News

Morning 9: Echavarria wins in Japan | An victorious in playoff

Published

2 years ago

Oct 28, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as Nico Echavarria saw off the challenge of Justin Thomas to win the Zozo Championship over the weekend.

1. Echavarria triumphs in Japan

AP report…”Nico Echavarria claimed the Zozo Championship for his second PGA Tour victory, shooting 3-under 67 on Sunday to win by a shot over Max Greyserman and Justin Thomas.”

“Echavarria, a Colombian who played at the University of Arkansas, birdied two of the final three holes — including the 18th — to add to the title he won last year at the Puerto Rico Open.”

”He finished at 20-under 260 at the Narashino Country Club, located about 50 miles from central Tokyo. It’s course record, topping the 261 Tiger Woods shot in winning in 2019.”

Full piece.

2. An wins in Korea

AP report…”Byeong Hun An made an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 5-under 67, and then birdied the par-5 18th in a playoff Sunday to defeat Tom Kim in the Genesis Championship for his second European tour title.”

“The victory was nine years after A won his first European title in the BMW PGA Championship. It follows a strong year for the 33-year-old South Korean that has been missing only a victory.”

“An had five top 10s on the PGA Tour, playing well enough to make the Presidents Cup team. The victory moves him to No. 27 in the world, after starting the year at No. 60.”

“It’s a sweet ending for this year,” A said. “It’s been a great year. I’ve put a lot of work in it. It will be the same next week when I get back, another offseason that I have to work hard for to be better next year.”

Full piece.

3. LPGA: Yin wins in China

LPGA report…“Continuing her front nine, Yin made another birdie on the par-5 3rd hole to move to 18-under par, as did Thitikul and the close friends sat in a tie for the lead. Yin made back-to-back birdies on hole 6 to grab solo lead and then on hole 7 to extend her lead by a shot. Ryu sat one shot behind Yin after also making a birdie on the 7th. The final pairing made the turn with Yin at 20 under, Ryu at 19 under and Thitikul at 18-under par for the tournament.

”Yin picked up her fifth birdie of the final round on No. 10, and lengthened her lead by two shots over her closest competitors. Thitikul and Ryu took advantage of the par-4 12th hole and made birdies to move to 20-under par each. However, Yin would maintain her position in first place at 22-under par through the next six holes as Thitikul made one birdie on hole 14, and Ryu birdied 13 but bogeyed 17.”

“The Maybank Championship came down to the last hole, and specifically between the Dow Championship winning duo, Thitikul and Yin. Both players hit the green in two shots, and Thitikul tapped in a birdie putt to reach 22-under par and sit tied with Yin. Yin had a lengthy birdie putt to earn the victory outright and avoid forcing a playoff for the second year in a row at the event.”

Full piece.

4. The journey continues

Golf Channel’s Brantley Romine…“Brett White’s miraculous journey continues.”

“The 31-year-old White, who nearly died seven years ago after contracting viral encephalitis, co-medaled at first stage of PGA Tour Q-School on Friday in Semmes, Alabama. White opened in 10-under 62 at Magnolia Grove’s Crossing course before cruising to a 24-under total, which equaled Georgia grad Caleb Manuel and was 10 shots inside the cut line.”

“White advances to one of five second-stage sites, the first of which begins Nov. 19.”

Full Piece.

5. An’s big shot

Golf Channel’s Bentley Romine…”This isn’t necessarily the type of shot you’d try at home, a 290-yard driver off the deck – a wet deck – with mostly carry, and water and some rocks guarding much of the left side of Jack Nicklaus Golf Club’s par-5 15th hole. But An, with time running out on Sunday in Incheon, South Korea, had to take the chance in front of his home fans.”

“This is a big gamble here,” said the TV announcer as An pulled the club back.

When the ball landed on the front of the elevated green and rolled about 9 feet past before settling, the same announcer added, “Are you kidding me?”

“No one saw that coming, apart from him,” added the broadcast’s analyst.

Full Piece.

6. Harrington victorious

AP report…” Padraig Harrington closed with a 5-under 67 and held on for a two-shot victory Sunday in the Simmons Bank Championship, his third title this year on the PGA Tour Champions.”

Harrington got in front early and most of his challengers faded before a big crowd at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Y.E. Yang made 10 birdies in his closing round of 65 and pulled within one shot when Harrington made his lone bogey on the 14th hole.

But the Irishman held steady with three straight pars, and then hammered a drive down the 18th fairway that left him a long iron to the green and two putts for a final birdie.

“It’s a nice way to finish,” Harrington said. “It gives me some confidence, and I really didn’t give anyone else a chance.”

Full Piece.

7. Echavarria’s Winning WITB

Presented by 2nd Swing

Driver: Ping G430 Max (10.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BB 73 TX

3-wood: PXG 0311 Black Ops (15 degrees)

5-wood: PXG 0311 XF Gen5 (19 degrees)

Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II, PXG 0317 CB (7-PW)

Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy III (50, 54, 60)

Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Seven

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: 2025 Titleist Pro V1x

Full Piece.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

2 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