News

Tour Rundown: Solheim, Procore, Irish, and more

Published

11 months ago

Sep 16, 2024

The brief, but exciting, season of international team play began in Virginia this week. The top ladies of Europe and the USA did battle at Robert Trent Jones golf club, and the men of the world and the USA will convene in Montreal for another team tilt this week. The PGA Tour restarted after a brief, post-playoff hiatus, while the DP, Tour Champions, and Korn Ferry continued their respective marches toward conclusion.

True, American Football might dominate the headlines of September, but the girls and boys of summer still have quite a bit to say about how the best golf is played. This week’s Tour Rundown will offer five bits of evidence to the affirmative.

Solheim Cup: home team USA wins third consecutive cup

The RTJ Golf Club hosted the inaugural Presidents Cup, in 1994, and repeated on three subsequent occasions. If it knew how to do one thing, it was host an international team event. Well, perhaps the intervening two decades softened the collective memory. Shoddy bus service soured the morning matches on day one, as a majority of paying customers were unable to arrive to witness the beginning of glory. The responsibility for the snafu is uncertain, but the players soon drew attention away from jilted jitney riders.

Friday morning began with foursomes, a match play format that is seemingly over before it begins. Four players share two golf balls, and one bad shot can cost the hole, lickity-split. For some reason, the European squad has always been associated with successful foursomes, but truth be told, it’s always a coin flip. This year, Team USA flipped the script with three successful contests. 3 & 2 wins in matches 1, 2, and 4 outshined a European 2 up victory in match three. In the afternoon, fourballs (also known as better ball) was the flavor, and the outcome was eerily similar. Three conquests by the home squad gave Team USA a 6-2 advantage after day one.

Day two saw each side win four matches, two each in foursomes and fourballs. The pivotal match was the first of the day. Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen held a two-up lead at the turn, but could not preserve a win nor a tie. They fell to Allisen Corpuz and Emily Korda, by one down. The remaining matches were all lopsided, so this was Team Europe’s shining opportunity to whittle away at their deficit.

On Sunday, Charley Hull decimated Nelly Korda in the day’s first match, but once again, it was Pedersen and Ciganda who were not up to the challenge. Pedersen fell by 6 & 5 to Megan Khang, while Ciganda lost by 6 & 4, to Rose Zhang. Team Europe could afford precious few miscues, and those two quick decisions were more than it could manage. The order of the day was five wins for the visitors, four decisions for the homebreds, and three halved matches. In the end, it was Team USA by 15.5 to 12.5 over Team Europe.

This angle of Lilia Vu clinching @TheSolheimCup on the 18th hole ? pic.twitter.com/LzKd5ZqDnz

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 15, 2024

PGA Tour @ Procore Championship: Patton down the hatches!

In 2017 and 2018, Maxie Patton Kizzire won at Mayakoba and SONY. Six years would pass before the Tuscaloosa native would find victory number three on the PGA Tour. Kizzire is the sort who would not be bothered by such a delay. Despite growing up in the shadow of the University of Alabama, Kizzire took his talents to Auburn, where he enjoyed a stellar collegiate and amateur career.

At Silverado Resort in Napa, California, Kizzire stared down challenger after challenger as the week wore on. He posted 66 in round one, followed it with 65 on day two, and put an emphatic exclamation point of a gritty day three with 67. His lead was four over David Lipsky, so nothing was determined as day four dawned. Only two golfers in moved into the top ten with rounds in the 60s on Sunday. Kizzire merely had to keep Lipsky and the pursuers at length, and he did just that. He gained a stroke over the final 18 holes, and won by five shots over David Lipsky.

Back-to-back birdies and a leader by 5 once again ?

Patton Kizzire looks to win his first TOUR title since 2018 @ProcoreChamp. pic.twitter.com/SHH0K4fUJ4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 15, 2024

DP World Tour @ Irish Open: Irish eyes aren’t smiling 🙁

It hasn’t been the gentlest of years for Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irish lad lost by a whisker to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open. Although he had two wins on the PGA Tour, the big ones eluded him. McIlroy ventured to that most Northern Irish of courses, Royal County Down in Newcastle. Located a mere 54 minutes from his home club, it seemed the perfect venue to put a bit of salve on a season of wounds. Despite four rounds under par (the only player in the field to do so) McIlroy was chased down once more, by an unexpected adversary.

Rasmus Hojgaard was born mere minutes after twin brother Nicolai. Both have achieved great success as Danish amateurs and professionals, but Nicolai was the one named to the 2023 European Ryder Cup side. Rasmus has fallen a wee bit off his brother’s professional pace, but that might all have changed, thanks to a Sunday 65 at County Down. Eight birdies and two bogeys gave this great Dane the second-low round of the week. Only a 64 by Paul Waring (12th spot) eclipsed his work. Hojgaard had much more on the line.

Birdies at four of the closing five holes brought Hojgaard from a three-shot deficit to a one-shot victory. McIlroy was helter skelter over the finishing stretch. He undid two birdies with two bogies, and lost what seemed like a certain victory. Is McIlroy the Greg Norman of his generation? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Shots of the day from the final round at Royal County Down ? #AmgenIrishOpen | @Amgen pic.twitter.com/xXWeukXdZ6

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 15, 2024

Korn Ferry Tour @ Simmons Bank: Peterson gets work done

The playoffs have commenced on the KFT. As expected, there are a billion and one story lines. Morgan Hoffman continued his unlikely return from muscular dystrophy, tying for third at minus-eighteen. Other challengers sought returns to the PGA Tour, security for 2024-2025, and many other perquisites. In the end, it was Paul Peterson, whose opening rounds of 64 and 63 gave him enough of a cushion to close with 67 – 66 and win. It wasn’t easy.

Nearly corraling Peterson was the USA’s Matt Atkins. Atkins posted 63-61 in the middle rounds to jump to second spot. Ryan Gerard had the lead through 54 holes, thanks to 65-63-64. On Sunday, he would falter just enough to let Atkins and Peterson slide by. Gerard’s closing 70 featured a plus-two back nine, including bogey at the par-four closer. Both Atkins and Peterson made gritty pars at the watery 18th, and the victory, his first on the KFT, fell to Paul Peterson.

Paul Peterson’s 4-under 66 final round was enough to secure his first #KornFerryTour title at the @simmonsbankopen. ??@PPetersonGolf pic.twitter.com/P8jrPIXXKk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 16, 2024

PGA Tour Champions @ Sanford: Steve breaks through

Never thought we’d be talking about Steve Freaking Stricker breaking through again. 2024 has belong to two other Steves (Alker and Ames) while the great cheesehead from Wisconsin had yet to drink from victory’s vessel. That all changed this week. A number of unlikely challengers filled the top three through two rounds, but all fell away on Sunday.

As expected, Steve Stricker jumped at the chance to claim something that no one else seemed to want. Stricker and Richard Green reached eight-under par, one ahead of the ageless Bernhard Langer. The pair went down four overtime fairways before Stricker was able to rip an approach from the rough to three feet. He converted, while Green missed a longer birdie putt. Just like that, Stricker had a third consecutive Sanford title, and fourth of his career.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Steve Stricker’s approach hits the flagstick on the 4th playoff hole! pic.twitter.com/lCvdIRCATE

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 15, 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)