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Tour Rundown: Kentucky Derby weekend yields plenty of partying

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6 years ago

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Kentucky Derby weekend, May The Fourth Be With You, Cinco de Mayo, whatever you celebrated over the last three days, the first weekend in May of 2019 was made for a party. Max Homa had a party, as did Scott McCarron, Mikko Korhonen, and Robby Shelton. There were first-time winners on two tours, along with a victory from a golfer who wants to establish himself as his tour’s best, and a winner who nearly gave it all away. Will May 5th be remembered as the start of something special, some day down the road? Have a look and let us know, as we offer up this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour’s Eddie Pepperell-light takes 1st title at Wells Fargo 

Max Homa won’t ever be confused with the wit of Eddie Pepperell, the funniest golf guy on Twitter. Homa has a fine education from Berkley, but his Twitter takes are not nearly as rakish as those of the Englishman. Still, Homa has one more PGA Tour victory than Pepperell, thanks to a victory at Quail Hollow, one of the tour’s most daunting and difficult tracks. Homa, Joel Dahmen and Jason Dufner were all in the mix on Saturday night, but ironically, it was the more-experienced Dufner who caved.

The 2013 PGA Champion blew north to +2 and a 4th-place tie. Dahmen, best known previously for calling out Sung Kang for cheating at the Quicken Loans, followed opening 66s with closing 70s, to finish at -12. A fine performance, to be sure, but Homa ran for homa like a Derby champion on Sunday. 5 birdies and a clean card through 15 holes in round four were enough for the Walker Cupper to make bogey at 16 and still win by 3. Dahmen came 2nd at -12, with Justin Rose in Show position at -11. Homa was part of a stellar 2013 USA Walker Cup side, but transition from top amateur to top pro is an unspecific science. Justin Thomas was a part of that team, as was Michael Kim. Kim has won, and we know what Thomas has done. Homa now joins them as tour winners, but will he reveal more, to get to the next level?

Korhonen captures 2nd European Tour title at China Open

A lot of names were in the mix as the China Open drew to a close this weekend. Benjamin Hebert of France made an attempt to win his first top-shelf professional title A week after claiming his 1st big event, Spain’s Jorge Campillo joined the hunt, in search of a quick 2nd. Mikko Korhonen of Finland birdied the 17th hole to reach 20-under par, then watched as Hebert birdied the 18th to tie him, one shot clear of Campillo. Off to extra holes they went, but the journey was brief. Both golfers returned to the drivable 18th, all of 320 yards, and nearly reached the putting surface. Korhonen was able to get up and down for 3, while Hebert came up shy of a matching birdie. In my opinion, Korhonen’s all-or-nothing approach to the playoff was the correct one. Playing safe with a chance to win is a fool’s errand; when a stroke-play event is down to you and the other guy, go for the win!.

Another Web.Com Tour win for Sweet Home Alabama at the Nasvhille Golf Open

Robby Shelton and Scottie Scheffler played on different astral planes this week. Shelton was 4 better than Scheffler on Thursday. The tables turned as Sheffler went 6 better on Friday. Shelton returned on Saturday with a 9-stroke differential, and Sunday returned the advantage to Scheffler, this time by 7 strokes. Of course, all this topsy-turvy play assured that the two youngsters with unlimited potential would tie for first at -15. One behind them was Sweden’s Henrik Norlander, whose 72nd-hole birdie brought him agonizingly close to the top. S and S headed out to the par-five closer at Nashville GAC.

Shelton had been oh-s0-close this year (come to think of it, so had Scheffler) and fittingly, a birdie on extra hole one by the former University of Alabama golfer brought him his first Web.Com title. As for Scheffler, the former University of Texas athlete had to find consolation in his best Web.Com tour finish of his career. It won’t surprise anyone to see both golfers earn battlefield promotions during the 2019 regular season. Their games are more refined than any other golfers on the Triple-A circuit, and a budding rivalry is the best thing for the tour, and for them. They don’t have to hate each other, but they do have to hate the thought of losing to the other. If we’re lucky, this rivalry will carry all the way to the PGA Tour, where things could really get fun.

The Comeback Kim takes LPGA Tour’s Mediheal Championship in extra time

Sei Young Kim looked for all the world a champion on Saturday afternoon. After 2 holes on Sunday, her disguise came off. A double bogey-bogey start sent her toward a +4 front nine, where she fell hard from the top of the leader board. Fortunately for her, the free run was accepted by no challenger, and a birdie-par-bogey-birdie finish was enough to get the struggling Kim into a playoff with England’s Bronte Law, and Korea’s J Lee6. That’s right, Lee6. Lee6 finished 4-under over the closing 4 holes to nearly snatch a regulation-time victory. After Kim’s eagle effort from off the 18th green just missed, the trio headed back to the home hole’s tee. Kim made yet another birdie to claim victory. After playing the closing hole birdie-eagle-birdie over the first three days, Law parred it twice on Sunday. That’s lack of crunch time experience. Lee6 came closer, with birdie in regulation, but it was the many-times winner Sei Young Kim who gathered herself when the winds had changed against her, and fought back like a lion.

Scott McCarron grabs 2nd PGA Tour Champions win of 2019 at Insperity Invitational

Over Kentucky Derby weekend, betting a guy named “Scott” on the Champions Tour was a sure thing. Figuring out which of the two hot Scotts would be the winner was the greater challenge. Scott McCarron found himself in very good form, having won his 9th career Champions tour event last month in Atlanta. Scott Parel won twice in 2018 and came close earlier this year, losing in a playoff at Rapiscan.

At this week’s Insperity Invitational in Houston’s northern suburbs, McCarron finished at -18 for a 3-shot winner over Parel. Each golfer made 3 bogeys on the week and, while Parel had the edge in eagles (1-0), McCarron had 4 birdies more for the winning margin. It was another 3 strokes back to 3rd place, where 2-time US Open champion Lee Janzen sat. McCarron moved $300K ahead of Kirk Triplett in the Schwab Cup race for 2019 and that’s where he should stay. McCarron is one of those golfers whose best days are ahead of him. He is fit, strong and long, and has a decided advantage over every other golfer on the senior circuit. All that holds him back is himself. McCarron is the guy to put an end to Bernhard Langer’s ridiculous dominance.

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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

on

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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