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Tour Rundown: No Fooling! Kisner, McDowell, McCarthy and more

Published

6 years ago

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We had too much fun with yesterday’s April Fools Day version of Tour Rundown. We hope that our fictions weren’t as convincing as, say Hayden “Sidd” Finch was, so many years ago in Sports Illustrated. In this week’s true Tour Rundown, we look at Kevin Kisner match-play work in Austin, while Graeme McDowell returned to victory lane with a title in the Dominican Republic. Elsewehere, the LPGA crowned Nasa Hasaoka queen of Carlsbad, and the European and Champions tours recognized Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and the USA’s Kevin Sutherland as rightful claimants to the Savannah and Rapiscan titles.

1. Kisner’s WGC Match Play title caps head-to-head run

With the exception of a little international friendly last fall in France, Kevin Kisner has been the match-play story of the past 365 days. The South Carolinian finished as runner-up to Bubba Watson in 2018. In 2019, he returned to Austin and went one step farther, claiming the coveted title. Kisner defeated Matt Kuchar in the final, closing with stellar grace under pressure. His composure had European Ryder Cup stalwart, Lee Westwood, chirping earlier in the week that Kisner’s match-play game would certainly have shone well
at Le Golf National, for last year’s Ryder Cup matches. Both finalists survived harrowing finishes in Sunday morning’s semifinal matches. Each pulled out a 1-up victory over Francesco Molinari (Kisner) and Lucas Bjerregaard (Kuchar.) In the final match, Kisner took the lead on the 1st hole with birdie and never gave it back. Kuchar returned to all square on one occasion, when he made par to Kisner’s bogey at the 5th. Kuchar would win just one more hole (the 9th) and his only birdies would be halved by Kisner. On a day when he needed more, Kuchar did not produce and Kisner’s 2-under effort through 16 holes, brought him a 3-and-2 victory. The match play never fails to deliver some good, some bad, and some unusual. Have a look.

2. Graeme McDowell claims fourth PGA tour title at Dominican debut

Beginning in 2010 with the US Open, Graeme McDowell has spaced out his 4 PGA Tour victories nicely. Wins in 2013, 2015, and 2019 put him on the verge of joining a solid group with 5 titles and 1 major. The majority of his success came earlier in his career, on the European tour, where he claimed 10 titles from 2002 to 2014. This week, McDowell made the most of the event opposite the WGC Match Play, holding off Mackenzie Hughes and Chris Stroud by one stroke for victory in the inaugural Puntacana Championship. McDowell positioned himself as the target with twin, middle rounds of 64, then opened Sunday with 4 birdies through the first 7 holes to preserve his lead. Hughes, Stroud and others were relentless, but McDowell survived a bogey at the turn and came to the last with 2 strokes in hand. He played the final fairway calmly, closing with bogey for -18 and his welcome margin of victory. A playoff wouldn’t have fazed the Northern Irishman, as he holds a 5-1 record in pro extra time. With the Masters around the corner, victory gives the one-time major champion an extra boost of confidence on the road to Augusta.

3. Hataoka holds off handful of pursuers to claim LPGA’s Kia Classic

After a clean card of 8 birdies and 0 bogies produced a 64 and a healthy lead on Saturday, Nasa Hataoka found herself in a common position in professional golf: in need of a strong final round to fend off the chasers. The young Japanese golfer had many pursuers on Sunday, and 5 of them reached 15-under par at day’s end. Hataoka simply gave them no chance at recovery; she posted 5 more birdies through 15 holes in round 4, and when she finally made a bogey at 16 (only her 3rd of the week) she immediately rebounded with birdie at 17 to reach -18 and secure a 3-shot win over the quintet. Keep in mind that her pursuers included Inbee Park, Sung Hyung Park, Danielle Kang and other, worthy opponents. The trophy was Hataoka’s 3rd in 2 years on tour, marking her as yet another young stalwart with a chance at victory each week on the women’s tour.

4. Gallacher claims victory on the moon at European Tour’s Hero Indian Open

The USA’s Julian Suri let another title slip away in India this weekend, but his story is not the compelling one. The headlines belong, rightfully so, to Stephen Gallacher. A 40-something pro from Scotland, Gallacher made a name for himself mid-decade, with back-to-back wins at the Dubai Desert Classic. Tournament titles have been sparse for the Scotsman in his 20 years on tour. Sunday’s victory at the course from the moon, aka Boulder City, was a complete surprise, and an inspiration for those still grinding in the late stages of their careers. What made the win even more unlikely for Gallacher was the marking of a quadruple-bogey 8 on his card in round 4. The 7th hole gave him fits all week, despite a birdie there in round 1. Rather than simply disappearing into a fog of frustration, Gallacher recovered with 6 birdies over the next 11 holes. A birdie at the last was enough to push him past Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, to -9 on the week and victory. With a 1-2 record in European Tour playoffs, outright triumph certainly suited Gallacher better than extra holes.

5. McCarthy’s return complete with Web.Com tour triumph

If you followed him in 2016, Dan McCarthy was the dominating force on the PGA Tour’s Canadian circuit. He was poised to repeat this success in 2017 and 2018, but caution following injury slowed his progress. Fully healthy in 2019, McCarthy reclaimed the mastery with a first Web.Com victory at the Savannah Championship. The champion opened with rounds of 67 and 65, but faced a test with 4 bogeys on Saturday. Still in a tie for the lead on Sunday morning, the Syracuse native played consistent golf on day four. His 4-birdie, 1-bogey effort separated him from 3rd-round co-leader Scottie Scheffler. The UTexas alum played the first 12 holes erratically, then caught fire with birdies at 14-16. Bogey at 17 dropped Scheffler from the lead, and he was unable to birdie the last to force a playoff. With the win, McCarthy moved inside the top 10 on the season’s chase for 25 PGA Tour cards.

6. Seven-hole playoff finishes Monday at Champions Tour

Scott Parel has played very good golf the past 2 years on the Champions Tour. He did so again on Sunday, finishing at -7 through 3 rounds. Kevin Sutherland played terrific golf on Friday-Saturday, but not so much on Sunday. His closing 75, lowlighted by 0 birdies on the day, dropped him to -7, into a playoff with Parel. The two headed off to extra holes, but were unable to decide a winner through 5 attempts. Return to the course on Monday, they did, and two more holes were needed before Sutherland dropped a decent putt for birdie and the title. The victory was Sutherland’s 2nd on the senior circuit, coming two seasons after he closed 2017 with a win at the Charles Schwab Cup championship.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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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

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Jul 29, 2025

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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

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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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WITB

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