News

The Open Championship 2022: Cameron Smith claims his ear of corn

Published

4 years ago

Jul 17, 2022

Ronald Montesano

A daimen-icker in a thrave

’S a sma’ request:

I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,

An’ never miss ’t!

Thus wrote Robert Burns, god-poet of Scotland, in his “To a Mouse,” third stanza. Thus did Cameron Smith claim his ear of corn, never to be missed, something of a small request. If this 150th celebration of The Open Championship were truly a loss, it will take us many a year to determine what sort of loss it was.

Golf is a game of dualities, duos, and duels. For each yin, there is a yang. For each Webb, there is a Sorenstam; for each Mediate, a Woods. For each Turnberry 1977, there is a Whistling Straits 1998. Golf could never be, without the one and the other. Thus it was in 2022, when the pair we thought would dominate round three, instead became the pair that dominated round four.

When Hovland and McIlroy stole the show on Saturday at the Old Course, we 100% expected them to do the same on Sunday. When Messrs. Smith and Young, aka The Camerons, drifted away along the crests of the North Sea, we mostly anticipated that they would be footnotes on Sunday. As it is with golf at Old Tom’s front lawn, it was precisely the opposite. As Hovland foundered and McIlroy struggled to find the inspiration to a 68 that would have won this gem outright, Cameron Smith and Cameron Young battled history and the present, each other and their own selves, and gave us the final major championship for younger males that we craved. For this, we must be grateful.

The temerity of Cameron Young, to open and close his front nine ’round the Old Course with bogeys, and still manage a 34. To add three birdies and an unscriptable eagle at the last, for 31 coming home, for 65 on the day, for minus-19 strokes on the week. The Old Course makes 19 under seem what it is: a feat and an achievement. Cameron Young’s third-place finish at May’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills was a marvel. His work over the links this week was more special.

You see, Young led this tournament after round one. He stayed the course during round two, and held steady during round three. His bookends of 64 and 65 are scorecards that he should nail to the wall of every home he occupies. Whether they lead to greater things, or are the greatest thing, they are more than any of us deserves, and they are to be cherished.

Even more brazen was the work that Cameron Smith put in over the final day at St. Andrews. Young was at least human with his bogeys. Smith was immortal with his eight birdies and ten pars on the day. He turned, like Young, in 34 shots. He then posted four consecutive birdies as he passed the loop, making a ridiculous one at the toughest hole on the week, the 13th. This was the hole that Bob McIntyre confessed, offered no plan to he and his caddy. And then, Smith held steady over the next three holes, somehow conjuring a par save from a place not known to the faint of heart on Road, the 17th hole.

'Oh my goodness'

Cam Smith with nerves of steel ?#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/DQ3atZKXTY

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2022

Then did Smith drive his ball into the valley of sin on Home, where deceased remains lie beneath the putting surface. Summoning his inner Costantino Rocca, Smith calmly navigated the churning soils of the green and surrounds, and putted from what seemed like forever, to a manageable 28 inches. He holed for three, a total of 20-below par, and an ear of corn more than the other Cameron.

A stunning 64 for Cam Smith, a worthy Champion?#The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/PqGUMtcvYq

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2022

Recalling what was written earlier about duality, Smith is now the second mullet to win over these hallowed grounds. He joins John Daly, now known as Old Saint Nick, in the Business In The Front, Party In The Back brigade. Somehow, it’s fitting. Raise your hands to the champion golfer of the year for 2022, Cameron Smith of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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