Tour News
Five things we learned on Day 1 of The 2017 Masters
As Thursday woke, we knew that the Fates had conspired to eliminate the favorite from the field. Even though Dustin Johnson had yet to officially withdraw from the 2017 Masters, where he should have been (the Par-3 contest) and where he was (tumbling down a staircase) could only have been arranged by the unpredictable. We did learn at least five things on Day 1 of the tournament.
1. Augusta National showed its teeth on Thursday
Sometimes the southern belle steals strokes all at once, as she did with Jordan Spieth’s nine at the par-five 15th. At other times, the pace is agonizingly slow, as Thomas Pieters learned over the entire back nine. No one, from the competitors to the patrons to the announcers, knows who will suffer her wrath, but it will certainly come.
In Spieth’s case, that he only hit one ball in the water is the incredible thing. The 2015 champion did the unforgivable, leaving a wedge third on the lower portion of the green and spinning. Back into the pond it went. With his fifth, the Texan assured himself of being long enough, but he went too long and was fortunate to not visit the H2O again with his sixth shot from over the green. Three putts later, Spieth had climbed from even par to 4-over par, and was facing a sizable mountain on his way to a second Green Jacket.
As for Pieters, he and first-round leader Charley Hoffman could have combined for a mighty low ringer score. The Belgian Ryder Cup star was out in 4-under, and got to 5-under with a birdie on the 10th hole. As though a wind had extinguished a candle, Pieters proceeded to make two doubles and three bogeys (with only one birdie, on the par-3 16th hole) over his final eight holes, to drop to even par on the day.
2. Despite the conditions, there were opportunities
Hoffman knows this, as does Lee Westwood. Hoffman began the day 1-over par through five holes, then ran the table on the next 13, making eight birdies to earn the Day 1 crystal with an unexpected 65. Westwood continues his search for the elusive major title, and while he has experienced success at Augusta National before, he must not have expected the five consecutive birdies that brought him from 3-over par to 2-under on the inward half. Realistically, Westwood’s 2-under 70 is the number that golfers are watching. Hoffman most likely won’t advance this lead, and may back up toward the pack before the weekend. The same can be said for William McGirt, who currently occupies second spot at 3-under.
Related: Charley Hoffman WITB 2017
Watch @WilliamMcGirt's first round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/gPOuSwPDle
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 6, 2017
3. The veterans know how to spell patience
Matt Kuchar began the day with three consecutive bogeys. The Georgia resident, having enjoyed a fond friendship with Augusta National since his low-amateur days, knew that nothing was etched in stone at that juncture. Bit by bit, he chipped away at his deficit. After nine consecutive pars, Kuchar made the first of three birdies that would ultimately bring him back to even on the day, precisely within striking distance of the lead.
Sergio Garcia, in search of a first major of his own, made precisely one birdie on the day. Such a tally would not usually leave anyone smiling, but Sergio was. Seventeen pars went along with that birdie, and the Spaniard found himself inside the top five, with yet another chance at either a Green Jacket or heartbreak. But that’s why they play!
4. The tournament is in good hands
Despite the unexpected misfortune that befell Dustin Johnson, and the anticipated withdrawal of Tiger Woods last week, a healthy dose of marquee players lies close to the lead. Major champions Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose and Jason Dufner are at 1-under, while Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy find themselves at even par. The ageless Fred Couples is only 1-over, and others wishing to join the major-championship club lie in wait. If you want to keep your eyes on one golfer, consider Paul Casey. Even par on the day, the Englishman was one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour during the second half of 2016. Given his past flirtations with the top spot at Augusta, perhaps this more-mature Casey might have what it takes to add to his wardrobe on Sunday afternoon.
Watch @Paul_Casey chip in for birdie from behind No. 14 green. #themasters pic.twitter.com/NWF9n9SNIG
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 6, 2017
5. Anything but wind
The breezes died down partway through the day, and the golfers rejoiced. On Thursday, it was the morning wave that suffered the effects of the zephyrs that passed through the corridors of Augusta National (look at the flags above the scoreboard in the video below). Putts were pushed sideways, or a few feet beyond their intended range. Tee shots moved toward trees with abandon, and wedge shots hit far too short on putting surfaces, spinning back into bunkers and other hazards. Unlike an Open Championship course, where the ground game can replace the aerial one, Augusta National is a high-flight course, and few opportunities arise to cheat the wind. If the winds reverse course on Friday and wait until the afternoon to blow, one half of the field will likely be eliminated, unfortunate victims of the vagaries of Mother Nature.
Enjoy more highlights from the play so far in the first round of #themasters. pic.twitter.com/n6SouTskAv
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 6, 2017
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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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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Ronald Montesano
Apr 8, 2017 at 7:46 am
Watch the internet feeds if you can. Eliminates a lot of the chatter you disdain.
joro
Apr 7, 2017 at 10:05 am
Way to go Charlie, now keep it going. Then come back and wear the Jacket to Hodads.
Ser
Apr 7, 2017 at 3:51 am
The weather got to some and showed its teeth, but the course didn’t. Neither affected Charlie Hoffman, so this is a big SHANK! for this article.
TR1PTIK
Apr 7, 2017 at 1:59 pm
So you don’t think the design of the course had any part to play? Yes, wind might be the determining factor, but the fact that players can’t bump and run their way onto every green is another consideration (one which the article clearly pointed out).
Ronald Montesano
Apr 8, 2017 at 7:47 am
The edges of these ANGC greens are deadly. They seduce the ball off, like a siren call to sailors.
Fat Perez
Apr 7, 2017 at 3:38 am
That Speef, I know it’s Spieth, kid got demons on this course. 9?!!! Yikes!
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