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Tour Rundown: Fate rewards Nordqvist, Finau answers the call

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4 years ago

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Part of the USA watched as Hurricane Henri moved through the Atlantic Ocean, destined for the upper east coast and metro New York. The PGA Tour wisely postponed round four of its first playoff event. The only guy who truly hated that decision was Cameron Smith, he of the mullet. The Aussie signed for 60 on Saturday, and must have been ready for more, but had to wait a bit longer. In the interim, the LPGA crowned a champion, and three other tours identified winners. How did Smith and Company fare on Monday at The Northern Trust? Roll on with us to this week’s edition of Tour Rundown to find out.

LPGA: Fate rewards Nordqvist with British Open title

I’m a big believer in fate, and I believe that Anna Nordqvist’s playoff loss in the 2016 US Open was an ethical breach by the USGA. The Swede has enjoyed mighty success, but the loss due to an indefensible vagary must have stung like a thousand bee stings. Eyes were not on her in the run-up to this week at Carnoustie, which is precisely the way champions like things. Would it be Nelly, or Georgia, or Ariya, or some unexpected challenger like Lizette, or Madelene, or Nanna? Well, it rhymed with Nanna, so let’s get to it.

Nordqvist’s recipe for a third major title had few ingredients. First, hang around through 36 with a pair of 71s. Then, light up the course for the week’s low round by two shots on Saturday, three better than anyone else in contention. Finally, play rock-solid on Sunday and let the rest of them make mistakes. Wags and pundits will contend that a third round should not figure into the annals of greatness, but the Swede’s seven-birdie, zero-bogey effort on moving day merits consideration. No one else had better than 68, which meant that Nordqvist gained more than those three shots on the challengers. On Sunday, she went out and posted just one bogey, well offset by four birdies.

On her heels were former Open champion Georgia Hall, who parlayed two eagles and three birdies into a closing 67. Alas, it was one shot away from forcing a playoff. Madelene Sagstrom, a fellow Swede, stood tied with the champion as she played the 72nd hole. A disheartening bogey at the home hole dropped her into a tie with Hall for 2nd. Has fate returned something stolen to Nordstrom the Great? I say yes!

PGA Tour: Northern Trust answers the big question in PGA Tour Golf

Five years ago, in March, Tony Finau won in Puerto Rico. Two years on, he was selected to the USA Ryder Cup squad, still with one victory. On and on, the months came and went, with high finishes, close calls, but no second victory to accompany the first one. Finally, after five years of chasing drives and finishing putts, Tony Finau has won again. Finau defeated Cameron Smith on the first extra hole to claim the first playoff event of 2021. He’ll again play for the USA at the Ryder Cup next month. For now, he has the FedEx Cup in his scope.

Finau played in the penultimate pairing on Monday, after the final round was postponed a day. While his fellow competitors spun their wheels a bit, Finau caught lightning on the inward half. He notched three birdies coming home, but no shot was more important that the approach he hit to the par-five 13th hole. From 218 yards, Finau ripped a skyscraper over water, to three feet for eagle. His inward 30 gave him 65 on the day, highlighted by a clutch up-and-down for par at the last hole.  Jon Rahm, playing behind Finau, made a pair of bogies coming home, to finish third by himself.

Only Cameron Smith, tied for the lead with Rahm at day’s start, could catch him. Smith’s birdies at 16 and 17 forced a playoff, but went OOB on his extra-hole tee shot to end his hopes. THAT question no longer lingers, and it’s time for the BMW in Maryland, to see who takes charge of the FedEx Cup playoff chase.

European Tour: Veerman wins Czech Masters as others fade 

It’s a shame that headlines and ledes often shuffle 63 holes aside, in favor of the events of the closing nine holes. At the Albatross Resort in Praque, one could make a case for shuffling the initial 69 holes aside, as the fireworks (fierce and fizzled) took place over the final triumvirate of holes. In the mix were Johannes Veerman of the USA and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland, along with major champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden. Each of them would give what Sean Crocker (also USA) did at the 18th: make birdie to back-door his way into a tie for second.

At the par-three 16th hole, both Pulkkanen and Veerman made birdie two, while Stenson’s tee ball met a watery demise, along with his chance at victory. At that juncture, the Fedora-wearing Pulkkanen held a one-shot advantage over Veerman. All of that went away as the Fin finished bogey-double bogey, while Veerman made a pair of pars. Pulkkanen fell into the aforementioned tie for second, while Veerman raised a European Tour trophy for the first time. Stenson concluded the week in a tie for fourth spot.

Korn Ferry Tour: Boise Open is Siggnificant victory for Greyson

This oldest of the AAA Tour events (so many sponsors over the years to cue up … Hogan, Nike, Buy.Com, Nationwide, Web.Com) has seen brilliant finishes over the years. This year, JJ Spaun made birdie at the last to reach 18 under par, but he didn’t win. England’s Aaron Rai came to the last with the lead, made double bogey, and he didn’t win. And Stephan Jaeger, who finds himself in contention nearly every week, made par at the 72nd hole, but he didn’t win!

Back in May, Greyson Sigg broke through in Knoxville for his first Korn Ferry Tour title. At Boise, he notched victory number two into his persimmon. The UGeorgia alumnus is on his way to the PGA Tour for 2021-2022, but rolling on to the big tour with two titles certainly gives more confidence than one. At Knoxville, Sigg opened with 61, closed with 66, and held off … yup, Stephan Jaeger. At Boise, Sigg followed the same recipe: put yourself in position and let the other guy make the mistake. Rai muscled his approach over the green, chipped from the rough behind and then, in front of, the final green, and fell to a tie for second with Spaun.

PGA Tour Champions: Pampling cues up Boeing Classic for first Champions win

I always think back to Twin Peaks when I consider the pacific northwest. Strange things can happen there. Who would expect the daring Woody Austin to play Sunday’s final nine in +1, including bogey at the par-five last, when birdie would have earned a playoff spot? Who would anticipate that Jim Furyk, after touring the front in a commanding minus-three, would play that same back nine in the same +1, with one bogey and seven pars? That final hole wasn’t impossible. Billy Mayfair and Alex Cejka made birdie and eagle, respectively, in the final 60 minutes of the tournament. Strange things, indeed.

So let us introduce Rodney Pampling, Australian by birth, golfer by choice, as your Boeing Classic winner for 2021. Pampling won three times on the PGA Tour, and played his final half in 4-3-2. He posted four pars, three birdies, and two bogies. Those numbers jumped him ahead of the aforementioned Mayfair and Furyk, along with Tim Herron, all of whom tied for second at 11-under par. Pampling’s closing 66 got him to 12 deep on the week. He wasn’t the only golfer to reach that figure, but he was the only one to take up permanent residence there.

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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

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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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