News

Five Things We Learned: Saturday at the Masters

Published

4 years ago

Apr 9, 2022

Consider Saturday to be the first act of a two-act thriller. The winds continued to gust at Bobby Jones’ place in Augusta, Georgia. With their currents came indecision, uncertainty, a bit of brilliance, and a plenitude of flown greens, missed putts, and deep sighs. The annals of golf journalism are filled with first-hand accounts of the importance of patience and equilibrium. At no other golf journey are those traits more valued than the Augusta National 18.

Scottie Scheffler and his fellow competitors were made aware of all this and more on the second Saturday in April. Amen Corner stretched to Amen Everywhere, as prayer was commonplace along the fairways of the former nursery and tree farm. Sunday promises to deliver more of the same, so if you count yourself among the faint of heart, be warned. With that optimism in mind, learn the five things we gathered on the third day of the book of Augusta.

1. There are victories that do not end in trophies

Tiger Woods was not expected to compete in the Masters this year. Tiger Woods was hardly expected to overcome the physical demands of the hills that define the fairways of Augusta. Tiger Woods most certainly would not survive the 36-hole cut, given that he had not competed for 14 months. When he achieved each of these things, we dared to dream. We thought that, if anyone could, he would. Saturday showed that the greatest golfer of all time was still human at the core.

As he did each of the first two days, Woods made bogey at the first. He followed it with a birdie at the second, but dropped two shots to par at the demanding fifth. Woods added bogeys at 10 and 11, but rebounded with birdies at 12 and 13. He held steady until the closing triumvirate of holes, when disaster or fatigue or physical weakness returned. The bogey-bogey-double finish was disheartening.

Is this week about winning? No. In fact, we suggest that this and the next two majors are all about preparation for the one grand title that Woods truly believes he can win: The Open at St. Andrews. We’ll see him tomorrow, and in May at Southern Hills, and in June at Brookline. And it will all build to a week in July, in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland.

Back-to-back birdies for Tiger Woods on hole Nos. 12 and 13. #themasters pic.twitter.com/6F0LDlETfl

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

2. Golfers have layers

Shrek the cartoon figure told us that, like onions, ogres have layers. When golfers have layers of sweaters, vests, and long-sleeve tees, they don’t like it. The amount of outerwear in evidence in round three was astounding. These sorts of conditions are expected at Open Championships, or Pebble Beach in February, but not in Georgia in April. The cool temperatures, united with the aforementioned winds, blended with the extended tee decks of certain holes, made for an unwanted cocktail on day three at Augusta.

Check out Collin Morikawa’s ensemble for a bit more evidence.

Collin Morikawa moves into the top 10. #themasters pic.twitter.com/X5Zg89rZtu

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

3. The round of the day

Cameron Smith stood second to Im Sing-jae after Thursday’s first round. He struggled on Friday and lost three shots to Old Man Par. As we know, the spunky Aussie has little quit in him. If anyone was to match wits with Mother Nature on Saturday, it was he. Smith made six birdies on the day and lost but two shots to Sir Bogey. Those came at the third and 16th holes, but neither could be deemed catastrophic. Smith stands at six-under par after three tours round the course, and will tee off in the final pairing on Sunday. Remember what was written about patience and equilibrium? Watch Smith address any shot, and you’ll understand what each traits looks like.

Cameron Smith is now three under par on the day and in a tie for second place. #themasters pic.twitter.com/PlwQnOoQ5W

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

4. The drop of the day

We haven’t seen anyone in the left trees on 18 since Jordan Spieth in…when was that again, 2018? Scottie Scheffler found them when he least expected to do so. Coming off a stout birdie at the 17th, Scheffler tugged his tee shot left and early. The ball was found, the unplayable lie penalty was taken, and Scheffler stood some 230 yards from the green in two. For those who rarely use the penalty, it’s beneficial. It saves strokes and injuries. Did you notice the drop? Twice it went outside the two-club limit, and thus he placed the ball. It’s true that the approach bounded over the putting surface, but Scheffler putted down to two feet and holed for bogey. No disaster, and a three-shot advantage over Smith heading into round four.

Towering wedge, center-cup putt. Another birdie for Scheffler brings the lead to four. #themasters pic.twitter.com/RxLgDFJK0m

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

5. What goes down on Sunday?

It’s time for bullet points, so get ready for a line-by-line countdown of what we see in our crystal ball.

Tiger Woods posts three-under 69, including an eagle;
Scottie Scheffler leans on Ted Scott’s two Masters caddy wins and breaks par;
Cameron Smith plays so well that the expression Party In The Front, Party In The Rear takes the golf world by storm;
Someone defies all logic, global meteorological turmoil, and common sense, by holing out twice from the fairway for eagle. He signs for 62 to ultimately win in a playoff. Trouble is, the crystal ball got murky and we cannot read the signature. Alas…

Don’t believe us? Tune in tomorrow and become a believer.

The Tournament leader. #themasters pic.twitter.com/b7ILAkZlyF

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

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