News

Morning 9: JT signs for TGL team | Nicklaus: Golf is no fun anymore | Rose out of 2025 Ryder Cup captain race

Published

3 years ago

Nov 1, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the WWT Championship.

1. TGL format, points system announced

Via the Golf Channel Digital team…“The format for TGL, which was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and former Golf Channel president Mike McCarley, will be two weekly sessions with the first nine-hole match a three vs. three, team alternate-shot format. The second session will be a six-hole match of head-to-head competition with each player playing two holes during the session. (One player on each team will not compete each week.)”

“Overtime will be used to break ties, similar to a penalty shootout in soccer, with regular-season points awarded for an outright victory (two points), overtime victory (two points) or overtime loss (one point). No points are rewarded for a regulation loss. The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs, which will be single elimination in the semifinals followed by a best-of-three championship.”

“Each match will be played at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in the roughly 250,000-square foot arena. Tee shots and approach shots of more than 50 yards will be played into a 64-by-46-foot simulator, which is about 20 times larger than a standard simulator. Each shot will be played from real grass tee boxes, fairways, rough and sand.”

“Shots within 50 yards will be played in the “green zone” which is the size of four basketball courts and will feature the largest-ever adaptable putting surface built by Full Swing to create variety for each green.”

Full piece.

2. JT joins

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Two-time major championship winner Justin Thomas is joining Atlanta Drive GC, one of the six teams in TGL presented by SoFi, the tech-infused golf league being developed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, the franchise announced Tuesday.”

“Thomas, a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour, is the first player to be assigned to one of the six teams in TGL, which is scheduled to begin play Jan. 9 at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.”

“Three other players will be assigned to Atlanta’s roster later, according to the news release.”

Full piece.

3. Nicklaus: Golf is no fun anymore

Tom D’Angelo for the Palm Beach Post…”Jack Nicklaus has not swung a golf club since hitting a tee shot before the first round of the Masters in April while serving as an honorary starter along with Gary Player and Tom Watson.”

“On Monday, he did not take his clubs to a clinic at PGA National, leaving the ball striking to Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els and Luke Donald.”

“And the 83-year-old Hall of Famer is not sure when he’ll pick up a club next.”

“I would like to go play again. I play so poorly anymore it’s just really not any fun,” Nicklaus said. “And I run out of golf balls.”

Full piece.

4. Donald says LaCava overstepped the mark

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Although the infamous Ryder Cup dispute between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie has been resolved, it’s still being talked about as one of the biggest stories to come out of the 2023 Ryder Cup.”

“While doing an interview with The Times, European team captain Luke Donald was asked about the argument.”

“Rory was upset, quite rightfully, and these things happen at the Ryder Cup. It’s a passionate event. Joe overstepped the mark and tried to reach out after the fact and apologize but we just tried to use that as fuel for Sunday. I didn’t need to say much.”

Full piece.

5. McIlroy to start 2024 with consecutive DP World Tour events

Reuters report…”Rory McIlroy’s 2024 season begins in the United Arab Emirates with back-to-back events on the DP World Tour in Dubai.”

“He is set to compete at the inaugural Dubai Invitational Jan. 11-14 at Dubai Creek Resort, followed by the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club from Jan. 18-21.”

“McIlroy, 34, of Northern Ireland, is the defending champion at the latter, a 1-shot victory over Patrick Reed in January 2023.”

Full piece.

6. Davis Love III says PGA Tour-PIF deal won’t make deadline

Adam Schupak for Golfweek…“With the self-imposed December 31 deadline looming for the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour veteran Davis Love III has confirmed the leader in the clubhouse for the worst-kept secret in golf – the deal isn’t getting done any time soon.”

“The only thing I do know is nothing is going to happen really fast,” Love said during an interview on Friday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where he was meeting on a golf course project.

Asked if he thought a deal beyond the framework agreement, which was announced on June 6, would be consummated by the end of the year, he said, “I don’t see any way.”

Full piece.

7. Rose out of captain race for 2025 Ryder Cup

John Turnbull for Bunkered…”Four-time Ryder Cup winner Justin Rose has paved the way for Luke Donald to retain captaincy and lead Team Europe in 2025.”

“In an interview with The Telegraph, Rose ruled himself out of being captain at Bethpage Black in two years, as he eyes playing for the seventh time.”

“The 43-year-old said: “2025 is too early for me…The captaincy starts next year, and I feel like I’ve got some good things ahead of me as a player.”

“It’s not so much that I feel I ‘need’ to play at Bethpage, it’s more that I ‘need’ to believe I can play. That’s important.”

Full Piece.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

6 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