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Tour Rundown: Lee nabs first major win | Cink a winner again | Coetzee | MAJ
What NFL football? Professional golf is thriving. Fans showed up at the Champions Tour’s Sanford International in Sioux Falls, the European Tour played a second week on the Iberian peninsula, and the LPGA celebrated its second major of the season. In addition, the Korn Ferry and PGA tours kept up the frenetic pace of competitive golf, into the fall. September is here, and golf shows no signs of slowing down. Time to run down the five big events that highlighted tour golf this week.
Lee wins first major title at ANA Inspiration
Let’s pretend that a wall didn’t take any sort of stage this week. Let’s pretend that writers had something better to write about, than a human-made object, of which everyone could take advantage. There are two truths about the finish: Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson, and Mirim Lee played splendid, trophy-worthy golf throughout the week; and Lee had a bit better fortune at the end.
The triumvirate of talented LPGA golfers tied for first at 15 shots deep. Lexi Thompson came 4th, two back, trying to match brother Curtis’ win on the Korn Ferry Tour (more on that later.) Lee made eagle at the last, Henderson notched a birdie of her own, and Korda could only manage par at the mildly-easy final hole. Off they went to extra time, where sudden victory would determine a champion.
In the playoff, Lee again played the hole to perfection, while Henderson’s birdie putt strayed away from the hole, and Korda struggled once more with the finishing hole. The ladies return to action this week at the Cambria Portland Classic in the great state of Oregon.
Cink returns to victory lane in Napa
Stewart Cink was the most unlikely winner this week in Napa. Fitted in between the end of the FedEx Cup playoffs and the rescheduled US Open, the double cross-country Atlanta-Napa-Westchester jaunt was not on everyone’s list. Surely a youngster, an up-and-comer, would make the Safeway Open a launching pad to a solid career. Perhaps Harry Higgs? Sam Burns? Doc Redman? All three showed well, and all three showed up, but it was the Georgia Tech alum who holed the putt that mattered most.
For a time, it looked as if Redman’s lightning 62 on Sunday would steal the show. Higgs eclipsed him by one, but it was the old guy who played the best golf. Until his bogey at 17, Cink was perfect on the day. That momentary hiccough did little to deter his train; he made birdie at the closing trace to earn a two-shot victory over Higgs. Incredibly, the win was his first in 11 years, since he stole an Open Championship from Tom Watson (an offense, incidentally, that I have not forgiven, and will probabably never forgive. Stewart Cink, you don’t know me, but … ugghh.) Anyway, a great win for the 47-year old, now seven-time titleist on tour.
Guess what? It’s U.S. Open week!
Curtis the final Thompson to claim professional victory
Curtis Thompson is the youngest of the three Touring Thompsons. Sister Lexi is the most well-known, having won multiple times on the LPGA Tour. Older brother Nick won on the Korn Ferry Tour in New Zealand, and Curtis has now joined them in the winners’ circle, thanks to a one-shot triumph at the Evans Scholars Invitational.
Thompson got off to a bumpy beginning, with bogey at the first two holes. He breathed deeply and played minus-four golf the rest of the way. It was a good thing, as a number of golfers made a run at his overnight lead. Germany’s Max Rottluff was six-under par through ten holes, but could only play minus-one the rest of the way. He tied for 4th position at -14. Both Jimmy Stanger and Will Zalatoris made eagle two at the 14th hole, gaining two shots on Thompson, who could record a mere par. Stanger and Zalatoris would tie at -16.
Thompson came to the par-five 18th at the same number. Zalatoris had made par there, while Stanger had recorded a birdie. Thompson, a Florida native and LSU alum, reached the immense 573-yarder in two mighty strikes, then calmly two-putted for a winning birdie. The Korn Ferryians have a week off before finishing their season with three consecutive events.
Coetzee leaves home and strikes it rich in Iberia
Until Sunday, George Coetzee had not strayed far from home for victory. His previous European Tour wins had come in South Africa and Mauritius. The global golfer might now have to consider purchasing land in Portugal, as he holds the title of Portugal Masters champion of 2020. The spry hulk held off England’s Laurie Canter by two shots, and captured a fifth Euro title.
It wasn’t ever easy for Coetzee. The Pretorian owns two looks: the first is a mirthful one, and you want to raise a pint with him; number two is a smoldering, angry visage, and you want to douse the flames with the pint, or run away in terror. Coetzee never had enough of a lead where he could coast. Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, England’s Tommy Fleetwood, and the aforementioned Cantor kept the pressure applied, but Coetzee was up to the task.
The tour remains in Portugal for another week, then heads to Northern Ireland for the Irish Open as September draws to a close.
MAJ secures 10th senior title in South Dakota
If you’ve paid attention, you’ve seen Miguel Ángel Jiménez take an early lead on the regular European Tour this year. He hasn’t been able to hold on, but the practice against the mocosos stood him well this week in Sioux Falls. The Canarian was strong enough to keep Bernhard Langer, Steve Stricker, and Steve Flesch at bay. The subsequent, one-stroke victory over Flesch was Jiménez’ 10th on the Champions Tour.
The dancing Iberian was in secure position, until Flesch made eagle at the 16th, to reach -13. Stricker stood at the same number on the 17th tee, but made bogey and failed to record birdie at the last. Langer had a pair of birdies on the inward half, but needed a few more to reach a tie. Jiménez made a birdie of his own to leap to 14-deep, and there he remained.
The Champions move to Pebble Beach this week, then close their campaign with a six-week run of events across the lower 48 states.
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
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
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
