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Morning 9: Tour Championship starting positions | Ryder Cup locks | New TGL sponsor

Published

2 years ago

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the tour finale at East Lake.

1. Starting strokes for East Lake

10 under…Scottie Scheffler

8 under…Viktor Hovland

7 under…Rory McIlroy

6 under…Jon Rahm

5 under…Lucas Glover

4 under…Max Homa, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick

3 under…Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele

2 under…Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Corey Conners, Si Woo Kim

1 under…Taylor Moore, Nick Taylor, Adam Schenk, Collin Morikawa, Jason Day

Even par…Sam Burns, Emiliano Grillo, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka
Full piece.

2. Ryder Cup locks

Shane Ryan gets you caught up…”What’s changed…the standings are now LOCKED. The captain’s picks won’t happen until after next week’s Tour Championship is over, but we have six automatic qualifiers who can expect their team uniforms to arrive in the mail any day now. All of their spots were already very, very secure, so it doesn’t change a whole lot to know that Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele are officially on the team heading to Italy.”

  • “What’s more intriguing is that Brooks Koepka dropped out of the top six at the absolute last moment, and by an incredibly slim margin. To pat myself on the back a bit, I called this possibility after the Open Championship, when Koepka didn’t finish high enough to insulate himself from the challengers who were on the verge of earning big money and big standings points at the FedEx Cup Playoffs while he would be stuck in place as a LIV Golf guy.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler stymied

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Up ahead, Hovland was putting the finishing touches on the round of his life – a back-nine 28 that gave him a sizzling Sunday 61 – and Scheffler couldn’t match him. Scheffler doubted his read on a 6-foot birdie putt on 16 and missed. Behind for the first time all day, he then three-putted from 21 feet on 17, including a miss from 4 feet. Hovland watched from the locker room as Scheffler’s last-ditch eagle try from the fairway came up short.”

  • “I’m just a bit frustrated,” said Scheffler, who wound up two shots behind Hovland’s winning total of 17-under 263. “I think that would be the way to describe it. Viktor went out and really just beat me today and played a fantastic round. I can hold my head high – I did my best out there today and fought hard. Just ultimately came up a couple shots short.”
  • “Scheffler’s late wobble will do little to shift the attention away from his suspect putting…His ball-striking this season has been at a level that hasn’t been seen since Tiger Woods’ prime. Entering the week, Scheffler was gaining 2.69 strokes on the field with his ball-striking – the second-best figure in the ShotLink era (since 2004), when Tiger Woods was 2.98 in 2006.”
Full piece.

4. Latest TGL sponsor announced

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”Three down, three to go. TGL, the new tech golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced Monday that its third of six teams will be based in Atlanta and owned by Arthur Blank, owner of the football’s Atlanta Falcons and soccer’s Atlanta United.”

  • “The first season of what is being billed as a tech-forward, primetime, team golf league launches in January 2024. It was previously announced that Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams and Venus Williams will lead Los Angeles Golf Club while Fenway Sports Group will lead the TGL Boston team.”
Full piece.

5. Walters: Mickelson could have saved me from going to prison

Our Matt Vincenzi…According to Billy Walters new book “Gambler: Secrets From a Life at Risk”, Phil Mickelson could have prevented Walters from going to prison. Walters was indicted on insider trading charges in May of 2016, and was sentenced to five years in prison as a result.

  • In his book, the now 77-year-old shared that he asked Phil to testify that he didn’t give him any inside information, which he claims is true.
  • “All Phil had to do was publicly say it. He refused,” Walters wrote.
  • Speaking on CNN’s This Morning, Walters said:
  • “There was only one witness who testified against me in the case,” Walters explained. “Prior to the trial, this gentleman had given a voluntary interview two years prior to that.”
  • “He denied emphatically he ever gave them insider information. Later, he’d learned that he embezzled money from a battered woman’s charity, he had filed a fraudulent tax return, he had given someone else insider information. Two years later, he went in and changed his story. That’s the only witness against me.
  • “My lawyers and I also believed, during the trial, they destroyed his credibility. We caught him in a minimum of 25 lies. He had no credibility whatsoever.
  • “He was the only person who testified against me. So if Phil had came forward and testified that I — that whoever gave him insider information, to answer your question, Poppy, no, I don’t think I would have been convicted.”
Full piece.

6. No uptick in heckling

David Purdum for ESPN…”The PGA Tour said Monday that it has not seen an uptick in spectators attempting to distract golfers — potentially for betting purposes — since legal sports gambling began spreading around the nation.”

  • “Laura Neal, the PGA Tour’s executive vice president of brand communications, told ESPN on Monday that security teams will take “swift and immediate action to protect the integrity of the competition” but added that no new measures have been in place.”
Full piece.

7. Doak to design Valderrama II

Golf Business News report…”La Zagaleta has commissioned Tom Doak to design a new championship golf course in the Sotogrande area of Spain.”

  • “The project – historically known as Valderrama II – already has all the planning permits in place to begin construction and will be Doak’s first design in Spain and the second in Continental Europe.”
  • “The Majarambuz Club will be located within a parcel of land to the east of Real Club Valderrama and San Roque Club and to the north of La Hacienda Links. The owners are aiming for it to be one of the most exclusive in Europe, with membership by invitation only, which will be limited to around 300. Access to the course will be limited to members and their guests, and users of the resort’s hotel and branded residences, which will be part of the development.”
Full piece.

8. Golf course worker stung 2,000 times

Golfweek report…”A maintenance worker at an Arizona golf course was stung nearly 2,000 times after he came upon a beehive, according to officials from the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority.”

  • “The incident took place at Pebblebrook Golf Course, which was one of the first golf courses built at the Sun City West retirement development on the city’s west side.”
Full piece.

9. Reminder: GolfWRXMembers Choice results are live

  • If you’ve missed GolfWRXers’ selections for the best driver, irons, fairway wood, wedges, putter, and more, hit the link below.
Full piece.

Related Topics:

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.

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News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Aug 4, 2025

By

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

on

Jul 29, 2025

By

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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News

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

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Jul 28, 2025

By

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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