Tour News
LPGA Safeway Classic recap: A Sixth first
By Vince Robitaille
GolfWRX Staff Writer
Parity is an overused term in the contemporary golfing thesaurus.
The PGA Tour has been left without a clear-cut alpha male since Tigergate – a case could be made that Luke Donald filled the spot left vacant in 2011, although without inspiring much fear into his opponents or by-standing creatures amidst the golfing ecosystem. The LPGA’s prime predator, Yani Tseng, also has been dormant for the better part of the summer.
Parity though? Not quite. Golf – outside of soccer – is the sporting world’s paramount oligarchy. Mika Miyazato’s victory at Pumpkin Ridge on Sunday abounds in such a direction.
The Other Miyazato finally getting it done – not that Mika hadn’t obtained top results in recent memory as her four top-5 finishes in her last seven outings exemplify – meant that no fewer than six players have recorded their first “W” as LPGA members in 2012. Now, one could point out that such an important number of first-time champions, even across a full season, showcases how level the field is.
Of those six players, however, one had previously held the U.S. Women’s Open crown, one is a past Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year with previous runner-up finishes and a great Solheim Cup showing last fall, and the others were former amateur standouts. Arguably, of the group, Jessika Korda represented the best argument for parity, her professional struggles in 2011 prompting some to think that her meltdown in the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship were a good indicator of what her career would become.
Lang and Feng, despite their low points around the turn of the decade, were trending significantly upwards in 2011 with multiple top-10’s. There is congestion at the top, no doubt about that, but it’s a tightly knit pack that doesn’t allow for many intruders to run away with one on any given Sunday.
In a whole other class of overdue – especially after her second places at the Wegmans LPGA Championship and Walmart NW Arkansas Championship – Miyazato made her intentions clear quite early in the fourth edition of this three-day event, grabbing a share of the lead at 7-under 65 with a lap around the course that included 17 greens in regulations. Her co-leader by way of an over-achieving flat stick during the first round, sliding down the leaderboard as three lost strokes on 17th and 18th did her in, Miyazato’s blemish-free 68 on moving day left her sitting atop the leaderboard with an eagle-worth of cushion. Oddly enough, her closest pursuer was none other than So Yeon Ryu, last week’s champion and, most importantly, one of the aforementioned six.
Despite a pair of good runs, the final round’s most stress-charged moment came on the 72nd hole and was only brought by the eventual Rolex First-Time Winner herself. With her approach barely missing the putting surface, the now World No.10 found herself facing a tricky situation that could be negotiated in three strokes to win in regulation. After striking the ball a touch too high on the face and almost double-hitting it, the ball landed what appeared to be a tad short. Fortunately enough, the abrupt slope that led to the hole – and a greenside water hazard – enabled Miyazato’s nearly disastrous stroke to trickle within kicking distance of the cup and the wire-to-wire victory.
In a losing cause, two golfers that have enjoyed success up North in the past – namely Brittany Lincicome and Michelle Wie – have shown signs of vigor – recording their best respective results of the year – at an opportune moment as the LPGA Tour heads back to Canada for its Open this week. The question is: will any of them be able to maneuver around a wet Vancouver Golf Club?
Click here for more discussion in the LPGA/Ladies golf talk” forum.
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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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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Troy Vayanos
Aug 22, 2012 at 3:25 pm
The LPGA tour is moving along very similar to the mens PGA tour. Many 1st time winners on both tours which suggests a very level playing field.
Looking at the points difference in the rankings as well and there is very little between the top half a dozen players on both tours.