Tour News
Tour Mash: Sergio surges in Spain, Lee takes LPGA Lotte
Did Brandon Grace or Bryson DeChambeau have the better week on the shores of the Calibogue Sound? That question and others are answered in our PGA Tour spotlight. In the meantime, take a look at what happened across the rest of the golfing world this weekend.
Serge Surges In Spain, But @BeefGolf Takes The Title
Sergio Garcia, the home-country host and head handshaker this week at Valderrama, found himself waaaay back on Sunday, five shots behind leader Andrew Johnston (aka @BeefGolf on Twitter) of England. The Spaniard lit up Valderrama through 17 and was 5-under par before making bogey on the last for 67 and 3-over on the week.
What’s that!? Three-over was in the lead? Turns out Valderrama was super-firm and super-windy, leading to above-par figures through three rounds. Turned out that Johnston turned it on, made birdie on 16 to get to 1-over, where he held off hard-charging Joost Luiten by one shot. Luiten finished at +2 to snatch second place from Garcia. We have the meats! @BeefGolf, indeed. After two European Challenge Tour victories in 2014, Johnston now finds himself among the elite of the European Tour’s top circuit.
The actual tournament followed on the heels of one of the coolest sideshows of any rota, an event that will certainly be imitated at least once on every major tour, not to mention college and high school teams, middle-aged brahs, and the like. How fun would this be? This is the 2016 version of trick shot videos. Curious? The video above tells the entire tale.
Minjee Lee Moves Up On Sunday To Win LPGA Lotte Championship
Minjee Lee jumped out to a three-stroke lead over Su-Yeon Jang after 36 holes at Ko Olina in Hawaii. The Australian fell five shots back of third-round leader Katie Burnett after turning in a no-birdie 74 on Saturday. Although Burnett held firm on Day 4 with a two-under 70, Lee was unstoppable, signing for an 8-under 64 that featured six birdies and a 13th-hole eagle that started a stretch of 6-under in the final six holes.
Despite the fireworks, the eventual champion was forced to lay up on the par-four 18th. With a nimble flick of a lofted wedge, Lee zipped her third to within three feet, then drained the par putt for the final, one-stroke margin of victory. Burnett accounted for four birdies of her own, but two bogeys dropped her one slot behind the Australian, into a tie with In-Gee Chun of South Korea.
A charging Chun was 17-under for the final three rounds of the event, and a relieved Minjee Lee must have been grateful that the tournament ended when it did. For Lee, Lotte was her second career LPGA victory, coming on the heels of a 2015 win at Kingsmill. The win also ensured that Lee will compete for Australia in the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio.
Aquaman Austin Claims Mitsubishi Electric Classic In Extra Holes
It was a nearly a decade ago that Woody “Aquaman” Austin made a massive splash on the PGA Tour. After hibernating a bit through the end of his fifth decade on earth, Austin burst back onto the stage of the Champions Tour with his second win in three starts. The Florida native birdied four consecutive holes on the outward half, then added another four chirps on the inward side to tie overnight leader Wes Short Jr., for the top spot at 11-under, one stroke better than third-place finisher Paul Goydos.
Off to the par-five 18th for sudden-victory did Austin and Short trudge. Neither player had birdied the hole in regulation and neither one would do so over the course of two extra holes. Unfortunately for Short, his bogey on the second playoff go-round meant that he would have to wait for his second Champions Tour title. Short nipped Scott Dunlap by a stroke at last year’s Quebec Championship, but he was unable to muster the one birdie more to defeat Austin.
In truth, Austin did much more to win the Mitsubishi than Short did to lose it. Austin (eight birdies), Sandy Lyle (eight of his own in a 65) and Billy Andrade (seven birdies on the day) were among the few golfers that posted more sub-par holes than Wes Short Jr., who had to be scratching his head at day’s end. Short had just one bogey on the day, but couldn’t find that extra gear to push him to the top spot. Well, if you can’t finish first, second is pretty good. Here’s Austin, cleaning up the final bit of business on playoff hole number two.
Paolucci Triumphant At PGATour Latinoamerica’s Abierto OSDE del Centro
Anthony Paolucci was a top college recruit in the early 2010s, but the Southern Cal alum had traversed a patch of thick rough in his effort to make a go of the professional game. On Sunday in Colombia, the 23-year old found himself in the final grouping, tied with Jeff Karlsson of Sweden for the top spot. While Karlsson went the wrong way all day, finishing with 76 and a 12th-place tie, Paolucci hung in the race for the title.
Six players would close to within one stroke of the Texas native. Charlie Saxon and John Kim of the USA, along with Felipe Velazquez of Venezuela, posted 4-under 67s on the day. Case Cochran and Eric Steger of the USA signed for68s, while Seth Fair, another North American, had a 70 on Sunday. All six tied for second place, a whisker behind Paolucci.
So how did Anthony Paolucci hold off a sextet of challengers to claim his first PGA Tour Latinoamerica title? It wasn’t easy. After birdies on two of his first three holes in round four, Paolucci settled into a nerve-wracking run of pars until the 12th, where he made his third and final birdie of the last round. Paolucci gave shots back to Old Man Par on 13th and 17th holes, but he refocused his eye and parred the last for the wafer-thin margin of triumph. Paolucci reflected on the weigh of the win in a post-round interview.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA 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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