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Morning 9: PGA field | Vice Captain Freddie | Casey exemption

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the AT&T Byron Nelson gets underway.

1. PGA Championship field is set

The AP’s Doug Ferguson…”The PGA Championship stuck to its mission of getting the strongest field of the four majors, announcing a field Wednesday that includes 99 of the top 100 in the world ranking no matter what tour they play.”

  • “Missing from the 155-player list is Sergio Garcia, the former Masters champion who had been eligible for every major dating to the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie.”
  • “Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer for the PGA of America, had said in February that players from all tours would be considered to assemble a strong field, and he delivered a field that looks no different from previous years.”
Full piece.

2. Meet Will Knauth

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”All mundane things that make up life as a professional golfer. But Knauth isn’t a professional golfer.”

  • “He is many things – a concert violinist, a pilot, a Ph.D. student at Columbia and a decorated NCAA Division III athlete. But he isn’t a pro golfer.”
  • “Though, for one week, he’ll walk amongst them.”
  • “Knauth is in the field at the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship on a sponsor exemption after winning the 2022 Byron Nelson Award, given to a graduating senior for his achievement in the classroom, on the course and in the community. A former Carnegie Mellon standout, Knauth is the first D-III athlete to win the award since 2008 and beat out highly ranked Division I amateurs Cole Hammer and Trent Phillips. Former recipients include Dylan Frittelli, Maverick McNealy, McClure Meissner and Brandon Hagy. The AT&T Byron Nelson will be Knauth’s first professional tournament.”
Full piece.

3. No Tiger, maybe Spieth for PGA

BBC report…”Tiger Woods has been ruled out of the 2023 PGA Championship as the 15-time major champion continues to recover from an ankle injury.”

  • “It is the third time in seven years the American, 47, will miss the tournament.”
  • “Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will take part, having been a doubt after withdrawing from the AT&T Byron Nelson this week with a wrist injury.”
  • “The PGA Championship is being held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester from 18-21 May.”
Full piece.

4. VC Couples

Golfweek’s Riley Hamel…”On Wednesday, United States Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson announced he has brought on Fred Couples as a vice captain.”

  • “Couples represented the U.S. in five Ryder Cups, and this will be his third time serving as a vice captain.”
  • “Freddie has the unique ability to relate and get along with every player, no matter their age,” Johnson said in a statement. “In turn, they respect and admire him, which ultimately creates a positive team dynamic. There’s a reason he’s been a vice captain three times. I know Freddie will do everything in his power to help our U.S. Team be successful in Italy.”
Full piece.

5. Exemption for Casey

Elliott Heath for Golf Monthly…”The PGA Championship field has been confirmed for the second men’s Major of 2023 and there are 18 LIV players set to feature, including Paul Casey.”

  • “The Englishman didn’t manage to qualify through the various different routes but has been entered into the field at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.”
Full piece.

6. LIV Golf host responds to disgruntled members

Elliott Heath for Golf Monthly…”The negative views of the members made headlines around the world, despite a Grange GC survey showing that 86% were “satisfied or very satisfied” with LIV Golf coming to town, 7% percent were neutral and 7% were “dissatisfied or very dissatisfied”.

  • The club’s general manager Barry Linke has confirmed that both courses are back in play and the club is working to “remedy the minimal damage to the course” caused by the grandstands and infrastructure, particularly around the stadium-style ‘watering hole’.
  • “We are pleased with how the course has recovered following such a fantastic event, which showcased Grange to a global audience,” Linke told Golf Digest Australia.
Full piece.

7. Henderson out of LPGA event

Reuters report…”World No. 8 golfer Brooke Henderson will sit out this week’s Cognizant Founders Cup on the LPGA Tour because of an illness, TSN reported Wednesday.”

  • “Henderson began the season by winning the Tournament of Champions in January.”
Full piece.

8. Scottie ready to ‘gear up’

Reuters report…”After nearly a month off, Scottie Scheffler is back.”

  • “Scheffler, who sits at No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since the RBC Heritage. However, after an extended period of rest, the six-time winner is eager to get back on the course for this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.”
  • “I’m just trying to gear up,” Scheffler said. “This week is a good prep week for me. It’s nice to be at home and get to play some tournament golf, and I’m excited to be here at the Nelson.”
Full piece.

9. Byron Nelson Photos

  • Check out our galleries from this week’s tour stop!
Full Piece.

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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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

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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

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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

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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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