News

Tour Rundown: Homa coming into his owna

Published

4 years ago

May 9, 2022

For the first time in forever, spring took hold of all of the USA this week. There were storms, but those storms all brought rain, and not snow. They disrupted play a bit, but the skills of the golfers who inhabit the world’s professional tours shined through. A Charlotte-based event traveled to Maryland for a year, allowing Quail Hollow to prepare to host the 2022 Presidents Cup in the fall. Elsewhere, the DP World Tour stopped in England at a former Ryder Cup host site, while the Korn Ferry and Champions tours visited the American southeast. Finally, the Asian Tour visited Korea, in between stops in Thailand and Japan. Those five tournaments have our attention this week in Tour Rundown for the first full weekend in May.

PGA Tour: Homa coming into his owna

Many folks, including this writer, felt that Max Homa the social media comet was holding back Max Homa the golfer. It’s no coincidence that the curtailing of his Twitter interaction has yielded an improved focus on his competitive game. The results speak for themselves.

On Sunday in Maryland, Homa reached three-under on the day through ten holes, passing overnight leader Keegan Bradley. Although Matt Fitzpatrick (67) and Cameron Young (66) would close fast, the best that they could do was reach six-under par. They joined Bradley in a tie for second, two back of Homa. Bradley made a late birdie to trim the lead to one shot, but could not make additional inroads.

The champion made a bogey at the 16th hole, decreasing his lead to a pair of shots. Homa was able to navigate the last two holes at Avenel in pars, preserving his two-shot advantage. The victory brought a 14-place improvement in the FedEx Cup standings, and pushed the California Kid into the conversation of is he major worthy?

Walking after it ?

Birdie at the 15th has @MaxHoma23 back ahead by 3. pic.twitter.com/KtxcSYnyJh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 8, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour: Grant gets his guitar in Tennessee

Brent Grant won himself a guitar in Nashville this weekend, courtesy of Brandt Snedeker. He did it along the most imaginative road map possible. On the week, he was the only golfer to play all four rounds in the 60s. In the life preparation leading up to the win, he qualified for a team USGA event by himself, and bounced between three colleges before finally deciding to play professional golf.

The Simmons Bank was tight all week long. Overnight leader Kevin Yu didn’t play poorly in the final round, but he failed to make the birdies that rounds one through three had seen. Yu made birdie at the 16th, to pull within one. He was unable to make another at the par-five closer. Meanwhile, Grant had nearly putted off the green into the water, but caught enough of the hole to seal his victory with a two-putt birdie at the last.

Ice in his veins ??

Brent Grant with a near walk-off eagle @SimmonsBankOpen.

The birdie was enough. pic.twitter.com/atWXSQAC46

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 8, 2022

PGA Tour Champions: Flesch all over the place in Mitsubishi win

Steve Flesch had nine birdies on the final day in Georgia. He had consecutive bogeys at eight and nine. If that round wasn’t odd enough, imagine his day-two difficulties. Five bogeys and just four birdies dropped him well off the pace, making victory seem elusive. Second-round leader David Toms had a bit of a struggle on Sunday, and it opened the door for Flesch and others.

Padraig Harrington nearly stole the tournament from everyone in the top ten. The Irishman moved up from 13th position to 2nd with a blessed 64. He had nine birdies overall, including six on the back. That challenging ninth, one that Flesch also bogeyed, was all that kept Harrington from a 63, a perfect card, and a tie at the top.

Toms began well on Sunday, with birdie on three of his first four holes. From the fifth on, he played one-over par golf. One-under would have won the tournament outright. As it was, Toms tied for second with Harrington and Fred Couples, who closed with 66.

.@Steve_Flesch takes the outright lead after making birdie on 17. ?

He's got 9 birdies today. pic.twitter.com/tRXDIXpAXz

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 8, 2022

DP World Tour: British Masters is Olesen’s first in a few

Thorbjørn Olesen had competed for the European side in Ryder Cup, but that exposure seemed a lifetime ago. After a few years filled with distractions, the Dane returned to contention with a vengeance. Despite a final-round 73 at The Belfry, Olesen held off Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden by a single stroke. It was his sixth European DP World Tour title, and first since 2018 in Italy.

When everything seemed lost, when Soderberg appeared to be the winner, Olesen closed eagle-birdie for the second consecutive day, to steal the trophy outright. To that point, five bogeys and a birdie on the day seemed to resign the Dane to a top-five finish at best. As Soderberg was playing the closing pair in even-par figures, Olesen made up three strokes to become an unlikely winner.

Shots of the week ??@DP_World | #BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/Y8vpnqEy6k

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 9, 2022

Asian Tour: Bio Kim also returns with a vengeance

Bio Kim had his own hiatus from golf to consider. Banned from the Asian Tour for two years, thanks to an unfortunate salute, the Korean golfer won his first tour title in Korea, and moved to second on the season-long money list. After opening with rounds of 67-68-68, Kim struggle a bit on day four. His 72 was ultimately good enough for a two-shot win over countryman Mingyu Cho. Kyongjun Moon had the day’s biggest move, posting 67 to finish three back of Kim, in third place.

Bio Kim ?? has been knocking on the door for a first win on Tour.

The door finally opened for him at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open today ?

He will celebrate his first Tour victory ? with his mother and wife on Mother's Day ??#MaekyungOpen #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/IAlDpiMeO6

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) May 8, 2022

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