Tour News
Tour Mash: Spieth adds another, Reid’s special win
One 72nd-hole eagle forced a playoff on the Web.com Tour. Another last-hole eagle notched a victory on the PGA Tour Champions. Oh, and a golden boy returned to the circle of titleists with a marvelous, 71st-hole birdie.
Great week across the tours, but slow down! Howzeabout we just keep calm and mash on? (not ready to retire that phrase just yet).
PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am goes to Spieth
Bang.
Absolutely perfect.@JordanSpieth now leads by 4 with 1 to play.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/yhY5C1IPO8
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2017
The last time Jordan Spieth had a sizable lead was a certain Sunday in 2016 at a certain tournament held at a certain little club in Georgia. That one didn’t end so well. Spieth did win later that year in Fort Worth, but the question of holding a lead loomed until this week. On Sunday, Spieth carried a six-stroke advantage into the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Along came Kelly Kraft, the 2011 U.S. Amateur champion, with five birdies in six hole on the front nine. A sixth birdie on the 11th moved him to within three of Spieth. Unfortunately for the challenger, his momentum was exhausted and he closed with seven straight pars, good for solo second. Dustin Johnson, the reigning U.S. Open champion, closed with 68 for the third spot, one behind Kraft.
Related: See the clubs Spieth used to win
As for Spieth, the 23-year-old and two-time major champion was on cruise control the entire day. The birdied the second and made a passel of pars until the penultimate hole, where hit the green at the famous par-three. He made the 30-foot putt for birdie and secured a four-stroke win, his ninth on the PGA Tour. The sixth-ranked golfer in the world now returns his attention to that little course in Augusta as he prepares to regain the green jacket he first won in 2015.
LET: Reid seizes Oates Vic Open title during Mum’s birthday week
Final @VicOpenGolf leaderboard:
-16 @melreidgolf
-16 @TheSandraGal
-14 @suohgolf
-14 @angelyinlol
-12 ChoiAll: https://t.co/1jQAQY6Z9r pic.twitter.com/NrAEqEGBse
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 12, 2017
If your memory stretches back five years you’ll remember the story of Melissa Reid‘s mum, who was killed in a car crash while watching her daughter compete in Germany in 2012. Joy Reid would have turned 67 this week while daughter Melissa was competing in Australia in the first event of the 2017 Ladies European Tour schedule.
The Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads greeted all the golfers with windy conditions (gusting up to 30 miles per hour), forcing them into British Open mode. None was more suited than Reid, who took the third-round lead and looked suited to the title. The fourth round began poorly for the golfer from Derby, who made a seven on the par-five second to drop from the lead. Chasing her down was Germany’s Sandra Gal, who signed for a stellar 69 on day 4 to match Reid’s total of 16-under par and force a playoff.
The 18th green was not kind to Reid on this day. In regulation, the Englishwoman reached the par-five hole in two, but then she three-putted. She did the same on the first extra hole, allowing Gal to extend matters. Finally, on the third go-round in overtime, Reid made a three-foot putt to eliminate Gal and claim her sixth career European Tour title.
European Tour: Willett gives way to surprise winner at Maybank Championship
Relive one of the best final rounds you'll ever see in 150 seconds. pic.twitter.com/GwbJLTBco1
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 12, 2017
Reigning Masters champion Danny Willett made only two bogeys over the first three days of the 2017 Maybank Championship, assuming the tournament lead along the way. When he posted five of the duds on Sunday, a change in the leaderboard was predictable. Would it be Bernd “Mr. Nine Straight Birdies” Wiesberger? How about Chinese sensation “Super Bowl Li” Haotong? Or unheralded American David Lipsky? Nope, none of the three.
It was perhaps the coldest player in the field, Fabrizio Zanotti, who seized the tiger trophy. Zanoti began the 2017 season with three missed cuts, so a final-round charge of 63 was the last thing on anyone’s mind, including the Paraguayan. Seven birdies in 17 holes weren’t enough for the man from Asuncion, so he eagled the par-five 18th for good measure, finishing at 19-under. Lipsky had a chance to force extra holes with a 15-foot birdie putt of his own, but it stayed out of the hole and Zanotti had his second-career European Tour title. Wiesberger was one stroke back of Lipsky, in third alone.
PGA Tour Champions: McCarron flat-out steals Allianz Championship
Big-boy golf shot from @ScottMccarron. He'll have this eagle putt for the win at the @AllianzChamp. pic.twitter.com/nPJIsi1vyd
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) February 12, 2017
Kenny Perry and Carlos Franco had spent a good while in preparation for a playoff. The two were tied for the lead at 16-under with few golfers left to challenge them. Then along came Scott McCarron with a final-hole eagle, and Franco and Perry headed home with second-place money.
Perry had stuffed an approach into the final green some 15 feet beyond the hole, but his try at eagle and the outright lead lipped out in excruciating fashion. Franco had made a bunker save for birdie at the last to match Perry.
Web.com Tour: Tracy rockets to top at Club Colombia Championship
Ethan Tracy, to win the Club Colombia Championship …
Never a doubt. ???? pic.twitter.com/UyVuR8zQlp
— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) February 12, 2017
If you lower your score each day from Thursday through Sunday, chances are pretty strong that you will find your way to the top of the leaderboard. In the case of Ethan Tracy of the U.S., he made it all the way to first place at the Club Colombia Championship.
Tracy began the day in seventh place, but a 6-under 65 sent him soaring. A birdie-eagle finish tied him with Roberto Diaz of Mexico, whose Sunday 64 vaulted him over 10 golfers and into a playoff. Diaz and Tracy played the par-five 18th hole, site of the latter’s hole-out heroics at the end of regulation, two times. On the second go-round, Tracy knocked down a 20-foot birdie putt to claim his first Web.com Tour title and the second of the young season for the former Arkansas Razorback.
Overnight leaders Andrew Landry and Brandon Harkins were unable to forge enough birdies to remain in first position. Landry struggled all day and dropped to T-17 after a 75. Harkins was in the lead for most of the day, but bogeyed three of his final six holes to finish one agonizing shot out of the playoff.
Bald For Bucks
For the 10th consecutive year, this writer will have his head shorn (on March 8) to raise money for cancer research. If you would like to learn more and/or donate, please click this link with my gratitude. If you donate $50 during the month of February, you receive a free Buffalo Sabres t-shirt.
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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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McPickens
Feb 13, 2017 at 10:18 pm
Mel Reid is my favourite lady golfer
Ronald Montesano
Feb 14, 2017 at 5:42 am
You’ve made an excellent choice. She offers wonderfully-human qualities and super-human golf skills.
ooffa
Feb 13, 2017 at 3:37 pm
And all of them happily signing autographs except Jordan Speith who was just acting pretentious and playing way way way too slowly.