News

GolfWRX Morning 9: McIlroy invoking his 16-year-old swing | Reed’s bad tickets | $20K golf bag

Published

8 years ago

Aug 31, 2018

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt ([email protected])

August 31, 2018

Good Friday morning, golf fans.

1. How I spent my break, by Rory McIlroy

McIlroy, who skipped the first playoff event, said this ahead of the Dell Technologies Championship. “I just needed to have a couple of weeks off and sort of assess where I was at and what I needed to do to improve and go forward.”

“So I worked for 10 days with Michael Bannon down in Florida. We worked on a few things, sort of looking back at old video all the way back to when I was 16 and what I’ve done well in my swing throughout the years. And just sort of trying to get back to that.”

“When I was that age the move that I’m trying to get back to was more exaggerated at that point, steepened the shaft very much on the way back, shallowed it coming down,” said McIlroy, who has eight top 10s this year but just one victory. “Now it’s shallow coming back, and steepened coming down, that’s why I get two-way misses left and right.”

2. The case of Patrick Reed and the Red Sox seats

Here’s the tweet from Patrick Reed: “Thank you@pgatour for the tickets to the@RedSox game tonight. I love how you put my wife, sister in law and myself in the line drive section. We paid $650 and ended up in the same section as the rest of the@PGATOUR!#frontrow“

Seems like the PGA Tour bought a bunch of seats for players at the Sox game, P Reed asked for a few, and he was given seats in a different area than the rest of the players. Yikes.

Also, for what it’s worth, Justin Thomas air mailed his first pitch wide right of the plate…

3. The $20K golf bag

Golfweek’s Randall Mell…”Alana Sharp paid tribute to the Broncos playing in Saskatchewan last week, carrying a golf bag with the team logo and colors on it. She scribbled “16” on her golf balls.”

“The bag attracted so much attention, it was put up for charity auction this week. Sharp learned Thursday that the bag raised $19,000 for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, with the proceeds going to help purchase a much needed isolette machine for Humboldt Hospital. It’s an incubator used to treat premature newborns.”

“It made me cry and gave me goosebumps,” Sharp said upon hearing what the bag won for Humboldt. “Just unbelievable. I was at a loss for words. And so happy that we could raise that much money in awareness. And be able to give it back to the Humboldt children. That’s just something that’s made my year, really.”

4. Tiger heads to Juno

Tiger Woods finished 79th in strokes gained: putting at last week’s Northern Trust as his struggles with the flatstick returned. Woods benched his beloved Scotty Cameron Newport 2 in favor of a TaylorMade TP Collection Ardmore 3 at the Quicken Loans National, but it looks like he’s considering another switch.

Golfweek’sDavid Dusek spotted him practicing with a TaylorMade TP Collection Black Copper Juno putter, today, ahead of the 2018 Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.

The Juno model looks close to the retail edition, save for the alignment dot (the retail model has a line) on the topline and “TIGER” stamped on one of the bumpers.

5. Hello, again

“I guess, hello, world.”…It was a sheepishly delivered line that changed golf. Within days, Nike Golf turned the remark, be it spontaneous or otherwise, into a marketing franchise and within 24 hours Tiger Woods set out on a historic journey at the Greater Milwaukee Open.

“The last few years seemed like it took centuries. I was struggling a bit. But just looking back on it, I remember so many shots from my early start in Milwaukee. I remember all that,” Woods said on Thursday at the Dell Technologies Championship when asked to reflect on that start 22 years ago. “That it’s been 22 years since then, it has gone by more fast than I would have imagined.”

So begins Rex Hoggard’s excellent look back at Tiger Woods first professional start.

Read the rest here.

6. Golf tournaments that actually started Thursday

While the Dell Technologies Championship doesn’t get started until today, here’s a quick look at the pro tournaments that began on Thursday.

LPGA: Marina Alex shot a 10-under 62 to lead at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Web: “Kramer Hickok shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the DAP Championship, the second of four Web.com Tour Finals events that will determine 25 PGA Tour cards” (AP)

Euro: “Christiaan Bezuidenhout edged into a one-shot lead as round two of the Made in Denmark got under way at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.” (EuropeanTour.com)

7. Romomentum?

Things haven’t exactly been going swimmingly for Tony Romo and his ambitions as a professional golfer. As Joel Beall writes “If you didn’t pay much heed to the 38-year-old’s attempt at the pre-stage Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, you weren’t alone.”

“But Romo, who bounced back from his shaky Puntacana start by winning the Racine Tri-Course Amateur Championship by nine shots in July and capturing the celebrity-centric American Century Championship, is off to an auspicious start.”

“Romo has posted consecutive even-par 72s at Lantana Golf Club in Texas this week, with one round to go. Though Romo, playing as an amateur, is currently 11 shots back of the leader, his T-31 standing is projected to make the cut.”

8. U.S. Senior Am: Wilson wins

Golf Digest’s Ryan Herrington writes…”Jeff Wilson was playing in his 34th USGA championship at this week’s U.S. Senior Amateur. During his decorated career, the 55-year-old car dealer from Fairfield, Calif., has been one of just two golfers ever to claim low-amateur honors in both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open. Six times in USGA events was the medalist in stroke-play qualifying, the first to do it at the U.S. Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur.”

“And yet standing on the 13th tee at Oregon’s Eugene Country Club on Thursday, 1 down in the 18-hole final against defending champion Sean Knapp after squandering an early 2-up lead, would you have blamed Wilson if doubt was setting in?”

“Every time I’m listed, the only thing missing is a win,” Wilson noted after winning his semifinal match the previous day. “You know, I’ve enjoyed playing [USGA championships] and I’ve had some success, but bottom line is I don’t have one.”

Fortunately, Wilson got the job done, and he’s a USGA tournament winner at last.

9. DJ’s persimmon poke

Maybe you saw the video of Dustin Johnson hitting Jack Nicklaus’ old persimmon driver at the Bears Club driving range the other day.

See it here if you didn’t.

It was unclear how far the bomber carried his drive with the club up yore, but now we have the answer: 290 yards. Impressive.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

6 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

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.

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