News
Tour Mash: Pat Perez wins his third, Hatton goes back-to-back
If tournament golf provides a brief respite from the floods and fires that have ravaged much of our world, it has served its purpose. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by these disasters. With that in mind, we offer you this week’s Tour Mash.
PGA Tour: CIMB Classic is Perez’s third career victory
Pat Perez won for the second consecutive fall, this time in Malaysia. The resurgent Perez kept his card in the 60s all four days, reaching 24-under par in the end. His margin of victory was four strokes over countryman Keegan Bradley, and lifted him to second position in the very early stages of the 2018 FedEx Cup chase.
How he won:
The long look is the successful shoulder surgery and bye-Callaway-hello-PXG equipment shift that took place in 2016 and 2017. The short look is the 23 birdies (against 2 bogies) of the first 54 holes. Perez improved more than anyone else over those three days, then opened Sunday with three birdies in his first four holes. Against that type of performance, what can you do? Yep, just clap your hands.
See the clubs Pat Perez used to win the 2017 CIMB Classic
How they didn’t:
Xander Schauffele and Sung Kang might have put pressure on Perez with a low-60s round on day four, but neither one had the juice to pull it off. They finished tied for 3rd at 17-under. Cameron Smith had the best first and fouth rounds in the CIMB Classic (both 64s) but did the opposite of Perez, struggling in rounds 2 and 3. Smith tied for fifth with Hideki Matsuyama, who followed a 63 with a closing 71.
Pat Perez has no intentions of taking his foot off the pedal.
He has a chance to set the 72-hole course record today. pic.twitter.com/zhp4dWeNVG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 15, 2017
European Tour: Italian Open
No doubt that the home crowd was pulling for back-to-back wins by Francesco Molinari, the 2016 champion. Well, they have their back-to-back winner, but it’s not Molinari. Instead, Tyrrell Hatton, last week’s victor in Scotland, claimed another European Tour title, this time on the 72nd hole.
How he won:
If last week’s win was one of elegance, this week was one of guts. Hatton had virtually nothing going through eleven holes, then came the fireworks. Four consecutive birdies from holes 12-15, then the coupe de grace, the 20-feet putt for another birdie, to reach the magic, 21-under par total. Left as co-runners up were Ross Fisher and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, at 20-under.
How they missed out:
Overnight leader Matt Wallace did nothing wrong through 13 holes, then a wretched bogey at the par-5 14th did him in. He had birdie at the 17th and a fine putt to save par at 18, to collect solo fourth place. Fisher faltered at the last green for the second consecutive week. In Scotland, he had a tiny putt for 60 at the Old Course, but missed. This week, well in advance of the final group, Fisher just missed a putt for 62. Aphibarnrat was the man in charge through 15 holes, until a sloppy double bogey dropped him out of the lead. He rallied with birdie at the next, but could not make three at the last, finding himself even with Fisher.
BACK-TO-BACK!@TyrrellHatton wins the #ItalianOpen pic.twitter.com/6EaAkpExL2
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 15, 2017
LPGA Tour: Hana Bank Championship is all about Ko
The golf world met Ko Jin-young in 2015, when she miserably lost a three-shot advantage over the British Open’s final 9 holes, falling into a runner-up position behind Inbee Park. Ko made a bit of amends this week, holding off Sung Hyun Park by two strokes, for her first career LPGA Tour title.
How she won:
Sometimes it’s better to finish strong than start with a flurry. Sunday offered a slow start for Ko, with bogeys on holes 2 and 3. After that, it was pedal to the metal, with six birdies and a 4th-round 68. Ko reached 19-under, out of reach for Park. As important as the birdies was the absence of bogeys over the same stretch.
How they came close:
In contrast to Ko, Park started her round in hyperdrive, with birdies on three of the first five greens. She added another on the 11th and seemed game for a stretch battle with her Korean mate. Bogeys on 14 and 16 did her in, offering the final margin of victory. In Gee Chun made a scant three bogies on the week, half of what the two golfers ahead of her penciled in. Unfortunately for Chun, she was unable to ride the birdie train as long as Park and Ko, and came third at 16-under.
KOR #jinyoungko #EvianChamp @LPGATourTweets @LETgolf #ladieseuropeantour #lpgatour #golf #golfswing pic.twitter.com/7gSVAElLjS
— Pro Golf Swings (@progolfswings_) September 12, 2015
PGA Tour Champions: SAS Championship
“W” is the last letter in “low,” but low is the key to the W, when W means Win. No matter the tour, Sunday is the new moving day most weeks, and the SAS saw everyone move past third-round leaders Phillip Price and Jerry Kelly. So many birdies, so little time! Here goes nothing.
