News

Tour Rundown: Why Na’s win was great. Rahm, Chipper, and more

Published

7 years ago

Oct 7, 2019

October arrived with the winds and rain of a vengeful tempest. Well, it did in my area at least, where I had to run not one, but two high school championships. Mudders that we are in the Great Lakes region, we endured. Across our golfing globe, tournaments were also contested (in much better weather, I’ll add) in Las Vegas, Texas, Madrid and Taiwan. What was a silly season in my youth, now matters. With Europe and the LPGA beginning the march toward conclusion of their campaigns, and the the US Tour four events in to its new season, fall golf has importance, and that is a good thing. Another good thing is Tour Rundown, your weekly recap of major professional (and some key amateur) golfing competitions. Where else would you rather be, than right here, right now, reading Tour Rundown? Onward

PGA Tour: Shriners Classic was great golf-Here’s why.

We could leave it with Kevin Na’s exit interview, and we would have a full story from the week. Na described what it was like to make a triple bogey at 10, lose the lead, know that you are a fighter, and claw your way back. What it is like to have an 0-3 record in playoffs, but know that this would be the one that you would win. Know that you are both American and Korean, and make a passionate declaration in each country’s language. Recognize how well your playoff opponent (Patrick Cantlay) played and how close he was to holding the tropy. Collapse in the emotion of the moment and hug your interviewer, who was hopefully as understanding of the moment as Na was. Guess what? That’s your story. We’re out.

LPGA Tour: Volunteers of America Classic title is first for a chippy winner

Quite rare is the occasion when four young American golfers enter the final round of an event, each in search of an initial tour title. That was the crossroads that joined Jaye Marie Green, Katherine Perry, Cheyenne Knight and Brittany Altomare on Sunday in Texas. Altomare was the most decorated of the four, having earned a cap on this year’s Solheim Cup team. Even an ardent follower of the tour might be forgiven for not having a dossier on the other three contenders. On Sunday, each reached the turn within shouting distance of the lead. Perry faltered first, making bogey on five of her first six holes on the inward half. She finished in a tie for 6th. Green put herself in the lead with an eagle-birdie run at the 6th and 7th holes, but successive bogeys at 11 and 12 dropped her from the top shelf. Altomare made six birdies on the day, but was undone by a pair of bogeys, finishing at 16-under par, in a tie with Green for 2nd. Yes, it was Cheyenne “Chipper” Knight who claimed this week’s top prize. Knight chipped in twice for birdie on the day, made five birdies and nary a bogey, and fought her way to 18-under par, good for a 2-stroke margin of victory. With the win, Knight jumped from 114th to 49th in the season’s CME Globe standings. We’re guessing she’ll have a few, delightful decisions to make.

European Tour: Spanish Open remains in-country, in Rahm’s hands

Jon Rahm didn’t seem to mind the switch from spring to fall for Madrid’s Open de Espana, nor the change from one course to another. He rolled into the capital like the bear in the tree in Plaza Sol, eating the leaves right off the fronds. Entering Sunday with a 5-shot lead, Rahm maintained his composure through a series of early birdie misses. He dropped a seven iron inside ten feet for eagle at the par-5 4th, and was off again. Countryman Rafa Cabrera Bello birdied 5 of his final 6 holes to surge past the other chasers, into 2nd. Cabrera’s late move made Rahm’s victory seem closer than it was, even at a separation of the same 5 shots. Saturday’s 63 reminded the field of how lethal the young Spaniard’s game can be, when firing on all cylinders. What a treasure it would be, to see Rahm display similar composure during a 2020 major championship.

Asian Tour: Taiwan Masters to Suradit

A quick glance at Suradit Yongcharoenchai’s OWGR page from last week shared a ranking of 485th in the world. After a week in Taiwan, that ranking will certainly improve. Suradit entered the final round at Taiwand G&CC a shot behind three leaders. As those leaders all shot par or worse on day four, Yongcharoenchai ground out a 4th-consecutive round beneath par of 72. He was, in fact, the only competitor to achieve this feat. While he never went low, as Viraj Madappa did (65 on Saturday) the pro from Thailand managed to reach 10-under par the hard way. He held off fast-charging Adilson da Silva (68-68 on the weekend) and 2 of the 3rd-round leaders (Ajeetesh Sandhu and Miguel Tabuena) by one shot. Suradit was such an unknown commodity, that no wiki page exists, and Golf Channel has his birth year at 1900. Hide no longer, Suradit, even if you are 119 years old!

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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

1 day 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