News
Rory McIlroy questions the merit of internet sensation Hosung Choi’s Pebble Beach invite
Rory McIlroy’s frankness has at times rubbed people the wrong way, but a large portion of golf fans appreciate his openness and honesty when speaking to the media, and for those fans at least, McIlroy obliged once again this week while discussing the internet sensation Hosung Choi.
Choi, who has become a cult hero in the golfing world for his unusual behavior on the course, will make his first ever start on the PGA Tour at next month’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the age of 45. Though the majority of golf fans were thrilled when the news broke and are excited to see him in action stateside, McIlroy, while speaking before this week’s Farmers Insurance Open, questioned whether the viral star deserved his place in the field.
“Whether he should be taking a spot away from a PGA Tour player at a PGA Tour event, I’m not so sure.”
The Irishman’s statement is surprising since the South Korean tasted victory on the Japan Golf Tour back in November and has risen over 300 places in the Official World Golf Ranking in just 12 months, to a career-high position of 193rd in the world. But while McIlroy appears skeptical over the merit of Choi’s invite, he revealed his positive take on the 45-year-old’s swing.
“I mean, technically his swing is good. If you watch it up until impact, he’s technically got a pretty good swing. He’s obviously a pretty good player.”
Concerning Choi’s antics following making impact with the ball, while the majority of golf fans find Choi’s reactions both fascinating and hilarious, McIlroy believes that the South Korean may be trying a little too hard.
“I’m not sure a golf shot should mean that much to you that you’re doing that after you hit it like it’s just trying a little too hard. You have to try hard at golf, but that’s taking it to an extreme.”
Rory McIlroy is playing this week’s Farmers Insurance Open for the first time and tees it up in today’s opening round alongside Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott on Torrey Pines’ South Course.
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...
Lovejoy
Jan 27, 2019 at 8:58 am
McIlroy is a fool with no authority to question sponsor’s invites and if he’s so concerned about players lacking merit taking tournament spots why doesn’t he go to the Tour and ask for all exemptions to be cancelled and restoration of qualifying rounds?
Nathan
Jan 26, 2019 at 5:25 am
Did Rory get sponsor invites when he was starting out ?? I haven’t looked into it –
but I’m sure he would of.
Liberty Apples
Jan 25, 2019 at 11:10 pm
When Rory puts up the $7.6 million, he can decide who’s in the field. Until then, zip it.
ND Hickman
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:24 pm
I’m inclined to agree. It feels like Choi (entertaining as he is) is being given the spot in place of someone potentially more deserving.
TZ
Jan 27, 2019 at 9:33 am
Deserve has nothing to do with it!
ND Hickman
Jan 28, 2019 at 3:25 am
Cool so why not invite more ladies to play in men’s events?
Jose Pinatas
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:19 pm
This is good for the game, and will get more people to pay attention. No different than giving sponsor exemptions to Steph Curry, Michelle Wie, or any other well liked/popular person. Rory can say what he wants when a reporter asks a question, it’s his opinion and we should leave it at that.
FritoBandito
Jan 25, 2019 at 12:18 pm
The dude has won as much the past year or so as McIlroy. I question Rory’s merits since the new drug testing policy.
ht
Jan 25, 2019 at 11:04 am
I don’t dislike Rory, but it seems like he’s been salty over the past 1-2 years for the sake of being salty. This is the kind of thing that gets people to tune in and it’s the reason sponsors are given exemptions.
TonyK
Jan 24, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Choi partially lost his right-hand thumb when he was 20 years old while he was working in the fishing industry (hence the “fisherman’s” swing). After working as a driving range attendant, he started playing golf at the age of 25. Became the pro at 27 in just 15 months. You may not like his swing, but how could anyone not love his story?
Eric Vallee
Jan 24, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Sponsors exemptions are common place. Selling tickets is the whole point of them. This happens almost every week. This guy just happens to be outlandish.
NA NA
Jan 24, 2019 at 12:57 pm
hater
Tay
Jan 24, 2019 at 11:23 am
They should give Choi an exemption into an event where Rory is playing and pair them together for the first two rounds!!!!!!!!!!
Shallowface
Jan 24, 2019 at 10:32 am
Choi will actually sell some tickets, unlike most of the players playing today. Drawing money, eyeballs and putting people in seats is the only thing that matters in the entertainment business, of which professional golf is a very small part.
Professional entertainers, no matter the variety, need to remember that the ONLY reason they get to do that which they do is because someone wants to watch it. Professional golfers historically are among the most forgetful of this most basic of principles.
Dave
Jan 24, 2019 at 10:38 am
I think you are spot on but I also think that Rory has a legit point. He is taking the place of someone “more” deserving. I, for one, am pretty excited to watch Choi play. From an entertainment standpoint, this will be awesome. If Choi makes the cut, the weekend will be awesome. Maybe even pair him with Rory!
1 iron
Jan 24, 2019 at 9:57 pm
What’s the matter Rory., you afraid he may take away your thunder
MhtLion
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:20 pm
I think we can also say whoever sells more tickets and earns more viewing is more deserving. Shallowface is spot on. This is an entertainment industry, not academic.