News
Brandel Chamblee qualified for the Senior Open
Love him or hate him, you’ll now be able to watch him in the Senior Open Championship. That’s right, golf fans, Brandel Chamblee has qualified for the Senior Open—and the Golf Channel analyst did so in impressive fashion.
The 56-year-old arrived at Scotscraig Golf Club in Tayport, one of the four Senior British Open qualifying sites, the morning after coverage for the The Open concluded. Chamblee was on of 596 entrants trying to fill the 26 available spots.
And fill a spot he did, earning co-medalist honors with a 2-under 69.
The one-time PGA Tour winner stepped away from the sport in 2003. However, he told Golf Digest, the prospect of a Senior Open at St Andrews wasn’t something he could pass up.
He also told GD, “I get a chuckle out of people who try to denigrate my career…I was an extraordinary golfer. I say that with all humility. There are 25 million who play this game, and I was 58th in the world. I was a decent tour player. I played at the highest level for the better part of 15 years. At times I got damn close to being really good.
Chamblee hasn’t played a Tour event since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2008. The Senior Open starts Thursday.
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...
Brent
Jul 29, 2018 at 8:08 am
That face sums up everything I hate about him.
Jack Nash
Jul 25, 2018 at 8:59 pm
One would think if you reached #58 in the world you’d be able to hit the Senior Tour @50. Maybe Brandel figured a steady pay day @GC would be easier than trying beat old guys.
Walt Pendleton
Jul 25, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Com’on Brandell…you personally can’t say, “It’s with great humility – I was an extraordinary player!” The word extraordinary or humility have never been used to describe your go’f skills nor your personality traits.
Fang
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Yeah not extraordinary, just one in 12 million. Anyone who plays of single figures is extraordinary, let alone makes money as a pro.
Christian
Jul 26, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Hey Fang, The object of your affection shot an opening +5. Just eleven players were worse, and add Woosnam who withdrew. Mr. Chamblee could really use your support if you want him to play on the weekend with the leaders at -7. Say a prayer for two other commentators, Brad Faxon and Sir Nick Faldo, who are both at +4.
Jim
Jul 25, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Congratulations and good luck, Brandel from a guy who enjoys your observations and commentary about all things golf!
Fang
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:28 pm
Yeah not extraordinary, just one in 12 million. Anyone who plays of single figures is extraordinary, let alone makes money as a pro.
Dave r
Jul 25, 2018 at 12:38 pm
Brandel you go girl . Who’s going to cretic your swing and putting stroke when your done after round two. After all your criticisms of top notch players I thought you would crawl back under your rock and just go away. But no not so lucky we will never hear the end of it. Don’t let your elbow bend by trying to pat yourself on the back while trying to swing you’ll shank it.
Fang
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Dave, would you like to try that again in English?
Tartan Golf Travel
Jul 24, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Well done. I don’t understand the hate either. He is a commentator hence he is paid to give his opinion. Congrats. Play well.
rex235
Jul 24, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Congratulations to Brandel Chamblee on qualifying for the 2018 British Senior Open, to be held at the Old Course at St Andrews!
Stay out of the boonkers..
Christian
Jul 24, 2018 at 4:10 pm
A former PGA tour professional qualifies for the Senior Open. This is not surprising as those who play competitive golf in college and professionally have the edge in a qualifier. I think it is clear from the comments that Brandel is a polarizing figure. He is paid to be critical of players, but I would find it hard to be Frank Nobilo and not give him a nuggie and mess up his hair every time he pontificates as if he were the arbiter of professional golf.
Fang
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:31 pm
A lot of former PGA tour professionals didn’t qualify.
Christian
Jul 25, 2018 at 9:34 pm
What a bizarre and vapid attempt at trolling. Just what is the exact number of former PGA tour professionals who ATTEMPTED to qualify, but actually didn’t? My point is that it is not that unusuaI, and kudos for obtaining a spot. I said nothing to diminish his golfing career or ability. It will be interesting to see how he does up against those who train, play, and practice week in and week out on the PGA Tour Champions. Like many here, I find his commentating off putting in style and substance. It appears that you have appointed yourself as the protector of Mr. Chamblee and as such, what a sad existence you have carved out for yourself.
forgedforever
Jul 24, 2018 at 3:26 pm
“I was an extraordinary golfer. I say that with all humility” Brandel, congratulations on the achievement. But from what I have observed
over the years very little you say is with humility.