How he won:
Colin Montgomerie has finished runner-up in the season-long Schwab Cup for three consecutive seasons, to the same Bernhard Langer. Monty is a bit behind his previous years’ pace, but never say never to the chipper Scotsman. Montgomerie shined brightest on Sunday at the Prestonwood Country Club outside Raleigh, earning his second victory of 2017. His final round of 64 was low on the day, and enabled him to surge past all challengers.
How they lost:
The Saturday night leader board was tightly packed, with three co-leaders at 136, four more at 137, and four at 138. Vijay Singh’s third-hole double bogey was too much to overcome, despite six birdies and an eagle. Defending champion Doug Garwood has five birdies, an eagle and one bogey on the day, good enough to tie Singh for the runner-up spot. As for Monty’s 36-hole co-leaders, Kelly and Price totaled seven bogeys between them and dropped to sixth and T11, respectively.
When you're on, you're on.
Monty flirts with an albatross on the 17th. He's your leader at the @SASChampionship. pic.twitter.com/AfWVpVOLpf
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 15, 2017
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News
Tour Rundown: Six-pack of tourneys follows Masters
Brazil and Texas were kindred souls this week, at least when it came to weather. Both regions experienced torrential delays, and three tournaments were held up. The LPGA, PGA Tour Americas, and PGA Tour Champions were compelled to reduce play or work extra holes into Sunday. As if that weren’t enough, South Carolina and the PGA Tour fell victim to nature’s wrath, with lightning postponing the conclusion of the event to Monday.
The year’s first women’s major championship was celebrated in Texas. The Chevron is gaining a bit of tradition in its second year after relocation. This year’s event culminated in the continued coronation of the game’s current best. The Korn Ferry Tour saw a top-twenty performance from a 15-year old amateur, while the second event of the week on the big tour found a winner in the Dominican Republic. Six events is more than a handful, so let’s get right to it, with this week’s (delayed) Tour Rundown.
LPGA @ Chevron Championship: Korda corrals second major title
The winter of 2022-2023 seems so distant for current Nelly Korda. A mysterious ailment sapped all of her energy, just as the world appeared to have finally emerged from the pandemic. We never quite secured the complete information that we desired, but no one can say that any of us deserved to know more than Nelly wished to share. One thing is for certain: Nelly Korda has returned to top form, and the world number one golfer is at least one level above anyone else on tour.
Korda began her 2024 campaign with a January victory in the Drive One Championship. In her next start, in March, she continued her assault on the record books, with a win at the Se Ri Pak. She won again the following week, at the Ford, then defeated Leona Maguire in the final match at the T-Mobile Match Play, for a fourth consecutive victory. Would the increased hype around a major championship have an impact on her game? Well, no.
Korda began play at the Chevron Championship with a score of 68. She trailed Lauren Coughlin by two after 18 holes, but caught her with a second-round 69. Coughlin would ultimately tie for third spot with Brooke Henderson. Henderson played with Korda on day four, but the middle third of the round was her undoing. Making a late move was Maja Stark. House Stark closed with birdies at 17 and 18 to reach 11 under par. Both Korda and Strak played the final three days in identical numbers: 69 each day.
Korda held a firm hand on the tournament over the course of the final day. She stood minus-four for the round through ten holes, before a bit of sloppy play made things competitive again. Bogeys at 11 and 15 opened the door a wee bit for Stark. Korda was equal to the test, however, and closed stylishly with birdie at 18.
Safely around the green on the 72nd hole
Watch @NellyKorda‘s historic finish now on NBC! pic.twitter.com/1zaAYtbaCz
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour 1 @ RBC: Scottie, so hottie!
Nelly isn’t the only golfer on fire, although Scottie Scheffler still has a ways to go to match her. Scheffler proved this week that he has a game for all courses. After winning comfortably at lengthy Augusta National, Scheffler shifted gears and game to the wee Sea Pines course, and won again. That’s two weeks in a row for the man from New Jersey/Texas, so let’s learn how he did it.
Scheffler totaled 69 on day one, and found himself six shots behind leader J.T. Poston. Scheffler revealed that his teacher, Randy Smith, would tell him that he didn’t need to be the best 15 year-old; just the best 25 year-old. It was easy, then, to play the long game and consider all 72 holes, instead of just 18. Scheffler improved to 65 on Friday, and then went even lower on Saturday. His 63 moved him to the top of the board, and caused the golfverse to wonder if Scheffler would win for a second consecutive week.
Sunday saw all the chasers fall away. Scores between 70 and 72 from Patrick Rodgers, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka meant that others would need to seize the day, if Scheffler were to do more than coast. Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas each moved inside the top five with fourth-round 65s, but no one ever got close enough to the world number one. The win was Scheffler’s 10th on tour, and made him the betting favorite for next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Scottie Scheffler can save par from just about anywhere.
Including the water ?
