News

Honoring A Gentleman – The HP Byron Nelson Classic

Published

15 years ago

May 24, 2011

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

A week after delving into the mystique of Ben Hogan at Colonial, the PGA Tour caravan makes it’s a short way down the road from Ft. Worth to Dallas (Irving) to pay homage to one of the most likeable and respected men the game of golf ever saw, Mr. Byron Nelson.

To those who met the man in person, and I count myself among the fortunate, Mr. Nelson could not have been sweeter. I can recall approaching him in Florida one year and asked, with some trepidation, if I might have a sliver of his time for an autograph. To my delight what I received was a fifteen minute chat about a number of topics, mostly to do with Mr. Nelson’s enjoyment of his time in Canada, once he discovered I was from there. In just a few moments he left me with as warm of a feeling for a person as I can ever recall having, akin to having spoken with my own grandfather.

Nelson has that kind of touch, and the ability to play some excellent golf as well, so when players check the calendar each season, the HP Byron Nelson Classic gets a heavy circling by many.

Mr. Nelson is gone now, but his legacy remains. The tournament was named after him in 1968 and as the first winner, in 1944, he has always had a strong tie with the event that raises money for a group near and dear to his heart, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. Funds raised at the HP Byron Nelson Championship enable Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers to serve more than 7,500 children and family members each year.

In 2004 the Byron Nelson was moved to the TPC Four Seasons Resort over both of their golf course and since 2008 has exclusively been conducted on their TPC Course.

In 2010 Australian Jason Day made the HP Byron Nelson Classic his first PGA Tour victory at the age of 22 years, 6 months, and 11 days. Day shot 10-under 270 (66-65-67-72) in a two-stroke victory over Brian Gay, Jeff Overton and Blake Adams. He became the youngest winner of the tournament since Tiger Woods turned the feat in 1997 at the age of 21.

Day came to the 72nd hole with a one-stroke lead over playing partner Adams and hit his second shot in the water near the green. Adams, playing from the right trees, then hit his second shot in the same hazard. Adams made double bogey and Day got up and down for bogey.

Although Day won the tournament though, he was not exactly the big story of the week as Dallas resident Jordan Speith became the 6^th youngest player to make a cut in PGA Tour history at the age of 16 years, 9 months, and 24 days. Not only did he make the cut but he stayed near the upper half of the leaderboard all week, eventually finishing in a share of 16^th place. The youngster is back again this year to see if he can replicate or improve on last year’s success.

Just four players in the top 10 of the FedEx Cup standings are in the field this week but they are a significant foursome. They include Nick Watney (6), K.J. Choi (7), Rory Sabbatini (9) and Gary Woodland (10).

Choi, of course, is coming off a big win at THE PLAYERS but it has been four years since he has played the Byron Nelson despite the fact that he now calls Dallas home. He just arrived back in the States from Korea yesterday so it is hard to say whether he will be in peak from come round one.

Of the top four FedEx players you might want to have an eye on Sabbatini. There is no denying that he has been on a hot streak of late, even amidst rumors of a PGA Tour conduct investigation. He set the tournament record of 261 back in 2009 on his way to a win. He is my lock for a win or at worst, a top five finish this week. He has played a stretch of four weeks in a row but he’s proven that he likes the course in Irving and plays well there.

International players have accounted for seven wins at the Byron Nelson since 2000 so don’t be surprised if that is the case again this year.

2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship

Dates: May 23-29, 2011

Where: TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas; Irving, TX

Par/Yards: 35-35—70/7,166

Field: 156; Format: 72-hole stroke play

Defending Champion: Jason Day

FedExCup: 500 points to winner; Purse: $6,500,000; Winner’s Share: $1,170,000

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!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

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.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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