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Tour Rundown resumes: Kim, Korda, Hatton, and Clarke take trophies
My predictions are usually declassified, years after the fact, as wretched fails by a desperate prognosticator. Such attachments fail to dissuade me from continuing to prognosticate, and my anticipation for 2021 is that it will be the Year of the Hatton. If interested, read the European Tour summary below.
After two weeks of single events on the PGA Tour, the pistons of three other tours began to pump in week three of January 2021. Such machinations can mean but one glorious thing: the return of Tour Rundown … Olé!
From the LPGA to the PGA, from the Europeans to the Champions, welcome back and welcome home. It’s great to have your eyes on these words again. Sit back and enjoy Tour Rundown número uno for 2021.
PGA Tour: The American Express counts three wins for Kim
Patrick Cantlay probably figured that he needed to make birdie on two-thirds of the holes Sunday, to have a shot at the title at The American Express. It’s not that he feared third-round leader Tony Finau, who has developed an uncomfortable penchant for not closing the deal on Sunday. It’s that too many finishers, starting with Abraham Ancer and Si Woo Kim, were close enough to threaten. On Sunday, Cantlay posted 11 birdies for 61 and came up one shot shy of a playoff. Despite doubling his strokes under par, from -11 to -22, Cantlay found only second spot on the podium.
Prior to Sunday, Si Woo Kim had not won in nearly four years. His last victory, his second, was at The Players Championship in 2017. That’s a pretty strong victory for anyone, so when victory beckoned in Palm Desert, Kim was ready. His round wasn’t as electric as Cantlay’s, but its strength lay in its consistency. Four times on Sunday, Kim made back-to-back birdies. That four-pack of duets totaled eight under par, enough to vault him past Finau (4th place), past a hard-charging Cameron Davis (130 on the weekend for solo 3rd) and Cantlay, to minus-23.
European Tour: Abu Dhabi Classic is Hatton’s sixth tour title
Tyrrell Hatton, Knight of the Thrice Double Consonant, is golf’s heir to the Most Interesting Man crown, worn currently by Miguel Ángel Jiménez. From the coiffed facial hair, to the square jaw, from the clenched-when-not-grinding teeth to the under-his-breath narrative, Hatton oozes hilarity. It’s not that he doesn’t look, sound, nor play like a boss; it’s that the combination of all of his characteristics, mannerisms, and nuances is beyond the pale when it comes to interest and humor. And when he wins, it is glorious.
Hatton’s generation lay in the shadow of one Rory McIlroy. When the Northern Irishman and his massive curls arrived fifteen years back, his counterparts certainly wondered “Why him?” and upped their games. As a result, we have Hatton, Fairway Jesus, Shane Lowry, and others, from the British isles, playing at McIlroy’s level. The shadow has grown weighty for McIlroy, and Hatton is poised to claim it from the four-time major champion.
Hatton posted four bogies on the entirety of the week in the United Arab Emirates this week. McIlroy twice had rounds with four bogies or worse. Hatton is tidy, while poor Rory has grown sloppier with age. In the first and fourth rounds, Hatton posted clean cards, consisting of five or more, sub-par holes. After opening with an eight-birdie, no-bogey effort, McIlroy set sail on the seas of turbulence. What is most enervating about his play is that he finished five back of Hatton, after opening with birdies on two of his first three holes in round four. Where was the continuity of that brilliance? Absent.
In total contrast, Hatton played thorough and conservative golf until the turn of the course arrived in view. Standing one-under on the day and in complete command of his senses and game, the Englishman notched three birdies from holes seven to ten, to seize absolute control of the tournament. Even though Aussie Jason Scrivener would match Hatton’s closing 66, it would gain but a solo second finish, four back of the pride of High Wycombe. Thus spake Zarathustra: 2021 will be the Year of the tight-jawed bloke from Buckinghamshire.
LPGA Tour: Diamond Resorts is Jessica Korda’s sixth tour title
No one, let me restate, NO ONE, should follow up a third-round 60 (featuring a back-nine 28) with a 66—while playing with her younger sister (#4 in the world) and the #5-ranked player (the overnight leader.) Despite the long odds, Jessica Korda did precisely that. After her meteoric rise from nowhere to contention, thanks to a nine-birdie, one-eagle Saturday round, things looked gloomy for Korda early on Sunday. She stood at one over through five holes, already two shots down on the day to overnight leader Danielle Kang.
We may never know what transpired at that point, but a switch certainly flipped. Kang played two-under golf the rest of the way, and lost four shots to Korda. Younger sister Nelly Korda caught her own bottle of lighting, posting a seven-under 64. It vaulted her to solo third, two behind Korda and Kang. In the end, Jessica and Danielle went into overtime, with Korda making birdie at the first extra hole for the win.
Know this: you’ll see many a stellar third round in 2021, on all the world’s tours, as players avail themselves of moving day. You’ll also count on one hand the number who challenge on Sunday, and you might count on your thumbs the number who win. What Jessica Korda did to open the 2021 tour was certainly uncommon, if not outright unbelievable.
PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric is Clarke’s 2nd senior title
There is no doubt that contestants want to know how Fred Couples shot 63 on day two of the Mitsubishi Electric. A quick scan of the top 15 finishers reveals that most signed their worst scorecard of the week for that middle round. Another one of golf’s mysteries, so let’s move on to the finish and Darren Clarke.
The 2011 Open champion claimed an inaugural Champions Tour win in November of 2020. The victory was his first since his seminal triumph at Royal St. George’s. This week, on the Big Island of Hawai’i, Clarke outmatched his 2nd round co-leader, Jerry Kelly, and the other 41 competitors in round three. He departed paradise with a two-shot victory, a smile, and a trophy … and some cash.
Clarke began the week with a flawless 63 (7 birdies and 1 eagle) to stand one back of Retief Goosen’s 10-birdie 62. Day two arrived, and Goosen “soared” to a 71. Clarke held firm with 68, and seized a two-advantage, courtesy in part of Goosen’s bogey-bogey finish. Those strokes would stand up in round three, as both golfers posted 64 over the final round, tied for low daily by two strokes.
Jerry Kelly might have had his Green Bay Packers on the mind, as he could not match playing partner Clarke’s magnificence. The Wisconsin native posted the same number of birdies as his Northern Irish counterpart, but stumbled thrice with a double and two bogeys. No doubt a third-place finish is not the worst way to begin the 2021 campaign, but Kelly will certainly chew his lip on the long mainland flight over what slipped away.
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...
