News

Tour Rundown: Moli-Moli-Moli-Molinari!

Published

7 years ago

Mar 11, 2019

With the exception of Meghan MacLaren, third-round leaders did not fare well on Sunday the 10th of March. An overnight lead on any tour is like a wild animal: it wants to get away and you have trouble holding on. Matthew Fitzpatrick, Fran Quinn and Oliver Wilson watched the chaser become the chased in round fours this weekend, and three daring champions emerged. As for MacLaren, well, she has a liking for the New South Wales Open championship.

Time to run down the tours like a chihuahua at the poodle races.

PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational to Moli-Moli-Moli-Molinari

Remember those Ryder Cup chants in the fall for the inscrutable, undefeatable pair of Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood? They’re back, at least for the reigning Open champion. Francesco Molinari made Orlando the Italian town its name implies for one weekend this year. He went one stroke lower than Rafa Cabrera Bello’s opening 65, and sneaked past Fitzpatrick by two slim strokes for his second stateside triumph.

Fitzpatrick had the misfortune of playing with Rory McIlroy, who finds any manner of struggling when in the mix these days. The Northern Irishman’s presence spurred Patrick Reed on to victory last spring at Augusta, but it didn’t work the same magic with Fitzpatrick. Fitzy was a steady presence this week, hovering around 70 in three of the four rounds. His Saturday 67 vaulted him up to the top spot, but he would always be low-hanging fruit for the mid-60s round that Molinari crushed on Sunday. How crushed? Eight birdies against zero others, including a three at the last. Fitzpatrick’s bogey at 15 was his undoing, despite a bounce-back birdie at the next. Forza, Francesco!

???????? @F_Molinari's clutch birdie on the 72nd hole @APinv is even more exciting when called by @GOLFTV's Italian broadcasters. ???? pic.twitter.com/uFE5INGzNq

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2019

European Tour: Qatar Masters is Harding’s to hold

Part-way across the world in Doha, Oliver Wilson must somehow take success away from his nine-way tie for second spot in the Qatar Masters. The one-time winner and four-time playoff loser on the European Tour was relegated to 2nd Division last year. Two wins on the Challenge Tour returned him to the Premier Division, and he nearly pulled a Leicester on Sunday. Unfortunately for him, along came Justin Harding. Wilson battled all Sunday long, but came up two strokes shy, along with eight others, of Harding’s impressive, day-four 66. It wasn’t the low score, as that belonged to Jinho Choi with 64. Harding’s pair of sixes included birdies at three of the final four greens, including 17 and 18. After two victories in Asia, and seven on his native South Africa circuit, Harding offered a massive debut victory outside his homeland with his win in Doha. Here’s to more appearances across the world for the 33-year old with the long putter!

How Harding sealed his first European Tour win ?????#QatarMasters pic.twitter.com/ByiTQSCWlA

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 10, 2019

Ladies European Tour: young MacLaren defends title at New South Wales Open

It’s only two dates, but Meghan MacLaren has developed an affinity for this part of Australia. The young English professional captured the NSWO in 2018 by 2 shots, for an inaugural tour win. 365 days later, she went one better, holding off Munchin Keh of New Zealand and Lynn Carlsson of Sweden by three strokes for win number two. The titleholder was tied with Carlsson through 54 holes, but the Swede went out in 38 to the Englishwoman’s 36. The golf wasn’t stellar quite yet, but a bold eagle from three feet at the 16th stamped MacLaren as the worthy heiress to, well, herself. Keh’s 67 was the second-lowest round of the day, and it brought the 26-year old her best professional finish to date.

England’s @meg_maclaren has holed a one-metre putt for eagle on 16 to join Munchin Keh in a tie for the lead on 11-under #WomensNSWOpen pic.twitter.com/219cXpuq7X

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 10, 2019

Champions Tour: Hoag Classic is Triplett’s 7th on Senior circuit

Woody Austin’s combined playoff record from PGA and Champions tours was 4-1 until Sunday. Unable to birdie the closing par five, he went toe to toe with Kirk Triplett, he of the bucket hat. On the day’s third go at the finishing hole, Triplett made a spectacular eagle to dash Austin’s hopes for victory. The mercurial Austin had the oddest of rounds. A front-nine eagle, a back-side birdie, and 16 pars. His 68 equaled Triplett’s, as both went roaring past overnight leader Fran Quinn. The Bay State journeyman could not find any of the birdies that brought him to the top on Sunday. His three bogeys and one birdie etched 74 on his card, dropping him to a tie for fourth spot.

In an eerie replay, Triplett’s eagle putt came on the same line and distance as the birdie putt he made in regulation, to force the playoff. If that’s not a run down, well, we’ve done our best!

Never a doubt. pic.twitter.com/ZTpa1vqz7a

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) March 11, 2019

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

5 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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

3 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