News

Tour Rundown: Drama at the Senior Players, an unexpected LPGA champion

Published

8 years ago

Jul 16, 2018

The United States Golf Association presented its first new Open championship since 1980. The debut of the USGA Senior Women’s Open was played at storied and seldom-seen Chicago Golf Club, near the windy city. Everyone hoped for a signature championship, and a signature champion, and the ladies did not disappoint. The professional tours teed it up in Scotland, Illinois, Ohio and Illinois again. Run, run, run it down now, in this week’s Tour Rundown.

Laura Davies dominates inaugural Senior Women’s Open

There were impressive performances this week across the world, perhaps the best such week of the season. None was more impressive than dame Laura Davies’ 10-shot victory at the first-ever US senior women’s open championship. Davies played cautious golf the first two rounds, always in the mix but never at risk. With 2 rounds under her belt, the English champion and hall of fame golfer took the Chicago Golf Club apart over the final 36 holes, leaving the field in the dust. Davies was a shot off Elaine Crosby’s first-round 70, but found herself tied for the lead at the midway point.

Chicago Golf Club played to a par of 73 for the championship, and Davies chopped 7 strokes off that figure, thanks to 6 birdies and 1 eagle. Her last bogey of the tournament came on the 4th hole that day. Oddly enough, it was a 6 at the par-five hole, a rarity for the long hitter. Eschewing tees as she has her entire career, Davies’ driving clubs played shots from turf-fashioned mounds to the fairway, all week long. Her challengers included Juli Inkster, who finished second at 6-under, and countrywoman Trish Johnson, who claimed third at 4-under.

As important as Davies’ signature victory, was the presence of the grand ladies of the game. Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carner, and Pat Bradley represented the Babe Zaharias, Mickey Wrights, and Patty Bergs before them. Raise a glass to the first of what will become a storied championship for senior women golfers.

Put it in the history books! Laura Davies wins the inaugural #USSeniorWomensOpen! pic.twitter.com/zPmEOu8TGj

— USGA (@USGA) July 15, 2018

Michael Kim claims first PGA Tour title

It’s probable that Michael Kim doesn’t care that he put on the second-best performance of the week, after Davies’. The former UCal and USA Walker Cup golfer began to fulfill the promise he offered, with a first PGA Tour win, in stunning fashion. The John Deere Classic was used to seeing Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson in the mix, yet Kim’s win might be the most talked-about for years to come. The 25-year old celebrated his birthday on Saturday, then went out on Sunday and shot 66, for an 8-stroke margin of victory. Four golfers tied for 2nd spot, including Francesco Molinari. Any other week, that foursome would have gone to extra holes, but this was Kim’s week, and runner-up money was their sole compensation.

Consider this for a moment. Of the 72 holes that Kim played, he made birdie on 30 of them. 42 percent of the time, his score was going lower. When your birdie-to-bogey ration is 10-1, you know that you’re in for something special. Of the runners-up, three were in desperate need of mid-career validation, while the fourth looks to take the next, major step in his career. Sam Ryder, Bronson Burgoon and Joel Dahmen have 0 victories and an average of 30 years of age. We know how much a win for any of the three would mean. As for Francesco Molinari, he has represented Europe in the Ryder and Seve Cups, and won on the European and USA PGA Tours. What’s the next step? Carnoustie or Bellerive, thank you very much.

Leader by NINE. ????@Mike_Kim714 is on fire.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/0Xz98ykpNE

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 15, 2018

Stone storms Scotland for Open title on European Tour

Brandon Stone is a very good golfer. He had two prior European Tour wins, both coming on home soil, in South Africa. Some might call that misleading, as those events don’t attract as strong a field as, say, the Scottish Open. Of late, Stone had struggled with his game, but he went out on Sunday, etched 8 birdies and 1 eagle on his scorecard for 60. Oh, and he won the Scottish Open. He beat guys like Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters and Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter. Dream came true.

For the longest time on Sunday, viewers wondered if Eloquent Eddie Pepperell would double his career victory total, if Trevor Immelman would return to the glory he once knew, or if some other story would be written. For a few hours, that story was Aaron Rai. He opened birdie-eagle to take the lead at 14-under. It would take six more birdies for him to win, but he made four bogies and tied for 9th. Third round leader Jens Dentorp had his say, but three bogeys of his own dropped him to a tie for third. The Stone Express was so sudden; for most of the day, he was “making a nice move” or “having a good day of it.” Then, he birdied 14 and 15, and eagled 16 to stun the … well, pretty much the EVERYONE. On to Carnoustie!

One of the best ever @EuropeanTour rounds.

Relive @BrandonMStone's final round in four minutes. pic.twitter.com/XdL9D63tAP

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 15, 2018

Senior Players Championship to Singh in overtime

It’s hard to close out a golf tournament. Jeff Maggert had 3, maybe 4 opportunities on Sunday to do so. He didn’t. Bart Bryant and Scott McCarron, the latter the defending champion, came down with a case of ennui and played par golf from the final twosome. Jerry Kelly and and Brandt Jobe found their games on Sunday, shooting scores in the low 60s to come oh so close to the top spot. Along the way, a tall Fijian, name of Singh, shuffled his way into contention, hung around long enough to reach a playoff, then won the title with birdie on the second extra hole.

It went like this: Maggert hits a bad approach and make bogey, letting Singh back in. Singh hits a bad drive and has to scramble for miracle par, opening door for Maggert, who doesn’t step through. Maggert has legitimate birdies chances on last hole of regulation and first hole of playoff, but cannot convert. For a while, it was like watching Lionel Messi take a penalty kick! On the second playoff hole, Singh stuffed his approach to a few feet and made the putt for his first senior major title.

We have a playoff @SENIORPLAYERS. @VijaySinghGolf converts another par save while @Jeff_Maggert's birdie putt to win slides by the hole. pic.twitter.com/Hn6b6TPdQw

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 15, 2018

Suwannapura ousts Lincicome in extra holes at LPGA’s Marathon Classic

When you make the media scramble for a highlight reel, it’s safe to say that your victory was unexpected. Much like the Champions Tour, questions all day at the Marathon Classic centered on Brooke Henderson, Brittany Lincicome, and NOT on Thidapa Suwannapura. Henderson had another chance to put the field away and claim a title, but a combination of too much power and putting that needs improvement, kept her off the podium’s top spot. She finished one shot out of the playoff, with bogeys at two of her final four holes, and pars on the closing two holes, both par 5s (pssst…those felt like bogeys, too.)

Lincicome had a clean card on Sunday, making 4 birdies to shoot 67 and finish at 14-under. When Thidapa bogeyed 16, the last thing anyone expected was eagle and birdie on the final pair, but that’s what came off. To sudden death did Thidapa and Brittany go, and once again, the young Thai golfer had a birdie putt at 18, this time to win the title. She was spot on with her putt and the week’s most untouted champion had her coronation.

Watch highlights from @thidapa_jts' final & victorious round at the @MarathonLPGA! pic.twitter.com/RYEufoYYnn

— LPGA (@LPGA) July 15, 2018

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase