Tour News
Stacy Lewis’ climb to the top
As if a simple thing like a two-stroke penalty would be enough to derail the Lewis Express at the recent RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup.
When you are 11 and they tell you that your spine isn’t straight, two-stroke penalties are manageable. When you undergo spinal fusion surgery to straighten your back, two-stroke penalties are a gift to the field. When you miss your freshman year of college golf at the University of Arkansas because of the surgery, two-stroke penalties are a slight hiccup along the march to the inevitable.
Stacy Lewis, history will remember, posted rounds of 68-65-68-64 for a total of 23-under 265. Her margin of victory over Ai Miyazato was three strokes. Paired with Miyazato during the final round, Lewis made up seven strokes on Sunday, including four during the stretch from Nos. 14 to 16.
History will easily forget the two-stroke penalty assessed to Lewis on Saturday, by way of her caddie, on No. 16. Lewis had forgotten about it after she left the press room that evening. The 28-year-old divulged that “in my mind, I shot a six-under par 66” during the third round, revealing precisely how focused she was on her goals each and every day.
History will show that Stacy Lewis won the Founders Cup on Sunday, that she replaced Yani Tseng as the top-ranked professional female golfer in the world and that she established herself as the pre-eminent golfer from the USA in her generation. It will not record that she demonstrated unwavering faith in her caddie and herself. That is left to us to communicate to golfers and fans yet to come.
Stacy Lewis tied for 15th place at the season-opening Australian Open. She tied for third place at the next tour event, in Thailand. Two weeks ago, she won the HSBC Women’s Champions event in Singapore. She’s on a hot streak of sorts, one that might last a year or two. There’s something about the LPGA that breeds long-term success. Ask Yani Tseng, unstoppable from 2009 to 2011.
It was appropriate that Lewis ascended to the No. 1 worldwide ranking at the Founders Cup. The FC defined the new LPGA when Mike Whan convinced the players that:
- They should play an event without receiving prize money;
- All “winnings” would be donated to charity to honor the founding members of the tour; and
- The event would have real prize money from year two on.
It was proper that Stacy Lewis addressed the two-stroke penalty clearly, in a finite manner. For those who missed the news, her caddie descended into a fairway bunker and was apparently observed swiveling his foot by a television viewer (Don’t get me started on those rules call-ins). After reviewing the tape with tour officials and before she signed her card, Lewis assessed herself a two-stroke penalty for testing the conditions of a hazard.
Testing the conditions of a sandy hazard is a funny thing. As a golfer takes her stance, she is allowed to dig in, essentially revealing the firmness of the sand from which she will play. For a fairway bunker shot, wherein the golfer contacts the ball first, this is a moot point. For an explosion shot, the quality of sand matters more. In Lewis’ case, about 60 yards out on a short par four, she was in the nether region of explosion versus ball-first.
A germane lesson emerges from this ordeal. In an era when referees are accosted by players and every play is subject to review ad infinitum, golf stands like a beacon for self-governance and integrity. Much as tennis players trust one another’s in and out calls, so do tournament competitors rely on the honesty and forthrightness of their fellow contestants. The golfer that intentionally skirts the rules does not last long in tournament play. The caddie that foozles the ball toward an improved situation is branded a cheat and routinely punished through dismissal.
As Lewis greeted the media on Sunday, she thanked the unknown caller for giving ample motivation to play her best and she paused to consider how far she had come from such an unpredictable place.
“People with metal in their back, how do you play golf…”
As though she had not just earned a top ranking but also assumed the mantel of authority among the players, she paused further and concluded:
“We have majors coming up, Solheim, and so much more to play for and I’m just excited about the rest of the year more than anything. I’m having a blast on the golf course, and to be No. 1 in the world, it’s what everybody out here on Tour is working for and to be that person is, I mean, I really don’t even know what to say.”
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Ronald Montesano
Mar 19, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Could not agree more…not that I want the other golfers to roll over and give it away.
Dave Andrews
Mar 19, 2013 at 8:01 am
Stacy Lewis is the best story in golf so far this year. With all that she has been through she is a classic example of determination, perseverance,and just plain guts. She definitely is worthy of the title of the best woman golfer in the world. Congrats to her!