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Tour Rundown: Lilia Vu’s major win | Hardy & Riley

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The third weekend in April brough the year’s first LPGA women’s major championship. Much was done to replicate the experience at Mission Hills, and other new elements were brought to the fore. That event was supplemented by the team event on the PGA Tour, a first-time DP World Tour competition in Japan, and tournaments on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour Champions circuits. It was a full slate of challenges for the golf fan, and it merits a slow and deep Tour Rundown. Let’s dive right in.

If we have one word on the evening of Sunday, April 23rd, it’s playoff. Only the two-man event on the PGA Tour was decided in regulation play. The excitement meter in professional golf just melted the needle. It’s time to find out who took care of business in overtime.

LPGA-Chevron Championship: Lilia Vu wins inaugural playing in Texas

Lilia Vu was a highly-decorated golfer in the amateur ranks. The professional learning curve is finally rounding into shape for the California resident. Vu posted a final-round 68 at Carlton Woods in Texas, highlighted by birdies on her final two holes. That performance moved her to 10-under par, into what would be a tie with Angel Yin.

Yin began round four in a tie with Allisen Corpuz. Neither golfer could find the magic dust that brought them to double-figures under par through 54 holes. Corpuz tripped over five bogeys on day four, posted plus-two for the round, and dropped to a tie for 4th spot. Yin had the lead to herself at eleven under, as she addressed her tee shot on the 16th hole. Two bogies later, she was in need of a birdie at the last to force a playoff. Yin made birdie and she and Vu went back to the final tee for extra play.

The playoff was over soon after it began.  Yin had five feet left for par when Vu addressed her fifteen-feet birdie putt. Although it broke quite a bit at the start, it straightened out at the end, dropping in the left side of the hole for birdie and victory. Nelly Korda placed solo third at minus-nine, but it took a final-hole eagle to get her there.

PGA Tour-Zurich Classic: Two-man event features first-time winners in Hardy & Riley

If Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler had been able to play foursomes on Sunday as they did on Friday, this segment would be about them. Instead, the duo played the final three holes in two over par, and posted a feeble, one-under par on day four. Their struggles opened the tee deck for a surgent team, and two stepped up.

Canadians Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor electrified the galleries with seven consecutive birdies, on their way to a nine-under par 63. The duo was unable to post any birdies over their final five holes, and they came home in 28-under par. Behind them, Davis Riley and Nick Hardy built a tidy round of their own. Seven birdies against zero bogies totalled 65 on their card, and they reached a magic number: thirty under par. Their tournament record was enough to hold off the Maple Leaf and every other duo in the field. With the victory, both players moved inside the top forty in the FedEx Cup race.

DP World Tour-Handa Japan: Herbert wins playoff in Omitama

No one would recommend the Lucas Herbert plan for travel to Japan from Orlando. The Aussie was delayed by storms in Florida, missed his connecting flight in New York, and ultimately arrived in time to play round one at the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan, the first-ever for the European circuit. With no prior knowledge of the course, Herbert ran off rounds of 67-63-68-67, to earn a spot in a playoff with Canada’s Aaron Cockerill.

Cockerill had acquitted himself well over the four days. He signed for two rounds of 64, and buttressed those with 68 and 69, to join the weary traveler at 15-under par. Just missing out on extra time was Scotland’s Calum Hill, who needed one final birdie over the closing four holes. He had played that stretch under par each previous day, but could not find the magical stroke on Sunday.

Both playoff disputants had runs at birdie and victory on playoff hole #1, and both missed by an eyelash. On the second extra hole, Herbert was wide-left with his tee shot, but found a safe patch, He negotiated an iron to within fifteen feet, then drained the putt for victory. If you missed his final two shots, enjoy them below. The win was Herbert’s third on the DP World Tour.

Korn Ferry Tour-LECOM Suncoast: Gutschewski outlasts McAllister in playoff

It isn’t often that a score of 59 doesn’t figure in the top 15 golfers, let alone win the tournament. Mac Meissner posted the magic number on Friday, but the other three rounds were less than stellar, and he ultimately tied for 16th position. Who was the story? For a time, it was Kevin Dougherty. For all time, it was Scott Gutschewski. A player hampered by injuries and inconsistent play, finally earned a third KFT title, fifteen years after his last one.

