Tour News
Tour Mash: Sergio surges in Spain, Lee takes LPGA Lotte
Did Brandon Grace or Bryson DeChambeau have the better week on the shores of the Calibogue Sound? That question and others are answered in our PGA Tour spotlight. In the meantime, take a look at what happened across the rest of the golfing world this weekend.
Serge Surges In Spain, But @BeefGolf Takes The Title
Sergio Garcia, the home-country host and head handshaker this week at Valderrama, found himself waaaay back on Sunday, five shots behind leader Andrew Johnston (aka @BeefGolf on Twitter) of England. The Spaniard lit up Valderrama through 17 and was 5-under par before making bogey on the last for 67 and 3-over on the week.
What’s that!? Three-over was in the lead? Turns out Valderrama was super-firm and super-windy, leading to above-par figures through three rounds. Turned out that Johnston turned it on, made birdie on 16 to get to 1-over, where he held off hard-charging Joost Luiten by one shot. Luiten finished at +2 to snatch second place from Garcia. We have the meats! @BeefGolf, indeed. After two European Challenge Tour victories in 2014, Johnston now finds himself among the elite of the European Tour’s top circuit.
The actual tournament followed on the heels of one of the coolest sideshows of any rota, an event that will certainly be imitated at least once on every major tour, not to mention college and high school teams, middle-aged brahs, and the like. How fun would this be? This is the 2016 version of trick shot videos. Curious? The video above tells the entire tale.
Minjee Lee Moves Up On Sunday To Win LPGA Lotte Championship
Minjee Lee jumped out to a three-stroke lead over Su-Yeon Jang after 36 holes at Ko Olina in Hawaii. The Australian fell five shots back of third-round leader Katie Burnett after turning in a no-birdie 74 on Saturday. Although Burnett held firm on Day 4 with a two-under 70, Lee was unstoppable, signing for an 8-under 64 that featured six birdies and a 13th-hole eagle that started a stretch of 6-under in the final six holes.
Despite the fireworks, the eventual champion was forced to lay up on the par-four 18th. With a nimble flick of a lofted wedge, Lee zipped her third to within three feet, then drained the par putt for the final, one-stroke margin of victory. Burnett accounted for four birdies of her own, but two bogeys dropped her one slot behind the Australian, into a tie with In-Gee Chun of South Korea.
A charging Chun was 17-under for the final three rounds of the event, and a relieved Minjee Lee must have been grateful that the tournament ended when it did. For Lee, Lotte was her second career LPGA victory, coming on the heels of a 2015 win at Kingsmill. The win also ensured that Lee will compete for Australia in the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio.
Aquaman Austin Claims Mitsubishi Electric Classic In Extra Holes
It was a nearly a decade ago that Woody “Aquaman” Austin made a massive splash on the PGA Tour. After hibernating a bit through the end of his fifth decade on earth, Austin burst back onto the stage of the Champions Tour with his second win in three starts. The Florida native birdied four consecutive holes on the outward half, then added another four chirps on the inward side to tie overnight leader Wes Short Jr., for the top spot at 11-under, one stroke better than third-place finisher Paul Goydos.
Off to the par-five 18th for sudden-victory did Austin and Short trudge. Neither player had birdied the hole in regulation and neither one would do so over the course of two extra holes. Unfortunately for Short, his bogey on the second playoff go-round meant that he would have to wait for his second Champions Tour title. Short nipped Scott Dunlap by a stroke at last year’s Quebec Championship, but he was unable to muster the one birdie more to defeat Austin.
In truth, Austin did much more to win the Mitsubishi than Short did to lose it. Austin (eight birdies), Sandy Lyle (eight of his own in a 65) and Billy Andrade (seven birdies on the day) were among the few golfers that posted more sub-par holes than Wes Short Jr., who had to be scratching his head at day’s end. Short had just one bogey on the day, but couldn’t find that extra gear to push him to the top spot. Well, if you can’t finish first, second is pretty good. Here’s Austin, cleaning up the final bit of business on playoff hole number two.
Paolucci Triumphant At PGATour Latinoamerica’s Abierto OSDE del Centro
Anthony Paolucci was a top college recruit in the early 2010s, but the Southern Cal alum had traversed a patch of thick rough in his effort to make a go of the professional game. On Sunday in Colombia, the 23-year old found himself in the final grouping, tied with Jeff Karlsson of Sweden for the top spot. While Karlsson went the wrong way all day, finishing with 76 and a 12th-place tie, Paolucci hung in the race for the title.
Six players would close to within one stroke of the Texas native. Charlie Saxon and John Kim of the USA, along with Felipe Velazquez of Venezuela, posted 4-under 67s on the day. Case Cochran and Eric Steger of the USA signed for68s, while Seth Fair, another North American, had a 70 on Sunday. All six tied for second place, a whisker behind Paolucci.
So how did Anthony Paolucci hold off a sextet of challengers to claim his first PGA Tour Latinoamerica title? It wasn’t easy. After birdies on two of his first three holes in round four, Paolucci settled into a nerve-wracking run of pars until the 12th, where he made his third and final birdie of the last round. Paolucci gave shots back to Old Man Par on 13th and 17th holes, but he refocused his eye and parred the last for the wafer-thin margin of triumph. Paolucci reflected on the weigh of the win in a post-round interview.
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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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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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