News

Tour Rundown: Bezuidenhout ends year with a double | LPGA Volunteers of America goes to Stanford | Hovland’s second W

Published

6 years ago

Dec 7, 2020

The European Tour monopolized the spotlight this weekend, with two events on two ends of a transcontinental region known as Afro-Eurasia. At the southern tip, the South African Open took place at Gary Player country club. Farther to the northwest, in Dubai, the eponymous Dubai Championship was held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Fire course. Around the world, in North America, two more events took place. The LPGA played its run-up-to-the-Open event in Texas, while the PGA Tour journeyed to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula for the final, official event of calendar year 2020. With year-end holidays around the corner, golf takes a hiatus for a few weeks, before resuming full-speed in January.

Welcome to the final Tour Rundown of 2020, and thanks for following along.

Bezuidenhout ends year with a double

Christiaan Bezuidenhout has found his form, there is no doubt. Last week, the South African pro won at the Dunhill, and this week, he followed up with a five-shot margin of victory over Welshman Jamie Donaldson. After a stumble early in his professional career, the 26-year old has started to fulfill the promise that many predicted during his amateur days.

Bezuidenhout and Donaldson were tied for first after 36 holes. The Afrikaaner had arrived with a pair of 67s, while Donaldson followed an opening 71 with a dazzling 63 (ten birdies and one bogey.) It was Bezuidenhout’s consistency that won day three (and ultimately, the week.) While Donaldson regressed to a 72, a third consecutive 67 would find its way to Bezuidenhout’s scorecard.

Donaldson made up four shots on Sunday’s opening nine, but Bezuidenhout was resolute on the inward half. With his margin trimmed, the three-time Euro Tour winner shot a clean 32 coming home, thanks to four birdies, to reestablish his comfortable cushion. After a few lean years, Donaldson has enjoyed a resurgent run in 2020, capped by this podium finish.

Rozner emerges from curtain to claim inaugural title

For all the week, it looked like Andy Sullivan’s tournament. For all the week, no one outside of Kansas City and Paris had a blip called Antoine Rozner on their radar. Yet, here we are, wondering how Sullivan’s birdie caravan (25 on the week, plus one eagle) wasn’t enough to secure the title. Even more indescribable is how the Parisian pulled a rabbit out of a hat and tossed a Sunday 64, for a two-shot win over Mike Lorenzo-Vera (who sound Italian, but isn’t) and Francesco Laporta (who also sounds Italian, and is.)

Here’s the 120-second breakdown: Rozner opened with a 63, that few noticed. He was only two back of Sully’s magical 61 after day one. Rozner had 69 on day two, lost ground, but had 67 on day three to actually win a shot back. On day four, Rozner was five-deep through 12, then made his second eagle of the week at the 13th, to take control. On 14, he did what all winless golfers do: he made bogey. Then, like all golfers who finally break through do, he made birdie at 15 and 18 to reach 25-under par on the week.

Meanwhile, Sully and the Englishmen (Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher included) were doing the very thing that they need not attempt: play safe, or, not go low enough. They were 70, 68, and 70, respectively, on day four. Those are wondrous scores for a major or a high-tier event, but at Dubai, where birdies win the day, not so much. By the way, if you wondered about the Kansas City and Paris references earlier, Rozner grew up in the City of Lights, and attended college at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he played a little golf.

The European Tour remains in Dubai for the Race To Dubai championship, to be contested on the Jumeirah Estates’ Earth course.

LPGA Volunteers of America event goes to Stanford

You could tell that this was no ordinary Texas tournament. Scores were high, and players had to grind for every possible, saved stroke. In fact, the VOA played precisely how a run-up event to a major should play. If the Jackrabbit and Cypress Creek courses at Champions Golf Club in Houston measure up to the standard set at The Colony, the world’s greatest female golfers will be in for a second straight week of endurance and grit.

Endurance and grit are Angela Stanford’s middle names. The 43-year old, with one major title to her name, played a game with which her competitors were not familiar on Sunday. Stanford counted seven birdies among her 18 holes, and left the field behind in the Texas dust. True, her margin of victory was just two strokes So Yeon Ryu, Inbee Park, and Yealimi Noh, but it might have felt like ten. It actually took a closing bogey from Stanford, and closing birdies from two of the three runners-up, to make the margin as narrow as it was.

Back in 2003, Stanford and Kelly Robbins lost an 18-hole playoff to Hillary Lunke for the US Women’s Open title. That one-shot loss, after playing 72 holes dead even, might just get repaid next week. After all, there’s nothing that a Fort Worth pro likes more than a quick jaunt over to Houston for a US Open championship.

PGA at Mayakoba is Hovland’s second tour title

Viktor Hovland is certainly at home where Spanish is spoken, despite growing up in the decidedly-nonHispanic country of Norway. Barely 10 months removed from his first tour win in Puerto Rico, Hovland chased down Emilian Grillo, held off Aaron Wise, and won in Mexico for victory la segunda. Hovland piled 16 birdies over two bogeys on the weekend, moving from 6-under to 20-deep in the process. Grillo, who led from his Friday 63 until part way through the fourth round, could not find second gear on Sunday. His three bogey-two birdie performance dropped him from 1st to a tie for 8th.

For most of the final day, the story being written came from the pen of Aaron Wise. The former Oregon Duck is two years removed from his lone tour title, at the Byron Nelson in 2018. Three birdies and an eagle stood him at five-under through seven, then three successive birdies at 13 through 15 elevated him to 19 below par. Finishing two groups ahead of Hovland, Wise could not secure one last birdie to reach the winning score.

Golf aficionados also got a first glimpse at yet another future Stillwater star. Austin Eckroat, a senior at Oklahoma State and former roommate of Hovland, posted 14-under par to secure a tie for 12th. When the professional ranks beckon in 2021, Eckroat will be ready.

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

14 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

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.”

News

Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

14 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

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.”

News

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

Published

3 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.