At an age (46) when journeymen golfers consider alternate career paths or begin preparation for the senior circuit, Gutschewski found himself in a battel with a much more youthful Logan McAllister. After Kevin Dougherty, the third-round leader, gave up the ghost with a final-round 71, it was left to Gutschewski (68 for 263) and McAllister (66 for 263) to settle matters in extra time. Just missing out on the playoff at 264 were Chase Seiffert (69) and Ben Silverman (68.)

The leading duo returned to the 480-yard closing hole at Lakewood National. McAllister found the green, while Gutschewski was off the front edge of the green. With the stealth of a burglar, the journeyman pro rolled his fifty-feet birdie effort into the jaws of the hole. McAllister could not match, and Scottie G. had earned a bit of comfort as the KFT heads through spring, toward summer.

PGA Tour Champions-Invited: Hensby moves to full status with first win

It took 58 holes of golf, including four extra as the sun dipped low, but Mark Hensby withstood everything that Charlie Wi could throw his way. Hensby even dunked his second shot in the water on the first playoff hole, but survived to continue the fight. When Wi flinched on the fourth playing of the 18th hole (one in regulation and three in extra time) and made double-bogey seven, Hensby’s mundane par five was enough to secure a title and playing privileges for the remainder of 2023.

Wi’s lie off the tee on hole 58 was so nasty, he had to take an unplayable lie. It did not get better for him, as he chopped his way to an eventual two-putt for seven. Hensby also drove in the rough on the final hole, but was able to extricate himself to the fairway, and reach the putting green in regulation figures.

Alex Cejka seemed invincible after rounds of 66 and 64 staked him to a lead on Saturday night. A different Cejka awakened on Sunday, played his first six holes in plus-three figures, and recovered agonizingly close to the top two. Cejka made birdie at the par-three 13th, and needed one more to return to -12. He played the final five holes in par figures, and finished one shot shy of the playoff.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, may a bountiful weekend of golf be in store for you!

1. 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour

KFT staff report…”Frankie Capan III went crazy low Thursday on the Korn Ferry Tour. Nearly in record fashion.”

  • “Capan carded 13-under 58 in the opening round of the Veritex Bank Championship, matching the second lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history. He fell one shy of Cristobal Del Solar’s record 57, set at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard earlier this year, but it was a heck of a show nonetheless.”
  • “The Minnesota native played an eight-hole stretch in 9-under Thursday, following an eagle at the par-5 ninth with seven straight birdies to begin the back nine at par-71 Texas Rangers Golf Club. He “cooled off” with a two-putt par at the long par-4 17th hole. He arrived at the par-5 18th hole at 13 under for the round, but he found a fairway bunker off the tee, laid up to 134 yards and missed his third shot left of the green. He chipped to 7 feet and drained the par putt to match the Korn Ferry Tour’s second-lowest score of 58, carded by Stephan Jaeger in the opening round of the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.”
Full piece.

2. Team McIlowery starts strong

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.”

  • “It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana.”
  • “This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top.”
Full piece.

3. LPGA Tour: Grace Kim in front

AP report…”Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”

  • “Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th.”
  • “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone
Full piece.

4. McIlroy on rejoining policy board

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he is willing to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board if the other player directors want him.”

  • “As first reported by the Guardian, Webb Simpson has submitted a letter stating that he’d like to resign from the board, but only if his vacant seat is filled by McIlroy, who stepped down last fall because of the toll it had taken on him professionally and personally.”
  • “Five months later, what has changed?”
  • “I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he is partnering with Shane Lowry. “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”
Full piece.

5. Charlie Woods shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”Charlie Woods is going to have to wait to play in the U.S. Open.”

“The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods played Thursday in local qualifying for the United States Golf Association’s national championship, set for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Charlie played at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he shot 9-over 81.”

“Charlie’s round featured a bogey on his opening hole, the par-4 first. He then doubled the par-5 second. A pair of pars followed before his lone birdie on the front, but another double the next hole, the par-4 sixth, had him turn in 4-over 40.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the Zurich Classic

GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

Check out all our photos at the link below!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.

1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”

  • “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
Full piece.

2. Understandably, Nelly WDs

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”

  • “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
  • “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”

  • “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
Full piece.

4. Zurich field notes

PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”

  • “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
Full piece.

5. Tiger’s teammates

Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”

  • “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
  • “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
Full piece.

6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”

  • “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
  • “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
  • “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
  • “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
Full piece.

7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”

  • “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
  • “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
Full piece.

8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”

  • “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
  • “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
Full piece.

9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants

PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.

Full piece.
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