News

5 things we learned Thursday at the Masters

Published

6 years ago

Nov 12, 2020

In 1971, the PGA Championship experimented with a February playing, in order to compete at a Florida course that would doubtless be too hot in August (then the normal month for PGA Championships.) No word on why the association never again returned to Florida in February.

This week, we experience an 11th-month Masters, seven months after the event was scheduled for resolution. Each of us can surmise that Augusta National will opt out of the pandemic clause after one year, returning to its customary April dates in 2021—no matter what!

For golf fans across the globe, a November Masters is even more intriguing than a September U.S. Open, or a December U.S. Women’s Open. As the eternal site for the event, it’s always about the course before it’s ever about the players. For one year only, we imagined that Augusta might dress differently, show differently, and, perhaps, perform differently. After one day of competition, that holds true in some instances, yet not in others…

Here are five things we learned Thursday.

1. We didn’t finish

This was evident with the rain delay that followed the honorary starters, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. The legendary pair split the fairway with their drives, then a number of golfers completed a hole or two on either side, then the skies opened for a few hours. As a result, the latter half of the field remains on the course. Of interest are Justin Thomas (-5 through 10), Matthew Wolff (-4 through 11) and Dylan Frittelli (-4 through 9.) The rains softened an autumn Augusta even more, allowing the field to take aim at each hole location. In addition, the normal treachery of the putting surfaces was lessened, allowing for runs at putts that would traditionally elicit restraint. Given that these golfers had morning tee times on day two, the pairing sheet will certainly see alteration overnight.

2. Paul Casey reminds us of someone

He reminds us of every great UK golfer who never won a major title. Names like Montgomerie, Westwood, Fleetwood, Poulter, Donald—and that’s just the past 30 years. He also reminds us of Paul Casey, a brilliant young golfer with massive forearms, the likes of which even Tiger Woods envied. His play on day one was spectacular. He never once looked like a man threatened by Old Bogey. Two eagle putts missed the mark on his outward half (the inward nine) but he finally earned his crystal (makers of eagles receive crystal from the club) at the 2nd hole, his 11th. In total, Casey had 5 birdies plus 1 eagle, and currently occupies the top shelf on the leader’s board.

3. Big Bang Theory played a great round

I know that other pundits use terms like Golf Hulk to describe Bryson DeChambeau. Pshaw. Combine physics (his chosen field of study) with his golf swing (his other chosen field of study) and Big Bang Theory is the only option for a suitable appellation. Now, onto that other matter. BBT was less than perfect, less than brawny, less than the U.S. Open comet that we saw in September. After pars at his first three holes, DeChambeau hit his drive on 13 into Phil Mickelson’s back yard. Unlike Lefty, BBT maneuvered his approach into some topiary behind the green. One penalty drop and two chips later, he faced a brief attempt at bogey, which never threatened to invoke gravity. AND THEN, he began to play some golf. Bryson counted birdies at 15, 16, and 2 to reach red figures on the day. He fell to even par at the 7th, but coaxed birdie putts into the 8th and 9th cups, to finish at 70 on the day. The round was reminiscent of Tiger Woods in 1997; Bryson had every excuse to shoot himself out of the tournament, but he refused. 5 back on day one is nothing. No one will shoot 20-under at Augusta National this week, so our biggest, bangingest theory is in prime position to make a Friday move.

4. Let the neighing begin

You know what they say about horses for courses. What they say is, certain horses always run the same race course well. This holds true for the itinerant golfer as well. That defending champion, he of the five green jackets, sits quite well at -4. Zero bogies, four birdies, thank you very much. Patrick Reed, the 2018 winner, is also on four deep. Louis Oosthuizen, who should have won the jacket the year of Bubba Watson’s ridiculous hooking wedge, joins them at suite 68. In truth, there are two names currently in the hunt, that I would love to see claim a major title this week: the aforementioned Louis, Louis and Rickie Fowler. DF Private Eye is 3 under through 11 holes, and has to make some noise on Friday. He HAS TO!

5. Golf without fans is an architecture aficionado’s delight

If you’ve read my prose, you know that I love golf course design. I’m a Doak-Coore-Ross-MacKenzie-Colt fanboy, and love to discuss what lies under our feet. As Jon Rahm, among others, mentioned during the practice rounds, the sightlines and views that we see this week are the ones seen by members and guests alone. During tournament week, bleachers and patrons obscure the landscape, restricting our appreciation of the golf course and the property. Download the Masters app, visit the official site, or both. Every shot (well, nearly, they missed Casey’s eagle hole on Thursday) is recorded for posterity, and you can stroll along with every competitor as he negotiates a wide-open, majestic Augusta National Golf Club course. I’m in heaven.

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

2 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