News

Tour Rundown: Return of the Spieth

Published

4 years ago

Apr 18, 2022

Long before the term vibe became standard in the lexicon of multiple generations, South Carolina’s low country essentially owned the rights to its essence. Imagine being the tournament that follows the first major of the year, and that major just happens to be the Masters. The week actually opens on Masters Sunday, when the band formerly known as Hootie and the Blowfish hosts the Monday After The Masters pro-am event in Myrtle Beach. On its heels comes the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, a bit farther south in the Palmetto state. Both events have a calm to their demeanor, and they allow golf fans and competitors to segue from the intensity of a Grand Slam event to a sequence of tour events. In their honor, we should call this week’s installment Tour Strolldown. Let’s take a stroll and recap the week’s professional golf.

PGA Tour: The Return of Spieth

The freeze of Patty Ice melted a bit for the second time this season. After Scottie Scheffler defeated the 2021 Team USA hero in extra holes in Phoenix, it was Jordan Spieth’s turn this week in Harbor Town. Seven golfers, including first-round leader Cameron Young, finished the week at 12-under par. Only Spieth and Cantlay were able to reach 13-deep, and the two headed off to the 18th tee at Pete Dye’s Low-Country masterpiece to settle matters.

Both golfers found greenside sand on the monstrous par-four hole, but Cantlay’s lie was the stuff of nightmares. Impossibly plugged, he was unable to get the ball up and in for par. Spieth drew a better lie, and succeeded in exploding out and near for a tap-in four. The quick end to the overtime session was Spieth’s 13th on tour and first since Valero, a year ago.

More bunker brilliance by @JordanSpieth in a playoff.

This approach on the first playoff hole sealed the victory @RBC_Heritage. pic.twitter.com/ghI8arP11P

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 17, 2022

LPGA Tour: LOTTE Championship to Hyo-joo by two

A week in paradise, along Ewa Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, proved doubly-so for Hyo-joo Kim. The 2014 Evian champion won her second tournament in the past year, this time over Japan’s Hinako Shibuno. The tournament seemed destined to finish with Kim at the head of the podium. She sat second with five others to Hannah Green’s opening 66. While the others fell far away, Kim followed with another 67 in round two, to take command. The final two rounds were a case of hold on against the winds. Hyo-joo closed with 72-71 to reach 11-under par. Only Shibuno was able to keep her in sight.

Kim and Shibuno played conservative golf on day four. Shibuno had two birdies against 16 pars for 70. Kim had three birdies against two bogeys for 71, enough to preserve a comfortable margin of advantage. The most exciting golfer on course on Sunday was Somi Lee. She tossed four birdies at the scorecard, but the course bit back with five bogeys. Lee finished in solo fifth, six behind the champion, despite her brave run.

What a win for Hyo Joo Kim at the @LPGALOTTE! ? pic.twitter.com/WyaXNMNA7R

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 17, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank trophy on Tyson’s shelf

Tyson Alexander’s goal, like that of every Korn Ferry competitor, is to leave that tour behind for the PGA Tour and its series of events. Should he get there, Alexander might want to make room in his schedule each year for a return to Arlington, Texas. The former UFlorida golfer has won the Veritex Bank event there for two consecutive years, and certainly feels at home on the Texas Rangers golf club course.

MJ Daffue opened the week with 62 for a two-shot lead. He could not preserve that level of play, and ultimately finished in a tie for 26th place. Alexander sat three behind on day one, after an opening 65. He followed with 66 and remained inside the top five overall. Another 66 on Saturday brought him to third position, and the stage for a Sunday gunslinger’s battle was set.

Third-round leader Chase Parker had all sorts of trouble with the outward nine, and tumbled to a tie for 12th spot. Alexander went out in four-under 32, and added two more birdies coming home for 65. He reached 22-under par, with Pontus Nyholm and Byeong Hun-an two back, in second place.Nyholm was the story of the day, with twin 31s for 62. Only a bogey at the 71st hole kept him from making a last-ditch run at Alexander.

With the win, Alexander became the first player in the nearly 30-year of the Korn Ferry Tour to defend his title. It’s nice to be first, twice in one weekend.

Everything you need to know from the final round of @VBChampionship. pic.twitter.com/GURyMXzViU

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 17, 2022

Asian Tour: Sihwan Kim wins in Stableford style in Thailand

The Asian Tour took a break from medal play for a week, and Sihwan Kim took full advantage. Kim absolutely lit up the Siam country club course on days one and three, garnering 22 points each day. Days two and four weren’t nearly as productive, coming in at -2 and +7. Those five points ultimately gave him a two-point advantage over Maja Stark, and his second tour title in five weeks.

What made the event compelling was the mixed format. Maja Stark plays regularly on the Ladies European Tour, and this event brought male and female golfers together in competition. The final round was delayed for 90 minutes by rain, and the players returned to the course with enough light to complete the final round on schedule.

Celebrating the Songkran festival in style ???

Win #2 in the bag for Sihwan Kim ?? #TrustGolfAsianMixedStablefordChallenge #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/CCbi4x1LJp

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) April 16, 2022

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

9 hours 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

2026 The Memorial – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

20 hours 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