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Morning 9: Don’t expect a passive PGA Championship course | Discovery-WarnerMedia merger

Published

4 years ago

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Good Tuesday morning, golf fans.
1. Don’t be fooled by Rory in 2012: Ocean Course will be a tough test
Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…“He made it look easy – too easy – when the truth is that the Ocean Course ranked as the second-toughest course on the PGA Tour in 2012 behind only The Olympic Club, which hosted the U.S. Open. Five of the final nine holes at Kiawah ranked among the season’s top 50 toughest…”
  • …”It’s likely not going to be a great comfort to any of the 156 players who have converged on this slice of the Lowcountry for the PGA Championship that the 2012 edition of the Ocean Course was, at least in theory, a more user-friendly version than what they’ll play this week.”
  • “That PGA Championship was played in August, when the course generally plays much softer thanks to the ubiquitous afternoon thunderstorms that roll through the area…If this week’s forecast holds, there won’t be any relief…”
  • “The bigger issue will be the winds that regularly buffet the layout with gusts to 15 mph predicted for Friday and Saturday.”
2. Chloe Kovelesky!
Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”On Chloe Kovelesky’s first birthday she took her first step. Her father, Richard, cut down a putter and wedge that same day. Even before she could walk, Chloe used to scoot across the floor smacking golf balls.”
  • “I think she came out with a golf club,” joked her mother, Tina.
  • “Now, at age 14, Chloe is the youngest player in the field at the 76th U.S. Women’s Open, having qualified May 11 at Banyan Cay Resort & Golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, with two rounds of 70. Chloe had mentor Morgan Pressel’s longtime caddie Barry “Rock” Cesarz on her bag. Growing up in Boca Raton, Pressel has long been Chloe’s favorite golfer.”
3. Golf and the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger
Reuters report…”Discovery Inc (DISCA.O) CEO David Zaslav emailed his counterpart at AT&T Inc (T.N), John Stankey, on a Sunday afternoon in February to lament how the COVID-19 pandemic had led to them missing the AT&T Pebble Beach golf tournament in California, where the two friends had planned to meet.”
  • “After reading Zaslav’s email, which included emojis of a person playing golf and another one with sunglasses, Stankey got on the phone, and the pair spoke for two hours.”
  • “The conversation turned to business. That led barely three months later to the announcement on Monday of a merger deal between Discovery and AT&T’s WarnerMedia with an enterprise value of more than $120 billion.”
4. Microchip shortage hiring rangefinder business
David Dusek for Golfweek…”it is ironic that as laser rangefinders are primed to get more exposure than ever, a looming semiconductor and microchip shortage is playing havoc with the industry. Companies ranging from start-ups to industry leaders are haggling with suppliers, delaying the release of new models and pushing back innovations that would otherwise be in pro shops already.”
  • “Like so many other things, the semiconductor and microchip shortage was caused by a series of events related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, companies worldwide were forced to close, workers stayed home and kids started attending school remotely. Businesses in many industries canceled orders and stopped production because no one knew what the global economy might do. That forced chipmakers to either stop or severely reduce their output.”
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5. Daly’s incredible generosity after Crooked Stick win
ESPN’s Bob Harig…“There was tragedy that intersected with triumph that week at Crooked Stick.”
  • “During the first round, a weather delay required that the course be evacuated. Tom Weaver, who lived in nearby Fishers, Indiana, and had recently gotten into golf, was there with two other friends. Weaver was walking to his car and was struck in the chest by lightning and died at the scene. He was 39 years old. He left behind a wife, Dee, and two daughters: Emily, who was 12, and Karen, who was 8.”
  • “Days later, having just won his first major championship, going from obscurity to stardom, Daly (who had won $230,000) quietly, without fanfare, wrote a check for $30,000. He sent it to Dee Weaver to set up a college fund for her two daughters.”
  • “For him to win this iconic tournament and to be so selfless and share his winnings with us, it does shed a light on his true character and what he values most,” said Karen, whose last name is now Kirschner and who is a doctor in Indianapolis.”
6. Bones on the bag
Cameron Morfit for PGATour.com…”There was some confusion when Joe Greiner, who caddies for FedExCup No. 20 Max Homa, qualified to play in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Chambers Bay, which begins Saturday.”
  • “At first, Greiner and Homa thought the conflict would be during the week of the Charles Schwab Challenge, which they might be able to work around if Homa didn’t play it. But after a while they realized Greiner wasn’t going to be able to caddie in the PGA Championship at Kiawah. (The Four-Ball starts this Saturday.)”
  • …”Acting fast, Greiner and Joe Skovron, who caddies for Rickie Fowler, called an old friend. And as it happened, NBC and Golf Channel correspondent Jim “Bones” Mackay, Phil Mickelson’s former caddie who in recent years has filled in for Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Walker, was free.”
7. Phil to design USD training facility
Adam Woodard for Golfweek…”Phil Mickelson will design a new $2 million golf training facility for the University of San Diego, Athletic Director Bill McGillis announced on Monday.”
  • “The Purcell Family Short-Game Practice Facility will be located on campus and feature a one-acre natural turf short-game area fit with a large putting green, practice bunkers and fairway and rough area so players can practice any shot they’d face in competition.”
8. Players, caddies on rangefinders, part 37
Steve DiMeglio for Golfweek…“I love what the PGA of America is trying to do. The organization has been at the forefront of change,” said Paul Tesori, longtime bag man for Webb Simpson. “The PGA Championship is the only major we’ve played lift, clean and place. The PGA of America was the first to allow shorts.
  • “But I think they reached into an area where I don’t think we need help.”
  • “…This is a fact: it’s not going to speed up play because everybody I know and have talked to, we still want front numbers, and the range finder, you can’t always get the accurate front number,” said Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion and current world No. 10. “So you’ll probably have the player shoot the pin, the caddie will walk off the number because I’m going to want what’s front. I haven’t read the reasoning behind it or their desire to test it out that week, but I don’t think it will really make a difference.”
  • “And as Scott Sajtinac, caddie for 2013 PGA champion Jason Dufner, said: “Too much information is needed that is unzappable by a laser. But some will sure try to laser something extra.”
9. PGA Championship: Viewers guide
Our Gianni Magliocco…”The second major of the year is upon us, with a host of players with ambitions of hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy come Sunday evening.”
Thursday
 7a.m.-1 p.m: First-round coverage (ESPN+)
1 p.m.-7 p.m: First-round coverage (ESPN)
7 a.m.- 7 p.m: First-round featured groups and featured holes (ESPN+)
Friday
 7a.m.-1 p.m: Second-round coverage (ESPN+)
1 p.m.-7 p.m: Second-round coverage (ESPN)
7 a.m.- 7 p.m: Second-round featured groups and featured holes (ESPN+)
Saturday
8 a.m.-10 a.m: Third-round coverage (ESPN+)
10 a.m.-1 p.m: Third-round coverage (ESPN)
1 p.m.-7 p.m: Third-round coverage (CBS)
8 a.m.-1 p.m: Third-round featured groups and featured holes (ESPN+)
Sunday
8 a.m.-10 a.m: Final-round coverage (ESPN+)
10 a.m.-1 p.m: Final-round coverage (ESPN)
1 p.m.-7 p.m: Final-round coverage (CBS)
8 a.m.-1 p.m: Final-round featured groups and featured holes (ESPN+)

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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.

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News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Aug 4, 2025

By

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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News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 28, 2025

By

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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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)

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