News

Tour Rundown: Cantlay’s playoff heroism, Curtis Cup remains in US hands, Højgaard

Published

5 years ago

Aug 29, 2021

You’d hardly know that it was the end of August, with all the golf being played. We’ve got PGA Tour playoffs, Solheim and Ryder Cups on the horizon, and a full slate of events on the world’s major tours. As the eighth month of 2021 draws to a close, we’ve a bit of time to present another installment of Tour Rundown. It was an exciting week, filled with unexpected champions, so let’s not waste another moment.

USGA: Curtis Cup remains in USA hands

For a time, Great Britain & Ireland held a lead over the USA, and the world turned upside down a bit. Perhaps it was the home cooking at Conwy in Wales, but that 4.5-1.5 advantage after day one had the local folks smiling. It didn’t last, sadly, but it was a wonderful start to the competition. On day two, the powerful USA side did a 4.5-1.5 number of its own, and the biennial matches came down to the day-three singles. On Saturday, the American side surged and dominated the singles matches by a 6.5-1.5 margin, which led to a five-point victory. Rose Zhang of the Americans turned in the only undefeated performance on the week, losing just a half-point on day one. The two sides will reunite in 2022 at Merion Golf Club, in Pennsylvania. After the 2020 matches were postponed until this year, the R&A and the USGA agreed to return to an even-year slate of challenges.

Captain Sarah Ingram lifts the #CurtisCup trophy with Rachel Kuehn ?? pic.twitter.com/VDFSAlEgRH

— The Curtis Cup (@CurtisCup) August 28, 2021

PGA Tour: BMW Championship ends in six-hole playoff

Bryson DeChambeau came within inches of a 59 on Friday. On Sunday, he came within inches of a win in regulation but made bogey at the last. With that misstep, he and Patrick Cantlay headed into a playoff to determine the winner of the second FedEx Cup Playoff event of 2021. The pair matched pars over the first four holes, then did the same with birdie at the fifth. When Cantlay dropped a birdie at the sixth playoff hole, DeChambeau had no answer, and the battle of California Kids went to Cantlay. One thing is for certain: if he goes extra holes, bet on Cantlay. Four of his five PGA Tour titles have come in extra holes. Both DeChambeau and Cantlay will feature on the USA Ryder Cup side next month, as the Americans attempt to reclaim the treasured trophy that once made a near-constant home on this side of the Atlantic.

A playoff for the ages.@Patrick_Cantlay is victorious on the 6th playoff hole @BMWChamps.

(presented by @SuperStrokeGolf) pic.twitter.com/J6vthYBuWG

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 29, 2021

Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital trophy heads north of the US border

Vincent Whaley and Stephan Jaeger entered the final round in a first-place tie but, the way this weekend went, an overnight lead meant nothing. Whaley posted plus-1 on day four and dropped three spots, while Jaeger’s even par was good for a tie for second, but nothing more. Bronson Burgoon posted minus-5 on Sunday to jump up a quintet of places, but it was only good for a tie with Jaeger. The big winner (and, truly, the only winner) on Sunday was Canada’s Adam Svensson. The former Barry University golfer was four-under on the day and, despite a one-over 36 on the inward half, escaped with a one-shot victory.

.@adamsvensson59 began the day two back @NCHC_Golf …

After a 5-under front nine, he was in the driver's seat. pic.twitter.com/9l5VNMNe35

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 29, 2021

PGA Tour Champions: The Ally Challenge features a surprise titleist

Under Bernhard Langer in the reference book, see GB&I Curtis Cup side, Whaley, Vincent and Jaeger, Stephan. The German champion began the week with an age-matching 64, and ended it with a one-shot loss to a resurgent Joe Durant. Langer was in the driver’s seat after eight holes, but played the final ten in even par. Durant was five under on the day and held a two-shot lead on the final tee. The four-time PGA Tour winner played it safe at the last, closing with bogey for a one-shot advantage. Actually, safe isn’t the proper word. Durant struggled to close the deal, but rolled his yellow golf ball into the jaws of the hole from ten feet at the 54th hole to cement the victory. With the win, Durant earned a fourth Champions Tour win to match his regular-tour tally.

Ice in his veins. ??@JoeDurant6's putt to win the @AllyChallenge. pic.twitter.com/Ejj3ziNN4h

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 29, 2021

European Tour: European Masters ends in tasty Danish

After American Sean Crocker stumbled to an even-par 70 and a fourth-place tie, the lane was open for anyone to make a run at the 2021 title. First came Henrik Stenson, who managed five birdies on the outward half, but cooled to just two on the inward side, for 63 and -11. Next came Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, whose day was progressing marvelously at seven-under through 14 holes. He made an unthinkable bogey at the next, but followed it with a birdie at 16. Inexplicably, Wiesberger made double at the last, to fall from 14-deep to 12-under par. With that fissure, the barn door lay wide open for Rasmus Højgaard. The Great Dane kept a clean card on day four and closed 5 under over his final six holes. Højgaard matched Stenson’s 63, emerging the unlikely winner of his third European Tour event in three seasons.

Rasmus Højgaard sets the clubhouse lead ??#OEM2021 pic.twitter.com/Fpvq1UOyVf

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 29, 2021

LPGA: Senior LPGA Championship finds an English home

The week prior to the Solheim Cup was a quiet one for the regular tour, so leave it to the senior champions to put on a show. Despite 18 American names in the top 21 spots, the championship came down to an Englishwoman and a Welshlady. On day one, England’s Trish Johnson took a one-shot advantage over Becky Morgan of Wales. On day two, the entire field struggled, with 71 being the low tally. Johnson and Morgan matched 73s and ventured into the final round with a one-stroke degree of separation. Morgan took the lead through seven holes, but couldn’t hold on. Her topsy-turvy inward half of 37 returned the lead to Johnson, who held on for a 69 and a one-shot victory.

A day to remember for Trish Johnson ?@SeniorLPGA pic.twitter.com/UZNR1lOXfs

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 29, 2021

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 day ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ben A

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