News

Battle of #1’s At Copperhead

Published

15 years ago

Mar 15, 2011

By Scott MacLeod, via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Where do the #1 players in golf congregate? Apparently it’s not reserved for Major championships and World Golf Championship events anymore. At least that is what you might believe if you catch the action at the Transitions Championship this week.

The decade-old event has had a meteoric rise on the PGA Tour player-preference scale for a number of reasons but that is likely lost on most golf fans who simply know that World #1 Martin Kaymer, current #1 in the Fed-Ex Cup Points race Mark Wilson, and 2010 Fed-ex Cup winner Jim Furyk are all in Palm Harbor, Florida this week.

Furyk is the defending champion and he will be joined in the brigade attempting to best the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort by last week’s winner Nick Watney along with five other players who have already won on the PGA Tour in 2011: Jonathan Byrd (Hyundai Tournament of Champions), Rory Sabbatini (The Honda Classic), Johnson Wagner (Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun) , Bubba Watson (Farmers Insurance Open) , Mark Wilson (Sony Open in Hawaii, Waste Management Phoenix Open). Furyk’s win returned him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour after a winless drought of 2 years, 7 months, and 21 days. It began a run that saw him three tournaments in 2010 culminating in the FedEx Cup title and the 2010 PGA Tour Player of The Year Award.

Kaymer, making his first appearance at this tournament, leads the international contingent, all getting them games ready for The Masters in a few weeks. Joining Kaymer will be England’s Paul Casey, Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, Sweden’s Peter Hanson, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, and 17-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero. Each of those players ranks within the top 55 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

With a late entry John Huston completes the parade of champions at the Transitions with every past winner in the field. Last year defending champion Retief Goosen came the closest to ever repeating with a 5th place finish.

Furyk’s four rounds in the 60’s was the first time it had been done by a winner since 2004 when Vijay Singh pulled off the feat. K.J. Choi also won the event with four sub-70 scores in 2002.

Of course you can’t discuss the Transitions Championship without addressing the Copperhead Course itself. It is a fearsome foe that can tear up even the best of golfers. In 2010 Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa (the 19-year teenager will be making his 3^rd appearance in the Transitions this week) went from striping the ball on the range to firing a big score on his opening nine on his way to an early exit.

Other youngsters in the field this week, like 2010 U.S. Amateur Champion Peter Uhlein who is playing on a Sponsor’s Exemption, hope to avoid the same fate but that is tough task for even the most skilled players.

As a player you need to look no further than the Greens Superintendent, Ryan Stewart, as an indication of what you will be dealing with at Innisbrook. Stewart it no stranger to tough courses having spent three years working at the famed and fearsome Carnoustie Golf Links. You can see that influence at the 13^th hole on the Copperhead Course were Stewart revamped a bunker in 2009 with stacked sod as deep as a golf cart against the bulkhead.

Each year the course has ranked in, or near, the top ten for highest scoring average on the PGA Tour with a median score well over par on the par 71 layout. It has some very narrow spots with heavy penalties for golf balls struck off-line. No less than seventy-five bunkers (the largest guards the green on the signature double-dogleg par five, 15^th hole) and nine water hazards mark the course that features up to eighty feet of elevation change.

Playing a prominent role in that resistance to scoring has been the final three holes, dubbed the “Snake Pit.” Any player who can get past them in a cumulative score near even par will greatly improve their chances of winning. Both Retief Goosen (2009) and Jim Furyk (2010) did just that in their respective wins, each playing the trio in even par cumulatively through four rounds.

One winner will hoist a trophy this week and earn almost a million dollars but not without taking a few lumps courtesy of the Copperhead.

For the poolies my dark pick of the week is Stephen Ames. The veteran is coming off a tied for third on Puerto Rico and finished in a tie for 6^th here last year. Also watch for Nick Watney to continue his winning streak; he finished 4^th in 2010.

2011 Transitions Championship

Dates: March 14-20, 2011

Where: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead Course); Palm Harbor, FL

Par/Yards: 36-35—71/7,332

Field: 144

FedExCup points: 500

Format: 72-hole stroke play

Defending Champion: Jim Furyk

Purse: $5,500,000; Winner’s Share: $990,000

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

19 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!

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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.

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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