Tour News
Tour Mash: Olesen barely hangs on, and a walk-off eagle
The European and PGA Tour Champions completed their penultimate playoff events this week, while the Asian Swing on the LPGA Tour came to a close. The PGA Tour was just up the road from the Vegas strip, while Hong Kong hosted PGA Tour China. As the U.S. presidential season draws to a close, football ramps up, and basketball gets into swing, golf continues to contest meaningful events. But there was certainly no shortage of excitement on the links this weekend, so with no more delay, let’s mash it all together and serve it up.
Turkish Open Goes to Olesen, just barely
Some pundits will claim it’s hard to win with a large, final-round lead, while others will sustain that shooting four low scores in a row is tricky. In the end, it’s the same coin and Thorbjorn Olesen learned that lesson at Antalya. The sometimes-great Dane nearly lost all of a sizable, overnight lead when a pair of opponents got hot early.
First it was David Horsey, with 7 birdies in his first 15 holes, to reach 18-under par. Next came Bernd Wiesberger with a flock of birds from hole Nos. 6 through 9 to catch Olesen’s attention. As for the Dane, missed opportunities throughout a hum-drum, outward nine of even par had him smiling at the sky and scratching his head.
The turning point…
His lead was cut from seven to two with five holes to play. Then @ThorbjornOlesen did this. https://t.co/lp8RihKuYW
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 6, 2016
Nice putt, Rod
Francesco Molinari does a decent Smylie Kaufman impression. He had eight birdies and an eagle on Sunday for 61, but he didn’t win. Harris English performed an acrobatic feat that made nearby Cirque du Soleil jealous: four consecutive 67s. He didn’t win, either. When the PGA Tour comes to Las Vegas, crazy things happen. Here’s what really went down.
Rod Pampling came within a whisker of a 59 on Thursday. He held the lead through Friday evening, and was one stroke back of Lucas Glover, resurgent with a new putting stroke, on Saturday. Also in the mix was young Ryder Cupper Brooks Koepka.
Most likely to win was Koepka. He came close, finishing two back of the top spot, in solo second at 18-under. Second most likely to win was Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion. Having withstood major pressure before, Glover made bogey at the last to fall out of a second-place tie, into third at 17-under.
Atop the field stood the most unlikely of champions. The Aussie won twice in a three-year span on the PGA Tour…in the mid 2000s! It had been more than 10 years since he lifted a Tour trophy, but a 32-foot birdie putt at the last was the final dagger to the heart of his challengers.
Early celebration ????. pic.twitter.com/v10OSMC0nv
— Skratch (@Skratch) November 6, 2016
Related: What Pampling was thinking over his winning putt.
Toto Japan Classic LPGA Tour To Shanshan
2016 has been a year of streaky golfers on the LPGA Tour. Hana Jang and Lydia Ko were winners of early tournaments in close proximity, then Ariya Jutanugarn went on two mini-streaks of three consecutive and two straight wins mid-season. As the season draws to a close, it’s Shanshan Feng’s turn, so enjoy the ride!
Feng claimed her second tournament in two weeks at the Minori course of the Taiheiyo Club, in Ibarkabi. The final round offered the prospect of a shootout, with player of the year candidate Jutanugarn and perennial challenge Suzann Pettersen in close pursuit of Feng. Both golfers took a wrong turn early and finished outside the top five. It was left to others to take up the challenge, and familiar faces appeared.
Ha Na Jang posted six birdies on the way to a third consecutive 68, moving to 12-under for the week. Feng, meanwhile, played superb golf throughout the round, making zero bogeys and four birdies to reach 15-under. Then, things got a bit strange. After a poor drive, Feng had to play for the par-four green in three, but a poor first putt and a missed second, left 3 feet for the win. Feng made that final putt for career win No. 6.
Celebration is on. Congrats @shanshanfengCHN! pic.twitter.com/mXmu0rCs5u
— #CMEFinalStretch ???? (@LPGA) November 6, 2016
McCarron wins Dominion Charity Classic in extra time
There was a bit of the bizarre and more of the unexpected as Week 2 of the Schwab Cup playoffs wrapped up in the great commonwealth of Virginia. The bizarre was this: Not one player moved into or out of the top 36 for next week’s concluding event in Arizona. The odd was that money leaders Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez, expected to challenge, were nowhere near the frying pan when it went over the fire.
So what did happen? Well, Tom Byrum made a run at the trophy by holding the lead through Rounds 1 and 2. He made six birdies on Day 3, but was hurt by three bogeys. Unable to achieve separation, the best Byrum could solidify was a playoff at 13-under. Joining him at that number was the reborn Scott McCarron.
With a clean card of 3 birdies and 0 bogeys, McCarron found his way to extra holes. Making quick work of the affair, Scott McCarron made four on the par-five 18th hole (where neither playoff participant had made birdie in regulation) to earn his second win of the campaign and move into second spot in the Schwab Cup playoffs.
We have a winner!@ScottMccarron beats Tom Byrum in a playoff to take the @DominionClassic. #SchwabPlayoffs ???? https://t.co/zVs5IZZmgI
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 6, 2016
Clearwater Bay Open on PGA Tour China won with playoff eagle
Alexander Kang did everything he thought necessary to win this week in Hong Kong. Four rounds in the 60s, including three-under on Day 4, seemed to be enough, but then came Daniel Nisbet. The Australian posted 65-64 on the weekend and reached 15-under par after just missing an eagle putt at the last. When Kang’s 12-foot putt for birdie on the par-five closer went astray, the two headed out for a sudden-victory playoff.
Kang had entered the final round with a healthy lead, but a wind miscalculation at the 12th led to a watery double bogey, his only sour hole of the day. In the playoff, he reached greenside in two at the par five and snuggled his pitch to six feet for birdie. Unfortunately for the young American, Nisbet had played the hole perfectly, striking two metals onto the putting surface, leaving a 10-foot putt for three and the win. The putt rolled true and the victory and the $32K prize went to the Australian.
Here’s a great recap of the playoff. Hats off to the videographer!
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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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