Tour News
4 things to know from Round 1 of the PGA Championship
The first round of the PGA Championship didn’t disappoint if strange story lines and low scores are what you’re into.
The Bubba Watson saga, which started with his refusal to compete in the PGA Championship’s long drive content, continued on Thursday. And Rory showed why he’s… well, three-time major champion Rory McIlroy.
In other news, the U.S. Ryder Cup continued to wither, and Steve Flesch jumped out of the announcers booth with an off-the-rack driver when he found out that he was first alternate. Here are the top stories from Round 1 at Valhalla.
No. 1: Bubba Watson has a problem with just about everything
According to reports, Bubba told his caddy not to tell on-course reporters what club he was hitting, which meant viewers at home could only guess what iron Bubba was hitting into greens. This came after Watson hit a 3 iron in protest of the PGA Championship’s long-drive contest on Tuesday.
The kids want to know how far your 7 iron goes, Bubba. C’mon, it’s for the kids!
No. 2: Rory McIlroy stays hot
McIlroy, who was cruising through his round at 3-under par after his first nine holes, hit his second shot way out of bounds as he tried to reach the par-5 10th hole in two. He then hit an oddly rushed provisional ball without a practice swing. When that one went left as well (but stayed in bounds), he proceeded to hit himself with his club.
Rory double-bogeyed the hole and three-putted the next hole for a bogey, but none of it seemed to affect him. The mid-round, mini-disaster proved to be a minor hiccup in a round that included eight birdies, however. McIlroy ended the day shooting a 5-under-par 66 and is tied for fourth place, one shot behind leader Kevin Chappell.
No. 3: The U.S. Ryder Cup team is falling apart
At this point in the season, many golfers are undoubtedly playing through fatigue or injuries, but Tom Watson could never have anticipated just how banged up his Ryder Cup squad would be as of the PGA Championship. Matt Kuchar (back spams) withdrew before he teed off, and Jason Dufner (herniated discs in his neck) withdrew after he holed out at No. 11. He was 8-over for the day.
Tiger Woods‘ hopes of qualifying through the points standings is now out of reach, and he’s not giving the captain much reason to waste a captain’s pick on him. In fact, the 64-year-old Watson beat Woods by two strokes in today’s round, shooting a 1-over 72. Maybe he should pick himself?
Add in the Dustin Johnson situation, and it’s a mess on the U.S. side of the Ryder Cup.
No. 4: Steve Flesch almost plays an off-the-rack set of clubs at Valhalla
Golf Channel Analyst Steve Flesch was first-alternate at Valhalla after John Huh got in the tournament due to Matt Kuchar’s WD. The problem was that Flesch didn’t have his golf bag or any clubs with him since he was in the booth announcing the action. He hopped out of the booth into a local golf store in case he got the call up from skipper.
Eventually, Flesch found his way to the range with a White TaylorMade SLDR driver that still had the price tag ($300) on it.
“Grabbed whatever we could from a local golf shop,” Flesch told GolfWRX on Twitter. “Lefty stuff was a challenge.”
Flesch usually plays a 12-degree SLDR, but the shop didn’t have one in that loft or his usual X-flex. He made due with a 9.5-degree model, which he set to 11.5 degrees, and an S-Flex shaft. Despite the mismatch, Flesch said he was “ripping it” on the range.
“I was ready to roll,” he said.
Unfortunately for Flesch, no one else withdrew, so he didn’t get a spot in this year’s championship.
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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
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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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Frank Garrett
Aug 8, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I hope Watson gets cut..I don’t mean the tournament; I mean in the parking lot after he doesn’t make the cut
TM way
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:56 am
I want Lee to win!
TM way
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:56 am
You mean a 9.5 degree set to 11. It only goes 1.5 degrees.
IH8
Aug 8, 2014 at 10:48 am
What is up with Bubba Watson? Off the course he’s extremely charitable, he’s fun on Twitter and in his casual type interviews he seems down to earth and interesting. But put the guy on the golf course and he seems to go bonkers. Petty, angry, whiney and loads of other negative descriptors. What is up with this guy?
JJK
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:30 am
I agree. I want to like him because of what he does off the course, but I’ve seen too many on course antics to be a fan.
steve
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:47 am
He is unbalanced, he needs to find some inner peace. The fun and games Bubba seems like a act. he is a lost soul, he looks so miserable playing golf
Everett
Aug 8, 2014 at 4:09 am
Really sucks since Duff did withdraw later. Guess he felt obligated being the reigning champ.. Plus 8 though. Why even try and hurt yourself more?
KK
Aug 7, 2014 at 10:53 pm
The tour issue guys would explode if he walked up to the first tee box of a major with a bag full of retail clubs.
MHendon
Aug 7, 2014 at 11:34 pm
Just goes to show there’s not really much difference between what the tour pro’s are fit with versus what you can buy at a golf shop.
antonio
Aug 8, 2014 at 3:42 am
I think that only means if you have a pro tour swing you can hit almost anything decently
don
Aug 8, 2014 at 7:35 am
gotta agree with antonio on this one. like when TW first made the switch to nike and was playing “inferior” equipment as PM put it. but i will give the manufacturers credit as well, because they are definitely putting more tour available stuff out to the masses than ever before.
MHendon
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:05 am
PM was referring to the ball and at the time everything was inferior to the ProV1.
Jeff
Aug 8, 2014 at 2:10 pm
The ball, a pro v1, his shaft, Tiger played a steel shaft longer than anyone, Phil’s “inferior equipment” comment was actually a compliment about how good Tiger hit it with a steel shaft. Very misunderstood in the golf world.
MHendon
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:19 am
No just means if you have a good swing you can hit most any club decently, and if you have a bad one you can’t hit anything decently.
John
Aug 8, 2014 at 9:46 am
There is a Huge Difference in tour equipment and retail equipment. Most tour products; especially irons, wedges, putters are all made with different materials. The Drivers available in store arent even close either. They have many different models of current woods on tour. Get yourself an actual tour head and the difference is huge. Thats why the sell for so much more on sites like this one, and ebay etc. The reason he had to go to the store is that tour trucks leave on wednesday afternoon.
MHendon
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:17 am
Tour clubs are made out of the same metals as anything you and I can buy. That’s just a bunch of BS and I guarantee you don’t have one bit of proof to back up your statement. Now are there prototype heads and shafts available on tour? Yes. Are they superior? In many cases No! That’s why they don’t make it to retail. Do they sell for ridiculous prices on sites like this and ebay? Yes because so many mostly low skilled golfers buy into the myth and want to brag they have tour equipment.
steve
Aug 8, 2014 at 11:37 am
And you have what facts to back up your statement? How many different types of titanium are there? Honestly I have no idea. Tour heads sell for so much more because people are willing to pay for it. Not because of performance, because of status. I have friends that caddy for some PGA tour players and I have never heard them say that. But if you have any type of proof I would love to see it.
steve
Aug 8, 2014 at 8:12 am
No tour vans there? Doe’s Flesch have a contract with any company? It is his fault, was he second alternate? If your on the alternate list and your going anyway with GC, why not take the clubs?
nottingtom
Aug 8, 2014 at 12:54 pm
He was 93rd alternate afaik. Just the third who was actually on site.
steve
Aug 8, 2014 at 3:25 pm
huh?
Jeremy
Aug 8, 2014 at 3:36 pm
He was pretty far down on the alternates list. But only the first few alternates actually show up. He happened to be there for GC and they happened to *almost* need more alternates than showed up, so even though he was way down the list he nearly made it in.