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Tour Mash: Vaughn’s revival and Langer wins No. 99

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Phil Mickelson, in the midst of a career revival, awakened Sunday with a two-stroke lead at the AT&T Championship. His may have been the story that people wanted to write, but Vaughn Taylor had an even better comeback story to offer. Taylor hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2005, when he captured his second consecutive Reno-Tahoe Open. Taylor’s place on the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup side (he fell way off form leading up to the event) was one of the catalysts for changing the points structure, and his career spiraled downward thereafter, to a loss of exempt status in 2012. On Sunday, Taylor posted nine birdies and two bogeys, then stood by as Mickelson and others failed to match his score. A few weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Taylor gave himself the greatest gift he could imagine — another PGA Tour win and a trip to the Masters.

But I still can’t believe Phil missed that putt. It seemed like a sure bet he’d make birdie after a phenomenal birdie on hole No. 17 to give himself a chance. Golf is a crazy game, isn’t it?

Related: See the clubs Taylor used to win.

Schwartzel keeps Tshwane Open title in-country

Charl Schwartzel succeeded George Coetzee as titleist in the European Tour’s Tshwane Open. The 2011 Masters champion took complete charge on Friday, after opening with a hum-drum 71 on Thursday. Rounds of 64, 66 and 63 totaled 17-under for the final 54 holes and led to an eight-stroke lapping of the field. Jeff Winther of Denmark saved his best for Day 4, posting seven birdies in a six-under 64. The effort moved him from 10th to 2nd place and prevented a South African route. The day and week belonged to Schwartzel, who claimed his eighth professional victory in his home country, with his first Tshwane triumph.

Quake fails to halt Ko’s march to victory

LydiaKo

Despite challenges from unheralded contestants and a too-real earthquake of 5.7 on the Richter Scale, Lydia Ko shook off last week’s final-round foozle at Coates and won a third New Zealand Open championship by two strokes. Shortly before Ko teed off, a seismic shift lasting 30 seconds struck near Christchurch. No injuries or fatalities were reported. On the course, Amelia Lewis of the USA made a strong run at the title, taking over the lead at 10-under before three closing bogeys dropped her to a tie for sixth. Ko played consistent, error-free golf to successfully defend her 2015 title.

Chubb Classic

BernhardLangerIt turns out that Bernhard Langer can take a day off from being Bernhard Langer and still have enough fuel to win on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Langer stood seven strokes clear of the field as Day 3 of the Chubb Classic began, but closed with a 1-over 73 to offer hope to the masses. Fred Couples drew the closest, reaching 7-under on the day with one hole to play. Rather than the birdie he needed, Boom-Boom closed with a bogey. Langer’s two-day burst of 16-under was enough to clinch his 99th professional victory. 99!! The next one will be quite special, and given his penchant for low numbers, will come quite soon.

Bangladesh Open’s Tiger Trophy goes to Chuayprakong

In an Asian Tour event that might have Olympic ramifications, Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong finished at 21-under for a two-stroke victory over Sutijet Kooratanapisan. The runner-up made things interesting with a birdie on the 17th, closing the gap to one. The champion was steadfast on the final hole, despite driving in the rough, making par against Sutijet’s bogey, to create the final margin. For many players from golf’s developing countries, the Asian Tour is the venue for amassing World Ranking points that will ultimately determine places on national teams for Rio 2016.

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

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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.

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Photos from the 2025 3M Open

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GolfWRX is live from the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities!

Back from our overseas journey, we have plenty for you to digest from Minnesota, including WITBs and in-hand looks at some pretty impressive putters.

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Photos from the 2025 Open Championship

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GolfWRX was live this week across the pond for The Open Championship! Check out links to all our galleries from Royal Portrush below.

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