News

5 things we learned Saturday at the US Open

Published

4 years ago

Jun 18, 2022

The Country Club does not suffer loose play. That notion was confirmed over and over on day three of the 2022 US Open in Brookline. I don’t suppose that we have instant access to their scorecards, but I wonder if Ted Ray or Harry Vardon had runs of bogeys like the leaders all seemed to experience today. Scottie Scheffler stood at minus-six when he reached the 11th tee. An airmailed green led to a double, which led to three consecutive bogeys, and a plus-four inward half. Rory McIlroy began the day at four-under par, but opened with three bogeys in his first six holes. The Northern Irishman steadied his game, and played even-par golf throughout the round’s remaining holes. Finally, consider poor Collin Morikawa, the co-leader through 36 holes. His lone, Saturday birdie (at the fifth) was sandwiched between two bogeys and a double. On the inward half, Morikawa endured a bogey-double-par-bogey stretch to post 77 on the day and drop six shots off the lead.

There was a lot of baggage left strewn about Willie Campbell’s course on day three of the 2022 American national championship. Ergo, we have no need to really unpack anything. Instead, let’s attempt to organize this yard sale and delineate the five most important things that we learned on Saturday at the 2022 US Open.

They love it. He loves it. ?@Minwoo27Lee starts his second side with a birdie. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/DkCAlJx0CD

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

1. Par, etc.

Seven rounds of sub-par golf were joined by three cards at even par. The Squirrel and the Clyde, with a spritz of Primrose, combined to frustrate and humble the 64 golfers fortunate enough to survive Friday’s cut. Eight holes were cut within 15 feet of an edge. What made the putting greens so challenging was the inconsistency of the hole locations. There was no rhythm to establish, as flagsticks flew left, then right, then fore, then aft. With green speeds in the 12 range all day, and a firmness to equal, there was little margin for error.

Good bogey or bad bogey? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/j9TxHNrqIU

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

2. The Amateur Game

The descendants of Ouimet were not immune from the diffulties of Brookline as the weekend arrived. Of the four who made the cut, Sam Bennett posted 74 for the best score. Austin Greaser and Travis Vick each signed for 76, while Stewart Hagestad posted 79. With 18 holes remaining in the tournament, Vick holds a two-shot advantage over Greaser for the vaunted title of low amateur, with Bennett one more shot back. Hagestad sits seven behind Vick, but will at least walk away with a medal for surviving the cut as a non-professional. Will the swallow stalk Vick’s ball again on Sunday? Anything is possible around The Country Club’s composite course.

#EFEfotos | Una golondrina común sobrevuela la bola del estadounidense Travis Vick. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/lUloY8yIdd

— EFE Deportes (@EFEdeportes) June 18, 2022

3. Who went away?

Let’s begin with Morikawa. He dropped from tied for first to tied for 17th. He’s just six shots back of the leaders, but will need something in the mid 60s on Sunday to make a run. How about two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka? Only the greatest of the greats truly learn how to control the tournament. Mickey Wright did, as did Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Brooks is proving to be the Retief Goosen of his generation: he had the answer, then he lost the answer. Five-over par on Saturday sent Koepka away to 40th, nine back of the lead. For Joel Dahmen, the other co-leader, things were neither as good nor as bad as they were for Morikawa. Dahmen had zero birdies on Saturday, but he had just four bogies, and all came on the front nine. For a first appearance in the a final major group on the weekend, Dahmen’s performance was hardly the worst ever. Can he rebound on Sunday to contend? What a story it would be.

That's what you call an ????????? bounceback.@collin_morikawa follows up his bogey with a birdie to get back to 5 under. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/rtoTmKrDti

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

4. Who jumped up?

Let’s begin with those we did not expect. Adam Hadwin, the first-round leader, posted 70 to find himself two back of the lead. Keegan Bradley went minus-one on Saturday, and joined Hadwin at two-under par. Scottie Schefler had the lead to himself on a few occasions on day three, but had a wretched stretch (think five over in four holes) to start the inward half, and landed at the same figure. Defending champion Jon Rahm also assumed ownership of the lead, but it didn’t last. Rahm reached the last at minus-five, drove into the rough, moved his second all of two yards, and closed with double bogey for three-under par. The most impressive moves came from Will Zalatoris (67 for -4) and Matt Fitzpatrick (68 for -4), who will tee off in the final group on Sunday.

He's won here before. ? @MattFitz94 moves to the top of the board. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Q2op16qEEn

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

5. What’s going to happen?

Honestly, no one has any idea. No single competitor has separated himself from the field, in any capacity. Rahm should win, because he did it last year. Except, he did it out west, on a PGA Tour course that doubles as US Open venue once a decade, so he won’t. Fitzpatrick did it here in 2013 at the US Amateur, except brother Alex isn’t on the bag this time, so he won’t. Scheffler appears to have figured out how to play four great rounds in a major (see Masters 2022) except Augusta National doesn’t metamorphose on a daily bases like US Open courses do, so he won’t.

Take a look at the stats leaders, and what you’ll see is total irrelevance. The top four in greens in regulation are T7, T11, T25, and T11. The top four in fairways hit are T7, T45, T11, and T4. The top four in putting are T40, T49, T17, and T4. You could say Dahmen or Scheffler or any number of other golfers, and you might be right or wrong. Soooooooo…

Here are our top three to win on Sunday, in no particular order, for no particular reason.

Sam Burns
Gary Woodland
Rory McIlroy

The last time @FitzAlex99 walked around The Country Club, he was 14 and caddying for his brother @MattFitz94 in the #USAmateur.

Now he's back cheering on his brother in a #USOpen! pic.twitter.com/Us0iRjYMIv

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

60 mins 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!

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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.

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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