News

Morning 9: Walk-off winner for Sergio | Ray | Reid | No. 1 am turning pro | Should golf be fair?

Published

6 years ago

Oct 5, 2020

1. Sergio’s walk-off win

AP report…”Sergio Garcia delivered two key shots on the back nine, the last one an 8-iron to 30 inches on the final hole for birdie and a one-shot victory in the Sanderson Farms Championship.”

“Garcia closed with a 5-under 67 and won for the 10th consecutive year worldwide, and the first time on the PGA TOUR since the 2017 Masters.”

“Peter Malnati, whose lone PGA TOUR victory came at this tournament five years ago, closed with a career-best 63 and waited nearly two hours to see if it would hold up.”

Full piece.

2. Iron covers and a European Tour trophy

European Tour report…”Aaron Rai defeated Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win his first Rolex Series title at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.”

“The Englishman signed for a wonderful 64 to set the target at 11 under but countryman Fleetwood holed a 20 foot putt on the last for a closing birdie to take it to extra holes at The Renaissance Club.”

“It was advantage Fleetwood off the tee as Rai found a bunker but the 25 year old rescued his par and when Fleetwood three putted from just off the green, Rai had his second European Tour title.”

Full piece.

3. Mel Reid!

Keith Jackson for Sky Sports…“Mel Reid was relieved and delighted that her “huge sacrifice” in moving to the US was justified as she celebrated her maiden LPGA Tour title in New Jersey.”

“Reid atoned for her disappointing finish in Portland last week as she clinched a two-shot win over Jennifer Kupcho at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, firing a final-round 67 to set a new tournament scoring record at 19 under par.”

Full piece.

4. Is must be the…pants?

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…“Evan Harmeling arrived in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this week with just one pair of golf pants.”

“He should be able to buy at least a few more after Sunday.”

“The 32-year-old Princeton grad, who two months ago didn’t even have a top-25 finish in his Korn Ferry Tour career, captured the Savannah Golf Championship in a playoff for his first KFT title.”

“Harmeling sunk a 12-footer for birdie on the final hole of regulation at the Landings Club, and then birdied the par-5 18th hole again in the playoff to outduel Kevin Dougherty.”

…”It likely helped that Harmeling was wearing his lucky outfit – yellow polo, blue pants, brown belt and white visor. The pants are Harmeling’s only golf pants, he says. Harmeling also wore the polo last year in Jamaica when he won on PGA Tour Latinoamerica.”

Full piece.

5. Johnny’s love/hate

I LOVE the power that Tiger Woods has over the game It’s completely earned, necessary, and I’m grateful. Not only did he change the way the game was played but he also put the game on the national stage in a way NOBODY ever dreamed nor predicted. The game itself hangs on his every move and rightly so. When was the last time you remember the No. 22-ranked player was the headliner at a tournament where the majority of the other 21 players ahead of him were also in the field? He doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle. Still.

I HATE that the game has changed so much that golf, even 15-20 years ago, is unrecognizable. With the change in equipment and the constant pursuit of speed, our sport (especially at the highest level) has morphed into the WWF. Now, I do love it and enjoy watching/covering every minute. However, it’s no longer the game I was taught; it’s something else, and at 43-years-old, it makes me feel old and weak. OK, I said it. I’m bitter. I wanna hit it like these kids do, and I can’t. I’ll retreat now to my pity party and maybe do a squat or two…until my back spasms.

6. Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, No. 1 ranked amateur in the world, set to turn pro

Ryan Herrington for Golf Digest…“The 23-year-old’s distinguished amateur career included a win at the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which earned him spots into the 2019 Masters and Open Championship. At August National, he made the cut and finished T-58. Then last November, he became the fourth amateur in history to win an event on the Japan Golf Tour.”

Full piece.

7. Lynch: A major champion says farewell, with no fanfare and no fans

Happy trails, Paul Lawrie. Eamon Lynch says it better than I could…”wear, tear and Scottish weather takes a toll, and this week – at age 51 – Lawrie announced his retirement from the European Tour during the Scottish Open, his 620th start on that circuit. The low-key announcement – a farewell with no fanfare and no fans – is oddly in keeping with Lawrie’s demeanor. It’s less than he deserves.”

Full piece.

8. Should golf be fair?

Our Ryan Barath examines the question…“It’s a fair test” is a phrase we often hear from golfers when they describe a course, but what does it really imply?

“The phrase itself is misleading when you take a step back and realize any course played by all competitors under the same conditions is “fair.” Even then, weather changes throughout the day force golfers to play under varying circumstances which can cause a course to become more difficult. Golf is an outdoor game and with that brings in an uncontrollable element that golfers must deal with whether it be wind, rain, heat, cold, and even on occasion snow. As unfavorable as the conditions might get, they will always be “fair.”

“Next, we have courses, and they generally fit into two loose categories: resort-style with wide fairways and easily accessible greens and traditionally penal championship-style with longer rough, narrower fairways, and smaller or extremely sloping greens. Regardless of handicap, both styles can be enjoyed by golfers, and following the recent U.S. Open, it’s good to remind ourselves its ok to shoot a higher score sometimes-because it’s all relative to the day and conditions.”

Full piece.

9. Sergio’s winning WITB

Driver: TaylorMade SIM (9 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 Z

3-wood: TaylorMade SIM “Rocket 3” (14 degrees @14.5)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

5-wood: TaylorMade SIM (19 degrees @18.5)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

Irons: Ping Blueprint (3-PW)

Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X

Wedges: Vokey SM8 (54-12D @52, 58-T)

Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X

Grip: SuperStroke Tour

Grips: SuperStroke S-Tech

Ball: TaylorMade TP5

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

2 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