News

Five Things we Learned: Saturday at the U.S. Open

Published

12 months ago

Jun 15, 2025

Three rounds of the United States Golf Association’s open championship are recorded for posterity. The leader sits on a pillow of 4 under par. He is one shot clear of two golfers, three ahead of a third, and four beyond a fifth. Those would appear to be the truest contenders for the title of champion USA golfer of the year, but as we know, there is always more to the story. It was at Oakmont that Johnny Miller assembled the most glorious final round in this esteemed championship, back some fifty-two years. His 63 has been bested for tournament low round, but its importance might never be equalled.

In 1981, David Graham played a perfect final round at Merion. He hit all 18 greens in regulation and posted 67. Despite its quintessence, Graham’s score was still four blows higher than Miller’s ageless Sunday. It will take a second bolt of lightning this year for anyone to come from deeper than even par to win the title. There are plenty of candidates, but they will need to fire at flags early and often, make putts, play fiercely and fearlessly, and shoot 62 or 61.

For now, we’ll have a glance at five golfers that, based on their work this week, have a chance to win the 125th playing of the USGA’s open championship. We’ll explain why they ought to win, and suggest what might hold them back. Our gift for prognostication is marginal at best and should never be considered a legal and binding contract. Regardless, we’ll press on with predictions on this Saturday evening of the U.S. Open 2025.

1. Sam Burns

Burns is hailed as one of the top putters on tour. He’s in the Denny McCarthy-Russell Henley tier of flat stick magi. His expertise with the wand is equal parts distance control and interpretation of the subtleties of terrain. On Saturday in Pittsburgh, Burns was all over the course on the first three holes. He missed the first two fairways from the deck, then hit the adjacent fourth fairway from the third tee. Things got better after that, but he wasn’t Fairway Fred by any stretch of the imagination. Two bogeys and three birdies got him to the house with the lead. 69 won’t be enough to win on Sunday, so Burns needs to find something more for round four.

Playing Partner: Adam Scott. His swing is the equal of Tiger’s, but Scott’s major championship tally is but one ahead of Burns.

Why he might win: If the ball is on the green, it has a chance. We write that about everyone and, technically, it is true. The thing is, for Burns, it is statistically true. He makes lots of putts. If he gets one or two early, he’ll boost his confidence and potentially, ride that wave to victory.

Why he won’t win: The tee ball game held Burns back on Saturday. It’s funny to say that about a guy who posted 69, but Burns could be out front by four or five, if he had found the fairway more often. He’ll need to do just that, to take pressure off his entire game, on Sunday.

2. Adam Scott

Adam Scott is the owner of one green jacket and 19 other, top-ten finishes in major championships. On Saturday at Oakmont, he began play with a bogey five at the first hole, then played flawlessly to the end. Scott posted one birde on the front nine, then added three more on the inward half. He nearly caught Sam Burns, but missed a routine, 55-feet putt for birdie at the last. Why was he 55 feet away? We’ll get to that.

Playing Partner: Sam Burns. They will tee off in the final pairing of the day. No pressure, right?

Why he might win: Scott has more major championship experience than the other four golfers mentioned herein, combined. He could have and should have won at least five major titles. He hasn’t but he and his caddie are odds-on favorites to emerge victorious on Sunday.

Why he won’t win: His approach game has not been the equal of the other facets of his game. He needs to have looks from 20 feet, not 55 feet. There might also be some scar tissue from those 19 oh-so-close finishes at majors.

3. J.J. Spaun

J.J. Spaun has been at or near the top since the dawn of Oakmont’s Open. His round was identical to Burns’, in that he had three birdies and two bogeys. Spaun putted lights-out on Saturday, which made up for struggles off the tee and around the green.

Playing Partner: Viktor Hovland. If Hovie plays well, he’ll inspire Spaun, If Hovland struggles, he’ll fall into a malaise of despair, and that will force Spaun to go it alone.

Why he might win: Spaun has been around for this long, so perhaps he can tough it out for one more day. It will be a tough day, if they get to play. The weather forecast is rain late Saturday, rain early Sunday, then jousts with thunderstorms all day long. Monday is better, with cloudy skies but no rain.

Why he won’t win: Discomfort that comes from lack of experience. Knowing when the adrenaline is elevated, and one less club is required. Knowing when the safe play or the daring ploy is in demand. Spaun will draw on the experience he had in a playoff for this year’s Players Championship; will it be enough?

4. Viktor Hovland

Hovland is ready to win a major championship. Hovland is talented enough to win a major event. Hovland will need to settle his emotions, remain calm, and play in the moment of each shot’s demands. He began day three with two bogeys in his first three holes. Birdies at nine and ten drew him even on the day, and a birdie-bogey finish brought an even-par 70 his way. If those two early bogeys happen on day four, will he be able to rebound?

Playing Partner: JJ Spaun. If Spaun goes sideways, the mercurial Hovland might not be able to ignore the distraction.

Why he might win: Hovland has four, top-ten finishes in major events, as a professional. He tied for 12th at the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2019, and has had two more, top-twenty finishes since then. It’s not his favorite of the majors, but with the course wet and the greens soft, it’s one that he might win.

Why he won’t win: Hovland is so talented with a golf club not named driver. He has played his approach shots quite well, and his work around the greens is sublime. Putting has been good enough, but it’s the heavy timber that draws question marks at the end of the sentence. Choke up and find the fairway, Vik!

5. Carlos Ortiz

Ortiz is one of two LIV golfers in contention at Oakmont. The other is Tyrrell Hatton, and he is a single shot behind el rey on the leader board. As the week has progressed, Ortiz’ game has coalesced. On Thursday, he was all over the dart board, posting six bogies and five birdies. On Friday, he played two opposing nines, one of +5 and the other of -3. On Saturday, Ortiz controlled his game with four birdies until reaching the final hole. There, he went from right rough to left bunker to green, but missed a seven-foot putt for par.

Playing Partner: Tyrrell Hatton. We’ll see if the LIV connection compels one of the two to contention.

Why he might win: Ortiz ranked first in combined statistics, by a full point over Hatton and Marc Leishman. He is simply doing all the things well. If he preserves that mastery for another day, he might become Mexico’s first U.S. Open champion.

Why he won’t win: Like all LIV golfers, Ortiz has subconsciously grown accustomed to 54-hole tournaments. The two exceptions are DeChambeau and Koepka, and both won major titles before departing for LIV. In addition, Ortiz has little experience in the major championship pressure cooker. Ortiz hardly plays majors, let alone contends. His best U.S. Open finish was 52nd at Pebble Beach, six years ago. His only other major cut made was in 2021 at the PGA Championship.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

8 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

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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.

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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