News

Hot Start In Paradise For 2011 PGA Tour

Published

15 years ago

Jan 10, 2011

By Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com

One of the greatest bonuses for being a winner on the PGA Tour is the opportunity to get a head start on your competition the following year.

The winners-only Hyundai Tournament of Champions provides that prospect and it was Jonathan Byrd who took advantage – jumping to the top of the PGA Tour standings.

It was a promising launch to the 2011 season and the folks at PGA Tour Headquarters had to be pretty pleased to see a showdown in paradise take place with a playoff between two very likeable players. Especially with a prime-time television slot. What better way to get fans fired up for the year ahead?

A missed birdie putt to reach 25 under and win outright forced Byrd into a playoff with big-bombing Robert Garrigus who had whiffed a chance of his own (his putt was for eagle)on his final hole that would have nabbed him the win.

Byrd looked mis-matched in the playoff, giving up a huge length advantage to Garrigus in the playoff but his steady formed paid off in the end. After both making pars on the 1^st extra hole each played conservatively to the putting surface on the next hole.

Byrd cozied up his birdie approach, tapping it in for par while his competitor rushed his attempt to win outright just a little too far past the hole. His hurried putt caught little more than the edge of the hole and with that the first PGA Tour winner of 2011 was declared.

Garrigus, who was solid all week on the greens with his unusually short, 28” putter, admitted he made a critical mistake on his last stroke. “I just hit it too hard” he said in his post round television interview. “I wanted to take the break out of it. I played it inside right. I should’ve played it a little straighter.”

As for Byrd, he was elated with the victory, the 5^th of his career on the PGA Tour, and a guaranteed spot in the field of the same event for 2012.

“I felt good out there all day, “said the 32 year-old Anderson, South Carolina native. “I just kept giving myself opportunities.”

That strategy continues to work for Byrd who had a lot of momentum coming into this year. After a slow start in 2010 he capped off his Fall with a stupendous playoff victory at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital For Children Open where he made an ace on the 1^st extra hole to earn his spot in the field this week.

This victory not only earns him $1.12 million but also gives him the lead in the FedEx Cup Points with 500. He also bolsters his chances of representing the United States in the President’s Cup this Fall. With this early thrust he sets himself up for what could be his record season. His best year financially on the Tour was 2007 when he won just over $1.8 million.

Weather conditions were perfect at Maui’s Kapalua Plantation and more than a few players made a charge for the 1st win of the PGA Tour season as a result.

Graeme McDowell made the greatest advance on the field on Sunday. His 11 birdies added up to a record tying round of 62, good enough for third place. A missed short on the 18^th was all that kept him out of joining Byrd and Garrigus in the playoff but apparently a 12^th birdie was too much to ask for.

“I knew the guys were going to go low today. I just tried to keep my head down out there,” said McDowell of his incredible advance.

It was pretty impressive play from a guy who had just made an equipment sponsor switch from Callaway to Srixon. That said, he did have maintain two of the most critical clubs in his bag, the Callaway FT-Tour driver and Odyssey putter that he carried over from his old mix of sticks.

European Tour: Louis Louis!

While many of the world’s top players were enjoying the Hawaiian sunshine, another impressive cadre of players was tipping it up in the Africa Open in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

2010 British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen returned to form to win a three-way playoff with Chris Wood and Manuel Quiros.

Oosthuizen converted an 8 foot putt on the 1^st extra hole to earn his third European Tour victory and 158,000 Euro.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

News

GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

Buy here.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 OccuNet Classic

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.

It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.

Check out links to all our albums below.

General Albums

2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT) – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)

News

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Scotty Cameron GOLO 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @HuskerFlyer is sharing a Scotty Cameron GOLO with a BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition shaft. While the putter is certainly enviable, the Augusta-inspired shaft is equally noteworthy.

From the listing:

Scotty Cameron Golo 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition Scotty Headcover 34″ $375

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.