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6! | Haney’s take | Thanks, Jack | Beers on Lydia

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By Ben Alberstadt (ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com)

June 3, 2019

Good Monday morning, golf fans.
1. 6!
AP report starts with an appetizer of some low-hanging fruit…
“Jeongeun Lee6 is No. 1 at the U.S. Women’s Open.”
  • “The 23-year-old South Korean shot a 1-under 70 on Sunday, enduring some shaky moments after opening up a three-stroke lead with three to play to hold off third-round co-leader Celine Boutier.”
  • “Lee6 was ahead by three after a birdie on the par-5 15th, but took bogeys on the 16th and 18th to give Boutier a chance over the final two holes. But Boutier missed a long birdie attempt on the 17th and put her approach to the par-4 18th in a bunker. Her sand shot rolled off the green.”
  • “Lee6, playing two groups ahead of Boutier, was practicing putts when the Frenchwoman could not make the sand shot. Lee6 bent down in joy when her victory was secure, countrywoman and 2011 U.S. Women’s Open winner So Yeon Ryu coming over to embrace the new champion.”
2. Meanwhile, at Jack’s place…
Steve Dimeglio for Golfweek with this on Patrick Cantlay’s win…
Some sage advice from Jack Nicklaus didn’t hurt.
  • Last year Cantlay took a two-shot lead to the final nine holes in the final round at Muirfield Village but didn’t make another birdie and instead made three bogeys and missed a playoff by one shot.
  • This time around, Cantlay, after making the turn in 5-under 31, didn’t extinguish his momentum and birdied the 11th, 14th and 15th – and made a clutch par out of a deep greenside bunker in the 72nd hole – en route to a two-shot win in Nicklaus’ annual get-together.
  • “It feels great,” Cantlay said. “It’s been a while since I’ve won. To win on a golf course like this, in front of Jack, it’s hard to describe.”

Full piece.

3. Top 10 for Tiger
Dave Shedloski with this on Tiger Woods’ T-9 finish at Muirfield Village…
  • “The goal today was to get to double digits [under par] and get something positive going into the [U.S.] Open,” Woods said. “And I got to double digits. I just didn’t stay there.”
  • “Indeed, Woods would add birdies at 11 and 12 to reach 11 under par to send the immense crowds cheering and clapping-when they were not snapping their cell phones-but his marvelous rally fizzled thereafter. Still, despite two bogeys coming home, the reigning Masters champion carded an encouraging five-under 67 to climb into the top 10 for the ninth time in 17 appearance in the Memorial Tournament.”
  • …”It could have been a little better, for sure,” Woods, No. 5 in the world, said after he missed four of his last six greens in regulation after going 12-for-12 to start the round. “Going into today, I was never going to win the tournament, but I was hoping I could get something positive going into the Open, and I was able to accomplish that, which is great, and get some nice positive momentum going into a nice practice week.
4. Knocker-outer in chief
Golf Digest’s John Huggan with this on the Belgian Knockout participant who did not get knocked out…
  • “Guido Migliozzi looked more and more like the winner of the second Belgian Knockout as soon as the 22-year old Italian took out last week’s winner in Denmark, Bernd Wiesberger, in the quarter-final of this hybrid stroke-play/match-play event. A solid 11th in the 36-hole qualifying, world No. 203 Migliozzi — already a winner at the Magical Kenya Open in March — was under par in each of his six nine-hole matches at the 6,924-yard Rinkven International club near Antwerp en route to his second victory in only 20 European Tour starts.”
  • “In the last of those, Migliozzi was a comfortable four-stroke winner over Challenge Tour player Darius Van Driel, who celebrated this 30th birthday with a best-ever finish on the main Old World circuit. Former Walker Cup player Ewen Ferguson from Scotland took third-place with a bogey-free four-shot victory over Frenchman Gregory Havret (runner-up behind Graeme McDowell in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach) in the playoff for third and fourth places.”
5. Haney
Golf Channel’s Nick Menta…
“…Haney, whose commentary indicated that he did not know the major was taking place this week or where it was being played, quickly offered, “I’m gonna pick a Korean,” and followed up with, “I couldn’t name you six players on the LPGA tour. Maybe I could. I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a first name, I’d get a bunch of them right.”
  • “Lee6  features a number of the end of her name to differentiate her from the multiple other Jeongeun Lees on the Korean LPGA, where Lee6 racked up victories before winning the LPGA Q-Series.”
  • “Once Lee6 was officially the champion, Haney doubled down on “his prediction,” misspelling the champion’s name.”
  • “Congratulations to Jeougean Lee6 on your great win at the US Women’s Open. Who’s The Great Predictor now Steve Johnson @steveyrayj  I knew a Lee would win.”
6. Explaining Lee6
In case you didn’t know, here’s the explanation for the nomenclature, per LPGA.com’s Kent Paisley…
  • “That’s no typo at the end of the rookie’s name: Jeoungeun Lee6 joins the LPGA Tour as a rookie this season. It’s not only not a typo, she prefers people call her “six.”
  • “There are six players on the KLPGA with the same name, and I am the sixth player with the name.” Lee6 told LPGA.com about the reason she added 6 to her last name.
7. DJ/Harmon 3 split
Our Gianni Magliocco…“Ahead of this month’s U.S. Open, Dustin Johnson has announced that he is no longer working with swing coach Claude Harmon.”
  • “Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis broke the news on Sunday at the Memorial, reporting that Harmon had told him of his surprise to see Johnson working with instructor Allen Terrell at Bethpage, and when Harmon attempted to contact the world number two concerning his work with Terrell, Johnson didn’t respond.”
  • “Johnson, who had been working with Harmon for five years, informed the swing coach of the split via text message over the weekend.”
  • “In a statement released by Johnson’s manager, the 34-year-old paid tribute to his former coach, saying…”I have great respect for Claude, both as an instructor and friend, and appreciate all he has done to further my career. He has undoubtedly helped me reach many of my goals.”

Full piece.

8. Shoes & ramen!
Golf Digest’s Christopher Powers

“In other words, South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 picked a very good week to get her first LPGA Tour victory. Her one-under 70 on Sunday at Country Club of Charleston made her the 74th winner of the U.S. Women’s Open, and the first to earn seven figures for her effort. Lee was asked how she plans to spend the $1 million in her victory press conference, and, judging by her answer, it’s going to last her a VERY long time.”

  • “So my goal was, if I win the tournament, I can eat ramen,” said Lee, eliciting plenty of laughter in the media center. “That was my goal. If I finish the top five, I can buy shoes. But I can buy shoes and eat ramen. So it’s a double.”

Full piece.

9. Beers on Lydia!
TVNZ report…”Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko quickly became the talk of the town at the LPGA’s US Women’s Open in Charleston, South Carolina – shouting the course free beer after her hole-in-one.”
  • “Coming into the fourth round out of contention, Ko managed an ace on the par three 11th hole overnight, shouting beer for the media covering the event.”
  • “Beers on Lydia!” the LPGA posted on Twitter.

 

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. I'm Not Lee

    Jun 3, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    Sooo…it turns out Hank was right, right?

    • Rascal

      Jun 4, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Yes, and the simpletons (such as yourself) continue to pat themselves on the back.

      • James

        Jun 4, 2019 at 1:48 pm

        Another butthurt-projecting SJW screams at the sky.

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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

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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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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.

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

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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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