News

“Dual” In The Sun – Miami & San Juan See PGA Tour Action

Published

14 years ago

Mar 8, 2011

By Scott MacLeod, via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

No, it’s not the classic 1977 battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry being repeated this week but two PGA Tour events being run simultaneously in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Understandably the larger slice of the attention will be given to the best players in the world looking to win the second World Golf Championships event of the season, the Cadillac Championship. Ernie Els will defend this week at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

Tiger Woods does make his return this year but how he will fare is an enigma at best. The same can be said for Phil Mickelson who has so far not showed the greatest form but is reported to be spending more of his attention focused on defending his Masters title in a few weeks.

Europe is grabbing the bulk of the headlines at Doral, and specifically the players who originate from there. The top four players in the Official World Golf Rankings are now from Europe, the first time that has been the case since March of 1992.

World #1 Martin Kaymer met the media on Tuesday and appeared very relaxed; he’s taking his top spot in stride. “This is what I always wanted to do,” said the German who surged to the premier position at the last World Golf Championships event. “I can always say I have been #1,” he stated, adding that he feels no extra pressure and he expects to keep playing golf in the same relaxed way he always has.

Although Kaymer relishes having achieved his goal of becoming the best player in the world it was obvious Tuesday that he believes it will be hard to maintain that position with so many players close in points. In the wake of the battle between Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel at last year’s tournament few will recall that it was Kaymer who shared third place with Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington, making him the 26-year old a legitimate threat this week.

No matter how Kaymer plays the World Golf Rankings will be shifting this week with all of the Top 50 players in the field at Doral. Of the 68 players in the field there are 19 countries represented, including 44 international players. It truly is a “World Tour” type event.

Note: Peter Senior, who qualified via his No. 2 finish on the Australasian Tour, will be 51 years, 7 months, 13 days when the 2011 Cadillac Championship begins. Senior will be the third player over the age of 50 years to play in World Golf Championships event (Jay Haas/6 and Fred Funk/2). Senior will be the oldest player to compete at the Cadillac Championship and the second oldest to tee it up at a World Golf Championships event.

World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship

Dates: March 9-13, 2011

Where: TPC Blue Monster at Doral Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort

Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,266

Format: Four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition; no cut

Defending Champion: Ernie Els

Purse: $8,500,000; Winner’s Share: $1.4 million

Meanwhile, 1,000 miles east of Miami there is a more stringent struggle going on between the second-tier players of the PGA Tour. With it being so early in the season it is imperative that players pile up as much cash as possible.

Although the Puerto Rico Open offers a first price of less than half that in Miami ($630,000 vs. $1.4 million) they are critical dollars for rookies after the recent re-shuffle. Many will not be eligible to get into another PGA Tour event for quite a time so this is where they can make a big impact on their 2011 season.

Derek Lamely became the third winner of this tournament in 2010, following on the heels of Greg Kraft and Michael Bradley. Lamely is back to defend in his seventh start of the year and his 3^rd appearance at this event. He has had quite a run in Puerto Rico having never finished outside of the top-13.

Among those highlighting the field at the Trump International Golf Club –Puerto Rico will be several past major champions such as Stewart Cink, John Daly, Lee Janzen and Angel Cabrera. It’s a special for week for two-time major champion Cabrera as his son Frederico is among the Sponsor’s Exemption and will be making his first start on the PGA Tour.

2011 Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com

Dates: March 7-13, 2011

Where: Trump International Golf Club; Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,526

Field: 132

Format: 72-hole stroke play

Defending Champion: Derek Lamely

Purse: $3,500,000; Winner’s Share: $630,000

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

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

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

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

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

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)