News

Morning 9: TGL schedule | Hero field | WMPO security changes

Published

10 months ago

Oct 23, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

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

1. ICYMI: TGL schedule announced

Here’s who features in the first match, via PGATour.com…

Match 1: New York Golf Club vs. The Bay Golf Club

Tuesday, Jan 7, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

“With the PGA TOUR fresh off The Sentry, its first Signature Event of 2025, TGL’s first-ever match is Tuesday, Jan. 7, in prime time on ESPN and ESPN+.”

“Coming off a career season that included two major championship victories, Xander Schauffele leads New York Golf Club (Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Schauffele and Cameron Young) to face The Bay Golf Club (Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee and Shane Lowry) as the two youngest teams in TGL square off.”

And Tiger Woods’ first action will be…

Match 4: Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf

Monday, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Full piece.

2. Hero field (sans Tiger…for now) announced

3. JT excited for Japan with daughter on the way

Adam Stanley for PGATour.com…Justin Thomas has a singular focus this week.

But by this time next month, he’ll be ready for his life to change in a sweet new way.

“It’s going to be great. But this week I’m focused on business and trying to win a golf tournament,” Thomas said.

“Then it’s time to go home and get ready to be a dad.”

Thomas announced on social media he and his wife Jillian would be expecting their first child in November. Thomas revealed Tuesday at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP that they are having a daughter.

“Any golf shot or situation I am in this week, it’s not going to be anything close to as hard as it’s going to be in a month or so when our little one comes,” Thomas said with a smile. “We’re very fortunate with the timing … or me being able to come here.

“I think reality will probably set in when I’m flying home and then when I get home because it will be getting in crunch time. I know my wife’s going to be an unbelievable mom and I’m excited for the opportunity to raise a little girl.”

Full piece.

4. Security changes ahead at WMPO

Golf Digest’s Joel Beall…”This week, the tournament announced changes to ensure a repeat won’t happen in 2025. Those implementations include:”

“-Adding another tournament entrance designed to improve crowd flow, particularly during peak hours on high-attendance days like Friday and Saturday.”

“-Several walkways around the course have been expanded, providing fans with more space to move easily and comfortably in what is traditionally one of the most popular and high foot-traffic areas of the golf course.”

“-Full-digital ticketing, which will improve issues fans experienced entering the property.”

“-Two additional fan spectating venues.”

Full Piece.

5. A man in search of a tour

AP report…”Sung Kang didn’t have the status to get in another full year on the PGA Tour, so he looked elsewhere. He found the Bahamas and Bahrain. He went as far south as Argentina, as far north as Denmark. He played at sea level and in the Alps.”

“He has learned plenty this year, such as this nugget for anyone curious.”

“Singapore to Houston is really far,” Kang said early Tuesday in South Korea, the 18th country he has played in this year. He was dealing with jet lag from the 6,400-mile (10,300-kilometer) flight to Seoul from the Andalucia Masters along the southern coast of Spain.”

“Kang was referring to a trip in late March. He missed the cut in the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour and flew to Texas the next day so he could arrive in time for a Monday qualifier at the Houston Open. He shot 67 to get in and then missed the cut.”

“Next stop: Savannah, Georgia, for a Korn Ferry Tour event.”

Full Piece.

6. Davidson competes as LPGA pros dispute transgender policy

AP report…”Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson began the second stage of LPGA qualifying Tuesday with a 78 as reports surfaced of 275 female players signing a letter asking top golf organizations to repeal policies that allow people assigned male at birth to compete in women’s events.”

“Outkick reported that the Independent Women’s Forum shared the letter sent Aug. 19 to the LPGA, the U.S. Golf Association and the International Golf Federation. The letter was sent three days before the pre-qualifying stage of Q-school.”

“Davidson, who narrowly missed out on a playoff during U.S. Women’s Open qualifying this year, tied for 42nd in LPGA pre-qualifying to advance to the next stage.”

“The LPGA currently allows players who have undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and meet hormone therapy requirements to compete.”

Full Piece.

7. Chuck sounds off

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)