News

Five Things we Learned: Thursday at the Masters

Published

1 year ago

Apr 11, 2025

After a dalliance with sweater weather to begin play on Thursday, Augusta National Golf Club settled into a more comfortable and familiar climate. As the day progressed, quarter-zips came off and short sleeves became the apparel of choice. A number of golfers jumped up early, to 3 and 4 under par, but were unable to sustain the momentum. They eventually dropped back, as the favorites joined the chase. The lead after 18 holes was 7 under par, and was followed a bit away, by a trio of golfers at minus 4. The game is barely afoot, but there are five things worth mentioning. It is our pleasure to bring the five things that we learned to you, on this Thursday of Masters 2025.

Bryson DeChambeau moves into a tie for second. #themasters pic.twitter.com/n082h1YWPy

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025

Five: Augusta respects the wizened

How else to explain the success that seasoned citizens have at Berckman’s Place? Bernhard Langer was 1 under par for much of the day, before sliding a bit, to plus 2 74. Fred Couples, a bit younger than Bernhard, posted 71 on the day, highlighted by a holed hybrid for eagle two at the dangerous 14th hole. Couples benefitted from a hot putter, using it to save bogey at 13 and par at 16, and make a few more along the way.

In His Words: “I hit most of the fairways and drove it well. Got a little windy and chipped a little bit better than I normally do around here. I hit two really, really good shots on 1. I don’t know if anyone saw it. Flew right by the hole and trickled and trickled down the embankment down where you don’t want to ever be left. And I holed it. Putted it up in into the hole for birdie.”

Into the hole from 191 yards. Fred Couples eagles No. 14! #themasters pic.twitter.com/5KD2bMUKv6

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025

Four: Conners wants more than low Canadian

There’s always one golfer who doesn’t get social media love, despite playing his heart out. That golfer this year is Corey Conners, pride of Listowel, Ontario, Canada. Conners has three top-10 finishes in Georgia, tying for 10th, 8th, and 6th in consecutive playings. Conners posted five birdies against a solitary bogey. He stumbled at the massive fifth hole, perhaps the most daunting par 4 and green on the golf course. Two holes later, perhaps with momentum on the line, he holed from a greenside bunker to save par. We’re not saying that Conners will win, but we are saying that he should be in contention come Sunday.

In His Words: “I was a little bit sloppy on 5, making a bogey. Again, a little bit sloppy on 7, left it in the bunker on my third shot. To see that go in, that was great. I was trying hard to get it up-and-down the second time, and it went in. That was a nice bonus and definitely a momentum builder.”

Three: Oh, Baby! Aberg back at it

Ludvig Aberg played the sort of round that lends credence to the notion that he is built to play this course well. Playing it well and winning, well, they are distant kinfolk. Think back to the Lehmans, the Normans, who played this course well, year in and out, but never put on the jacket. If Aberg keeps doing the things that he has thus far, he’ll have a chance to add to his wardrobe. Like Conners, Aberg had five birdies against one bogey. His slip-up came at the short fourth, a daunting par three down a hill. Aberg closed with a massive drive, straight and true, and a dagger of an iron to gimme range. Despite just five competitive rounds at the course, Aberg already reveals an understanding that you take what it will give, nothing more.

In His Words: “It was sneaky hard. There isn’t a ton of wind, but it still swirls. There’s a few greens that gets a little crusty towards the end of the afternoon, and you really have to place your second shots if you’re good off the tee. It makes it tricky when the wind kind of goes back in your face and then down.,,But 15 was a great example where we could have hit 6 but hit a little chippy 5 to make sure it would cover and take that chip from the back, but overall, pleased.”

A chip-in three on No. 3. Ludvig Åberg reaches red numbers. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Ym8ZIhvWQA

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025

Two: King Scottie is back for more

He is the defending champion. He is in possession of two coveted jackets. He has a caddie built to win at Augusta, with four champions flags to his credit. Scottie Scheffler has everything going his way, so what could impede his march to a third title? We have no idea. Scheffler quietly, patiently, surgically added up 68 shots on Thursday, thanks to four birdies and fourteen pars. He made zero scorecard mistakes and seemed quite happy with his performance. Ecstatic? No. Ebulient? No. Satisfied? Yes.

In His Words: “I had a feeling the golf course was going to get pretty firm. The areas to hit your irons out here are pretty small and they get even smaller when the greens are firm, so there’s definitely some challenge to the golf course today, and I’m sure that’ll continue as the week goes on.”

From 40 feet away! Scottie Scheffler makes birdie on No. 16. #themasters pic.twitter.com/2e2NeEhUdc

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025

One: Rose rises

No one really saw this coming. We imagined that Justin Rose’s best chance at a green jacket slipped away in 2017. His playoff loss to a fortunate Sergio Garcia portended additional opportunities for the Englishman, but they never came. Last season, Rose tied for second at The Open, so perhaps he has a second major in the offing. The Englishman has 19 top-ten finishes in the four majors, in addition to his seminal 2013 U.S. Open title. His recent history at Augusta National is not stellar, but his is the sort of mind and game that allow for a breakthrough at any moment.

In His Words: “So for the first few holes everything was going exactly where I was looking, and certainly the first hole, which is definitely one of the trickier holes on the golf course, to knock in a nice 25-footer down the hill right-to-left, exactly what you need to settle yourself into the Masters, and then 2 and 3 are birdie opportunities.

“So to be 3-under through 3 kind of really got me on the front foot and felt like I was playing great golf. When I did find myself into in a little bit of trouble, especially early, No. 5, holed a great putt for par. And middle of the back nine I felt like there were a couple moments where the momentum could have changed. But really good up-and-downs on 14 and 15 to keep the round really hot.

“Obviously the only blemish on 18, but there’s no point dwelling on that.”

Patient decisions and accurate execution lead to a birdie on No. 15 for leader Justin Rose. #themasters pic.twitter.com/53oUsPioYe

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

21 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

3 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

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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