News

5 things we learned Friday at the Masters

Published

7 years ago

Apr 12, 2019

36 holes of the 2019 Masters Tournament have reported in. A wee bit of rain held things up, but the course stood tall. Note for all folks NOT wearing nails in their shoes: don’t run. Trust us, don’t run. It’s not worth it. No one ran away with the tournament on day two. In fact, quite the opposite happened. Nearly every interesting character in the game, every top golfer, showed up and said, count me in. Want us to run it all down for you? O and K! Here are the five things we learned on Friday at the Augusta National.

5. Moli-moli-moli-moli-moli-moli-MOLINARI

One of the best, off-course moments of last fall’s Ryder Cup, the “Molinari” and “Tommy Fleetwood” chants in pubs came back on Friday for the British Open champion. Five birdies with nary a bogey on the card were enough to catapult the Italian to a tie for the top spot after 36 holes. Talk about a made-for-television golfer. Always smiling, always grinding, not afraid to show his passion, but never out of control. Kids, grow up to be Francesco Molinari and you’ll live a wonderful life.

Watch the second-round 67 that vaulted @F_Molinari into a share of the lead. pic.twitter.com/ouJMQbIVhR

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019

4. Who came back on day two?

Let’s see: Dustin Johnson was stuck in neutral after a 19th-hole bogey, but three birds on the inward half brought him to 6 under, one back of the leaders. Jason Day joined Molinari on 67 for the day, bringing the Aussie to seven deep and tied for the lead, on a course seemingly made for his soft putting hands. Oh, and that 14-time major champion overcame trees, sliding security guards, and anything else that fate could toss at him. Welcome back, Tiger. The great one is at 6 under, one off the lead.

That’s one way to make a birdie! @DJohnsonPGA chips in on No. 13 after taking a drop from the water. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Nahlx4x4Hm

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019

3. Round of the day to the X Man

Xander Schauffele, like DJ, bogeyed the 19th hole, then remembered how awesome X Men are. The winner of this year’s Tournament of Champions summoned all his powers and birdied 8 holes over the remaining trek. His 65 is the low round of the tournament to date. Schauffele currently sits in a tie for 6th with others, one behind the leaders as the weekend looms. Note to the Masters Twitter feed: doesn’t the guy who shot 65 deserve a video of at least one shot? He did it in the rain, no less!

2. Who went away?

Justin Rose. Begins and ends with the world number one. Being world number one is like the Madden football curse. Does anyone want it? Sergio Garcia missed the cut, too. Brandt Snedeker was a popular pick to challenge…on his way home as well. Bryson DeChambeau didn’t miss the cut, but he did shoot 3 over on Friday, dropping from first to a tie for 16th. Oh, and only two amateurs! For the first time in forever (until someone proves me inaccurate…not hard to do) more amateurs made the cut (four) than missed it (two). Time for a Bobby Jones-esque shootout for the guys who don’t yet play for pay!

Watch early second-round birdies from @bubbawatson, @JustinRose99, Matt Kuchar, @F_Molinari, @PhilMickelson, @JDayGolf, @BKoepka and @b_dechambeau. #themasters pic.twitter.com/M36lQc3vSw

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019

1. No movie ever had this cast, no team ever signed this lineup

Seriously. None. No Yankees team was ever this good, either. Reigning US Open, PGA, British Open champions are tied for the lead (although two of them are the same person.) So much Ryder Cup bling in the top 15, it’s blinding. Former British and US Open, and PGA champions on the first page of the leader board, if you hadn’t noticed. I know that journalists love to pump … you up, but this one has all the leading men signed. Even Phil decided to hang around at 4 under. Pop some corn, order up a pizza and wings, and tuck in for the next 48 hours. Saturday and Sunday will be glorious. Trust us!

.@PhilMickelson headlines the early afternoon highlights from the second round, which also feature @K_m_Mitchell, @pkizzire, @JustinThomas34, @IanJamesPoulter, @b_dechambeau and @F_Molinari. #themasters pic.twitter.com/NLkgKoJNpv

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

4 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