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GolfWRX Morning 9: Mother Nature leads BMW Champ | Spieth in trouble? | DJ & Paulina split?

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7 years ago

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

September 10, 2018

Good Monday morning, golf fans.
1. Mother Nature wins BMW Championship
It ain’t over yet, but Mother Nature has had her way with Aronomink. After a total washout Sunday, the pros will give it another go today. With more of the wet stuff expected to hit the already saturated course, there’s a real possibility the tournament could either be shortened to 54 holes or finish Tuesday, depending on how many players finish their final rounds, Monday.
  • Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”The PGA Tour needs some help from Mother Nature to avoid a worst-case scenario in its third playoff event…The final round of the BMW Championship was wiped out Sunday after a steady, all-day rain further soaked an already-waterlogged Aronimink Golf Club. The course has taken on more than three inches of rain in the past 36 hours.”
  • “Tour officials are optimistic that play will be able to resume at 7:30 a.m. ET – there’s potentially a window of opportunity between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. – but the forecast still calls for moderate to heavy rain early before thunderstorms develop later in the day. Slugger White, the Tour’s vice president of rules and competition, said that Aronimink’s staff would need at least 2 ½ hours of uninterrupted work to properly prepare the course for play. He said the condition of the fairways and back nine are his “biggest concern.”
  • “Per Tour regulations, at least half of the 69-man field needs to finish the final round by Monday night to go into a Tuesday finish; otherwise, the 54-hole scores stand. White said that they wouldn’t even attempt to begin the final round if they weren’t confident that at least half the field could finish – even though next week is the lone off-week for players in the playoffs.”
Mike McAllister, PGA Tour...”Depending on how quickly the course can dry up, a window of weather opportunity exists Monday between approximately 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Even if the final round isn’t completed Monday, PGA TOUR regulations state that the tournament will extend to Tuesday if at least half the field can finish their rounds on Monday.”
  • “White did say the final round would not start on Monday if tournament officials don’t think half the field can finish. If that happens, then the tournament would revert to the 54-hole leaderboard for the final results.”
Geoff Shackelford had an interesting take/reminder…“Let’s establish three very simple facts:–Rain rarely occurs in California from May through October—When a golf tournament is played in California, it finishes in prime time for more than half the country and garners a much bigger rating, no matter who is contending–Golf is played outdoors. It is much better when rain does not interfere with the proceedings.
Ok, technically I’ve presented four simple facts.
  • “As we were reminded again last week after what has actually been a good-weather season in golf, the sport featuresmany overpaid individuals who continue to sign up their major events on the east coast at times of year when rain can (will) be an issue. The PGA Tour set its playoffs for midwest and northeast venues, with a finish in Atlanta at a boring culmination architecturally that will be even less glamorous in 2019.”
2. Bubble anxiety
How will they even sleep?!
  • Golfweek’s Dan Kilbridge looks at the bubble…”Rose would gladly take a full rainout for his third win of the season. So would a host of guys inside the Tour Championship bubble in the projected FedEx Cup standings. Patton Kizzire (28th), Marc Leishman (29th) and Keegan Bradley (30th) would all advance to East Lake if the remainder of the BMW Championship gets called off.”
  • “Jordan Spieth began the week inside the top 30 but has since moved to 31st, as he stands T-39 through 54 holes. He’s the odd man out unless the Tour can eke out another 18 holes over the next two days. Emiliano Grillo (31st), Andrew Putnam (32nd) and Ryan Armour (32nd) would also see their seasons come to an end.”
  • “Tiger Woods would be on to Atlanta in that scenario, entering the final round projected at 24th in the points standings. Woods shared the 18-hole lead with McIlroy after a thrilling 8-under 62, but the putter has cooled off in two rounds since. He carded a bogey-free 66 Saturday and still left disappointed after missing a handful of solid birdie looks. He’s currently T-11 and five shots off the lead at 11 under.”
Also notable: If no more holes are played and Justin Rose wins, he’ll reportedly become the new World No. 1
3. Fitzmagic redux
My dear friend, John Huggan, wrote about Matthew Fitzpatrick’s determined performance to take the European Masters.
  • “He made hard work of it, but for the second straight year Matt Fitzpatrick is the Omega European Masters champion. Despite battling an unreliable long game over most of the final day-many shots finished left of their targets-the 24-year-old Englishman got himself round Switzerland’s endlessly picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre course in 67 to reach 17 under par for the week and into a playoff with Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard.”
  • “It took only one extra hole to settle matters. Having birdied the 402-yard par-4 18th from eight feet to make it to extra holes, Fitzpatrick repeated the feat half an hour later-this time from 15 feet-to clinch his fifth European Tour victory and the €418,660 first prize. He also became the first repeat winner of the event since Seve Ballesteros in 1977-’78.”
