News

Tour Rundown: Breakthrough wins abound

Published

5 years ago

May 16, 2021

I’m wondering how the introduction of the Forme Tour snuck up on me. If you haven’t seen the release, it’s a complement to the Mackenzie Tour, for U.S.-based members of that Canadian wing of the PGA Tour. Say what? Well, since Canada is still locked down, and cross-border transit is non-existent, the Blue Jays in Buffalo isn’t the only big news. The PGA Tour will offer a series of eight events for MacTour golfers in the states to earn a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour. Meanwhile, the Mackenzie Tour will continue for Canada-based card holders.

That’s not the biggest news this week, however. The Byron Nelson found a new home near Dallas, the peripatetic Ladies European Tour opened its season in South Africa, and three other major tours competed from England to the southeastern USA. Masks came off in certain spaces as the parts of the world moved a bit closer to what once was, and professional golf marched on.

Let’s have a look at what transpired in this week’s release of #TourRundownGolfWRX.

PGA Tour: K.H. Lee notches inaugural tour win

It’s great when all eyes are on someone else. Sam Burns learned this lesson the hard way, and Kyoung-hoon Lee was the beneficiary of deflected attention. Burns had done everything right at the 2021 Byron Nelson Classic through 54 holes. He blistered the Craig Ranch course for 65 and 62. Those numbers weren’t necessary on the weekend, but what Burns provided just missed the mark. He close with 69 and 70 for 266 and solo second place.

Patton Kizzire and Daniel Berger got out early on Sunday and signed for 63 and 64, respectively, before the rains came. Lee and Burns were on the 16th hole when forced to endure a multi-hour delay. Displaying great patience, both players returned to the course and lost no ground. Lee had jumped out to a lead by playing the front nine in 4-under, despite an inexplicable bogey-six at the par-5 ninth. He tamed the back nine as well, finishing with birdies at 17 and 18 when matters got a wee bit tight.

Burns played the bogey-birdie game on two occasions during the outward half and dropped from the top spot for the first time all week. He gathered himself coming home, posted minus two on the back nine, and salvaged second tier on the podium.

65-65-67-66

K.H. Lee had a week to remember to earn his first TOUR win. ? pic.twitter.com/c4KsOcspYa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 17, 2021

European Tour: Bland breaks through at British Masters

In 1996, Richard Bland turned pro. In 2001, he won the Challenge Tour Grand Final and jumped to the big tour. Since then, he exemplified the notion of the journeyman professional. He came close on numerous occasions to winning on tour, including three runners-up and a pair of show finishes. On Sunday at The Belfry, Bland began his last round three shots behind the leader, fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell. The front-runner had struggles on the front nine, paving a path for someone to jump up and seize the title. That someone was Richard Bland.

Bland had quietly played a near-perfect tournament as round four opened. He had tripped over bogey just once in 54 holes, at the par-four eighth hole on Saturday. He nearly matched his weeklong tally of eight birdies with six more on Sunday. He also avoided bogey and reached the 18th hole in a tie with Guido Migliozzi. When the young Italian champion three-putted the green that had been the site of so many European triumphs in the Ryder Cup, Bland was finally a European Tour champion. His inaugural victory came less than half an hour from his hometown, a fitting locale for a long-awaited breakthrough.

Bland's best shots on the way to victory ?#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/ZYaKVL4Gep

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 16, 2021

Korn Ferry Tour: Sigg-nificant win at the Visit Knoxville Open

With no offense intended to the other 73 golfers, the Visit Knoxville Open was always about two golfers: Greyson Sigg and Stephan Jaeger. Sigg opened the week’s curtains with a masterful 61 to seize the lead by two. The next day, Jaeger produced a sparkling 62 and seized the lead when Sigg collapsed to a 68. Yup, it was that kind of week. The pair produced 65s on day three and set the stage for day four.

Speaking of day four, Seth Reeves matched Sigg’s 61 with 10 birdies and one bogey. Ironically, the only day that failed to feature a sizzling round was moving day; the best these chaps could do on Saturday was a 63 — but I digress. Sigg and Jaeger produced seven rounds in the 60s this week, and the one to seep into the 70s was the one who settled for second-place money.

Jaeger’s round four bordered on the symmetrical. He posted birdies at one and 10, and bogeys at nine and 17. The rest were pars. So close! Symmetry doesn’t guarantee victories, however, and it was that 71st-hole bogey that dropped him to 19-under par. Sigg, meanwhile, was out in 3-under par and caught Jaeger by the turn. On the inward half, the Georgia Bulldog posted two bogeys and three birdies. It was his stroke-saver at 16 that pushed him to 20-under par, and a one-shot win — his first on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Clutch out of the sand.

A kick-in birdie ties the lead for @GBSigg. pic.twitter.com/dpoGsRQynU

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 16, 2021

Ladies European Tour: South African Open a weather person’s delight

Pia Babnik made an incredible move on Sunday morning, as the winds of South Africa perplexed every other golfer in the field. The 17-year-old Slovenian was the only competitor to break par, and she did so by three strokes. The question on the minds of all involved was, did she have enough left in the tank for the closing 18 holes that afternoon? For 13 holes, the answer was Yes.

Babnik began round four with a two-shot advantage over Lee-Ann Pace, a well-decorated golfer playing in her homeland. The Slovenian opened birdie-double bogey and quickly conceded her lead. As things went along, she fought back and found herself even for the round and in the thick of things with five holes remaining. At that juncture, wind or exhaustion or tension set in, and Babnik came unraveled. She closed in plus-six for 78 on the day and a tie for sixth position.

Pace herself had struggles at the end. She closed bogey-bogey but had just enough fuel to hold off Germany’s Leonie Harm by one mere stroke. Harm’s bogey at the penultimate hole pushed her to 4 over overall, one beyond Pace.

? "It should suit Lee-Anne Pace's draw."

And it does ? #RaiseOurGame | #InvestecSAWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/zuDHXfemQb

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) May 16, 2021

PGA Tour Champions: Pride at stake at Mitsubishi Electric

Dicky Pride never had to look far to find motivation. He was a very good junior golfer and played his collegiate golf at Alabama, but that was long before the Crimson Tide was the powerhouse it is today. He was often overlooked — until he wasn’t. U.S. Amateur semifinalist in 1991, a one-time winner on the PGA and Korn Ferry tours, and now, a champion on the Champions Tour.

When Pride turned 50 in 2019, his arrival on the PGA Tour Champions circuit was not heralded with fanfare. He was recognized as yet another journeyman pro who aged into another opportunity. On Sunday at Duluth, Georgia, Pride stood at the top with guys like Ames, Triplett, and Andrade, all multiple winners on the regular tour, golfers with greater cred than he. And Pride simply turned the tables on everyone. He had six birdies in his hip pocket before he reached the 15th tee, where he made his lone bogey of the day.

Meanwhile, Doug Barron had run and stumbled, reaching minus-ten before a double and a single brought him back to 7-under and a T5 finish. Andrade could not get out of his own way, making birdie at the first and bogey at the last, and 16 pars the rest of the way. Pride finished with pars at the final three holes for minus eleven and a three-shot win over Ames, Triplett, and overnight leader Paul Goydos, who fell back and then fired to return to the podium.

All gas, no brakes. ?? @DickyPride takes solo lead at @MEClassicGolf. pic.twitter.com/sk49cg3SfE

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 16, 2021

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

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