News

Tour Rundown: Thomas gains 14th tour title at Sawgrass, Rozner ignites victory

Published

5 years ago

Mar 15, 2021

The middle of March arrived with two professional events on the schedule. The European Tour celebrated the Qatar Masters, while the US PGA Tour hosted its flagship event, The Players Championship. One year ago, The Players Championship completed its first round on Thursday, then shut down for three months. This year, with limited spectator entrance, The Players completed all four rounds and reminded the US golf world that proper adherence to regulations will allow competition to continue.

With hope that the rest of the world will soon return to similar measures of competition, we invite you to join us as we run down this week’s pair of tournaments in Tour Rundown.

Thomas gains 14th tour title at Sawgrass

Justin Thomas has a habit of showing up at the big events. Of his 14 tour titles, two are World Golf Championship events, one is a major (the 2017 PGA) and another is a FedEx Cup playoff win. To that list can now be added the 2021 Players Championship by one stroke over Lee Westwood. As Sunday dawned near Jacksonville, a number of potential storylines lay in wait of a culmination. Here’s how each of them broke out.

Wily veteran completes biggest win – This one would have been Westwood who, at age 47, has found a calm on the course, including a win on the European Tour last year. The Englishman had come quite close over the years to sealing a major title, only to be outplayed by the eventual winner. This year, Westwood led the Players after three rounds, and stayed ahead of last week’s winner, Bryson DeChambeau. Unfortunately for Westy, he was chased down and surpassed, despite a 72nd-hole birdie of his own. We think that Lee will make the 2021 Masters his first major title, and we cannot wait to write that story.

Young upstart makes Players his first Tour title – Led by Talor Gooch, who posted a final-round 67 to earn a tie for fifth place with Paul Casey, a number of young stars-in-the-making made their presence known at this year’s Players. Will Zalatoris, the top player on the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour, fired four rounds under par to tie for 21st. Corey Conners, the hottest player without a win in 2021, had a 66 on Sunday to move up 15 spaces, into solo seventh spot. We predict that Conners and Zalatoris will have 2021 wins before June 1st.

Beleaguered pro earns victory with stellar play – Justin Thomas has had a difficult 2021. A hot microphone picked up an utterance that he regretted, apologized for, and suffered for. Since that episode in Hawaii, Thomas has lost sponsors, stayed away from the press, and struggled to find the game that elevated him to the number-one ranking in the world. This week, Thomas opened with a pair of 71s that snuck him inside the even-par cut line. On Saturday, Thomas opened his round with five birdies in the first six holes, then added two more early on the second nine. At the 16th hole, a short par five, Thomas nearly recorded an albatross. His approach from 204 yards settled seven inches from the hole, for a tap-in eagle. On Sunday, the Kentucky native posted another back-nine eagle, this time at the 11th hole. Four birdies and two bogies brought him to 68, four strokes better than the runner-up’s even-par effort on Sunday.

The Florida Swing finishes up its 2021 run this week at the Honda Classic, before the tour heads to Texas for the second WGC event of the year, the Dell Match Play championship.

Rozner ignites victory with explosive putt at 72nd hole

Antoine Rozner may be forgiven for one day constructing a replica of the 18th green at Education City golf club, in Qatar. The French golf professional made a pair of birdies there on the weekend, finishing off the tournament with a 60-feet monster to claim a one-shot victory over three runners-up. Rozner’s win was his second on the big tour in four months, after claiming two Challenge Tour titles in 2019. Here’s how the trio came up short, and how Rozner came up big.

Gaganjeet Bhullar – The pro from India made birdie at the 72nd hole, but two back-nine bogies did him in. Bhullar had 5s at the 10th and 14th holes, to crush any momentum he was building. To his credit, he bounced back after each one, but came up one slim shot shy of a playoff.

Darren Fichardt – The South African journeyman opened and closed his Sunday round with birdies. Unfortunately for him, he dug himself a hole with three bogies in five holes around the turn. Fichardt had the lead to himself on Saturday evening, but the pure round he hoped for on Sunday, did not materialize.

Guido Migliozzi – The Italian recorded the best score of the day on Sunday, with six birdies for a clean 65. Migliozzi moved up 16 stations in the final round, to post his best finish since 2019, when he won twice. All that he could have hoped for was one more birdie, but the seventh never found its way onto his card.

Antoine Rozner – Rozner wasn’t perfect on Sunday (he ended a three-birdie run with a bogey at the eighth) but he was darned close. Rozner teed off in the penultimate group in round four. His playing mates, Jamie Donaldson and Joachim B. Hansen, fell away, but Rozner stayed the course and gave himself a chance at the win. No one expects to make a twelve-meter putt at the last, but Rozner’s was fairly straight, and his pacing was impeccable. Just like that, Rozner had a second European Tour title on his resume.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

6 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