News

Morning 9: Surprise Irish Open champ | Minjee Lee survives Hull scare | Cam Smith on ‘irrelevant’ rankings

Published

3 years ago

Sep 11, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as Vincent Norrman took all the glory on Sunday at the Irish Open.

1. Surprise Irish Open champ

Sky Sports report… “Vincent Norrman secured a second DP World Tour title with a dramatic victory at the Horizon Irish Open, where Rory McIlroy’s challenge faded after a frustrating final day at the K Club.”

“Norrman overturned a six-stroke deficit during a gripping final round, following six birdies in an eight-hole stretch by taking advantage of the par-five last to close a sensational bogey-free 65 and set the clubhouse target at 14 under.”

“The Swede was then made to wait for nearly 90 minutes as the chasing pack all faltered down the closing stretch, with Norrman finishing a shot clear of overnight leader Hurly Long and Shane Lowry sharing third spot with Grant Forrest, Thirston Lawrence and Ryan Fox.”

Full piece.

2. LPGA: Lee nearly loses in regulation, wins in playoff

AP report…”Minjee Lee lost a five-shot lead on the back nine Sunday and recovered at just the right time, hitting wedge to 2 feet for birdie to beat Charley Hull on the second playoff hole in the Kroger Queen City Championship.”

“Lee, a two-time major champion, won for the first time this year after closing with a 1-under 71. It was her second playoff victory on the LPGA Tour, and she never imagined it would get to that point.”

Full piece.

3. Team USA gets a look at Marco Simone

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Nine of the 12 U.S. Ryder Cuppers got their first looks at this year’s venue, Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, on Saturday.”

“According to The Associated Press, all but Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele flew to Rome on Friday evening for a 36-hole scouting trip. U.S. captain Zach Johnson told the AP of their absences, the three missing team members “have family matters that definitely supersede what we’re doing.” Spieth’s wife, Annie, is about to give birth to their second child while Cantlay and Schauffele aren’t in Rome because of “prior family commitments,” the PGA of America’s Julius Mason told the AP.”

Full piece.

4. Bally to operate former Trump Links at Ferry Point

Stefanos Chen and Dana Rubinstein at the New York Times…”The sole bidder seeking to build a casino in the Bronx has moved one step closer to realizing its pitch, by buying out the multimillion-dollar lease on a public golf course operated by Donald J. Trump’s company.”

“The first order of business: removing the Trump name…Bally’s Corporation, a large casino and entertainment company, has purchased the license to operate the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, a 180-acre golf course that the city had tried, and failed, to wrest from the control of Mr. Trump’s company.”

“The price of the transaction, which required approval from the Parks Department and the New York City comptroller, has not been disclosed, but one person familiar with the deal said the company would pay at least tens of millions of dollars for the remainder of the contract, which is expected to expire in 2035. The deal, which was first reported by The New York Post, is scheduled to close on Tuesday.”

Full piece.

5. On the importance of the Fortinet

Golf Channel staff…”This will be the first of seven fall events for the PGA Tour as it returns to a calendar-year schedule in 2024.”

“These tournaments will determine who has exempt status next season, who will get into early-year signature events and who can earn spots in major championships.”

“While the top 70 in FedExCup points from the 2022-23 season already have full status next year, those who were No. 71 and beyond will have the fall to finish inside the top 125 to lock up their cards for ’24.”

“Additionally, fall winners will still earn invitations to the Masters Tournament and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.”

Full piece.

6. Matt Fitz engaged

Cameron Jourdan for Golfweek…”It’s been a special couple years for Matt Fitzpatrick.”

“He had his signature win last June when he captured the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club at Brookline. He added another victory in a three-hole playoff this year in Hilton Head, beating then-defending champion Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage in April. Later this month, he’ll represent Team Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone outside Rome.”

“But first, Fitzpatrick had some other hardware to take care of.”

“Fitzpatrick announced Saturday he and his girlfriend, Katherine Gall, were engaged. The couple posted photos from Bay Head, New Jersey, announcing their engagement.”

Full piece.

7. Cam Smith hits out at ‘irrelevant’ OWGR

James Nursey for Golf Monthly…”Cameron Smith has revealed his frustrations with the Official World Golf Rankings after branding them “irrelevant.”

“Australian pro Smith is 11th in the World Rankings and claims he should be a lot higher after two wins in the LIV series and two top tens in two Majors this year. Smith, who won The Open at St Andrews last year and got to No.2 in the world, came tied ninth at the PGA Championship and fourth at the US Open this year…”

“Asked about the rankings, the 30-year-old, admitted: “It’s a hard one to let go but I feel like it’s almost become irrelevant, especially for how I’ve played. Even during the Majors. I didn’t win a Major this year but I had a fourth and ninth in there as well, so a pretty solid Major season.”

“If I didn’t play well in those four events, I think you’d find me way outside where I am at the moment. I don’t think it’s a very accurate reflection of where I am at the moment, but that’s just the way it is.”

Full piece.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

5 hours 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.

General Albums

2026 The Memorial – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

16 hours 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