News

Five Things We Learned: Friday at the Open Championship

Published

1 month ago

Jul 18, 2025

Day two of the 153rd Open Championship was marred by glorious weather. Despite the best efforts of the announcers and walking journalists, nary a cloud, drop of rain, nor zephyr of wind could be summoned from the extensive history of the tournament. The Royal Portrush course was helpless against the combined skills of the competing amateurs and professionals, and equipment manufacturers. Over sixty rounds bettered par on this inauspicious day. As I type this report, aged former competitors and battle-scarred pundits are gathering in a smoke-filled room, attempting to enlist the services of the Super Friends and their weather dome.

It’s important to honor both sobriety and humor, lest we lose sight of all professional sport as entertainment first, and then many other things, after. Round two of the 2025 Open Championship reminded all of us that these guys are really, really good. They will light up a golf course if given the opportunity. Make no mistake: Royal Portrush would humble me and you and the rest of youse guys. The gulf between the competing golfers and humans is greater than the mortal coil. If numbers stay low, understand that this is how things go, and enjoy the grandeur of extraordinary preparation, skill, and execution.

Indeed, I learned five things today, and I’m champing at the horse’s bit to tell you what they are. Let’s have a look at that quintet of elements that made holes 19 through 36 most unforgettable, even if they were a bit batty.

1. Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler tried his hardest to post 63, with eight birdies and ten pars. Unfortunately for the gods of perfection, he strayed a bit. On the 11th hole, a sizable, 477-yard par four, Scheffler tugged a driver into the native area. He was compelled to pitch out some 145 yards, leaving a seventy-yard pitch to the green. His third was a pinseeker, but came to rest atop the back fringe. Scheffler’s fourth, a chipper, scared the hole before settling, inches away. He tapped in for his only bogey of the morning.

As imperfection goes, that was it for the Texan. Four birdies on each side of the course crafted the low round at the halfway pole. Scottie Scheffler isn’t Tiger Woods, nor Jack Nicklaus. He is the top-ranked player in the world, and when his orchestra of clubs find their harmony, there is none better. While his lead is but a shot over Matt Fitzpatrick, every fan anticipates that lead to double or triple by nightfall on Saturday. Scheffler whispers the wind game, he speaks fast and firm with fluency, so a super-human effort by another of the greats will be needed to deny him a third, unique major title.

2. Day One Stories on Day Two

Before we dig deeper into the merits of day the second at Portrush, let’s have a glance at the newsmakers of day one. It wasn’t chocolates and meringue for the leaders. Jacob Skov Olesen was part of the quintet at four-under par, but he was back to even par by the 20th tee. Olesen went wide left, then wide right, before a third tee shot stayed inbounds on the opening hole. He made a ten-feet putt for eight, and to his credit, played the remaining 17 hole in plus-one. He’ll make the cut and play through Sunday, but the next 36 holes will be ones of education, rather than contention. Christian Bezuidenhout also fell away on day two. The South African posted 73, giving back two shots to old man par. He’ll need two, Scheffler-esque rounds to return to importance.

The other three, day-one medalists remained in the chase. Matt Fitzpatrick improved on his 67 by one, and will join Scheffler in the final game of day three of the Open Championship. Haotong Li defied odds and signed for another 67. He’ll be one pairing ahead of Fitzpatrick, and will attempt to win a first major title for China. Harris English, whose name figure in Open Championship stories more often than not, went round Portrush in 70 shots. He begins round three five back of Scheffler, in that dangerous place where a pressure-free, low round awaits.

3. You shall not pass (or, Elvis has left the building)

We don’t need Gandalf the Grey to guard the gate. The keepers of the Royal and Ancient have informed those golfers above 143 strokes that their presence will not be required over the weekend. The executioner’s axe fell at one-over par, sending those at plus-two and above to the airport, the train station, or some other concourse.

Eight golfers missed by a single shot. Daniel Hillier made bogey at two of his final three holes, to miss by one. Joaquin Niemann made bogey at three of his final six, to also slip one shot to the bad. Others who missed by more, include Tom Kim, Aldrich Potgieter, Darren Clarke, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Smith …

and yes, Elvis Smylie.

4. DeComeback Kid?

13 is usually an unlucky number. Bryson DeChambeau might ask for a trade to a different team, given that he improved that many shots on his day one score. Less than 24 hours after adding up two doubles, three singles, and a bushel of pars to 78, DeChambeau unleashed all of his pent-up, social-media fury on Royal Portrush. He posted seven birdies against a solitary bogey on day two, reducing his tally to 65 on day two. Coincidentally, BDC made his only over-par number on eleven, the same hole that bit Scottie Scheffler.

DeChambeau won’t win this week, but he can do his level best to put to rest the suggestions that his game is not built for the vagaries and unpredictability of links golf. BDC is a high-ball hitter, despite spending his college days in Texas. The low ball is king at the Open Championship, and it would behoove the mad scientist to put that facet of the game to the test. That, and work on the fade.

5. Anything can happen

I’ll certainly be taken to task for this, but the rules official got it ~~COMPLETELY WRONG~~ COMPLETELY RIGHT when they assessed a two-shot penalty to Shane Lowry. First and foremost, Lowry had not grounded his club behind the ball. He appeared to be swinging at the ball, but it was deception. His intent all along was to take a practice swing. He pulled wide left of the ball, barely grazing the tip of one anonymous, blade of grass. The ball moved, and Lowry doubtless had no idea that it did.

The problem was, that unnamed blade of grass (identity witheld to protect it from legal action) was a long one, folded over by the weight of its own maturity. It extended the entire foot leftward, where Lowry’s through swing passed. We’ve seen crazy things happen at major championships, and lack of intent doesn’t always absolve one of the jury’s wrath.

It’s safe to say that the Royal Portrush’s Dunluce course will exact more tax over the final 36 holes. If it happens to one of the leaders, we’re in for more drama.

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

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

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

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.

News

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

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

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)