News

Morning 9: RIP Ivor Robson | Hero field announced | Brooks takes fresh swipe at Wolff

Published

3 years ago

Oct 17, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as the Hero World Challenge field release has got people chattering about a possible Tiger return.

1. Hero field announced. A spot open for Tiger?

Golf Digest’s Tod Leonard…”Tiger Woods announced the field for the 2023 Hero World Challenge on Monday, and at the end of the impressive list that includes eight of the top-10 ranked players in the world was “TBA tournament exemption.” Could that spot be for the tournament host himself?”

“It would seem to be a possibility, though Woods has not indicated anything yet. He hasn’t played in a tournament since April’s Masters, after which he underwent ankle surgery. Speculation about Woods possibly playing at the Hero in the Bahamas, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, heated up when he was videotaped hitting a shot on The Hay course at Pebble Beach while he hosted his TGR Jr. Invitational.”

Full piece.

2. Brooks takes aim at Wolff again

GolfWRX staff report…”Brooks Koepka has been enjoying plenty of individual success this year, but when it comes to the team aspect of LIV, the 5-time major champ clearly feels let down by one individual.”

“Earlier this year, Brooks hit the headlines for tearing into his LIV teammate Matt Wolf, saying he had “given up on him” and questioning his work ethic.”

“Wolff since responded, calling the criticism “heartbreaking”, and over the weekend, Brooks made it clear that he was still firmly unimpressed by the 24-year-old, failing to even acknowledge him when speaking to reporters about the team:”

“There’s only three of us on our team. I mean, obviously, I’m pretty tight with my brother, and I’ve been pretty close with Jay for maybe the last three years. I’ve enjoyed being around him. He’s a good player, super talented. It’s been fun to be around him, and he’s played pretty solidly this year. Yeah, I can’t say anything bad about him.”

Full piece.

3. LIV OWGR point battle not over?

ESPN’s Bob Harig…”the biggest reason LIV’s bid has so far failed: it is considered a closed shop. The avenues on and off the league are not believed sufficient by the OWGR. LIV has plans to “relegate” four players to the Asian Tour—Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan, Sihwan Kim and James Piot—with three advancing from a Promotions event (or Q School) and a fourth coming via the top player from the International Series (who right now is Andy Ogletree). The four players who finished outside of the top 44 in season-long points can also participate in the Promotions event, to be played in December but not officially announced.”

“But the league has no weekly qualifying and has a number of “contracted” players who cannot be dropped.”

“Simply put, the board committee does not believe it is equitable to thousands of players who strive every day to get starts in OWGR eligible tournaments to have a tour operate in this mostly closed fashion,” Dawson wrote.”

“This is fair point and one that appears fixable if LIV is willing to make the changes and the OWGR signs off on them. In fact, Dawson said that LIV could resubmit its application. LIV Golf has previously said it has offered to alter its format but wants to know what will and won’t pass muster. Without that guidance, it seems, the League doesn’t want to make a change, only to be denied anyway.”

“That would suggest its time for both parties to come together and figure it out: if LIV is willing to change, then be serious about change; if Dawson and the OWGR are really at odds with the idea that there are several LIV players not properly ranked because they can’t earn points, then it needs to offer LIV a specific path to compliance.”

Full piece.

4. Angel Yin’s inspiration

Audrey Vick for Golf Channel…”Following her triumph at Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Yin spoke of a change in mindset, particularly with her emotions on the golf course where the long-hitting Yin is normally the opposite of her bubbly personality off the course.”

“Where Inkster comes in is some advice Yin’s former Solheim Cup captain has given her in the past.”

“I’ve been speaking to Juli Inkster about it. I don’t really feel much emotions on the golf course,” Yin explained. “She was like, ‘No, that’s not good. I want you to get mad again.’ I got a lot of emotions and I think started doing again and I started playing well. That helped me a lot, to be able to be expressive and not just flat lining on the golf course.

“Growing up everyone taught me to be stone faced, no emotions, poker face. I don’t think that fits me. What fitting me right now is I’m doing to express myself.”

Full piece.

5. RIP Ivor Robson

Ben Parson’s for Bunkered…”Ivor Robson, the former voice of The Open, has died aged 83.”

A legendary and much-loved figure in golf, Robson was the official starter at The Open for 41 years before retiring at St Andrews in 2015.

Robson sent the world’s best players on their way in golf’s oldest major for over four decades – from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, from Arnold Palmer to Seve Ballesteros and from Tom Watson to Rory McIlroy.

Full piece.

6. Spikemark struggles continue

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Spikemark’s big rankings reveal is delayed.”

“The NCAA’s new scoring and rankings partner was slated to roll out its first rankings for Divisions I, II and III, men’s and women’s, on Oct. 15, but that deadline came and went with coaches around the country receiving no explanation.”

“Crickets,” texted two different D-I coaches when asked Monday morning if they’d heard from Spikemark or the NCAA. Several other D-I coaches shared something similar with Golf Channel.

“Spikemark’s debut has been widely considered disastrous, as the company, founded by former UCLA coach Derek Freeman, has fallen short in many areas since being announced as the replacement to longstanding Golfstat in July. Its live-scoring product malfunctioned on Day 1 and remains down. Its website also experienced a cyber-attack at the start of the fall season and still lacks many of the features it promised when handed the NCAA contract.”

Full piece.

7. Pennsylvania University adds women’s golf as a varsity sport

Todd Kelly for Golfweek…”More opportunities in women’s college golf have opened up.”

On Monday, Saint Joseph’s University, located in Philadelphia, announced the addition of women’s golf as a varsity sport for the Hawks. The team will begin competing fall of 2024.

“We are extremely excited to announce the addition of one of the most popular sports for high school girls and college women with the addition of women’s golf,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner said in a post on the university’s website. “During my time on Hawk Hill, I have had more inquiries about starting a women’s golf program than any other sport. I am delighted to offer additional participation opportunities for female student-athletes to receive a Jesuit education at this great institution.”

Full Piece.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

13 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

3 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