News

Morning 9: JT signs for TGL team | Nicklaus: Golf is no fun anymore | Rose out of 2025 Ryder Cup captain race

Published

2 years ago

Nov 1, 2023

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the WWT Championship.

1. TGL format, points system announced

Via the Golf Channel Digital team…“The format for TGL, which was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and former Golf Channel president Mike McCarley, will be two weekly sessions with the first nine-hole match a three vs. three, team alternate-shot format. The second session will be a six-hole match of head-to-head competition with each player playing two holes during the session. (One player on each team will not compete each week.)”

“Overtime will be used to break ties, similar to a penalty shootout in soccer, with regular-season points awarded for an outright victory (two points), overtime victory (two points) or overtime loss (one point). No points are rewarded for a regulation loss. The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs, which will be single elimination in the semifinals followed by a best-of-three championship.”

“Each match will be played at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in the roughly 250,000-square foot arena. Tee shots and approach shots of more than 50 yards will be played into a 64-by-46-foot simulator, which is about 20 times larger than a standard simulator. Each shot will be played from real grass tee boxes, fairways, rough and sand.”

“Shots within 50 yards will be played in the “green zone” which is the size of four basketball courts and will feature the largest-ever adaptable putting surface built by Full Swing to create variety for each green.”

Full piece.

2. JT joins

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Two-time major championship winner Justin Thomas is joining Atlanta Drive GC, one of the six teams in TGL presented by SoFi, the tech-infused golf league being developed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, the franchise announced Tuesday.”

“Thomas, a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour, is the first player to be assigned to one of the six teams in TGL, which is scheduled to begin play Jan. 9 at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.”

“Three other players will be assigned to Atlanta’s roster later, according to the news release.”

Full piece.

3. Nicklaus: Golf is no fun anymore

Tom D’Angelo for the Palm Beach Post…”Jack Nicklaus has not swung a golf club since hitting a tee shot before the first round of the Masters in April while serving as an honorary starter along with Gary Player and Tom Watson.”

“On Monday, he did not take his clubs to a clinic at PGA National, leaving the ball striking to Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els and Luke Donald.”

“And the 83-year-old Hall of Famer is not sure when he’ll pick up a club next.”

“I would like to go play again. I play so poorly anymore it’s just really not any fun,” Nicklaus said. “And I run out of golf balls.”

Full piece.

4. Donald says LaCava overstepped the mark

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Although the infamous Ryder Cup dispute between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie has been resolved, it’s still being talked about as one of the biggest stories to come out of the 2023 Ryder Cup.”

“While doing an interview with The Times, European team captain Luke Donald was asked about the argument.”

“Rory was upset, quite rightfully, and these things happen at the Ryder Cup. It’s a passionate event. Joe overstepped the mark and tried to reach out after the fact and apologize but we just tried to use that as fuel for Sunday. I didn’t need to say much.”

Full piece.

5. McIlroy to start 2024 with consecutive DP World Tour events

Reuters report…”Rory McIlroy’s 2024 season begins in the United Arab Emirates with back-to-back events on the DP World Tour in Dubai.”

“He is set to compete at the inaugural Dubai Invitational Jan. 11-14 at Dubai Creek Resort, followed by the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club from Jan. 18-21.”

“McIlroy, 34, of Northern Ireland, is the defending champion at the latter, a 1-shot victory over Patrick Reed in January 2023.”

Full piece.

6. Davis Love III says PGA Tour-PIF deal won’t make deadline

Adam Schupak for Golfweek…“With the self-imposed December 31 deadline looming for the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour veteran Davis Love III has confirmed the leader in the clubhouse for the worst-kept secret in golf – the deal isn’t getting done any time soon.”

“The only thing I do know is nothing is going to happen really fast,” Love said during an interview on Friday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where he was meeting on a golf course project.

Asked if he thought a deal beyond the framework agreement, which was announced on June 6, would be consummated by the end of the year, he said, “I don’t see any way.”

Full piece.

7. Rose out of captain race for 2025 Ryder Cup

John Turnbull for Bunkered…”Four-time Ryder Cup winner Justin Rose has paved the way for Luke Donald to retain captaincy and lead Team Europe in 2025.”

“In an interview with The Telegraph, Rose ruled himself out of being captain at Bethpage Black in two years, as he eyes playing for the seventh time.”

“The 43-year-old said: “2025 is too early for me…The captaincy starts next year, and I feel like I’ve got some good things ahead of me as a player.”

“It’s not so much that I feel I ‘need’ to play at Bethpage, it’s more that I ‘need’ to believe I can play. That’s important.”

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)