News

Five Things we Learned: Saturday at the Masters

Published

1 year ago

Apr 13, 2025

As Moving Day was unpacking, I was taking in a regional performance of Chess, the 1986 musical that has enjoyed a reassessment and revaloration in recent years. My initial thought for this third-round recap was to connect a musical number with each of the five things we learned. Unfortunately, songs like Pity The Child, Florence Quits, A Taste Of Pity, and Nobody’s Side don’t lend themselves to player movement at the Masters.

The third round was a chess match, make no mistake. Only one player among the top fourteen played the course over par, and he happened to be the 36-hole leader. That departure allowed others to leap to the fore, and the 54-hole leader is the fellow that the entire golf world aches for. Chasing him are his perhaps-nemesis, a major non-winner with a great Augusta track record, and a young lion. No better time than the present, to check out the five things we learned on Saturday at the Masters.

Sungjae Im’s eagle on No. 2 moves him into a tie for fifth. #themasters pic.twitter.com/CbEZO3lMMU

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Five: Eagles!

Rory McIlroy made bogey on the par-five eighth, and still found a way to play the par-five holes in four strokes under par. The Northern Irishman hit a bunch of mediocre shots on the way to making six on eight, failing to get his pitch shot close enough to save par. Six holes earlier, however, McIlroy had pitched in for eagle, from just over the second green.

McIlroy went over the 13th green in two as well, but pitched to three feet to make birdie. He saved his best for the last par-five hole. After a fairway-splitting bomb off the tee, Rors threw an iron high into the air, then watched it settle four feet from the hole. He buried the putt for his second eagle of the day, reaching minus-twelve.

Eagle on No. 15 launches Rory McIlroy into a four-shot lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ri6fA5yO7O

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Four: Bryson just won’t go away

DeChambeau made birdie on Saturday’s first two holes, reaching minus-nine on the third tee. He gave three strokes back against one more birdie through the 14th green, returning to even par on the day. Imagine for a moment, that he had parred his way home. He would have been at minus-seven, five back of the leader, in the penultimate pairing on Sunday, and uncertain of his ability to win a second major event.

What did happen, however, was this: DeChambeau posted birdies at 15, 16, and 18, to reach minus-ten and a date with Rory on Sunday. Keep in mind that it was DeChambeau who made a miraculous par at the last in Pinehurst last June, effectively stealing the US Open from McIlroy. Will one of the two don the eponyomous green jacket on Sunday? Magic Eight Ball says Yes.

Solo second. #themasters https://t.co/56oqkxwpH8 pic.twitter.com/ICVoSZqVUP

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Three: The Rose that lost its petals

As much as fans want Rory to finish the job on Sunday, a great majority (statistics my own) certainly wanted to see Justin Rose score one for the forty-somethings. It wasn’t to be, however, as Rose poste 75 to effectively remove himself from contention for the title.

The Englishman was treading water through 15 holes. Unlike Bryson, he wasn’t able to make birdies coming home. Unlike Rory, he wasn’t able to make pars coming home. Rose signed for bogey at the 16th and the 18th, to drop to minus-five for the week. We’re not saying that he’s completely out of the running, but Rose needs 63 on Sunday to get back in the mix.

Two; Those guys who stayed in contention

Corey Conners is doing his level best to break through at Augusta. After three previous, top-ten finishes, the Ontario native is poised to make a Sunday run. A tenth-hole birdie brought him to eight-under par, and he closed with eight pars to stand four back through three rounds.

Ludvig Aberg is intent on improving on his runner-up finish in 2024. Aberg was three-under through 36 holes, then tripped over a bogey on the first green, to drop back to two-deep. Digging deep, the Belgian played the following 17 holes in four-under par, to earn a spot alongside Conners in the penultimate pairing. Should either of them have a chance on Sunday? Not if either Rory or Bryson gets the job done. Might they have a shot? Of course! It’s Augusta, the back nine, Amen Corner, and Sunday.

Corey Conners leaps into a tie for third. #themasters pic.twitter.com/qLfHXvchil

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

One: Guys who are finished like a chair

Scottie will put the jacket on someone else’s shoulders this year. Sugar Shane won’t add a second major to his Royal Portrush Open title. Jason Day will get another major top-ten, but not another major title. Each of these fellows woke up on Saturday, jonesing for a mid-60s round that would thrust them into contention, and possibly, the lead. Instead, they got par.

Scheffler etched two birdies and two bogeys onto his 72 mix tape. Lowry had four of each, never finding a semblance of balance, as he shimmied his way to a 72 of his own. Day went one better, holding on over the closing holes for a one-under 71. Simply put, we wanted more and better from them, but we didn’t get it. Could each toss a 63 on Sunday? Absolutely. We have to hope for that.

A birdie on No. 2 to get his day started. Scottie Scheffler moves to six under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/AIISPYsnKc

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

21 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