News

Morning 9: Simpson the formidable Father’s Day golfer | Ryu’s win, incredible gesture | Is Brooks back? | Tiger sighting

Published

6 years ago

Jun 22, 2020

GolfWRX Staff

By Ben Alberstadt

Email me at [email protected]

June 22, 2020

Good Monday morning, golf fans.

1. Webb wins

What do you get the father of five who has it all? How about a plaid jacket! …AP report…”Webb Simpson celebrated another victory on Father’s Day, this time with a tartan jacket instead of a U.S. Open trophy.”

“In a wild sprint to the finish after a three-hour storm delay, Simpson ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine at Harbour Town and closed with a 7-under 64 for a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer.”

“Simpson won the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in 2012. The U.S. Open has been scheduled to end on Father’s Day every year since 1976, but it was moved to September this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Full piece.

2. Ryu wins Korea Open, donates check

Steve Eubanks for LPGA.com…“It seemed like a jaw-dropping gesture to those who don’t know her, the kind of spontaneous generosity that brings a sudden, unexpected flood of emotions to those who bear witness. But to those who have known So Yeon Ryu for the better part of a decade, no act of kindness, big or small, comes as a surprise.”

“Ryu won the 34th Kia Motors Korean Women’s Open Championship on Sunday, her nation’s national championship, shooting a final-round, even-par 72 for a 12-under total, good enough to edge fellow LPGA Tour member Hyo Joo Kim by one shot.”

“…At her post-round press conference, the 29-year-old announced that she was donated her entire winner’s check, 250 million won ($206,000), to COVID-19-related charities.”

Full piece.

3. Is Brooks back?

ESPN’s Bob Harig…”Can it really be 10 months since the four-time major champion has contended in a tournament?”

“It’s just nice to feel something again,” Koepka said after a final-round 65 at Harbour Town Golf Links helped him to his first top-10 finish since he finished fourth at the Tour Championship.

“…Koepka ran out of birdies and holes on Sunday, eventually finishing four strokes behind winner Webb Simpson but not before a two-eagle final round and a couple of early back-nine birdies had him just a stroke back of the leaders. He finished seventh.”

“The reason that was so satisfying is the only thing Koepka had felt for most of the past eight months was pain. He basically missed six months of golf, three due to injury, and another three due to the pandemic.”

Full piece.

4. Lynch: Work, luck needed

Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch…”Tour officials knew Watney was symptomatic before he arrived at the golf course so they had an obligation to isolate him from other competitors and people. Instead, he was able to stroll to the practice area while awaiting his test result. Perhaps there was a misguided notion that he could prepare to play should his test be negative, but that’s a laissez-faire luxury the Tour can ill afford in this hyper-sensitive environment.”

“Watney should have been handcuffed to a chair in the medical office, not chatting with Rory McIlroy on the putting green.”

…”In response to Watney’s positive test, the Tour announced tests of 11 people who were in contact with him, all of which were negative. (Secondary test results are pending.) All credit for the rapid contact tracing efforts, but given the incubation period when the virus might not be revealed in tests, and the incidence of false negatives, the Tour cannot declare case closed with all the haste of a Moscow coroner who finds Putin’s worst enemy on his slab. Any trickle-down impact of Watney’s positive test might not become apparent for days, by which time the Tour circus will have moved on to Connecticut.”

Full piece.

5. Sergio, oh no…

Golf Digest’s Daniel Rapaport…“You know the cliché: It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Sergio Garcia believes this age-old adage applies to the current plight of Nick Watney, who on Friday became the first PGA Tour player to test positive for COVID-19.”

“…Had it been someone else, perhaps someone “more deserving,” it seems Garcia would feel differently.”

“I felt terrible for Nick because he’s probably one of the nicest guys on Tour,” Garcia said after shooting 65 on Saturday. “Unfortunately, it had to happen to him. So there’s a lot of other people that probably deserved it a lot more than him, and he’s the one that got it.”

Full piece.

6. ICYMI: Michelle Wie is a mother

AP report…”Michelle Wie West now has a little one of her own.”

“The former U.S. Women’s Open champion announced on Instagram that she and her husband, Golden State Warriors executive Jonnie West, are parents of a daughter born Friday.”
“Kenna baby, I have waited my entire life to meet you,” Wie wrote on Instagram.

Full piece.

7. Tiger sighting

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…“Tiger Woods spent part of Saturday playing golf with his son, Charlie, at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga.”

“Pictures emerged on social media late Saturday of Woods playing Frederica, and a source close to the club confirmed the round. Woods’ boat, Privacy, was docked on St. Simons Island earlier this month sparking rumors Woods might play this week’s RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, S.C., which is about an hour’s drive north. Woods did not play the Heritage.”

Full piece.

8. Rory might not be returning to Harbour Town for a while…

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…“Once I got here and I played the golf course, I sort of remembered why I haven’t been here for a while,” said McIlroy, who had only played Harbour Town once before this week, tying for 58th in 2009. “It’s tough. Like it’s a lovely place. There’s other courses on Tour that probably fit my game a little bit better, and obviously the week after the Masters is always a tough one.”

“Some of that indifference can be attributed to McIlroy’s play. The world No. 1 struggled on Day 1 to a 1-over 72 and needed a second-round 65 just to make the cut. Weekend rounds of 66-70 left him T-41, his worst finish on the PGA Tour since the WGC-HSBC Champions in October 2018.”

Full piece.

9. Webb’s winning WITB

Driver: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees, A1 setting, draw setting)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 TX (45.25″)

3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees, A1 setting)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 TX

5-wood: Titleist 913Fd (18 degrees, B1 setting)

Shaft: UST Mamiya VTS 86 TX

Hybrid 1: Titleist 913Hd (21 degrees, B2 setting)

Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X

Hybrid 2: Titleist 915Hd (23.5 degrees, C3 setting)

Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Irons: Titleist 620MB (5-PW)

Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (54-14), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM5 (60-06K)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser V-Line

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Photos of Webb’s WITB here.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

4 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