News

Tour Rundown: Tour Championship in the hands of the engineer | Annika to Nels

Published

9 months ago

Nov 18, 2024

The weeks have dwindled to two. The LPGA and PGA Tours finish their schedules on Sunday next, while the remaining world tours have buttoned up their 2024 official seasons. I love writing Tour Rundown, but do understand that everyone runs out of gas, be they golfers, readers, or editors! It’s nice to take a break for the holidays, so after next week’s final installment for 2024, we’ll all put our feet up and give it a rest. For now, though, let’s workshop a new feature for 2025, the TFTW.

Thought for the week

The LPGA Tour commissioner got hit hard this week in an opinion piece from Beth Ann Nichols. I did a bit of research (emphasis on bit) by checking out the YouTube pages of three of the world’s tours. Each tour prepares highlight packages for the day’s play, and often puts together a separate one for the top player. Only on the LPGA YouTube feed do you see missed shots on the highlight reel. No one chases a highlight package to see missed short putts, long putts that almost go in, and poor chips. You find these on the LPGA feed. That’s one place for the LPGA to strengthen its presentation to the world. Show us the best shots only, even if the players aren’t in contention.

DP World Tour: Tour Championship in the hands of the engineer

The story of Rory, locking himself in a simulator for a time, to sort out his golf swing, has legs. McIlroy entered the final week of the DP World Tour season with two hands firmly on the season-long chase for the championship. Only Thriston Lawrence could overtake him. Let’s promptly dispense with that storyline: Lawrence tied for 30th, an unfortunate end to a stellar season.

No great champion wishes to back into recogniation as the year-long celebrant. McIlroy wanted the win this week at the Earth course. Standing in his way was the defending champion, Nikolai Hojgaard. Whoops, sorry, the twin brother of the defending champion, Rasmus Hojgaard. They look so much alike, amiright? Nik wasn’t back to defend; he spent his year on the US PGA tour and didn’t qualify in. That’s an oddity in itself~shouldn’t the DC be invited back, no matter what?

Rory, Rasmus, and Antoine Rozner stood as one, tied at -12, with 18 holes to play. Rozner fell away first, turning in +1 before a final-hole birdie returned him to a worthy tie for third, with Adam Scott and Shane Lowry. Hojgaard played -1 golf through seven holes, before closing with eleven consecutive pars. That’s a lot to do on a blustery day, and day four in the United Arab Emirates was certainly that. The problem for Rasmus was Rory.

The Northern Irishman erased a hole-one bogey with four consecutive birdies, from two through five. The challenge was made, and Rory did not back down. He needed his swing to hold up under pressure, and for the most part, it did. Loads of pars were joined by two bogies, from holes six through fifteen. On nine, a drive missed left led to a bunkered approach, and an unsucccessful up and down. The second bogey came at the short 13th, where a tee ball hit long (shades of Pinehurst #2) met a poor chip and a missed putt from 15 feet. With three remaining holes, R and R were tied atop the board.

McIlroy stuffed an approach on 16 for a needed birdie, then closed with another at the last, for a two-shot margin of victory. The win was his career-third in the tournament, and his sixth season title, matching Seve Ballesteros for the most. Rozner, Rasmus, and Rory served up a fitting end to the 2024 DP World Tour race, and can be forgiven for feeling a bit … wait for it … run down.

Step up Rory McIlroy ?

He moves one shot ahead with two holes to play.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ZLp3rVbJp4

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 17, 2024

LPGA: The Annika belongs to the Nels

Why couldn’t Charley Hull post 67 and win The Annika outright? Why couldn’t Weiwei Zhang sign for 66, a day after autographing a 62 scorecard? Sometimes, it’s the echo of the footsteps. Nelly Korda’s footsteps echo loud and far.

Korda posted two rounds of 66, and two more of 67, on her way to a three-shot victory over Zhang, Hull, and Im Jin-Hee. To be fair, the runners-up trio was playing an away game, while the Florida kid was on home turf. Korda was raised in the sunshine state, and her comfort on the grasses of Florida is unmatched by anyone. Four of her 15 tour titles have come within the confines of her state residence.

You might be shocked to learn that Korda made three bogeys on her way to an outward 37. Seriously? Then, she ran off five consecutive birdies, from holes eleven through fifteen, to send her challengers away to a warming cup of tea. This was her event, mind you, from start to finish. No stumbles nor bumbles, no hiccoughs nor potholes, would deter her from her appointment with the trophy’s engraver.

Teeing off at 18, @NellyKorda has a two shot lead ?

Tune in on @GolfChannel to see who wins @theANNIKAlpga ? pic.twitter.com/JNvPiDnhtJ

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 17, 2024

PGA Tour: Bermuda is buttery for Rafa

980 nautical miles float between Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Both occupy space in the Atlantic, and both identify as islands. Rafael Campos became a PGA Tour winner this week on Bermuda, and the entirety of Puerto Rico celebrated this achievement. Campos had previously won on the Korn Ferry Tour, in the Bahamas. There’s a pattern developing here, and Rafa has no problem with any of it.

Justin Lower, Andrew Novak, and Campos all began Sunday at 16-deep. Lower, in the hunt last week in Mexico, came out strong, but tripped over a double bogey at the par-three eighth hole. Needing to make something happen as opportunity waned, Lower closed with three bogeys over the final quintet, salvaged by a 17th-hole birdie. He finished +1 on the day, -14 for the week, tied for fifth spot. Novak fared better. Despite a bogey at the last, he matched three birdies with three bogeys, posted even for round four, and secured solo second by a stroke.

It was Campos who played his round of the season, when it mattered most. The unflappable Borinquen made a trio of bogeys on the day. Didn’t matter. He signed for four birdies and one eagle, and came home in three-under 69. His margin of victory was three shots over Novak, and earned him much-needed, FedEx Cup points for 2025.

256 yards to 3 feet!
@RafaCamposGolf ties the lead in style @Bermuda_Champ. pic.twitter.com/ah61H84RZz

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 17, 2024

PGA: Assistants Championship

Preston Cole arrived in Port St. Lucie as the defending PGA Assistants champion. With 18 holes left to play, he found himself in second place, but seven shots in arrears. The problem was, Old Corkscrew’s Domenico Geminiani had roasted the Wannamaker course at PGA golf club through 54 holes. On Sunday, Geminiani cooled off, to a 74, but he had enough margin to claim the 2024 PGA Assistants championship.

Cole played well on Sunday, posting 70 to reach minus-nine. Zac Oakley from Delaware’s Bidemann Club zoomed up the board with 68, catching Cole for second spot. Geminiani played the game of Catch me if you can on day four. He stood even on the day through 16, before bogeys at the final two holes made the tournament result much tighter. Geminiani concluded play at twelve-under par, three shots clear of the runners-up. The win was his second PGANA title in three years.

Después de hacer 5-bajo par en la ida, Domenico Geminiani hace un nuevo birdie en el 15 para llegar a 6-bajo par.

After a 5-under on the front-nine, Domenico Geminiani made this birdie on 15th. He moves to 6-under with 3 holes to play.@TCWestonHills pic.twitter.com/G4Wqk6xsZn

— PGA TOUR Americas en Español (@PGATAmericasESP) June 10, 2021

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)