News

Tour Rundown: Two Spaniards, an Aussie, a Kiwi, and an American walk up to a trophy

Published

4 years ago

May 2, 2022

It was an international week for winners on five of the world’s professional golf tours. Tournaments were held in eastern Spain, western Mexico, California, Texas, and Alabama. Although the venues were mildly international, it was the collective of winners that reminded us of the global nature of high-level, tournament golf in 2022. Golfers from diverse spots across the globe showed their mettle and emerged from the cauldron with the spoils of competition. Let’s have a glance at this quintet of gladiators and the tournaments they dominated, in this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour: Mexico Open to Rahm by a shot

Jon Rahm lit the Vidanta Vallarta course up like a summer party over the first 36 holes. He wasn’t quite as adept across the weekend, but played well enough to edge past a trio of runners-up by a single putt as Sunday drew to a close.

Tony Finau, Brandon Wu, and Kurt Kitayama each took a run at the imposing Basque, Kitayama and Finau each made birdie at the closing par-five hole, on their way to scores of 68 and 63, respectively. Finau’s number was the day’s best, matched by Wu. Of the three in second position, only Wu failed to birdie the manageable closing hole. Had he found a way to make four, he would have seeped into a playoff with Rahm, and posted a sensation 62. Alas, it was not to be.

As for Rahm, he kept the bogeys to a minimum (one on Sunday, five on the week.) Of his stumbles, three came at the pesky tenth hole. The defending US Open champion had 20 birdies and an eagle over the course of the week. He reached 17-under par, which turned out to be the week’s magic number.

“Come on, baby be the number!”@JonRahmPGA heads to 18 with a 1-shot lead. pic.twitter.com/JMBy1YNaeL

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 1, 2022

LPGA: Inaugural Palos Verdes Championship sends trophy home with Alex

The Mexico Open wasn’t the only, big-time debut this week on the professional tours. After a successful week at Wilshire, the ladies traveled about 30 minutes to Palos Verdes, and played in the inaugural PVC at Palos Verdes Estates. It was a sensational week, as Hannah Green, Jin-young Ko, Lydia Ko, and others did battle for the right to be the first. In the end, it wasn’t any of those names, but it was a decorated veteran who earned the right to be the first.

Marina Alex, a member of the USA side in the 2019 Solheim Cup, won her second LPGA event by one shot. She edged Jin Young-ko by one shot, thanks to a six-pack of birdies on the day. Only Atthaya Thitikul had a lower score than Alex on the day, and her 65 was not nearly enough to enter the fray. JY Ko matched Alex’s 66, but came up one shot shy of another tournament title.

Your @PV_Champ clubhouse leader at -10, @Marina_Deee! ? pic.twitter.com/JHex3yJdyq

— LPGA (@LPGA) May 2, 2022

DP World Tour: Arnaus claims first title on home soil

While Jon Rahm brought glory to the Basque people, Adri Arnaus made sure that the folks in Cataluña had something to cheer about. Following in the footsteps of fellow Barcelonan Pedro Larrazabal, Arnaus brought a title to the mediterranean city that hosted the 1992 summer olympic games. Arnaus and Olive Bekker of South Africa tied at 11-under par, two clear of the third-place trio of McEvoy, Meronk, and Canter. Of those three, the most disappointed was Meronk. A 71st-hole double bogey dropped Adrian Meronk from first to third.

Arnaus and Becker headed to the 18th tee for their playoff, and each made par. They returned to the 18th hole four more times, with the resulting pars condemning the overtime session to a sixth hole. A change was made to the 17th hole, and it paid off, at least for the tournament organizers and one of the contestants. Becker cracked. He suffered a bogey, while Arnaus made his sixth-consecutive, extra-time par. With the score of four, Arnaus claimed his first title on the major tour of Europe and the Middle East.

What it means to win your first Tour title ?@AdriArnaus | #CatalunyaChampionship pic.twitter.com/hpoAhtDPUS

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 1, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour: Hunstville Challenge in a walk for Endycott

Harrison Endycott won the 2016 Porter Cup at Niagara Falls country club, not too far from my keyboard. Since that win, the Australian has toiled on the world’s caravans, hoping for a shot at the PGA Tour. His time in the minors may be just about over, if he puts another two weeks together this season, like the one he just completed.

Endycott began the final round with a healthy advantage, and he never buckled. Ben Taylor of England began the day in second spot, and found himself there at nightfall. He posted 70 on day four, and never threatened to evict Endycott from the throne. The day’s top score, a 63, belonged to Marcelo Rozo. All that it got him was a 37-spot bump, inside the top fifteen.

As for Endycott, he moved to 12th position on the year-long chase for a PGA Tour card. As May arrives, that’s a pretty good seat to occupy.

The Aussie gets it done @HuntsvilleChamp! ?? pic.twitter.com/qo3c52rc0M

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 1, 2022

PGA Tour Champions: Alker’s bounce-back from playoff loss makes a statment

Last week, Steven Alker lost a playoff to Scott Parel in Irving, Texas, about half a state away near Dallas. In the warmer confines of Houston, the New Zealander took command of the Insperity with a back-nine run of four birdies and an eagle. Even a final-hole bogey wasn’t enough to wrest his hands from the winner’s trophy. Alker posted 66 on the day, 18-under par for the week, and broke free from a tie at the top after two rounds.

Both Brandt Jobe and Steve Stricker were even with Alker through 36 holes. Jobe couldn’t buy a birdie on the outward nine, settling for nine consecutive pars. He rallied on the inward half, but needed four more birdies to equal Alker. Stricker’s opening nine was equally forgettable, with one birdie offset by one bogey. He had a pair of birdies coming home, but like Jobe, could not make enough to apply pressure.

Alker was the 2021, feel-good story in November, when he claimed his first Tour Champions title. His second trophy came four weeks ago. Despite two playoff losses on the senior circuit, Alker continues to fire at flagsticks. He once again tasted the sweet honey of victory this week, and now has three senior titles on his resume.

Another eagle for Alker ?

Steven Alker makes eagle on 15 for his third of the week. pic.twitter.com/4tDncM2sOU

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 1, 2022

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

3 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