News

Saturday on Tour: 5 things we learned

Published

6 years ago

Jun 20, 2020

The Korn Ferry Tour completed its second post-quarantine event on Saturday, rather than Sunday. No reason was given, other than, perhaps, the high holy day of fatherly adulation. The PGA Tour has no such consideration for pater familius, it appears. Its tournament will conclude on Sunday.

As such, we have learned five things about winning and not winning, and another five things about positioning. Live from St. Augustine and Hilton Head Island, it’s 5 things we learned.

The King and The Bear Classic

Top billing must be given to the concluded contest, ergo Korn Ferry before PGA Tour. This one ended traumatically, but let’s not give it away.

5. As if written by Wodehouse

If you haven’t read P.G. Wodehouse on golf, you must. If you have, you understand that the unkind end to Vince India’s week might have been written by the master himself. The golfer who could do no wrong through the end of 54 holes, could suddenly do no right over the final 18. There was no calamitous flub, no gargantuan spasm. The shots simply ebbed away with the wind. Four bogies, 14 pars. That’s it. How to explain? No manner. The birdie well simply dried up. The pitcher of eagles was emptied on Saturday. The game simply left him, and he tumbled from a four-shot advantage to a tie for sixth position, five behind the winner.

4. Zalatoris edges closer

Will Zalatoris moved closer to a first, important professional triumph. He did so by shooting his highest round of the week. Thing was, his high round was a 68, and a 68 rarely inflicts collateral damage. The Calixan (Californian Texan) had a foozle at the 10th, where he made bogie. He offset that mistake with five birdies, and tied for 3rd, a slim 3 shots back of the champion. Was -26 within reach? Yes. With the exception of a very few in golf’s competitive history, winners have lost far more often than they have won. It is these almosts and if onlys that forge the inner strength. Our money’s on the Demon Deacon over the course of the summer’s schedule.

3. Joseph Bramlett rises

It’s tempting to write about Joseph Bramlett’s performance these last two weeks, in the context of something bigger, owing to his ethnicity. If something is there, it is Joseph Bramlett’s place and right to inform the golf world, and not for the golf world to project and extrapolate. Instead, we consider his 128 over the final 36 holes. The Stanford alumnus was cruising along through 71 holes, probably happy to be at minus-20, inside the top 15. And then, lightning struck. With two flicks at the orb, Bramlett had holed for an albatross, a double eagle at the last. The rarest of birds vaulted him into a tie for 3rd with Zalatoris. Not even Wodehouse wrote so fine an ending.

2. Lower goes higher

That low-hanging fruit was irresistible. Justin Lower closed with birdies at four of his final five holes, to make Chris Kirk sweat. By going lower, Lower moved all the way to solo second, one shot behind the champion. Nerves were unsteady all around the course on day four, and Lower was no exception. He followed an eagle three at the fifth with a bogey six at the seventh. As mentioned, his inward half was settled and stellar. Like Zalatoris, he’ll be one to watch in the coming weeks.

1. Captain Kirk in command

As mentioned yesterday, Chris Kirk has been there and done that. For Vince India and the rest of the field, that was the worst combination in the top 15. True to form, Kirk played like a breed apart. He was four under par through nine holes, before an inexplicable double at the 10th gave the field a sliver of hope. Alas, it was to be dashed, as the Georgia Bulldog steadied and played his final eight holes in minus three. It was just enough to win, and for a man trying to return to the high echelon of the PGA Tour, the proper medicine.

RBC Heritage

I can’t tell you how many times I looked at the Hilton Head leaderboard and thought, “We’ll have a playoff, for sure.” I would then recall that it was only day three for the major leagues, and that today’s heroics would mean next to nothing on Sunday.

5. Goodbye, Ernie and Bryson

At Sea Pines, scores in the 70s simply will not due. Ernie Els teased us with matching 67s, then ballooned to a 72 on Saturday. Farewell, Big Easy. DeChambeau seemingly defied the odds of a bomber winning at the Heritage, then tossed a beanbag of a 70 on day three. The Big Bang Theory was reduced to a fine powder explosion. Adios.

4. Hello, Carlos, Joaquin, Daniel, Joel, and Chris

There are simply no odds for a quintet to shoot 63 on the same day and move within two shots of the lead. Yet, here we are, with Carlos Ortiz, Joaquin Niemann, Daniel Berger, Joel Dahmen, and Chris Stroud as star witnesses. Each found a method to slice and dice the Sea Pines Plantation’s signature course to the tune of eight under par. Carlos, Daniel, and Joel currently sit at 14 under, while Joaquin and Chris are one shot further back. Odds suggest that at least one of them will replicate form and be in the mix tomorrow, so I’ll go out on a limb and choose the guy whose first name ends in a consonant.

3. 15 golfers within two shots?

Yep. Turns out there are six more golfers at 13 under along with four golfers at 15 under, the ladder’s bustling top rung. Sergio Garcia, first-round leader Ian Poulter, and my prediction (Matthew Fitzpatrick) found their way into contention. Sunday will demand perfection from any of them, in order to win. Bogeys will derail each of their locomotives, so dig deep, lads.

2. A quartet at the top

Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer, and Ryan Palmer joined 36-hole leader Webb Simpson atop the heap. Will Sunday bring fireworks? No doubt. Will one of these gents repeat his Saturday heroics? I’m going to say no. The winner will come from behind (see footnote on Matthew Fitzpatrick).

1. Prediction hour

Most likely to win: Matthew Fitzpatrick. I’m sticking with him.

Most likely to fade away: Webb Simpson. 26 putts on Saturday, but most were to save par. The long game is off, and the putter won’t save him forever.

Most likely to be mistaken for Gael Garcia Bernal: Abraham Ancer. Honestly, they’re like twins!

Most likely to grind his teeth to dust while smiling: Tyrrell Hatton. Someone hurt him, but who?

Most likely to do something bizarre: Sergio Garcia. It has simply been too long.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

10 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