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Tour Rundown: Lazy Days at Lahinch, MinnesOHta Mania and Wisconsin Women

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5 years ago

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The European Tour’s 3-week run in early July might be unmatched in golf broadcasting. For a fortnight and a half, viewers are afforded the opportunity (most years) to see the finest links in golf. Played as it was created, centuries ago, golf balls carom with abandon around fairways and green sites. Putts from 70 feet (and sometimes, 70 yards) maneuver to within the leather. Sure, there’s tremendous golf in the heartland of the USA and other locales, but give credit its due assignment: golf along the ground, along the British coastlines, is spectacular. With that, to the linksland and this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour returns to Minnesota

It was an unforgettable return to the PGA Tour for the state of Minnesota. A tournament that had been contested on PGA Tour Champions, essentially received a promotion to the PGA Tour Regular. The golf course, dotted with ponds so reminiscent of the lakes of the host state, offered opportunities galore for birdies and disaster. More than one scorecard told the story of doubles, followed by eagles, pursued by birdies. The champion turned out to be the type of golfer that the event hopes to be: young, unafraid, a little brash, and worthy.

Matthew Wolff is a valley kid from California. Like Rickie Fowler, he left the west coast for America’s heartland, pursuing academics and golf at Oklahoma State. He got big for two reasons: great play in college, and regular feature on George Gankas’ Instagram feed. Wolff jumped up large on Saturday with 62. On Sunday, he stormed the castle in the end, closing with an eagle at the last to vault over Bryson DeChambeau and playing partner Collin Morikawa, securing an initial tour title by one stroke. The runners-up did nearly everything correctly: they posted 66s and tossed up a potent challenge. This was Wolff’s day, week, and moment, and he did not back away, he did not disappoint. As Wolff featured in a Tweet to Gankas, his teacher, a dream come true.

@pgatour     @3mopen     @George Gankas     @matthew_wolff5

Korn Ferry Tour visits NY/PA border

As happens each week on the Korn Ferry Tour, stories abound. The former Demon Deacon, making a run at his first, large-tour title. The US Air Force pilot and instructor, doing the same. The Kiwi grinder from down under, recently turned 40, also in search of the breakthrough victory. They toil in fair anonymity, the near-equivalent of the minor league ballplayer. Many of their tour stops are smaller towns and rural areas, where the KF event is the biggest game of the summer. Such was the case in Clymer, NY, where the Peek’n Peak Resort hosted another LECOM Health Challenge. As in previous years, when the likes of Bubba Watson competed, and winners like Chesson Hadley, Kevin Stadler and Guy Boros, held the trophy high, multiple stories collided into one, with Ryan Brehm the biggest tale of them all.

A single stroke separated Brehm and Tim Wilkinson (the Kiwi) as Sunday awakened. By day’s end, they had traded that stroke, and went into a playoff. Truly, they should not have been there. Brehm handed Wilkinson a 2nd chance by following a 71st-hole birdie with a 72nd-hole double bogey. Making a concerted effort to catch the pair, was the trio of Blaine Barber, Will Zalatoris (the Demon Deacon) and Chase Seiffert. Seiffert gave the greatest effort, closing with 4 consecutive birdies for 63, -19, just one shot out of the playoff. Barber and Zalatoris came to the closer needing birdie to join the after-party, but each came up short.

Off, then, went the pair of Brehm and Wilkinson to the elevated tee of the 18th hole. As in regulation, Wilkinson made a solid par 5. His 4th stroke lipped maddeningly out of the hole. Unlike regulation, when the hole ensnared him, Brehm made a right-proper birdie 4, securing his 2nd victory on the under-tour. On Monday, Brehm stood in 25th spot on the points list. On Sunday, he had vaulted to 5th place. The triumph ensured a return to the PGA Tour for 2019-2020 for the Michigan State alum.

@LECOMHC     @peeknpeak     @kornferrytour

Irish Open at Lahinch

Great golf courses need a champion. Not the type that says “OK, completely change this layout for the professionals” (cough, Merion 2013, cough). The type like Paul McGinley, who lobbied to bring the Irish Open to lovely Lahinch. Yes, the USA won those two wars, back in the day, but it has a ways to go in learning how to cherish its classic golf courses, especially when these host the professionals.

