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A Feat to Make Giants Weep
I thought I saw a tear in Arnold Palmer’s eye while he was hugging Tiger after the young master’s Herculean putt today to win Arnie’s Invitational.
That putt had to have invoked spontaneous fist-pumping from Arnie, Jack, Watson, MIller, Snead, Hogan, Jones, and all the golf gods, here and gone, blessed enough to have tasted that rare drink of sudden victory.
My guess is that Earl Woods himself slammed his own hat down on a cloud and rose his fists of glory to the sky. Earl’s good work continues to rumble and grow within his son.
And where were all the immortal sports announcers with their favorite catch phrases? If ever there was a time to utter them, now is that freakin’ time. “BOOM!” Indeed!
That’s all I’ve got. Go read the journalistic accounts. Go peruse the hyperbolic ramblings. Go see the replay of the putt that changed golf forever. But trust me – it’s too big for your eyes or your mind. Tonight, look in the golf sky. The balance of the galaxy has been changed.
What I’ll remember and cherish from this moment is the sound — the thud and explosion when that ball dropped into the hole. The sound was physical. Its vibrations blew the hat off Tiger’s head and into his hand, too hot to handle. It stood all of us up. It struck our hearts, amazed our minds, and squeezed out tears of thankfulness that we were witness to such epic drama.
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...
Juansky
Mar 20, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I bet Tiger goes undefeated this year and he’ll most likely bag all 4 majors indeed. Time will tell and I just can’t wait for the first Major! It will be electrifying to say the least!
Arriba Tiger Woods!
golfebj
Mar 19, 2008 at 9:23 am
I think we have to remind ourselves that we are watching history in the making.
Like some kids our now growing up never seeing Jordan, Gretzky, Sampras hit the court and ice. I never saw Jack and Arnie play until well past their prime but the legend is unwavering I can appreciate them.
When they greats of the game are as astounded by what they see as we are…truly something special is happening.
Calvin
Mar 18, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Great Article!
8thehardway
Mar 18, 2008 at 4:02 am
I certainly agree – Tiger is art… maybe martial art off the tee and a ball-striking ballet of one on the fairways. And yeah, tears of admiration is the purest response – great observation!
A small clarification – the “innocence” I spoke of is much closer to anticipation than surprise. In the 1950s Roger Bannister was closing in on a feat some thought impossible – the world’s first sub-4 minute mile and feelings of excitement, uncertainty and anticipation were everywhere. 30 years later top high school runners were breaking the 4 minute mile; in fact it was expected of them and all those wonderful feelings present during Bannister’s banner year are no longer present. Unfortunate, but that’s the way of things. However, if today’s track fans were transported back to 1954, they’ed expect Bannister to accomplish his historic feat and thus miss out on all those great feelings. Likewise, expecting a perfect season from Tiger distances us from his struggle and thus deprives us of some great feelings.
ken
Mar 17, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I won’t say I expected it , then I wont say I was surprised.
Tiger is playing at a level thats hard to comprehend. He putts it so well you almost can ignore his wonderful ball striking.
I don’t think he missed a shot yesterday for sure not down the stretch. I knew he would get better I just had no idea how good he would get. Wow Wow Wow you da man!
Tim Schoch
Mar 17, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Thank you! I’ve been throwing down my hat at times all day!
I think the “innocence†you refer to is the element of surprise. No, we will not be surprised by any of his accomplishments. But I do not sit there “expecting†Tiger to perform miracles…..the thrill for me is that I know it is possible! And that equals major anticipation and the potential to see an event where, no matter what the outcome, there is not a chance of being disappointed as a viewer down to the very last putt.
BTW — Did you notice Johnny Miller tearing up when he was talking to Arnie about asking for his autograph? The best reward a hero can receive are tears of admiration. Then it is Art. That’s what Tiger is giving us. 🙂
8thehardway
Mar 17, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Perfectly put Dave, and an excellent piece Mr. Scotch. His skills are the stuff of legends and the sound of his putts dropping in the cup will echo through time and will. 20 generations of golfers will account us fortunate indeed to have borne witness to his accomplishments.
Yet when the improbable becomes expected, something – wonder, amazement, pick your term – something innocent gets lost. Expecting the improbable dimishes it’s accomplishment; once the mind reframes a task as probable, anything short of perfection is a let down and seen, to a small extent, as a lapse in execution and this in a game where very little is perfect.
He won’t have a perfect season and very likely won’t win all the majors. Were he to win two majors and nothing more the rest of this year he would outperform almost everyone who ever played the game since it was invented and I’d frame it a staggering accomplishment. Rather than a failure to meet my expectations, he would have exceeded them..
David Kellington
Mar 17, 2008 at 2:32 pm
We are blessed to be watching a piece of history. This will no doubt go down as one of Tigers Top 10 clutch moments, and for Mr. Palmer to be there, to embrace Tiger as he did on the 18th green was a magical moment shared between two people who have changed the face of golf like no others ever will. In my opinion this putt will be looked back on as where Tiger took over the 2008 season, on route to being the first player to ever win all four majors, as well as every tournement he played in, in one season. 2008 will be one for the books, I’m going to kick up my feet and watch history being written.
habana
Mar 17, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I told my wife that put is never gonna make it to the hole. She smiled and said just wait
Adam
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:28 am
I most definitely agree. I literally laughed uncontrollably for two or three minutes after that putt dropped because I couldn’t believe it. Rather than question whether he can make it though, I should question why I doubted if he could. I expected that he would win the tournament regardless of what happened on 18, but I also expected that it would be in a playoff as he lined up for the putt.
I just seems like no matter what he does, or who stands in his way…if he is locked in like he is right now, the only way he is going to get beat is if God were to strike him down in his backswing!
Rich Clapper
Mar 17, 2008 at 9:06 am
WOW! That’s all I could say. It seems common now that every time I watch Tiger he does something I know I should expect, yet I still cannot believe. It was really special to see that sort of emotion from him as well. I keep telling myself to remove any limits of success he can reach, and honestly, I’m expecting an undefeated season, grand slam, and a bunch of scoring records. I mean, why not? He truly seems to be in a zone unlike I’ve ever seen. WOW.