News

Tour Rundown: Five victors over long weekend

Published

6 years ago

Oct 12, 2020

Across the USA and Canada, it’s a long weekend that marks a celebration of fall. Across the golf world, victors were anointed in England, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Florida, and North Carolina (OK, mainly across the USA:) The colorful passing of leaves from trees forewarns the arrival of cold temperatures, snow and, in some places, a break from the golf. For us, we chase the sun as Hogan did, running down professional tournaments wherever they are played. Have a nice cup of something warm and enjoy this week’s Tour Rundown.

Hatton claims homeland PGA Championship

The great debate rages on, as to why the USA is home to three of the world’s four major men’s golf titles. Important events are played across the globe, and the British PGA must certainly be counted as one. The uncontainable Tyrrell Hatton withstood an early charge from France’s Victor Perez, then countered mid-round with a volley of his own. He then closed firmly, to claim a 5th European title and second professional win of 2020.

Hatton had stamped himself as the frontrunner over three days, but when Perez stood minus-six on the day through twelve holes, the Englishman was compelled to seek something deep. His lead was a single stroke at the time, thanks to consecutive birdies at 9, 10 and 11. Perez simply wouldn’t go away … until the next hole. The man from Gaul had emptied his storehouse of birdies, and two closing bogies brought him back to -15. After a hiccough at 13, Hatton finished off a -19 performance with birdies at 15 and 18. The closing hole was kind to him all week; he made birdie each of the days, and secured a coveted, homeland title of importance.

Sei-young Kim finds major glory at Aronimink

With this taste of fall major championships, golf’s followers might lobby to do this more often into the future. First the US men’s open, and now the Women’s PGA! The scattering of events of magnitude throughout the calendar year is compelling, and might encourage the admins to rethink the way (and the places) that they shape their schedules.

Sei Young Kim won four of her ten previous LPGA titles in playoffs. She is money in extra time, but came nowhere close to needing a playoff in Philadelphia this weekend. Kim entered Sunday with a two-shot advantage over Brooke Henderson, and the Canadian would have needed 61 just to reach one of those aforementioned playoffs. That’s due to the monstrous 63 that Sei-young etched into history on Sunday. Three birdies on the front nine to preserve the lead, as Henderson struggled. Four more over the closing six holes, to reach -14 over a stored Donald Ross course. It’s a lengthy, one-paragraph summary; in essence, it was a one-woman event. Despite the heroics of Carlota Ciganda and Inbee Park (65s on Sunday) and Nasa Hataoka (64 punctuated by a hole-out eagle at the 1st), WPGA 2020 will be forever known for the separation of Sei-young Kim from the field. Welcome to the Major table, SYK!

Martin Laird is a winner once more

Unlike Sei-young Kim, Martin Laird is not Money Martin in playoffs, unless they take place in Las Vegas, kind of. Laird has been involved in three Shriners playoffs (2009, 2010, 2020) and has won two of them. Take him away from the desert, and he is zero for two. Time to focus on what he did brilliantly this week, holding off Matthew Wolff and Austin Cook in extra time for a 4th tour title.

Laird entered round four in a tie with Patrick Cantlay, at -20. After a 63 and two 65s, Cantlay went somewhere mysterious with a front-nine 39 on Sunday. He had two birdies coming home, but the damage was done. Laird soldiered on, as many around him made mid-6os runs at the lead. In addition to the aforementioned Wolff and Cook, Peter Malnatti and Bryson DeChambeau had 66s, and burst into the top ten. With the tournament in his hands, Laird made bogey at the watery 18th, falling into a three-way tie and a lagoon of doubt.

Regrouping quickly, the Scotsman headed off to extra holes with two associates. All three made par at the first playoff hole, with Wolff and Laird excruciatingly close to a winning birdie. At the 2nd playoff hole, the par-three 17th, Laird’s putt never looked like it would stay high enough, until it caught the lower edge and dropped for a winning birdie. Seven years after his last tour win, the now-gray Laird had a fourth title, and one to share with his young family.

Mullinax locks gate on Korn Ferry 2020 with Orange County win

Trey Mullinax was a part of those Justin Thomas-led, University of Alabama teams of the early 2010s. Since his time in Tuscaloosa, Mullinax has ground out a living across America’s PGA Tours. He has two victories on the Korn Ferry Tour, along with a stint on the big tour, to show for his efforts. This weekend, Mullinax claimed that second KFT victory, by one stroke at the Orange County National complex in Orlando.

Round four was an unstable one for the man from Birmingham. Five birdies were offset by three bogies, and he closed with 69 for -23. Fortunately for Mullinax, one of those birdies came at the par-five finishing hole. Gaining ground behind him were Brandon Wu and Stephan Jaeger. After forging his seventh birdie of the day at the 15th, Wu could summon no more, ending at -22. Jaeger was the antithesis. After dropping a stroke at the par-five 14th, he closed with three birdie along the four-hole, finishing stretch. After reaching the last in two, his putt for eagle and a tie came up shy, and Mullinax had a victory to close the 2020 campaign.

The Big Easy plays well in Cary

The SAS Championship celebrated its 20th playing this week, all of them in Cary, North Carolina. The little town that could has grown up, and what better champion to celebrate two decades of success than Ernie Els? Situated west of Raleigh, and south of Durham and Chapel Hill, Cary makes no claims on enlarging the triangle into a quadrilateral. It likes who it is, just fine, and should serve as a fine host to the PGA Tour Champions for years to come.

Els came oh-so-close to being one of those winners in his first senior event, earlier this year. He has now won twice in his maiden campaign on the Champions Tour, by one shot this week over Colin Montgomerie. In truth, the SAS appeared to be a reset to the early 2000s, with Els, Monty, Vijay Singh and Bernhard Langer giving chase. After 74 on Sunday, it appears that the the great German champion Langer might be finally showing signs of passing the torch to a new generation of old guys.

For all the world, it seemed that Singh and Montgomerie would do battle for the title. Both had 70 on day four, and finished at -10 and -11, respectively. Els stood +1 through five holes on Sunday, apparently out of the picture. Along came the seven-birdie train, however, punctuated by gained shots at the final two holes, and just like that, the South African hero had snatched the title from the mitts of Scotland and Fiji. The title boosted Els into the Schwab Cup lead, with two events left before the grand finale in Phoenix, in November.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

15 mins ago

Jun 3, 2026

Ben A

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

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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