News
Donald Decimates Match Play Field
By Scott MacLeod, via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)
He might have graced the 18th fairway at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in practice rounds but that was the last time Luke Donald would see the hole all week at the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship.
Donald looked focused and fearless all week long as you mowed down one opponent after another. He even saved a little gas for the final where he faced down the new World #1 ranked player, Martin Kaymer, and disposed of him by a count of 3&2.
The Englishman kicked off his final day with an impressive opening run that saw him get to three up on his German opponent after just five holes.
“The Germanator” had no plans to lie down and by the time they had reached the turn the match was back to all square. That would be the extent of his fight though as he was not able to win another hole while Donald captured the 11th, 12th, and 15th to create enough of a lead to make the last two holes unnecessary.
Even after squandering the lead Donald showed great resolve from that point on. Asked what his mindset was as they drew even he responded, “I felt like even though I squandered a couple holes, three putting 6 and messing up 9 I never got behind. I still had that momentum that not one of my opponents had gotten ahead of me and I just wanted to make sure that stayed the same today. Making a couple birdies to finish it off was very satisfying.”
“I played nicely this week,” said Donald after the match in a huge understatement. He only required 73 holes total to win the championship, besting Tiger Woods’ previous mark of 77 holes.
In his march to the top spot Donald took down an impressive array of players including 2010 PGA Tour money leader Matt Kuchar. Donald won that match by a score of 6&5 after being 7up through ten holes. His other victims, in order, included Charley Hoffman, Eduardo Molinari, Matteo Mannasero, and Ryan Moore.
It is the first big win for Donald, a Northwestern grad who many figured would have multiple PGA Tour titles by now, and even a major or two. This was his first win in the United States in five years.
He now moves to the #3 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. His previous high was the #6 position.
The action was a little tighter in the consolation final where Matt Kuchar took down Bubba Watson by a tally of 1up.
Meanwhile, down in Mexico, Johnson Wagner earned a PGA Tour title of his own.
The opposite field Mayakoba Golf Classic concluded with a one-hole playoff where Johnson defeated Spencer Levin with a par. Johnson’s only other Tour win was at the 2008 Shell Houston Open.
Champions Tour regular John Cook finished in third place alone.
This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine, www.flagstick.com
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News
Morning 9: LIV golfers’ Masters expectations | Reed wants LIV Masters win | ANWA champ 4-stroke penalty

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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2023 Valero Texas Open

Ah, the Valero Texas Open — a tournament as rich in history as it is in Texan charm. 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. But the real star of the show? That would have to be the legendary Texan wind, which can turn a benign par-4 into a 500-yard monster faster than you can say “y’all.”
Per usual, GolfWRX was on site to check out what the pros are playing with the Masters just a week away.
Check out links to all our galleries, below.
General Albums
- 2023 Valero Texas Open – Monday #1
- 2023 Valero Texas Open – Monday #2
- 2023 Valero Texas Open – Tuesday #1
- 2023 Valero Texas Open – Wednesday #1
- 2023 Valero Texas Open – Wednesday #2
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Hayden Buckley – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Brandon Wu – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Haley II – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Austin Truslow – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Peter Lansburgh – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Trevor Werbylo – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Doc Redman – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Padraig Harrington – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Ryan Fox – WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Ricky Barnes WITB – 2023 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Hayden Buckley’s custom Cameron putters – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- S H Kim’s custom Cameron putter – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Beau Hossler’s custom Cameron putter – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- New Garsen grip – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Brent Grant’s custom Cameron putter – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three – 2023 Valero Texas Open
- Luke Donald’s new Odyssey Twelve putter (w/ SuperStroke grip) – 2023 Valero Texas Open
Join the discussion in the GolfWRX forums.
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Equipment
Spotted: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three “anti-right” prototype putter

Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K putters have really taken off on tour, and we have seen a handful of models in tour player’s bags. The latest version we spotted out on tour is a very unique design.
Odyssey makes this putter head with a standard flow neck that offers plenty of toe hang for golfers who prefer or need that weighting. This prototype has a long slant neck installed more near the center of the putter head that lets the toe sit slightly up in the air when held horizontally. This is pretty different since most putters sit with the toe hanging down towards the ground or are face balanced (face sits parallel to the ground). A full shaft offset looks to be achieved with the slant neck and the look at address is definitely different.
We spoke to Callaway PGA Tour manager Joe Toulon about the putter and he had the following to say
“On course [we had a player who] had a little push bias that didn’t necessarily show up in practice but it is something that he felt on course. So we wanted to build something that was a little easier to release and maybe not necessarily open the toe as much in the back stroke and not have to work as hard to release it in the through stroke. That was kind of designed to give a little offset and when you rested it on your finger it would rest toe up a little bit. We thought for that player it would help him square the putter face at impact rather than leave it open a little bit.
“It was more of a concept we had and will continue to work on it. When we had it on the truck and we were hitting some putts with it we noticed that you had to work really hard to push this putter. We wanted to make an anti-right putter. Just a fun little concept that we have an idea and work with our tour department to test things out.
“It isn’t something that ended up in a player’s bag but we learned some things in that process and will keep in mind for future builds and projects.”
The finish also looks to be a little different than the standard Tri-Hot 5K putter’s black and silver motif. The face and neck are finished in silver and the rear done in more of a blueish-gray tone. The White Hot insert looks to be standard and the sole still contains two interchangeable weights.
The shaft looks to be painted in the same metallic red as their standard Stroke Lab shaft, but we don’t see a steel tip section. Not sure if this putter has a full graphite shaft or painted steel.

Toe sitting slightly up
Check out more photos of the Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Three Putter.
More “Spotted” pieces
- Spotted: S.H. Kim’s Custom Scotty Cameron Circle T Newport putter
- Spotted: Brent Grant’s Scotty Cameron Circle T T5W putter
- Spotted: Beau Hossler’s custom Scotty Cameron Circle T TG6 putter
- Spotted: Tom Kim’s 2 new Scotty Cameron Circle T putters
- Spotted: Bettinardi BB41 Flow 25th anniversary putter
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