News

Tour Rundown: No Fooling! Kisner, McDowell, McCarthy and more

Published

7 years ago

Apr 2, 2019

We had too much fun with yesterday’s April Fools Day version of Tour Rundown. We hope that our fictions weren’t as convincing as, say Hayden “Sidd” Finch was, so many years ago in Sports Illustrated. In this week’s true Tour Rundown, we look at Kevin Kisner match-play work in Austin, while Graeme McDowell returned to victory lane with a title in the Dominican Republic. Elsewehere, the LPGA crowned Nasa Hasaoka queen of Carlsbad, and the European and Champions tours recognized Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and the USA’s Kevin Sutherland as rightful claimants to the Savannah and Rapiscan titles.

1. Kisner’s WGC Match Play title caps head-to-head run

With the exception of a little international friendly last fall in France, Kevin Kisner has been the match-play story of the past 365 days. The South Carolinian finished as runner-up to Bubba Watson in 2018. In 2019, he returned to Austin and went one step farther, claiming the coveted title. Kisner defeated Matt Kuchar in the final, closing with stellar grace under pressure. His composure had European Ryder Cup stalwart, Lee Westwood, chirping earlier in the week that Kisner’s match-play game would certainly have shone well
at Le Golf National, for last year’s Ryder Cup matches. Both finalists survived harrowing finishes in Sunday morning’s semifinal matches. Each pulled out a 1-up victory over Francesco Molinari (Kisner) and Lucas Bjerregaard (Kuchar.) In the final match, Kisner took the lead on the 1st hole with birdie and never gave it back. Kuchar returned to all square on one occasion, when he made par to Kisner’s bogey at the 5th. Kuchar would win just one more hole (the 9th) and his only birdies would be halved by Kisner. On a day when he needed more, Kuchar did not produce and Kisner’s 2-under effort through 16 holes, brought him a 3-and-2 victory. The match play never fails to deliver some good, some bad, and some unusual. Have a look.

A shirtless hole-out eagle from the water. ????
Tiger's amazing recovery from the bushes. ????@JJWatt stops by @DellMatchPlay. ????

And much more in the Good, Bad and Unusual. pic.twitter.com/2hLqPKNENo

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 1, 2019

2. Graeme McDowell claims fourth PGA tour title at Dominican debut

Beginning in 2010 with the US Open, Graeme McDowell has spaced out his 4 PGA Tour victories nicely. Wins in 2013, 2015, and 2019 put him on the verge of joining a solid group with 5 titles and 1 major. The majority of his success came earlier in his career, on the European tour, where he claimed 10 titles from 2002 to 2014. This week, McDowell made the most of the event opposite the WGC Match Play, holding off Mackenzie Hughes and Chris Stroud by one stroke for victory in the inaugural Puntacana Championship. McDowell positioned himself as the target with twin, middle rounds of 64, then opened Sunday with 4 birdies through the first 7 holes to preserve his lead. Hughes, Stroud and others were relentless, but McDowell survived a bogey at the turn and came to the last with 2 strokes in hand. He played the final fairway calmly, closing with bogey for -18 and his welcome margin of victory. A playoff wouldn’t have fazed the Northern Irishman, as he holds a 5-1 record in pro extra time. With the Masters around the corner, victory gives the one-time major champion an extra boost of confidence on the road to Augusta.

From 119th to 42nd in the #FedExCup.

A closer look at @Graeme_McDowell's impressive performance @CoralesChamp. pic.twitter.com/Xkbiq9j50f

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 2, 2019

3. Hataoka holds off handful of pursuers to claim LPGA’s Kia Classic

After a clean card of 8 birdies and 0 bogies produced a 64 and a healthy lead on Saturday, Nasa Hataoka found herself in a common position in professional golf: in need of a strong final round to fend off the chasers. The young Japanese golfer had many pursuers on Sunday, and 5 of them reached 15-under par at day’s end. Hataoka simply gave them no chance at recovery; she posted 5 more birdies through 15 holes in round 4, and when she finally made a bogey at 16 (only her 3rd of the week) she immediately rebounded with birdie at 17 to reach -18 and secure a 3-shot win over the quintet. Keep in mind that her pursuers included Inbee Park, Sung Hyung Park, Danielle Kang and other, worthy opponents. The trophy was Hataoka’s 3rd in 2 years on tour, marking her as yet another young stalwart with a chance at victory each week on the women’s tour.

