News

Friday on Tour: 5 things we learned

Published

6 years ago

Jun 19, 2020

As you learned yesterday, it’s BOGO week, aka five will get you 10. Not 10 years, but 10 things we learned. With the Korn Ferry Tour in Florida, and the PGA Tour a bit north, on Hilton Head Island, great weather has led to super-low scoring. I have a few golf chums who resist low scoring, but I leave them to their growlers of bitterness. I love birdies and eagles. This week, we have more than we can count.

It’s Friday evening, the weekend is here, KFT is 18 holes from a winner, while PGAT has two rounds to go. Let’s learn what we learned this week, five things from each tour.

RBC Heritage: 5 things we learned

5. Nick Watney has no luck

Flashback to 2010, and Nick Watney is everyone’s pick to win at least one major. He had a rough decade, with healthy servings of injury and self-doubt. Today, Watney withdrew from the RBC, due to a positive test for COVID-19. The Californian exhibited symptoms of the virus, was tested, and confirmed positive on Friday. He withdrew after posting a 71 in round one.

4. Webb Simpson has the lead

The Carolinian made A LOT of birdies on Friday. Nine of them, to be precise, and he needed all of them. When Simpson hit a green, he was money almost all of the time. He gained six strokes on the field in putting on day two, which is obscene. Thing was, he couldn’t make the same putts for par that he made for birdie. Simpson missed nine, eleven, and 14-foot putts when he missed the green. The only time his putter rescued a par, was the sixth. Simpson got up and down for par from 90 yards on that one, draining a twelve-feet putt for four.

Let’s not dwell on the negatives, however. The pride of Wake Forest made 69 feet of birdie putts on the front, then 92 more on the back. He capped his round with a 38-foot bomb for three at the home hole. In the end, as long as the birdies outweigh the bogeys by enough, Simpson will be in the mix.

3. The weather four-putted in the PM

Not Jordan Spieth this time. He did miss a two-footer for par (yikes!) but kept it together for 70. Thunderstorms arrived and reminded us that this is still the PGA Tour and that delays will always be a thing. The second round was halted, stranding golfers for 45 minutes. In the end, no harm and no foul, as castaways made quick work of their remaining holes, and the round completed on schedule. The good news is, no more rain for at least 48 hours, which should allow the tournament to finish on schedule.

2. #BigBandTheory is back

Bryson doesn’t really have the room this week to show off his flex. No matter, he showed off his guile, to the tune of 64 and 11-under par. DeChambeau is driving the ball better than Simpson, and he is hitting more greens that the fellow currently holding the top spot. What that means is, over the course of four days, the Big Bang Theory should overtake the lead. Will it play out that way? This writer says “Yes.”

1. Predictions are in, and …

Most likely to tell you exactly what he’s feeling: Bryson DeChambeau. If I had to mic one guy on tour, it would be him. Most days, I understand his thoughts.

Most likely to break through for a win: Matthew Fitzpatrick. Crystal ball sez that it’s the Englishman’s time.

Most likely to take a high-speed elevator: Jhonnatan Vegas. If there were a stat column for shots-gap from round to round, the Venezuelan would be a strong contender for the hardware. #NeverDull

The King & The Bear: 5 things we learned

5. Vince India held court

The co-leader after 36 holes posted a clinic today. Nine birdies and one eagle allowed the man from the land of Lincoln to offset a bogey and shoot an inconceivable 62 in round three. India turned for home in 29 strokes, thanks to a six-under-in-five-holes stretch. His eagle at the 5th ignited a fuse that brought a run of four birdies to close the outward half. His only hiccough came at the par-four 12th, where he missed the green and could not recover for par. Four birdies from 13 to 18 restored his confidence, and consoled him with a four-shot lead.

4. Chris Kirk kept this thing real

The PGA Tour champion is the only golfer within six shots of the leader. Kirk was three-under through nine, and quickly realized that such a pace simply wouldn’t do for the Duke. He geared up and made five birdies for 31 on the home half. His 64 brought him to 21 deep, and kept him within four shots of the front-runner. If I were India, Chris Kirk is not the fellow I’d want in my round-four grouping. His wins on the big tour bolster his confidence, and if anyone is to catch the leader, it should be Kirk.

3. Will Z won’t give up

The Calixan (Californian and Texan) by way of Wake Forest is learning the most basic of questions in professional tournament golf: What do I have to do to win out here? Rounds of 65-66-66 have him at 19-under par, tied with two others. As we know by now, that’s two back of the chaser, and six behind the leader. Zalatoris posted two eagles on Wednesday, and one each the next two days. He has 16 birdies, to boot. It’s the others, the three bogeys and the double, that relegated him to long chaser. Eliminate the double and he’s tied with Kirk. Ditch the others, and he’d be one back of the lead. Sometimes, your best isn’t good enough. Through three rounds, that might be WZ’s thinking. If he tossed a 64 on Saturday, he’ll give India something to think about.

2. Might we see a 59?

It’s doubtful, but 60 or 61 are under consideration. Only one golfer (India) has anything to lose. The rest are playing for glory, and will go as low as they possibly can. Eagles are commonplace on the par-five holes, and the two-shotters have given up an enormous amount of threes. The low round won’t come from the last grouping, but someone like Braden Thornberry or Scott Langley might get hot early and sustain momentum. If India gets to 30-under par, the tournament is his. If not, the early, low round might cart the trophy off.

1. Predictions on the menu

Most likely to jump into the top ten: Davis Riley. He rooms with Zalatoris, and need to close the gap with his roomie. I’m guessing 65 for the Alabama golfer.

Most likely to fall out of the top ten: Brett Coletta. The first-round leader has worsened each round, from 63 to 66, to 70. His best is behind him, at least for this week.

Most likely to shoot that 61: I’ve mentioned Langley and Thornberry already, so let’s add a third name: long-hitting Canadian, Taylor Pendrith.

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