19th Hole

US Women’s Open leader credits fiancé’s clever idea for putting success at Pine Needles

Published

4 years ago

Jun 3, 2022

Jason Daniels

When you’re struggling with your short game, a trip to the US Open is not exactly a tempting proposition.

Related: ‘Love that for us’ – Multiple LPGA Tour champ takes aim at LIV Golf ahead of US Women’s Open

However, despite lying 106th for greens-in-regulation, 45th in putting average and 76th for birdies made throughout 2022, Mina Harigae leapt to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles.

Related: John Daly says this is the modern-day piece of golf equipment that changed everything

Players are often tinkering with their short game in the search of perfection, and already this week we have seen Jordan Spieth try a multitude of putters before sticking with his trusty old Scotty Cameron for the first round of The Memorial. It’s no irony then to hear 32-year-old Harigae saying her opening 64 was, “Jordan Spieth-esque out there today.”

Harigae, who made her Solheim Cup debut last year, knocked in a 10-footer for birdie at the opening par-five before the floodgates opened.

A five-birdie, no bogey, front nine 30 put the former Junior Ryder and Solheim cupper on her way, and whilst she couldn’t match that coming home, four birdies and two bogeys saw her card the second lowest round in championship history and her first round in the 60s in 13 years of playing at the prestigious event.

How unexpected was @minaharigae's dominant 64 in Round 1? In 36 previous career #USWomensOpen rounds, she had never broken 70.

Her spectacular effort is the @Lexus Top Performance of the Day. #LexusGolf pic.twitter.com/Ws7lbK2tXV

— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) June 3, 2022

So what happened that created such a positive change?

Harigae explained all after her round, “Finally late yesterday Travis just did one little thing and I was like, ‘Hey, this feels like last year again.’ … it was basically keeping the top of my putter grip more level. So he just put his hand on top of the grip as I stroked, and it was a lot better.”

The Travis she refers is to Travis Kreiter, fiancé and caddie, who was also happy to explain his part.

“She has a tendency to get her left shoulder up and out,” he said to Golfweek, “and kind of hit putts weak and right. I just had her hit putts, and I put my finger on the top of the grip while she hit putts and she started to hit it more solid.”

Minor changes but potentially crucial ones as she bids to win in North Carolina, the Tar Heel state, former home of Michael Jordan, basketball legend.

After all, both Mina and Travis are huge Jordan fans, particularly the shoes, a collection that she admits (with a smile) might be, “kind of out of control.”

Having bought 10 pairs of Jordans in the last few weeks, she says the collection of Kreiter’s dwarfs her own, but anything that inspires and seems to work is all good in the world of professional sport.

How much each player won at the 2026 Masters

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Rory McIlroy made it two wins in as many years at Augusta National, seeing off the challengers on a dramatic Sunday to slip on the green jacket once again. The victory earned Rory a whopping payday of $4.5 million, with Scottie Scheffler his closest challenger earning $2.43 million for his sole runner-up finish.

With a total prize purse of $22.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 Masters tournament.

For players that did not make the cut, they still earned $25k for their efforts at the year’s opening major.

1: Rory McIlroy, $4.5 million
2: Scottie Scheffler, $2.43 million
T3: Tyrrell Hatton, $1.08 million
T3: Russell Henley, $1.08 million
T3: Justin Rose, $1.08 million
T3: Cameron Young, $1.08 million
T7: Collin Morikawa, $725,625
T7: Sam Burns, $725,625
T9: Xander Schauffele, $630,00
T9: Max Homa, $630,00
11: Jake Knapp, $562,500
T12: Jordan Spieth, $427,500
T12: Brooks Koepka, $427,500
T12: Hideki Matsuyama, $427,500
T12: Patrick Reed, $427,500
T12: Patrick Cantlay, $427,500
T12: Jason Day, $427,500
T18: Viktor Hovland, $315,000
T18: Maverick McNealy, $315,000
T18: Matt Fitzpatrick, $315,000
T21: Keegan Bradley, $252,000
T21: Ludvig Aberg, $252,000
T21: Wyndham Clark, $252,000
T24: Matt McCarty, $182,083
T24: Adam Scott, $182,083
T24: Sam Stevens, $182,083
T24: Chris Gotterup, $182,083
T24: Michael Brennan, $182,083
T24: Brian Campbell, $182,083
T30: Alex Noren, $146,250
T30: Harris English, $146,250
T30: Shane Lowry, $146,250
T33: Gary Woodland, $121,500
T33: Dustin Johnson, $121,500
T33: Brian Harman, $121,500
T33: Tommy Fleetwood, $121,500
T33: Ben Griffin, $121,500
T38: Jon Rahm, $105,750
T38: Ryan Gerard, $101,250
T38: Haotong Li, $96,750
T41: Justin Thomas, $92,250
T41: Sepp Straka, $87,750
T41: Jacob Bridgeman, $83,250
T41: Kristoffer Reitan, $78,750
T41: Nick Taylor, $74,250
46: Sungjae Im, $69,750
47: Si Woo Kim, $65,250
48: Aaron Rai, $61,650
T49: Corey Conners, $57,600
T49: Marco Penge, $57,600
51: Kurt Kitayama, $55,250
52: Sergio Garcia, $54,000
53: Rasmus Hojgaard, $52,650
54: Charl Schwartzel, $51,300

19th Hole

CBS’s Sunday Masters coverage slammed by golf fans

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

While Sunday was a dramatic day at the Masters, many golf fans were left feeling frustrated by the CBS final round coverage.

There were plenty of moments that golf fans took to social media to air their frustrations on Sunday over, including a lack of shots being shown throughout the day, being behind the live action, confusion over the approach shots of the final group on 18, and providing an angle for the winning putt where the cup couldn’t be seen.

Here’s a look at some of the criticisms that were directed at the CBS coverage throughout the day on X:

This has been a brutal broadcast for CBS. When the folks from Augusta sit down with them this year, you can bet they’ll talk about this 15 seconds where we have no idea where Rory’s ball went, and Dottie moans. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/ak3mkpIN7V

— Ryan (@PossiblyRy) April 12, 2026

It’s rare criticism coming in for CBS, who are usually heavily praised for their Masters coverage each year.

19th Hole

The surprise club Tommy Fleetwood says is key to his Masters chances

Published

1 month ago

Apr 7, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Tommy Fleetwood goes in search for the first major victory of his career again this week, with the Englishman proving to be a popular pick at Augusta National.

Fleetwood’s best showing at Augusta came back in 2024 where he finished T3, and while speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, the 35-year-old emphasized the importance of his 9-wood in his pursuit of the green jacket.

Speaking on Tuesday to media, Fleetwood said:

“It’s a great 9-wood golf course. I think it’s always been — I can’t remember when I first put like a 9-wood in or a high lofted club, but it’s a perfect like 9-wood golf course. I’ve had that in the bag for a few years.”

The Englishman continued, revealing that his strategy for the week won’t just be to hit driver off the tee as much as possible:

“Yeah, it’s funny really because I know Augusta is probably associated with being fairly forgiving off the tee in a way, so you think you can whale around driver a little bit. But I don’t necessarily think that’s always the play for me. I think there’s holes that set up really well where I can draw it with the mini driver if I’m feeling less comfortable with the driver and things like that.”

That strategy he believes will make his TaylorMade Qi10 9-wood extra critical this week in Georgia:

“The biggest thing is the 9-wood for me. If I can put myself in position on the par-5s or the 4th long par-3, like it — for me, I can’t really hit that high 4-iron, so 9-wood helps me a lot.”