Andrew Cooper
Jul 24, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Well played Brandel. Impressive, given how long he’s been away from competitive golf. +$4m career earnings – obviously he can play and really has nothing to prove to anybody – but he still put his reputation on the line here and I know some would’ve loved to see him fail. Good luck for ST Andrews!
Curt
Jul 24, 2018 at 2:47 pm
I’m just not sure by this pic whether Brandel is trying to KISS the ball or hit it.
Geohogan
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:48 pm
The pucker is his way of saying, KISS my a…
to his haters!
rymail00
Jul 25, 2018 at 12:43 am
What do they call it, duck face or something dumb like that on Facebook (no idea I may be waaaay off on that)?
I’m happy for him for qualifying but if he plays horrible I hope they tear into to him like he does with other golfers (highly unlikely though). Kind of like if you can give the heat you better be able to accept it as well.
Just my $.02
Tom
Jul 24, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Are those bowling shoes he is wearing?
Smith
Jul 24, 2018 at 10:56 am
Would actually love to know what’s in the bag. If he hasn’t played seriously for some time, is he using his sticks that are a few years old, or is he a ho?
Ben Jones
Jul 24, 2018 at 10:52 am
Kinda reminds me of Tom Watson’s swing. Check it out on Youtube.
2putttom
Jul 24, 2018 at 10:47 am
well shoot. now he’s gotta find somebody to carry his bag. Any takers?
Commoner
Jul 24, 2018 at 10:26 am
Perhaps much of the criticism and even hate of Chamblee is based in contempt and envy of his intellect and articulateness, both of which put him in a superior grouping. He earned his way to this tournament and to the Tour (prior) while we were wishing we could!
Macualay Culkin Jr
Jul 24, 2018 at 12:39 pm
He is a self appointed intellectual. Like most academics.If he was truly as smart as he pretends to be he would not be a commentator on the Golf Channel.
P.S. I wonder how long it will be until his youthful wife dumps him for a younger man? Its bound to happen.
DB
Jul 24, 2018 at 2:14 pm
So you’re saying if he’s truly so smart he should have some skin in the game? He should do something like, I don’t know… qualifying for the Senior Open?
A wife dumps her husband for a younger man? Haha. No. Have you been around women IRL? Wives typically dump their husbands for higher-status men. Brandel is wealthy, on TV, and a professional golfer. Chances are he’ll be fine.
Commoner
Jul 24, 2018 at 3:01 pm
You are a small person.
Chuck
Jul 24, 2018 at 9:10 am
We have so many Brandel Chamblee comments all the time; I’m actually curious to see what he, as a non-regular non-tour player, is playing with this week. Brandel Chamblee WITB, please!
Tim J
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:47 am
Good for him. He is a pro golfer. Likely better than anyone reading this.
carl
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:30 am
no way he makes the cut. he does not have enough shaft lean
juststeve
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:30 am
The best you guys have is a comment about his lips at the top of his swing. Pretty weak.
DB
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:23 am
Good for him. I don’t understand the hate. To qualify for this event with limited practice time is pretty impressive.
Jamie
Jul 24, 2018 at 10:14 am
The cuck cries “hate” as he strikes you.
Briny Baird
Jul 24, 2018 at 8:02 am
Would love to see Tiger pick his swing apart.
larrybud
Jul 24, 2018 at 7:57 am
I have to give him props, to go out and fire a 69 after being away from competitive golf for so long is pretty impressive.
Square
Jul 24, 2018 at 4:21 am
Why the Tom Kite lips Brandel?
D
Jul 24, 2018 at 3:23 am
Great job Mr Chamblee!
Jamie
Jul 24, 2018 at 12:36 am
Neil Diamond, meet Brandel.
Moses
Jul 24, 2018 at 12:08 am
Great. Now we gotta hear him yammer about what a great golfer he is.
Curt
Jul 23, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Brandel – Dont do that with you lips in your transition. Please.
Matt
Jul 23, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Why is he performing the “duck face” mid backswing…? Brandel drives me nuts … ripped Tiger to shreds the last few years on how he was never going to win again… and then is on the Tiger bandwagon last weekend picking him to win. Now it is time to see how he performs!
Brian
Jul 23, 2018 at 8:41 pm
awesome. great to see him qualify