News

Five Things We Learned: Friday at the Open Championship

Published

11 months ago

Jul 18, 2025

Day two of the 153rd Open Championship was marred by glorious weather. Despite the best efforts of the announcers and walking journalists, nary a cloud, drop of rain, nor zephyr of wind could be summoned from the extensive history of the tournament. The Royal Portrush course was helpless against the combined skills of the competing amateurs and professionals, and equipment manufacturers. Over sixty rounds bettered par on this inauspicious day. As I type this report, aged former competitors and battle-scarred pundits are gathering in a smoke-filled room, attempting to enlist the services of the Super Friends and their weather dome.

It’s important to honor both sobriety and humor, lest we lose sight of all professional sport as entertainment first, and then many other things, after. Round two of the 2025 Open Championship reminded all of us that these guys are really, really good. They will light up a golf course if given the opportunity. Make no mistake: Royal Portrush would humble me and you and the rest of youse guys. The gulf between the competing golfers and humans is greater than the mortal coil. If numbers stay low, understand that this is how things go, and enjoy the grandeur of extraordinary preparation, skill, and execution.

Indeed, I learned five things today, and I’m champing at the horse’s bit to tell you what they are. Let’s have a look at that quintet of elements that made holes 19 through 36 most unforgettable, even if they were a bit batty.

1. Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler tried his hardest to post 63, with eight birdies and ten pars. Unfortunately for the gods of perfection, he strayed a bit. On the 11th hole, a sizable, 477-yard par four, Scheffler tugged a driver into the native area. He was compelled to pitch out some 145 yards, leaving a seventy-yard pitch to the green. His third was a pinseeker, but came to rest atop the back fringe. Scheffler’s fourth, a chipper, scared the hole before settling, inches away. He tapped in for his only bogey of the morning.

As imperfection goes, that was it for the Texan. Four birdies on each side of the course crafted the low round at the halfway pole. Scottie Scheffler isn’t Tiger Woods, nor Jack Nicklaus. He is the top-ranked player in the world, and when his orchestra of clubs find their harmony, there is none better. While his lead is but a shot over Matt Fitzpatrick, every fan anticipates that lead to double or triple by nightfall on Saturday. Scheffler whispers the wind game, he speaks fast and firm with fluency, so a super-human effort by another of the greats will be needed to deny him a third, unique major title.

2. Day One Stories on Day Two

Before we dig deeper into the merits of day the second at Portrush, let’s have a glance at the newsmakers of day one. It wasn’t chocolates and meringue for the leaders. Jacob Skov Olesen was part of the quintet at four-under par, but he was back to even par by the 20th tee. Olesen went wide left, then wide right, before a third tee shot stayed inbounds on the opening hole. He made a ten-feet putt for eight, and to his credit, played the remaining 17 hole in plus-one. He’ll make the cut and play through Sunday, but the next 36 holes will be ones of education, rather than contention. Christian Bezuidenhout also fell away on day two. The South African posted 73, giving back two shots to old man par. He’ll need two, Scheffler-esque rounds to return to importance.

The other three, day-one medalists remained in the chase. Matt Fitzpatrick improved on his 67 by one, and will join Scheffler in the final game of day three of the Open Championship. Haotong Li defied odds and signed for another 67. He’ll be one pairing ahead of Fitzpatrick, and will attempt to win a first major title for China. Harris English, whose name figure in Open Championship stories more often than not, went round Portrush in 70 shots. He begins round three five back of Scheffler, in that dangerous place where a pressure-free, low round awaits.

3. You shall not pass (or, Elvis has left the building)

We don’t need Gandalf the Grey to guard the gate. The keepers of the Royal and Ancient have informed those golfers above 143 strokes that their presence will not be required over the weekend. The executioner’s axe fell at one-over par, sending those at plus-two and above to the airport, the train station, or some other concourse.

Eight golfers missed by a single shot. Daniel Hillier made bogey at two of his final three holes, to miss by one. Joaquin Niemann made bogey at three of his final six, to also slip one shot to the bad. Others who missed by more, include Tom Kim, Aldrich Potgieter, Darren Clarke, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Smith …

and yes, Elvis Smylie.

4. DeComeback Kid?

13 is usually an unlucky number. Bryson DeChambeau might ask for a trade to a different team, given that he improved that many shots on his day one score. Less than 24 hours after adding up two doubles, three singles, and a bushel of pars to 78, DeChambeau unleashed all of his pent-up, social-media fury on Royal Portrush. He posted seven birdies against a solitary bogey on day two, reducing his tally to 65 on day two. Coincidentally, BDC made his only over-par number on eleven, the same hole that bit Scottie Scheffler.

DeChambeau won’t win this week, but he can do his level best to put to rest the suggestions that his game is not built for the vagaries and unpredictability of links golf. BDC is a high-ball hitter, despite spending his college days in Texas. The low ball is king at the Open Championship, and it would behoove the mad scientist to put that facet of the game to the test. That, and work on the fade.

5. Anything can happen

I’ll certainly be taken to task for this, but the rules official got it ~~COMPLETELY WRONG~~ COMPLETELY RIGHT when they assessed a two-shot penalty to Shane Lowry. First and foremost, Lowry had not grounded his club behind the ball. He appeared to be swinging at the ball, but it was deception. His intent all along was to take a practice swing. He pulled wide left of the ball, barely grazing the tip of one anonymous, blade of grass. The ball moved, and Lowry doubtless had no idea that it did.

The problem was, that unnamed blade of grass (identity witheld to protect it from legal action) was a long one, folded over by the weight of its own maturity. It extended the entire foot leftward, where Lowry’s through swing passed. We’ve seen crazy things happen at major championships, and lack of intent doesn’t always absolve one of the jury’s wrath.

It’s safe to say that the Royal Portrush’s Dunluce course will exact more tax over the final 36 holes. If it happens to one of the leaders, we’re in for more drama.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

7 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

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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.

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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