News

Tour Rundown: Unexpected winners abound

Published

1 year ago

Apr 28, 2025

The final week of professional golf in April of 2025 brought out some first-time winners. On the LPGA, a maiden major titleist was welcomed in Houston. Two rookie champions hauled in the two-man Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour, while a bunch of no-names and dreamers made the most of opportunity on the DP World Tour, PGA Tour Americas, and Korn Ferry. Only the PGA Tour Champions victor is a household name but, let’s be honest, but that stage in their lives, we’ve probably heard of them!

It’s time for another Tour Rundown. Pop some corn, pour some soda, and settle into a seat for six different summaries from the week in tournament golf.

LPGA @ Chevron Championship: Saigo grinds out first tour and major win

Mao Saigo is no stranger to the pressures of major championship golf. The Japanese champion had previous, top-ten finishes in the Open, the Women’s PGA, and the Evian. Saigo held the 54-hole lead on Saturday evening, and met the pressure of bringing home a win from the front on Sunday. She held the rudder steady over the front nine, turning in even par and maintaining her lead. The back nine brought choppy seas, to the tune of +3 through eight holes. With her lead gone, Saigo found one last birdie, on the 72nd hole. That number returned her to seven-under par and a five-way tie at the top.

Saigo was off to a playoff with Hyo Joo Kim, Lindy Duncan, Ruoning Yin, and Ariya Jutanugarn. Kim, Yin, and Jutanugarn all have a major championship title on their resumes. Duncan has but a runner-up finish in a 2018 LPGA event to her credit. Duncan and Yin each made birdie on the 72nd hole, to join the quintet for extra time. It was Jutanugarn who suffered the cruelest end in regulation. A bogey at the closing par five was her fate, when par would have won a first tour title in four years.

Duncan posted bogey on the first playoff hole, to end her hopes of an initial tour title. Yin, Kim, and Ariya all made par, but it would not be enough. Gathering herself, Mao Saigo was able to complete the only playoff hole in four shots, securing a playoff victory, initial LPGA title, and major championship in one moment.

PGA Tour @ Zurich Classic: Novak and Griffin match for first wins

Between them, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin had a Korn Ferry and Tour Canada between them, prior to this weekend. Now, each is a PGA Tour winner, thanks to the other. Novak and Griffin partnered on Sunday for a 71 in foursomes (alternate shot) to reach 28-under par. They were able to hold off the twins team of Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard by one shot, which is as close as any of us wishes to get.

Over the course of the front nine, the winners had three each of pars, birdies, and bogeys. The inward half was boring, and not in so bad a way. The pair posted sevin consecutive pars before finding a birdie at the 17th hole. Novak found the par-three green with his tee ball, and Griffin drained a cross-country putt from 35 feet to retake the lead. Par at the last was enough to hold off the Hojgaards’ closing birdie.

DP World Tour @ Hainan Classic: Marco? ~~Polo!~~ Penge!

It was the best of days, and the worst of day, as Hainan came to resolution. Some of the leaders faltered, and some of the trailers rose up to do battle. In the end, the third-round co-leader proved himself the best of the field, and deserving of a first DP World Tour title.

Bowen Xiao hoped to follow in the footsteps of countryman Ashun Wu, last week’s winner of the China Open. Instead of continuing his 2nd-3rd round form of birdie runs, Xiao regressed to the birdie-bogey march of round one. He closed with 73, dropping from a first-place tie to a sixth-place finish.

Sean Crocker of the USA and Kristoffer Reitan of Norway closed with 66 and 67, respectively, to surge up the board. Both moved from outside the top five through 54 holes, to a second-place tie after 72. The winner, however, was neither. England’s Marco Penge also closed with 67, creating a three-shot margin of victory over the runners-up pair. Penge posted seven birdies against two bogeys. When it looked as if he might stumble, with bogey at the 11th, he triple-bounced back with three consecutive birdies to create the victory margin.

DP WORL TOUR HAINAN CLASSIC pic.twitter.com/x1ciDEYbRw

— LE QUERE Jean-François (@jefflequere) April 25, 2025

Korn Ferry Tour @ Veritex Bank: Here’s Johnny!

There were five scores of 61 this week at the Texas Rangers golf club, and one card with only 60 shots on it. Forget the 62s and 63s; there were too many to count. The field threw darts at the flags over four days, and it took a minus-thirty total to claim the trophy.

Blades Brown, the wunderkind who eschewed college golf for the tour life, had one of those rounds of 61. He also had a 63, but could only reach 27-under par. He tied with four other golfers for second place, his best finish as a professional. Zach James, also at 27-deep, began the week with an twelve-birdie round of 60. If not for a bogey at the short 15th, James might have joined the fabled 59 society. Also among the quintet of runners-up were Julian Surl, Tyson Alexander, and Joshua Creel.

It was Johnny Keefer, former Baylor athlete, who harvested three birdies out of the final four holes, to pull away from the log-jam and claim victory. Keefer opened with 63-61, survived a 66 on Saturday, and closed wih 64.

PGA Tour Americas @ Kia Classic: Third is the word in Ecuador

Inclement weather is always in the picture during spring golf season. This week in Quito, La madre naturaleza brought Thursday and Friday rains to the Quito Club, abbreviating the tournament to 54 holes. On Sunday, a quick glance at the leader’s board saw Jay Card III finish a shot ahead of Ricardo Celia and Jake Staiano. Card nearly derailed his round with a triple bogey at Sunday’s sixth hole. He recovered with three birdies on the inward half, and reached minus-sixteen through 54 holes. Celia struggled to a bogey at the 54th hole, while Staiano had two doubles coming home.

Card III walked on at High Point University, but was never a name player in the amateur golf world. His is a cinderella story, filled with grit and determination. He worked jobs at various clubs after college, to feed his golf dreams. With his victory in Ecuador, Card III is now exempt on the PGA Tour Americas, and has his sight set on the next step up in professional golf.

“When you’re standing there at 180 yards and you’re just like ‘yeah, it’s just a comfortable pitching wedge.” ? pic.twitter.com/mFaO03vr3d

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) April 23, 2025

PGA Tour Champions @ Mitsubishi Electric: Kelly’s corner

Jerry Kelly and Ernie Els went into the final round of this year’s Mitsubishi in a tie at 129 strokes. While Els is a thoroughbred, of the tall, strong, and major title-laden sort, Kelly is a bulldog. Kelly hit his stride on the Tour Champions, after three wins on the PGA Tour. He came into this week with eleven senior titles, and now has an even dozen in his wiki. Kelly made birdies at 15 and 17, to take a two-shot advantage into the last hole.

On the eighteenth, Els struck two brawny shots to reach the par-five green in two. He took two putts for birdie and 19-under par on the week. Kelly played serenely, laying up from trouble, then hitting wedge to the green. His two putts brought a par, and minus-twenty for three days’ work. Also in the mix were Steven Alker in third at -16, Angel Cabrera at -15, and Vijay Singh at -13.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

7 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

18 hours 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