News

Tour Rundown: Solheim, Procore, Irish, and more

Published

2 years ago

Sep 16, 2024

The brief, but exciting, season of international team play began in Virginia this week. The top ladies of Europe and the USA did battle at Robert Trent Jones golf club, and the men of the world and the USA will convene in Montreal for another team tilt this week. The PGA Tour restarted after a brief, post-playoff hiatus, while the DP, Tour Champions, and Korn Ferry continued their respective marches toward conclusion.

True, American Football might dominate the headlines of September, but the girls and boys of summer still have quite a bit to say about how the best golf is played. This week’s Tour Rundown will offer five bits of evidence to the affirmative.

Solheim Cup: home team USA wins third consecutive cup

The RTJ Golf Club hosted the inaugural Presidents Cup, in 1994, and repeated on three subsequent occasions. If it knew how to do one thing, it was host an international team event. Well, perhaps the intervening two decades softened the collective memory. Shoddy bus service soured the morning matches on day one, as a majority of paying customers were unable to arrive to witness the beginning of glory. The responsibility for the snafu is uncertain, but the players soon drew attention away from jilted jitney riders.

Friday morning began with foursomes, a match play format that is seemingly over before it begins. Four players share two golf balls, and one bad shot can cost the hole, lickity-split. For some reason, the European squad has always been associated with successful foursomes, but truth be told, it’s always a coin flip. This year, Team USA flipped the script with three successful contests. 3 & 2 wins in matches 1, 2, and 4 outshined a European 2 up victory in match three. In the afternoon, fourballs (also known as better ball) was the flavor, and the outcome was eerily similar. Three conquests by the home squad gave Team USA a 6-2 advantage after day one.

Day two saw each side win four matches, two each in foursomes and fourballs. The pivotal match was the first of the day. Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen held a two-up lead at the turn, but could not preserve a win nor a tie. They fell to Allisen Corpuz and Emily Korda, by one down. The remaining matches were all lopsided, so this was Team Europe’s shining opportunity to whittle away at their deficit.

On Sunday, Charley Hull decimated Nelly Korda in the day’s first match, but once again, it was Pedersen and Ciganda who were not up to the challenge. Pedersen fell by 6 & 5 to Megan Khang, while Ciganda lost by 6 & 4, to Rose Zhang. Team Europe could afford precious few miscues, and those two quick decisions were more than it could manage. The order of the day was five wins for the visitors, four decisions for the homebreds, and three halved matches. In the end, it was Team USA by 15.5 to 12.5 over Team Europe.

This angle of Lilia Vu clinching @TheSolheimCup on the 18th hole ? pic.twitter.com/LzKd5ZqDnz

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 15, 2024

PGA Tour @ Procore Championship: Patton down the hatches!

In 2017 and 2018, Maxie Patton Kizzire won at Mayakoba and SONY. Six years would pass before the Tuscaloosa native would find victory number three on the PGA Tour. Kizzire is the sort who would not be bothered by such a delay. Despite growing up in the shadow of the University of Alabama, Kizzire took his talents to Auburn, where he enjoyed a stellar collegiate and amateur career.

At Silverado Resort in Napa, California, Kizzire stared down challenger after challenger as the week wore on. He posted 66 in round one, followed it with 65 on day two, and put an emphatic exclamation point of a gritty day three with 67. His lead was four over David Lipsky, so nothing was determined as day four dawned. Only two golfers in moved into the top ten with rounds in the 60s on Sunday. Kizzire merely had to keep Lipsky and the pursuers at length, and he did just that. He gained a stroke over the final 18 holes, and won by five shots over David Lipsky.

Back-to-back birdies and a leader by 5 once again ?

Patton Kizzire looks to win his first TOUR title since 2018 @ProcoreChamp. pic.twitter.com/SHH0K4fUJ4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 15, 2024

DP World Tour @ Irish Open: Irish eyes aren’t smiling 🙁

It hasn’t been the gentlest of years for Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irish lad lost by a whisker to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open. Although he had two wins on the PGA Tour, the big ones eluded him. McIlroy ventured to that most Northern Irish of courses, Royal County Down in Newcastle. Located a mere 54 minutes from his home club, it seemed the perfect venue to put a bit of salve on a season of wounds. Despite four rounds under par (the only player in the field to do so) McIlroy was chased down once more, by an unexpected adversary.

Rasmus Hojgaard was born mere minutes after twin brother Nicolai. Both have achieved great success as Danish amateurs and professionals, but Nicolai was the one named to the 2023 European Ryder Cup side. Rasmus has fallen a wee bit off his brother’s professional pace, but that might all have changed, thanks to a Sunday 65 at County Down. Eight birdies and two bogeys gave this great Dane the second-low round of the week. Only a 64 by Paul Waring (12th spot) eclipsed his work. Hojgaard had much more on the line.

Birdies at four of the closing five holes brought Hojgaard from a three-shot deficit to a one-shot victory. McIlroy was helter skelter over the finishing stretch. He undid two birdies with two bogies, and lost what seemed like a certain victory. Is McIlroy the Greg Norman of his generation? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Shots of the day from the final round at Royal County Down ? #AmgenIrishOpen | @Amgen pic.twitter.com/xXWeukXdZ6

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 15, 2024

Korn Ferry Tour @ Simmons Bank: Peterson gets work done

The playoffs have commenced on the KFT. As expected, there are a billion and one story lines. Morgan Hoffman continued his unlikely return from muscular dystrophy, tying for third at minus-eighteen. Other challengers sought returns to the PGA Tour, security for 2024-2025, and many other perquisites. In the end, it was Paul Peterson, whose opening rounds of 64 and 63 gave him enough of a cushion to close with 67 – 66 and win. It wasn’t easy.

Nearly corraling Peterson was the USA’s Matt Atkins. Atkins posted 63-61 in the middle rounds to jump to second spot. Ryan Gerard had the lead through 54 holes, thanks to 65-63-64. On Sunday, he would falter just enough to let Atkins and Peterson slide by. Gerard’s closing 70 featured a plus-two back nine, including bogey at the par-four closer. Both Atkins and Peterson made gritty pars at the watery 18th, and the victory, his first on the KFT, fell to Paul Peterson.

Paul Peterson’s 4-under 66 final round was enough to secure his first #KornFerryTour title at the @simmonsbankopen. ??@PPetersonGolf pic.twitter.com/P8jrPIXXKk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 16, 2024

PGA Tour Champions @ Sanford: Steve breaks through

Never thought we’d be talking about Steve Freaking Stricker breaking through again. 2024 has belong to two other Steves (Alker and Ames) while the great cheesehead from Wisconsin had yet to drink from victory’s vessel. That all changed this week. A number of unlikely challengers filled the top three through two rounds, but all fell away on Sunday.

As expected, Steve Stricker jumped at the chance to claim something that no one else seemed to want. Stricker and Richard Green reached eight-under par, one ahead of the ageless Bernhard Langer. The pair went down four overtime fairways before Stricker was able to rip an approach from the rough to three feet. He converted, while Green missed a longer birdie putt. Just like that, Stricker had a third consecutive Sanford title, and fourth of his career.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Steve Stricker’s approach hits the flagstick on the 4th playoff hole! pic.twitter.com/lCvdIRCATE

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 15, 2024

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

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