News

Morning 9: PGA Tour looks to Nascar | NGF: Only 4 states’ courses remain closed | Pros want testing

Published

6 years ago

May 4, 2020

Ben Alberstadt

1. All PGA Tour eyes on Nascar restart?

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard...”Nascar engines will be roaring again May 17 in South Carolina. Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard writes the gaze of PGA Tour will be fixed on Darlington Raceway.”

“Similar to NASCAR, the Tour has been touted as an example of a sport with built-in social distancing, and during a recent conference call with circuit officials there was a high degree of confidence play could restart next month at Colonial.”

“NASCAR’s primary footprint will be its best advantage in blazing a trail back to competition. Like the first four Tour events, races will be run without fans and teams will be limited to 16 members including the driver, owner, spotter and crew chief. That adds up to 640 essential personnel not including league officials, media and the television broadcast crew.”

“Compared to the 288 Tour players and caddies (144-player field), an estimated 500 to 600 volunteers and a to-be-determined number of officials and media that will be needed to hold the first event at Colonial, the potential risk is exponentially higher for the Tour.”

Full piece.

2. Pros want testing in place

Golf Digest’s Ryan Herrington conveys the survey, as it were. Question: “Which of the following describes your attitude about returning to competition”

51 percent of pros selected…” C) I am only willing to compete if there is a comprehensive testing plan in place at every event.”

“D) I am not willing to compete until a vaccine or major medical development is in place…Eighteen of the 35 players (51.4 percent) said they most closely identified with Answer C, which stipulated the need for comprehensive testing at every tournament.”

“Players, who were told they could answer anonymously, were also asked to elaborate further regarding their thinking. Some chose to go on the record while others asked for anonymity, but their responses help frame the issues many within golf are weighing as they contemplate a return to competition.”

Full piece.

3. NGF: Only four states remain closed to golf

Golfweek’s Jason Lusk…”The National Golf Foundation reported Friday that soon there will be only four states remaining that bar golf during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont are the foursome where golf courses have been mandated to remain shut indefinitely during the pandemic. Alaska’s courses are closed because of seasonality.”

“Courses in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Mexico and Maine were allowed to reopen Friday, May 1. New Jersey plans to allow its courses to open May 2 and Washington’s courses can open May 5.”

“The NGF reported earlier this week that 58 percent of the courses in the U.S. were open as of April 26, many with social distancing restrictions and other precautions such as only online payment and making walking required to prevent the spread of the disease that has killed more than 64,000 Americans and more than 236,000 around the globe.”

Full piece.

4. Harding Park reopens

Via the Golf Channel Digital team…“The site of this year’s PGA Championship is set to reopen Monday….TPC Harding Park in San Francisco had been closed since March 16, when a shelter-in-place was put into effect for six Bay Area counties. While the order has since been extended, a recent addendum was made to allow golf courses to resume operations under social-distancing guidelines.

“We’re pleased to announce that we will be open to the public for golf beginning on Monday,” read an announcement on TPC Harding Park’s official Twitter page.”

Full piece.

5. Tour pipeline: clogged

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…Though understandable, the 2020-21 mega-season is a frustrating scenario for the Korn Ferry Tour elite. Even in limited action, players like Davis Riley have shown they’re ready to make the leap but now will have to wait as various hangers-on get another year of Tour eligibility. If the Korn Ferry Tour players are able to restart June 11, in a new event at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course, they’re expected to play 11 more events, with no breaks and seemingly no immediate reward. Instead of the top 25 graduating to the big leagues, only the top 10 will receive limited access to the 2020-21 PGA Tour (through opposite-field events and perhaps a few other weaker tournaments), and they’ll all have to wait another year for a full promotion. There is also the unsettling scenario that a player could be in position for a full card after 2020, only to hit a rough patch next year and fail to be one of the top 25 graduates.

“…If the PGA Tour isn’t promoting or relegating players after this current season, then it’s reasonable to assume that the Korn Ferry Tour won’t, either. Which means that the other feeder tours in Latin America and Canada and China would have to be at a standstill, too…With Korn Ferry Tour Q-School already canceled for this year, the pipeline is clogged.”

Full piece.

6. Teed off

Bill Doyle, Worcester Telegram…”Gov. Charlie Baker has closed golf courses in Massachusetts as nonessential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, but courses in neighboring Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and New York are open.”

“Golf course owners in Massachusetts are teed off. Not only that, Baker signed an executive order on Friday that makes wearing face masks in public mandatory.”

“Heritage is located less than 10 miles from the Connecticut border and Plante said some of Heritage’s regular golfers are traveling south to play.”

“It’s not only frustrating,” said Bill Plante, owner of Heritage CC in Charlton, “but can someone tell me, ‘Is the air different in Connecticut than it is here?’ Because that’s what we’re treating it like.”

…”Plante said he hasn’t heard about anyone contracting the coronavirus by playing golf in Connecticut. He pointed out that the golf season in Massachusetts usually lasts only six months so courses will take a huge financial hit by closing for a month or two. Losing golf outings and weddings will hurt as well.”

Full piece.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

9 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