News

Tour Rundown: Hot potato Houston Open | Four-lady playoff | Phil

Published

5 years ago

Nov 14, 2021

The middle of November saw the first snows descend onto the lawns of our neighborhood. The flakes did not linger and were gone with the afternoon’s sun. The unraked leaves again showed their colors, and the grey skies foretold the difficulty of the coming months.

Against this backdrop, four golf tournaments drew to a close, and none resembled a foregone conclusion. Each offered its own sense of drama, and this made their viewing quite compelling. Imagine what the playing must have been! Join us as we run these events down, from the Middle East to Houston, and from Florida to ~~Foenix~~ Phoenix.

The leader keeping his nerve on the 17th ?@JoachimBHansen1 takes a one shot lead heading to the last. #AVIVDubaiChampionship pic.twitter.com/21QDT45WOB

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 14, 2021

PGA Tour: Houston Open ends up in Kokrak’s hands after hot-potato finish

Jason Kokrak won a PGA Tour event for the first time last fall. His name was on no one’s lips this week in Houston. The probable winner ranged from Martin Trainer, who led for a round or two, to Scottie Schefler, who seemed poised to break through for a win in his home state, to Kevin Tway, who appeared poised to complete a comeback into the winner’s circle. One by one, the probables slipped away, and Kokrak was the last man standing at Memorial Park.

The magnificent muni was without its usual, fast-and-firm teeth, but it sure challenged many of the world’s best in mid-November. The low round of the week was Scheffler’s Friday 62, but that was the only day when Mem Park gave up low scores with regularity. The weekend was a survival test, and Kokrak’s 131 total eclipsed the remainder of the field. The pride of North Bay, Ontario, posted consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 16th holes, jumping ahead of the chasing pack by two shots.

Scheffler, fresh off a debut on the US Ryder Cup side earlier this fall, looked for all the world like the day’s winner until he made bogey at three of the first five holes on the back nine. Two closing birdies brought him into a tie for second with Tway, and he left town still in search of his first tour title.

Four straight birdies. ?

Two-shot lead for @JayKokrak. ?? pic.twitter.com/aPkGRzhtEg

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 14, 2021

LPGA: Pelican Championship decided after four-lady playoff

Her complex armamentarium finally let her down. Nelly Korda had just returned to number one in the world, had played magnificent golf for 63 holes, then came apart on Sunday’s final nine. Bogey at the 12th and triple at the 17th dropped her from the lead for the first time. And then, as if she recalled the last of her five birdies, Korda summoned something at the last, posted a sixth birdie, and joined Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, and Sei Young Kim for an improbable, four-way overtime.

How did it all happen? Thompson seized control late but, in an all-too-familiar denouement, gave shots backs even later and dropped from -19 to -17. Ko made four birdies and zero bogeys on the day, and certainly didn’t expect to have a shot at the title. Kim, like Korda, made birdie at the last to jump from a top finish into a chance at victory. Off the foursome trudged to the 18th tee, where Korda ended things quickly.

Nelly ripped an approach into 10 feet at the watery finisher and, for the second time in forty minutes, made birdie. None of her challengers could match her, and the young Floridian had secured her fourth win of the campaign.

The playoff birdie that clinched win No. 4 of the season, No. 7 of @NellyKorda's career! ? pic.twitter.com/08mHoruUL1

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 14, 2021

European Tour: Dubai Championship boosts Hansen to new heights

Joachim Hansen and Padraig Harrington have a common thing: each made a putt at the 72nd hole to qualify into this week’s World Championship. For Harrington, the birdie meant a tie for eighth position. For Hansen, the putt was much bigger. It meant a second career win on the European Tour, and a tee time on Thursday in the circuit’s biggest event. That, plus the elevation to a new echelon where multiple winners reside.

I’ve used a bit of license in that first paragraph. The putt that won the event for Hansen (see above) came about twenty minutes earlier, at the 71st hole. Faced with a climb up a tier, from the front of the green to the back, with a bit of rightward tilt, the golfer from Denmark did well to negotiate the distance, ending about seven beyond for par. His left-curving effort found the hole’s center, and preserved his one-shot advantage. With par now all that was needed at the five-shot closer, Hansen complied, edged Bernd Wiesberger and Francesco Laporta by one, and breathed. Hansen was so relieved, he left his putter and hat on the 18th green 😉

The winning moment ?#AVIVDubaiChampionship pic.twitter.com/A5jBmqgz8U

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 14, 2021

PGA Tour Champions: CSC Championship ends up in unanticipated hands

Around five o’clock, six golfers were tied for the lead at 16-under par. It was that kind of week in the Arizona desert. Darren Clarke took an early clubhouse lead at 17-under par, but he suspected it wouldn’t last. Jim Furyk, attempting to chase down Bernhard Langer for the season-long title, faltered on the inward half with bogies, when birdies were needed to overcome Clarke. Steven Alker, the New Zealander on the most unprecedented tear in the history of the senior circuit, made a run at a second victory with birdies on his final two holes, but ultimately came up one stroke shy of first position. David Toms closed with matching 65s over the weekend to catch Clarke for third spot at -17.

So who captured the last tournament of the season on Tour Champions? Was it Brandt Jobe, who shot 66 on day four? Nope. How about Paul Goydos, who tossed a nine-birdie 63 onto the scoreboard on day four? Uh-uh. It was Lefty, Phil Mickelson himself, who reminded us how many more wins he would have had in a Tiger-less world. Philly Mick signed for 65 after six birdies and 12 pars. He reached 19-under and had to be relieved that Alker ran out of holes.

As for the season-long Cup chase, Furyk had the opportunity to be the first to win the Cup on both tours, but his T5 finish bailed Bernhard Langer out. One day after beating his age (64) with a Saturday 63, Langer posted three-under, yet dropped to 17th. That number was good enough to secure his sixth CS Cup, and first in three seasons.

Phil Mickelson finishes with a bang!

In position for his fourth win. pic.twitter.com/Me4Dq4v8oI

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 14, 2021

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

25 mins ago

Jun 3, 2026

Ben A

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

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