  • “All of which will go at least some way to making up for not qualifying for what would have been a second Ryder Cup appearance in France later this month. Needing a victory at the Made in Denmark event last week to claim the final automatic spot in the 12-man squad, Fitzpatrick could do no better than finish T-7.”
4. Spieth in trouble?
Spieth could find himself in a tough, and potentially expensive, position if the BMW Championship doesn’t go another round-or if it does, and the Texan plays poorly.
  • Golf Channel’s Nick Menta…”The 2015 FedExCup winner is currently projected 31st in the playoff standings through 54 holes at Aronimink, with only the top 30 advancing to the Tour Championship at East Lake.”
  • “As the Associated Press pointed out earlier this week, a tour policy requires pros to play at least 25 events in a season or to add a new event that they haven’t played in the last four. Spieth made only 22 starts last season and did not add a new event to his schedule this season.”
  • “His appearance at the Ryder Cup will get him to 24 starts, but he’ll need to qualify for the Tour Championship to avoid running afoul of the policy.”
  • “Per an ESPN.com report, “If he fails to qualify and comes up short, it is unclear what would happen. No player has violated the policy, but the tour’s regulations stipulate that he could receive a major fine (believed to be $20,000) or a suspension.”
5. Football coach Furyk
Golfweek’s Forecaddie looks at the U.S. Ryder Cup captain (a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan) through the prism of football coachdom.
  • “So do speeches at these things, preferably of the motivational variety. Furyk is hard at work on his words of wisdom for the squad, and, given that he’s a football fanatic, TMOF wondered if Furyk’s style will be closer to player’s coach or disciplinarian.”
  • “More Pete Carroll or Tom Coughlin?…”Players, for sure,” Furyk told TMOF. “I’m not sure in the Ryder Cup the disciplinarian thing would quite fly, but these are my peers too. I’ve played alongside these guys for so long, not only played with them but (coached) as a vice-captain. I’m a lot older than most of them, but I’d say players coach for sure.”
6. Rumor mill: DJ & Paulina Edition
Do we care? Should we care? Is it our business?
Probably. Probably not. No.
  • Nevertheless, as this newsletter is an ear toward the conversations of the golf world, this is a golf-related topic being discussed at the Maxims, Barstool Sports, and Big Leads of the world: Paulina Gretzky has removed all images of her and Dustin Johnson from her famed Instagram, leading many to draw the conclusion that she is no longer together with DJ.
No official word from anyone, of course.
7. A Swedish flavor at the Ladies French
BBC Report…”Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall carded a bogey-free final round of nine-under par 62 to win the Ladies French Open by two shots.”
  • “The lowest round of the week handed Hedwall a sixth Ladies European Tour win and first since 2012….South Africa’s Stacy Lee Bregman shot a five-under 66 in her final round to finish second.
  • Scotland’s Carly Booth finished tied for 11th, five shots off the pace, after a final round of level-par 71.”
8. Identical twins for the win!
How about this? A pair of identical Danes led their team to WATC title.
  • Golfworld’s Ryan Herrington…”Denmark had played in the World Amateur Team Championship 24 previous times but never won the biennial competition that pits the countries of the world in a stroke-play event. But on Saturday at Ireland’s Carton House Golf Club, all that changed thanks to the standout play of a pair of identical twins: Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard.”
  • “With nine holes to play in the 72-hole tournament, Denmark, the United States, Spain and New Zealand were all tied for the team title at 34 under par. The 17-year-old Hojgaard then made eight birdies between them on the O’Meara Course to beat the Americans by one stroke, the closest finish in the WATC since 1968.”
  • “Nicolai finished the day with a seven-under 66 while Rasmus shot a 67. Their teammate, John Axelsen, shot a non-counting 69 in the play-three-count-two format. The Danes’ final score was a 39-under 541 total.”
9. A Nicklaus-designed (mini) golf course

Neil Sagebiel at Armchair Golf Blog had this bit.

  • “The Gold Cub Mini Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus design, opened recently in Jupiter, Florida…”We went through the same thought process in the design as we would on a full-sized course,” said Nicklaus Design Associate Chad Goetz via WPTV. “We hope the result is something very different than the typical miniature golf experience, and one that is enjoyable for golfers and nongolfers alike.”
One can assume a left-to-right bank shots are favored…

 

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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.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. I actually am interested

    Sep 10, 2018 at 7:39 pm

    The real mystery about DJ and Paulina is why aren’t we allowed to talk about it in the forum?

    Reply Report comment

  2. the dude

    Sep 10, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    gotta love how GWRX posts an article on DJ and Paulina…..then locks up a thread on the same subject……#lame

    Reply Report comment

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News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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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

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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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