and Ernie Els were another shot back at nine under par. So there are ten players within five shots of the lead.

Mr. Stricker has had a marvelous year to this point, considering he lost his card in 2005. He was comeback player of the year in 2006, not an award you necessarily want to ever be in consideration for but, if it happens then one that becomes an acceptable achievement. Not having won since 2001, he’s managed to make the President’s Cup team for the first time in eleven years and placed himself in contention numerous times this year. "I haven’t been beating myself up about not winning any of those events, but obviously, I would like to win," Stricker said. "It’s been a long time since I’ve won, and I’m just going to try to bring as many positive thoughts to the table tomorrow as I can."

As for Mr. Mahan, he’s not finished outside the top 25 all year, and of his nine birdies yesterday none was outside of twelve feet. Can you say "dialed in". Talk about pitching darts, that’s closer to sticking the ball into your pocket and just casually dropping it on the green. "I just tried to keep playing good and give myself a ton of opportunities, and made some," Mahan said. How’s that for understatement of the week?

If any of the top seven heading into today’s round claim the trophy they also receive, as an added bonus, the lead in the Fedex Cup race. Of course, the caveat with that comes the reality that one Mr. Tiger Woods has yet to tee it up. Enjoy it while you can fellas.

Disclaimer: I am an unabashed fan of Wisconsin golfers, so if it ever appears I’m playing favorites it’s because I am and fully intend to do so going forward. Anyone who choses to winter in a land where you have to plug your car in so it will start( which also makes it unfit for human habitation so I’m attempting to get the federal government to come rescue us the next time it dips to 30 below zero) is a crazy person I can relate too. You haven’t lived until you’ve hit the range with snow on the ground. Hooray for Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker, great golf games; questionable sanity.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

22 hours 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!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

3 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.

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News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

3 days 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