News

Tour Rundown: Kirk survives 72nd-hole snafu | Vu claims inaugural tour title in Thailand

Published

3 years ago

Feb 26, 2023

Last spring, I was fortunate to play the PGA National Championship course that hosts this week’s Honda Classic, on the PGA Tour. It’s beautiful, challenging, interesting, and never, ever, easy. That’s no big reveal for any of this week’s competitors, but it’s always an awakening for the amateur golfer who wonders just how difficult it can be. Every other playing surface in sport is standardized; it’s the human opponents that make the game professional. In golf, it’s not just the opposition, but the extreme demands of the tour-quality, championship course. Here’s hoping that this course continues to feature on the PGA Tour, for years to come.

The Putt That Didn’t Win

It’s a cruel game.

Eric Cole’s birdie putt to force another playoff hole just lips out @TheHondaClassic. pic.twitter.com/BV3UlczB5I

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2023

It was a light week for legitimate professional events, as February eases into March. We all know what’s coming in the third month of 2023, but this final week of tournaments left us much to remember. Let’s do our weekly Tour Rundown in three, two, one, and GO!

PGA Tour: Kirk survives 72nd hole snafu to claim fifth tour title

You wouldn’t be alone if you asked Chris Kirk why he hit three-metal into the 18th hole in regulation. His answer might run along the lines of I can draw that club whenever I want or There was plenty of room left. No matter the response, the ball didn’t draw and finished its time in golf in Davy Jones locker. The ensuing bogey dropped the leader into a tie with Eric Cole, and the duo returned to the par-five’s tee for some overtime.

Eric Cole was beyond thrilled to be in this position. His 2022-2023 campaign been solid, with seven made cut in 14 events. Before Sunday, he had $363K in the FedEx Cup bank, and was looking to add to that figure in Florida. His bookend rounds of 67-66-66-67 brought him farther along than he had dreamed. Despite the missed birdie putt on playoff hole one (see above) Cole earned over $900K for his runner-up finish. Many boxes are now checked for the 34-year old journeyman, and perhaps it’s time to win.

As for Chris Kirk, the 73rd-hole birdie was the culmination of eight years of the grind. His fourth victory came at Colonial in 2015. It took him twice as many years to earn the next one. There were close calls along the way, but Honda 2023 will be remembered for his electric 62 on Friday, and his legal but inconceivable free drop on Saturday. Cheers to another win for the Knoxville native.

GOLF SHOT.@Chris_Kirk_ nearly holes out for eagle and will have a tap-in birdie @TheHondaClassic.

Eric Cole will have to get up-and-down from a green side bunker to force another playoff hole. pic.twitter.com/46OSaUhL9M

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2023

LPGA: Vu claims inaugural tour title in Thailand

Lilia Vu was as decorated as they come, when she emerged from the amateur ranks to test the professional waters. Unfortunately for her, she turned pro as the golf world began to navigate the worldwide pandemic. A limited number of LPGA starts in 2019 took her to the Symetra Tour for the next two years. She won three times in the minors in 2021, earning herself a promotion to the big tour for 2022.

2023 has commenced with great promise for the young Californian. Imagine being in the mix for a title with Lydia Ko, Jin Young Ko, Maja Stark, Atthaya Thitikul, and a young golfer from the host country who didn’t know that she wasn’t supposed to do these things. That’s what Vu was up against, and that’s what she overcame. Natthakritta Vongtaveelap had blitzed the Chonburi course with 67-65-64. As it turned out, another round in the 60s would have done the deed, but Sunday’s front nine was an adventure for the young Thai. NatVong made one par on her way to the turn. Four birdies, three bogies and a double added up to some shots lost to Vu, who parlayed four birdies into a five-shot swing.

On the inward half, Vu was just as resolute. Four more birdies against zero bogies gave her 64 on the day. Vongtaveelap made three birdies of her own coming home, but a bogey at the 11th, and a run of four pars to close, kept her inches away from matching Vu. With an life-changing birdie at the drivable 15th, Vu reached 22-deep and locked the door on her first LPGA victory.

Clutch par putt by @TheLiliaVu on 17 to maintain her lead by 1! ?

Watch the finish of the @hondalpgath on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/DOR87xqDjw

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 26, 2023

DP World Tour: German pair battles to end at Delhi

Yanik Paul has played the best golf of his life over the last fortnight. The 28-year old from Frankfurt finished runner-up last week in Thailand, and held the 36-hole lead this week in India. Had Paul preserved a semblance of his two-day form, he might have earned a four-shot win as Olesen did last week. Instead, Paul went into grinder mode on the weekend, and closed with 71-70. This allowed countryman Marcel Siem to enter the picture.

Siem with 69-70, but closed with the all-important 67-68, making up a number of shots on the leader. Paul’s sole tour win came last October in a playoff, but Siem counted four titles to his credit, over a near-twenty year career. When your last win came in 2014, however, you might forget the feeling. Siem was gutsy all day. He posted four birdies through twelve holes on Sunday, then recovered a lost stroke at 13, with a critical birdie at 15.

Yannik Paul did nothing wrong on day four, but not enough right came his way. His two birdies on the day accompanied 16 pars, and left him one shot shy of his older countryman. Some years ago, Siem converted to the long putter, emulating the great German champion, Bernhard Langer. At the age of 42, Marcel Siem had his fifth DP World Tour title, and a new lease on his career.

The moment Marcel Siem claimed his fifth DP World Tour victory ?#HIO2023 pic.twitter.com/38YDXRw4u7

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 26, 2023

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

4 hours 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!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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

3 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