The final round of the @LPGAKiaClassic was full of eagles, clutch shots and low scores!

Check out the highlights from the exciting conclusion to the 2019 Kia Classic!

HIGHLIGHTS ?? pic.twitter.com/YogUUpci3H

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 1, 2019

4. Gallacher claims victory on the moon at European Tour’s Hero Indian Open

The USA’s Julian Suri let another title slip away in India this weekend, but his story is not the compelling one. The headlines belong, rightfully so, to Stephen Gallacher. A 40-something pro from Scotland, Gallacher made a name for himself mid-decade, with back-to-back wins at the Dubai Desert Classic. Tournament titles have been sparse for the Scotsman in his 20 years on tour. Sunday’s victory at the course from the moon, aka Boulder City, was a complete surprise, and an inspiration for those still grinding in the late stages of their careers. What made the win even more unlikely for Gallacher was the marking of a quadruple-bogey 8 on his card in round 4. The 7th hole gave him fits all week, despite a birdie there in round 1. Rather than simply disappearing into a fog of frustration, Gallacher recovered with 6 birdies over the next 11 holes. A birdie at the last was enough to push him past Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, to -9 on the week and victory. With a 1-2 record in European Tour playoffs, outright triumph certainly suited Gallacher better than extra holes.

WOW!! ????

Could that be the moment that wins @stevieggolf the title?#HIO2019 pic.twitter.com/MBzLd5Lzot

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 31, 2019

5. McCarthy’s return complete with Web.Com tour triumph

If you followed him in 2016, Dan McCarthy was the dominating force on the PGA Tour’s Canadian circuit. He was poised to repeat this success in 2017 and 2018, but caution following injury slowed his progress. Fully healthy in 2019, McCarthy reclaimed the mastery with a first Web.Com victory at the Savannah Championship. The champion opened with rounds of 67 and 65, but faced a test with 4 bogeys on Saturday. Still in a tie for the lead on Sunday morning, the Syracuse native played consistent golf on day four. His 4-birdie, 1-bogey effort separated him from 3rd-round co-leader Scottie Scheffler. The UTexas alum played the first 12 holes erratically, then caught fire with birdies at 14-16. Bogey at 17 dropped Scheffler from the lead, and he was unable to birdie the last to force a playoff. With the win, McCarthy moved inside the top 10 on the season’s chase for 25 PGA Tour cards.

Scottie Scheffler vs. @DMcCarthyGolf.

It came down to the 72nd green @WebTourSavannah.

How things played out … pic.twitter.com/19w2ipEEhi

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) April 1, 2019

6. Seven-hole playoff finishes Monday at Champions Tour

Scott Parel has played very good golf the past 2 years on the Champions Tour. He did so again on Sunday, finishing at -7 through 3 rounds. Kevin Sutherland played terrific golf on Friday-Saturday, but not so much on Sunday. His closing 75, lowlighted by 0 birdies on the day, dropped him to -7, into a playoff with Parel. The two headed off to extra holes, but were unable to decide a winner through 5 attempts. Return to the course on Monday, they did, and two more holes were needed before Sutherland dropped a decent putt for birdie and the title. The victory was Sutherland’s 2nd on the senior circuit, coming two seasons after he closed 2017 with a win at the Charles Schwab Cup championship.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Kevin Sutherland makes birdie on seventh playoff hole to win @RapiscanClassic. pic.twitter.com/C5Y1QQrjSM

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 1, 2019

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

8 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