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GolfWRX Morning 9: Tiger’s Firestone swan song | Golf Digest for sale | Who is Bryson DeChambeau really?

Published

7 years ago

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By Ben Alberstadt (ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com)

 

August 2, 2018

Good Thursday morning, golf fans.

 
1. Golf Digest for sale?

 

Geoff Shackelford writes…”The New York Times’ Edmund Lee and Sapna Maheshwarireport on $120 million in losses for Conde Nast in 2017 and say in an effort to bring in more revenue, the company will be trying to sell three magazines, including Golf Digest.”
  • Quoting the NYT piece…”The $120 million loss in 2017 was the result of a sharp decline in the ad revenue generated by the print magazines. Gains in the digital arena have offset the loss, but not enough to make the company profitable”.
  • “Based in part on the recommendation of Boston Consulting Group, the three magazines that the company will try to sell are Brides, Golf Digest and W, the three executives said.”
  • “John Wagner, who oversees ad spending at the media agency PHD, questioned the company’s strategy, saying that Condé Nast can be “quick to close things, versus trying to find a solution.” He added, “I’d like to see them continue to invest – keep the brands alive, even if you have to change their rate base or publishing frequency.”
2. Woods vs. Mickelson nearer to becoming a reality

 

Per Bob Harig…”Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, said that “we are closer than we have been” to working out the details and that he expected it to occur “this year,” with the location and date still to be determined.”
 
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg says November 23 or 24 will be the date.

 

3. Woods’ Firestone swan song 

 

Quothe the Tiger...”It was brought up to me in Tampa … I need to get in the top 50, or somewhere around there, to be able to make this event. That was certainly a goal of mine,” Woods said Wednesday. “I was just hoping to, one, play the Tour long enough to be able to get an opportunity, but I also had to play well to do it and I was ranked pretty far in the world there. Starting last December, I was about 1,200 in the world and within a year to get down to 50, I think is a pretty good accomplishment, but it also got me into this event.”
It’s a bittersweet return of sorts. The tournament moves to Memphis next year. Firestone, which has held a professional tournament every year since 1954, will instead host the Senior Players Championship on the PGA Tour Champions.
“This event has been very special to me over the years, and it’s sad to see it leave Firestone,” he said. “We certainly understand it. But for me, I’ve always had such great memories of this golf course.”
4. The curious Mr. DeChambeau

 

Shane Ryan discusses the duality of Bryson DeChambeau in his latest piece
  • “Is he some crazy novelty act? Should we judge him by his artistic temperament and his penchant for gadgetry (see: augmented reality helmet, green-reading protractor that forced a USGA to decide its illegality, irons of the same exact length? Is he actually a wild eccentric, a mere cosplayer (dig the old school Hogan-esque flat cap) or something in between?”
  • “The definitive profile on DeChambeau so far was written by Alan Shipnuck, and it’s a story that’s equally about golf science as it is about the subject himself. In that piece, we’re introduced to DeChambeau through two of golf’s iconoclastic nonconformists, David Edel and Mike Schy. The former is a renegade club maker with some outrageous ideas, the latter is a technophile instructor with some complicated notions about the swing. That made them a perfect match for a young DeChambeau”
  • “Try as we might, it’s very difficult this early in his career for any of us to put a label on Bryson DeChambeau the way we might on Jordan Spieth. He is worse at the branding game, but that’s because it’s hard for someone like him to walk a single path. There is too much conflicting information, and it’s this trait-more than the science, more than the art, more than the uncontained emotion-that transcends the fantasy, and evokes a fascination of someone very real. And very human.”

Full piece
5.  7 ways courses can be more welcoming to women

 

Keely Levins (who is emerging as a strong voice at Digest) tallies a number of ways golf courses can be more welcoming to women.
  • A dress code that doesn’t limit you to pants or knee-length shorts.
  • A pro shop that has shirts other than pink or wild prints.
  • Decently sized tee boxes.
  • A stocked locker room.
  • A reasonable yardage.
  • Long par 3’s that remain par 3’s.
  • Bathrooms on the course
6. “Intimidating” amateur golfer (allegedly) forced to withdraw from WMGA event

 

23-year-old Yonkers native Marianna Monaco alleges the WMGA forced her to withdraw from a tournament last week.

 

While stories differ, Monaco says WMGA president, Cheryl Brayman, told her she had to withdraw ahead of the final round of the July 24 Stroke Play Championship. Brayman instructed her she had to write a letter saying she’d WD
  • After a back and forth about what she did wrong that, according to Monaco, didn’t yield any substantive accusations, Brayman reportedly said…”Well, the reason is we feel intimidated by you.”
  • A Mike Zacchio and Mike Dougherty report for the Rockland/Westchester Journal News, indicates Monaco was hitting range balls more than the maximum allowed 180 yards at North Shore Country Club. Monaco disputes this, saying she only hit one such ball before stopping at an employee’s request.
  • She took to Facebook following the withdrawal to voice her grievances.
  • The WMGA released a statement in response
  • “When conducting our tournaments, we require tournament participants to abide by the rules of those host clubs,” it read. “When, as was the case with Ms. Monaco at a recent event, a tournament participant flagrantly violates the rules of a host club, the WMGA takes action to prevent additional violations.
  • “At the event, Ms. Monaco intentionally hit golf balls at the driving range beyond the yardage limits set by the club (beyond those limits is an inhabited public area). Ms. Monaco was requested by the host club to stop her conduct and to conform to their rules. The WMGA reiterated the host club’s request, yet for reasons we cannot comprehend, Ms. Monaco continued to violate the rules and hit balls into the public area.
  • “It was not the first time the WMGA has had issues with Ms. Monaco violating host club policies. Based on her history of inappropriate conduct, the WMGA asked Ms. Monaco to withdraw from the tournament and the WMGA.”
  • Monaco told the Journal News she’s considering taking legal action.
7. Rose beleaguered by back

 

Hoping to be fit for next week’s PGA Championship, Justin Rose, a chronic sufferer of back issues, is experience spasms ahead of the WGC-Bridgestone and has elected to withdraw.
8. Molinari’s key

 

Rex Hoggard writes Molinari doesn’t see great import in his results.
  • The Italian no longer has any of those worries, following his victory at the Quicken Loans with a runner-up showing the next week at the John Deere Classic and his major breakthrough at Carnoustie.
  • “No, I couldn’t, and I don’t think anyone could, to be honest,” Molinari said on Wednesday when asked if he could have seen this run coming. “Golf is a tough sport and you need to be good at not reading too much into results.”
  • “I think I did a really good job of not reading too much into results earlier in the season, when results weren’t coming,” he said. “The goal going forward is just to keep getting better and see where that takes me.”
  • Also, FWIW, the Italian reportedly hasn’t imbibed from the Claret Jug.
9. Place your bets
  • Dustin Johnson +700
  • Rory McIlroy +1200
  • Justin Rose +1200
  • Tiger Woods +1200
  • Jordan Spieth +1800
  • Rickie Fowler +2000
  • Justin Thomas +2000
  • Jason Day +2200
  • Jon Rahm +2500
  • Francesco Molinari +2500
  • Tommy Fleetwood +2500

 

Related Topics:

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Aug 4, 2025

By

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.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 29, 2025

By

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.

 

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

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 28, 2025

By

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)

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WITB

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