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Tour Rundown: Thee one | Air New Zealand
Week two of the NFL season did not impact the execution of tournaments on the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, Korn Ferry, and Tour Champions. With the Solheim Cup in Spain this week, followed by the Ryder Cup in Italy at the end of this fortnight, team golf is on the horizon. For the moment, it’s all about individual play, and we have that nearly to excess. Sit back, sit up, and strap in for this week’s Tour Rundown.
DP World Tour @ BMW PGA Championship: Air New Zealand pulls into port
After three days of seven birdie-and-eagle tallies, the flighted creatures left Ludvig Abers’ nest. The wunderkind on the European Ryder Cup side went dodo with a two-birdie 76 on Sunday, dropping to a 10th-place tie. His forced landing cleared the skies for a number of other airlines. British Airway, Iberia, Qantas, and other planes attempted to land on runway number one, but in the end, it was cleared for Air New Zealand, piloted by Ryan Fox.
Fox looked for all the world like a non-winner, after his triple bogey on the third hole. His mental reset allowed him to post eight birdies over the next fifteen hole, including six on the inward nine. Nearly chasing him down was the English duo of Aaron Rai and Tyrrell Hatton. The pair posted 68 and 66, respectively. Rai had a pair of bogeys offset his six birdies, while Hatton began the round on fire, with five birdies in his first seven holes. He could not preserve the pace, and came up one shot shy, in a tie with Rai.
A shot worthy of winning any golf tournament ?#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/hDizle3dq3
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 17, 2023
PGA Tour @ Fortinet Championship: Thee one we longed to see win, has won at long last
Sahith Theegala was Thee Stallion this week. The California native and recipient of more family love than any other human knows, broke through for his first victory on the PGA Tour. Theegala had been mentioned in some circles as a long-shot Ryder Cup selection, but the knock was that he had not yet proved that he could win. Check that box for now.
Theegala and S.H. Kim finished 1-2 this week and the tournament was about their duel, from the 36th hole forward. Kim and Theegala held the halfway lead at 132, but Theegala jumped ahead by two after Saturday’s third round. On Sunday, Theegala made seven birdies against four bogeys, but three of those birdies came in the opening five holes. Those notches stretched his lead to five, and forced Kim to do better than the nine consecutive pars that opened day four.
To his credit, Kim played a strong inward half. He posted three birdies to separate from Cam Davis and catch a glimpse of the top spot. Theegala was too consistent coming home, however. He bookended bogeys at 10 and 18, but stuffed the turkey with three birdies in between. His final margin of victory was two strokes, and now we look to see if victory number two is soon to come.
The moment @SRTheegala became a champion ? pic.twitter.com/AcmqXlQSd2
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 18, 2023
Korn Ferry Tour @ Simmons Bank Open: Murray finds redemption in Nashville
Grayson Murray finish 169th on the 2022-2023, ensuring that he would need some Korn Ferry Tour assistance to return to the big circuit. He came through big time in Tennessee, winning a guitar trophy for the tournament title, and a move inside the top six, heading into two final playoff events.
Five golfers began round four in a tie for first. None of them was able to do what Murray did. Max Greyserman fared worst, posting 79 to drop 43 spots. TJ Vogel dropped 11 spots, to 12th, while Pontus Nyholm dropped four shots, to fifth position. Jamie Lovemark and Carter Jenkins posted 70s on day four, to finish T2 with Mason Andersen. The playoffs are the time of year when pressure pushes emotions to the surface, and competitors react differently.
Murray seemed to find the proper cocktail mixture of patience and risk. He played the front nine in one-under par, then jumped into the fray with birdie at 11, followed by four more over his closing five holes. None was able to match him coming home, and Murray hoisted not just a trophy, but the continuance of his professional dreams.
Grayson Murray slams the door! ?
@simmonsbankopen pic.twitter.com/TfzQz2oN9N— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 17, 2023
PGA Tour Champions @ Sanford International: Mr. Midwest wins sixth of the year
You need to be flawless to beat the man from Wisconsin, Steve Stricker, when he is on his game. KJ Choi played a wondrous 53 holes of golf this week, but made an ill-timed bogey on the final green, and missed a chance at a playoff. Choi tapped in for five and finished on 15-under par. Behind him, in the middle of the fairway, stood Stricker. He now had a two-shot lead (whether he knew it or not) and played a bad iron shot from 120 yards, some 60 feet shy of the hole. He then hit a bad approach putt, leaving himself eight feet for par. His recovery putt was dead in the hole, one revolution shy of perfection. Despite that trifecta of less-than-Stricker shots, Super Steve tapped in for bogey and a one-shot margin of victory.
Stricker had that wiggle room, thanks to a 62 on Friday. He followed that with a 66 on Saturday and, despite his last-hole tarantella, another 66 on Sunday. Stricker is currently number one on the season-long Schwab Cup list, with double the money of Bernhard Langer, his closest pursuer. To say that he has been the cream of the competitive crop in 2023 is about as accurate a statement as anyone will make today. The only other question is, how many more years and wins does he have in him?
The eagle has landed ?@SteveStricker drains an eagle putt to move into a tie for the lead @SanfordIntl. pic.twitter.com/BFoY0RGaZ9
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 17, 2023
News
Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss
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!”
News
Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss
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.”
News
GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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