News

Rory McIlroy just had the best week ever

Published

12 years ago

Aug 19, 2014

Since outlasting his challengers at the PGA Championship at Valhalla August 10th, Rory McIlroy has been on something of an international brofest. And while it’s unclear how is off-course fun compares to, say winning two majors and a WGC-event in two-month time period, it’s apparent the young Ulsterman has been enjoying himself…a lot.

After lifting the Wanamaker in the Kentucky darkness, McIlroy and friends hopped on the star’s jet for an evening (early morning, really) of celebration in the Big Apple.

New York City: 8/11

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According to Page Six, after arriving in the city well after midnight, the crew was spotted at 1Oak nightclub in Chelsea at 3:30 a.m.

The next morning, the PGA champion tweeted: “I. Need. Coffee. #NYC #celebrations.”

Following his morning brew, McIlroy kept the party going. “Hours later they [McIlroy and friends] were spotted at lunch at Lavo, followed by dinner at Bodega Negra in the Dream Downtown hotel for the venue’s Loco Mondays dinner party,” Ian Mahr and Stephanie Smith of Page Six wrote.

McIlroy and company finished the Avenue on 10th Avenue, arriving around 1 a.m. and sitting next to UFC fighter George St.-Pierre, according to sources. Predictably, the champagne flowed freely as the crew celebrated McIlroy’s fourth major victory.

The world No. 1 tweeted this photo of himself and childhood friend Harry Diamond at the venue.

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The backwards hat and finger point say everything that needs to be said about McIlroy’s sobriety, err…how much he was enjoying himself.

After what was surely another rough morning, McIlroy bid adieu to NYC in general and the Fitzpatrick where he stayed in particular.

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Belfast: 8/15

The conquering hero next turned up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, some 3,000 miles away.

Rory

The photo above, posted on the Belfast Telegraph‘s website shows McIlroy and friends enjoying themselves at Coppi, an Italian restaurant in the capital of Northern Ireland. As young Rory has a Heineken in his hand and his friend is flashing some sort of a gesture of inebriation, we can assume the man in pink was feeling no pain.

Manchester: 8/16

Next, it was off to Old Trafford for McIlroy and his entourage. The reigning Open champ paraded the Claret Jug around the home of Manchester United at half time. Unfortunately, his choice of suit got as much attention as the silverware in his hand from some outlets.

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Proud peacock Ian Poulter felt that McIlroy’s sartorial selection was derivative and let him know as much on Twitter. The four-time major champion hit Poults with a quality retort.

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And while it wasn’t reported elsewhere, it seems McIlroy and company had dinner with Manchester United’s captain Wayne Rooney per McIlroy’s retweet of this bit from pal Harry Diamond.

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And further intrigue: McIlroy was later spotted cozying up to a mystery brunette at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester in this photo from XposurePhotos.com in a piece on Independent.ie. Let the rumors begin!

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New York City 8/18

After this, it was back across the pond for Team Rory, where McIlroy participated in the launch of the new Nike Vapor irons with stablemate Tiger Woods. The two later appeared with the emcee of the event, Jimmy Fallon, on the latter’s show. McIlroy battled Fallon in the invented game of “Facebreakers.”

Watch the clip of Fallon v. McIlroy below. And watch Woods look like he’s working the stage crew or bouncing at a jazz bar.

Boy Wonder has likely returned to earth now. He ought to be cooled off by the bucket of ice water Tiger Woods dumped over his head, at the very least.

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He has an 8:26 tee time Thursday morning in Paramus, New Jersey with Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson to begin his FedEx Cup playoff run. The past week of well-earned globetrotting revelry, however, surely won’t be one the young Ulsterman ever forgets.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

4 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

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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