Tour News
Tour Mash: Rookie Hughes wins in playoff, Stenson clinches Race to Dubai
It’s hard to believe that a week of this much golfing importance took place in the middle of November. Playoff championships were decided on two major tours and a third ended its official calendar year. As if that weren’t enough, an Open championship (Australia) was played on the other side of the world.
We won’t see this much drama for a few months, so read on and appreciate the value we had.
PGA Tour: Rookie Hughes wins RSM Classic, closes 2016 portion of season
No case of the Mondays here.
Mackenzie Hughes' clutch putt to claim his first PGA TOUR victory.#QuickHits https://t.co/uCMBFJ9n0f
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 21, 2016
Oh, Canada! Playoffs decided three events across the world this week, but none was more impressive than the five-man (then four, then one) playoff on the PGA Tour. Two Americans, a Swede, a Canadian and a Colombian went to extra holes at Sea Island in Georgia after the quintet finished regulation play at 17-under par.
Billy Horschel was the first to depart, missing a short putt to make bogey on the par-four 18th hole. Mackenzie Hughes of Canada had a look at a win on No. 18 the second time around, but his 12-foot putt hung on the left edge and moved on by. Before moving on to the par-three 17th, the remaining four bedded down for the night, as darkness prevailed.
Hughes made quick work of the playoff on Monday morning. All four golfers struggled with the par-three 17th hole. Only Hughes was able to negotiate a sizable par putt to claim his first tour title, lots of money, and all the exemptions to events like The Players, The Masters, the Tournament of Champions, that accompany a tour title. It was just his ninth PGA Tour start.
Related: See the clubs Hughes used to win.
European Tour: DP World Tour Championship to Fitzpatrick by one
Up and down for the biggest win of your career#DPWTC https://t.co/ySPaEY8fZj
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 20, 2016
Two champions took home European Tour hardware at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates. Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, a first-time winner last month on the European Tour, held a one-stroke lead on the final hole. His wretched bogey six, combined with rookie Ryder Cupper Matthew Fitzpatrick’s birdie four meant that one Englishman edged another in the season’s denouement.
Henrik Stenson received a scare last week when Alexander Noren won for the fourth time this season and closed the gap in the full-season Race To Dubai. While Noren was unable to replicate his stellar play in the UAE, Stenson made sure that any challenge would be an empty one. The Swede posted 65 in Round 4 to finish inside the top-10 for the week and clinch the Race to Dubau title for the second time in four years. Hatton moved to fourth with his runner-up finish, while Fitzpatrick elevated to 6th with his tournament victory.
Related: See the clubs Stenson used to win the Race to Dubai
LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship title to Hull
.@HullCharley wins the @CMEGroupLPGA by 2 shots at 19-under!! ???????? #CMEGroupLPGA pic.twitter.com/8QqQgqALWk
— #CMEFinalStretch ???? (@LPGA) November 20, 2016
Charley Hull and So Yeon Ryu began the day in first and second place at the LPGA Tour’s final event of 2016. They chased each other around the Tiburon golf course on Sunday. The pair separated from the field and battled down the stretch of the year’s final event.
On the par-5 17th hole, Ryu found the sand with her third shot and ultimately made bogey. Meanwhile, Hull kept her ball in play and made birdie to take a two-stroke advantage to the final hole. Both golfers parred the final hole, and England’s Charley Hull won her first LPGA title in fine fashion.
In other LPGA Tour news, Ariya Jutanugarn was named Player of the Year and In-Gee Chun won the Vare trophy for low stroke average by one stroke over Lydia Ko.
Australasian Tour: Australian Open to Spieth for 2nd time
For a comprehensive review of the major shots and almost-weres of the final round, have a 7-minute glance at this video.
Jordan Spieth led off his spectacular 2015 year with a November victory in the Australasian Tour’s Australian Open. That year, he fired 63 in the final round to win by six strokes. This year, he was only able to post 69 in the final round, but it was good enough to get him in a three-man playoff. The Texan went up against Aussies Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith, and he ended matters quickly with nine-iron to 12 feet and center-cut birdie putt on the first extra hole.
Related: See the clubs Spieth used to win.
The Open, held at Royal Sydney, looked to coronate a home-country champion. Geoff Ogilvy held the third-round lead and sat atop the board before a late three-stroke drop at Nos. 15 and 16 ended his chances. Adam Scott and Aaron Baddely were in the mix as Round 4 began, but had nothing in the tank for the closing stretch. Spieth and UTexas teammate Jonathan Vegas of Venezuela were the only non-Aussies in the top-25.
PGA Tour China: Phoenix Tree Open to Saxon despite struggles
Perhaps it was the little bit of wind that gusted throughout Round 4, or maybe it was the nerves of young professionals in the thick of a title chase. Regardless, the scores on Sunday of the Phoenix Tree Open, the penultimate event on the 2016 PGA Tour China schedule, were up… way up.
Charlie Saxon, a co-medalist at tour qualifying school last January, won his second event in the past month and moved into second place on the Order of Merit. Saxon earned a four-stroke win over Englishman Callum Terran, despite a closing 73. Zecheng Dou has clinched the top spot on the season-long race, but the next four will also secure playing privileges on the 2017 Web.com Tour.
PGA Tour Latinoamerica: Open de Argentina defended by Bulle
#VISAOpenARG Con águila en el hoyo 8 Kent Bulle se pone -10 / @KentBulle made eagle on No. 8 to get to -10 #pgatourla #ZurichArgentinaSwing pic.twitter.com/eiJJQeB1Xq
— PGATOURLA (@PGATOUR_LA) November 20, 2016
Kent Bulle took a two-stroke lead into the final round of the third-to-last event on the 2016 PGA Tour Latinoamerica schedule, then shot even par over the final 18 holes. That effort earned him a spot in a playoff with fellow Americans Nathan Lashley and James Beck III. Beck shot 68 on Sunday to climb to the top spot, while Lashley birdied the final hole to secure a place in extra time.
On the first go-round of the par-five 18th, Bulle and Lashley made birdie, but Beck’s attempt came up shy. Lashley was in search of his third win of the year, while Bulle attempted to defend the title that he won in 2015. Added to the champion’s pot this year was an exemption into The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. In other words, the stakes were high.
Adrenaline got the better of Lashley on the second playoff hole and he airmailed the green. His third came up short, while Bulle found the green in two. With two putts for victory, Bulle didn’t err and defended the title he captured in 2015.
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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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