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5 Things We Learned on Day 2 of The Open

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The downfall of working in the golf industry is I very rarely get to watch live golf on TV. My busy teaching schedule and a four-month old at home doesn’t even leave much time for me to catch highlights. But today was the day! I blocked my work schedule and set an early alarm, I was going to watch golf all day. Here are my takeaways from day 2.

1) Royal Birkdale shines in dark, windy and gloomy weather

There may be nothing better than a links course when the wind picks up and the rain starts to fall. Day 1 saw relatively subdued weather, and scoring reflected that with 39 players under par. Day 2 saw only eight players shoot under-par rounds. Round 2 also saw the average score jump up two strokes, even with Zach Johnson’s 66 early in the a.m. Here’s to hoping the weather stays gloomy during the weekend for the maximum Open-viewing entertainment.

2) Jordan can run away with it

Speith has 10 Tour victories, and half of those he won by three or more shots. When Spieth is having fun and making putts, he is simply difficult to beat. Even after facing some adversity today with four bogeys on the card, he was able to keep his calm (unlike Bubba today) and play through the worst of the weather. Even having the more difficult end of the draw, he has made the most of his opportunities.

3) Hometown heroes in the hunt

Two Englishmen, Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, are within striking distance. If you had to rest your entire nation’s hopes on two guys, those two wouldn’t exactly be your top picks, but here we are. At the beginning of this season, Poulter was yet to secure a tour card after a long medical leave, but he scraped by and made enough money to keep playing. If there is one thing we do know about his game, however, is that he plays well with home-town advantage.

To be honest, I can’t use not watching a lot of golf as an excuse for not knowing who Richard Bland is. And after some brief research, I soon realized why. He has only played two majors before in his career and his last Open championship was 1998, where he missed the cut. Bland plays the Challenge Tour over in Europe and only has one win in 21 years. The fact this guy made the cut is incredible, and now he finds himself among the world’s best. I wouldn’t bet against either of these guys with an entire country coming out this weekend to cheer them on!

4) Kuchar is still in second

With Speith in contention, very little is being said about even his closest competitors. For Matt Kuchar, that may prove to be a positive. Kuchar is an understated, quiet guy by nature and I have to think it can only help him if the spotlight remains on someone else. In the past 10 years, Kuchar has missed only three cuts in majors, and with eight top-10 finishes, he may be poised to break through.

5) Major Cuts

As with any major championship, some big names are packing up and heading home early. The Players Champion, Si-Woo Kim, followed his opening round 70 with 76. Justin Thomas put up a second round 80 after looking like one of the favorites after round one. And Phil Mickelson had a week to forget with rounds of 73-77 making us wait even longer for the Phil, Bones reunion of a different kind.

Dan Gaucher is a Teaching Professional at Saratoga National Golf Academy. Trackman Level 2 coach, TPI Level 2 Golf Coach, and Multiple time U.S. Kids Golf top 50 instructor. Dan also has experience in the health and fitness industry which has allowed him to further understand the biomechanics of the body and how it correlates to the golf swing. Dan enjoys being a student of both the human body and the game of golf. Dan works with players of all abilities from beginners to aspiring professionals.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. RG

    Jul 22, 2017 at 1:22 am

    Go Jordan!

  2. david

    Jul 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    Is Bibba playing with a new putter?

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Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.

They wrote:

“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”

Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
  • jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
  • jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
  • Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”

Entire Thread: “Most Birdies Without Breaking Par.”

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Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.

@DTorres asked:

The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?

Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.

We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
  • bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
  • CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”

Entire Thread: “Best current stock shaft 2026.”

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

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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.

 

  • GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

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