News

Tour Rundown: Jones conquers Honda, Harding wins in Kenya

Published

5 years ago

Mar 22, 2021

There are two perspectives on swing on tour. Not the human ones, but the organization of events in a geographic region. One perspective says, finish your swing with your pre-eminent tournament. That happens on the West Coast swing, where Riviera hosts the Genesis and caps the four weeks of Arizona-California golf. In Hawaii, the season kinda-sorta has to open with the Tournament of Champions, so that one is handcuffed. The most interesting swing is the Florida one, where the big-ticket item, The Players, is the penultimate event, and the Valspar doesn’t even make the swing. This matters, because as we look at the event that is The Honda Classic, we can’t help but empathize with its plight.

The Honda comes the week after the fifth major, so many top-ranked golfers see it as a good week to break from the stress of competition. It comes the week before a WGC event, the Dell Match Play, where golfers hope to impress their respective Ryder and Presidents Cup captains with their head-to-head ability (and make a few bucks, let’s be honest.)

Finally, the Honda takes place on a PGA National golf course that was made punitive for no good reason. It’s not the place you want to find (or preserve) your swing, if you hope to peek heading into The Masters. The Champions course is better suited to precede a US Open or PGA Championship, with its emphasis on accuracy and wind management. With WGC and Majors dotting the canvas, events like the Honda will always fill the spaces between.

PGA Tour: Matt Jones claims second career win at The Honda

The first (and last time until Sunday) Matt Jones won on the PGA Tour; he had to work overtime in figurative and literal fashions. In 2014, Jones drained a 46-feet birdie putt at the 72nd hole to tie Matt Kuchar, then chipped in from over 100 feet on the playoff hole to win. This week, Jones did the heavy lifting on Thursday, then held steady the next three days. On day one, the Australian had runs of four and three birdies, on his way to nine birdies and an opening 61. Despite elevating nine shots on day two, Jones would fare no worse than that 70 and follow it with 69 and 68 for a five-shot win over Brandon Hagy. The runner-up played the same sort of spectacular as Jones, with rounds of 69-62-66 on his card. His third-round lapse, to 76, was his undoing. The 66 in round four forced Hagy 16 spots up the leaderboard to a career-best, second-place finish.

On a course with more water than grass at times, Jones made no worse than bogey. On the day that he seemed poised to drive the train off the rails, Jones made eagle at the last to return to even par. The victory qualified Jones into the Masters for the second time in his career.

European Tour: Harding in for second tour win at MKO

There is no great creativity in the naming of golf tournaments on professional tours. It’s either a major, or it has a sponsor’s tag attached to the title. This makes events like the Magical Kenya Open a rarity. Sure, the government or its chambers of commerce sponsor the tournament, but still, Magical Kenya! For lovers of language and golf, the disruption of the parade of corporate dances is a respite. Justin Harding certainly found the Karen Country Club to be magical this week for different reasons.

The South African golfer etched his name into a winner’s plaque in 2019 in Qatar. There, he won by two shots over nine golfers. That’s a feat in itself and made his two-shot win over just the USA’s Kurt Kitayama seem quite mundane. Harding was solid all day Sunday, with three birdies and his second deuce of the week at the par-four ninth hole doing the damage. Kitayama posted two eagles on day four, along with the same number of birdies. His attempt to unseat Harding was interrupted by an unfortunate six at the par-five eleventh hole. Even though Harding failed to make birdie there, he still picked up a stroke on his nearest chaser.

Like Brendon Hagy over at The Honda, Scotland’s Connor Syme played the best Kenya golf over three rounds. He had 65-67-64 but was undone by a 71 on day three. The Tour remains in Kenya this week, in fact, at the same course. It does remain to be seen, among other storylines, whether Harding can go back to back on a course that favors his game.

Korn Ferry Tour: Diaz wins first event at Louisiana

Just when it seemed that Roberto Bobby Diaz was ready to claim his first big USA event, he made bogey at the 13th hole. Just when it seemed that Peter Uihlein was ready to claim his first big USA event, he made bogey at the 17th hole. Just when it seemed that Tom Whitney was ready to claim his first big USA event, he ran out of holes. So, who won? If you read the headline, you already know.

Whitney played the most impressive golf on Sunday. He opened with eagle, added six birdies, and reached 16-under par for solo third place. Uihlein, the 2010 US Amateur champion, had two eagles on Sunday (at the first and the twelfth holes) and looked to be capable of winning a first big event since the 2017 Nationwide, on the Web.Com (now Korn Ferry) tour. Alas, Uihlein made bogey at the 17th and settled for second spot, at 17-under par.

It was Diaz who emerged victorious and, until Sunday, was known as a player who had won by not winning. In 2017, Diaz lost a PGA Tour Latinoamerica playoff but moved so far up the world ranking that he qualified for the WGC-Mexico Championship as the leading Mexican golfer. This week, Diaz was able to steady his nerves after the 13th-hole bogey and run the table with pars. That was good enough to hold off Uihlein and secure much-needed status, stature, and confidence heading into the meat of the Korn Ferry season.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

12 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