News

Tour Rundown: Phoenix Open to Webb in playoff, G-Mac, Quigley Qonquest

Published

6 years ago

Feb 3, 2020

We know that the big game, that bowl of commercials, America’s pagan holiday, got your attention last night. That’s fine. On Monday morning, however, we want you running down the weekend of great golf with us. The European, PGA, Korn Ferry and Champions tours were in action, from the middle east to the Panama canal. We had a playoff, a comeback, a rebirth, and a debut. In other words, just another week in the exciting world of professional golf. Let’s run!

PGA Tour: Phoenix Open to Webb in playoff

The enigma that is Tony Finau, became more enigmatic in Scottsdale. On Saturday, the USA international player and one-time winner, parlayed a 62 into a one-shot advantage. On his heels was the Players and US Open champion of the 2010s, Webb Simpson. Midway through round four, golfers like Adam Long, Hudson Swafford and Nate Lashley (early pursuers) had faded away. Justin Thomas was immersed in a 65 that would bring him to -14, and a tie for 3rd with Bubba Watson and Lashley. Simpson and Finau created a 2-man duel, and when Simpson dunked his tee ball on the 15th hole, Finau took a 2-shot lead to the 17th tee. Doing what most golfers would call proper, the Tongan Terror closed with pars and preserved his -17 total. Thing was, Simpson drove the 17th green and two-putted for birdie, then dropped a 20-feet putt for 3 at 18, and back they went to the 18th tee. Simpson made birdie again, and had a title for 2020.

On Saturday, Brandell Chamblee took to Twitter to prop Finau up. In his words, “At any minute, he could go off. He is more on the cusp of breaking out that (sic) any other player in golf.” Chamblee’s words proved prophetic: Finau could but didn’t. He is still on the cusp. And this makes his constant selection as an International-Team captain’s choice all the more baffling. Jim Furyk picked him in 2018 for Ryder Cup, and nada. Tiger picked him in 2019 for Prez Cup, and bupkus. Time is running out for Finau to learn to close the deal.

Korn Ferry Tour: Panama Championship heads to Hattiesburg, in the hands of Davis

It’s a known truth that the Triple-A tour is where the top tour pros learn to win. They often learn how to win, by losing. Chase Wright had a lead on Saturday evening in Panama, thanks to a round of 62. By Sunday’s end, he had played 13 more shots than the day before, and dropped 14 spots on the leader board. Left to battle thing out were Davis Riley, who signed for a fine 64 of his own on day 3; Roberto Diaz of Mexico, who closed with 65; and a host of others. Diaz was flawless in round 4, pairing 5 birdies with 13 pars. Por poco in the end; Diaz came up one shot shy. Riley was imperfect, with a pair of bogeys, but he added a birdie and a 12th-hole eagle to reach 10 beneath par. 4 golfers found their way to a tie for 3rd, at minus-eight, but no lower could they go.

Champions Tour: Morocco Champions debuts with a Quigley Qonquest

One of the scintillating aspects of Champions Tour golf, is the how is it that you win again scenario. Golfers who have passed half a decade on the fringe of contention, in the broadcast booth, or on the instructor’s tee, swiftly return to the realization that it ain’t easy! Stephen Ames had a Champions win in 2017, but earning the 2nd has been tougher than anticipated. Ames had a legitimate shot at the inaugural playing of the Morocco Champion, after opening with a stellar 63. Unfortunately for the Canadian, his tally rose in each round, and he concluded the week at 14 under par. Even more unfortunate was the presence of Brett Quigley, who never won on the youngster’s PGA Tour. Quigley opened with 69, then closed with 66 and 66. to absolutely cozen the trophy from Ames. While there were other pretenders to the top spot, only Quigley and Woody Austin (among the top 9) were able to reach the mid-60s on Sunday. Quigley stood -7 on the day through 15 holes, before his lone bogey forced him to duck and cover to the house. As for Ames, he made bogeys at 14 and 15, then followed up with birdies at 16 and 17. Needing one last chirp at the home hole to tie, he was shy with his effort, and away did the championship slip.

European Tour: Saudi International goes home with a #GirlDad

In a week that celebrated Kobe Bryant’s role as a girl dad, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland fulfilled a promise to himself. Vowing to show his children that he could still close the deal, the Ulsterman balanced birdies and bogeys (3 of each) on day four, and held off Dustin Johnson for his first European Tour victory in six years. The 2010 US Open champion held a 1-shot lead after three rounds; fortunately for him, his closest chaser was France’s Victor Dubuisson. If anyone was less familiar with winning than McDowell, it was Vic. Dubuisson stayed close through nine, but lost his touch at the start of the inward half. 3 bogeys and a double dropped him to -7, 5 shots out of the top spot and into a tie for 6th place. Belgium’s Thomas Pieters had the best final round of the contenders, with 7 birdies for 65. His effort brought him a solo 3rd finish, at -9. Johnson saddled himself with at least 2 bogeys each round. On Sunday, he had a pair of eagles and a birdie, but needed a bit more of this, and bit less of that, to catch GMac.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

12 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