News

“Dual” In The Sun – Miami & San Juan See PGA Tour Action

Published

15 years ago

Mar 8, 2011

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

No, it’s not the classic 1977 battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry being repeated this week but two PGA Tour events being run simultaneously in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Understandably the larger slice of the attention will be given to the best players in the world looking to win the second World Golf Championships event of the season, the Cadillac Championship. Ernie Els will defend this week at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

Tiger Woods does make his return this year but how he will fare is an enigma at best. The same can be said for Phil Mickelson who has so far not showed the greatest form but is reported to be spending more of his attention focused on defending his Masters title in a few weeks.

Europe is grabbing the bulk of the headlines at Doral, and specifically the players who originate from there. The top four players in the Official World Golf Rankings are now from Europe, the first time that has been the case since March of 1992.

World #1 Martin Kaymer met the media on Tuesday and appeared very relaxed; he’s taking his top spot in stride. “This is what I always wanted to do,” said the German who surged to the premier position at the last World Golf Championships event. “I can always say I have been #1,” he stated, adding that he feels no extra pressure and he expects to keep playing golf in the same relaxed way he always has.

Although Kaymer relishes having achieved his goal of becoming the best player in the world it was obvious Tuesday that he believes it will be hard to maintain that position with so many players close in points. In the wake of the battle between Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel at last year’s tournament few will recall that it was Kaymer who shared third place with Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington, making him the 26-year old a legitimate threat this week.

No matter how Kaymer plays the World Golf Rankings will be shifting this week with all of the Top 50 players in the field at Doral. Of the 68 players in the field there are 19 countries represented, including 44 international players. It truly is a “World Tour” type event.

Note: Peter Senior, who qualified via his No. 2 finish on the Australasian Tour, will be 51 years, 7 months, 13 days when the 2011 Cadillac Championship begins. Senior will be the third player over the age of 50 years to play in World Golf Championships event (Jay Haas/6 and Fred Funk/2). Senior will be the oldest player to compete at the Cadillac Championship and the second oldest to tee it up at a World Golf Championships event.

World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship

Dates: March 9-13, 2011

Where: TPC Blue Monster at Doral Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort

Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,266

Format: Four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition; no cut

Defending Champion: Ernie Els

Purse: $8,500,000; Winner’s Share: $1.4 million

Meanwhile, 1,000 miles east of Miami there is a more stringent struggle going on between the second-tier players of the PGA Tour. With it being so early in the season it is imperative that players pile up as much cash as possible.

Although the Puerto Rico Open offers a first price of less than half that in Miami ($630,000 vs. $1.4 million) they are critical dollars for rookies after the recent re-shuffle. Many will not be eligible to get into another PGA Tour event for quite a time so this is where they can make a big impact on their 2011 season.

Derek Lamely became the third winner of this tournament in 2010, following on the heels of Greg Kraft and Michael Bradley. Lamely is back to defend in his seventh start of the year and his 3^rd appearance at this event. He has had quite a run in Puerto Rico having never finished outside of the top-13.

Among those highlighting the field at the Trump International Golf Club –Puerto Rico will be several past major champions such as Stewart Cink, John Daly, Lee Janzen and Angel Cabrera. It’s a special for week for two-time major champion Cabrera as his son Frederico is among the Sponsor’s Exemption and will be making his first start on the PGA Tour.

2011 Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com

Dates: March 7-13, 2011

Where: Trump International Golf Club; Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,526

Field: 132

Format: 72-hole stroke play

Defending Champion: Derek Lamely

Purse: $3,500,000; Winner’s Share: $630,000

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

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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.

General Albums

WITB Albums

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News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 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