News

Morning 9: Tiger to compete in The Match | Guaranteed money on DP World Tour | Nantz targets 51 Masters

Published

4 years ago

Nov 4, 2022

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco and Matthew Vincenzi.

For comments: [email protected].

November 4, 2022

Good Friday morning, golf fans, as Will Taylor leads in Mayakoba after an opening round of 62.

1. Next installment of The Match on tap

Joel Beall for Golf Digest…“Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will face Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in the latest iteration of “The Match,” sources have told Golf Digest. The news was first reported by The Fried Egg.”

“The four superstars committed to the exhibition series, which will be held for the seventh time and second in 2022 after a duel between NFL quarterbacks was contested in June. The Match will be held Dec. 10 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. It is expected to start at 7 p.m. under the lights, with the match going 12 holes.”

Full piece.

2. Strong start for Scottie

Adam Stanley for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler is coming off a magical TOUR campaign, and through the first round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, he’s re-kindled a little bit of Mexican magic from a year ago.”

“Scheffler, who finished fourth at Mayakoba last season, opened this year’s edition with a bogey-free 65. He was tied for fifth when Thursday’s morning wave finished at El Camaleón Golf Course. Will Gordon shot a 9-under 62 to take the early lead.”

“Solid golf. A clean card’s really nice,” said Scheffler, who made three birdies apiece on his front and back nine.

“An early stretch was key for Scheffler’s round. He scrambled for par on the third hole, knocking his approach to a few feet after taking a penalty drop, then followed that with a tee shot on the par-3 fourth to gimmie range.”

Full piece.

3. Guaranteed money coming to the DP World Tour

James Corrigan for The Telegraph…”LIV’s promise to change big-time male golf forever has been granted yet more substance by the DP World Tour’s decision to award guaranteed money to its players for the first time in the European circuit’s history.”

“Wentworth has emulated the PGA Tour’s response to the Saudi-funded breakaway league by introducing a scheme from next season that will see card-carrying golfers assured of a minimum $150,000 [£135,000] so long as they appear in at least 15 events.”

“The payment is not nearly at the level of the PGA Tour – which guarantees a minimum of $500,000 – or indeed of LIV Golf – that features the last-placed player in their 48-man events picking up $120,000 out of a $405million combined prize fund – but it is a significant move regardless.”

Full piece.

4. Toto Japan Classic

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”Ai Suzuki won the last co-sanctioned edition of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic in 2019 but did not take LPGA membership. This week, she co-leads with compatriot Momoko Ueda after an opening 7-under 65. Ueda won this event in 2007 and 2011. Japanese players occupy the top five positions on the leaderboard at Seta Golf Course.”

Full piece.

5. Hovland’s three-peat pursuit

Golf Channel’s Max Schreiber…”The 25-year-old Norwegian opened up his three-peat bid at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba with a 6-under 65 and sits T-8, three shots off the lead.”

“I think the last two years I’ve started 4 and 5 under, so even improved on that,” Hovland said after Thursday’s round.”

“If Hovland can keep the good vibes going South of the Border and emerge victorious on Sunday, he’ll be the first to three-peat at a Tour event since Steve Stricker at the 2011 John Deere Classic.”

Full piece.

6. QBE Shootout

Via the Golf Channel Digital Team…”The QBE Shootout is set to return on Dec. 7-11 and once again boasts an illustrious field.For the first time in its 22-year history, the field will include two LPGA players — Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda. Korda will make her debut in the event, while Thompson will return to Tiburon Golf Club for the sixth time.”

“The 24-player field will also feature six of the world’s top 30 and ten of the top 50 ranked male players. Those players include Billy Horschel, PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Cameron Young, Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, Corey Conners, Tom Hoge, K.H. Lee, Brian Harman and Harris English.”

Full piece.

7. Nantz targeting 51 Masters calls

Golfweek’s Todd Kelly…”So does the voice of the Masters have an idea when he’ll make his last drive down Magnolia Lane to cover that event for CBS Sports?”

“The Masters, I would like to do it 51 times, as bizarre as that sounds,” he said during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday. “My 51st Masters would be the 100th playing of the Masters. And, I’d like to be there to see the end of the first century. That’s just a little goal that I have in the back of my head.

“I’m through 37 right now, so 14 to go, hopefully.”

Full piece.

8. Chasing $442K

Ben Everill for PGATour.com…“A single New York bettor stands to profit as much as $442,000 if one of his notable longshot wagers pays off at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.”

“While the field in Mexico boasts the likes of world No.2 Scottie Scheffler (+900), three-peat seeker Viktor Hovland (+1100) and two-time major winner Collin Morikawa (+1600), it is a quintet of players further down the board that has one New Yorker excited ahead of Thursday’s opening round at El Camaleon Golf Club.”

“Five separate bets of $2,000 have been placed at the BetMGM Sportsbook on Tom Hoge, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Yu, Brandon Wu and Danny Lee to win the tournament.”

“A Hoge victory would win $60,000 while a Kuchar victory would bring $100,000. A Yu win nets $180,000 and a Wu trophy-earning week would bring a $200,000 payday. If New Zealand’s Lee wins the return would be $450,000. The $8,000 outlay on the other players would need to be deducted from any win.”

Full Piece.

9. Nothing to do but golf for NFL Hall of Famer

Craig Dolch for The Palm Beach Post…”At 63, Lawrence Taylor still knows how to deliver a shot.”

“On Wednesday, he was hitting golf balls instead of quarterbacks.”

“The NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker played in the TimberTech Championship’s PNK DRV Pro-Am at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.”

“I play golf almost every day,” he said. “I’m retired. There’s nothing else for me to do but play golf.”

“Taylor said he plays to a handicap of 5, but admits his best days on the course are in the past. That’s because he now feels like some of the quarterbacks he leveled over the years.”

“I used to be really good,” Taylor said of his golf game. “I just can’t practice like I used to. Everything hurts when I swing.”

Full Piece.

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