News

Tour Rundown: 7 for Scheffler

Published

12 months ago

Sep 2, 2024

The 2024 PGA Tour season ended a bit oddly, and the FM Championship on the LPGA circuit defies definition. Come to think of it, there were some spiritual hijinx going on across the golf world, almost as if Seamus MacDuff had released a skulk of pixies and gremlins from the dark place beneath the 13th at Burningbush. We are used to seeing sand shanks and 78s early in the season, not in the culminating stages of the year-long run. Both the sand-shanker and the 78, oddly enough, found a way to win. Intrigued? I hope so. Please enjoy this Tour Rundown, as we conclude the PGA Tour season and ramp up the world’s other tours.

PGA Tour @ Tour Championship: Scheffler secures seventh

Scottie Scheffler began the week at ten-under par, thanks to his six-victory season through Labor Day. His play over the first three days suggested that the cushion would be enough to accrue a lucky number seven, but then a queer thing happened.: Scheffler started playing like Alexander Scheffler, instead. Holes five through eight saw three bogies and a birdie, lowlighted by some duck hooks, slices, and that aforementioned, sand-shank. Scheffler’s safe lead was down to two shots, and fans and competitors alike had to wonder what universal mood had shifted.

Whether it was Scottie, or caddie Ted Scott, that flipped the switch, we shall never know. Holes nine through eleven saw consecutive birdies, and the man from New Texey was on top to stay. For authentication, he made a stellar eagle at the 14th, and ultimately finished off a four-shot win over Collin Morikawa, with a long, two-putt for par at the last. Sahith Theegala, in his 100th PGA Tour competition, posted 64 on the last day and came third, two behind Morikawa.

2024 was a brilliant and odd year for Scheffler. He added trophies from the Players Championship and the Masters to his collection, added four non-majors to his win total, and even spent time in a Louisville jail cell (still too soon) during the PGA Championship. He is the acclaimed, top player in the world, and at age 28, is entering a prime that should see him pass 20 tour wins and, perhaps, add more majors to his two Masters titles.

No one is immune to the shank.

Not even Scottie Scheffler. pic.twitter.com/RVlQfZyzjG

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 1, 2024

LPGA @ FM Championship: It’s Ryu; no, it isn’t; yes, it is!

When Haeran Ryu lit up the JJJ course with ten birdies on Friday, spectators wondered if there was any sense in playing the final 36 holes. Double bogey at holes one and four on Saturday, followed by bogey, and the magic drifted off on a breeze. Ryu ultimately signed for 78, and dropped four off the 54-hole pace of Jin Young Ko. Ko has 15 tour titles on her dossier, but none this season. She appeared to have the necessary juice to close out number 16, and a 68 did nothing to dispel that notion.

Then, Ryu returned to town. She opened with her third quartet of birdies (holes 1-4) on the week (she had two of them in round two) and added four more coupons through the 12th. A ninth birdie on the day, at 15, gave her the lead, but a wayward tee ball on 15 cost her bogey. In the end, she and Ko matched at 15-under 273, effecting a playoff for the title. As the shadows gathered, wedge approach shots to the playoff green determined the outcome. Ryu was on and Ko was long, and thus did the FM fall to the 78 Kid, Haeran Ryu.

And just like that, Haeran Ryu is a 2x LPGA Tour Winner ??

WATCH ?? https://t.co/m99eh9GFo6

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 2, 2024

DP World Tour @ British Masters: Nørgaard finds first victory

Niklas Nørgaard has been around the block, and then some, on his professional golf journey. He turned professional in 2016 and spent formative years in the Nordic golf league. He subsequently ascended to the European Challenge Tour, finally reaching the the DP World in 2022. This week in Sutton Coldfield, Nørgaard produced enough stellar golf to eek out a two-shot win over South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.

The Belfry golf course was the site of Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup triumphs in the 1980s and 1990s. It was the ultimate, home-course advantage, as Team USA could never figure out how to play its murky, mysterious holes. Time and technology have reduced the intimidation factor, as wedges have replaced two-irons for approach plays. The Belfry is still exciting golf, with drivable par-four holes and watery finishers assured to provide drama.

Nørgaard stood one-under on the day, with four shots in hand, when he caught a flyer out of the rough at fifteen. Three chunked pitch shots ensued, leaving him with a chip for bogey. He missed, made double, and saw his advantage over Lawrence sliced in half. Fortunately for the leader, there was little of heroic nature left in his closest pursuer. Norgaard and Lawrence matched one-under stretch runs, and the newest, Great Dane had collected an inaugural, top-tier title.

What have we just seen?! ?

Niklas Nørgaard makes a double-bogey and now leads by just two.#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/bApNV0q88B

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 1, 2024

PGA Tour Americas: Kjettrup triumphs in Brainerd

It’s a fun word to say (Brainerd) and it is probably a fun place to visit. Minnesota is a land where many northern European emigrants found a home, so it’s fitting that the week’s SECOND winner from Denmark would have a day or four at the Craguns Resort. Frederik Kjettrup emulated countryman Nørgaard with a marvelous run and a third 2024 tour title. After winning in consecutive weeks in June, Kjettrup was assured of a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour. A third title earned him an instant promotion to the next tier, and the dilemma of where to play this week.

Rounds of 62 and 63 staked the Dane to a five-shot advantage over Neal Shipley. The former US Am runner-up closed the margin to four, but needed something ultra-special on Sunday. He didn’t get it, and finished solo third. Bryce Lewis DID get that something special, and almost stole a title from Kjettrup. Seven birdies and an eagle on day four, brought Lewis within reach of a mythic 59. With a par three and par five ahead, he was tied with Kjettrup and in the driver’s seat. Alas, Lewis’ energy was spent, and he closed par-par for 61. Behind him, Kjettrup reached the par-five closer in two, and faced a thirty-feet putt from the lower tier to the upper one. The strike was too firm, and ball intended to race five or six feet past. In the end, the hole got in the way, and after a 360-degree orbit, the ball dropped for eagle and a two-shot win.

Walk-off eagle for win number 3!

?? Freddie Kjettrup picks up his 3rd win in 8 starts in dramatic fashion at the CRMC Championship ??? pic.twitter.com/XpgG8PQXph

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) September 1, 2024

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)