(Presented by @CDWCorp) pic.twitter.com/RUqL2sBrr9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 22, 2024
PGA Tour 2 @ Corales Puntacana: Baton Boy claims 8th Tour triumph
If you’ve ever seen Billy Horschel toss a club, you know that he doesn’t do so in anger. More likely is a calculated, soaring arc, paired with a look of fractured disbelief, followed by a quick catch of the cudgel. Ergo, Baton Boy. This week on the island of Hispaniola, the native of Grant, Florida, outworked and outhustled everyone else on Sunday. Horschel gathered seven birdies and an eagle, on the way to a 63 and a 23-under par total.
The former Florida Gator zipped past the four golfers in front of him, and left the remaining field in the rear-view mirror. Horschel’s round was two shots better than anyone else, and moved him two shots ahead of third-round leader Wesley Bryan. One of the famed Bryan Brothers, Wes closed with birdie at the last to post a 68 that would have won the week on any other day.
Walking it in with a fist pump ?@BillyHo_Golf is 9-under on the day and leads by two @CoralesChamp. pic.twitter.com/N6rjL1GGGA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 21, 2024
Korn Ferry Tour @ LeCom Suncoast: It’s Widing in extra holes
Miles Russell probably won’t have to serve detention for ditching class on Thursday and Friday. The high school freshman made his KFT debut, survived the 36-hole cut, and toyed with a top-ten finish. He ultimately tied for 20th at 14-under par, six shots behind the three co-leaders. My guess is that Epstein’s Mom will write him a note, and he’ll get a pass. By finishing top-25, Russell earned a spot in next week’s event. Yikes!
Back to the top of the board. Patrick Cover, Steven Fisk, and Tim Widing all found their way to the magic number of -20. Fisk made birdie at the last, after bogeys at 16 and 17. Cover had three bogeys on the back nine, but a birdie at 14 was enough to get him to overtime. Widing was plus-one on the day through four, but played interstellar golf over the final 14. Six birdies moved him from Russell-ville to extra time.
The trio scurried to the 18th tee, where Cover drove into a fairway bunker. He was unable to reach the green with his approach, made bogey, and exited the overtime session. Widing and Fisk returned to the final deck once more, and matters were resolved. Fisk was unable to convert a long par putt, and Widing (pronounced VEE-ding) tapped in for his first KFT title.
The feeling of relief when you know you won. ???
Tim Widing is now a champion on the #KornFerryTour. pic.twitter.com/K0vgiZ21UG
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour Americas @ Brasil Open: Mr. Anderson finds a way
Golf is a funny game. Matthew Anderson held a lead with one round to play. He made six pars on Sunday, and sprinkled the rest of his card with birdies and bogeys. In complete contrast, Ollie Osborne played consistently on the day, posting four birdies and zero bogeys. Connor Godsey was not far off Osborne’s pace, with seven birdies and but two bogeys on the scorecard. So, of course, Matthew Anderson won by a stroke over Osborne and Godsey.
Not how, but how many, is another one of those platitudes that we all learn early on. Despite five bogeys through his first 14 holes, Anderson summoned the defiant grit to make birdie at the 71st and 72nd holes. After making deuce at the penultimat hole, Anderson’s swerving effort at the last looked as if it should miss low, but it had enough pace to stay inside the hole and fall for a closing four at the par-five finisher.
Birdie-birdie finish to secure the ?
Mississauga-native Matthew Anderson is your 69th ECP Brazil Open Champion. pic.twitter.com/ONE8hIUjeS
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) April 21, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Invited Celebrity: Broadhurst stands tall
What do you call a tournament that begins on Friday, takes Saturday off, and finishes on Sunday? Fortunate is one adjective to use. A weather system moved through Texas this weekend, and made a mess of things in Irving. After Thomas Bjorn signed for 64 on day one, rain and all things counter-productive moved through the Las Colinas resort, ensuring that Saturday would be nothing more than a rest day. When Sunday arrived, conditions had improved, and the game was on. Bjorn was unable to preserve his Friday magic, although he did record a 70 for -8. He finished in a third-place tie with Y.E. Yang.
David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship victor, presented Sunday’s low round, and moved to 10-under par. Toms made one mistake on the day. He lived in the rough on the 9th hole, ultimately making bogey. The rest of the day was immaculate, as seven birdies came his way, resulting in a six-under par 65. Only one golfer was able to surpass Toms, and that was Paul Broadhurst.
Broadhurst nearly matched Toms for daily honors. His mistake came early, with bogey at the second. He bounced back with eagle at the third, and added three more birdies for 66 and 11-under par. Over his first three seasons on the Tour Champions, Broadhurst won five times, including two major titles. His fifth win came in 2018, making this win his first in six years. A long time coming, for sure, but well earned.
Looking at the hole is working for @PBroadhurstGolf ?
He leads by one after a clutch birdie on 15 @InvitedCC. pic.twitter.com/S0rhcVwaeE
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 21, 2024
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News
Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage
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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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