News
Tour Rundown: Moore wins Valspar on Schenk’s last-hole bogey
For some golf fans, the weeks that intervene amid important events are a welcome chance at respite. For others, they are an agonizing gap between major tournaments. Last week’s Players Championship signaled the first top-shelf event of the men’s 2023 run, and the Masters is still three weeks away. For the women, next week’s Drive On Championship begins a four-in-five-weeks run that culminates in the relocated Chevron Championship.
No matter which type identifies you, the golf this week was either thrilling or inspirational. The DP World Tour’s SDC Championship was a runaway, while the Valspar (PGA Tour) DGC Open (Asian Tour), and Termas de Río Hondo (PGA Tour LA) all reveled in to-the-wire finishes. Let’s meet in the middle and enjoy a weekly Tour Rundown here on GolfWRX.
PGA Tour: Moore wins Valspar on Schenk’s last-hole bogey
The money might be different at an elevated event, but the real drama happens when the unproven have a chance to prove themselves. Adam Schenk will look back at this week and realize that he led after every round but the last one, and that a solo-second result would have looked pretty good at the start of the week. Taylor Moore will point to the Sunday 74s at Bay Hill and Sawgrass, and affirm that they toughened him as a competitor.
Big names were in the mix on Sunday at Innisbrook. Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood, both veteran Ryder Cup competitors, had a chance to win over the closing holes. Neither could avoid the bogeys that wait on the Copperhead course, and each settled for a third-place tie, two shots out of first. Double-defender Sam Burns posted 67 on Sunday and moved to sixth place, but was never in the mix for a third consecutive title at Valspar.
Taylor Moore stood even on the day at Sunday’s ninth tee. Over the next ten holes, he would initial four birdies and six pars on his card. If you play that many holes at Innisbrook’s Copperhead in four-under par, especially this late in the game, good things will certainly happen. With the win, Moore ascends to a new echelon of tour player, and sets his sights on bigger things.
For a share of the lead!@RazorbackMGolf alum @TaylorMooreGolf birdies No. 16 @ValsparChamp.
He is seeking his first TOUR win ? pic.twitter.com/6hmNgONWkY
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 19, 2023
DP World Tour: Baldwin earns debut win in South Africa
The classic novel A Tale of Two Cities wasn’t recreated in precision for golf this week in South Africa, but one could certainly make a case for A Tale of Two Tourneys as a candidate for a summary title. Norway’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen played his way into the weekend with 133 through 36 holes, then abandoned the 60s for 72-73 coming home. His ten-under finish wasn’t within shouting distance of the champion, but it did garner him the best finish of his tour career. One shot clear of Krogh was Spain’s Adrián Arnaus, who scorched the first five holes on Sunday with -4, but cooled off to -11 overall.
Heading the drive across the fields of St. Francis Links was Englahd’s Matthew Baldwin. The Southport lad claimed the first title of his year’s on Europe’s big tour, and only the second of his professional career. After signing for 70 on Thursday, Baldwin soared to new eights with 67-65-68 to the finish. This featured a five-par closing stretch on day four, good enough to take him to -18 and a seven-shot separation from the runner up. In all, a well-earned champagne bath for the 37-year old journeyman.
The moment @mattbaldwin26 got his breakthrough win… by SEVEN shots ?#SDCChampionship pic.twitter.com/3PQEiVsye3
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 19, 2023
Asian Tour: Tabuena turns third trophy at DGC Open
Miguel Tabuena has made a name for himself on his homeland, Philippine Tour. His 15 titles give him the confidence needed to play up at the Asian Tour events that fit his schedule. This week in India, Tabuena added the DGC Open winner’s cup to his previous chalices from the Queen’s Cup and Philippine Open events.
Tabuena stormed from absolute nowhere on Sunday to snatch this week’s title from India’s Rashid Khan. Khan held a three-shot advantage with one round left to contest, but chose the final four holes on day four to give someone an opening. With bogeys at 15 and 17, combined with birdies for Tabuena at 15 and 16, the three-shot lead turned into a two shot deficit. Birdie at the last was enough to earn solo second for Khan, but it was Tabuena’s par-par finish that won the day and the week.
A closing 65 from @migueltabuena saw him seal his third Tour victory and become the second Filipino to triumph in India since Ben Arda at the Indian Open in 1969.
Relive the final round's highlights ??@TheDGCOpen #TheDGCOpen #whereitsAT https://t.co/x4oktgDs8W
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) March 19, 2023
PGA Tour Latinoamérica: Playoff decides Termas de Río Hondo
It wasn’t a great week for the homebreds. Khan (see above) lost a late duel on the Asian Tour, and Jesús Montenegro lost an even-later one for the Tour Latinoamérica’s Termas de Río Hondo Invitational. We’ll get to the how in a bit, but the stage needs to be set. Jake Mccrory and Myles Creighton reached 17-under par on Saturday afternoon, and anticipation was high for a stellar finish to the Argentine tournament. On Sunday, Creighton posted minus-one, with an agonizing, closing stretch of seven consecutive pars. One more birdie would have earned him a spot in the playoff … that we will get to.
Mccrory fared slightly better than Creighton, with the same three birdies and one fewer bogey. He reached 19-under for the week, and found himself in an overtime duel with Montenegro. The Argentine ace signed a clean card on Sunday, with three birdies and six pars on each side. His 66 was one shot higher than Ollie Osborne’s 65. Incidentally, Osborne finished even with Creighton, also one shot out of the extra-time duel.
The playoff was brief. Lefthander Mccrory posted birdie at the 18th hole, a par five that had cost all of the aforementioned contenders five shots in regulation. Montenegro was unable to match and the Sam Houston State alum Mccrory had his first, important professional win.
Con este putt para birdie en el hoyo 73, Jake McCrory se quedó con el título del Termas de Río Hondo Invitational en @TermasGC.@JakeMcCrory sank this 10-footer for birdie for the playoff win in his @pgatourla debut at the #TRHInvitational in Argentina.#ZurichArgentinaSwing ?? pic.twitter.com/wIYoOnB4mE
— PGATOURLA (@PGATOURLA) March 19, 2023
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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