Jon Rahm blistered Lahinch in the final round. Despite stumbling with 2 bogeys over the course of the day, the Spaniard made up for them on the 12th hole, with an eagle. He posted 8 birdies to reach 62 on the day, 126 for the weekend. The trophy gives Rahm bookends, as he first won the tournament by 6 strokes, in 2017. On this occasion, his margin of victory was 2 shots over Andy Sullivan and Bernd Wiesberger. On a day when the Spanish flag seemed destined to fly over Lahinch, Rahm worked his way through the course with precision. In contrast, countryman Rafael Cabrera-Bello jumped out to a 3-stroke lead, then lost his game. The Canary Islander birdied 3 of his first 5 holes, then succumbed to some ailment and bogeyed 4 of 6 holes as the back nine commenced. He finished in a tie for 4th with Eddie Pepperell and Robert Rock.

@ddfirishopen     @europeantour     @mcginleygolf

The tournament within the tournament

Qualifying for The Open championship is so cool! Each week of the Rolex Series (including the upcoming Scottish Open) three golfers not otherwise exempt, will earn a spot at Royal Portrush. Despite having 2 major titles, Martin Kaymer is still on the outside, looking in. Why? Well, Paul Waring birdied 4 of his final 6 holes to squeek past the German great and earn a spot in 2 weeks in Northern Ireland. In addition, to Waring, Bernd Wiesberger (2nd at Lahinch) and Robert Rock () also claimed a place in the run for champion golfer of the year. This week, not only will a Scottish Open champion be crowned at the Renaissance Club, but a triumvirate of grateful golfers will punch a ticket for Portrush.

@renaissancegc     @TheOpen     @ScottishOpen

Loaded ladies field makes Wisconsin #Awesummer

There’s a reason we left the exciting, Thornberry Creek news for last. In the awesummest awesummer of them all, four golfers went into the final round tied for the lead at -20. Tiffany Joh, she of the piano playing and the standup comedy, shot a laudable 67. It earned her a tie for 3rd with Amy Yang. Sung Hyun Park, whom everyone expected to win for a 2nd consecutive week, had 69 for a tie for 6th spot. Ariya Jutanugarn, the 2018 US Open champion, went 2-eagle low with 64. She made a deuce at the par 4 sixth hole, and a 3 at the par 5 9th hole. Out in 30 strokes, she looked like the world-beater on Sunday. Alas, her ridiculous bogey at the par 5 15th hole did her in. She needed perfection on this day, and it went a-wandering.

So who, then? Shanshan Feng, she of the cow-print pants and the permanent smile, turned in a remarkable 63 to reach -29, one beyond the grasp of Jutanugarn. Feng had no eagles, but otherwise, she was perfect. 9 birdies, 9 pars, with a 7-feet putt for a 3 at the last. The 2016 bronze medal winner in Rio claimed her 10th tour title after her duel with Ariya. The golf on all fronts was blindingly good; as with all tournaments, only one golfer hoists the trophy. Feng probably won’t win the Race to CME Globe (symbolic of LPGA supremacy) this year, but she did leap 15 spots in the standings with her victory.

@lpga     @shanshanfengCHN     @thornberrylpga

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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Five Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship

Published

7 hours ago

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May 16, 2024

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It was a year ago that we the north, found ourselves with toes and fingers crossed. The Oak Hill PGA Championship of 2023 finished on schedule, despite the iffiness of weather in upstate New York. It’s 75 degrees today across the Niagara Frontier, which makes it two out of three (2022 was the same way) for sultry, unseasonal weather.

Louisville is, let’s be honest, a much better bet for a May PGA Championship, and Valhalla is an exciting venue for the year’s second major championship on the men’s circuit. Brooks Koepka came in as the defending champion, and Rory McIlroy arrived as the last golfer to win a major at the Nicklaus-designed course. That was a decade ago, and lord, have things changed in the world and golf.

Day one at Valhalla offered walk-in eagles, buckets of birdies, and potential for a record-low, winner’s score. We’ll get right to the meat of the matter, with five things that we learned. After all, if you can make par from the muck, anything’s possible in the land of the horses.

1. X marks this spot

Xander Schauffele went head to head last Sunday with Rory McIlroy, at least on the practice green. By the end of the round, Rors had won for a fourth time at Charlotte, while the X Man sat scratching his head, wondering what went wrong. Fortunately for us, Xander didn’t sulk.

