Tour News
Tour Mash: Matsuyama hangs on, Varner III breaks through
We fibbed a bit last week. This was not our final 2016 installment of Tour Mash. Too much happened this week, so we came back for another serving of our favorite dish.
What’s in it for you? The welcome-home party for a prodigal son, a win for the ages (or the aged) and a big win in South Africa. Keep calm and mash on, one last time for 2016.
Hero World Challenge much closer than anticipated
Game. Set. Match.#QuickHits https://t.co/8rA50GkoBD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 4, 2016
Hideki Matsuyama came into the Hero World Challenge on a hot streak with wins in three of his last four events. On Sunday in the Bahamas, the 24-year-old had to stare down the Champion Golfer of the Year, Henrik Stenson, in order to claim a fourth fall title. He nearly didn’t.
After making 22 birdies and two eagles through the first 63 holes, Matsuyama played the final nine in 3-over par, with a bogey, a double bogey and zero birdies. Partnered with the leader for the final round, Stenson found a way to narrow the gap to two strokes with two holes to play. The intimidating Swede should have been closer, but he three-putted the par-5 15th for par.
Related: See what clubs Matsuyama used to win.
With the tournament and his confidence on the line, Matsuyama found pars on the final two holes to retain his two-shot advantage and secure the title. Third place was shared by Matt Kuchar, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson.
Tiger’s Return: Keep the card clean
Shades of his glory days.#ShotOfTheDay https://t.co/I4zQffEiJy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2016
Twenty birdies and two eagles versus 19 birdies. The former belonged to Hideki Matsuyama, in first place entering Round 4; the latter was owned by Tiger Woods, 11 strokes in arrears after the third day.
While the golf world was beyond giddy to have the great one in competition and in the hunt again, an old threat reared its head: the big numbers. In pro golf, a double bogey is a big number and Tiger had three through Saturday’s end (he also bogeyed three par-5s). Most came from his recent scourge, faulty driving. The big cat sums it up in four words: keep the card clean. If it happens often next spring, his return will be complete.
Varner III wins Aussie PGA by two strokes
17 straight Aussie winners at the Australian PGA Championship …
That changed tonight.
Congrats, @HV3_Golf!
???? #WeHere pic.twitter.com/vNbr27OEpd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 4, 2016
Harold Varner III traveled halfway around the world to reel in his first big tour win. After his performance over the Royal Pines Eesort in Queensland, Australia, a PGA Tour victory should arrive in 2017. Varner lit the course with nine birdies on Sunday, posting a 7-under 65 to chase down Australian’s Andrew Dodt and Adam Scott. He finished two shots clear of Dodt at 19-under.
Dodt had a bogey-free round on Sunday, but only three birdies to show for his efforts. Scott had an eagle on No. 15 to resume his chase, but was unable to improve his lot over the closing triumvirate of holes. For Varner, the win will also ensure an improvement of his current world ranking of 184th.
Alfred Dunhill in South Africa a Stone-cold lock
A touch of class from @BrandonMStone.#DunhillChamps https://t.co/2xgYGc2Qtz
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 4, 2016
As Charl Schwartzel walked the third fairway, he glanced over and waved back to the final grouping, where countryman and leader Brandon Stone returned the greeting. It was as if the 2011 Masters champion might have said, “Good luck on your walk to victory.” Stone added the Dunhill to his 2016 South African Open title, giving him two European Tour titles in his young career.
After five consecutive pars to open the final round, Stone got going at No. 6. He posted six birdies from holes Nos. 6-14 to pull away from the field. Schwartzel, three strokes behind at dawn’s break, made bogey-triple on the two inward par-5s to fall to a fourth-place tie. In second place at 15-under, seven strokes behind Stone, was another RSA guy, Richard Sterne. Thomas Detry of Belgium claimed third spot at 13-under.
Kumar wins Panasonic Open India for first Asian Tour title
Congratulations to Mukesh Kumar for claiming his first AT title at #PanasonicOpenIndia! He is now the oldest winner on Tour. Well done! pic.twitter.com/3EwcA9bwYE
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) December 4, 2016
Jyoti Rhandawa, 44, might have felt a bit old in relationship to the field… if not for the presence of Makesh Kumar. The 51-year old Kumar held off countrymen Rhandawa and Rashid Khan (a comparable baby at just 25 years old) by one stroke to win his first Asian Tour title, becoming the oldest winner on the tour in the process.
After the subtropical rains decided that only three rounds would work for this year’s Panasonic Open India, Kumar took full advantage and posted a 2-under 70 on day three to hold off the younger pair. Kumar had a two-stroke advantage over Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera when the final round began. Perera ended in fourth spot alone after matching Kumar’s 70.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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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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Brian
Dec 5, 2016 at 9:20 am
HVIII was absolutely fantastic in that final round. Well deserved win, and looking forward to seeing him be very competitive this year on tour.
Tom
Dec 4, 2016 at 5:34 pm
congratulations to Varner
Jack
Dec 4, 2016 at 11:00 pm
Hope he brought his hype man cuz that would have been epic on the 18th green.