News

Revving Up The Honda (Classic)

Published

15 years ago

Mar 2, 2011

By Scott MacLeod, via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

In the newest era of professional golf, the one where Tiger Woods has failed to be a factor, The Honda Classic lines up to be yet another event where another player will assert themselves in his absence and make a mark on the 2011 PGA Tour.

A bevy of top players, including five of the top ten players in the world, are on hand in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida this week to test their mettle of what can be a very punishing Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa.

2010 winner Camilo Villegas blitzed the field (or at least runner-up Anthony Kim) by five strokes in capturing his third PGA Tour title last year. He hopes to become only the second person to defend his title in this event that originated as the Jackie Gleason’s Inverrary Classic in 1972. That sole successful defender? None other than the man himself, Jack Nicklaus, who turned the feat in 1977-1978.

Villegas became the 5^th international player to claim The Honda Classic title in the last six times the event has been played. The only American winner in that stretch? Mark Wilson in 2007 – the same Mark Wilson who is already a two-time winner on tour in 2011.

With a field strengthened by the fact that the World Golf Championships – CA Championship will be played down the road at TPC Doral next week logic says that once again an International player could come out on top.

It would be hard to deny Luke Donald as the odds-on favorite. The Englishman required just 73 holes on his way to the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship title just a few days ago. Add that to his win at The Honda Classic in 2006 (albeit on a different course – The Country Club at Mirasol) and you have to think he is ready to deal with the “the Bear Trap”, the legendary 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th holes at the Champion Course that have derailed a dream or two in their day.

Donald, Wilson, and Villegas will be among twelve past champions of The Honda Classic teeing it up this week. They will be joined by Y.E. Yang (2009), Ernie Els (2008), Justin Leonard (2003), Matt Kuchar (2002), Jesper Parnevik (2001), Vijay Singh (1999), Mark Calcavecchia (1998, 1987), Stuart Appleby (19970, Tim Herron (1996), and Nick Price (1994).

Overall there are 22 of the top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings in the field (including World #2 Lee Westwood who tied for 9^th last year) so expect a high-powered showdown come Sunday.

Of course those players will have a fine stage for their drama as PGA National is highly regarded, and not just for the trio of holes that makes up the Bear Trap.

The par 70 layout demands the best of the players with wind always seeming to be a big factor in play. Last year the 36-hole cut came at a whopping three over par with Villegas’ 267 total actually being the lowest aggregate score for the event in the four years it has been at PGA National – by four strokes.

The outlook is for fairly strong winds on Thursday and Friday, in the 20-30 MPH range, so look to see those striking the ball solidly to climb to the top quickly. That will settle a bit over the weekend but if you have to make some Fantasy Pool bets, look to the players known for keeping the ball in play as a good selection.

There is a reason International players excel at The Honda Classic; they seem much more comfortable in the wind so don’t expect their winning streak to go away any time soon.

2011 Honda Classic

Dates: February 28-March 6, 2011

Where: PGA National Resort & Spa, Champion Course; Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Par/Yards: 35-35—70/7,158

Field: 144

Format: 72-hole stroke play

Defending Champion: Camilo Villegas

Purse: $5,700,000; Winner’s Share: $1,026,000

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine, www.flagstick.com

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

10 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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Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 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