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Tour Rundown: Drama at the Senior Players, an unexpected LPGA champion

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7 years ago

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The United States Golf Association presented its first new Open championship since 1980. The debut of the USGA Senior Women’s Open was played at storied and seldom-seen Chicago Golf Club, near the windy city. Everyone hoped for a signature championship, and a signature champion, and the ladies did not disappoint. The professional tours teed it up in Scotland, Illinois, Ohio and Illinois again. Run, run, run it down now, in this week’s Tour Rundown.

Laura Davies dominates inaugural Senior Women’s Open

There were impressive performances this week across the world, perhaps the best such week of the season. None was more impressive than dame Laura Davies’ 10-shot victory at the first-ever US senior women’s open championship. Davies played cautious golf the first two rounds, always in the mix but never at risk. With 2 rounds under her belt, the English champion and hall of fame golfer took the Chicago Golf Club apart over the final 36 holes, leaving the field in the dust. Davies was a shot off Elaine Crosby’s first-round 70, but found herself tied for the lead at the midway point.

Chicago Golf Club played to a par of 73 for the championship, and Davies chopped 7 strokes off that figure, thanks to 6 birdies and 1 eagle. Her last bogey of the tournament came on the 4th hole that day. Oddly enough, it was a 6 at the par-five hole, a rarity for the long hitter. Eschewing tees as she has her entire career, Davies’ driving clubs played shots from turf-fashioned mounds to the fairway, all week long. Her challengers included Juli Inkster, who finished second at 6-under, and countrywoman Trish Johnson, who claimed third at 4-under.

As important as Davies’ signature victory, was the presence of the grand ladies of the game. Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carner, and Pat Bradley represented the Babe Zaharias, Mickey Wrights, and Patty Bergs before them. Raise a glass to the first of what will become a storied championship for senior women golfers.

Michael Kim claims first PGA Tour title

It’s probable that Michael Kim doesn’t care that he put on the second-best performance of the week, after Davies’. The former UCal and USA Walker Cup golfer began to fulfill the promise he offered, with a first PGA Tour win, in stunning fashion. The John Deere Classic was used to seeing Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson in the mix, yet Kim’s win might be the most talked-about for years to come. The 25-year old celebrated his birthday on Saturday, then went out on Sunday and shot 66, for an 8-stroke margin of victory. Four golfers tied for 2nd spot, including Francesco Molinari. Any other week, that foursome would have gone to extra holes, but this was Kim’s week, and runner-up money was their sole compensation.

Consider this for a moment. Of the 72 holes that Kim played, he made birdie on 30 of them. 42 percent of the time, his score was going lower. When your birdie-to-bogey ration is 10-1, you know that you’re in for something special. Of the runners-up, three were in desperate need of mid-career validation, while the fourth looks to take the next, major step in his career. Sam Ryder, Bronson Burgoon and Joel Dahmen have 0 victories and an average of 30 years of age. We know how much a win for any of the three would mean. As for Francesco Molinari, he has represented Europe in the Ryder and Seve Cups, and won on the European and USA PGA Tours. What’s the next step? Carnoustie or Bellerive, thank you very much.

Stone storms Scotland for Open title on European Tour

Brandon Stone is a very good golfer. He had two prior European Tour wins, both coming on home soil, in South Africa. Some might call that misleading, as those events don’t attract as strong a field as, say, the Scottish Open. Of late, Stone had struggled with his game, but he went out on Sunday, etched 8 birdies and 1 eagle on his scorecard for 60. Oh, and he won the Scottish Open. He beat guys like Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters and Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter. Dream came true.

For the longest time on Sunday, viewers wondered if Eloquent Eddie Pepperell would double his career victory total, if Trevor Immelman would return to the glory he once knew, or if some other story would be written. For a few hours, that story was Aaron Rai. He opened birdie-eagle to take the lead at 14-under. It would take six more birdies for him to win, but he made four bogies and tied for 9th. Third round leader Jens Dentorp had his say, but three bogeys of his own dropped him to a tie for third. The Stone Express was so sudden; for most of the day, he was “making a nice move” or “having a good day of it.” Then, he birdied 14 and 15, and eagled 16 to stun the … well, pretty much the EVERYONE. On to Carnoustie!

Senior Players Championship to Singh in overtime

It’s hard to close out a golf tournament. Jeff Maggert had 3, maybe 4 opportunities on Sunday to do so. He didn’t. Bart Bryant and Scott McCarron, the latter the defending champion, came down with a case of ennui and played par golf from the final twosome. Jerry Kelly and and Brandt Jobe found their games on Sunday, shooting scores in the low 60s to come oh so close to the top spot. Along the way, a tall Fijian, name of Singh, shuffled his way into contention, hung around long enough to reach a playoff, then won the title with birdie on the second extra hole.

It went like this: Maggert hits a bad approach and make bogey, letting Singh back in. Singh hits a bad drive and has to scramble for miracle par, opening door for Maggert, who doesn’t step through. Maggert has legitimate birdies chances on last hole of regulation and first hole of playoff, but cannot convert. For a while, it was like watching Lionel Messi take a penalty kick! On the second playoff hole, Singh stuffed his approach to a few feet and made the putt for his first senior major title.

Suwannapura ousts Lincicome in extra holes at LPGA’s Marathon Classic

When you make the media scramble for a highlight reel, it’s safe to say that your victory was unexpected. Much like the Champions Tour, questions all day at the Marathon Classic centered on Brooke Henderson, Brittany Lincicome, and NOT on Thidapa Suwannapura. Henderson had another chance to put the field away and claim a title, but a combination of too much power and putting that needs improvement, kept her off the podium’s top spot. She finished one shot out of the playoff, with bogeys at two of her final four holes, and pars on the closing two holes, both par 5s (pssst…those felt like bogeys, too.)

Lincicome had a clean card on Sunday, making 4 birdies to shoot 67 and finish at 14-under. When Thidapa bogeyed 16, the last thing anyone expected was eagle and birdie on the final pair, but that’s what came off. To sudden death did Thidapa and Brittany go, and once again, the young Thai golfer had a birdie putt at 18, this time to win the title. She was spot on with her putt and the week’s most untouted champion had her coronation.

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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 Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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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.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 29, 2025

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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.

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.

 

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BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 28, 2025

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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)

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WITB

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