News

Morning 9: Captains agree on Solheim favorite | Zhang on Solheim debut | Kang now with 2 sets of clubs

Published

2 years ago

Sep 21, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as we head towards the Solheim Cup.

1. US Solheim Cup captain Lewis: Ryder, Solheim Cups should stay in same year

BBC report…”United States captain Stacy Lewis says it is “1000% a massive missed opportunity” that the Solheim and Ryder Cups have not been promoted together.”

“The 18th Solheim Cup between Europe’s women and the US starts on Friday at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain.”

“However, there is little connection to the biennial men’s equivalent, which begins a week later in Rome.”

“I’d like them [to stay] in the same year if we could get some common ground and do them together,” said Lewis.

Full piece.

2. Scottish Solheim Cup rookie unfazed

Brian McLauchlin for BBC Scotland…”Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh says there is no fear factor about her Solheim Cup debut…”

“She is not fazed by going up against superstars Lilia Vu and Nelly Korda.”

“Maybe two years ago it would have been a bit more intimidating but not now I have played with and against the girls week to week,” the 30-year-old said.

“I’m friends with a couple of the American girls, so it is not scary. I know what to expect and I know I am just as good as them, so there is no reason to fret or be scared of anyone.”

Full piece.

3. Captains agree on the favorite

Golf Channel staff report…”On paper, this year’s European Solheim Cup team is one of the best ever. Captain Suzann Pettersen would argue, THE best ever. She’s not shying away from the role of favorite.”

“I don’t think there’s anything to hide under a chair that if you look on paper, we have the strongest team that I’ve ever been a part of, and that’s based on great performances over the last few years from all the players. So with good results, there’s also expectations, but these girls are so up for it, so we can’t wait,” Pettersen said Wednesday.

…”U.S. captain Stacy Lewis, however, is comfortable in the underdog role and has no problem putting the pressure on her opponent’s shoulders.”

“No, I think Europe’s the favorite,” she said Wednesday. “They have won the last two, we’re on their soil, they have a great team that has a ton, a ton of experience in this event. So, you look at history, you know, it doesn’t bode well for us. But I love our chances. I love these rookies. I think they’re going to have a great week and hopefully surprise a lot of people.”

Full piece.

4. Zhang on Solheim spot

Reuters report…”What Zhang wasn’t anticipating was a spot on the United States Solheim Cup team as a rookie. However, that became almost a certainty after Zhang was given a sponsors invite into the Mizuho Americas Open in June and went on to become the first player since 1951 to win in her LPGA debut.”

“Three months later, Zhang is in Spain for the first time in her life as part of captain Stacy Lewis’ 12-woman team that will take on Team Europe in this week’s Solheim Cup.”

“A hundred percent not,” Zhang said Wednesday when asked if she thought making this year’s team was possible. “I think when I played Mizuho, it was only with the intentions of starting off my career and playing the best I could, trying to make the cut. Obviously the results turned out differently and I’ve been super grateful for all the experiences that I’ve gained thus far on tour.

Full piece.

5. Kang goes from zero sets of clubs to 2

Adam Woodard for Golfweek…”After two days of practice at Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast, the 30-year-old still didn’t have her golf clubs, but on Tuesday she addressed how her putter made the trip because she packs it separately in a rifle case so that it doesn’t get bent.”

“On Wednesday morning, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis shared on social media that not one, but two sets of clubs had arrived for Kang, who is set to make her fourth appearance for the Americans this week.”

“Kang plays Titleist clubs, but the folks at Ping who are on-site put together a set for her on Tuesday so she could play during the morning practice round. Titleist shipped a second set that was scheduled to arrive late Tuesday night.”

Full piece.

6. ICYMI: TW & Timberlake are opening a bar

Jon Hoefling for USA Today…”Tiger Woods’ business venture into golf-themed sports bars continues as he and pop star Justin Timberlake, in partnership with 8AM Golf, are opening a sports bar together.”

“The bar, aptly named “T-Squared”, is located on East 42nd Street in Manhattan. It is…open…just in time for the Ryder Cup Tournament.”

“The 22,000 square foot venue covers almost an entire city block. It will feature four Full Swing golf simulators, four bowling lanes, dining areas, and over 35 television screens.”

Full piece.

7. Amy Olson announces arrival of child

Amy Levins for Golf Digest…”The LPGA Tour has another mother amongst its ranks: Amy Olson, along with husband Grant, announced the arrival of their baby girl, Carly Gray, born Sept. 15. Olson becomes the fifth LPGA player to have a child in 2023.”

Full piece.

8. McIlroy to play DP World Tour Championship finale

Reuters report…”Rory McIlroy plans to play in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.”

“McIlroy is a two-time DP World Tour Championship winner and ended the 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2022 seasons first in the season standings.”

“Playing at the DP World Tour Championship is always an amazing experience. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a lot of success in Dubai and at this event in particular,” McIlroy said. “The fans have been great, it’s amazing to have that support out there for us. When you have the top 50 golfers from the DP World Tour, you know it is going to be a fantastic competition. I’ve won here on a couple of occasions and I would love to be right there come Sunday with both trophies to my name.”

“The tournament is played Nov. 16-19.”

Full piece.

9. Photos from the 2023 Nationwide Children’s Champ

Check out all of our galleries here.

Full Piece.

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

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

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

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.

News

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

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

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)