News
Yikes: A Noose on the Cover
Talk about hoist with one’s own petard; "There was a great deal of debate over it," Golfweek editor Dave Seanor told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "But it was the news of the week, no question about it. That’s what everybody in the game is talking about." I’m not sure who Mr. Seanor was talking to, I discussed it earlier on these pages, but have since left it alone because in the grand scheme of things it was a small deal. A slip of the tongue during a live television event, these things happen, and everyone including Tiger Woods and commissioner Tim Finchem were willing to move on to more important things. Nobody I know has discussed this in a while other than to ponder how awkward Ms. Tilghman’s return to the booth would be for her and Golf Channel viewers.
"Was it an arresting image? Yes, it was," Seanor told USA Today. "We chose it because it was an image we thought would draw attention to an issue we thought deserved some intelligent dialogue." And the way to intelligent debate is to picture the prefered method of killing used by the Klu Klux Klan? To even attribute the word intelligent to the decision making process involved in the choice to run this cover leads me to wonder if these folks can define intelligent. Certainly the cover led me right to the idea of debate about free speech and race, . First thing that comes to mind when I see that noose hangin’ there. Mr. Seanor should be arrested for even thinking of such an idea. I certainly hope he was on drugs at the time he came up with this dandy of an idea , because if his brain wasn’t addled by drugs then he thinks this way normally. Another scary thought, that.
What Kelly Tilghman said was insensitive and unfunny but off the cuff. What Golfweek’s editors did, while also insensitive and unfunny, was premeditated in an effort to create some controversy. Somehow I think Mr. Seanor got more than he bargained for, since he’s newly joined the ranks of the unemployed. Nobody will remember Ms. Tilghman’s gaff, but this cover won’t soon be forgotten.
So what was the point, who’s caught in that noose anyway? Golf Channel because it eventually suspended her after the story became an issue? No not at I discovered after reading the editorial content. This is meant to be a rant against Rev. Al Sharpton because after his voice came out in favor of taking Ms. Tilghman’s job, her employer suspended her for two weeks. I’ll let you read the editorial content concerning Rev. Sharpton and decide what you think,: here are quotes from it’s content…"… the loudest voice often sets the agenda, regardless of how informed or accountable that voice may be." So this would make him uninformed and unaccountable in a very loud way. Hmmm. Then later comes this, "Regardless of how one feels about the shrill voice of the Rev. Al Sharpton, he wields enormous influence." Shrill he is, um really. Apparently the Rev Sharpton is not someone they hold in high esteem at Golfweek. So about this time I’m starting to get the idea that this isn’t about golf at all. Nor is it about the lack of integration in golf. No sir, what this is about is that demon "Political Correctness", which is apparently best addressed in a golf magazine because it is a monster so out of control we need to stick a noose on our cover and bash Al Sharpton. Puddin’ heads pure and simple. It’s a sad sad day for golf and golf journalism when this is how we think to stimulate intelligent discussion.
I’ve never claimed to be clever, nor very bright, only opinionated and openminded enough to listen to an argument before I decide it’s merit. If you want to have an intelligent discussion about race in golf, do so with the dignity of Golfworld, who’s cover this week shows a picture of Bill Spiller and tell’s his story of trying to break the PGA tour’s color line. Even I understand how this approach can get one thinking about race and free speech, unfairness and the sadness that accompany it uncomfortably throughout the recent past. There is no place for such offensiveness in a dialogue, that’s just name calling, and no possibility of dialogue begun in an aggressively insensitive manner. The boys at Golfweek should be ashamed, they’ve hoist themselves, quite publically indeed.
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Scott
Jan 20, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I personally am tired of the overreaction to each and every comment that is of ill regard (intentional or other). The senstitivity of the population as a whole has made everyone a victim of sorts. Everyone can make issue of something each day that is repulsive, or sensitive to ones feelings. It is people like the highly esteemed Rev Al (currently being investigated for fed. racketeering) that highlights the obvious ill spoken words without regard.
To be honest what is the difference between a rape victim and the media’s nightly newscasts bringing light to these actions by of others. It brings up reminders that the victims obviously don’t want to relive.
My point is we need to get a little thicker skinned and not take a personal attack to off the cuff insensitive comments. I don’t fault Tilgman – she obviously didnt mean it in a derogitory manner.
Golfweek – I really dont fault them. Insensitive… yes. But as I said above, that is the media. It just happens that for some it is easier to brush off, and for others it seems that they can’t move on.
Todd
Jan 20, 2008 at 8:50 am
Thankfully seanor is gone,but i question the upper ranks from golf week,,didn’t they think about how this issue would be perceived from golf readers and the general population alike,,they should have let it pass,,just like Tiger did, the fine,fine young man that he is.Unfortunatley Ms Tilgmans mistake of a remark will more than likely not be forgotten for some time thanks to golf weeks publication of this article and the rev. al sharpton who by the way probably woudn’t have said a thing if Kelly was of a different color..
Ryan
Jan 20, 2008 at 5:31 am
This is terrible, yes the cover caught my attention but in a bad way. It is bad enough Kelly Tilghman had to have a two week suspension from the golf channel and now GolfWeek magazine continues the Kelly Tilghman slip out ACCIDENT by putting a noose on the cover. The media should just leave her alone, she apologized to Tiger Woods and Tiger accepted her apology, that is done. There should be no more talk about what happened that day. GolfWeek magazine is just making things worst. In addition, the cover they chose for GolfWeek’s magazine is a nightmare. That picture offends people and it brings back bad memories. I can’t believe how GolfWeek could even think of choosing a cover like that.
habana
Jan 19, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Kelly spoke without thinking. Golfweek had a week to think about this cover. Both were wrong, but tell me which is worse.
John
Jan 19, 2008 at 11:25 am
Mr. Seanor should have lost his job! The way to deal with people like Al Sharpton, publicity whores who will jump on any media opportunity to flog themselves, is to ignore them. Take the higher ground. You can editorialize, but for Golfweek to take this step, to attempt to profit off of what was really a minor slip on Kelly Tilghman’s part, is reprehensible. Golfweek can forget about my subscription.