News

Tiger Woods fires opening-round 62 (8-under) at the BMW Championship

Published

8 years ago

Sep 6, 2018

Tiger Woods set pulses racing at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday afternoon firing a sensational round of 62. Woods put his old faithful Scotty Cameron Newport 2 back in the bag for the first round of the BMW Championship, meaning he has now used different putters at the first three FedEx Cup playoff events. And boy did that decision pay off.

Beginning his round on the 10th hole, Woods knocked his approach shot to 20 feet to give him an opportunity to set the tone for the day. He duly obliged, burying the birdie putt, before adding two more birdies in his opening four holes with putts from 13 and 10 feet, respectively.

1 hole.
1 birdie.

A perfect start for @TigerWoods at @BMWChamps.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/RNAILlhles

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 6, 2018

Sitting at 3-under par through his opening five holes Woods then turned on the afterburners. After finding the fairway on the par-5 16th hole, Woods flushed an iron from 241 yards to within five feet of the pin for an eagle opportunity, which he nonchalantly dispatched to take sole possession of the lead.

EAGLE for @TigerWoods.

He's the solo leader. ????#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/NW35JcHFd7

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 6, 2018

Woods then parred the difficult par-3 17th, before closing out his opening nine holes by draining a birdie putt after he had stuffed his approach shot from the fairway in tight. That birdie brought him to 6-under par and gave him an opening front nine of 29, which incidentally is his best nine-hole score since the 2007 Tour Championship. He won by eight shots that week.

Tiger Woods shot a 29 on the back 9 to start the BMW Championship.

It's his lowest round on a 9 since the 2007 TOUR Championship, when he shot a 28 on the front side of the 2nd round.

Woods went on to win that week by 8 strokes. pic.twitter.com/TP4NZk32ze

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 6, 2018

On the opening hole of his back nine, Woods then holed a 13-foot birdie putt to get him to 7-under par, which got everyone on 59-watch. However, the 14-time major champion then ran into a streak of pars lasting until his 16th hole where he snapped that par run with a superb approach shot from the middle of the fairway to set up a tap-in birdie which took him to 8-under par for the day.

Woods. Wedge. Wow.

Leader by 3. ????#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/oYrXLFXOWF

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 6, 2018

On his 17th hole of the day, Woods made a rare error, sailing his tee shot long and left of the green on the difficult 242-yard par-3 hole. That mistake lead to his first and only dropped shot of the day, but it was a shot that he was able to get back instantly on his final hole of the day, drilling home a birdie putt on the par-5 ninth for an eight-under par round of 62. That round of 62 is Tiger Woods’ lowest opening round on the PGA Tour since 1999.

Having come into this week battling issues with the flat-stick over his previous two events, Woods will have been delighted with his performance today with his Scotty Cameron Newport 2. Woods gained over two strokes on the field on the bentgrass greens, taking just one round to validate his decision to return to the putter that won him 13 of his 14 major championships.

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Tiger Woods puts his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 back in the bag at the BMW Championship

Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

16 Comments

Pa

Sep 8, 2018 at 9:07 am

Kevin Na and Tommy Fleetwood shot 62 on Friday.
No full page review like this for each of them? Why not?

Reply Report comment
Liberty Apples

Sep 7, 2018 at 1:17 pm

What? No headline? Round 2: T11.

Reply Report comment
MS

Sep 7, 2018 at 9:36 am

I love the format of this article. Reviewing over the highlights of the round leader. However, I wish it was done for other round leaders and not just for Tiger. Maybe you should consider publishing a round highlight article like this for each daily round leader for every (or most) tournaments, whether it’s Tiger or Joe Schmo.

Reply Report comment
Jon

Sep 6, 2018 at 11:25 pm

So what… then Mcllroy goes and shoots a 62 but if he didn’t run into problems on 7 and 8 he would have shot the coveted 59.

Reply Report comment
- bjb
  
  Sep 7, 2018 at 3:37 am
  
  if your aunt had balls, you’d have another uncle
  
  Reply Report comment
  - HH
    
    Sep 7, 2018 at 8:20 am
    
    Heshe does! Shower your love on himher
    
    Reply Report comment
- Shifty
  
  Sep 7, 2018 at 3:49 am
  
  The telecast I was watching seemed to almost refuse showing McIlroy’s round.
  
  Reply Report comment
Liberty Apples

Sep 6, 2018 at 10:34 pm

A professional golfer shoots a very, very good round. 62. 8 under. Nice work. Has something like this ever happened before?

Reply Report comment
Scotty Cameron

Sep 6, 2018 at 7:03 pm

Circle T Newport 2 putters everywhere have just exponentially increased in value.

Reply Report comment
- Johnny Penso
  
  Sep 6, 2018 at 8:50 pm
  
  Until he shoots 74 tomorrow and then finishes the tournament tied for 22nd.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Don S
    
    Sep 6, 2018 at 10:59 pm
    
    Don’t be a hater Johnny……enjoy the golf….
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Johnny Penso
      
      Sep 6, 2018 at 11:47 pm
      
      Not hate. Call it enlightened self interest. If Tiger shoots 74 he’ll get far less tv coverage which is in my best interest. I don’t want to turn on Sunday afternoon and see Tiger warming up, a Tiger montage, interviews with his Caddy, a historical retrospective, 10,000 commecials…and that’s before he even tees off. I’d rather see a golf tournament than the Tiger show.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Shifty
        
        Sep 7, 2018 at 3:51 am
        
        This so much
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Lionfans
        
        Sep 7, 2018 at 6:01 am
        
        Go watch LPGA
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Darryl Souness
        
        Sep 7, 2018 at 7:38 am
        
        Are you kidding, the media will dine out on yesterdays round for weeks, we’ll still be seeing footage of the eagle at 15 during the Sunday coverage at the Ryder Cup. The Tiger adulation in the commentary box was so bad last night, I switched over to watch Sundays F1 race.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        ~j~
        
        Sep 7, 2018 at 9:58 am
        
        Good, stick with the F1 racing and LPGA tournaments then. Always SOOOO much excitement there. :-\ Get over it or find other things to watch, Tiger coverage will continue just fine without you.
        
        Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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