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Tour Rundown: McIlroy sizzles with 62 | Grant on another planet in Scandinavian Mixed

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June is a curious month, with weather patterns that defy predictability and logic. The skies sweat, flash bolts of anger and blow hearty winds. In the next moment, all around is calm. It’s also a month that typically features a major championship or two, and at times, an international team event. We’ve covered the Curtis Cup extensively in its own space, but have plenty of tour results left over to fill your reading minutes. Join in as we detail the efforts of the five champions who hoisted trophies across the professional golf world in this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour: McIlroy sizzles with 62 to defend in Canada

At times, it’s the children we have that clarify what legacy truly means. As a husband and a father, Rory McIlroy understands the opportunity he possesses to leave a legacy on the game of golf and on the world. McIlroy was compared, far too often, to Tiger Woods in his early days. Some wins came, while others slipped away. Now in his 30s, the Northern Irishman has found a home in Canada, at least when it comes to that country’s national championship.

The 2022 playing of the Canadian Open was its first since 2019. COVID had forced the cancellation of the storied championship, and it was quite fitting that it returned on one of the great, golden-age courses of Stanley Thompson. St. George’s is a brilliant piece of golfing land, similar in ways to Merion, the host of this week’s Curtis Cup. It is not a typical Tour course, and as such, can be susceptible to low scores. That’s fine, because these lads don’t play it every week, so it should not be retrofitted to their games.

McIlroy averaged a shade above 65 for his four rounds across the Etobicocke track. His final-round 62 was a thing of beauty, and he needed to shave every shot he could. Lifelong pal Tony Finau was on his heels all of Sunday, and recent PGA champion Justin Thomas wasn’t far behind. Rory was eight under on the day when he stepped to the 13th tee. He made a bad swing and signed for his first bogey of the afternoon. Three holes later, he did the same and another par three humbled him with another bogey. Meanwhile, playing partner Finau simply played error-free golf, and posted six birdies on the day for 64.

McIlroy was able to level the ship. He followed his second bogey with two closing birdies to keep Finau at bay. With the U.S. Open at Brookline this week, so many top players are trending toward potential glory, we can hardly sit still. If the fans at The Country Club can merely approach the love of game and tradition that Canada shows each year without fail, they will do well. We’ll leave you with a bit of them.

DP World Tour: Grant on another planet in Scandinavian Mixed

Once upon a time, a couple of Swedes had a grand idea. Bring the best female and male golfers together, play them from appropriate tee decks, and see how they would match up. In 2022, the Scandinavian Mixed saw one of those golfer, Henrik Stenson, post 15-under par and tie for second, with Marc Warren of Scotland. Just a few shots ahead of them, at 24-under par, was Stenson’s countrywoman, Linn Grant. In a dominating performance not likely to be repeated this year, Grant averaged 66 on the week, including a closing 64. Her swing never wavered, and her demeanor and composure were steady.

On the week, Grant had four bogeys, and she was done with that silliness on Friday evening. She would play a flawless weekend, with the weight of many eyes and opinions on her carriage. On Saturday, four birdies and an eagle brought her to 66. On Sunday, eight birdies in the first fourteen holes allowed her to cruise to the final green with pars for 64. Much as those in attendance at Merion discovered the glory of Amari Avery’s swing, those with eyes on Tylösand witnessed a swing without flaw. Congratulations, Linn. Congratulations to all.

LPGA: Henderson outlasts W-W in Jersey playoff

The hard part about being a young phenom is the parlay into old phenom. It’s not easy to continue to shock and dominate the golf world. Brook Henderson was that golfer, but then the USGA told her she could not swing her 48-inch driver shaft any more. She’s had eleven wins on tour, but hadn’t closed one out since L.A. in April of 2021. This week, near Atlantic City, Henderson pulled off out one of her patented, final-round comebacks. This time it was good enough to secure a spot in a playoff.

Matching wits and game with the Canadian was Lindsay Weaver-Wright. W-W hung around for 2.5 rounds, then finished with four birdies in six holes to equal Henderson’s minus-twelve total. The pair returned to the 18th tee, where both had signed for birdie four in regulation. This time through, Henderson went even lower. Her eagle clinched her first win of 2022, and perhaps gave her the confidence to return to the top strata for which she was headed before Covid. Want eight minutes of Brooke? We’ll oblige!

Korn Ferry Tour: It’s Robby in another playoff finale

Robby Shelton was one of those UAlabama guys who seemed to win everything in the mid 2010s. He played on the USA side in the 2015 Walker Cup, alongside Justin Thomas. Shelton found that professional golf would require more of a grind. He appeared poised to break out in 2020, after two Korn Ferry wins in 2019. Covid hit, and Shelton’s quest was delayed.

This week in South Carolina, 2019 Shelton vintage returned, but not without drama. After posting 61 on Saturday to take the lead at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, the Mobile native needed par at the last to win outright on Sunday. He made bogey, and fell into a tie with Ben Griffin. The duo returned twice to the final tee, and both times, Shelton made the par that eluded him during regulation time. In the second overtime, Griffin wavered to a bogey, and Shelton had his third Korn Ferry tour title, and a leg up on a spot on the PGA Tour in 2022-2023.

PGA Tour Champions: Thongchai  breaks through on Senior Circuit

Thongchai Jaidee won 13 times on the Asian Tour, and on eight occasions on the European Tour, during his younger days. During his even-younger days, he was a paratrooper in the Royal Thai army. Jaidee made occasional forays onto the US PGA Tour, but was never able to secure a victory. At the age of 52, Jaidee made a 53rd hole birdie, on the heels of a bogey-six at the 52nd hole, to hold off Tom Pernice, jr. for his first stateside win.

Over the course of three days at University Ridge, Jaidee showed us a little bit of everything. Day one was a mish-mash of bogeys and birdies accompanied by a holed approach shot for eagle on the par-4 15th hole. Day two was a brilliant one, with seven birdies and 11 pars hogging space on the scorecard. With the lead, Jaidee drew on his years of competitive experience and made six birdies against two bogeys and had enough chute to land safely and avoid a playoff.

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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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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