The San Diego State alumnus absolutely torched Jack’s track with 62. Four birdies on the front nine, were followed by five more on the inward side. Schauffele never looked as if bogey was a consideration, and he might have gone even lower. Despite winning the Covid-delayed Gold medal at the Japan Olympics (I consider it a major, btdubs) Schauffele continues to chase an initial men’s major, and the validation that it brings. If 62 doesn’t get you over the hump, who knows what will.

2. Scottie starts strong? Aye.

Last month, Mr. Scheffler won a second green jacket at Augusta National. Last year in Rochester, Mr. Scheffler tied for second in this event. Mr. Scheffler began play today with a walk-in eagle, a one-hop affair that never looked as if it might go anywhere but to its home. Scheffler had a few rough holes, but that’s to be expected from a new dad. Each time he made bogey, he bounced back with birdie, so he has that short memory that winners crave. Surprisingly, Scheffler failed to manage one last birdie at the reachable 18th. Perhaps that miss will motivate him in round two.

3. LIV Check-In

It’s good to check in on the departed from time to time, to ensure that the fellows formerly known as PGA Tour members are doing well. It’s safe to say that some of them can still play. Defending champion Brooks Koepka posted 67 on the day, He had an eagle and three birdies on the day, with only a stumble at the 17th. He’s tied for 7th. Bryson DeChambeau made an eagle of his own, but also had a bogey, at the 12th hole. He cohabits eleventh position with Cameron Smith, who ALSO had a bogey on his card. They are one shot behind Koepka, and a fistful more behind the leader.

4. Sahith and Tony at Schauffele’s heels

Both Finau and Theegala represent a special sort of athletic golfer. Their power and their charisma blend to draw golf fans to their groups. Let’s be honest, too, and say that they don’t look like the traditional professional golfer. As much as Tiger Woods did in the 1990s, they have the power to bring greater diversity to the sport.

In terms of their play today, well, only Xander was better. Finau had a clean card, with six birdies and twelve pars. Theegala had seven birdies, ten pars, and one bogey. Each combined power and finesse to insert themselves squarely in contention, ahead of round two. How will they, and Xander as well, manage the afternoon putting surface on Friday? That’s the great unknown!

5. All those other guys are here!

Rory, Tom Kim, Collin, and Viktor are all at minus-three or lower. Valhalla may not be a traditional golf course, but it is the type of course that the world’s best play well. McIlroy currently sits at minus-five, tied with Robert MacIntyre, Kim, and three others in fourth position.  Maverick McNealy finished fast to reach the same figure, as did Tom Hoge. Morikawa closed with birdie to join the sextet at five below. Both Scheffler and Morikawa finished their rounds late on Thursday, meaning they should see smoother greens on Friday morning. If someone is a betting sould, wiser wagers could not be placed on better names than those two, two-time, major champions. Rory will tee off in Friday’s afternoon wave but, hey, he’s Rory, and he won going away last week at Quail Hollow, a course not unlike Valhalla.

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Morning 9: Tiger 2025 Ryder Cup talks continue | Rory: Tour in a worse place with Dunne’s resignation

Published

18 hours ago

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May 16, 2024

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the PGA Championship gets underway from iconic Valhalla.

1. Waugh: 2025 Ryder Cup talks continue with Tiger

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said Wednesday that the organization continues to have conversations with Tiger Woods about captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2025 and there remains no firm deadline to get their pick in place for Bethpage Black.”

  • “A day earlier, Woods told reporters here at the PGA Championship that he is undecided about taking on the role next year…”
  • “He doesn’t do anything that he’s not fully committed to,” Waugh said, “and we totally respect that.”
  • “Still, the PGA’s decision to hold off on naming an American captain for the September 2025 matches is a significant departure – at least three months late – from the past five captains.”
Full piece.

2. Rory: Tour in a worse place with Dunne’s resignation

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”McIlroy, who has become an outspoken proponent of a deal with PIF, was denied a spot on the board last week but was named to the “transaction subcommittee,” which will spearhead the day-to-day negotiations. But the loss of Dunne will be a blow to those talks, the world No. 2 said.”

  • “Honestly I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game,” McIlroy said. “Jimmy was basically the relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF.
  • “It’s been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months, and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that.”
Full piece.

