News

5 things we learned on Thursday at the U.S. Open

Published

7 years ago

Jun 14, 2019

Golf at Pebble Beach is different, especially in the U.S. Open. For the professionals, it is a known commodity, a course that they see on multiple occasions each February. For the viewers, it represents an accessible (albeit expensive) public option, a course hard against an ocean, as we have been told golf should be. For the association that conducts the event, it is the ideal course on which to hold this championship. It allows each qualified golfer to hit driver as often as he dares, yet lay back as often as he desires. Pebble Beach offers familiarity at the end of the continent, a destination sought by most, and a journey measured by an elite few. The first round of the 2019 United States Open championship reminded us of these insights, and it gave us five things worth remembering.

5. Brooks Koepka has a wide-right that he needs to fix

For a guy from Buffalo, wide right has an especially painful significance for this scribe. For Brooks Koepka, it nearly cost him an opportunity to defend his consecutive victories in this event. On #16, Koepka’s drive finished in the right rough, as did his approach to the green. The result: a near-bogey. On #17, his 4-iron flared once again to starboard, finding the first of two greenside bunkers. The result? Bogey. At the 18th hole, Koepka opted to lay back with a fairway metal from the tee, then bombed the ball again to his right, nearly out of bounds. His 2nd was played from the macadam path that borders the hole, and he escaped with another par. Our point? Koepka played the closing stretch in +1, which should have been better and could have been worse. To contend over the next 54 holes, wide right needs to go away.

After playing off the cart path, Brooks Koepka saves par on 18 and finishes with a 2-under 69. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/c18pmIqvqH

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019

4. Tiger Woods is … somewhere

Forget Ted Talks. Forget Master Classes. Follow Tiger Woods around Pebble Beach, or any U.S. Open venue, and you’ll witness a golfer who squeezes every ounce of opportunity from himself and the golf course. On Thursday, Woods’ round started with 3 birdies in the first 7 holes. Only an inexplicable double bogey at 5 kept him from a run at the top. 11 consecutive pars followed, some conjured in the mysterious ways of a magician. The 2000 champion at Pebble Beach made an improbable par from beyond the 14th green, after blading a sand shot from the fronting bunker. On 17, he again saved par from the sand, while a 3rd trip to a bunker at the home hole was also fraught with difficulty. Somehow, some way, he managed 70 on the day, a mere 5 strokes behind the leader.

Tiger is all about the par saves today. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/vASl0nPkgP

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019

3. Xander Schauffele lies in wait

The X Man has two runner-up finishes in major championships. He tied for 2nd at the 2018 Open championship, and did the same at this year’s Masters. Every facet of his game lends itself to major competition. On Thursday, Schauffele made eagle at the last to reach five-under par, tied with Rickie Fowler, Louis Oosthuizen and Aaron Wise (at the time) for 1st place. As do Woods and Fowler, Schauffele hails from California, and his west-coast familiarity might be what pushes the 4-time PGA Tour champion into the realm of major champion. Whether he hoists the trophy on Sunday or not, Schauffele will certainly be in the mix.

What a finish!

Xander Schauffele eagles 18 to tie for the lead. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/vvINX41qNJ

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 13, 2019

2. A golf course might just survive US Open criticism-does it matter?

Let’s see, Oakmont had bad officiating, Chambers Bay had bad grass. Erin Hills had wide fairways. Shinnecock Hills had Phil Mickelson. Raise your hand if you want to host a U.S. Open. What’s that? No one? (cue crickets chirping.) It’s a tough gig, being the site for a pre-eminent event in the USA, subject to the scrutiny of multiple elements, the carping of unsatisfied competitors. Would Oakmont have been vestal without the DJ affair? Would Chambers have received its due if the greens hadn’t apparently died? What might we have done with the Hills twins, Erin and Shinny? The point is, fans, media and history demand that each playing exceed the previous ones. That shouldn’t be the case. yet here we are. As demonstrated in the introduction to this piece, Pebble is many things to many people. Let’s raise a glass to how a tournament course can be prepped, and an event can be conducted … oh, wait, we still have 54 holes left.

Dustin Johnson does things normal humans cannot. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/lqX2joZHav

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 13, 2019

1. Justin Rose is a major player

We found this out in 1998, when the English lad holed from 50 yards out at the last, on his way to a 4th-place tie and low amateur status. In 2013, Rose established himself as a major champion at Merion, winning a U.S. Open in Hogan-esque fashion. In 2016, Rose became the first golfer in over 100 years to capture an Olympic gold medal. Buoyed by an eagle at the 6th, Rose added five birdies to counteract his lone misstep, a bogey at the treacherous 8th. Just as Pebble is a long way from emerging unscathed as an Open site, Rose has three rounds left to prove himself worthy of a 2nd title in the event. His lead is one slim stroke, but the composure and assurance he demonstrated in round one, makes Rose a worthy contender this week, on the California coast.

History!

Justin Rose finishes with 65, tying the lowest #USOpen round at Pebble Beach. pic.twitter.com/FjOHUHqLq1

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 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