News

Where the 2026 Masters was won (and lost)

Published

2 months ago

Apr 15, 2026

The Masters provides the drama we are looking for year after year, and it did it again this last weekend. Perfect warm, dry weather made the course very firm and fast. Mix in the patented swirling winds, and the cream rose to the top for precision ball striking, greenside shots that had to land in a thimble, and putts that had to be on the exact line to get to the bottom of the cup. This tournament was defined by the early part of the second nine on Sunday in the famed Amen Corner, and this is where I think The Masters turned for the eventual winner Rory McIlroy.

With Justin Rose making a move and in the lead by two shots at the turn, this was looking like Rose was poised to seal the deal for a green jacket. With a number of lurking players and the roars of Augusta beginning to be heard, it was looking to be Justin’s time. A brief lead-up to the turning point of the round, in my opinion: Rose birding 7, 8, and 9 was massive as momentum was building. Birding the 9th hole and walking to the 10th tee feeling 10 feet tall!

A great drive on 10 to leave 179 yards. A shot on the green to 32 feet away. From there the quick putt got rolling 4 feet away from the hole. A length demanding attention, Rose holes it. That’s a great save from four feet in that position after birding the last three holes.

11th hole

Keeping the momentum rolling, he sends a drive on 11 right down the middle, 340 yards. Another big drive to keep the momentum going as he enters Amen Corner.

(Photo via Masters.com)

With 192 yards left in 11, this is the first crack in the armor for this momentum swing. Some indecision on the club selection and the wind. Swirling winds and decisions on club choice, mixed with contention and adrenaline. Creating our love for decisions in competition. Rose from 192 yards opted for the 6 iron for the back middle left hole location. Given the circumstances, it may seem like a lot of club, but the trajectory of a 6 iron is more favorable in the swirling winds than a 7-iron that could be taken away from the wind.

Subconsciously, he may have known the 6-iron is too much club but a safer play. Compared with choosing less club and possibly pulling it into the pond with 7-iron. 6-iron was the club, and I just got out in front of it on the downswing, creating the shot to go right of the green. A tricky up-and-down remained from 34 yards, with the green sloping away from Rose and the firm conditions. Rose hit to 15 feet and two-putted for bogey. Completely understandable with the miss to the right. Somewhat surprising with the bogey on 11 just because Rose was so locked in the last four holes.

12th Hole

This sets up number 12, Golden Bell. Rose appeared to slightly pull his tee shot from 160 yards. He was pin high but 19 yards away to the left of the green. With players mentioning chip shots and pitches around the green into the grain of the grass, this showed here as Rose advanced the ball just a number of feet for his second shot, not reaching the green. Faced with his 3rd shot now 11 yards away, Rose putted off to the green to 5 feet away. Only a putt given to players needing an ego boost with their handicap, Rose made the 5-footer. A large putt in its own right. Bogey on 11 and bogey on 12. Deflating after such a great stretch from holes 7-10, but not a deal breaker by any means for a chance at a green jacket.

Rose hit a booming drive 305 yards on 13, down the left side, which is higher risk, but after going bogey-bogey, it was warranted. Leaving 197 yards into the par 5, it was the green light special. Rose fired his mid-iron right at the flag as it bounded by the hole, it rested 30 feet past the hole with a downhill putt remaining. The putt Rose hit had plenty of pace and too much, in fact, for a tap-in. It went eight feet by the hole with his attempt for an eagle. His attempt for birdie was a slight pull and a tap-in for par was had.

To me, this is where the wind was out of the sails for Rose. A great stretch of golf, rounding out the first 9, good two-putt par save on the 10th green, bogeying 11 and 12 in the fashion he did, followed by a three-putt par on 13. The psychology of plugging away, in the lead, and gaining ground on the field, only to sputter and then lose ground on the field. Bogey on 11 is understandable, but the bogey on 12 and three-putt par on 13 really looked to cause the damage. It was a great bounce back on 13 with the fantastic drive and second shot, but the damage was done on the putting green.

Rory McIlroy

Contrast with Rory McIlroy, with birdies on 7 and 8. Making par on 9 through 11. Then the dagger on 12. Back right hole location, taking on the pin. With a key decision waiting for the correct wind, Rory, with full commitment, started his ball on line with the right edge of the bunker on 12 with a Hogan fade landing on the green and releasing towards the hole resting 7 feet from the cup. Rory makes the putt center cut and moves onto the 13th tee. Launching his driver 350 yards to the right side of the upper fairway, he was left with 183 yards. His iron shot went long left of the green. Green side from 23 yards, he got the ball below the hole 11 feet away. In a similar place where Rose missed an 8-footer two groups prior, Rory made this 11-footer on the left side of the cup.

Rory walks with his familiar bounce in his step to the 14th with momentum, as Rose continues the second 9 looking for a spark to get back in the mix.

It is such a fine line of a clear decision and execution of a shot, or a putt lipping in or lipping out. Amen Corner was the difference maker to me this last Sunday, with the 12th hole being the tipping point for two players in contention. Rory McIllory goes on to seal the deal, and Justin Rose finished tied for third on the doorstep of victory at Augusta once again.

All photos via themasters.com and Augusta National’s shot tracking technology.

