News

Thomas wins 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills

Published

4 years ago

May 22, 2022

Justin Thomas won the 2022 PGA Championship in a playoff. We’ll get to the trappings and the trimmings, but first, a nod to those who did not.

There is no epic poem yet written for golfers who come close, but have a place in history snatched from them by the unforgiving hand of fate. There is no Casey At The Bat for Jean Van de Velde, or Mike Donald, for Bob May, or Ed Sneed. Perhaps there is a quiet table with comfortable chairs, where the lighting isn’t so harsh that Scott Hoch, or Len Mattiace, or even Colin Montgomerie, has to shield his eyes from the blinding glare powered by the press, the fans, and the golfer’s own aspirations. They came so close, they had both hands nearly wrapped around one of golf’s fabled trophies, only to have their grasp loosened and the prize, spirited away.

Mito Pereira took an unwanted seat at that table this afternoon. He lost his final tee shot to the right, on the same hole that stole the US Open aspirations of Stewart Cink and Mark Brooks in 2001. Brooks had already won a major title at Valhalla, while Cink would drive a dagger through golf history in 2009, winning an Open championship at Tom Watson’s expense. History will reveal whether Pereira’s place at the banquet is a permanent one, or if he was just passing through, like the mysterious stranger he seemed for the majority of this week.

After Pereira’s closing six lowered his total from six-under to four-below, Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris were left precious little time to wonder what had just happened. The two went off to the par-five 13th hole, to begin their aggregate overtime for the 104th PGA Championship. From there, they would proceed to the dramatic 17th and the diabolocial 18th. Both Zalatoris and Thomas had played the trio of holes in identical figures in regulation: 5-3-4. No knowledge nor supposition to be gained there.

JT hits the green on 17!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Eu0xti8Rsm

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 22, 2022

It made perfect nonsense, then, that both would birdie the first playoff hole. On the second playoff hole, Thomas was able to make birdie after driving the green. Zalatoris was unable to match, and the 2017 PGA Championship winner marched to the third playoff tee with a one shot advantage. Zalatoris hit the drive that Pereira craved in regulation, but he was unable to find a second birdie to extend the extra session. Thomas was able to tap in for par and earn a second PGA Championship.

How did everyone get here, and what ultimately got the job done for Thomas? Let’s begin with the second question, which might shed some light on the first. It’s the greatest of ironies that the week that should have belonged to Phil Mickelson, the defending champion, instead became a validation of the prowess of his former looper. Professional caddies are equivalent to goaltenders in the National Hockey League. If you find yourself a great one, you can ride into the playoffs. If you stumble onto a legendary one, you might skate around the rink with a Stanley Cup.

Justin Thomas’ wisest career move was securing the services of Jim “Bones” Mackay. Thomas is a world-class talent, but having a hall-of-fame jock shouldering the bag and assisting with the decisions, suggests an even greater chance at success. How did Thomas post three-under par over his final nine holes on Sunday, to set a clubhouse bar? Let’s just say that Bones had a bit to do with it. Is this an indictment of the porters who work for Zalitoris, Pereira, and Young? Absolutely not. It’s an affirmation that Bones really is a difference-maker.

Mito Pereira did, sadly, what nearlys and almosts do. He found a way to add five strokes to par on Sunday, capped by his sorrowful finish. Cameron Young deserves credit for following his double at the 70th hole, with a birdie at the 71st. He came that close to joining Thomas and Zalatoris in the playoff. He now has a top-three finish in a major on his resume. Having grown up on the Sleepy Hollow Country Club course along the Hudson, Young will feel at home on the fairways of Brookline in June.

As for Zalatoris, he simply cannot come any closer to a victory nor a major championship. What he needs to find is the extra gear that allows him to follow birdies at three and four on Sunday with more birdies, not a pair of bogeys, as happened this time. Just like that, Zalatoris had gone from hunter to hunted; he has to remain the hunter until the 72nd green.

As for Thomas, talk will now move to whether he can evolve his game to manage a victory at one of the other three major championships. His wins at Quail Hollow and Southern Hills demonstrate an affinity for strong and classic layouts. That description fits the majority of courses on the major championship rotations, so the answer lies with him. For now, let’s celebrate a second major title for Justin Thomas.

Justin Thomas is your 2022 #PGAChamp.@JustinThomas34 pic.twitter.com/TMUlufEtJ5

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 22, 2022

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

19 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

1 day 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