News

Tour Rundown: Close-the-laptop Edition

Published

3 years ago

Nov 19, 2023

This is the Tour Rundown that I dread writing. It means, simply, that I have to close the laptop and become a fan for about six weeks. True, there will be Q-Schools and Heroes, but the official work is done for the year. Q-Schools and Heroes are way better than Skins Games and the silliest of silly-season events, but I much prefer the official work of the world’s golf tours. Thank you for riding along in the cart with me this year, and for always picking up the beverage cart drinks. It does not go unnoticed.

As Americans head toward Thanksgiving week, the DP World Tour closed its season at its Tour Championship in Dubai, while the LPGA had its CME Race To The Globe along Florida’s Gulf Coast. As for the PGA Tour, it headed to coastal Georgia to end the FedEx Fall at my event (RSM — same initials). As always, lots of great golf led to dramatic finishes, so let’s begin this week’s Tour Rundown with Nelly Korda’s first LPGA ace.

NELLY. KORDA. ACE. ??? @nellykorda pic.twitter.com/Yjw6DyenLe

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 18, 2023

LPGA @ CME: It’s a Yang Thang in Naples

Amy Yang has been around the golf wires for a long time. It all began in 2006 when, as a precocious, 16-year-old, she won on the Ladies European Tour. Her first win on the LPGA came in 2013, and she recorded three more by 2019. It’s hard to believe that she has been among the ranks for 18 years, but after a four-year drought, Yang was the cream of the crop at the CME this week in Naples. She posted middle rounds of 63-64, and closed with 66, to win by three.

Chasing Yang the entire fourth round were her playing partners, Alison Lee and Nasa Hataoka. Hataoka hung with Yang for the majority of the day, until they reached the 16th hole. It was there that Hataoka flinched with bogey, to drop one back. Yang surged with birdies at the final two holes, to establish her margin of victory. Tied with Hataoka for second was Lee. She also surged late, and turned in a clean card, with six birdies and twelve pars on the day.

For the first twelve holes, the tournament seemed to be in Hataoka’s hands, until Yang made magic happen at the 13th. Faced with a wedge to the green, she…well, just watch what she did.

Amy Yang is putting up a fight at @CMEGroupLPGA ?

Watch now on NBC! pic.twitter.com/jmLPeXBya3

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 19, 2023

DP World Tour @ Tour Championship: Elder Hojgaard claims victory in Dubai

There are times when younger brother must defer to elder brother. No matter what heights Rasmus Hojgaard scales in the future, 2023 will forever be the year of his by-a-few-minutes-older brother, Nicolai. On Sunday in Dubai, Hojgaard won the only thing worth debating, the DP World Tour Championship. As Rory McIlroy had clinched the season-long points race, all eyes were on the leaders as day four teed off.

Beginning play in fifth position, Hojgaard cruised through 11 holes in four under par. A top-five finish looked certain, especially after a speed-bump bogey caused a stumble at the twelfth. The missed, five-feet, par attempt got under his skin, and the Danish Ryder Cupper ignited a five-birdie run through the penultimate hole. Suddenly, Hojgaard had the lead, with the gettable 18th left. A par there gave his chasers hope of a catch.

Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Wallace, and Viktor Hovland all began the final round ahead of Hojgaard. Fleetwood played solid golf to the closing stretch, reaching 17 tee at five-under on the day, and twenty-deep for the week. His tee shot to the short hole came up woefully short, and his approach putt went dangerously past. His missed, seven-feet putt for par was off-target, and Fleetwood would finish on 19-under, two behind the Dane.

Joining Fleetwood at that number were Wallace and Hovland. Wallace had the bad fortune of shooting 60 on Saturday. How do you follow a 60? Well, a 67 would have tied the top spot, and a 66 would have won outright, but Wallace posted 69. Four birdies and one bogey were not enough to catch the scorched trail that Hojgaard laid down. As for Hovland, his 68 was also solid; just not explosive.

Finishing off the year behind McIlroy along the points list were, in order: Jon Rahm, Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, and Victor Perez.

Ryder Cup rookie Nicolai Højgaard wins the DP World Tour Championship! ???#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/y52cIzvce4

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 19, 2023

PGA Tour @ RSM Classic: Oh-Boy! Aberg

Oh-boy leads into Oh-Bear (how you should pronounce Aberg). I wished to clarify that, before moving on to Ludwig’s first PGA Tour title summary. In terms of data, for which Aberg is known, two numbers stand out: 61 and 61. Those digits represent the 18-hole scores that the Swede signed off on, in rounds three and four. Let’s be honest: Unless you are on the cut line, 122 on the weekend will move you darned close to the podium, if not to its summit.

In Aberg’s case, he had the lead through 54 holes. Hot on his heels were the guy who HAS to win, Eric Cole, and fan favorite Mackenzie Hughes, the 2016 RSM champion. Cole stood two over through five on day four, so he was done. He rallied to tie for third spot. Hughes stayed close all day, with six birdies through ten holes. The closing octet was not kind to him, as he played it in seven pars and one birdie. That will not get the job done at Sea Island, unless a maelstrom washes in.

As for Aberg, the rookiest of rookies on the European Ryder Cup side in September, ten birdies and one bogey came his way on day four. Long off the tee, deadly with the wedges, and accurate with the putter, he was a wrecking crew and he capped his first professional year in the most positive of ways.

In just his 11th professional PGA TOUR start, Ludvig Åberg wins @TheRSMClassic ? pic.twitter.com/R4jDtDYhsS

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 19, 2023

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

4 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