News

5 Things we Learned: Thursday at the U.S.. Women’s Open

Published

6 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Gone are the days when the U.S. Women’s Open was held at Scenic Hills or Churchill Valley. Fine courses that they are (or were, as Churchill Valley went bankrupt a decade ago) there is something to be said for the venue. Not all Women’s Open playings need to take place on Men’s Open venues, but some should. This week in Los Angeles, the Women’s Open visits Riviera Country Club for the first time. Down the road, we will visit Inverness, Oakmont, Interlachen, Oak Hill, Chicago Golf, and Merion. That is quite the murderer’s row (1927 Yankees reference) of golf clubs.

What can we expect from the 2026 tournament? Greatness and uncertainty. Unlike the PGA Tour, which visits Riviera each February, the LPGA does not, so the women will not have nearly the body of work over the George C. Thomas layout. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe they’ll play #10 smarter than the men do. Maybe they’ll figure some things out that their male counterparts can not. For today, we’ll try to find five things to learn, and share them with you.

First, this ain’t your momma’s U.S. Open course

How do we know? Well, so far, only one previous champion currently sits inside the top thirty. That would be Minjee Lee, the 2022 winner at Southern (NC) Pines. Lee made par on her first nine holes, the inward side at Riviera. She dropped birdie putts on the first and ninth holes (ten and eighteen for her day) and tallied another seven pars, for 69. She sits three shots off Jennifer Kupcho’s opening 66. Don’t worry about Kupcho; we’ll get to her. After Lee, defending champion Maja Stark ranks T30 at even par, joined by three other, former winners.

What Minjee did, is the sort of thing that wins U.S. Open titles. She guided her ship safely past swells, and made a move when the waters calmed. The fewer the bogeys, the more likely Minjee figures in the outcome on Sunday evening in Pacific Palisades. Off the tee, Lee was unmatched. She hit 14 of 14 fairways. Her iron play was a bit loose in comparison. She putted for birdie on 12 of 18 holes, which meant that her recovery short game was on point. Lee was ten yards longer on measured driving holes than the field average, and was below the field average (a good thing) in putting.

Second, the amateurs beat a loud drum

Three of the world’s top amateur golfer posted 70, placing them four off the lead, in a tie for 14th place. Canada’s Aphrodite Deng, Spain’s Paula Francisco Llaño, and Colombia’s Maria José Marin, showed the professional world that their game is strong. Both Deng and Francisco Llaño collected five birdies on the day. Should they match that output on day two, and minimize the foozles, they’ll be the topic of conversation on Saturday morning. Marin, the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and an NCAA team semifinalist last week, played a game similar to Minjee Lee: few mistakes and few taken risks.

The last amateur to post the low medal score for 72 holes was Jenny Chuasiriporn in 1998. She lost a playoff to Se Ri Pak, who matched her plus-six effort at Blackwolf Run. The last amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open was Catherine Lacoste in 1967. The amateurs are stronger than they’ve ever been, but the professionals have not allowed them to close the gap. A victory by one of the college set would be a cannon shot heard round the world. Could it happen? Absolutely. Is it likely? Not at all.

Third, let’s talk Kupcho

Jennifer Kupcho won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She won three times on tour in 2022, including the Chevron, a major title. She won a fourth event in 2025, but has not established the winning credentials projected on her after 2022’s marvelous coming-out.

Kupcho hails from Colorado, and spent four years in the Carolina Piedmont, at Wake Forest Universtiy. Neither of those locales cries out I’ll be at home at Riviera, but here we are, after a seven-birdie performance. Kupcho posted birdie on each of her first three holes, and added four more (against two bogeys) to assume a one-shot advantage over Korea’s Sei Young Kim.

Kupcho drove the ball decently, approached moderately well, but putted lights out on Thursday. Her 26 putts were tied for best in show on day one. There might just be something about the putting surfaces at Riviera that aligns with Kupcho’s vibe. If that is the case, just get the ball on the green, anywhere, and let the flatstick do the lifting.

Fourth, how young is Sei Young?

Sei (pronounced “So”) Young Kim won a dozen times from 2015 to 2020. She took time off from winning until 2025, shen she captured a thirteenth LPGA title. Like Kupcho, Kim has hardware from one major event, the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship. How to explain the five years away from victory? No idea. When Sei Young was in contention during the prime of her career, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

What to expect over the next three days at Riviera? Anyone’s guess. It might be the 2015-2020 Sei Young, or it could be the 2021-2025 version. Kim began her day with birdies at 10 and 11, then settled into a stretch of pars before her solitary bogey at the 4th (her 13th) hole. Kim regained her composure and reeled in three birdies to close the front nine. Her four-under performance trails Kupcho alone, and there is a real chance that Sei Young will produce a second score in the 60s and take a bit of control of the tournament.

Fifth, we’re giddy for Gaby

Although I cannot place my finger on why, it seems that each year, Gaby Lopez pops up on the U.S. Open leaderboard. She hasn’t figure out how to remain in contention, but here we are, in 2026, and Lopez is once again in the mix. The three-time champion on the LPGA circuit had a stunning first nine holes, turning in minus-five. She reached six deep at her tenth hole, but then gave three shots back coming home. Which Gaby will show up on Friday, and for how long? If back-nine Gaby can somehow channel front-nine Gaby, all outcomes are within reach. If the loose play continues, Lopez’ wiki page will add one more T41 to her majors column.

Tour Photo Galleries

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

Published

2 days 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

4 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