News

Tour Rundown: Lee nabs first major win | Cink a winner again | Coetzee | MAJ

Published

6 years ago

Sep 14, 2020

What NFL football? Professional golf is thriving. Fans showed up at the Champions Tour’s Sanford International in Sioux Falls, the European Tour played a second week on the Iberian peninsula, and the LPGA celebrated its second major of the season. In addition, the Korn Ferry and PGA tours kept up the frenetic pace of competitive golf, into the fall. September is here, and golf shows no signs of slowing down. Time to run down the five big events that highlighted tour golf this week.

Lee wins first major title at ANA Inspiration

Let’s pretend that a wall didn’t take any sort of stage this week. Let’s pretend that writers had something better to write about, than a human-made object, of which everyone could take advantage. There are two truths about the finish: Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson, and Mirim Lee played splendid, trophy-worthy golf throughout the week; and Lee had a bit better fortune at the end.

The triumvirate of talented LPGA golfers tied for first at 15 shots deep. Lexi Thompson came 4th, two back, trying to match brother Curtis’ win on the Korn Ferry Tour (more on that later.) Lee made eagle at the last, Henderson notched a birdie of her own, and Korda could only manage par at the mildly-easy final hole. Off they went to extra time, where sudden victory would determine a champion.

In the playoff, Lee again played the hole to perfection, while Henderson’s birdie putt strayed away from the hole, and Korda struggled once more with the finishing hole. The ladies return to action this week at the Cambria Portland Classic in the great state of Oregon.

Cink returns to victory lane in Napa

Stewart Cink was the most unlikely winner this week in Napa. Fitted in between the end of the FedEx Cup playoffs and the rescheduled US Open, the double cross-country Atlanta-Napa-Westchester jaunt was not on everyone’s list. Surely a youngster, an up-and-comer, would make the Safeway Open a launching pad to a solid career. Perhaps Harry Higgs? Sam Burns? Doc Redman? All three showed well, and all three showed up, but it was the Georgia Tech alum who holed the putt that mattered most.

For a time, it looked as if Redman’s lightning 62 on Sunday would steal the show. Higgs eclipsed him by one, but it was the old guy who played the best golf. Until his bogey at 17, Cink was perfect on the day. That momentary hiccough did little to deter his train; he made birdie at the closing trace to earn a two-shot victory over Higgs. Incredibly, the win was his first in 11 years, since he stole an Open Championship from Tom Watson (an offense, incidentally, that I have not forgiven, and will probabably never forgive. Stewart Cink, you don’t know me, but … ugghh.) Anyway, a great win for the 47-year old, now seven-time titleist on tour.

Guess what? It’s U.S. Open week!

Curtis the final Thompson to claim professional victory

Curtis Thompson is the youngest of the three Touring Thompsons. Sister Lexi is the most well-known, having won multiple times on the LPGA Tour. Older brother Nick won on the Korn Ferry Tour in New Zealand, and Curtis has now joined them in the winners’ circle, thanks to a one-shot triumph at the Evans Scholars Invitational.

Thompson got off to a bumpy beginning, with bogey at the first two holes. He breathed deeply and played minus-four golf the rest of the way. It was a good thing, as a number of golfers made a run at his overnight lead. Germany’s Max Rottluff was six-under par through ten holes, but could only play minus-one the rest of the way. He tied for 4th position at -14. Both Jimmy Stanger and Will Zalatoris made eagle two at the 14th hole, gaining two shots on Thompson, who could record a mere par. Stanger and Zalatoris would tie at -16.

Thompson came to the par-five 18th at the same number. Zalatoris had made par there, while Stanger had recorded a birdie. Thompson, a Florida native and LSU alum, reached the immense 573-yarder in two mighty strikes, then calmly two-putted for a winning birdie. The Korn Ferryians have a week off before finishing their season with three consecutive events.

Coetzee leaves home and strikes it rich in Iberia

Until Sunday, George Coetzee had not strayed far from home for victory. His previous European Tour wins had come in South Africa and Mauritius. The global golfer might now have to consider purchasing land in Portugal, as he holds the title of Portugal Masters champion of 2020. The spry hulk held off England’s Laurie Canter by two shots, and captured a fifth Euro title.

It wasn’t ever easy for Coetzee. The Pretorian owns two looks: the first is a mirthful one, and you want to raise a pint with him; number two is a smoldering, angry visage, and you want to douse the flames with the pint, or run away in terror. Coetzee never had enough of a lead where he could coast. Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, England’s Tommy Fleetwood, and the aforementioned Cantor kept the pressure applied, but Coetzee was up to the task.

The tour remains in Portugal for another week, then heads to Northern Ireland for the Irish Open as September draws to a close.

MAJ secures 10th senior title in South Dakota

If you’ve paid attention, you’ve seen Miguel Ángel Jiménez take an early lead on the regular European Tour this year. He hasn’t been able to hold on, but the practice against the mocosos stood him well this week in Sioux Falls. The Canarian was strong enough to keep Bernhard Langer, Steve Stricker, and Steve Flesch at bay. The subsequent, one-stroke victory over Flesch was Jiménez’ 10th on the Champions Tour.

The dancing Iberian was in secure position, until Flesch made eagle at the 16th, to reach -13. Stricker stood at the same number on the 17th tee, but made bogey and failed to record birdie at the last. Langer had a pair of birdies on the inward half, but needed a few more to reach a tie. Jiménez made a birdie of his own to leap to 14-deep, and there he remained.

The Champions move to Pebble Beach this week, then close their campaign with a six-week run of events across the lower 48 states.

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