3. Brandel on AK’s criticism: I thought it was a LIV bot

Our Matt Vincenzi…”On Tuesday during an interview with GolfWRX, Chamblee addressed the feud between Kim and himself.”

  • “At first, I thought it was a bot. But it’s not, it was just somebody who’s been bought.
  • “I thought it was juvenile. Social media is a perfect place for juveniles to go behave like children, like the ball pit at McDonalds without adult supervision. I’m sure Anthony Kim scrolls and gets positive comments and says ‘yeah, these people get me! I’m doing the right thing’. And it’s just juvenile and sad is what it is. I feel sorry for him.”
Full piece.

4. Aberg (knee) ready for PGA

Cameron Morfit for PGATour.com…”Ludvig Åberg said lingering knee soreness that kept him out of the Wells Fargo Championship last week will not be an issue at this week’s PGA Championship.”

  • “The world No. 6 Åberg, who finished second at the Masters Tournament in his very first major start last month, allowed that he is wearing a brace as a precautionary measure.”
  • “Knee’s good,” said Åberg, 24. “It was more of a safety concern last week that I didn’t play. I’m consulting with my doctors, and I trust them with everything that I have, so it’s not bothering me at all this week, and I look forward to playing. I’m wearing a brace just for safety reasons, but it’s nothing that’s bothering me. I’m focusing on the golf.”
Full piece.

5. Masters employee pleads guilty to stealing millions in memorabilia

Sean Leahy for Yahoo Sports…”A former employee of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters memorabilia and historic items, including a green jacket belonging to Arnold Palmer.”

  • “According to federal prosecutors, 39-year-old Richard Globensky made around $5 million over the course of a decade from selling items stolen from the Augusta National warehouse, which were then transported to another party in Florida.”
  • “Globensky pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen goods across state lines. As part of his plea, he must hand the government a $1.5 million check this week.”
Full piece.

6. Chamblee on why Rory hasn’t won a major

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee gave his opinion as to why McIlroy has come up empty.”

  • “I just think he can’t find a place mentally where he plays his best golf.”
  • “If you go back and look at what he did from 2011-2014, in that stretch, he led roughly 20% of the rounds he played in major championships. His game has not fallen off, not one bit.
  • “He’s, on paper, pretty much the same player he was. He’s not quite the ball striker he was 2011-2014, not quite, but he’s made up for it with his short game around the greens and on the greens. He’s almost the same player.”
  • “Yet, he’s led just two rounds beginning with the 2015 Masters to the 2024 Masters. I just think that tells you he can’t find the proper way to prepare, the proper way to ease into a round. When he’s needed to play his best, he’s played his worst. When he’s played his worst, he’s then followed it up with his best golf. That’ll tell you that he’s just not in the right place mentally.”
Full piece.

7. Why Scottie’s caddie will have a fill-in Saturday

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler will have a fill-in caddie on the bag for Saturday’s third round of the PGA Championship.”

  • “Ted Scott, Scheffler’s full-time caddie, will miss Saturday’s round at Valhalla Golf Club to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. Scott will leave Friday night after caddying the first two rounds and return late Saturday to loop the final round.”
  • “That’s something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first,” Scheffler said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “It’s the same thing for me as it is for my caddie. It was a pretty easy decision. He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date.”
Full piece.

8. Chamblee: LIV format makes it impossible to judge player talent

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee explained why he believes the LIV format makes it impossible to determine if a LIV player is playing well.”

  • “Describing the format as “stupid”, Chamblee stated
  • “The format for LIV is just stupid. There’s no other word for it. 54 holes, 54 players start. Willy nilly here and there.
  • “Nobody winning a golf tournament should finish on the third hole on some par three while his closest competitors finish on the 17th hole or the 18th hole.”
  • “When we asked Brandel if LIV players should be in majors, Chamblee indicated that it would be tough to do with no way to truly measure their performance.
  • “It’s just a laughable concept. There’s no way to judge the talents of these players out there. You look at their data, and again, their data is laughable. It’s very hard to hit 75% of your greens and it looks like everybody on their tour is hitting 75% of greens. Who’s keeping their stats? Who’s doing their data? They haven’t gotten their act together.”
Full piece.

9. Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship

  • Check out all of our galleries from the year’s second major!
Full piece.
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship

Published

3 days ago

on

May 14, 2024

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GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.

While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.

Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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